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Premier League Football Preview - Fixtures,Transfers,Team News,Predictions,Odds

The Premier League football season (2011/2012) has arrived with new teams, new players, new managers along with the promise of all the same great action, thrills, spills and drama!

The reigning champions are Manchester United and the new teams this season are Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City. (The first time a Welsh team has competed within the Premier League structure) West Ham United, Birmingham City and Blackpool are the teams missing from last season’s line up and they all face up to at least a season in the Championship.

It’s been relatively quite in the close season in terms of high profile transfers, but the flurry of activity usually happens a little closer to transfer deadline day, so there is still time to see plenty of new faces at your favourite club.

Arsenal – It’s been an off season to forget for the Gunners following a near disastrous end to the last campaign. Gael Clichy has left to join Manchester City which should pave the way for Kieran Gibbs to establish himself, whilst Samir Nasri is still heavily rumoured to be following Clichy to Manchester. Perhaps the biggest talking point at the Emirates though has been the prolonged transfer saga of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. At the time of writing, the Spanish International is still an Arsenal player but the chances of it remaining that way appear to be slim. My Arsenal Prediction – Top 7

Aston Villa – Another club going through plenty of changes, with a new manager at the helm in ex Birmingham and Rangers boss, Alex McLeish and the departure of England stars Ashley Young ( Man United) and Stewart Downing (Liverpool). Goalkeeper Shay Given has come in to ensure solidity at the back and Charles N Zogbia has joined from Wigan Athletic which may compensate a little for the loss of Young and Downing. Proven goalscorer Darren Bent remains and this may be a season for Villa to consolidate rather than shine. My Aston Villa Prediction – Mid Table

Blackburn Rovers – One wonders whether there may be a season of struggle ahead for the Lancashire outfit. Last season was one of upheaval (the sacking of Sam Allardyce and installing his successor Steve Kean along with new ownership) and slog. However well Kean acquits himself; will he have enough depth in the playing squad to avoid another relegation battle? The signings of Radosav Petrovic from Partizan Belgrade and David Goodwillie from Dundee United are hardly the big name transfers the Rovers fans may have been expecting when the new owners came in. My Blackburn Rovers Prediction – Relegation Battle

Bolton Wanderers – Matt Taylor and Johan Elmander have moved on whilst Lee Chung-yong and Tyrone Mears will miss massive chunks of the season through injury. Daniel Sturridge is back at Chelsea and rumours abound about the future of Gary Cahill. Nigel Reo-Coker has joined but where will the goals come from? My Bolton Wanderers Prediction – Lower Mid Table

Chelsea – A new manager in Andre Villas-Boas and the additions of Oriol Romeu (Barcelona) and Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht) may not be enough to play catch up with Manchester United but a couple more signings before transfer deadline day (Luka Modric?) may be able to swing the balance a little further. My Chelsea Prediction – Top Four

Everton – Very little in the way of activity at Goodison Park during the summer with more rumours of players leaving than coming in. If the current roster is maintained and the Toffees can get off the mark a little more quickly in the new campaign there shouldn’t be any need to struggle. My Everton Prediction – Upper Mid Table

Fulham – Despite the somewhat strange departure of Mark Hughes, who remains jobless at the time of writing, the Craven Cottage outfit have a very solid squad of players and their season has started early with success already in the qualifying stages of the Europa Cup. If Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora can stay fit it could be a strong first season for new manager Martin Jol.

Liverpool – Much is expected from the Anfield faithful this season. With January signings Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez now settled and the notable new faces of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam in midfield, perhaps Liverpool will genuinely be challenging for honours this season. My Liverpool Prediction – Top Four

Man City – For all the spending power on display at the Etihad Stadium, (as it’s now called) Manchester City, under Roberto Mancini never quite look like the finished article. Great players all over the pitch with a new addition in attack in Sergio Aguero, City will undoubtedly be hard to beat but can they go a step further than an FA Cup win with either the Premier League title or a great run in the Champions League? My Man City Prediction – Top 4

Man United – Reigning champions and surely favourites to retain their title, Manchester United have added Ashley Young, Phil Jones and goalkeeper David De Gea to an already impressive squad which blends experience with youth. It’s very difficult to look beyond United for the title this year, although it could be much closer with the strengthening of rivals. My Man United Prediction – Champions.

Look out for part 2 of the Premier League preview soon, covering all the teams from Newcastle to Wolves.

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