New Season

I don't think we have a close season anymore?
I thought we'd have a break after the Confederations cup but the Europa league started the week after and now we've got the friendlies in full swing and the Women's Euros.
Under a month till the Community shield and less than 5 weeks till the new season starts.

All change at the top with both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Everton with new managers meaning next season looks really unpredictable.

Man Utd - David Moyes for Alex Ferguson, Moyes is a good manager but at the moment doesn't have that winning mentality of his predecessor. He inherits a great team but they are going to need strengthening to compete on the bigger stage of Europe. Moyes biggest test will be trying to instill the fear of failure that Fergie did and the expectation of success is something he won't be used to.

Man City - Manuel Pellegrini for Roberto Mancini, I don't know much about Pellegrini other than he's done pretty well in Spain with Villarreal and Malaga and had one good season with Real Madrid before getting sacked. The almost unlimited budget at City should help him settle in (they've already spent 45m) but as Mancini found out eleven top players don't always make a good team and I think they will miss Tevez.

Chelsea - Jose Mourinho for Rafa Benitez, we all know about Jose and like Holloway will always give a good after match interview but has he still got it? Although Chelsea have already spent 26m on 3 players I can't see Abramovich giving Jose the open cheque book anymore so he might have to work with what he's got. Lukaku looked good last season and could be the answer to their striking problems if he gets a chance, Torres if he ever finds his form and confidence could still do it, it looks like Ba is on his way again.
Picking up Mark Schwarzer on a free as goalkeeping back up looks a great move.

Everton - Roberto Martinez for David Moyes, I like Martinez but the bar has been raised and survival is not enough at a club that aims for European qualification on a smaller budget. Worryingly for Everton fans Martinez has already signed 3 Wigan players and Man Utd are sniffing around Leighton Baines.

Stoke - Mark Hughes for Tony Pulis, Don't understand this one? Mark Hughes has really lost his way as a manager since leaving Blackburn and Tony Pulis really over achieved with Stoke, I would be really surprised if Stoke improved unless some multi billionaire came in and took them over.

As for the rest Arsenal are reported to have a big pile of money to spend but nobody seems to want to go there. Liverpool have again spent heavy but recouped most of that with sales and they might make a rare profit if Suarez goes (as looks likely). Tottenham's season depends heavily on them keeping Bale and finding a prolific striker to replace Defoe and Adebeyor who were major disappointments last season.
West Brom probably over achieved last season and I don't think Anelka will be able to replace the hole left by Lukaku, Swansea have bought well and could improve next season as long as no-one poaches Laudrup. Newcastle under achieved last season and should improve as long as Pardew isn't totally undermined by Ashley. Aston Villa should be a better team next season with the young players a year older but Lambert's biggest battle will be to keep Benteke. Norwich have been busy in the transfer market but I was surprised they let Grant Holt go and could struggle this season. Sunderland have also been busy in the market and thanks to Mignolet's transfer have money to spend, but who knows what will happen in DiCanio's mind and I think it could all end in tears. Fulham have a new owner but their stay in the Premier league must be coming to an end soon. Southampton are spending big but mid table is as good as they can expect.
Cardiff, Crystal Palace and Hull will just be looking for survival and I think they will all struggle.
That just leaves West Ham :) Andy Carroll did look good at the end of last season and if he stays fit will give us enough to secure a mid table position, but we need more than that to start competing at the higher levels and missing out on Bony was disappointing, also worrying is that we seemed to be linked with some of the worst players in the Premier league every day. I'm hoping we can find a striker to partner Carroll and fill in for him when he gets injured and if we do sign someone pray Fat Sam will actually give him a game.