The Premier League 2012/13

ARSENAL
The Gunners - Emirates Stadium, Ashburton Road, Islington, London, N5 1BU. Capacity 60,362
Last season: 3rd, FA Cup 5th round, League Cup Quarter finals, Champions League Last 16
Last major trophy: FA Cup 2005
Manager: Arsene Wenger (since October 1996)
Players In: Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud, Santi Cazorla
Players Out: Robin van Persie, Carlos Vela, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Kyle Barley, Rhys Murphy, Gavin Hoyte, Manuel Almunia, Pedro Botehlo, Denilson, Ryo Miyaichi, Joel Campbell, Benik Afobe
Pre-season form:
14.07 v Anderlecht (N) W1-0
14.07 v Southampton (A) D1-1
24.07 v Malaysia XI (A) W2-1
27.07 v Manchester City (N) L0-2
29.07 v Kitchee (A) (FE) D2-2
12.08 v Koln (A) W4-0
Prediction: 4th
Rinse and repeat. Last summer, gloom descended on the Emirates following the departures of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal subsequently made their worst start to a season since 1958 - a start which included a humiliating 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford. But, after Christmas, Arsenal were a different beast and a remarkable recovery saw them ease into third. Much of that was down to the goals of Robin van Persie - but the Dutchman has upped sticks and left for Manchester United on the season's eve leaving the Gunners' chances dependant on new strike pairing £11m Lukas Podolski and £13 Olivier Giroud adapting immediately. Another tough test for Arsene Wenger awaits.

ASTON VILLA
The Villains - Villa Park, Trinity Road, Birmingham, B6 6HE. Capacity 42,785
Last season: 16th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1996
Manager: Paul Lambert (since June 2012)
Players In: Brett Holman, Karim El Ahmadi, Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar
Players Out: Emile Heskey, Carlos Cuellar, James Collins
Pre-season form:
14.07 v Burton Albion (A) L1-2
18.07 v Philadelphia Union (A) W1-0
21.07 v Chicago Fire (A) W1-0
24.07 v Portland Timbers (A) D2-2 (won 5-4 on pens)
01.08 v Peterborough United (A) W2-0
04.08 v Nottingham Forest (A) L1-3
11.08 v Werder Bremen (A) D3-3
Prediction: 10th
Aston Villa acted quickly following a truly awful 2011-12 season, which brought just seven wins and 38 points. The dour Alex McLeish was dumped and Paul Lambert became the third manager in the last two years since Martin O'Neill left. The hope from Villa fans, then, is that the former Norwich man provides their club with some much-needed stability as well as making them rather more exciting to watch. That is easier said than done when your main striker is Darren Bent, who is hardly famed for his all-round team play. But, having said that, Villa should not struggle as much as they did last year, and it can only surely happen to be more fun. This is very much a work in progress for Lambert, though.

CHELSEA
The Blues - Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS. Capacity 41,798
Last season: 6th, FA Cup Winners, League Cup Quarter finals, Champions League Winners
Last major trophies: Champions League 2012 and FA Cup 2012
Manager: Roberto Di Matteo (since March 2012)
Players In: Marko Marin, Eden Hazard, George Brady, Thorgan Hazard, Oscar
Players Out: Didier Drogba, Jose Bosingwa, Salomon Kalou, Marko Mitrovic, Rhys Taylor
Pre-season form:
18.07 v Seattle Sounders (A) W4-2
22.07 v Paris Saint-Germain (N) D1-1
25.07 v MLS All-Stars XI (A) L2-3
28.07 v AC Milan (N) L0-1
04.08 v Brighton & Hove Albion (A) L1-3
12.08 v Manchester City (N) L2-3
Prediction: 3rd
Chelsea took three-and-a-half weeks after their Champions League final victory to confirm the permanent installation of Roberto di Matteo as manager. The delay spoke volumes - no one expected that, following the somewhat acrimonious departure of Andre Villas-Boas, di Matteo would do quite so well and carry off a glorious Cup double. At the same time, though, league form took a dive and the Blues finished 6th, their lowest placing for 10 years. The last thing that Roman Abramovich wants is for Chelsea to become a glorified cup team while the two Manchester clubs dominate the Premier League. As a result, Di Matteo will be under pressure straight away to prove his doubters in the league wrong. A return to form by Fernando Torres would help him out, of course.

EVERTON
The Toffees - Goodison Park, Goodison Road, Liverpool, L4 4EL. Capacity 39,571
Last season: 7th, FA Cup Semi finals, League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1995
Manager: David Moyes (since March 2002)
Players In: Steven Naismith, Steven Pienaar
Players Out: Jack Rodwell, Tim Cahill, Joseph Yobo, Marcus Hahnemann, James McFadden, Femi Orenuga, Aristote Nsiala, Adam Forshaw, James Wallace, Joao Silva
Pre-season form:
14.07 v Morecambe (A) W4-1
19.07 v Dundee United (A) W1-0
21.07 v Motherwell (A) D1-1
05.08 v Blackpool (A) L0-2
08.08 v AEK Athens (H) W4-1
11.08 v Malaga (A) L0-1
Prediction: 8th
Another year, another surge in the second half of the season - if only Everton could begin the season well, then they would regularly challenge for a top four placing. Nevertheless, a sixth top-seven finish in the last eight years is not to be sniffed at, and there was actually no secret to the Toffees' rise up the table last time. January brought the arrival of Nikola Jelavic from crisis-torn Rangers and the return on loan of Steven Pienaar from Tottenham Hotspur. Pienaar has joined on a permanent basis this summer, giving David Moyes's side a settled look - could this be the year they finally begin well?

FULHAM
The Cottagers - Craven Cottage, Stevenage Road, London, SW6 6HH. Capacity 25,700
Last season: 9th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 3rd round, Europa League Group stage
Last major trophy: None
Manager: Martin Jol (since June 2011)
Players In: Mladen Petric, Sascha Riether, Hugo Rodallega
Players Out: Andy Johnson, Danny Murphy, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Orlando Sa, Marcel Gecov, Dickson Etuhu, Bjorn Helge Riise
Pre-season form:
15.07 v HB Koge (N) D0-0
18.07 v Lokomotiv Leipzig (A) W4-0
21.07 v Kaiserslautern (A) D2-2
28.07 v Wycombe Wanderers (A) W3-0
04.08 v Nice (A) W4-0
07.08 v Milton Keynes Dons (A) W1-0
11.08 v Charlton Athletic (H) L1-2
Prediction: 16th
Fulham have become a staple fixture in the Premier League - indeed, this is the Cottagers' 11th successive top-flight season. But, while recent years have been characterised by an increasingly comfortable mid-table status, this coming campaign looks like being the Londoners' toughest for some time. Andy Johnson and Danny Murphy have made for the exit door, and Clint Dempsey looks almost certain to follow. Meanwhile, Fulham were disappointed when Pavel Pogrebnyak - who impressed in the second half of last season - opted to join the Russian backers at Reading. Martin Jol has brought in Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega to try and plug the gap up front but neither of them are well-known for their consistency.

LIVERPOOL
The Reds - Anfield, Anfield Road, Liverpool, L4 0TH. Capacity 45,276
Last season: 8th, FA Cup Runners-up, League Cup Winners
Last major trophy: League Cup 2012
Manager: Brendan Rodgers (since June 2012)
Players In: Joe Allen, Fabio Borini
Players Out: Dirk Kuyt, Craig Bellamy, Alberto Aquilani, Maxi Rodriguez, Fabio Aurelio
Pre-season form:
21.07 v Toronto (A) D1-1
25.07 v Roma (N) L1-2
28.07 v Tottenham Hotspur (N) D0-0
02.08 v Gomel (A) W1-0
09.08 v Gomel (H) W3-0 (won 4-0 on aggregate) [Europa League qualifier]
12.08 v Bayer Leverkusen (H) W3-1
Prediction: 7th
Another revolution at Anfield - though the new boss Brendan Rodgers at least seems to have more idea of Liverpool's current standing in the game than the delusional 'King Kenny'. Dalglish may have delivered a first trophy for six years with victory over Cardiff City on penalties in the League Cup final - but he also oversaw the Reds' worst league finish since 1954 and a racism row surrounding Luis Suarez which he played all wrong. It has hardly been plain sailing for Rodgers already with his apparent rejection of £35m man Andy Carroll. But an early competitive victory in the Europa League, with goals from Steve Gerrard and new signing Fabio Borini, should help Rodgers get a fair hearing from an increasingly frustrated Anfield faithful. 

MANCHESTER CITY
The Blues - Etihad Stadium, SportCity, Manchester, M11 3FF. Capacity 47,405
Last season: Champions, FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup Semi finals, Champions League Group stage, Europa League Last 16
Last major trophy: Premier League 2011-12
Manager: Roberto Mancini (since December 2009)
Players In: Jack Rodwell
Players Out: Owen Hargreaves, Gai Assulin, Stuart Taylor, Wayne Bridge, Ahmed Benali, Greg Cunningham, Vladimir Weiss
Pre-season form:
13.07 v Al-Hilal (N) L0-1
17.07 v Dynamo Dresden (N) D0-0
20.07 v Besiktas (N) W2-0
27.07 v Arsenal (N) W2-0
30.07 v Malaysia XI (A) W3-1
04.08 v VfL Wolfsburg (A) W2-0
05.08 v Limerick (A) W4-0
12.08 v Chelsea (N) W3-2
Prediction: Champions
It has been a quiet summer at Eastlands following a first league title win in 44 years - only Jack Rodwell has arrived from Everton to add yet another option to an already jam-packed midfield. But, while Roberto Mancini has decided that his lack of spending in the summer translates to his rivals overtaking Manchester City in the title race, the Blue Moon club simply must start as favourites considering that midfield and the twin goal threats of Sergio Aguero and a re-energised Carlos Tevez. Matters are less certain in defence - for, although Vincent Kompany marshalled the meanest back-line in the Premier League last season, his absence on a few occasions was keenly felt as Stefan Savic failed to convince. However, Kompany is a reliable captain, he can be expected to play most weeks, and Man City's all-round squad should deliver a second title for the fans to celebrate wildly - even if it is not won quite as dramatically this time.

MANCHESTER UNITED
The Red Devils - Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, M16 0RA. Capacity 75,765
Last season: Runners-up, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup Quarter finals, Champions League Group stage, Europa League Last 16
Last major trophy: Premier League 2010-11
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson (since November 1986)
Players In: Robin van Persie, Nick Powell, Shinji Kagawa
Players Out: Richie De Laet, Matty James, Oliver Norwood, Paul Pogba, Tomasz Kuszczak, Michael Owen, Park Ji-Sung, Fabio da Silva, Ben Amos
Pre-season form:
18.07 v AmaZulu (A) W1-0
21.07 v Ajax Cape Town (A) D1-1
25.07 v Shanghai Shenhua (A) W1-0
05.08 v Valerenga (A) D0-0
08.08 v Barcelona (N) D0-0 (lost 0-2 on pens)
11.08 v Hannover (A) W4-3
Prediction: Runners-up
Sir Alex Ferguson sent a real signal of intent across Manchester right on the eve of the new season by welcoming Robin van Persie to Old Trafford. Having blown an eight point lead with six games left, and lost the title in the dying moments of the campaign, Ferguson feels that his attack will make the difference on this occasion. It is not hard to see why - between them, van Persie and Wayne Rooney hit 57 Premier League goals last season - but Ferguson must also be aware of the weaknesses in other areas in his side. The lack of creativity in midfield resulted in the surprise return of Paul Scholes though there are high hopes that Shinji Kagawa could help out on that front. But that still does not solve a further problem at centre-back where Nemanja Vidic is returning from injury, Rio Ferdinand is starting to look his age, and Phil Jones and Jonny Evans still have much to prove.

NEWCASTLE UNITED
The Magpies - St James Park, Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4ST. Capacity 52,405
Last season: 5th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy: UEFA (Fairs) Cup 1969
Manager: Alan Pardew (since December 2010)
Players In: Romain Amalfitano, Gael Bigirimana, Curtis Good, Vurnon Anita
Players Out: Leon Best, Fraser Forster, Danny Guthrie, Tamas Kadar, Ryan Donaldson, Alan Smith, Peter Lovenkrands
Pre-season form:
13.07 v Chemnitzer (A) L0-1
16.07 v AS Monaco (N) W1-0
21.07 v Fenerbahce (N) D1-1
27.07 v Olympiakos (N) D1-1 (drew 4-4 on pens)
28.07 v Braga (A) W2-1
04.08 v ADO Den Haag (A) D0-0
07.08 v Hartlepool United (A) W5-1
11.08 v Cardiff City (A) L1-4
Prediction: 6th
Alan Pardew arrived at St James Park under the darkest of clouds having replaced the harshly-sacked Chris Hughton in December 2010. But, after guiding the Magpies to a solid mid-table finish on their first season back after promotion, Pardew did brilliantly last season, and - buoyed by an unbeaten start of 11 games - Newcastle launched an unlikely assault on the Champions League which lasted until the final day. In the end, the Toon had to settle for the Europa League but it is still a welcome return to European competition after an absence of five years. The Newcastle team now has quality right through it - from Tim Krul in goal, Fabricio Coloccini at centre-back, Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye in midfield, and Senegal pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse up front. However, the depth of the squad remains an issue, particularly at centre-back, and there are genuine worries that the additional games abroad may stretch Newcastle to the very limit.

NORWICH CITY
The Canaries - Carrow Road Road, Norwich, NR1 1JE. Capacity 27,224
Last season: 12th, FA Cup 5th round, League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1985
Manager: Chris Hughton (since June 2012)
Players In: Steven Whittaker, Jacob Butterfield, Robert Snodgrass, Michael Turner, Sebastian Bassong
Players Out: Zak Whitbread, Aaron Wilbraham, Adam Drury, Andrew Crofts, Josh Dawkin, Matt Ball
Pre-season form:
21.07 v Hertha Berlin (A) L2-3
24.07 v Celtic (A) W1-0
28.07 v Peterborough United (A) W2-0
31.07 v Ajax Amsterdam (H) D1-1
03.08 v Milton Keynes Dons (A) D0-0
07.08 v Hull City (A) D0-0
11.08 v Borussia Moenchengladbach (H) L0-2
Prediction: 20th
The start of a new season is usually a time when even the most pessimistic fan has a morsel of hope that, this year, it might just be a little bit better than the last time. For Norwich fans, over the last three years, that hope was realised with the Canaries flying up the league in extraordinary fashion, winning two successive promotions and then finishing 12th on their return to the top flight. All of that occurred under the stewardship of Paul Lambert, however, and the Scotsman is no longer at Carrow Road having left in an attempt to rebuild Aston Villa. As such, the close season in Norwich has been dominated by negativity which only got worse when star player Grant Holt demanded to be put on the transfer list. It was a huge credit to new boss Chris Hughton, then, that he halted the Holt exit strategy by convincing the striker to sign a new three-year contract. While former Newcastle boss Hughton also has much work to do on the defence, keeping Holt was surely the only way that the Canaries were going to stay truly competitive at this level. Even then, it could still be a tough ask to keep the momentum from the last few years going.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Rangers - Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, London, W12 7PA. Capacity 18,439
Last season: 17th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1967
Manager: Mark Hughes (since January 2012)
Players In: Park Ji-Sung, Samba Diakite, David Hoilett, Andy Johnson, Robert Green, Ryan Nelsen, Fabio da Silva, Michael Dawson
Players Out: Bruno Perone, Peter Ramage, Danny Shittu, Danny Gabbidon, Gary Borrowdale, Fitz Hall, Lee Cook, Rowan Vine, Patrick Agyemang, Paddy Kenny, Akos Buzsaky, Heidar Helguson
Pre-season form:
18.07 v Sabah XI (A) W5-0
20.07 v Kelantan (A) W5-0
23.07 v Persebaya Surabaya (A) W2-1
31.07 v Wycombe Wanderers (A) W3-0
04.08 v Trabzonspor (N) D1-1
11.08 v FC Augsburg (A) D2-2
Prediction: 13th
After having just survived on the final day, Queens Park Rangers will be looking to this season as one in which they thrive. Discipline was perhaps Rangers' biggest problem last season with an unbelievable nine sendings-off, six of which were straight reds and four of which were for violent conduct. That, of course, included Joey Barton who put the club's top-flight status on a knife-edge on that final day for his assaults on Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany. Barton was banned for 12 games by the FA and looks unlikely to stay at Loftus Road as Mark Hughes attempts to stamp his own authority on the west Londoners. In have come experienced campaigners Ryan Nelsen, Andy Johnson and Robert Green while Hughes has also picked up Fabio da Silva and Park Ji-Sung from Old Trafford. Centre-back Michael Dawson was hastily added to the list after a second consecutive opening day horror show but QPR should be better than what they showed against Swansea in the long term. 

READING
The Royals - Madejski Stadium, Bennett Road, Reading, RG2 0FL. Capacity 24,197
Last season: Winners (promoted from the Championship), FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup 1st round
Last major trophy: None
Manager: Brian McDermott (since December 2009)
Players In: Chris Gunter, Garath McCleary, Danny Guthrie, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Nicky Shorey, Stuart Taylor, Adrian Mariappa
Players Out: Mathieu Manset, Michail Antonio, Joseph Mills, Andy Griffin, Brian Howard
Pre-season form:
14.07 v AFC Wimbledon (A) W7-0
21.07 v Quarteirense (A) D1-1
24.07 v Sheffield Wednesday (N) L0-2
27.07 v Olhanense (A) D1-1
04.08 v Bournemouth (A) D2-2
07.08 v Brighton & Hove Albion (A) D1-1
11.08 v Crystal Palace (H) W2-0
Prediction: 19th
Reading won their second Championship title in six years but it would be fair to say that the 2012 vintage, with 89 points, did not quite reach the heights of the 2006 winners, who achieved a record 106. Brian McDermott seems to have recognised this, and the ex-scout and youth team boss has been busy in the transfer market bringing in the likes of Chris Gunter and Garath McCleary from Nottingham Forest, and Danny Guthrie from Newcastle. Perhaps the coup of the summer, however, was the signing of Pavel Pogrebnyak who was previously expected to join Fulham where he had played in the second half of last season. Backed by the roubles of new owners, Thames Sport Investment, Reading were able to throw their weight around a bit, shelling out £6m on the Russian. However, McDermott will also have to find a way of stopping the goals or else it could all be in vain.

SOUTHAMPTON
The Saints - St Mary's Stadium, Britannia Road, Southampton, SO14 5FP. Capacity 32,689
Last season: Runners-up (promoted from the Championship), FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 4th round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1976
Manager: Nigel Adkins (since September 2010)
Players In: Jay Rodriguez, Steven Davis, Nathan Clyne, Paulo Gazzaniga
Players Out: Dan Harding, Aaron Martin, Radhi Jaidi, Lee Holmes, Bartosz Białkowski, David Connolly
Pre-season form:
14.07 v Anderlecht (H) L0-1
14.07 v Arsenal (H) D1-1
18.07 v Etoile Carouge (A) W4-1
21.07 v Evian (A) W1-0
28.07 v Ajax Amsterdam (H) L0-1
04.08 v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) W2-0
07.08 v Bristol City (A) D1-1
11.08 v Udinese (H) L0-4

Prediction: 9th
It has been a heck of a long journey but Southampton are finally back in the big time after a seven-year absence. Premier League football looked a long way off even as recently as 2009-10 when Saints, having been relegated to League One, were given a 10-point penalty for entering administration. Under Alan Pardew, though, Southampton played well, winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley, and finishing seventh, which would have been fifth without the deduction. Though Pardew then departed early in the next campaign, Nigel Adkins has picked up where he left off and successive second places have got Southampton to where they are now - back in the top-flight. Jay Rodriguez is the big summer signing - costing £7m from Burnley - and it is hoped that he and Rickie Lambert will step up from the lower divisions and fire enough goals to keep Southampton in the elite. In light of the recent successes of Andy Carroll and Grant Holt, that looks highly achievable though a baptism of fire awaits on the first weekend when the Saints take on champions Manchester City away.

STOKE CITY
The Potters - Britannia Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG. Capacity 27,740
Last season: 14th, FA Cup Quarter finals, League Cup 4th round, Europa League Last 32
Last major trophy: League Cup 1972
Manager: Tony Pulis (since June 2006)
Players In: Geoff Cameron, Michael Kightly, Jamie Ness
Players Out: Danny Collins, Jonathan Woodgate, Louis Moult, Salif Diao, Ricardo Fuller, Tom Soares, Andrew Davies
Pre-season form:
19.07 v Sion (A) W1-0
24.07 v Columbus Crew (A) L1-2
28.07 v Orlando City (A) W1-0
01.08 v Sporting Kansas City (A) D1-1
06.08 v Torquay United (A) D1-1
07.08 v Yeovil Town (A) D1- 1
10.08 v Greuther Furth (A) D1-1
Prediction: 12th
Stoke City are the great pretenders of the Premier League, still conveying the perception of the plucky underdog successfully, despite spending more than £60m in the last five years, the third highest in the division. True, the squad which got promoted in 2007-08 needed an overhaul to make it competitive, and equally true, the money can be seen to some extent as well-spent with the Potters having since reached an FA Cup Final and taken part in European competition. However, last season effectively finished in March with a quarter final exit in the FA Cup to Liverpool, and it showed as Stoke won just one more game all season to finish down in 14th. Another disappointment is that, for all the money that has been spent, Stoke have persisted with their long-ball tactics. According to Opta, the Potters had an average of just 39% of the ball in their matches last season, less than any other team, while their total of long throws - 522 - was 243 more than any other side. Indeed, it feels as if few would shed a tear, were Stoke ever to struggle in the top flight. For now, though, Tony Pulis's men should be safe.

SUNDERLAND
The Black Cats - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, SR5 1SU. Capacity 48,707
Last season: 13th, FA Cup Quarter finals, League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1973
Manager: Martin O'Neill (since December 2011)
Players In: Carlos Cuellar, Louis Saha, Steven Fletcher
Players Out: Craig Gordon, Cristian Riveros, George McCartney, Asamoah Gyan, Jordan Cook, Marcos Angeleri, Michael Turner
Pre-season form:
19.07 v Seongnam (A) L0-1
22.07 v Groningen (N) W3-2
27.07 v Hartlepool United (A) L0-1
04.08 v Helsingborgs (A) L0-2
08.08 v Derby County (A) D1-1
11.08 v Leicester City (A) L0-1
Prediction: 11th
Sunderland crashed and burned at the start of last season as the Steve Bruce reign ended on an inevitable low note with a horrible home defeat against Wigan. In came Martin O'Neill, a boyhood fan, who was able to steer the Black Cats away from real trouble by just after Christmas. A promising FA Cup run followed but that was brought to a shuddering halt in the quarter finals by Everton, and Sunderland finished the season without a win from their last nine matches. Goals were the main problem - the Mackems managed only 45 in the league, fewer than relegated Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers - so it is no surprise to see O'Neill invest in the forward line. In has come 34-year-old Louis Saha, and the Black Cats are also on the trail of Steven Fletcher from Wolves who are demanding £15m. That strikes me as a little expensive for someone of Fletcher's quality but, should he sign, his goals would push Sunderland a bit higher than their underwhelming 13th-placed finish last year.

SWANSEA CITY
The Swans - Liberty Stadium, Morfa, Swansea, SA1 2FA. Capacity 20,745
Last season: 11th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy: None
Manager: Michael Laudrup (since June 2012)
Players In: Jose Manuel Flores 'Chico', Miguel Perez Cuesta 'Michu', Kyle Bartley, Jonathan de Guzman, Itay Shechter
Players Out: Joe Allen, Ferrie Bodde, Joe Walsh, Casey Thomas, Scott Donnelly
Pre-season form:
21.07 v Port Talbot Town (A) W5-0
25.07 v Colorado Rapids (A) L1-2
28.07 v Ventura County Fusion (A) W1-0
31.07 v San Jose Earthquakes (A) D2-2
07.08 v Blackpool (H) W4-2
11.08 v VfB Stuttgart (H) D3-3
Prediction: 17th
It has been all-change again at Swansea with Brendan Rodgers seduced by the bright lights of Anfield but it can be guaranteed that the south Wales club are not about to change their style for anyone. Rodgers may have caught the eye of the Reds on Merseyside but it could be said that he was merely continuing an already-defined pattern of play set up by his predecessors Roberto Martinez and Paulo Sousa. New man Michael Laudrup, as a famous playmaker, is hardly going to reduce the emphasis on possession football in his first managerial assignment in England - but there are still question marks over whether this great Dane can add a cutting edge which was lacking from Swans at times in the last campaign. It might even come down to form at the Liberty Stadium again - Swansea took 31 of their 47 points at home last season.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spurs - White Hart Lane, Bill Nicholson Way, High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 0AP. Capacity 36,284
Last season: 4th, FA Cup Semi finals, League Cup 3rd round, Europa League Group stage
Last major trophy: League Cup 2008
Manager: Andre Villas-Boas (since July 2012)
Players In: Jan Vertonghen, Gylfi Sigurðsson
Players Out: Ben Alnwick, Ledley King, Ryan Nelsen, Vedran Corluka, Niko Kranjcar, Steven Pienaar, Louis Saha, Michael Dawson, Sebastian Bassong
Pre-season form:
18.07 v Stevenage (A) W2-0
24.07 v Los Angeles Galaxy (A) D1-1
28.07 v Liverpool (N) D0-0
31.07 v New York Red Bulls (A) W2-1
04.08 v Watford (A) W1-0
09.08 v Valencia (A) L0-2
Prediction: 5th
Never mind a winter of discontent, spring was the season when it all fell apart for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011-12. Indeed, right up until the end of February, Spurs were providing a refreshing alternative to the two Manchester clubs in the title race. But manager Harry Redknapp had his head turned by the vacant England job and then rivals Arsenal overturned a 2-0 deficit at the Emirates into a crushing 5-2 victory. Their other London rival, Chelsea, delivered another huge blow in a 5-1 loss in the FA Cup semi final, and it felt as if nothing could halt the slide when defeats to Norwich and Queens Park Rangers left Spurs uncertain even of a top-four finish. Ultimately, three wins out of their last four league games did confirm fourth place - but then Chelsea crushed Spurs' dreams again by knocking them out of the Champions League with an extraordinary victory in the Final of the competition itself. Perhaps only Champions League football would have kept Spurs and Redknapp together but the absence of this led chairman Daniel Levy to opt for change, and to bring in Andre Villas-Boas. The Portuguese has a huge point to prove after his premature sacking from Stamford Bridge last season but, having suffered badly from player discontent there, he has already had his struggles with Luka Modric at White Hart Lane this summer. Consequently, it remains hard to tell just how happy the ship is at Spurs heading into the new season, and there is a worry that Villas-Boas' reign could start in underwhelming fashion.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION
The Baggies - The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, B71 4LF. Capacity 26,445
Last season: 10th, FA Cup 4th round, League Cup 3rd round
Last major trophy: FA Cup 1968
Manager: Steve Clarke (since June 2012)
Players In: Ben Foster, Yassine El Ghanassy, Markus Rosenberg, Romelu Lukaku
Players Out: Joe Mattock, Somen Tchoyi, Nicky Shorey, Keith Andrews, Marton Fulop, Paul Scharner, Simon Cox
Pre-season form:
19.07 v Malmo (A) L0-1
25.07 v Copenhagen (A) W3-0
28.07 v Barnsley (A) D0-0
04.08 v Sheffield Wednesday (A) D1-1
07.08 v Walsall (A) W3-1
10.08 v Nottingham Forest (A) W2-0
Prediction: 18th
West Brom became the victims of their own relative success at the end of last season when the FA, having rejected the advances of Harry Redknapp without even an interview, came a-knocking for manager Roy Hodgson to lead the national team to Euro 2012 and beyond. Into the breach at the Hawthorns has stepped Steve Clarke who joins the club having been an assistant manager at Newcastle, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool. However, the step up from coaching a team to leading it tactically is notoriously tough and Clarke threatens to become latest in a long list of assistants who have failed as the main boss. An improvement in home form must be seen as a priority as West Brom took only 21 of their 47 points at the Hawthorns last season. But, with Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie likely to remain the main source of threat, hitting teams on the break - either at home or on the road - will surely remain the Baggies' best tactic.

WEST HAM UNITED
The Hammers - The Boleyn Ground, Green Street, Upton Park, London, E13 9AZ. Capacity 35,016
Last season: 3rd (promoted from the Championship via the playoffs), FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup 1st round
Last major trophy: League Cup 1981
Manager: Sam Allardyce (since June 2011)
Players In: Stephen Henderson, Juusi Jaaskelainen, Mohamed Diame, Modibo Maiga, George McCartney, James Collins, Alou Diarra
Players Out: John Carew, Abdoulaye Faye, Julien Faubert, Papa Bouba Diop, Frank Nouble, Robert Green, Freddie Sears, Peter Kurucz
Pre-season form:
07.07 v Austria Vienna (A) L1-3
10.07 v Boreham Wood (A) D0-0
14.07 v Southend United (A) W3-0
17.07 v Oxford United (A) L0-1
21.07 v Colchester United (A) W2-1
25.07 v FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt (A) W3-0
27.07 v Dynamo Dresden (A) L0-3
29.07 v Energie Cottbus (A) D2-2
04.08 v Ipswich Town (A) L1-3
10.08 v Braga (A) D1-1
Prediction: 14th
West Ham ensured their stay outside of the top-flight was no longer than a single season but they did it the hard way and in a pragmatic style under Sam Allardyce at odds to their traditional values. Even as late as March, the half-time whistle in a dour, goalless encounter at Peterborough was greeted with a chorus of "We play on the floor, we play on the floor; We're West Ham United, we play on the floor" - and it did appear as if Allardyce's side was going to blow it after a sequence of five consecutive home draws in February and March. In the end, the Hammers finally started playing just in time, and carried a six-match unbeaten run into the playoffs where they beat Cardiff 5-0 over the two-legged semi final before Carlton Cole's late winner sealed a rather narrower success at Wembley against Blackpool. Allardyce could yet be in trouble if he loses the fans' support again but he should be able to steer this West Ham squad above at least three other teams.

WIGAN ATHLETIC
The Latics - DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Robin Park, Wigan, WN5 0UH. Capacity 25,133
Last season: 15th, FA Cup 3rd round, League Cup 2nd round
Last major trophy: None
Manager: Roberto Martinez (since June 2009)
Players In: Ivan Ramis, Ryo Miyaichi, Arouna Kone, Fraser Fyvie
Players Out: Hugo Rodellega, Chris Kirkland, Mohamed Diame, Steve Gohouri, Hendry Thomas
Pre-season form:
13.07 v Ostersunds FK (A) W1-0
24.07 v GW Micheldorf (A) W3-1
26.07 v Botev Plovdiv (N) D2-2
28.07 v Hoffenheim (A) D1-1
05.08 v Real Mallorca (H) L0-2
12.08 v Celta Vigo (A) L0-1
Prediction: 15th
Roberto Martinez's continued loyalty to the Latics is either admirable or foolhardy, or perhaps even both. Last summer, the Spaniard rejected the advance of Aston Villa to stay at the DW Stadium and, in hindsight, it looked as if he got that one right. Wigan not only climbed off the bottom of the table in time to secure a eighth consecutive top-flight season, but a final-day victory over already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers took them above the Villa into a finishing position of 15th. This summer, Martinez was offered an even more attractive proposition with speculation that he may end up in the Anfield dugout but again that ultimately came to nothing, and the 39-year-old manager must now get his head down and concentrate on his day job of keeping Wigan away from the trapdoor. Sadly, that remains the height of the ambition at this small club which has a tendency to lose any half decent player. For now, though, youngster Victor Moses is still with the club, and much will rely on him keeping up his scoring form. Meanwhile, Franco di Santo, who finished the season well, will also be one to watch.