Arsenal
Great expectations Arsène Wenger’s youngsters ran out of steam,
attacking players and concentration after early brilliance last term, so if
lessons are learnt, they may sustain a challenge to the finish line this
time.
Worst-case scenario Emmanuel Adebayor unhappy at not receiving a fat
salary, will not recapture his form from last season, and the goalkeeper and
central defence will look brittle.
In S Nasri (Marseilles, £12.8m), A Ramsey (Cardiff, £5m), F Coquelin
(Stade Lavallois, free).
Out A Hleb (Barcelona, initial £11.8m), M Flamini (AC Milan, free),
Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos, £1m), J Lehmann (Stuttgart, free), K Gilbert
(Leicester, season loan).
Preseason matches Today Burgenland XI (Ritzing, Austria). Wednesday
Stuttgart (a). Saturday Juventus (h). Sunday Real Madrid (h). Aug
6 Huddersfield (a). Aug 8 Ajax (a). Aug 9 Seville
(Amsterdam). Aug 12 Boreham Wood (a).
Aston Villa
Great expectations Gareth Barry staying would seem like signing a £20
million megastar to Villa fans. Full backs are urgently required – Nicky
Shorey of Reading, and Lee Naylor, of Celtic, have been touted, while Steve
Finnan could still sign. David Bentley would fit the bill as a star signing.
Worst-case scenario Barry goes, Brad Guzan fails to get a work permit,
Steve Walford and John Robertson make comebacks to play in the full-back
roles.
In B Guzan (Chivas USA, initial £1m, subject to work permit), S Sidwell
(Chelsea, initial £4.5m), C Davies (West Brom, loan made permanent, initial
£8m), B Friedel (Blackburn, £2m).
Out L Moore (West Brom, £3m), D Bellon (Vaduz, free), P Berger (Sparta
Prague, free), E Lund (Gothenburg, free), O Mellberg (Juventus, free), T
Sorensen (released), S Carson (back to Liverpool after loan).
Preseason matches Saturday Reading (a).
Blackburn Rovers
Great expectations They have finished tenth or higher for the past
three years, which is probably the best that Paul Ince can wish for in his
first season in charge. Roque Santa Cruz has said that he expects to be
starting the season at the club after being linked with several rivals this
summer.
Worst-case scenario Things begin to unravel after the departure of Mark
Hughes, the manager, followed by Brad Friedel and probably David Bentley. So
far, Paul Robinson is the only addition to the squad and more recruits are
needed.
In P Robinson (Tottenham, £3.5m).
Out B Friedel (Aston Villa, £2m), P Enckelman (Cardiff, free), B
Berner, S Henchoz (released), R De Vita (Livingston, free).
Preseason matches Saturday Wolves (a). Aug 9 NAC Breda (h).
Bolton Wanderers
Great expectations Johan Elmander, the new £11 million forward, proves
a bigger success than Nicolas Anelka, who scored 21 times in 53 league
appearances for the club, as Gary Megson’s team secure a top-ten finish
after last season’s flirt with relegation.
Worst-case scenario Elmander fails to adapt to life in England, Bolton
end up with fewer goals than the 36 they scored last season and are
relegated after defeat away to Manchester City on the last day of the
season.
In F Muamba (Birmingham, £5m), J Elmander (Toulouse, £11m).
Out A Teymourian (Fulham, free), I Campo, S Giannakopoulos, J Smith, M
Ellis, L Thompson (all released), D Braaten (Toulouse, exchange).
Preseason matches Friday Doncaster (a). Saturday Chorley (a). Aug
4 A Thessaloniki (a). Aug 8 AEK Athens (a).
Chelsea
Great expectations Luiz Felipe Scolari is a breath of fresh air,
Robinho joins and in tandem with Deco they play free-flowing football. Many
fans will accept only regaining the title as good enough.
Worst-case scenario Scolari is as practical as predecessors, Didier
Drogba leaves, Frank Lampard is unhappy after being refused a move to Inter
Milan and the cracks that began to show in John Terry’s armour grow wider.
In J Bosingwa (Porto, £16.2m), Deco (Barcelona, £8m).
Out C Makelele (Paris Saint-Germain, free), H Crespo (Inter Milan,
free), H Worley (Leicester, free), B Sahar (Portsmouth, six-month loan), S
Sidwell (Aston Villa, initial £4.5m), S Rajkovic (Twente, loan), R Bertrand
(Norwich, loan).
Preseason matches Tomorrow Malaysia XI (Kuala Lumpur). Friday
Lokomotiv Moscow (a). Sunday AC Milan or Seville (Moscow).
Everton
Great expectations Four years after Istanbul provided the setting for
Liverpool’s momentous Champions League final triumph, Everton fans descend
on the Turkish city to witness their team win the Uefa Cup final at
Fenerbahçe’s Sükrü Saracoglu Stadium on May 20, 2009.
Worst-case scenario Tim Cahill, the talented playmaker, suffers another
long-term injury. Yakubu Ayegbeni goes Awol again after playing for Nigeria.
Returns to discover that David Moyes has resigned over transfer funds.
In None.
Out L Carsley (Birmingham, free), D Dennehy (Cardiff, nominal), J Jones
(Leyton Orient, free), J Harris (Chester, free), P Boyle, S Wessels, S
Spencer, J Kissock, J Irving (all released), B Vidarsson (FC Twente, free),
A Downes (Yeovil Town, free).
Preseason fixtures Wednesday Chicago Fire (a). Sunday Colorado
Rapids (a). Aug 9 PSV Eindhoven (h).
Fulham
Great expectations Bobby Zamora’s partnership with Andrew Johnson who
is expected to join, could be priceless.
Worst-case scenario Mohamed Al Fayed sells the club. Perennial scrap
for relegation ensues.
In R Zamora (West Ham, £6m), J Paintsil (West Ham, £500,000), Z Gera
(West Bromwich, free), M Schwarzer (Middlesbrough, free), D Stockdale
(Darlington, £600,000), A Teymourian (Bolton, free), T Kallio (Young Boys,
undisclosed).
Out A Warner (Hull, free), R Batista (Sporting Lisbon, undisclosed), B
Runstrom (Odense, free), C Bocanegra (Rennes, free), I Pearce, P
Christanval, J Litmanen, S Elliott, I Ehui, C Brooks-Meade (all released), B
McBride (free), D Stefanovic (Norwich, undisclosed), N Ashton (Wycombe,
undisclosed), M Timlin (Swindon, free), E Omozusi (Norwich, season loan).
Preseason matches Saturday Birmingham (a). Aug 9 Torino (h).
Hull City
Great expectations Survival has to be the prime objective for their
first campaign in the top flight in their 104-year existence. Phil Brown,
the manager, has knowledge of the big time as assistant at Bolton Wanderers
and he has brought in experienced players to stand the team in good stead.
Worst-case scenario The gap in quality between the top two divisions
proves unmanageable and Manchester United refuse to release Fraizer
Campbell, the forward who scored 15 goals on loan for Hull last term and a
series of poor results follows.
In C Fagan (Derby County, £750,000), Geovanni (Manchester City, free),
B Mendy (Paris Saint-Germain, free), G Boateng (Middlesbrough, £1m), A
Warner (Fulham, free), P Halmosi (Plymouth, undisclosed).
Out D Livermore (Brighton, free), A Okocha (released), H Pedersen
(Silkeborg, released), F Campbell (returned to Manchester United after
loan), M Bridges (Carlisle, season loan).
Preseason matches Tomorrow Oldham (a). Sunday Hearts (a). Aug
9 Osasuna (h).
Liverpool
Great expectations To finish above Arsenal and Chelsea to secure
runners-up spot behind Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.
Worst-case scenario Rafael BenÍtez vents his frustration at George
Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks by launching a ferocious tirade at Liverpool’s
warring co-owners. He is sacked in trophy-less season.
In P Degen (Borussia Dortmund, free), A Dossena (Udinese, undisclosed),
D Cavalieri (Palmeiras, £3.5m), D Ngog (Paris Saint-Germain, £1.5m), Z
Poloskei (MTK Hungaria, loan), E Mendy (Murcia, free), V Weijl (AZ Alkmaar),
N Saric (Herfolge), C Buchtmann (Borussia Dortmund, undisclosed)
Out P Crouch (Portsmouth, initial £9m), H Kewell (Galatasaray, free), D
Guthrie (Newcastle, £2.5m), J A Riise (Roma, £4m), A Le Tallec (Le Mans,
free), S Carson (West Brom, £3.25m), J Hobbs (Leicester, season loan), B
Idrizaj (released), A Hammill (Blackpool, loan), G Antwi (Tranmere,
six-month loan).
Preseason matches Wednesday Villarreal (a). Saturday Rangers
(a). Aug 5 Valerenga (a). Aug 8 Lazio (h).
Manchester City
Great expectations Mark Hughes cements his name in City folklore as he
takes his new team to Old Trafford on May 9, 2009 and masterminds a win
against his former club which ends Sir Alex Ferguson’s title defence.
Worst-case scenario Despite a healthy run in the Uefa Cup and a
top-eight finish in the table, aided by securing the double over Manchester
United, Mark Hughes is then given his marching orders by Thaksin Shinawatra,
the owner.
In Jô (CSKA Mosow, £19m).
Out A Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven, undisclosed), Geovanni (Hull, free), Sun
Jihai (Sheffield United, free), G Samaras (Celtic, undisclosed), A Grimes
(Millwall, free), G Breen (Hereford, free), P Dickov, E Mpenza, M Daly, A
Giombetti, C Mourtisen (all released).
Preseason matches Saturday Stockport (a). Aug 6 Celtic (a). Aug
9 AC Milan (h).
Manchester United
Great expectations Cristiano Ronaldo repairs his fractured relationship
with United fans after spending the summer touting for a move to Real Madrid
by surpassing the 42 goals that he scored for the club last season as United
make a successful defence of the Barclays Premier League and Champions
League titles.
Worst-case scenario Having failed to secure the move of his “dreams”,
Ronaldo sulks like a schoolboy and is only a shadow of the player he was the
previous season as Sir Alex Ferguson is put in his place by Luiz Felipe
Scolari, the new manager of Chelsea.
In D Petrucci (Roma, £200,000).
Out G Piqué (Barcelona, undisclosed), K Lee (Oldham, free), R Jones
(Hartlepool, free), F Brandy (Swansea, loan), T Heaton (Cardiff, loan), M
Lea (Scunthorpe, free), C McCormack (Triestina, free), S Evans, C Fagan, M
Barnes (all released).
Preseason matches Saturday Espanyol (h). Aug 4 Peterborough (a). Aug
6 Juventus (h). Aug 10 Portsmouth (FA Community Shield, Wembley).
Middlesbrough
Great expectations Gareth Southgate has held an inspirational team
meeting with his players and expectations are high. Europe is the aim. While
last season was a disappointment, the squad appears balanced. James Harper,
of Reading, is a target.
Worst-case scenario The manager’s faith in two largely untested
goalkeepers is admirable, but there are doubts regarding the ability of Brad
Jones and Ross Turnbull. Bids for Stewart Downing have not come, but the
potential for destabilisation remains.
In M Emnes (Sparta Rotterdam, £3.2m), D Digard (Paris Saint-Germain,
£4m).
Out F Rochemback, Lee Dong Gook, G Mendieta (all released), G Boateng
(Hull, £1m), M Schwarzer (Fulham, free), S Thompson (Port Vale, free), J
Kennedy (Darlington, free).
Preseason matches Tomorrow Carlisle (a). Saturday Hibernian (a). Aug
5 Darlington (a). Aug 8 Sparta Rotterdam (a).
Newcastle United
Great expectations That Dennis Wise and Co earn their money and, after
a summer of refusals, sign some quality players. Kevin Keegan needs a left
back, at least one centre half and a bit of magic. Michael Owen’s contract
is the other priority.
Worst-case scenario With Newcastle no longer prepared to reward
underachievement with sky-high wages, a crucial advantage has been lost in
the transfer market, but they desperately need bodies, ageing free-loaders
excepted.
In J Gutiérrez (Mallorca, undisclosed), D Guthrie (Liverpool, £2.5m).
Out D Rozehnal (Lazio, £2.9m), L Diatta, J Troisi, S Carr (all
released), P Ramage (QPR, free), Emre Belözoglu (Fenerbahçe, undisclosed).
Preseason matches Friday Hertha Berlin (Multi Media Sports Cup,
Majorca). Sunday TBC (Majorca). Aug 6 PSV Eindhoven (h). Aug
9 Valencia (h).
Portsmouth
Great expectations Selling Sulley Muntari to Inter Milan for a
surprisingly high £12 million will finance the purchase of Shaun
Wright-Phillips from Chelsea for £9 million, with enough left over to buy
Nicky Shorey from Reading to cover Hermann Hreidarsson at left back.
Worst-case scenario No new left back means that Noé Pamarot will be the
only proven defender to cover all four defensive positions, unless you count
Linvoy Primus, who has been out for a year, and Lauren, who is often
injured.
In G Little (Reading, free), B Sahar (Chelsea, six-month loan), P
Crouch (Liverpool, initial £9m).
Out S Muntari (Inter Milan, £12m).
Preseason matches Aug 4 Oxford United (a). Aug 5 Havant &
Waterlooville (a). Aug 10 Manchester United (FA Community Shield,
Wembley). Aug 11 Gosport (a).
Stoke City
Great expectations Marton Fulop is on the verge of a £1.7 million move
from Sunderland and with Dave Kitson and Seyi Olofinjana signed, it shows
that Stoke mean business.
Worst-case scenario Has been bypassed because Tony Pulis, the manager,
has made a couple of decent acquisitions.
In D Kitson (Reading, £5.5m), R Austin (Portmore United, pending work
permit), S Olofinjana (Wolves, £3m).
Out R Hoult (Notts County), M Broomes (Blackpool, free), D Matteo
(released), R De Laet, R Shotton (both Bournemouth, loan). Preseason
matches Tomorrow Notts County (a). Saturday Shrewsbury (a). Aug
5 Southampton (a). Aug 8 Osasuna (h).
Sunderland
Great expectations Roy Keane has plenty of money at his disposal, shown
by the £23 million bid for Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Younès Kaboul and
Steed Malbranque, all of Tottenham Hotspur. The club need a sharp injection
of quality, though.
Worst-case scenario Sunderland need to overturn the perception of
established players being reluctant to join them. Kenwyne Jones’s knee
injury is another concern.
In T Tainio (Tottenham, undisclosed), P Chimbonda, Tottenham, £4.9m), D
Meyler (Cork City, undisclosed), N Colgan (Ipswich Town, free).
Out A Cole (Nottingham Forest, free), G Halford (Sheffeld United,
loan), S Wright, S Varga, I Harte, C Clarke, B Dennehy, G Donoghue (all
released), A Riera (Falkirk, season-long loan).
Preseason matches Today Cobh Ramblers (a). Wednesday Nottingham
Forest (a). Sunday Ajax (h). Aug 7 Athlone Town (a).
Tottenham Hotspur
Great expectations If Luka Modric can replicate his form for Croatia
during Euro 2008, the fans can expect an entertaining season, having shown
they have the potential to beat the top clubs.
Worst-case scenario Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, who are expected
to leave, were the most feared partnership in the league last season. How
long will it take for new players to gel?
In L Modric (Dynamo Zagreb, £15.8m), H Gomes (PSV Eindhoven, £7.8m), G
dos Santos (Barcelona, initial £4.7m), J Bostock (Crystal Palace, initial
£700,000), P-J Mpoku (Standard Liège, undisclosed).
Out P Robinson (Blackburn, £3.5m), P Chimbonda (Sunderland, £4.9m), T
Tainio (Sunderland, tbc), R Cerny (QPR, free), J Martin (Blackpool,
nominal), S Dawkins (Leyton Orient, loan), T Forecast (Southampton,
undisclosed).
Preseason matches Today Norwich (a). Wednesday Leyton Orient
(a). Friday Celtic (Rotterdam). Sunday Borussia Dortmund
(Rotterdam). Aug 10 AS Roma (h).
West Bromwich Albion
Great expectations Tony Mowbray brings in a central defender with poise
and/or power (Abdoulaye Méïté remains on the agenda). Sean Davis, of
Portsmouth, would add power to the midfield and Matt Derbyshire, of
Blackburn Rovers, guile up front.
Worst-case scenario Going to the Emirates Stadium on August 16 with
Leon Barnett as the defensive pivot and a midfield hell-bent on playing the
beautiful game. Yet to win after five preseason friendlies.
In R Bednar (Hearts, £2.3m), M Danek (Viktoria Plzen, loan extended), G
Dorrans (Livingston, £100,000), Kim Do Heon (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma,
£550,000), L Moore (Aston Villa, £3m), G Zuiverloon (Heerenveen, £3.2m), M
Cech (Porto, £1.4m), S Carson (Liverpool, £3.25m).
Out M Albrechtsen (Derby, free), C Davies (Aston Villa, loan made
permanent, initial £8m), Z Gera (Fulham, free), B Cesar (Marseilles,
returned after loan), K Phillips (Birmingham, free), S Morrison (Swansea,
free).
Preseason matches Tomorrow Northampton Town (a). Friday Hereford
(a). Aug 5 Walsall (a).
West Ham United
Great expectations The picture could be bright if Dean Ashton and Craig
Bellamy click in attack and Kieron Dyer times runs from the centre of
midfield alongside Scott Parker.
Worst-case scenario Old injuries return to haunt Bellamy and Dyer, a
lack of ingenuity in midfield prevents the team from breaking down the
opposition and the vast disparity in salary between the players prompts
unrest. Alan Curbishley is the bookies’ favourite to be the first manager to
leave his post next season.
In V Behrami (Lazio, £5m), H O Eyjolfsson (Kopavogur, nominal), B
Bajner (Liberty Oradea, nominal).
Out R Zamora (Fulham, £6m), J Paintsil (Fulham, £500,000), R Wright
(Ipswich, undisclosed), N Solano (released).
Preseason matches Tomorrow Peterborough (a). Wednesday Cambridge
United (a). Friday Southampton (a). Aug 4 Ipswich (a). Aug 9
Villarreal (h).
Wigan Athletic
Great expectations Steve Bruce has assembled a starting lineup that
could be made up of full-time internationals, for the first time in the
club’s history. The manager hopes to strengthen further after the proposed
sales of Marlon King to Hull City and possibly David Cotterill, Antoine
Sibierski and Michael Brown. Maynor Figueroa has returned for a second loan
spell.
Worst-case scenario Players return jaded from far-flung international
matches, new-look attacking line, including Amr Zaki, fails to click and
Paul Scharner leaves for Aston Villa or Sunderland.
In D de Ridder (Birmingham, free), O Kapo (Birmingham, £2.5m) A Zaki
(Zamalek, season loan), M Figueroa (Deportivo Olimpia, season loan).
Out J Aghahowa (Kayserispor, undisclosed), S Olembé (released), J Skoko
(released), M Bent (returned to Charlton after loan), A Granqvist
(Groningen, undisclosed).
Preseason matches Tomorrow Barnsley (a). Saturday Sheffield
Wednesday (a). Aug 5 Hibernian (a). Aug 10 Utrecht (a).
