2013/14 EPL PREVIEW

2013/14 EPL PREVIEW

The 21st season of the English Premier League is upon us like a bang! It is hard to believe that as I'm writing this in barely 24 hours proceedings in the English elite football league will resume. Manchester United will be the defending champions as pretenders to the crown will attempt to wrest the trophy that has virtually been the property of United since the commencement of the Premier League era. 

This season will be seemingly unpredictable with the managerial changes at United, Citeh and Chelski. The return of Jose Mourinho will not only brighten the league, but will also add to the competitive edge. Chelski, Citeh and Spurs have spent big while United and Arsenal have kept hold of their key players. 

United put themselves into the driving seat last summer after signing Robin van Persie. The Dutchman did not disappoint as his goals steered the team to yet another premiership title. As at today the new manager David Moyes is yet to make his marquee signing. Chelski have already signed Cristian Cuevas, Stipe Perica, Andre Schurrle, Mark Schwarzer and Mario van Ginkel. Citeh have in their books these new players: Fernandinho, Stevan Jovetic, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo. These are substantial additions to these teams, but as we've seen over the years, it is the team, not the quality of big money signings, that wins the league. 

My prediction: I often don't like to predict which team will ultimately claim the EPL title in May 2014, but I see it finishing this time with the following preferences: 1. Chelski 2. Citeh 3. United 4. Arsenal...in that order. Same old, same old, you might say. 

MARIO BALOTELLI: THE REBEL RETURN HOME TO ROOST

Mario Balotelli's height of eccentricity came to the fore when as an Inter Milan player he appeared on a live television programme wearing AC Milan's shirt, when asked why he replied, tongue in cheek, that he was an AC Milan fan. That act of bizarre defiance invariably showed 'Super' Mario the exit door. Inter Milan's fans were obviously agitated and cannot condone that recalcitrance.

Roberto Mancini, buoyed by the affluence at his disposal at Manchester City, decided to bring the Italian prodigy to Lancashire. Balotelli is a brilliant footballer, but unmanageable even by his fellow Italian. The altercation the pair had in that infamous training ground burst up was the last straw that broke Balotelli's capricious sojourn at Manchester City.

Manchester City fans, and by extension the followers of the English Premier League, will be relieved to see the back of the lad who had finalised a move to a team he claimed to support, AC Milan. Whether he can be managed at the red heart od Milano is a different matter, but I would love to watch the next Milan derby: The quantum of hoot he will receive from Inter Milan fans can only be compared to that received by Luis Figo from Barcelona fans when he moved to bitter rivals Real Madrid in 2000. When Figo to the Nou Camp for a league match, he was accorded a heated reception from the fans that hitherto adored him, many started throwing objects at him, including, if I can remember correctly, a pig's head.