Premier League Preview part 1

Team previews will go in order of predicted finish for the 2009-2010 Premier League season.
Part 1: Teams 20-11
Part 2: Teams 10-1

20. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Finish last year: 1st in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key Additions: GK Marcus Hahnemann and M Kevin Doyle (both from Reading)
Key Losses: NONE

Wolves have a slim chance of surviving the drop this year, but if they do stay up striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will be the key after scoring 25 goals last year in the Championship.

19. Burnley
Finish last year: Playoff winners in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key Additions: D David Edgar (Newcastle), D Richard Eckersley (Manchester United), M Fernando Guerrero( Loan, Independiente del Valle)
Key Losses: NONE

Although they impressed with big cup runs last year, Owen Coyle's team still has a hard task in front of them. After the opener with Stoke, the Clarets have to face Man Utd, Everton, Chelsea, and Liverpool in 4 consecutive games. The beginning stretch of the season will give Burnley fans a sense of how the Premier League really is. Unfortuneately, they also a have a great chance of being relegated.

18. Portsmouth
Finish last year: 14th
Key additions: GK Antti Niemi, D Steve Finnan (Free Agents), F Frederic Piquionne (Loan, Lyon), M Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn)
Key Losses: D Glen Johnson (Liverpool), F Peter Crouch (Tottenham)

Manager Paul Hart may be the first manager fired this year, altough new ownership has come in, the squad is small and could be fatigued near the end of the year. Also, the attacking options this year have downgraded since last year. With Jermaine Defoe leaving the winter and Peter Crouch leaving in summer, both to Tottenham, Pompey's attack is weakened and could have even more trouble scoring goals this season.

17. Stoke City
Finish last year: 12th
Key additions: M Dean Whitehead (Sunderland)
Key losses: Seyi Olofinjina(Hull City)

The Potters have a slim chance to survive and make it three years in the Premier League, but they will, like Portsmouth, have to score more goals. The threat of Rory Delap's long throw in remains, but teams will now know how to defend it and Stoke will score less goals off it than last year.

16. Birmingham City
Finish last year: 2nd in Championship, Promoted to Premier League
Key additions: GK Joe Hart (loan, Man City), M Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Key losses: NONE

Birmingham come in to the 09-10 season with the best chance of the promoted teams to stay for another season. Most of the players that were relegated in the 07-08 season are still with the team and the experience of being in England's top flight will prove valuable.

15. Hull City
Finish last year: 17th
Key additions: M Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke), F Jozy Altidore (loan, Villarreal)
Key losses: NONE

Hull need to repeat their amazing first-half form from last year and then continue to build on it instead of barely surviving the drop. The addition of Altidore will bring a boost to Phil Brown's attacking options. Hull also need to keep D Michael Taylor,who is the subject of rumors to Liverpool, who has been a rock in the back four for the past few years.

14. Bolton Wanderers
Finish last year: 13th
Key additions: D Zat Knight (Aston Villa) D Paul Robinson (loan, West Brom)
Key losses: NONE

Bolton's defense should be a concern for its fans this season with the addition of Knight and Robinson to the back four. Gary Megson's squad will battle to get to the middle of the table, but they will end up close to bottom because the level of play at the top has risen even more this season.

13. Blackburn Rovers
Finish last year: 15th
Key additions: F Franco di Santo (loan, Chelsea)
Key losses: D Andre Ooijer(PSV), M Aaron Mokoena(Portsmouth), F Roque Santa Cruz(Man City)

Sam Allardyce's squad loses its best player in Santa Cruz but gains the removal of a distraction in Santa Cruz. With di Santo coming over on loan from Chelsea, Blackburn add to their attack led by Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts. Rovers should stay near the bottom but with Big Sam at the help who knows what magic he will make with his team.

12. Wigan Athletic
Finish last year: 11th
Key additions: M Scott Sinclair (loan, Chelsea)
Key losses: M Antonio Valencia (Man Utd.), F Amr Zaki (returned to El Zamalek)

New manager Roberto Martinez needs to pick up where Steve Bruce left off, with a team that could challenge for a Europa League spot if they hit good form. The challenge will be harder for Martinez because the Latics lose their top goal scorer, Amr Zaki, who was returned to his club, El Zamalek after a year on loan at the club. The goal scoring will need to be picked up by Jason Koumas, Hugo Rodallega, and Marlon King for Wigan to contend for the top 7.

11. Sunderland
Finish last year: 16th
Key additions: F Darren Bent (Tottenham), F Frazier Campbell (Man Utd.)
Key losses: NONE

After barely surviving the drop last season, Sunderland hired Steve Bruce to be the club's manager from Wigan. Bruce added Bent and Campbell to the attack led by Kenwyne Jones. The Black Cats should be nowhere near the drop zone this season due to the leadership of Bruce.

Tommorrow, the top half of the table will be previewed.