Barely time to draw breath this sporting summer and the Premier League returns this weekend after what seems likely hardly any time at all away from our screens.
The 2012/13 season will need to be very special to top the previous renewal and the climax to last term will live long in the memory.
Sergio Aguero’s last-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers at Eastlands handed Manchester City the title in the most dramatic of circumstances on the final day, piping their great rivals, Manchester United, in the process but I take this season’s finishing positions to be reversed and it should be remembered only goal difference separated the two teams in May.
Both Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson saw their sides squander title-winning positions after the turn of the year, before the Italian’s men eventually prevailed, but the Manchester duo were miles clear of third placed Arsenal and a similar gap beckons once more.
In a bid to wrest back the title, Ferguson has splashed the cash and, with the arrival of Robin van Persie imminent, Mancini should be a worried man.
Thirty Premier League goals last season, a campaign in which van Persie featured in every top flight game for Arsenal, underlines his firepower and if the Dutchman and Wayne Rooney can forge any sort of understanding whatsoever then defences up and down the land will be quaking in their Predators.
The title race surely only concerns last season’s 1-2 and United are the value to claim back their trophy at 3.25.
Van Persie, along with the highly promising Shinji Kagawa, signed from Borussia Dortmund, gives them an extra dimension going forward while it should not be overlooked that Nemanja Vidic will also be returning from long-term injury.
The United captain is the Premier League’s standout defender and his position is an area in which City perhaps look a little light with Daniel Agger’s proposed move from Liverpool appearing to have stalled.
In fact, Mancini has been unable to strengthen his squad in any department and, while they were good enough last term, City are tipped to come up short this time around.
4pts Back Manchester United To Win Premier League @ 3.25 (Bet Victor, William Hill)