LIONS columnist MATT LITTLE is back after his summer break and is confident Millwall will finish ahead of rivals Charlton and Crystal Palace.

AFTER a summer where football was relegated from the back and front pages, it seems like a long time since last season.

I thought our fair city did a wonderful job of hosting the Games and London, as photogenic as ever, looked great while being beamed across the globe.

These Games have given me some great sporting memories and told me some great stories, but I must admit I'm glad the football is back.

It was funny how many non-football fans used the Olympics, quite predictably, as a stick to beat the beautiful game with, though.

I say funny because while it is extremely irritating to see the small minority of footballers at the highest level diving and feigning injury, it pales into insignificance compared to how immoral it is for athletes to willingly cheat their sport, fellow athletes and spectators by taking performance enhancing drugs.

But plenty do.

And while no one would think of John Terry as suitable Best Man material, let me just tell you it isn't exactly all quiet and dark at the Olympic Village after 10.30pm either.

It's just the only time the intensity of the media spotlight is on these athletes it is while the 'greatest show on Earth' is going on.

Therefore, a naughty bunk up plays second fiddle to say the best 100m line-up of all-time, for example.

Ah, but what about all the money these footballers get paid.

Well, I'm afraid that's capitalism my friends.

Football is the most popular sport in the world and to be one of best at it in the world is actually no mean feat, so if you are lucky enough to be one of those you get paid well for it.

And not wishing to take anything away from anybodies achievement, but I'm positive that given the resources that there are at least a hundred or so better rowers, swimmers, archers, divers etc in Mexico City or Lagos alone than those who won medals at the Games.

You see, that is the beauty of football - all you need is something relatively round to kick and away you go.

It's accessible to all.

And whether you're a rich, white kid in America or a poor, black kid in Sierra Leone, you can not only play it but also become the best in the world at it.

Anyway, enough of my ranting, I did enjoy the Olympics immensely and I will allow Olympic fever to invade and influence this blog.

That's because we have our very own gold, silver and bronze medals to fight it out for this season with the promotion of Charlton seeing the Addicks joining ourselves and Palace to make it the first time in 16 years that all three south east London clubs have been in the same division.

We played Charlton a couple of seasons ago, maintaining our excellent record in the most one-sided derby series in football with a draw away and a thumping 4-0 win at The Den.

However, I couldn't tell you where the Addicks were for the rest of that 16 years.

They're a bit like the Loch Ness Monster of football in that way.

You even had to pay very close attention to the BBC's Football League Show to learn that they'd actually won League One, so little was the stir which their record breaking season caused.

It was all about Sheffield down there.

I'm sure they'll make more of a fist of challenging us than Palace, though, who have actually weakened the side once again left in our Mo Farah like wake, as we brilliantly kicked on in the home straight, while they panted over the line like one of those useless countries without lottery funding.

Still, Palace are more about the taking part, what with all their balloons and banners.

Yep, Team Millwall are in a great position to once again take gold.

We've brought in players like Karleigh Osbourne, Maik and ChrisTaylor, Scott Malone and Danny Shittu who have made competition a lot stronger in all areas.

Unfortunately we're not quite strong enough to seriously trouble the top four or five.

We need a bit more up-front possibly, and a star turn in midfield definitely.

But with a strong wind and a bit of luck, you can never rule out that sixth spot in this division.

Just take a look at the Championship line up.

I bet if you asked 24 people to put them in the order they think they'll finish, every table would look different.

And I for one wouldn't put any money on who will finish top.

However, I'd bet 65 Olympic medals on us finishing as number one club in south east London again.

On yer marks, set...go!

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt