Rejoice boys and girls, the Premiership is back! Okay, so I might be the only one excited, but you clicked on this link so there's something there. Or you just pity me, either way, I appreciate it.Manchester United look to repeat as champions with plenty of movers and shakers in the off-season. The most popular league in the world welcomes Cardiff City, Crystal Palace and Hull to see if they can cut it for more than a year in the big show.
Here we'll provide a breakdown of each team in order of where we think they'll finish.
2. Manchester City
For what will seem like the second time ever, Manchester will be blue for at least another season. The additions of Stevan Jovetic from Fiorentina and Jesus Navas from Sevilla help bolster both the strikers and midfield that were already solid. Yaya Toure is the strongest player in the Premiership and Sergio Aguero will score 20 goals this season. New manager Manuel Pellegrini will need to make sure to juggle Premier League and Champions League football correctly. We all know what happened last year in the group stage. It got ugly.
3. Manchester United
It's going to be downright odd looking down on that touchline and not seeing Sir Alex lurking. David Moyes is more than capable of being another legendary United manager. If he can do it at Everton then he can do it at Old Trafford. But this will be a "down year." A lot of controversy surrounding Wayne Rooney and a possible exit. Apparently he's already making waves with Moyes. If he stays, it might get awkward. But it's United, they always do well and making the Champions League in 2014/15 will be a great first season for Moyes.
4. Arsenal They lost out on Gonzalo Higuain and they say they're going after Luis Suarez. Let's be honest, we know Arsenal isn't big for marquee moves and I doubt they'll get Suarez. They could, but I'd be surprised if it happens. I look at the roster every year and wonder how they make Champions League qualification each time. They always find a way. Though Arsene Wenger is the proverbial punching bag of Premier League coaches, he always does enough to get to European football. But trophies need to come soon. The league title isn't coming their way anytime soon.
This will hold up if (and it's a BIG if) Gareth Bale stays at White Hart Lane. If the Welsh talisman goes, and he's been linked to United and Real Madrid, then Tottenham goes down the toilet. It's bad enough they lost Clint Dempsey to the MLS (scoff), but losing Bale means a midfield that puts a lot of pressure on Aaron Lennon. He's never been the headliner despite getting caps for England. Three strikers will carry the load this season with most of the work to fall on an aging Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor. Add that to the fact that Andre Villas-Boas is not that great a manager and it might be a rough season. But Bale staying could solve all those problems. Yes, he's that good.
I like Brendan Rodgers. He tries to run a no nonsense ship but these stupid little primadonna players (Luis Suarez) tend to make things difficult. You never want to see a player like Steven Gerrard suffer at a club he's been a loyal servant at for so long and there is a chance for the Europa League this year. If Suarez stays and straightens out, he and Daniel Sturridge could pair up nicely up front. Watch out for Raheem Sterling and Joe Allen. They could have big years.
7. West Ham
Andy Carroll, Ricardo Vaz Te up front? I'll take that. Add that with Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Matthew Taylor in the midfield? Solid. Add that with new signing Stuart Downing and that's a pretty good looking squad. A new home in Olympic Stadium has ensured that these are some exciting times if you're a West Ham supporter. Wouldn't be suprised if they're playing in Europe in the next two years.
8. EvertonOne of the greatest managers in team history is gone with the departure of David Moyes to Manchester United. While there is plenty of quality in the side, the man to make them tick is gone. However, you look at this team and there is no shortage in talent. Nikica Jelavic up front with Victor Anichebe and Arouna Kone should be no probelm. The ever reliable Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar will ensure the midfield is set and one of my favorites in the game, Leighton Baines, will patrol the defense. Certainly no roll over, there might just be a slow start with Roberto Martinez at the helm.
9. Newcastle
Newcastle tends to have these peaks and valleys lately. Last year's valley however didn't get them relegated which is always a plus I guess. Looking at their first team at the moment, there's no reason why they can't finish top 10. Papiss Cisse and the Ameobi brothers should be fine up front and Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Hatem Ben Arfa should provide an exciting midfield.
10. Swansea
Michu and Pablo Hernandez make quite the combination in Wales. At times last year I thought they were playing the best football in the league. Adding Jonjo Shelvey to the midfield will help out Nathan Dyer, Leon Britton and Wayne Routledge . There are questions up top at striker with Michu and Hernandez doing most of the scoring from advanced positions in the midfield. Wilfried Bony will see a lot of time up front after being signed from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
Villa was able to hold on to Christian Benteke which was unbelievably huge. They don't keep him, it's a very good chance they struggle to stay up this year. Benteke comes off a 19 goal season, fourth in the league and will look to keep up that kind of success up front with Gabriel Agbonlahor. Local product Marc Albrighton will look to lead the midfield with pesky, dynamic play. The big question is in the back line. It's not great, but it's not terrible. Brad Guzan will be busy in goal, but he's more than capable of standing on his head.
12. Sunderland
The Black Cats had to fight hard to stay up last year. I have a feeling they'll be able stave off relegation a bit easier this season. Jozy Altidore will add a nice dimesnion to their attack with Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher. Adam Johnson is still capable of what Manchester City and England saw in him and could have a big year in the midfield. Put some decent talent around him and he might flourish without feeling all the pressure. Paolo Di Canio will also be a treat to watch from the bench every week.
13. Southampton
I have a soft spot for Matt Le Tissier. One of my favorite footballers to watch growing up. They might not be as solid as they were in the '90s, but Rickie Lambert is coming off a 15 goal season and Jay Rodriguez up front had nine of his own. That'll be good enough for a mid table finish. Show consistency and bigger signings will be around the corner.
14. Cardiff City
In my opinion, Cardiff is the best of the newly promoted teams to stay up solely because of their strikers. Craig Bellamy holds a ton of Premier League experience and is more than capable of changing a game while Fraizer Campbell, a former Man United product has had one singular cap for the English national team. There's promise there and Cardiff should be fun to watch.
Dimitar Berbatov and Hugo Rodallega/Bryan Ruiz are suitable options up front. The midfield has me worried with aging Damien Duff, Giorgos Karagounis and Steve Sidwell. Forever a favorite of mine for his own goal when he was with Liverpool against Chelsea in the Champions League in 2008, John Arne Riise headlines a defense that could be solid on its day with Philippe Senderos and Brede Hangeland The signing of Maarten Stekelenburg gives Fulham a great goalkeeper with the departure of Mark Schwarzer to Chelsea.
16. Crystal Palace
The signing of former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh brings big time striking ability to a forward core led by Kevin Phillips and not much else. Joel Ward will be the Eagles' premier defender as his play was a huge component as to why his side is up this season. There is not a ton of Premier League experience on this side, but there is enough talent to keep them safe until 2015.
17. West Bromwich The loss of Romelu Lukaku is the main reason to why I have West Brom down so low. The Belgian who is rejoining Chelsea this season scored 17 goals last year. His size and strength left so many open holes for the rest of the team. The scoring load will fall to Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie. Both very good options, but the loss of such a presence as Lukaku will see their numbers most likely go down.
18. Stoke City
I don't know why I have Stoke being relegated this year. Maybe it's the managerial change to Mark Hughes. Up front looks very good with Kenwyne Jones, Peter Crouch and Cameron Jerome. I mean, they're always solid but something might just go wrong and if it does, it's going down in the back line. Form was shotty towards the end of last season and there will be pressure to perform.
19. Norwich City
Any hope that they had to stay up left when Grant Holt signed with newly relegated Wigan. There just simply are not enough scoring options for the Canaries stay up this year.
If the only guy on this roster I remember seeing play is Abdoulaye Faye, it's a problem. Chelsea opens up this year against them on the 18th. I don't want to assume it's an automatic three points, but it's close to it.
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