ARSENAL
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
The brilliance displayed by the young players in completing the double over Manchester United and outplaying Chelsea for much of the Carling Cup final last season gave a reminder that the future promises much. Gilberto Silva offers more leadership as captain than the departed Thierry Henry, whose replacement, Eduardo da Silva, could be the poacher that the team have needed.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Until last year, the team had never finished lower than runners-up in any full season under Arsene Wenger, but already some fans will take fourth before this campaign begins. The preferred centre-back pairing of Kolo Tour? and William Gallas never appeared to gel last term, when a lack of width and goals from midfield was also evident.
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REALITY CHECK
The opening six fixtures, including away matches against Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur, will set the tenor for the season.
IN Eduardo da Silva (D Zagreb, £8m), L Fabianski (Legia Warsaw, £2m), H Nordveit (FK Haugesund, £2m), B Sagna (Auxerre, initial £6m rising to £8m)
OUT J Aliadiãre (Middlesbrough, £1.5m), T Henry (Barcelona, £16.2m rising to £20.2m), M Poom (Watford, free), A Lupoli (Fiorentina, free), F Muamba (Birmingham City, undisclosed), M Connolly (Colchester, loan)
PRESEASON July 14: Barnet (a). July 19: Gençlerbirligi (Bad Waltersdorf, Austria). July 25: Salzburg (a). July 28: Paris Saint-Germain (h). July 29: Inter Milan (h). Aug 2: Lazio (Amsterdam). Aug 4: Ajax (a)
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ASTON VILLA
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Now that Martin O’Neill, the manager, and Randy Lerner, the owner and chairman, have bedded in, Villa fans will be hoping for a sharp upgrade in ambition. Bringing in Nigel Reo-Coker, the West Ham United “scapegoat”, is a start, but more is needed if the minimum requirement of a Uefa Cup place is to be attained.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Reo-Coker sustains a long-term injury and O’Neill fritters away the Lerner millions on mediocre recruits. Villa lack strength in depth and the departure of so many bit-part players, who at least could be relied upon to provide cover, seems unwise. O’Neill has to get busy or Villa’s dreams will die a typically quick death.
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REALITY CHECK
A Uefa Cup place is viable, especially as the ante has been upped by Birmingham City returning to the top flight. Beating their great rivals twice might be satisfying, but Villa must achieve more.
IN N Reo-Coker (West Ham United, £8.5m), H Forrester (Watford, undisclosed)
OUT A Hughes (Fulham, £1m), J Samuel (Bolton Wanderers, free), G McCann (Bolton Wanderers, £1m), S Henderson (Bristol City, free), R Olejnik (Falkirk, free), J P ?ngel (New York Red Bulls, free), L Hendrie (released), S Davis (Fulham, £4m), C Sutton (retired)
PRESEASON July 25: Toronto FC (a). July 28: Columbus Crew (a). Aug 1: Stoke City (a). Aug 4: Inter Milan (h). Aug 7: Walsall (a)
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BIRMINGHAM
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Survival has to be the prime objective after an admirable return to the elite at the first attempt. To think that Steve Bruce, the manager, almost lost his job midway through last season. Bruce’s summer recruiting is impressive and there is a touch of class about the arrivals, such as Garry O’Connor. If survival is achieved early, mid-table respectability is feasible.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Carson Yeung’s buy-in becomes a takeover and, as reports in his native Hong Kong have suggested, he meddles in team selection. Bruce would be off like a shot and the stability of the club could crumble. Off the pitch, affairs are likely to prove intriguing, with the futures of the present co-owners — David Sullivan and the Gold brothers, David and Ralph — as crucial as the results.
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REALITY CHECK
Safety should be achieved with room to spare, but boardroom squabbling could wreck a campaign of promise.
IN O Kapo (Juventus, £3m), F Muamba (Arsenal, undisclosed), S Parnaby (Middlesbrough, free), G O’Connor (Lokomotiv Moscow, £2.7m), D De Ridder (Celta Vigo, free), R Schmitz (Lille, loan), R Kingson (Ankaraspor, free)
OUT B N’Gotty (Leicester City, free), J Gray (Coventry, free)
PRESEASON July 16: Hohenlohe Auswahl (K?nzelsau, Germany). July 18: Heidenheimer SB (a). July 23: FC Schweinfurt 05 (a). July 28: Walsall (a). July 31: Peterborough United (a). Aug 4: Sheffield Weds (a)
BLACKBURN
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Sixth place appears to be the best that Mark Hughes, the manager, could wish for, but he will need Steven Reid, Robbie Savage, Ryan Nelsen, Andr? Ooijer and Jason Roberts, all of whom were missing for long spells last season, to stay fit, and to keep hold of the likes of Morten Gamst Pedersen and Benni McCarthy.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
Blackburn fail to qualify for the Uefa Cup via the Intertoto Cup, McCarthy, the striker, leaves during the transfer window, and the team suffer injuries to key players. Hughes has made no significant additions and could live to regret it if he fails to sign another recognised forward, with Maceo Rigters likely to need some time to bed in.
REALITY CHECK
Blackburn may have finished sixth the season before last but their rivals have improved too much since then for that feat to be repeated. Expect a decent run in at least one of cups.
IN G Nielsen (BK Frem Copenhagen, undisclosed), M Rigters (NAC Breda, £350,000)
OUT M Gray (released), A Todd (Derby County, undisclosed)
PRESEASON July 10: Wrexham (a). July 15: Arminia Bielefeld (a). Aug 1: Huddersfield Town (a). Aug 4: Preston North End (a)
BOLTON
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Sammy Lee is looking for Bolton to qualify for Europe, but he can ill-afford to lose any more of his star players and will need a few high-quality additions after signing Gavin McCann from Aston Villa. Tal Ben Haim has already left for Chelsea and uncertainty surrounds the futures of Kevin Nolan, El-Hadji Diouf and Nicolas Anelka.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
Anelka, Nolan and Diouf jump ship, the defence implodes in the absence of Ben Haim and Sam Allardyce nabs more of his former backroom staff, all of which combine to drag Bolton into the relegation zone. It would seem inconceivable that Bolton would go down, however, given the solid platform provided by Allardyce.
REALITY CHECK
It is hard to see Bolton finishing in the top ten for the fifth consecutive season and should he survive the year, Lee might come to look upon a twelfth or thirteenth place finish as a success.
IN G Cid (Bordeaux, free), B Dzemaili (FC Zurich, free), D Guthrie (Liverpool, loan), Z Harsanyi (FC Senec, undisclosed), G McCann (Aston Villa, £1m), J Samuel (Aston Villa, free)
OUT T Ben Haim (Chelsea, free), Q Fortune, C Martin, H Pedersen, D Thompson (all released)
PRESEASON July 12: Seongnam Ilhwa (a). July 14: Chivas Guadalajara (Daegu, S Korea). July 17: Racing Santander (Goyang, S Korea). July 25: Hibernian (a). July 28: Tranmere Rovers (a). Aug 1: Espanyol (h). Aug 4 Colchester United (a)
CHELSEA
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Many supporters will accept only winning the title and challenging for the Champions League as being good enough. Their confidence springs from the belief that they will not suffer the same injuries as last season, when Petr Cech, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Joe Cole and Arjen Robben were out for spells. Robben could make way for Florent Malouda, the fast but less flamboyant winger.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Manchester United have spent more than £50 million on three players and are likely to sign Carlos T?vez. Chelsea’s only arrivals have been on free transfers. There are reservations about the lack of pace in central defence and the failure to sign a right back.
REALITY CHECK
Some fans will argue that if Chelsea were able to keep in touch with United, given all the problems, injuries and rifts of last season, then what will they be able to achieve with harmony this time round?
IN F Malouda (Lyons, £13.5m), S Sidwell (Reading, free), C Pizarro (B Munich, free), Alex (PSV Eindhoven, free), T Ben Haim (Bolton Wanderers, free)
OUT Nuno Morais (Apoel Nicosia, free), Y Makabu-Ma-Kalambay (Hibernian, nominal), J S Ver?n (free), J Elmer (FC Aarau, undisclosed), G?r?mi (Newcastle United, free), Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla, season-long loan)
PRESEASON July 14: Club Am?rica (San Jose, California). July 17: Samsung Bluewings (Carson City, California). July 21: Los Angeles Galaxy (a). July 25: Feyenoord (a). July 28: Rangers (a). July 31: Brondby (a)
DERBY
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Billy Davies, the manager, wears his heart on his sleeve and a big sleeve it is, too. He questioned his future at Pride Park only minutes after securing promotion via the play-offs last season, but he has been appeased by the arrival of David Kelly as his assistant after a long spell of “gardening leave” at Preston North End. Still, a struggle to retain their newfound status is imminent.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Davies engages mouth before brain and gets into trouble with Peter Gadsby, the chairman, and every authority in the land. A season of strife is predictable, but Robert Earnshaw, the £3.5 million signing from Norwich City, could get the goals to engineer a season of survival against the odds. Unlikely, though.
REALITY CHECK
Eighteenth, nineteenth or twentieth place. Back from where they came, perhaps even with a Watford-style plummet, unless Davies can walk the walk as good as he talks the talk.
IN R Earnshaw (Norwich City, £3.5m), T Mears (West Ham United, £1m), C Davis (Sheffield United, £3m), A Todd (Blackburn Rovers, £750,000)
OUT R Smith (Millwall, £150,000), S Johnson, M Bisgaard, P Boertien, L Grant, P Peschisolido (all released)
PRESEASON July 14: Ilkeston Town (a). July 14: Stafford Rangers (a). July 17: FC Chiasso (Bardolino, Italy). July 23. Burton Albion (a). July 23: Macclesfield Town (a). July 28: Mansfield Town (a). Aug 1: Crewe Alexandra (a). Aug 4: Espanyol (h)
EVERTON
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
David Moyes, the manager, has built an impressive if understated squad and will target a top-five finish — breaking into the top four may be asking too much. More additions would not go amiss, however, with Moyes eyeing up Alan Smith, the Manchester United forward, to partner Andrew Johnson, as well as Smith’s Old Trafford teammate, Kieran Richardson.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
The demands of playing in Europe take their toll and Everton’s league form suffers as a consequence. The fitness of Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and Johnson will be crucial and an injury to one or two of them could be damaging.
REALITY CHECK
Everton should qualify for Europe again. They have the manager, the squad and the right application. After early exits from both the Champions League and Uefa Cup two seasons ago, Moyes will want to convince the critics that he is capable of flourishing in Europe.
IN T Howard (Manchester United, undisclosed), P Jagielka (Sheffield United, £4m)
OUT A Pistone (released), G Naysmith (Sheffield United, £1m), R Wright (West Ham United, free)
PRESEASON July 14: Bury (a). July 14: Northern Ireland XI (a). July 18: Preston North End (a). July 21: Real Salt Lake (a). July 26: Stirling Albion (a). July 28: Kendal Town (a). July 31: Werder Bremen (h). Aug 2: Warrington Town (a). Aug 4: Crystal Palace (a) Aug 7: Aberystwyth Town (a)
FULHAM
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Mohamed Al Fayed has given Lawrie Sanchez about £10 million to spend to take Fulham to the next level, but, before fans get excited, that is unlikely to be Europe. Sanchez will need time to overhaul the squad. He has signed two players from Aston Villa and will try to get David Healy, the forward, once Leeds United are out of administration. But the proposed transfer of Diomansy Kamara from West Bromwich Albion has stalled.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
The jury is still out on Sanchez, even though he kept the team in the top flight. If one win — against a lethargic Liverpool — in five matches was not impressive, his playing style has also been criticised from within and by some fans.
REALITY CHECK
Unless Sanchez can drastically reshape a mediocre squad, they are likely to be among the favourites for relegation. No change there, maybe, and the style of play is likely to become even more direct.
IN A Hughes (Aston Villa, £1m), S Davis (Aston Villa, £4m), C Baird (Southampton, £3.205m)
OUT M Collins (Swansea City, free), M Crossley (Oldham Athletic, free), T Radzinski, C Jensen, M Pembridge (all released)
PRESEASON July 17: Dagenham & Redbridge (a). July 20: Brighton & Hove Albion (a). July 24: Portsmouth (Hong Kong). July 27: Liverpool or South China (Hong Kong). Aug 3: Queens Park Rangers (a)
LIVERPOOL
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Rafael BenÍtez, the manager, wants the league title that has eluded the club for the past 17 years, just as the fans do, and if Fernando Torres lives up to his billing, the defence stands firm and Liverpool can avoid one of their notoriously sluggish starts, they will probably be there or thereabouts in the final reckoning. That may mean BenÍtez having to focus more on the league than Europe.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
Torres flops or gets injured, the lack of a quality winger shines through, the defence creaks and BenÍtez continues to prioritise Europe over the Premier League. As a consequence, Liverpool stumble to third or fourth place.
REALITY CHECK
Liverpool would still appear to be some way short of matching Manchester United and Chelsea and will probably have to settle for third place once again. Torres could prove a good addition but it seems unlikely that he alone will make the difference that is required.
IN F Torres (A Madrid, £20.2m) L Leiva (Grêmio, £6m), N Mihaylov (Levski Sofia, undisclosed), A Kacaniklic (Helsingborg, undisc), K Nemeth, A Simon (MTK Hungaria, £100,000 each), D Pacheco (Barcelona, £350,000), M Purie (B Dortmund, undisc), M San Jos? (A Bilbao, £270,000), A Voronin (B Leverkusen, free), M Alexandrov (CSKA Sofia, undisc), R Crowther, B Robinson (both Stockport County, undisc), Y Benayoun (West Ham, up to £5m)
OUT C Bellamy (West Ham United, £7.5m), F Sinama Pongolle (R Huelva, £2.7m), D Ciss? (Marseilles, £8m), L GarcÍa (A Madrid, £2.7m), R Fowler (released), A Hammill (Southampton, loan)
PRESEASON July 7: Wrexham (a) Won 3-2. July 14: Crewe Alexandra (a). July 17: Werder Bremen (Br?hl, Germany). July 20: Auxerre (Freiburg, Germany). July 24: South China (Hong Kong). July 27: Portsmouth or Fulham (Hong Kong). Aug 3: Shanghai Shenhua (Rotterdam). Aug 5: Feyenoord (a)
MAN CITY
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Should Sven-G?ran Eriksson rediscover the Midas touch that took him to league and cup doubles in three different countries and Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, come good on his promise of a £40 million transfer kitty, City could be one of the success stories of the season. A top-six finish would provide the platform for much-craved success.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
Eriksson fails on his promise to lure world-class players to the club, Thaksin is arrested on corruption charges and City slump to mid-table yet again. Eriksson then calls it a day and City find themselves back at square one.
REALITY CHECK
Even if Eriksson manages to entice top-quality players to City, it is probably asking too much to expect the former England head coach to turn City into a top-six team immediately. A finish in the top ten and a decent Cup run would be respectable.
IN None
OUT J Barton (Newcaste United, £5.8m), D Beasley (PSV Eindhoven, loan ended), S Distin (Portsmouth, free), N Weaver (Charlton Athletic, free), S Jordan, H Trabelsi (all released), T Sinclair (Cardiff City, free)
PRESEASON
July 14: Doncaster Rovers (a)
MAN UNITED
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Given their mind-boggling activity in the transfer market this summer, United supporters will probably be expecting the quadruple next season, or at the very least another solid stab at the treble. Sir Alex Ferguson, though, will be focusing his attention on retaining the Premier League crown and winning that elusive second Champions League title.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
The impending transfer of Carlos T?vez, above, from West Ham United collapses, Nani and Anderson struggle to adapt and a string of injuries undermine the club’s domestic and European challenge.
REALITY CHECK
T?vez’s transfer is expected to go through and in the Argentina forward, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Anderson, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ferguson has a wealth of attacking options. With Owen Hargreaves bolstering the midfield, a Premier League and Champions League double looks realistic.
IN Anderson (FC Porto, initial £8m rising to £20.4m), O Hargreaves (Bayern Munich, initial £16.8m rising to £20.2m), Nani (Sporting Lisbon, initial £8m rising to £17.3m), T Kuszczak (West Bromwich Albion, undisclosed)
OUT T Howard (Everton, undisc)
PRESEASON July 17: Urawa Red Diamonds (a). July 20: FC Seoul (a). July 23: Shenzhen FC (a). July 27: Guangzhou Pharmaceutical (a). Aug 1: Inter Milan (h). Aug 5: Chelsea (Community Shield, Wembley)
MIDDLESBROUGH
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Even the most optimistic regulars at the Riverside Stadium must be bracing themselves for a season of mediocrity. Mark Viduka has gone, Yakubu Ayegbeni is likely to be sold and it is difficult to see Gareth Southgate’s team improving on last season’s twelfth-placed finish. If forwards such as Jermain Defoe and Alan Smith can be tempted to move to Teesside, treading water in mid-table will be the most they can look forward to.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Mark Schwarzer leaves after refusing to sign a contract extension, Southgate fails to attract adequate replacements for the Australia goalkeeper and Viduka, J?r?mie Aliadiãre flatters to deceive, Jonathan Woodgate gets injured and Lee Hendrie, who has been linked with a move to Middlesbrough, throws his toys out of the pram.
REALITY CHECK
Almost guaranteed to finish in the lower reaches unless Southgate gets the green light to spend his way out of trouble.
IN J Woodgate (Real Madrid, £7m), J Aliadiãre (Arsenal, £1.5m), Tuncay Sanli (Fenerbahçe, free)
OUT A Xavier (Los Angeles Galaxy, free), S Parnaby (Birmingham City, free), M Viduka (Newcastle United, free), D Graham (Carlisle United, free), M Christie (released)
PRESEASON July 14: Schalke 04 (Bad Radkersburg, Austria). July 17: Hertha Berlin (Bad Waltersdorf, Austria). July 21: Burnley (a). July 24: Darlington (a). July 28: Hibernian (a). July 31: Carlisle United (a). August 4: AZ Alkmaar (h)
NEWCASTLE
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Sam Allardyce has set his sights on a trip to Wembley in his first season in charge and the manager has identified the Carling Cup as his side’s best chance of ending a 38-year wait for a trophy. If the players adapt to Allardyce’s favoured 4-3-3 formation and Mike Ashley, the new owner, delivers on his promise of signing Raúl or Deco, the Toon Army could be invading London in February.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
David Rozehnal turns out to be the new Titus Bramble, Joey Barton picks a fight with Nicky Butt, Mark Viduka piles on the pounds, Obafemi Martins leaves, Albert Luque stays and Big Sam finds out what managing a big club is all about.
REALITY CHECK
Ashley did not become one of the richest men in Britain by settling for second-best and anything less than qualifying for Europe will be regarded as failure by the new owner. Allardyce wants five years to revitalise the club; he will get five months if things go wrong.
IN M Viduka (Middlesbrough, free), J Barton (Manchester City, £5.8m), D Rozehnal (Paris Saint-Germain, £2.9m), G?r?mi (Chelsea, free)
OUT S Parker (West Ham United, £7m), A O’Brien (Hibernian, tribunal), T Bramble (Wigan Athletic, free), A Sibierski (Wigan Athletic, free), O Onyewu (Standard Liãge, end of loan), C Moore, O Bernard and P Srnicek (all released).
PRESEASON July 17: Hartlepool United (a). July 21: Carlisle United (a). July 26: Celtic (h). July 29: Juventus (h). Aug 1: Hull City (a). Aug 5: Sampdoria (h)
PORTSMOUTH
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Harry Redknapp has played down the club’s chances of repeating last season’s ninth place on his relatively meagre budget, but privately he will fancy the team’s chances of going one or two places better, especially if he can complete the signing of David Nugent from Preston North End.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Redknapp reinvigorated one or two flagging careers last season, but the team could start to look very old, very quickly if things go badly early on — which they could, with last season’s top four all among Portsmouth’s first six opponents. The defence will struggle to live up to last season’s standard, while Kanu’s mind seems to be elsewhere.
REALITY CHECK
Redknapp’s squad is too good to go down, but challenging for Europe for a second successive season will be a difficult task. Failure to invest in January proved costly last season and a lack of pace and trickery in wide attacking positions remains a problem.
IN S Distin (Manchester City, free), H Hreidarsson (Charlton Athletic, free), S Muntari (Udinese, £7m), M Cranie (Southampton, free), A Muvemba (Rennes, undisclosed), D Nugent (Preston, undisclosed), J Utaka (Rennes, initial £6.75m rising to £8.1m)
OUT S Todorov (Charlton Athletic, free)
PRESEASON July 14: Yeovil Town (a). July 17: Havant & Waterlooville (a). July 18: Eastleigh (a). July 24: Fulham (Hong Kong). July 27: Liverpool or South China (Hong Kong). July 31: Bournemouth (a). Aug 1: Newport (IoW) (a). Aug 4: Leicester City (a)
READING
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
A repeat of eighth place and missing Uefa Cup qualification by one point would again be a remarkable achievement. Unlikely to happen as “second-season syndrome” kicks in, but the all-for-one-and-one-for-all spirit generated at the club should see them through. Steve Coppell, the manager, will maintain a low profile but again achieve a high level of success.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
Coppell resigns, John Madejski, the chairman, sells to a Far East billionaire — as he has indicated he might if a zillion-pound bid is plonked on the table — or Leroy Lita, above, and Nicky Shorey, the respective under21 and senior England internationals, fail to agree new contracts. None of the aforementioned is likely, so another campaign of overachievement is probable, even if Reading’s little-boy-lost innocence has gone.
REALITY CHECK
Reading still possess the come-from-behind mentality that enabled them to overcome many setbacks last season, but another top-ten finish is unlikely.
IN K Ciss? (Boavista, £1m)
OUT G Halford (Sunderland, £3m), S Sidwell (Chelsea, free)
PRESEASON July 13: River Plate (Suwon, S Korea). July 16: Lyons (Seoul, S Korea). July 19: Shimizu S-Pulse (Goyang, S Korea). July 21: Tooting & Mitcham (a). July 23: Didcot (a). July 25: Brentford (a). July 28: Brighton & Hove Albion (a). Aug 4: Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
SUNDERLAND
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
With Roy Keane in the Stadium of Light dugout, anything is possible. Winning the Coca-Cola Championship was only the start of the Wearside revival and the former Manchester United captain knows what the top flight is all about. A couple of phone calls to Sir Alex Ferguson, a few United players on loan, a striker who can score 20 goals a season and Keane’s team should be safe by Christmas.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
The last time Sunderland were in the top flight they finished bottom with 19 points and a repeat performance could be on the cards. Keane has been unable to convince players such as David Nugent and Jussi Jaaskelainen to move to Wearside, but signing Mark Schwarzer, the Middlesbrough goalkeeper, would give the team a glimmer of hope.
REALITY CHECK
Survival is the name of the game. They may not admit it, but most Stadium of Light regulars would be happy with finishing in seventeenth position.
IN G Halford (Reading, £3m), R Anderson (Aberdeen, £1m), C Baird (Southampton, £3m)
OUT J Evans (Manchester United, end of loan), D Simpson (Manchester United, end of loan), T Miller (released). K Cunningham (released)
PRESEASON July 18: Darlington (a). July 21: Scunthorpe United (a). July 28: Bohemians (a). July 30: Cork City (a). Aug 1: Galway United (a). Aug 4: Juventus (h)
TOTTENHAM
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
It may be only a few miles across North London from N17 to N5, but as far as Tottenham Hotspur are concerned, they have been inhabiting a different solar system to Arsenal for more than a dozen years. The £25 million-plus spent by Spurs on the likes of Gareth Bale, has given their supporters the belief that they could challenge for a place in the top four.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
They have closed the points differential on Arsenal, but the gap in quality between the sides still appeared large in four meetings last season. The contest for a European place will be tough, with West Ham United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and, soon, Manchester City all spending heavily.
REALITY CHECK
There are still nagging fears that the lack of creativity in midfield will restrict the chances made for an impressive attacking lineup. They should contest a Champions League spot and reach the latter stages of the Uefa Cup and Carling Cup.
IN G Bale (Southampton, initial £6m rising to £10m), D Bent (Charlton Athletic, initial £15.5m rising to £16.5m), A Taarabt (Lens, undisclosed), Y Berchiche (Athletic Bilbao, undisclosed), Y Kaboul (Auxerre, undisclosed)
OUT C Lee (Peterborough United, free), M Yeates (Colchester United, nominal), R Ziegler (Sampdoria, £1.4m) R Burch (Sheffield Wednesday, free), E Hallfredson (Lyn-Oslo, undisclosed)
PRESEASON July 7: Stevenage Borough (a) won 3-1. July 12: St Patrick’s (a). July 21: Kaizer Chiefs (a). July 24: Orlando Pirates (a). Aug 1: Leyton Orient (a). Aug 4: Torino (h)
WEST HAM
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
After the dramas and great escapology of last season, the club have given Alan Curbishley, the manager, significant funds to build a squad that should be capable of challenging for a top-eight place. Should Craig Bellamy complete his move from Liverpool, he could be the ideal foil for Dean Ashton, who will return from missing the last campaign with a broken ankle.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
The revival in the club’s fortunes last season had more to do with some players performing with a big-money move in mind than Curbishley being able to impose his ideas. Darren Bent turned down a move because of concerns about the relationship of some of the players with Curbishley, who has been criticised by Nigel Reo-Coker, the midfield player who joined Aston Villa.
REALITY CHECK
Even with the transformations off the pitch, this is still West Ham after all, so supporters can expect oscillating fortunes, self-inflicted problems, dejection and despondency.
IN C Bellamy (Liverpool, £7.5m), S Parker (Newcastle United, £7m), J Faubert (Bordeaux, £6.1m), R Wright (Everton, free)
OUT E Sheringham, R Carroll (both released), N Reo-Coker (Aston Villa, £8.5m), S Newton (Leicester City, free), T Mears (Derby County, £1m)
PRESEASON July 14: Dagenham & Redbridge (a). July 24: Leyton Orient (a). July 25: Milton Keynes Dons (a). July 28: Southend United (a). July 31: Norwich City (a). Aug 4: AS Roma (h)
WIGAN
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
If Chris Hutchings succeeds with bids worth a combined £10.2 million for Marlon Harewood, the West Ham United striker, Jason Koumas, the West Bromwich Albion midfield player and Michael Brown, of Fulham, then Wigan’s squad will take on a far healthier look. Hutchings says he is looking beyond survival, but that has to be the aim.
WORST-CAST SCENARIO
Hutchings misses out on Harewood, Koumas and Brown and manages to bring in only a few questionable signings to add to Titus Bramble and Mario Melchiot, Henri Camara leaves and Wigan struggle from day one and are relegated.
REALITY CHECK
How Wigan fare will probably depend on who Hutchings manages to bring in between now and the close of the transfer window on August 31, although the signs are not good and it is expected that the club will be relegated. Bramble has the look of a desperate signing and is hardly likely to inspire confidence in those around him.
IN J Koumas (WBA, initial £4.6m rising to £5.3m), T Bramble (Newcastle United, free), A Granqvist (Helsingborg, undisclosed), M Melchiot (Rennes, free), C Nash (Preston North End, £300,000), A Sibierski (Newcastle United, free)
OUT L McCulloch (Rangers, £2.25m), A de Zeeuw, M Jackson, D Unsworth (all released), J Filan (retired), L McCulloch (Glasgow Rangersm £2.25m)
PRESEASON July 25: Blackpool (a). July 28: Halifax Town (a). July 31: Barnsley (a). Aug 4: Leeds United (a)