Team by Team Preview Part Four

By: Rob | August 13th, 2009

$Will this man dictate Wigan and Sunderland\'s seasons?$ And so to the final part of the controversial/sometimes illiterate preview to the Premier League season. After taking in everyone else, here are the final five, from Sunderland, who just about survived last season through to new boys Wolves.

Will Sunderland have a better time of it than last season? Will Zola take more big strides? Will Spurs ever fulfil their potential? Can Wigan do it post Steve Bruce? And will Wolves survive? I’m going to tell you, right after the jump.

Sunderland

Last Season Looked a bit shakey and in the mix to go down, when Roy Keane walked away and left the club managerless for ages. They should have gone down, they were lucky that there were three even worse teams in the league last season.

New In TownFrazier Campbell. Is this the season the perpetual Man United reject comes good?

What They Will Be Wearing Red and White stripes with a nice collar.

Who Needs A Big YearKenwyne Jones. Sunderland still haven’t found an ideal partnr, untill they do, he’ll have to keep scoring.

Pefect Season Surviving and watching Newcastle continue to go to pieces.

What They’ll Get Mid Tableish. Steve Bruce has a great record of putting clubs in the relegation mire well safe, and I think he will again. 12th.

Spurs

Last Season Started disasterously, sitting in the bottom three. Juande Ramos sacked, they they jumped up to an impressive 8th under Harry Redknapp.

New In Town Peter Crouch. Another season, another new Harry Redknapp club for the big man. He’ll want to settle in the team to improve his England chances of course.

What They Will Be Wearing White with a horrendous and pointless yellow stripe, rather like Real Madrid. Horrible.

Who Needs A Big YearHeurelho Gomes. Last season peppered long periods of insanity with occasional genius. Got better as the season went on though, and hopefully will be more the latter than the former this time.

Pefect Season Finishing above Arsenal, preferably with a Champions League place assured.

What They’ll Get I think they’ll still be behind the Everton’s and Man City’s of this world, but they will have a far more consistent year than last. Still, 8th again.

West Ham

Last Season Curbs started well but then fell out with the board and did a Keegan, a week before Keegan. Likable Italian Gianfranco Zola stepped in, and despite a shakey start, found his feet despite having the money down the back of the sofa to play with, finished ninth.

New In Town Frank Nouble. Picked up by Steve Clarke due to his Chelsea connection. One for the future though at just 17.

What They Will Be WearingGood old Claret and Blue. Odd stripe on the away kit.

Who Needs A Big Year Kieron Dyer. Broke his leg in a Cup match against Bristol Rovers last season, he’ll be yelling REMEMBER ME? all season, probably to shrugs.

Pefect Season Consistent form, a good cup run and a Europa League place, please. Oh and sort out the Chairman situation, four in three years is ridiculous.

What They’ll Get Mid table. Zola did a good job last year, and I expect more of the same this time around. 10th.

Wigan

Last Season Steve Bruce led them to absurdly good 11th place, although at one point they looked like they might go even better.

New In Town Jordi Gomez. Has followed new manager Roberto Martinez to the big time. Looked good last year for Swansea.

What They Will Be Wearing Thick white stripe in the middle of two thickish blue stripes. So stripes, but not many of them – there is a credit crisis you know.

Who Needs A Big Year Roberto Martinez. Steve Bruce will be a tough act to follow, although he’s a legend at Wigan from his playing days. Won League One with Swansea and led them to 8th the following season, but does he have what it takes in the Premier League?

Pefect Season Hanging onto all the decent name players, and grabbing a Europa League place.

What They’ll Get A bit of a struggle early on, but will have enough to pull away from it come the end. 13th.

Wolves

Last Season Won the Championship, and it never looked like it would be otherwise.

New In Town Nenad Milijas. Got over 20 goals for Red Star Belgrade last season, so could be a joy for Fantasy Football players looking for a bargin.

What They Will Be Wearing Classy Orange and Black, nice collar, and will get to use their white away kit for once.

Who Needs A Big Year Everyone. If they want to survive.

Pefect Season Staying up. They had a nightmare last time they were in the Prem, injuries meaning they stood absolutely no chance. West Brom not coming back up would be nice too.

What They’ll GetA struggle for sure. But they should have enough to cope, even if its only because there are so many other bad teams around the bottom. I predict a last day escape act alá local rivals West Brom. 17th.