Every new Premier League season brings its share of questions, but some teams are particularly difficult to assess before a ball has even been kicked.
Managerial changes, major transfers, European football and the demands of promotion can all dramatically alter a team’s fortunes. While some clubs appear to have a clear direction, others could realistically finish several places higher or lower than expected.
With insight from the football betting experts at LadBet, here are five teams that are almost impossible to predict ahead of the new Premier League season.
1. Newcastle United
Newcastle United had to top this list.
The Magpies enjoyed an incredibly successful tenure under Eddie Howe, making his departure one of the biggest managerial changes of the summer. Even more significantly, captain and midfield star Bruno Guimaraes has left for Arsenal, following Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali out of the club.
That represents a huge amount of experience and quality leaving St James’ Park.
Replacing Howe is young German manager Matthias Jaissle, who arrives with plenty of potential but has a very different profile to his predecessor. Newcastle’s transfer policy so far this summer has also focused on bringing in young, relatively unproven players from abroad.
That could prove to be an inspired strategy, but it also makes the Magpies particularly difficult to predict.
Newcastle still possess a talented squad and the resources to compete near the top of the table. However, there are major questions about how quickly Jaissle can implement his ideas, how the new signings adapt to English football and whether the club can replace the influence of players such as Guimaraes.
They could challenge for the European places again, but they could also find themselves outside the positions many fans have become accustomed to seeing them occupy.
2. Tottenham Hotspur
On paper, Tottenham’s recent Premier League record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Back-to-back 17th-place finishes would normally suggest a club heading in the wrong direction. Yet there is plenty of reason for optimism in North London heading into the new campaign.
Spurs have spent heavily during the summer, adding Premier League experience for big money with the arrivals of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.
That experience could prove particularly valuable for a team that has struggled for consistency in recent seasons.
There is also the enigmatic manager Robert De Zerbi who kept Spurs up after arriving near the end of last season. The Italian already knows the Premier League, having impressed during his time at Brighton, where he established a reputation for attractive, possession-based football.
The big question is whether De Zerbi can translate that success to a club with considerably greater expectations.
Tottenham have the resources and talent to climb the table, but their recent form makes it difficult to know exactly where they stand. A return to European contention would hardly be a surprise, but another disappointing campaign cannot be completely ruled out.
Spurs could be one of the season’s biggest improvers, or once again find themselves battling in the bottom half.
3. Chelsea
Chelsea are perhaps the ultimate wildcard heading into the new campaign.
The appointment of Xabi Alonso gives the club a manager with an impressive reputation and a track record of success. However, he inherits a squad that is undeniably talented while also being incredibly bloated.
Managing that group of players could be one of his biggest challenges.
Chelsea have spent huge sums in recent years and have accumulated an enormous amount of talent. The problem is that talent does not automatically translate into a successful team, particularly when there are numerous players competing for positions and some big personalities within the dressing room.
That will make Alonso’s man-management skills just as important as his tactical ability.
The Blues will also be desperate to respond after a disappointing campaign last season. There is enough quality in the squad to compete for Champions League football, but they need to develop consistency and find a clear identity.
If Alonso gets the best out of his players, Chelsea could quickly re-establish themselves among the Premier League’s leading clubs.
If the squad remains unbalanced and the manager struggles to keep everyone happy, another frustrating season could follow.
4. Sunderland
Sunderland were one of the stories of last season after producing an impressive seventh-place finish following their promotion to the Premier League.
Now comes the difficult part.
Second-season syndrome is a genuine concern for newly promoted clubs. After the initial excitement of returning to the top flight wears off, opponents become more familiar with their strengths and weaknesses, while expectations inevitably increase.
Sunderland also have another complication this time around: European football.
Playing in Europe can be a fantastic experience for supporters and players, but it adds considerably to the demands placed on a squad. More matches mean more travelling, less recovery time and greater pressure on squad depth.
The Black Cats therefore face a fascinating challenge.
Can they build on last season’s seventh-place finish and establish themselves as a genuine Premier League force? Or will the additional demands expose the limitations of a squad that exceeded expectations last year?
Another top-half finish would be an outstanding achievement, but a much more difficult season would not be a huge surprise either.
5. Coventry City
Coventry City complete the list after finally returning to the Premier League following a long absence from the top flight.
Their promotion represents a remarkable achievement, particularly after Frank Lampard guided them to the Championship title last season.
Now Lampard faces a completely different challenge.
The Premier League is an enormous step up in quality, and Coventry will have to adapt quickly to facing some of the biggest clubs in European football. At the same time, they will be determined not to abandon the approach that brought them success in the Championship.
The club’s ability to strengthen without losing its identity could be crucial.
Lampard’s experience as both a player and manager at the highest level should help, but there is no guarantee that Championship-winning form will translate directly into Premier League success.
Coventry could surprise a few teams and establish themselves in the division, particularly if they carry their momentum into the opening weeks of the season. Equally, they could discover just how unforgiving life in the Premier League can be.
For a club returning to the big time after so long away, almost anything is possible.
A Season Full of Unknowns
These five clubs all have very different reasons for being difficult to predict.
Newcastle are attempting to move forward without Eddie Howe and several key players. Tottenham are looking to recover from two miserable finishes under a manager with Premier League experience. Chelsea are hoping Xabi Alonso can bring order to an overloaded squad, while Sunderland must balance Premier League football with the demands of Europe.
Then there is Coventry, who are entering the division with the confidence of being Championship champions but without any recent Premier League experience.
That uncertainty is part of what makes the Premier League so compelling. On paper, it is possible to predict where these teams should finish. Once the season begins, however, injuries, transfers, tactical changes and the pressure of expectation can quickly change everything.
For these five clubs in particular, predicting what happens next could be almost im
