As a transplanted Brit, the BBC news page is my browser home page and I try to keep up with the latest Sports news from the “Old Country”.  The last few days has been kind of strange.

The transfer window deadline has come and gone, and what a crazy day Monday was.

First, Manchester City get purchased by an Abu Dahbi sovereign fund and suddenly are flush with money, and then they offer over 30 million pounds for both Berbatov and Robinho. 

Berbatov eventually signed with Manchester United, but after over a month of on-again, off-again discussions between Chelsea and Real Madrid, Manchester City get Robinho from under Chelsea’s noses.  It looks like someone has the money to compete with Roman Abramovich – Chelsea’s Russian owner.  Are we looking at the beginning of the “Big 5”.

Liverpool sign a bunch of players including Riera from Espanyol, but they don’t get Gareth Barry from Aston Villa and Xabi Alonso is still a Liverpool player.

On Tuesday, the day after the closing of the transfer window, there is the saga of Kevin Keegan and Newcastle United.  Has Kevin Keegan been fired – most pundits say he probably hasn’t quit.  Did the Newcastle management suddenly realize that they were out of touch with their fans, who revere Keegan, when news leaked and then try to back-peddle.  We are still waiting on a resolution of this one – but at a minimum this is a case of either Dennis Wise goes or Kevin Keegan goes, in my opinion.

Also finally today, Wednesday, Alan Curbishley quits as West Ham’s manager.  It seems both Curbishley’s and Keegan’s issues are that owners/management sold (or tried to sell) players without their knowledge, or at least against their wishes.  It’s a bit hard for manager’s to do their job if they don’t have control over their squad.

Its now an international break and the focus will shift to the beginning of the World Cup qualifying campaign – I’m still trying to figure out why Capello hasn’t picked Michael Owen for his squad.  Ah well – just a normal week for football in England.

As a transplanted Ex-Brit I am still very much a fan of English soccer.  Tomorrow is the first day of the new English Premier League season, and I am going to risk making a fool of myself and make some predictions.

During the off-season there has been a great deal of discussion about possible player moves, and here is my take on all of this:

Arsenal

Arsenal have lost quite a few of last seasons squad – Gilberto Silva, Alexander Hleb, Jens Lehmann and Matthieu Flamini and Justin Hoyte.  They are IMO considerably weaker, but Arsene Wenger always seems to have the knack of bringing out the best in his young squad.

Manchester United

No significant moves in or out for United, but Christian Ronaldo’s injury, as well as the summer’s “will he/won’t he transfer saga"" means that United start the season with a weakened strike force unless they can pry Berbatov away from Spurs.  Last season United played incredibly well to achieve the double of the Premier League and the Champion's League, but I can't see Ronaldo scoring 40 goals again.

Chelsea

Claude Makelele has moved on, but with a new (winning) coach in Scolari, new signings Bosingwa and Deco and Frank Lampard signing a new 5-year deal, Chelsea have strengthened their squad.  If either Robinho or Kaka can be obtained prior to the end of the transfer window I can't see any team beating Chelsea this year.

Liverpool

While the Alonso saga (will he leave) and the Gareth Barry saga (will Villa let him go to Liverpool) appears to be over with no change in the status quo, Liverpool have strengthened their squad with Robbie Keane (from Spurs), while losing Crouch to Portsmouth.  Is this the year for them to break into the top two?

So what will the end result be?  Here then are my predictions for 2008-2009.

1. Chelsea

2. Manchester United

3. Liverpool

4. Arsenal

Relegated:

Stoke City, Hull City and Wigan