ARSENAL
The Gunners - Emirates Stadium, Ashburton Road, Islington, London, N5 1BU. Capacity 60,361
Last season: 3rd, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup Quarter finals, Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy: FA Cup 2005
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996)
Players In: Marouane Chamakh, Laurent Koscielny, Kyle Ebecillo, Phil Roberts
Players Out: Eduardo, Luke Ayling, Sol Campbell, Fran Merida, Philippe Senderos, Alie Sesay, Sam Byles, James Dunn, Kerrera Gilbert, William Gallas, Rhema Obed, Mikael Silvestre
Out on loan: Kyle Bartley, Pedro Botelho, Francis Coquelin, Sanchez Watt, Luke Freeman
Pre-season form: The Gunners began their pre-season with a 4-0 win at Barnet before further comfortable wins on their annual tour of Austria against Sturm Graz (3-0) and Neusiedl 1919 (4-0). Wenger's men then won the Emirates Cup at home after a 1-1 draw over AC Milan and a 3-2 win over Celtic before completing their summer programme with an extraordinary 6-5 win in Poland against Legia Warsaw.
Prediction: 4th
Arsenal enter the season aiming to end a trophy drought which has extended to five seasons after another blank in the last campaign. But, despite their last trophy being the FA Cup in 2005, manager Arsene Wenger remains committed to the club and it would seem that he is not about to give up his principles in pursuit of silverware. Youthful exuberence remains the order of the day but, at the highest level, Arsenal remain too reliant on the fitness of Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin up front and too easy to play against at the back as demonstrated last season when Wigan recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2. On a more positive note, Cesc Fabregas pulled the strings in midfield wonderfully but a question hangs over his commitment after further overtures from Barcelona this summer.
ASTON VILLA
The Villains - Villa Park, Trinity Road, Birmingham, B6 6HE. Capacity 42,789
Last season: 6th, FA Cup Semi finals, League Cup Runners-up, Europa League Playoff round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1996
Manager: Kevin MacDonald (caretaker since August 2010)
Players In: None
Players Out: Nicky Shorey, David Bevan, Jack Dyer, Stephen O'Halloran, Marlon Harewood, Wilfred Bouma, Andy Marshall
Pre-season form: Villa had a mixed pre-season as early wins at Peterborough United (3-2) and Walsall (2-1) sandwiched a 2-1 loss in Ireland to Bohemians. Villa then took part in the Guadiana Trophy in Portugal, beating Feyenoord 3-1 but losing heavily to Benfica (1-4). Pre-season was completed with a 0-0 draw in a home match against Valencia.
Prediction: 9th
Aston Villa's season took a massive hit just days before the start as Martin O'Neill announced his shock resignation after four years in charge. O'Neill has rarely seemed comfortable with his position at Villa Park and has signed constant rolling one-year contracts but his departure still stunned the claret-and-blue half of the second city. It completed a miserable summer for Villa fans who face a horrible feeling of deja vu as Manchester City pursue their best midfielder. Last season, Gareth Barry made the move to Eastlands and James Milner looks certain to follow. The arrival of Stephen Ireland as part of the deal would soften the blow but he would be the only incoming transfer of a troubled summer. Perhaps American owner Randy Lerner's reluctance to throw any more money O'Neill's way was the reason for the Ulsterman's departure. But O'Neill has little grounds for complaint having wasted a ridiculous amount on the likes of Nicky Shorey and Steve Sidwell. Whatever the case is, the timing of O'Neill's decision has put Villa on the back foot at the start of the season. Fortunately for them, there is still enough quality in the squad to ensure a respectable placing.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
The Blues - St Andrew's, St Andrew's Road, Birmingham, B9 4NH. Capacity 30,079
Last season: 9th, FA Cup Quarter finals, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1963
Manager: Alex McLeish (since November 2007)
Players In: Ben Foster, Nikola Zigic, Enric Valles
Players Out: Christian Benitez, Lee Carsley, Gary McSheffrey, Franck Queudrue, Artur Krysiak, Gregory Vignal, Jared Wilson, Jacob Rowe, Shaun Timmins
Out on loan: Jake Jervis, Robin Shroot, Colin Doyle
Pre-season form: Clearly as a result of Hong Kong businessman Carsten Yeung's ownership, Birmingham began their preparations by touring China. The tour went well with consecutive wins over a Hong Kong XI (3-2), Beijing Guoan (1-0) and Liaoning Whowin (2-0). Back in England, Birmingham beat Derby County 2-1 and MK Dons 3-2 before a 1-0 loss to Real Mallorca in their only home match.
Prediction: 12th
The longest unbeaten run in the Premier League last season did not belong to Chelsea or Manchester United, or even Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester City. No, last season's most consecutive Premier League matches without defeat was achieved by Birmingham City who hauled themselves away from the bottom into contention for the Europa League by winning seven matches and drawing five either side of Christmas with Lee Bowyer, in particular, enjoying a purple patch. The Blues lost just twice at home in the league all the way through 2009-10 although, painfully, one of those defeats was early in the season to Aston Villa who went on to achieve a 'double' at Villa Park. Manager Alex McLeish deserves much credit for making Birmingham so difficult to beat - indeed, every single one of Birmingham's 13 Premier League wins last season were by a single goal. These are exciting times at St Andrew's but, as the Blues playing within such tight margins, the fates suggest that it will be difficult for them to maintain a top-half position.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Rovers - Ewood Park, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4JF. Capacity 31,154
Last season: 10th, FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup Semi finals
Last major trophy: League Cup 2002
Manager: Sam Allardyce (since December 2008)
Players In: Hugo Fernandez, Mame Biram Diouf
Players Out: Michael Hall, Andrew Howarth, Marcus Marshall, Steven Reid, Jordan Bowen, Josh Swann
Pre-season form: Rovers had the busiest friendly programme of all the Premier League teams, playing no fewer than nine matches - and so it is perhaps no surprise that not all of them were a success. A 0-0 draw with Austrians Sturm Graz was followed by a 2-0 win over non-league Fleetwood Town before poor defeats without scoring at Preston North End (0-3) and Huddersfield Town (0-1). Rovers' struggles continued on their tour of Australia as they were beaten 2-1 in consecutive matches by Rangers and AEK Athens in the Sydney Festival of Football. Rovers restored pride with a 2-1 win over the hosts before a trip to Scotland garnered a 1-1 draw against Hearts and a 2-1 win over Celtic.
Prediction: 8th
In his first full season in charge, Sam Allardyce restored Blackburn Rovers' reputation as a solid mid-table team with a 10th-place finish. This was seen as a respectable recovery, coming a year after flirting with relegation during the seven-month dalliance with Paul Ince. Indeed, Rovers fans had a highly enjoyable season - they did the double over relegated local rivals Burnley, reached the semi final of the League Cup and remained unbeaten at home against the 'Big Four'. Allardyce was also restoring his own reputation after a torturous eight-month spell at Newcastle, and the aim must now be the push on into the top half - though just sorting out the away form would be a start. Rovers won just once outside Lancashire last season (at West Ham) with two of their three away wins coming at Bolton Wanderers and Burnley.
BLACKPOOL
The Seasiders - Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 6JJ. Capacity 17,625
Last season: 6th (promoted from Championship via playoffs), FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1953
Manager: Ian Holloway (since May 2009)
Players In: Dekel Keinan, Craig Cathcart, Elliot Grandin, Ludovic Sylvestre, Marlon Harewood, Malaury Martin
Players Out: Al Bangura, Hameur Bouazza, Ben Burgess, Daniel Nardiello, Joe Martin, Danny Mitchley, Stephen McPhee
Pre-season form: Much like everything else that seems to have happened this summer, the Seasiders' friendly form began well on a tour of the South West before petering out. A 2-0 win over Tiverton Town was followed by further victories over Accrington Stanley (2-1) and Havant & Waterlooville (3-2) as Blackpool lifted the Joma South West Challenge cup. However, results then took a turn for the worst with three consecutive defeats - away at Crewe Alexandra (0-1), Bristol City (also 0-1) and at home against Hibernian (1-2).
Prediction: 20th
The gulf between the Premier League and the Championship means it is customary to predict that the playoff winners face immediate relegation but Blackpool's preparations for the new season will have done little to defy the critics. Since their big day out at Wembley and that 3-2 win over Cardiff, the Seasiders have struggled to attract many players to Bloomfield Road. Chairman Karl Oyston even offered to leave the club if it was thought their wage structure was too harsh. By contrast, manager Ian Holloway released a statement confirming that he was staying despite the transfer problems, and he has been rewarded with a flurry of recent activity including the arrival of Marlon Harewood up front. But, while the likes of Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Bradford City all stayed up in their first season against the odds, the men in tangerine are an even weaker squad. 'Pool fans will have to brace themselves for a real tough nine months ahead - simply avoiding embarrassment with some decent home form is the first aim.
BOLTON WANDERERS
The Trotters - Reebok Stadium, Burnden Way, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 6JW. Capacity 28,101 Last season: 14th, FA Cup 5th round, League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1958
Manager: Owen Coyle (since January 2010)
Players In: Marco Alonso, Robbie Blake, Ivan Klasnic, Martin Petrov
Players Out: Zoltan Harsanyi, Nicky Hunt, Ricardo Vaz Te
Out on loan: Ali Al-Habsi
Pre-season form: Bolton Wanderers warmed up for the season with a successful trip to North America, recording wins over Charlotte Eagles (3-0) and Charlestone Battery (2-0) before a 1-1 draw against FC Toronto which the Trotters won on penalties. Bolton struggled to match those results back home with a 1-1 draw at Rochdale, a 3-0 loss to Oldham Athletic and a 0-0 stalemate at Falkirk. But Coyle's men ended the summer on a positive note with two 2-0 wins - away at St Johnstone and at home against Osasuna.
Prediction: 14th
Owen Coyle could declare last season's mission as successful after he kept Bolton Wanderers up having taken over them when they were in the bottom three. The next phase of the plan is always rather more difficult and, oddly, it almost feels as if the Trotters are having to re-establish themselves in the elite despite them celebrating a 10th consecutive seasons of top-flight football. That is their longest run since the mid-1960s, and it means Bolton have the unwelcome record for being the club with the most seasons in the top flight without a single league championship. Back to the present and the signing of Martin Petrov is a clever piece of business. Indeed, Coyle's men should endure a less stressful season but it seems unlikely that the Trotters will race up the league with what is ostensibly much the same squad as last year.
CHELSEA
The Blues - Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS. Capacity 42,449
Last season: Champions, FA Cup Winners, League Cup Quarter finals, Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy: Premier League 2009-10 and FA Cup 2010
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti (since June 2009)
Players In: Ramires, Yossi Benayoun, Matej Delac, Tomas Kalac
Players Out: Miroslav Stoch, Scott Sinclair, Deco, Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Joe Cole, Jeffrey Ntuka, Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Liam Bridcutt
Out on loan: Tomas Kalac, Ryan Bertrand, Rhys Taylor, Ben Gordon, Danny Philliskirk
Pre-season form: Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in their first pre-season match but that win at Selhurst Park proved to be the last of a troubled summer on the field for the Blues. A 3-1 loss to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands was followed sharply by two more defeats, both 2-1, in Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburg. A 3-1 lost to Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley prompted Carlo Ancelotti to admit his team were not yet at their peak.
Prediction: 2nd
Rarely has a league title win been as emphatic as Chelsea's 2009-10 season. The Blues were simply imperious at Stamford Bridge, scoring seven goals three times and then beating Wigan Athletic 8-0 on the final day to seal a fourth league championship. Vitally, Carlo Ancelotti's men also did the double over Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool and yet, despite all the wins and the much greater goal power, Chelsea just could not shake United from their tail. That is more a credit to Sir Alex Ferguson's men than a criticism of Chelsea but, with United currently level-pegging with Liverpool on 18 championship wins, they will no doubt take advantage of any slip-ups at Stamford Bridge in what is set to be another fascinating title chase.
EVERTON
The Toffees - Goodison Park, Goodison Road, Liverpool, L4 4EL. Capacity 40,157
Last season: 8th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 4th round, Europa League Last 32
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1995
Manager: David Moyes (since March 2002)
Players In: Magaye Gueye, Joao Silva, Jermaine Beckford, Jan Mucha
Players Out: Lukas Jutkiewicz, John Ruddy, Dan Gosling, Anton Peterlin, Carlo Nash
Pre-season form: Everton travelled Down Under for a three match series in Australia, all of which were won. The Toffees beat Sydney FC 1-0, Melbourne Heart 2-0 and Brisbane Roar 2-1 to complete a successful tour. The goals flowed even more back in England with comfortable wins at Preston North End (3-0) and Norwich City (4-2) before a 2-0 home win over their Chilean namesakes Everton de Vina. The Premier League Everton completed their pre-season programme with a 2-0 loss against Steve McClaren's Wolfsburg in Germany.
Prediction: 6th
Everton hit the form of a Champions League contender in the second half of last season but the Toffees had come unstuck with so many injuries in the first part of the campaign that the damage had already been done. In the end, David Moyes' men fell just short of a Europa League spot but the lack of extra midweek matches will surely aid a season-long pursuit of the top clubs in the current campaign. With the return to full fitness of midfielders Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill and Russian Diniyar Bilayetdinov, Everton have no excuses for a poor start this time and there should be no shortage of support for the strikers. But a reliance on the fitness of Louis Saha up front remains a concern and perhaps explains the gamble on Jermaine Beckford. And, while there are few concerns with the defence and midfield, goals from the strikers will be the difference between Everton mounting a genuine assault on the top four or spending a frustrating season just outside of it.
FULHAM
The Cottagers - Craven Cottage, Stevenage Road, London, SW6 6HH. Capacity 25,700
Last season: 12th, FA Cup Quarter finals, League Cup 3rd round, Europa League Runners-up
Last major trophy: None
Manager: Mark Hughes (since July 2010)
Players In: Jonathan Greening, Philippe Senderos
Players Out: Chris Smalling, Chris Buchtmann, Wayne Brown, Erik Nevland, Elliot Omozusi, Stefan Payne, Luca Moscatiello, Gyan Osei King, Michael Uwesu, Andranik Teymourian
Pre-season form: Fulham started and finished their pre-seasons with two big wins - hammering Brentford 5-0 away and Werder Bremen 5-1 at home. In between, there was a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth before a tour of Sweden also ended in two draws - against Halmstads (2-2) and Malmo (0-0). Fulham were also the guests for the testimonial match of Portsmouth's Linvoy Primus which Pompey won 1-0.
Prediction: 11th
New manager Mark Hughes has set Fulham the target of a top-half finish in his first season. In many ways, the Cottagers were victims of their own success in losing Roy Hodgson who guided them to eighth place in 2008-09 and the Europa Cup Final last season. Perhaps seeking one last try in the big time, Hodgson left for Liverpool, and Fulham were in a state of flux. The search for a new manager did not start well when first choice Martin Jol opted to stay at Ajax but within a week Hughes was appointed. Defender Chris Smalling has moved to Manchester United for £10m but there were few changes to a squad which should find Hughes' aim within its reach especially if Bobby Zamora retains his confidence in front of goal.
LIVERPOOL
The Reds - Anfield, Anfield Road, Liverpool, L4 0TH. Capacity 45,276
Last season: 7th, FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup 4th round, Champions League Group stage, Europa League Semi finals
Last major trophy: FA Cup 2006
Manager: Roy Hodgson (since July 2010)
Players In: Christian Poulsen, Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic
Players Out: Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, Mikel San Jose, James Ellison, David Martin, Ray Putterill, Robbie Threlfall, Francisco Manuel Duran, Christopher Oldfield
Out on loan: Philipp Degen
Pre-season form: Liverpool saved their best form for the matches which counted, winning 2-0 home and away in the Champions League qualifier against Slovenians Rabotnicki Skopje for a 4-0 aggregate win. In their non-competitive games, the Reds were unimposing to say the least, failing to score in a 0-0 draw with Grasshopper Zurich and in the 1-0 defeats to German sides Kaiserslautern and Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Prediction: 5th
The signs of another revolution hang in the air at Anfield after Roy Hodgson displaced Rafa Benitez in a dramatic summer on Merseyside. But, while most revolutions begin with a raft sweeping changes, Hodgson has had to rely on the status quo being maintained before making any impression. The decisions of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to stay have at least given Hodgson a base from which to work. Joe Cole is also a canny signing from Chelsea on a free transfer but the Reds still have far too much dead wood in their squad and they remain as reliant as ever on the fitness of Gerrard and Torres. Off the field concerns about the club's ownership continue to cast a shadow upon matters on it. Only when this is resolved will Hodgson be able to prove his worth though he will surely improve on last season's record which included 19 defeats in all competitions, 11 in the league.
MANCHESTER CITY
The Blues - City of Manchester Stadium, SportCity, Manchester, M11 3FF. Capacity 47,405 Last season: 5th, FA Cup 5th round, League Cup Semi finals
Last major trophy: League Cup 1976
Manager: Roberto Mancini (since December 2009)
Players In: Yaya Toure, David Silva, Aleksandar Kolarov, Jerome Boateng, Alex Henshall, Albert Rusnak
Players Out: Javier Garrido, Valeri Bojinov, Robert Mak, Paul Marshall, Filip Mentel, Andrew Mitchell, Martin Petrov, Jack Redshaw, Tobias Johansen, Karl Moore, Benjani Mwaruwari, Sylvinho
Out on loan: Nedum Onuoha, Ryan McGivern, Gunnar Nielsen, David Ball, Kieran Trippier, Andrew Tutte, Adam Clayton
Pre-season form: City were one of several teams to choose to go to North America in the off-season but, in terms of results, the tour could hardly be put down as a success. After an early 3-0 win over Portland Timbers, City then lost both their matches in the New York Football Challenge to Sporting Lisbon (0-2) and the hosts New York Red Bulls (1-2). There followed a 1-1 draw with Mexican side Club America before a 3-0 loss to European champions Internazionale. Things were little better in Germany where City fell to a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund before a relieving 2-0 home win over Valencia.
Prediction: 3rd
Throwing enough money at something in a free-market will usually pay dividends eventually - or at least Manchester City hope this will be the case having splurged almost another £80m already this summer. That amount does not even include the reported £30m which will be spent on bringing bit-part England player James Milner to Eastlands. The Milner signing, assuming it goes ahead, is a clear example of the unfathomable approach to the transfer market by City. Instead of chasing yet another attacking midfielder, Roberto Mancini could do with signing some defensive cover as this was easily City's weakest area last season with 45 league goals conceded. Of course, Yaya Toure's £28m transfer from Barcelona will offer some protection in front of the defence but the backline itself still needs some work. However, it is not as if City have not got the money to sort this out and, as long as they do, Mancini's men should improve on last season's galling, Champions League-missing 5th place.
MANCHESTER UNITED
The Red Devils - Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, M16 0RA. Capacity 75,797
Last season: 2nd, FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup Winners, Champions League Quarter finals
Last major trophy: League Cup 2010
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (since November 1986)
Players In: Chris Smalling, Bebe, Javier Hernandez, Marnick Vermijl
Players Out: Ben Foster, Craig Cathcart, Zoran Tosic, David Gray, Tom Heaton, Ron-Robert Zieler, Fabian Brandy, Sam Hewson, Scott Moffatt
Out on loan: Mame Biram Diouf, Daniel Drinkwater, Matthew James, James Chester, Josh King, Cameron Stewart
Pre-season form: United were another of the clubs to head to North America but the Red Devils had a generally more successful time on the pitch than their City neighbours. A 3-1 win over Celtic in Toronto was followed by a 1-0 win against Philadelphia Union. There was room for a shock 2-1 defeat against Kansas City Wizards but United responded by beating a MLS All-Stars team 5-2. Another defeat, this time 3-2, came against Mexicans Guadalaraja in a match played as part of the Javier Hernandez deal before Sir Alex Ferguson's men returned to British shores to open up the Aviva Stadium at Landsdowne Road in Dublin with a 7-1 thrashing of a League of Ireland team. Finally, United collected the 2010-11 season's first piece of domestic silverware with a comfortable 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley.
Prediction: Champions
When Sir Alex Ferguson took over Manchester United almost 24 years ago, the club had not won the league championship for 18 years. Indeed, in that time, the Red Devils had even made a brief visit to the old Second Division and they stood on a total of seven championships. Their total was dwarfed by Liverpool's achievement of 18 titles. And, although it took Ferguson six years to win his first crown, his stated aim has always been to overhaul the Reds' record. Now, having built and re-built a series of teams, the Red Devils and the Reds are level on 18-a-piece, just as they were at the start of last season when Chelsea proved too strong. But, this season, the signing of Javier Hernandez has added more fizz to the attack while the likes of Nani and Anderson are another year older and wiser. With Liverpool still in transition, United seem unlikely to pass up the chance to take a 19-18 lead sooner rather than later.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
The Magpies - St James Park, Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4ST. Capacity 52,387
Last season: 1st (promoted from the Championship), FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: UEFA (Fairs) Cup 1969
Manager: Chris Hughton (since June 2009)
Players In: James Perch, Sol Campbell, Dan Gosling
Players Out: Jonny Godsmark, Max Johnson, Michael McCrudden, Nicky Butt, Frank Danquah, Darren Lough, Wesley Ngo-Baheng, Callum Morris, Fabrice Pancrate
Pre-season form: Newcastle's patchy summer form began well enough with a 3-0 win at Carlisle United but that win in Cumbria was followed by a 2-1 defeat Norwich City on the following weekend. Two draws then followed - the first was an entertaining 2-2 at home to PSV on the first anniversary of the death of Sir Bobby Robson. The second match was a 0-0 stalemate in Spain against Deportivo La Coruna, although Newcastle beat their hosts 5-3 on penalties to take home the Teresa Herrara Cup, a trophy which makes up for its lack of importance with its actual size. A 2-1 defeat in Glasgow in Rangers left Newcastle with a record of won one, drawn two, lost two in their five games.
Prediction: 16th
Newcastle United are back after a one-season absence but Chris Hughton's men look unlikely to take the top-flight by storm with this worryingly thin squad. Despite a runaway Championship title success, United are lightweight up front and there is a huge burden on new No9 striker Andy Carroll to provide a consistent source goals to ensure survival as no one else looks capable. A slow central midfield and an error-prone defence also point to this being a long season at St James Park but there are reasons to be cheerful. Hughton seems to have engendered the best team spirit in years as Newcastle recovered from a humiliating 6-1 pre-season loss at Leyton Orient last season to remain unbeaten at home and win the league with six games to spare. Wingers Wayne Routledge and Jonas Gutierrez will give the Magpies chances on the break, while Newcastle's traditional problem position of centre-back might just be solved by a Sol Campbell-Fabricio Coloccini partnership. Indeed, that pairing could be the difference between survival and another painful relegation - the United defence will have to grind out some narrow results for Newcastle to have any chance.
STOKE CITY
The Potters - Britannia Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG. Capacity 27,740
Last season: 11th, FA Cup Quarter finals, League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1972
Manager: Tony Pulis (since June 2006)
Players In: Kenwyne Jones, Florent Cuvelier, Carlo Nash
Players Out: Andy Griffin, Rod McDonald, Steve Simonsen, Nathaniel Wedderburn, Amdy Faye
Out on loan: Diego Arismendi, Ibrahima Sonko, Louis Moult
Pre-season form: Stoke City began the summer with a 1-0 loss to Turkish team Bursaspor, played while they were at their training camp in Austria. A return to England resulted in some success with a 2-1 win over Nantwich Town and a 0-0 draw with Notts County as the Potters fielded two separate teams on the same day. A 6-0 win over Newcastle Town was followed by a 1-0 defeat against Derby County but Stoke did rather better against another Championship team, Burnley, winning 2-1. A busy schedule was completed with a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers and a 0-0 draw at Wrexham.
Prediction: 10th
Stoke City never looked in danger of falling foul to so-called second season syndrome as they easily secured a third successive season of top-flight football. Indeed, the Potters spent much of the back end of last season threatening a first top-half finish since 1980-81 and that now has to be a genuine aim of a team good enough to avoid the relegation scrap. The pairing of Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross at the back remains Stoke's main strength and they are effective enough to nullify City's distinct lack of goals. Stoke only scored 34 times in 38 league matches last season with just 10 on the road, the lowest of any team in the Premier League last season. But, thanks to the defence, the Potters still managed four away wins and there were also three 0-0s and four 1-1s in seven draws on the road. James Beattie may have now left for Rangers but a few goals from Ricardo Fuller and new signing Kenwyne Jones would go a long way to ensure a seemingly continuous improvement from Stoke.
SUNDERLAND
The Black Cats - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, SR5 1SU. Capacity 48,707
Last season: 13th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1973
Manager: Steve Bruce (since June 2009)
Players In: Marcos Angeleri, Simon Mignolet, Titus Bramble, John Mensah, Cristian Riveros, Ahmed Al-Muhammadi, Nedum Onuoha
Players Out: Kenwyne Jones, Lorik Cana, Daryl Murphy, Marton Fulop, Conor Hourihane, Jamie Chandler, Roy O'Donovan
Out on loan: Oumare Tounkara, Jean Yves M'voto, Nyron Nosworthy, Michael Liddle
Pre-season form: Sunderland started off their summer with a 1-0 win at Darlington before a trip to Portugal brought mixed results. First, they drew 1-1 with League One team Brighton & Hove Albion before a 4-2 beating of Hull City as Fraizer Campbell hit all four Sunderland goals. The Black Cats were brought back down to earth by a 2-0 loss to Benfica. Then, to complete an inconsisent set of results, a 2-1 win against Leicester City was followed by a 3-1 defeat in Germany to Hoffenheim.
Prediction: 13th
Sunderland's record signing Darren Bent was worth his weight in goals after he scored 24 times in the league in his first season at the Stadium of Light. Without the £10m man, the Black Cats would have struggled badly - indeed they still managed to go almost four months without a league win between November and March. But a good start to the season and a decent end ensured Sunderland would finish in lower mid-table and they recorded more than 40 points for only the third time in nine Premier League seasons. Bent scored exactly half of the club's league goals last term but, with Danny Welbeck now signed from Manchester United, this is far from the Wearsiders' most pressing problem. The defence remains suspect and it is hard to see how the unnerving presence of Titus Bramble will greatly improve it. Meanwhile, Craig Gordon broke his arm in pre-season training and Martin Fulop has signed for Ipswich leaving Bruce scrambling for an experienced goalkeeper. All in all, it could be another frustrating season for the Black Cats' fans.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs - White Hart Lane, Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 0AP. Capacity 36,230
Last season: 4th, FA Cup Semi finals, League Cup Quarter finals
Last major trophy: League Cup 2008
Manager: Harry Redknapp (since October 2008)
Players In: Sandro Raniere
Players Out: Adel Taarabt, Lee Butcher, Sam Cox, Dorian Dervite, Jimmy Walker
Out on loan: John Bostock, David Button, Oscar Jansson
Pre-season form: Harry Redknapp bemoaned a pre-season schedule which saw Spurs play in Bournemouth, the United States, Portugal and at home twice. Spurs beat Bournemouth 4-0 before jetting off to the USA where they drew 0-0 with San Jose Earthquakes. In the New York Football Challenge which followed, Spurs did rather better than Manchester City in their two matches, beating the hosts New York Red Bulls 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with Sporting Lisbon. Redknapp's men were brought crashing back to earth with a 4-1 home defeat against Villarreal before there were two wins, away against Benfica (1-0) and at home to Fiorentina (3-2).
Prediction: 7th
After years and years of trying, Tottenham Hotspur finally reached the promised land of the top four. The 2009-10 season was Spurs' first appearance in the top four since 1989-90 and, provided they overcome Young Boys Berne in the qualifier, they will contest the European Cup for the first time since 1961-62. These are exciting times to be a Tottenham fan and Harry Redknapp has developed a stylish side capable of tearing apart opponents at will. Spurs even seemed to have overcome a mental block after beating Arsenal and Chelsea for the first time in years in consecutive matches at the back end of the season. Then, they went on to beat Manchester City in what was effectively a playoff for fourth place. But City have splashed the cash again this summer and Liverpool will surely not play as badly again. With so many matches for an admittedly impressive squad, Spurs may find that staying in the top four was even harder than getting there in the first place.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
The Baggies - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, B71 4LF. Capacity 26,484
Last season: 2nd (promoted from the Championship), FA Cup 5th round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1968
Manager: Roberto di Matteo (since June 2009)
Players In: Nicky Shorey, Boaz Myhill, Gabriel Tamas, Pablo Ibanez, Stephen Reid
Players Out: Jonathan Greening, Joss Labadie, Filipe Texeira, Robert Koren, Andwele Slory
Out on loan: Luke Daniels, Marcus Haber, Borja Valero
Pre-season form: There was no clear pattern from West Brom's pre-season results with three wins, two draws and two defeats from seven matches. The Baggies kicked off with two wins, 3-0 at Kidderminster Harriers and 2-1 in Holland against VVV Venlo. Then, two 1-0 defeats to Crewe Alexandra and Doncaster Rovers sandwiched a win by the same score over Bristol Rovers. Finally, there were two 1-1 draws - away at Coventry City and at home against Osasuna.
Prediction: 18th
West Bromwich Albion boinged back into the Premier League with a fourth promotion in nine years. The Baggies are the very definition of a yo-yo club and, without further investment in the quality of the squad, that trend looks set to continue. At least manager Roberto di Matteo retained the services of the impressive Graham Dorrans after interest from West Ham United. But di Matteo has not seemed to realise that it is usually a lack of goals from the strikers which lets down the Baggies again and again as none of the summer signings looks to have rectified this. West Brom were regarded as playing too prettily to survive in their last attempt under Tony Mowbray. However, di Matteo has instilled an uncompromising attitude in his players which allowed them to see off the challenge of Nottingham Forest for the second automatic spot last season. But, ultimately, a failure to find more goals will mean the Baggies are fighting yet another losing battle for top flight survival.
WEST HAM UNITED
The Hammers - Boleyn Ground, Green Street, Upton Park, London, E13 9AZ. Capacity 35,303 Last season: 17th, FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1980
Manager: Avram Grant (since June 2010)
Players In: Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid, Frederic Piquionne, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Tal Ben Haim
Players Out: Bondz N'Gala, Josh Payne, Guillermo Franco, Ilan Out on loan: Matt Fry
Pre-season form: West Ham went through their summer matches unbeaten, starting with a 2-1 win over Peterborough United. This was followed by a tour of Germany which featured a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach and a 1-0 win over Greek side Panathinaikos. Back in England, the wins kept coming with successes against MK Dons (2-0) and Ipswich Town (1-0) before a 1-1 draw with Southend United. The Hammers finished their summer programme with another draw, 0-0 at home against Deportivo La Coruna - though, like Newcastle, they also beat the Spaniards 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out.
Prediction: 15th
Gianfranco Zola inevitably paid the price for West Ham United's woeful 2009-10 season in which they stayed up only because of the sheer awfulness of the bottom three. The Hammers earned just 35 points during the last campaign which was played out against the backdrop of an estimated £90m of debt. The money problems remain but former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss Avram Grant seems a more able candidate to deal with the situation. Indeed, after his troubleshooting at Pompey, this should seem to him like a walk in the park. Over the summer, Grant has brought Frederic Piquionne with him from Fratton Park but the striker's inconsistency is bound to annoy the Boleyn Ground regulars. Instead, Grant - who perhaps deserves a little luck after last season - will hope Carlton Cole retains his fitness this year.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
The Latics - DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Robin Park, Wigan, WN5 0UH. Capacity 25,133
Last season: 16th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy: None
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since June 2009)
Players In: Mauro Boselli, Ronnie Stam, James McArthur, Antolin Alcaraz, Ali Al-Habsi
Players Out: Titus Bramble, Tomasz Cywka, Tomasz Kupisz, Mario Melchiot, Rachid Bouaouzan, Olivier Kapo, Richard Kingson, Nicolas Meace, Paul Scharner
Out on loan: Antonio Amaya, Jason Koumas, Jonathan Routledge
Pre-season form: Wigan began their preparations in Sweden with a 3-2 win over Ostersunds FK before returning to Lancashire for a 1-1 draw at Oldham Athletic. This was followed by further trips to Slovenia, where Wigan beat hosts Rudar Velenje 4-1, and Turkey where a 0-0 draw with Genclerbirligi was played out. The Latics' only home match of pre-season finished 3-1 to Real Zaragoza but then Martinez's men won their final friendly of the summer at Dundee United by the same score.
Prediction: 19th
Wigan Athletic begin a remarkable sixth consecutive Premier League campaign but there are real fears that run will end with relegation next May. A worrying 79 goals ended in the Wigan Athletic net last season, including 17 in two visits to London as the Latics lost 9-1 to Tottenham Hotspur and 8-0 to Chelsea. A repeat of that performance will give Roberto Martinez's men no chance to survive as the bottom three are unlikely to be as weak this time around. The loss of Titus Bramble to Sunderland hardly helps the situation at the back although the Latics are still capable of pulling off extraordinary results with the likes of Hugo Rodellega up front. But Charles N'Zogbia looks set to be next out of the door and he is an attacking talent which Martinez can ill-afford to lose if he is to cover up the horribly leaky defence.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Wolves - Molineux, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR. Capacity 29,195
Last season: 15th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1980
Manager: Mick McCarthy (since July 2006)
Players In: Stephen Fletcher, Stephen Hunt, Steven Mouyokolo, Jelle van Damme, Adlene Guedioura, Geoffrey Mujangi Bia
Players Out: Andrew Surman, Chris Iwelumo, Jason Shackell, Kyle Bennett, Daniel Jones, George Friend, Mark Little
Out on loan: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Sam Vokes
Pre-season form: Wolves began their summer preparations with three successive wins - 3-0 against Bohemians in Ireland, 4-0 at Walsall and 2-1 in Belgium against RSC Charleroi. After returning from the trip, McCarthy's men fell out of form, losing two consecutive games to Championship clubs - Reading (1-2) and Leeds United (1-3). A 2-0 away win against Hearts was indeed heartening, as was a 2-1 win over Real Zaragoza at the only summer match at Molineux.
Prediction: 17th
Manager Mick McCarthy opted for a pragmatic approach to survival last season - and it worked. This season, Wolverhampton Wanderers will contest consecutive campaigns of top flight football for the first time since 1981-82. McCarthy fell foul of the Premier League rules when he sent a supposedly weakened team to Old Trafford in December. Wolves lost 3-0 to Manchester United and, rather ridiculously, were fined as the Premier League set a dangerous precedent of interfering with team selection. The decision riled McCarthy but he could feel vindicated after Wolves then beat Burnley in the next match to set up a second half of the season in which the Old Gold comfortably reached safety. However, Wolves still only managed a point per game and they scored just 32 goals all season in the league. McCarthy hopes the £6.5m signing of Steven Fletcher from Burnley will ease Kevin Doyle's workload but another goal drought could lead to a tougher dogfight this term.
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