The Premiership 2008-2009

After a summer spent watching a European Championship without England, and reading endless transfer rumours, the Premiership is back. But don't expect many surprises, we all know whats going to happen. The top four will of course, remain the same. It's absurd to suggest otherwise. The three promoted clubs will undoubtedly struggle and it's depressingly inevitable that Spurs will finish in fifth place. Despite this, I'm still excited as there are bound to be some twists and turns along the way in the best, if not the most predictable league in the world.

Let's start at the bottom, and look at who's in for a long hard season. The three promoted clubs are of course favourites to go straight back down, namely, West Brom, Stoke and Hull. Out of those three, I believe Hull have the best chance of survival. In Phil Brown they have the best manager, who was arguably the brains behind Allardyce at Bolton. They will be hard to beat at home and that alone could keep them up. The signing of Boateng is a shrewd one, he will protect their defence and has bags of Premiership experience. The only problem for Hull is it's hard to think who could go down instead of them. Bolton and Fulham have strengthened, as have Wigan. I think it will also be a tough first season for Paul Ince at Blackburn and Manchester City are in turmoil right now. If Thaskin has to sell up and sell his players then Man City could really be in trouble.

Mid-table mediocrity awaits the likes of Sunderland, Middlesborough, West Ham, Everton and Newcastle. This is a step in the right direction for Sunderland, who after a few years of consolidation can look to push on, but right now this will be as good as it gets for the Black Cat's. Middlesborough have improved, and will steer clear of a relegation dog-fight but Gareth Southgate's dream of Champions League football, will have to be shelved for perhaps the next few decades at least. Everton, West Ham and Newcastle will fall just short of pushing for a Uefa Cup place, and the best these sides can hope for is a good run in the Cups.

The Challenge for fifth and a place in the Uefa Cup should be between Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Spurs. With the money Tottenham have spent and the ability they have at their disposal they should finish in fifth place with ease and even make one of the big four look over their shoulder more than they usually would. However, I think Juande Ramos' stature as one of the best managers in the Premiership right now is an unjust one. Last season Ramos took over in October, he had the majority of the season and he only steered Spurs to a twelfth place finish with the likes of Berbatov, Keane and Woodgate in his squad. If Spurs stutter then I expect Aston Villa and Portsmouth to be hot on their heels.

Finally, let's look at the 'big four'. The 'big four' will occupy the top four places yet again, no matter what Spurs or anyone else with lofty aspirations thinks. This season the title is Chelsea's for the taking, they could even run away with it. They pushed Man Utd all the way last season with crippling injuries and they also had the African Cup of Nations to contend with. Chelsea also had a change of manager last season but now they have stability and a great new manager in Gene Hackman look-a-like Big Phil Scolari. As for the other three, they will fight it out for second, third and fourth respectively. Man Utd are missing Ronaldo for the the first three months of the season and have yet to add a new striker to their books so if they have a slow start, it could cost them dearly. Arsenal are yet again being written off but they were only four points away from being Champions last season. Hleb, Flamini and Gilberto will not be missed as much as people think. Hleb did not turn up most of the time, and Nasri appears to be a more direct and able player. Flamini will be replaced and was awful before last season and Gilberto is the wrong side of thirty. Arsenal have a young, dynamic side that is gaining more and more experience and could be Chelsea's main contenders if they avoid injuries.

Champions: Chelsea.

Runners Up: Arsenal.

Champions League: Man Utd and Liverpool.

Uefa Cup (5th): Spurs.

Relegated: Stoke, West Brom and Hull or Bolton.

(Picture) Arsenal, Chelsea's main title threat?