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United: champions again?

New Year is a time for resolutions, new leaves and big changes...

And could Lee Westwood make it two golfing majors in two years for Europe? Our golf guys think so...

Phil Thompson - Champions League Live and Soccer Saturday

I think we will see a resurgence of our national team. Fabio Capello will prove what a top coach he is by running the England team as it should be run. I am happy with the appointment of Capello - even prior to Jose Mourinho turning the job down.

I'm like everybody else, I would love an English manager, but I don't think there is a prime candidate at this moment in time to carry the banner forward. And it's a shame, but it's part of our lives at the moment and I think Capello, even more than Mourinho would have done, will not look at reputations when he picks his team, or even when he picks his squad. I think he will literally pick the best players and won't look at who they play for or what they have done in the past. He will pick players purely on ability, which is the way it should be.

Stuart Barnes - Live Rugby Union and Rugby Club

I am going to go for two and I can only apologise for the lack of originality but after Wasps versus Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup it just has to be Danny Cipriani and James Haskell. Haskell was just monumental and would have walked away with the man of the match award on any other day, but for his mate.

Cipriani showed moments of genius that suggest to me he might well be the attacking inspiration England need following Jason Robinson's retirement. The young man could even be a threat to Johnny Wilkinson over the coming months.

Bob Willis - Live Cricket

Steven Finn, the young Middlesex paceman, is my tip for the top in 2008.

He is a big, tall, young fast bowler that played for England under-19s and a few games for Middlesex last year.

He has good pace and bounce and those are the attributes England need. He will need to break through in county cricket but England need pace bowlers and wrist spinners as they win Test matches.

We haven't really got either at the moment so there could be an opening for Finn.

Ewen Murray - Live Golf

Tiger will again be the one to beat in 2008, and now and again, it will happen. I have been impressed by the performances of England's Lee Westwood over the latter part of 2007, and I think the new season will be a great one for him. Lee has gone down the route of being over analytical, but those days are now behind him. Earlier in the year he decided to have less coaching and concentrated more on feel and the results have been encouraging.

Westwood is a born winner and is as comfortable as any when in contention on Sunday afternoons. His best years are ahead of him, and I think he will win a major championship before he is finished. 2008 could well be his time, and I believe his best chance will come in our Open. He is a magnificent driver of the ball, and that coupled with a much improved short game, could well provide the formula to move on to the highest level.

Phil Clarke - Boots 'n' All and Live Rugby League

Look out for a lad called Joe Westerman at Castleford. They've just been promoted back to Super League so we'll be seeing a lot more of him on our screens in 2008, but he already looks like the next Paul Sculthorpe. That is high praise indeed, but he plays stand-off or loose forward and even though he will only be 18 next season, he looks like a certain Great Britain international of the future - and for the next decade once he breaks through.

He has the size, the skill and, most importantly, the aggression to be a huge hit. He's the best I've seen for a while at his age and I've no doubt he is going to give this year's best young player, Sam Burgess, a real run for his money.

Martin Tyler - Live Football

I'm never one for making predictions, but what I would love to see is an all-English Champions League final. In the last three years we have been treated to fantastic finals and last year we had three semi-finalists, so the logical extension of that is to have two English clubs in the final in Moscow. It shows how competitive our clubs are on the continent and the argument about foreign players doesn't hold any water because history tells you that when Liverpool and Nottingham Forest were winning European Cups, they were by no means packed with Englishmen either.

My Champions League commentary so far has been spent following Manchester United and Liverpool, and there's no doubt both are well-equipped. United have the R-Factor of Ronaldo and Rooney while tactically, Rafa Benitez has already proved himself a master in the competition. There are still some 'proper' European giants left in it, but it would be great if we could go one step further and have two clubs competing for the 2008 trophy.

Glenn McCrory - Live Boxing

There's plenty in the professional game to whet the appetite, but I am already excited about the Olympics in Beijing. We have got three very, very good young fighters going out there and with two more qualifiers still to come, it could be more. Frankie Gavin has to be the stand-out, but I also like the lad from up here in the north east, Bradley Saunders.

That said, Joe Murray is decent as well and I genuinely think all three have decent chances of getting a medal. When you consider that Audley Harrison and Amir Khan have brought our only Olympic medals back from the last games, I am convinced this is going to be our best tally ever. And with London coming up four years later, that would really get us in great shape.

Matt Le Tissier - Soccer Saturday

As much as I have enjoyed watching Arsenal, I am going to stick with my original pick and go for Manchester United to retain their Premier League title.

That said, I do think we could be in for one of the closest title races for years. In a way it would have been nice if the Grand Slam Sunday results were reversed because it would've meant a four-horse race heading into the New Year, but that's not to say Chelsea and Liverpool are out of it.

United probably have the better strength-in-depth which should just see them home. But then again, I said Arsenal would finish fifth. That's not going to happen is it?

Mark Roe - Golf Night

My one to watch for 2008 would have to be Rory McIlroy.

He has made a stunning start to his professional career, getting his European Tour card in just three starts with a third-placed finish at the Dunhill Links Championship.

He has had a bit of a dodgy period over the last few weeks as he has been finding his feet on the Tour, but I think once we get past Christmas and into the New Year we will see his true talent emerge.

Nasser Hussain - International cricket

I've never had much luck when it comes to making cricket predictions, so can I go for something from the football world?

It's hardly rocket science, but I am going to go for either Arsenal or Manchester United to win the Premier League.

After watching Grand Slam Sunday I just think they are the two sides who are going to be battling it out in what could be the best title race for a few years.

It could go right down to the wire, but I can't see Chelsea or Liverpool keeping up with either. Who's going to win? It will be one of those two!

Keith Arthur - Tight Lines

For 2008 I am looking forward to some potentially brilliant trips with Tight Lines.

We have several things in the pipeline allowing us access to some truly world-class fishing.

But I am not going to give anything away, you'll just have to stay tuned to the show on Fridays, folks!

I have also enjoyed the new identity of Tight Lines and feel that the New Year will see it blossom still further.

Miles Harrison - Live Rugby Union

Obviously Danny Cipriani and Ryan Lamb are ones to watch but I would pick out Ben Foden at Sale, as he looks a complete rugby player; a clever player who, in many ways, reminds me of a young Austin Healy. I think he can play scrum-half or in the back three as well. Is he a winger, a scrum-half or a full back? Time will tell but he can run fantastic lines and is just a fantastic footballer: I think England have unearthed another gem. Sadly he is injured now but he will bounce back in 2008 and is a very exciting prospect.

It is key that he finds his position because the one thing that held Austin back from being one of the world's great players is that he never settled with a position for either club or country. It made him a great asset, but ultimately held him back from being a true great. Foden has to make that call with his club and country because in the England camp some say he is scrum-half, while Philippe Saint-Andre at Sale thinks he is a full-back. Either way, anyone who saw his recent try against Worcester will know what I'm talking about - that moment rubber-stamped the class that he has got. He worked in such a tight space with such speed and finished off superbly. There are not many around who can do that.

Sid Waddell - Live Darts

The thing I'm looking forward to in 2008 is the Premier League of Darts in Belfast because I gather there is going to be a guaranteed 6,000 people there!

Last year there were 5,400 at Sheffield, but it looks as though that record is going to be broken in Belfast.

Barney, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and James Wade are the top four in the Premier League and I reckon one of them will produce a nine-darter or something daft like that in Belfast.

We're going to see some top darts entertaining a lot of people!

Chris Kamara - Goals on Sunday and Soccer Saturday

I backed Arsenal to win the Premier League at the start of the season because I'm a gambler!

The value on 10-1 was too big to ignore, so I had a big, big each-way bet on them. So I'd obviously be delighted if they win it.

But I think Manchester United will win the title as they just look so good. They have much more strength-in-depth than in previous seasons and with all due respect, no longer have to rely on the Eric Djemba-Djembas or Klebersons in the squad.

Sir Alex Ferguson now has players who can just slot into the team with no problems.

Dewi Morris - Live Rugby and Rugby Club

This is a guy I have been touting for a long time. I don't think there is anything more that London Irish lock Nick Kennedy can do to stake a claim for an England shirt. He is joint top of the lineout steals stats, adds his weight at the scrum and he is an excellent ball-player around the field with decent pace for a big man.

He might not have the growl of Grewcock but that is out of the game now, citing means the scrapping happens less and less and we have fewer bullies. What we need now is athletic second rows who do their job in the tight and play their part around the field. Stick him in the England team and let's see if he is good enough.

A couple of other players to look out for - Lesley Vainikolo at Gloucester and Matthew Banahan at Bath. All the best international teams these days seem to have big powerful wingers and one or both of these two would fit the bill for England in 2008.

Andy Gray - Super Sunday Football

I've no idea really, I just hope that the Premier League continues to bring us the excitement that it has provided down the years.

My one prediction is that Manchester United will win the Premier League title, I've said that from day one.

I was one of the few who didn't write Arsenal off at the start of the season, but as regards to who ends the season as champions, I still haven't seen anything to change my mind.

Kevin Cadle - Live NFL

The thing I'm looking forward to in 2008 is quite simple - just great games of football.

When I sit down in that chair - and believe me I spend a lot of time in that chair - all I want to see is two sides treating us to exciting and entertaining match-ups.

The football was good in 2007, but hopefully in 2008 it will get even better. I hope we are in for more competitive games over the coming months.

That would do me just nicely!