More football?
Because you can never get enough of the beautiful game.
If it seems like there is no off-season in a World Cup year, that's because there isn't.
Everybody's favourite second clubSurely, it is West Ham now it has signed young All Whites defender Winston Reid.
He joins Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn) and Chris Wood (West Brom) in an unprecedented trio of Kiwis in the Premier League.
Why Chelsea will win
Because Cech-Terry-Lampard-Drogba is still the best spine in the league.
Because Ashley Cole is staying.
Because no other team got stupendously better.
Because Roman Abramovich still has deep pockets.
Just because.
Why Arsenal might
Because Cesc Fabregas is being forced to stay.
Because Walcott-Wilshere-Gibbs are England's bright young things.
Because this fellow Chamakh looks decidedly useful.
Because Arsene Wenger is one goalkeeper away from a very formidable starting XI.
Why Man United won't
Because Paul Scholes plus Ryan Giggs equals 100.
Because Wayne Rooney will suffer a meltdown after his shocking World Cup.
Because the Glazers are running the place into the ground.
Because, because, because surely it would be greedy to want a 19th title at Old Trafford.
And then there is Liverpool
New manager - a much respected Englishman in the style of Bill Shankly or Bob Paisley.
New owners - hopefully.
New player - jinky little Joe Cole.
Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard staying - and hopefully staying fit.
Can I at least be a little optimistic?
The best of the rest
Man City seems intent on buying every footballer on the planet - but is a chequebook all you need to win a title?
Spurs should be there or thereabouts - but we have heard that before.
Aston Villa will be knocking on the door - but is still nowhere near good enough to finish in the top three.
And Martin O'Neill quit yesterday.
Everton has Tim Cahill - but not much else.
Cannon fodder
It will be "bye, bye, Blackpool" after one year.
West Brom will continue its yo-yo existence.
And surely Stoke's bubble will burst this season.
Quotes you will hear
"Zee ozzer team waz not playing football."
- Arsenal head Arsene Wenger.
"Aye, it were unbelievable. Hoots, the ref only gave us seven minutes of extra time to score the winner."
- Man United head Alex Ferguson.
"I didn't know she was his wife, honest."
- Chelsea defender John Terry.
"Nah, he wasn't 'alf orfside. Me old Mum could have seen dat."
- Tottenham head Harry Redknapp.
New signings
The blue side of Manchester welcomes formidable midfielder Yaya Toure and the classy David Silva.
The red side is excited about young Mexican Javier Hernandez.
Look for the giant Serbian striker Nikola Zigic playing for Birmingham.
Liverpool fans are already liking what they see from former wunderkind Joe Cole.
You should like
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech - classy keeper with rugby headgear.
Arsenal whizzkid Jack Wilshere - England's new big hope.
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres - when fit, he can't be touched.
Tottenham beanpole Peter Crouch - priceless entertainment value.
You shouldn't like
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba - plonker.
Man United - just the whole team, basically.
The last word
Chelsea 1, Arsenal 2, Man United 3, Man City 4, Liverpool 5, Tottenham 6, Aston Villa 7, Everton 8, Bolton 9, West Ham 10, Wigan 11, Blackburn 12, Fulham 13, Birmingham 14, Newcastle 15, Wolves 16, Sunderland 17, West Brom 18, Stoke 19, Blackpool 20.
