32 Flags previews the 2016-17 Premier League from Swansea to West Ham

The English Premier League season is less than a week away and we are entering what could be the most unpredictable EPL season in years. We at 32 Flags are here to preview what each team is expected to do this season and where they could finish, as well as letting you know who to look out for from each team. Today, we’re going in alphabetical order, covering Swansea City to West Ham United. This is Part 4 of 4 of our EPL preview. Click to read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Swansea City

Transfers:

Notable Ins:

Leroy Fer, Midfielder, from Queens Park Rangers for an Undisclosed Fee

Fernando Llorente, Forward, from Sevilla for an Undisclosed Fee

Notable Outs:

Eder, Forward, to Lille for an Undisclosed Fee

Andre Ayew, Forward, to West Ham United for £20.5m

Ashley Williams, Defender, to Everton for £12m

Probable Starting XI:

Predicted Finish:

13th (Placed as high as 12th and as low as 17th among 32 Flags writers)

Swansea have taken some big blows this summer already. The loss of Ashley Williams cannot be overstated, and Andre Ayew was a big part of their early boost in form. Counteracting this, however, is the purchase of Fernando Llorente, who is the out-and-out striker that they need to give them some bite, as well as the purchase of Leroy Fer. While these transfers may not necessarily catch the eye, there is enough there that they should be able to finish comfortably midtable, though a bit lower than last season’s 12th place finish.

Player to Watch:

Fernando Llorente

Llorente is probably the most important purchase of the summer. It is strange that he is only moving the Premier League now, considering he seems to be built for it. His physical attributes did seem tailor made for this league, and should prevent a long bedding in period. Swansea will hope this is the case, as they will need him to add some attacking threat now that Andre Ayew has moved to West Ham.

Tottenham Hotspur

Transfers:

Notable Ins:

Victor Wanyama, Midfielder, from Southampton for £11m

Vincent Janssen, Forward, from AZ for £17m

Notable Outs:

Alex Pritchard, Midfielder, to Norwich City for £8m

Probable Starting XI:

Predicted Finish:

2nd (Placed as high as 1st and as low as 4th among 32 Flags writers)

Tottenham are a strong team with a good manager. It is telling that every writer had them finishing in the Top 4. They even had a vote to win the whole thing. They have even picked up a striker that can back up Harry Kane should he get hurt. While they haven’t strengthened too much in the transfer market, it is difficult to see where this team is particularly weak. They are young, so should continue to grow as a team. The only real questions that remain about this Spurs team is about their mentality (all one needs to do is look at their collapse last season to see what I mean) and their potential lack of magic, as the team will out-work an opponent and be tough to beat instead of creating utter moments of magic at times. That said, I can’t see them finishing below 3rd.

Player to Watch:

Harry Kane

Without a doubt, Harry Kane is the most important player to Tottenham. Alderweireld and Vertonghen may run that class defense and Eriksen may be their creator, but without Harry Kane, they don’t have goals. In the last two seasons, he has scored a staggering 36% of the teams goals. For comparison, in Luis Surez’s incredible 2013/14 season with Liverpool, he only accounted for 30% of Liverpool’s goals, Sergio Aguero only accounted for 31% in his top scoring season, and Jamie Vardy had 35% of Leicester’s goals last season. No striker is more important to his team’s attack than Harry Kane.

 

Watford

Transfers:

Notable Ins:

Jerome Sinclair, Forward, from Liverpool for an Undisclosed Free

Brice Dja Djedje, Defender, from Marseille for £4m

Notable Outs:

Daniel Pudil, Defender, to Sheffield Wednesday for an Undisclosed Fee

Probable Starting XI:

Predicted Finish:

17th (Placed as high as 13th and as low as 18th among 32 Flags writers)

Not many people know what to make of Watford this season. They got rid of their manager Quique Sanchez Flores, who had done much to impress most of the Premier League, and replaced him with Walter Mazzarri, who hasn’t coached since 2014. It’s difficult to predict great things for this club, seeing as they haven’t really strengthened much either. The biggest deals they have made was to keep hold of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo. If they don’t make a few signings soon, though, it’s tough to find them anywhere other than in a relegation battle.

Player to Watch:

Troy Deeney

To show you how important Deeney is to Watford, all I have to say is that they turned down a £30m bid from Leicester for him. Let me say that again. Watford turned down a £30m bid from Leicester for 28-year old Troy Deeney. That kind of money should be buying you Mauro Icardi. Instead, they chose to hold on to their top scorer, and for good reason. He knows the team, and they’ll need that.

West Bromwich Albion

Transfers:

Notable Ins:

Matt Phillips, Forward, from Queens Park Rangers for £5.5m

Notable Outs:

Victor Anichebe, Forward, Released

Stephane Sessegnon, Forward, Released

Probable Starting XI:

Predicted Finish:

12th (Placed as high as 10th and as low as 15th among 32 Flags writers)

Let’s be honest. This is a Tony Pulis side. They’ll do what Pulisian sides always do, which is be difficult to beat, frustrate their opponents, and finish roughly midtable. It’s what Pulis was born to do. To add to that, they haven’t really lost anyone too important to their cause, so it’s impossible to see them really getting too much worse. They may even improve depending on the circumstances of those above them. With rumors circulating that they may also be in for Liverpool’s Christian Benteke, they could be a stone wall mixed with a battering ram, stylistically, this season.

Player to Watch:

Salomon Rondon

As of right now, he is the best striker at West Brom, making him incredibly important to their set up. Without an effective attacking outlet, West Brom would finish on a maximum of 38 points. Rondon gives them the opportunity to break on opponents and secure much-needed wins.

 

West Ham United

Transfers:

Notable Ins:

Andre Ayew, Forward, from Swansea City for £20.5m

Notable Outs:

James Tomkins, Defender, to Crystal Palace for £10m

Probable Starting XI:

Predicted Finish:

7th (Placed as high as 4th and as low as 9th among 32 Flags writers)

This may seem a bit harsh on West Ham, but it truly goes to show how tough the Top Four will be this season. With Chelsea reentering the race, it’s tough to see them too much higher than where they finished last season. Had they been able to sign Lacazette, they would have been had to have been ranked higher, but with the lack of real striking threat from the front, they will improve just enough to maintain the pace. Andre Ayew will add a good bit of skill and threat to West Ham, but they are still slightly lacking. It’s incredibly close though for a team that has a great manager, a good squad, and the finances to genuinely compete with the rest of the big boys.

Player to Watch:

Dimitri Payet

Payet exploded on the scene last season. He was simply incredible. He still has a good two years before he is on the wrong side of 30, and will want to get as much done as he can this season. His free kicks alone are worth the price of entry.