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03
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ArsenalLast season 4th, 73 points
Is it trophies, or challenging for the title? Since May 2005,
when Arsenal last experienced that winning feeling with the
FA Cup, Arsenal fans have been caught in two minds. On one
hand, they want something to put in a trophy cabinet that has
been empty for eight long seasons. It’s not quite the great
drought of 1953-70, when Arsenal went 17 years without a
trophy – but then a season ticket to watch those Arsenal sides
probably wasn’t costing fans the princely sum it is now. Those
same supporters were also blissfully ignorant of the beautiful,
winning football to come in the Invincibles season of 2003-04.
On the other hand, the fans would desperately like to see
their team challenging for the league title. The 2007-08
season was the last time Arsenal came close to winning the
Premier League, spending two-thirds of the season at the top
of the table before Eduardo’s leg was horrifically snapped,
William Gallas went into a very public sulk and they finished
third. Should Arsenal accept that they’re now a team fighting
for Champions League qualification and place more focus on
cup wins? Or should they continue to fight the good fight
against the fatcats towering above them? The indecision,
with or without Luis Suarez, will almost certainly go on.
Keep an eye on...Olivier Giroud
The Frenchman netted 17
goals in all competitions
in his debut campaign –
a haul not quite matching
the prolific reputation he
brought with him from
Montpellier, but seven
in five games during pre-
season suggest his self-
proclaimed ‘magical’ left
foot could yet come into
its own. The Gunners
have lacked a clinical
front man since the
departure of Robin van
Persie – but if Giroud’s
form continues, they
might have finally
found their man.
If they were an animal...Peacock
Possesses all the frills
necessary to attract
new beaux, but
ultimately spends
too much of its time
strutting around
being ineffectual.
The stat
40Premier League points
amassed so far by
Arsenal in 2013 –
level with Manchester
United but more than
anyone else. They
clearly play better
with a deadline.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Aston Villa (h)
Saturday August 24
Fulham (a)
Sunday September 1
Tottenham (h)
Prediction
4th
The big issueWhat constitutes success?
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04
Gly
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Aston VillaLast season 15th, 41 points
Five wins and two draws from their last 10 games propelled
the Lambert Babes of Aston Villa to safety last season. A
campaign plagued by defensive nightmares and catastrophic
mistakes had been turned on its head as a squad full of
talented but inexperienced footballers found their feet,
under the greatest of pressure, in the nick of time.
So goes the theory, anyway – and this is the season when
that gets put to the test. In the aftermath of the great escape,
manager Paul Lambert has remained true to his policy of
investing in youth – of seven new faces to arrive this summer,
the Bulgarian midfielder Aleksandar Tonev is the oldest at an
almost geriatric 23. Danish international Jores Okore (21)
looks set to partner captain Ron Vlaar at the back, while
Antonio Luna (22) should usurp Joe Bennett at left back.
The adored former skipper Stiliyan Petrov has retired, but
competition for midfield places will be ramped up by the
arrival of Leandro Bacuna (21) from Groningen, and the return
from long-term injury of the hugely talented Gary Gardner.
Still, who are we kidding? The biggest news to come out of
Villa Park over the summer was the new contract signed by
Christian Benteke – the biggest and best kid of the lot.
Keep an eye on...Ron Vlaar
Brought in for £3.2m last
summer, Vlaar was the
rock upon whom Paul
Lambert wished to build
his defence – but calf
trouble ruled him out
between November and
January, and the Villa
rearguard fell apart
without him. Restored
to the team and given
the captain’s armband,
the Dutch international
ranks alongside popular
goalkeeper Brad Guzan
and Christian Benteke as
the players his manager
cannot do without. Even
if he is, at 28, far too old.
If they were an animal...Dolphin
Exuberant and fast
learner that responds
well to an appreciative
crowd. Communication
sometimes puzzling,
however, and regularly
all at sea.
The stat
1At the time of writing,
number of players in
the Villa squad over
the age of 30. And
that’s 37-year-old
Shay Given, whose
fat salary they can’t
wait to get rid of.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Arsenal (a)
Wednesday August 21
Chelsea (a)
Saturday August 24
Liverpool (h)
Prediction
10th
The big issueAre the kids really alright?
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05
Mic
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Cardiff CityLast season 1st (Championship), 87 points
Balls to that. The question really intriguing neutrals is does
Craig Bellamy still possess the roadrunner pace that he
weirdly kept into his thirties, despite a long history of knee
injuries? However, it isn’t the rapidity of their feisty star that
Cardiff supporters are concerned about. It’s more that,
despite winning the Championship by a comfortable eight
points, their team lacked a pure goalscorer (see stat on left).
Boss Malky Mackay has solved this problem by breaking the
club’s transfer record to spend £8m on 21-year-old Steven
Caulker: a defender. Oh. He has also spent over £7m on target
man Andreas Cornelius, but while the 6ft 4ins Dane netted 19
goals for Copenhagen last season, he’s just 20 years old and
has played fewer than 50 club games – it’s asking a lot for him
to be prolific in his debut season.
Instead, a team that came up playing functional football will
need to rely on supreme fitness and solidity, with captain Mark
Hudson the defensive rock alongside smooth-passing Caulker.
The club’s prized asset is the gaffer, however, cut from the
cloth of savvy Scottish motivators. With momentum, Mackay
in charge and vocal home fans relishing top-flight football,
Cardiff may have enough to make it to safety. Just about.
Keep an eye on...Kim Bo-Kyung
Cardiff may lack silks, as
kids today express it, but
South Korean attacking
midfielder Kim began
to showcase his skills at
the end of last season.
The 23-year-old’s quick
feet, deft first touch,
ability to spot a pass
and tidy finishing have
had his manager purring
during the club’s
pre-season. “You can
see the talent there,”
said Mackay after he
scored the winner in a
friendly against Chievo.
Queston is: can he do it
at the highest level?
If they were an animal...Chameleon
Have thrived following
a change in colour.
Not generally thought
very attractive to look
at, but may just prove
sticky enough to
hang around for a
little while at least.
The stat
8No Cardiff player
scored more than eight
league goals last year:
Aron Gunnarsson,
Peter Whittingham
and the now-departed
Heidar Helguson.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
West Ham (a)
Sunday August 25
Manchester City (h)
Saturday August 31
Everton (h)
Prediction
16th
The big issueWill defensive solidity be enough?
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06
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ChelseaLast season 3rd, 75 points
Chelsea have an advantage over their title rivals from
Manchester – and it comes in the slightly weathered yet still
handsome package of Jose Mourinho. After all, David Moyes
and Manuel Pellegrini have no experience of being at the
sharp end of a Premier League title chase, while Mourinho has
triumphed in such situations. It’s bread and butter to him.
However, what is also Mourinho’s bread and butter is
building a team with a spine of technically adept but also
physically impressive athletes. Think Didier Drogba, Michael
Essien, Sergio Ramos or even Cristiano Ronaldo – who is, for all
his flair, an imposing unit. Yet the crown jewels in Chelsea’s
current squad are footballers such as Juan Mata, Eden Hazard
and Oscar – dazzlingly gifted, but somewhat lightweight. It
isn’t all like that, of course: Romelu Lukaku brings power and
pace, while new recruit Andre Schurrle is renowned for his
workrate as much as his attacking prowess.
This will need to be a different style of team to Mourinho’s
first Chelsea side – but he’s a crafty, adaptable strategist,
usually able to extract the best from his players. He may not
quite be able to gel this squad in time to win the title this
season, but Premier League winers 2014-15? Sounds likely.
Keep an eye on...Oscar
We’ve all found
ourselves jaw ajar at the
Brazilian attacker’s gifts
(Exhibit A: that goal
against Juventus last
season, though we have
plenty more evidence,
m’lud). No great surprise
that he was also a tad
inconsistent in his first 12
months in England, but
with experience and Jose
Mourinho’s arm around
his slender shoulders, he
could be unstoppable
this year. Also tends to
track back reasonably
diligently. Eden Hazard,
on the other hand...
If they were an animal...Great white shark
A fearsome predator,
if generally more
respected than loved.
Russian billionaires
with dreams of global
domination tend to
own at least one.
The stat
8 Current players who
survive from the first
Mourinho era: Ryan
Bertrand, Petr Cech,
Ashley Cole, Michael
Essien, Hilario, Frank
Lampard, Jon Obi
Mikel and John Terry.
Opening fixturesSunday August 18
Hull (h)
Wednesday August 21
Aston Villa (h)
Monday August 26
Manchester United (a)
Prediction
2nd
The big issueCan Jose build with silk rather than steel?
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07
Ste
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Crystal PalaceLast season 5th (Championship), 72 points
Imagine being picked for the X Factor finals, only to be told
you had to try to win without the looks or voice that got you
there. That’s the predicament – in the loosest possible sense,
at least – facing Ian Holloway, having lost star man Wilfried
Zaha to Manchester United and goal machine Glenn Murray
to injury for Palace’s latest crack at the Premier League.
The pressure is on Dwight Gayle (above), then, whose
summer signing for an initial £4.5m has smashed Palace’s
previous transfer record by almost £2m. Considering the
23-year-old striker started the last two seasons at Bishop’s
Stortford and Dagenham & Redbridge respectively, it’s a big
burden to carry. He finished last term with six goals in 20
league games for Peterborough, but there’s no hiding the
fact that Palace – even if they do bring in Marouane Chamakh
– still need more up top.
Jerome Thomas, Jose Campana, Elliot Grandin and Stephen
Dobbie have been brought in to add quality to the midfield,
while the defence looks likely to rely mainly on the men who
got them up. Sunderland and Stoke, two sides with definite
potential to struggle, are second and third on the Eagles’
fixture list – goals, and at least one win, are a must.
Keep an eye on...Julian Speroni
If Palace are to start a
second straight season
in the Premier League
for the first time in their
history, the first man
to win their player-of-
the-year accolade three
years on the bounce
(2008–2010) could well
be in the running again.
Speroni’s lightning
reactions make him
a shot-stopper of some
quality – two stunning
moments of brilliance
helped the Eagles
through the playoffs
– but he can expect a
busy 38 games ahead.
If they were an animal...Mayfly
Mature over time, but
enjoy only a very brief
moment in the sun –
during which they often
fall prey to larger
beasts. Still capable
of causing irritation.
The stat
0Number of times
Crystal Palace have
safely negotiated
a Premier League
season without being
relegated, from four
attempts. Fifth time
lucky, eh lads?
Opening fixturesSunday August 18
Tottenham (h)
Saturday August 24
Stoke (a)
Saturday August 31
Sunderland (h)
Prediction
20th
The big issueDo they have the goals in them to stay up?
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08
Pa
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EvertonLast season 6th, 63 points
Amicable break-ups are a dangerous thing: all seems fine,
the mood is one of optimism, but then a new partner comes
along and you realise that you’re still in love with your ex.
Such is the worry at Goodison this season, where for the first
time in more than a decade, Everton begin a Premier League
campaign without David Moyes at the helm.
That is not to doubt the warmth with which new companion
Roberto Martinez has been welcomed on Merseyside. The
Spaniard arrives on the back of his own cordial split from
Wigan, promising a full-on assault on the top four. He will
certainly bring a greater attacking mindset than the more
practically minded Moyes – but Martinez needs to balance his
own expansive intent with the defensive fortitude that has
been at the heart of Everton’s success in recent years.
A spine of Tim Howard, Phil Jagielka and Darron Gibson
will help on that score, with Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas
offering the wide threat that Martinez used to such effect at
his previous home. The Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu
will bring a welcome touch of je ne sais quoi – which might
prove extra-important if Moyes returns to the family home to
collect his favourite ornaments: Messrs Baines and Fellaini.
Keep an eye on...Arouna Kone
Everton fans will be well
aware of the goalscoring
prowess of their new
striker, having seen him
score against them for
Wigan both home and
away last season. The
Ivorian scored 11 Premier
League goals in all last
term – equalling the total
of the Toffees’ leading
marksman, Marouane
Fellaini – and will add
pace and trickery to a
forward line that was
threatening to rely too
heavily on the physical
presence of the injury-
prone Victor Anichebe.
If they were an animal...Sheepdog
Hardworking, reliable
and often fearsome
in the face of larger
adversaries. Intelligent
handling an absolute
must, however.
The stat
-109Wigan’s combined
goal difference in the
previous four seasons
under Roberto
Martinez. How will
the Spaniard’s more
open brand of football
affect Everton’s usual
defensive solidity?
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Norwich (a)
Saturday August 24
West Brom (h)
Saturday August 31
Cardiff (a)
Prediction
7th
The big issueHow much will Moyes be missed?
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09
Pa
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FulhamLast season 12th, 43 points
What do John Arne Riise, Brede Hangeland, Steve Sidwell,
Dimitar Berbatov, Giorgios Karagounis, Damien Duff, Aaron
Hughes, Sascha Riether and Mark Schwarzer all have in
common? Each of that nine started more than half of Fulham’s
league games last season – and each ended the season over
the age of 30. Of course, that isn’t a total disaster: the superb
right back Riether is in his prime at 30, while 40-year-old
Schwarzer has moved on. But the fact remains that the core
of Fulham’s squad are closing in on their autumn years.
Manager Martin Jol knows this, and has quietly begun
refreshing his squad. Maarten Stekelenburg is also aged 30,
but that’s a baby in goalkeeper years – and signing a Dutch
international (who played in the last World Cup final) looks
great business at an estimated £3m. Loanee Adel Taarabt
offers raw talent to go with his youth, but it’s doubtful as to
whether another mercurial-but-lazy attacker is what Fulham
really need. What they do require is new owner Shahid Khan
to twirl his mighty moustache and cough up for a new central
midfielder or two before the start of the season. Jol has the
nous and class of player to keep clear of a relegation battle,
but this remains a squad that requires new blood.
Keep an eye on...Bryan Ruiz
It’s wakey-wakey time,
Bryan. Don’t worry: that
portly figure standing
over you isn’t Tony
Soprano, but his Dutch
lookalike Martin Jol –
and he’s simply working
out how to get the best
from a versatile attacker
of flair and vision but
one who has, at times,
flattered to decieve with
Fulham. For a player
with his ability, seven
goals over two seasons
isn’t enough. It’s time for
the Costa Rican to kick
on, and Jol plays football
that suits his style.
If they were an animal...Water vole
Small, river-dwelling
creature. Generally
well-liked and cute to
look at, but not very
scary to encounter.
The stat
30%Languid fop Dimitar
Berbatov netted 30
per cent (or 15 of 50)
of Fulham’s Premier
League goals last
season. No one
else managed more
than five. What’s
that you say...
dependent much?
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Sunderland (a)
Saturday August 24
Arsenal (h)
Saturday August 31
Newcastle (a)
Prediction
14th
The big issueCan Jol coax more from ageing bones?
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10
Ga
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Hull City Last season 2nd (Championship), 79 points
For a team that scored only 61 goals in 46 Championship
fixtures last season, Hull City pulled off a minor miracle
in securing a return to the Premier League after only three
seasons away. They couldn’t have limped over the line any
more painfully, however, failing to score in three of their last
four league games – against relegated Wolves, relegated
Bristol City and nearly relegated Barnsley.
As such, Steve Bruce will have been left in no doubt as to
where he needed reinforcements ahead of a tilt at the big
boys. The manager will hope an on-loan Danny Graham brings
his Swansea form of two years ago, rather than the lumbering
impotence on display in an unhappy spell at Sunderland last
season. A reported £3m has also been spent on the Ivory
Coast international Yannick Sagbo, who struck the winner in
Hull’s 1-0 pre-season victory over Dynamo Dresden.
Captain Robert Koren, the fit-again Sone Aluko and player
of the season Ahmed Elmohamady all offer a threat in behind,
but this is not a team brimming with goals. No shock that Bruce
has moved to add proven Premier League quality to his defence,
then, with Curtis Davies (£2.3m) and Maynor Figueroa (free)
arriving from Birmingham and Wigan respectively.
Keep an eye on...Sone Aluko
Hull might have secured
promotion a lot more
easily had the former
Aberdeen and Rangers
attacker not missed
the second half of last
season with an Achilles
problem. Aluko knows
where the goal is, having
scored eight in 23 league
appearances before
injury curtailed his
campaign, but he also
brings pace, intelligent
movement and a proper
bag of tricks to this side.
The man most likely to
provide the magic Hull
need to survive.
If they were an animal...Mud snake
Heavy-bodied black
and orange beast
commonly found lying
low. Slippery enough,
but lacks venom and
likely to be in the shit.
The stat
22Goals scored by
new forward Yannick
Sagbo in 90 league
appearances for his
previous club Evian.
The Tigers will be
hoping for a slightly
better strike rate in
the Premier League.
Opening fixturesSunday August 18
Chelsea (a)
Saturday August 24
Norwich (h)
Saturday August 31
Manchester City (a)
Prediction
19th
The big issueDo the Tigers have enough bite?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
11
Lin
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LiverpoolLast season 7th, 61 points
Liverpool’s slow and painful death as a club with title-
winning pretensions has seemed almost complete this
summer, with wantaway striker Luis Suarez angling to take
his unique brand of villainous brilliance away from the glare
of the English media to... Arsenal. Wherever the Uruguayan
ends up (at the time of writing, ‘court’ looked the only certain
destination), his desire to quit Anfield in search of Champions
League football merely serves to underline the size of the task
Brendan Rodgers has in bringing good times back to the club.
That’s not to say the manager isn’t trying. Even before
Suarez started kicking and biting, Spanish striker Iago Aspas
arrived for £7m from Celta Vigo, with the 20-year-old Luis
Alberto joining him after an impressive spell with Barcelona B.
Both have scored in what could only be described as a gentle
pre-season – but with Philippe Coutinho following on from
where he left off last season, and Daniel Sturridge fit to face
Stoke this weekend, Rodgers does have attacking options.
Now all he needs is a better centre half than Kolo Toure to
partner Daniel Agger in central defence, an error-free start
for new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and for captain Steven
Gerrard to have a season free of injury. Not much to ask, eh?
Keep an eye on...Philippe Coutinho
It’s dangerous to get too
excited about a handful
of impressive displays at
the end of a season, but
the young Brazilian was
superb in Liverpool’s
strong finish. An inventive
passer and intelligent
runner, he boasts a mix
of pace and guile that
will strike fear into the
hearts of defenders
across the nation. Expect
him to be used more
centrally this term, as
Brendan Rodgers seeks to
ease the creative burden
on Steven Gerrard’s
ageing shoulders.
If they were an animal...Woolly mammoth
Once bestrode the
continent, but failed
to adapt successfully
to significant changes
in the climate and
haven’t been on the
scene for some time.
The stat
793Combined Premier
League appearances
racked up by the
now departed Jamie
Carragher and Pepe
Reina. That amounts
to four very big boots
to fill right there.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Stoke (h)
Saturday August 24
Aston Villa (a)
Sunday September 1
Manchester United (h)
Prediction
6th
The big issueWhere are Liverpool’s teeth without Suarez?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
12
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Manchester CityLast season 2nd, 78 points
Man City fans will loathe hearing it, but their club could have
taken a leaf from Sir Fergie’s big book of management ahead
of last season. Ferguson always touted ambition as crucial: no
matter what’s been won before, look into each player’s eyes
at the start of a season and make sure they still have a hunger
for silverware. Judging by how City’s superstars played for
much of last season, they rocked up with heavy-lidded eyes
hidden behind sunglasses. Key players in all positions – Sergio
Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Joe Hart, even captain
Vincent Kompany – failed to replicate their 2011-12 form.
New boss Manuel Pellegrini has a reputation as a skilled
man-manager, so he’s a good bet to unify a squad that had
allegedly turned on Roberto Mancini. The absence of Carlos
Tevez’s ego should help, but City have also spent smartly.
Spain international Jesus Navas offers quality width, Brazil’s
Fernandinho can free up Yaya to power forward, while Stevan
Jovetic competes with Silva for the lightweight magician role.
Pellegrini’s lack of Premier League experience is likely a
disadvantage, but both Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti
won the title in their debut season. If ‘The Engineer’ can get
the best from City’s premium parts, he will do likewise.
Keep an eye on...Alvaro Negredo
Fired in 31 goals for
Sevilla last season and
has shone in pre-season
for his new club. An
athletic 6ft 1in, the
27-year-old striker can
finish with both bonce
and boot – and he should
flourish granted the
service he’ll receive from
compatriots David Silva
and Jesus Navas out
wide. A different type of
player to pocket genius
Aguero, but it wouldn’t
hurt if ‘the Beast of
Vallecas’ gave him a
wake-up call after an
underwhelming 2012-13.
If they were an animal...Lion
Would-be kings of the
jungle, but spent much
of last season asleep.
New additions to the
pride make them even
deadlier in attack.
The stat
£246mCurrent total spent on
strikers since Sheikh
Mansour bought City
in September 2008.
This includes Robinho
(£33m), Sergio Aguero
(£38m), Edin Dzeko
(£27m), Roque Santa
Cruz (£18m) and more.
Opening fixturesMonday August 19
Newcastle (h)
Sunday August 25
Cardiff (a)
Saturday August 31
Hull (h)
Prediction
1st
The big issueCan the City big guns reload this season?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
13
Ma
tth
ew
Pe
ters
/Ma
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y Im
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Manchester UnitedLast season 1st, 89 points
Success breeds success, but with Sir Alex out to stud, it’s
down to new man David Moyes to ensure that his efforts to
put his own stamp on the most successful team in England
don’t damage the continuity of those winning ways.
Ferguson began the process of phasing out the old guard,
but with doubts remaining over the calibre of the latest United
youth – Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones aren’t
quite the Class of ’92 – the continued presence of veterans
like Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs could prove vital.
Restocking United’s threadbare midfield cupboard is a
priority, with Marouane Fellaini a possible arrival after Barcelona
stood firm against two offers for Cesc Fabregas. New boy
Wilfried Zaha should add creativity and goals from out wide
– something that will also help take the pressure of Robin van
Persie up front, particularly if Wayne Rooney departs in the
most drawn-out saga since The Lord of the Rings.
The club has a reputation for rescuing wins from impossible
situations, and their recent title wins have been defined by
a relative lack of star names. Without Ferguson pulling the
strings, will that same ramshackle mix of fading experience
and relatively raw youth be able to reach the same heights?
Keep an eye on...Shinji Kagawa
A sharp hat-trick against
Norwich aside, the
Japanese midfielder
didn’t sparkle in his first
season. Understated and
classy, with real economy
of touch, the £12m man
struggled with injuries
and made just 17 league
starts, mostly away from
his preferred central
role. When fit, he can
dictate play and chip in
with goals – he scored
21 league goals in two
seasons at Borussia
Dortmund, which could
be vital if Wayne Rooney
is indeed on the way out.
If they were an animal...Man
Used to life at the top
of the food chain, but
could become victims
of their own success
as they struggle to
compete with scarce
resources in the
modern world.
The stat
73The percentage of
games Manchester
United won when
Robin van Persie
started last season,
compared to 50 per
cent when he didn’t.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Swansea (a)
Monday August 26
Chelsea (h)
Sunday September 1
Liverpool (a)
Prediction
3rd
The big issueCan David Moyes keep the fire burning?
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Newcastle UnitedLast season 16th, 41 points
Much as we all laughed at the mumbled, jumbled interview of
nonsense Joe Kinnear gave talkSPORT early in the summer,
it couldn’t and shouldn’t hide the fact that his appointment as
director of football at Newcastle is one of the most appallingly
judged decisions the game has seen in a very long time.
Not only does Kinnear’s arrival undermine the position of
manager Alan Pardew – himself not overly popular with the
St James’ Park faithful – but it also does likewise to Graham
Carr, the highly respected chief scout responsible for bringing
many of the current squad’s most talented players to the club.
Things are sure to come to a head sooner rather than later,
and that can only be damaging to matters on the field – where
Pardew is faced with the challenge of improving on a deeply
disappointing 16th last season. The arrival of Loic Remy on
loan from QPR will bolster an attack still led by apologetic
gambler Papiss Cisse, but in a quiet summer the club’s best
work has been convincing the talismanic Fabricio Coloccini
to stay. With Tim Krul, Yohan ‘Kebab’ (reportedly a target for
Manchester United), Hatem Ben Arfa and Cisse completing a
spine of genuine quality, it is unthinkable that the Magpies will
be as bad again. But then, on the Toon, anything can happen.
Keep an eye on...Cheick Tiote
One of the reasons why
Newcastle finished in a
lofty fifth two seasons
ago, but also one of the
factors behind them
faring so poorly last
time out. After a mighty
debut season in the
northeast, the Ivorian
struggled for both form
and fitness last term,
featuring in less than
two-thirds of the club’s
Premier League fixtures.
Fully fit this time around,
and with no Africa Cup
of Nations to distract
him, Tiote could be on
for a renaissance.
Opening fixturesMonday August 19
Manchester City (a)
Saturday August 24
West Ham (h)
Saturday August 31
Fulham (h)
Prediction
11th
The big issueWhat will prevail: the football or the circus?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
The stat
32Players used by
Newcastle last season
– more than any other
team in the Premier
League. Only three
(Papiss Cisse, Davide
Santon and Jonas
Gutierrez) featured in
more than 30 games.
14
If they were an animal...Bull terrier
Powerful and actually
rather loveable – but
often undone by an
idiot owner sporting
bald head and can
of warm lager.
15
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Norwich CityLast season 11th, 44 points
Evolution rather than revolution is the norm at football
clubs these days. Subtle addititions are more common than
wholesale playing staff makeovers, especially at well-run
clubs like Norwich. However, manager Chris Hughton has
clearly decided to stamp his own mark on this team and has
revamped Norwich’s forward line. Gone is main man Grant
Holt (top scorer last season, but only with eight goals) and in
come striker Gary Hooper from Celtic, Holland international
forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel (above), and Leroy Fer –
a creative Dutch midfielder with an eye for goal.
Together they cost the best part of £20m (van Wolfswinkel
the priciest at a rumoured £8.5m) – but while that makes for
exciting times at Carrow Road, there is cause for concern. For
every Luis Suarez who translates prolific Eredivisie form into
Premier League goals, there’s a Mateja Kezman. Who doesn’t.
And, with respect to Hooper and the SPL, banging in goals
against Kilmarnock is a little trickier than it is against Chelsea.
Blooding several new attackers will be a challenge for
Hughton, but – providing the impressive John Ruddy stays fit
– he at least has a safe pair of hands at the back. Should have
enough winkle to keep the relegation wolf from the door.
Keep an eye on...Wes Hoolahan
Curiously underrated
by Republic of Ireland
manager Giovanni
Trapattoni, but not
by the Carrow Road
faithful. The diminutive
31-year-old midfielder
has been pulling the
strings in the Canaries’
engine room for a while.
It’s his technique and
passing ability that
catch the eye, married to
an impressive workrate.
With new personnel
around him, Hoolahan
will be crucial in
providing a supply line
from midfield to attack.
If they were an animal...Salmon
Have leapt higher than
expected, despite
swimming against
the tide. Everyone’s
second favourite dish.
Delia can’t resist it.
The stat
10Went on a 10-game
unbeaten league
run last season,
beating Arsenal and
Manchester United
along the way. They
followed that by
winning one of their
next 16. Streaky.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Everton (h)
Saturday August 24
Hull (a)
Saturday August 31
Southampton (h)
Prediction
15th
The big issueCan all-new attack fill the goals gap?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
16
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SouthamptonLast season 14th, 41 points
No team was as maddeningly inconsistent last season as
Southampton – supporters must look back and wonder how
the same team that saw off Manchester City, Liverpool and
Chelsea at St Mary’s also managed to lose at home to QPR,
Sunderland and Wigan. For all their quality, they somehow
contrived to finish beneath Norwich, Fulham and Stoke.
It’s a conundrum that manager Mauricio Pochettino will be
hoping to solve this season, as Saints bid to consolidate their
place back at English football’s top table. The £8.5m arrival
of centre half Dejan Lovren from Lyon should help counter
the defensive lapses that saw the team drop 29 points from
winning positions last term, while Victor Wanyama (see left)
should provide greater security in front of the back four.
It’s as you were further forward, where Pochettino will once
more call upon the brute strength (and dead-eye finishing) of
Rickie Lambert, the bustling energy of Jay Rodriguez and the
guile of Gaston Ramirez to break down opposing defences.
The best news of all, however, could be the five-year contract
signed by left back Luke Shaw last month. If he is to be the next
Gareth Bale, then he will become so at St Mary’s. For now.
Keep an eye on...Victor Wanyama
Saints are hardly short on
quality in midfield, but
that didn’t stop Mauricio
Pochettino breaking the
club’s transfer record
to secure the services of
the powerful Kenyan this
summer. Wanyama only
turned 22 in June, but
he arrives from Celtic
for a meaty £12.5m and
with a lofty reputation as
a box-to-box midfielder
with more than an eye
for goal. His partnership
with the classy Morgan
Schneiderlin in the
centre of the park could
well be one to watch.
If they were an animal...Polar bear
Out of hibernation to
find life tougher at
the top of their world.
Attractive and often
dangerous, but still
in a fight for survival.
The stat
15Premier League goals
scored by Rickie
Lambert last season,
making him the top-
scoring Englishman in
the league (alongside
Frank Lampard). He is
66/1 to win the Golden
Boot this time around.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
West Brom (a)
Saturday August 24
Sunderland (h)
Saturday August 31
Norwich (a)
Prediction
12th
The big issueCan they bring it every week?
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Stoke CityLast season 13th, 42 points
It’s trendy to mock Mark Hughes. Dubbed a “strange man”
by Mohamed Al-Fayed post-Fulham, he seemed hapless
during his QPR stint and seems to have a bizarre obsession
with signing Roque Santa Cruz. Yet Hughes seems unfairly
maligned. Yes, QPR was a disaster, but his record with
Blackburn, Fulham and the Wales national team is largely
positive (Manchester City is trickier to judge).
At Stoke, however, he faces a near impossible task: taking
over from a successful manager and being asked to tweak
their brand of football, yet not being given the funds he needs
to revamp a squad that desperately requires new blood.
But how badly? Well, put it this way: the favourite to be
Stoke’s top scorer this season is the 32-year-old Peter Crouch,
who got seven goals in 34 league games in 2012-13. Hughes
can rely on Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross at the back, but
his signings haven’t set the Potteries alight. Dutch full back
Erik Pieters comes in for £3m, while 21-year-old Spanish
defender Marc Muniesa is snaffled from Barcelona’s reserves
on a free. Let’s hope Hughes gets to invest a little more before
the transfer window closes, or the Britannia could be a bleak
place for more than just the visitors this season.
Keep an eye on...Asmir Begovic
When Stoke snapped up
young English keeper
Jack Butland, it seemed
a tacit admission that
prize asset Begovic was
on his way out. However
unless the 26-year-old
Bosnian cad has pulled
a fast one on Stoke by
the time you read this,
he looks set to stay.
Relief sweeps the
Britannia. Begovic kept
12 clean sheets in the
league last season and
is a commanding aerial
presence. A crucial part
of Stoke’s generally
miserly defence.
If they were an animal...Gorilla
Gruff, hairy, muscular
backside (Stoke the
Gorilla, that is – not
Mark Hughes), but
might prove a poor
swimmer if the tide of
relegation draws near.
The stat
£88mSince 2006-07,
Stoke’s net transfer
spend is an estimated
£88m – the same as
Manchester United’s
over the same period.
No wonder the coffers
are now a bit bare.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Liverpool (a)
Saturday August 24
Crystal Palace (h)
Saturday August 31
West Ham (a)
Prediction
18th
The big issueIs Mark Hughes the answer?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
18
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SunderlandLast season 17th, 39 points
It’s the question everyone’s asking, and easily one of the
more compelling threads ahead of the new Premier League
season. Just how mad is Paolo Di Canio, and can he remain
sane enough to drive Sunderland significantly higher than
last season’s dreadful 17th-placed finish?
In truth, no one knows – but we’re going to have a lot of fun
finding out, and Di Canio has certainly shown an appetite for
the fight in a relatively busy summer of transer activity for
the Black Cats. The weighty burden on the shoulders of top
goalscorer Steven Fletcher should be eased by the arrival
of former Hull forward Jozy Altidore, who has spent the past
two seasons tearing up the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar.
However Di Canio hasn’t left it at that. Emanuele Giaccherini,
a £6.5m signing from Juventus, will bring much-needed
creativity in behind Fletcher, while the defensive midfielder
Cabral and centre half Modibo Diakite will add further steel to
a squad that so desperately lost its way under Martin O’Neill.
Successfully integrate the new recruits, while getting the
best of out of Lee Cattermole, Adam Johnson and Stephane
Sessegnon, and Di Canio will have the makings of a tidy outfit.
Fail, and it may not be long before the wheels come off.
Keep an eye on...Cabral
Or Adilson Tavares
Varela, to give him his
full name. The Cape
Verde-born midfielder
has been one of the
driving forces behind FC
Basel’s recent dominance
in the Swiss league and,
still only 24, arrives on a
free transfer that could
prove phenomenal value.
A converted centre half,
he will likely operate in
a deep midfield role for
his new club – but he can
play, as he showed with a
neat finish in a pre-season
win over Tottenham in
Hong Kong.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Fulham (h)
Saturday August 24
Southampton (a)
Saturday August 31
Crystal Palace (a)
Prediction
17th
The big issueWill Paolo’s passion be a force for good?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
The stat
24Combined number
of Premier League
appearances made
by goalkeepers
Keiren Westwood
and Vito Mannone.
The concern is that
Simon Mignolet will
be much missed.
If they were an animal...Giant panda
No questioning their
size or popularity, but
spend too much time
watching them and
you end up wondering
why you bothered.
19
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Swansea CityLast season 9th, 46 points
Swansea’s miracle progress up the leagues has been done
without a sugar daddy chairman or hocking the club’s future
to invest. Even now, the club is in the Premier League’s
bottom five in terms of salary outlay. However, this is a season
of change. Rumours abound that dapper manager Michael
Laudrup fell out with chairman Huw Jenkins this summer over
the amount invested in the playing staff. It seems Laudrup has
got his way, the Swansea squad being beefed up with Wilfried
Bony, Jonjo Shelvey and young Spanish defender Jordi Amat,
signed for a combined £18m+.
Meanwhile last season’s stars, such as Michu and skipper
Ashley Williams, look set to stay. So all is rosy in Swansea’s
garden. Yet the team have a tough beginning to the season
(Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool are three of
their first four league opponents) and, if there is still conflict
behind the scenes, a stumbling start won’t help. Plus there’s
the introduction of European football, which often disrupts a
team’s league progress. A season of fresh challenges, then,
but Swansea seem to glide serenely past most new obstacles.
If the new recruits settle in reasonably quickly, another top-10
finish – and yet more eye-catching football – looks likely.
Keep an eye on...Wilfried Bony
Swansea lacked a top-
drawer striker last year,
Michu often filling the
role (fairly successfully).
For this season, the club
have more than doubled
their previous transfer
record to bring in Ivory
Coast forward Wilfried
Bony for £12m. Scored
a brace on his debut
in Swansea’s Europa
League qualifier against
Malmo, including a
trademark springboard
header. The 24-year-old
is a classy finisher, fast,
athletic, with a few
tricks. A potential star.
If they were an animal...Butterfly
Grubbed around as a
lowly caterpillar for
most of its life, before
latterly emerging as
a dazzling butterfly.
Elegant to watch, but
there has been some
flapping this summer.
The stat
58 Total, combined goals
scored last season by
Michu (22 in 43 games)
and Wilfried Bony
(36 in 36 for Vitesse
Arnhem). Could be
an arousing pairing.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Manchester United (h)
Sunday August 25
Tottenham (a)
Saturday August 31
West Brom (a)
Prediction
9th
The big issueWill new challenges drown the Swans?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
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Tottenham HotspurLast season 5th, 72 points
We know that chairman Daniel Levy drives a hard bargain.
What many can’t agree on is whether this benefits or works
against Tottenham. He certainly extracts the maximum fee
for a player, but often at the cost of having time to adequately
replace them. At time of press, it appears as though Gareth
Bale is Real Madrid-bound at some point, with Levy doing an
expert job in ramping the price up. However, this gives boss
Andre Villas-Boas scant time to plan for the upcoming
season, unsure of the state of play with his stand-out player.
Not that we’d call Spurs a one-man team. Hugo Lloris is a
dynamic young sweeper-keeper, Mousa Dembele has showed
his adaptable midfield class, while Sandro and Younes Kaboul
will be like the proverbial ‘new signings’ back from injury. An
actual new signing – the £17m box-to-box Brazilian Paulinho
– should be an upgrade on the ageing legs of Scott Parker,
while Lewis Holtby will be better for a pre-season with the team.
It’s a strong squad, then, but Bale has reached the level of
irreplaceable. Spurs have the manager, set-up and even most
of the players to kick on, but if Bale is either long gone or
a discontented presence, the gaping hole he leaves could
thwart Tottenham’s top-four ambitions once more.
Keep an eye on...Roberto Soldado
With Emmanuel
Adebayor in what we’ll
call ‘full-contract mode’
for most of last season,
Spurs regularly lacked
a focal point for their
attacks. The man to
provide that is £26m
record signing Roberto
Soldado. The Spain
striker is an ideal outlet
for Andre Villas-Boas’
side: quick, mobile, alert
and a lethal finisher (he
has scored more than
one in two for former
club Valencia and the
national team). Hits a
smashing volley, too.
If they were an animal...Leopard
A sleek, athletic beast
– but there are bigger
cats out there. Has to
contend with wealthy
poachers coming after
it every damn summer.
The stat
2Beginning a second
consecutive season
with a club for the very
first time in his short
coaching career, Andre
Villas-Boas must relish
not having to spend
pre-season meeting
a whole new squad.
Opening fixturesSunday August 18
Crystal Palace (a)
Sunday August 25
Swansea (h)
Sunday September 1
Arsenal (a)
Prediction
5th
The big issueHow smart is old iron balls Levy being?
Join now at thesun.co.uk
21
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West BromLast season 8th, 49 points
In the three seasons since their latest return to the Premier
League, West Brom have finished 11th, 10th and eighth.
That represents a spectacular effort from a club with one of
the lowest budgets in the division, but with chairman Jeremy
Peace continuing to preach financial common sense over
wayward ambition, the challenge now facing manager Steve
Clarke is how to find any more progress from a squad of no
little quality but questionable depth.
The return of last season’s loan star Romelu Lukaku to
Chelsea is a blow, but the tireless Shane Long – one of the
most underrated strikers in the league – will continue to give
defences plenty to think about. The recruitment of Nicolas
Anelka – now 34, but with the class to compensate for his
ageing limbs – should prove a shrewd move, while the axis of
Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob at the heart of the
midfield gives the Baggies the kind of steely core teams need
to thrive in this physically demanding league. Injuries to any
of these key players (chuck Ben Foster and Jonas Olsson in
there as well), however, and Clarke could find himself looking
over his shoulder. With two winnable home ties in the club’s
opening three fixtures, a good start is absolutely crucial.
Keep an eye on...Youssouf Mulumbu
There won’t be many
Premier League players
with five Us in their
name, but the Congolese
midfielder brings much
more than that to the
Baggies’ midfield.
Strong, athletic and
composed in possession,
he is perhaps the closest
thing West Brom will
ever have to Patrick Vieira
(the Arsenal version).
At 26, he should now be
nearing his peak – which
means the contract
extension he signed this
summer is great news for
a club he joined in 2009.
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Southampton (h)
Saturday August 24
Everton (a)
Saturday August 31
Swansea (h)
Prediction
13th
The big issueHow do they do any better?
The stat
123Career Premier
League goals scored
by new signing Nicolas
Anelka, putting him
joint 12th (with
Jermain Defoe and
Dwight Yorke) on
the all-time list.
If they were an animal...Mountain goat
Belies humble outward
appearance to handle
tricky heights with
surprising style,
surviving on relatively
meagre rations in
a world of plenty.
Join now at thesun.co.uk
22
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West HamLast season 10th, 46 points
Co-owner David Sullivan says signing another striker
alongside Andy Carroll is his top transfer priority, given that
the Hammers’ approach with their £15m record buy tends to
be something of a one-dimensional, direct line.
Without their 24-year-old battering ram last season, West
Ham looked toothless. With him, it was a refinement of the
Bolton and Stoke variation of strong-arming the opposition
into submission to the stage that they would not even bother
to challenge Carroll, relying instead on winning the second ball.
At least Sam Allardyce is pragmatic. Forget the Academy of
Football rubbish – the last time West Ham played like that was
under Gianfranco Zola, which didn’t end well.
The question, then, is whether they can keep Carroll fit. He is
currently recovering from a foot injury and will likely miss the
start of the campaign. That in itself is no disaster. The Cockney
Boys were untroubled by relegation last season because the
teams around them were markedly worse/engulfed in
behind-the-scenes farce and because the fixtures computer
did them a solid turn, allowing Big Sam’s team to take 11 points
from their first six games. Mr Nicey Fixtureson has done it
again: Tottenham away, on October 5, is their first real test.
Keep an eye on...Mohamed Diame
Few players at the Boleyn
are capable of those
bottled lightning moments
for which you put up with
cold, turgid November
nights watching your team.
Diame tended to reserve it
for the big boys last
season: jinking through
the Arsenal defence to
arch one into the top
corner and whipping a
daisy-cutter from the edge
of the area in the 2-2 with
Manchester United. The
athletic tank’s absence
was felt keenly when he
spent six weeks out with
a hamstring injury.
If they were an animal...Giraffe
Survives as strength
up front allows it to
reach heights others
cannot. Engages in
combat with long neck
used as a weapon.
The stat 100Top-flight substitute
appearances by Joe
Cole. The five others
to rise from the bench
100+ times are Louis
Saha (101), Ryan Giggs
(104), Jermain Defoe
(116), Kanu (118) and
Shola Ameobi (126).
Opening fixturesSaturday August 17
Cardiff (h)
Saturday August 24
Newcastle (a)
Saturday August 31
Stoke (h)
Prediction 8th
The big issueCan the Hammers rely on sweet Carroll-line?
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