Aston Villa have been a sleeping giant for years, but with the long drawn out takeover finally getting sorted, and the charismatic manager, (Saint) Martin O'Neill duly installed, Villa will improve. But they need to. They were almost relegated last year, and they have so far added no new players to the squad. But there is a sense of optimism around Villa Park, and the supporters will undoubtedly flock back, to begin with at least. Don't forget Villa are former European champions, but then again so are Nottingham Forest (twice) and they are now languishing in the third division. Villa alone flies the flag for the English midlands and they will need to improve to stay up, and under Martin, they will.

Everton are Liverpool's second club, though their supporters still consider they are the best. They have bought well in the close season landing Andy Johnson from Crystal Palace, (albeit for a lot of money at £8.5 million) but alongside Beattie, they look to have the firepower to trouble the best defences. Everton are very much an up and down side. I expect them to be up this year.

West Ham are currently London's fourth club, and they will be looking to improve on that. They reached the cup final last year and were unlucky to lose and in Dean Ashton, they have a striker who knows where the goals are. I thought he should have gone to the World Cup, and I am pleased to see him included in the current England squad. I suspect the manager Alan Pardew has bought well, and West Ham will be a handful for anyone, especially at their tight home stadium of Upton Park.

Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, both from Lancashire, and both I suspect will do well to repeat last year's successes. Blackburn have lost Bellamy to Liverpool, a big blow, and the players they have bought in are not in the same class. Bolton have been quiet in the transfer market and one detects a little frustration from their larger than life manager, Sam Allardyce. He missed the England job to Steve McClaren by a whisker, and it shows.

McClaren's replacement at Middlesbrough is the ex England centre half and Boro player, Gareth Southgate. They will need to hit the ground running. He has lost Jimmy Floyd to Charlton, though he has acquired the cultured left footed Arca from relegated Sunderland. I expect the umpteen English kids to step up this year and Middlesbrough should do OK.