SWANSEA
Swansea had a great season last year, finishing in mid table but they have suffered a few key losses in this transfer window. Manager Brendan Rodgers and key midfielder, Joe Allen have both moved to Anfield and Gylfi Sigurdsson has moved to Tottenham after a successful loan spell at Swansea last season. New manager, Michael Laudrup has made a few decent signings. Michu from Rayo Vallecano had a great year in La Liga last year, scoring 17 goals from an attacking midfield role. Jose Manuel Flores and Jonathan de Guzman have also come in and should fit into Swansea's footballing style.
Whilst those three should be good signings I can't help but feel the players they have lost and still might lose will have the biggest impact on their season. Scott Sinclair and Ashley Williams are being linked with moves away and if they go then I think Swansea will have a difficult season.
Key Man - Michu - He had a fantastic season last year in La Liga and Swansea will need him to be as prolific in front of goal if they are to build on last seasons mid table finish.
A Player I'd Sign : Nicklas Bendtnar - I saw the Arsenal man linked with Swansea last week and the more I think about the more I think he could do well. He's not Arsenal class and never will be but he's good enough to play in a mid table team. He has a decent record at international level and if he started regularly he could do well.
Prediction - 20th
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Former Chelsea manager, Andre Villas-Boas has replaced Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane and he will have to do better than he did at Stamford Bridge if he is to build on Tottenhams successes in the last few seasons.
Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson have come in but Spurs have lost a few too. Ledley King has retired, Kranjcar, Corluka, Pienaar and Saha have all left. Emmanuel Adebayor may well find his way back to White Hart Lane after his successful loan spell last year but at present he is still a Manchester City player.
I expect Tottenham will sign a few players between now and the end of the month so it is difficult to judge how well they will do this year. I do think they need to sign a few players if they want to keep up with the top teams in the league.
Key Man : Gareth Bale - On his day the young Welsh winger is unplayable. He has pace, skill and is becoming a good finisher. I would like to see him operate on the left side of a front three and expect that may well be his position in Villas-Boas' lineup.
A Player I'd Sign : Hulk - He has played for AVB before so he will know the system and style AVB likes. He wants to leave Porto and Spurs need a striker so it could be a good move all round.
Prediction - 6th
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Another club with a new manager thisseason. Steve Clarke has come in to replace England manager, Roy Hodgson.
West Brom have spent most of the last decade floating between the Premier League and the Championship. In the last 11 seasons they have been promoted four times and relegated three times. I think it could take a big effort from them to avoid another relegation this season.
Clarke has brought in Ben Foster, Markus Rosenborg, Claudio Yacob, Yassine El Ghanassy and Romelu Lukaku. Much will depend on how they settle into the Premier League. The Belgian league hasn't always been at the highest level in recent years and three of those signings have been playing there recently. Ben Foster is a good goalkeeper and I think he will need to be at his best as West Brom haven't always been particularly strong in defence, conceding over 120 goals in the last two seasons.
Key Man : Chris Brunt - Northern Ireland international Brunt has been one of West Brom's best performers in recent seasons. He will need to be at his best if West Brom are to keep their place in the league this year.
A Player I'd Sign : Danny Rose - A player who has been linked with West Brom in recent weeks. Rose is a good player and can play anywhere down the left side so he would be a good addition to the squad.
Prediction - 19th
WEST HAM UNITED
West Ham made it back to the Premier League by beating Blackpool in the Playoffs. West Ham are a good club and it's good to see them back in the Premier League. Big Sam has spent well in the summer and has brought in a few decent players with Premier League experience. James Collins, George McCartney, Mohamed Diame and Jussi Jaaskelainen are all decent signings. Midibo Maiga and Alou Diarra have both done well in France in recent years. If the team gel quickly I can't see why they won't be in the Premier League again next season.
Key Man : Kevin Nolan - West Ham will be hoping their captain can keep up his good goal scoring form. Nolan is averaging a goal every five games throughout his career which is a very good record for a midfielder.
A Player I'd Sign : Andy Carroll - It looks as though this deal won't go through now but I do think the Liverpool man would do well at West Ham. He is a perfect fit to play up front in a Sam Allardyce team. He is similar in style to Kevin Davies and he was a player who flourished under big Sam at Bolton.
Prediction : 16th
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Wigan managed to hold on to Roberto Martinez as manager despite interest from Liverpool and Aston VIlla. Martinez has led Wigan to successive 16th placed finishes and I think this could be the year for Wigan to make a step forward. They have a few good young players and play good football. If they can hold onto all of the young lads, in particular Victor Moses and get off to a better start then I think they could get closer to mid table.
They have brought in Ivan Ramis and Arouna Kone who I expect to have good seasons. They have lost Mohamed Diame and Hugo Rodallega but there are players at the club who can step into those roles.
Key Man : Victor Moses - If Wigan can keep hold of Moses he will play a key role in their fight for survival this year. If he leaves Wigan could find themselves in big trouble.
A Player I'd Sign : Jordan Rhodes - The Huddersfield man would be a great signing for a lot of clubs but if Moses leaves he'd be a great signing to bolster their attacking options.
Prediction : 14th
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