15) SWANSEA
It seems every year that the Swans are a bit of an enigma. Last season Garry Monk wasn’t given long enough to solve things. In comes Francesco Guidolin and while he started with a bang, Swansea fizzled out to finish 12th.
This year the question is, can the new acquisitions replace the key pieces lost? After Wales surprised at Euro 2016, captain Ashley Williams was bound to leave, and did for Everton. The Swans pocketed a cool £20.5 million for Andre Ayew, then eagerly turned around and spent a club record £15.5 million on 23-year-old Borja Bastón.
If you’re thinking, “I’ve watched enough of Atletico Madrid over the last few years, I’ve never heard of this guy.” That’s because he spent the last five seasons on loan. But having scored 18 La Liga goals at Eibar last year, and 22 at Real Zaragoza the season before, you can see why Huw Jenkins was willing to spend the cash. Which really shows plenty of ambition, having already signed European champion and World Cup winner Fernando Llorente from Sevilla. The forgotten Spaniard scored four times in just 14 starts last season. Playing behind Kevin Gameiro, that’s not a fair reflection of what Llorente has left in the tank.
But spending money doesn’t guarantee success. This squad seems like more of a random collection of players than the cohesive units that Swansea have rolled out in years past. It’s nice to start the season v Burnley, because I feel like this will be a long one for Franky G & co.
14) WEST BROM
The Baggies were happy to take that Chinese money this summer, but their offseason takeover may have stalled Tony Pulis‘ improvement plans. What continues to stall Saido Berahino‘s exit, I do not understand. Maybe West Brom take pleasure in denying the 23-year-old a pre-season with his new club? I don’t fault them for that.
Matt Phillips came over from QPR, and should do well to support Salomón Rondón. Their attack needs to be better. West Brom won’t get away with scoring just four times over their final nine matches if the table is as tight as it was last season. The midfield is old. The backline is tired. This is a really boring team.
But that’s exactly the way Tony Pulis likes it. And what have we learned about Tony Pulis? He does just enough to get the results that will keep you up. And with the TV money that’s going around, that’s the Champions League trophy in the Midlands.
13) SOUTHAMPTON
You cannot lose your best players AND manager, year after year and continue to finish in the Top 10 in the best league in the world.
Southampton finished three points off a Champions League place last season and still couldn’t keep their best. Liverpool happily splashed £30 million for Sadio Mané. Old boss Mauricio Pochettino swooned Victor Wanyama to Tottenham for £11 million. And it really didn’t matter what Ralph Krueger was willing to do for Graziano Pellè. Ya can’t beat the Chinese.
Claude Puel seems like the perfect replacement though. Beloved in France as a “builder”, he’s willing to give young players a chance. Enjoys attractive football. Nearly got Nice, a team with considerably less resources than the giants they chase every season, in to the Champions League last season. Fits the Southampton model very well, really.
Their backline remains the same, and now boasts two European champions in captain José Fonte and right-back Cédric Soares. Ryan Bertrand made my Best XI at the end of last season. If Charlie Austin and Shane Long can combine for at least 25 goals, Southampton will manage. But the heights of last season are out of reach.
12) MIDDLESBROUGH
The Teessiders are back in the big time and Aitor Karanka wants you to know it!
After walking out on the club last season, one would assume Mourinho‘s former #2 is on a short leash. He’s surrounded himself with players he can comfortably freak out on in his native language. Five of Boro’s nine summer signings, and there could still be more, are Spanish speaking. Victor Valdés is out to prove he can still play at the top level and gives Boro a great chance to stay in every match. But Dutch central midfielder Marten de Roon has anyone that enjoys bone crunching tackles excited. His £12 million move from Atalanta was a bit of a coup.
Few strikers are worth £100,000 a week, but Álvaro Negredo convinced Boro after his time at Manchester City that he is one of them. £9 million for a player with that potential is an absolute steal. Linking up with Gaston Ramirez, Boro could steal plenty of points off opponents that become complacent late on.
11) SUNDERLAND
For the first time in years, there is one standout feeling at the Stadium of Light: stability. And that is a good thing for both Sunderland and David Moyes.
The club’s carousel of managers over the last few years has made the Serie A look normal. Moyes is the seventh in the last five seasons. And while this is his third club in the last four years, this is the first job to best suit his skill set since Everton. That alone leads me to believe he’ll be alright this time around. If he can’t get something out of Jack Rodwell, no one can.
Gone are Steven Fletcher, Wes Brown, Ola Toivonen, Adam Matthews, Santiago Vergini, Danny Graham and Will Buckley. But so too is Emmanuel Giaccherini and I don’t think you need to be a Sunderland fan to have wanted to see what he might do in the Premier League after a stellar Euro.
Yes, on paper this team is worse than the one that barely stayed up last season. But with Moyes in charge, whoever the eleven men on the pitch may be, will have to give their all and bleed for this club. That’s something they haven’t had in years. So I guess I’m betting against the odds and giving Moyes the benefit of the doubt, something he deserves after all his years of overachieving with Everton.
Be sure to check back soon. Predicted finishes 6-10 coming next
Dunlop's Daily Dose 