Premier League Power Rankings: Rating the Confidence of Each Fan Base
The Premier League fixtures were released today (18 June 2012), so everyone is now gearing up for the new season. Soon that preparation will start with pre-season, then it will be about preparing for that first league game.
Therefore, it is natural to think about how clubs will perform during the season ahead and also how fans expect their team to do.
20 Reading FC
1 of 20History generally dictates that one of the newly promoted clubs will get relegated. I like Reading a lot and have a lot of time for Brian McDermott, but Reading fans must fear relegation.
Nothing is set in stone, though, last season proved that it is possible for all three promoted clubs to survive, or that Southampton or West Ham maybe the one to go.
19 West Brom
2 of 20I think the appointment of Steve Clarke as the club's new manager will divide West Brom fans. There is no doubt that Clarke has proved himself to be a top-class Premier League coach. But making that transition can be tough and relatively few succeed. Furthermore, the ones that do usually make that change at an earlier time than Clarke has.
That being said, Clarke could yet prove to be one of the few that succeeds. Some West Brom fans will also see the choice as a cheap option; Clarke was a free agent after leaving Liverpool. What is certain is that the move is a big gamble.
18 Swansea City
3 of 20Swansea City are another club that have appointed a new manager. Michael Laudrup looks like a talented young manager and hopefully he will be a success in the Premier League. But Swansea will be in for a tough second season in the league, it is a big gamble to hand the reigns to a manager with no experience of English football.
17 Queens Park Rangers
4 of 20Tough year for QPR last season. They must be disappointed to have only just survived relegation despite significant transfer expenditure. But they have an experienced manger in Mark Hughes that should see them safe again. But fans must be a little concerned of another relegation scrap.
16 Aston Villa
5 of 20Paul Lambert has been appointed as the new Aston Villa manager and his experience last season with Norwich City should see him keep Villa in the league. But there are a lot of problems at the club and fans will be interested to see if he can solve them.
15 Wigan Athletic
6 of 20I think if we have learned anything from the last few seasons, it should be to not bother tipping Wigan for relegation. We saw last season that even when they look dead and buried, they can always find a way of climbing to safety.
Wigan fans will be hoping they can start brightly this season and make things a lot more comfortable.
14 West Ham
7 of 20The first season back in the Premier League is also tough, but West Ham have an experienced manager and prior top-flight experience. This should see them surviving fairly easily, but Sam Allardyce will need to spend cash wisely to ensure survival.
13 Southampton
8 of 20Southampton have a decent squad of players, some money to spend, and plenty of momentum from their quick rise back to the Premier League. These factors combined with a decent manager should see them enjoying a good first season back in the top-flight.
12 Norwich City
9 of 20Norwich have a new manager in the shape of Chris Hughton, and he will be looking to build on the club's solid first season back in the Premier League. Hughton will also be able to call on experience in the Premier League with Newcastle United.
Norwich fans can be confident of enjoying a similar season to the last.
11 Stoke City
10 of 20Stoke probably underachieved on what they expected last season. But with some investment during the summer they should be able to keep things back on track. A safe mid-table finish is what the fans will expect from the new season.
10 Sunderland
11 of 20I think we all know that Martin O'Neill is one the best managers in the Premier League, his impact last season was immediate. That early success wore off as the season went on, but hopefully Sunderland can have a good season aided with some good summer signings.
9 Fulham
12 of 20Fulham started off last season slowly but finished in the sort of position they would have expected by the end of the season. This season Fulham fans will expect a better start and a finish in the top half of the table.
8 Everton
13 of 20Everton are known for being slow starters, but they always end up getting themselves together by the end of the season. Of course, there is continued speculation about the future of manager David Moyes. But it is expected he will stay.
7 Tottenham Hotspur
14 of 20Spurs fans should be very concerned about the prospect of Andre Villas-Boas becoming the new manager. He didn't do much for Chelsea and there is no reason to think he would be anymore successful for the Spurs.
6 Liverpool
15 of 20Brendan Rodgers has only just arrived at Liverpool, but he will be expected to make an instant impact. The appointment will divide fans, but he is a good young manager that should be able to get the club back into the top six.
5 Newcastle United
16 of 20Newcastle had a fantastic previous season and exceeded most expectations. But they have put together a very good squad and will spend again during the summer. Thus, the fans will believe they can do what they did last season again.
4 Chelsea
17 of 20Roberto Di Matteo has finally been given the Chelsea job for the next two years, and fans will be confident he can keep the good work going. Finishing in the top four in the Premier League and defending the Champions League title will be big challenges.
3 Arsenal
18 of 20Arsenal are showing some intent with their summer signings. But it may not be enough for them to separate the Manchester clubs at the top of the table. Nevertheless, Arsenal fans should be confident of finishing in the top three.
2 Manchester United
19 of 20Manchester United will have to strengthen their team in an attempt to win the Premier League title back off Manchester City. Whatever happens, Man Utd fans should be confident of at least finishing in the top two.
