Take 20: your club by club who’s who for the Premier League
Frustration over Wenger’s tight grip on the Emirates purse strings has grown so profound that many fans would sacrifice early points for players in the tense run-in to the transfer window closure. That Spurs have spent more than half their potential Bale-out already on solid rather than spectacular customers might encourage Arsene to believe he can tread water all the way to fourth again. But this time the restless will demand more. So much depends on whether any last-ditch spree turns up more Artetas than Parks.
MANAGER: Arsene Wenger
KEY SIGNINGS: Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, free)
DID YOU KNOW: Arsenal have won the joint-most Premier League points in 2013 — 40, along with Man Utd.
LAST SEASON: 4th
Villa’s chief summer triumph was certainly the reasonably painless manner in which they slapped a lid on the restlessness of last season’s breakout star Benteke – at least compared to the upheaval other wantaway stars have caused. Paul Lambert has also trawled the continent’s bargain buckets for some solid citizens to put some structure around the foundation of youth he laid last season. With the backup option of Darren Bent now removed, the pressure has intensified on Benteke to avoid contracting second season syndrome.
MANAGER: Paul Lambert
KEY SIGNINGS: Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland, £4m), Leandro Bacuna (Groningen, £3m), Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan, £2.5m), Antonio Luna (Seville, £2m), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, £1.2m), Jed Steer (Norwich, free).
DID YOU KNOW: Conceded more league goals last season (69) than in any since 1986/87.
LAST SEASON: 15th
Vincent Tan has continued to back Malky Mackay in the markets, with three major, if slightly risky, splashes on a reconstructed spine. The unlikely relocation of highly-rated Chilean Gary Medel to Wales underlines the now-formidable purchasing power of even likely Premier League strugglers – and his midfield poise could be crucial if Cardiff are to survive. Much too will depend on the continued ebullience of Craig Bellamy, who should epitomise the energy surge the City will get from a renewed battle with fierce rivals Swansea.
MANAGER: Malky Mackay
KEY SIGNINGS: Gary Medel (Seville, £11m), Steven Caulker (Tottenham, £8m), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen, £7.5m), John Brayford (Derby, £1.5m).
DID YOU KNOW: Set a new club record for points in a season – 87 last season.
LAST SEASON: 1st (Championship)
Modest work – by recent Blues standards at least – in the transfer market is a surprise, as the additions of Schurrle and van Ginkel wouldn’t appear to transform last season’s entertaining if lightweight side into the power-packed unit Jose tends to prefer. The club didn’t lose a home league game during his last spell, but his crop don’t yet appear to be constructed solidly enough to protect that kind of record. Much interest will surround who Jose appoints as the spearhead of his side, now that Rooney appears to be off the menu.
MANAGER: Jose Mourinho
KEY SIGNINGS: Andre Schürrle (Bayer Leverkusen, £18m), Marco van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem, £9m), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, free).
DID YOU KNOW: Played 69 games in all competitions last season — a record number of games played in a season for any club in the Premier League era.
LAST SEASON: 3rd
MANAGER: Ian Holloway
KEY SIGNINGS: Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, £5m), Jose Campana (Sevilla, £1.75m), Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, free), Kevin Phillips (Blackpool, free)
DID YOU KNOW: Were awarded 19 penalties in all competitions — the most in English football.
LAST SEASON: 5th (Championship)
Ian Holloway’s long-awaited top-flight chance should, at least, keep the league’s supply of sound bites steady. Otherwise Palace look early certainties for the drop. Holloway will rely for goals on a man who has never scored in the Premier League and one who has long forgotten how to. Of those, Dwight Gayle looks a better bet than Marouane Chamakh. But perhaps Palace’s best chance is to somehow replicate last season’s supply of penalty kicks – they were awarded 19 – and wheel on Kevin Phillips in a special teams role.
MANAGER: Roberto Martinez
KEY SIGNINGS: Arouna Koné (Wigan, £6m), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, £2m), Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan, free), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, loan).)
DID YOU KNOW: Became first team in PL history to score and concede in 16 consecutive games.
LAST SEASON: 6th
Difficult to know exactly what Martinez can achieve at Everton, except tread water higher up the division than he managed for so long with Wigan. The Toffees’ signings don’t particularly excite, although Arouna Kone’s quiet efficiency would have been a loss to the league. The Spaniard will probably look to inject a little more fluency into the solid unit that Moyes left him. But the faithful will probably be happy if he can replicate his Wigan swansong – and bring them a cup.
Martin Jol is one of those managers who begins the campaign under additional pressure, as any hangover from last season’s late freefall will ensure plenty of restlessness at the Cottage. He’ll hope a sprinkling of low-price signings prevents that happening and that Maarten Stekelenburg reprises the kind of career Indian summer Edwin van der Sar enjoyed when he moved to southwest London. Persuading Adel Taarabt to occasionally give the ball to Dimitar Berbatov may also be vital if he wants to keep the Bulgarian sweet.
MANAGER: Martin Jol
KEY SIGNINGS: Darren Bent (Aston Villa, loan), Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma, £4.76m), Sascha Riether (Cologne, £1.27m), Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, free), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, free), Adel Taarabt (QPR, loan).
DID YOU KNOW: Were the only side to fail to win a single game when conceding first.
LAST SEASON: 12th
No doubt Danny Graham was one man relieved when the name-change furore broke, as it rather overshadowed fan worries that Steve Bruce will be relying for goals on a player who flopped so disastrously at Sunderland. The addition of Tom Huddlestone to the midfield represents a more reliable investment while Maynor Figueroa and Jake Livermore could prove shrewd freebies. But it is Bruce’s experience in and around the drop zone that may prove the club’s most precious asset.
MANAGER: Steve Bruce
KEY SIGNINGS: Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham, £5m), Curtis Davies (Birmingham, £2.25m), Ahmed Almohamady (Sunderland, £2m), Allan McGregor (Besiktas, £1.8m), Yannick Sagbo (Evian, £1.5m), George Boyd (Peterborough, free), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan, free), Jake Livermore (Tottenham, loan).
DID YOU KNOW: Eighteen of Hull’s 24 Championship wins were by a one-goal margin.
LAST SEASON: 2nd (Championship)
The Brendan voyage was showing some signs of reaching dry land towards the end of last season, as the shorter-passing style he wanted finally seemed to click with his players, oiled by the fine form of Philippe Coutinho and a signs of a greater sense of responsibility from Daniel Sturridge. Impossible to predict how they will fare until the Suarez affair plays out, or indeed how the Uruguayan conducts himself if held against his will. Will probably need Kolo Toure to perform an unlikely rewind of his body clock to maintain the defensive solidity needed, particularly if Daniel Agger departs. Bagged Cissokho from Valencia yesterday and are in the frame for William from Anzhi.
MANAGER: Brendan Rodgers
KEY SIGNINGS: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo, £9m), Simon Mignolet (Sunderland, £9m), Luis Alberto (Seville, £6.8m), Kolo Touré (Man City, free), Aly Cissokho (Valencia, loan)
DID YOU KNOW: Scored 38 away goals — their highest amount in the top-flight since the 1989/90 season.
LAST SEASON: 7th
Elevated to joint favourites with Chelsea mainly on the back of their expensive early summer splurge, which underlined a determination to reclaim their crown. But on closer inspection, it’s not immediately clear if any of the signings will automatically improve City’s first 11. Still, squad strength won it for United last term, so Manuel Pellegrini will revel in the comfort of numbers. But can he immediately replicate the defensive durability that underpinned Roberto Mancini’s title triumph? And how worried is he about the form of Joe Harte?
MANAGER: Manuel Pellegrini
KEY SIGNINGS: Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk, £30m), Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina, £22m), Jesus Navas (Seville, £17m), Alvaro Negredo (Seville, £16.4m)
DID YOU KNOW: Kept the most clean sheets last season, with 18.
LAST SEASON: 2nd
There is a sense that Fergie might have finally got out at the right time; as if he coaxed one last title out of them through the force of his will alone. But that’s a little unfair on the overall quality of United’s squad, if not the star quality of their starters. The seemingly fruitless pursuit of Fabregas has been a surprising start to the Moyes reign, but indicated his desperation to reinforce the midfield. That will surely remain a priority until the window closes. But it’s his handling of the Rooney saga that may define Moyes’s early work at Old Trafford.
MANAGER: David Moyes
KEY SIGNINGS: Guillermo Varela (Penarol, £2.4m)
DID YOU KNOW: Had twenty different scorers in the Premier League last season — a new record.
LAST SEASON: Champions
The arrival of JFK provided plenty of amusement at the Geordies’ expense this summer, but if Loic Remy puts aside off-field troubles to replicate some of last season’s inspirational moments, his arrival alone could justify Kinnear’s work in the transfer market. But the Papiss Cisse Wonga farrago suggests that there is all manner of discontent simmering close to the surface at St James. It will be quite a triumph for Alan Pardew if he manages to get his French legion battling together for the cause.
MANAGER: Alan Pardew
KEY SIGNINGS: Olivier Kemen (Metz, undisclosed), Loic Remy (QPR, loan).
DID YOU KNOW: Used nine different French players in the Premier League last season — the most from one overseas country in a single campaign.
LAST SEASON: 16th
A set of intriguing signings by Chris Hughton as he looks to build on an impressive, if somewhat unexciting, campaign at Carrow Road. Departing frontman Grant Holt hit out at Hughton’s negative tactics, but the Canaries should be a good deal more entertaining if the new attacking duo of Dutchman Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Celtic favourite Gary Hooper can bring their goalscoring records into the Premier League. But it’s another Dutchman – the highly-rated Leroy Fer – that could prove the prize swoop.
MANAGER: Chris Hughton
KEY SIGNINGS: Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting, £8.5m), Leroy Fer (FC Twente, £7m), Gary Hooper (Celtic, £5m), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham, £2.2m), Martin Olsson (Blackburn, £2.5m)
DID YOU KNOW: Finish of 11th last season was Norwich’s highest top flight league finish for 20 years.
LAST SEASON: 11th
An unfortunate tendency to fritter away leads undermined some enterprising play under Mauricio Pochettino last year. And has sent the Argentinian mining the markets for steel this summer; powerhouse Victor Wanyama in midfield and versatile Croatian Dejan Lovren should make it more difficult to pour through the Saints this time round. Have also managed to stem the exodus of British talent by holding onto Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse – for now. With a full pre-season to perfect Pochettino’s methods, Saints might surprise a few people.
MANAGER: Mauricio Pochettino
KEY SIGNINGS: Victor Wanyama (Celtic, £12.5m), Dejan Lovren (Lyons, £8.5m)
DID YOU KNOW: Lost 29 points from winning positions in the Premier League last season — the most in the top-flight.
LAST SEASON: 14th
Stoke fans were urged to be careful what they wished for when Tony Pulis finally departed at the end of last season. And there has been no splurge on exciting newcomers to ease Mark Hughes’ passage into the role. But then judging by Hughes’ transfer record at QPR, that may be wise. The former United striker is unlikely to tamper too drastically with Pulis’s uncompromising style, but it remains to be seen if he can sell it as effectively to the players. If the fans can’t expect novelty, they will at least demand results. Could be an uneasy time at the Britannia.
MANAGER: Mark Hughes
KEY SIGNINGS: Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven, £3m), Alex Grant (Portsmouth, free), Marc Muniesa (Barcelona, free).
DID YOU KNOW: Jon Walters has played in the last 91 Premier League games — the longest current run of consecutive appearances by a PL outfield player.
LAST SEASON: 13th
Almost a full team of new players signed means Paolo Di Canio begins the campaign with no excuses about legacy, although he should be allowed some leeway to bed in the arrivals. A clean slate with a new crop probably makes sense after some stinging criticisms rather burnt di Canio’s bridges with last season’s side. Jozy Altidore’s fine international form is encouraging, but Ireland’s Keiren Westwood should back himself to win the battle with another import Vito Mannone.
MANAGER: Paolo Di Canio
KEY SIGNINGS: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, £6.5m), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus, £6.5m), Vito Mannone (Arsenal, £1.5m), David Moberg Karlsson (IFK Gothenburg, £1.5m)
DID YOU KNOW: Home fans saw just 39 goals at the Stadium of Light last season — the fewest in the League.
LAST SEASON: 17th
After his trophy-winning triumph last season, Michael Laudrup seems to have won another battle this summer after some veiled threats about ambition forced the Swansea board to cough up for new signings. Wilfried Bony looks the most impressive recruit and Laudrup will hope the Ivorian can pick up any slack left by any probable decline in Michu’s incredible first-season output. Jonjo Shelvey will add industry and has plenty to prove, but the possible late departure of Ashley Williams could undermine some of the progress.
MANAGER: Michael Laudrup
KEY SIGNINGS: Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem, £12m), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool, £5m), Jordi Amat (Espanyol, £2.5m).
DID YOU KNOW: Would have been relegated without Michu’s 18 league goals last season — which won them an extra 10 points.
LAST SEASON: 9th
Among the most active in the summer market, seemingly in anticipation of Gareth Bale’s departure. Roberto Soldado is the striker they probably should have added last January, even if he is a more stylish than reliable finisher in pressure situations. Nacer Chadli will add creativity and Etienne Capoue power while Paulinho looks a considerable upgrade on Huddlestone or Parker. But if Bale is to go, AVB may need to spend the rest of the fee to make up the ground on Arsenal.
MANAGER: Andre Villas-Boas
KEY SIGNINGS: Roberto Soldado (Valencia, £26m), Paulinho (Corinthians, £17m), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse, £8.6m), Nacer Chadli (FC Twente, £7m).
DID YOU KNOW: One of two teams not to be awarded a Premier League penalty last season.
LAST SEASON: 5th
Last season’s collapse wasn’t as dramatic as Fulham’s but will have concerned Steve Clarke all the same, despite the final eighth-place finish. The arrival of Nicolas Anelka will add class, but he cannot be expected to provide the bristling cutting edge Romelu Lukaku did. That will heap greater pressure on Shane Long to add consistency to undeniable work-rate and intermittent excellence. At the other end, the rugged Diego Lugano will add a wealth of knowhow.
MANAGER: Steve Clarke
KEY SIGNINGS: Nicolas Anelka (Shanghai Shenhua, free), Diego Lugano (Paris St-Germain, free) Zoltan Gera (unattached), Matej Vydra (Udinese, loan), Goran Popov (Dynamo Kiev, loan).
DID YOU KNOW: Finish of eighth in the Premier League last season was their highest league finish in 32 years.
LAST SEASON: 8th
The supporters seem to have finally accepted Sam Allardyce but that will only persist as long as Andy Carroll can produce the dynamism to provide a battering ram to complement the direct approach. Stewart Downing has much to prove if he wants to arrest a career slide, while in free signing Rat, Allardyce will hope to repeat his old Bolton trick of reviving veteran freebies.
Mohamed Diame will be a key man – if they hold onto him through the new fortnight, while it might be time for Ravel Morrison to finally inspire headlines on rather than off the field.
MANAGER: Sam Allardyce
KEY SIGNINGS: Andy Carroll (Liverpool, £15m), Stewart Downing (Liverpool, £5m), Adrian (Real Betis, free), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk, free).
DID YOU KNOW: Scored the fewest away goals in the Premier League last season, with just 11.
LAST SEASON: 10th
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
