ATW COACH RE-SIGNS FOR ONE YEAR

English Premier League: Season Preview 2015/16

Arsenal

Last year: 3rd

Petr Cech adds world-class quality to Arsenal's defence.

With back-to-back FA Cup trophies secured in the past two years, this should be the season that the Gunners realistically challenge for the league crown. Last season, a slow start to the campaign proved detrimental to their chances of keeping up with Chelsea. But if the league had started in Christmas, Arsenal would have won with a dominant second half display. With huge expectations for players and fans, another piece of silverware would be the bare minimum and a genuine crack at the league crown.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

Aston Villa

Last year: 17th

Predicted Finish:

The Villans were lucky to escape relegation last season but with the loss of prominent forward centre forward Christian Benteke to Liverpool, there can be no more hiding this time for Tim Sherwood’s team. On paper, it is hard to believe that this squad managed to stay up. The only way out I can see for this team is if new signings Jordan Ayew and Rudy Gestede fire at least 20 goals between them with 10 goals in support from experienced forward Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Predicted Finish: 18th

Bournemouth

Last year: Promoted

Tipped to be the surprise package of this season, Bournemouth has clinched two  promotions from League One to the Championship to the Premier League in three seasons. Having personally not watched this side play before, their fans are deemed one of the most passionate bunches in English football and Dean Court is no easy trip to get a result. With a reputation for an attractive, swift-style of football, I believe when it comes down to the relegation battle at the end of the season this team will have the right assets to pull through.

Predicted Finish: 16th

Chelsea

Last year: 1st

Diego Costa will be hoping for an injury-free season.

Jose Mourinho has been terribly quiet in the transfer window by his club’s standards while other teams have strengthened. The champions will go in as favourites once again this year, probably rightly so, but they will have to work much harder for it with their title rivals breathing down their necks. Last week’s loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield will be sticking in the back of their minds as well as another loss to Italian club Fiorentina midweek. I think Chelsea still need one or two more signings but I still can’t imagine them not being at the top end come May next year, and perhaps back-to-back titles.

Predicted Finish: 1st

Crystal Palace

Last year: 10th

Yohan Cabaye is back in the EPL.

Crystal Palace exceeded expectations last season with another record high position on the table. Considering the sacking of Tony Pulis early on in the season, Alan Pardew did very well to hold his squad together and strengthen it over summer. Yohan Cabaye returns to play under his former manager and with the Frenchman already experienced in this league, I’m tipping Cabaye to have a great season alongside Australian enforcer Mile Jedinak in midfield.

Predicted Finish: 11th

Everton

Last year: 11th

It was quite obvious that Europa League football last season made it rather difficult for the Merseysiders to keep up with the top half of the season. It soon became apparent to Roberto Martinez that his squad lacked quality in depth and Romelu Lukaku essentially is the heart and soul of Martinez' attack. Without European football this season, I’m giving Everton a chance at the top 8 but only if they can hold onto young superstar centre half John Stones to maintain the partnership with captain Phil Jagielka.

Predicted Finish: 9th

Leicester City

Last year: 14th

What can we say about Leicester City. Before Christmas this side was destined for turmoil, but Nigel Pearson completely flipped the odds upside down in the back half of the season to lift City out of the relegation zone comfortably. For some odd reason, Pearson was shown the door by his executive board and now Italian manager Claudio Ranieri is at the helm. This could either be a very good thing or the complete opposite for the club as some fans are questioning the suitability of Ranieri for what is likely to be another dog fight for relegation spots this season.

Predicted Finish: 15th

Liverpool

Last year: 6th

Will Christian Benteke be the answer up front?

The 2014/15 season for the Reds will be seen as one of the most disappointing campaigns yet under Brendan Rodgers. Replacing Luis Suarez wasn't going to be easy, but Rodgers was hit hard by the long-term injury of striker Daniel Sturridge, who was never really covered adequately by backups Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli. Liverpool has been very busy once again this summer and it really is another case of will Rodgers' newest reinforcements adapt quick and well enough into the toughest league in the world, or flop again? Liverpool could challenge for the top-four this year with a bit of luck on its side but if the Kop aren’t within reach by Christmas then Rodgers will have run out of excuses.

Predicted Finish: 5th

Manchester City

Last year: 2nd

Although City has its first game this weekend, Manuel Pellegrini is certainly not done in the summer transfer window yet. Pellegrini will need to find another understudy to Sergio Aguero with the omission of Edin Dzeko, while City simply just need another striker because of the injury-prone Argentine. Once the Champions League came around, City dropped numerous points in the domestic league, which opened up a gap between Chelsea that the Citizens were not able to recover. It’s hard to tell now, but if City can recruit two or three more quality players then they could win the league, but at the moment second place looks the highest possible outcome at the moment.

Predicted Finish: 3rd

Manchester United

Last year: 4th

The Red Devils are finally excited at the thought of Champions League football once again, but are still two games away from the proposition. It would be nothing less than a disaster if Louis Van Gaal lost its qualifer against Belgian champions Club Brugge before the start of the group stages. For me, United’s season doesn’t start until they can secure Champions League qualification because if they fail then it will likely have huge effects on their domestic campaign. If they are successful, I expect United to be in the top-four at the end of the season again.

Predicted Finish: 4th

Newcastle

Last year: 15th

St. James Park was not a very happy place to be for the most part of last season. Newcastle continually shot itself in the foot with a string of poor performances that had the underachieving side in massive danger of relegation. It came down to the last game day and a goal from farewelled club legend Jonas Gutierrez to keep them up. With a bit of luck in the injury room, Newcastle should sit comfortably in the mid-table region with decent recruitment in the summer.

Predicted Finish: 12th

Norwich City

Last year: Promoted

The Canaries are known for loving a relegation battle and I fully expect them to be in one come the end of the season. Unfortunately on paper, there aren’t a lot of names that stand out to me as Premier League survival property. It is a very similar lineup to the one that went down a few seasons ago and for that reason I see Norwich going down once again - but it will be a close call.

Predicted Finish: 17th

Southampton

Last year: 7th

Jordy Clasie is set to slot in for the vacant spot Morgan Schneiderlin left.

The Saints continue to impress the Premier League pundits year-in year-out with their ability to topple the title contenders when least expected. For the first time in years, Southampton will be playing Europa League football and I do think they have the squad to maintain momentum in the domestic competitions as well. But with the extra travelling coming their way, I don’t see them challenging for top-four spots despite some promising new players now in the fold from the transfer window including Jordy Clasie, Juanmi, and Steven Caulker.

Predicted Finish: 7th

Stoke City

Last year: 9th

We can now put Stoke in the category of teams on the brink of Europa League spots after a huge season under Mark Hughes. Gone are the days that Stoke are known for their rugby-style play and low throw-in set pieces that used to trouble teams all the time - and 6-1 at home against Liverpool on the last day of the season. Hughes has put together a team with great balance, creativity, and grit. The loss of Steven N’Zonzi may hurt them though but there is plenty to be excited about up front.

Predicted Finish: 10th

Sunderland

Last year: 16th

The Black Cats home form last season was a disgrace to say the least and they really should have gone down after the sacking of Gus Poyet. But new manager Dick Advocaat pulled a white bunny out of the hat from thin air and gave the Sunderland fans another season of top flight football to look forward to. With little activity in the transfer window, this has to be the season that the Black Cats will be going down with an ageing line-up on paper.

Predicted Finish: 19th

Swansea City

Last year: 8th

Ghanian international Andre Ayew will provide plenty of pace in attack.

The Swans coped extremely well with European football last week and I don’t think many football fans in general understand the achievement of 8^th place in the circumstances. With captain Ashley Williams stating that it’s a relief to not be playing it this season, I can see the Swans making a big charge into the top 6 if their key players such as Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis stay fit. Look out for new signing Andre Ayew as well.

Predicted Finish: 8th

Tottenham

Last year: 5th

Spurs have done well to hold off bids for young England striker Harry Kane but need one more quality striker in support in the case of injury. Kane and Christian Eriksen together were the key to Spurs’ season in 2014/15 and it was really down to luck how one of them escaped serious injury considering the amount of minutes under each player’s belt. Spurs still need another creative midfielder and a striker with 15 goals in him to challenge for top-four.

Predicted Finish: 6th

Watford

Last year: Promoted

The Hornets have not done an awful lot to the squad that came up from the Championship. Etienne Capoue and Valon Behrami are the big names that stand out in the heart of the midfield. Considering Capoue’s dismal stint at Spurs last season, I’m sure he will have plenty to prove with his new club while Behrami has been and done that in the Premier League before. These two players will be the key to Watford staying up but it looks gloom thus far.

Predicted Finish: 20th

West Brom

Last year: 13^th

Rickie Lambert could find more success at the Baggies this season.

I honestly think the Baggies have picked up a bargain in Liverpool reject striker Rickie Lambert and it showed with Lambert’s brace of goals on debut in pre-season. If Tony Pulis can keep young Saido Berahino then West Brom shouldn’t have any issues staying up with a rock solid defence at the back lead by Joleon Lescott and the leadership of Chris Brunt.

Predicted Finish: 13th

West Ham

Last year: 12th

The Hammers were in the top-four until Christmas last season which had some players thinking that they actually could qualify for Champions League football. It is funny how three months can change the whole plot with the London side dropping all the way to 12^th by May. Picking up Europa League football because of the Fair Play rule will not help new manager Slaven Bilic’s cause to finish in the top half of the league. The loss of wide midfielder, and their highest assister, Stewart Downing should have the fans of the club weaping.

Predicted Finish: 14th