1. Better punditry
YouTube credit: Jay C. Archer
Gary Neville has set the template for what is expected of a modern-day pundit. Let’s hope the likes of Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher can follow suit.
2. A less predictable title race
While it was fitting that Alex Ferguson won the league in his final season as manager, last year’s title race was one of the most boring and predictable in recent memory.
3. More eccentric characters
Admit it! You sort of miss Mario Balotelli and all his crazy antics.
4. Irish players having an impact
‘Promise’ is a word associated with so many of the current crop of Irish internationals, yet most will be hoping to perform with the type of consistency which will render them undroppable in Trap’s eyes.
5. BT to take an innovative approach to sports broadcasting
YouTube credit: satandpcguy
The ad above is funny enough, so let’s hope BT’s coverage over the course of the season is equally amusing and a breath of fresh air from the usual inept, cliché-ridden commentary.
6. The top Premier League clubs being good enough to legitimately compete in the Champions League
None of the English sides were especially convincing in the Champions League last year. Even Man United, though they exited the competition in controversial circumstances, lost out to a Real Madrid team that were more vulnerable than usual.
7. No more talk of “mind games”
YouTube credit: talkSPORTmagazine
We all know that the sole reason for Alex Ferguson’s success as a manager was his ability to play mind games with the opposition coach*
*Not really
8. Less idiotic/offensive tweets from footballers
(h/t kckrs.com)
Never meet your heroes – or follow them on Twitter
9. Smaller clubs taking Swansea and Michu’s lead
All too often, promoted clubs and others struggling against relegation adopt a style so negative that their games are borderline unwatchable. However, in recent seasons, Swansea have shown that clubs with limited resources can genuinely pose a threat to the big boys while still managing to play in an attractive manner.
10. Less managerial sackings
After Arsene Wenger, Alan Pardew is the Premier League’s second longest-serving boss, which tells people everything they need to know about the cutthroat nature of managerial life in the top flight. Indeed, it’s unlikely that Alex Ferguson would received the same level of patience that he was afforded during his less-than-assured to start to life as United manager, were he a rookie coach starting out now.
11. More respect being shown to referees
YouTube credit: SunSportVideos
Managers all too readily blame referees for their team’s misfortune, yet when a bad decision goes in their favour, they invariably ‘fail to see’ the incident in question. David Moyes bucked this trend last season when he condemned Marouane Fellaini for a blatant head-butt. Let’s hope more managers follow his example.
12. Less shocking tackles
YouTube credit: Football7Comps
Players may not like John Terry, but that does not give them license to virtually assault him. Thankfully, dangerous tackling has been reduced in recent years, owing to harsher punishments being implemented, however so long as incidents like the one above keep happening, more must be done to discourage such challenges.
13. Chris Kamara to keep being hilarious
YouTube credit: megamegafon
Because everybody loves Chris Kamara!
