Sport & Fitness

So after being told that Chelsea were set to dominate the national game for a decade, we’re now informed that nobody should have underestimated Alex Ferguson by the very people who spent the last three seasons underestimating Alex Ferguson. Having secured such an impressive title last time round, United have been named favourites by bookmakers impressed by the club’s lavish spending in the summer, which could yet include pockfaced, Zola-jawed Argentine wizard Carlos Tevez. The club’s wealth of inside-forwards (signed to pre-empt the decline of Giggs and Scholes) certainly appears tasty, but the lack of a proper centre-forward and suspicions about the goalkeeper still leaves them looking strangely vulnerable given their brisk business. Expect them to once again flat-track bully the also-rans with their pace and guile but struggle against the stronger outfits – and there are more of the latter than in recent years. Ferguson will also have more than half an eye on Europe, which could be crucial during the closing months.
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Chelsea, United’s closest challengers and most likely usurpers, finished the season branded failures despite winning two trophies and having lost only five competitive fixtures in an epic but dysfunctional season. Such are the stakes at Roman FC. However, canny – and we never thought we’d be able to say that again – summer dealings have strengthened them in most of the right areas but the ongoing lack of an intelligent creative passer in midfield could be costly, as will the potential loss of Robben and the irritating scheduling of the African Nations Cup. Keep an eye on Obi Mikel, a stunning talent, while Scott Sinclair should also make his breakthrough.

Jose Mourinho has fingered both Arsenal and Spurs as likely challengers among a gang of five. Arsenal, blitzed by injuries last season, still lack strength in depth, can’t defend set pieces and have a tendency to overcomplicate – but a fit Robin van Persie and improved team spirit should banish memories of Titi Le Strop. A tilt at the title is not out of the question and they’ll continue to win friends with their ‘pass pass pass pass pass pass miss’ style. Spurs fans drunk on Dimitar Berbatov are optimistic about the coming season, but the club’s huge summer investment means Jol really needs to secure Champions League football, bringing us close to ‘put up or shut up’ time for a manager with many qualities but – so far – not the ability to get results when it comes to the crunch. With Newcastle, Blackburn and Everton also sniffing at fifth place and the gap to fourth larger than ever, the coming campaign might not be as much fun as Spurs are anticipating and Jol could yet confirm his place as Claudio Ranieri in a fat suit.

Liverpool are in a similar situation. After three years of European overachievement and domestic underachievement, Rafa Benitez desperately needs a serious title challenge, which means Fernando Torres has to hit the ground scoring. Slow starts have cost the Scousers dear in recent campaigns, but left them fresh for the CL run-in. Such prioritising won’t be excusable this season and Rafa has to nail his strategy right from the start.

With the relegation of Watford and Charlton, London now only has two more Premiership clubs, West Ham and Fulham. The Cottagers are now established as lower-table regulars and David Healy should ensure they get the goals to stay out of trouble, while West Ham have aspirations of Europe but only survived relegation last season thanks to the leniency of the Premier League and brilliance of Tevez. The Hammers have managed to offload some of the dead wood to Aston Villa – yet another club with a foreign investor to satisfy – but then brought on board the fragrant Craig Bellamy where he can link up with the delightful Lee Boywer. West Ham fans might be advised to monitor the front pages as readily as the back during the coming campaign.