The Big 4 - Sexy football doesn't win nowt in this town

As part of my series of Premier League previews, I will be posting my thoughts on one section of the league every day this week, starting off with the prospects of the Big 4.

Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari is Roman Abramovich's latest puppet masquerading as a manager at Chelsea, as he endeavours to bring the mythical formula of sexy football along with all sorts of trophies. To the surprise of many, Scolari has only brought in two players despite an effectively limitless budget. Unsurprisingly, the former Portugal boss has lured two of his international protegés into his new Chelsea setup, in Jose Bosingwa and Deco.

However, after coming so close to clinching the league title last year - only losing out to Manchester United on the final day - it would be a huge achievement for the West Londoners to come close to repeating the same feat once again. At first glance, Scolari’s managerial record doesn’t warrant closer inspection, having tasted success at club level in Brazil and the Middle East, not to mention the little matter of taking Portugal deep into the World Cup and European Championships. Oh, and he won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002. We can safely assume that he knows what he is doing.

Yet, there must surely be reservations about Scolari, considering he has never managed a major European club before. He turned down the England manager’s job in 2006 citing media intrusion, and although his fiery and confrontational character may suggest otherwise, Scolari seems to be a sensitive - if volatile -  man. He will find Abramovich as difficult to please as your typical spoiled brat, and he will need to instil a ruthless efficiency into his Chelsea side which Avram Grant couldn’t manage. Lest we forget, Grant took Chelsea to within a penalty kick of sealing the Champions League in May, and was still sacked. Scolari clearly thrives on success, but he must surely have one eye on his potential golden parachute.

Chelsea have an embarrassment of riches all over the field, although this will almost certainly cause some problems, not least thanks to Deco’s arrival. The likes of Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack have been battling for Chelsea’s midfield soul for the past two years, and so far they have managed to survive symbiotically. However, Deco is an altogether different proposition, and with his reputation for having an inflated ego, he is likely to find it tough in the Stamford Bridge dressing room, should he be accused of trying to run the show against the team’s best interests.

Although Scolari comes to the Premier League with a formidable reputation, even he will no doubt find it tough to achieve results by playing attractive football in the most physical league of them all. On paper, Chelsea have a team worthy of challenging for the title, but overall they look like falling short once again by getting their priorities muddled. As usual, expect them to go deep into the Carling Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.

Verdict: A close second, and to Abramovich, ‘second’ is a fancy word for ‘losing‘.

In: José Bosingwa (Porto - £16.2m), Deco (Barcelona - £7m)

Out: Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa - £5m), Hernán Crespo (Inter - free), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart - undisclosed), Claude Makelele (Paris St Germain - free), Ben Sahar (Portsmouth - loan), Jimmy Smith (Sheffield Wednesday - loan), Ryan Bertrand (Norwich - loan), Tal Ben Haim (Manchester City - undisclosed), Harry Worley (Leicester - free)

Cristiano Ronaldo is the centre of attention as Manchester United look to retain their Premiership crown for the third consecutive year.

After one of the most protracted ‘will he, won’t he?’ transfer sagas in recent history, the wealthiest ‘slave’ in the world (as dubbed by FIFA President Sepp Blatter) has patched up his make-believe differences with Sir Alex Ferguson after being cajoled by Real Madrid all summer long with the subtlety of a second-hand Saab salesman.

United have the best squad and best manager in the country, and will welcome the return of club captain Gary Neville in defence. Even though the likes of Neville, Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes only each have a few seasons left at best, their experience is being handed down to the equally talented youngsters in the squad.  Ronaldo is scheduled to be out for the first two months or so due to injury, but Nani does a pretty mean impression of his older mentor, and should relish the opportunity.

The Ronaldo saga aside, Manchester United seem to have the most settled squad in the Premiership, and this is highlighted by their lack of transfers so far. They do not need strengthening in any position, and I feel that this settled aspect of the side will help them gel better as the season progresses, and for this reason they have the edge over Chelsea.

Verdict: First, but only just.

Ins: None.

Outs: Adam Eckersley (AC Horsens, free), Gerard Pique (Barcelona, £5m), Tom Heaton (Cardiff City, loan), Chris Eagles (Burnley, £1m), Danny Simpson (Blackburn, loan)

Arsenal are another team in the Big 4 not to have splashed the cash with aplomb, although arguably they have been a thriftier team than most in previous years.

Having lost the likes of Mathieu Flamini to Juventus early on in the transfer window, manager Arsene Wenger must have been fearing the worst as his two world-class players in Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor were tempted elsewhere by the scent of cash and glory in ego-boosting moves.

Thankfully for Wenger, both players have decided to stick with the programme, and in fact it can be argued that Flamini’s departure was an anomaly. Arsenal have developed an excellent habit of buying and selling peaks during their respective peaks and troughs, and a youngster like Flamini moving to Juventus was akin to an Amish boy running away from home. Aleksandr Hleb’s move to Barcelona will also concern some observers, but it was a good value sell. Mr Wenger takes good care of his brood of youngsters, and typically receives excellent loyalty from them.

Although it makes good financial and footballing sense to dispose of any potential bad eggs as early as possible, this trend of youngsters looking to move away from Arsenal early on will be slightly concerning, and the likes of Fabregas and Adebayor will no doubt be tempted to leave should they endure another promising but ultimately fruitless season.

Young French midfielder Samir Nasri seems like a typical Wenger signing, and he will no doubt play a key part in Arsenal’s campaign season, along with the likes of Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie, who both missed large chunks of last season through injury. Expect Abou Diaby to take on Flamini’s role of holding midfielder, and he should flourish if he is given a run in the first team. He has the same talent and physicality that Patrick Vieira had, except that Diaby is perhaps more adept on the ball. With more tactical awareness, he will become a fierce proposition.

Arsenal have a young squad and are still developing. Although high on raw ability and natural talent, their inexperience cost them at crucial times last season, as they let a lead at the top of the table slip away due to impetuous tendencies, lack of leadership and naivety. They will find it tough to keep up with the more clinical Manchester United and Chelsea, and to join these two sides, Arsenal will need to develop a ruthless streak. Expect another entertaining season from the Gunners, and they are certainly good enough to mount a serious challenge in all cup competitions.

Verdict: A respectable third place finish beckons.

Ins: Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff, £5m), Samir Nasri (Marseille, undisclosed), Amaury Bischoff (Werder Bremen, undisclosed).

Outs: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos, £1m), Aleksandr Hleb (Barcelona, £11.8m), Jens Lehmann (Stuttgart, free), Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan, free), Kerrea Gilbert (Leicester, loan).

I hear Scousers shouting “Forget the past, this year is Liverpool’s year,” across the banks of the River Mersey. I am wearing a blue shirt, but it is not remotely similar to Everton’s home kit. The Liverpool fans are already drinking cans of Carlsberg, even though I am certain they all secretly prefer the beer of Everton‘s sponsor, Chang. I nod politely, all the while discreetly upping the pace of my Sunday morning jog.

It must be that time of the year again. Liverpool have signed a few players and splashed the cash. There are rumours that they may sign more. They have beaten a shocking team in a pre-season friendly, but you’re missing the point; imagine what they’ll be like with Gareth Barry. The rest of the Premiership should be scared.

I am but an innocent bystander, and I observe the Liverpool fans - from a safe distance - with the grim fascination of a zookeeper wondering whether the baby lion has discovered the workings of the electric fence.

For perspective, let’s turn the clock back nearly a year. Liverpool had acquired Spanish striker Fernando Torres over the summer, and hopes were high. They destroyed a lacklustre Reading side in the Carling Cup on a late September evening, thanks to a second-half Torres hat-trick. Torres was the next Ian Rush. He was Liverpool’s Ronaldo. They were a force to be reckoned with in the league, the domestic cups, and in Europe. Sir Alex Ferguson was quaking in his boots. We should ignore that after 70 minutes, Liverpool were looking decidedly shaky with the score at 2-2.

A year on, and Liverpool finished a distant fourth in the Premiership, while achieving a modicum of success in the cup competitions, but without picking up a trophy. It was plain bad luck. It was the American owners and their negative influence. It was anything but Liverpool Football Club’s fault. Never mind, 2008/09 will be their season.

Perspective is a great thing, and Liverpool backers - and to a lesser extent, their fans - would do well to take note. A year on,  and I get the chills as I look at Rafa’s transfer dealings. Is this déja vu?

Another medley of over-priced South American and European players - who must be amazing, because they’re expensive, and they‘re joining Liverpool after all - join the roster at Anfield. Exciting times on Merseyside.

As in previous years, an array of exotic names appear on the list of outgoing players. Some players I have never heard of, and many more who have made mere token contributions to the side - if they were lucky enough to be afforded an opportunity. Yes, this is definitely déja vu.

The fact is that Benitez has been extremely lucky to continue getting a stream of transfer funds, when in reality, most of his signings have been fairly useless, let alone shockingly poor value for money. In this regard, the likes of Xavi Alonso and Fernando Torres have been rare highlights for Benitez, but given his method of choosing players seems more akin to an exotic version of ‘pin the tail on the donkey’, he was bound to get a few right eventually.

Overall, backers of Liverpool in the Premiership will surely get their fingers burned once again, and frankly speaking, I am alarmed by the punters backing them. Do they not realise that kamikaze went out of fashion long ago? Do they not realise that their money would be better spent on reducing poverty around the world?

Verdict: Another season of self-pity and would do well to hang onto fourth place. But I am assured they are a team to watch out for in 2009/10.

Ins: David Ngog (Paris St Germain, undisclosed), Emmanuel Mendy (Murcia Deportivo, free), Diego Cavalieri (Palmeiras, undisclosed), Andrea Dossena (Udinese, undisclosed), Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund, free), Robbie Keane (Tottenham, £20.3m).

Outs: Jack Hobbs (Leicester, loan), Godwin Antwi (Tranmere, loan), Adam Hammill (Blackpool, loan), Scott Carson (West Brom, £3.25m), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth, £11m), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray, free), Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest, loan), Anthony le Tallec (Le Mans, undisclosed), John Arne Riise (Roma, £4m), Besian Idrizaj (Wacker Tirol, free), Danny Guthrie (Newcastle, undisclosed), Robbie Threlfall (Hereford, loan), David Martin (Leicester, loan), Sebastian Leto (Olympiakos, loan).

NJ’s Bets:

Manchester Utd - Chelsea- Arsenal tricast - 1.5pts @ 8.0 (Bet365)

Man Utd to win the league - 1pt @ 2.75 (CanBet)

Arsenal to win league w/o Chelsea / Man Utd - 3pts @ 2.0 (Bluesq)