Separating the wheat from the chaff

IN WITH A SHOUT FOR EUROPE

With some luck and momentum, any of these four could find themselves clinching one of the four Champions League spots up for grabs, or qualifying for the Europa League.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Last Season: 5th

How much of a difference will the loss of Gareth Bale make if he does go to Real Madrid? I suspect at least one place. Andre Villas-Boas has recruited well, but if they are without their talisman, confidence within the squad will be damaged. Like last term, Spurs will produce slick football and be solid at the back. It is their lack of genuine star quality that worries me.

Major signings (selected): Roberto Soldado (Valencia, £26 million (S$50.9 million)), Paulinho (Corinthians, £17m), Nacer Chadli (FC Twente, £7m), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse, £9m).

Prediction: 6th

SWANSEA CITY

Last Season: 9th

The Swans are developing a formidable side that would not give anyone an easy ride this season. Fearless, and with the ability to keep possession for long periods, Michael Laudrup’s men are tricky opponents — and the goal threat of Michu and new signing Wilfried Bony makes them extra dangerous.

Major signings: Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem, £12m), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool, £5m rising to £6m), Jordi Amat (Espanyol, £2.5m), Alejandro Pozuelo (Real Betis, £425,000), Gregor Zabret (NK Domzale, undisclosed), Jose Canas (Real Betis, Free), Alex Gogic (Olympiakos, Free), Jonathan de Guzman (Villareal, loan).

Prediction: 7th

EVERTON

Last Season: 6th

Did Everton reach their ceiling with a sixth place finish in 2012/13? I believe they might have. Ripping up the aggressive, all-action style that worked so well under David Moyes is a risky move and while Roberto Martinez is a fine coach, his players may need a season or two to feel comfortable with the revamp.

Major signings: Arouna Kone (Wigan, £6m), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, £2m), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, Loan).

Prediction: 8th

SOUTHAMPTON

Last Season: 14th

The South Coast side would not need to look over their shoulders at the drop zone too often this season, not with talents such as Gaston Ramirez, Rickie Lambert and Victor Wanyama inspiring them to victories. Led by Mauricio Pochettino, an intelligent young coach, the Saints would not be afraid to express themselves.

Major signings: Victor Wanyama (Celtic, £12.5m), Dejan Lovren (Lyon, £8.5m).

Prediction: 9th

NORWICH CITY

Last Season: 11th

When it comes to value-for-money signings, the Canaries have done the best Premier League business this summer. Strikers Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel will provide a cutting edge, while Nathan Redmond and Leroy Fer are sure to add extra ammunition from midfield. Expect Chris Hughton’s men to ruffle a few feathers.

Major signings: Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon, £8.5m), Leroy Fer (FC Twente, £7m), Gary Hooper (Celtic, £5m), Martin Olsson (Blackburn, £2.5m), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham, £2.2m rising to £3.2m), Javier Garrido (Lazio, £1.275m).

Prediction: 10th

NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

Too strong to be relegated but not good enough for anything beyond a mid-table finish. After the initial excitement of the first few weeks of the season, there would not be much for the fans of these clubs to look forward to, save perhaps for an upset against one of the top five. A couple will spend the bulk of the season fighting for survival too.

WEST HAM UNITED

Last Season: 10th

Continuity is the name of the game for West Ham, who will go into the new campaign with much the same squad as last season. Manager Sam Allardyce is a cunning old fox who knows the Premier League like the back of his hand, so it would be madness to back against him once again proving his doubters wrong.

Major signings: Andy Carroll (Liverpool, £15m), Stewart Downing (Liverpool, £6m), Danny Whitehead (Stockport, Undisclosed), Adrián (Real Betis, Free), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk, Free).

Prediction: 11th

CARDIFF CITY

Last Season: Championship Winners

The Welshmen are not here to make up the numbers, and will target an achievable mid-table finish on their long-awaited return to the top flight. Malky Mackay’s men are full of heart and will work incredibly hard as a team to get results. They lack panache, but should get more than enough points to prolong their stay at this level.

Major signings: Gary Medel (Sevilla, £9.5m), Steven Caulker (Tottenham, £8m), Andreas Cornelius (FC Copenhagen, £7.5m).

Prediction: 12th

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Last Season: 8th

The Baggies exceeded themselves in 2012/13, but without star loanee Romelu Lukaku, they do not look as if they will have as much bite in attack this time around. At the Hawthorns, they will play with vibrancy and confidence, but there are major question marks over their ability to keep clean sheets on their travels. That could cost them.

Major signings: Nicolas Anelka (Shanghai Shenhua, Free), Diego Lugano (Paris St-Germain, Free), Goran Popov (Dynamo Kiev, Loan), Matej Vydra (Udinese, Loan).

Prediction: 13th

SUNDERLAND

Last Season: 17th

Paolo di Canio will demand more passion from the Black Cats this season, and he will get it. But Sunderland still do not have the talent to be a serious threat to the top sides. I predict an inconsistent, roller coaster season at the Stadium of Light.

Major signings: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, £6.5m), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus, £6.5m), Vito Mannone (Arsenal, £1.5m), David Moberg Karlsson (IFK Gothenburg, £1.5m), El Hadji Ba (Le Havre, £380,000), Cabral (Basel, Free), Modibo Diakite (Lazio, Free), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, Free), Ondrej Celustka (Trabzonspor, Loan), Alfred N’Diaye (Eskisehirspor, Loan).

Prediction: 14th

NEWCASTLE UNITED

Last Season: 16th

It is a mess at St James’ Park. Manager Alan Pardew no longer has a say on who the club signs, and a number of key men appear to be unsettled on Tyneside. Player for player, the Magpies should be in the top eight, but there is a negative vibe around the club and that does not bode well for a successful season ahead.

Major signings: Olivier Kemen (Metz, Undisclosed), Loic Remy (QPR, Loan).

Prediction: 15th

ASTON VILLA

Last Season: 15th

Without the heroics of Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann, Villa would be in the Championship, so it is a relief that the club have retained the services of both forwards. In theory, their young side should fare better, but I am not convinced they have the ability to thrive at this level. Another struggle is on the cards.

Major signings: Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland, £4m), Leandro Bacuna (Groningen £3m), Aleksander Tonev (Lech Poznan, £2.5m), Antonio Luna (Seville, £2m), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, £1.2m rising to £2m), Jed Steer (Norwich, free).

Prediction: 16th

FULHAM

Last Season: 12th

The west Londoners usually steer well clear of the drop zone but I have a feeling this year might be different. Fulham lost nine times at Craven Cottage last season and that is a worrying trend. If anything untoward happens to Dimitar Berbatov, you wonder where the side’s inspiration will come from.

Major signings: Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma, £4.76m), Sasha Riether (Cologne, £1.27m), Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, Free), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Free), Ange-Freddy Plumain (Lens, Free), Adel Taarabt (QPR, Loan).

Prediction: 17th

DOOMED FOR THE DROP

It’s going to be a depressing season for fans of this lot.

STOKE CITY

Last Season: 13th

When Tony Pulis was ousted at the end of last season, I said Stoke fans should be careful about what they wish for, and I stand by that. The Potters have an ageing side and are not the dynamic force they were, plus with Mark Hughes altering their style completely, I fear their identity will be confused and muddled.

Major signings: Erik Pieters (PSV, £3m), Marc Muniesa (Barcelona, Free), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution, free, arrives on Jan 1).

Prediction: 18th

CRYSTAL PALACE

Last Season: Championship Play-Off Winners

The Eagles will be popular, and often entertaining, but they might be out of their depth at this level. Defensively they lack pace, and don’t have a great deal of Premier League pedigree either. Selhurst Park has to become a fortress for them to stand any chance of survival.

Major signings: Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, £6m), Jose Campana (Sevilla, £1.75m), Stephen Dobie (Brighton, £850,000), Kevin Phillips (Blackpool, Free), Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, Undisclosed).

Prediction: 19th

HULL CITY

Last Season: Championship Runners-Up

No one expected the Tigers to gain promotion, and there are even fewer people that expect their stay in the Premier League to be prolonged beyond this season! Under Steve Bruce, they will be organised and defensive, but it’s hard to see them scoring anywhere near enough goals home or away to avoid the drop. Major signings: Curtis Davies (Birmingham, £2.25m), Ahmed Elmohamady (Sunderland, £2m), Allan McGregor (Besiktas, £1.8m), Yannick Sagbo (Evian, £1.5m), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, Free), Steve Harper (Newcastle United, Free),

Prediction: 20th

TOMORROW:

Adrian Clarke predicts the winner of this season’s EPL campaign, and the next four clubs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter @adrianjclarke