Manchester United
Title odds - 5/1
Relegation odds - 1000/1
Last seasons finish - 7th
There will be no European nights at the theatre of dreams, for the 1st time in 25 years. Under David Moyes United struggled, and that's being kind. Knowing that the team needed strengthening, they were linked to big money players. A return for Cristiano Ronaldo, a move for Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas were all talked about. But in the end the only transfer was Marouane Fellaini who had played for Moyes at Everton. A £27.5 million fee was the price for the big Belgium midfielder, and he struggled to live up to that. With 12 goals in 36 the previous season, he failed to find the net once and poor form meant he only played 21 times in all competitions. With Robin Van Persie struggling for fitness he only managed 28 games scoring 18 times. That heaped the pressure on Wayne Rooney for goals and he got 19 in 40 games. With 12 defeats including rivals Liverpool and Manchester City doing the double over them, it was a season to forget. The only highlight for fans was Moyes being sacked with 4 games to go and club legend Ryan Giggs taking over as player manager. Experienced manager Louis Van Gaal will take over this season and has a major rebuild on his hands. With huge experience leaving the defence in Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, he must start the rebuild there. So far young Southampton left back has been brought in for £30 million, but he needs experienced players along side him, and Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera. Another task at hand for L.V.G is the futures of fringe players like, Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Nani, Tom Cleverly, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling among others. Could he be the man to get these players playing to their potential? Or does he cash in on them and buy much needed quality? With a rumoured £100 million plus to spend, expect a lot of transfer activity at Old Trafford.
Key players
David De Gea had a difficult start to life with Manchester United. But last season he ensured 7th was as bad as it got for United with some crucial saves. His performances were rewarded with the supporters and players voting him the clubs player of the season. He was also selected in the Spanish World Cup squad. At 23 he's still learning, but if United have a good season, De Gea will be one of the main reasons behind it.
Juan Mata was Chelsea's player of the season for the last 2 years. But the return of Jose Mourinho saw him drop down the pecking order. Moyes made him his 2nd and last transfer for £37 million. With 6 goals in 15, he might have had Jose wondering if he made the right choice. The type of player that Van Gaal likes he'll be a key player this season playing just behind the forwards.
Robin Van Persie was Van Gaal's captain during the World Cup in Brazil, and is strongly rumoured to take the armband at Old Trafford this season. The main goal threat for United, with 38 goals in 59 games, he'll be amongst the goals again this season. With fitness issues meaning he misses games, no European competitions this season might help his cause.
Young player to watch
Adnan Januzaj was one player to benefit under Moyes. Given his debut against Wigan in the community shield and made his Premiership debut a month later. He shot to fame with 2 goals to beat Sunderland 2-1 and became a main player for United. The fast footed winger gives defenders a headache and is a tricky player to defend against. One thing he'll have to change is his diving which earned him 3 yellow cards last season.
Prediction - 5th
Newcastle United
Title odds - 1000/1
Relegation odds - 8/1
Last seasons finish - 10th
It's been a busy summer at St James Park. Goals were hard to come by last season, with on loan Loic Remy being top scorer with 13. But Remy has now left, so forward Emmanuel Rivière has been brought in from Monaco to try get goals along with the out of form Papis Cisse. But to help the forwards, Newcastle have bought in some real quality attacking midfielders. Siem De Jong joins from Ajax who had 57 goals in 168 games along with Remy Cabbela who got 24 goals in 97 games for Montpellier. Alan Pardew will hope they get the same figures at Newcastle. Question marks constantly remain over captain Fabricio Coloccini future who is a vital cog in the Newcastle team. Debuchy has left to join Arsenal, but Holland international Daryl Janmaat who had an impressive World Cup joins and should be a great addition. With 7 defeats in 8 at the end of the season, and Alan Pardew being sent off for head butting Hull player David Meyler. Newcastle will hope this season starts better than the last one ended. Once again the core to the team will be the French players. With no fewer than 8 in the 1st team squad, but one of them players who seems to be on the way out is Hatem Ben Afra. A favourite of the fans, they will hope he stays, but Alan Pardew doesn't seem to think he needs him anymore.
Key players
Tim Krul is rated as one of the best keepers in the league, he's been Newcastle's number one for the past few seasons and many thought he might want a change. This summer saw him linked to big European clubs including both AC Milan and Inter Milan, but he's staying at St James Park for now. He made crucial saves throughout the season earning player of the month in November. Newcastle will hope he repeats his heroics of last season again.
Remy Cabella joins from Montpellier and has signed a 6 year deal. He was key when the French surprise package team won the title in 2012. An impressive showing last season saw him called up to the French World Cup squad as a late replacement. At 24 he has the best years ahead of him, Newcastle will hope he adapts to life in England fast.
Moussa Sissoko is a typical box to box midfielder, and is a key player for Newcastle. With his energy in midfield he can dictate the play. Not afraid to tackle and with pace to bomb forward, opposition players need to be on their game. He can be defending a set piece on the edge of his own box, then seconds later be putting the ball in the opponents net.
Young player to watch
Curtis Good could get a chance to impress in the centre of Newcastle's defence this season. At 21 the Australian international was unlucky that injury ruled him out of the World Cup. He'll be hoping that he's fit and pushing for a place in the 1st team come the start of the season.
Prediction - 7th
Q.P.R.
Title odds - 7500/1
Relegation odds - 2/1
Last seasons finish - 4th (championship)
Moneybags Q.P.R. were supposed to win the Championship title last season. Instead they struggled, and were forced to go through the agony of the play offs. Harry Redknapp said has he not got promotion he would have retired. But they are back in the big time, and will look to do better than their bottom placed finish last time around. They only managed to score 60 goals last season, that is something they need to improve on desperately. But with 17 goal top scorer Charlie Austin and Play off hero Bobby Zamora the only forwards at the club, they'll need to bring in more. With Loic Remy still at the club, but looking likely to leave, free agent Samuel Eto'o has been linked. But Eto'o will come with big wage demands, and after the mistake of playing big wages to players last time around, they'll think twice about it again. One area they have strengthened in is at defence, experienced Rio Ferdinand joins on a 1 year free, this could prove to be the signing of the season. But at 35, fitness issues surround him, can he play every game in a season that Q.P.R will desperately need him to?. Ferdinand will joined with a new defensive partner in Cardiff's captain Steven Caulker. The 1 capped England man will hope to learn from Ferdinand's years of experience at the top. A good season will rely heavily on how these to preform in the centre of defence.
Key players
Charlie Austin will be the main man upfront for 'arrys men. Top scorer for the club last season, there will be huge pressure on him for his 1st attempt at the big time. Linked with clubs including Arsenal before joining Q.P.R. he'll look to prove that the top level of English football is where he belongs.
Joey Barton took to twitter after Q.P.R. got relegated last time and said that there would be no chance of his playing in the Championship. So it was a bit of a surprise when he ended up being in the starting XI for their 1st league game last season. But he proved to be a vital player in the push for promotion, with bags of Premiership experience, he'll be key again. Hopefully for Q.P.R. this won't be the Joey Barton who in his last Premiership game got sent off against Man City. Also good news for England, he's out of international retirement...
Rio Ferdinand has been a top defender in the Premiership over 15 years. Being a key player for Man U making over 300 appearances winning 6 titles. Ryan Giggs said that he should be United's main centre back this season. His experience is second to none, he turned down big money moves to U.S.A and China to help out the manager who give him his 1st team chance at West Ham in 1996. With only a 1 year deal, a good season could see a new contract being offered.
Young player to watch
Matt Philips will look to use his pace against defenders this season. At 22 he's still learning his trade and will gain experience playing at the top level of English football. Keep an eye out of the Scottish international this season.
Prediction - 13th
Southampton
Title odds - 1250/1
Relegation odds - 13/2
Last seasons finish - 8th
You have to feel sorry for Southampton right now. Coming off the back of their best ever league finish, manager Mauricio Pochettino left to go to Tottenham, after a good season, 3 of their key English players got a call up to England's World Cup squad. This would have been 4, but Jay Rodriguez got injured. The 1st of them 3 players to leave was Rickie Lambert, joining Liverpool. Adam Lallana soon followed him to Anfield. Then teenage sensation Luke Shaw moved to Man United. This would be bad enough for any club, let alone a small team like Southampton. Seeing all these players leave has caused other players to question their futures at St Marys. Callum Chambers seems almost set to join Arsenal. Another player Morgan Schneiderlin could move to london, with Arsenal and Tottenham linked. Whilst main centre back Dejan Lovren has stated he'll go on strike if he doesn't get a move to Anfield. New manager Ronald Koeman is coming into a club having a mini crisis. But with all these sales, there is money to spend. Italian forward Pelle Graziano has come with him from Feyenoord. Whilst Dusan Tadic comes from FC Twente with a record of 28 goals in 66 games. With Koeman favouring a silk passing football game, the remaining players will be able to adapt fast to his philosophy of play. One player the Saints will look to is Victor Wanyama, a £12.5 million signing from Celtic last season will need to add steel to a midfield.
Key players
Jose Fonte was unlucky not to get an international call up for Portugal for the summers World Cup. He formed a great understanding with young Croatian defender Dejan Lovren. Club captain has been linked with a move to recently relegated Cardiff in recent weeks. But he has the talent to play at the top level and Southampton will really hope that the fans favourite stays.
Graziano Pelle had 50 goals in 57 games for Ronaldo Koeman at Feyenoord, so it was no surprise when he was his 1st buy as Southampton manager. Good scoring records in the Dutch league don't always mean the player will click with Premiership life. Southampton fans will hope he isn't their version of Alfonso Alves.
James Ward-Prowse has already played 50 times for the Southampton 1st team and is still only 19. During last season he played for under 19,20 and 21 level for England. Another quality player to come through the clubs youth academy will be key in replacing Adam Lallana this season.
Young player to watch
Sam Gallagher is a young forward who made an impression on the 1st team towards the end of last season, another youth academy graduate will look to get more 1st team chances this season. Recently switched his international choice from England to Scotland. It won't be long until he'll be in the full Scotland squad and pushing for a starting spot at club and country.
Prediction - 14th
Stoke
Title odds - 1000/1
Relegation odds - 10/1
Last seasons finish - 9th
Mark Hughes has done the impossible and got Stoke playing attractive football. Not only are they playing good football, but they sill have the 'bully boy' attitude that the bigger teams don't like. No team likes going to the Britannia Stadium, they beat Chelsea (3-2) Man United (2-1) and Arsenal (1-0) there last season. Stoke have bought well this summer so far. Make Biram Diouf scored 26 in 57 at Hannover 96, but he's remembered more for not getting a chance at Man United, so he has a point to prove in English football. Steve Sidwell and Phil Bardsley are experienced premiership players who will add something to the team. The biggest strength in Stokes armoury is the presence of their players, Charlie Adam, Robert Huth and Steven N'Zonzi are not afraid to put their weight about and intimidate the opposition. With Marko Arnautovic they have a real game changer who will look to fed the forwards. He can also grab a spectacular goal from time to time. The most exciting signing has to be Bojan from Barcelona, with 26 in 104 for Barca, he was tipped as the next Lionel Messi (some praise) and was capped by Spain at 18. But a few seasons away on loans, getting only 14 goals in 76 games at AC Milan, Roma and Ajax, the 23 year old will want to get his career back on track.
Asmir Begovic is always a wanted man by top European clubs in the summer. The keeper is one of the most consistent performers in the league. He has stated he is happy at Stoke. The Bosnian international is a great shot stopper and makes his defence at ease knowing that he's behind them. Sure to be a key player for Stoke again this season, and who knows he might score a goal again.
Peter Odemwingie started the season at Cardiff, but wasn't always 1st choice, he left in January and joined Stoke is a swap deal for Kenwyne Jones, whilst Jones failed at Cardiff, Odemwingie flourished, scoring 5 in 15, his good form saw him return to the Nigerian team for the World Cup. The quick forward who is a lethal finisher will look to keep Bojan and Diouf on the sidelines this season.
Steve Sidwell will look to forget about last season, relegated with Fulham he was one of the only players to come out of the season with any praise. A good ball winner in midfield, who is calm and at ease with the ball is an excellent signing for Stoke. A key factor to joining Stoke was their attractive style of play he stated and with Mark Hughes being another reason why. He'll hope this season doesn't end like the last.
Young player to watch
Dionatan Teixeira is a new signing from Slovakian side Dukla Banska Bystrica. The Slovakian under 21 international is strong and physical. Mark Hughes said Stoke had been monitoring him for awhile, and recently likened him to a former player of his Ryan Nelsen.
Prediction - 10th
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