Villa blogger Dave Bytheway is back for a second season with his predictions and take on a week that has turned his club completely upside down.

Hello all and welcome back to my Villa blog for season 2010-11, but I have to say with recent events at my club I am not holding out much hope for a decent season.

Unless we appoint our new manager quickly, I feel we can write it off before it even starts. Owner Randy Lerner needs to get a man in who will take us to the next level and he needs to do it now.

There have been many names banded about but the one I would most like to take control is Martin Jol. But I also fear that he is also the least likely, due to being tied in to his Ajax contract.

I definitely don’t want to see a gamble with an unproven manager and I fear the likes of Bob Bradley, Simon Grayson and Gareth ‘I want to play for a big club’ Southgate would nigh on finish us.

On a broader note, the opening week’s blogs are in the form of a panel, with all bloggers putting their own prediction accross.

Here are mine, let’s see how many agree.

Who will win the league?

Even with the vast amounts of cash ploughed in by the owners of Manchester City, I still feel they are way off in terms of challenging for the title.

I think it will again be a two horse race and the eventual winners will be Manchester United, edging out Chelsea into runners up.

Sir Alex Ferguson has spent well this summer picking up a few shrewd aquisitions in the form of Javier Hernandez and, more recently, Bebe.

Both are relatively unknown but equally as promising.

Who will get relegated?

I have to state the obvious for rock bottom, although personally it would be nice for an annual trip to the seaside, and say Blackpool will pick up a record fewest points in top flight history.

They haven’t added sufficiently and, even with the character of Ian Holloway, I think they are a very weak outfit who are not ready for the challenge.

In my opinion they will be closely followed by Wigan and Newcastle, two sides who again have failed to add the necessary quality to their squads.

Who will be the surprise package this season?

I’m going to please a few locals here and tip Albion.

I’ve been really impressed with the way their head coach Roberto Di Matteo has gone about things since he took over. They play decent football, not too dissimilar to that of Tony Mowbray, but with more discipline and bottle.

Signing Nicky Shorey from us is a very good move for them and, if they manage to add a few more before the deadline, I think a decent mid-table finish will be on the cards.

Who will win the FA Cup?

This is a tricky one, as it all depends on how teams value it as a priority. I hope the history of the cup isn’t insulted by the bigger clubs fielding younger reserve players as they have done in the League Cup.

On merit, I would have to say one of Manchester United, Chelsea or Manchester City, but I think it will be City’s year in terms of cups.

They will simply HAVE to win something and I think this is there most likely way of doing so.

Which players will be hot for your club?

At this moment in time my club is so up in the air most of us are suffering from jet-lag. No manager, no coaching staff and, to date, no signings.

Based on last season, I feel it’s make or break time for Ashley Young. He burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion, but last season failed to live up to the hype. I think he will show everyone this season how good a player he really is.

In closing, I look forward to blogging again for the Express & Star this year and I have shown my dedication by not quitting just before the start of the new season, something that leaves everything in a right mess with no chance of immediate repair.

Take note, Mr O’Neill.