Marc Fox
The confirmed transfer of Robin Van Persie from Arsenal to runners-up Manchester United two days before the opening round of the 2012/13 EPL season certainly prevents too much talk of Manchester City reclaiming with ease the title they won in such dramatic fashion last year.
Van Persie's clear decision to snub the advances and presumably higher weekly wages of the English champions to instead join the Premier League's most successful club has equally clear ramifications for the make-up of the top four in England.
The Dutchman no longer wanted to be part of Arsene Wenger's long-term project after winning only the FA Cup in eight years in north London and, having publicly stated his desire to join a team with silverware aspirations, evidently believes there is as much - or even more - chance of fulfilling that desire at Old Trafford as opposed to across the city at Eastlands.
Despite the reinforcements of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Spaniard Santi Cazorla at Arsenal, they would seem to have taken another step backwards - and that could become a giant leap outside the top four if Barcelona take their interest in midfielder Alex Song further.
Defensively, many feel Wenger's side are still too vulnerable, although they will be looking forward to welcoming back England midfielder Jack Wiltshire later this year after 18 months of injury problems.
Back in Manchester, it's hard to see past last season's top two for another blow-for-blow battle for the main prize - despite the leadership changes at the most likely Champions League challengers Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool.
City's quiet summer in the transfer market has troubled manager Roberto Mancini, and the side's one acquisition - Jack Rodwell from Everton for a reported fee of £12 million - is as much one for the future as a player automatically in the first-team reckoning.
The contrary could be said to be the case for Alex Ferguson, who after being forced to rely on talented academy players to bolster a seasoned squad in recent times has acquired a Premier League stalwart in the 29-year-old reigning English player-of-the-year as well as one of the Bundesliga's quiet successes for Dortmund last year, Shinji Kagawa.
Players returning after long-term injury (or other) absences are often deemed to feel like a new signing by supporters, and although Nemanja Vidic and Carlos Tevez roughly fit that description, their likely greater participation this season somewhat cancel each other out when assessing the merits of the top two.
Although there seems to be greater clarity and perhaps harmony at Old Trafford, City still have the country's best goalkeeper in Joe Hart, the Rolls Royce of central defenders (captain Vincent Kompany) and Euro 2012 winner David Silva not to mention the prospect of a purring Argentine front two if Mancini continues to pair Sergio Aguero with the fit and focused Tevez.
Oh, and Italy striker Mario Balotelli, among a cast of others, in reserve after his mature showing in Ukraine and Poland for the Azzurri.
Expect the introduction of Brendan Rodgers at the helm of a Liverpool ship that ran aground under Kenny Dalglish last season to brighten their prospects of a convincing title challenge for the first time since Rafa Benitez steered the club to second place in 2009.
We know Rodgers will insist on a certain style of play on the field, and that seems to be a match made in heaven. But he also has to contend with where to slot the polarizing figure of Luis Suarez into his new-look line-up and whether Liverpool are defensively talented enough at present to play the way he wants.
Manchester City are rumoured to be preparing a vast offer for central defender Daniel Agger, too.
Meanwhile, in London, you have to feel for Andre Villas-Boas, the new Tottenham manager. Given the foregoing allied with the supreme managership of Harry Redknapp (two top-four finishes in three seasons), the likelihood of improving on fourth place this season seems to be low, particularly given the club's fragility in attack.
Across the capital at Stamford Bridge, however, his former assistant has been handed the top job permanently after scooping the unlikeliest of Champions League triumphs and blessed with the talents of £32 million signing Eden Hazard from Lille and a rejuvenated Fernando Torres up front.
There is plenty of support for Roberto di Matteo's qualities, which Chelsea supporters only hope will translate into a three-way battle for the EPL championship.
At the bottom, there could be struggles ahead for promoted Reading as well as Norwich City, West Brom and, perhaps, Sunderland.
© Marc Fox & Soccerphile.com
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world