NICK FEINBERG: IT’S GOING TO BE TIGHT AT THE TOP

HELLO my good football people... I trust all is well with you! So then, here we are! Almost feels unreal that the new season kicks off on Friday! And to be honest I cant f*****g wait .

I’ve been chatting to mates, listening to stuff online and reading opinion pieces, and yes it’s that time of year where we’ve kind of made our minds up on where our team should be finish in May next year.

I’m taking a very surface look at the top contenders. I’m interested to hear what you think.

Starting with Manchester United and Spurs, where expectation is on a real high at the moment.

Yes, a new season, a fresh start and all that, but (in Tottenham’s case) should winning the Europa League make a huge difference?

Does it override one of their worst league seasons in history, where they lost 22 of their 38 fixtures? Can the new coach miraculously turn it around?

We all know a good Cup run can come out of anywhere, I mean my Chelsea has a knack of reaching the latter stages of the knockouts during very ordinary seasons.

As for United. Please let me know why there is so much optimism. Yeah, a few new signings, but what is fuelling the born-again feeling? I guess it can’t get much worse than 15th!

In a position of slightly more strength, Aston Villa and Newcastle fans seem a bit more restrained. Finishing fifth and sixth respectively last season, you’d imagine an air of expectation around Villa Park and St James’? However, it’s all gone a bit quiet. Has a sense of “one-season wonder” syndrome crept in?

Villa have made a number of signings as have the Geordies, but nothing that really says, “right, we’re taking this to the next level”. It’s a shame really, because up to a point the Villains were excellent domestically and in Europe last time around.

As for Newcastle, yeah, Anthony Elanga is a decent buy, but with big-hitting Alexander Isak likely to leave and the Saudi owners unable to splash significant cash, it does feel like the League Cup win might have just been about it.

Eddie Howe is just going to have to do what he does best to keep hope alive, by squeezing the very best out of each player into a cohesive unit.

Manchester City have incredibly become a dark-horse conversation. Their drop off last season was mind-blowing! But I feel it would be extremely stupid to write them off. One of the best squads in world football coached by arguably the best in the business.

Sometimes it takes a shake and a rattle to regroup and come back stronger.

Across to west London and I mentioned this in my mail today. Had Chelsea not beaten Paris Saint-Germain a few weeks ago there would be no talk of them as possible

Premier League title contenders. However, Enzo Maresca has made a couple of great signings and much of the dead wood is being sold. It’s just a matter of time (for me) before the Blues become a genuine threat.

Arsenal fans are the funniest right? They’re already abusing Noni Madueke and calling for Mikel Arteta’s head and we haven’t even kicked the season off yet!

This genuinely is a big season for the coach. He has spent close to a £1 billion (R24bn) and no longer has any excuses.... No talk of injuries will do it for him anymore. The Gunners need to win a major trophy.

That leaves Liverpool out as the league title favourites this season.

On paper, there is no reason to doubt that they will win the title again. But we all know it’s not that simple right? A big question is how well Arne Slot will be able to integrate so many important new players into the team?

Not that it means a lot, but Sunday’s Community Shield will have subdued some of the arrogance being spouted by the quadruple merchants. Liverpool looked decent and will be pleased that both goals were scored by new players, but barring the opening stages, they definitely didn’t dominate Palace.

Despite it basically being a glorified friendly, it was great to see the absolute elation on the faces of Palace management, players and fans after winning it on penalties. Point is... No one can really predict where the title will go.

Looking at the current squads (with the understanding that the transfer window is still open for another three weeks) eg. Isak may well go to Liverpool, here is my top eight: Liverpool, City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Villa, United, Tottenham.

Here we go! Chat next week, bye bye.