English Premier League Season Predictions

Several more hours until the start of the new English Premier League season. 

Who do you think will be champions? 

Have you contemplated about which three clubs will go down? 

Here are my predictions for this Premier League season, and make sure to remind me at the end of the season after I get each prediction wrong again.

Top Four

1. Manchester City

2. Manchester United

3. Chelsea

4. Liverpool

With near limitless financial backing, if Manchester City's forecast headed into the January transfer window isn't with the English Premier League in the bag, what do you think they'll do?

Buy, buy and buy. 

The squad they're building is this type of fantasy squad we build on football manager, and with David Silva, Samir Nasri, Yaya Touré, Nigel De Jong, Vincent Kompany, Gaël Clichy and Joe Hart, how can they not win? 

I haven't even included Sergio Agüero, Mario Balotelli or Edin Džeko who have yet to produce the goods.

The question for manager Roberto Mancini is whether he can instill the same obsessive winning mentality in his squad. 

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has a new crop of Fergie's Fledglings, but can they compete with an ever impressive Manchester City? 

Chelsea are in the process of change, and they have to look over the red half of Manchester, and see what they did. Pragmatism over sentiment, and hopefully manager André Villas-Boas has that mentality when picking his first 11. 

Every season, we hear "It's Liverpool's year," and we've been hearing that since 1991. Sure, European success has given some respite, but are Liverpool happy with Manchester United's 19 league triumphs? 

Relegation Bound

18. Queens Park Rangers

19. Swansea 

20. Norwich

Queens Park Rangers are relying on their Paris Saint-Germain-destined captain Adel Taarabt. 

Only when September arrives do we know where Taarabt's intentions lie, and even then, will he leave in January?

Then there's boardroom power struggle, coupled with frugal spending, and with a fiery manager Neil Warnock, relegation becomes a more realistic outcome.    

The gulf between promoted clubs and English Premier League regulars are startling, and even if the promoted club survive the first season by the skin of their teeth, second season syndrome finishes their top flight career off.

Neither Swansea nor Norwich have talent the talent to survive in the Premier League.

Keep an eye on the daily drama at Newcastle United and Roberto Martínez's Charles N'Zogbia and Tom Cleverley less Wigan Athletic.

Punching Above Their Weight

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis accepts his team cannot compete on a football point of view with English Premier League clubs, so rather then be a "Barcelona lite," his teams fight, fight and fight. 

A fortress at home with some loud and vibrant supporters, Stoke will try their heart out to ensure defensive anti-football saves them from relegation. 

Though relegation wasn't a factor last season, and rather then being in the bottom half of the table, Stoke have the capability of finishing 10th or better.

Breakout Young Talent

With Fernando Torres set to continue his disappointing, frustrating, anemic and futile displays for Chelsea, Belgian starlet Romelu Lukaku will have a breakout season. 

He is a future FIFA Ballon d'Or winner. 

To those who believe he'll flop, how do you know? Have you followed his career?

If you've never watched him, how can you judge him?  

I've followed his career and there is no doubt in my mind, he is a special player. 

Torres out, Lukaku in.

From an English perspective, Manchester United's Chris Smalling has looked a class above, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to buy him is a masterstroke. 

The conundrum is whether to play him at right back or leave him on the bench.

He played so well at right back in the Community Shield, but surely one of da Silva twins should play at right back.

Maybe Ferguson doesn't need to dwell on the thought too much with Rio Ferdinand's chronic back injury may hand Smalling the chance he needs.

Surprise Star

Last year it was Peter Odemwingie; who will be the surprise star this year?

Stéphane Sessègnon is my pick, as he was a lovely player to watch in Paris, and even though he played alright last season, he can play a lot better.

In preseason, he's played as a second striker behind Asamoah Gyan, and this change could turn Sessègnon into a star.

Premier League Golden Boot

From dominating the Bundesliga, Edin Džeko went to struggling and grinding it out in the English Premier League. 

It was a sad sight to watch, having seen him play so well, at times world-class in the Bundesliga.

I'm confident the Bosnian will bounce back and rediscover his scoring touch, and not only that, but also his creativity and his ability to influence the game.

Then again, if you're playing with Sergio Agüero, David Silva, Yaya Touré and Samir Nasri, you have to score goals.

Player of the Season

Watching David Silva, you begin to admire how effortlessly he makes finding teammates from obscure angles looks. 

Not only from a passing perspective, but his creativity is astounding, and then he can beat you off the dribble with his nimble feet. 

A terrific player and when Sergio Agüero finds his feet, with Yaya Touré running box-to-box, and a certain Samir Nasri set to call Eastlands home—Silva will prosper. 

Buy of the Season

Alan Switzer at The Telegraph revealed how relegation costs clubs £25 million off the bat. Then it rises to £41 million after two seasons if the club is still languishing in The Championship. 

For £3.5 million, Wolverhampton Wanderers have possibly saved their future for now with the signing of Jamie O'Hara.

He's the type of player that makes Wolves tick, and will give them some chances in front of goal.

Flop of the Season

Given Newcastle's frugal nature, why did they buy Gabriel Obertan who failed at Manchester United for £3 million?

This is Stephane Guivarc’h all over again; when the Frenchman had a diasterous FIFA World Cup, Newcastle inexplicably still signed him for £3.5 million. 

If Obertan was signed for free, OK, fair enough.

But £3 million is a waste, and my goodness, will owner Mike Ashley be asking some questions when he finds out Obertan is useless.

Please read Fantasy Football: Top 15 Bargain Players You Must Have If You Want to Win