Life’s a Pitch: our 2012-13 season predictions

The brand new Premier League season is upon us, brimming with wonder and excitement. And before a ball has even been kicked we at Life’s a Pitch have been trying to predict what will happen this season.

Resident writer and vodcast host Mike Calvin has laid it all on the line. Not satisfied with simply tipping the Premier League’s winners and losers, Mike has taken the bold step of naming all the promoted and relegated teams from each of the three Football League teams as well this season. Take a look to see if you agree.

Dealing specifically with the Premier League, Rory Smith, Duncan White and Adrian Clarke have banging their heads together to work out who will win the title. Speaking before Robin van Persie was set to make his switch to Old Trafford, yet fully expecting it, the boys run the rule over Man Utd, champions Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea.

In terms of relegation, the scramble to beat the drop will be as ferocious as ever. All three new boys, Swansea, Norwich and QPR, managed to stay up last season. Will Southampton, Reading and West Ham repeat it? Rory, Duncan and Adrian work out which teams they expect to be relying on parachute payments next season.

Away from the big boys, we’ve also been taking a good look at League Two to see who will be carelessly spraying champagne everywhere at the season’s close. Rotherham and Fleetwood seem a good bet, according to our video pundits.

And, in case anyone hadn’t noticed, the transfer window is getting increasingly excited as panic levels among Premier League teams reaches dangerous levels. Our own secret football agent, Football Agent 46, takes a good look at the latest business and explains why the Van Persie deal illustrates that goalscorers still top the shopping lists of most managers.

Our site is rammed with transfer talk as our experts give the latest load of transfer rumours the once over, while at the same time ascertain whether those deals completed will be a smash or a crash.

And we also have a new competition on the go, where you can win a Man Utd shirt from the 1996 FA Cup final signed by Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona.

Expert pundit videos

Who is going to win the Premier League this season?

The Life’s a Pitch team runs the rule over the main contenders for this season’s Premier League title.
Who’ll win the big prize? >

Who will be relegated from this season’s Premier League?

The fight to avoid Premier League relegation will be as fierce as ever this season. The Life’s a Pitch panel picks out the teams most likely to go down.
Going down >

Man Utd to swoop for Lewandowski and Isco? Sinclair to City?

The Life’s a Pitch team weigh up the probability of three big moves involving the two Manchester clubs.
Transfer tittle-tattle >

Fleetwood and Rotherham tipped for League Two promotion

The Life’s a Pitch team assesses the prospects of the bookmakers’ favourites for promotion in League Two.
Hot tips >

Lively opinion blogs

Mike Calvin’s predictions for the 2012-13 football season

Mike Calvin puts his neck on the line and predicts the winners and losers of the forthcoming football season from all four divisions.
On the line >

Van Persie deal shows strikers still top manager shopping lists

Our resident dealmaker, Football Agent 46, on the inner workings of the summer transfer market, particularly the positions managers are most keen to fill.
Strikers still top demand >

Allardyce should focus on his weak squad, not Olympic Stadium

Mike Calvin wonders why Sam Allardyce is spending time discussing West Ham’s Olympic Stadium bid when his squad is still in obvious need of strengthening.
Priorities >

It’s a make-or-break season for Tottenham

It was all looking so good, and then it all went a bit pear-shaped. How will Spurs recover this season, wonders Ed Malyon.
Crunch time >

Monthly competition

Win a Man Utd shirt signed by Eric Cantona!

Enter now >

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