Premier League Preview: West Bromwich Albion

Last Season: 17th

Pre-Season Prediction: 20th - On a downward spiral since failing to re-obtain Lukaku. Alan Irvine is hardly convincing and neither is their summer transfers. Afraid it'll be au revoir to Albion this year.

West Bromwich Albion survived the drop last year by the absolute skin of their teeth. With just seven wins in the League they had the joint lowest alongside bottom club Cardiff and only survived through the 15 draws they obtained, 4 more than any other club. Aside from that they were extremely disappointing, be it was Steve Clarke or Pepe Mel at the helm - neither of whome are there now - and more or less none of the transfers into the club were a success. They had managed to shake off their 'yo-yo' club image in recent years but came dangerously close to summoning it back after last seasons shocker.

Clearly activity was required in the transfer window and the Baggies have certainly been busy. It was a rocky start though with a number of first team regulars, including Reid, Jones, Ridgewell and Gera all departing to pastures new. The loss has seen new manager Alan Irvine invest heavily, bringing eight players to the club including six defenders. The signings have been a mish-mash of recognisable names with some new kids thrown in. Lescott has signed from City whilst Chris Baird has also arrived from Burnley. Other defenders include Sebastien Pocognoli, Andre Wisdom, Jason Davidson and Christian Bamboa from a variety of leagues and clubs. In midfield, Craig Gardner has joined whilst the bulk of the cash was spent on relatively unknown Nigerian striker Brown Ideye.

The reality is that West Brom's squad needs a total overhall. There is an incredible reliance on Brown Ideye after their top scorer last year had just five league goals. He may also have Berahino up front who is likely to improve but the big questions are based in the midfield. The midfield has little creativity and, perhaps more worryingly, few players who can play a killer pass and supply the strikers with ammunition. With Yacob potentially on his way out, a real stabilising midfielder is needed to provide some balance and WBA may be disappointed to have missed out on Jack Rodwell whilst he was available.

West Brom's season started in almost perfect symmetry to last year - with a draw. A 2-2 draw against Sunderland was fairly impressive and fans will have been boosted to see a return to form for Saido Berahino, who got a brace. Fans will have been particularly pleased to have seen their side not lose after Irvine had seen his side lose their final three friendlies before the season. Perhaps the main problem from the weekends match was the disappointing way in which they were torn apart so easily by Sunderland for the second goal and are likely to struggle badly against the top sides.

The honest truth is that West Brom are in for a hard slog to stay up this season. Alan Irvine is not a convincing appointment at the helm considering his lack of any managerial experience in the past whilst their transfer history over the last couple of seasons does not bode well for this year either. Far too much pressure is being put on the 10 million pound man, Brown Ideye and if he does not live up to his biling then the deal will effectively be sealed as West Brom are nailed on to go down. They have no star player and little to suggest anyone will be arriving before the end of the window. A long, hard season ahead for Albion fans.

Key Man: Brown Ideye - Since the departure of Romelu Lukaku two seasons ago, WBA have been undoubtedly short at the front. Now they have thrown all their eggs into one basket with Brown as he has never before played in the League and will need the frontman to be better than clinical if they are to survive. The Nigerian does boast impressive stats, with a goal every other game over his entire career. A powerful striker, he has plenty of variety to his game and can score with either foot.

One to Watch: Saido Berahino - Berahino gained himself a lot of plaudits last season after bursting from more or less nowhere to bag a few goals in the league. However, his reputation was tarnished after a dressing room bust-up with teammate James Morrison as well as photos emerging of him inhaling laughing gas on a night out. After grabbing a brace on the opening day it would appear that those off the field issues are long gone, and hopefully now the young striker can up his goal tally of five last year.

Best Summer Signing: Craig Gardner - He may be a walking booking in footballing terms but Craig Gardner certainly provides an injection of physicality into an otherwise uninspiring midfield. Gardner himself is particularly pleased to be returning to the area he grew up in and will be looking to win over the fans sooner rather than later. Gardner will come with a direct style of play and Baggies fans will be pleased to see he is not afraid to put his foot through the ball either.

Sports Ladder (11th - 17th August)

UP - Jo Pavey - Just under a year ago, Jo Pavey was giving birth to her second child. Now, at the age of 40, she is the European Champion over the distance of 10,000m. Jo has been around for years but made us remember her at the Commonwealth Games with a spirited final lap to get a bronze. However, at the Europeans she was even better, sprinting down the home straight to win her first major competition gold medal. Amazingly the word on the street is that Pavey has no thoughts on retiring. An inspiration to mums everywhere.

UP - British Sprinters - A huge congrats to the entire GB squad for their record medal haul but in particular it was the sprinters who shone in Zurich. Adam Gemili and James Dasaolu stormed to victory in the 200m and 100m respectively whilst there was also success for both the mens and womens 4 x 100m teams on the final evening. We did successfully gain a medal in every 100/200m race as Ashleigh Nelson got bronze in the 100m and Jodie Williams claimed a silver in the 200m. Things looking very bright on the track.

UP - Kell Brook - Kell Brook became the most recent Brit to claim a boxing title after winning his fight with Shawn Porter, ending with a narrow points victory. The 28-year-old took his unbeaten run to 33 matches as he became the IBF Welterweight Champion. The victory now firmly tosses Brook in the fray to fight Amir Khan, a highly anticipated bout should Khan fail to land his dream fight against either Mayweather or Pacquiao. Froch v Groves was a great all British affair and I certainly wouldn't object to another one.

UP - Mo Farah - Come on Mo, it's getting boring now. When you see Mo Farah lined up and looking focused on the start line, you just know there can only be one outcome. Once again he has proved his undoubted class, claiming both the 5,000 and 10,000m gold medals at the European Championships this year to become the most decorated non-relay athlete ever in the Championships. This is great and all, but the race we all want to see is still Farah vs Bolt!

UP - Padraig Harrington - Okay so it was largely a mixed week for Padraig Harrington. He may have lost his PGA Tour card after his ninth missed cut this year. Redemption emerged though with a video of his longest drive attempt in the competition at Valhalla the week before as he did what everyone has always wanted to do - a 'Happy Gilmore'. He may have hooked it well left but will still go down as a legend for this brilliant attempt. Hats off to you Padraig! Now focus on your actual golf.

DOWN - Stuart Broad - Like Harrington, Broad had a mixed week. He may have been one of the star men in the fifth and final test against India which England won by well over an innings. However, he unfortunately did it all looking like he had been on a month long binge. A broken nose from the fourth test meant that Broad had intense bruising around both eyes as well as a rather ugly looking nose. He won't care though after the way they battered India in the end.

DOWN - Dani Pedrosa - No one likes a spoil sport but Dani Pedrosa really became party pooper this week when he won the Czech Grand Prix, ending the ten race winning streak of Marc Marquez. The Moto GP title has been wrapped up for a while with Marquez's winning streak so all eyes were on how many records the young Spaniard could break. But alas his teammate Pedrosa drove in to steal the show and to stop the consecutive victories. We'll ignore the fact that Marquez ended up coming fourth, so wasn't challenging anyway.

DOWN - Brandao - What kind of top class idiot headbutts someone in the tunnel after the very first game of the season? Well the answer to that question is the Bastia striker, Brandao. A video emerged from the tunnel after the game where Brandao appears to wait specifically for PSG's Thiago Motta before going 'full-Pardew' and headbutting him. Motta chased Brandao before being broken up with a lot of blood flowing from his nose. Brandao is going to become Bannedao once the French FA deal with him.[Video below]

DOWN - Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad - A commentators nightmare no doubt but the Frenchman had an absolute mare this week after being disqualified from the 3000m steeplechase for opting to run the home straight topless. It would have been a brilliant third steeplechase world title but was instead cruelly taken away after the grumpy Spanish decided they didn't like his antics. He made up for it though a few days later though when he won the 1500m final so it wasn't a completely terrible week.

DOWN - Crystal Palace - Last week Mark Robins dropped down the Sports Ladder for leaving Huddersfield after just one match of the new season. Tony Pulis decided he fancied topping that by leaving two days before the season even started. Pulis had cemented himself as a cult hero after guiding Palace to an incredible 11th in the League since joining in November but clearly something went wrong behind the scenes as he has gone, leaving one great relegation-threatened mess.

Premier League Preview: Tottenham

Last Season: 6th

Pre-Season Prediction: 6th - A better season in store providing that Levy keeps himself as far away from the action as possible.

In a backhanded way, it's pretty impressive how far Tottenham have come that a season with 69 points and European football once again has been looked at as such a disappointment. Albeit, last year was a shambles. Villas-Boas wasn't having a terrible season but was playing some dreadfully dull stuff whilst his successor, Tim Sherwood, had a fairly solid short reign with a more interesting but naive style of play (as well as a terrible dress sense. Gillet anyone?) The Europa League was again an unrewarding distraction and the summer spending binge turned out to be an almost wholly catastrophic failure but all of that aside it was not as bad as it could have been.

Spurs have been careful to ensure they did not replicate the mistakes of last year, keeping their business quiet but intelligent. A player exchange has seen Ben Davies and Michel Vorm join from Swansea with Sigurdsson going in the opposite direction. The only other signing has been the much unknown English centre-back Eric Dier who has been plying his trade abroad at Sporting throughout his career thus-far. Aside from this they have, so far, lost more or less none of their first team squad and will perhaps be seeking to see if they can get a better second season out of any of their signings from last summer.

In that sense, some players from last year may almost feel like a new signing. Erik Lamela and Etienne Capoue in particular spent large portions of last season through injury and will be looking to prove themselves this year. That is not to say some more investment is not needed. Adebayor, Soldado and Kane have all proven themselves unreliable and a potent striker is needed with Bony on the cards. Spurs also seem interested in both Rodriguez and Schneiderlin but a deal is looking increasingly unlikely this transfer window. On paper though, Spurs do not necessarily need any more players as they have decent squad depth. Now they just need to hope Pochettino can get them all fully firing.

So far his record at the helm has been unbeaten after a healthy pre-season coupled with an opening day victory against West Ham which will see the fans feeling fairly happy with the start he has made. Albeit the 1-0 victory against the Hammers was fairly lucky but in some ways, a scrappy victory is a great way to start the season because it can only get better from there. Perhaps the highlight has been the marvelous pre-season form of their most expensive signing, Erik Lamela, and hopefully he can replicate it in the League.

It's a bit of a difficult one predicting Tottenham. Everything is pointing towards an improvement this season but then where do they go because I also don't see them eclipsing the teams above them. A quiet improvement coupled with a period of stability may be the perfect platform for a launch at the top four again next season, because it looks unlikely this year. Reducing the number of goals conceded and pushing ahead of Everton should be the main objectives, especially considering the Toffee's are back in Europe as well. Expect a quiet but positive season on the whole for Spurs.

Key Man: Hugo Lloris - The sole player to have appeared in every minute of the Premier League from the Tottenham squad, Lloris is a world class goalkeeper and provides a huge amount of stability behind a still wayward defense. He is prone to the odd error due to his sweeper-keeper tendencies but is undoubtedly one of the very top goalkeepers in the world, let alone the League. With rumours of him wanting Champions League football, Spurs may have to savour what could be their last season with the French international.

One to Watch: Erik Lamela - It may seem a very predictable choice but that is because there are simply a lot of eyes on the Argentine. Still the most expensive player in Tottenham's history, he has a lot to prove after a series of disappointing performances before spending much of the second half injured with a back injury. However, Lamela will no doubt see his first season in North London as a learning curve and will be hoping it is a case of second time lucky. With a decent pre-season under his belt and having significantly bulked up from when he first arrived expect Lamela to be an eye-catching player for Spurs. Eventually.

Best Signing: Eric Dier - Defense has been a problem at White Hart Lane for a few years now and is still not necessarily one that has been solved in the short term. Yet the signings of the 20-year-old pair Ben Davies and Eric Dier have certainly gone some way towards assuring a long-term stability. Dier looked competent alongside Kaboul against West Ham and will have pleased fans with his last minute winner. Whether he will start every week is another question once the full team is fit again but he has certainly injected a renewed sense of optimism into this back line.

Premier League Preview: Swansea City

Last Season: 12th

Pre-Season Prediction: 10th - Without the added pressure of the Europa League, Swansea are in for an easier season. Will certainly have been pleased to emerge as the dominant Welsh club.

Swansea City made their European debut last year and, although they obviously enjoyed it, suffered as a result in the League. Only once did the Swans win back-to-back matches and, although they were never right in the thick of the relegation battle, they were hovering dangerously close towards the back end of the season and will be keen to ensure that this doesn't happen again. With Laudrup long gone, all eyes will be on club legend Garry Monk this year. Monk was handed a full managerial contract after keeping the side up last season and will be eager to impress as the League's current youngest manager.

Monk's first test has been managing the squad through the transfer window and has suffered with the loss of a number of important squad players. Both Michel Vorm and Ben Davies departed to Spurs whilst Chico and Pablo Hernandez also left to play in Qatar. Michu has also travelled to Napoli on loan after a disappointing season. Monk has acted quickly to replace these departed players, with Fabianski replacing Vorm and Sigurdsson returning for Hernandez. Ashley Williams will return to the starting line-up in place of Ben Davies whilst Marvin Emnes and Bafetimbi Gomis provide an injection of power to the front line. Jefferson Montero is a new addition on the wing and will provide a huge boost of pace.

That said, Monk's side still has a number of gaps yet to fill. Another defensive midfielder to slot into his 4-2-3-1 formation is vital. The Swans also look somewhat light at the back and could use another defender or two to provide plenty of protection for Fabianski. Their main aim before the end of the transfer window though, will be to ensure they keep hold of talisman striker Wilfried Bony. Bony netted 25 in all competitions in his debut season and is on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs. Monk has to ensure he is still there when the window slams shut.

Form has been difficult to come by in pre-season for the Swans, with three victories in seven mirrored by three losses and also a draw. Some solid results against Reading and Plymouth were compounded by losses to Villareal and Bournemouth although Monk will not mind so much after a marvellous opening day victory against Louis Van Gaal's Manchester United. Monk guided his team to a 2-1 victory which will give the team heaps of confidence as they progress in the coming weeks.

Swansea's early victory already proves that they will be more of a force than last year. Without their mid-week travels around Europe they will be fresher and with their summer acquisitions will be more of a danger going forward. Monk is obviously learning all the time and it will be intersting to see how he copes should Swansea go on a bad run, but all the signs seem to be pointing towards a return to their form from a couple of years ago. One thing I would almost guarantee is that we will not see Swansea near the relegation zone.

Key Man: Wilfried Bony - The important of the Ivorian cannot be overstated as he is a clinical goal-scoring machine. Questions are always asked of strikers with big figures arriving from Holland after the failures of the likes of Alfonso Alves and Majeta Kezman but Bony answered them superbly, growing throughout the season to eventually net 16 League goals. In a free-flowing offensive system such as Swansea's, Bony should profit again for a second season, and if he stays then do not be surprised to see him eclipse this mark.

One to Watch: Jefferson Montero - The Ecuadorian is a new arrival at the Liberty Stadium but has already shown has capabilities after coming off of the bench to terrorise Phil Jones against Manchester United on Saturday.  The left-winger has blistering pace and has demonstrated it fully both in pre-season and on Saturday but will need to bring more than that to his game if he is to be a success. Pace is one thing but the Ecuadorian needs to prove he has a good football brain to go with it if he is to really make a name for himself in the Premier League.

Best Signing: Bafetimbi Gomis - The powerful Frenchman may find himself with a pivotal job to play in the south of Wales should his Ivorian strike partner depart but for now will be feeling relaxed as the current back-up striker. With ten goals or more in each of his last eight seasons, Gomis is a potent finisher with a fairly clean injury record and has been eagerly anticipated now by Premier League fans for a number of years after his on-off transfer to Newcastle. If he gets a run in the first team then do not be surprised to see him rustling the back of the opposition net.

Premier League Preview: Sunderland

Last Season: 14th

Pre-Season Prediction: 13th - After a late surge last season to survive the drop, expect stability to reign at Sunderland this year as they finish fairly comfortably above the drop.

Last season saw the Black Cats pull off the impossible. With six games to go, Gus Poyet's side were seven point adrift of safety and more or less down and out for the count after just two points from nine matches. Suddenly a run of four consecutive victories including defeats of Chelsea and Manchester United saw Sunderland safe for another year with a game left to play. This tumultuous period of up-and-down was symbolic of a season lacking any sort of stability. Di Canio was sent his marching orders early on and, despite his best efforts, it really did not look like Poyet was going down. They survive though, and attention must be turned to the coming season.

The squad has been heavily reshaped over the summer, with the loss of a number of key players including Phil Bardsley, Jack Colback and Craig Gardner. That said, Poyet has invested, bringing in Patrick Van Aanholt and Billy Jones to bolster an ageing back-line, whilst Costel Pantilimon will provide Vito Mannone with some quality competition. It is in midfield though where the best signings arrive in the form of Will Buckley, Jack Rodwell and Jordi Gomez. Gomez and Buckley both had outstanding seasons for Wigan and Brighton respectively whilst Jack Rodwell will be keen to get his career back on track after a two year period warming the bench at Manchester City.

That said, there are still issues with the squad that need to be addressed. Whilst Brown and O'Shea at centre-back are an experienced pair, neither are getting any younger and Poyet needs to address this with a quality young centre-back as a long-term investment. One of his biggest tasks will be to ward off the vultures that are slowly circling to take Connor Wickham away from the Stadium of Light. Wickham went on a superb goal-scoring run during their survival run and, if he can carry that form into this season, may be a 15-goal man, something Sunderland desperately need.

His pre-season form would certainly suggest that he might after netting three times, including against Real Betis and Udinese. Sunderland's form in friendlies has certainly reinforced the feeling that Poyet is very much getting to grips with his side as they won six of their eight fixtures. As well as goals from Wickham, Steven Fletcher also bagged himself three goals which will provide a major boost after the talented striker missed large portions of last season through injury. After conceding 60 goals in the league last year, Poyet will be delighted that his side conceded just two goals in these eight matches.

So what should we expect from Sunderland this year? All the arrows seem to be pointing towards a more stable season for the Black Cats as Poyet, as least for now, seems to be in it for the long haul. He is shaping the squad to suit his passing style as epitomised by the signings of Jordi Gomez and his taking over of the Academy as well will ensure that the youth ranks are brought up with this mentality as well. With a more assured defensive line and, currently, the fitness of both Fletcher and Wickham, Sunderland are looking well on top of ensuring they remain well clear of the drop zone.

Key Man: Vito Mannone - Despite the reinforced back-line, last years Player of the Year will still be a busy boy in the Sunderland goal. Mannone had a marvelous debut season at the Stadium of Light after keeping eleven clean sheets in the League and putting in a number of assured performances. The Italian will have received a confidence boost  last year after a rocky career at Arsenal and will carry that into this season as he seeks to become one of the League's more established goalkeepers.

One to Watch: Connor Wickham - Wickham ensured he became something of a short-term cult hero after his late goal flurry more-or-less single handedly kept Sunderland in the top flight last year. After spending much of the season on loan at both Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds, Poyet will be desperate to keep hold of the much-courted English striker this year as he searched for a powerful potent striker to lead the line. If, and it's a big if, Wickham stays then he could become instrumental for Poyet's team.

Best Summer Signing: Jack Rodwell - Rodwell has become another promising Brit to fall into the 'wasted talent' category after disappearing into the shadows of the Etihad Stadium following a hugely disappointing couple of seasons languishing on the bench. Rodwell's move to Sunderland gives him a chance to rekindle career and hopefully the 23-year-old will find the motivation to really press-on and remind people why he was once touted as the next-best-thing to happen to English football. Over to you Mr Rodwell. Prove Manchester City wrong.

Premier League Preview: Stoke City

Last Season: 9th

Pre-Season Prediction: 9th - Hughes may fall into the same trap as Pulis in being stuck in the middle-of-the-pack. Astute summer signings will cement their place as one of the leading chasers.

Last summer was a tumultuous period for Stoke City supporters. The departure of the popular Tony Pulis after a period of stagnant safety led to the arrival of the unconvincing Mark Hughes. Supporters were left in doubt as to the impact Hughes could have but he proved them wrong after an astounding season lifted the Potters up to 9th in the League. In particular, a strong end to the season saw Hughes' men lose just three of their final fifteen games to end the season full of confidence. The question now is whether Hughes can show signs of progression or whether he will go down the Pulis road of stagnation.

Stoke's summer signings have proved to be some of the most unusual and interesting in the League this year with a complete mixture of talent. Football Manager enthusiasts will be salivating at the sight of former Barcelona wonderkid Bojan Krkic on a wet and windy Wednesday night at Stoke whilst former Manchester United reject Mame Biram Diouf also joins the ranks after a successful spell in Germany. The experienced pair of Steve Sidwell and Phil Bardsley have been brought in to strengthen an already healthy unit of players whilst Dionatan Teixiera arrives as another back-up defender.

After losing virtually none of their main players over the summer, the Potters look very healthy heading into the new season. Their squad depth is fairly good, especially in defence with a brilliant back four of Pieters, Shawcross, Huth and Bardsley with the likes of Muniesa and Shotton in reserves. To be honest, for a club of their stature and finances they have a near perfect squad and do not necessarily need to strengthen any depth anywhere over the park. If they were to sign anyone else now it would only be to replace someone departing although that all seems rather unlikely with the Premier League beginning tomorrow.

Despite a strong end to last season, friendly results have not been overly ideal. Stoke have seen out a number of mediocre ties including just one win in seven including, perhaps more worryingly, just two clean sheets. It is not necessarily worth reading two much into this though as a lot of these matches have been about establishing a new system offensively, revolving around Diouf leading the line with a creative trio of Bojan, Arnautovic and Odemwingie playing behind. A particular highlight has been the form of Bojan who has scored three times in pre-season, much to the delight of Hughes.

Somethings tells me that Stoke are going to be one of the easier teams to predict this year simply because we know what to expect. Stoke are a resilient side defensively and will be hard to break down often playing on the counter attack. The summer additions should improve them on the whole, particularly offensively where there has been an injection of flair and diversity. The key for Hughes will be to ensure that his side show progression, with perhaps the first objective being to turn goal difference from negative to positive, as well as gaining more than the 50 points garnered last season.

Key Man: Asmir Begovic - Undoubtedly the star of this side, Stoke have done well to keep hold of their talisman goalkeeper. They have perhaps been lucky that the top sides all seemingly have top quality goalkeepers in place otherwise Begovic would almost certainly have been linked with a move away from the Britannia. He had a solid debut World Cup with Bosnia and looks to have carried that form into pre-season. With an organised defence in front of him, Begovic could have less to do this year but can always be relied on to perform when needed.

One to Watch: Marko Arnautovic - The Austrian was the star signing of Mark Hughes' first season in charge and will now be looking to take his game to the next level. Arnautovic showed flashes of brilliance on the left-wing in his debut season but should be aiming to produce this on a more consistent basis. For a player of his quality, just four goals in the League will be a massive disappointment, especially considering only two came from open play. If he can link up well with his new attacking partners, Bojan and Diouf, then expect him to start flying up both the assists and the goalscoring charts.

Best Summer Signing: Bojan Krkic - I really want Bojan to be a success in the Premier League. When I first saw he had signed I was sceptical. After his initial rise to prominence, the Barcelona starlet had disappeared off of the footballing radar before popping up at Stoke and now seeks to rekindle his career on the grand stage. The Spaniard will be hoping to recover from a largely disappointing season at Ajax last year and if his pre-season form is anything to go by then he looks to be on the right path. Despite his undoubted ability, questions still need to be asked as to how he will cope with the physicality of the Premier League being a fairly slight lad. However, he still has time on his side and may well just got and set the League alight.

Premier League Preview: Southampton

Last Season: 8th

Pre-Season Prediction: 11th - Far too much being read into the summer exodus. Southampton still have plenty of quality in reserve and a knowledgeable manager in Koeman. Will be leaps and bounds clear of the relegation zone.

It may seem a long way away now to Southampton fans, but last season is one that will live long in the memory. A special campaign saw the Saints sail up to 8th, their highest ever finish in the Premier League but was particularly memorable for the fact that it was acheived with a squad that largely came through their own youth ranks. A solid defence coupled with an attractive attacking unit made for a hugely entertaining side, with many such as Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw and Jay Rodriguez earning themselves international call-ups as a result of their effort.

That must seem a lifetime ago now though for Southampton fans. A turbulent start to the summer saw them lose their manager, Mauricio Pochettino, to the white side of North London. It only got worse as the summer progressed, with their international starlets, Shaw, Lallana and Lambert all heading north to Manchester United and Liverpool whilst Lovren made it a trio of 'L's' at Liverpool. Not to be seen missing out on the action, Chambers went to Arsenal with Schneiderlin and Rodriguez also pining for a move following their former manager to Spurs. The word exodus has been understandably floated around.

Is the situation really as bad as it sounds though? Just as players have gone they have been replaced. Defensively Ryan Bertrand has been brought in on loan to replace Shaw whilst Florin Gardos also arrives at centre-back. Fraser Forster has arrived to hopefully clear up last season's goalkeeper problem whilst both Shane Long and Graziano Pelle have arrived to bolster the front line. Dusan Tadic, the high-scoring winger from Twente arrives as a replacement to Lallana and Saphir Taider has also arrived to strengthen a midfield already littered with young talent. There are still areas which could be strengthened though. Another dominating central defender is needed to replace the void left by Lovren whilst a winger-cum-striker would be useful on loan until the return of Rodriguez in October.

Pre-season has done plenty to relax Saints fans and ensure them that the so-called emergency is merely a media whirlwind. The friendlies were nearly faultless aside from a 1-0 blip against Bayer Leverkusen but the displays of a number of youngsters as well as new signings will have been encouraging for the season ahead. James Ward-Prowse has looked to have taken a notable step up in midfield whilst the likes of Lloyd Isgrove, Harrison Reed and Stephen Gallagher have all been given some playing time to show they can emerge as the next breed of Academy stars. With question marks over the strength of the defence, conceding just two goals will also have been a major boost.

There was probably a few moments of panic over the summer months for Koeman and the team, but the honest truth is that they have emerged with a full squad and a lot more money. Koeman is a manager with plenty of pedigree and is a perfect fit for this Southampton squad. He is famed for giving youth a chance - generally successfully - and will continue to exploit the marvelous pool of young talent at his disposal along the south coast. One quick glance at a squad list should east any worries the fans may have as a side full of depth has slowly and carefully been established over the summer months. This young Saints side will have no worries avoiding the drop and should be right back where they belong, in the echelons of mid-table.

Key Man: Jose Fonte - Now without his partner in crime after Lovren departed to Liverpool, the onus for defensive stability falls solely with the Portuguese centre-back. He will undoubtedly have to strike up a partnership rather quickly with either Hooiveld, Yoshida or Gardos but is enough of a dominating presence to ensure that Southampton remain tight defensively in this period of transition. Fonte also managed three goals last year in the League but will be looking to increase this tally this year after proving himself to be a potent goal threat from set pieces.

One To Watch: James Ward-Prowse - Ward-Prowse may have lost many of his Saints friends to other clubs over the summer but luckily these departures mean we will get to see more of the brilliant young midfielder. At just 19 he is another product of the academy, but his eye for a pass has already earned him great plaudits after featuring heavily last year. He likes to spread the play to the flanks and, as he proved in pre-season against Brighton, has a fearsome shot on him as well. With Lallana gone, Koeman may fancy trying him in a slightly more advanced role in which we may see Ward-Prowse take a step up to a higher level.

Best Summer Signing: Graziano Pelle - Both Pelle and Tadic have followed Koeman from Holland and both come with big expectations. It is the signing of Pelle that really catches my eye though mainly due to his similar goalscoring figures to one Wilfried Bony, who had a pretty special first season after also travelling across the channel the year before. Having seen Pelle play in a pre-season fixture against Bournemouth, I can say he looks not an overly pacey striker but is extremely powerful. He has not had his scoring boots on over pre-season but is new to the side and will take a while to gel with his new team mates. That said, defences will find him a handful and expect him to pick up as the season goes on. Not all transfers from Holland have worked - Mateja Kezman and Jozy Altidore spring to mind - but this might just be one of those great success stories.

Premier League Preview: QPR

Last Season: 4th (Championship - Playoff Champions)

Pre-Season Prediction: 18th - 'Arry will give it a good old go, but you can't help feel that there are too many demons still around from their last season in the top-flight. Relegation beckons.

The only way to really describe last season for QPR is that they got the job done. They had one aim, to get back to the top flight and they managed it. Eventually. We'll ignore the fact that it was done in a very dull and methodical fashion, with some stunningly average football throughout the season. The play-off final was almost like a summary of QPR's season. They were the worse side throughout almost the entire game but nabbed a last minute winner against Derby after some excellent defensive solidity to claim a narrow 1-0 victory. With the second best defence in the league last year, Redknapp will be hoping that the defence keeps its structure in the top flight.

Interestingly, despite clearly proud of his defence last year it is that which he has turned his attention to in the transfer market. Steven Caulker has arrived from Cardiff which is an outstanding signing whilst Rio Ferdinand's addition will be worthwhile if he can keep himself in shape. These signings do make sense though as it appears that Harry will be joining Van Gaal in favouring three at the back. The other signing also makes perfect sense in this system is Jordon Mutch, also from Cardiff. The powerful midfielder had an excellent season last year and will really bolster up that area of the pitch. In obtaining Mauricio Isla on loan from Juventus, QPR have obtained a player with real pedigree and he should really shine in that wing-back position.

That said, there is still plenty that needs to be done before the transfer window closes, although no doubt Harry will still be busy right up until the deadline. If he is to stick with three at the back then a young defender is needed with Dunne, 34, and Ferdinand and Hill, 35, all approaching the end of the road. With Remy seemingly searching for an exit, QPR look extremely limited up front with just Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora the only out-and-out options. Last season when Austin was injured, QPR had huge problems up front and this needs to be addressed. As well as these another midfielder wouldn't go amiss. 

Pre-season has been something of a quiet affair for the Hoops with a number of low key fixtures keeping the first team occupied. Just three victories from seven should leave the fans feeling cautious heading into the new season but the fact that both Austin, Zamora and also Hoilett all seem to be in fine goal-scoring form. Perhaps more importantly, the team have kept four clean sheets and have looked tight defensively which will be pleasing considering the new direction that the team have moved in. 

It is very hard to predict the outcome of QPR's season. The really laboured to get promoted last season and, if they continue to play like that then they have absolutely no chance of survival, even with their tight defensive statue. That said Harry has trimmed the squad, getting rid of the deadweight and implementing a new system. As well as that he has far more Premier League experience, both himself and his squad, than either of the other two promoted sides. It would not be out of the question to see Harry mastermind his side towards mid-table but something tells me that it will not happen and they are more likely to face the drop once again.

Key Man: Steven Caulker - He may be a new acquisition but Caulker has already made himself one of the key figures at Loftus Road. Caulker played every minute of the campaign last year in a Cardiff shirt and showed himself to be one of the most competent and assured young centre-backs in the Premier League. At just 24 though, he still has plenty to learn and in the company of the likes of Dunne and Ferdinand will inevitably pick up a few more tricks. With five goals last year as well, the defender carries a potent goal threat from set pieces and his desire to play for England may see yet another step-up for this talented player.

One to Watch: Junior Hoilett - Hoilett is no stranger to the Premier League having played here before both with QPR and Blackburn in the past. Unfortunately, despite a couple of decent seasons in his late teens he has failed to quite live up to his billing since then. However, after a long and active season playing out wide for the Hoops last year, more is expected as Hoilett re-enters the Premier League. He seems to have adapted to a more central role well in pre-season and it will be interesting to see if the tricky-footed Canadian can replicate this form going forward.

Best Summer Signing: Jordon Mutch - You may have already guessed that I consider Caulker to be the best summer signing but Mutch is not far behind. With seven goals from midfield last year, Mutch is a real gem of a purchase at just £6 million for a 22-year-old. His major purpose is as an injection of power in the centre of the park. Mutch was renowned last year for pushing players off the ball and is not adverse to supplying an assist or two as well. He is by no means the finished product, and the quality of his passing leaves a lot to be desired, but at just 22 he has plenty of time left to still have the creases in his game ironed out.

Premier League Preview: Newcastle

Last Season: 10th

Pre-Season Prediction: 8th - An influx of summer signings should see the Toon Army improve this year. Likely to be the best of the rest sitting pretty in mid-table.

It's probably fair to say that Alan Pardew will be happy to see the back of last season. Whether it was his headbutt on David Meyler, his clash with Manuel Pellegrini or the fact that he was booed for much of the season by his own fans, Pardew will be relishing the new season and a renewed chance to impress. After dancing dangerously with relegation the season before, fans should have been happy to see their team well clear of the drop. But a rather droll, two dimensional style of play focused around lumping balls forward has seen fans demanding a change and a change they are likely to get.

With Joe Kinnear gone, Newcastle finally seem capable of acting in the transfer market with no less than nine signings including one on loan, Facundo Ferreyra - a gamble from Shakhtar Donetsk - and two players signed and then loaned back to their previous club in Karl Darlow and Jamaal Lascelles, two very highly rated youngsters. Ayoze Perez is one for the future but Remy Cabella and Siem De Jong will slot straight into the starting eleven, proving some much needed creativity into a devoid midfield. Daryl Janmaat replaced the departed Mathieu Debuchy whilst Jack Colback will provide some stability deeper in central midfield. Finally, Emmanuel Riviere has been brought in to bolster a front line that managed just 43 goals last year.

Despite these numerous signings the squad could still do with a touch-up here or there. Another striker should be on the agenda after the loss of Shola Ameobi during the summer and the somewhat indifferent form of Papiss Cisse. The defence as well is good on paper but has struggled for fitness over the last few years. David Santon has been in and out with injuries whilst Coloccini and the two Taylors have not been at their best for a number of years now. Janmaat is a fresh face but another should be on the agenda for Pardew.

Although pre-season fixtures have been largely victorious not all the displays have been overly positive. A 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad a few days ago sounds promising but was ultimately a dire affair and there has been a lot of reliance on the new boys. That said, five of the eight fixtures have ended with a victory and Rolando Aarons has emerged as a particularly bright spark from the reserve squad. Perhaps more than anything the pre-season has built positive feeling among the Toon Army, which should hopefully translate into good results on the pitch.

Newcastle are in a good place at the moment. After all the drama about Joe Kinnear failing to make a single signing Newcastle have responded with a flurry of cheap but intelligent signings. Without European football and seemingly with stability both in the squad and staff it could and should be a better season on Tyneside. It seems very unlikely that they will be challenging for the top four but expect to see them flirting with a Europa League place for large portions of the season. Eventually though, I think they are likely to finish narrowly behind Everton.

Key Man: Jack Colback - Despite largely singing their praises, I did struggle to find an out-and-out key player for Newcastle. Eventually I settled on Jack Colback, simply because he is the player who has the most responsibility in filling the boots of Yohan Cabaye. Without Cabaye during the second half of last season, Newcastle lacked a real focal point and in Colback may be looking to rediscover this. He will have to win over the fans after travelling from rivals Sunderland, but shouldn't find that too difficult as he is an extremely assured and competent player in the center of the park.

One to Watch: Rolando Aarons - I mentioned earlier about the 18-year-old and his impact during pre-season but he really has been one of the stand-out reserve team players anywhere in the Premier League this summer. His lightning quick feet ensure that he is a handful for opposition defenses and his low centre of gravity allows him to wriggle his way out of tight spots. Pardew is a big fan of the youngster and a battle is already emerged over his National team as both England and Jamaica seek to obtain him for their future ranks. With Ben Arfa cast out and the likes of Obertan and Jonas well off the radar, there is a spot for the left-footed winger in the first team and do not be surprised to see him there sooner rather than later.

Best Summer Signing: Remy Cabella - Cabella is a player who has been courted by Pardew for a while and this summer he finally got his man. The most expensive signing of the summer also arrives with the biggest pressure as he will provide the bulk of the teams creativity. Operating in the number ten position, Cabella has been allowed to flourish during pre-season, scoring twice as well as producing some scintillating football in the final third. The question will be whether Pardew allows the Frenchman to express himself as he has something of a reputation for sucking the creativity out of players - Hatem Ben Arfa and Moussa Sissoko are two prime examples.

Premier League Preview: Manchester United

Last Season: 7th

Pre-Season Prediction: 5th - Van Gaal and his new system will drastically improve the team although the squad just currently isn't good enough. Prediction could change by the end of the transfer window though.

'Last season? What last season?' The Moyes Era has already become known as the Forgotten Era to fans of Manchester United after they suffered unquestionably their worst season at least in my living memory. A seventh place finish,  an overpriced purchase of Marouane Fellaini, failure to qualify from Europe, failure in cup competitions are but a few of Moyes' many failures in his short time as Manchester United manager and the future can only be brighter after that worst of seasons.

The summer started promisingly with the signings of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw but has rather stagnated since then. Potential deals for Mats Hummels and Thomas Vermaelen both fell through and United still look extremely weak at central defence, especially with Van Gaal opting for three central defenders. It looks like Marcos Rojo may be joining but another centre-back will definitely be needed for ample squad depth. With Michael Carrick out for a few months another midfielder may be required whilst a competent right-sided wing-back is a necessity after the uncertainty of Antonio Valencia in that position.

All of that said, it is uncertain as to whether Van Gall will actually opt for a larger squad after already saying he would prefer to work with a small squad to get back into Europe. Much of this will depend upon who he manages to shift before the end of the transfer window. Rumours are as many as seven players could be departing Old Trafford which would leave the squad very thin. Van Gaal may be willing to gamble on youth but that is a dangerous game considering he has been told to get top four football or he faces the axe.

So far Van Gaal's tactics have been top notch. His 3-4-1-2 tactics have led to an unbeaten pre-season including a trophy as well in the form of the International Champions Cup after defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final. Six victories out of six - although one was a penalty shoot-out victory against Inter Milan - has left the squad members vocally optimistic. Defensively there is still plenty of work to do as players adapt to this new system, but from an offensive level there has been a marked improvement from the dismal displays of last year.

The general consensus among the media is that 3-4-1-2 is a sparkly new tactic which is completely fresh but the reality is that it isn't. The likes of Wigan and Hull have implemented this in the not so distant past and met with mixed results, as you can see from Wigan's relegation. Unfortunately for Van Gaal he is unlikely to have time on his side. The board as well as the fans are demanding an instant return to Champions League football and if LVG suffers a slow start then the pressure will very quickly start to build. Unfortunately, with the implementation of new tactics and a growing concern about the quality of the squad with little action in the transfer market, it may already be too little, too late for United's European push.

Key Man: Darren Fletcher - With the departures of Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic and Giggs, there has been a major loss of experience in this young Manchester United side. Rooney has been awarded the captaincy and will inevitably be important but Fletcher's importance is greater if not more understated because of his position on the pitch and the dearth of quality in his position. Fletcher will probably be required to play week-in-week-out at this current rate and his stability in the center of the park could be instrumental to controlling the pace of this new side. He will also provide protection for a back-line which is still learning their roles.

One to Watch: Tyler Blackett - With just three current first-team centre-backs and no new signings on the immediate radar, any injuries to either Evans, Smalling or Jones could see heads turned to the reserves. One of the stand-out players in pre-season has been the versatile defender Tyler Blackett, who can play either at centre-back or as the left-sided wing-back. Blackett has impressed with a number of mature performances, especially in the ICC Final against Liverpool and also provided the assist for a last minute goal against Valencia a couple of days ago. With Phil Jones error and injury prone, you could be seeing Blackett starting sooner rather than later.

Best Signing: Ander Herrera - Finally United have signed a central midfielder with a bit of flair and creativity. Central-midfield has been a problem area for the Red Devils for a number of years now but through the signings of young Spaniard Herrera it looks as though it might be solved for now. Herrera's performances have been mixed so far and it still remains to be seen how he will cope with the physicality of the Premier League but he has at least provided some moments of magic including a golden first touch and some quick feet. He seems to be built in a similar mould to Luka Modric and with the right guidance could be just as good.

Premier League Preview: Manchester City

Last Season: 1st

Pre-Season Prediction: 2nd - A focus on finally nailing down a good European display coupled with a slow start will see City lose the title to Chelsea.

Manuel 'the Engineer' Pellegrini arrived at the Etihad Stadium last summer with one aim. To fix Manchester City. Following the departure of Roberto Mancini and a disappointing league campaign Manchester City were in a state of disarray. Pellegrini however took the reins and ultimately masterminded City to the top of the pack, earning them their second Premier League title in two seasons, as well as a League Cup trophy to go with it. They scored a bucket-load of goals with Negredo, Dzeko, Aguero and Toure all scoring over 20 in all competitions but another early European exit cast a shadow on an otherwise memorable season.

City's summer business is an interesting one to assess because of the £49 million cap placed on signings after their run in with the Financial Fair Play system last season. Bacary Sagna is a particularly good signing as a second-choice right back behind Zabaleta and Willy Caballero should provide better competition to Joe Hart than Pantilimon did. Fernando is a new addition to the centre of the park although got completely overrun by Arsenal in the Community Shield. The major signing is Eliaquim Mangala who should finally provide a competent partner for Vincent Kompany at the heart of defence, a problem City have had for a number of years.

One of the major stories of the summer has been the loan signing of Frank Lampard from New York City. How much this is a signing to actually improve the squad is questionable considering the veterans age of 36. The reality is that he has been brought in to tick boxes in the necessary home-growth player category for their FFP affected Champions League squad. City have a real dearth of home-grown players and this could come back to bit them, meaning players will miss European football, potentially (but by no means definitely) creating some squad disharmony and tension. It is worth acknowledging though, that Manchester City probably have the most complete squad in Europe, let alone just in England.

That said, pre-season has been heavily disrupted by the back-log of the World Cup. Major players such as Kompany, Aguero and Zabaleta have all been missing for the majority of the summer and face a race against time to get fit for the opening day clash at Newcastle after all missing out on the Community Shield. Their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal will have been a knock on confidence to a team that is yet to really click into gear in their preparation. The Gunners completely overran a really lacklustre City side and much work still needs to be done if City are to retain their Champions status.

City are in for a rocky start. Unlike Arsenal and Liverpool there just doesn't seem to be a full squad unity. The whole Toure birthday busy-up is still fresh in the memory and it seems as though pre-season has been very lurchy, with little consistancy. What you can guarantee though, is that by Christmas City will be absolutely flying. They have a squad with incredible depth and will be in and around the top of the League all season. They've proved they can win the league though, and this season will need to be the time they make their mark on the European scene. For that reason alone, I can see them losing the title to Chelsea.

Key Man: Yaya Toure - My head told me Vincent Kompany but something just tells me that the happiness of Yaya Toure could play a huge part in how City's season shapes up. As a central midfielder, the Ivory Coast international netter 20 goals in 35 games in the League, an astonishing feat. He is a key component of the spine of the team and if he becomes unhappy again then do not be surprised if the squad goes through a turbulent phase. Hopefully this won't happen but you never know in football. It's amazing how far a birthday cake can get you.

One to Watch: Stevan Jovetic - The man from Montenegro was unfortunate in his first season at City as a spat of injuries sent him tumbling down the pecking order and with just five starts for the the Citizens he will be hoping this season will be more fruitful. Now back to full fitness and scoring for fun in pre-season, Jovetic is desperate to make his mark on the team. With Negredo out for a couple of months he may get his chance to impress, especially with Aguero not yet at full fitness either. That is all, of course, if he doesn't get shipped off to Roma before the end of the transfer window.

Best Summer Signing: Eliaquim Mangala - I must confess to never having actually seen Mangala play so I will reserve full judgement until I see him but the media seem to be pointing towards an extremely assured and competent centre-back. That said, if his former club is anything to go by we are in for another treat. Porto have recently sold James Rodriguez, Hulk, and Falcao to other clubs so are no strangers to producing some absolute gems. The question will be if Mangala can make the step up and become another on of Porto's star sales.

Premier League Preview: Liverpool

Last Season: 2nd

Pre-Season Prediction: 4th - With intelligent summer purchases squad depth has been increased and should see the Reds more than capably cope with the loss of Luis and the challenge of Champions League football.

At the start of last season you would have been hard-pressed to find a Liverpool fan disappointed with coming second in the League. Such was the manner of their season though, with 24 victories in a 26 game unbeaten run, that fans will have been heartbroken to see that infamous Gerrard slip against Chelsea which also saw their chances of a first Premier League title fade away. Nevertheless, after a period of reflection that disappointment can be pushed aside and the realisation that Rogers has instilled a sparking philosophy in this Liverpool side which should carry them forward for years to come is a major positive, as well as the fact that they are finally back in the Champions League.

However, there is a pretty large, teethy elephant in the room that I have neglected to mention so far. Luis Suarez. With 31 goals in the League last year and an ability to change a game with the flick of a boot, his departure to Barcelona leaves a monstrous hole at the front of this Liverpool side. Echoes of Bale's departure to Madrid seem in place as Liverpool have gone on a spending binge to fill this departure but there is notable more intelligence to the signings. Improvements have come across the park with Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic providing creative flair in the midfield whilst Rickie Lambert provides an alternative up top. Emre Can is a solid addition to bolster the center of the park whilst Dejan Lovren and Javier Manquillo provide a welcome boost to, what was a fairly leaky defense last season.

Despite this summer spree, Rogers insists that Reds are not done there and expects more signings to be brought in to ensure that Liverpool are able to have a large enough squad to fight in both the Champions League and the Premier League. The main priority is still to find a world class striker to replace Suarez, with Lambert at 32 not being able to fill that gap in the long term. Both Falcao and Cavani were on the radar but deals for either of them look unlikely so it will be interesting to see who Rogers turns to next. Alberto Moreno is another deal which looks set to go through as Liverpool seek to ensure they do not concede another 50 goals like last  season, with the left-back being heavily linked with a transfer from Seville.

The main challenge of pre-season was the International Champions Cup which was relatively successful for the Merseyside club. Victories over Milan and Olympiakos and a penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester City saw them reach the final which they eventually lost to Manchester United. That said, a first team mauling of Borussia Dortmund a few days ago will have boosted the confidence of an already positive team and, on the whole, pre-season can be heralded as a great success.

The big question, is can Liverpool replicate their success without the talismanic Luis Suarez leading the line? I believe that the answer is yes, albeit in a different style. Last season there was a reliance on Suarez and co to outscore the opposition. With the signing of Lovren though, Rogers is clearly trying to address the defensive weakness of last season and the reduced quantity of goals from Suarez should be counteracted by this new defensive stability. Whether this will be the case remains to be seen but don't expect European football to have a major impact on Liverpool's season.

Key Man: Raheem Sterling - The loss of Suarez places greater emphasis on the striking capabilities of Daniel Sturridge but it will be his partner in crime who will need to make the step up to replace the Uruguayan. Sturridge has already proved he is a 20-goal-a-season man but Sterling needs to ensure he can provide the creativity lost up top. One of the few bright sparks in England's dismal World Cup run, Sterling has had a solid pre-season after terrorising Phil Jones in the ICC and will be hoping to make another step up in an already hugely promising career.

One to Watch: Emre Can - The pick of the youngsters signed this summer, Can is a powerful midfielder and long-term successor to Steven Gerrard. The 20-year-old has had a fantastic pre-season impressing fans and neutrals alike with his determination and physicality in the center of the park, most notably his well-documented brushing aside of Mario Balotelli [Below]. Liverpool have not had a truly outstanding defensive midfielder since the departure of Javier Mascherano, but with the right development, Can could easily fill that gap. Are we looking at one of the bargains of the season?

Best Summer Signing: Dejan Lovren - The major weakness of Liverpool last year was their vulnerability in defense. Martin Skrtel may have knocked in seven Premier League goals but was susceptible to a lack of concentration at the other end of the park. And with Daniel Agger seemingly falling out of favour with Brendan Rogers a trademark defender was needed to bring assurance to the back line. Lovren had a stellar debut season in the Premier League with Southampton and was quickly earmarked as the 'next Carragher'. In amongst a host of forward thinking signings, Lovren is likely to turn out to be the best.