Premiership Preview

Here's a look at what I think will be the Premier League table at the end of the season. I was going to do one for the Football League, as that is just as important, but as their season has started my opinions have already slightly changed.

1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City
3. Chelsea
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Stoke City
8. Bolton Wanderers
9. Everton
10. Aston Villa
11. Sunderland
12. West Bromwich Albion
13. Wolverhampton Wanderers
14. Fulham
15. Norwich City
16. Blackburn Rovers
17. Wigan Athletic
18. Queens Park Rangers
19. Newcastle United
20. Swansea City

I see Manchester United winning the league simply down to experience and good summer signings. They needed to sign a few players and they chosen very well in my opinion, and this is before the rumours of Wesley Sneijder arriving. I do see Manchester City being fairly close and this is just down to money spent, however I don't see their side gelling that well. Chelsea will be their or thereabouts but due to an ageing squad and lack of proved talent added I seem them falling short in the spring.
  
The final Champions League spot I think will go to Liverpool. It was a toss up between them or Arsenal, due to their experience of finishing in the top four that their squad has, but with them likely losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri I struggle to see how they will fill their voids with Arsene Wenger unlikely to shell out huge amounts in the last few weeks of the transfer window.

I think Stoke have made some massive step forward this summer in terms of signings and right now they are linked to William Palacios and Peter Crouch, two players who would be ideal for them. I see them strongly challenging for Europe with Bolton and, the always tough, Everton not too far behind.

In terms of mid-table I don't see many surprises. The acquisitions of Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia are massive pluses for Aston Villa however, due to the loss of possibly their best two players I can't really see them challenging for Europe. I think West Brom will be comfortably safe under the leadership of Roy Hodgson and some very shrewd summer signings in the form of Jamie O'Hara and Roger Johnson makes me think Wolves will also be safe. I see Fulham joining them in their usual sold mid-table finish.

Relegation wise I see Norwich actually being quite safe. I think they will be amongst the pack for most of the season but with a great manager in the form of Paul Lambert I see them playing care free football like Blackpool, except more solid at the back. I also think they may turn their ground into a bit of a fortress, like last year, where if level or behind towards the end, they almost expected them to score. I think Grant Holt will also be a big hit.
   I was tempted to say Blackburn may get relegated as without an influential manager to draw players I don't see them taking many steps forward in the transfer market, I do see them just scrapping safety though, much like last season. Much like Wigan really. They've lost their flair player in Charles N'Zogbia, but they always seem to get the vital points when most needed, and see their experience of staying up just pushing out QPR in the race for survival.

QPR should have had the finances to stay up and establish themselves in the Premier League, however they've not really made a massive impact in the transfer market. Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell will certainly be a threat upfront and with the flair of Adel Taarabt they could surprise a few teams but defensively they may be lacking. If their owners decide to make funds available before the end of the transfer window then I certainly see them having a chance of staying up.
   Newcastle should be safe. They should be mid-table. They should have £35m at their disposal. But then they are owned by Mike Ashley.  They've sold their best two performers last year, and found, in my opinion, very inadequate replacements. The promise of the funds of Andy Carroll to spent was obviously never a reality and just when they seem to make a step forward they made two back. A big club, with great fans, and an awful owner, will possibly see them head back down to the Championhip this season.        
   Swansea will join them in my opinion. Lack of signings and lack of experience will see them spent only one year in the promised land. However most people said the same about Blackpool, and they nearly pulled it off, so you never know.