Well, I don't know about you but to me, close season is more boring, than the most boring thing, in the land of the boring !!  OK we had Euro 2000, but hey, did you get excited about England?  Particularly the way they played.  I didn't!

So on to the new season.  Firstly, I would like to mention Jack Walker.  He was a Blackburn man through and through.  Given his wealth he still remained a fanatic of Blackburn and through him exceeded the heights of the club.

So Man. City dared to join the Premiership.  As much as I don't want to gloat I am going to !  They played Charlton away.  Charlton also got promoted last season so one would expect quite an even match.  Oh no.  City managed to lose 4 - 0.  I watched Match of the Day and to me it seemed they got off lightly.  Is this a sign of things to come?  Time will tell, but it doesn't look good when at the beginning of the season you see Charlton as the new whipping boys does it?

Arsenal got off to a bad start.  They lost 1 - 0 to Sunderland, Niall Quinn getting the winner.  Again after watching Match of the Day, Arsenal seemed a little unlucky not to at least get a draw.  Arsenal again, in my opinion, will be the boys to beat.

Chelsea beat West Ham 4 - 2.  Vialli has spent a lot of money during the close season, with Hasselbaink and Stanic both scoring on their debut.  But (can I start a sentence with but?) as with last season, can Chelsea be consistent?  All the money in the world can on paper look a great side, but does that make them a great team?  Too many big names all thinking they're super stars.  We'll have to wait and see but I think they're not quite there yet.

Liverpool managed to beat Bradford at home by only 1 - 0.  I think this season Liverpool will be better than last but still not in the top three.  Emile Hesky got the winner for them with a spectacular strike from an acute angle.

Leeds won 2 - 0 at home to Everton with Smith getting both goals.  Again Leeds will be in the top five but will struggle when playing the "top sides".

Now on to United.  The first game of the season with a record Premier League crowd of 67,477.  What an atmosphere.  United in the first half in parts were absolutely awesome.   They kicked off the new season as they left the last.  Ronny Johnsen scored the first but was later substituted because of a groin injury and Andy Cole got the second with a great through ball from Giggs which Cole put in with ease.  Fabien Barthez made his debut and looked full of confidence and was almost Schmichael like when distributing the ball.  In my opinion he looks the biz!!  Although I bet there will be some heart stopping moments to come!