The season may only be just one sixth the way through but I'm rubbing my crystal ball and like a butch mystic Meg, am proclaiming Chelsea to be champions come next May.
I know it's early, too early many would say to make a prediction, 'wait until Christmas' they'd cry but I think I've seen enough to convince me my vision is fated.
Though they lost at Eastlands courtesy of a tremendous solo Tevez goal, I stand firm. Ferguson and others may grumble at Chelsea’s relative easy opening set of fixtures but the fact is they still had to win them, which they did, and some. They breezed through those first five games, out muscling and out playing their opponents with consummate easy. They were a gang of heavyweights delivering pounding blows to their opponents’ chins and winning by resounding knockouts.
Man city delivered their own knockout punch on Saturday but I wouldn't say that Chelsea have a glass jaw so to speak just that it's no surprise that any top team can beat any other top team when they set their stall out correctly, as Mancini did. They cleverly went out to stifle Chelsea’s' midfield and their plan paid off. None the less I expect Chelsea to dust themselves off and regain their free scoring habits against Arsenal next Sunday.
Ah Arsenal, with their bitty start to the season their full weaknesses have been exposed in the challenge for the top spot once again. Arsene Wenger may well come out and say “It's a mystery to me” after a vacant performance against the Baggies but it's clear to everybody else what's lacking and has been for several years now. Without a top quality goalkeeper and central defender they cannot hope to compliment their sublime footballing skills, a top four finish will be hard to master this year for the north Londoners, in truth it would be an achievement in what looks to be the toughest contested season of the Premiership since it's inception.
But do not feel alone Arsenal fans, for your team is not the only 'big side' who's troubles have been laid bare in the opening few weeks of the season as Manchester Utd supporters will testify.
Ok so three wins and three draws is not a damning insight into any perceived difficulties but the manner of which those draws have come about certainly is. With no Ferdinand to marshal the defence along side Vidic they have looked average at best at the back and any side would feel they have a decent chance of scoring more than once against them. Throw in the tumultuous goings on in Rooney’s' life just now, his obvious lack of form and confidence and they have the look of a team who may not be victorious this season. Can the old guard of Giggs and Scholes drag them through the tough times ahead and into the utopian highs of title winning dreams this year?
That remains to be seen but one thing you can be sure of is champions league football next season as they will have enough collectively to be there by the end of the campaign.
Along with Man city, Spurs will be battling away to finish in the top four although they have and will drop points on their respective journeys. Both of these teams have the best squads in the league and with a few tweaks and improvements could easily establish themselves as the new big boys of the Premiership.
Merseysider's beware! This is shaping up to be the toughest and most uncomfortable ride that both the red and blue halves of Liverpool have endured for quite some time.
Patience is required for the red set of supporters and hope is reserved for the blue. Liverpool are in a transitional period and may have to settle for a top ten place this year with an eye on getting back down to top four business the next. Roy Hodgson has an unenviable job of trying to steer a huge out of control ship through a plethora of icebergs and must be praying that a take over deal and money deposited into a transfer kitty happen sooner rather than later for there is work to be done.
Everton, like Arsenal have been exposed for shortfalls and failings over the last few seasons but they don't need to bolster their defence, they need strikers. Fast. Although the last campaign saw them ably disguise the fact they had none, this season is a different story and Moyes must be eyeing up the January transfer window with nervous anticipation.
Of the new boys who have entered or re-entered the Premiership this year it's hard to tell whether any or all will be safe come May.
Such is the way the English top flight now seems to be at it's most competitive there can't be any safe bets for those who might stay up or indeed plummet back down again.
West Brom look more cognitive under Roberto Di Matteo and have shown, against Arsenal no less, that they can play good football.
It looks as if Newcastle could be this seasons yo-yo team, certainly results wise and it may well be a nervy run in at the end.
Blackpool, whom possess a truly original and brilliant manager in Ian Holloway could have what it takes to 'do a Hull' and stay in this division so as to get a second helping of the lucrative pie but defensive tactics will have to improve if they are to enjoy more pudding.
A number of teams have so far shown that they are here to stay with good solid performances. Blackburn, Birmingham, Bolton, Stoke, Fulham, Aston Villa and Sunderland one feels are established Premier league teams and shall no doubt jostle around in mid table hoping that they might find themselves in a Europa league qualifying position come the end of the season.
West Ham, Wigan and Wolves have also shown themselves at times to just about be safe though no doubt will be looking over their shoulders keeping an eye on the precipice that leads to Championship football in what is shaping up to be a very challenging and mouth watering 2010-2011 Premiership battle.