Preview of English Premier League

The Premier League returns today....yes! So I thought I would share with you guys my expectations and predictions for this season. 

For the first time in about thirteen years I am actually excited about the Arsenal team. Arsene Wenger has spent some money and now Arsenal can realistically challenge for the title.

I say this but with a caveat I am still not sure about the defence and only time will tell if this defence is good enough. 

To be frank I have no idea whether Manchester United will even finish in the top four. The experience defenders like Rio and Vidic have gone and I am not entirely sure who they have been replaced with. 

It not enough to have a world class manager like Van Gaal you also need the players that can perform on the pitch. 

Liverpool will have an interesting season and now Luis Suarez has been sold to Barcelona this has reduced their fire power. 

Last season Liverpool where very close to winning the league but they did not have the distraction of European games so it will be interesting to see how they cope. 

Chelsea will always be favourites to win the title but to be fair they have not spent to much money this season. 

Last champions Manchester City should get a top four finish if they are consistent as they where last year. 

They where a bit fortunate to win last season but it was primarily down to their consistency which no other team had. 

Ok so with my analysis complete the following teams will finish in the top five:

1. Arsenal !!!

2. Chelsea 

3. Manchester City

4. Manchester United

5. Liverpool

Okay who is your top five? 

World Cup - day seventeen

Day seventeen of the World Cup and it is now the knock out stages. So Brazil drew one all with Chile but beat them three goals to two on penalties. 

I think that others are now beginning to realise that this Brazil team is average and they are definitely not the Brazil of old. 

I suspect if this World Cup had not been held in Brazil then might have been knocked out already. 

 Colombia beat Uruguay by two goals to nil and Colombia probably would have got this win. 

However Uruguay being with  their banned striker Luis Suarez made it even harder for Uruguay but Colombia very much deserved this victory. 

World Cup - Day thirteen

Day thirteen of the World Cup and Uruguay beat Italy by two goals to one. This match had everything goals, a sending off and a biting incident. 

I was surprised when the Italians lost there previous group match because I thought that this match against the Uruguayans was going to be tough. 

The loss to Uruguay meant that the Italians where out of the tournament. but this match will not be remembered for the football but Luis Suarez biting the shoulder of the Italian defender. 

This is the third time in his footballing career that Luis Suarez has bitten an opponent hopefully FIFA will give him a long term ban.

 

England drew nil nil with Costa Rica and this ended there worst tournament in over fifty years. 

Premiership Boxing Day matches

Some big matches took place on Boxing Day and Arsenal beat West Ham by three goals to one. 

This was a big match for Arsenal because if they had lost this match. It would have affected the team morale. 

Theo Walcott had an outstanding match and I really hope he is able to carry this kind of form into 2014. 

Elsewhere Man City beat the leaders Liverpool by two goals to one. Man City player, Fernandinho looks like he has a real talent. 

But whilst they will be scoring lots of goals they will also be conceding a lot of goals as there defence is a bit shaky.

Liverpool played will and Luis Suarez played very well to the point that it made Liverpool look like a one man team. 

Man United and Chelsea also won their games. Tottenham who are now managed by Tim Sherwood drew their match.

 But I suspect it will take time for Tim Sherwood to develop his own managerial  style. But sadly these days premiership managers don't get that time.

 A few bad results and managers are under pressure. Hopefully Tottenham board and  fans will be a little patient. 

So Arsenal are back to being at the top of the league until these weekend fixtures are complete.