And the title goes to...

The dawning of another thrilling season of Barclays Premier League football is almost upon us. A season that is set to ask several key questions.

Will the loss of Ronaldo prove fatal to United's ambitions? Can Liverpool build on last season's challenge despite a lack of harmony among key players? Is Hughes able to gel a team of new arrivals into a serious threat? Will the traits that bore Ancellotti's success in Italy transcend in the Premiership? Is Arshavin the man to fire Arsenal to glory?

Manchester United have shown an ability to bounce back following the departure of a superstar. However, never under Ferguson has the world’s best player been stripped from his side. The void left will be detrimental to United. Antonio Valencia and Michael Owen will provide goals and creativity, but not as many or as much as Ronaldo mustered.

It will not only be the goals and creativity that will be missed. Ronaldo’s presence demoralised the opposition. They knew that regardless of how much they stifle United’s attack, he was capable of producing a moment of unstoppable magic to win a game.

United will challenge without him, however, a third place finish is not unforeseeable.

Liverpool are serious contenders. Much will depend on the availability of Gerrard and Torres. Starting alongside each other on only 12 occasions last season proved definitive. The two are irreplaceable. There is a lack of naturally gifted attackers in reserve at Anfield, perhaps because that would be their status – reserve.

The apparent disharmony shown by Mascherano and Alonso will bear an affect. Alonso appears set for a move to Real Madrid within the week. His subsequent replacement will prove pivotal to their challenge. Alonso was arguably Liverpool’s most consistent performer last season, controlling the pace and direction of play almost every time he pulled on the red jersey.

A top two finish is within their reach. And is expected on Merseyside.

The spending spree embarked upon by Manchester City signals the owner, Sheikh Mansour’s intent. Qualification for the Champions League is vital for boss Mark Hughes.

The signings have been plentiful in both number and ability. City will be an entirely different proposition next season. How Hughes will accommodate Adebeyor, Santa Cruz, Tevez, and Robinho will be intriguing to watch.

City have strengthened all over the pitch. I believe Toure will regain the form he showed earlier in his Arsenal career, prior to stagnating and arguing on and off the field with William Gallas. Should Lescott’s imminent arrival materialise, the club will boast a defensive partnership to rival the ‘big four’ – especially Arsenal’s.

City are an unknown entity, should the team gel...Arsenal will suffer. I cannot envisage the London club being able to fend off the challenge, and United may also prove susceptible to their city rivals.

Carlo Ancelotti could be the man who decides the league title’s destination.

He is a manager of undoubted ability. A master tactician able to boast an impressive haul of trophies. Should his affect prove as great as that imposed by Guus Hiddink, Chelsea will be those celebrating come May.

Chelsea possess a squad full of experience and ability. Their signings thus far have been uninspiring, the capture of the skilful Zhirkov being most notable. Although, Andrea Pirlo Looks increasingly likely to join him.

Paper talk has linked Chelsea with the sensational signings of Sergio Aguero and Franck Ribery. Should the talk hold more fact than fiction, they would be difficult to look past for title favourites.

Arsenal are in trouble.

The departures of Adebeyor and Toure to Man City may prove disastrous. Less so by their void from the side, more so by their strengthening of ‘big four’ rivals, City. The arrival of Vermaelen should fill the gap left by Toure, whether Wenger decides to ship in a replacement for Adebeyor remains to be seen.

The form of Arshavin is extremely promising. He will definitely enjoy a highly productive season, perhaps productive enough to maintain Arsenal’s status in the top four.

The promising youth starlets at the Emirates appear to be coming into fruition. I predict telling contributions from Aaron Ramsey and Jack wilshere; along with an improvement in Walcott’s game.

The Gooners will regard a top four finish as a successful season, and I’m not convinced their team will achieve it.

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Newcastle lose relegation dogfight

It still hasn't sunk in. Newcastle United have been relegated.

It didn't happen overnight, it has been a slow demise - one which began the day Sir Bobby Robson was "relieved of his duties" and one that accelerated the day Mike Ashley's £134 million takeover was finalised.

Freddy Shepherd's decision to sack Bobby Robson in August 2004 was ill-advised, and inevitable following Shepherd's refusal to extend his contract just two months prior - the same month Newcastle had an official £20 million bid for Wayne Rooney turned down.

Although Robson failed to win any silverware during his tenure, he did lead the Tyneside outfit to two successive Champions League qualification finishes - his failure to make it three-in-a-row (only finishing Fifth!) being the catalyst of his sacking.

Since his departure, the club never looked like repeating such success.

Mike Ashley took over from Shephard in 2007 and his first decision was to sack Sam Allardyce after only eight months in charge in January 2008 - Newcastle were in 11th place in the table at the time of his sacking (Allardyce has since proved very successful, saving Blackburn Rovers from relegation this season with apparent ease).

Ashley then proceeded to run the club into the ground. Just days after appeasing fans with his decision to appoint Kevin Keegan as their new manager, he opted to hand Dennis Wise a powerful, wide-ranging executive position along with a reported £1.5 million-a-year salary.

This proved to be the worst decision he could have made. Wise's involvement in team transfers - resulting in the arrival of inadequate Spanish striker Xisco and the ineffective Ryan Taylor - infuriated Keegan and prompted his decision to quit.

From then on, Newcastle were in complete disarray. The bizarre decision to appoint Joe Kinnear as manager resulted in an alarming slump in form and a triple heart bypass for the man in charge. By the time Newcastle legend Shearer took over it appeared - and proved - impossible to save the club from the drop.

Oh, how different could it have been had they beaten Man Utd to the signing of potentially England's greatest ever player?

It shocks me that Newcastle will be playing in the Championship next season. During my time as a football fan Newcastle have always been a big club. A big club with big players.

Shearer, Beardsley, Ginola, Cole, Ferdinand; and those elasticated legs of Tino Asprilla!

They have given us two of the greatest Premier League games of all time, both resulting in thrilling 4-3 victories for Liverpool in '96 and '97.

A scintillating hat-trick for Asprilla in a famous 3-2 Champions League victory against Barcelona in '97.

And, not forgetting, that Ginola goal against Ferencvaros in their '96 Champions League campaign.

Newcastle have provided me with so much joy and entertainment in their recent history. And, for that, I am gutted they find themselves playing second-tier football for the first time in 16 years.

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Champions of England. Champions of Europe?

Hats off. A superlative title defence - if not achieved in superlative fashion.

United (with the odd exception) have done just enough throughout this season. A total of nine 1-0 wins, and a further six victories by a one goal margin. They have played far from their peak many times, but have still proved victorious at the final whistle - a feat their closest challengers (and rivals) Liverpool failed to achieve, ultimately, on too many occasions.

In the games Manchester United have played at their optimum, they have done so with great fluidity throughout the side. From the able centre-backs swapping passes with superior competency; Scholes' and Carrick's (or Fletcher, Anderson and Giggs for that matter!) interchanges - in both position and passing patterns; to a lethal frontline that have gelled utilising their individual brilliance.

It is still in the balance as to whether Carlos Tevez, part of that frontline, will remain at Old Trafford next season - although his apparent 'goodbye' waves & kisses to the crowd when substituted in today's 0-0 draw with Arsenal (crowning United champions) make his departure almost certain.

I would be overjoyed to witness Tevez playing (busting a gut!) in the red shirt of Merseyside next season. He would make an awesome addition to the squad for next season's follow up title challenge; and a cert to start on many more occasions than he has been allowed under Ferguson.

At the end of today's game against Arsenal, although gutting to see United celebrating the title win, it was also strangely satisfying witnessing the relief on the faces of their players, knowing it was my team that has pushed them all the way (all except the final fixture) this season - something I haven't seen since the inception of the Premier League.

Perhaps it could have been different. Had Gerrard & Torres started together more than twelve times it surely would have been. I do not say this with green-eyes at United's triumph - they are worthy winners - I say it because, unlike Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez does not have another world-class player to call upon in the circumstances when one of them (if not both) are deemed unavailable - a fact that needs changing in close-season.

Despite my disappointment following Liverpool's exit from the Champions League, I am pleased that the World's elite club competition is to be fought out by two sides posing the best attacking frontlines in World football - and possibly in World football history.

Manchester United's opponents in the final, FC Barcelona, should have their domestic title sewn up this weekend, only requiring a draw as United did today, and will have managed to claim the title in a manner that Ferguson and his players will be envious of.

That said, it is very much in the balance which colour ribbons will be draped from the illustrious trophy when it is held aloft on May 27. If the colours are red, white and black, United will become the first team to successfully defend the trophy - placing the side into the history books.

I, for one, do not want to hear another season of "Champions of England...Champions of Europe" being repetitively chanted throughout almost each of the 90 minutes United are in action. It is monotonous and unimaginative.

It would, however, be one hell of an achievement.

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Ryan Giggs - PFA Player of the Year?

Over 18 years at the highest level. Over 758 games for Manchester United (beating Bobby Charlton's record). Over 100 career goals. 10 Premier League winner's medals. 4 FA Cup winner's medals. 3 League Cup winner's medals. And last but not least, 2 Champions League winner's medals. Ryan Giggs is one of the English game's best-ever players.

But why has a player having only started 12 games this season been awarded the PFA Player of the Year Award?

Yes, he has performed well (in those 12 games) in a role not normally associated with Ryan Giggs, deeper in central midfield, and done so at the age of 36. But how influential have his performances been?

I can only remember one, to note, being at Old Trafford against Chelsea back in January. He was immense. All attacking moves went through him at one stage or another. But this was against a Chelsea side in disarray, under the (soon to be sacked) tactically-inept Luiz Felipe Scolari; and included a disillusioned Didier Drogba, who's performance was the worst I have ever seen from a professional footballer; let alone a player as deadly as Drogba.

The PFA, each Spring, have every member of the association vote for two players to receive the award. A shortlist is then published in April and the winner of the award is announced a few days later.

Why does the PFA insist on receiving the votes so early? It doesn't allow a fair reflection on a full season, the month following the award being the most important of a season. A month in which the best, most influential players come to fruition and shape their teams' season.

I was astonished not to see Frank Lampard's name on the shortlist. I (like many) have taken a disliking to Lampard, but no-one can deny his influence in this season's Champions League and also his influence during the Premier League season - that being much greater than the influence of Giggs' for Manchester United!

Brede Hangeland, Fulham's Norwegian centre-half, has been a rock at the back all season and it would be a nice change for a player outside of the top-four to be picked on merit.

Steven Gerrard, for me, should have walked away with the award. Although he has been in great form throughout the season and led by example, it was the days just prior to the nominations deadline and weeks after that he really exploded into life. He destroyed teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United almost single-handedly, and has scored 21 goals in 40 appearances; including 13 in the league. Unfortunately, his presence has been missed in the past three matches but he could still prove the catalyst for an extremely exciting Premier League finale.

Perhaps the Football Writers' Award, due after the final Premier League fixtures, will truly reflect the player that has epitomized his team and their successes?

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