After sneaking into second place on the last day of last season, Arsenal will look to make a more sustained title challenge this season and avoid the slumps that cost them points last campaign. With Olivier Giroud up front, it's a known thing that there will be offensive lulls -- the hope is that Arsenal can improve their already-good defense (tied for joint second-fewest goals allowed in 2015/16) and avoid the occasional mental collapses that cost them points last season. If they can do that, and if Granit Xhaka delivers as promised, this could be a really fun season.

Key addition: Granit Xhaka

Arsenal fans have been screaming for Arsene Wenger to buy a defensive midfielder for a few years now, and all Arsene did was to go out and get one of the better ones available. His presence will free up Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez, and Aaron Ramsey to do what they do best -- create lethally quick scoring opportunities for themselves and for Giroud.

All additions: Granit Xhaka, Rob Holding, Takuma Asano

Key departure: Mikel Arteta

Arteta spent the last few years anchoring Arsenal's midfield, but now he's retired and taken up a coaching role at Manchester City. Throughout his Arsenal career, Arteta was one of those guys who never got enough credit -- he was a tidy passer, a quiet force, and Arsenal were a different team when he wasn't in the lineup.

All departures: Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini, Welington Silva, Wojciech Szczesny

State of the club

Arsenal fans are seemingly never in a good mood about the state of their club, and this summer is no different. They desperately want Wenger to buy both a player to complement Giroud up front and another defender. If none of that happens, that'll just be another arrow in the quiver for those who think Wenger should move on. Even the addition of Xhaka may not be enough to quiet Wenger's doubters should Arsenal start slowly this season.

Why should a new fan support Arsenal?

We have a cannon for a logo. And we have Özil, Sanchez, and the rest of what could be the most exciting midfield in England right now.

Which WWE wrestler is Arsenal like?

Arsenal would probably be pro wrestler Becky Lynch -- a fan favorite with all of the tools to be great (the charisma, the look, the physical strength), but too often finds ways to get sucker punched and go down for the count in the big matches. She's always just hovering around the top without quite breaking through to be the champ.

Bournemouth wasn't relegated, that’s the most important thing. No one expected the Cherries to last long in the Premier League: they were boisterous and rambunctious like Blackpool before them, and the fate for small teams who believe they can play attacking soccer in their first season in the EPL is usually a trip back down to the Championship. But they've made it to year two, surviving a mini-collapse in the middle of the season to comfortably stay up.

They’re not out of the woods yet, though. Second seasons are just as trying as the first for small clubs in the Premier League. Though Bournemouth has gone out and made their ambition known with a few eye-opening signings, the truth that they are still one of the weakest teams in England’s top division is inescapable. They may attack well, but only Aston Villa conceded more goals than they did last season. If that trend continues this year, then they will surely be another cautionary tale of a team flying too close to the sun.

Key addition: Jordon Ibe

The young winger signed a long-term extension with Liverpool at the end of last season before the arrival of Saido Mane and the lure of first team football saw him leave for Bournemouth for a club-record £15 million. Ibe has loads of talent, and even if he often runs into dead-ends when dribbling, his ability on the ball -- especially at full-speed -- is a rare weapon that will fit well with the team’s rampant attacking play.

All additions: Jordon Ibe, Lewis Cook, Lys Mousset, Brad Smith, Emerson Hyndman, Nathan Aké

Key departure: Matt Ritchie

In an odd twist of events, Ritchie left Bournemouth to sign for second-division Newcastle United. The winger had played for the Cherries for three years, appearing in 37 games last year.

All departures: Matt Ritchie, Tommy Elphick, Lee Tomlin, Sylvain Distin

State of the club

Fearful. While the situation in defense is alarming, Bournemouth has gone out and spent money on attackers and midfielders, which is as Bournemouth as it gets. The team has always been attack-first, and as that was their biggest strength and savior last season, it could ultimately prove to be their Achilles heel this time around. After all, Ibe, Cook and Mousset can’t do anything about 67 goals conceded.

Why should a new fan support Bournemouth?

Do you like attacking soccer? Young players having fun? And do you ultimately enjoy watching idealism fall flat in the face of reality? Then Bournemouth is your club. There will be fun times, they will beat some big teams, Benik Afobe and Ibe will be fun to watch, but the whole campaign is doomed.

Which Game of Thrones character is most like Bournemouth?

Trystane Martell. Oh you beautiful little boy, too busy living in your fantasy world and watching your front that you forgot how important it was to be aware of the back.

Two years ago, Burnley came up to the Premier League after a season of admirable overperformance in the Championship. They approached the top tier in frugal fashion, stuck with their squad, and 33 points later they were relegated, to nobody's great surprise. Fast forward to the present day and it all looks very familiar. So far this summer, Burnley has picked up two players from just-relegated-to-League One Charlton plus an 18-year-old former Manchester United trainee. The contrast with fellow promoted side Middlesbrough, who have expanded their wage bill to accommodate the likes of Víctor Valdés and Álvaro Negredo, is a stark one.

There is, of course, a balance to be struck. They've lost club player of the year Joey Barton, who's decamped to Rangers, but otherwise most of the side that went unbeaten for the final 23 games of last season is still in place, including England's Tom Heaton in nets and top scorer Andre Gray up front. And Sean Dyche's teams know how to keep things tight; only Boro conceded fewer goals in the Championship. Will that be enough? Probably not. But Leicester is the defending champion, so all bets are off.

Key addition: Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson

Guðmundsson comes into the Premier League on the back of a special summer. Though he was relegated from the Championship last season, he played every game he could in Euro 2016 as Iceland charmed their way around France. Maybe we'll hear the thunderclap echoing around Turf Moor.

All additions: Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Nick Pope, Jimmy Dunne

Key departure: Michael Duff

Duff's decision to hang up his boots and slip into a tracksuit means that fans of Championship Manager 00/01 can no longer enjoy the real life work of the most even-tempered, consistent right back that a numerical abstraction ever gifted to the world. A sad day.

All departures: Michael Duff, Joey Barton, Matthew Taylor

State of the club

A principled refusal to pour money into the gaping maw of the transfer market may bring relegation, but it also brings stability. Current chairman Mike Garlick took over in June 2012 with associate John Banaszkiewicz (who stepped down in 2015) and targeted a return to the Premier League while being explicit that they wouldn't "bet the ranch." And with Dyche, who they appointed October of the same year, they've established Burnley as somewhere between the 22nd and 18th best team in the country. Which is pretty decent going, if not particularly exciting.

Why should a new fan support Burnley?

Another season of hard-working struggle might not appeal too much, but Burnley can cling to the fact that they have the best badge in the Premier League, a fever dream of a crest that features a neon yellow goose with an egg stuck on its foot, mocking a lion, near some bees. It's quite the thing.

Which Game of Thrones character is Burnley most like?

King Tommen. Generally inoffensive, almost certainly out of their depth and, from the moment of their ascension, looking very, very doomed.

After winning the Premier League title in 2014-15, Chelsea made history once again in 2015-16, though not the kind to reminisce about fondly for years to come.

The club's worst season for two decades, missing Europe for the first time since 1996-97, and the worst title-defense in Premier League history are just some of the accolades collected by the Blues. Jose Mourinho was set to create a dynasty; he was instead sacked in December, with the club just one point above the relegation zone. Guus Hiddink came back for a second stint to oversee the rest of the season as Chelsea finished 10th.

The job to return Chelsea to the top four has been entrusted to Antonio Conte, the former Juventus player and manager, a man of unbound passion and determination. His task is to translate that to the largely unchanged and unmotivated squad, to rebuild their belief and confidence, and improve upon career-worst seasons from the likes of Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matić, Thibaut Courtois, and just about the entire backline.

This will not be easy.

Key addition: N'Golo Kanté

Convincing Premier League champion Kanté, arguably the league's most important player last season, to give up the opportunity to play in the Champions League for the challenge of lifting Chelsea out of mid-table mediocrity should go down as a major coup for the Chelsea board.

All additions: N'Golo Kanté, Michy Batshuayi, Juan Cuadrado

Key departure: None

No one of any measurable impact has left. The club did not pick up the buy-options on either Pato's or Falcao's loan contracts. But Chelsea still have a very large first-team squad at the moment (30+), so more activity is expected in this regard (either sales or loans).

All departures: Radamel Falcao, Alexandre Pato, Marco Amelia, Stipe Perica, Papy Djilobodji, Baba Rahman

State of the club

Cautiously hopeful. Last season was easily the worst in recent memory, and with so much sustained success over the past couple decades, this was a brand new experience for most of the younger generations.

Why should a new fan support Chelsea?

We're still London's first and finest, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

What famous comedian is most like Chelsea?

This is no time for jokes. As head coach Antonio Conte would say, it's time to work work work, fight fight fight.

Crystal Palace did a reverse-Swansea last season. Before the turn of the year, Alan Pardew’s men were in fifth place, and things looked bright and promising. They had beaten both Chelsea and Liverpool as well, the sky was the limit. Then they forgot how to win a game. After their victory against Stoke City in late December, Palace didn’t win again until early April when they beat Norwich.

They lost Yannick Bolasie and James McArthur to injury, and slowly turned from hopes of European competition to hopes of survival. They finished 15th. One silver lining though, was that they also reached their second ever FA Cup Final against Manchester United. Their efforts mirrored the season as they would start well, scoring through Jason Puncheon before ultimately losing the contest.

Palace has brought in a few players to strengthen their squad, but after losing Emmanuel Adebayor, Marouane Chamakh and Dwight Gayle, they need a striker. Especially after only scoring just 39 goals last season. They really need a striker. Anyone.

Key addition: Andros Townsend

Granted, the EPL has more money now than ever, but Palace has gone and spent a club-record £13 million transfer fee on Townsend. To his credit, the winger did score four goals in 12 starts for Newcastle before they were relegated, and Pardew will be looking for him to improve on that form to help with Palace’s struggles in front of goal. He'll be especially needed if Yannick Bolasie departs as is rumored.

All additions: Andros Townsend, James Tomkins, Steve Mandanda

Key departure: Dwight Gayle

Gayle wasn't spectacular by any means; he only managed three goals last year. But his departure means that Palace now only have Connor Wickham, who scored five goals, and Frazier Campbell, who scored none, at striker.

All departures: Dwight Gayle, Chris Kettings, Alex McCarthy, Marouane Chamakh, Patrick McCarthy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Brede Hangeland, Adrian Mariappa

State of the club

In Pardew's own words: "I feel we are nowhere near where we want to be at this moment." Palace has been searching for the elusive striker and so far they've come up empty-handed. They tried to sign Michy Batshuayi, but he chose Chelsea. Christian Benteke is looking to leave Liverpool, but apparently not for Palace, and who knows what's still going on with Saido Berahino and West Brom.

If Palace can't find someone to score goals for them, this season will end in disaster. They managed to escape relegation by narrow margins last year, but injuries will happen again, there will be bad runs of form, and if they don't have the personnel to trudge through those, then Pardew may be joining his beloved Newcastle in the second division. If he makes it to the end of the season.

Why should a new fan support Palace?

Wilfried Zaha is really good at doing incredible things with the ball at his feet and making the lives of defenders miserable. There's usually no end-product but it is absolutely enjoyable to watch.

Which Game of Thrones character is most like Palace?

Jorah Mormont. There was a time when it looked as if there could be something to Palace, but the situation is looking more dire as time passes. Plus, he looks a bit like Pardew.

Optimism around Goodison Park was sent sky-high in February when billionaire businessman Farhad Moshiri took over Everton and pledged to invest both in the playing squad and the club's infrastructure. That optimism briefly dissipated as results nosedived under Roberto Martinez, but the Spaniard's sacking gave everybody the chance of a fresh start. Everton haven't been as active in the transfer market as we hoped over the summer, despite being linked with more players than ever before. But the arrival of manager Ronald Koeman and director of football Steve Walsh are shrewd additions and ideal building blocks for future success. The is a real feeling among the supporters that this could be the start of an exciting new era.

Key addition: Idrissa Gueye

Given he is the only senior outfield player to join the club to date this summer there isn't much choice! However, he will bring some much needed solidity to Everton's midfield and at £7.1 million is a relative bargain given today's inflated market.

All additions: Ashley Williams, Maarten Stekelenberg, Idrissa Gueye, Chris Renshaw, Bassala Sambou

Key departure: John Stones

While Everton got an incredible £47.5 million for Stones and he isn't coming off a great season, he was still one of the club's most talented young players. Everton will almost certainly put the money they got for Stones back into two quality defenders, but as of this moment, he leaves a big hole.

All departures: John Stones, Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar

State of the club

There hasn't been so much optimism among Everton supporters in a long time. After decades of under-investment and under-achievement the club finally appears to have some ambitious, competent leadership that could spark a change in fortunes. That excitement is tempered by mild frustration at the lack of signings so far this window. But there is no doubt the club is heading in the right direction and I'm hopeful a little patience now will be richly rewarded further down the line.

Why should a new fan support Everton?

Everton is about to go on a journey -- I urge you to come along for the ride.

Which Game of Thrones character is most like Everton?

Jon Snow -- we are back from the dead and ready to reclaim our title of King of the North.

Taking the positives from Hull's preparations for the coming season isn't easy, but at some point somebody's going to get an excellent, helpful book out of all this. Working title: How Not To Prepare For A Soccer Season. As their first game back in the Premier League looms, they've sold one of their most important players to Newcastle, have brought in just one youngster by way of reinforcement, and have lost their manager, Steve Bruce, who resigned in frustration at the state of the club and the lack of investment.

Approaches to Wales' manager Chris Coleman have so far been rebuffed. Former Manchester United cone-wrangler Mike Phelan is in charge for the moment, and a savagely-timed injury crisis -- Michael Dawson, Moses Odubajo, Allan McGregor and Alex Bruce will all miss the beginning of the campaign -- mean that Hull's squad, already slim, is dangerously emaciated. Their opening run of fixtures are brutal: they start against champions Leicester, then the following six games include Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea. By the time their injured players return and their new manager finds his feet, it may all be too late.

Key addition: Will Mannion

Mannion is the key addition by default -- Hull have, at the time of writing, bought nobody else -- and, at 18, is young for any player and practically fetal for a goalkeeper. So he probably won't be playing much in the way of senior soccer this season. Still, he is a highly rated prospect, and he chose Hull over, reportedly, Liverpool and Stoke City, in part thanks to a very positive meeting with … Steve Bruce. Oh dear.

All additions: Will Mannion

Key departure: Mohamed Diame

When a player is poached by an undeniably bigger club, all a club can do is hold up their hands and then try to spend the money as well as they can. When he's happy to drop down a division, however, then that's a concern. And for all that Rafa Benitez's Newcastle can pay Diame's release clause and offer decent wages and prospects, it's not a great look when the man who scored the goal to win promotion to the Premier League decides that, on balance, he'd rather be back in the Championship.

All departures: Mohamed Diame, Sone Aluko, Ryan Taylor

State of the club

Moderately on fire. Last time Hull City were in the Premier League, events on the field were rather overshadowed by the attempts of their owner, Assam Allam, to change the name of the club to The Super Hull Thunder Tigers. Fans protested, the FA said "nope," and Allam invited his critics to "die as soon as they want" and put the club up for sale. Nothing's improved. Season ticket sales are apparently at a record low, and the club have taken the wildly unpopular decision to stop offering concessionary prices to children and seniors. Empty seats and protests are expected.

Why should a new fan support Hull City?

There are few guarantees in this world, but deciding to support Hull City this season, in this state, is a cast-iron, titanium-plated, adamantium-boned, one million per cent proof, utterly impregnable, locked-in-a-box-and-buried-twenty-miles-beneath-the-bottom-of-the-ocean insurance policy against the prospect of ever being called a glory hunter.

Which doomed Star Wars planet is Hull City?

Alderaan.

Leicester City shocked the world last season when they raced to the top of the Premier League table and, defying all the odds, stayed there to win the title for the first time in club history. It was a thrilling season, but also one that's put a giant target on their backs.

Now the Foxes have to figure out how to stay at the top of the pyramid, knowing that now everyone is gunning for them. Leicester certainly have the quality to stay successful, but the pressure is on them in a way it never has been before. Last season they were the Cinderella story, the tale of rags to riches that inspires and amazes the masses. Now they're the defending champions and the expectation is there to enjoy similar success. That's not going to be easy, but this Leicester side is not one to back down from a challenge.

Key addition: Ahmed Musa

As seen against Barcelona in International Champions Cup preseason play, the Nigerian forward makes Jamie Vardy look heavy-footed in comparison. His excellent finishing and Champions League experience will be vital for the club going forward as they look to build off last season's successes.

All additions: Ahmed Musa, Nampalys Mendy, Bartosz Kapustka, Ron-Robert Zieler, Luis Hernandez

Key departure: N'Golo Kante

Kante was a huge part of what made Leicester's midfield tick last season. Wherever they needed him, there he was -- crashing the box, retaining possession, screening the back line, marking players out on set pieces, the works. Kante filled many roles, all ably. Losing that reliable presence is a massive blow for Leicester, and even if Mendy does well, he'll be hard-pressed to replace everything Kante did for the Foxes.

All departures: N'Golo Kante, Andrej Kramaric, Mark Schwarzer, Jacob Blythe, Ryan Watson

State of the club

The Leicester City fanbase is still jubilantly celebrating their title triumph last season, but they're also cautiously concerned about the upcoming season. Leicester's success created a huge task for them going forward: replicating success. That's never easy, especially coming from where they did before their title run, and whether or not they can live up to that expectation is something that no one is sure about just yet.

Why should a new fan support Leicester?

Well, it's bit late to jump on the bandwagon now ... but Leicester is a hard-working club in a blue-collar city in the heart of England. From the beloved owners (weird, right?) to the fans and on down to the team and staff, their is a unity that you will not find at ANY other team.

Which Game of Thrones character is most like Leicester?

The only reasonable choice is Ygritte, because last season Leicester City proved once and for all that We Know Nothing. Let's just hope the Foxes end up better than she did.

Last season, Liverpool gambled on giving Brendan Rodgers one final chance to get the club back on track. It didn't pay off. What followed was the arrival of managerial superstar Jürgen Klopp and a wild ride of a season that at times promised everything before somehow, in the end, not amounting to much of anything. It was by turns frustrating and enthralling and joyful and miserable. And now it's time to do it all over again.

Only following a full offseason for Klopp to stamp his mark on the side in the transfer market and on the training pitch, hopefully with a little more of the enthralling and joyful. New signings have arrived, bringing pace and the promise of more goals. The players have sweated through three-a-day training sessions. Expectations are high for Klopp's high-octane approach to fully take hold as England's sleeping giant and, without any European distractions, to just maybe push them on to their first title of the Premier League era.

No matter what happens next, at the very least it promises to be entertaining.

Key addition: Loris Karius

Sadio Mané represents the biggest outlay, and Joël Matip was a defensive star in the Bundesliga who should help shore things up at the back, but Karius in goal looked set to be the key addition this summer. The club's other key signings strengthened positions that already had depth; Karius strengthened a weak point. Or he was meant to, until he broke his hand, meaning he'll spend the first two months of the season sidelined.

All additions: Sadio Mané, Joel Matip, Loris Karius, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ragnar Klavan, Alex Manninger

Key (likely) departure: Christian Benteke

He isn't gone quite yet, but wherever the Belgian striker ends up — likely for around £30 million — and whenever the move does finally goes through, it's going to be the club's key departure a year after Rodgers made him his No. 1 target. Things at Anfield went just about as well for the player as they did for the now ex-Liverpool manager.

All departures: Jordon Ibe, Joe Allen, Brad Smith, Martin Skrtel, Jerome Sinclair, Sergi Canos, Lawrence Vigouroux, Joao Carlos Teixeira

State of the club

Some fans remain fixated on the lack of a so-called marquee signing this summer, but for most the mood is bullish heading into Klopp's first full season in charge and the hope is that as in 2013-14, a lack of European soccer will help lead to improved domestic results.

Why should a new fan support Liverpool?

Jürgen Klopp will hug you and scream at you and then possibly hug you again for good measure. He's not only one of the most highly regarded managers, he's one of the most entertaining. Plus he drives his teams to play up-tempo, high-pressure, attacking soccer and that should mean things are just as entertaining on the pitch as off for Liverpool this season. For those who enjoy clubs with a history of winning shiny things and cities with a history of not liking Margaret Thatcher, Liverpool's got you covered on that front, too.

If Liverpool was a television character, they'd be...

Bojack Horseman, because ever since the glory years there's been nothing but depressing results and (accusations of) substance abuse and always finding new and inventive ways for everything to end badly but this is totally gonna be their year. But probably not.

Last season Manchester City performed poorly in the Premier League, but the struggles of other top teams allowed the Blues to finish 4th (on goal difference). That ended Manchester City's four-year run of finishing in the top two in the Premier League. The season was characterized by struggles against top sides, with the Blues failing to defeat a single other top-five side and recording just a single win over any top eight team. Pep Guardiola takes over as manager with high expectations, but the team isn't dramatically changed from the underachieving side of last season.

Key addition: Leroy Sane

In Sane, Manchester City acquired a young pacey winger who can score goals. He has worked his way into the German National Team setup and was in the squad for Euro 2016, and is considered one of their brightest young attacking stars in the making.

All additions: IIkay Gundogan, Aaron Mooy, Nolito, Leroy Sane,  Alexander Zinchenko, John Stones

Key departure: Martin Demichelis

The depth Demichelis provided at center back and defensive midfield will be missed once the Champions League and domestic cups roll around. Demichelis certainly wasn't a star by any means, but he had an important place in the side and one that can't be replaced with just any player, as his veteran experience played a key role in his value to City.

All departures: Martin Demichelis, Richard Wright

State of the club

Optimism, perhaps misplaced considering the Blues are an aging squad that was run over all too easily by the better Premier League sides last season, even at home. But Pep Guardiola's record of success makes folks believe.

Why should a new fan support Manchester City?

We have great colors and fans who support irrespective of results!

Which Star Wars character is most like Manchester City?

Only one name springs to mind: Kylo Ren. The arrival of Pep Guardiola as their mentor-slash-evil-overlord gives them almost limitless potential, but they've long been prone to fits of form that could creatively be called "petulant," much like the console-killing fits Ren has when things don't go his way.

Unfortunately for Manchester United, the remarkable tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson led to dangerous delusions of exceptionalism. After his retirement in 2013, the club bizarrely turned to Premier League mid-table specialist David Moyes; "we’re Manchester United," was the only plausible explanation for a decision that, in retrospect, smacks of sublime arrogance. Less than a year later Moyes was gone, the club attempting to right the wrong by turning to the wily old Dutchman Louis van Gaal. His authoritarian approach was well-suited to the demands of managing one of the world’s biggest clubs, but his football was slow and stifling, and chants of "attack!" reverberated around Old Trafford for the two years of his tenure.

An FA Cup win in May wasn’t enough to save van Gaal from the disappointment of missing out on a Champions League spot, and he was sacked just hours after lifting the trophy. It was only then that United’s hierarchy then made the decision they should have made three years ago, appointing Ferguson’s old friend and rival José Mourinho. The Portuguese coach may head into his debut season at Old Trafford on the back of a disappointing season at Chelsea, but he remains an undeniably elite manager. He’s got the charisma and nous to lead United back to the top of the table, and if history is anything to go by, the improvement should be swift.

Key addition: Paul Pogba

After four outstanding seasons at Juventus, the French international has been signed for a world record transfer fee by the club that let him walk away for next-to-nothing back in 2013. The 23-year-old could well claim to be one of the very best midfielders on the planet at present, and he should add both defensive steel and attacking drive to an area that has recently been United's Achilles' heel.

All additions: Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Paul Pogba

Key departure: None

At the time of writing, all departures are reserve players.

All departures: Victor Valdés, Nick Powell, Guillermo Varela

State of the club

There’s no doubt that the supporters are truly optimistic for the first time in a while. United has hired an outstanding new manager and shown a willingness to spend big in the transfer market. There’s every reason to think that a title challenge could be on the cards for the first time since Ferguson’s departure. There are still some small concerns, such as Mourinho’s poor track record with nurturing young talent, but these long-term worries have rather taken a back seat among a fanbase starving for a swift return to domestic success.

Why should a new fan support Manchester United?

We could well waffle on about the culture of the club, of its unique commitment to nurturing youth, attacking soccer and triumph over adversity. But we recognize that like almost everything and anything of value in the modern age, questions of the club's collective identity have come under the control of a corporate elite; so much so that it can be quite hard to separate real, tangible history from the desire to flog a few more manufactures in emerging markets. And so instead, we'll just say that we've got José Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimović (to say nothing of Paul Pogba): if that won't entertain, nothing will.

Which Pokemon is most like Manchester United?

Pikachu. Both are universally recognized and a little scarier than they look.

This season marks Middlesbrough’s return to the Premier League after an absence of seven years. In an eventful intervening period they’ve been through four different managers, narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier and suffered promotion playoff heartbreak, but that all changed as incumbent boss Aitor Karanka led the side to automatic promotion from the Championship.

Questions were asked and eyebrows raised upon Karanka’s arrival over two years ago -- some reasonable, some less so. Not only was he the first non-British manager in Boro’s history, but he’d never before taken charge of a senior team in his own right, having spent the previous few seasons as assistant to a certain José Mourinho at Real Madrid. However, Karanka soon proved the doubters wrong, building a team from back to front and winning promotion on the back of a thoroughly impressive defensive record.

Middlesbrough chiefs have latterly restructured the club’s backroom arrangements -- including the hiring of former Zenit St. Petersburg sporting director Victor Orta -- and they appear to be reaping the rewards. They’ve bought well over the summer, and there’s optimism that their impressive organisation both on and off the field will enable them to survive in the top flight.

Key addition: Marten de Roon

Though one-time wonderkid Viktor Fischer and former Manchester City striker Álvaro Negredo were more headline-friendly signings, it’s arguably the addition of midfielder Marten de Roon from Atalanta that has been Boro’s most impressive business. The Dutchman arrived for a fee reportedly in the region of £12 million after a season as one of Serie A’s most impressive defensive midfielders, and he’ll add some much-needed bite to Karanka’s outfit. Still only 25, he could well go on to become a Riverside favourite

All additions: Brad Guzan, Jordan McGhee, Álvaro Negredo, Gastón Ramírez, Victor Valdés, Bernardo Espinosa, Antonio Barragán, Viktor Fischer, Marten de Roon

Key departure: None.

Boro have so far managed to hang onto all of the players that played a part in their promotion campaign, with only fringe members of the squad having been allowed to depart.

All departures: Jonathan Woodgate, Rhys Williams, Connor Ripley

State of the club

Things are looking very healthy. Chairman Steve Gibson gambled on Karanka’s ability to lead Boro back to the Premier League, and backed him with a string of big signings in the Championship. With promotion leaving the club in line for a slice of the gigantic top-flight-TV-money pie, any fleeting financial concerns have now evaporated. Boro’s recruitment team has signed shrewdly over the summer; all that remains is for the players to do the business on the pitch.

Why should a new fan support Middlesbrough?

The North East is widely held to be the real bastion of football in England, and the town of Middlesbrough epitomizes the North Sea spirit: home matchdays are perhaps the one galvanizing force for a town enduring considerable economic strife. They’re a true community club, still owned by local lad Steve Gibson, the man who saved the team from administration in 1986. And if that's not enough, they’re a team with a history of exciting and exotic soccer: Juninho and Gaizka Mendieta are two of the most notable players with whom the club fell in love, and vice versa. Having made a few intriguing signings again this summer, they should be more than worth watching.

Which Pokemon is most like Middlesbrough?

Charmander. They look much scarier from the back than the front, though don’t underestimate the threat they can pose.

The 2015-16 season saw Southampton improve on their final league position for the sixth year in a row, something their fans could certainly get used to. Their slow climb up the table ever since they earned promotion to the Premier League has been a joy to watch develop, with Southampton becoming one of the most reliable and quickly-improving teams in the league.

Southampton fans have, however, also gotten used to something far less enjoyable -- losing players and coaches during the summer transfer window. Like with Mauricio Pochettino before him, manager Ronald Koeman left the Saints for a so-called "bigger club" – despite Southampton finishing well above Everton in the final Premier League standings. Money talks, and that’s why Saints lost a further three key players this summer in Sadio Mane, Victor Wanyama and Graziano Pelle -- losses that have become almost numbingly common for Southampton fans to deal with.

However, the appointment of new manager Claude Puel appears to be encouraging, while the signings of Bayern Munich’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Norwich City’s Nathan Redmond are exciting. There's increasingly little room to improve compared to the bigger EPL clubs ahead of them in the table, but Southampton are again poised to try to do just that.

Key addition: Nathan Redmond

Southampton lost Mane, who was one of their few direct threats with load of pace. Redmond is the perfect replacement for such a loss and has looked great in preseason friendlies so far. Redmond has a long ways to go before he can make the same kind of impact Mane did for Southampton, but he has the raw skills and the potential to be excellent -- now it's just a matter of Southampton making sure he gets there.

All additions: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Nathan Redmond, Jeremy Pied, Alex McCarthy

Key departure: Victor Wanyama

It would be easy to say Mane, but Wanyama is the bigger loss. He has long been immense in the midfield, though his attitude problems and lack of discipline left Saints fans wanting more. Wanyama is a talented player who always seemed like he wanted to leave for a bigger club -- and despite those talents, the only real shame here is that Southampton couldn't get a bigger transfer fee for him than they did.

All departures: Sadio Mane, Victor Wanyama, Graziano Pelle, Juanmi, Gaston Ramirez, Kelvin Davis, Paulo Gazzaniga

State of the club

Southampton fans remain fairly optimistic. By now, they're used to summer upheaval and attitudes to Saints are totally adaptable to whatever happens after three consecutive summers of change. There are a few fans out there who are frustrated at the lack of spending from the Saints' board so far, considering the new influx of TV and outgoing transfer money coming back into the Saints coffers. But, the mood remains largely positive with Puel now in charge.

Why should a new fan support Southampton?

Southampton is the classy underdog. Every summer sees the bigger fish in the Premier League pond poach their products from one of the world's best youth football academies and one of the world's best scouting networks. Despite that, Saints still manage to defy expectations and improve on their previous season. They play attractive football and like to give young players a chance -- what's not to love?

Which WWE wrestler is most like Southampton?

If Southampton was a wrestler, it would be Daniel Bryan. Technically proficient and one for all the neutrals to root for as the classy underdog.

As we head into the fourth year of Mark Hughes' rule of the Stadium Formerly Known As Britannia, it seems fair to conclude that things are satisfactory. Three consecutive ninth-placed finishes tells a pleasing story of stability and security, while the football has evolved in both sophistication and aesthetic appeal. There used to be a shameful, sadistic pleasure in watching Tony Pulis' gang of barbarians upsetting their betters; now, when Bojan, Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri click, Stoke City can be genuinely thrilling to watch.

The question for this season, then, is whether Stoke can turn achievement into over-achievement. Nobody's expecting them to "do a Leicester," as it will forever be known, but Southampton, West Ham and Everton have all taken squads of similar quality into Europe since Hughes took over. Greater consistency will be the key, particularly at home, where last season they trounced both Manchester clubs but lost to Watford, West Brom and Crystal Palace. They could also do with a reliable, first-choice striker; last season's top scorer was Arnautovic, with 11.

Key addition: Joe Allen

Buying a player after an impressive international tournament is often a dodgy idea, but Mark Hughes, like all self-respecting Welshmen, didn't want the summer to end. And so in from Liverpool comes Euro 2016 superstar Allen, still only 26 and priced at a mere £13 million, which in these hysterical times looks like something of a bargain. He's presumably been bought to dovetail with Gianelli Imbula, the record signing who arrived last January, and the bearded Welshman's tidy passing should improve Stoke's midfield.

All additions: Joe Allen, Ramadan Sobhi

Key departure: Steve Sidwell

Sidwell has taken his furrowed brow down to the Championship and Brighton and Hove Albion, and fans of hardworking, scampering midfielders will be sad to see him leave. But to be fair, he was getting on a bit, so in the grand scheme of things it was probably best for both player and club for him to move on and Stoke to find a new player -- like Allen! -- to take his place.

All departures: Steve Sidwell, Peter Odemwingie

State of the club

Pottering on nicely, if you'll excuse the pun. In an business as chaotic as football, keeping hold of the same manager for a fourth year amounts to something admirable, and as noted above, Stoke have been stable in terms of results while improving in style. The squad is a little unbalanced, however, with a few aging professionals that need to be moved on. And should they continue to bounce along in mid-table, it remains to be see how long all parties -- particularly the ambitious Hughes -- remain happy with that state of affairs.

Why should a new fan support Stoke?

Over the last few seasons, Stoke have become a kind of rehabilitation club for continental talents that have found their career swerving vaguely off track. Bojan, Shaqiri, Arnautovic, Ibrahim Afellay … it seems likely that none of them expected to find a stage in Staffordshire, but all have done pretty well. So if you've an interest in redemption, this is the club for you.

Which Pokemon is most like Stoke?

Haunter. Because they've evolved from G(h)astly.

Sunderland only barely survived the relegation race last season, and now thanks to Sam Allardyce bolting for the English national team, they're without the man who saved them. David Moyes is a manager with a long history of keeping questionable sides up in the Premier League, but his last two managerial jobs (Manchester United and La Liga's Real Sociedad) were just this side of disastrous.

Their offseason activity has been limited otherwise, only just making their first signing in the first week of August. With how things are shaping up, it's going to be a tougher battle than ever to avoid relegation, but Sunderland aren't exactly strangers to having to scrape and claw these days.

Key addition: Papy Djilobodji

Also their only addition of the summer so far, Djilobodji is nonetheless going to play an important role for Sunderland. He had a solid second half of last season with Werder Bremen to rebound from playing all of one minute with Chelsea before that, but now he's with a club where he can and should play a big role. His athleticism brings them something in central defense that Sunderland lacked before, and that will be an important factor for them this season.

All additions: Papy Djilobodji

Key departure: DeAndre Yedlin

The right back was only at Sunderland on loan last season and got off to a slow start at the Stadium of Light, but once Sam Allardyce arrived and saw Yedlin's value, he really started to blossom. Losing his pace and drive and attacking contribution on the right flank is going to be a bitter blow for Sunderland, because they don't have another player who can replace it. (It should be noted there's still a chance he returns, though.)

All departures: Emanuele Giaccherini, Santiago Vergini, DeAndre Yedlin, Yann M'Vila, Ola Toivonen, Steven Fletcher, Danny Graham, Valentin Roberge

State of the club

Things are, in a word, shaky. The club is in a transitional period they didn't want to be in thanks to Allardyce's sudden departure, with Moyes scrambling to rebuild the team in his image with very limited time to work. Fans are nervous and anxious, hoping that this isn't the season that Sunderland finally fails to make a great escape and wind up dropping into the Championship.

Why should a new fan support Sunderland?

Sunderland may not be all that good, but what they do have going for them is a compelling story. The Black Cats' now-annual battles against relegation make for constant drama and make every single match meaningful: every win could be THE win that saves Sunderland, and every loss makes the following match all the more tense for the meaningfulness that any losing streak has. It's not easy by any means, but the joy of their successes make it worth the effort.

Which Pokemon is most like Sunderland?

That's easy: they're Magikarp. There's a lot of frustrating flailing and not always being enjoyable. With a huge and dedicated fanbase, there's a monster in there somewhere, but it'll take a lot of work to bring it out.

The Swans finished midtable, as they are wont to do, but last year saw them flirt with the prospect of relegation in the first half. The excitement of returning to the Championship seemed isolated to just Garry Monk though, who was fired before the dream could be realized. In came Francesco Guidolin as his replacement, a manager so out of left field that now-former captain Ashley Williams had no qualms in admitting that he had to search his name on Google to find out more about the man.

Unknown or not, he helped to right the ship before it sank. And eventually Swansea City went from battling relegation to a comfortable 12th place finish, ten points above the drop zone. This year, they have already lost their best striker in Andre Ayew, which is a big problem considering that they had one of the worst attacks (a total of 42 goals) in the EPL last season. They’ve tried to remedy this by signing Fernando Llorente, who scored a whopping four goals last season in La Liga. They've also just lost Williams, to Everton.

Key addition: Fernando Llorente

It’s a high hope, but someone must have it, and the hope is that Llorente will be able to help solve the problem that is Swansea’s attack. 42 goals in a full season is just not enough, but with Llorente representing a pretty significant upgrade up front, they should be able to score a few more.

All additions: Fernando Llorente, Leroy Fer, Mike van der Hoorn

Key departure: Andre Ayew

Other departures like Gomis and Paloschi will hurt the Swans, but none of them were as influential as Ayew was last season. He was the one consistent threat in their attack and always had to be accounted for, but with him gone to West Ham there's now a gaping hole in Swansea's lineup.

All departures: Ashley Williams, Alberto Paloschi, Eder, Bafatimbi Gomis, Daniel Alfei, Andre Ayew

State of the club

Relief? Avoiding relegation was clearly massive, and Guidolin has proven in his half-year that he is at least competent in getting the best out of the players available to him. A full year of his ideas can prove fruitful. Then again, it's not clear if there's any plan for replacing Ayew and Williams adequately.

Why should a new fan support Swansea?

Because Jefferson Montero has a knack for twisting defenders inside out, and Gylfi Sigurdsson only scores goals that are pretty.

Which Game of Thrones storyline represents Swansea?

The Dorne storyline. Once a big part of the conversation when Oberyn was flaunting his beauty and way with words, it quickly became very boring and distracting. Now it’s struggling to become relevant again as many people are prepared to write it off completely.

Tottenham Hotspur had, by virtually every possible metric, an amazing season in 2015-16. The horrific irony of that first sentence is that they had their best-ever Premier League finish (third), were legitimate title contenders, and still somehow managed to end the season in the most hilariously Spursy way possible. Tottenham endured a draining and title-defining draw with Chelsea, went winless in their last four matches, and ended the year with a 5-1 loss to already-relegated Newcastle, meaning they were pipped to second place by hated arch-rivals Arsenal.

That stung, but there's a massive amount of optimism heading into this season. Under manager Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham have coalesced around a talented, young (and some would say slightly naughty) core of players including Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, English bromancers Dele Alli and Eric Dier, playmaker Christian Eriksen, rising star Erik Lamela, and the best back line in English soccer last season. Spurs don't need a flashy and expensive new signing. What they need is depth so that they can compete in both the Premier and the Champions League and prove last season wasn't a fluke.

With their direct rivals all spending huge amounts of cash to improve their squads, the challenge – and pressure – to succeed is greater than ever. But with all the good vibes coming out of north London this summer, who would doubt this year that Tottenham can pull it off? (Answer: probably everybody.)

Key addition: Vincent Janssen

Tottenham desperately needed someone to back up and rotate with Harry Kane, who played in 50 games last season in all competitions. They got that in Janssen. The Eredivisie's top scorer last year with AZ Alkmaar, he's a young, tireless worker who knows where the back of the net is. He won't play in every match, but he'll help ensure Kane's legs won't fall off halfway through March.

All additions: Vincent Janssen, Victor Wanyama

Key departure: None

One of the interesting things about this year's Tottenham team is that they've managed to keep the band together. At the time this was written, the only players expected to leave are ones who didn't really feature that much last season.

All departures: Alex Pritchard, Federico Fazio

State of the club

Spurs fans are proud of what the club has accomplished, happy with their squad ... and nervous as hell. Tottenham's title run was wonderful, but it was also contingent as much upon the unprecedented underachievement of Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea as it was on Spurs' performance. There's a very distinct possibility that Tottenham could improve their squad this summer and still finish fifth in the table. So the goal, as it is every year if you're a Tottenham fan, is fourth place and qualification for the Champions League. Anything more than that is gravy.

Supporters were also concerned to learn that head of recruitment Paul Mitchell and chief scout Rob Mackenzie both left the club right before the start of the season, though it's not clear exactly why they left yet or how the club plans to replace them.

Why should a new fan support Tottenham?

Spurs are young and dynamic, play exciting and progressive football with a bit of a nasty streak, and are doing it without spending metric tons of cash. Do you like teams that claim your heart and then cruelly smash it into tiny pieces on the regular? Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur.

Which Game of Thrones character is most like Tottenham?

Bronn of the Blackwater. They're a bit dirty, quickly rose far above their station, and ultimately were denied their just reward.

Watford spent much of last season outpacing expectations, though a late-season swoon ultimately cost them a top-half finish. Still, they proved that they're a solid team, and one worth taking seriously as they prepare for their second season in the Premier League.

Their biggest change from last season is in the arrival of Walter Mazzarri, who is coming off a disappointing spell at Inter, but was wildly successful at Napoli before that. The Italian manager has long sought a chance to prove his ability with an English club, and now that chance is here -- and now we get to see if his conservative-looking but rapid-striking tactical style will make Watford the ultra-competitive side fans will hope it can be.

Key addition: Christian Kabasele

While Kabasele isn't the highest-priced player Watford brought in this summer -- that would be the wonderfully-named Isaac Success -- he will probably be the most important. The Belgian central defender is a very good fit for what Mazzarri asks for from his back line, with good athleticism and tactical know-how to help shield his goalkeeper. He's making a big jump from the Jupiler Pro League in Belgium, though, so he could be facing a rocky adjustment to life in England.

All additions: Isaac Success, Christian Kabasele, Brice Dja Djedje, Jerome Sinclair, Camilo Zuniga

Key departure: Almen Abdi

The versatile attacking midfielder was a frequent starter for Watford last year, plugging whatever hole in the attacking third that the Hornets needed him to. While his talent is theoretically easy to replace, his versatility and high-effort style would have been valuable to have on the bench for the grind of the Premier League, especially working under a manager like Mazzarri.

All departures: Miguel Layun, Almen Abdi, Jose Manuel Jurado, Juanfran, Gabriele Angella

State of the club

Watford are in a bit of a state of transition, but feelings around the club are generally positive. Bringing in Mazzarri is a bold move and a statement of intent by club ownership, and they're hoping to take a big step forward this season.

Why should a new fan support Watford?

If you want to support an up-and-coming club that's far from a popularist, "hipster" choice, Watford is the club for you. They've got fun players like Odion Igalho, tough players like Mario Suarez, and a high-energy, wildly entertaining manager in Mazzarri. They're hungry and eager and ready to break out, so get your ticket now before the bus gets full.

Which WWE wrestler is most like Watford?

The obvious pop-culture figure to compare Watford to would be the Pokemon Beedrill, but let's not be obvious. Let's instead turn to WWE superstar Dolph Ziggler, the eternal hard-working underdog. Now, Dolph has enjoyed more success in his WWE career than Watford have had in the EPL, but the comparison is definitely there: always having to scratch and claw and battle and scrape to get to where they want to be, and stealing the show when they manage to have runs of success.

Last season, West Brom finished 14th in the Premier League, which on the surface seems perfectly respectable. That finish was achieved, however, on the back of a peculiar run of results: after taking ten points from four games in February and early March, they failed to win another game all season, provoking boos from fans and even a few scattered mutterings of "Pulis Out." Such are the consequences of Pulisan pragmatism: if the results don't come, then there's nothing much else hang your patience on.

We can probably assume that despite the grumbling, and despite the addition of pacey winger Matt Phillips, manager Tony Pulis has not had a sudden conversion to the cause of all-out attacking. The defense will be staying solid and the midfield will, by and large, be reinforcing that solidity. So buckle up for another roller coaster season of keeping it tight, trying to nick a goal on the break, and maximizing set pieces. Still, there'll probably be at least one highly amusing win against somebody like Arsenal, so that'll be fun.

Key addition: Matt Phillips

In Phillips' last two adventures in the Premier League, with Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, the season ended in relegation both times. Pulis, meanwhile has never been relegated, as a player or a manager. Which means that this season at West Brom is a simmering paradox which will almost certainly end up tearing a hole in the fabric of space/time and sucking the entire West Midlands into an alternate dimension.

All additions: Matt Phillips

Key departure: Stéphane Sessègnon

If you look up the word "mercurial" in the dictionary, you won't find a picture of Sessègnon. That's not how dictionaries work. But nevertheless, one of the Premier League's most confusing and confounding talents has been released, and is currently without a club. At times he was one of the most terrifying forwards in the entire league, capable of slicing through even the most carefully constructed defenses; at others, he basically didn't exist. You can see how that might frustrate Pulis.

All departures: Stéphane Sessègnon, Victor Anichebe, Anders Lindegaard

State of the club

To employ Pulis is to embrace a certain kind of unspectacular stability, and since he took over at the Hawthorns in January 2015, they've been stable and unspectacular. As noted above, this isn't particularly exciting for many of the fans, but it should be remembered that West Brom, at an institutional level, aren't too far removed from the Steve Clarke-Pepe Mel-Alan Irvine experiment. And that was far too exciting for all the wrong reasons.

Why should a new fan support West Brom?

It looks very much like West Brom are set for another season of competent, lower midtable security. This may not sound too exciting, but if anybody's looking for a low maintenance football club to follow, one that you can check in on every week or so without feeling worried that you're missing anything, then the Baggies are for you.

What made-up Game of Thrones House are they?

House Throstle -- words: "Boing Boing" -- has been minding its own business for thousands of years, thank you very much, and wants nothing to do with any of these squabbling kings. Or queens. Or dragons. These defenses aren't going to fortify themselves.

It’s great time to be blowing bubbles. Not only are the Hammers moving into a new stadium, saying hello to the 60,000 seat Olympic Stadium, but the team will also be competing in the Europa League this season thanks to a Manchester United FA Cup win and a seventh place finish. Granted, they they were in contention for a Champions League spot until the latter parts of the campaign before falling off, but any European soccer is more than anyone expected of the team.

After finishes of 13th, 12th and 12th, West Ham parted ways with Sam Allardyce and brought in Slaven Bilic. He took over a team that was considered a possible relegation candidate, but instead finished with three club records for a Premier League season: most points (62), most goals scored (65), and fewest games lost (8).

It will be hard to replicate the successes of last season, but with a ton of more money to spend and a new stadium, West Ham’s future looks very bright.

Key addition: Andre Ayew

The Hammers broke their club record fee a week before the start of the season by paying £20 million to sign Ayew from Swansea City. Ayew's biggest value is in his versatility -- he can play on the left, right, central attacking midfield or even up top if he has to. The 26-year-old Ghanaian had a very solid scoring record at Marseille and bagged 12 goals for the Swans last season.

All additions: Andre Ayew, Sofiane Feghouli, Gökhan Töre, Havard Nordtveit, Arthur Masuaku, Ashley Fletcher

Key departure: James Tomkins

After 243 games for the Hammers, Tomkins left West Ham for Crystal Palace in a £10 million deal this summer. It will be up to Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid to fill the massive hole left by Tomkins, unless management comes to their senses very quickly -- and fans will definitely be hoping that they do after how shaky West Ham's other defenders were last season

All departures: James Tomkins, Emmanuel Emenike, Alex Song, Joey O’Brien

State of the club

Optimistic but harrowing. Ayew was a big signing, and there might be more to come. Yet Manuel Lanzini, Aaron Cresswell and Gohkan Töre have all suffered significant injuries that could jeopardize the start of the season.

The other fear is a regression. Last season saw West Ham overachieve in every possible category and that high can only last for so long. West Ham are almost definitely not going to be in the race for a Champions League place, and probably will not qualify for the Europa League either. But the league is always full of the unexpected, so who knows?

Why should a new fan support West Ham?

Either because Dmitri Payet is a real life wizard, or because "Forever Blowing Bubbles" is the best team song ever. Definitely not because of Green Street Hooligans.

Which Game of Thrones character is most like West Ham?

Samwell Tarly. New leadership led to a more prominent role in the narrative, but it won’t be long before they’re kicked back down to the gutters and reminded just how small and weak they are.