Every week Simon Bird, MirrorFootball's very own Mystic Meg, predicts the weekend's Premier League fixtures. Come back on Monday to see how he got on...
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So who is in the frame for gold, silver and bronze? And which clubs will we pat on the back and thank very much because it is the taking part that counts?
Will the charmed spirit of London 2012 rub off on football this season, or should we actually thrill in what makes football a bit different from the wonderful spectacle that was served up by athletes, swimmers, rowers and the rest?
The new season has sneaked up on us and is kicking off with the inevitable comparisons with the Olympics. The common narrative says Olympic athletes = good and wholesome sports. Footballer = boorish, overpaid and with crowds too full of aggression.
There may well be issues that football can learn from the Games, and its heroes. Humility, not confronting officials, the absolute personal sacrifices made to be the best, openness and availability to the media.
But never forget that it is our national game that throws up drama every week and sustains us through the winter months. The Olympian drama was at time epic, and united a nation - but football's inter city and local rivalries serve up tales of excellence, excitement and supreme athleticism and skill on a relentless basis.
On that note let the battles begin. Can Manchester City be deposed? Are Manchester United the only realistic challengers?
Will Chelsea's big spending be enough?
Are Reading, as most pundits have predicted, doomed from the start to being applauded, generously in the spirit of our times, across the line in last?
Game of the weekend: Manchester City vs Southampton (Sunday, 4pm)
Roberto Mancini couldn't have asked for a more simple start to the new season. Or could he?
Sure, City should steamroller the newly promoted Saints, but if there is a bad time to play a side recently elevated it is in the adrenaline fuelled first few weeks before the rot sets in and the weather turns.
Mancini is encountering a strange reality at City. He has to get rid of unwanted players before making many more signings. Jack Rodwell has arrived from Everton for £15million, and Mancini can't be happy that he's not freshened his champions up with more - especially with the Champions' League on the horizon.
Carlos Tevez seems to be back and may prove to be like a new signing, and Sergio Aguero, whose injury time winner won the title in May, will be hugely influential again.
Two promotions in two season put the Saints in the top flight for the first time in seven seasons and Nigel Adkins will have to work more miracles to keep them there, but Jay Rodriguez and Steven Davis are good signings.
Prediction: 3-0
Everton vs Manchester United (Monday, 8pm)
Sir Alex Ferguson's fight-back started the moment he was told, in full view of the Stadium of Light back in May, that the title had been snatched from their grasp on goal difference. Shinji Kagawa was bought in early and the arrival of Robin van Persie this week for £24 million is a major statement that their first trophy-less season since 2006 won't be repeated in a hurry.
Expect United to challenge City all the way and a similarly close finish - if not quite as dramatic once-in-a-life time finale.
Everton though will be a tough first weekend test. David Moyes - yes still in charge despite fears he'd look elsewhere - has extracted a great fee for Jack Rodwell, and bought astutely with the two Stevens, Pienaar and Naismith arriving.
Prediction: 2-2
Arsenal vs Sunderland (Saturday, 3pm)
Yet another summer and Arsenal's best talent is plundered. Losing player of the year Robin van Persie is a bitter blow tempered by early action in the transfer market and the addition of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud and midfielder Santi Cazorla.
But losing Fabregas, Nasri, van Persie in 13 months sends out a depressing message. Arsenal are no longer challenging for the title. They will however still entertain and thrill and Arsene Wenger earn respect for his stewardship... and be in the top four as usual.
But what of Sunderland? The Martin O'Neill revival stalled with only two wins in 13 games at the end of last season. Strikers are needed, even after Louis Saha arrived on Thursday. Can they keep Stephane Sessegnon, as he agents goes to work? Sunderland have a solid squad, not capable of any big surprised. Land Adam Johnson and Stephen Fletcher and the picture is much rosier.
Prediction: 2-0
Wigan vs Chelsea (Sunday, 1.30pm)
Just the £65 million spent so far by Chelsea on Eden Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin, and possibly Victor Moses, at £10 million, to come. That spending alone must mean they have to challenge for the title again. Roberto Di Matteo must get the best out of Fernando Torres, and blend in his new recruits quickly, but a comfortable opening five games might mean they put the pressure on City and United early.
Wigan's best hope as usual is survival, but Arouna Kone would appear to be a good signing.
Prediction: 0-2
Newcastle vs Tottenham (Saturday, 5.30pm)
So Andres Villas-Boas gets to work on his man management skills at Spurs, after flopping at Chelsea. He's bought well with Jan Vertonghen (£9.5 million), and Gylfi Sigurdsson (£8 million) likely to be influential. Doubts must remain over AVB's ability to gel a squad but he will not face the same problems that he did at Chelsea with a powerful dressing room and the need to ease older players out.
Newcastle are unlikely to improve on last season's stunning fifth place, and Spurs represent a very early test for an injury hit squad. At least - so far - none of the big performers have been plundered by rivals, and the basic first XI is in tact and hugely talented. But they also have a Europa League test to cope with, and the depths of the player pool will be examined.
Prediction 1-1
West Brom vs Liverpool (Saturday, 3pm)
Brendan Rogers can't do any worse than Liverpool's league finish last season. They will be back in the top six. New Joe Allen will ensure the new manager's playing style is implemented, but there are other squad issues to sort out like the future of Andy Carroll. This isn't a bad opening fixture for the Reds, away from home and away from the pressure of Anfield.
But West Brom, led by former Liverpool coach Steve Clark, had a fantastic season last year, ending 10th, and have optimism with new signings Ben Foster, Argentine midfielder Claudio Yacob and ex-Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
Prediction: 1-2
West Ham vs Aston Villa (Saturday, 3pm)
Sam Allardyce wasted no time in rebuilding his promoted squad with eight new faces. Can his style of play, not the most popular even with Hammers fans, win through and keep them in the league? Through sheer bloody-mindedness, and past experience, you'd expect West Ham to stick around in the top flight. V
Villa though will be hoping not at their expense after a near miss with relegation last season when they finished 16th. A change of manager means Paul Lambert gets to build on his excellence in keeping Norwich up, and this should be a season of slight progress at Villa, but perhaps not as far as the top ten.
Prediction: 1-0
QPR vs Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)
Mark Hughes has acted swiftly to improve his 17th placed squad who conceded 66 goals last season. He's recruited experience, and ditched Joey Barton, serving a 12 game ban, as skipper. It is the turnover of players that happens at all clubs clawing a foothold in the top flight, and it is a gamble. But they should be stronger than last term.
Swansea though may need go some to beat last season's 11th place. New boss Michael Laudrup has lost key players, and bought foreign, and unproven in English football. He may need luck.
Prediction: 1-0
Fulham vs Norwich (Saturday, 3pm)
I wish Chris Hughton all the best, because like Laudrup at Swansea he takes charge of a side who overachieved last season, and could struggle this time. As for Fulham much will depend on who steps into the creative role vacated by Danny Murphy, and whether Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele stay.
Prediction: 2-0
Reading vs Stoke (Saturday, 3pm)
Reading will need Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak to be at his best to survive, but other recruits like Dany Guthrie and Nicky Shorey suggest they may have a chance where nay believe they will go down. Convincing winners of the Championship usually carry a fresh air of confidence into their top flight challenge that last a few months, and Brian McDermott is a top manager.
Prediction 1-0
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Come back on Monday to see how well Simon did with is predictions