Norwich:

The Canaries had a truly brilliant first season in the premier league last time around.

Managing to finish mid-table, after being written off by so many pre-season, Paul Lambert did wonders to make the most of what on paper looked a rather flimsy squad. With Lambert moving to pastures new, and star striker Grant Holt also leaving Carrow Road, the wonders performed last season may soon become a distant memory.

To add to the club’s worries, Norwich have been very quiet in the transfer market. A long, arduous season awaits…

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Predicted finish: 19th

QPR

Queens Park Rangers were poor in their long-awaited return to the premier league, being extremely lucky to survive at all.

On paper, this lot should have been mid-table, safe and sound come March: it didn’t work out that way, with players disappearing when the going got tough. Cisse’s sending-off record was a case in point. However, a new season always brings new promise, and if the owners invest correctly I am sure Rangers can improve on last season.

QPR have already brought in Ji Sung Park; a highly ambitious signing. He has the class to propel them to better things. Ryan Nelson, Fabio Da Silva and Robert Green have also joined the club at a time when new blood is more important than ever. Kenny and Buzacky have both left the club, being replaced by a higher quality of squad player. However, the wild card that is Joey Barton could either make or break their season: when focused and in-form, he is a great midfielder.

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Predicted finish: 9th

Reading

Reading’s season in 2011/12 was one of the most remarkable that championship football has ever seen.

By October they were hovering only a few points above the relegation zone, after losing their star striker, Shane Long, to Reading. They then went on an unbelievable run of form, and won the championship with a few games to spare – they will need to continue in this rich vein of form, and then some, if they are to be successful in the premier league.

They have already bought Pavel Pogrebnyak, Nicky Shorey and Danny Guthrie: all very solid signings. But more players will need to be brought in to ensure premier league survival. Curtis Davis, Jermaine Defoe and Danny Simpson have all been linked with the royals – this will be the minimum requirement to ensure Premiership football is played at the Madejski in 2014.

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Predicted finish: 17th

Stoke City

Stoke finished in a mid table position for the third time in a row last season: no mean feat…

Their direct style of football hasn’t gained them many points in the popularity stakes, but it is an effective system for keeping them in the top tier of English football. Last year Stoke also got a taste of European football which must have helped some of their players develop. Tony Pulis will want to see his team start to creep up the table now: improvement must follow consolidation.

To the fans’ consternation, they have not brought anyone in so far, and have let many experienced players go, such as Ricardo Fuller, Danny Higginbotham and Jonathan Woodgate. If these players are not replaced, it would show a lack of ambition and could jeopardize their status as a top-tier team. Michael Owen has been linked with the potters, and that would indeed be a start. But only a start…

The key for Stoke is keeping the incredible fans onside. To keep the fans onside, Stoke need to keep hold of Tony Pulis.

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Predicted finish: 14th

Sunderland

Sunderland had a strange season in 2011/12, to put it mildly.

Pre-Martin O’Neill they were relegation material. Post-Martin O’Neill they were competing for a Europa League place: such was the Irishman’s impact. Finally finishing mid-table was a perfectly acceptable result for the Wearsiiders.

O’Neil will need to find consistency if Sunderland are to improve. The highpoint of Sunderland’s season was the unearthing of the young sensation James McLean. Rumours linking Sunderland with Luis Saha, should they transpire to be true, will do no harm whatsoever.

So far Sunderland have brought in the Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar and sold Asamoah Gyan. They will need to invest more if they are to progress in the premier league. A lot of players have been released, so expect Martin O’Neil to boost his currently-depleted squad.

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Predicted finish: 10th

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