Premier League Preview 2/5

My Premier League preview continues, this time with just 23 days to go until the opening day. This second instalment looks to review some newbies as a couple of relegation candidates and a side looking to break into the top four after a positive campaign last year but can this happen with a new manager?

Ian Holloway has made it back to the Premier League, but this time with Crystal Palace. A stint in the top flight is more than they deserve after their great second leg and final performance in the playoffs. They didn't finish the Championship season too well but at the end of the day, their players wanted it more and that showed! Possibly a better result than Watford winning with a team of loanees anyway.


Squad strengthening wise, they seem to be in full flow. Already bringing in five new players costing them around £9million in total. They've secured the signing of Kevin Phillips with him signing a one year deal last week on the back of a successful loan spell. New signings Stephen Dobbie and Jerome Thomas both have previous Premier League experience as well and so these are three positive additions for the Eagles, something which their relegation competitors are currently lacking.

Last years top scorer Glenn Murray is out injured until at least Christmas time, so bringing in another striker has to be on the target list. They have been linked with Carlton Cole over the past week and look set to sign on a one year deal. However, the ex West Ham man only managed 48 league goals in 210 appearances for the Hammers, so I'm not confident this would be the best signing to keep them up, striker wise.

On this basis, I can't see Crystal Palace surviving. They do however, seem to be targeting some more additions and if can they bring in the right type of player, they may stand more of a chance. 

Prediction: 19th

Some Everton fans would have been sad to see David Moyes depart for Manchester but others would have seen it as a new start for their club. New boss Roberto Martinez is already hard at work making his new team his own with four signings including two from former side Wigan Athletic who were relegated to the Championship last year.

Everton begin the new campaign with a visit to Carrow Road and will be looking to get their season off to a good start which they don't usually manage. Martinez will have installed his own game plan into the team, as is expected with a new manager and have them working how he wants them to. He loves his players to keep possession for long periods of the game and look to break down opponents with short quick passing. A style which can be both good to watch but frustrating for the fans. 

A strike force available of Kone, Anichebe and Jelavic along with young talents Vellios, Mirallas and Barcelona loanee Deulofeu; it will be the strongest they've had in many a year. Keeping Fellaini and Baines away from former boss Moyes and Manchester United will be tough but if they can do that I can see them landing a Europa League place.

Prediction: 6th

Fulham always seem to be quite happy just plodding along at medium pace with no real ambition to improve on the previous season. The previous owner Mohamed Al-Fayed has decided it's time for a change and has sold the club to a Pakistani billionaire who has put club stability at the top of his priorities.

A huge transfer investment is unlikely which is why manager, Martin Jol has had to make do with what little funds and players he does have available. Losing Mark Schwarzer must have been a big blow, especially to Chelsea just down the road; however, Jol has brought in Maarten Stekelenberg to be his new number one. A couple more free transfers, Fernando Amorebieta and Derek Boateng from Bilbao and Dnipro respectively will fill gaps left by Baird and Petric this summer, hopefully restoring balance in the squad for security mid-table.

One thing Fulham will need to improve on from last year is their away form. They relied too much on their home games but to be fair to them, at times they were unplayable at the Cottage. If they can improve the performances away from home then I have no doubt they will comfortably stay in the Premier League.

Prediction: 15th

Of the three newly promoted clubs, Hull City have strengthened the most. New signings include Alan McGregor, Curtis Davies and the permanent capture of Ahmed Elmohamady as well as free transfers Steve Harper and Maynor Figueroa who themselves have both spent many years in this league.

Manager Steve Bruce has also done it all before and knows exactly what is required to stay in the division. Bringing in striker Danny Graham will give them another option to choose from up top leaving them prepared for the gruelling season ahead . No doubt the searches will be on going as Hull are currently said to be in talks with Evian about signing striker Yannick Sagbo. Bruce is also looking at making Wilson Palacios a part of his squad, something he will be used to from his time with Bruce at Wigan.

I believe Hull will give it a good go under Bruce and they will fight to the very end, living up to their nickname 'The Tigers', however I don't think at this moment in time they have enough to keep them up, despite the transfer window being far from closed. It would be silly to write them off as their last campaign wasn't too long ago, leaving an overhanging memory of failure. This leaves them in much better stead than their fellow relegation battlers.

Prediction 18th