Who Is Going To Win The English Title? FM 2007 Predicts
So, the World Cup has come and gone, managers have arrived, manager have left; surprisingly, the soap opera-like happenings at Villa Park has dominated the back-pages over the last month - and now, as the Summer sun is fading, they're under starter's orders.
This is the time of year when pundits are predicting all sorts of scenarios, and bookmakers are taking ridiculous bets from fans on their own team to win the title. Everyone is full of optimism for the season ahead, but for the majority that bubble of optimism is about to burst.
So who's heading into a season they'll never forget? And which fans are about endure the longest nine-months of their lives? Football Manager 2007, the most in-depth and realistic management simulation, is on hand to answer all these questions as we run next season before it happens…
August
Liverpool spoil the Chelsea party in the Community Shield, the season's curtain raiser, with Steven Gerrard grabbing the only goal of a drab encounter. But the champions are back to their best when the serious business starts and reel off three straight wins to top the table as we enter September.
Spurs also maintain a 100% record, but rivals Arsenal start their campaign poorly, losing two of their first three matches, including a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. West Ham and Middlesbrough both end the month still searching for a point, while Reading, Sheffield United and Watford all enjoy a fine start to their first campaign in the Premier Division.
Andriy Shevchenko makes easy work of settling in England grabbing six goals in August.
September
Unbelievably Watford continue their fantastic run and end September ahead of Chelsea, though the Blues have a game in hand. Spurs maintain their great start and top the table on 16 points, while Man Utd put a good month of results together to lie second.
Despite beating Liverpool, Arsenal suffer two further defeats to leave them in a mediocre mid-table position, while Newcastle lose three games on the trot and enter the relegation zone. The undoubted match of the month comes in a thrilling battle between Liverpool and Wigan at Anfield as Henri Camara grabs a hat-trick to give the visitors a fine 3-2 win.
Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday top the Championship after ten matches.
October
The month starts with an international week and Wayne Rooney is on target for England as they thrash Macedonia and get an away point at Croatia to leave them topping Group E in the European Championship qualifiers.
Then it's back to the grind of domestic football as the big boys enjoy a fine weekend with Arsenal and Chelsea bringing Reading and Sheffield United's honeymoon period in the top flight to end. Watford however have different plans, and enjoy a massive win 2-1 at Vicarage Road over Man Utd.
Spurs are the month's real winner as they go unbeaten in the league to sit top of the table three points clear of Chelsea. Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal all begin to lurk behind with intent, while Watford and Reading stay on course for a great first season sitting in 4th and 6th respectively.
November
They say November is the month when the league starts to take real shape, and right on cue Chelsea move into overdrive stringing together a run of seven straight wins in all competitions to sit in top spot. Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal all endeavour to keep with the leaders, but Man Utd lose some serious ground leaving them nine points adrift of the leaders - a mountain to climb when you consider Chelsea's record.
The final game of the month typifies United's record as Chelsea come out on top in a fairly balanced encounter. At the bottom, Wigan prop up the strugglers as Paul Jewell prepares himself for a tricky winter as last year's surprise package look set for a relegation battle. Sheffield United end the month without a win in eight matches and fall into the relegation zone.
December
December sees all four English contenders progress through the group stages in the Champions Cup, while, however there are no contenders left in the Euro Cup as West Ham and Spurs join Blackburn on the European scrap heap.
In the league, Manchester United continue to falter, particularly against their rivals, while Liverpool are the only side that can keep pace over the Christmas period.
By the New Year, Man Utd's title dream is effectively over as they sit an incredible 12 points adrift of Chelsea (who also have two games in hand), Watford and Reading show signs of fading away after brilliant starts, and Portsmouth emerge as firm contenders for qualification to the Euro Cup.
QPR hold an eight-point lead in the Championship over Steve Bruce's Brimingham, Carlisle are surprise leaders in League One, with Swindon topping League Two.
January
New Year's day sees some huge matches and Man Utd ease their poor form with a win at White Hart Lane, while Tomas Rosicky give Arsenal a vital win at Stamford Bridge, despite the first half sending off of Thierry Henry.
Chelsea follow this with another defeat to Wigan, as Arsenal ghost into the title race with a fine run of results. With Chelsea back to winning ways, Liverpool's match against Arsenal becomes of vital importance and Florent Sinama-Pongolle grabs a brace as the Gunners go down 3-1.
Sitting bottom of the table and looking in dire trouble, Alan Pardew's West Ham suddenly turn on the style to thrash Reading 5-0 and give the Hammers fans renewed hope about their Premier Division status. Liverpool end the month in control at the top of the league, though Arsenal and Chelsea are firmly on their tail as they prepare for a three-way fight for the title.
February
Chelsea's hopes of clinching their third successive title take a dent at Anfield as Liverpool come from behind to triumph 3-1 and give themselves a six-point lead at the top. Valentine's Day sees Chelsea rekindle their charge as Liverpool slip up against Man City.
While West Ham fans have reason to be cheerful as they move out of the bottom three for the first time since November. Middlesbrough look in real trouble though, as they endure a winless February, which sees Gareth Southgate leave the club after only 8 months in charge. Reading's nosedive down the league continues as relegation begins to look a very real possibility, while Watford rubber stamp their survival with a couple of big wins.
Tottenham lift the first piece of silverware of the season as they triumph in the League Cup at the Millennium Stadium with Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov grabbing the goals in a 2-1 over Bolton.
March
All the leaders are taking points off each other in an up-and-down season as Arsenal beat Spurs comfortably with a 3-1 scoreline at Ashburton Grove. In Europe, Liverpool head out of the Champions Cup along with Chelsea in the first knockout round, while Man Utd and Arsenal progress.
Liverpool's league form suffers too as Newcastle beat them 2-0 to put a massive dent in their title aspirations at St James' Park, and then a home defeat to lowly Reading leaves the Merseysiders season on the rocks as we enter April as Arsenal move top.
April
As the business end of the season approaches Chelsea move up another gear and go top with a convincing 3-0 over Spurs, new fans favourite Andriy Shevchenko grabs two to take his tally to 19 league goals.
Easter Saturday sees both Arsenal and Chelsea draw, which offers a lifeline to Liverpool who duly waste it losing 3-0 to relegation battling Charlton, then on Bank Holiday Chelsea beat rivals Fulham to open up a five point gap at the top of the table.
Man Utd overcome Arsenal in an intense Champions Cup quarter final, as they look to compensate for a poor league campaign with Alex Ferguson's second European Cup. And then they follow this up doing Chelsea's rivals a huge favour beating the Champions 2-1 with Wayne Rooney grabbing both goals. Liverpool fail to take full advantage as they draw with Bolton, but Arsenal are back in the hunt as they notch up a win.
Chelsea, so close to a treble of league titles, appear to be choking at the last fence as Tony Hibbert grabs a last gasp winner for Everton at Stanford Bridge. They are let off the hook somewhat however, as Liverpool and Man Utd both also lose and Arsenal are held to a draw by Watford.
Liverpool fall out of the title race with defeat to Man Utd, while an Arsenal draw with Blackburn leaves Chelsea and The Gunners locked at the top of the table with two games to play and Chelsea clear on goal difference. Sheffield Untied become the first club to suffer relegation to the Championship.
May
So to where it all happens, and Manchester United see off Real Madrid to set up a Champions Cup final repeat of 1999 against Bayern Munich, while the FA Cup Final is a battle between north London rivals Spurs and Arsenal.
Back to the league, on the penultimate weekend a 3-0 win for Chelsea heaps untold pressure on Arsenal as Man Utd move to within a point of Liverpool in the battle for 3rd place. Goals from Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg take the title race to the final day of the season, while five clubs (Boro, West Ham, Charlton, Fulham and Wigan) battle it out for survival.
As the league draws to a close, it all comes down to who can keep their nerve between Chelsea and Arsenal. But in the relegation battle West Ham draw with Wigan to consign them to the Championship after such a promising season the year before. Joining them are Fulham who could only muster up a 0-0 draw - not enough to save the west Londoners.
Back in the title race Arsenal draw first blood as Aliaksandr Hleb gives them an early lead in their match, but Andriy Shevchenko settles Chelsea nerves by heading them ahead four minutes later. With Chelsea leading, Arsenal would need an eight goals victory to snatch the title on goal difference and it looks an outside hope as they lead 3-0 at half time. The goals never come though, and Chelsea hang on nervously to a 1-0 win to ensure Jose Mourinho's team lift the Premier Division title for the third year running. Liverpool lose again to allow Man Utd to finish third.
Spurs, Pompey and Newcastle make up the remaining Euro qualifiers, while Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso claim the Player of the Year awards and Watford's aptly named Ashley Young bags Young Player of the Year. Chelsea claim the remaining honours with Jose Mourinho claiming Mananger of the Season, and newboy Andriy Shevchenko earning the Golden Boot with 22 goals.
Arsenal put the league heartbreak behind them by winning a thrilling FA Cup Final against Spurs 2-1 after extra time thanks to Thierry Henry, but the season ends trophyless for Man Utd as Bayern Munich come from behind to win 3-1 in the Champions Cup Final.
Elsewhere QPR, Birmingham and Leeds earn promotion to the Premier Division, while Carlisle and MK Dons top League One and Two.
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