The Skysports.com team give their views on who is going to sparkle and who will flop this season.
Skysports.com give thoughts on who is going to light up the season
The
Skysports.com team have been putting their collective heads on the block ahead of the 2008/09 season to predict who they think is going to light up the Premier League campaign and who is going to have a dim old time of things.
Last season's crystal ball gazing provided a mixture of Mystic Meg accuracy and the misguided forecasting of a £1-a-pop psychic on Blackpool front.
Peter O'Rourke deserves credit for picking out that Roque Santa Cruz would be the buy of the season, but Alex Dunn is still smarting from tipping Fernando Torres to be the biggest flop - you'd think for £20-odd million, you'd get more than 33 goals!
So, without further ado, here are
skysports.com's predictions for you to deride at your leisure. Feel free to add your comments at the foot of the article.
Mark Buckingham
Title winner:
Manchester United may not have strengthened the squad over the summer, but the younger members of the team have an extra year's experience on their backs and they remain the team to beat.
Going down:
It would be easy to say the three promoted clubs will go straight back down, but having tipped Wigan to be relegated last season, I'm not going to desert them now! Stoke City and West Brom to join the Latics in the Championship.
Coming up:
Where's my pin? Birmingham City look to have good strength in depth, while Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers can end their exile from the big time.
Best buy:
There don't seem to have been too many bargains floating around the Premier League this summer, but I think Giovani Dos Santos has the potential to sparkle at Spurs
Biggest flop:
A rash of £15million-plus signings means there are a few contenders for this category, but the biggest gamble is Manchester City's recruitment of Jo. He may just turn out to be the next Fernando Torres, though!
Player of Year:
Carlos Tevez. The Argentinian impressed during his first season at Manchester United and looks certain to have further improvement in him.
Youngster to watch:
Fraizer Campbell impressed on loan at Hull last season and if he is given a chance in the United side he has the ability to score goals.
Top scorer:
With Peter Crouch alongside him, Jermain Defoe should get plenty of opportunities and it is not hard to see him rattling in at least 20 goals this season.
Fantasy League must have:
With three points for an assist, Cesc Fabregas must be worth having in your team. He rarely has a bad game and if he starts to score goals then he should rack up the points.
Dark Horses:
Crouch is a very astute signing for Portsmouth and, providing European exertions do not impact too heavily on Harry Redknapp's squad, they have the ability to challenge at the top end of the table.
Graeme Bailey
Title winner:
Manchester United for me although Chelsea will push them close while I expect Liverpool and Arsenal to close the gap. The Red Devils need another striker but I expect Sir Alex to oblige which is why I see them doing it again.
Going down:
Could easily be all three newly promoted sides, and indeed I think Hull and Stoke have just too much to do - but I can see West Brom just getting the better of Bolton to send Gary Megson's men down.
Coming up:
I expect Birmingham will be there with Wolves,
