Season ahead preview

August is upon us, and I shall finally be returning to my football blog in earnest (transfer speculation can only interest me so far)

So I shall embark on a club by club preview, with my predictions for their fate this season

Arsenal
last season - 4th

It's been four years without even a hope of a trophy (yes, two years ago they went on an early run, but they collapsed, as we all predicted) - Arsene's reliance on the young has left his squad threadbare and without many strong characters - the loss of Adebayor and Toure has only added to his dilemma, while we all admire Wenger's philosophy on growing a team, he still hasn't formed a formidable side - he needs to flash the cash and stop being so proud, he has several players who he has brought up, but he needs some solid signings to back them up

Strengths: With Rosicky and Eduardo back this season, alongside the likes of Fabregas, Walcott, RVP and Arshavin, the Arse have no shortage of attacking talent

Weaknesses: The defence is a major concern, Arsenal need a strong leader at the back and Gallas ain't it - whether the young Belgian, Vermaelen, will be a success is open to debate, but they need to ditch Diaby, there are also rumours of Patrick Viera returning, could be a wise move

Conclusion: Arsenal still have the talent they are famous for but don't have the strength or depth at present to really challenge, if injury hits them again they have no one but themselves to blame - they should be prepared for such a likely scenario. Previously they might have been guaranteed fourth, but it really does depend on how the mini-galacticos of City perform

Prediction: 4th

Aston Villa
Last season: 6th

Much like Arsenal, Villa have talent but lack the depth to go the distance - last year they got tired in the second half of the season, and the loss of their talismanic workhorse, Barry, will undoubtedly affect them heavily. They need to keep of Agbonlahor and Young, while O'Neill desperately needs to invest in order to fight a European campaign and challenge the top 4. The purchase of Stewart Downing (who won't even play til xmas), seems a tad redundant if it's going to be the only significant purchase

Strengths: They still have bags of pace, and one of the best managers in Europe

Weaknesses: All over the pitch - the squad is paper thin, they desperately need to shore up the central defence with the loss of Knight and Laursen, obviously Barry has left a hole which needs filling, and another reliable foward wouldn't go a miss either

Conclusion: Unlikely to be going anywhere this year without any further investment from Lerner

Prediction: 7th


Birmingham City
Last Season: Championship 2nd place

Seemingly a like for like swap with the Baggies, can the Blues cling on this time? It would seem they haven't lost too much as they've come straight back up, a rock-solid defence saw them tackle the championship, and the loaning of Joe Hart will ensure they have a quality keeper - but they will need some goals this season and will need new-signing Benitez to come through for them

Strengths: A solid defence has been reinforced by a well-prepared McLeish, always the best tactic for teams trying to stay up

Weaknesses: There may not be enough players up to premier league quality, possibly needs more of a goal threat

Conclusion: Are going to be reliant on their defence to stay up, they have a good chance, but they need to take their chances against lower opposition when it comes around

Prediction: 14th


Blackburn Rovers
Last season: 15th

Arguably the loss of Santa Cruz shouldn't really matter, as he was injured most of last season and only scored 4 times, one would think if they can find a goalscorer with that many in them they'll be fine, if not spectacular

Strengths: ummm...they still have a reasonable defence

Weaknesses: Need some goals, and a bit of depth to replace the part-timers that have just left (Derbyshire, Oijer, Tugay)

Conclusion: Doubt there will be much to watch here, but they are unlikely to repeat either the chaos they had last year with Ince, nor repeat the dreams of Europe they had with Hughes, but keep an eye on what Allardyce finds on the cheap

Prediction: 12th

Bolton
Last season: 13th

Megson has bought in a variety of solid, if mediocre players to shore up the side (Knight, Robinson, Sean Davies, Ricketts) - just about sums up Bolton really, but they remain lacking up front and need some goals, and like serveral other clubs, need to find them on the cheap

Strengths: the squad is only improving, with several decent aquisitions and few departures, stability is a virtue in this game

Weaknesses: A lack of real talent and a goal threat means they won't be getting very far

Conc: It's Bolton, nobody notices Bolton

Pred: 11th

Burnley
Last Season: play-off winners

Ah, the little side that could - for Burnley, see Hull c.2008 - they will need a lot of luck and determination to stay up, and will need new signing Stephen Fletcher to provide the goods - this will, much like Hull, be dependent on keeping the team close and motivated, and we all know how close Hull came to losing it

Strengths: A close-knit championship team unit has worked for teams like Reading, Stoke and Hull in the recent past, and if they can remain as solid as they were in their various top-flight encounters last season they will have at least a chance

Weaknesses: Lack of quality really

Conclusion: Need to really punch above their weight and keep the morale high to stand a chance of staying up

Prediction: 18th

Chelsea
last season: 3rd

Chelsea have done well to keep hold of Terry, probably far more important than any transfer - and the only significant addition has been the leftie Zhirkov - so it seems little will have changed from last year, so the onus is on Ancelotti to get his team more points than United

Stengths: A stable, balanced team packed with talent

Weaknesses: Barely any, perhaps some more new blood would have been useful, and both main forwards have a tendency for the unpredictable (and diving)

Conclusion: Chelsea should be the favourites to challenge for the title, hopefully this latest managerial appointment can get the team working to its full potential - if not, well, it'll be amusing

Prediction: 1st

Everton
Last season: 5th

'Steady as she goes' is the Everton mantra - they will return once again with the same decent football from the likes of Arteta and Cahill, and even Phil Neville - but their inability to buy anything more is going to keep them out of the title race again, the only real issue is if they lose Lescott - which will need addressing

Strengths: Consistency, and good football, and a manager who knows what he's doing

Weaknesses: Lack of money - they need more depth to progress in Europe or at home, Tim Cahill can only carry them so far, should they lose Lescott they will be losing a vital piece of the puzzle (I've been hearing 'Senderos' - dear god, no)

Conclusion: Moyes may need to fix up the defence early on, but you can expect the usual from the Toffees

Prediction: 6th

Fulham
last season: 7th

Fulham have finally found some quality with Hodgson at the helm, and their solid defence is vital to that - they need to keep hold of Hangeland and they will be fine in the league - but they really need to add depth for their European adventure, and they won't be heading up the table without some better goalscorers than Zamora

Strengths: Stable squad, solid defence

Weaknesses: Thin squad and a lack of goal threat

Conclusion: Watch out for Fulham throwing spanners in the works of the big boys again, but don't expect much improvement on last year

Prediction: 9th

Hull
last season: 17th

Phil Brown really needs to fix his squad up after last season, but it would seem noone wants to go to Hull - they have offloaded some players and bought bugger-all, no doubt they will find someone - but don't hold your breath

Strengths: None that I can see...maybe Michael Turner?

Weaknesses: The team that virtually collapsed after new year is getting even weaker

Conclusion: this looks like being a long, hard season for the Tigers, they can't say they haven't been warned

Prediction: 19th

Liverpool
last season: 2nd

What with today's inevitable news that Alonso is off, Liverpool now face a massive hole in the middle - the loss of Alonso could have only been trumped by the loss of Stevie G himself - they need an influential string-puller and quick, and now they haven't even got the 'bargain' Gareth Barry to go for
I don't have a huge amount of faith in Rafa, who seems to move with all the speed of a teenager after a heavy night out - it took him years to realise the need for proper wingers and all he goes for is Glen Johnson - decent right back he may be, but if that's his best signing of the summer he's in trouble - Liverpool exceeded expectations last season, even without Torres for half of it, but they need to stop relying on Gerrard and Torres, brilliant though they are, even if the two play every game - I await with baited breath to see if Aquilani works out, and what Rafa will spend his remaining 13mil on

Strengths: Gerrard and Torres, naturally

Weaknesses: An Italian needs to fill Alonso's rather large boots, still lacking width!

Conclusion: Watch out for Rafa's spending - if he can get targets like David Silva then maybe they'll be ok, but they may be too reliant on their overworked talismans

Prediction: 3rd

Manchester City
last season: Not good enough! (10th)

City, City , City...- no doubt this year's big interest story, either they'll flop and it'll be hilarious or they'll actually be good enough to surpass Arsenal - I think the former, but Hughes is a good manager and will know what he's doing, he's bought some level-headed and committed players in Barry and Tevez, and some quality goal-scorers in Adebayor and Santa Cruz, while maintaining a decent bedrock of former players like Ireland, Richards and Dunne, but probably still needs a commanding centre-half. Also watch out for a team that has a lot of quality forwards and midfielders - sure to be some tantrums and weird tactical decisions

Stengths: Isn't it obvious?

Weaknesses: Lots of new, highly-paid stars, may not be the most stable of teams, also watch out for tetchy owners pulling the plug too quickly

Conclusion: It'll be hard to miss City this year, and their games will certainly be interesting, I don't think they'll be challenging just yet with a rag-tag collection of big names, but interesting nonetheless

Prediction: 5th

Manchester United
last season: 1st

Can they do it again? Four consecutive titles? I hope not, it's just getting depressing as the other teams simply fail to step up - the lack of Ronaldo and Tevez is the obvious elephant in the room - it may weaken them sufficiently to give Chelsea or Liverpool a real chance (although it tends to be all their own doing anyway) - but no doubt they'll be just as formiddable with Rooney, Vidic, Carrick and co. - Fergie seems to be having a bit of a play by buying Owen and testing out the young Valencia - this looks like a team in a bit of transition now, with the loss of two huge players, some new boys and the decreasing influence of Giggs and Scholes

Strengths: As ever, the omnipresent Ferguson will send out a great team every time

Weaknesses: Few, but the loss of Ronaldo and Tevez may be enough, Fergie seems to be resting on his laurels for now - as if to say 'bring it on, boys'

Conclusion: United are nowhere near indestructable, but it will be up to the other teams (primarily Liverpool and Chelsea) to prove that - they remain the most balanced, quality side in the league, but are perhaps a bit cock-sure

Prediction: 2nd

Newcastle...sorry, Portsmouth
Last season: 14th

Pompey are up sh*t creek with out a paddle, and perhaps a canoe - they've lost everyone, and unless they start putting the money from Crouchy and Johnson somewhere soon they're in deep trouble - Derby trouble

Stengths: They have a manager now!

Weaknesses: They've lost pretty much their whole first team

Conclusion: Bet on Burnley when the two meet, or perhaps even Hull

Prediction: 20th

Stoke
last season: 12th

Stoke are looking to build on last season, and keeping their giant squad together is key - they have also made a few select purchases, Whitehead being the most prominent - definitely need another forward to join up with Beattie, but otherwise little to rock the boat

Stengths: Stable squad, who average about 6'6

Weaknesses: Not many options, need some more presence up front to improve drastically

Conclusion: Unless Stoke suffer badly from second season syndrome expect more of the same

Prediction: 13th

Sunderland
last season: 16th

Looks like more of the same from the sole remaining north-east club - they may have more cash now, and Steve Bruce, but they've done little to improve on last year's pretty poor performance - bringing in young Frazer Campbell and some other cheap blokes for Cisse, Halford, Whitehead, and Chopra

Strengths: A good manager and a (hopefully) steady ship

Weaknesses: Nobody wants to go there...

Conclusion: Sunderland may not be in real trouble but they are in transition and don't look completely safe, once again they might be in the dog-fight

Prediction: 16th

Tottenham
Last season: 8th

'Arry is still working his magic, looking for more players to bring in, preferably cheeky cockneys like himself - he needs to sort out his defence, Bassong is a rumour, and no doubt he will - look out for late transfers, wildly optimistic yids and a cup run - all the usual dramas at Tottenham

Strengths: they finally have have some sort of a squad, with decent, trusted forwards

Weaknesses: defending...

Conclusion: Although last season's position of 8th was respectable they were at the top of the bottom rather than the bottom of the top - this year they will be hoping to fight it out with Villa, Everton, Fulham and City...rather than Bolton and Stoke - probably one of the more entertaining sides this year

Prediction: 8th

West Ham
last season: 9th

The Hammers are struggling for cash and have shipped a load of players, while bringing in mostly tripe, so you can't expect much from them - in fact this year they sound even more boring than Bolton, I wouldn't be surprised if they went from top 10 last year to relegation hopefuls this year

Strengths: dunno, I don't even notice West Ham any more

Weaknesses: No money and third-rate players none of us have heard of

Conclusion: Mediocrity of the highest order!

Prediction: 15th

Wigan
last season: 11th

Wigan are strangely one of the most positive outfits this season, lots of money and a new, swanky, Spanish manager - one to watch

Strengths: Some quality players

Weaknesses: It's Wigan...and that bloody pitch

Conclusion: They might be a bit more interesting to watch than usual, few worries of relegation

Prediction: 10th

Wolves
last season: Championship winners

Oh dear, Mick's back - Wolves are as bad as the Baggies at this, and they play much the same - they will probably be punished more than Birmingham, despite their better goal threat - they have invested in new players, like Halford, Doyle and Hanhemann, keen to avoid the drop once again - but whether it's enough time will tell

Strengths: decent football, some quality players

Weakness: Not enough quality, open style of play a risk

Prediction: 17th