Premiership Preview: Swansea City

With something to prove can he help keep Swansea in the top flight this season? Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Winning promotion through the playoffs, saying they are going to keep their passing and attacking style, it all seems very familiar to Blackpool when they won promotion to the Premiership last season. Although this style served The Tangerines well in the first half of the season, their woeful run-in saw them get relegated. Swansea can not afford to make this mistake. They must change some of their attractive passing play to be more direct when it is needed. Defensively they need to be able to deal with fast counter attacking teams.

Goalkeepers

Doris De Vries has already moved on after helping the Swans win promotion, so a new goalkeeper will be on Brendan Rogers' radar. We will have to wait and see if ex-chelsea youth player Yves Ma-Kalamby will be given his chance to prove himself as first choice, or whether a new first choice will be bought in.

Defence

It is a fair assumption that Swansea's defence will be worked a lot harder in the premiership than the Championship. A defender with Premier League experience would be handy to go along side the loan signing of Caulker from Spurs. Another loan signing from a bigger club could also work, but it will be interesting to see if any players would be interested in a move to the Welsh club in a bid to play first team football. Keeping hold of Angel Rangel should prove to be a big positive for Swansea.

Midfield

Swansea's midfield was used to keeping the ball and moving it around at their own pace last season. If they can adapt this attractive passing game to the tempo of the Premier League then they should prove to be an exciting team to watch. However, they will need to know when to change this for a more direct approach. A strong, experienced, tough tackling midfielder in the style of Patrick Vieira could be a great addition to their squad.  The loss of Pratley on a free transfer is a big blow to the newly promoted team.

Forwards

In Scott Sinclair, Swansea have a wing forward who will want to prove himself as a Premier League player. If they can get him firing as well as he did in the Championship, this will go some way to keeping them up. But after Scott Sinclair, Swansea's options are short of quality. Craig Beattie, Stephen Dobbie and Luke Moore won't scare too many centre backs, so an out and out striker is definitely required. Eidur Gudjohnson and Leroy Lita are names that could fill this void.

Dave

Premiership Preview: Manchester City

He may want out, but who can afford him? Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

An all time best league finish, Champions League qualification and an FA cup win last season signalled the beginning of a new dawn for Manchester City fans. Unlike other teams in the league, the expectation is that City will buy whoever they want, rather than who they need. However, their spending is likely to be curbed slightly by the new financial fair play rules, and City’s squad, swelled to bursting point, will need thinning down considerably.

Goalkeepers

With Joe Hart cementing his place in the first team, a new goalkeeper is not high on Mancini’s priorities. However, since Shay Given has decided that sitting on the bench looking slightly glum isn’t for him any more, Man City will need to bring in a second choice goalkeeper to take the place of Given. The Irish shot stopper, incidentally, looks likely to move to Aston Villa, who recently lost their keeper to Spurs.

Defenders

Having made Gael Clichy his first signing of the summer, Roberto Mancini will need to both strip and strengthen his back line. A centre back of real quality is needed to play alongside the excellent Vincent Kompany, as it looks unlikely that Joleon Lesscott will play any more than bit part role this season and Kolo Toure, whose drugs ban kept him out of the game for most of last season, is prone to some high profile mistakes. Despite signing Montenegrin centre back Stefan Savic, City would benefit from adding an experienced ‘no nonsense’ centre back. Someone like, but not necessarily specifically, John Terry. City will also need to move on fringe players like Wayne Bridge, Jerome Boateng and Nedum Onuoha.

Midfielders

The Citizens currently have eight players competing for the first team slots in midfield and it will come as no surprise if Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael Johnson are moved on. Mancini’s side suffered from a lack of creativity last season and bringing in another player to ease the burden from David Silva would be advisable. Having admitted defeat in the pursuit of Alexis Sanchez, Mancini looks set to step up his interest in Samir Nasri. Others such as Sneijder have also been mooted, and the possibility of Kaka moving to Eastlands remains a distinct possibility.

Strikers

City have a plethora of players in this position, many of whom are on ludicrously high wages and are unlikely to get any playing time at all. Bellamy, Jo (signed for £21million!!) and Adebayor are all surplus to requirements and, if they are willing to take a pay cut, can find first team action elsewhere.

And then there’s Tevez, who, at the time of writing, rocked the boat by stating his desire to leave. An astonishing figure of £50m has been suggested and possible suitors include Juventus, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, with the latter seemingly the most likely destination. Without Tevez’s industry and goals, City will struggle to make a similar impact next season. Sergio Augero has been heavily linked with the club and would provide a similar style to Tevez’s. More faith will surely be put in Dzeko, who underperformed last season, and Balotelli, whose temper has so far hindered his progress.

Man City will almost certainly spend big this summer to get the players they want. You suspect however, that a manager with more attacking intent would please fans more than any big name signing.

Owain

Premiership Preview: Manchester United

Is Sneijder going to be the man pulling the strings this season? Photograph: Giampiero Sposito/Reuters

Although United’s team lacked a degree of flair and creativity last season, a record-breaking 19^th league title is signs that Fergie still knows what he is doing. A 3^rd Champions League final in 4 years proves that he, and the squad, can cut it in Europe too. However, with heavy investment already under-way at Old Trafford he clearly feels that competition from the likes of Man City and Chelsea is increasing. The acquisitions of David De Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young at a combined price of nearly 70million shows that Sir Alex is buying young and he isn’t afraid to spend a few bob doing it.

Goalkeepers

With the retirement of Van Der Sar, there was a need for a new goalkeeper. Anders Lindergaard is unproven and will likely be the willing back-up to the newly arrived David De Gea. Ben Amos is a young and decent enough 3^rd choice keeper. Leaving the oddly superb shot-stopping but unbelievably error prone Tomasz Kuszacak to be on his way out of Old Trafford.

Defence

The acquisition of Phil Jones and the emergence of Chris Smalling can only lead me to think one thing, an exodus of defenders from The Red Devils. Wes Brown and John O’Shea have been heavily linked to Sunderland and a move could not be far away. Jonny Evans will need to discover himself as a right back if he has a chance of staying at United, or he will be out the door (most probably on loan). Ferdinand and Vidic will be the main pairing at centre back with Evra ready to be ever-present at left back. Rafael or Fabio, if you can tell them apart, will probably rotate at right back. There is also talk of Valencia becoming an attacking full back to accommodate Nani and Ashley Young on either wing – but I doubt this will happen.

Midfield

The hardworking players such as Fletcher and Park have come to light in recent years, however, this has come at a cost of a lack of creativity. Scholes, will be sorely missed from the United ranks and a replacement is needed that can dictate the tempo of play. Ideally, this job will be filled by Carrick, however he proved last season that he can either blow very hot or very cold and consistency is not his strong point - the fact he favours a backwards or sideways pass is also worrying.  A creative central midfielder is a must and it is of no surprise that names like Sniejder, Nasri and Modric have been mentioned.

The addition of Ashley Young to Nani and Valencia will offer a degree of rotation between the wingers and was an area that needed investment. Young’s pace and directness will be welcomed in the United squad.

Gibson should go after proving that all he has is a long shot. Anderson should be given one more season to prove himself as some sort of creative midfielder and players such as Obertan should be shipped out on loan for some first team experience.

Forwards

When you have players such as Rooney, Berbatov, Owen and Hernandez it’s hard to say that investment is needed. But add to this the return of Welbeck from his loan at Sunderland and it’s clear that no investment is needed. I was in a minority, but was happy when Owen was given a contract extension and I would also be disappointed to see Berbatov go. The infamous Bebe has moved on loan to Besiktas and I assume Macheda and Mame Diouf will be joining him on the loan list soon. 

Dave

Premiership Preview: Newcastle United



Can the signings this summer be as successful? Photograph: Bulbous



Last season went pretty smoothly in Newcastle terms. First season back in the Premiership and they avoided relegation with relative ease. In charge they have Mike “Fat Controller” Ashley puppeteering Alan Pardew (who could easily be the bloke who manages the U15’s at your local club). Since Pardew arrived, their young star striker has been sold for a whopping £35 million and their captain Kevin Nolan for around £4 million so around £40 million has been brought in, spend so far has been around the £8 million mark so... £30 million + to spend? Unlikely, Ashley has probably pocketed that for a rainy day.

The Newcastle squad is reasonably sized but there is a distinct lack of quality in some key areas.

Goalkeepers

Here we have a good setup Krul and Forster are both very good prospects with Harper the old hand. For me both the younger lads need game time otherwise Newcastle may risk losing one or both, so for me the Number 1 needs to be defined and Forster will most probably be loaned out for some much needed experience.

Defenders

There’s many a man who can play at right back in this squad but are any actually Premiership quality? Personally I would listen to offers for Simpson, Perch and Ryan Taylor retaining one and using that money to purchase a new first choice fullback. Left back...Jose Enrique just go will you! The common theme for players is let the media do the talking about the move while they sit there quietly hoping they won’t upset the fans (Fabregas I’m looking at you here, grow some will you!) So for me they need to sell him and buy one, possibly two left backs. Wayne Bridge has been spoken about but I think Newcastle can do better than a man more obsessed with avoiding John Terry than playing football. Centrally they possess three good centre backs so I would like to see one more signed to add a good level of cover.

Midfield

There’s many a player here to run around chasing a ball, but who can pass it, who can create goals? Cabaye looks a good player and with Tiote and Barton they have some real passion and drive in the middle. I would like to see one more player in here to help link midfield and attack. On the wings Marveaux has signed and looks to be decent (a poor man’s Malouda if I’m being honest), other than that there is Jonas the head down and run merchant, and Routledge. Neither are indispensable so I would more than happily sell if the right offer came along (Are you reading Liverpool FC? Routledge is English...you can have him for £10 million!), and bring back N’Zogbia as he would add genuine class to the flanks.

Strikers

The number 9 Shirt is up for grabs...Ameobi do you want it? The man is stealing a living, how he’s lasted so long is beyond me! Demba Ba, if kept fit will score goals and with him and Hatem Ben Arfa in tandem Newcastle have a partnership that could be potent. But a new Number 9 needs to be bought, Shearer is never going to be replaced but give the Toon Army someone they can be proud of to wear that shirt, they need passion, skill and ultimately goals! Is there anyone out there who fits that bill, well Tevez does but that’s one for the dreamers.

Josh