Sky continue to market the 'Top 4' but have now introduced 'Manchester City and Spurs' as the 'Big 6' with Aston Villa and Everton outsiders. This is by pundits who appear not to have gleaned anything from what has gone on since the end of the season or in fact the form of teams at the end of the last campaign.
If you begin to look at the reality of the situation then it is going to be a more inconsistent season than the last, which threw up a lot of surprise results to say the least.
Chelsea look like an efficient unit but perhaps lacking in guile or youth and may appear 'stale' as they grind their way through a long Premier League and Champions League season. It is hard to look over the reigning double winners, but hard to back them with the same confidence of previous years.
Manchester Utd face similar issues, too reliant on the ageing Paul Scholes and the 'World Cup' affected Wayne Rooney who appears yo have become disillusioned with the management style of Fabio Capello which inhibits his natural aggression. Edwin Van De Saar, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs will have to overcome age and injury to have a lasting impact this season, which leaves a lot to chance.
Arsenal are a team most likely to progress from last season. Their young players are more seasoned and if Wenger can manage to sign a centre back as insurance, they look to have the right balance.
Manchester City are the wild-card of the bunch capable of a 3rd to 7th place finish - depending if Roberto Mancini can find a team, or even a squad, out of the multitude of players at his disposal. If he attempts to keep everyone happy, and there are some big 'egos' to massage, undoubtedly he will be killed by his indecision. Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott are two stand-outs with questionable attitudes, if they are not playing regularly - they will in all likely-hood - 'go to seed'. The most confident prediction for City: a new manager by Christmas.
Liverpool are in dire straits. Much has been made of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard committing themselves to the club but when you look at how they both performed last season finishing 7th, is that so exciting? Joe Cole has been ignored by a succession of Chelsea and England managers so expectation of him raising the team's performance more than Yossi Benayoun should be curtailed. Liverpool have a weaker squad than last year and will finish in a similar position.
Spurs are on the cusp of greater things. What binds them could also hold the, back. Harry Redknapp has an undoubted strength in his man-management style but constantly insists that he 'could do with another 3 players' undermining his self-proclaimed loyalty. The team will play good football but will find it tough not to be indulged by Champions League progress which could 'water down' their Premier League ambitions. Redknapp is another manager unsure of his best team and perhaps will not be as fortunate as last term when Gareth Bale and Roman Pavlyuchenko took him by surprise with their form in the 'shop-window' just as he was looking to offload.
Aston Villa are in most danger of slipping further down the table as Martin O'Neill walked dramatically and the squad looks weaker than ever. Don't be surprised to see others leave behind him from what seems a 'moody' camp before too long.
Unlike Villa, Everton are on an upward curve and that is down to one man - David Moyes and his 'eye' for a player and his innovative tactics. In 2004, Moyes employed a five- man midfield with Marcus Bent the lone striker, he was criticised as being defensive. However, through his successes with a small squad, it wasn't long before most managers went to a similar system in the copycat Premier League. Over time Moyes has cultivated a large, skillful, young squad without the money afforded to the majority of the Premier League. There has been no clamour for a 'big name signing' during the summer at Everton. Trust in the manager is evident among supporters, as Moyes has successfully negotiated major obstacles during his eight years in charge. Importantly, Moyes has learned and improved from the challenges of the Rooney and Lescott departures that hit the club hard. With the contract penned by Mikel Arteta, is there a more contented outfit than Everton?
Opinions will be divided from now until May as to where the teams will finish - but clearly it is Everton and Arsenal that are the market movers.
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