Summery

The season has barely begun and already we are forced to take a break so that International teams can complete the formalities of competing at next years world cup. My opinions of the current seeding system and the state of qualifying is a side issue and something to discuss at a latter time. This is a chance to summarize the start of the Premier League season and what we can expect for the next thirty games.

It appears that the dominance of the strongest four teams in England may have been broken. Certainly the top four look vulnerable but it isn't the emergence of Manchester City that has caused this but the success of La Liga as a more attractive destination for the top players. Partly due to the culture of football at Barcelona but also the elastic purse strings of Real Madrid's President. With a distorted market the Premier league has had to contend with the same issues felt by other European Leagues over the last five years (particularly in France and Italy.)

This vulnerability has caused the original "Big Four" to lose at least one game each and in Liverpool's case three. Liverpool and Manchester United having to deal with the repercussions of losing influential players. Chelsea coming to terms with an aging squad and a transfer embargo that may leave them short for the African Cup of Nations. Arsenal could yet surprise, especially after making the two best signings of the "Big Four" over the last twelve months. They might lack the power to defeat the best teams consistently but they look like scoring lots of goals against anyone weaker.

The possible detraction of the season being the lack of quality outside the top eight teams. This began to surface in the second half of last season and has been strengthened by the struggles of teams to recruit experience and quality. However the positive starts to Manchester City, Tottenham and the spirit of Everton and Aston Villa to recover form should wield more surprises.

I think I will avoid making any predictions at this point, not because I would get it wrong (the presence of an edit button makes that impossible) but for boredom. If I pretend and hope this season will be unpredictable then maybe it will come true.