Premier League preview

So here goes then, the promised season preview (written yesterday so probably out of date already!)... Note we're having some formatting issues but we're new to this so you'll let us off.

J: I want to start this blog post by saying that this is the strangest pre-season I’ve ever known. Normally there are a few marquee signings and lots of money thrown about and everyone seems raring to go for the new season. This year it seems like every single team still has more signings to make and no one is ready yet. I am waiting for at least one or two big money moves to happen, and who knows maybe it’ll be Jim White’s dream come true and everything will happen on deadline day.

C: I've found it incredibly difficult to pick my bottom three and actually think that this season it could go right to the wire for all three relegation places, with any of the bottom 8 I have tipped being what I would consider potential candidates. Wigan are conducting some late business and they like many other clubs in the bottom half could yet render my predictions below useless.

Arsenal

In
Santi Cazorla (Malaga CF) £16m
Olivier Giroud (Montpellier) Undisclosed 
Lukas Podolski (FC Cologne) Undisclosed 

Out
Manuel Almunia (released)
Denilson (Sao Paulo) Loan
Gavin Hoyte (released)
Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad) Undisclosed

Ryo Miyaichi (Wigan) Loan

J: So Arsenal have actually made some signings – and they look like good ones! Santi Cazorla is an excellent player and he could really light up the Premier League. He is a player in the Fabregas mould and will link up play between the midfield and attack, with the quality you associate with Spanish midfielders. Giroud had a good season for Montpellier but he could go either way ala Chamakh. Lukas Podolski is a really good signing in my opinion and has a proven track record. The only question seems to be whether he will get homesick from Cologne like he did at Bayern Munich a few years ago. The prospect of Podolski and Gervinho on the wings looks enticing for Arsenal and now they just need to keep RVP. I personally think he will stay so look for Arsenal to have a solid season. The signing of Nuri Sahin on loan from Real Madrid would add some class to their midfield but he is very similar in a way to Jack Wilshere so let’s hope for England’s sake he doesn’t impede Jack’s chances once he regains fitness. 4^th place would be a success and I think they’ll get it.

Prediction: 4th

C: It seems to me that every Summer is the same down at the Emirates, where Arsene Wenger finds his pre-season preparations heavily disrupted by strong suggestions that the star player from the preceding season wants out. This summer's high profile name being linked with a move away from North London is Robin Van Persie, who scored a staggering 30 Premier League goals last season (none of which, I might add, were scored at Loftus Road). As I write this, the will he or won't he saga is still dragging on and that can't be good for any club's preparations. If he does stay, I wonder whether he will enjoy quite such a prolific season next year and wonder how the fans will take to him next year - no fan likes to see a player that doesn't want to be at the club. If he doesn't, then a huge burden is placed upon the rest of the team to compensate for the man who has profited from the classic neat build up play. Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud look like they can take on some of that burden, but they are unknown quantities in the Premier League and  several players from the French and German leagues have found it very difficult to adapt to life in England's top flight - for every Yohann Cabaye and Bacary Sagna there's a Marouane Chamakh and Pascal Cygan. Nonetheless, I'm intrigued by the prospect of Arsenal actually spending some money this Summer and do think that we will see a much better Arsenal side this season, particularly in the big games where the young Arsenal team of recent seasons have perhaps been overawed by the occasion. The big money signings and the know how within the Arsenal ranks still lead me to conclude that they will once again finish above Spurs.

Prediction: 4th

Aston Villa

In
Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord) Undisclosed 
Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar) Free 
Matthew Lowton (Sheffield United) Undisclosed 
Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord) Undisclosed 

Out
James Collins (West Ham United) Undisclosed 
Carlos Cuellar (Sunderland) Free 
Emile Heskey (released)

J: Paul Lambert moved to Villa from Norwich and to be honest I can see why he did it. Last season’s success will be incredibly hard to replicate at Norwich whereas Villa were subjected to dire football under Alec McLeish and barely survived relegation. The only way for Villa is up in every way in my opinion and Lambert was an excellent appointment by Randy Lerner. Vlaar is a solid replacement for James Collins but him and Richard Dunne will be very susceptible to pace this year, so maybe Ciaran Clark will step up. Brett Holman is a solid winger but don’t expect him to be a goal scorer – his maximum league haul for AZ in 4 seasons was 5 goals! If Darren Bent stays fit that will be a big help and he can be the ‘Grant Holt’ focal point for Villa this season. Barry Bannan, Marc Albrighton and Stephen Ireland all need a big season as well, they have the potential and Lambert could be the man to bring it out. A step up from last year is on the cards but Villa are still some way off from challenging the top teams yet.

Prediction: 13th

C: So Paul Lambert has jumped ship from a club with stability and at which he enjoyed the adulation of the fans to one where managers are being heavily scrutinised, attendances are dropping and fans are losing faith in the board's ambition. An interesting move, I for one probably wouldn't have done it but it's fair to say that there are some quality players still at Aston Villa and Paul Lambert is a winner and motivator who won't stand for any nonsense. He may also feel that this is an opportune time to join Villa and last season's disastrous campaign may work in his favour - the fans will have limited expectations and he will feel confident that with the group of players he has at his disposal he will be able to better 16th place.

On the signings front, it seems Lambert has decided to go Dutch and has brought in winger Brett Holman, Moroccan international midfielder Karim El Ahmadi and defender Ron Vlaar for relatively modest transfer fees.  Villa did seem quite naive last season, particularly at the back, and all three players drafted in from Holland seem like solid Premier League signings, the latter two significantly bolstering Villa's defensive options. Add to that Darren Bent's return from injury, which will also seem like a new signing for Lambert, and it's clear that things are looking up at Villa Park going in to the new campaign. Lambert has also signed Matthew Lowton, who showed real promise when I saw him playing for Sheffield United in the Championship a few seasons back. It will be interesting to see in what capacity Lambert decides to use Lowton this season. I'm finding the mid table sides very difficult to place this season and think that I may have ended up placing Villa a bit high based on who I think they will finish above. Somehow, they've ended up in tenth, which just doesn't seem right.

Prediction: 10th

Chelsea

In
Eden Hazard (Lille) Undisclosed 
Thorgan Hazard (FC Lens) Undisclosed 
Marko Marin (Werder Bremen) Undisclosed
Oscar (Internacional) Undisclosed 

Out
Jose Bosingwa (released)
Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid) Loan
Ulises Davila (Sabadell) Loan
Kevin De Bruyne (Werder Bremen) Loan
Matej Delac (Guimaraes) Loan
Didier Drogba (released) 
Salomon Kalou (Lille) Free
Milan Lakovic (Guimaraes) Loan

Romelu Lukaku (WBA) Loan

J: Still riding the wave of Munich, Chelsea have made a lot of signings and their team has arguably changed more dramatically than any other top team in the league. The likes of Kalou and Bosingwa have gone from the fringes and Drogba will be a massive miss for the whole league. But it seems like there is going to be a change in overlook and tactics this year from Di Matteo and Chelsea look an exciting proposition this year. Hazard has got the potential to light up the league this year and is arguably this summer’s marquee signing so far, but he may need a little time to adjust from the French style of play just like Robert Pires did. Oscar looked exciting through the Olympics (if that is an indicator – I’m not sure it really is) and I think Chelsea will line up with a 4-2-3-1 with Oscar/Mata/Hazard/Ramires/Marin contesting places behind Torres – not a bad bunch to choose from! Marin will probably start the season as back up, he could be a really good player but he never quite lived up to the hype at Werder Bremen where he was dubbed the ‘German Messi’. This is Torres’ time to shine and if the golden boot winner at Euro 2012’s 2 goal haul don’t inspire him I don’t know what will. Chelsea will push the Manchester clubs close, but I just don’t think they have quite enough to win the league.

Prediction: 3rd

C: This has been a big summer of change at Stamford Bridge and it's a real case of 'out with the old, in with the new'. The Champions League win has suddenly rekindled the Abramovich interest (most probably because he's finally seen a bit of a return on his investment) and the big money signings have recommenced. At this stage, it's unclear whether Victor Moses will be added to a list that reads Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar, but what is clear is that Chelsea are throwing their weight around in the transfer market once again and as a result expect a much improved season as a whole from the Blues. I think this season will be a more thorough examination of Roberto Di Matteo's credentials for being a manager at a 'top club' (not my words, of course!)  and whilst he could do no wrong riding on the crest of a wave right the way to Munich last season, you can be sure that he will face much greater challenges this season. That said, I fully expect the Chelsea swagger to be in full swing this year and with the old guard gradually fading, it paves the way for the younger, hungrier players to shine this year. I hate to say it, but Oscar, Ramires, Mata, Torres and Hazard strike me as a lethal first choice attacking line up that will cause a lot of problems and I can actually envisage a Chelsea side playing attractive football rather than their classic direct approach with Drogba up front. In short, expect a marked improvement, but I think Chelsea will still fall short of the two Manchester clubs this season.

Prediction: 3rd

Everton 

In
Steven Naismith (Rangers) Free 
Steven Pienaar (Tottenham Hotspur) £4.5m 

Out
Jack Rodwell (Manchester City) £15m

Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls) Undisclosed
Marcus Hahnemann (released)
James McFadden (released)
James Wallace (Tranmere) Undisclosed
Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce) Undisclosed

J: Every year Everton seem to defy logic by finishing in and around the European places on a shoestring budget. This year there’s been a little clear out of sorts with Tim Cahill going after his rapid decline in form over the last year and the Jack Rodwell move really seems to benefit Everton massively since he never really struck me as a stand out performer for them and now they have £15m to reinvest in the team. David Moyes can sign a couple of solid players for that amount and it may be a great thing for their season. Pienaar finished last season on fire and Everton fans must be hoping he brings that form back with him. Steven Naismith seems to have had a really good pre-season so could be one to watch. Now Tony Hibbert is off the mark for career goals who knows what could happen for Everton? I predict a solid season just outside the European places, but with a couple of signings with the Rodwell money they could be looking higher.

Prediction: 8th

C:Surely lightning can't strike three times? Notorious slow starters in the last two seasons, Everton are bidding to stop the stumbling which has ultimately proved costly for a club with European ambitions. However they do appear a lot better equipped going into this season having had the luxury of being able to spend some money in January and in this window. Everton fans must be excited at the prospect of a full season of Pienaar and Jelavic at the club and Steven Naismith looks like a good signing on a free. All this and even Tony Hibbert's even discovered how to score a goal!

It was sad to see the back of Tim Cahill who in my eyes is a Premier League legend but he just hasn't hit the heights of his earlier years in the last season or two. However it was refreshing to see David Moyes stick with the Everton cause when he could so easily have walked away and that continued stability, coupled with some incoming fresh blood since January, has lifted the mood at Goodison Park. The recent sale of Jack Rodwell will undoubtedly generate Moyes some more funds for deals leading up to the close of the transfer window and I'd expect one or two more arrivals. Whilst I don't think they will finish above Liverpool this time around, I reckon they will be able to replicate last season's top 7 finish and enjoy a more consistent campaign.

Prediction: 7th

Fulham

In
Mladen Petric (Hamburg) Free 
Sascha Riether (Cologne) Loan 
Hugo Rodallega (Wigan Athletic) Free 

Out
Dickson Etuhu (Blackburn Rovers) Undisclosed
Bjorn Helge Riise (released)
Andrew Johnson (Queens Park Rangers) Free 
Danny Murphy (Blackburn Rovers) Free 
Marcel Gecov (KAA Gent) Undisclosed

J: Martin Jol is a good manager in my opinion and the Fulham job is a pretty thankless one since they seem to have hit a glass ceiling and there’s no way they’ll really improve on the Roy Hodgson days. Then again it’s a pretty safe bet there won’t be a relegation scrap each year at Craven Cottage so there’s nothing to really moan about for Fulham fans. I like the signing of Petric from Hamburg he had a record of over 1 goal every 3 games for Hamburg in the Bundesliga and could be a really useful replacement for Johnson. Rodallega lost his way last season for Wigan but he has got a lot of potential and on a free he seems pretty risk-free. I thought that letting Danny Murphy go was a strange one but I guess at 35 it allows room for younger players to come through like Frei or Kasami. I think Fulham’s biggest coup this summer is keeping hold of Clint Dempsey and for their sake I hope he stays beyond the transfer deadline. A safe mid-table season beckons again.

Prediction: 12th

C: A wind of change is blowing in West London this Summer. Just like at Chelsea, a settled Fulham squad which has seen very little turnover in the past few seasons has seen a relatively busy summer of comings and goings - maybe not in terms of quantity, but there have been significant figures leaving the club since January. Zamora, Johnson and Murphy feel to me like they've been at Fulham for ages but now none of them remain at the Cottage and Jol has replaced them with signings from the continent (and Wigan).

In spite of bringing in Rodallega and Petric (both of which don't really instil me with a lot of confidence) I think they seem light of numbers up front and lack the seniority and know-how that players like Danny Murphy and Zamora brought to the side. Fulham fans will now be hoping that they keep hold of their prized assets Dembele and Dempsey, else they will be in for a real struggle. I think that the Cottagers will be hurt by losing out to Reading on Pavel Pogrebnyak because whilst the goals dried up after a prolific start, his hold up play was widely recognised as a catalyst for Dempsey's goal tally of 17 last year.

It's difficult to see them going down because they are still a relatively strong side and benefit from a settled defence. They are, however, notoriously travel sick and I've tipped them so many times for the drop because I fail to see the quality in their ranks. Yet they always survive, often very comfortably. That and I still think that there are more than three worse teams than them in the league.

Prediction: 14th

Liverpool

In
Fabio Borini (Roma) Undisclosed 

Joe Allen (Swansea) £15m

Out
Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina) Undisclosed
Fabio Aurelio (Gremio) Free
Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City) Free
Stephen Darby (released)
Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce) Undisclosed 
Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys) Undisclosed
Toni Silva (Barnsley) Undisclosed

J: So King Kenny’s gone and Brendan Rodgers is in. The personnel hasn’t really changed and it’s difficult to see how players like Charlie Adam and Jamie Carragher fit in to the manager’s philosophy since he places a lot of emphasis on work effort and pace, especially in defence where Brendan Rodgers likes to play a high line. Releasing last season’s third top goal scorer on a free seems odd as well but I guess Borini is a ready-made replacement for Bellamy. Joe Allen comes in to an already crowded central midfield area to compete with Adam, Henderson, Gerrard, Lucas, Shelvey and Spearing. Though he’ll add a bit of quality on the ball and dynamism though he was very expensive at £15m. Look for Henderson to make an impression this year as on paper he looks to fit in really well with Brendan Rodgers style. It’ll be intriguing to see if Andy Carroll stays and if so how he fits in to the setup. It looks like another year of transition for Liverpool as the players get used to Rodgers tactics and they just need to stick with him. I expect them to finish in a similar position as last year.

Prediction: 7th

C: It's really difficult to predict what Liverpool might achieve this season. Brendan Rodgers has brought in his philosophy on how football should be played and brought in two players who he obviously thinks are quality purveyors of his trademark brand in Borini and Allen. How this style will settle with the rest of the Kop squad is going to be interesting to watch. I personally am not sure that Liverpool have the right players to play the Rodgers way - Charlie Adam, Jay Spearing and Stewart Downing aren't known for their patient build up play and Andy Carroll isn't known for scoring goals from such cute football. So I'm convinced that Rodgers will have to change his lineup and think that several of those named above won't find themselves regulars this season. Some of the old guard have already been shipped out which has paved the way for more Rodgers-esque signings - I'm sure the cheque book hasn't been closed just yet.

Finally, the one to watch this season at Anfield is Raheem Sterling - poached from QPR's youth set up, the kid has shown real promise and looks like he could burst onto the scene as an impact substitute where required next season. Rodgers has an excellent track record of working with youngsters and I think that Sterling might not be the only one to make first team appearances this year as the new boss looks to revitalise a club full of highly average players.

This season is just the start of the project at Anfield but I sense that the club will feel the benefits of the change and those home draws and boos from last season will all be forgotten.

Prediction: 6th

Manchester City

In

Jack Rodwell (Everton) £15m

Out
Wayne Bridge (Brighton & Hove Albion) Loan
Owen Hargreaves (released) 
Vladimir Weiss (Pescara) Undisclosed

J: Man City should have run away with the league in all honestly last year. United’s midfield was terribly weak especially compared to City’s and with all their firepower it would have been ridiculous if they hadn’t won the title. They haven’t really done anything in the market miraculously so far but they have just completed the signing of Jack Rodwell and you get the feeling it is a matter of time until they unload the likes of Santa Cruz and Adebayor to make way for at least one or two more signings. Rodwell could be a good signing for them filling a giant Owen Hargreaves sized hole in their midfield being a box to box midfielder if he stays clear of injury. He seems to have lived off promise of a great career though. I don’t remember ever really seeing him boss a game or setting the world on fire and you get the feeling the deal suits Everton a lot. Can’t see anyone else winning the league though sadly. They didn’t really need to make any signings up front, especially if Dzeko finally finds his shooting boots consistently this season, and if they get a centre back such as Daniel Agger, they won’t have to bring in the always dodgy Savic and an assault on Europe could be in the making.

Prediction: 1st

C: Well I can say I was there. The most dramatic ending to a Premier League season ever saw 'Citeh' claim the Premier League crown for the first time after millions of pounds and millions of years. As a result of last season's success, the owners appear to have decided they are reasonably happy with the embarrassment of talent they have spent the last few years assembling on silly contracts and the spending has been curtailed - just one arrival by the time I finished writing this. This hasn't pleased Mancini who seems concerned by the lack of arrivals in all of the press conferences I have seen him in since the close of last season.

Bizarrely, though, I think that this is positive for City and they will be stronger this year as the pressure has been lifted on Mancini and his team. I'm expecting a more attacking, free-flowing and confident City team who will benefit from a Summer relatively free of change (I can't really see Jack Rodwell being anything more than a bench warmer if the first choice midfield are all fit). Aguero, Balotelli, Silva et al will be playing with a distinct swagger that other teams just don't have an answer to and I don't foresee any other outcome than 'Citeh' retaining the crown.

Prediction: 1st

Manchester United 

In
Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund) Undisclosed 
Nick Powell (Crewe) Undisclosed 

Out
Ben Amos (Hull City) Loan
Ritchie De Laet (Leicester City) Undisclosed
Fabio da Silva (Queens Park Rangers) Loan 
Tomasz Kuszczak (Brighton & Hove Albion) Free
Michael Owen (released) 
Park Ji-Sung (Queens Park Rangers) Undisclosed 
Paul Pogba (Juventus) Free 

So I’m a United fan so it’s hard for me to be objective at this point, but I’ll give it a good try. Last year they had a terrible midfield that should not have lost the league by goal difference, if anyone else had been manager they would have been miles off. So this year United have signed 2 midfielders at least which is definitely a good thing. I also think that Tom Cleverley returning from injury is essentially another new signing since he started the season excellently last year then missed the majority of the season, before returning to the Olympic Team GB setup where he looked sharp yet again. I think United will line up with a 4-2-3-1 with Scholes/Cleverley/Carrick filling the 2 and Kagawa/Valencia/Nani/Young occupying the 3 behind Rooney. This is exciting and I think that Kagawa is a terrific signing, he has been excellent for Dortmund for 2 years and loves playing in the hole behind the striker and getting up to support them with assists and goals. I would love to see United sign another striker (RVP please!) and a left back since Evra’s best days are beginning to look past him but I’m not sure that will happen. Either way United are in a good position to run City close again but I still see them coming up short, just.

Prediction: 2nd

Manchester United will go into this campaign still reeling from what happened in the last few weeks of the last campaign. Just how they managed to let that seemingly unassailable advantage slip I will never quite comprehend, and Ferguson will be going all out for revenge this time out. But whilst I, amongst others no doubt, expected wholesale changes this Summer to freshen the side up, only two players have signed on the dotted line so far this Summer. The team still looks as though it depends greatly on a fit and in-form Vidic and Ferdinand partnership (yes, Jonny Evans improved but I still don't think he is up to the standard required), an in-form Nani, Young and Valencia (rarely are all three in-form at once) and Rooney to create something out of nothing (Welbeck and Hernandez show a lot of promise but the former isn't consistent and the latter relies on others to provide the service).

OK, Kagawa and Powell look like good signings but as Ferguson has said himself, it's really time for Carrick to fulfil his potential this year and should he successfully do that, then the United from last year will definitely improve. Catching City will, in my opinion, still be a bridge too far for this United side, but should RVP arrive on the scene and give Rooney a much needed consistent assistant, I might have to revise my prediction. That said, I genuinely believe that whoever finishes above United will win the league.

Prediction: 2nd

Newcastle United

In
Romain Amalfitano (Reims) Free 
Gael Bigirimana (Coventry) Undisclosed 
Curtis Good (Melbourne Heart) Undisclosed 

Out
Leon Best (Blackburn Rovers) £3m
Fraser Forster (Celtic) Undisclosed
Danny Guthrie (Reading) Free 
Peter Lovenkrands (released)
Alan Smith (released)

J: Newcastle surprised me massively last year I thought they would struggle having lost all their big characters like Barton, Nolan and Carroll. But Alan Pardew worked miracles last year and with Demba Ba, and the brilliant Papiss Cisse, Hatem Ben Arfa, Coloccini, Krul, Cabaye and Tiote Newcastle’s biggest achievement this summer will have been keeping hold of those players. Their signings seem very low key but with Newcastle’s scouting system there could be a gem. They are currently still trying to sign Mathieu Debuchy from Lille which I think would be an excellent signing, he looked great at Euro 2012 and that position is arguably one of their weakest. All in all, Newcastle need the Dembas to perform but I think they will so a European challenge is on the cards in my opinion.

Prediction: 6th

C: Newcastle were without doubt last season's biggest surprise package. Who would have thought that Alan Pardew and Mike Ashley running a football club could produce such great results this time two years ago?! I don't like either of them, but credit where credit's due etc etc. Just three signings this summer but the most important thing is that the key players from the squad that finished 5th last year have been kept together. The Geordies will be hoping that the two Demba's will find form again this year and should they do so, they can expect another fine campaign.

I think we will see the best of Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohann Cabaye this season but I do wonder whether they can repeat last season's feat of a top six finish, especially in light of the fact that they will have to finish above the two refreshed Merseyside teams to do so. In my eyes, Newcastle overachieved last season but I still think they will finish in the top 8.

Prediction: 8th

Norwich City

In
Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley) Undisclosed 
Robert Snodgrass (Leeds United) Undisclosed 
Michael Turner (Sunderland) Undisclosed 
Steven Whittaker (Rangers) Free 

Out
Zak Whitbread (released)
Aaron Wilbraham (released)

J: Paul Lambert’s gone and Norwich could struggle as a result. I don’t blame Lambert for going as I don’t think Norwich could emulate last season’s heroics. They were definitely as a sum of all parts rather than made up of individuals. Chris Hughton is a good manager and pretty much performed miracles picking up a depleted Birmingham side and moulding a squad that maintained a run in the Europa League and to the Play-Offs. He was a good choice to replace Lambert, but sadly he isn’t Lambert and Norwich may struggle this year. Grant Holt seems to be staying now which is great news for the Canaries as he is by far and away their best goalscorer. If Steve Morison stays fit and the recruitment of Robert Snodgrass works out then Norwich could be OK. I think Snodgrass will be useful and with Hoolahan partnering him in midfield it could be exciting football at Carrow Road. Michael Turner could be a reliable addition in defence but I’m not sure Norwich can expect anything other than a relegation scrap and I think they might just be OK, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they or Wigan went down.

Prediction: 17th

C: Norwich rightly won several plaudits last season for a fine campaign where a team of what looked like Championship standard players achieved Premier League safety with weeks to spare. But a Summer filled with rumours of an unsettled relationship between players and the board has taken the shine off the post-season celebrations in Norfolk and this together with the ultimately messy departure of Paul Lambert to Aston Villa will have had a big impact on the club's preparations for the new campaign. They do have Chris Hughton at the helm who has performed admirably in the face of adversity at both Newcastle and Birmingham but I do think that Lambert overachieved last season and he knew it - hence why I think he decided to jump ship to a 'bigger club' in Aston Villa.

Maybe I've overestimated the Lambert factor here but for me Norwich massively punched above their weight last season and am not sure Hughton or his signings will be able to maintain the momentum of last season's outstanding campaign. I have no doubt Grant Holt will be a nuisance once more and Snodgrass gives yet more midfield options (Norwich were excellent at keeping the opponents guessing with their line-ups last year with Lambert's rotation policy, particularly in midfield) but the defence is what concerns me - Norwich conceded 66 league goals last season which was the joint most for any team that finished outside of the relegation places. Michael Turner doesn't inspire me with confidence in this respect either and unless a quality signing or two arrives I fear for the Canaries this time around.

Prediction: 19th

Queens Park Rangers

In
Samba Diakite (Nancy) Loan
Fabio da Silva (Manchester United) Loan
Robert Green (West Ham United) Free
Junior Hoilett (Unattached) Free
Andrew Johnson (Fulham) Free
Ryan Nelsen (Tottenham Hotspur) Free 
Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United) Undisclosed 

Out
Patrick Agyemang (released)
Daniel Gabbidon (released)
Fitz Hall (released)
Paddy Kenny (Leeds United) Undisclosed
Daniel Shittu (released)

J: After last season’s last day survival QPR can definitely look forward to an exciting season of mid-table football. Mark Hughes has done quite a bit of astute business and Rangers have signed a number of proven Premiership players. Rob Green, Andy Johnson, and Ryan Nelsen on free transfers are all excellent safe choices. Junior Hoilett’s transfer will go to a tribunal so it won’t actually be a free but he’s still an exciting signing and could link really well with Taarabt. Hopefully Hughes will give up on Wright-Phillips this year in favour of Hoilett and any money paid on a tribunal will be a lot cheaper than what his market value is. Park and Fabio from Man Utd are risk-free signings in my opinion. Park was a brilliant servant but his legs looked to have gone a bit, he is still a marked upgrade on midfielders like Shaun Derry or Joey Barton. Fabio is an excellent prospect and will be hungry to prove himself so should perform well.

Prediction: 9th

C: It's been another pleasing Summer to be a QPR fan (incredibly that's three Summers in a row now!!!) and I have been largely impressed by the ins and outs at the revolving door that is Loftus Road Player's Entrance. Whilst on paper the signings might not look great to an outsider, if you're a QPR fan, you'll know that the likes of Nelsen, Johnson and possibly even Park Ji-Sung haven't been brought in to go straight in to the first eleven, but to provide competition for places. One has to take a holistic view of the Summer's transfer activities for the R's and say that shipping Vine, Cook, Ramage, Hall, Gabbidon and Agyemang from the wage bill and replacing them with free transfer signings of Johnson, Nelsen and Green is good business. We had far too many Championship quality names on our books and the priority was to reduce numbers with players who could actually be utilised as decent backups. Further to those signings already mentioned, the Superhoops have brought in Junior Hoilett, Fabio (on loan) and Samba Diakite. All of which are precisely what the QPR squad needed - young talented players with Premier League experience to freshen up the squad and add some much needed quality. Of those, in my opinion Diakite is the most important signing, who in spite of being on loan at QPR last year seems to have only caught the eye of QPR fans with his glowing central midfield performances (which is great for us, a real gem of a find by Hughes). I've seen several bloggers and message boards tipping QPR for the drop and financial meltdown but this guy, along with Hoilett and the returning Ale Faurlin (injured since January, he will be like a new signing) will make QPR's midfield a lot more composed and dangerous in equal measure in the forthcoming season.

Personally I can't wait to see a full season of the likes of Cisse, Zamora, Diakite, Faurlin and Taarabt (whose performances under Hughes were markedly improved versus those under Warnock in the Premier League). Defensively I still feel we are short of a quality central defender and strongly believe Hughes should focus whatever resources he has left in the transfer market into a top class centre half. That, I firmly believe, is now what remains the difference between us and a top ten finish. Oh, and Barton staying away from the team...

Prediction: 11th

Reading

In
Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest) Undisclosed 
Danny Guthrie (Newcastle) Free 
Adrian Mariappa (Watford) Undisclosed 
Garath McCleary (Nottingham Forest) Free
Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart) Free
Nicky Shorey (West Bromwich Albion) Undisclosed

Out
Michail Antonio (Sheffield Wednesday) Undisclosed

J: What a job Brian McDermott did in getting Reading back in the Premier League. I think the signing of Pavel Pogrebnyak is decent and he may get a few goals but he’s hardly prolific though he’ll have to be to give Reading any chance of staying up. The likes of Hunt and Le Fondre just don’t seem good enough for the Premier League. Guthrie hardly set the world on fire at Newcastle and Shorey’s best days seem past him. Mariappa could be a good central defender, but Reading’s midfield looks very light and I doubt the likes of Leigertwood, Karacan and McAnuff can really make an impression in the Premier League. Sorry Royals fans but I think you should enjoy your season in the PL because it doesn’t look like it will be more than that. However, Reading have money so don’t rule out a lot of January signings to change all this.

Prediction: 20th

C: Brian McDermott's side were hugely impressive in their march to the Championship title last year and showed what can be achieved with a settled team and momentum in that division. Now McDermott will attempt to steer his side to safety in a sea of quality teams. As a QPR fan I will watch the fortunes of Kaspars Gorkss and Mikele Leigertwood with great interest - two players farmed out of the R's by Neil Warnock, deemed not good enough for the Premier League compared with the likes of Clint Hill and Shaun Derry(!)   

"The Pog" aside, none of the Reading signings this Summer strike me as anything other than top-end to mid-table Championship club signings and I think that the Royals are going to find life tough in the top flight this year with so many other sides possessing genuine Premier League quality. I think this will ultimately prove to be their undoing and McDermott will that he, his ego and his squad out of their depth in the Premier League. They'll make a good fight of it and I predict their home form will be reasonably good, but I just can't see them surviving.

Prediction: 20th

Southampton

In
Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace) Undisclosed
Steven Davis (Rangers) Free 

 Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) Undisclosed
Paulo Gazzaniga (Gillingham) Undisclosed

Out
Dan Harding (Nottingham Forest) Undisclosed

J: Welcome back to the Premier League Southampton, we’ve missed you. I want to start by saying that I really like Nigel Adkins and think he’s done a brilliant job. If anyone can keep this Southampton side in the league it is him. Unfortunately I just don’t think they’ve got enough PL quality through the side. This is a young team and if players like Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Nathaniel Clyne – a really good prospect – can make the step up without fear then I could be proved wrong. I think though that this is a side with too much quality for the Championship but not quite enough for the Premier League and there are too many young players to take the team by the scruff of the neck and grind out enough results to stay up. Rickie Lambert could be their Grant Holt this year but I don’t think it will be enough.

Prediction: 19^th

C: I just can't decide whether this Saints side are good enough to stay up. They looked very impressive for the majority of last season and scored goals for fun but the Premier League is a completely different level to Barnsley and Doncaster. Whilst Rickie Lambert, Billy Sharp and new boy Jay Rodriguez have excellent records in the Football League, they are untried and untested at the highest level and could either be real hits like Grant Holt and Steve Morison or not cut it like Jay Bothroyd, Stephen Dobbie and so many others before them. Whilst I've got no doubt that Adam Lallana is a class act and I am really looking forward to seeing him in the Premier League, I just wonder how the likes of Jack Cork, Danny Fox, Jose Fonte and Guly Do Prado will cope with the step up - names that I remember as being solid Championship players when I have seen them play but never thinking that they would end up anywhere higher in the footballing pyramid. I have similar views on Nigel Adkins, Physio to Premier League manager in less than a decade. A meteoric rise, but I think he'll find this level a whole lot more difficult. I am giving the Saints the benefit of the doubt though and think they can score enough goals to survive. If there's one team I wrong with about the drop though, I wouldn't mind betting it's the Saints and if Wigan's recent transfer activity is anything to go by, it could well be the Latics that stay up at the Saints' expense. I would much prefer for the Saints to remain in the Premier League though - a great club with great support and great history and a lovely ground.

Prediction: 16th

Stoke City

In
Michael Kightly (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Undisclosed
Jamie Ness (Rangers) Free

Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo) Undisclosed

Out
Ryan Brunt (Leyton Orient) Loan
Florent Cuvelier (Walsall) Loan
Andrew Davies (released)
Salif Diao (released)
Ricardo Fuller (released)
Louis Moult (released)
Tom Soares (released)

J: I’ve got a soft spot for Stoke as I like the way they stepped straight into the PL having not been in before and just played the way they wanted to and succeeded doing it. This season’s signings seem to be heralding the start of a new dawn at Stoke. Jamie Ness sounds like he has a lot of potential if he can stay injury free he should be a decent midfielder for them. Michael Kightly could also be excellent if he can avoid injury and these signings hardly seem like those of a hoof-ball team. Kightly had a lot of promise when he was younger and I think he could thrive at Stoke playing with Etherington and Pennant. I think a good striker is the only signing that Stoke are missing now. Kenwyne Jones looks disinterested and other than Crouch they always lack goals. Michael Owen could be an excellent signing if they get him and could herald an exciting season at the Britannia.

Prediction: 10th

C: Not a great deal of change at the Britannia this Summer - some of the long-serving players (Fuller and Diao) have moved on to pastures new but by and large the nucleus of the team built over the past few seasons by Pulis remains the same. This season the Clayheads will be hoping for a bigger return from Peter Crouch, Kenwyne Jones and Cameron Jerome and to get more out of Wilson Palacios, but other than that I can't see them being any different to their usual overly-direct selves.

The biggest weakness Stoke have is that they are so one-dimensional. Whilst they have tried to develop a plan B through Pennant, Etherington and to a lesser extent Walters, it has not really materialised and Newcastle and QPR amongst others showed how to negate the Stoke system last year. For me, this is the season that Stoke will get found out and will have to come up with something different.  Although I'm not bold enough to tip them for the drop (I still think there is plenty of quality in the ranks which will see them through), I do think this season the Potters will find their most difficult in the top flight since they returned to this level.

Prediction: 13th

Sunderland

In
Carlos Cuellar (Aston Villa) Free

Out
Jordan Cook (released)
Craig Gordon (released) 
Asamoah Gyan (Al-Ain) Undisclosed
George McCartney (West Ham United) Free
Michael Turner (Norwich City) Undisclosed

J: Sunderland have got Martin O’Neill which is probably a really good thing because they wouldn’t do very well with many other managers in my opinion. They’ve lost their joint top scorer last season Nicklas Bendtner and Gyan has left for good now which means they are very light up front. Connor Wickham didn’t show enough last season to be able to lead the line on his own this season in my opinion and Ji Dong Won hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. It could come down to whether Fraizer Campbell will be OK after he gets a pre-season behind him and Stephan Sessegnon will be a key player again. They’ve replaced losing a CB in Michael Turner with Carlos Cuellar so it’s a fairly solid transfer. They need to make more signings but I’m sure they will as MO’N has said the exact same thing. They finished the season fairly well and this is James McLean’s season. Mid-table will be a decent season for them.

Prediction: 11th

C: Martin O'Neill will have his side well prepared and disciplined in preparation for this season. In recent Summers Sunderland have turned over a hell of a lot of average players and paid out a high amount for them, but this Summer has been quiet for a change, which I can only read as being positive for the club and a clear signal that they are heading in the right direction at last under the guidance of a quality manager. Once again I think the key players will be Stephane Sessegnon, Seb Larsson, James McClean and (if he stays fit) Fraizer Campbell and O'Neill will be looking to get the very best out of these players plus the likes of David Vaughan, Craig Gardner, Wes Brown and John O'Shea. I also don't think that Cuellar will be the only arrival on Wearside this Summer so I await the late deals on deadline day up there with anticipation. The Steven Fletcher rumours won't go away and he could be exactly what they need (albeit not at the prices being quoted!). As things stand though, they come across as a quality striker short of a top eight finish, so I predict they'll finish ninth!

Prediction: 9th

Swansea City

In
Jose Manuel Flores (Genoa) £2m 
Jonathan De Guzman (Villarreal) Loan

Michu (Rayo Vallecano) £2m 

Out

Joe Allen (Liverpool) £15m

J: Losing Brendan Rodgers is obviously a massive blow, but then again it did seem that teams had started to figure out the Swans-elona tactics by the end of the season and I thought they might fall prey to ‘second season syndrome’ this year, but they might manage to avoid that if Michael Laudrup can bring something new to the table and be successful as well. Michu got 15 goals last season for Rayo Vallecano who aren’t exactly a high flying La Liga team so he could be an excellent replacement for Sigurdsson if he fits in to the Premier League style quickly. Jonathan De Guzman could be a good foil for Scott Sinclair as well and he’s only  on loan so it seems a fairly risk free signing. He must have some talent as he was trained in Feyenoord’s youth system which also produced Robin Van Persie and he signed for Villarreal at a time they were a Champions League team. Flores sounds like a decent defender and if Swansea can keep hold of their key players, losing Joe Allen might not be too bad. £15m is a very decent price for him and can allow Swansea to strengthen even more as well if they want to. I think they’ll be OK as they have enough quality in the team, and they look set to sign Itay Shechter on loan from Kaiserslautern who could be a decent replacement for Danny Graham. That was an area Swansea seemed pretty light last season as Luke Moore and Leroy Lita failed to make substitute impressions.

Prediction: 16^th

C: Swansea are the team which seem to have been cherry picked by the big boys this Summer and I feel for their fans because they have seen some big losses this Summer: At the start of pre-seeason it looked like Brendan Rodgers would be building on a fantastic first season in the Premier League and bringing in the vastly impressive Gylfi Sigurdsson on a permanent deal. In stark contrast though, as we approach the big kick-off the Swans have a new manager at the helm in Michael Laudrup, no Gylfi and no Joe Allen (one of the vital components in their free-passing midfield). The Swans have shown they are more than capable of replacing players and managers that have moved on to bigger clubs (and Wigan) so part of me expects them to surprise me yet again this year.

However, shaky on the road and showed signs of being sussed out at home towards the end of last season, I'm fearing the worst for the Swans this season and they are one of my surprise candidates for the relegation battle this year. Again though, I think there are three worse teams in the league than them and predict the Jacks will stay up... just.

Prediction: 17th

Tottenham Hotspur

In
Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim) Undisclosed 
Jan Vertonghen (Ajax) Undisclosed 

Out
Ben Alnwick (Barnsley) Free
Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow) Undisclosed
Niko Kranjcar (Dynamo Kiev) Undisclosed 
Ryan Nelsen (Queens Park Rangers) Free 
Steven Pienaar (Everton) £4.5m 
Louis Saha (released)

J: So ‘Arry’s gone and AVB is in. Spurs have kept hold of Modric at the time of writing but haven’t really made many signings. I think AVB might actually be a good match for Spurs, and you don’t win a treble with Porto, including the Uefa Cup unless you have a lot of managerial talent. He tried to do too much too quickly at Chelsea and upset the power balance there but he seems to be doing OK at Spurs at the moment. The signing of Sigurdsson was a bit of a coup nicking him from Liverpool and Swansea was a very decent bit of business and if Modric does go, Sigurdsson seems to be a ready-made replacement with a bit more goal scoring prowess about him as well. Jan Vertonghen is a very good signing in my opinion and fills a Ledley King sized hole in Spurs’ defence. He is a solid player and will boss their defence. At the time of writing Spurs only have one striker on their books – Jermain Defoe - and they need to do some business as soon as possible to bring more in. Adebayor would be a great start as proved last year, and they need at least one other striker as well if they are to avoid the burn out that happened last year again. I can’t see Tottenham matching last year’s dizzying heights but they will definitely be in the hunt for 4^th place.

Prediction: 5th

C: I do wonder how AVB will get on in his second Premier League assignment. There will be a lot of pressure on the young manager to prove himself at Tottenham after a disappointing spell in charge at Chelsea and this time he will be competing with far more finite resources. Indeed the only signings made by Spurs this Summer so far are two names that were linked with Spurs under 'Arry. I find it really intriguing that the Adebayor deal looks to be dead in the water and from the outside it looks as though Tottenham lack the firepower to improve on last season's campaign where they were pipped to 3rd on the last day. Whilst I am a huge fan of Gylfi Sigurdsson (I think he has a fantastic shot on him and is excellent in dead ball situations), I do not think he is the answer to Spurs fans' prayers and a new striker is an absolute must. Add to this the Modric saga and Spurs certainly will have their work cut out if they are to challenge for the Champions League places next season. I can't really pass judgment on Jan Vertonghen as I know nothing about him, but Tottenham needed a new defender after Ledley King and Ryan Nelsen's departures so he seems looks like common sense. 5th place for me this year.

Prediction: 5th

West Bromwich Albion

In
Ben Foster (Birmingham City) Undisclosed 
Yassine El Ghanassy (AA Gent) Loan 

Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) Loan
Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen) Free 
Claudio Yacob (Racing Club de Avellaneda) Free 

Out
Keith Andrews (released)
Marton Fulop (released)
Paul Scharner (released)
Nicky Shorey (released)
Somen Tchoyi (released)

J: The big question surrounding West Brom’s season to me seems to be whether Steve Clarke will be equipped to be a manager on his own right or not. If he proves successful then I see no reason why West Brom can’t have a relatively good season and enjoy more mid-table mediocrity. He’s already used his Chelsea connections to get Lukaku on loan, which I think could be a really good signing as he has got such a massive physical presence he seems made for the Premier League and could trouble a lot of defences this year. Getting Ben Foster on a permanent deal is solid business and there is no down side in my opinion. Markus Rosenberg seems to be a relatively sound buy on a free with 9 league goals for Racing Santander in 2010/11 and 10 for Werder Bremen last year he seems to be consistently decent and may pitch in with a few goals. But the signing of 2 strikers seems to be a strange one at a club with Odemwingie and Long already on the books up front. I think Rosenberg will be a back up and the question may be whether Odemwingie is staying or not. Lukaku provides a different option to his smaller Nigerian and Irish colleagues so will he be a replacement or an alternative option? Some solid Premier League performers have left and the other 2 signings seem relatively unproven and a bit more risky. But they should be alright for a mid-table finish, and who knows Yacob or El Ghanassy could be a diamond unearthed.

Prediction: 15th

C: Steve Clarke is trying his hand at Premier League club management rather than assistance for the first time and his task is to follow in the footsteps of Roy Hodgson at West Brom, which doesn't look easy. I think the Throstles have a team fairly light of star players but that work well together and they have done well to gain the services of Ben Foster on a permanent basis. He, along with Olsson, Mulumbu and Long, formed a very solid spine of a team which looks as though it will remain intact going in to this new campaign.

After Foster's arrival, a further handful of players have been drafted in, chiefly attacking players from abroad so I don't know a lot about them and can't really predict how they will adapt to the Premier League, but Romelu Lukaku looks an astute signing by Steve Clarke and I expect the options in attack now at Clarke's disposal will ensure a comfortable season once more for the Baggies.

Prediction: 12th

West Ham United

In
James Collins (Aston Villa) Undisclosed 
Mohamed Diame (Wigan Athletic) Free 
Alou Diarra (Olympique Marseille) Undisclosed 
Stephen Henderson (Portsmouth) Undisclosed
Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers) Free 
George McCartney (Sunderland) Free 
Modibo Maiga (FC Sochaux-Montbeliard) Undisclosed 
Raphael Spiegel (Grasshopper Club Zurich) Undisclosed 

Out
Pablo Barrera (Cruz Azul) Undisclosed
Robert Green (Queens Park Rangers) Free 
Ravel Morrison (Birmingham City) Loan
Frank Nouble (released)
Freddie Sears (Colchester) Free

J: It’s Sam Allardyce back in the Premier League. Welcome back route one football, Stoke have given it a valiant go but no-one can beat Big Sam’s tactical nous and ego. This West Ham team look very similar to Bolton circa 2003 and I guess you stick to what you know. Alou Diarra is built like a brick s***house to sit right in front of the defence and be an immovable force, James Collins is the exact no-nonsense centre back that Big Sam loves (this seems like a really good signing to me – a perfect match), and Diame is an energetic box-to-box midfielder who would have moved to a big club surely if he just had some quality with his final product. I like the look of West Ham to stay up at least. Big Sam knows the division and like him or loath him he knows how to keep a team up. I think he’ll do it again. Only question seems to be who will play up front for West Ham and will they do well. There are a lot of proven Championship strikers who need to make the step up in this team. Maiga was also wanted by Newcastle so if their scouting system saw talent there then he could be a very decent signing.

Prediction: 14th

C: The Hammers returned to the top flight at the very first attempt, which is no mean feat at all and they deserve a lot of praise for that. Big Sam has restored fans confidence, even if it isn't by playing football "the West Ham way", and the team has shown its capability for grinding out results when required. Kevin Nolan and James Tomkins were outstanding last season and Hammers fans will be hoping they bring that form with them into the Premier League this year.

On the transfer front, Robert Green didn't sign a new deal and has been replaced by 65-year old keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen (as Big Sam will tell you, keepers peak when they are older). Then there is the return of two old faces: James Collins is back three years after he swapped claret and blue for claret and blue (Aston Villa) and George McCartney has signed on a free after two loan spells (I must admit, I thought he was a permanent West Ham employee already).

Up front it is difficult to predict whether Modibo Maiga will be a Premier League hit (see all my previous comments about players from the French league) but Carlton Cole, Nicky Maynard, Sam Baldock, Vaz Te and Piquionne don't have me quaking in my boots. Whilst my crystal ball doesn't seem to suggest the Hammers will have the ball in the opposition's net very often, Diarra and Diame in midfield are solid signings and the physical nature of the team will make them difficult to break down. Consequently, I think this side will be a lot tougher to beat than the West Ham that went down and I believe that the Hammers will survive this season.

Prediction: 15th

Wigan Athletic

In
Fraser Fyvie (Aberdeen) Undisclosed 
Ivan Ramis (Real Mallorca) Undisclosed

Ryo Miyaichi (Arsenal) Loan
Arouna Kone (Levante) Undisclosed

Out
Mohamed Diame (West Ham United) Free 
Steve Gohouri (released)
Chris Kirkland (released)
Hugo Rodallega (released)

J: Every year it seems that the Wigan players must get together and have a bit of a giggle and decide ‘Hey, when shall we start playing this year? March? Yeah, that’ll annoy everyone who thinks we’re down and rubbish’. The team was brilliant at the end of last year and if they play that way again this season they should be comfortably mid-table. But that would be boring. They’ve lost Diame and Rodallega two of their best players on paper and haven’t seemed to replace them at all. Every year Wigan just seem to lack a goalscorer. Last year Franco Di Santo and Jordi Gomez were joint top scorer for them with 5. They’ve lost Rodallega and haven’t brought in a replacement, unless you consider getting Mauro Boselli back from a loan spell away as a replacement which I really don’t. I don’t see where the goals can come from for them this season, and if I were Roberto Martinez I’d be trying to sign a striker desperately before this season starts. If they don’t I can’t see Wigan staying up, then again I’ll probably have egg on my face just like every year when it comes to Wigan. It really was a toss up between them and Norwich for the last relegation place in my opinion so I won’t be surprised if they finish the other way round.

Prediction: 18th

C: How do they do it? Yet again the Great Escape DVD is on sale at the DW Stadium as Martinez has yet again worked heroics to keep little old Wigan in the Premier League. They find form at the right time and seem to turn into world beaters around February each year. However this Summer they are faced with the loss of three of their key players: Rodallega, Diame and Moses (well it looks like it anyway). That leaves Franco De-flecto (I think he can only truly credit himself with two of his league goals from last season), penalty specialist Ben Watson, Argentine flop Mauro Boselli, the 'prolific' Conor Sammon and patchy form of Shaun Maloney to come up with the goods to keep the Latics up.

The acquisition of Ryo Miyaichi is a shrewd one but suggests to me that Moses is on his way and I think the burden that will be placed on Miyaichi is too much for an inexperienced young player who had limited impact (granted it was in a struggling team) last season - whilst Miyaichi has proved himself as a capable creator of goals, his career scoring record thus far makes less impressive reading, especially when compared with that of Moses.

I've said it every year, but if (as predicted) Moses departs and no further reinforcements other than Miyaichi are brought in, I think this will finally be the year we see Wigan drop a division. Ali Al-Habsi can only be Harry Houdini so many times in his life!

Last minute edition: they've signed a striker that scored 17 goals in La Liga last year. Prediction revised, but they're still going down. They've got to be. Surely.

Prediction: 18th