WATRB Premiership Preview

WATRB Premiership Preview
By The Godfather

Written on 16th August 2012 - transfers that occurred after this date will not be mentioned.

Last season was thrilling, but in an unpleasant sort of way. You just never knew which Queens Park Rangers team would turn up – would it be the well-organised, exciting team capable of outplaying the Premiership’s very best or the embarrassing, incompetent bunch of buffoons that made the likes of Sunderland and Fulham look like world-beaters? Whilst Swansea and Norwich enjoyed successful campaigns, QPR were locked in a tense relegation battle throughout, despite boasting a superior squad. Much of this was due to Briatore and Ecclestone’s reluctance to invest during the summer, which left the club woefully underprepared for the season ahead. Tony Fernandes’ takeover came too late and, consequently, Neil Warnock had to cobble together a squad at the very last minute. It wasn’t really surprising that we struggled and, with a team reportedly unhappy at the quality of his training sessions, Warnock was sacked halfway through the season. Mark Hughes had exactly the same problem on his hands following his appointment, having to rush through a number of signings during the final weeks of the January transfer window. Fortunately, the team gelled just in time and the R’s were able to escape the drop in dramatic fashion.

Thankfully, Queens Park Rangers is now a very different club to the one that celebrated Kieron Dyer and Danny Gabbidon as its major signings last summer. Everything seems to be done in a much more professional manner. We have an owner who, unlike Briatore and Ecclestone, acknowledges the importance of engaging with the supporters and is actually providing funds for the purchase of players. We have an experienced manager who has been able to bring in his new signings early, enabling them to settle into the squad. And we have a genuine long-term strategy, as illustrated by the appointment of Manchester City scout, Mike Rigg. Yes, Fulham fans, we have ambition.

The question, of course, is whether QPR can significantly improve their league position next season. After enduring a tense relegation battle, I’m sure most fans will be hoping for a mid-table finish, perhaps with a decent cup run. I think this is a realistic expectation, but it’s important that we consider the strength of our competitors. In this article, I’m going to assess each of the other nineteen Premier League teams and predict how they will fare.

Arsenal

Premier League 2011-12 Finish: 3rd place.

Manager: Arsene Wenger

In: Olivier Giroud (Montpellier - £13 million), Lucas Podolski (Cologne - £11 million), Santi Carzola (Malaga, £16.5 million).

Out: Gavin Hoyte (Dagenham – Free), Manuel Almunia (Released), Joel Campbell (Real Betis - Loan), Denilson (Sao Paulo – Loan).

If there was a gold medal for moaning, Arsenal fans would win it without question. My Gunners-supporting friend tells me that, during the era of the ‘invincibles’, the people who sat around him at Highbury would complain that Henry and Bergkamp were taking their foot off the gas despite their team leading 3-0. So, it didn’t surprise me when, following Arsenal’s poor start to the 2011/12 season, radio stations were bombarded with depressed Gooners suggesting that Wenger had completely lost the plot. ‘He’s useless’. ‘Get rid’. The most hilarious comment had to be ‘time for Wenger to go. I’d bring in Dalglish’. Of course, Arsenal went on to enjoy a relatively successful campaign, gaining a Champions League spot and finishing above Tottenham, which made all these fans look rather stupid.

Those calling for Wenger’s dismissal point to the club’s lack of trophies in recent years. However, they forget that the Frenchman has actually come exceptionally close, reaching the Champions League semi-final in 2009, mounting a serious challenge for the title the season before last and only losing the Carling Cup 2011 due to a goalkeeping error in the final minute at Wembley Stadium. All this has happened without hundreds of millions of pounds being spent and in spite of the loss of a number of key players. In my view, there are very few managers who are better than Arsene Wenger and, simply put, the Board would be mad to get rid of him.

Crucial to Arsenal’s retention of a Champions League spot was Robin Van Persie, who signed for Manchester United. There’s no doubt that a lot of Arsenal fans are disheartened - this is a striker who notched a remarkable total of 37 goals last season. But an attacking partnership of Olivier Giroud and Lucas Podolski looks very strong indeed. Giroud has taken the French league by storm over the last year, scoring 21 times for Marseille. Podolski has always impressed me in major international tournaments and his record of 44 goals in 101 appearances for Germany speaks for itself. If these two players can adapt to the English game then I expect the Gunners to be very dangerous going forward.

Wenger also spent £16.5 million on Santi Carzola, a talented and versatile winger who is also strong at set-pieces. The Spanish international, who was a member of the Euro 2012-winning squad, played a crucial role in Malaga’s qualification for the Champions League last season, finishing as the club’s second top scorer. Clearly, Arsenal are going to have a lot of pace on the flanks – they also have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who at the age of 19 is already a firm favourite with the Gunners supporters. Theo Walcott is yet to agree a new contract with the club and has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks. However, this is a player who I believe is extremely overrated - he charges around a lot, but there’s little in terms of end product.

In the middle of the park, Arsenal have plenty of creativity in the shape of Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, but, with Barcelona chasing Alex Song, they might need to invest in a new ball-winning midfielder before the end of the transfer window. Jack Wilshere is a player I rate very highly, but is likely to miss the first half of the campaign through injury.

Defensively, Arsenal were weak last season, as we saw in the fixture at Loftus Road when they seemed unable to cope with Adel Taarabt and Jamie Mackie. Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny were prone to errors; whilst Per Mertesacker’s lack of pace was often exposed by opposing forwards. Arsenal fans will be hoping that the appointment of Gunners legend, Steve Bould, as coach will strengthen the back four.

Prediction - I think Arsenal have enough quality to retain their Champions League spot next season. Despite the loss of Van Persie, I believe that they have bought well in the transfer market, signing three top class attacking players. However, I think their best hope for a trophy lies in one of the two domestic cups rather than the Premiership or Champions League.

4th place

Aston Villa

Premier League 2011-12 finish: 16th place.

Manager: Paul Lambert

In: Matthew Lowton (Sheffield United, £3 million), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord, undisclosed), Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord, undisclosed), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar, free).

Out: James Collins (West Ham, undisclosed), Carlos Cuellar (Sunderland, undisclosed), Emile Heskey (released).

Aston Villa made the right decision in sacking Alex McLeish. I have never rated this manager – he’s an exceptionally negative coach specialising in ineffective, tedious football. Although he won the League Cup with Birmingham, his performance in the Premier League has been unremarkable to say the very least. I have no doubt that had Randy Lerner stuck with the Scot, Villa would have gone down this season.

McLeish’s replacement, Paul Lambert, is clearly a very promising young manager, despite coming across in interviews as possibly the most uncharismatic individual on the planet. He did a brilliant job at Norwich City, gaining successive promotions and then achieving an impressive mid-table top tier finish with the Canaries. His style of football is usually attractive to watch, although I have to say I was disappointed by the gamesmanship his Norwich side displayed at Loftus Road last season. I think he’s got the ability to one day manage one of Europe’s biggest clubs and therefore I expect Aston Villa to be stronger than they were last season.

Without doubt, the club possesses some excellent attacking talent. Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Charles N’Zogbia are all strong, pacey forwards with an eye for goal. McLeish’s tactical negativity severely restricted these players and unsurprisingly they struggled to make an impact. Only Stoke scored fewer goals than the Villans last season. If Lambert can transform the lumbering Grant Holt into a prolific Premiership striker then surely he will be able to do the same with these footballers.

Lambert has strengthened the defence this summer, bringing in Ron Vlaar from Feyenoord and spending three million pounds on Sheffield United defender Matthew Lowton. Vlaar is a Dutch international central defender who has enjoyed a lot of success in the Netherlands, but is somewhat prone to serious injuries. Lowton, meanwhile, is a talented attacking full-back, but can sometimes push so far forward that he can be caught out of position. Lambert has certainly taken a risk in spending a large amount of money on the inexperienced 23 year-old, but whether he intends him to be a first-team regular remains to be seen.

After the loss of Stiliyan Petrov, who was sadly diagnosed with leukaemia, it is no surprise that Lambert has moved to strengthen his midfield. Adel Taarabt’s Moroccan teammate, Karim El Ahmadi, has joined from Feyenoord. El Ahmadi was nicknamed ‘The Governor’ in Holland due to his aggressive, combative style of play. He was an effective defensive midfielder in the Netherlands, but will need to adapt quickly to the English game.

Prediction – Lambert has taken a risk with his signings this summer. None of them have played in the Premiership before and I think that it may take some time for them to adapt. However, it must be remembered that the core of the squad is very experienced – the likes of Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Darren Bent know what it takes to succeed in this division. I expect Villa to dramatically improve on their performance last season, achieving a respectable mid-table finish.

10th place

Chelsea

Premier League 2011-12 Finish: 6th place.

Manager: Roberto Di Matteo

In: Eden Hazard (Lille, £32 million), Oscar (Internacional, £25 million), Marko Marin (£7 million), Thorgan Hazard (Lens, free).

Out: Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua, free), Jacob Mellis (Barnsley, free), Salomon Kalou (Lille, free), Jose Bosingwa (released), Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, loan), Romelu Lukaku (West Bromwich Albion, loan), Kevin De Bruyne (Werder Bremen, loan), Sam Hutchinson (Nottingham Forest, loan).

Unfortunately, this is the part of the preview where I have to mention that Chelsea are European Champions. That really was a horrible night – and you just knew that they were going to do it, despite being outplayed by Bayern Munich.

Although the Blues were incredibly successful in Europe and the FA Cup, they performed poorly in the Premiership by their standards. Andre Villas Boas started off fairly well, posing a serious challenge to the Manchester teams early on in the season, but the turning point in his short-lived Chelsea career was that eventful match at Loftus Road. The away team seemed unable to cope with the fierce atmosphere and a number of players completely lost their composure, with Bosingwa and Drogba being deservedly sent off. The game finished 1-0 to the Super Hoops and triggered a decline in Chelsea’s form, eventually leading to Villas Boas’ sacking and the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo as manager.

Under Villas Boas, Chelsea’s experienced players – particularly Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard – were gradually being forced out. Di Matteo reversed this policy and reaped terrific rewards, with Drogba scoring a crucial equaliser in the Champions League final. Of course, this season Chelsea will not be able to rely on the Ivory Coast international, who has moved to the Chinese top division. Fernando Torres will now be expected to supply the goals and finally show that he is worth the £50 million Roman Abramovich spent on him. His performances for Spain at Euro 2012 will have boosted supporters’ hopes that he can establish himself as the Premiership’s most prolific striker once again after several disappointing campaigns.

As usual, Chelsea have spent millions in the transfer market, purchasing the highly-rated Eden Hazard and Oscar. Hazard attracted interest from a number of top European clubs due to his excellent performances for Lille and Belgium on both flanks. Hazard’s movement, speed and skill on the ball reminds me of Cristiano Ronaldo – and, despite a poor display in the Charity Shield, I think he will play a crucial role for Chelsea this season. Oscar is an excellent attacking midfielder who was an integral part of Brazil’s medal-winning team at the London Olympics (in the semi-final against South Korea he created two of the Brazil’s goals). With these two players, along with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Ramires and Juan Mata, Chelsea will be very dangerous in attack.

However, I am not convinced that Chelsea are strong enough defensively to win the division. John ‘I ain’t racist, but I does use racist language innit’ Terry’s lack of pace is starting to be exploited by the top teams, but he’s such a Blues ‘legend’ that I doubt Di Matteo will dare to drop him. David Luiz is undoubtedly an extremely skilful player, but can sometimes look suspect in a central defensive role. Gary Cahill is very solid, but he could be let down by whoever partners him in the heart of defence.

Prediction – I expect Chelsea to challenge for the title this season in a three-horse race with the Manchester clubs, but I think that they will just miss out. I would be very surprised to see Di Matteo in charge at the beginning of next season despite his remarkable achievements.

3rd place

Everton

Premier League 2011-12 Finish: 7th place

Manager: David Moyes

In: Steven Pienaar (Tottenham, £4.5m), Steven Naismith (Rangers, free).

Out: Jack Rodwell (Man City, £12m), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls, £1m), Adam Forshaw (Brentford, undisclosed), James Wallace (Tranmere, undisclosed), Joao Silva (Levski Sofia, undisclosed), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, undisclosed), James McFadden (released), Marcus Hahnemann (released).

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am still trying to work out how QPR beat Everton at Goodison Park last season with Patrick Agyemang on his own up front and Fitz Hall and Danny Gabbidon at the back. I know Neil Warnock has upset a number of our supporters this week with the signing of El Hadj Diouf, but come on – this really was an extraordinary achievement. For Everton supporters, the defeat didn’t really come as much of a surprise. Every season, the team starts poorly and there is talk of a ‘crisis’ at the club. There is an improvement from about October and they end up finishing comfortably in the top half of the table.

David Moyes has done an exceptional job for the Toffees given their financial situation. Investment is desperately needed and Bill Kenwright, as much as he loves Everton, is unable to provide it. As a consequence, Moyes’ options are often limited in the transfer market. This summer, he has been able to bring in former Evertonian, Steven Pienaar, from Spurs and Steven Naismith on a free transfer after the liquidation of Glasgow Rangers. Pienaar, who has been linked with a move to QPR on a number of occasions, is a creative midfielder who, at his best, can dictate the flow of a match with superb distribution. Naismith has spent his entire career in Scotland, starting at Kilmarnock before signing for Rangers in 2007, making 98 appearances for the now defunct club. Given the abysmal quality of Scottish football, I am always sceptical as to whether SPL players can make the transition to the Premiership. We will have to wait and see.

Everton recently lost Jack Rodwell to Manchester City, a product of the club’s youth academy. I am informed by an Everton-supporting friend, however, that fans are pleased with the £12 million received. Apparently, despite showing real promise as a youngster, some of Rodwell’s performances were mediocre last season, and Everton have done well to gain such a large sum from his sale.

Prediction – Even though the Board has not invested substantially in the team, I expect Everton to do fairly well this season. They have a settled squad which is full of experienced Premiership players and have a terrific manager in the shape of David Moyes. Pienaar is an excellent midfielder and will prove to be a quality signing.

8th place

Fulham

Premier League 2011-12 Finish: 9th place.

Manager: Martin Jol

In: Hugo Rodallega (Wigan, free), Mladen Petric (Hamburg, free), George Williams (MK Dons, free), Sascha Riether (Cologne, loan).

Out: Dickson Etuhu (Blackburn, undisclosed), Marcel Gecov (AA Gent, undisclosed), Andrew Johnson (QPR, free), Danny Murphy (Blackburn, free), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading, free), Bjorn Helge Riise (released), Orlando Sa (released).

The rivalry between QPR and Fulham has grown in intensity since the appointment of Mark Hughes as Rangers manager. They really don’t like us, do they? ‘6-0 in your cup final’ they chanted at Loftus Road back in February. Yes, that makes sense! We’re the ones with the flags, the banners and the childish little cards with the score line of the previous fixture written on them! It must be our cup final…

In all seriousness, though, one has to admit that Fulham is a very well-run club. Al Fayed knows what he is doing, as illustrated by his excellent managerial appointments over the years (with the exception of Lawrie Sanchez). Martin Jol organises his teams superbly and they play exciting, attacking football. Last season, they seemed to be streets ahead of a disjointed, demoralised QPR team and, frankly, it was painful to watch.

I have a feeling that Fulham will struggle to match the success they enjoyed last season. They have lost several key players, such as Danny Murphy, who has joined Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer. In the fixture between the two sides at Loftus Road, he was dominating the midfield with ease, completely outclassing Joey Barton through his superb use of the ball. Murphy seemed integral to Fulham’s gameplay and I think that they will struggle to replace him. Pavel Pogrebnyak also looked very dangerous going forward and Whites supporters will be disappointed to have lost him. In addition, Clint Dempsey, the driving force behind Fulham’s success in the previous campaign, looks likely to leave before the end of the transfer window.

Despite these departures, I can’t see Fulham being dragged into a relegation battle. Jol has made a number of impressive signings. Hugo Rodallega, who joined from Wigan Athletic, is a skilful forward with a habit of scoring spectacular goals (remember that free-kick he scored against QPR?). He is erratic, but if Jol manages to get him to perform consistently then he could prove to be a decent replacement for Pogrebnyak. Another striker, Mladen Petric, has signed from Hamburger SV and will be hoping to continue his impressive scoring record at Craven Cottage. He notched 38 goals in 98 appearances for the German side and is also an experienced Croatian international.

Prediction – Fulham will finish in mid-table, but lower than they did last season for the reasons stated above. Do I think they will achieve a higher position than QPR? Read on to find out…

12th place

Liverpool

Premier League 2011-12 Finish: 8th place

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

In: Joe Allen (Swansea, £15m), Fabio Borini (Roma, £10m)

Out: Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbache, £1m), Craig Bellamy (Cardiff, undisclosed), Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina, undisclosed), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys, undisclosed), Fabio Aurelio (Gremio, free), David Amoo (Preston North End, free), Stephen Darby (Bradford, free).

I believe that Liverpool have made a serious mistake in appointing Brendan Rodgers as manager. I remember watching Reading during his spell in charge and to say that they were shambolic would be an understatement. Some of you may recall the R’s beating them 4-1 at Loftus Road, despite having had a man sent off. Their defence was all over the place – I almost felt embarrassed for the Royals. Rodgers was sacked by John Madejski and went on to take the Swansea job. I felt that he was fortunate to inherit a strong squad, which had been built by Roberto Martinez and then Paulo Sousa. Of course, he must be given some credit for getting the team promoted and then guiding them to a mid-table Premiership finish, but the footballing style employed by the Swans was very much a legacy of the Spaniard and Portuguese’s periods as manager.

If I were a Liverpool fan, alarm bells would already be ringing. For instance, I am amazed that Rodgers is trying to force Andy Carroll out of the club without giving him a chance to impress. Yes, he is not worth £35 million, but I think most would agree that he is still a very useful striker who was one of the better performers for England at Euro 2012. In my view, this is a really poor decision.

Furthermore, I am not at all convinced by Rodgers’ signings. He has spent £15 million on Joe Allen of Swansea City, a player who has been humiliated by Adel Taarabt and Alejandro Faurlin on several occasions. I agree that he had a good season with the Swans, but to spend £15 million on him seems absolutely absurd. Similarly, 21 year-old Fabio Borini is a skilful forward, but I would not value him at anywhere near £10 million given that he has made fewer than 40 league appearances.

I expect Brendan Rodgers will encourage Liverpool to play in a similar way to Swansea last season – lots of tedious, pointless passing between players in their own half. However, despite pundits suggesting that they were some sort of ‘Welsh Barcelona’, this tactic became more and more ineffective for the Swans as the campaign went on.

Any Liverpool fan expecting the club to challenge for a Champions League place is deluded in my opinion. They still have a few genuine world-class players – Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Pepe Reina and Jose Enrique – but, overall, the squad looks rather poor to me. I suspect Liverpool fans will soon realise what a mediocre coach Brendan Rodgers actually is and I really doubt that he will last the campaign.

Prediction – I predict Rodgers to be replaced halfway through the campaign. Another mid-table finish is likely. Liverpool are simply not the force that they used to be. I believe that it will be many years before they are competing at the very top of the Premiership. They might, however, win a domestic cup.

9th place

Manchester City

Premier League 2011-12 Finish: 1st place

Manager: Roberto Mancini

In: Jack Rodwell (Everton, £12m).

Out: Vladimir Weiss (Pescara, undisclosed), Greg Cunningham (Bristol City, free), Owen Hargreaves (released), Gunnar Nielsen (released), Stuart Taylor (released), Wayne Bridge (Brighton, loan).

Roberto Mancini seems happy with the squad at his disposal and why shouldn’t he be after they won the Premiership title last season? After several years of upheaval, the Italian has only made one signing this summer – Jack Rodwell – who I believe has joined as a squad player. The first team is now settled and looked in fine form against Chelsea in the Charity Shield, winning 3-2. The target for this campaign will not only be to defend the league trophy, but also to mount a serious challenge for the Champions League, a competition in which City have underperformed.

After Manchester United’s acquisition of Robin Van Persie, everybody has been discussing how strong a striking partnership of Rooney and RVP looks. I don’t dispute that, but City’s Argentinean frontline of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez is also very impressive. Aguero won the title with that extraordinary 94th minute winner against Queens Park Rangers and ended up being named as the supporters’ player of the year. Every time he receives the ball, one senses that a game-changing moment might occur. Tevez seems to have finally rebuilt his relationship with the manager and the supporters – there’s no doubt that when he is focussed he is a sensational forward.

Supplying Aguero and Tevez with excellent through-balls will be David Silva, who is currently considered to be one of the best players in the world. Silva is reportedly the player Sir Alex Ferguson would most like to snatch from his bitter city rivals and it’s not difficult to see why, contributing 15 assists last season and netting 6 goals. Samir Nasri will also offer the side creativity – he is a player I dislike with a passion, but is clearly a gifted footballer.

At the back, Man City have the best defender in the division – club captain, Victor Kompany. The 26 year-old, who arrived at the Etihad from Hamburger SV in 2008, has made 127 appearances for the Blues and scored a vital headed winner in the Manchester derby last season.

Prediction – I think Man City will win the Premiership again. They are stronger than Manchester United in central midfield and defence. In addition, this season they have the benefit of boasting a settled squad.

1st place

Manchester United

Premier League Season 2011-12 Finish: 2nd place

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

In: Robin van Persie (Arsenal, £24m), Shinji Kagawa (Dortmund, £17m), Nick Powell (Crewe, £4m).

Out: Park Ji-sung (QPR, undisclosed), Richie De Laet (Leicester, undisclosed), Matty James (Leicester, undisclosed) Paul Pogba (Juventus, free), Tomasz Kuszczak (Brighton, free), Michael Owen (released), Fabio (QPR, loan), Ben Amos (Hull, loan).

The big story this week has been Manchester United’s £24 million purchase of Robin Van Persie. Although I think he’s an excellent player, I believe that Sir Alex Ferguson has spent far too much on the Dutch striker. Van Persie is now 29 years old and has been prone to injury throughout his career. It’s a risk. That said, if he can stay fit, I expect him and Wayne Rooney to be a formidable striking partnership this season. And with Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck in reserve, United definitely have the strength in depth to win at least one major trophy.

Crucial to United’s campaign will be new signing Shinji Kagawa, who joined this summer from Borussia Dortmund for £17 million. Ferguson cannot rely on Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs for much longer, both of whom are now in their late thirties, and so it’s important that Kagawa offers the team a creative spark just like he did during his spell in Germany. The Japanese international is an effective attacking midfielder, who can also play on the flanks. Anyone who assumes that the motives behind this signing were purely commercial (a way in which to increase shirt sales in the Far East) is wrong – just have a look at some of the Youtube videos of Kagawa tearing apart opposing defences in the Bundesliga. Ferguson also signed midfielder Nick Powell from Crewe Alexandra, who at the age of 18 clearly has a lot of potential. I doubt he will play a key role this season, but he’s certainly a hot prospect for the future.

United supporters’ hopes will have been boosted by the news that experienced central defender, Nemanja Vidic, will return this season after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 30 year-old Serbian was missed during the title race – had he been fit then perhaps United wouldn’t have collapsed against Wigan Athletic and Everton, giving Manchester City the opportunity to move back into contention for the top spot. In addition, it will be interesting to see whether Rio Ferdinand is still a first team regular next season – at the age of 33 he is surely reaching the end of his career.

Prediction – United will pose a strong challenge, but I do not agree that because they signed Robin Van Persie they are now ‘favourites for the title’, as Mancini has stated (although the Italian is probably playing mind games). I think Manchester City are stronger overall – particularly in the central midfield and defensive areas of the pitch.

2nd place

Newcastle United

Premier League Season 2011-12 Finish: 5th place

Manager: Alan Pardew

In: Vurnon Anita (Ajax, £6.7m), Curtis Good (Melbourne Heart, £400,000), Gael Bigirimana (Coventry, undisclosed), Romain Amalfitano (Reims, free).

Out: Leon Best (Blackburn, £3m), Fraser Forster (Celtic, £2m), Danny Guthrie (Reading, free), Peter Lovenkrands (Birmingham, free), Alan Smith (MK Dons, free) Ryan Donaldson (released), Tamas Kadar (Roda JC, free).

Newcastle were the surprise package of last season, contending for a Champions League spot throughout the campaign. Following the departures of Andy Carroll and then Joey Barton, the Magpies were tipped for relegation. Opposition to Mike Ashley’s ownership was stronger than ever, with fans accusing him of letting the club’s best players go. In fact, under Alan Pardew, Newcastle would go on to enjoy their most successful season since Sir Bobby Robson’s managerial spell. And, with a well-balanced squad, I see no reason why the Toon cannot achieve similar success this year.

Pardew has made a number of signings this summer, the most expensive of which was Vurnon Anita from Ajax. Anita is a tough-tackling defensive midfielder, who has earned himself three caps for the Dutch national team through his excellent form for the Amsterdam club. At the age of 23, his best footballing years are still ahead of him. 19 year-old Curtis Good has also joined from Melbourne Heart, a central defender who nobody seems to know much about. I wonder if he’s on FIFA’s ‘one to watch’ list (remember Nick Ward?).

Newcastle’s two strikers, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse took the league by storm last season, causing even the likes of Manchester United problems with their pace and goalscoring ability. Ba scored an impressive total of 16 goals, whilst Cisse netted 13 times, including an extraordinary lob from long-range against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. I expect them to be a force to be reckoned with once again.

In midfield, Newcastle boast a number of top class players, including Jonas Gutierrez, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa. Gutierrez always poses a threat down the right flank, whilst Cabaye is a hardworking box-to-box footballer capable of dominating the middle of the park. Ben Arfa reminds me a lot of Adel Taarabt in that he is extremely skilful and can score some quite spectacular goals.

The Magpies are also strong defensively, with the dominant Fabricio Coloccini in central defence. Having played for Boca Juniors, AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna, the Argentinean has plenty of experience at the very top level.

Prediction – I can’t see Newcastle gaining a Champions League spot this season, but they will still provide a challenge to the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. They have a strong manager and a balanced squad, with plenty of international players.

6th place

Norwich City

Premier League Season 2011-12 Finish: 12th place

Manager: Chris Hughton

In: Robert Snodgrass (Leeds, £3m), Michael Turner (Sunderland, undisclosed), Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley, undisclosed), Steven Whittaker (Rangers, free), Javier Garrido (Lazio, loan).

Out: Andrew Crofts (Brighton, undisclosed), Adam Drury (Leeds, free), Aaron Wilbraham (Crystal Palace, free), Zak Whitbread (Leicester, free), Josh Dawkin (released), Daniel Ayala (Nottingham Forest, loan).

To QPR fans’ annoyance, Norwich picked up six points from the two fixtures against the R’s last season. Canaries fans really seem to dislike the Super Hoops – I remember them praying that we would receive a points deduction and that we would be stripped of our Championship trophy so that Lambert could parade it around the Carrow Road pitch. In addition, on the ‘Pink Un’ message board, Norwich fans have responded to our dealings in the transfer market by suggesting that we will end up as ‘the next Porsmouth’, ignoring the fact that QPR is in no debt whatsoever. All this has resulted in a minor rivalry developing between the two sets of supporters.

Despite this, I think even the most ardent of QPR supporters would have to admit that Norwich performed admirably in the Premiership last season, achieving a very impressive 12th place finish. On paper, the Canaries’ squad looked very much like a Championship one, but manager, Paul Lambert, managed to get the very best out of his players.

However, this summer, Norwich fans were no doubt disappointed to learn of Lambert’s departure – the Scot decided to take up Aston Villa’s offer of succeeding Alex McLeish. The club moved quickly to secure Lambert’s replacement, appointing Birmingham City manager Chris Hughton. Hughton has limited experience of managing a Premiership club – he was in charge of Newcastle for a few months and did fairly well, but was mysteriously dismissed by Mike Ashley. The sacking seemed a very harsh one.

For some time, it seemed that the Canaries’ summer was about to get even worse when Grant Holt announced his intention to leave the club. Holt was Norwich’s top scorer last season – I was surprised by his success, as I had always considered him very much a Championship quality forward. However, Holt seemed to change his mind and pledged his future to Norwich.

Hughton has signed a number of players this summer. Robert Snodgrass has joined from Leeds United, where he impressed during a four-year spell, making 168 appearances and netting 35 goals. However, the 24 year-old has never played in the Premiership before. Norwich also secured the services of Michael Turner from Sunderland, who has spent most of his career in the Football League. Turner suffered from a recurring knee injury during the latter half of last season and I do wonder whether this will prevent him from establishing himself as a first team regular at Carrow Road.

Prediction – For me, Paul Lambert played such a vital part in Norwich’s success and I think Chris Hughton, despite being a fairly talented coach, will struggle. I feel that Grant Holt will not have the same impact as he did in the previous campaign and that the Canaries will struggle to score goals.

18th place


Queens Park Rangers

Premier League Season 2011-12 Finish: 17th place

Manager: Mark Hughes

In: Junior Hoilett (Blackburn, tribunal), Park Ji-sung (Manchester United, undisclosed), Samba Diakite (Nancy, undisclosed), Robert Green (West Ham, free), Ryan Nelsen (Tottenham, free), Andrew Johnson (Fulham, free), Fabio (Manchester United, loan), Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea, free).

Out: Paddy Kenny (Leeds, £400,000), Heidar Helguson (Cardiff, undisclosed), Rowan Vine (St Johnstone, free), Peter Ramage (Crystal Palace, free), Danny Gabbidon (released), Danny Shittu (released), Fitz Hall (released), Gary Borrowdale (released), Lee Cook (released), Patrick Agyemang (released), Akos Buzsaky (released).

I think that QPR have made some excellent signings this summer. Junior Hoilett was absolutely superb for Blackburn last season despite being managed by one of the most incompetent coaches the Premiership has ever seen. Park Ji Sung and Bosingwa have both won the Premiership and Champions League and will add pace, creativity and flair to the squad. Samba Diakite played a crucial role in our survival and has the potential to be a top class central midfielder. Robert Green, Ryan Nelsen and Andy Johnson have all spent most of their careers in the top flight. In short, Mark Hughes has assembled a squad which has a healthy mixture of youth and experience.

My main concern is the defence. I would have liked to have seen Hughes bring in a commanding centre back to partner Anton Ferdinand. Whilst Clint Hill and Ryan Nelsen are both very solid, can we really rely on them to start every game? In addition, whilst Bosingwa, Traore and Fabio are all very good at getting forward, they are sometimes caught out defensively.

If QPR are to avoid a relegation battle then they must sort out their away form, which was absolutely abysmal last season. When playing away from home, the captain is very important in motivating the team and helping his teammates to keep their composure, especially when faced with a hostile crowd. This is where Joey Barton was very poor in my opinion – he just wasn’t influential enough. It will be interesting to see who Hughes announces as the new skipper before the season opener against Swansea City.

Prediction – I think QPR have enough quality to avoid relegation comfortably, achieving a lower mid-table finish. I suspect it may take some time for the new team to gel and therefore supporters shouldn’t be too concerned if we make a slow start to the campaign (I do hope that if we lose to Swansea I don’t find posters calling for Hughes’ dismissal on the WATRB message board).

13th place

Reading

Season 2011-12 Finish: 1st place (The Championship).

Manager: Brian McDermott

In: Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest, £2.5m), Adrian Mariappa (Watford, £2.5m), Pierce Sweeney (Bray Wanderers, undisclosed), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Fulham, free), Danny Guthrie (Newcastle, free), Garath McCleary (Nottingham Forest, free), Nicky Shorey (West Brom, free).

Out: Michail Antonio (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed), Tomasz Cywka (Barnsley, free), Brian Howard (released), Andy Griffin (released), Jack Mills (released), Joseph Mills (Burnley, loan).

Reading won the Championship last season with several former (or in case of Matthew Connolly – on loan) QPR players. Mikele Leigertwood was a first team regular in central midfield, whilst Kaspars Gorkss and Matthew Connolly usually started in the heart of defence. Connolly is back at Loftus Road, but Leigertwood and Gorkss will finally get a chance to impress in the Premiership in a blue and white hooped shirt – not a proper one of course! The question is how will they fare? I was never a fan of ‘Legs of Wood’ – I always felt his distribution and first touch were very poor and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was caught out in Premiership matches. The Latvian defender, on the other hand, was always very solid for QPR and, in truth; I was surprised when Warnock let him go. I think he is capable of being a good top flight centre back.

Brian McDermott has been provided with substantial funds to spend on players thanks to the takeover of the club by Anton Zingarevich, a billionaire who has been linked with a bid for Everton in the past. This has enabled him to secure the services of talented Russian forward, Pavel Pogrebnyak, a player who was a real thorn in Rangers’ side during the QPR V Fulham fixture at Loftus Road. Pogrebnyak poses a potent aerial threat and I expect him to score a lot of goals for the Royals.

Chris Gunter and Adrian Mariappa have also signed for the Royals in deals totalling up to £5 million. Gunter is a 23 year-old full-back who lists Cardiff and Tottenham among his former clubs, whilst Mariappa is a talented defender who progressed through Watford’s youth system. Neither player has much Premiership experience, but they certainly have potential.

Prediction – I think Reading have got just about enough to stay up this season. I think that their season will be similar to QPR’s previous campaign – they will find themselves in serious trouble around Christmas time, but their rich owner will be able to fund a spending spree in the January transfer window.

17th place

Southampton

Season 2011-12 Finish: 2nd place (The Championship)

Manager: Nigel Adkins

In: Jay Rodriguez (Burnley, £6m), Paulo Gazzaniga (Gillingham, undisclosed), Steven Davis (Rangers, free), Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace, compensation not yet agreed).

Out: Dan Harding (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed), Bartosz Bialkowski (Notts County, free), Lee Holmes (Preston North End, free), Ryan Doble (Shrewsbury, free), David Connolly (released), Radhi Jaidi (retired), Aaron Martin (Crystal Palace, loan), Tommy Forecast Gillingham, loan).

I was pleased to see Southampton gain promotion back to the Premiership, mainly because QPR seem to have a decent record against them, particularly away from home. And I fancy us to get three points this season as well. In my view, the Saints will not be strong enough to survive in the Premiership.

Nigel Adkins has done very well at Southampton, transforming them from a struggling League One team into one capable of recording successive promotions. Two players have played an enormous part in this achievement: Ricky Lambert and Adam Lallana. Lambert is a striker who is not too dissimilar from Grant Holt – a physical, aggressive forward who has been extremely effective in the Football League. Lallana is a skilful attacking midfielder, who offers the Saints creativity and is really skilful on the ball. If Southampton are to have any chance of staying in the division, these two players must be able to adapt.

The club’s biggest signing of the summer so far has been the £6 million purchase of Jay Rodriguez from Burnley. This appears to be a very large amount of money to spend on a striker totally unproven in the Premiership. Whilst Rodriguez’s performances in the Championship have been impressive, there is no guarantee that he will be able to make the step up. The same goes for Adkins’ other dealings in the transfer market – Nathaniel Clyne, Steven Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga have no experience of the top tier.

Prediction – I just can’t see Southampton staying up. I know that Norwich and Swansea both did superbly by keeping the core of the squad that got them promoted, but I felt that the Championship of 2010/11 was particularly strong. Adkins needed to bring in Premiership quality during the summer in order to survive – and he hasn’t done that.

19th place

Stoke

Premier League Season 2011-12 Finish: 14th place

Manager: Tony Pulis

In: Michael Kightly (Wolves, £2m), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo, undisclosed), Jamie Ness (Rangers, free), Goran Popov (Dynamo Kiev, loan).

Out: Danny Collins (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed), Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough, free), Andrew Davies (Bradford, free), Salif Diao (released), Ricardo Fuller (released), Louis Moult (released), Tom Soares (released).

I despise Stoke’s style of football. It really is absolutely dreadful to watch – how somebody could pay money to see that week in week out beggars belief. Since the Potters’ promotion to the Premiership, however, nobody can dispute that ‘Pulisball’ has been very effective for them. But there were signs last season that their tactics were gradually being worked out. Their league finish was disappointing for the Chairman and there were mumblings of discontent among the supporters.

Another reason for Stoke fans to be concerned is that the squad is ageing. Rory Delap, Matthew Upson, Peter Crouch and Matthew Etherington are all now in their thirties. Last season, I noticed that Delap’s throw-ins, so crucial to City’s game plan, were not as powerful as they used to be and that, most of the time, they were being cleared with ease. I have a feeling that the Potters’ old, tired squad will struggle this season.

Pulis has made four signings so far this summer, bringing in Michael Kightly from Wolves, Geoff Cameron from Houston Dynamo, Jamie Ness from Rangers and Goran Popov on loan from Dynamo Kiev. I have always rated Kightly, but he seems to suffer serious injuries on a regular basis, which has hampered his career. 27 year-old Cameron, meanwhile, was a star of the MLS, but it must be remembered that the quality of American ‘soccer’ is very poor.

Prediction – Stoke might get drawn into the relegation battle at some stage, but I think they have just about enough Premiership quality to escape the drop. This could be Pulis’ final season in charge, however – I’ve got a feeling that the supporters will finally become fed up of watching his dire football.

16th place

Discussion of the remaining six teams will be posted online tomorrow