A week late, so with the benefit of knowing the first round of results and a few more transfer developments – notably Chelsea – here are my predictions for this season;

Champions – Arsenal

2^nd – Newcastle

3^rd – Man City

4^th – Liverpool

5^th – Chelsea

6^th – Man Utd

7^th – Tottenham

8^th – Aston Villa

9^th – Brighton

10^th – West Ham

11^th – Brentford

12^th – Fulham

13^th – Bournemouth

14^th – Burnley

15^th – Nottm Forest

16^th – Wolves

17^th – Crystal Palace

18^th – Everton

19^th – Luton

20^th – Sheff Utd

The obvious thing to do would be to go for Man City to win for the fourth time in a row. They are the bookies’ favourites. The relentless machine, with Haaland scoring at ease. But, they have lost Gundogan and Mahrez and now De Bruyne is out for four months with a hamstring injury. So far only Kovacic and Gvardiol have been brought in. It was expected they would get Paqueta from West Ham, but he is now being investigated for betting irregularities, so that might put them off. Arsenal, on the other hand, have brought in Havertz from Chelsea, Timber from Ajax (though he has been injured and may be out for the season), keeper Raya from Brentford, and most important, the best English midfielder, Declan Rice from West Ham. With Dec they must win the league – I won’t forgive them if they don’t!

I’ve put Newcastle second. Initially I had them sixth, on the basis that being in the Champions League might stretch the squad. But they are reinforcing – with all that Saudi money – and the attacking riches on display against Aston Villa on Saturday, with Tonali and Barnes spectacular additions, made me think that this team could already be the equal of the fabled Kevin Keegan team in the 90s.

Of course there is wishful thinking in my first and second. Quite likely the boring thing will happen and City will win again. Just like Bayern Munich always do in Germany, even in an off colour season. But please let it be interesting…

The rest of the top six is equally intriguing. There are cases for all three to get that fourth place, if not higher. Man Utd are solid, and have strengthened, with Onana in goal, Mount in attacking midfield, and the young striker Hojlund. They are experienced but have quite a few ageing players. Liverpool have brought in MacAllister and Szoboszlai in midfield, but have lost defensive midfielders to the Saudi league and have been gazumped by Chelsea for Caicedo and Lavia in the last week. That said, if the forwards can stay fit and Trent moves into midfield again, they could be exciting. I’m putting them fourth, even though I’m tempted by Chelsea, partly because of those two midfield purchases. They are still spending like crazy, and seemingly avoiding financial fair play strictures by giving players eight year contracts, and amortising their cost over those eight years. It will catch up with them though. I’m an admirer of Pochettino as a manager, and I think he will turn them into an exciting and well-organised team. But it may take a while, and they still don’t have a forward who feels nailed on to get twenty-odd goals. Chilwell and James as wing backs are superb, but both are injury-prone. James is already out with another hamstring problem. So I think it might be fifth for them. Am I right in thinking that might earn a Champions League place in the following season?

The next bunch are interchangeable too. Spurs have finally lost Harry Kane, which is clearly a massive blow in footballing terms and psychologically. But it might be the making of Richarlison as a Spurs striker; and Son, despite a disappointing season last time, remains a world class player. New manager Postecoglou did well at Celtic, and will give the team a boost. But I’m not sure the quality is there for top six this season. Likewise Villa, despite further strengthening of the squad over the summer. Two key players, Buendia and Mings are already ruled out with long term ACL injuries. As for Brighton, every year I predict they will do worse than in the previous season, and I’m always wrong! But I think the same this year: how much longer can they keep on selling their best players – MacAllister and Caicedo this time – and finding high quality replacements? Ninth would be respectable for them.

That brings me onto my team, West Ham. Who knows? I’ve gone for tenth, because I do think there is quality in the squad. We’ve lost Dec, which is traumatic though expected. We may lose Paqueta to City, though the betting investigations may hold that up. He is a brilliant player and showed that in the latter half of the season. It would be good to keep him, even with the shadow of a ban over him. Alvarez from Ajax looks like a good addition in defensive midfield – he has 69 caps for Mexico at the age of 25. James Ward-Prowse from Southampton is a quality midfielder too. His set pieces are second to none. I hope he abandons that stupid golf swing when he scores, though. We could still do with a good alternative to Antonio up front. I was hoping the youngster Mubama might start this season, but manager Moyes is a cautious soul. A shame – I think we have some very good young players who should get a chance to show what they can do, just as happens at Arsenal.

The next ten are all a bit indistinguishable. Maybe unfair to have Brentford in there – they have been good in the last two seasons, and could continue to threaten a breakthrough. Losing Ivan Toney until the new year is a blow, but Mbuemo and Wissa appear to be supplying the goals in his absence. I think Burnley, of the promoted teams, will be OK this season, under the management of Man City hero Vincent Kompany. Nottingham Forest continue to buy interesting players, and might well finish higher than fifteenth. Luton and Sheffield United seem guaranteed to be relegated – I can’t see the quality for survival. The last relegation place is more of a puzzle. But Everton have been flirting with it for a few years now, and haven’t significantly strengthened the squad. They lack effective strikers, except when Calvert-Lewin is fit, which is not very often. So I’ll go for them finally to drop, though Crystal Palace without Zaha must be vulnerable. Interesting that Olise has signed a new contract rather than going to Chelsea – where else? – but I’m not convinced that Roy Hodgson can keep on doing rescue jobs.

So there you go. As ever it will be a lot of fun – unless West Ham are in another relegation struggle. But mid-table and a good Europa League run is what I’m hoping for. Win that this time and we are in the Champions League. And then we will really be able to sing:

West Ham are massive, everywhere we go!