Farewell 2007, Hello 2008

Two thousand and seven has been a very eventful year for the Premier League and its clubs. Foreign takeovers, a high profile manager arrested, plenty of sackings, sublime goals and the closest title race in recent memory. Plus, most importantly of all, the amount of TV coverage of the league has increased for many of us around the globe.

A new year beckons. Here are a few of my predictions:

• Liverpool and/or Manchester United will have a new owner in 2008. The credit crunch and the weak U.S. dollar are making American investors sweat. If the Glazer family or Hicks/Gillette receive an attractive offer, they’ll jump at the chance to sell.
• The Premier League will continue to act as a feeder system for La Liga. One or two of the top players in the Premier League will leave England and join former Premier League stars van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry in Spain. Could it be Ronaldo, Fabregas, Lampard or Gerrard?
• A club that has never played in the Premier League before will be promoted from the Championship. Bristol City, Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle are just three teams in with a shout of going up that have never played in the top league since it became known as the Premier League.
• ESPN will purchase Setanta Sports. ESPN will make Sky Sports nervous that the American broadcaster will get the majority of UK TV rights to Premier League matches beginning in the 2010/2011 season.

On behalf of EPL Talk, I’d like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year!