Team Previews - Hull City

Expected Line-Up: 

Strengths:

Tactical Flexibility - Hull have recruited really well and this gives them the option to switch systems and players easily, making Hull an extremely difficult team to plan against. They can play 5 or 4 at the back, 2 up front or a fluid 3 with Snodgrass and Ince as wide men. This means that they can adapt and overcome any type of team they come up against.

Technically Gifted and Creative players - Huddlestone is amongst the most gifted midfielders in the league, Snodgrass and Ince are extremely dangerous and can create a lot of chances whilst Elmohamady is a fantastic crosser with pace and skill. This makes Hull unpredictable and means that with Long's pace and finishing they are a constant threat.

Quality Defenders - Harry Maguire is a very highly rated defender who Hull will be hoping can make the step up from League 1 to the Premier League. He has all the attributes to be a top defender but whether or not he can make the grade at an early age we shall see. However, Curtis Davies is a terrific centre-half who is good enough to play internationally but often overlooked, whilst Robertson is a superbly talented full-back with the world at his feet.

Weaknesses:

Lots of Games - With the added pressure of the Europa League, Hull might be stretched and struggle to be fresh for every game, which is where the fringe players come in. However, Hull may find themselves tired and struggling to play at their best for every game.

Possible Lack of Finisher - Shane Long is a wonderful player but isn't the most prolific of strikers, average about 1 in 4 over the last few years, which puts pressure on players like Jelavic, Aluko, Sagbo, Ince and Snodgrass to score enough goals. Jelavic is a good goalscorer if he can find his form but he has been patchy in the last few years, so Hull may not have an out-and-out finisher.

Signings:

Robert Snodgrass - A very clever signing from Hull to sign Snodgrass, who is a brilliant dribbler and creative passer who also scores goals. He is also a wonderful set-piece taker which with Hull's height at the back could come in very handy. Snodgrass will add goals to this Hull side and I'm a huge fan of his.

Tom Ince - Having watched him play a few times at Blackpool I've been impressed and am intrigued to see how he fits in at Hull. He's fast, direct and adept at carrying the ball, but he has end-product as well. Hull have done well to capture his services for the season and I imagine that Ince will do well.

Harry Maguire - Tall, strong and intelligent, Maguire has the attributes to be a top centre-half. If he gets game-time this year he could be one of the best signings of the season at £2.5m. Don't be surprised if he is linked with a big money move in 2 or 3 years.

Andrew Robertson - Very highly rated by Dundee United fans and expected to be a top full back in the near future. I'm very surprised that a top 4 team didn't swoop for Robertson, but Hull is a good fit for him as he will play a lot and develop well.

Who They Should Sign:

A Finisher - Somebody who can put the ball in the back of the net would possibly elevate Hull to the next level. Jordan Rhodes is in my eyes a perfect fit for Hull and I think would make them a regular top 8 team, however Rhodes has signed a new contract with Blackburn so it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Jelavic is a good player but he isn't a top finisher.

A Central Midfielder - Hull need another player to play either off the striker or as a central midfielder more as back-up than a starter, but that's all else that is needed for them, really.

Final Thoughts:

I really like the look of this Hull side and think that they have recruited superbly well. They have a fairly young squad with bags of talent and variety. There's plenty of players who can score goals, though they don't have a 20 goal a season striker which may be their downfall.

Defensively, Hull are solid and have made good signings. Bruce has got his team well organised and strong at the back, giving the forward players room to show their talent. Hull have a team that could easily make top 8 if they have a good season and I think they will have a very successful season.

Team Previews - Everton

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Solid Midfield Base -  McCarthy, Barry and Besic are all terrific players and can rotate roles to create a superb base to build on. This is key as it gives the full-backs room to push forwards which is key to Everton's gameplan. McCarthy especially is a very under-appreciated player with a superb passing range and very intelligent positioning when it comes to a defensive role.

Width - Even when their wide players cut inside, which Mirallas loves to do, Everton always have a full-back on the overlap. Not only that, but these full-backs are exceptionally good on the ball - Baines is one of the best crossers in the world and Coleman showed his ability going forward last season.

Fluidity - Everton's system is extremely fluid and allows player like Barkley and Mirallas to get the ball in dangerous areas and create chances for their forward, who may be Lukaku but it seems that they may have to find a different player. However, this fluidity makes them incredibly hard to stop, as they have intelligent players who will find space and hurt teams. 

Weaknesses:

A Forward - This may only be an issue for a short amount of time, but currently Everton only have Naismith and Kone as senior forwards and need another striker. Lukaku may be leaving but I think that he will go elsewhere and I'm not sure he's as good a fit for Everton as is made out. At the moment they may be a little bit toothless.

Inconsistent in Attack - Mirallas and Barkley are incredibly talented but often struggle for consistent performances and McGeady, if he starts, is very similar. However, Everton only really need one of them to have a good game and they're in with a chance, and Barkley is only going to improve.

Signings:

Muhamed Besic - I was extremely impressed by Besic in the World Cup. He's a dynamic footballer who is comfortable on the ball and intelligent defensively. For £4m he could be the steal of the transfer window, considering he is stylistically similar to Schneiderlin who is being touted for 4 or 5 times as much.

Gareth Barry - Having been disappointing near the end of his Manchester City career, he has been revitalised under Martinez and shown just how good he actually is. Signing a permanent deal with Everton could be a great signing for both parties if he can keep up last season's form.

Who They Should Sign:

A Striker - As I've said before, Everton need a striker to score the goals they need to break the top 4 in the next few seasons. It will depend on how much they have to spend, but it's clear that the Everton board trust Martinez. Lukaku would be a decent signing but I think Martinez could find a cheaper alternative. In my opinion, Remy would be a superb signing but his wage demands will be huge. 

A Right Winger - McGeady is a wonderful substitute to have, but Martinez opted not to start him much last season. I'm a fan of Pienaar but he is also not quite at the level of a top 6 team any more, so signing a top class winger would be a real sign of improvement and progress. 

Final Thoughts:

Everton look set to make the top 8 again, but if they are to make progress they need to make a few big signings. At current they don't look like breaking into the top 5, despite having a very functional squad and a fantastic manager, as they just need to make a few marquee signings to push them to the next level.

Everton are very good against all sorts of teams as they are tactically flexible, so can give the bigger teams a very good game as well as dominating against 'weaker' teams. This means that they could conceivably get into the top 5 as they can match them, but they are a little too unreliable and inconsistent going forward to get enough points to break into it unless they make some fantastic signings.

With a little bit of investment Everton could shake up the top of the league, but even without they could have a very successful season. The future looks bright for Everton fans.

Team Previews - Crystal Palace

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Dangerous Wingers - Jason Puncheon showed his class last season, being involved in a lot of positive things that Palace did last season. With him and Bolasie Palace have two quick, powerful, inverted wingers who can contribute with goals and assists. Bolasie is a player I'm a huge fan of and on his day is very difficult to stop.

Defensive Stability - A lot has been said about Palace's defence and Pulis' effect on the team and it clearly helped them out. With the presence of Mile Jedinak, who is a terrific holding midfielder, in front of a solid back four, Palace are very difficult to beat. This gives them a platform to build on which is useful for any team.

Height and Aerial Presence - Palace have a lot of players who are very good in the air, standing them in good stead when it comes to set-pieces. Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Jedinak and Chamakh are all very good in the air, which is a huge bonus for obvious reasons. 

Weaknesses:

Breaking Teams Down - Due to their pace, Palace like to play on the break to exploit space behind the defence. This means when teams sit deep, they don't always have the creativity and incision to carve them open. Chamakh plays almost as a number 10 and is a good passer of the ball, but isn't the most creative player. They do have Jon Williams who is a very gifted player, but I'm not sure if he is the man to break teams down.

Depth - Palace don't have many defenders and any injury in that area of the pitch could cause problems. They generally have decent cover in other areas of the pitch, but they don't have many defenders. 

Signings:

Fraizer Campbell - A fast, hard-working forward such as Campbell should help complement the side's dogged style and give them an outlet. With Campbell, Puncheon and Bolasie, Palace have a lot of pace to attack teams with, but they are all good footballers too. Could be a coup at a fee believed to be around £900,000. 

Chris Kettings - Seems like a decent move, a young keeper to be back-up to Julian Speroni makes a lot of sense. I don't know how good he is, having never seen him play, but he is a Scotland U21 International so he must have something about him.

Who They Should Sign:

Defenders - Some back up for their current defenders, especially at full-back. Mariappa is a centre-back by trade but is decent at right-back, but signing somebody who is natural there might make more sense.

A number 10 - Somebody who will help them break down more defensive teams could be invaluable against teams in the relegation scrap. Jon Williams as I've said is that type of player but I'm not sure he's good enough just yet to have that level of expectation on him.

Final Thoughts:

Palace will rely on Mile Jedinak to reproduce his form of last season to help them rise up the table, but the contribution of Puncheon will be important too. Glenn Murray will be fit this season and we may see his goalscoring touch if he can get back to the level he found in the Championship.

Crystal Palace will almost certainly finish mid-table again as I don't think they will struggle for points. They are a very difficult side to attack against as they are solid, but you cannot afford to throw men forward because they will hurt you on the counter. 

Everything looks fine for Palace to have another successful season in the Premier League. So far they've been very quiet in the transfer market but their team is extremely solid and they don't need wholesale changes. Pulis is a very astute manager and any changes he feels he needs to make he will do without hesitation. 

Team Previews - Chelsea

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Physicality - Chelsea have a lot of either very fast or very strong footballers, which gives them a huge edge. Matic, Terry and Cahill are extremely strong and this makes it difficult to break them down, whilst Costa is a big presence famed for his pace and strength combination.

Creativity - Chelsea were much maligned for their defensive style in the big games, but their squad is capable of much, much more. The addition of Fabregas should bring even more creativity to the team and take the pressure off of Hazard and Oscar to be the main creators. This means that Chelsea have three players who are extremely creative which, when you've got one of the deadliest forwards in Europe, should be a very dangerous combination.

Discipline and the Jose Mourinho factor - Mourinho is extremely good at creating disciplined teams who don't concede many goals, which suits their back four perfectly. Filipe Luis and Azpilicueta are two of the best defensive full backs in world football, whilst Terry and Cahill benefit from a more disciplined style. Having Jose Mourinho as a coach gives Chelsea a huge advantage.

Depth - Chelsea have an absolutely amazing squad, with world-class starters and extremely good back-ups. Andre Schurrle showed what he can do coming off the bench in the World Cup for Germany, Ramires is an energetic and dynamic midfielder with bags of pace - the list goes on.

Weaknesses:

Aging players - Chelsea's squad isn't exactly ancient, but players like Terry and now Drogba are aging and we may not see their best. Terry especially, as he may have to play a lot of games and I'm not sure how he'll deal with that. 

Signings:

Francesc Fabregas - Fabregas is a superb player with a great passing range who can score goals, but he does have a tendency to drift in and out of games and indeed, seasons. However, on his day he can single-handedly win games and Chelsea will be a better team with him playing, of that I'm sure.

Diego Costa - Fast, strong and a deadly finisher, Diego Costa could be the striker that Chelsea fans have been screaming out for. Despite a disappointing World Cup, Costa is a fantastic striker and when fit, he will be a deadly force up top for Chelsea.

Filipe Luis - After an amazing season with Atletico it was inevitable that Luis would be snapped up by a richer team. He's a superb defender who is more than capable on the ball, similar to Ashley Cole if you will. Could be a fantastic acquisition and it means that Azpilicueta can move to his natural right hand side.

Didier Drogba - This one I don't understand, but maybe Mourinho has a plan for him. Drogba's last kick as a Chelsea player was to win them the Champions League - why come back and change that? Drogba is aging and past his prime so I'm not entirely sure why he has been re-signed.

Who They Should Sign:

A Central Defender - They don't need any players really, but a long term replacement for Terry would not go amiss. Kurt Zouma has a lot of potential but is not yet ready, so a truly world-class centre-half would make them easily the best squad in the league.

Final Thoughts:

I think that in terms of the title Chelsea are the team to beat. They have an almost flawless squad, a top marksman in Costa, a disciplined defence and probably the best manager in the league. I'd be very surprised if Chelsea don't win the league in fact; I can't see any team that is going to beat them.

Chelsea's only possible issue might be consistency. Mourinho lives for the big games and I think they will do well against the other title contenders, but it's often games against bottom half teams that they slip up on. However, Mourinho put that down to not having a powerful striker akin to Drogba, so with Costa on the books they should be fine.

It's difficult to find any reason why Chelsea may struggle as they have world-class players in every area of the pitch and they have to be favourites to win the league.

Team Previews - Burnley

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Continuity - Burnley have signed six players, but I'm not sure too many of them will start, and instead I think will play a fairly similar side. This means that they will need very little time to gel and will be able to hit the ground running quickly, which may give them an advantage early on. Don't be too surprised if they pull off a few big results very early in the season.

Solidity - Burnley's defence was absolutely terrific last season and was a major factor in their success. Playing 4-4-2 helps defensively, due to the famed 'two banks of four' which are typically very hard to break down. The players will already know each others play style and will work well as a unit, making them extremely difficult to beat. I actually think Burnley will stay up, because I don't think they'll concede too many goals, but in Ings they have a goalscorer.

Danny Ings - Ings was lauded often during their successful Championship season and it's easy to see why. A multitude of goals and a key creative force as well, Ings provides pace, hard work and a natural eye for goal. With Vokes as the foil, Ings could easily grab the goals which keep Burnley up. Ings isn't their only route to goal however - Vokes has proven his worth too and with the quality of Trippier's crossing from deep this could come in very handy. New signing Lukas Jutkiewicz may also benefit from the dynamic wing play.

Weaknesses:

League Inexperience - Many of Burnley's players have little to no experience of playing in the top league. This experience can be utterly invaluable especially in relegation scraps, which Burnley may find themselves in. 

Lack of Investment - It's no secret that investment can bring better players and that's why the top clubs usually spend the most. Burnley have barely spent anything which may be their downfall, as they may have a perceived lack of quality. However, Sean Dyche is very adept at finding free transfers and getting the best out of them, so this may help Burnley to survive.

Signings:

Michael Kightly - I'm a big fan of Kightly. He's a very direct winger who loves to beat a man and has an eye for goal as well. He has some Premier League experience with Stoke and Wolves too and has proven to be a very decent player for a mid-to-lower half Premier League team. Kightly seems to be a very good signing for Burnley.

Lukas Jutkiewicz - Big, strong and a capable footballer, Jutkiewicz seems to have all the tools to make it as a top level forward but has never quite fulfilled his potential. However, on his day Jutkiewicz is a problem for any defence and as a back-up or maybe even a starter striker to play alongside Ings, Jutkiewicz seems to also be a very astute signing.

Steven Reid - This seems to be a strange signing, as Reid has well-documented injury problems. He is experienced and very talented which are huge bonuses, but he is hampered by injuries and plays in a position where Burnley already have a very good first choice. We shall see if this proves to be a good signing, but I'm unconvinced.

Marvin Sordell - Extremely quick and a decent finisher, Sordell showed huge promise from an early age that seemed to wane, but he still has ability and may be a very useful asset for Burnley if they can utilise his pace and skill. This could be a masterstroke but it may be a poor move, only time will tell. 

Matt Gilks - Gilks is a very solid goalkeeper whether he is first choice or not. I suspect that Heaton will be first choice, however Gilks is a very solid replacement if needed. Seems a decent signing also.

Matt Taylor - A hugely proficient technical player, who has always lacked the pace to make it at the top level. However, Taylor is very capable of providing goals and assists for his team and every goal is precious at the foot of the table. Taylor may be inconsistent but he can be a match winner.

Who They Should Sign:

Experienced, quality Premier League footballers - Burnley don't have one particular area where they are weak like most teams, or at least not one that is glaringly obvious. A central midfielder may be useful as their midfield does look a little devoid of quality, but Dyche has built a squad that play as a unit, so to pick certain players that are weak seems very harsh.

Final Thoughts

I believe Burnley will surprise a few people and stay up. They have a very solid defence, an extremely good manager and a natural goalscorer which may all be huge factors in their success. They will play as a unit and be a very efficient team that whilst defensively solid will also be a threat going forward. 

Burnley may struggle to hold onto possession with their system, as playing four in midfield may not work in their favour against possession-orientated teams, such as Everton and Arsenal. They have the option to play five if they need to, but this would severely hamper their attacking threat. However, a similar system worked for Atletico Madrid spectacularly last season so this is not to say that possession is a key factor in success.

Burnley may have one of if not the cheapest squad in the league, but money is not the be-all and end-all of quality. Organisation and desire can go a long way, which Burnley have in abundance. I think Burnley will finish around 15th - but I may be miles off.

Team Previews - Aston Villa

Predicted Line-Up: 

Strengths:

Counter-Attacking - With Agbonlahor and Weimann out wide and Delph in the centre, Villa have a lot of pace to exploit unprepared teams on the counter-attack. Westwood is an incisive passer to try and take advantage of the runners in behind. Benteke is fairly quick too and his aerial presence allow Villa to go direct.

Central Defence - Vlaar showed his class in the World Cup and if Villa can find a partner for him then they could be very solid. Okore seems like a good partner as he has pace but his relative inexperience may be a problem. Senderos is another option as is Clark, but both leave Villa very slow at the back. Vlaar and Okore could be a very solid partnership.

Centre Forward - Christian Benteke when on-form is one of the most unplayable players in the league. His combination of pace and power make him extremely dangerous and he is fantastic in the air. Villa will need him on top of his game if they are to have a successful season.

Weaknesses:

Possession - Villa struggle to hold onto possession as they have a lot of physically proficient players but don't seem to have players who are great at holding onto the ball. This is highlighted by their performances last season where their possession at times was about 30-40%.

Age - Very few of Villa's players are in their prime. They have a combination of young players and aging players which may be counter-productive. Aging players such as Philippe Senderos and Joe Cole are way past their (mediocre) prime and plenty of their players are inexperienced at this level. 

Signings:

Philippe Senderos - An aging centre-back from a team that got relegated seems a bizarre signing, but he adds experience to a young defence. He is, however, not very good, so that might be a problem. I have a friend who watches Fulham often who said that he's slow, poor on the ball and has no positional sense. I don't think it's a good signing. 

Kieran Richardson - Villa have issues at left-back and have done for a while. They will be hoping that Richardson will rectify these, but even if he does it's a short-term fix. However, he is a decent player who is quite good going forward, will pop up with the odd goal and is fairly quick. He's another aging signing, however.

Joe Cole - Maybe 10 years ago this would be an exciting signing. Now it's proof of how far Villa have fallen. Cole has never hit the heights that he could have done and now is a nomadic player who never really performs anywhere he goes. He might help them keep possession better but that's not really Villa's style. Another uninspiring signing but I may well be proved wrong.

Who They Should Sign:

A Right Winger - Weimann is decent but he isn't a traditional winger. He isn't brilliant at carrying the ball and his crossing is subpar. A dribbling winger who could cross the ball would complement their style and help Benteke out massively. However, Villa got rid of Albrighton who liked to run at defenders, so maybe Lambert likes having a winger who can score goals. 

A Holding Midfielder - Having somebody who shields the defence better than El Ahmadi would really help them as then they could win the ball better and counter-attack more often. El Ahmadi is a decent player but there are much better ball-winners.

A Young Left-Back - Joe Bennett and Antonio Luna have proved to be not good enough at left-back and Richardson is a short-term fix, so Villa could do with a young back-up to try and fix the problem long-term. 

Final Thoughts:

Villa are going to be in and around the bottom three again this season. They will rely on counter-attacking again and this may be their undoing if their defence is not rigid enough to stop the opposition from getting too many chances. Fortunately they have a superb goalkeeper who may keep them in games even if their defence doesn't hold strong.

They will need Agbonlahor and Benteke to have good seasons if they are to survive. Agbonlahor's pace is a deadly weapon against teams who press high whilst Benteke punishes teams who sit back, giving them a double threat going forward. 

Villa generally up their game against the bigger teams and will need to improve their record against teams around them in the league. They need to find a more fluid style to match those who are of a similar level to them. This would greatly increase their chances of staying up.

Team Previews - Arsenal

With not long to go 'til the start of the season, I thought it would make sense to look at each Premier League team, their strengths, weaknesses, signings and who they should sign. Alphabetical order makes sense, so let's start with Arsenal.

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Pace - With Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings, Arsenal have a lot of speed out wide which will allow them to get to the byline regularly, especially with Mesut Özil supplying the passes. Alexis Sanchez upfront also gives them runners behind the defence. This makes Arsenal a dangerous team to play against, especially on the counter attack.

Fluidity - Oxlade-Chamberlain is capable of playing in midfield and Özil can play out wide as proved by his performance in the World Cup. Sanchez and Walcott can interchange too, giving Arsenal a lot of unpredictability going forward. This may help them break down teams who sit deep to counteract the pace of their front four.

Central Defence - Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny make a superb partnership in defence, with Koscielny's pace offsetting Mertesacker's inability to sweep up. This allows Mertesacker the freedom to play his natural game. Flamini helps protect the back four and is very adept at winning the ball back.

Experience - Arsenal have a team that has played a lot of Premier League games, but importantly, many of them have now won a trophy or two. The FA Cup may be the kickstarter for the team to go ahead and win more trophies. Also, Arsenal have three World Cup winners in their squad (though Podolski may be leaving) which could really stand them in good stead.

Weaknesses:

Leadership - Whilst it's a cliche that Arsenal lack leadership, it was apparent in the games against the big teams that once they went behind, they capitulated. They don't seem to have addressed this problem so it may rear it's head once again.

Depth - Again, another cliche, but one that is true. People may argue that they do have depth but the replacements are not to the required standard for a team with aspirations as high as Arsenal's. Wilshere and Arteta are not good enough to replace Flamini and Ramsey if they get injured. Rosicky is a great player but he's getting older and doesn't have the pace of the other attacking midfielders. Cazorla is a good player too and on his day is unplayable, but he struggles occasionally to find form. Vermaelen may be leaving and even if he doesn't is not good enough to cover Mertesacker or Koscielny should injury or suspension occur.

Signings:

Alexis Sanchez - Fantastic signing from Arsenal and it's one that maybe is indicative of a changing time at Arsenal. They rarely spend so much money on a player, and when they do, they do it very late. Sanchez is hard-working, quick and a deadly finisher. He's almost guaranteed 15 league goals a season in Arsenal's team and I'll be massively surprised if he scores less than that.

Mathieu Debuchy - Debuchy is a good player but £11million is a lot of money for a 'good player'. Arsenal had to replace Bacary Sagna and Debuchy is a decent replacement, but defensively Debuchy is not great. Arsenal have an attacking right back who struggles with the defensive side of the game, which might be useful against the so-called lesser teams but might come unstuck against better left-sided players.

Who They Should Sign:

A Centre-Back - Mertesacker and Koscielny are a fantastic partnership but when one is missing Arsenal might struggle. Signing a good young centre-back as cover, such as Matija Nastasic, would be a good move. Unfortunately for Arsenal, there is a lack of world-class or exciting young centre-backs on the market.

A Central/Holding Midfielder - Flamini is a very good midfielder but he's prone to suspension, so finding cover for him would be a good idea. Ramsey is superb so he's going to be first choice, so any cover for him would be second choice. This means that signing Khedira as has been reported would make him the holding midfielder, which would inhibit his attacking game. Schneiderlin would be a fantastic signing but he also may want to push forward, so finding a balance is key.

A Left-Back - Monreal has been found wanting against good teams so Arsenal need better cover for Gibbs. Alberto Moreno would be a solid if expensive choice, whilst signing a young left-back such as Declan John who impressed at Cardiff would be solid cover too.

Final Words:

Arsenal look set to finish in the top four for another season, but with a few signings for cover they could make a real challenge for the title. They have some quality footballers, such as Ramsey, Sanchez and Özil. They have the ability to destroy teams with pace and fluidity and have the option of Olivier Giroud off the bench or for a different style should they need it. Giroud is a massively underrated player who helps link the attack and the midfield and hold the ball up if they need him to.

Arsenal's season rests on the bigger games as I think they can consistently beat teams below them in the league, but in the games against the top 5 or 6 teams they will struggle due to the lack of leadership. Teams have learned how to beat Arsenal but their quality carries them through against the teams below them in the league.

If Arsenal can learn to adapt and overcome the better teams in the league, they could be outsiders for the league. I personally think they will fall short but make the top 4 again, as I feel Chelsea and Manchester City are better equipped to win the league.