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We continue our pilgrimage through the Premier League with another set of Premier League previews in their own words.
Newcastle United
Ed Harrison from The Newcastle United Blog - @TheNUFCBlog
How would you sum up last season?
Great season for Newcastle and we exceeded our expectations - and we only hope we can keep it up for next season. Our signings all turned out to be really good - Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse to mention just three.
How has the summer gone so far?
It has gone quite well but we looked hopeless last Saturday at Cardiff City, and were well beaten 4-1, but that was only our second loss of the pre-season and we hope it was just a bad day.
Who's your key player next season?
It could be a number of players between Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Yohan Cabaye and captain Fabricio Coloccini - but Papiss Cisse is probably the key player - if he can keep up his amazing goal scoring of earlier this year.
One younger player who might burst on to the scene?
We have some great young players at the club - 22 year-old Romain Amalfitano has been signed from Rennes and the Frenchman looks an excellent right winger, and we have a young 17 year-old local striker called Adam Campbell coming through. And we signed Gael Bigirimana from Coventry City in the summer and the 18 year-old holding midfielder already looks a very good player for the first team.
Where do you think you'll finish?
We hope to finish in the top six and also qualify for Europe, and that would be a really successful season for us.
We are also in the Europa League for the first time in six years, and we hope to do well and maybe reach the quarter finals or even better.
What do you make of Reading and where they may end up?
It's hard to say, but you did really well last season, and came with that fantastic run at the end of the season to win the Championship.
I hope you can stay up, but it's hard to say, but Swansea and Norwich did really well last season after coming up, and they rather easily held their own.
By the way if we can sign right-back Mathieu Debuchy from Lille, we may be selling Danny Simpson - he's a very good player but Danny will not sign his new contract - I mention this because Reading have been linked with Simpson
Who are you tipping to make the top four and the bottom three?
Top four - the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and maybe Liverpool or
Newcastle - we hope.
Bottom three - hard to say - maybe West Ham, Southampton and WBA.
Some slight delays in the Canary camp but we'll hopefully be bringing you their preview in the next day or so.
QPR
Mike from QPR Report - @QPRReport
How would you sum up last season?
Eventful and Stressful. But ultimately, all's well that end's well! And we freed ourselves
of Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone! (And Gianni Paladini)
How has the summer gone so far?
Good. Very good. Obviously we want more! But certainly thus far, our owners have indeed "Walked the Walk"when it comes to signing new players
Who's your key player next season?
Cisse, Taarabt, Diakite, Park - and hopefully there won't be too many mistakes by our new goalie, Rob Green.
One younger player who might burst on to the scene?
In the near-term: Not so sure any of them will. We have three youngsters on tour, but strongly, strongly doubt any of them will be first team starters - short of crippling injuries or suspensions.
Where do you think you'll finish?
Around 11th. Maybe even slightly higher.
What do you make of Reading and where they may end up?
Didn't expect you to go up. Congratulations on doing so. Probably helped by having QPR players. I wouldnt have thought that Swansea and Norwich would stay up last year, so who's to say. Certainly Southampton seem to have been spending - and spending well. If you can keep the team spirit and not devastate it with new signings, have a good chance.
Who are you tipping to make the top four and the bottom three?
Top Four (Sadly): Man Ut, Man City, Arsenal & Chelsea
Relegated Trio: Swansea, Wigan, (and just for you!) WBA!
Southampton
Chris Rann from George Weah's Cousin - @crstig
How would you sum up last season?
Almost perfect. After expecting a season of consolidation in the Championship we were pretty much in the top two all season, and we would have won it if it wasn't for those pesky Royals....
How has the summer gone so far?
Decent. A lot of our fans started to panic when we weren't seeing much action in the transfer market, but I am confident that Nigel Adkin's policy of quality not quantity will prove shrewd. Very happy with the signings so far (I think there will be 1 or 2 more). Jay Rodriguez, Nathaniel Clyne, Steve Davis and Paolo Gazzaniga signal a bright future at St. Mary's. On the pitch it has been going very well. A narrow defeat to Champions League Anderlecht is the only loss, victories over Arsenal (on penalties) and Evian (8th in Ligue 1 last season) have shown we mean business.
Who's your key player next season?
Tough one. I don't think we have a key player as such, I think we have a fantastic team dynamic. Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana will no doubt be central to our play, but I expect big things of Rodriguez and Clyne too. Also look out for Morgan Schneiderlin. I am convinced that he is quietly becoming our best player.
One younger player who might burst on to the scene?
One? We have hundreds. Our academy is prolific these days, complimented by the massive investment in the facilities and our EPPP 1 status! This season though, I would say James Ward-Prowse (central midfield) and Luke Shaw (left back/wing) will get some first team game time. Mr. Wenger will be reaching for his cheque book in no time....
Where do you think you'll finish?
I think we have it about us to push for 10th, but I am going to say 14th. A cliche it may be, but anything from 17th upwards will be a great first season.
What do you make of Reading and where they may end up?
I think you will be fine and will finish around the 14th - 17th mark like us. You deservedly pipped us to the post last season, and the signing of Pogrebnyak is impressive. Like us I think it is hard to tell, and outsiders will more than likely underestimate you.
Who are you tipping to make the top four and the bottom three?
Top 4:- Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal
Bottom 3:- Wigan, Norwich, West Ham.
Stoke
Mr Red from the 1863 Forum
How would you sum up last season?
One of the better years of being a Stoke fan. We had a wonderful experience in Europe, which was only slightly marred by the way Tony Pulis allowed us to bow out in our final game against Valencia. Our League form ultimately dipped though. we saw some woeful performances against teams that you would we as 'winnable', but on the flip side we achieved good results against the top 6, including a goal of the season.
How has the summer gone so far?
So far so good. We normally wait until deadline day before signing players but we've already made some subtle rumblings in the transfer market with 3 signings and some promising youngsters coming in. We've also got rid of players that haven't done anything for years.
Who's your key player next season?
Pennant. He's said himself he wants to have the season of his career and has already claimed the #7 shirt. He's our best attacking outlet and will hopefully chip in with a few goals.
One younger player who might burst on to the scene?
Jamie Ness- He's been our first signing and at 21, would be considered a baby in the Stoke line up. I'm expecting him to step up to the Premier League and make a solid impact.
Where do you think you'll finish?
Tone will want to improve on our position last season without the distraction of Europe and breaking into that tenth spot would be massive. I'd be over the moon with 11th-12th or 13th, which would still be a massive achievement for our club.
What do you make of Reading and where they may end up?
My preferred of the promoted clubs, I will be watching their performances most out of the 3. It's going to be a difficult place next season, and I feel unless all the players stand up and be accounted for, will really struggle.
Who are you tipping to make the top four and the bottom three?
Manchester City - No reason other than the strength of their squad
Chelsea - Feel they will grind out results
Manchester United - Don't think they've got it in them to challenge either top 2.
Tottenham - All dependant on how AVB gets on with a younger squad, and I don't like Arsenal!
West Brom - Will struggle.
Norwich - Won't pick up enough results
Wigan - Our bogey team - time for them to go. Can't stand how they survive having 4 good weeks of results out of a season.