It's such a shame that the big kick off to the Barclays Premier League season has been disrupted by the rioting across the country this week.
It promises to be such an exciting season and it's a long time since I can remember four sides being single-figure prices to win the League.
Sky Bet's Title odds: 13/8 Man Utd, 11/4 Chelsea, 4/1 Man City, 9/1 Liverpool, 10/1 Arsenal, 50/1 Tottenham, 300/1 bar.
Young & Richards: could we see a Manchester one-two this season?
What a brilliant FA Community Shield we had to get the season started. But whilst Gary Neville was celebrating in our Wembley studio, Sky Bet were licking their wounds as Nani's late winner cost them a six-figure sum.
Gary also explained why Sir Alex Ferguson took such pleasure from the victory as he got a glimpse of the future at Manchester United in the second half with the average age of the United side that turned the game around, just 23. Exciting times at Old Trafford for the present and future.
Do City have the spirit, cohesion and desire needed to win the title?
Ed Chamberlin
Quotes of the week
New Premier League season
Stoke City v Chelsea
1pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1
West Brom v Man Utd
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1
Man City v Swansea
7pm, Mon, Sky Sports HD1
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And yet, despite the Wembley defeat, it's widely believed that Manchester City, on paper, have the best team in the Premier League. Their goalkeeper and back four are as good as any in the League, in Nigel De Jong they have arguably the best defensive midfielder, for me David Silva is the most exciting creative talent and Sergio Aguero could well be about to set the Premier League alight.
However, do City have the spirit, cohesion and desire needed to win the title? Roberto Mancini certainly has his hands full keeping his group of players happy let alone creating a winning team spirit.
One also wonders if they play a style of football that wins championships in this modern age. Does Mancini need to be more attacking in the big games than last season? Their counter-attacking style requires so much chasing of the ball that you fear the effects of three big games in a Champions League week.
I think Manchester United with their winning mentality and squad cohesion will be very hard to beat again but Manchester City can run them close. I fully expect David Silva to be one of the stars of the season and look forward to seeing what Sergio Aguero can do up front.
I therefore think Sky Bet's 5/1 on United winning the League and City coming second looks a decent bet. A 1-2-3 of Man Utd, Man City and Chelsea also appeals at 10/1.
I'm really looking forward to presenting the first Monday Night Football which could see Aguero make his debut as Manchester City (1/4 with Sky Bet) host new boys Swansea (11/1).
Before that I'll be at the Hawthorns for Super Sunday to see Stoke (9/2) play Chelsea (4/6) and the champions Manchester United (8/15) take on West Brom (5/1).
Surprisingly this will be the first time ever that West Brom have kicked off a Premier League campaign at home. Worrying for Roy Hodgson and the home side it's been 22 years since the defending champions lost on the opening weekend (Arsenal lost 4-1 at Old Trafford in Aug 1989) and WBA have yet to win a PL game against Man Utd, taking only two points from a possible 30.
West Brom last beat United in the League in the same year that Prince Harry was born and Torvill and Dean won Olympic Gold!
They last met on New Year's Day when Man Utd won 2-1 at the Hawthorns with goals from Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Rooney's header was his first club goal in open play for nine months, while the match was the last of Gary Neville's 602 appearances for Man Utd.
Many believe he should have been sent off in the match, which I look forward to asking him about on Sunday! I hope you can join us from 1pm on Sky Sports HD1.
Comments (14)
Ahmed Abdikarim says...
i think united will win the tittle coz of the exprience of winning it last season plus the youths they hv got,but chelsea will push all the way.
Posted 15:05 23rd August 2011
Jason Daly says...
listen mark i understand wat u are saying but u cant honestly tell me chelsea have alot of youth name 3 players under 25 dat would get into the first team wit ease and yes i am a utd fan and i know im a bit biased but at least im not one of these people who think they know everything about football i value your but im sorry its wrong u think the likes of tevez , ballotelli, yaya toure are there because of citys amazing history i dont think so all i hear these days is city players complaining bout manchester when was the last time you heard a utd players complaining bout the manchester cause they know how lucky they are to be playin for such a massive club.OH YEAH AND OBVIOUSLY IM A MANUTD FAN I SAID COME ON UTD AT THE END OF MY LAST COMMENT U REALLY ARENT THE BRIGHTEST BULB IN THE PACK
Posted 11:36 12th August 2011
Paul Lake says...
Well said Mark. You don't finish 3rd with no heart. Its so easy for people to say players go to City for money but in truth that was true 2 years ago. Now we have a very strong squad, champs league and look a real threat so thats maybe why players want to come too.
Posted 11:12 12th August 2011
John Bateman says...
Adam you ask why Liverpool over Arsenal,what you are overlooking and so are many pundits and surpporters is you all talk of Henderson,Adam etc but we have Mierless over Ramsey and Aqualani is as good as the much hyped up english wilshere and as far as i"m aware Gervinho is a striker and downing a winger. Liverpool have more strength in depth than Arsenal.
Posted 11:07 12th August 2011
City Lady says...
For me united will always be front runners because of their history in the Premier league. This season, I am sure isn't any different as we approach the season with the buys they have made. One thing we can be sure of is they will be there about come may as will Chelsea, City and Liverpool. I do not think Arsenal will be as they have been on a downward spiral since the end of last season. My bets are City as they have a lot to prove and will be a thorn in most of the sides. This season proves to be one of the toughest in Premier league history and it can only be of benefit to the people who pay the wages, we the fans. People slate City for their buying and why? all clubs do it, just that city have had to play catch up to be where they are. real football fans who are not biased would say in the same position what I am about to say here. Manchester city will no doubt try to win the league rather than go all out in 4 competitions as the champions league is a massive ask first time round. I really do not see City getting past the groups stages and I am an avid blue, as much as it pains me to say that I just feel we are way off beating the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid and who knows maybe in 2/3 season it may be a reality. I just think even with the players City have they are trying to bite off more than they can chew and I personally would settle for a domestic cup and a close run for the title. For me the key to a successful city is consistency, if they reach that then who knows what they can achieve.
Posted 09:44 12th August 2011
Rhys Williams says...
With Sneijder, or without Sneijder, I can't look past United stretching their lead at the top of English football with a 20th title. I was there at Wembley, where from where I sat United not only destroyed a poor city team in the 2nd half!! How they went behind by 2 before half time baffled me, their football was amazing to watch at times, and of course although they were no Barcelona, the 2nd goal was as close as you will get. In fact I believe United will win teh title by 7-8 points.
Posted 09:36 12th August 2011
Andrew Cockburn says...
I can well see the 2011/12 PL title battle developing into would might be termed "the battle of Manchester", although I dare say Chelsea, who will no doubt be re-vitalized under new boss AVB, will once again have a say in matters. I feel Arsenal are perhaps a little too inconsistent to make a sustained challenge, while Liverpool, although re-vitalized under "KK", still don't appear quite ready to make a title bid just yet. However, the latter two should still feature in the battle for European spots, along with Spurs and one or two others.
Posted 08:54 12th August 2011
Sam Ettleman says...
the only team to dominate this season will be the red side of manchester it has been for ages and it will continue
Posted 22:52 11th August 2011
Mark Lees says...
slightly biased view there Jason i'm guessing you're a Manchester united supporter? As far as Chelsea with too much experience i don't think that is possible they have youth in there and possibly a big season for Torres, Arsenal simply cant be written off as nobodies they will always be up there or there abouts and as for City I hear alot of people coming on and saying they have no heart but last season at times they were brilliant...Ok at times dull but they ground out results thats what good teams do and with an FA Cup and a 3rd place finish then going on to strengthen with possibly the biggest marquee signing for the PL in decades in Aguero then i must say you are slightly deluded also with the likes of Richards, De Jong, Zabaleta, Silva missing from the players with heart you are way off the mark! United are still favourites but it will be alot closer than you are making out!
Posted 21:04 11th August 2011
Phil Begg says...
I agree with jason daly i think it was the wisest comment I've read on the football forums all week.
Posted 18:48 11th August 2011
Phil Begg says...
I agree with jason daly i think it was the wisest comment I've read on the football forums all week.
Posted 18:40 11th August 2011
T P says...
How have City got the best side on paper Ed? Ask yourself how many of their players would get into the United team? Not many apart from Silva, rest my case.
Posted 16:54 11th August 2011
Adam Sutcliffe says...
how are liverpool being rated ahead of arsenal, they have just brought some of the most overrated average players going, so they have brought suarez? i would sooner have van persie! they have brought downing, id sooner have gervinho! they have brought henderson, i would rather have anybody else, hes nowhere near ramsey or wilshere! and charlie adam?! he was good for a bad team, again would never get in arsenals team! people have lost the plot, we had this last year also that we wouldnt finish in the top 4 and then by the end of the season we were a disgrace for not winning the league, your all idiot, pundits included...failed managers
Posted 15:08 11th August 2011
Jason Daly says...
good stuff ed i believe utd will win the prem cause they have a perfect blend of youth and experiance if you look at arsenal they have to much youth and chelsea have to much experiance i know they say experiance is important but you need that little bit of youth and freshness as for man city they have no heart just in it for the money except for a few players like joe hart adam johnson nd kompany and thats why utd will win the league come on utd
Posted 15:02 11th August 2011