Premier League Predictions 2013: Showcasing Top Breakout Clubs This Season

Every season, countless predictions are made for the Premier League season, and an equal amount fall short of the mark. In the end, only the clubs themselves can dictate exactly who will surprise the masses, either for good or for bad.

This campaign will be no different as each side seeks what they see as overachievement, within their own dimensions of just what’s realistic or, for some lucky clubs, even what isn’t.

During the 2012-13 campaign, it was the likes of Swansea City and Everton who, perhaps, did that bit better than many might have supposed in August.

With the new season kicking off this weekend, another batch of unassuming sides will surprise us with their standards, a few candidates for which are included below.

Norwich City

Now in their third consecutive Premier League season, Norwich City have chosen to plump a great deal of investment into their summer spending, with Chris Hughton distributing the funds well across his squad.

Despite being at the top of their realm, it’s sometimes surprising how often clubs don’t satisfy their greatest needs in the transfer window in terms of position priority.

This summer, it was clear that Hughton wanted to improve his attack, and so the Canaries brought in Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper from Sporting and Celtic, respectively.

With those two leading their attack, there are certainly goals to be had at Carrow Road now; it’s just a case of ensuring their strikers have a chain of ammunition to rely upon.

To that end, the club have done well to bring in Leroy Fer and Nathan Redmond, two young and very promising midfielders who will go some way in creating scoring opportunities for the Norfolk outfit.

Last season, the Norwich defence was already of a pedigree not too far from the top-half standard and particularly impressive when playing in front of home support.

As long as the Canaries can retain their strategic nuance and the mental toughness they’ve tended to exhibit, this summer’s influx of genuine quality should see them through to their finest top-flight campaign for quite some time.

West Bromwich Albion

Admittedly, last term can already be considered a breakout season for Steve Clarke’s West Brom outfit in what was a very fruitful maiden campaign for the Baggies manager.

Although eventually finishing in eighth place, for much of the season it looked as if a top-four finish wasn’t out of the question for the West Midlands outfit, who were as high as third place heading into December 2012.

Back then, the season was greatly helped on by Romelu Lukaku’s presence, and in the Belgian’s absence, it’s another striker with Chelsea ties, Nicolas Anelka, who has been drafted in as forward firepower.

Even at the age of 33, Anelka, who has been fairly prolific in preseason, has all the Premier League experience necessary to still pose a threat to the division’s defences.

Arsene's Son, a popular Twitter alias, has been quick to note the former Arsenal and Chelsea man's form:

However, Clarke is the Baggies' main weapon. The Scotsman’s tactical efficiency and willingness to change things up from fixture to fixture are two of the main reasons for their success.

This term, the West Brom squad will have elevated their expectations, but not so far that they'd be shooting above what’s actually possible.

Expect Clarke and his men to make another run at the Premier League’s top six.

Sunderland

Upon his arrival at the Stadium of Light, Paolo Di Canio was met with a mixed reaction, but after making Sunderland the busiest club in this summer’s transfer window, his support will undoubtedly grow among home support.

After finishing the 2013-14 season in 17th place, the Black Cats can’t get any worse, as long as they stay up, but they now have far bigger aspirations than simply survival in their eyes.

For the last three seasons, attack has been the main weakness for Sunderland, and that’s precisely what Di Canio has looked to change.

Signing the likes of stars such as Emanuele Giaccherini and Jozy Altidore without actually letting many key players leave, the Italian is actively striving to give his side a more attacking identity, something that’s never bad for the paying fan.  

Having made 10 signings this summer, the Di Canio revolution is well underway, and the signs are all there for Sunderland to have a very prosperous 2013-14 term.