English Premier League Power Rankings: Post-Transfer Window

With the dust having finally settled, one week removed from the close of the transfer window, there has been plenty of time to assess player movement and team signings.

Everyone has voiced their opinion, graded their teams, and are looking toward the rest of the season—for better or worse.

The international break has come at a nice time. So much stress going into Aug. 31 behind the scenes as presidents and heads of football operations figured how best to move the pieces. It is a nice little end of the summer vacation to give them time to breathe and recompose themselves before the marathon that is the English season truly begins.

As it stands now, all transfers have an optimistic air about them. Players that were let go by one team have a chance at a new life with another.

Fans see many of these men as the answer to their teams woes and will surely help guide them to glory.

Here is a power ranking of the teams, based on what we can expect from the players brought in over the summer.

20. Swansea City

Never expected to make much noise in EPL, they followed their opening 4-0 loss to Manchester City with two hard-earned draws.

However, they were pretty quiet in the closing hours of the transfer window bringing in only Darnel Situ and Fred Bessone on the last day.

Both players are improvements, but not enough to get them over that relegation hump.

As the season moves forward they will become exposed more and more. Sadly 15th place, where they currently find themselves, will probably be the highest they ever get in the table.

19. Wigan

Wigan got the most favorable of starts to this season. Back-to-back-to-back games against all three promoted sides is something that every team hopes for when the schedules come out in preseason.

However, the Latics have not been able to take advantage of the opportunity.

They were able to get five points out of those games, but for a team that is expecting to be in relegation battle again, a full nine would have done wonders for their chances and confidence.

The signing of Shaun Maloney will help them, but he is not the player he once was. At age 28 he plays as if he is in his mid-thirties. He has had problems staying healthy and will find it only more difficult in the Premier League.

18. Blackburn

With three losses to open the season, the Rovers are currently sitting at the bottom of the table. Their plight is perhaps best represented by manager Steve Keane's suspended driver's license: they simply can't get going.

They really needed to do some magic on the last day to keep them in league. Unfortunately for the fans at Ewood Park, not much was done.

Yakubu should help bolster the attack, but can anyone remember the last time he scored a goal in league play?

Scott Dann will do the same in the back. But the midfield is still lacking any real threat and it is there they will be beat. Three losses against three sides which are beatable makes the matter even worse as they start to see tougher sides.

They escaped relegation last year, and as of right now it looks like they will be facing it again come May.

17. Everton

Little good can be said about David Moyes' side. They had a terrible summer, losing many key players such as Yakubu, James Beckford, and a final dagger to the heart in Mikel Arteta. Their already struggling attack has been thinned to near nothing.

Though they brought in embattled-but-immensely-talented Dutchman Royston Drenthe and forward Denis Stracqualursi on season-long loans, those two moves pale in comparison to the players who have left.

Everton will need to look toward January to further strengthen their side. At this point it seems like it is a survival mentality. Get to January without falling to far behind, then spend big to stay in the EPL.

16. Norwich City

Norwich has performed admirably in the Premier League thus far in 2011-12. Two 1-1 draws against teams that are at their level is decent considering many did not hold out hope for them coming into the season. The 3-1 loss to Chelsea was also a valiant fight. They held them to 1-0 for a majority of the game and considering they played the final 10 minutes man down, it was a respectable loss.

Picking up Daniel Ayala was a huge signing. He may be young, but the Liverpool youth system is one of the best in the world. He should blossom into a good talent.

In the end, they are still going to struggle like most promoted teams. They may survive relegation, but it should be a fight to the very end.

15. West Bromwich Albion

The surprise team from last season has gotten off to a tough start. Winless in their first three, they need to pick it up and fast if they want to continue to have success.

However, they have already gotten one game against both Chelsea and Man U out of the way, which could work in their favor as the season goes on. In both games they also did not look completely outmatched. They stayed in them for quite some time and arguably should have got at least a point from each.

Their squad has been set for some time and it is improved over last year’s. Ben Foster and Shane Long have both had an immediate impact. They will be key to West Brom’s season.  Also do not forget about Zoltan Gera. He is aging quickly and not the player he once was, but is always a threat for a small moment of brilliance off the bench.

West Brom will not have the success they did last year, but should come close. A solid team all around, but just do not have that one player that gives them that extra edge.

14. Sunderland

Sunderland raided the Man U bench this summer, capturing both Wes Brown and John O’Shea. Perhaps not the greatest defenders to ever play at Old Trafford, they are reliable and exactly what Sunderland were looking for.

However, offensively they have struggled. With one loan goal scored, fans are right o be upset after seeing the team put away a solid 45 last season.  Nicklas Bendtner is the man Steve Bruce has called for to fix the attack. If he is able to get going, he could very easily shoot them into the top ten by May. If not they could see themselves dipping into uncomfortable zones. Any Arsenal fan would tell you the latter is more likely and not to hold your breath.

Bruce spent a lot of money on a lot of players this summer and let go of his talented midfielder Jordan Henderson. He better hope he gets some positive results soon or he has some explaining to do.

13. Newcastle

Newcastle is beginning to look more like foreign embassy than a football club. Seven signings this summer and all foreign, four French. The Arsenal comparisons are bound to surface at some point.

All seven newcomers are relatively young. They come to Newcastle just before the years when most players peak. This is good for a team that is looking to build themselves back into the strong Premier League side they once were, but not necessarily for impressing this season.

The young Italian Davide Santon is one of the hottest prospects in all of Italy and is expected to become one of the great full backs of his generation. Yohan Cabaye has become a regular selection for France's senior national team, and has impressed thus far. Sylvain Marveaux was once tipped to move to Liverpool, and, along with former United man Gabriel Obertan, provides bags of pace and industry down the flanks.

However, the loss of Jose Enrique, Joey Barton, and Wayne Routledge may be too much to overcome this season. A formidable side for years to come, right now they should find themselves comfortably in the middle.

12. Aston Villa

For the past few years, it seems like Villa Park has been the farm system for England’s youth. So many great English players have gone through there, but most will be picked off by the big clubs before they reach their full potential. This year’s ripe pair was Ashley Young and Stewart Downing who have gone to United and Liverpool respectively.

Brining in Shay Given from City will be an improvement over Brad Friedel, but Jermaine Jenas and Charles N’Zogbia are essentially wild cards. Should they play up to their potential, they could really give the top clubs some fits. But if they are off their game, they may even be suited better on the bench.

Their good start to the season will not continue as they begin to meet tougher opponents.

11. Wolverhampton

For the last team to remain in the Premier League a season ago, they have made a remarkably low number of signings, yet have still managed to get off to an incredible start. Seven points from the first three games is something no one saw.

Mike McCarthy seems to be testing the theory quality over quantity and it has been going well so far. Jamie O’Hara has been great in the midfield. He really helped shore up that center of the pitch last season when he went on loan to Wolves and has continued it in this early part.

When you look at the table right now, seeing Wolves in fifth place may make you do a double take. It won’t last much longer, but should give them the confidence they need to stay out of the stress of relegation battle.

10. Queens Park Rangers

Surprisingly, no one made as many big impact moves as QPR. After hearing ridicule for not adequately strengthening the side, Rangers went a signing spree in the final weeks of the window.

They would pick up names like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton, Anton Ferdinand, and Luke Young all in August.

The only issue is that all of the players can be bad just as easily as they can be great. They inconsistency that many of them play with is the reason they were sold by better clubs. However, QPR will hope that they find their groove and hold it for the whole year. Either way, they are better off with them than without.

This kind of deal making sends a major signal to everyone else in the league. They may be the new guys, but they've announced their intent through these deals: they will be a force to be reckoned with.

9. Fulham

Fulham has gotten off to a nightmare start. One point in their first three games is not the way they envisioned August, and certainly is not reflective of their squad. Their normal strong attack has been held to only one goal.

Martin Jol spent big on Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz to hopefully get back that offensive edge they had. After missing out on sealing a move for out-of-favour Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, Ruiz should bring an added dimension in attack.

John Arne Riise has already impressed in the left back position, getting up high in the attack and being a stone wall in the back. Holding on to Clint Dempsey will also make fans happy.

The tough start may be too much to overcome in way of getting back into Europe, but they should have enough talent to be tough test for any opponent.

8. Bolton

Bolton enjoyed a week at the top of the table after their opening 4-0 thrashing of QPR. But back to back games to Man City and Liverpool saw them come away with no points. However, the defeats were more of a reflection of the other team’s talent than their own lacking.

Big moves in the final week for David N’Gog and Nigel Reo-Coker give them added support up top. They are also hoping to strike gold twice by bringing in another Chelsea youngster. Last year Daniel Sturridge really helped them on the wing. This year that responsibility falls on Gael Kakuta’s shoulders. American Stewart Holden’s return will also factor into their continued success.

Bolton has all the makings to challenge for a Europa Cup spot.

7. Arsenal

No one has suffered as much agony this early in the season as Arsene Wenger and his boys. They are winless in their first three including an 8-2 loss to Manchester United, the worst in the rivalries 100 plus year history.

But perhaps worst of all was the transfers away of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. Both have been central to any success Arsenal has had over the past few years. With them now gone there is an obvious void that needs to be filled.

The signing of Mikel Arteta in the final hours of the window is like putting a band-aid on a gash, but it is better than nothing. Per Mertesacker will be sure to help out a backline that was embarrassed at Old Trafford. Yossi Benayoun might prove to be Wenger's most underrated signing, as he has bags of Premier League experience, and has been in impressive form in recent seasons.

The way it is now, the quest to end Arsenal’s six-year cup drought is not nearly as pressing a matter as it is to make sure they get back into Champions League. That looks to be a tough road unless they can figure out a way to get some results.

6. Stoke City

Tony Pulis’ men have been playing well in the first weeks. A well deserved opening week tie to Chelsea started them off on the right foot.

In ninth place right now does not do service to their play. They have struggled to score, but have had a stellar defense. Their big men in the back have bullied offenses and thrown them off their game. Their big men in the front have not been able to find the net as much as they would like, but with their size and presence in the air every ball in is dangerous.

The addition of Peter Crouch may be overlooked as he has failed to impress at Tottenham, but this system should fit him much better.

The way Stoke play does not mean they will beat up big teams. But their size could bother even the best squads and should give them their best finish in some 50 years.

5. Tottenham Hotspur

Spur’s have gotten off to the worst possible start they could imagine. After getting their week one game postponed due to the riots, they would have the unfortunate schedule of facing United and City back to back. Both games ended up being blow outs, but neither should have.

In both games they played well and created chances. But unable to capitalize on those chances kept the Manchester’s in it. Once their opponents began to score it seemed like their will gets sucked out of their bodies.

Redknapp and his men have been distracted all summer by transfer rumors and speculation. With the window closed they should finally be able to focus on the game. Modric is staying, Scott Parker has come in, and Emmanuel Adebayor will be the answer to their lack of offense.

4. Liverpool

The Red’s have begun this season right where they left off in May. The winter signing of Luis Suarez last January has made Liverpool relevant again.

The additions of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, and Stewart Downing give them one of the best all-around midfields in the entire league. The final day signing of Craig Bellamy will also give Suarez some much needed support and a reliable back up to their star forward.

The one thing that could end up hurting Liverpool’s chances for a title would be their lack of depth. There is a considerable drop off from the starting 11 to the bench. As the schedule gets more and more dense Kenny Daglish will have to do quite some juggling act to keep them competitive and fresh.

But should they all stay healthy, Liverpool could return back to glory.

3. Manchester City

City have finally arrived. No one has been more exciting to watch this summer both on the field and off. The £35 million gamble of Sergio Aguero has already paid off as he has desecrated opposing defenses and is an early front runner for player of the year.

The fast start will please the fans, but t should be taken with a grain of salt by Mancini and his men. Chelsea got off to just as hot of a start one year ago, but we now know that it does not equate to Premier League success.

The defense has looked vulnerable at times, but the opposition has not been able to capitalize. Better teams will take advantage of these opportunities and put City’s offense under pressure to score.

There is little to suggest that they will slow any time soon, but it is inevitable. It is just a matter of how quickly they can get back up to speed.

2. Chelsea

Villas-Boas’ first campaign in charge of Chelsea has been up and down. Seven points in the first three games is not the worst possible outcome, but the fact that they have been hard to come by worries the fans.

The team has come along though and seems to be getting better with each game. The addition of Juan Mata should be the missing ingredient to that 4-3-3 attack. His natural winger ability will hopefully bring to life the ever struggling Fernando Torres as well as allow Frank Lampard more room to play his game.

The final day signing of Raul Meireles was overlooked by many, but could prove to be a pivotal signing. His versatility will allow him to fill in when necessary and adds to their already deep bench.

Expect them to begin to gel under Villas-Boas’ system. Once they do, they should be one of the most teams to watch in the league to watch.

1. Manchester United

There is a battle for the pride of Manchester between its two football clubs. City were in the lead going into every turn, but coming out of it, United are in front.

Ashley Young has developed into perhaps the best English midfielder in the game and Phil Jones has already shown that his high price was well worth it. The difference this year is Ferguson has put his trust in the hands of his youth. They have answered the call.

Until someone is able to beat the Red Devils, they will stay on top. They have earned it.

What Are Your Rankings?

Do you agree with how I have them? How would you go ahead and rank the EPL sides now that their rosters are set?