prediction:NUFC will challenge strongly

At the end of next season I might as well be eating my words, but as of now, that is my prediction; Newcastle United will be one to look for. In all honesty, I thought they'd a strong squad last season (although not all were fit throughout the season. Some were unfit the whole season. Kot?); Solano, Emre, Butt, Dyer, Duff, Parker, Babayaro, Martins, Luque, Owen. I mean, with all due respect, I believe that Newcastle had more 'desirable' players than Liverpool (and maybe even Arsenal) do. I mean, if any team made a bid for say, Peter Crouch (or even Dirk Kuyt), I'd say I really did not see that coming. But Owen? and/or Martins? Even Luque? You bet! What NUFC lacked, I think, was a solid defence (out! Titus Bramble! And lose some weight!) and, no disrespect to Glenn Roeder but this is just a personal opinion, a top manager. I think over the past few years they've learnt that they made a terrible mistake by sacking Sir Robbo, not unlike Real Madrid's when they did the same to Del Bosque.

Now with Big Sam at the helm, I see good things coming their way. At Bolton, Big Sam have always been a manager capable of doing so much with so little financial backing. At NUFC, fortunately, and maybe unfortunately for the rest of the EPL teams, the money is always there. Already Joey Barton have been recruited, with Viduka seemingly heading the same way, thereby adding more muscle to their attack already with the pace and determination of Obafemi Martins. Curbing Barton's behaviour off field will be a challenge Big Sam relishes. He did well with Le Sulk at Bolton, who enjoyed a pretty good season I reckon.

Hopefully it'll be a 5-horse race next season in the EPL. That's excitement for you. And Chelsea is applying a very intriguing strategy in the transfer market; they've paid virtually nothing to secure some good players. Hopefully they change their tactics on the field too; to attacking, next season.