Arsenal:
Summer Signings - Yaya Sanogo, Mathieu Flamini, Emiliano Viviano (loan), Mesut Ozil.
Notable Players Left - Andrey Arshavin, Francis Coquelin, Denilson, Johan Djourou, Vito Mannone, Sebastien Squillaci, Andre Santos, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh.
Pre-Season Hopes - To win a trophy.
Are they on target? Despite going out relatively early in the Capital One Cup, most Gunners fans will not be too despondent as they sit at the top of the Premier League after 19 games played. Before the signing of Mesut Ozil, I suspected that Arsenal would be a team to beat this season due to the settled nature of their squad compared to the rest of the league, and at times this has proved to be the case. Despite being top, I still suspect they will falter and finish in the top three, purely due to a lack of strength in depth in their squad. A few signings in January though could change that opinion very quickly though.
Predicted Finish in July - 3rd.
Predicted Finish now - 3rd.
Predicted Champions League Finish in July - Last 16.
Predicted Champions League Finish now - Last 16.
Best Signing? Mathieu Flamini may not be a popular name in Stoke-on-Trent after his altercation with Marc Wilson back in September, but he has arguably been Arsenal's most influential player this season. Whilst Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have stole the headlines with their goals and assists, when Flamini has failed to perform, Arsenal have flattered to deceive.
Who should they sign? They could do with cover for Flamini as he has been injury prone for years before his recent resurrection this season. Whilst eyes have been placed on Yohan Cabaye at Newcastle, I would think his midfield partner Cheick Tiote would be a better fit, as a combative midfielder is required more than a pin-point passer. A striker who could take the burden from Olivier Giroud would be useful, although with January being a hard time to purchase a 20+ goals striker, then for their short term needs, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski can provide competition up front.
Final Verdict - on target.
Aston Villa:
Summer Signings - Aleksandar Tonev, Jores Okore, Leandro Bacuna, Nicklas Helenius, Antonio Luna, Jed Steer, Libor Kozak.
Notable Players Left - Richard Dunne, Jean II Makoun, Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall, Brett Holman, Derrick Williams, Darren Bent, Stephen Ireland, Barry Bannan.
Pre-Season Hopes - To avoid relegation.
Are they on target? They're around their target, as to say that they are on target is questionable. Pre-season I felt that their ability to hold onto Christian Benteke would be key, with his goals last season keeping them in the division. Whilst they did manage to keep ahold of him, his goal tally has decreased this season due to a combination of injuries and a poor run of form. As a result their goal tally has not been impressive of late, with a recent run of four straight losses only being halted by a 1-1 draw versus Swansea. If Benteke cannot regain his previous form soon, then Villa will need to find a plan B fast as they are sinking fast at their current rate.
Predicted Finish in July - 15th.
Predicted Finish now - 14th, due to other team's performances
Best Signing? Leandro Bacuna has been a worthwhile acquisition for the Villains, with his ability to score from free kicks helping Villa at critical times so far this season, notably in their victory over Manchester City.
Who should they sign? Ahead of Stoke's recent match against Aston Villa, I noted that I could not understand why they were so willing to release Stephen Ireland. Whilst he is a hit and miss player, he is someone who looks to take responsibility in the final third. This is something that I feel Villa have lacked this season, especially when Benteke has not played as there is no midfielder at the club who is willing to play a risky pass to put their striker through on goal - which sounds familiar! As an outside bet, Villa would be an interesting side for Will Hughes of Derby to join, where he has been at the fore-front of attacks all season despite being a steady midfielder.
Final Verdict - On target, just about.
Cardiff City:
Summer Signings - Andreas Cornelius, John Brayford, Simon Moore, Steven Caulker, Gary Medel, Kevin Theophile-Catherine, Maximiliano Amondarain, Peter Odemwingie.
Notable Players Left - Heidar Helguson, Stephen McPhail.
Managerial Change - Malky Mackay sacked, no replacement at present.
Pre-Season Hopes - To avoid relegation.
Are they on target? Currently they are, but once the club appoint a new manager, who knows? Malky Mackay did a good job in the first half of the season to get Cardiff up to 16th position in the league, strengthening most areas of his team after my first round of predictions. Steven Caulker and Gary Medel whilst not impressing mightily have shown a touch of class that suggests that if the right manager goes to Cardiff, they do have a hope of staying up. The question remains though as to whether the right manager would be willing to go to Cardiff with Vincent Tan in charge.
Predicted Finish in July - 13th
Predicted Finish now - 15th, dependant on the new manager.
Best Signing? Gary Medel has to be the best signing that Malky Mackay made this summer as the players around him are still raw to the top division of football. Looking at Mackay signings though from 2013 though, Fraizer Campbell has proved to be a shrewd purchase with four goals coming from 19 appearances this season.
Who should they sign? Looking at Cardiff's squad, the goalkeeper position appears the most susceptible if David Marshall was to suffer an injury. Joe Lewis has a Premier League appearance to his name this season against Hull City, and despite a promising early career where he was part of Peterborough's rise to the Championship, he has moved to obscurity. If Cardiff could sign a more dependable deputy, a Shay Given for example, who could challenge Marshall as well as cover for him, then they would have competition in a key area of the pitch. Naturally a goalscorer would be handy, but the question of who is something that will be down to finances. After all, any transfers may be tricky if Tan remains firm that not a penny shall be spent this January.
Final Verdict - On target.
Chelsea:
Summer Signings - Andre Schurrle, Marco van Ginkel, Mark Schwarzer, Cristian Cuevas, Willian, Samuel Eto'o, Christian Atsu.
Notable Players Left - Yossi Benayoun, Florent Malouda, Paulo Ferreira, Ross Turnbull, Thibaut Courtois, Marko Marin, Oriol Romeu, Wallace, Christian Atsu (loan), Victor Moses (loan), Romelu Lukaku (loan).
Pre-Season Hopes - to win the league.
Are they on target? No, and that is despite ending 2013 with a 2-1 win over Liverpool and sitting in third place. Where they are failing is up front, with goals from strikers being a rarity from the Blues. There have been six league goals between the three strikers (Eto'o, Torres and Ba), compared to the eight league goals from Lukaku on loan at Everton. Whether this is a tactical fault from Mourinho and he is deploying his strikers as a focal point of attack rather than the player to finish off the attack, or if it is the players themselves is to be debated. Whichever it is, they need to sort this problem out to remain in the top four in my opinion. They are currently winning games by remaining professional in games, with 1-0, 2-1 results being the order of the day. As Stoke showed recently, their defence is not as strong as it was under Mourinho's first spell at Chelsea, whilst the attack is not free-flowing. Until the right balance is found, I cannot see them remaining in the top four by the end of the season.
Predicted Finish in July - 2nd.
Predicted Finish now - 5th.
Predicted Champions League Finish in July - Semi-finals.
Predicted Champions League Finish now - Quarter-finals.
Best Signing? In Pre-Season I went for Mark Schwarzer, and I do not believe he has done a bad job as Petr Cech's deputy in the Capital One Cup.However, I feel that Andre Schurrle deserves credit for being a tricky customer for opposition defenders to cope with. Whilst not a consistent pick for Mourinho and being out of the team on occasion, he has still notched up three league goals, two of which came against Stoke, neither of them being easy to execute.
Who should they sign? Wayne Rooney, or a striker in his mould. The three strikers Chelsea have at the club, not discounting Romelu Lukaku, are target men in the number nine mould. What Chelsea's system under Mourinho requires in my opinion is a number 10 striker, someone who will run from deep to finish a goal off, whilst still coming short to assist in build-up play. The likelihood of Chelsea signing Rooney is slim, but if rumours of Robin van Persie being unhappy with life under David Moyes, then it would not surprise me to see him make the move to Stamford Bridge this January.
Final Verdict - Underachieving.
Crystal Palace:
Summer Signings - Stephen Dobbie, Dwight Gayle, Jerome Thomas, Jose Campana, Elliot Grandin, Marouane Chamakh, Neil Alexander, Florian Marange, Jason Puncheon (loan), Jimmy Kebe, Jack Hunt, Adrian Mariappa, Barry Bannan, Cameron Jerome (loan).
Notable Players Left - Andre Moritz, Alex Marrow, Peter Ramage.
Managerial Change - Tony Pulis for Ian Holloway.
Pre-Season Hopes - to avoid relegation.
Are they on target? Up until the appointment of Tony Pulis as manager, I would have said they were not. In eight games, they had one victory and seven losses. Ian Holloway is a good manager, and he does deserve another chance in the top division when a chance presents itself. Where he failed at Palace was buying that many players that he did not know his best eleven from the back of his head. In the month that Keith Millen was in charge of the club, they gained four points from four games. Contrary to the belief about Tony Pulis, at Palace he has not done draws so far, with three wins and four losses taking Palace from the foot of the table at his appointment to 17th and just sitting outside of the relegation zone. If Palace can replicate their current form, and turn some of the losses into draws or wins, then they will have a better shot at survival.
Predicted Finish in July - 20th.
Predicted Finish now - 16th, dependant on business in January.
Best Signing? With a list of players that Palace have, it is hard to choose which one has had the biggest impact. The Stoke City supporter in me would love to say that Cameron Jerome has made the biggest impact, but only one goal from 13 appearances suggests that he is only just finding his feet at his loan club. However, if you were to look at just goals, then Marouane Chamakh would be the deserving winner of the award due to his four goals 18 appearances. For this reason, Barry Bannan seems a logical recipient of the best signing due to not impressing for Aston Villa last season, yet seeming to adapt well to his new club to make 13 starts since joining them on deadline day, scoring one goal.
Who should they sign? If you assume that Tony Pulis will go back to his old club for players, then a deal could be feasible to bring Kenwyne Jones to Selhurst Park. Whilst he became out of favour with Pulis towards the end of last season, the Trinidadian is still a capable goalscorer on his day, and his partnership with Cameron Jerome in the past has shown glimpses of promise.
Final Verdict - on target, potential for more.
Everton:
Summer Signings - Arouna Kone, Antolin Alcaraz, Joel Robles, Gerard Deulofeu, James McCarthy, Romelu Lukaku (loan), Gareth Barry (loan).
Notable Players Left: Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jan Mucha, Marouane Fellaini, Victor Anichebe.
Managerial Change - Roberto Martinez for David Moyes.
Pre-Season Hopes - to finish in the top four.
Are they on target? Yes, in fact they are exceeding my predictions this season. My pre-season prediction of a 7th placed finish is looking unlikely now as Everton are proving to be one of the toughest teams to garner points from, with only Manchester City and Sunderland gaining victories against them this season. Even during Romelu Lukaku's goal drought in December, the team kept securing points and rightfully sit in fourth place in the table. Whether they can keep this up depends on how the team is managed, with Phil Jagielka out throughout January, and Nikica Jelavic wanting away from Merseyside, limiting Martinez's ability to rotate his forward line.
Predicted Finish in July - 7th.
Predicted Finish now - 6th.
Best Signing? This is not the easiest decision as it is a choice between two outstanding deadline days acquisitions: Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku. Due to Barry only being involved in one loss this season for Everton, which was when Everton were down to ten men, I believe Barry should get the nod as being Everton's best summer buy. Lukaku's goals though are not to be sniffed at, with Chelsea fans scratching their heads as to why he is scoring them in Merseyside instead of London.
Who should they sign? It would be worthwhile Everton making one of Lukaku or Barry's loan moves permanent in January so that they can look to the loan market once again. With Wilfried Zaha likely to be available for a winter loan move, perhaps Everton could help to give the England youngster some game time, also providing their team with more competition in wide positions.
Final Verdict - Exceeding Expectations.
Fulham:
Summer Signings - Derek Boateng, Fernando Amorebieta, Maarten Stekelenburg, Giorgos Karagounis, Sascha Riether, Adel Taarabt (loan), Darren Bent (loan), Scott Parker, Elsad Zverotic.
Notable Players Left - Chris Baird, Simon Davies, Mahamadou Diarra, Mladen Petric, Mark Schwarzer.
Managerial Change - Rene Mulensteen for Martin Jol.
Club Takeover - Shahid Khan from Mohammed Al-Fayed
Pre-Season Hopes - Stability.
Are they on target? No. At present, they are my tips for relegation with Dimitar Berbatov leaning towards a move away from Fulham, whilst the rest of the team looks Championship standard at best. Brede Hangeland has been a miss for parts of the season but even when he was playing regularly, he seemed out of sorts and defensively unsteady. Whatever signings come into the club in January's window, they will define whether Fulham stay in the top flight or if they suffer relegation during Shahid Khan's first season in charge of the club.
Predicted Finish in July - 16th.
Predicted Finish now - 19th.
Best Signing? I think the player who has made the most impact has been Darren Bent, scoring two goals this season. Whilst this may seem an odd choice for the best summer signing, I believe that he is the best out of an odd bunch. Adel Taarabt has not lit up Craven Cottage, whilst Scott Parker has yet to stamp his authority on games in the way that he did to earn a move to Tottenham two years ago. Fernando Amorebieta has been an able defensive deputy but with Fulham currently in the relegation zone, you cannot say that his performances have been impressive, the same which can be said of Maarten Stekelenburg.
Who should they sign? It would be a left-wing signing, but Matthew Upson could do a job for Fulham defensively and offensively in the latter stages of the season if he could be persuaded to leave Brighton. At Stoke, he always seemed a capable defender, whilst proving to be a threat at set-pieces despite not being the tallest centre-back. With Hangeland out, Fulham need a defensive rock, and their current back-line looks susceptible on any given day. Having already signed Clint Dempsey on a two-month loan deal, they might have a good option in attack for the January and February fixtures when the games don't come as quick as over Christmas.
Final Verdict - Underachieving.
Hull City:
Summer Signings - George Boyd, Maynor Figueroa, Curtis Davies, Ahmed Elmohamady, Allan McGregor, Steve Harper, Danny Graham (loan), Yannick Sagbo, Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore (loan), Gedo (loan).
Notable Players Left - Seyi Olofinjana, Jay Simpson, Andy Dawson, Corry Evans, Mark Oxley (loan).
Pre-Season Hopes - to avoid relegation.
Are they on target? Yes, and it is down to their summer signings. In my pre-season predictions, I noted that at that point, Hull had failed to sign any proven Premier League players. In the time from then, Hull signed Tom Huddlestone and have effectively built their team around him. Their defence has been immense all season, with Manchester United being the first away team on Boxing Day to score three goals at the KC Stadium this season. The younger players in the squad have stepped up well, with Robbie Brady chipping in with goals, whilst James Chester has done well alongside Curtis Davies to form a formidable defensive partnership.
Predicted Finish in July - 18th.
Predicted Finish now - 11th.
Best Signing? Tom Huddlestone without a doubt. Curtis Davies has provided a strong backbone to Hull's defence, but Hull have built their team, offensively and defensively around Huddlestone. Whilst only chipping in with his first goal against Fulham recently, he has been the player ticking over most Hull moves this season. Like Luka Modric during his time at Tottenham, Huddlestone is not at the top of the assists chart, but he would be at the top of the assist of the assists, which for me earns him the title of best signing.
Who should they sign? Rumours floating around suggest that Hull will attempt to sign Nick Powell on loan from Manchester United if both parties agree that he should be playing a division higher for the second half of the season. With Hull using up their two domestic loans however, this could be tricky as they would have to sign or release one of these players to gain Powell. I would question whether they need him as he is not an out and out striker which they need, but more of an advanced midfielder. Steve Bruce could be tempted to go for Nicklas Bendtner again in January for extra support up front, although his recent record for Juventus and Arsenal could deter that move.
Final Verdict - Exceeding Expectations.
Liverpool:
Summer Signings - Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Simon Mignolet, Aly Cissokho, Tiago Ilori, Mamadou Sakho, Victor Moses (loan).
Notable Players Left - Danny Wilson, Jonjo Shelvey, Suso (loan), Pepe Reina (loan), Jay Spearing, Stewart Downing, Oussama Assaidi (loan), Daniel Pacheco, Fabio Borini (loan).
Pre-Season Hopes - Qualify for the Champions League.
Are they on target? Yes, and this is largely due to the return of Luis Suarez. Whilst Liverpool scored goals during the opening period of the season whilst he completed his ten game ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic, there was a likelihood they would dry up. Daniel Sturridge performed well for Liverpool at that time, but there was a feeling that he would go through a dry spell, and when he did, I suspect most Liverpool supporters knew they needed Suarez back by this point. Boy has he delivered. 19 goals from 14 league appearances shows a player that has been willing to make up for lost time, scoring as many goals as the games he could have played this season. It is worth noting though that Suarez failed to score against the traditional top four teams in the first half of the season, scoring blanks against Manchester United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool will need this statistic to change in the second half of the season if they want to maintain their current league position.
Predicted Finish in July - 6th.
Predicted Finish now - 2nd, if Suarez's goal-to-game ratio remains high.
Best Signing? Considering some of Liverpool's best players this season have been at the club for a season or two now, Liverpool's best player from this summer should go down to Kolo Toure in my opinion. Whilst Simon Mignolet has played every game this season, I do not believe he is a top class goalkeeper, although he is of a good enough standard to help carry a team into the top four of the Premier League. Toure on the other hand had big shoes to fill in replacing the retired Jamie Carragher, and at the start of the season he looked undroppable, forming a good partnership with Daniel Agger. The back four at Liverpool has rotated a lot this season, but Toure has a part to play when suspensions or injuries come into play and based on his early season showings, he seems hungry to win another trophy in England before he departs the game.
Who should they sign? When Daniel Sturridge is fit again, it would be a safe assumption that Liverpool will line-up with a back three again to allow the team to have a packed midfield with two up front. Where they struggled in this formation, although I use the word 'struggle' loosely, is that they did not have a natural number 10 player. Raheem Sterling and Victor Moses were both asked to fulfil this role, although they were given permission to drift out wide. If there is to be another signing for Liverpool in January, filling that hole with quality is a necessity.
Final Verdict - Exceeding Expectations.
Manchester City:
Summer Signings - Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, Stevan Jovetic, Martin Demichelis.
Notable Players Left - Kolo Toure, Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Karim Rekik (loan), Maicon, Scott Sinclair (loan).
Managerial Change - Manuel Pellegrini for Roberto Mancini.
Pre-Season Hopes - To win the Premier League and to progress in the Champions League.
Are they on target? Yes, although not convincingly at times. At home, you would think Manchester City had already won the league. Victories by over four goals against Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham, as well as victories over Liverpool and Everton at the Etihad suggest a team that are unstoppable. Away from home, the story is different, with a 2-1 loss at Stamford Bridge showing that City can be caught on the road if their eyes aren't wide open. In Europe they have done well to progress from the group stage for the first time, but their last 16 draw is not kind against Barcelona. They look to be on target for the season, but this is a season where the favourites can still slip up.
Predicted Finish in July - 4th.
Predicted Finish now - 1st.
Predicted Champions League Finish in July - Quarter-Finals.
Predicted Champions League Finish now - Last 16.
Best Signing? Alvaro Negredo has had the biggest influence on the pitch, although why Jesus Navas has not been more of a regular selection baffles me at times. Negredo has scored 14 goals in 26 appearances in all competitions, 8 of those goals being from 18 league appearances. Proving to be a presence in the box, whilst having a clever touch, Negredo has rightly earned the nickname 'Beast' at the Etihad this season.
Who should they sign? After recent years, I would hope they would not want to buy anyone this transfer window. If there is one type of player they are missing at present though, it is a left-footed attacking player, one in the mould of David Silva. With Silva's injuries and dip in form, cover and competition for him directly would only benefit their squad. Perhaps this would be a job for the summer though.
Final Verdict - On target.
Manchester United:
Summer Signings - Guillermo Varela, Marouane Fellaini.
Notable Players Left - Scott Wooton, Angelo Henriquez (loan), Nick Powell (loan).
Managerial Change - David Moyes for Sir Alex Ferguson.
Pre-Season Hopes - to win everything.
Are they on target? Despite an eight point deficit to make up in the league, Manchester United still cannot be counted out of the title race, at the very least in terms of influencing its outcome. As far as winning a cup, United have progressed in both the Capital One Cup and in the Champions League, with favourable draws against Sunderland and Olympiakos ahead. It is the following rounds though that will be the true test of their squads, with a possible match in the Capital One Cup Final against Manchester City to handle. Whilst Sunderland will prove tough opposition, David Moyes needs to win a trophy. The club will give Moyes time to create the club in his image, but the fans will start to have their doubts if the season ends trophyless.
Predicted Finish in July - 1st.
Predicted Finish now - 4th.
Predicted Champions League Finish in July - Semi-Final.
Predicted Champions League Finish now - Quarter-Final.
Best Signing? From a choice of Varela and Fellaini, the choice is literally between choosing porridge and cereal in the morning, neither is exciting! Purely because he has played for the club, Fellaini has been the best signing of the summer, although 'best' is definitely not the correct word!
Who should they sign? Although the papers love the idea of it, January is not the time for fantasy football. United's midfield is the reason they have fallen out of the title race, and although they have pulled their way back into contention, they need a similar spark to the one created by Mesut Ozil's signing at Arsenal to have any hope of clawing back their title. The best option for David Moyes, if not in January but in the summer, would be to go for players that have played for United in the past. The likes of Paul Pogba, Ravel Morrison and such has gone on and shown that perhaps they were unlucky to not be given a chance under Sir Alex. Moyes would have the selling point of offering them the chance that they never had before, in the best league in the world.
Final Verdict - Below Expectations, due to league form.
Newcastle United:
Notable Players Left - Steve Harper, Danny Simpson, James Perch.
Pre-Season Hopes - A quiet season.
Are they on target? Considering the quiet the fans will have wanted was from Joe Kinnear, I think the supporters will be quite happy to be sitting 8th in the league at the half way point. Luck has played it's part at times this season, notably in their 5-1 win over Stoke where two dubious red cards gifted Newcastle a chance to be professional and garner three points. Their win at White Hart Lane not so long ago also came in a game where Tim Krul made the most saves of any goalkeeper this season in one game, so whilst Newcastle supporters will point to a fantastic goalkeeper, a neutral would say that luck plays a hand in a result like that. If they keep ticking over results, I can see their place in the top half being secure for the second half of the season.
Predicted Finish in July - 17th
Predicted Finish now - 8th.
Best Signing? Loic Remy was the only player they signed which has made an appearance this season. Whilst his goals have helped Newcastle up to their current standing of 8th, Yoann Gouffran has chipped in with a few more goals than was expected of him this season, and a settled midfield of Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote and on occasion Vernon Anita has helped those in defence and attack work better together in tandem.
Who should they sign? They could do with extra competition up front, with Shola Ameobi preferred to Papiss Cisse for large parts of this season. If Dimitar Berbatov was to leave Fulham, Newcastle would be wise to enquire about his future plans as the Bulgarian would offer something different to Newcastle's current front-line options.
Final Verdict - Exceeding Expectations.
Norwich City:
Summer Signings - Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Javier Garrido, Nathan Redmond, Carlo Nash, Martin Olsson, Leroy Fer, Gary Hooper, Johan Elmander.
Notable Players Left - Chris Martin, Simeon Jackson, Lee Camp, Marc Tierney, Elliot Ward, Tom Adeyemi, Jed Steer, James Vaughan, Grant Holt, Andrew Surman (loan), Leon Barnett.
Pre-Season Hopes - strong top half of the table finish.
Are they on target? No. If there ambitions had just been to get to tenth place, then they would have a chance, but at the moment, their form is more likely to dip than to soar. At the half-way point they have 19 points, one point less than what most clubs accept as a New Year total. The reasons behind this seem to stem from the number of new players at the club, most of them brought in to start games, rather than sit on the bench. Ricky van Wolfswinkel started the season well with a goal in his first game, but never peaked after that, still having just that one goal to his name after playing nearly as many games as there are letters in his surname. Gary Hooper coming into the side has helped to halt a slide that seemed to be about to bring the end of Chris Hughton's reign in charge of the Canaries, but the team is still susceptible as you would not bet on them to win on any given weekend. With the players at their disposal, it is a case of being too good to go down, but next season they will have to allow these players to gel, or a change of manager will be the only solution.
Predicted Finish in July - 9th.
Predicted Finish now - 13th.
Best Signing? In a season where most players have struggled, Leroy Fer has shown a few glimpses of class to show why Everton were interested in the Dutchman only 12 months ago. For this reason, I choose him as Norwich's best signing as he is their best hope of unlocking van Wolfswinkel's potential, whilst supplying Hooper and Elmander with opportunities in the present.
Who should they sign? Ideally they will stay away from the buying part of the transfer market as to keep a settled squad. However, if they are to dip in, they should be looking for defensive reinforcements. In the summer, I pointed towards John Heitinga as a potential player they could look at, with his ability to play in defence and midfield a worthwhile asset. It could be that like Roberto Martinez, Chris Hughton does not fancy him as a player, but the defence is definitely the area in need of some cover at the right time.
Final Verdict - Below Expectations.
Southampton:
Summer Signings - Dejan Lovren, Victor Wanyama, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo.
Notable Players Left - Frazer Richardson, Danny Butterfield, Richard Chaplow, Steve De Ridder, Jason Puncheon (loan), Dean Hammond.
Pre-Season Target - To avoid Second-Season Syndrome.
Are they on target? Well on target. In my Pre-Season thoughts on Southampton, I was pointed out that Jay Rodriguez would have to score more to compensate for Rickie Lambert being a more well-known player in the Premier League this season. Whilst Lambert has amassed 6 goals in 18 league appearances this season, Rodriguez has gone on and bettered his teammate by scoring eight goals in, the same number of games, also going on to score two more goals than he did in 35 appearances last season. Whether that was enough reason for him to earn an England cap in November is debatable, but Rodriguez has certainly stepped up to the plate and helped Southampton not only avoid Second Season Syndrome, but also stabalise them in the top half of the league.
Predicted Finish in July - 14th.
Predicted Finish now - 9th.
Best Signing? In a coin flip between Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama, I think Lovren edges it ever so slightly. In recent weeks when Wanyama hasn't played, I feel that Southampton have suffered in their play and it is possible that this is the reason why they are dipping in form at the moment. However, Lovren has proved to be a leader at the back, key in their new pressing style under Mauricio Pochettino. When he or Fonte have been rested in the last few weeks, providing Jos Hooiveld with an opportunity, he has not grasped it with both hands. On the flip side, Jack Cork and Steven Davis have both proved able if not inspirational substitutes for Wanyama, so in this case, Lovren has been the more integral player for the Saints this season.
Who should they sign? Cover in goal could be worthwhile, with Paolo Gazzaniga not looking ready for the Premier League yet, whilst Kelvin Davis is arguably past his best now. A foreign loan move from abroad could be an option, perhaps Diego Alves from Valencia could be an option if he could be tempted away from Los Che as he is an able deputy with some good years ahead of him still.
Final Verdict - Above Expectations.
Stoke City:
Summer Signings - Erik Pieters, Marc Muniesa, Oussama Assaidi (loan), Marko Arnautovic, Stephen Ireland (loan).
Notable Players Left - Dean Whitehead, Matthew Upson, Rory Delap, Mamady Sidibe, Carlo Nash, Matthew Lund, Florent Cuvelier, Michael Kightly (loan), Cameron Jerome (loan).
Managerial Change - Mark Hughes for Tony Pulis.
Pre-Season Hopes - Enjoying our Football.
Are they on target? This is the hardest question of all the teams on this list because I don't know if a Stoke supporter could have enjoyed any match this season! Under Tony Pulis there had been a security net that we would never get relegated so every time we have lost this season there has been an element of nerves, whilst whenever we have won there has been a sigh of relief. All nineteen matches so far have shown elements of a team under construction rather than a finished article. What I had asked for in particular was a more ruthless streak from Mark Hughes than we saw under Pulis, trying to kill teams off rather than sitting back and taking a draw. In my post-match reviews of Stoke matches this season, this has been a bane of mine, where Hughes has introduced Palacios into play for the final ten minutes instead of throwing caution to the wind and giving Kenwyne Jones on for a quick blast at victory. Whilst we have a respectable points tally at this stage of 21 points, With two more victories we could have been in touching distance of Southampton in 9th instead of five points clear of the relegation spaces. To be on target for the rest of the season, I feel the management and the players need to release the shackles just a little bit more, especially at home when possible, and go for teams instead of letting them come onto us.
Predicted Finish in July - 8th.
Predicted Finish now - 10th.
Best Signing? A lot of the new signings have settled in well and had a run of games, but the most consistent of them has been Erik Pieters. This was shown in his absence against Hull City in early December where his introduction in place of Marc Muniesa changed the game, if not the result. Nods go towards all the new signings though who have had their moments throughout the first half of the campaign, although for the large part they all have an element of inconsistency that allowed Pieters to edge them out.
Who should they sign? A striker. Like most teams in the bottom half of the league, a striker can do no harm, certainly in Stoke's case. Mame Biram Diouf is still on the club's radar, whilst moves for Luuk de Jong and Adrian Ramos from German clubs have been mooted. If Stoke were willing to break the bank, a move for Jordan Rhodes could be worth a punt at this time of the season, with Blackburn's league position (12th) not helping their hand when trying to persuade him that the bright lights of the Premier League will come to Ewood Park soon. The fee, naturally, would be a problem, but if Stoke want a proven goalscorer, Rhodes looks capable of scoring at the highest level.
Final Verdict - Matching Expectations.
Sunderland:
Summer Signings - Cabral, Modibo Diakite, Valentin Roberge, David Moberg Karlsson, Vito Mannone, Jozy Altidore, El-Hadji Ba, Emanuele Giaccherini, Ondrej Celustka (loan), Charis Mavrias, Ki Sung-Yeung (loan), Andrea Dossena, Fabio Borini (loan).
Notable Players Left - Titus Bramble, Matthew Kilgallon, Ryan Noble, Simon Mignolet, Ahmed Elmohamady, Danny Graham (loan), Alfred N'Diaye (loan), James McClean, Stephane Sessegnon.
Managerial Change - Gustavo Poyet for Paolo di Canio.
Pre-Season Hopes - that the club does not self-destruct.
Are they on target? The club has not self-destructed, but that was largely due to the early dismissal of di Canio. Whilst I still believe the sacking was harsh in general due to him not having had a lot of time to work with the players he had bought, in hindsight, if he had been given more time, Sunderland would be already relegated now. As things stand, they are on the verge of relegation, but that is not down to Poyet, but the purchases made under his predecessor. The squad has a starting eleven of players who could save Sunderland, but after that are a bunch of players that cannot be relied on. Against Cardiff recently, with Wes Brown and John O'Shea both unavailable, it was not surprising to see them ship two goals against Cardiff with Modibo Diakite and Valentin Roberge in the back four. If they survive, they will need to invest again in January, and ship out some of the mistakes from the summer.
Predicted Finish in July - 19th.
Predicted Finish now - 20th, although not due to Poyet's management.
Best Signing? Not an easy choice but I'd argue that Ki Sung-Yeung has been Sunderland's best player since Poyet arrived. It was a choice between him and Giaccherini, but the Italian's lack of input into a game meant that despite his work ethic in every game, he was not the best of the bunch di Canio brought in. Ki has proven in recent weeks that whilst a capable defensive midfielder, he has two good feet that he can use around the opposition box to good measure, creating and scoring chances to good effect.
Who should they sign? Here I stand by my earlier suggestion of Joleon Lescott to Sunderland. Defence is still an issue for Sunderland despite the return of Wes Brown. From a choice of four fit defenders, I would rather have O'Shea, Brown, Lescott and Cuellar, than having to include Diakite or Roberge in that list.
Final Verdict - on target, but likely to be heading down.
Swansea City:
Summer Signings - Jose Canas, Jordi Amat, Jonathan de Guzman (loan), Gregor Zabret, Alex Gogic, Alejandro Pozuelo, Jonjo Shelvey, Wilfried Bony, Jernade Meade, Dwight Tiendalli, Alvaro Vazquez (loan).
Notable Players Left - Mark Gower, Kyle Bartley (loan), Kemy Agustien, Luke Moore.
Pre-Season Hopes - A good Europa League run.
Are they on target? They have reached the last 32 of the Europa League, but at the cost of their league form which has seen them sit around 11th place more the majority of the season. Injuries to Michu and Wilfried Bony have prevented them forming a partnership regularly, but Michael Laudrup should have been prepared for a long slog of a season and injuries are just part and parcel of a campaign. Whilst Swansea do not look like losing games at the moment, they do not look like winning and are a safe bet for a draw in most games. With their next game in Europe coming against Napoli, Swansea may be out of the competition before they had really experienced the cream of the crop, but this may help their league cause if they continue to struggle to gain wins.
Predicted Finish in July - 11th.
Predicted Finish now - 12th.
Predicted European Finish in July - Round of 32.
Predicted European Finish now - Round of 32.
Best Signing? Wilfried Bony has provided Swansea with something new in attack but they have only seen it unleashed sparingly, unfortunately for Stoke when Bony had one of his good days! If partnered with Michu, they have the potential to have a lethal combination of finesse and power, but until the two play in tandem for a period of time, Swansea will have to make do with just Bony.
Who should they sign? Cover for Michu would be ideal and news of Iago Aspas arriving on loan from Liverpool would be interesting. Capable of playing as a number 9 or a number 10, Aspas could fill in the role that Michu has become accustomed to taking, whilst getting game time to show Liverpool that he is capable of making the grade at Anfield.
Final Verdict - on target, though unimpressive.
Tottenham Hotspur:
Summer Signings - Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen.
Notable Players Left - David Bentley, John Bostock, William Gallas, Steven Caulker, Clint Dempsey, Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore (loan), Scott Parker, Gareth Bale, Tom Carroll (loan), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (loan).
Managerial Change - Tim Sherwood for Andre Villas-Boas.
Pre-Season Hopes - A top four finish.
Are they on target? No, and despite being within touching distance, I still feel they have a mistake or two in them. Since Tim Sherwood took over, he has played with two strikers up front, with very offensive-minded midfielders in a two-man midfield. Whilst these players are talented enough to know to track back when under pressure, I feel against some teams they will be open to errors if this system continues to be the norm. For now, I cannot see them finishing in the top four, purely because I feel that sacking Andre Villas-Boas for Tim Sherwood was a knee-jerk reaction to bad losses and odd tactical decisions, rather than part of a larger plan for the benefit of the club.
Predicted Finish in July - 5th.
Predicted Finish now - 7th.
Predicted European Finish in July - Final.
Predicted European Finish now - Quarter-Finals.
Best Signing? Vlad Chiriches is the player that has surprised me most out of the summer signings as he has proven himself well against what the Premier League has to offer. Showing that he is an able deputy for either Michael Dawson or Jan Vertonghen, Chiriches has shone compared to the performances of his fellow new signings.
Who should they sign? Again, a club that has brought so many people in during the last window that perhaps buying is not their priority. Left-back cover could be worthwhile so that Kyle Naughton and Jan Vertonghen have to spend less time covering that area of the pitch, and across the city is a left-back by the name of Ryan Bertrand who is not getting any minutes at Chelsea. Perhaps a short-term loan deal could be on the cards so that Spurs have cover in that area until Sherwood can assess his squad in the summer?
Final Verdict - Below Expectations.
West Bromwich Albion:
Summer Signings - Nicolas Anelka, Goran Popov (loan), Diego Lugano, Matej Vydra (loan), Zoltan Gera, Scott Sinclair (loan), Morgan Amalfitano (loan), Lee Camp, Stephane Sessegnon, Victor Anichebe.
Notable Players Left - Marc Antoine-Fortune, Gonzalo Jara, Jerome Thomas, Peter Odemwingie.
Managerial Change - Steve Clarke sacked, no replacement at present.
Pre-Season Hopes - Maintaining the status quo.
Are they on target? No. This is the first season since they came back up to the top division that I have thought that they could feasibly go down. This is largely due to sacking Steve Clarke without having an immediate replacement in mind. When the club sacked Roberto di Matteo, the appointment of Roy Hodgson was made shortly after and the club stabalised under their new head coach. They have a good group of players, but their lack of goals is a concern, with their star signing of Nicolas Anelka only just scoring for the club, in London buses fashion. Matej Vydra, Victor Anichebe, Nicolas Anelka and Shane Long have only 7 goals between them, with less out-and-out options of Saido Berahino and Stephane Sessegnon notching 5 goals. If they are to get out of trouble, they need to start finding the net on a more frequent basis than they are at present.
Predicted Finish in July - 12th.
Predicted Finish now - 17th.
Best Signing? Although he has done little of note, the signing of Sessegnon from Sunderland was a coup considering he was their star player last season. Despite only attaining two league goals for West Brom since joining, he is a tricky customer and will be key to West Brom getting out of trouble.
Who should they sign? A consistent striker would be handy, but if that proves to be a hard acquisition considering West Brom's budget, then perhaps a loan from a top club could be helpful. Wilfried Zaha could provide a threat down the centre of West Brom's attack despite being thought of largely as a winger.
Final Verdict - Far below expectations.
West Ham United:
Summer Signings - Razvan Rat, Adrian, Andy Carroll, Danny Whitehead, Stewart Downing, Mladen Petric.
Notable Players Left - Gary O'Neill.
Pre-Season Hopes - Avoiding Second-Season Syndrome.
Are they on target? No. Sitting in 19th place in the Premier League, West Ham's problem is abundantly clear. A lack of goals. They put all their money in one big Andy Carroll sized basket and the bottom fell out, injuring him. Carlton Cole was summoned from the free-agent wilderness and although he has scored a few goals since his return, notably against Arsenal, the team still look like a Python without poison. Defensively they are struggling as well with injuries so at present they are struggling to keep clean sheets as well. Reinforcements needed in January.
Predicted Finish in July - 10th.
Predicted Finish now - 18th.
Best Signing? Razvan Rat has shown glimpses of quality, being able to cover the left-back area. He would get my pick over Adrian who has had mixed fortunes over the last few starts ahead of Jussi Jaaskelainen. Stewart Downing has under-performed since his arrival at Upton Park whilst Mladen Petric's spell at the club lasted barely half a season after being released this month.
Who should they sign? Rumours of a loan move for Asamoah Gyan are interesting, although I doubt they will end up with the player returning to England. If the club are looking abroad, it would be worth trying to tempt Bafetimbi Gomis to move to England, as he can fulfil the same role that Carroll was bought to perform.
Final Verdict - Under-performing, relegation bound unless signings change fortunes.
What are your thoughts on these predictions? Tweet to @jtflint2008 or comment below.
