Team Previews - Newcastle

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Creativity - Remy Cabella is a wonderful footballer who can create and score goals with his pace and skill. Not only that, but Moussa Sissoko is a very underrated creator, having created the fifth most chances in the league. He usually plays out wide, however Newcastle don't seem to have another winger unless Cabella plays out wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, as it seems that Ben Arfa won't play much part.

Unpredictability - Most teams won't know quite how Newcastle are going to play and what their new players are capable of. Riviere and De Jong haven't played in the Premier League before so defences may not be prepared for them. De Jong appears to be similar to Berbatov - a player who plays at a slower pace but with a lot of technical ability - whereas Riviere is a pacier player who looks to get in behind defences. I'm not really sure about Perez, but I'd guess he's more of a Riviere-type as he can play out wide too.

Weaknesses:

Slow at the Back - Williamson is very good in the air but struggles against players who run at him due to his pace. Coloccini is a good player but isn't the quickest either, which may leave Newcastle exposed.

Possession - Newcastle may struggle to keep the ball if they pass out from midfield, as whilst I rate Tiote as a holding midfielder he isn't the best passer in the world. Anita is a better passer as is Colback, but neither are ideal for a possession game, so Newcastle may be forced to play direct football. 

Signings:

Emmanuel Riviere - Newcastle needed a forward and Remy had done very well for them, so Riviere made perfect sense, being a similar player. He's extremely fast and loves to run in behind, so he should grab some goals for Newcastle if they can find his runs in behind.

Remy Cabella - A superb footballer who many were surprised to see go to Newcastle, as he is extremely talented. Many thought he was destined for a top European team, so if Newcastle can get the best out of him they have a real player on their hands. For £8m he could be one of the best buys of the summer.

Ayoze Perez - Again, a player I don't know much about but one who has a good record and has been linked with some big teams. A young striker who is one for the future it seems, but should excite Newcastle fans.

Siem De Jong - Newcastle will hope he will have more of an impact than fellow Dutch De Jong, Luuk. Siem De Jong is a player who Pardew rates as a very technically gifted player in the mould of Teddy Sheringham. At just 25 years old, De Jong is actually very experienced for a young player, having played 168 games for Ajax. 

Facundo Ferreyra - A young forward on loan from Shakhtar who has never really settled in Ukraine, so Newcastle will be hoping that he can settle in the North East and show his goalscoring talent, as his record is very good for a young striker.

Daryl Janmaat - A very good right back who played at the world cup, Janmaat is fast, strong and loves to go forward. He is aggressive and very good on the ball in terms of passing, so he should be a natural replacement for Debuchy.

Jack Colback - In an unpopular move for Sunderland fans, boyhood Toon fan Colback left on a free to join Newcastle. Colback is a tireless midfielder who is a solid passer and very good defensively, but isn't hugely creative going forward. Colback should help out the defence with his energy and defensive ability.

Who They Should Sign:

A Centre-Back - Newcastle need a centre half to really compete in the top half, as they seem weak there at the moment. However, every team seems to need a central defender at current, so finding a good one for a good price is very difficult. 

Final Thoughts:

Newcastle are an unpredictable team, so trying to guess how their season will go is difficult. However they have recruited well and identified their weakness, forward, and signed players to try and rectify the problem, so in theory they should do well.

If Newcastle are to succeed, they need their new signings to gel quickly. Cabella, De Jong and Riviere could be an extremely dangerous unit if they click and work together. Newcastle have a very strong starting line-up and some good back-ups, but they need a bit of luck regarding injuries and suspensions.

Newcastle should finish in the top 10 again, as long as their signings bed in fairly quickly. They shouldn't be anywhere near the relegation zone but you never know - but the same could be said about the top 6.

Team Previews - Manchester United

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Firepower - A front three that consists of 2 20 goal a season strikers and one of the best playmakers in Europe is scary enough, but should Vidal sign, which looks likely, he will add a few goals from midfield too. Man United's goalscoring prowess is absurd.

Energy - In signing Herrera, Van Gaal has added a lot of energy to a stale and stagnant United team. Not only that, but Shaw's pace and dynamism will be key, as will Cuadrado's should he sign, which, again, looks likely. With a younger defence than last season too, United should be a more pacey and energetic side.

Depth - Man United don't have loads of depth, but compared to most teams they have some fantastic back-up players. Hernandez, Valencia and Kagawa are among the best subs in the league, for example. Whether or not it's quite the level of depth required for a title challenge we shall see.

Weaknesses:

Central Defence - Currently United have a very weak defence. They have 3 recognised senior centre-backs and none of them are really good enough for a title challenging team. Jones and Smalling are decent players but not top level players.

Signings:

Ander Herrera - Energetic, skilful and dynamic, Herrera should be exactly the player that United missed so dearly last season. He wasn't the cheapest buy they could have made, but when money is no object like it is for United, then that's irrelevant and Herrera should be a perfect signing. 

Luke Shaw - Contrary to popular opinion, I think Shaw was a fantastic signing, even for a huge fee. United may not have to buy a left-back for the next 10-15 years. Shaw is a wonderful player on the ball but still strong defensively and is almost certain to be top drawer left back.

(Arturo Vidal) - Should this deal go through, United will be a force to be reckoned with. Vidal is a world-class midfielder who can do everything and anything that is needed of him. He's fast, strong, energetic, can score goals, create goals and defend. The ultimate footballer. Would be an incredible signing.

(Juan Cuadrado) - Another quality signing if completed, Cuadrado is an exciting player. Extremely skilful and creative, Cuadrado would add a threat out wide that they desperately need. Steep price, but again United should not care about that.

Who They Should Sign:

A Centre-Back or two - United need some players at centre-back desperately, and with rumours of Roma defender Mehdi Benatia being on Van Gaal's shortlist it seems that United are trying to address this. 2 top class centre-backs would make United's squad ready to challenge for honours.

Final Thoughts:

United's squad is significantly better than it was last year and with the intimidation factor seemingly coming back with Van Gaal's appointment, everything is looking up for United fans. The additions of Shaw and Herrera have really bolstered the squad and Vidal and Cuadrado would make them a very scary proposition.

United will be a lot more difficult to beat this season than last season which isn't too much of a surprise, but it should make them a top 4 team. Man City and Chelsea look stronger at present, but United can make a challenge with a few acquisitions. 

Van Gaal's appointment should be a fantastic fit for United, and don't be surprised if Van Gaal wins a trophy in his first season. This should be a good season for United fans.

Team Previews - Manchester City

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Goals, Goals, Goals - Nasri and Silva will create chances against any defence in the league, combined with Aguero's movement and pace there are going to be plenty of goals. Dzeko, Negredo and Jovetic are all more than capable of scoring goals especially with those 3 buzzing around them. Add to that the best goalscoring midfielder in the league, Yaya Toure, and you have a frightening attack.

Top Defence and Goalkeeper - Assuming City sign Mangala which looks extremely likely, they have a very strong, athletic centre-back pairing that is up there with the best in the world. With World Cup finalists Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis in the ranks they have some talented players at right back and as back-up. Joe Hart is a terrific goalkeeper who, despite his dip in form last season, is capable of changing games with some great saves.

Intimidation - Teams are scared to play Man City now, which is more than can be said for teams like their neighbours United last season. This sounds like a minor thing but it really isn't, if a team steps on to the pitch already defeated, or doubting that they can beat them, they're almost certain to win. 

Depth - Jesus Navas, Dzeko and Jovetic among others grace Man City's star studded bench, which shows their insane depth. When you have that many good players, you can put out a weakened team and crush most teams. 

Weaknesses:

Left-Back - Kolarov is brilliant going forward but suspect defensively, whereas Clichy is solid but not brilliant going forward. Most top teams have full backs who can do both, so maybe City should look for that. 

Controlling Midfield - Though Man City's midfield is littered with talent, Toure isn't great defensively so this often leaves them exposed in midfield. Teams like Arsenal who play with more than one attacking midfielder might be able to exploit that gap.

Signings:

Eliaquim Mangala - Not yet completed but all signs seem to point to Mangala being at City next year, which should be a great signing. I haven't seen much of him but people who know more than me say he's a perfect fit for any top team. Strong, fast and commanding, Mangala appears to be a carbon copy of Kompany.

Frank Lampard - In one of the weirdest signings of the window, Lampard moved to Man City on loan for a short while. I'm not really sure if and when and where Man City will play him, but I'm intrigued. I don't need to tell you what Lampard can do, but we'll see whether this is anything more than a publicity stunt.

Fernando - Another Brazilian anchor man that Man City will be as successful as Fernandinho. City seem to be hoping to confuse commentators and fans everywhere by signing similar players with similar names and will be hoping he'll have a similar debut season.

Bacary Sagna - Bit of a weird one. Sagna is a good player but isn't any better than Zabaleta, so Sagna must just be back-up. I don't understand why Sagna would leave for a rotation place when he was first choice at Arsenal - maybe money talks.

Who They Should Sign:

A Left-Back - As previously stated, City need a left-back who is brilliant going forwards and backwards. However, finding one is easier said than done and I feel that Luke Shaw would have been a great signing, but that ship has sailed.

Final Thoughts:

Man City look ready to make a proper defence of their title. Their squad is strong in every area and they have a lot of depth and a top manager. They can score goals seemingly at will and have a strong defence that can keep out top forwards. Squad-wise, they are one of, if not, the strongest in the league.

City will win nearly every game against teams outside the top 6 because of their incredible firepower, so that shouldn't be a problem. Their season rests on the big games and whether or not they can control the midfield in those games. Maybe playing Toure higher up the pitch and playing two pivots would fix that against bigger teams but we will see what Pellegrini chooses to do.

Man City and Chelsea look like the teams to beat at the moment and I think City will fall just short of winning the title again. I think they'll come second but only time will tell.

Team Previews - Liverpool

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths:

Pace - Liverpool have bags of pace going forward with Sterling and Sturridge especially, making them a nightmare for slower defenders and makes a lot of teams reluctant to attack them. This allows Liverpool to blitz teams very early on and score a lot of goals quickly.

Depth and Versatility - Liverpool have a lot of very decent players all over the park who all have different skills and abilities that allow Liverpool to change their tactics to beat all types of opponents. Markovic and Sterling are fast dribblers who can stretch games, whereas Lallana is more technical and creative, for example.

Tactics - Brendan Rodgers has proved himself to be more than a capable tactician and has turned Liverpool into an aggressive and energetic side with a clear gameplan, which makes their great squad play amazingly.

Weaknesses:

Leaky Defence - Dejan Lovren is a wonderful player, but whilst Liverpool still have Gerrard and Henderson in defensive midfield Liverpool are going to struggle to keep attackers out. Liverpool's problem last year was conceding goals and I feel that this is going to continue.

Lack of Luis Suarez - Any team would miss a player of Suarez' quality and Liverpool will miss the 30 goals a season that Suarez brought to the team. Not only that, but he was an integral part of the aggressive pressing system that Liverpool play and Lambert won't be able to do quite the same.

Signings:

Lazar Markovic - Markovic is bound to become a star in the next few years so Liverpool have done well to secure his services for the next few years. Markovic is fast, creative and direct, which makes him ideal for Liverpool's system and we shall see how he progresses.

Adam Lallana - Lallana is the closest thing that England have to a Spanish footballer. Lallana is an elegant footballer with superb balance and skill that makes him so dangerous. Having said that, £25m is a ridiculous amount for a player who you can find hundreds of in Spain. Lallana will be good for Liverpool, but I don't think £25m good.

Rickie Lambert - Growing up as a Liverpool fan, this must be a dream come true for Lambert. Although Lambert is the wrong side of 30, he is a very gifted player and is experienced, which Liverpool need in their young side. Lambert could be a very astute signing as he gives Liverpool something different and won't expect to start every game.

Emre Can - Can is a young midfielder who is a wonderfully talented player, capable of attacking and defending equally as well. Whether or not he will start I'm not sure, but he seems to be a great long term replacement to Steven Gerrard.

Dejan Lovren - Top class defender but Liverpool need to make sure he isn't isolated like Sakho often found himself last season. Lovren is a terrific defender and will make a great signing if Liverpool can sort out the midfield issue.

Javier Manquillo - Not sure quite how good he is, but he hasn't played much senior football so this could be a gamble from Rodgers, but having another right back is really useful.

Who They Should Sign:

A Left Back - Left back seems to be the weakest position, with Flanagan playing there at the moment, so signing a young full back like Alberto Moreno, who they have been linked with, would be a great signing.

Final Thoughts:

Liverpool have an exciting young squad and some wonderful footballers, but this season appears to be one of transition. With so many young players, they will need some experience before becoming reliable members of a top squad, but Liverpool may still make it into the top 4, if they can click quickly.

Games against the bigger teams are always key, but Liverpool need to make sure they are consistent enough to beat teams in the lower parts of the league. With a young team this might be an issue, but I think they can easily beat any team on their day.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, other teams around them have all strengthened a lot, so they may just miss out on the top 4, especially as they are in a transitional season. However, if they can carry on their form from last season, then who knows what can happen?

Team Previews - Leicester

Predicted Line-Up:

Strengths: 

Goals - Leicester have plenty of players who have proven themselves to be capable goalscorers. Ulloa, Nugent and Wood have all scored a lot of goals wherever they have been and Knockaert is more than capable of adding goals from midfield. 

Stopping Goals - Kasper Schmeichel may not quite have yet reached the level of his father, but he is still a terrific goalkeeper who is more than capable of changing games and winning Leicester some extremely valuable points. Wes Morgan is a very talented centre-back who has been playing at a level that was maybe beneath him for a while now, so it seems that he will finally have his chance to play at the top level.

Weaknesses:

Lack of Premier League Experience - Whilst Leicester have some very experienced players not too many of them have actually played at the top level which may prove to be a real problem. A lot of teams around them who they may be in a relegation battle with have a lot of experience which could hinder Leicester's chances.

Left-Back Problem - Neither Konchesky nor Schlupp are particularly great defenders and whilst this was fine in the Championship, they could come unstuck against top class right wingers. Even though Konchesky is experienced he wasn't brilliant at a younger age, never mind later on in his career.

Potential Lack of Quality - Whilst Leicester have a lot of players who are superb at Championship level, this may be a step-up they can't deal with. Players such as Upson, Nugent, Drinkwater and Knockaert need to step up to deal with the improved quality.

Signings:

Marc Albrighton - One mark of how good a player is is how upset fans are when they leave. Most Villa fans were upset to see Albrighton leave, which should encourage Leicester fans. He's quick, direct and likes to cross the ball, which should be perfect for Ulloa. Albrighton could be a very good signing if Leicester can keep giving him the ball.

Leonardo Ulloa - At a very steep price of £8m, Ulloa has made the leap up to a higher level that Leicester will be hoping he'll be able to make. He's a very capable striker who can score all types of goals, but he's especially good in the air, which means that Leicester will be able to score goals from crosses and long balls as well as feeding balls in behind for Nugent.

Louis Rowley - I don't know much about him but he's young and versatile, capable of playing in midfield or left-back, but I'm not sure how good he is. This may be a very good signing if Rowley is good enough, but I think it might be one for the future.

Who They Should Sign:

A Central Defender - Matthew Upson is not in the prime of his career and I'm not sure he's good enough for the Premier League any more, so finding a partner for Morgan should be a priority.

A Left-Back - I'm not convinced in the players that Leicester have on the left side of the defence, so signing a better defensive full back would be very handy.

Final Thoughts:

Leicester are probably going to struggle this season, but I think they may just about have enough to keep them up. They have players who are capable of scoring goals which is often what relegated teams struggle with, so they will rely on the goals of players like Nugent and Chris Wood to win them games. 

Leicester's season will hinge on games against teams in the lower half of the league, which means that they need their midfield to control games against them, so Leicester will need Drinkwater to have as good a season this year as he did last. With Schmeichel in goal they have a safety net if all doesn't go to plan too, which could be invaluable. 

Leicester might just stay up if they can keep teams out, as they should not struggle with goals too much. With one or two more signings at the back I think they will be fine.

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.