Last year I posted an article on interesting teams for the 07/08 season. I don’t think I did too badly, although there were a few exceptions.

Manchester Utd did extremely well, playing with style for the most part they won the league and European Cup. Can’t ask for much more. Tottenham bombed at the beginning of the season, but had a small resurgence when they sacked Martin Jol and replaced him with spaniard Ramos. West Ham were my wild card and they were wildly off the mark. Sunderland did well, not expected to perform any miracle, Keano led them in a solid 1st season in the Premiership.

Outside of the Premiership, Charlton did nothing much and a few friends seemed to regret having a season ticket. Leeds nearly got promotion, but missed out at the last hurdle.

So what’s on for this season?

The battle for the top will be even more ferocious. Man Utd piped Chelsea on 2 fronts and the Blues will want their revenge under new boss Scolari. Man Utd look stronger than before, although I am concerned whether the Ronaldo transfer-saga will have any unsettling effect on the team.

Tottenham look interesting again with a few new players coming in and others going out, but I don’t expect much from a team still in transition - they will probably get a top 8 finish.

Sunderland have taken a few Tottenham reserves, so I don’t see them doing anything better than Spurs. They have signed a couple of more creative players in Diouf and Malbranque, so there could be a few more interesting times for them, not so much grinding out results.

New boys Hull may be an interesting watch. No stars to speak of, but great team spirit. The fairytale could continue for them with a meteoric rise up the Premiership, but I doubt it.

There feels a lot more unknown this season - whether the Man City revolution continue under Mark Hughes, whether Paul Ince can stick it at the top level, whether Roy Hodgson was a flash in the plan to save Fulham last season and whether he will be a Lawrie Sanchez II and have a dismal second season.

In summary, I don’t expect the top 4 to change one bit - Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal & Liverpool (in that order). Going down, Stoke, Hull and an outside bet at Middlesbrough (sorry Mike J). Normal service should return in the FA Cup too with a top 4 team winning. I think we will see another strong season from English teams in the European Cup too, but I wonder if Inter Milan (under the Special One) will snatch it away.

I can’t wait. And, despite self-perputating rumouors, it seems I will make a return for the mighty Ramsden this season (or whatever they are called now) and expect promotion from the Bromley & Croydon Christian League Third Division - it doesn’t get any bigger.