20 FANS IN THE STANDS
With four days to kick-off, the hopes and fears of Sportsmail’s...
EVERY Monday fans from each of the 20 Premier League clubs run the rule over their teams’ performances in The Verdict. Here they analyse the season ahead.
PS... None of them are tipping their team to go down!
ARSENAL
PETER WOOD
BIGGEST HOPE: Unai Emery implements a distinct style that excites fans and brings back the glory years. GREATEST FEAR: Emery doesn’t adapt to the language and his ideas fall flat early in the season, leading to #WengerIn protests. KEY PLAYER: Lucas Torreira. Our defence has lacked a shield for 10 years.
ONE TO WATCH: My money is on midfielder Matteo Guendouzi shining. His aggression, acceleration over 10 yards and passing make him stand out.
GOOD WINDOW? It’s been a required window. Not much glamour but we’ve replaced the whole spine. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 3rd at best, likely 4th.
BOURNEMOUTH
PETER BELL
BIGGEST HOPE: I want to see us get to a semi-final or final. A really big day out would be great.
GREATEST FEAR: Relegation. I’m worried that the club haven’t made many signings.
KEY PLAYER: Nathan Ake. He must play as many games as possbile to keep the goals against down. None of our other players are at his level.
ONE TO WATCH: Lewis Cook could break into the England team with some good early performances.
GOOD WINDOW? The signings we have made so far have not got the fans turning around and saying ‘Wow’. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: I’d settle for 14th.
BRIGHTON
SIMON COX
BIGGEST HOPE: European football. Realistically, I’d like us to do the double over Palace and repeat or better last season’s finish.
GREATEST FEAR: Losing Chris Hughton. No player is greater than the sum of the parts but our manager must stay.
KEY PLAYER: Goalkeeper Mat Ryan. The moment Tim Krul turned up, Ryan became world class.
ONE TO WATCH: I love Ezequiel Schelotto. Mad as a box of frogs but he has the ability to cause mayhem!
GOOD WINDOW? The proof of the pudding is always in the eating but our scouts unearth hidden gems. Alireza Jahanbaksh looks a good signing. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: Top six!
BURNLEY
TONY SCHOLES BIGGEST HOPE: That we continue to build as a Premier League club. GREATEST FEAR: Getting sucked into a relegation battle. I don’t see it happening but we must ensure we stay well clear. KEY PLAYER: It’s a team game at Burnley and no player is ever more important than the rest. ONE TO WATCH: Defender Jimmy Dunne and midfielder Dwight McNeil looked good in pre-season and could have bright futures. GOOD WINDOW? We haven’t bought or sold anyone. I’m sure we will get two or three signings. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 10th.
CARDIFF CITY
CALLUM ELLIS
BIGGEST HOPE: That we remain competitive and get a few positive results against the top six, just like we did in 2013-14.
GREATEST FEAR: The drop zone. KEY PLAYER: Captain Sean Morrison leads by example at the heart of defence. He is a threat from set-pieces, scoring seven goals last season.
ONE TO WATCH: Forward Rhys Healey will be looking to challenge for a place in the squad.
GOOD WINDOW? It’s been a good window with four additions. Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid are exciting players who will hopefully deliver with goals. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 16th.
CHELSEA
ANDY SEABY
BIGGEST HOPE: To do better than last season. Chelsea have made significant changes that must come off.
GREATEST FEAR: The decision to get rid of serial winner Antonio Conte for someone who has won nothing proves the wrong one.
KEY PLAYER: Eden Hazard. To make top four we have to keep him.
ONE TO WATCH: Callum HudsonOdoi has some serious talent for a player aged just 17.
GOOD WINDOW? Bad. Just one signing and Rob Green. The club acted too late to sort out the managerial position. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 4th.
CRYSTAL PALACE
JAY CRAME
BIGGEST HOPE: We are a couple of signings from a squad that would challenge for the top 10.
GREATEST FEAR: The dreaded drop. It’s never a nice feeling... and we know from experience.
KEY PLAYER: Simple — Wilfried Zaha. We know he will want to go on to bigger and better things but one more season would be very welcome. ONE TO WATCH: I hope right back Aaron Wan-Bissaka will pick up where he left off. GOOD WINDOW? Max Meyer is a very exciting signing and a real coup. Do not underestimate Cheikhou Kouyate, either. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 12th.
EVERTON
JOEL PARKER
BIGGEST HOPE: A good cup run and some ambition when facing the ‘top clubs’.
GREATEST FEAR: A return of last season’s lack of creativity. But surely you can’t hit further than rock bottom?
KEY PLAYER: Jordan Pickford was the difference between a respectable position and big trouble. ONE TO WATCH: Kieran Dowell has a dangerous left foot and can be a key creative link. GOOD WINDOW? We haven’t cleared enough of the deadwood and the jury is out on Richarlison. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 8th.
FULHAM
RUSS GOLDMAN
BIGGEST HOPE: That we can compete and continue to play attractive football.
GREATEST FEAR: That talk of sacking the manager will begin if we start slowly. He is the right coach for the long term.
KEY PLAYER: The team is built around Tom Cairney. When he creates chances Fulham are tough to face. ONE TO WATCH: Ryan Sessegnon. What makes him so dangerous is his instinct to be in the right place at the right time. GOOD WINDOW? Excellent. Signing Seri and Schurrle shows the direction we want to go. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 10th.
HUDDERSFIELD
HARRY GREENWOOD
BIGGEST HOPE: To survive... more comfortably than last year! Anything else is a bonus.
GREATEST FEAR: Second season syndrome. We have a better squad but not the momentum of promotion this time.
KEY PLAYER: Terence Kongolo. We’ve paid big money to keep him here and he will be crucial to our survival hopes.
ONE TO WATCH: Midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri is not the finished article but has looked really sharp in pre-season.
GOOD WINDOW? We’ve bought young, hungry players. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 15th.
LEICESTER
WARWICK KAY BIGGEST HOPE: To see Leicester in an FA Cup final. GREATEST FEAR: That we don’t hit the ground running and end up in a relegation battle. KEY PLAYER: Harry Maguire — especially after his excellent World Cup.
ONE TO WATCH: I hope home-grown midfielder Hamza Choudhury continues to shine.
GOOD WINDOW? I’m happy. Jonny Evans was a bargain, James Maddison looks an exciting prospect in midfield but with Riyad Mahrez leaving there are big shoes to fill. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: Top 10 again.
LIVERPOOL
DAVE USHER
BIGGEST HOPE: More of the same... and some silverware to show for it.
GREATEST FEAR: My only fear is bad luck with injuries.
KEY PLAYER: Roberto Firmino makes everything tick.
ONE TO WATCH: Naby Keita. Those who don’t know how good he is are in for a big shock.
GOOD WINDOW? It’s been great. Alisson addressed our need for a goalkeeper, Keita will be a superstar and Fabinho should be an upgrade on Emre Can.
WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 2nd, but if City suffer their usual post-title slump then maybe...
MAN CITY
STEVEN ALLWEIS
BIGGEST HOPE: To produce the same attacking brilliance that made it so special to watch us.
GREATEST FEAR: Complacency, allowing others to catch us.
KEY PLAYER: Fernandinho. He is vital to Pep’s system and we do not have anyone else who can play his role to the same level.
ONE TO WATCH: Phil Foden. Pep will want to give him more chances, especially if we do not bring in any other midfielders.
GOOD WINDOW? Somewhere in the middle. We need another holding midfielder but must remember how far ahead of the rest we were last season. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 1st.
MAN UTD
SAM PEOPLES
BIGGEST HOPE: That United will challenge for the title. Fans are worried that we won’t.
GREATEST FEAR: That we’ll be out of the running by Christmas.
KEY PLAYER: Paul Pogba. The midfielder is now a World Cup winner and the catalyst to everything good we do.
ONE TO WATCH: Victor Lindelof. He had a great World Cup and can be a good defensive partner for Eric Bailly.
GOOD WINDOW? It’s been bad. We need a left back, a proper right winger and possibly another centre back, too.
WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 4th.
NEWCASTLE
TOM BORE
BIGGEST HOPE: Success in either the FA Cup or League Cup would be incredible.
GREATEST FEAR: Relegation. With Mike Ashley at the helm, Rafa Benitez could be forced into leaving at any moment.
KEY PLAYER: Club captain Jamaal Lascelles. Our strongest player at the heart of defence.
ONE TO WATCH: Right back Jamie Sterry looks as if he will be featuring plenty.
GOOD WINDOW? Many will disagree but I’d say a success. We’ve improved our squad. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: Between 10th and 12th.
TOTTENHAM
BARNABY SLATER
BIGGEST HOPE: A trophy. In a strange way the Champions League may be our best chance. Last year we showed we can be a force in Europe.
GREATEST FEAR: Having to play catch-up as a result of our World Cup semi-finalists returning tired.
KEY PLAYER: Christian Eriksen is the one who unlocks the door.
ONE TO WATCH: Kyle WalkerPeters was man of the match in his two league games so far.
GOOD WINDOW? The lack of money spent is winding up some fans but we need to ship out the dead wood. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 3rd.
WEST HAM
MICHAEL OLIVER
BIGGEST HOPE: That the team play expansive, exciting football... and a top-half finish.
GREATEST FEAR: After spending close to £100m the new recruits fail to live up to expectations.
KEY PLAYER: Record signing Felipe Anderson can fill the void left by Dimitri Payet.
ONE TO WATCH: Declan Rice will be looking to become a regular. We have signed two centre backs so he could be used as a holding midfielder.
GOOD WINDOW? It’s been excellent. Seven new additions and no major departures.
WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 8th.
SOUTHAMPTON
SAM COX
BIGGEST HOPE: That Mark Hughes can bring back fastpaced, attacking football after two underwhelming years.
GREATEST FEAR: Two months on from beating the drop and I’m still wondering where the goals will come from...
KEY PLAYER: Jannik Vestergaard can fill the Van Dijk-shaped hole in our defence.
ONE TO WATCH: I hope we see the emergence of academy duo Josh Sims and Harrison Reed.
GOOD WINDOW? Yes. We’ve invested in the future and thrown away the deadwood.
WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 11th.
WATFORD
DAVID ANDERSON
BIGGEST HOPE: That we play well after Christmas and do not suffer our usual dip in form.
GREATEST FEAR: Managerial instability. A year with one head coach would be lovely.
KEY PLAYER: It is vital that we have tied Abdoulaye Doucoure to a new five-year deal.
ONE TO WATCH: Ben Wilmot, who we signed from Stevenage, has impressed in pre-season. It’s nice to have a local lad pushing for a place.
GOOD WINDOW? Losing Richarlison was a blow but I’m more than happy with Gerard Deulofeu as a replacement.
WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 15th.
WOLVES
BEN HUSBAND
BIGGEST HOPE: That Wolves pick up exactly where they left off in winning the Championship.
GREATEST FEAR: Europe’s elite take some of our prized assets on the field and in the dugout.
KEY PLAYER: Willy Boly. The tall French defender was integral to our 24 clean sheets last season.
ONE TO WATCH: Left back Ruben Vinagre has a huge future ahead of him.
GOOD WINDOW? It’s been a massive success. We’ve tied up last season’s loanees and signed internationals like Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho. WHERE WILL YOU FINISH: 8th.