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It is that time of year again, for what is turning into annual tradition on this blog: my Premier League prediction table. Last season’s attempt to predict who would finish where saw me correctly name five places, with another six guesses being one position away, as well as being accurate in picking City as FA Cup winners, QPR to be first in the Championship. That’s almost matching The Guardian’s own guesses (spot on five times, close seven times). As Kryten would say: “ah; smug mode.”

That haughty build-up, masquerading as an opening paragraph has been penned now, of course, ahead of failing miserably this time around. Still, here’s this year’s table prediction:

1. Man Utd
2. Man City
3. Chelsea
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Spurs
7. Everton
8. Fulham
9. Sunderland
10. West Brom
11. Newcastle
12. Norwich
13. Stoke
14. Bolton
15. Villa
16. Swansea
17. QPR
18. Wigan
19. Blackburn
20. Wolves

Now, admittedly this is an odd time to be predicting places with just a few weeks left of the transfer market being open, however, as pre-season friendlies start to conclude most, if not all of the managers should be in a position where they are happy about the size of and quality within their squads. Those that are still claiming to be close to “two or three signings” will probably struggle to find any kind of togetherness for the new players in the first handful of games. Games, that some may argue, could make or break a season.

City losing Tevez will be a bigger blow than Arsenal losing Fabregas, in my opinion. At time of writing, nothing has happened with either player, even though both stories have had much of the back-page headlines over the summer months. Mancini, as many would have guessed, has been the manager to act first in filling the potential void, signing a fantastic replacement in Agüero. City are 7/2 to be top at Christmas, which would be my preferred bet as the challenge in numerous competitions may end up taking its toll on the league form.

I spent the majority of last season unimpressed with Wolves, regardless of their sporadic wins over teams in the top flight. Roger Johnson is a good, albeit rather costly signing for a back-line that last season looked as though it would perhaps struggle at Championship level. They lost twenty times altogether last season – more than any of the three sides that finished in the bottom three – and I think a similar figure this year is likely. They are an enticing 12/1 to be bottom at Christmas.

After returning to my list a few hours after completing it, I realised how kind I have been to the three promoted sides. The quality of the Championship last season is well documented, but I’m keeping all three up for another season, at the expense of experienced top-flight sides, too.

A risk, but one I’m happy to stick by.

Completing the predictions:

First Premier League manager to leave his job: Steve Kean
Premier League top scorer: Luis Suarez
Premier League Player of the Year: Samir Nasri
Premier League Manager of the Year: Securing his 13th title with United: Sir Alex Ferguson.
Premier League Flop of the Year: Player: Reo Coker at Bolton. Manager: McLeish at Villa