3 Sunderland do the double over Manchester United with their rejects
Anyone else getting bored with Man U winning the league? Sunderland look one of the most interesting of the also-rans this year after former Man U defender and Sunderland manager Steve Bruce won the right to buy former Red Devils John O'Shea and Wes Brown. Although those two fell out of favour at Old Trafford, they remain quality defenders - and defence has not been a Sunderland strong suit in recent times, particularly last season when the wheels fell off in spectacular style as the club went into free-fall down the table.
They have done some other good business too - former Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson, defender Craig Gardner, midfielder Ahmed Elmohamady, former Blackpool midfielder David Vaughan and highly rated young striker Connor Wickham seem good investments. Expectations will be high but we'd like to see the Wearsiders do the double over the Red Devils. They won't lack motivation.
- Paul Lewis
4 An end to flamboyant goal celebrations
Is it too much to ask for a moratorium on ridiculous goal celebrations? Some might consider it entertaining to observe grown men prance around the field forming sweaty, testosterone-ridden human sandwiches while opposition keepers morph into human teapots. I don't.
Some fly around pretending they're aeroplanes; some even resort to cartwheels or backflips. There are also those odd types who scrawl messages under their shirts before revealing them as if opening trenchcoats.
Certainly their goals are worth plenty to their fans - and their bank balances - but for goodness sake, show some decorum. It's not part of the modern landscape but it would be so thrillingly retro for someone to embark on a solemn jog back to halfway with their team-mates, perhaps accompanied by firm handshakes and the hint of a satisfied grin/grimace. If they're feeling particularly exuberant, perhaps sneak in a discreet wave to the crowd.
- Andrew Alderson
5 Chris Wood makes Kiwi headlines
With due respect to Ryan Nelsen, that defensive tower of New Zealand football, a variety of Kiwi news stories coming from the Premier League would be welcome. Rather than Nelsen's exploits with Blackburn Rovers being presented in forensic detail each week, perhaps Chris Wood could share the limelight as part of West Bromwich Albion. It is a longshot. Wood is on loan at Championship side Birmingham for now after scoring nine goals in 24 appearances for Brighton in similar circumstances at League One level last year.
At 19, Wood has proven his talent with the All Whites, but he is yet to fully convince his West Brom bosses. He scored one goal for them in two appearances last season. Winston Reid was the other hope but, alas, West Ham were also relegated.
- Andrew Alderson
6 Cut the moaning, Arsene
There is much to admire about Arsene Wenger. He seems measured and has had plenty of success with Arsenal since signing on in 1996. That includes a 2006 Champions League final appearance, FA Cup/Premier League doubles in 1998 and 2002 as well as two other FA Cups and an unbeaten 2003-04 Premier League season. He is fluent in French, English and German and has a reputation for developing youth, a talent revered by those in charge of the club's purse - he gets players cheap and adds value.
Wenger just needs to cut the whingeing. Sometimes in after-match interviews, when his facial features contort into something resembling a dropped mince pie, you can see the blame for a loss about to be shirked. He is baited accordingly. Be it referees, linesmen, opposition managers or simply Manchester United - they've all been given a serve. C'mon; harden your outfit up, get them to take responsibility for themselves and mould them into a team capable of winning silverware. Then feel the angst melt.
- Andrew Alderson
7 Fernando finds form
At his best, particularly from 2008-10, he was the best. Fernando Torres inspired Spain to the Euro 2008 title, then carried Liverpool as they pushed Manchester United to the wire in 2008-09. He had power, pace and poise, was two-footed, great in the air and capable of thunderbolt strikes from outside the box or scoring via the deftest of touches.
Best of all, he owned Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic for a couple of seasons and loved scoring against Chelsea. Then he gradually faded. Indeed, as one Liverpool scribe noted, it seemed like Rafa Benitez had taken the Fernando Torres instruction manual with him when he left Anfield. He was poor for Roy Hodgson, then worse for Chelsea, taking 14 games to open his account.
There have been plenty of strikers to depart Anfield and never regain their best form - think Stan Collymore, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey - but hopefully Torres can buck that trend.
- Michael Burgess
8 Alex Ferguson stops calling time
In the words of Harry Enfield, can we please see Sir Alex Ferguson actually "calm down, calm down" when it comes to timekeeping. While it used to be mildly entertaining - it has now become tiresome to see Fergie jabbing at one of the seven watches on his arm while gesticulating wildly at the fourth official and linesmen.
His antics have started to detract from Manchester United's character. We know all about their famed fighting spirit but there is also no doubt about the Old Trafford effect on match officials. Indeed, the perception was confirmed by an English study, commissioned by the Guardian newspaper.
They looked at the 57 league matches played at Old Trafford across the 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons and found a clear disparity between the amount of time added - depending on the score. If the scores were level or United were trailing at the end of 90 minutes, they received around a minute or more of injury time than if they were ahead.
-Michael Burgess
9 Liverpool bounce back
After being at their lowest ebb at the turn of the year, when the Reds were closer to the bottom of the table than the top, Kenny Dalglish started an unlikely rescue mission. In the second half of the season, Liverpool collected more points than anyone other than Manchester United to finish the campaign on a high.
New signings Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson will take some pressure off Steven Gerrard in midfield, and a fit Andy Carroll offers plenty alongside Luis Suarez - but defence remains a major worry. The consistent thread running through champion Manchester United teams over the past two decades has been a solid back four, anchored by two no-nonsense centre halves - think Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Rio Ferdinard, Vidic et al. Their titles have been built on 1-0 wins and not conceding goals, especially away from home. In contrast, Liverpool have experimented with different formations and styles at the back, and their defensive solidity remains the overriding question mark of the upcoming campaign.
- Michael Burgess
10 The three promoted teams stay up
It has happened only once before, but wouldn't it be magic to see the three promoted teams stay up? In 2001-02, new clubs Blackburn, Bolton and Fulham all survived the cut, a unique feat in Premier League history. So what of the class of 2011-12? For a few glorious weeks in 1981, Swansea actually led the league; history won't repeat there, but it would be great to see their thin-looking squad find a way to avoid the relegation cut-off. Norwich, returning after a six-year absence, have wonderfully loyal fans; their home crowds last year in the Championship were often larger than many top-tier teams and it would be nice for Norwich to be known for something other than Colman's mustard and entertaining accents. QPR seem best placed to stay up; they already have a solid-looking squad and possess the financial resources to replenish in the January window if necessary.
As for the teams that do go down, the departure of Stoke would provoke few tears. You can admire their resourcefulness but the novelty of watching Rory Delap hurl throws in from halfway, aimed at big lumps in the area has long worn off. While the Premier League doesn't do fairy-tales, there should be some reward for trying to play football.
- Michael Burgess
11 The final day does matter
Bring back the nail-biter. There is always something hollow about the champions being decided with games to spare, especially as relegation tussles always last until the final 90 minutes of the season. On just five occasions in Premier League history has the title been decided on the final day. There was 2009-10 and 2007-08, with Manchester United and Chelsea jostling going into the final games.
There was 1998-99, with Arsenal hoping for a favour from Spurs to claim the title over United, while Newcastle hung on to thin, ultimately false, hopes on the last day of the 1995-96 season. The granddaddy of final-day cliffhangers came in 1995 - Blackburn Rovers lost at Anfield to a last-minute goal, but Manchester United were held to an unlikely draw at Upton Park, with Andy Cole squandering several opportunities. Grateful Blackburn sent Hammers goalkeeper Ludo Miklosko a crate of champagne.
- Michael Burgess
