The new football season has started much like we expected with the top teams all winning their opening matches handily.

North Village, Dandy Town and Cougars are definitely the teams to beat. Teams like Somerset Eagles, PHC and St. George's should be good enough to avoid any relegation battle.

This leaves us with St. David's, Devonshire Colts, Boulevard, and Southampton fighting for relegation. Although the quality of football here on the island is less than desirable, the competition between the teams makes up for this, thus setting us up for a very competitive season.

The big three – Dandy Town, North Village and Cougars – will quickly separate themselves from the rest of the pack. These teams are far superior in quality in comparison to the rest of the teams.

My choice for league champions this year is the mighty North Village. Returning to Village is Tyrell Burgess and Keishan Bean, strengthening their already lethal attacking game. If North Village can overcome what has plagued them in previous years, which is a slow start to the season and can stay injury free, they will undoubtedly be crowned Premier champions at the end of the 2010/2011 football season.

The race for second will be extremely tight I believe. Dandy Town and Cougars should battle it out for second spot with Town just squeaking in front of Cougar.

Town have what Cougars used to have and that is the tenacity, the drive and the determination to win. Last season Dandy Town's front line was potent but has somewhat been hampered by the loss of key man Naki Wells who is overseas in England making a name for himself.

However, with the abundance of goalscoring options, Dandy Town will pose a massive threat to North Village. The one questionable area for Town last season was their defence. If they can somehow tighten up their defence we could see another nail-biting finish to the season between them and arch rivals Village.

All alone in third place, I see Devonshire Cougars.

Cougars are a very close knit team and community, hence the reason why they are so formidable. Just when you think they are down and out they grow in strength. Theys have probably the best one/two punch in local football with Domiko Coddington and Kwame Steede. These two on their day can singlehandedly win a match and that's what makes Cougars special. While I think they have lost a little bit of their grit they are still firm contenders for the league title. You can guarantee if Village and Town slip up Cougars will make them pay.

In the middle of the table I foresee Somerset Eagles, PHC and St. George's.

Having had a sneak peek at these teams I think they are all too strong to be fighting for relegation. Eagles, first of all, have shown they will be a handful this season as they pushed Village to the limit before losing 4-3 and drew with Cougars 1-1, thus showing their ability to play with the big boys of football.

PHC on the other hand are PHC – fit, fast and aggressive. They have too much talent to be fighting for relegation but I really can't see them being a threat to the top three this season.

St. George's were impressive over the weekend against PHC. To be quite honest it is the best I have seen them play in over ten years.

Although they lost 1-0 they could have and should have won by a margin of 5-1. They had many clear cut chances but goals win games not chances. With Jeron Dickenson, Clay Darrell and Allen Douglas Jr, St. George's have one of the league's most potent attacks.

These guys have pace, natural ability and all have a hunger to score goals. This will be an important year for St. George's but if they play like they did on Sunday they won't have any worries of relegation and they should finish mid-table easily.

This leaves us with four teams fighting to avoid relegation, Southampton Rangers, Devonshire Colts, Boulevard and St. David's.

My gut instinct tells me out of the four teams Boulevard have too much history and experience to get relegated. In Angelo Simmons and Takyia Walker, they have a lethal strike force. Even though they lost a handful of players their passion and love of football will keep them up.

To be quite honest there is not much between Devonshire Colts, Rangers and St. David's. However, Rangers showed last year that they are more than capable of staying in the league. Under coach Keith Jennings they will not be pushovers. This is a team that on their day are capable of beating any of the top teams. Rangers should avoid relegation, but it won't be easy.

This leaves us with Colts and St. David's as my two picks for relegation. Firstly, Devonshire and from now on you will hear me address them as Devonshire as there is only room enough for one Colt in the Premier Division and that is St. George's Colts.

Devonshire have avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth one too many times, but their time is up. I know they will aim to prove me wrong and once again could very well scrape through and just avoid relegation but something is telling me they won't.

St. David's are newcomers to the league and have a lot of fight. In Jack Castle they will have that PHC mentality of being very fit but just fitness won't win games, talent will.

St. David's will push a lot of teams to the brink and could very well surprise one or two teams. If the players focus and really commit themselves anything is possible. This is a team that could also avoid relegation providing they stick together when things get rough. Personally, I hope they avoid being relegated as it would be nice to have two East End teams in the Premier Division.

At the end of the day this will be a very entertaining football season at both ends of the table.

I encourage teams to put in their work in off the field so that the standard of football in Bermuda can improve. Having watched a few games I am encouraged by the young players we have coming through. As long as coaches stress to the players the importance of teamwork and commitment we should be in for some good football.