Jose Mourinho is not now, and may never be, truly great.

Bear with me, I am not doubting the self-anointed special ones talent as a football manger. That is indisputable. On whichever conquest in whatever land he has plundered silverware at will. But is he great? Is he a totemic figure like Ferguson or Lobanovskyi? Great despots who plant roots and see their shadow fall across a club for an eternity. Greatness is a treacherous thing to define in a football manager but it does not automatically come down to the trophies. It is the mark you leave on a club. The foundation built and the imprint left.

There is a wonderful story told by Volodymyr Sabaldyr about Lobanovskyi . Sabaldyr met Lobanovskyi in the aftermath of Dynamo Kyiv winning the Soviet supreme title for the first time in 1961. Sabaldyr, a scientist asked him how it felt to have achieved something that had been a dream for Kyivians for decades. Lobanovskyi replied “ A realised dream ceases to be a dream. What is your dream as a scientist? Your degree? Your doctorate? Your post-doctoral thesis?” “Maybe” Sabaldyr answered “But a real scientist dreams about making a contribution to scientific development, about leaving his mark on it” “And there you have your answer” said Lobanovskyi .

One wonders if Jose is bothered about leaving his mark on a club. Of course, at Chelsea and Inter he will be lauded as the man who ended the drought. A first title in fifty years in London and a first European cup in fifty at Milan. It is a safe bet that he will win another major title in Madrid but has he ever built? Has he ever defined a club? It could be argued that the foundation was laid first at Chelsea by Ranieri and at Inter by Roberto Mancini. Mention of the Italians brings to mind the great barb from one roman general to another. Lucullus and Pompey. Pompey, “the great” had been given command of Lucullus’s army to finish a war in the east. At a parley to relinquish control he compared Pompey to a nasty sort of carrion fowl who hung around battlefields in order to pick up what others had left.

Should Manuel Pellegrini ever read Plutarch than he may afford himself a wry smile at that jibe. Pellegrini’s side earned ninety six points last year are were denied the title by a Barca side that will go down in history as their greatest ever. Yet in typical Madrid style he was cast aside. Mourinho is walking in to pick up what Pellegrini has left. He will triumph and he will move on, one more land conquered. But he needs to plant his roots. We need to see a side mature in his image. He needs to define his values on one club. Until then he is special but not great.

A Premier view. Part one.

Arsenal

Five years is too long for once perennial challengers. The signings of Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh are good ones while the jettisoning of William Gallas can only improve the dressing room harmony. Much will depend on how Cesc Fabregas recovers from a summer blushing at Catalonia.

Prediction: 2nd.

Aston Villa.

The stunning loss of Martin 'O Neill has turned a season of promise into one of consolidation. Whoever comes in needs to keep Young and Agbonlahor and persude Randy Lerner to lossen the purse strings.

Prediction: 11th.

Birmingham.

A wonderful if unattractive season last year saw Alex McLeish’s side finish ninth but many of their victories last season came courtesy of single goal wins. A feat they will struggle to repeat. The signing of Nikola Zigic suggests that Birmingham’s plan B will be route one.

Prediction: 14th.

Blackburn Rovers.

Like him or loathe him Sam Allardyce generally gets the job done when it comes to premier league survival. Last season’s was based on a good home record and Rovers will need to repeat that. Not pretty but effective.

Prediction 12th.

Blackpool.

This year’s Derby? It seems so. Ian Holloway has a cult following of neutral fans for his idiosyncratic interviews but it has not helped him attract players to Blackpool. His is working on a minimal budget and as sad a fact it is, no investment equals no chance.

Prediction: 20th.

Bolton Wanderers

A canny summer from Owen Coyle has seen him recruit some quality in Ivan Klasnic and Martin Petrov. That should ensure Bolton are away from the dogfight below.

Prediction: 13th.

Chelsea.

The champions have been quiet in the summer with only Yossi Benayoun replacing Joe Cole though the signing of Ramires is expected to be completed before the big kick-off. Much will be needed from Drogba and Frank Lampard and one wonders how often they can go to the well. Michael Essien also needs a big, injury free season.

Prediction: 3rd.

Everton.

Seemingly always slow out of the traps, if David Moyes’s side start well they can bloody the supposed big guns. Too light a squad to challenge the top four but Everton have enough for the Europa.

Prediction: 6th.

Fulham.

The loss of Roy Hodgson could have seriously disabled them but the appointment of Mark Hughes could actually see the Cottagers rise in the league. Another striker is needed to ease the burden on Bobby Zamora but the absence of Europe on a small squad should see them nudge their way into the top ten.

Prediction: 9th.

Liverpool.

A summer played out in the business section has not been the ideal setting for a start to the season but the appointment of the calm Ray Hodgson and the retention of Fernando Torres means they can again push their way to the top table.

Prediction 4th.