Premier League Transfer News: Robin Van Persie and the New Season Predictions

The new season of the Barclays Premier League kicks off this weekend, and current champions Manchester City face a tough fight as they seek to defend their title against cross-town challengers, Manchester United, as well as Arsenal and Chelsea.

Many are projecting City to be repeat champions, but United has significantly upped the ante with its signing of Robin Van Persie. 

What effect does this have on the early predictions of a City repeat? Where do the 20 teams rank? I base my judgment on the following factors:

1. Fixtures (aka strength of schedule) 
2. Transfer activity since the end of the last season 
3. Progression/regression since the end of last season 
4. A highly scientific methodology (aka gut feeling)

View the slide show to see the predicted order of finish for the 2012-13 Premier League season.

20. Southampton

Last season: 2nd, Championship

Projected Record: 9 Wins, 4 Draws, 25 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Nathaniel Clyne (Palace, £2.5m), Steven Davis (Rangers, £800k), Paulo Gazzaniga (Gillingham, undisc), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley, £6m).

Out: Tommy Forecast (Gillingham, loan); Dan Harding (Nottingham Forest, £500k), Aaron Martin (Crystal Palace, loan); Bartosz Bialkowski, David Connolly, Harlee Dean, Ryan Doble, Lee Holmes (released)

Outlook

The Saints face a rude welcome back to the Premier League with an away visit to the Etihad Stadium to face defending champions Manchester City.  Championship Player of the Year Rickie Lambert scored 27 goals last season, but at 30, he is a bit old for a Premier League striker.

Further, few players are able to sustain their brilliance upon promotion to the top flight, and new man Jay Rodriguez will be relied on heavily to carry some of the offensive burden. 

This is a resilient and talented bunch, however, as their back-to-back promotion to first the Championship, and now the Premier League demonstrates. The challenge presented to them this season will prove too great, however, and their return to the top flight will be brief.

19. Reading

Last season: 1st, Championship 

Projected Record: 9 Wins, 4 Draws, 25 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Chris Gunter (Nottingham Forest, £2.3m), Adrian Mariappa (Watford, undisc), Danny Guthrie, Garath McCleary, Pavel Pogrebnyak, Nicky Shorey (free transfers)

Out: Michail Antonio (Sheffield Wednesday, undisc), Mathieu Manset (Sion, undisc), Joseph Mills (Burnley, loan), Karl Sheppard (Accrington Stanley, loan), Cedric Baseya Tomasz Cywka, Brian Howard, Andy Griffin (all released)

Outlook

Reading's new Russian owners have indicated a willingness to put cash into the club, which augurs well for the fanbase. The signing of Fulham’s Pavel Pogrebnyak for wages rumoured to be £60,000 can be seen as an indication of such a willingness to buy. It's a good thing, too, as it will be a fight for Reading to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

18. West Ham United

 Last season: 3rd, Championship

Projected Record: 8 Wins, 8 Draws, 22 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: James Collins (Villa, £2.5m), Mohamed Diamé (Wigan, free), Alou Diarra (Marseille, undisc), Stephen Henderson (Portsmouth, undisc), Modibo Maïga (Sochaux, £4.5m), Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), George McCartney (Sunderland), both free transfers.

Out: Pablo Barrera (Cruz Azul, free), Robert Green (QPR, free), 13 players released.

Outlook

Sam Allardyce has been a stabilizing force for the Hammers following the disastrous Avram Grant experiment which saw them relegated. Promotion is great for the finances of the club and for the players—some of them at least. An astounding 13 players from last season’s squad have been trimmed, a frank admission that they lacked the proper “horses for the courses” of the Premier League.

Jaaskelainen may prove to be a downgrade from Robert Green in goal, but Modibo Maïga may prove to be a steal, should he settle in early. Big Sam is also said to have his eye on Maccabi Tel Aviv's teenage striker Moussa Konate, who, should he sign, should help shift the focus away from the game but inconsistent Carlton Cole.

17. Aston Villa

Last season: 16

Projected Record: 8 Wins, 8 Draws, 22 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord, undisc), Brett Holman (Alkmaar, free), Matthew Lowton (Sheffield United, £3m), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord, undisc)

Out: James Collins (West Ham, undisc), Carlos Cuéllar (Sunderland, free), Emile Heskey (released)

Outlook

Villa will easily rubbish this prediction if a number of things break their way this season.  Chief of which would be for Paul Lambert to bring with him some of the magic dust he used last season at Carrow Road, where he lead Norwich City to a surprising 12th place in their return to the Premier League.

Villa will also hope that the injury bug which has plagued them the past several seasons bypasses Villa Park. Both Gabby Agbonlahor and Richard Dunne are expected to be unavailable for the season opener due to injury, while captain Stilyan Petrov is also expected to be out as he completes his courageous comeback from leukemia.

Lambert insists he knows what it takes to get the best out of Stephen Ireland; now if only he’d display half as much confidence about the mercurial Charles N’Zogbia then all will be right at Villa Park.

Not quite. Once again all hope will ride on the right boot of front man Darren Bent.

Owner Randy Lerner is flush with cash following his £600 million dollar sale of the National Football League’s Cleveland Browns, but even if he could spend any of that on Premier League transfers (and Financial Fairplay would have a lot to say in that regard), there’s no indication that he would. 

As stated, Lambert will need for a lot of things to break his way for Villa to avoid regressing, and while I hope that I’m wrong for his sake, for the moment my pessimism remains.

16. West Bromwich Albion

Last season: 10th

Projected Record: 10 Wins, 2 Draws, 26 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Yassine El Ghanassy (Gent, loan), Ben Foster (Birmingham City, undisc), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, loan), Markus Rosenberg (Werder Bremen, free), Claudio Yacob (Racing Club de Avellaneda, free)

Out: Keith Andrews (Bolton, free), Marton Fulop (Astera Tripolis, free), Joe Mattock (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Nicky Shorey (Reading, free), Paul Scharner, Somen Tchoyi (both released).

Outlook

After years as the No. 2 man at several clubs (notably, Chelsea and Liverpool), Steve Clarke finally gets his shot at the manager’s job, thanks to Roy Hodgson’s shock promotion to the England job by the FA. 

The Baggies will need for Shane Long to rediscover the form with which he started last season, before injuries derailed his campaign. Last season’s 10th place finish was no aberration, in light of even 2010-11’s 11th place finish. However, Hodgson was a bit of a miracle worker, and the Baggies largely overachieved under his watch.

If Peter Odemwingie continues to be the threat he was at times last season, and if Clarke can get the best out of Marc Antoine-Fortuné, then he can make a liar of this writer, but getting all the footballing stars to align on the pitch (literally and figuratively) may prove too tall a task for the Scot.

15. Queens Park Rangers

Last season: 17th

Projected Record: 10 Wins, 5 Draws, 23 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Samba Diakité (Nancy, £3.5m), Robert Green (West Ham, free, Junior Hoilett (Blackburn, fee TBD-tribunal), Andy Johnson (Fulham, free), Ryan Nelsen (Spurs, free), Ji-sung Park (Man United, £2m), Fábio da Silva (Man United, loan).

Out: 10 players released.

Outlook

Mark Hughes has much reason to be optimistic this season, not the least of which being the impressive additions of Ji-Sung Park and Junior Hoilette. Aspirations are loftier than those set by Neil Warnock last season, and to meet those goals Park will be expected to deliver on the grit and promise he showed in Man U. colors.

The very same must be said about Fábio, who, one hopes, displays a great deal more maturity than that displayed by his twin brother at the recently concluded Olympics.

Maturity in his game is also what Hughes will be looking for, as the Brazilian slots in at left back, alongside former Blackburn man Ryan Nelsen, Anton Ferdinand and Nedum Onuoha.

Hughes will have to keep a tight rein on Joey Barton once he returns from his 12-game suspension to start the season, as any further flare ups will only unnecessarily detract from the club’s stated focus of avoiding another relegation scrap. 

With a midfield of Adel Taraabt, Park and Hoilett feeding passes through to Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse, Hughes’ optimism is justified, yet much remains to be seen with regards to how the unit comes together after such high turnover.

14. Sunderland

Last season: 13th

Projected Record: 10 Wins, 8 Draws, 20 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Carlos Cuéllar (Aston Villa, free), Louis Saha (Everton, free)

Out: Marcos Angeleri (Estudiantes, undisclosed), Craig Gordon (released, free agent), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, undisclosed), George McCartney (West Ham, undisclosed), Michael Turner (Norwich, undisclosed).

Outlook

It is a testament to the managerial skills of Martin O’Neill that Sunderland finished as high as they did. After winning only five of their previous 28 games under Steve Bruce, the Black Cats won seven of the first 10 under O’Neill, before finishing on a disastrous run of eight consecutive winless games to finish the season.

The addition of Wes Brown was key for Sunderland as he helped solidify what was an inconsistent unit prior to his arrival. Yet another injury to his knee was hardly the start that either player or manager was hoping for, but putting all hope in a 32-year-old with a history of injuries was always going to be a dicey proposition.

Up front, O’Neill will have to find support for Stéphane Sessègnon, who, along with the now-departed Nicklas Bendtner, single-handedly kept Sunderland in many games last season. The Northern Irishman’s current infatuation with Liverpool’s Andy Carroll hardly seems likely to bear any fruit, and so the flirtation with Hull’s Stephen Fletcher continues.

13. Wigan

Last season: 15

Projected Record: 12 Wins, 7 Draws, 19 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Fraser Fyvie (Aberdeen, £1m), Ivan Ramis (Real Mallorca, £4m)

Out: Mohamed Diamé (West Ham, free), Hugo Rodallega (Fulham, free), Chris Kirkland (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Steve Gohouri (released) 

Outlook

Much of Wigan’s success this season will hinge on whether the Lactics can hold onto Victor Moses, for whom Chelsea has reportedly bid £4 million, far below the £10 million being asked for by Wigan.  

If Roberto Martínez's side is to have any chance of beginning the present campaign in the same form as they ended the last, then the services of Moses will be key. The loss of Diamé and Rodallega would only be compounded by a Moses departure. 

The signings of Fyvie Aberdeen and Ramis have hardly set the hearts of Lactics fans aflutter, but the team can build on the seven victories in nine games to close last season, including the scalps of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Signing Arsenal forward Ryo Miyaichi on loan certainly helps. 

Defensively Wigan must improve, and likely they will, with the core unit being kept intact.  Stellar shot-stopper Ali Al-Habsi is another plus, and may yet prove to be Wigan’s most  important player this season.  They’ve already prove that they can play with anyone on their day.  The challenge now is to prove that they can do so for a season.

12. Norwich City

Last season: 12

Projected Record: 13 Wins, 4 Draws, 21 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Jacob Butterfield (Barnsley, free), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds, £2.8m), Michael Turner (Sunderland, £1.7m), Steven Whittaker (Rangers, free). 

Out: Daniel Ayala (Nottingham Forest, free), Andrew Croft (Brighton, undisclosed), Josh Dawkin (Braintree Town, free), Adam Drury (Leeds, free), Zak Whitbread (Leicester, free), Aaron Wilbraham (Crystal Palace, free). 

Outlook

Paul Lambert was nothing short of stellar as Norwich manager, seeing the club to successive promotions from first League One to the Championship, and then to the Premier League, and a 12th-place finish to boot. 

His defection to Aston Villa leaves new manager Chris Hughton with sizeable shoes to fill, but if his performances at Newcastle (promotion to the Premiership and 12th place) and Birmingham City (4th place in the Championship last season) are any indication, Norwich may have found an apt replacement for Lambert. 

Grant Holt will once again be the team's focal point on offense, but defensively Norwich must improve on the 66 goals they allowed last season. To that end, they need for England Under-21 defender Ryan Bennett to continue developing at the pace he has, and for Michael Turner to settle in and display the form he did for Hull two seasons ago.

11. Everton

Last season: 7th 

Projected Record: 15 Wins, 4 Draws, 19 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Steven Naismith (Rangers, free), Steven Pienaar (Tottenham, £4.5m). 

Out: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls, £1m), Adam Forshaw (Brentford, undisclosed), Jack Rodwell (Manchester City, £15m), James Wallace (Tranmere, undisclosed), Joseph Yobo (Fenerbahce, £1.5m), Marcus Hahnemann, James McFadden, Denis Stracqualursi, Jose Baxter (all released).

Outlook

David Moyes remains in charge at Goodison Park but is yet to sign a new contract, keeping doubts in the air as to his future with the Toffees.  With the surprise sale of Rodwell to Manchester City, Moyes may finally have a little bit of money to shop for reinforcements for his perennially thin squad. 

Nikica Jelavic will once more be the focus of the offense, but besides the enigmatic Marouane Fellaini, there is little else surrounding him. 

To this end Moyes has reportedly made inquiries about Liverpool’s Charlie Adam, who may be a decent replacement for the departed Rodwell. The future of Leighton Baines remains in doubt however, an issue which Moyes will be keen on settling.

10. Swansea City

Last season: 11th

Projected Record: 13 Wins, 12 Draws, 13 Losses

Transfer activity

In: Jonathan de Guzmán (Villarreal, loan), José Manuel Flores (Genoa, £2m), Michu (Rayo Vallecano, £2m), Itay Shechter (Kaiserslautern, loan, subject to work permit). 

Out: Joe Allen (Liverpool, £15m), Ferrie Bodde, Scott Donnelly, Casey Thomas, Joe Walsh (all released) 

Outlook

Brendan Rodgers has cashed in on the potential he showed as a manager by moving to Liverpool after leading Swansea to successive promotions from League One to the Premiership. With him has gone Welshman, Allen in whom the manager sees a great deal of promise. 

Stellar loanee Gylfi Sigurdsson spurned a permanent move in favor of signing with Tottenham, but Michu may prove to be a steal of a buy after leading La Liga in scoring by a midfielder last season. De Guzman should be motivated after seeing playing opportunities dwindle at Villareal before the club was relegated. 

New manager Michael Laudrup knows de Guzman from their days at Mallorca, as is the case with defender, Flores. The Swans face a tough fight to repeat their top half finish from last year however, and many are predicting that Laudrup may be one of the earliest managerial casualties this season.

9. Stoke City

Last season: 14th 

Projected Record: 15 Wins, 8 Draws, 15 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo, £1.9m), Michael Kightly (Wolves, £3.1m), Jamie Ness (Rangers, free). 

Out: Ryan Brunt (Leyton Orient, free), Danny Collins (Nottinham Forest, £563,000), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall, free), Andrew Davies (Bradford, free), Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough, free), Salif Diao, Ricardo Fuller, Tom Soares (all released).

Outlook

Manager Tony Pulis has done a fine job in overseeing the club’s promotion to the Premier League and ensuring that they have now stayed in the top flight for a fifth consecutive season, with Europa League qualification thrown in the mix. 

Having proved that they belong, it is now time for Stoke to aim a bit higher and push for a top-10, possibly a top-six finish. Don’t expect for that to happen anytime soon, however, certainly not this season, as Pulis has yet to show any inclination of playing the direct Route one style of football that Stoke has become famous for. 

Peter Crouch remains the center of the attack, with Jon Walters helping out up front.  Midfield needs an upgrade, which the Potters hope will come in the form of more consistent play from last season’s disappointing signee Wilson Palacios. 

Stoke’s strength, however, remains its defense, and with Robert Huth and Tim Shawcross anchoring that unit, fans can expect more of the same this season. New signee Cameron is coming of a terrific game in a friendly against Mexico on Wednesday, and if his form is true, should slot nicely into the mix.

8. Fulham

Last season: 9th

Projected Record: 16 Wins, 6 Draws, 16 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Mladen Petric (Hamburg, free), Sascha Riether (Köln, loan), Hugo Rodallega (Wigan, free), George Williams (MK Dons, undisclosed)

Out: Dickson Etuhu (Blackburn, undisclosed), Marcel Gecov (Gent, undisclosed), Andy Johnson (QPR, free), Danny Murphy (Blackburn, free), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Reading, free), Bjorn Helge Riise (Lillestrom, free), Orlando Sá (Limassol, free).

Outlook

Key for Martin Jol will be his ability to keep and motivate midfielder Clint Dempsey.  Dempsey is keen on a move to a bigger club, and Liverpool are happy to accommodate his wishes, if only the clubs could agree on a price.

Jol is not keen on losing his best attacking player, particularly given the inconsistency shown by Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz, and given the uncertainty up front resulting from the departure of Etuhu and Sá. 

Rodallega and Petric have been signed to add depth, but neither is a consistent scoring threat on par with Dempsey. Belgian stud Moussa Dembélé possesses that potential but, to date, is yet to deliver.

Fulham’s strength lies in its defense, and with Breda Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Stephen Kelly and John Arne Riise anchoring the wall in front of Mark Schwarzer, that is likely to once again be the case this season.

7. Newcastle

Last season: 5th

Projected Record: 16 Wins, 9 Draws, 13 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Romain Amalfitano (Reims, undisclosed), Gael Bigirimana (Coventry, undisclosed), Curtis Good (Melbourne Heart, undisclosed).

Out: Leon Best (Blackburn, free), Fraser Forster (Celtic, £2m), Danny Guthrie (Reading, free). Peter Lovenkrands (Birmingham, free).

Outlook

Alan Pardew did an excellent job in securing a top-five finish for Newcastle in his first full season at the helm. This he was able to do on the strength of a stellar defense built on the play of Fabricio Coloccini, Stephen Taylor (before an Achilles injury) and the stalwart goalkeeping of Tim Krul.

Jonas Gutierrez, Cheik Tioté and Yohan Cabaye anchor the middle, which Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba, and star signee Papiss Cisse provide the attack.

Should Pardew get half the return he did on Ba and Cisse last season, then Newcastle would once again be primed to contend for a Champion’s League place. That dream, however, may depend not so much on what Newcastle does, but how the other teams ahead of them fare as the season progresses.

6. Chelsea

Last season: 6th

Projected Record: 24 Wins, 6 Draws, 8 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Eden Hazard (Lille, £32m), Thorgan Hazard (£1m, Lens), Marko Marin (W Bremen, £7m), Oscar (Internacional, £20-25m).

Out: Didier Drogba (Shanghai Shenhua, free), Salomon Kalou (Lille, free), Romelu Lukaku (West Bromwich Albion, loan), Jacob Mellis (Barnsley, free), Rhys Taylor (Southend, free), José Bosingwa, Marko Mitrovic (released).

Outlook

Roberto Di Matteo has more than proved his worth an a Premiership manager, though there still needed to be a great deal of convincing before owner Roman Abramovich gave him the job permanently. Taking over a foundering ship mid-stream from the mutinied Andre Villas-Boas, Di Matteo steered Chelsea to its first ever Champions League title with a surprise victory over Barcelona.

Many questions linger, not the least of which being the fate of John Terry and the disciplinary fallout from his alleged racial dustup with Anton Ferdinand. Questions also surround the form of Fernando Torres, who has started to provide some of the answers himself, with impressive performances in the Champions League final, and carrying over into preseason. 

Still, Didier Drogba has moved on, and all the scoring load is now on the shoulders of “El Nino,” but with the signing of Hazard and the Mata having the better part of a year under his belt, fans will hope that Torres would receive the type of service he once enjoyed at Liverpool.  Ramires has been brilliant for Chelsea, providing defensive cover as well as attacking prowess. 

Defensively Chelsea can be prone to lapses, with an aging John Terry and David Luiz being the chief culprits. Should Gary Cahill avoid injury then he should offer a stabilizing presence in central defense to round out the foursome with Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic.

5. Liverpool

Last season: 8th

Projected Record: 24 Wins, 10 Draws, 4 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Joe Allen (Swansea, £15m), Oussama Assaidi (Heerenveen, £3m), Fabio Borini (Roma, £10m).

Out: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina, £5.5m), David Amoo (Preston, free), Fábio Aurélio (Gremîo, free), Stephen Darby (Bradford, free), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce, £1m), Maxi Rodríguez (Newell's Old Boys, free), Toni Silva (Barnsley, free). 

Outlook

Brendan Rodgers becomes Liverpool’s fourth manager in four seasons, and in recognition of the pressures that come with the appointment, he has been preaching patience ahead of his debut campaign at Anfield. 

Rodgers promises to overhaul Liverpool’s style of play, as well as the team’s tactical alignment. He prefers a short passing, possession style of football, and fans can expect the 4-3-3 to be the default alignment this season. 

Returning to the “horses for courses” theme, Rodgers has brought in two familiar players in Allen and Borini, both of whom he has worked while with Swansea, and both of whom would be familiar with his style of play.

The new addition of Assaidi brings excitement to the wing where it has been lacking, particularly now with the departure of Craig Bellamy. 

Rodgers has also made it clear that he is willing to jettison players who do not fit the mold, with Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll being put on particular notice. Adam is reportedly being shopped, while bids for Carroll by both West Ham and Newcastle for the Liverpool front man, but is thought to be open to enhanced bids, particularly from West Ham. 

He has spoken with Steven Gerrard about the Liverpool captain remaining in an attacking role rather than dropping deep into midfield. Allen and the return of Lucas Leiva should help in that regard, with the fullbacks helping further up the pitch. 

Rodgers insists that he isn’t done rounding out the squad and that he hopes to add a player or two in the next 48 hours, with Barcelona’s Christian Tello and Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin thought to be the leading candidates.  

Whatever the final look or make up of the squad, there is good reason for optimism at Anfield this season, but also for a healthy dose of realism as well.

4. Arsenal

Last season: 3rd 

Projected Record: 26 Wins, 5 Draws, 7 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Santi Cazorla (Málaga, £12m), Olivier Giroud (Montpellier, £13-16m), Lukas Podolski (Köln, £10.9m).

Out: Manuel Almunia (released), Tom Cruise (Torquay, free), Denilson (Sao Paulo, loan), Gavin Hoyte (released), Ryo Miyaichi (Wigan, loan), Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad, undisclosed).

Outlook

For the third consecutive summer, Arsenal has had to deal with questions over the departure of a star player. Last season it was Samir Nasri, and the season before that Cesc Fabregas. Indeed it is a trend going back all the way to Thierry Henri and Patrick Vieira.

The loss of the Premier League top scorer last season can potentially be a devastating blow to Arsenal, but manager Arsene Wenger has done a good job of mitigating any fallout, with the purchases of Giroud, Cazorla and Podolski.

Wenger will be keen to see how far along Jack Wilshere has progressed in his return from injury and whether Alex Song can maintain the high level of play he provided last season. 

He is also said be keeping a watchful eye on midfielders Nuri Sahin of Real Madrid and Yann M'Vila of Rennes so as to strengthen the squad.

Defensively, Bacary Sagna is out once more with an injury, and it will be up to captain Thomas Vermaelen to keep that unit together until Sagna returns.

3. Tottenham Hotspur

Last season: 4th

Projected Record: 27 Wins, 5 Draws, 6 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim, £8m); Jan Vertonghen (Ajax, £8m).

Out: Ben Alnwick (Barnsley, free), Lee Angol (Wycombe, undisclosed), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow, £5.5m), Ryan Fredericks (Brentford, loan), Oscar Jansson  (Shamrock Rovers, free), Bongani Khumalo (PAOK, loan), Ledley King (retired), Niko Kranjcar (Dynamo Kiev, £5.75m), Massimo Luongo (Ipswich, loan), Ryan Nelsen (QPR, free), Kudus Oyenuga (Hayes & Yeading, free), Steven Pienaar (Everton, £4.5m), Louis Saha (released). 

Outlook

André Villas-Boas gets a reprieve in London after all—just not at the same address.

After being ingloriously dumped by Chelsea, the former Porto manager found himself being asked to take over the helm at White Hart Lane, following the surprise sacking of Harry Redknapp. 

Spurs did well to capture the signatures of Sigurdsson and Vertonghen but remain in the market for attacking help up front. A permanent move for Emmanuel Adebayor remains a consideration, provided that the Congolese striker is willing to reduce his price. Leandro Damião also remains a target to deploy alongside the lethal, but aging Jermain Defoe. 

Questions abound in midfield, with Luka Modric reportedly set to sign with Real Madrid, while Scott Parker is recovering from an achilles injury. But Gareth Bale has just signed on to a long-term deal removing some of the uneasiness.

In the back, the retirement of the steady, if injury-prone, King has been compensated for with the signing of Vertonghen, who, along with the steady,Phil Dawson, is bracketed by as fine a pair of fullbacks as there are in Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Walker. 

Brad Friedel remains top-class, but being on the north side of 40 means that Spurs are in the market for a new keeper, with Julio Cesar and Jack Butland thought to be the leading candidates, now that Lyon has rejected the bid for Hugo Lloris.

2. Manchester United

Last season: 2nd 

Projected Record: 29 Wins, 2 Draws, 7 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, undisclosed), Nick Powell (Crewe, undisclosed), Robin Van Persie (£25m Arsenal). 

Out: Fabio (QPR, loan), Tomasz Kuszczak (Brighton, free), Matty James, Ritchie De Laet (Leicester, £2m), Oliver Norwood (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Michael Owen (released), Park Ji-sung (QPR, £2m), Paul Pogba (Juventus, free). 

Outlook

Manchester United has responded to being usurped by City with muted alarm, as reflected in their early signing of Kagawa and relentless pursuit of Van Persie. United now appears to have an embarrassment of riches up front, with last season’s second highest scorer (Wayne Rooney, 25 goals) and complementing top scorer Van Persie. 

Dimitar Berbatov may finally be put out of his misery and moved on, and with Javier Hernandez yet to regain his form following concussions last year, who knows what his Old Trafford future holds. Still there’s Danny Welbeck, Nani and Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia from the wings to add to the attacking options. 

Kagawa brings a dynamic element to the middle, and along with Paul Scholes and Tom Cleverly, should prove a nice complement to the wingers, Young and Nani. 

Defensively, replacements must be groomed for the aging Ferdinand, inconsistent Rafael and uncertain Nemanja Vidic. If Vidic can return to his pre-injury form then fears will be greatly allayed. If not, then Red Devils fans might as well get used to the thought of more partying from the “noisy neighbors.”

1. Manchester City

Last season: 1st 

Projected Record: 30 Wins, 4 Draws, 4 Losses

Transfer Activity

In: Jack Rodwell (Everton, £12m). 

Out: Gai Assulin (Racing Santander, free), Wayne Bridge (Brighton, loan), Greg Cunningham (Bristol City, undisclosed), Owen Hargreaves (released), Vladimir Weiss (Pescara, undisclosed). 

Outlook

The blue moon finally rose over the city of Manchester last season, and from the early looks of things, just might stay there for a while. The addition of last season’s scoring champion Robin Van Persie might appear to give a bit of an edge to crosstown rivals, United, but City has added the promising young midfielder Rodwell without suffering any major departures.

Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez form the deadliest attacking quartet in the League, and with Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure and David Silva in the middle, City will continue to put enormous pressure on every defense it encounters this season.

Defensively there are some questions regarding depth. Joleon Lescott has teamed well with Vincent Kompany, and Micah Richards can offer some flexibility, while Gael Clichy remains strong at left back.

Beyond these names there isn’t much, so look for City to add some depth and solidify not only another title run, but also a European run as well.

All the teams play the same schedule, but certain teams match up better against their opponents relative to other teams.

I believe the matchups are more favorable in City's favor given their defensive stability and overall depth of the squad, say nothing of the quality up front and the stellar goalkeeping of Joe Hart. These conspire to give City an edge over their nervous neighbors across town.