The Big League is back...

Here we are, standing on the cusp of the new Premier League season, can I take the excitement? Well, yes. To be honest I'm sick and tired of the whinging, overpaid tarts that currently inhabit the place. But, in saying this I see no reason not to have a look at the games this weekend and put my tips where my mouth is.My big tip, having seen the frankly pathetic offering in the Community Shield yesterday is to get on Manchester City for the title. Whilst I let you get your heads round that I'll have a look at those games!

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, 1245 Saturday
Deja vu anyone? The last meaningful game of last season is the first meaningful game of this year. Having tipped City for the title you might expect me to be backing them to beat Tottenham here. Not so, I think it might take a few games for the new boys to bed in and for Mancini to figure out his starting XI. With Tottenham having not added to their squad yet we can only be days, if not hours, away from Sloppy Chops moaning about being down to the 'bare bones'. The twat. They have basically a full squad to pick from for this one and they are all used to playing together so I would be looking at them to probably look better in terms of their passing and movement. I think City can get a draw though with their impressive new backline. I would back them with a +0.5 handicap at 1.83 with Victor Chandler.

Aston Villa v West Ham, 1500 Saturday
I have Villa down to be one of the more disappointing teams this year as O'Neill's staggeringly poor tactics get found out and exposed. They are a long ball team with no flair or plan B whatsoever and personally I find them almost as poor to watch as Big Fat Sam's Blackburn. West Ham now have Avram Grant in the dugout, and he is a manager I do rate from his spells at Chelsea and Portsmouth. So far though this summer he has failed to significantly strengthen his squad and I think this will cost them in this game. As boring as Villa are, they are strong at home so I can only see a Villa win here. With 1.72 widely available, that's where my money would be.

Blackburn v Everton, 1500 Saturday
This is a hard one to call I think. Everton, for once, have a fit and settled squad heading into this season and I wouldn't be suprised to see them challenge the Top 4 this year. But, Blackburn under the Fat One are tough to beat at home and wont roll over for anyone. Blackburn do lack a striker currently with Kalinic not looking up to the pace last year and Jason Robets being, well, Jason Roberts. I really couldn't pick a winner in this, but I fancy a cagey game and under 2.5 goals is the bet for me. William Hill are a standout 2.15 for this and I'd fill them in accordingly.

Bolton v Fulham, 1500 Saturday
Bolton are my tip for the suprise package this season. They've got some good players in their squad like Gary Cahill, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Fabrice Muamba and have added some interesting signings like Martin Petrov and Ivan Klasnic. I am a huge fan of Petrov myself and he will weigh in with a few goals and numerous assists I think this season, Coyle has got a gem there. Fulham continued their dreadful away form last year mostly un-noticed because of their Europa exploits. Because of their lack of signings and the relatively short time Hughes has been in charge I'm taking Bolton for this at 2.3 with Paddy Power.

Sunderland v Birmingham City, 1500 Saturday
Last season's underachievers against last season's overachievers in this match. Sunderland spent big and started well last year, sadly only Darren Bent continued to play well and in the end they were nearer to relegation than Europe. Steve Bruce will be looking to remedy that this year and the signing of Paraguay's impressive Cristian Riveros and the return of tough-tackling Lee Cattermole should see them more solid. Birmingham have struggled to add to their squad and freshen things up. They should still be tough to beat, particularly at St Andrew's, but they really need a top drawer striker to push on. Ferguson and Bowyer both faded last year from Xmas, probably due to age. I fancy Darren Bent to open his account early and will be backing him at 5's with William Hill to be first goalscorer.

Wigan v Blackpool, 1500 Saturday
I fancy both of these to struggle a lot this year. The game has already been moved to Wigan as Blackpool's ground isn't ready , an auspicious start for the Tangerines. Both teams aren't renowned for their defending, with Holloway and Martinez putting most of the emphasis on attack. With this in mind I think this could be the best game for the neutral if goals=fun for you? I never had a bet on a Wigan game in 90 minutes last year as they are far too unpredictable and I wont be changing that habit whilst Martinez is in charge. I'll take over 2.5 goals at 2.2 with bodog.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Stoke City, 1500 Saturday
Here we have 2 teams most neutrals would struggle to get excited about! Tony Pulis has been linked with attacking players all summer, which would suggest he knows his side's weakness and is trying to improve. But, he has been thwarted by the fact Stoke are a realtively small team and are synonymous with crap football to most. Mick McCarthy has again added 2 very good Championship players to his squad in Stephen Hunt and Steven Fletcher. I think both are good enough to be in a team in the bottom half of the table and are good buys. I reckon we could be in for a boring game here and would back under 1.5 goals and hope for a lack of action! Best price for this is 3's at Bet365 and I'd have a little bit on that.

Chelsea v West Brom, 1730 Saturday
This is only going one way surely!? As poor as Chelsea looked on Saturday West Brom are once again too good for the Championship and nowhere near good enough for the Prem. Di Matteo did a good job getting them up so early in his managerial career, but he's taking them down again with his refusal to strengthen significantly and frankly mental decision to release Robert Koren. There isn't any markets to retire off in this one! Chelsea to keep a clean sheet at 1.62 at Paddy Power looks the best of it to me.

Liverpool v Arsenal, 1600 Sunday
Woy's Boy's first real test is this encounter with Arsene Wenger's Gunners. As ever Stevie Wonder could have seen Arsenal's glaring weakness at centre back and in goal last season, and not for the first time. And as ever Wenger has refused to do anything about it. Whilst Lorent Kocielsny looks a good defender, Wenger released 3 centre backs and has brought in 1 with a grand total of 2 seasons in a big European league. Refusing to improve on Almunia and Fabianski is the worse crime though. Both are not good enought o be in a team with title aspirations and are costing Arsenal 10 points a year. Liverpool fans on the other hand are getting excited about signing a Chelsea bench-warmer on astronomical wages and persuading the perma-crocked Torres and clearly past his best Gerrard to stay. Unless Wenger brings in a goalkeeper this week then both teams to score is the bet for me. Evens at Hill's is the best price for that.