The English Premier League season is set to kick off next weekend, now is a good time to bring you the EPL Preseason Preview.  This preview is a version-on-steroids of the EPL Power Poll which will be published every week for the duration of the EPL season.The transfer period is still open (clubs can buy and sell players until September 1st), these predictions may end up wildly out of date.  A few big signings are still expected.Because of the difference in structure of the European leagues, teams actually compete for several things.  The top finisher is the league champion (there are no playoffs).  The teams in the top 4 qualify for the extremely prestigious Champions League, which pits the top teams in Europe against each other.  The next 1 to 3 places (depending on other competitions) confer qualification for Europa League, a second tier continental competition.  While Europa League has nowhere near the prestige of Champions League, it’s still a desirable prize.  And of course, the bottom 3 teams are relegated into the second English division, called The Championship League (not to be confused with Champions League) Read the rest of this entry »