8/10/2007 10:00:00 AM United favoured to repeat as champs
* Reuters photo
Chelsea denied Manchester United the double last year after they won the F.A. Cup, but can they climb over United to win the league this season?
Here's a look at the upcoming English Premier League season.
Manchester United
Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson
Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo - Defied the boo boys and developed into one of the world's best players last year.
Key Player: Owen Hargreaves - One thing United lacked last season was bite in midfield. Hargreaves brings that in abundance.
Strengths: Have added even more flair to what was the most exciting, attacking side in the league last year. The prospect of a three-pronged attack involving Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo should have defences trembling.
Weaknesses: Too many new players at once could upset the balance of the squad. Question marks over whether Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have another season at the highest level in them. Lack an out and out goalscorer.
Transfer Dealngs: The expected arrival of Hargreaves adds a much needed holding midfielder while Nani, Anderson and Tevez bring with them a host of exciting options in attack.
Our View: Ferguson has spent big over the summer and has a squad rich in attacking talent at his disposal. A second successive title awaits.
BDA Sun prediction: 1st
Chelsea
Coach: Jose Mourinho
Star Man: Didier Drogba - Added goals to his brilliant all-round play last season. Arguably the best striker in the league.
Key Player: Michael Essien - Has had a solid start to his Chelsea career but this could be the season he kicks on and shows he is among the world's best.
Strengths: A well-oiled footballing machine that has the class, the tenacity and the desire to win back the title.
Weaknesses: A crippling injury list and the African Cup of Nations will see them without some of their stars at crucial points of the season.
Transfer Dealings: Florent Malouda is a quality, hard working midfielder whose arrival should compensate for the expected loss of Arjen Robben, but it's been a very quiet transfer summer by Chelsea standards.
Our view: Jose Mourinho blamed Chelsea's failure to defend their title last season on the injuries to key players. Well, he has the same problem this year. With 10 players out as the season starts, dropped points in September, could cost him valuable ground in what looks to be one of the closest title races in recent years.
BDA Sun prediction: 2nd
Liverpool
Coach: Rafael Benitez
Star Man: Steven Gerrard - The most complete central midfielder in the league, Gerrard can lead Liverpool to their best season under Benitez.
Key Player: Fernando Torres - The final piece of the Anfield jigsaw? Liverpool have been crying out for a world class striker and if the Spaniard can adapt to the Premiership he'll give them the cutting edge they need to challenge Chelsea and Man U.
Strengths: Tactically and technically sound, have one of the best squads in the league and have finally added creativity and flair in the final third.
Weaknesses: Flimsy away from home and excessive tinkering from Rafa the Gaffa have made them inconsistent in the league.
Transfer Dealings: It's been a banner year for Benitez in the transfer market. After poking around taking chances in the bargain bin and coming up with the likes of Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Pennant and Bolo Zenden, he's finally had some real money to spend. And he's spent it well adding flair, pace and goals to a side that was already solid, if unspectacular.
Torres is the pick of the new recruits but Dutch winger Ryan Babel looks like another great buy, while Yossi Benayoun, Andiry Voronin and Lucas Leiva, the Brazil under-20 captain, add strength in depth.
Our view: Liverpool should be genuine title challengers this year. They've added four quality players in the positions where they were weak last time. Chelsea and Manchester United should be concerned.
BDA Sun prediction: 3rd
Arsenal
Coach: Arsene Wenger
Star Man: Cesc Fabregas - The man Arsenal fans fear will be the next to leave, Fabregas is developing into a world beater.
Key Player: Robin van Persie - There was an air of hopeful optimism about Wenger's description of RVP as a cross between Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry but this could be the season he becomes a genuine A-List star.
Strengths: A gifted young squad that plays fluid, attacking football unrivalled in the Premiership.
Weaknesses: Having failed to replace Patrick Vieira they now have to replace Thierry Henry as well. Losing one world class, World Cup winning, talismanic French skipper could be bad luck. But losing two?
Transfer dealings: Croatian striker Eduardo Silva could be the 'fox in the box' Arsenal have been looking for while Bacary Sagna's arrival could free up Emmanuelle Eboue to play a more attacking role. Still no midfield enforcer, though.
Our view: No matter how they try to dress it up losing Henry was a body blow. Maintaining their status in the 'big four' without him would be a credible achievement.
BDA Sun prediction: 4th
Tottenham
Coach: Martin Jol
Star Man: Dimatar Berbatov - Hailed as the new Marco Van Basten, Berbatov has got the lot. And he can only improve in his second season.
Key Player: Aaron Lennon - Was in and out the side during an injury-hit season last year but has the potential to be Tottenham's Ronaldo.
Strengths: A dynamic squad packed with young talent and a stable of forwards to rival the top four.
Weaknesses: Flimsy in central midfield where Didier Zokoro has yet to prove himself and Jermaine Jenas looks more and more over-rated with every game.
Transfer Dealings: Splashing an amazing £17 million on Darren Bent, when you already have a better striker in Jermaine Defoe sitting on the bench, makes no sense whatsoever. Jol may have been better advised to spare his cash for his shaky midfield. Gareth Bale and Younis Kabul will markedly improve their defensive options.
Our View: Have improved on a squad that was 'best of the rest' last season, but still not ready to challenge the top four.
BDA Sun prediction: 5th
Newcastle
Coach: Sam Allardyce
Star Man: Obafemi Martins - The pacy Nigerian made a big impression on his debut season, but his best is yet to come.
Key Player: Michael Owen - The England striker has an incomparable goal-scoring ration at the top level and if he can recover his best form he can help turn Newcastle into Champions League contenders.
Strengths: In Owen, Viduka and Martins they have a triumverate of the league's best strikers and if Damien Duff can get fit they have one of the best wingers in the league.
Weaknesses: Still in a rebuilding phase at the back where Allardyce has bought a complete new defence. Have been jinxed with injuries in recent seasos and fitness doubts still surround key men like Owen and Duff.
Transfer Dealings: Man City bad boy Joey Barton looks to be a like-for-like replacement for Scott Parker and Alan Smith and Mark Viduka, while adding options in attack, are arguably past their best. More promisingly for Magpies fans - they brought in four new defenders.
Our view: Seven new signings on the field but the best piece of transfer business Newcastle did this summer is in the dug-out.
BDA Sun prediction: 6th
Portsmouth
Coach: Harry Redknapp
Star Man: David James - Once nicknamed 'calamity James' the unfairly maligned keeper was the foundation on which Pompey's success last season was based.
Key Player: David Nugent - Long believed to be the best striker outside the Premiership Nugent, looks to have the class to make the step up to the EPL.
Strenghts: A solid defence props up a supremely creative midfield featuring the likes of Pedro Mednes and Ghanaian new boy Sulley Muntari.
Weaknesses: So many new faces from so many different countries could make for a volatile melting pot at Fratton Park this season. They'll also lose half their team to the African Cup of Nations mid-season.
Transfer Dealings: Wheeler-dealer Harry Redknapp has done the best business of anyone over the summer bringing in a host of talented new players. Muntari, the 22-year-old Ghanaian midfielder rated as better than compatriot Michael Essien, looks the pick of the bunch. But Sylvain Distin will help solidify the defence while Nigerian striker John Utaka and Nugent add youth, pace and goals to the attack.
Our view: Pompey have a look of a team on the up. This could be a big season on the south coast.
BDA Sun prediction: 7th
Blackburn
Coach: Mark Hughes
Star Man: David Bentley - The former Arsenal winger has come into his own at Blackburn.
Key Player: Morten Gamst Pederson - Showed glimpses of his class last season and has the potential to be one of the best creative midfielders in the Premiership,
Strengths: A top-class young manager, solid defence and flair on the flanks. Also, one of the few teams in the Prem with a genuine 20-goal-a-season man in Benni McCarthy.
Weaknesses: Lack depth and creativity in centre-midfield and have been outdone in the transfer market by their UEFA Cup rivals.
Transfer Dealings: Hughes' only major signing Roque Santa Cruz was a major gamble. He showed his class for Paraguay during the Copa America but if he couldn't do the business in Germany for Bayern Munich, why should he in England? New Dutch striker Maceo Ritgers, looks a good bet for the future.
Our view: Haven't really improved their squad from last season, but sometimes holding what you have is the best way of making progress. .
BDA Sun prediction: 8th
Everton
Coach: David Moyes
Star Man: Mikel Arteta - The Spaniard was one of the surprise players of the year in the Premiership last season and has been the key in Everton's evolution into a more creative, attacking side.
Key Player: Andy Johnson - needs to recover his form from the start of last season.
Strengths: The team has a quality 'spine' from Tim Howard in goal, through Jolean Lescott at the back, Arterta in midfield and Johnson up front.
Weaknesses: They lack a truly world class player that could help them punch through the glass ceiling from mid-table to Champions League contender.
Transfer Dealings: Phil Jagielka from Sheffield United gives options in a host of positions while Leighton Baines is a decent attacking full-back. South African midfielder Steve Pienaar could be their 'wildcard' buy.
Our view: Can continue their upward cruve
BDA Sun prediction: 9th
Manchester City
Coach: Sven Goran Eriksson
Star Man: Martin Petrov - The Bulgarian winger arrives with an outstanding reputation as a goal threat.
Key Player: Roland Bianchi - Scored 18 goals in Serie A last season. If he can repeat that in the EPL then City will be delighted.
Strengths: Eriksson is a quality coach with an international profile that has enabled him to attract some of the best up and coming talent in Europe.
Weaknesses: Could start the season with as many as eight new players, all of whom have never played in the EPL before, in the starting line up.
Transfer Dealings: After losing Sylvain Distin and Joey Barton, City looked like relegation fodder. But along came dodgy Thai billionaire Thaskin Sinawatra and started spending. Big Time. It remains to be seen how well the new boys settle but in Brazil's Elano, Bianchi, Petrov and compatriot Valeri Bojinov he has spent well.
Our view: City are a completely unknown quantity after Eriksson's spending spree.
BDA Sun prediction: 10th
Middlesbrough
Coach: Gareth Southgate
Star Man: Yakubu - Provided Southgate doesn't sell him, he should provide enough goals to keep Boro afloat.
Key Player: Jonathon Woodgate - On his day Woodgate is the best centre-back in England.
Strengths: More quality than their relegation rivals and a better defence than most.
Weaknesses: A defensive injury crisis that threatens to rob them of their first choice centre-backs and a lack of goal threat if Yakubu follows Mark Viduka through the exit door.
Transfer Dealings: Viduka's departure was a blow but the arrival of winger Tuncay Sanli from Fenerbache was something of a coup for Southgate. Jeremie Aliadiere from Arsenal is a less convincing addition.
Our view: Will find it tough going at the start of the season but they'll be fine.
BDA Sun prediction: 11th
Bolton
Coach: Sammy Lee
Star Man: Kevin Nolan- a goalscoring box-to-box midfielder.
Key Player: Nicolas Anelka - Keeping the sulky French star is central to Bolton's plans in the post-Allardyce era
Strengths: Built a reputation under Allardyce as one of the toughest teams to beat in the Premiership.
Weaknesses: Allardyce isn't there anymore.
Transfer Dealings: Allardyce's golden touch in the transfer market was one of the main reasons for Bolton's sustained success. Lee does not have the same gift. Gavin McCann is a decent buy but the rest of his purchases look dubious.
Our view: Perceived wisdom is that without Allardyce, Bolton will sink like a stone. Maybe they will eventually, but at the moment they have too much quality to struggle.
BDA Sun prediction: 12th
Aston Villa
Coach: Martin O'Neil
Star Man: Gareth Barry - Villa's best player for the last few years.
Key Player: John Carew - The lanky striker needs a 15-goal season if Villa are to prosper
Strengths: One of the shrewdest managers in the business. After a season to acclimatize, O'Neil now has his own squad at his disposal.
Weaknesses: Lack flair in midfield and proved to be the division's draw-specialists last season.
Transfer Dealings: Nigel Reo Coker looks a good buy in midfield but £4.5 million for Marlon Harewood? Worst deal of the summer.
Our View: Treading water in low/mid table is the best Villa can hope for
BDA Sun prediction: 13th
West Ham
Coach: Alan Curbishley
Star Man: Bobby Zamora - Tevez was credited with keeping the Hammers in the Prem last season but Zamora chipped in with his fair share of goals.
Key Player: Dean Ashton - After missing practically all of last season through injury, now is the time for Ashton to prove he is a 20-goal man.
Strengths: Quality all over the park and plenty more cash to spend if they get into trouble.
Weaknesses: Relied on Tevez to keep them up last year.
Transfer Dealings: Scott Parker and Freddie Ljungberg add cut and thrust to the midfield and Craig Bellamy can excel in this team. Losing Tevez, Nigel Reo Coker and Yossi Benayoun was far from ideal.
Our view: They shouldn't struggle as badly as they did last season.
BDA Sun prediction: 14th
Reading
Coach: Steve Coppell
Star Man: Kevin Doyle - Now he needs to prove he's more than a one-season wonder.
Key Player: Bobby Convey - The American winger needs to prove he can fill Steve Sidwell's shoes.
Strengths: Coppell has managed to avoid the obsession with 'star names' and build a well-drilled team that is more than the sum of its parts
Weaknesses: Short of power and presence in midfield and may suffer from 'second season syndrome' as teams become more wary of them.
Transfer Dealings: Losing Sidwell was a blow but Emerse Faé looks a decent replacement.
Our View: Won't have the same success as last season but should survive. Just.
BDA Sun prediction: 15th
Birmingham City
Coach: Steve Bruce
Star Man: Mikel Forssell - The young Finnish striker has the quality to make an impact at this level.
Key Player: Daniel De Ridder - The Dutch winger could turn out to be one of the bargains of the season.
Strengths: Have a better squad than many of their relegation rivals.
Weaknesses: Lack an authoritative centre half or a genuine goal-scorer.
Transfer Dealings: Some speculative buys, but Bruce has picked up more quality than Birmingham fans had a right to expect. Ivory Coast born midfielder Olivier Kapo looks the pick of the bunch.
Our View: A tough season is in prospect but they should survive.
BDA Sun prediction: 16th
Sunderland
Coach: Roy Keane
Star Man: Craig Gordon - One of the best young keepers in the game.
Key Player: Michael Chopra - Always a player with potential, it's time for the former Newcastle striker to justify the hype.
Strengths: An up and coming young coach who doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'lose'.
Weaknesses: A playing staff that rivals the worst in the division.
Transfer Dealings: Keane has had to take some major gambles. Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra could prove decent Premiership players in time but for the most part Keane has bought potential
Our view: The odds are against them but that didn't stop Reading last season.
BDA Sun prediction: 17th
Fulham
Coach: Lawrie Sanchez
Star Man: Papa Bouba Diop - A midfield monster in the Patrick Vieira mould.
Key Player: David Healy - The prolific Northern Ireland striker finally gets a chance to show what he can do in the EPL.
Strengths: Have a young and hungry squad with plenty to prove. Very good at home.
Weaknesses: Lack proven performers in every position, including the manager.
Transfer Dealings: Some of Sanchez' gambles, like Lee Cook and Healy, could pay-off, but he hasn't got great value for his £20 million spending spree.
Our View: After flirting with the drop for the past few seasons, Fulham will seal the deal this time.
BDA Sun prediction: 18th
Wigan
Coach: Chris Hutchings
Star Man: Jason Koumas - A quality creative midfielder who will add flair to a one-dimensional midfield.
Key Player: Emile Heskey - Never as bad as he was made out to be, Heskey is always a threat to defenders.
Strengths: Have proved already that they have the resilience and the character to beat the drop.
Weaknesses: Losing Paul Jewell as coach was a big blow and Hutchings is completely unproven at this level.
Transfer Dealings: Picking up Newcastle's Titus Bramble at the back looks like an awful piece of business but Hutchings redeemed himself somewhat with the purchase of Koumas
Our view: Surprised everyone by staying up for two years, but with Jewell's departure the party could well be over.
BDA Sun prediction: 19th
Derby
Coach: Billy Davies
Star Man: Robert Earnshaw - The only player in this squad with any kind of proven pedigree. Should be their main (only??) goalscorer.
Key Player: Giles Barnes - Talented 19-year-old midfielder who is being scouted by a host of bigger clubs.
Strengths: Unlike some of the teams that have been nailed to the bottom in the past, they at least have the potential to score goals. The fact that there are several other very weak teams in the division could also count in their favour.
Weaknesses: At best this is a mediocre Championship squad. Very weak at the back and with little flair or creativity in midfield.
Transfer Dealings: A host of Premiership journeymen, unwanted by mid-table sides, have been brought in. Earnshaw looks a good signing, though.
