Premier League Previews: #14 Stoke

Last Season: 14th

In: Goran Popov (season loan, Dynamo Kyiv), Michael Kightly (£3m, Wolverhampton Wanderers), Geoff Cameron (£1.8m, Houston Dynamo), Jamie Ness (free transfer, Rangers)

Out: Danny Collins (£500,000, Nottingham Forest), Jonathan Woodgate (free transfer, Middlesbrough), Andrew Davies (free transfer, Bradford City), Ricardo Fuller (released), Salif Diao (released)

If they were an Olympian: Justin Gatlin. Not loved by many but achievements are impressive, has used questionable methods to achieve success. Unlikely to be most neutrals choice.

Whisper it, but Stoke may actually be getting worse rather than better, as they enter their fifth consecutive season in the top flight, which in itself is a fantastic achievement for manager Tony Pulis. After finishing 12th and 11th in their first two seasons in the league, the Potters have finished 13th and 14th in their previous two. This can partly be explained by the club going far in the F.A. Cup and Europa League but it is still a trend that the club will want to redress.

Much of Stoke's success was based on making the Britannia stadium as inhospitable a ground as there is in the Premier League and their record against the top sides there is incredible. Last season saw them beat Liverpool and Tottenham at home whilst Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea could only manage draws. The club would like to turn some of the 8 home draws into wins and had they, for the sake of argument, won 2 more games at home last year, instead of finishing 14th with 45 points they would have finished 10th with 51. Their record of 8 home draws is only bettered by Liverpool with 9.

That said it was the 11 away defeats that really prevented Stoke from climbing further up the table and their away form was one of the poorest in the league. It shows how far Stoke have come in such a short space of time that finishing 14th is considered a slight under achievement and they certainly deserve to be recognised for quietly establishing themselves in the league, so much so, that hardly anyone has tipped them to be relegated.

There has been a significant turnover at the club this summer with many of the clubs older players who had served the club well, being moved out and younger players like Michael Kightly, Geoff Cameron and Jamie Ness arriving. Pulis has spoken of his plans to reinvigorate the club saying that "It's important that we introduce some young blood in strenghtening the squad."

Goals are the major concern for Stoke as they were the division's lowest scorers with a paltry 36 goals. When you consider that Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters contributed 17 of those goals, Pulis badly needs some other players to step up. Kightly is a decent player and injuries deprived him of the chance to make a sustained impact on the league but will hope to do just that at Stoke.

The goalscoring problem cannot entirely be apportioned to the failure of the club's forwards and in fact Crouch's return of 14 goals overall is respectable given that Stoke really struggle for midfield creativity. Whilst wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant can usually be relied upon for a steady supply of crosses when on the pitch, the team creates little centrally.

Whilst the club's central midfielders are incredibly hard working and solid players they typically lack the ability to open teams up, partly as Stoke look to play nominally from wide. The signing of Ness from Rangers, a promising, but fairly unproven 21 year old, indicates that Pulis too is aware of this problem.

The position that Stoke are in is a precarious one. On one hand they will want to continue to develop the club's squad and style of play to be more flexible and become less reliant on their set pieces, the best in Europe, and more comfortable in possession. On the other hand the club have been very successful with their current philosophy and if they were to move too quickly in changing they could find themselves dragged into a relegation battle.

It is a very similar situation to that which occurred at Bolton when Sam Allardyce left and Sammy Lee took over. Lee tried to change the philosophy of the club and Bolton promptly saw themselves dragged into the position of perennial relegation candidates.

Ultimately the club will be fine this year but it could be a difficult season. Pulis deserves more credit than he and the club gets, but his attempts to move the club in a more modern direction will have to be carefully managed to avoid undoing all the good work he and Stoke have done in recent years.



Predicted Finish: 16th.

Key Man: Peter Crouch. With 14 goals last term, Stoke will be looking for the former England international to deliver again. Whilst his England careers is probably finished, Crouch will still believe he can earn a recall now that Roy Hodgson has taken the reigns. A repeat of his wonder strike against Manchester City would do nicely as well.

Underrated: Glenn Whelan. Few players can match the Irishman for work rate and he combines this industrious approach with a solid range of passing and a decent shot from distance. Slightly hampered by the club's approach, if Pulis does want to progress the club's style of play Whelan can play a key role.

Watch out for: Jamie Ness. Signed in slightly controversial circumstances, 21 year old Ness, could end up being one of Pulis' bett signings. Comfortable with either foot, he will probably be eased into action as he has not had much experience of first team football but he could turn out to be a fixture in the Stoke midfield in seasons to come.

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Premier League Previews: #13 Southampton

Last Season: 2nd (Championship)

In: Nathaniel Clyne (£2.8m, Crystal Palace), Steven Davies (£880,000, Rangers), Jay Rodriguez (£7.6m, Burnley)

Out: Nine players have left Southampton this summer. See full list here.

If they were an Olympian: Christian Taylor. The world and Olympic triple jump champion has enjoyed a fantastic rise to the top, whilst his fiercest rival Phillips Idowu has endured a miserable summer.

Like Norwich City last year, Southampton arrive in the Premier League on the back of successive promotions under manager Nigel Adkins and again like Norwich, Adkins looks set to rely upon those who have got Southampton to this stage rather than bringing in more established Premier League players.

The club's two biggest expenditures this summer have been Crystal Palace right back Nathaniel Clyne and Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez both of whom excelled in the Championship. The club have also exploited the fire-sale that is occurring at Rangers by signing Steven Davies for just under £1m. The Northern Irishman has plenty of top flight experience both North and South of the border and is a useful addition to the squad.

Much of Southampton's success in the past two seasons has been based on the goal scoring exploits of Rickie Lambert, who has scored 88 goals in 155 games, 31 of them coming last season. If Southampton are to be successful again then they will need Lambert to continue to fire. As both Swansea and Norwich showed last season when your main forward scores 15+ goals it is a massive boost to your survival chances.

Another man who is key to the Saints' is midfielder Adam Lallana, the 24 year old left sided midfielder has been central to Southampton's succesive promotion campaigns and weighed in with 13 goals in all competitions last year. Usually deployed on the left, Lallana has a freedom to move inside and is quick to get himself into the box when the opportunity presents itself. Whilst lacking the explosive pace of fellow academy graduates Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale, Lallana does possess excellent delivery with his left foot and uses his quick feet to create space to cross the ball, he is also excellent in the air.

Nigel Adkins' squad is packed with good footballers and hard workers but much relies on defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who often acts as the anchor in a midfield that contains attack minded players Richard Chaplow and Jack Cork.

Southampton have a fairly daunting opening set of fixtures which sees them travel to Manchester City on the opening weekend before facing Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton within their first 6 games. Although they do also have two eminently winnable home games against Wigan and Aston Villa. As with all promoted sides, Southampton's home form will be key to their survival chances and if they are to avoid heading straight back down to the Championship they will need to make home advantage at St.Mary's count.

Adkins' has done a magnificent job on the South coast and it was not that long ago that Southampton seemed to be destined for extinction. For them to be back in the Premier League is an achievement in itself. Unfortunately I feel that this season may be where the adventure ends and they will ultimately fall just short in their attempts to remain in the top flight. By the end of September they may well find themselves rock bottom of the league and a poor start can quickly lead to a club being cut adrift. It will be tight but I expect Southampton to be relegated, though it may well go down to the last kick of the season.



Predicted Finish: 19th

Key Man: Rickie Lambert. As stated above Lambert has been vital to the Saints since he arrived from Bristol City and their survival hopes hinge on the 30 year old. Excellent in the air and very much an out and out number 9, Lambert will relish testing himself against the likes of John Terry and Vincent Kompany. Will probably reach double figures in the league but even this might not be enough.

Underrated: Kelvin Davies. A vastly experienced goalkeeper who continues to impress, the 35 year old has experience of the Premier League with Sunderland, although it was far from a happy time for Davies, who was roundly criticised for his part in the club's relegation. However he has rebuilt his confidence and his career at Southampton and has been named in the PFA team of the year for 3 seasons in a row.

Watch out for: Adam Lallana. Already discussed above, Lallana will be expected to provide the bullets for Lambert and attacking midfielder Guly Do Prado.

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Premier League Previews: #12 Reading

Last Season: 1st (Championship)

In: Adrian Mariappa (£3.3m, Watford), Chris Gunter (£2.6m, Nottingham Forest), Nicky Shorey (free, West Bromwich Albion), Garath McCleary (free transfer, Nottingham Forest), Danny Guthrie (free transfe, Newcastle United), Pavel Pogrebnyak (free transfer, Fulham)

Out: 16 players have left the club. See here for a full list of departures

If they were an Olympian: Ben Ainslee. Been out of the limelight since last major triumph in 2008 but back at the top four years on. Easy on the eye and inoffensive, very middle class (sponsored by Waitrose!) but well liked by all.

Reading manager Brian McDermott has done a fantastic job at the Madjeski stadium since taking charge in January 2010. Promoted as caretaker manager after Brendan Rogers was sacked, McDermott started brilliantly, knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup in the third round at Anfield. After being confirmed as the clubs manager, McDermott led the club to the FA Cup quarter finals for the first time in nearly a century. The next season he took them to the brink of the Premier League, losing 4-2 to former boss Brendan Rogers' Swansea in the Play-off final. Whilst many teams often spiral downwards after such a near miss, McDermott rallied his troops and they romped to the Championship title, going on a superb run of 15 wins in 17 games.

Last May saw long term owner, chairman and benefactor Sir John Madjeski sell of 51% of the club to Thames Sport Investment, a group lead by Russian-born Anton Zingarevich however Madjeski remains at the club as Chairman. 

Reading are one of the best run clubs in the country and the perfect riposte to those who argue that directors of football do not work in England. At Reading, Nicky Hammond has worked closely with McDermott to acquire players who offer a blend Premier League experience and youthful enthusiasm and hunger. Nicky Shorey, Danny Guthrie and Pavel Pogrebnyak are all experienced top level pro's whilst Adrian Mariappa, Chris Gunter and Garath McCleary are young and talented. This transfer policy is somewhat of an amalgamation of the recruitment policies of Norwich and QPR last season.

One of the main reasons for Reading's success last year in the Championship, which is a notoriously difficult league to get out of, was their versatility. Whilst ideally looking to keep the ball on the ground with players like Jobi McAnuff and Jimmy Kebe, if teams chose the physical route then Reading were happy to match them. With giant centre half Kaspars Gorkss at one end and Jason Roberts at the other, Reading were more than capable of dealing with those attempting to use less than noble means to defeat them.

The biggest problem you fear for Reading will be goals. They have plenty of players who can create and chip in now and then but their highest scorer in the league last year was Adam le Fondre with 12. Whilst spreading the goals around is fine, history tells us that promoted teams who can boast a 15 goal a season striker stand a much better chance of surviving, i.e. Grant Holt at Norwich last year.

McDermott and Reading will be hoping that Pavel Pogrebnyak is that man and there is no doubt that the Russian, who spent the second half of last season with Fulham, has all the attributes to succeed in the league. Whether the 28 year old can sustain his form over the season remains to be seen but on his day the "pog" is a real threat who can finish with both feet as well as being strong in the air.

Much depends on Jimmy Kebe, whose ability to ghost past opposition defenders made him one of the Championship's most entertaining players. Often linked with moves away from the Madjeski, Kebe has remained at the club and this season will be his chance to prove that his talents belong on the big stage. Again goals are the problem and for such a talented player, Kebe should really have scored more than the 3 goals he manged last term.

McDermott mostly used a 4-4-2 last season, however he may well ask Pogrebnyak to play up front on his own and use his strength to hold the ball up so that Reading can add an extra man in midfield.

This season will be much like the past few, with relegation going right down to the wire. Reading have proved in recent years that they can handle the pressure and with an excellent young manager and a supportive boardroom, I feel they may just have enough to survive.

Predicted Finish: 17th

Key Man: The club have a number of players who were critical in their remarkable promotion campaign and one key in their rise was that they were not reliant on any one individual. Goal scoring was spread well between forwards Adam le Fondre (12), Noel Hunt (8), Simon Church (7) and Jason Roberts (6). At the back goalkeeper Adam Federici and Latvian centre back Kaspars Gorkss were outstanding, whilst Ian Harte rolled back the clock with a number of outstanding performances and a few critical goals.

Underrated: Definitely not underrated by those who have seen Reading on a regular basis but perhaps unknown to others, 23 year old Jem Karacan is a seriously talented midfielder. Although not physically impressive, Karacan is tough, and proved last season in the Championship that he could look after himself. An excellent dribbler and passer, Karacan was invaluable to Reading  last year until he suffered a broken ankle at the hands of Leeds United. Only recently returned to full training, the Royals will be hoping that the Turkish U21 international can return to the form he showed last year, which attracted the attention of a number of Premier League teams.

Watch out for: Adam le Fondre. Signed from Rotherham for £350,000 at the start of last season, le Fondre was in and out of the team for much of last term but he more than repaid his transfer fee come the end of the season when he scored crucial goals in wins against both Leeds and Southampton that all but sealed Reading's promotion. A lively striker, le Fondre is able to sniff out half chances and if he can carry on from where he left off last year, Reading will continue to consider that £350k money very well spent. 

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Premier League Previews: #11 QPR

Last Season: 17th

In: Junior Hoilett (free transfer, Blackburn), Ji-Sung Park (£2.7m, Manchester United), Fabio (loan, Manchester United), Samba Diakite (£3.5m, AS Nancy-Lorraine), Ryan Nelsen (free transfer, Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (free transfer, West Ham United), Andy Johnson (free transfer, Fulham FC)

Out: Peter Ramage (free transfer, Crystal Palace), Heider Helguson (undisclosed, Cardiff City), Fitz Hall (free transfer, Watford), Paddy Kenny (£440,000, Leeds United), Rowan Vince (St. Johnstone, free transfer), Danny Shittu (released), Akos Buzsaky (released), Danny Gabbidon (released)

If they were an Olympian: G4S Security. Well financed, with owners of global influence, seemingly mired in controversy, often lacking discipline.

Few teams in the world can rival QPR for unpredictability in recent years, a succession of colorful managers have come and gone and a list of attendees at the club's board meetings reads like a who's who of international billionaires. In spite of all this, QPR managed to remain a Premier League club last term and this year manager Mark Hughes must make good on the promise he made on the final day of last season when he claimed that QPR would "never again" be in danger of relegation whilst he was at the club.

Hughes has certainly been proactive this summer, releasing a number of players who served previous boss Neil Warnock well but were always unlikely to figure in his long term plans. Some of the most notable departures have been goal keeper Paddy Kenny and striker Heider Helgusson who have both dropped back down to the Championship. The signing of Robert Green is an upgrade on Kenny, whilst Andy Johnson has moved a couple of miles across London from Hughes' previous club Fulham. Whilst Johnson is a proven Premier League performer I actually feel that the Rangers may miss Helguson. Whilst a fairly limited player, the Icelandic striker is truly brilliant in the air and had a knack of unsettling teams, with his performances in games against both Chelsea and Manchester City excellent examples.

On paper one must admit that QPR have made some impressive signings. As well as Green and Johnson, Junior Hoilett has arrived from Blackburn to add pace, width and goals to the side. Hughes has also permanently signed Samba Diakite from Nancy, who was influential in QPR's survival last year, although he will have to improve a disciplinary record which saw him pick up 6 yellow cards and one red in 9 league appearances last year.

Ryan Nelson, Ji-Sung Park and Ryan Nelson have all arrived and offer vast experience and with these signings the club should have little difficulty retaining their top flight status.

The question is how far can Ranger's realistically go this year? Anything approaching mid-table must surely be considered a success and further justify owner Tony Fernandes' harsh but correct decision to remove Neil Warnock last winter.

The full back positions were a problem area for the club last year and again it is an area the Hoops could be vulnerable in. Armand Traore and Fabio are both excellent athletes and decent enough footballers but defensively they both leave a lot to be desired. Traore for his tendency to get caught high up the pitch and Fabio for his occasional recklessness and lapses in concentration. With the wingers in front of them likely to be Shaun Wright-Phillips, Adel Taarabt and Junior Hoilett, they are unlikely to receive a great deal of cover.

Up front the club has an excessive amount of strikers on the books and the fact that in the past 6 months Hughes' has signed Johnson, Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse surely means that Jay Bothroyd, D.J. Campbell and Tommy Smith are all free to leave.

The club should be able to welcome back Alejandro Faurlin, who was enjoying an excellent season until he damaged knee ligaments in January, and the Argentine will be a welcome addition to the squad as he possesses a far greater passing range than Shaun Derry, Diakite and Joey Barton. Barton, who has been linked with a move to Blackpool, seems unlikely to have a future with the club after showing that he still cannot be relied upon under pressure, after his appalling behavior on the last day of the season when he very nearly cost QPR everything.

Expect QPR this season to be very similar to Hughes' first season at Blackburn where first and foremost they were incredibly hard to beat and ferociously hard working. Hughes' teams are always some of the fittest in the league and after being privately shocked at the poor training standards when he arrived at the club last January, there will be a noticeable difference at Loftus Road this year.

QPR's home form by the end of last season was the key to them surviving. Victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham proved that and if they are able to replicate that throughout the season then a top 10 finish is certainly not beyond them.



Predicted Finish: 10th

Key Man: Adel Taarabt. Taarabt is one of the most colorful individuals in English football, whether he is curling in stunning free kicks or sulking out of grounds and jumping on buses, the Moroccan is pure box-office. On his day he is as technically gifted and exciting a player as the Premier League has to offer. The problem is consistency and whether he will buy into Mark Hughes' work ethic. 

Whilst Warnock was able to get the best out of the Moroccan in the Championship, he is alleged to have told his team that they could only pass to Taarabt when he was in the opposition half, neither he nor Hughes were totally trusting of him last season. If Hughes can get the best out of Taarabt he is one of the few players in the league who can conjure a match winning moment out of nothing.

Underrated: Shaun Derry. Possibly the most unglamorous player in the league but Derry proved his worth last season starting more league games than any other outfield player at the club. Whilst the legs are on their way, Derry is still a valuable part of the side and despite the fears of many, did not look out of place against much bigger and better opponents last season. An excellent reader of the game, Derry relies on his anticipation to nick the ball off players and does not over complicate his passing. Whether Hughes' can coax another season out of the 34 year old remains to be seen.

Watch out for: Joey Barton. He's nasty. Especially if you are an Argentinian striker, playing for Manchester City.

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Premier League Previews: #10 Norwich City

Last Season: 12th

In: Michael Turner (£1.6m, Sunderland), Robert Snodgrass (£2.8m, Leeds United), Jacob Butterfield (free transfer, Barnsley), Steven Whittaker (free transfer, Rangers)

Out: Andrew Crofts (undisclosed, Brighton & Hove Albion), Daniel Ayala (free transfer, Nottingham Forest), Zak Whitbread (free tranfser), Aaron Wilbraham (free transfer, Crystal Palace), Adam Drury (free transfer, Leeds United)

If they were an Olympian: Rebecca Adlington. Likable country lass, done exceptionally well to reach the top, uncertain of how long it can be sustained, suffered recent blows.

Chris Hughton is due some good luck; first he was unceremoniously sacked by Newcastle after guiding them back to the Premier League as runaway champions. Then he took over at Birmingham only for the club to become engulfed in a financial quagmire. In spite of this he took Birmingham to the play offs with a thread bare squad.

The well respected and amiable Hughton takes charge at Norwich with the club enjoying three years of sustained success under the reign of previous coach Paul Lambert. The task for Hughton this season is simple; consolidate and ensure that Norwich are not victims to that most annoying of terms, "second seasonitis".

Much of Lambert's success was based around getting the best out of players who had little or no experience of top flight football. Some of the club's best performers last season were young hungry players such as wingers Anthony Pilkington and Elliot Bennett, who arrived from Huddersfield and Brighton respectively. Hughton will need to work similar miracles as the club has continued its policy of not gambling the club's future with the signing of expensive Premier League players.

The one exception to this rule was the acquisition of Michale Turner, 28, from Sunderland as Daniel Ayala has departed for Nottingham Forest and the former Hull City man will provide an experienced head, providing he can put the previous years injury problems behind him.

Norwich, as has already been discussed in these previews, were one of the more flexible sides in the league last year and whether Hughton continues this policy will be of interest. Norwich often lined up with a midfield diamond but Hughton, at both Newcastle and Birmingham, has usually been a firm advocate of a flat 4-4-2. Norwich have the players for both, with Howson, Snodgrass, Andrew Surman and David Fox all versatile. Up front too, Grant Holt and Steve Morison are far more than the battering rams that their frames suggest.

The arrival of Steven Whittaker from Rangers, is an acceptable replacement for Kyle Naughton but will not provide the same energy and attacking impetus as the Spur's loanee did.

The major problem for Norwich this season will be coping with the loss of Lambert, who instilled such belief and confidence in a team that had been languishing bottom of League One. The club have a fairly daunting opening set of fixtures as they face Tottenham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in their first 8 games. I fear that a bad start will be the start of a rapid spiral for Norwich which may well lead to them dropping into the relegation zone.


Predicted Finish: 18th

Key Man: Wes Hoolahan. A real star for Paul Lambert and a key factor in the club's meteoric rise from League One to the Premier League, the Irishman was the crucial link between Norwich's midfield and attack last term and Chris Hughton will be hoping that the diminutive Hoolahan can continue his fine form. Able to play at the top of a diamond and off the strikers.

Underrated: Jonny Howson. Norwich must have a strong attraction to those from Yorkshire as in the past 12 months Howson, Bradley Johnson and Robert Snodgras have all headed down from Leeds to East-Anglia. For years Leeds fans had extolled the qualities of local boy Howson, and he began to demonstrate those qualities towards the end of last season for Norwich. Paul Lambert often played Howson further forward than he had previously played, and this proved to be an astute move as Howson's endless energy and drive caused problems for opposing defences.

Watch out for: Robert Snodgrass. Another of the Leeds alumni, Snodgrass has been linked with a move to the Premier League for years and this season gives the Scottish international the chance to prove that excellent performances in the F.A. Cup against Premier League sides can be repeated on a consistent basis. Will probably be asked to play off front men Grant Holt and Steve Morrison or to come on as an impact substitute. The Scot is something of a set-piece specialist.

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Premier League Previews: #9 Newcastle United

Last Season: 5th

In: Romain Amalfitano (free transfer, Amalfitano), Gael Bigirimana (£1.1m, Coventry City), Curtis Good (£450,000, Melbourne Heart FC)

Out: Danny Guthrie (free transfer, Reading FC), Leon Best (£3.3m, Blackburn Rovers), Peter Lovenkrands (free transfer, Birmingham City), Alan Smith (free transfer, MK Dons), Tamas Kadar (free transfer, Roda JC Kerkrade), Fraser Forster (£2.2m, Celtic)

If they were an Olympian: Mo Farah. Always had potential, finally enjoying success, owe much to African influences.

It is hard to see how Newcastle can improve on last season's 5th place finish. It is hard to envisage Chelsea having as poor a season as last term, whilst Tottenham and Arsenal have strengthened and Liverpool surely cannot be as inconsistent again. Not that this will bother Alan Pardew, as the Newcastle boss is nothing if not confident and will point to the fact that he will have players such as Hatem Ben Arfa, and last season's revelation Papiss Demba Cisse, available from the start.

The key for the Magpies is to try and repeat last season where they suffered remarkably few long term injuries. Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye, Danny Simpson, Jonas Gutierrez, Demba Ba and Tim Krull all started over 30 Premier League games, whilst Chiek Tiote only missed out on account of the Ivory Coast's African Cup of Nations campaign.

With the added rigours of the Europa League this season, Pardew will have to make use of his relatively small squad. Newcastle will be hurt by the fact that African Nations Cup takes place again in January 2013 as the competition moves from even to odd-numbered years. This will cause the absence of Tiote, Cisse and Ba for a period which means Newcastle will be particularly short up front, especially with the departures of Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best to Birmingham and Blackburn respectively.

Perhaps this explains why the club are continuing to pursue Andy Carroll and whilst talk of the move has been dampened lately expect plenty of last minute speculation as the transfer window draws to a close.

The club face a tough start to the season with the Magpies facing Tottenham, Chelsea and Everton in their first four fixtures. However St. James' will continue to be a ground that few teams enjoy visiting, with last seasons good form leading to regular full houses at one of England's most atmospheric grounds. Many of Newcastle's best results last term actually came on the road as with forwards like Ben Arfa, Ba and Cisse they were devastating on the break, with the 2-0 win at Chelsea one of the teams best performances of the season.

There was much speculation that Demba Ba would leave, with a clause in his contract requiring only a £7m bid to secure the Sengalese's service. However the deadline for this clause has passed and Ba looks set to stay at Newcastle. So far there have been no bids for any of the clubs other stars and unless exceptional bids come in for the likes of Cabaye and Tiote it looks promising for a club who have seen a number of key performers depart in recent years.

Newcastle's realistic prospects for this season are probably limited to trying to retain a top six position and challenging in European and domestic competitions. The Magpies will be many people's dark horses to win one of the two domestic competitions and end the club's 42 year long wait for a major trophy.



Predicted Finish: 7th (Carling cup winners)

Key Man: Cheik Tiote. Whilst not possessing the passing range of Yohan Cabaye nor the flair of Hatem Ben Arfa, Tiote is the glue that holds the Newcastle midfield together. Ferocious in the tackle and as strong as an ox, it is no wonder that Chelsea and Manchester United have looked at the Ivorian.

Underrated: Mike Williamson. When Steven Taylor limped off against Chelsea in December, many thought that it would be the start of a decline for Newcastle. In stepped Mike Williamson, who had spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues. Rather than being a liability, Williamson was outstanding alongside Fabricio Coloccini as Newcastle continued their push for a Champions League spot till the last day.

Watch out for: Romain Amalfitano. Signed back in May on a Bosman from Riems, Amalfitano continues the "French revolution" that has occurred on Tyneside, as he joins 10 other French or French-speaking players at St. James' Park. Comfortable on the left, right or through the middle, Amalfitano has plenty of promise but has never played top flight football, having only ever played in Ligue 2. The Frenchman does have a penchant for scoring goals from 40 yards out.

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Premier League Previews: #8 Manchester United

Last Season: 2nd

In: Shinji Kagawa (£13.2m, Borussia Dortmund), Nick Powell (£6.6m, Crewe Alexandra)

Out: Paul Pogba (free transfer, Juventus), Ji-Sung Park (£2.7m, QPR), Fabio (loan, QPR), Tomasz Kuszczak, (free transfer, Brighton & Hove Albion), Michael Owen (released)

If they were an Olympian: Rafael Nadal. Hugely successful with an enormous following, unmatched appetite for victory, often succeeds by wearing down opponents. Not always the prettiest, but ruthlessly effective. Questions over how long the success can last.

Finishing a season without a trophy is not something that Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson take too kindly to, having it happen two season in a row would be a full blown disaster, such are the standards the club has set.

Last season was a curios one at Old Trafford. They were criticised for defensive failings, yet they only conceded 4 more goals than Manchester City. They were accused of lacking creativity, yet the scored only four fewer goals than the eventual champions. Many said that Wayne Rooney was not at his best yet he had his best ever season in terms of league goal scoring. People were queing up to hail the everlasting brilliance of Ryan Giggs and the returning Paul Scholes, yet after Sergio Aguero's stoppage time winner on the last day of the season, these two veterans were seen as symptomatic of United's midfield failings.

On paper United's squad is stronger than last year but the major problem for Ferguson in the past two years has been injuries and United have regularly had half a dozen players out with long term injuries. If United can keep players fit, they have the greatest depth in their squad of any top team. At the back they have five centre halves, in Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, whom one would have few doubts about playing. Not even City can rival that as their reserve pairing is Stefan Savic and Kolo Toure, one of whom is yet to hit his best and the other who is past theirs.

Left back is more of a concern as not only has Patrice Evra struggled in the past two years but there is no obvious replacement for the Frenchman. Rafael is able to play there but is more comfortable on the right and is still prone to lapses in concentration. This explains the club's lingering interest in Leighton Baines, although Everton are seemingly reluctant to sell for anything less than £20m.

The return of Vidic is massive for United. Before his knee injury, he was the best "penalty box" defender in Europe. When it comes to winning headers, making clearances and last ditch tackles there are few who can rival Vidic, although Vincent Kompany comes close. The question will be whether Vidic can regain the form that saw him establish as the Premier League's most dominant centre back. Equally it awaits to be seen how Vidic's movement has been effected by his injury as even before he damaged his knee he was increasingly vulnerable to pace in behind him. With Rio Ferdinand also feeling the effects of age, Jonny Evans, who proved his doubters wrong last year, will surely become a more regular fixture in the team.

Midfield has been the area of greatest scrutiny for United in recent seasons, the failure to win the league last year was blamed on the lack of midfield creativity and the return of Paul Scholes from retirement in January was seen as indicative of this. On paper United have 6 central midfielders, including long term absentee Darren Fletcher, who is set to train with Scotland this week. However the concern is that there are plenty of "passers" but no player who can provide direct vertical movement towards goal.

The purchase of Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund, is an excellent purchase and for the price the club paid, good value for money for a player who is only 23. Kagawa's best position is as a second striker playing in between the lines and this should provide United with greater options in the middle of the pitch.

United have always had good wingers and Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young can all be expected to contribute service from wide, although both Nani and Young are prone to disappearing for spells in the season.

Up front United have options with Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez along with Kagawa playing behind them. Dimitar Berbatov and Frederico Macheda are still at the club but no one would be shocked if they are not there come September 1st.

If United continue with the 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 that they have favoured in recent times than there first choice strike pairing looks likely to be Kagawa playing behind Rooney. Whilst presenting plenty of promise this partnership also has potential difficulties as with Rooney's tendency to drift all over the pitch it could mean United often being without a centre forward which would in turn require their wide players to come inside into goal scoring areas which is not a particular strength.

United have missed out on Lucas Moura, who has moved to PSG for a ludicrous fee in excess of £35m and wages of over £150,000 a week, but are continuing to pursue Robin Van Persie. With City and Juventus both cooling their interest it seems that the Dutchman now faces a straight choice between United and staying at Arsenal. Were United to sign Van Persie it would probably see Kagawa shifted into a wide position with Van Persie partnering Rooney, since if United are prepared to spend £15m+ on a 29 year old they must have plans to make immediate use of him.

Ferguson himself admits that United have underachieved in Europe during his reign and with his time at Old Trafford drawing to an end, he will want to lift the Champions League one more time. It is not beyond United, with them reaching 3 out of the last 5 Champions League finals, but for them to reach the final at Wembley in May (possibly for a rematch against Barcelona) they will have to address the defensive failings that saw them concede 8 goals in 4 games against FC Basel and Benfica in last year's group stage.

With Vidic returning, youngsters such as Smalling, Jones and Tom Cleverly a year older and the arrival of Kagawa and possibly Van Persie, United are this blogs pick to lift their 20th league title in May. The hurt of that gut wrenching finale to last season should provide all the motivation that the squad needs. The fixture list has been kind to United, their first four games sees them play Everton, Fulham, Southampton and Wigan before they face Liverpool and Tottenham at the end of September. The two dates to pencil in are December the 8th, which sees United travel to the Etihad before they host their neighbours at Old Trafford on April the 6th.




Predicted Finish: 1st

Key Man: Nemanja Vidic. The loss of Vidic hit United hard last year and they will be grateful to have the Serbian back at the heart of their defence. The 30 year old is still United's best centre back and adds steel to the silk of Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans.

Underrated: Luis Nani. The Portugese divides opinion amongst supporters with his undoubted ability tempered by his play acting and tendency to drift in and out of games. However Nani has delivered 30 direct assists in the past 3 seasons which puts him right at the top of the league's providers. Far more dangerous now that he has improved his left foot, the winger can go inside or outside the full back and Ferguson will now look for the 25 year old to produce on a more regular basis.

Watch out for: Shinji Kagawa. Unfairly seen by some as a marketing signing due to his popularity in the Far East, Kagawa has been of Europe's most effective players in the past two seasons. Kagawa was involved in 30 goals in 46 league games at Dortmund and will prove a big hit at United. After two years in Germany he is fully adapted to the physical demands of European football. 

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