August 13 2004

Premiership

The moment is nearly upon us, we are part of the Premiership once again, for the fourth time of asking.

Birmingham City

Last Season: 10th

In: Emile Heskey (Liverpool), Julian Gray (C.Palace), Jesper Gronkjear, Mario Melchiot, Mikeal Forsell (loan) (all Chelsea),Muzzy Izzet (Leicester), Darren Anderton (Tottenham)

Out: Darren Purse, Aliou Cisse, Bryan Hughes, Andrew Barrowman (loan)

Player to Watch: Muzzy Izzet

My Prediction: 5th

Total Points: Between 58-61

How Many Points will we get : 3/6

There, I’ve said it. Old Flat nose will get his highest finish yet in the league to date. It galls me to say it, but he has masterminded the rise of Birmingham City, as much as his porn orientated owners.

It could have been us now, sitting in Birminghams’ place this season. However loyalty is a rare thing in football these days, and this was epitomised by Steve Bruce perfectly when he left us for Brum.

But times move on and Birmingham certainly has. This is their 3rd season in the Premiership and there has been transfer activity at St Andrews this season, which will leave the home fans dying for the season to start.

Bruces’ side will be the surprise package of the new season, although when you consider who he has brought in, this should not surprise too many people. He has reunited Robbie Savage with Muzzy Izzet and the former Leicester charges will push Birmingham up the table.

Buying Emile Heskey is also a masterstroke. While he may not get 20 goals a season, he will weigh in with his fair share and take a lot of the physical work away from Mikeal Forsell, who should hit the 20 goal mark this season. The Finn is a real talent and the fact that Bruce has managed to get him for another year, after a fantastic season last time out, shows that he knows a good thing when he sees one.

Mario Melchiot and Jesper Gronkjaer will make the right side of the team a lot stronger and Gronkjaer will certainly help both Heskey and Forsell hit the net this season.

But my man to watch is Izzet, he was a class act in a poor Leicester team last season. This season will see him at his very very best. There are not many players like him around. The fact that Bruce got him for nothing, could make this the best bit of business done this summer.

With all these new faces, what will happen to our former players Julian Gray and Clinton Morrison? Well at best they will be on the bench, alongside Darren Anderton. Clinton has not really shone at all, while Julian will have a hard time ousting Stan Lazaridis, who Bruce clearly favours. Incidentally, Lazaridis has just got a new contract too this summer, which makes Julians move there all the more strange.

Steve Bruce has got the strength in depth now to really make an assault on this division. Brums 3rd season will be their biggest triumph to date.

So how will we do? Games against Birmingham are going to have so much passion invoked into them, with Bruce,Morrison,Gray,Vaesen all having been at Palace in recent memory. Add to that Andy Johnsons desire to show Birmingham exactly what they could have had, not to mention the bad feeling with Portsmouth nicking Cisse from under our noses, only games against Manchester United, Charlton and Arsenal will have more passion in them this season. There is bad blood here, and I expect 2 highly charged games. The home game, we will be victorious in. Selhurst will be a cauldron of noise and Bruce will get the most hostile of receptions since Kevin Miller. This game will be a cracker. Brum will win at home and be smiling all the way to the UEFA Cup come the end of the season. Question is, how long will Bruce stay there?

Newcastle United

Last Season: 5th

In: James Milner (Leeds), Nicky Butt (Man U), Patrick Kluivert (Barcelona), Charles N’Zogbia (Le Havre) ,Stephen Carr (Tottenham)

Out: Gary Speed, Lomano Lua Lua, Stephen Caldwell, Andy Ferrell, Andy Griffin, Brian Kerr, Bradley Orr, Calvin Zola, Hugo Viana (Loan)

Player to Watch: Patrick Kluivert.

My Prediction: 4th

Total Points: Between 60- 63 points

How Many Points will we get : 0

This is Sir Bobby Robsons’ last chance. It seems a shame that one of footballs’ most respected coaches is to be farmed out at the end of the season. There is no-one more passionate about the Toon Army than Sir Bobby himself. Geordie born and bred, it will be a sad day if the Newcastle money men get rid of what is one of Englands most successful coaches.

That could spur Newcastle on to achieve this season. Sir Bobby has bought in top quality to improve an already good side. Semi Finalists in the UEFA Cup last year, Newcastle fans will want more of that this season. They may well get it too, with the additions of Nicky Butt and Patrick Kluivert, who is my man to keep an eye out for.

It can be hard to forget that Patrick is only 28, as he has been around since 1996 when he scored the winner in the European Cup Final at aged 19. Since then he has gone on to play for Barcelona and after falling out of favour at the Camp Nou, will be eager to get his career back on track. The only Dutchman not to play at Euro 2004 in the Squad, he will be nursing personal anguish. It will also be a new start for him after the personal problems that have racked his life so far. Rumours of rape and also been in court on a manslaughter charge, Kluivert will want to fill the headlines for the right reasons.

James Milner will also make an impact this season. He left Leeds in order to help them financially, so we will have to see if his passion for his new club, can spur him on to greater things.

Talking of Spurs, Robson recently captured Stephen Carr from there. The highly talented Right back had a bit of an injury ravaged season at Spurs, he will want to get back on track with the Toon this year.

The side was in no bad shape before, the talents of Craig Bellamy, Alan Shearer, Shay Given and the inspirational Laurent Robert all grace the turf at St James’ Park and this is going to be one of the best Newcastle sides for some time.

The only way Robson can extend his Newcastle career will be to win a trophy this season. The league is still going to be beyond them, but the FA Cup is well within their reach. Europe again is going to be assaulted and I would not be surprised if Newcastle go one better and reach the final of the UEFA Cup this year.

Newcastle has many legends. The best one of all would be of the 70 year old Geordie who qualified for the Champions League, winning 2 trophies along the way to restore the good old times on Tyneside. He should not be pensioned off, at any rate.

So how will we do? Damage limitation I’m afraid. Newcastle has all the ingredients to have a really good season. We by contrast will battle hard, but I see 2 defeats here. Still, trips to St James Park will be magical and will be part of this wonderful journey Iain Dowie will be taking us on.

Manchester United

Last Season: 3rd

In: Gabriel Heinz (PSG), Alan Smith (Leeds), Liam Miller (Celtic), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Giuseppe Rossi (Parma)

Out: Nicky Butt .Mark Lynch, Danny Pugh, Fabien Barthez, Luke Chadwick, Ben Williams, Neil Wood, Eddie Johnson (loan), Daniel Nardiello (loan), Micheal Stewart (loan)

Player to Watch: Ruud Van Nistelrooy

My Prediction: 3rd

Total Points: Between 65-72 points

How Many Points will we get : 0

United were damaged last year most certainly when Rio Ferdinand was banned for over half the season. They lost their dominant defender and slipped into 3rd place. It brought a wry smile to my face, as well as countless others. Truth is that United are no longer dead certs for the title, or for even 2nd place.

Simple reason is, whatever United can do, Chelsea can do. In the race to catch Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson has spent heavily to try to wrest the title back from London. However his signings of Alan Smith, Gabriel Heinz and Liam Miller combined, do not match the fees paid for Reyes, Drogba or anyone else Roman Abramovich chooses to buy.

United, show prudence in a way Chelsea does not. They already have a world class side, with players of the calibre of Giggs, Keane, Saha and Van Nistelrooy, but adding to it has been problematic. With Ronaldo and Giggs supplying, it is hard to see United not scoring goals. Smith, Saha and Van the man will be scoring for fun next year.

Ferdinand being eligible again will be like another new signing, but as last season, Ferguson will have to deal with players not being available. This time, from the opening game as Heinz and Ronaldo have been picked for the Olympics. United will be depleted from day 1.

Going out, Nicky Butt is the only real big name to leave. Fergie does have some emerging talents breaking through, which is just as well as his “fledglings” from the mid 90’s are now either hitting or passing 30. The Old Trafford production line (or more commonly known as the Oliver Twist syndrome – United going around poaching all the best young talent for next to nothing, exemplified by the “signings” of Pique from Barcelona and Rossi from Parma) will have to churn out the next generation of stars, if United are going to keep pace with Chelsea and Arsenal.

Winning the FA Cup again and still being in the Champions League will not satisfy the prawn sandwich brigade, whose hunger for the title will intensify. However, the call of “Please sir, can I have some more?” May fall on deaf ears this season.

It could be a surprise, but United could end up with nothing this year. A good run in the Champions League (nothing but the Semis will do) is essential as to mounting a Premiership challenge. I see United being nonchalant towards the Carling Cup and maybe even the FA Cup, so I see no glory there.

United are not in shape to win the league again but will still be the 3rd best team in the league this year.

So how will we do this season? It will be a good experience, but it will be fruitless. If we catch them on an off day, we may get a point. I’m not expecting it. What will be great for us, is the fact that we are playing them again. It has been too long since the last time, and the atmosphere will be electric.