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SUNDERLAND

ANOTHER summer, another rack of new signings. These are better than before though and, with big injuries surely avoided this year, a decent and improved season is on the cards.
ONE TO WATCH: Asamoah Gyan
PREDICTION: 8th

MIDDLESBROUGH

IT’S a different outlook to 12 months ago. Mowbray is a better coach than Strachan, but with a far weaker squad and far less money to play with Boro are no longer a Premier League club in all aspects.
ONE TO WATCH: Scott McDonald
PREDICTION: 12th

NEWCASTLE

A LOT of goals and a stack of spirit left when Nolan exited. It’s been a typical St James’ summer of carnage with plenty of news for the wrong reasons and, again, staying up will be a big achievement.
ONE TO WATCH: Hatem Ben Arfa
PREDICTION: 17th

HARTLEPOOL

MICK WADSWORTH and Co proved plenty of people wrong last season and they can build on that with further progress both individually and collectively.
ONE TO WATCH: Antony Sweeney
PREDICTION: 12th

DARLINGTON

AFTER the carnage of relegation to the Conference, Quakers have bottomed out and are starting to get it together again on the pitch. Last season was a step in the right direction and the same again beckons.
ONE TO WATCH: Graeme Lee
PREDICTION: 7th

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man City 2 Man Utd 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal
RELEGATED Norwich, Swansea, Blackburn
FA CUP Everton
LEAGUE CUP Bolton Wanderers
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Luis Suarez
FLOP OF THE SEASON Fernando Torres

 

SUNDERLAND

STEVE BRUCE’S recruitment drive has brought a mixture of youth and experience, which should be able to deliver another top ten finish, as long as there isn’t a repeat of last season’s injury crisis.
ONE TO WATCH: Stephane Sessegnon
PREDICTION: 9th

MIDDLESBROUGH

IT'S been a difficult summer at the Riverside, but if Tony Mowbray's men can repeat their form towards the end of last season, Boro should see an improvement on their 12th-place finish.
ONE TO WATCH: Tarmo Kink
PREDICTION: 9th

NEWCASTLE

IF Alan Pardew's French contingent settle quickly, the Magpies could better their mid-table finish last season, but the key to that happening will be a stable season off the field.
ONE TO WATCH: Demba Ba
PREDICTION: 13th

HARTLEPOOL

POOLS were playing some decent football last season, so along with the additions to the squad and 6,000 fans at Victoria Park, there can only be an improvement on last season's 16th-place finish.
ONE TO WATCH: James Poole
PREDICTION: 11th

DARLINGTON

CONFIDENCE is high at The Northern Echo Arena after last season's FA Trophy win. With quality new additions, Quakers should be right up in the promotion-mix come the end of the season.
ONE TO WATCH: Greg Taylor
PREDICTION: 5th

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Liverpool 4 Arsenal
RELEGATED Wigan, Blackburn, QPR
FA CUP Liverpool
LEAGUE CUP Arsenal
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Luis Suarez
FLOP OF THE SEASON Jordan Henderson

 

SUNDERLAND

A GLUT of signings have arrived with Connor Wickham, at £8.1m, the most eyecatching of the nine new recruits. Such investment means another top ten finish is essential to justify such an outlay.
ONE TO WATCH: Seb Larsson
PREDICTION: 12th

MIDDLESBROUGH

CONTINUING the form from the end of last season is easier said than done. A number of senior players have left, so this season will be a test of Mowbray's coaching ability.
ONE TO WATCH: Joe Bennett
PREDICTION: 6th

NEWCASTLE

LOSING Joey Barton would be a huge blow, but Newcastle have made some astute signings in Cabaye and Ba while they already have a little gem in Ben Arfa. The Magpies, though, are always likely to implode.
ONE TO WATCH: Hatem Ben Arfa
PREDICTION: 10th

HARTLEPOOL

LARGER crowds at Victoria Park will mean higher expectations, though in Mick Wadsworth Pools have a boss who is capable of squeezing the very best out of his squad.
ONE TO WATCH: James Poole
PREDICTION: 12th

DARLINGTON

SOME solid signings - Graeme Lee, Kris Taylor, Adam Rundle and James Walsaw - have strengthened the squad that ended last year seventh, so an improvement is expected. Promotion is very possible.
ONE TO WATCH: Graeme Lee
PREDICTION: 3rd

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Liverpool
RELEGATED Swansea, Norwich, QPR
FA CUP Chelsea
LEAGUE CUP Man City
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Yaya Toure
FLOP OF THE SEASON Edin Dzeko

 

SUNDERLAND

STEVE BRUCE has signed well and another top-half finish should be in reach. John O'Shea will strengthen things at the back, while Connor Wickham boasts huge potential.
ONE TO WATCH: Stephane Sessegnon
PREDICTION: 9th

MIDDLESBROUGH

WITH money too tight to mention, Tony Mowbray will once again be relying on his young guns. Boro's starting XI looks strong, but there is little in the way of depth.
ONE TO WATCH: Richie Smallwood
PREDICTION: 12nd

NEWCASTLE

IT'S been a typically chaotic summer on Tyneside, with Alan Pardew's spending falling short of most expectations. Goals could be in short supply, and a fight in the wrong half of the table beckons.
ONE TO WATCH: Sylvain Marveaux
PREDICTION: 16th

HARTLEPOOL

WITH large crowds assured, this should be another season of consolidation at Victoria Park. Colin Nish looks a useful addition up front, while Nobby Solano remains a valuable asset.
ONE TO WATCH: Nobby Solano
PREDICTION: 10st

DARLINGTON

AFTER May's Trophy triumph, promotion has to be the aim this season. A play-off spot beckons, with James Walshaw having impressed in pre-season and Graeme Lee adding experience at the back.
ONE TO WATCH: Liam Hatch
PREDICTION: 4th

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal
RELEGATED Swansea, Norwich, Blackburn
FA CUP Chelsea
LEAGUE CUP Manchester City
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Sergio Aguero
FLOP OF THE SEASON Liverpool

 

SUNDERLAND

THE idea was that this would be the year Sunderland would fight for a European spot. With so many changes, it is difficult to predict how soon they can deliver, but the new signings have plenty promise.
ONE TO WATCH: Keiren Westwood
PREDICTION: 8th

MIDDLESBROUGH

TOWARDS the back end of last season To ny Mowbray showed what he is capable of delivering. With so many departures, however, the squad has taken a hit and they will do well to reach the play-offs.
ONE TO WATCH: Cameron Park
PREDICTION: 6th

NEWCASTLE

IT'S been a strange summer on Tyneside where there have been more questions than answers, with manager Alan Pardew's recruitment drive hitting the buffers after a blistering start.
ONE TO WATCH: Hatem Ben Arfa
PREDICTION: 14th

HARTLEPOOL

WITH more than 5,500 season tickets sold, Victoria Park will be a near sell-out every week. Aided by a decent group of players under Mick Wadsworth, Pools could finish highly.
ONE TO WATCH: James Poole
PREDICTION: 9th

DARLINGTON

HAVING shown in patches that they had the ability to clinch promotion last time around, the Quakers could manage it this time under Mark Cooper. They've made some good signings.
ONE TO WATCH: Graeme Lee
PREDICTION: 3rd

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Liverpool
RELEGATED QPR, Wigan, Swansea
FA CUP Manchester City
LEAGUE CUP Liverpool
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Sergio Aguero
FLOP OF THE SEASON Andre Villas Boas

 

SUNDERLAND

STEVE BRUCE has spent big to reassemble his side, blending experience and youth. But keeping them fit is the real test of whether they can improve on tenth place.
ONE TO WATCH: Ji Dong Won
PREDICTION: 8th

MIDDLESBROUGH

BORO need to maintain the momentum gained from the end of last season, but inactivity in the transfer window may cause problems if injuries hit Tony Mowbray's team.
ONE TO WATCH: Richie Smallwood
PREDICTION: 6th

NEWCASTLE

YOUTH is in abundance, but a lack of experience could cause problems for Alan Pardew this season. Demba Ba is a proven goalscorer and he will do well - if he stays fit.
ONE TO WATCH: Yohan Cabaye
PREDICTION: 10th

HARTLEPOOL

POOLS have been busy in the transfer window, bringing in their new players right at the start of the summer. But it is the near 6,000 season ticket-holders may be the biggest signing of them all.
ONE TO WATCH: Nathan Luscombe
PREDICTION: 10th

DARLINGTON

WEMBLEY will be a distant memory when Quakers line up against Braintree Town. But it is that winning mentality which should stand them in good stead this season.
ONE TO WATCH: James Walshaw
PREDICTION: 3rd

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man Utd 2 Chelsea 3 Man City 4 Liverpool
RELEGATED Aston Villa, Wigan, Norwich
FA CUP Manchester City
LEAGUE CUP Liverpool
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Ashley Young
FLOP OF THE SEASON Shay Given

 

SUNDERLAND

AS the Cats found in the second half of last season, replacing Darren Bent's goals was near impossible. Should Gyan and Whickham strike an early understanding they could finally break into the top ten.
ONE TO WATCH: Connor Wickham
PREDICTION: 10th

MIDDLESBROUGH

IT looks like another season of transition. But if Tony Mowbray can guide Boro to a midtable finish, without the struggle of last term, he'll be in a better position the season after once all the big earners have gone.
ONE TO WATCH: Adam Reach
PREDICTION: 12th

NEWCASTLE

IF the French foreign legion settle early, last season's 12th finish could be bettered. But there is always a danger of the club imploding due to erratic owner Mike Ashley and his managing director, Derek Llambias.
ONE TO WATCH: Sylvain Marveaux
PREDICTION: 12th

HARTLEPOOL

WITH Nolberto Solano, Colin Nish, Nathan Luscombe and James Poole notable additions to an already talented squad, Pools could be there or thereabouts the play-off places.
ONE TO WATCH: Nolberto Solano
PREDICTION: 10th

DARLINGTON

DAN BURN will be a miss but Quakers have kept most of their better players and added quality in Rundle, Taylor, Walshaw and Lee. There's no reason why they can't bounce back to League Two.
ONE TO WATCH: Liam Hatch
PREDICTION: 5th

PREMIER LEAGUE 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Arsenal 4 Chelsea
RELEGATED Blackburn, Swansea, Norwich
FA CUP Chelsea
LEAGUE CUP Arsenal
PLAYER OF THE SEASON Wayne Rooney
FLOP OF THE SEASON Ashley Young