Premier League predictions

Arsenal

Predicted Pos: 4th

With the news of Cesc Fabregas reaffirming his commitment, the Gunners can now look forward to a hopefully competitive season on all fronts. With their integral Spanaird staying, free transfer signing Maourane Chamakh's work up front should be made slightly easier with the incisive passing that Fabregas offers to the Arsenal attack. Goals should not be a problem, but a big question mark still lingers over their fragile-looking defence. Depth is at its skinniest, with only Johan Djourou the only other centre-half backup, while Laurent Koscielny will need to acclimatise to the 'smash mouth' style of the English game. Champions League could be their main hope for glory if their title aspirations diminish by February.


Aston Villa

Predicted pos: 8th

Martin O'Neill's resignation - just days before the start of the league campaign - would have knocked the stuffing out of the squad. With financial resources at its most stringent under the Lerner era, caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will have a limited squad at his disposal, especially if James Milner does depart for Man City. The transfer of Milner would be a huge blow given he was an obvious standout in the side. Ashley Young could leave to balance the books at Villa Park. They could be heading into decline unless serious investment is made, which is unlikely under MacDonald's current spell as a temp.

Birmingham

Predicted pos: 15th

Birmingham caught many by surprise with superb defensive performances home and away last season. However, this year could be a worry as they look to dismiss the notion of a side suffering '2nd season syndrome' - relegation in their second year, after performing well in the first. The summer signings were only replacements of the players that left. Flamboyant striker 'Chucho' Benitez returned to Ecuador from his season-long loan at St Andrews, but more importantly keeper Joe Hart has gone. Their defence was the foundations of their success and without Hart, they could crumple. They should stay up, but players like Barry Ferguson and Roger Johnson will need to be at their consistent best like last year.

Blackburn

Predicted pos: 12th

Blackburn over the period of seven years since they returned to the Premier League have earned themselves the reputation as brute forces. Teams travelling to Ewood Park know that they are likely to be in a war to win a football match. Manager Sam Allardyce has continued to instill a competitive instinct in his players. Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen, two powerhouses at the heart of the defence, are the bedrock of Blackburn. Where they may struggle will be on their travels, where they seem to disintegrate at places like Stamford Bridge and the Emirates like a Rich Tea dipped in a hot beverage, whilst their lack of a renown goalscorer will put more pressure to keep a tight lid in their defence.

Blackpool

Predicted pos: 20th

Premier League sides will take a trip to the seaside, as Blackpool confirmed their place with the top dogs in their play-off final against Cardiff City. From that glorious moment of ecstacy came planning for life in the Premier League. They have recruited five players, including striker Marlon Harewood, but unfortunately they will struggle due to the infastructure of the club's finances. Struggling to pay player bonuses for their promotion, to the delay of the stadium stand meaning the club will play four of the first five league fixtures away, it is unlikely that Blackpool can gather much momentum this season. A lot will depend on the form of attacking midfielder Charlie Adam, who netted 16 times last season.

Bolton

Predicted pos: 9th

After six months testing the waters at the Reebok, manager Owen Coyle can begin to stamp his own brand of football on his side. Bolton should be competitive this season. If they keep defender Gary Cahill, who suffered a blood clot in his arm during the middle of last season, fit and healthy then they can progress. Chung-Yong Lee also provided a useful outlet in the forward department, while Kevin Davies has physical and ball retention qualities that can be a key threat, especially at home. But pass and move will be more of the theme at Bolton, unlike under Sam Allardyce, so goals should be aplenty. Home form, as with most sides at the middle of the table, is critical.

Chelsea

Predicted pos: 2nd

Champions last year, and this year also looking an ominious threat, Chelsea are the team to beat. Now a side exuding class, rather than the Mourinho method of breaking down the majority of teams because of their physical presence. Carlo Ancelotti has developed a refined attacking culture at the club. Out of the club is Deco, in comes a leaner Ramires. Out is Joe Cole, in is technical, and according to Ancelotti, tactically-gifted Yossi Benayoun. With mounting speculation of Sergio Aguero, then Chelsea could be a creative attacking force, in combination with its household names Essien, Drogba, Terry, Lampard. What could hold them back is the fact that they are the current champions. Aston Villa, Everton, Stoke, Birmingham all caused Chelsea problems last year despite a clean sweep over the rest of the 'Big 4' contingent. And members from this squad (Lampard, Terry, Drogba etc.) had disappointing World Cups, so it is concievable that they could struggle to find their feet for at least the first month of the new campaign.

Everton

Predicted pos: 7th

This could be a very usual season for the Toffees, given that they have managed to secure the future of three valuable players synonymus to the club. Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and more importantly, Mikel Arteta have pledged to stay, and possibly ease Everton into a Champions League place. Yet again it has been a summer of limited spending, but despite this, Everton over the last five years have laid the foundations of a solid defence and midfield. Free signing Jermaine Beckford should add another dimension up front instead of the lumbering Yakubu and the sometimes ineffective Louis Saha. A great side - only suffering 3 defeats in the last 24 league games and third in the form table after January behind Chelsea and Man Utd - but the waferingly small squad could prove yet again a headache, especially with Dan Gosling's unusual departure to Newcastle after backroom staff failed to arrange paperwork for his renewal.

Fulham

Predicted pos: 14th

A transitional season as Mark Hughes takes the reins over Roy Hodgson. With Hodgson moving to join Liverpool as manager, Hughes is inherited with Hodgson's Europa League heroines. A solid base to work on, although little depth, and is further hampened by keeper Mark Scrwarzer's insistence of leaving Craven Cottage for the prospect of playing Champions League football with Arsenal. Hughes will do very well to keep him, and his other saving grace is Arsene Wenger's general reluctance to buy players over the age of 30. He has a good team, with extra scope to graduate youth players to the first-team setup, given the modest funds he will have available. League safety should be secured, but a top 10 finish might be a step too far.

Liverpool

Predicted pos: 5th

In the murky mist of an impending takeover from as many as six different potential investors, Liverpool prepare for the upcoming campaign with important question marks over the futures of their prized assets. Fernando Torres was much talked about over the summer, with links with a return to Spain, or heavyweight league rivals Chelsea and Man City, more so the latter until they signed Mario Balotelli. They have purchased some potentially very good players thanks to Hodgson, and with very little in the transfer kitty. Joe Cole arrived on a free, 18-year old defender Danny Wilson arrived from Rangers for £2m, and Danish international midfielder Christian Poulsen was a £4.5m acquisition from Juventus. Some plus points there. However, a lot of Liverpool's problems last year surfaced out wide - defensively and offensively. Hodgson has not purchased a fullback so far, even though they remain lightweight over on the left, while Rafa Benitez disjointed system allowed very little width in their play. With the Europa League being a demotivating factor, Liverpool will find this season tough, but should improve nevertheless under the tutelage of the experienced Hodgson.

Man City

Predicted pos: 1st

Remind you of Chelsea from six years ago? Certainly. Man City have brought any emerging star they could possibly find, bankrolled by Dubai based investors whose main asset is owning a tenth of the planet's oil reserves. Yes, they are very wealthy. And I think this is the main reason why they will win. They will too strong for a lot of the sides in the Premier League with the amount of quality players at their disposal. It is not as if they have purchased a whole new team this summer, but more to the point they have players of real substance and guile.

Many will say they need to establish some coherency, but the fact that they will be competing on four fronts with the Europa League, there will be many chances for the fringe players to integrate. Carlos Tevez showed last year how dangerous he can be within the penalty area. While new signings David Silva and Mario Balotelli's footwork will leave many teams in a daze. Their concern will be in defence, but Joe Hart has proved he has the attributes to be a world-class keeper, while Vincent Kompany's defensive work since his arrival has been tremendous. The disappointing factor in all of this is the lack of reasonable opportunities for youth to enter the first team fray, which has left talents who have graduated from the youth team like Micah Richards and Stephen Ireland, disillusioned at Eastlands. Money does talk.

Man Utd

Predicted pos: 3rd

Last year was relatively disappointing, despite the scintillating form of Wayne Rooney. The lack of responsibility shed onto other players to score regularly probably would have disappointed Sir Alex Ferguson. This said it all when the next highest scorer after Rooney at one point was own goals. Michael Owen was suffering injuries at inconvenient points in the last campaign, while Dimitar Berbatov seemed to suffer from cold feet in some of the big matches. He didn't appear in the others. Ferguson has looked to recitify this by signing Mexico forward Javier Hernandez, who impressed at the World Cup earlier this summer. Despite adding a couple of players to the squad, including Chris Smalling from Fulham, the impression is that it may not be enough to regain the title in Sir Alex's 25th year in charge of the club.

Newcastle

Predicted pos: 16th

After a year out of the top flight Newcastle have come back with virtually the same members of the team that relegated the club. Joey Barton, Danny Guthrie, Shola Ameobi, Fabricio Coloccini for example all are surviving members of a dreadful season two years ago. Have they learnt their lesson? Possibly they have become wiser because of that event, and realise they are not as big a club as they thought they really were. On paper, they should be a good side and give most teams a good game. But Newcastle are a team that can implode. We have all heard of it. Team disharmony, backstabbing the manager, fighting your teammates. Between five to ten years ago, anyone wouldn't have been surprised if every player/staff antics involved Newcastle. This year could be different. They may stay up if the players are committed, but it is unlikely they can target anything else beyond that. For many sides expecting a season of struggle rather than expectation, loan signings could be crucial as finances tighten.

Stoke

Predicted pos: 10th

These fiercely incumbent men under Tony Pulis definitely have made a name for themselves in the Premier League in their two years here. They are willing to fight, scrap, claw for anything they can possibly muster. They work well as a team and that is why they are never serious candidates for the drop in many people's eyes. They should never be complacent however, and is possibly something Pulis will be ringing out in every player's ear every training session. Being so drilled, organised and efficient, the team do not venture forward all too often. Goals come in spits and spurts, so they must improve in that department if they want to consolidate.

Sunderland

Predicted pos: 13th

An inconsistent team with a top-level goalscorer in Darren Bent, Sunderland do flatter to deceive much of the time. Victories over Liverpool and Arsenal last season gave the impression Sunderland could make real headway and grab a European place until a large slumpin form over the turn of the year saw them, at one point, on the verge of relegation. With Bent shouldering the burden with goals, much more must come from midfield if they are to survive. Last season and the season before showed at most points of each campaign, the small gap between a midtable side and a team in the relegation spots. Strong form at the Stadium of Light is needed, as well as some diligent defensive displays when the going gets tough.

Tottenham

Predicted pos: 5th

Champions League football they aspired, Champions League they got. Tottenham have improved markedly under Harry Redknapp and qualification, should they beat Young Boys in a qualifying play-off, to play in Europe's biggest and richest tournament is one they should look to capitalise on. Premier League is the ultimate key though, and another campaign in which they can secure European football, preferably the Champions League, would be a successful season. They certainly have the players and the depth to compete on all fronts.

Tottenham can play predictably on occasions, as Hull, Stoke and Wolves, who all grasped great away results, all sussed out. Big campaign for Aaron Lennon to prove he has the attributes of a top quality right winger, while Gareth Bale on the opposite flank will be key to any success Tottenham will have. Fifth is more likely for Spurs, as the latter end of the season could prove too much with the likes of Jermaine Defoe, Luca Modric, Wilson Palacios potentially facing a 60+ game campaign, especially after a gruelling World Cup tournament.

West Brom

Predicted pos: 18th

Under Tony Mowbray, West Brom were a flawed side. A willingness to play an attractive brand of football that was never going to be realistic enough to stay up two years ago, The Hawthorns have a change of culture and fresher ideas under Roberto Di Matteo. Being a 'yoyo' club is challenging, consistently trying to reinvest to keep up with the pace. Such an ongoing problem for chief executive Jeremy Peace to balance the books, I probably wouldn't be surprised if he camped at the stadium over the whole summer. Despite all of his work, and which Peace has undeniably done a great job, the club never make significant investment in buying quality strikers that can score goals on a consistent basis at this level. Defence is also an issue, but it is whether they have the steel to defeat sides that would be around with them by the end of the season.

West Ham

Predicted pos: 11th

A change of manager over the summer period sees Avram Grant in the hotseat after his painfully struggling time at debt-ridden Portsmouth. He has wide contacts around Europe so it wouldn't be a surprise if he has unearthed a gem that can lift West Ham to greater heights. Last season they escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth, and even though I am a Hammers supporter, I genuinely believe they have a lot more to offer. West Ham have kept the likes of Matt Upson, Rob Green, Scott Parker, and Carlton Cole and have made additions in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mexican winger Antonio Barrera. They will have to look at sides around them, but there is no reason why they cannot beat them given the quality of players they have. Safety assured.

Wigan

Predicted pos: 19th

Roberto Martinez could be in for an awful ride at Wigan. It is difficult to see where the source of goals will come from, and more worryingly, how many they will concede by the end of the season. Ceefax and Teletext may have trouble in extending the width of the 'Goals Against' column. Wigan conceded eight goals in the last game of the season against Chelsea, and five on both occasions in their games against Man Utd, not to mention the nine at Tottenham. Who is to say they will not suffer the same fate again? They are a poor side and the likelyhood is that they will struggle for safety.

Wolves

Predicted pos: 17th

Reenergised after a bruising campaign, Wolves are back looking to reaffirm their Premier League status. They won important games against teams near the foot of the table, and more of the same is needed this year. They have plans of extending the Molineux capacity to 50,000, and continuous existence in the top flight is almost paramount to Wolves. They have added Steven Mouyakolo and Steven Fletcher to their squad - players that have experienced a campaign at the foot of the table - so they have every chance of staying up, just about.