Shifty's Season Preview Part 8 of the clock is ticking....

Portsmouth

The proposed takeover simply has to go through if Portsmouth are to stay up: there has been minimal investment in what was already a limited squad: the departures of Glen Johnson and Peter Crouch have only served to make the situation even worse. New striker Frederic Piquionne simply has to settle in quickly and score goals, otherwise Pompey are in trouble. Can David James, now 39, be expected to perform miracles in goals again, behind a fragile defence?

Verdict: Expect them to be near the bottom by January, regardless of the takeover situation. Another miraculous escape may then be required.

Stoke City

In Stoke, the local NHS have advised season-ticket holders at the Britannia Stadium to consider investing in a neck brace, for their own health, due to the amount of time the ball spends in the air during Stoke games. Tony Pulis' side were far from the prettiest side in the league, but they were effective, at least to an extent. Their main concern will be that old cliche, Second Season Syndrome. James Beattie will be required to continue his form from the 2nd half of last season throughout the whole of this season (a good season may even lead to a World Cup place for him). In the midfield, Dean Whitehead looks a decent addition, while Matthew Etherington gives the side some much-needed width. Defensively, Abdoulaye Faye and Ryan Shawcross were nigh-on insurmountable at times, and since when did Thomas Sorensen look like an accomplished Premier League keeper?

Verdict: Once again, it won't be pretty, and it may require another couple of shrewd Januray signings, but expect Stoke to survive.

Sunderland

Steve Bruce takes over at the Stadium of Light, and will be expected to improve on last season's dreadful end to the season. He has already started that process by bringing in a number of players, namely Darren Bent (therefore cementing Spurs' status as something of a Sunderland feeder club), Fraizer Campbell, Paulo da Silva and Lee Cattermole. Cattermole will not half add bite to a talented but potentially lightweight midfield containing the likes of Kieran Richardson, Andy Reid and Steed Malbranque. Bent and Campbell will provide goals, although the defence will still be a worry for Bruce. However, there is enough quality (with further investment in the squad, should it be required, likely to come in January) there to suggest mid-table is very much achievable.

Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Redknapp has been at it again, buying and selling players for fun. In have come Kyle Naughton, Sebastien Bassong and Peter Crouch, with numerous players departing to make way. Last season, rather astonishingly, Spurs' defensive record at home was actually rather good, with Gomes, after some early-season jitters, growing immensely in confidence as the season went on. The signings of Naughton and Bassong, as well as the return from injury of Alan Hutton, should help ensure Spurs don't concede many once again. In midfield, Luka Modric began to excel as the season went on, and will be the main creative force again. On the right wing, if Aaron Lennon could actually cross the ball, then he would be a fearsome prospect. Spurs certainly have quantity in attack, with Crouch, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane all competing for 1 or 2 starting spots.

Verdict: The squad would appear to be there for Spurs to finish in the top half.