English Football Season Preview 2009/10

The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived. The stars of the Premier League have taken the vaseline from their dimly-lit sex dens and put it back in their boot bags, Ryan Giggs has had his knees oiled and the referees are plotting another nine months as guardians of the status quo. The new football season is here.

What follows is the twofootedtackle 2009/10 football season preview. As well as sharing a few thoughts on each division, I've decided to stick my neck out and make three predictions each for the coming season. Please don't hold these against me in May.

If you want to read a grown-up 2009/10 preview, tomorrow (that's Monday 10th August, calendar fans) is your chance. Our friends at The Guardian have pulled together what promises to be a fine collection of pre-season musings: The Season. Featuring views on Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Roberto Martinez and Newcastle United as well as pieces on Carlo Ancelotti's Twitter page and the Michael Owen-style brochures we may have missed, if The Season is anything like the paper's previous pull-outs it'll be a cracker.

Likewise, to read our Gary's excellent series of previews at Soccerlens, click here.

Premier League

In the top flight all eyes are, as is customary at this stage in the year, on Manchester. The only difference this year is that when we say Manchester, we don't actually mean Salford. Manchester City have been making all the noise of a club desperate to talk themselves into the top four, but haven't really done enough in the transfer market to actually achieve it - yet. I think Gareth Barry is an ideal partner for Stephen Ireland, but Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor - though solid enough - don't exactly fill me with inspiration. Good, but not quite good enough. As a result, I can't see the "Big Four" dropping out this time around.

Wolves, Birmingham and Burnley face a tough battle at the bottom but will be aided by the fact that Hull are so diabolical. Portsmouth could also trouble the dotted line, but I think Wolves and Burnley are really going to struggle. However, Birmingham have gambled on a few signings and might just have enough to survive.

Top 3 Predictions: Chelsea to win the title, Hull to get relegated, Villa to disappoint

Championship

The Championship is, as ever, tough as hell to predict. A growing brotherhood of ex-Premier League clubs is making promotion more competitive than ever and while attention focuses on Newcastle United, Middlesbrough seem altogether more ready to bounce straight back. And there's more competition from teams with growing experience of the fight for promotion; Cardiff and Bristol City in particular will be looking to take the big step and hit the big time.

Promoted Scunthorpe United have to be the favourites to drop back into League One, but Leicester City and Peterborough could be strong enough to achieve mid-table. Plymouth must improve significantly from last season to survive.

Top 3 Predictions: Middlesbrough to get promoted, Newcastle to miss out on playoffs, Plymouth to get relegated

League One

League One is shaping up to be a fantastically exciting division this season, simply because of the intriguing make-up of the league. Norwich City (until yesterday) and Charlton Athletic will fancy their chances of at least making the playoffs, but it won't be easy. Southampton, despite newly-abundant resources, will find promotion almost impossible thanks to a 10-point penalty. Leeds United, on the other hand, should breeze it. As well as big club status and the motivation of previous close shaves, Leeds now have experience of League One.

Promoted sides Brentford and Exeter City are not automatic choices to go down. Both are more than capable of securing safety, and Wycombe Wanderers may not be far behind.

Top 3 Predictions: Brentford and Exeter to stay up, Gillingham to go down, Leeds to secure automatic promotion

League Two

League Two is fascinating. After last season's relegation debacle, no teams are beginning with negative points. Bournemouth and Rotherham start on level pegging, and given Rotherham's form last term they have to be a decent shout for promotion. Bournemouth, depending on whether boss Eddie Howe can maintain his excellent start at the club, should survive. Accrington Stanley can't be so sure.

Burton Albion were promoted last term, but circumstances have changed somewhat. They lost Nigel Clough to Derby County after more than a decade at the club and threw away a huge lead to almost snatch the status quo from the jaws of automatic promotion. And then, of course, there's Sven Goran Eriksson's new job at Notts County...

Top 3 Predictions: Burton to get relegated, Rotherham to reach playoffs, Sven to manage Notts County at least once

(Pic via WebHush)