The 2015/16 Barclays Premier League season is upon us and as always, there are plenty of talking points before a ball is kicked.
Three teams have made their way into England's top flight after successful campaigns in the Championship and now get the chance to battle it out with the elite.
One club, Bournemouth, are in this division for the very first time in the club's history. As they embark on an unprecedented journey from a team from Dorset, there is an air of optimism surrounding the Cherries. But can they stay up against all odds?
Watford are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2007 and are a very capable side but can owner Gino Pozzo keep Quique Flores happy after turning over four other managers since Gianfranco Zola was sacked at the end of 2013?
And then there is Norwich City. The Canaries have bounced back immediately following their 18th-place finish in 2014, led by the little known and massively underrated Alex Neil. The Scottish tactician took the reins at Carrow Road to much effect in January and guided the Norfolk club back to elite football via the play-offs. But can they succeed in the top echelon of English football?
Bournemouth
Bournemouth took the Championship by storm last season, going undefeated in their final 13 games to finish champions by a point over Watford. In doing so, the Cherries won promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their 125-year existence, capping a remarkable rise featuring three promotions in six seasons.
Survival will be the main aim for young manager Eddie Howe, who has mainly strengthened his squad at the defensive end of the pitch in the off-season. Artur Boruc has been signed permanently from Southampton, but will face stiff competition for the number one goalkeeper's jersey from fellow addition Adam Federici. The Cherries' defence looks to be the strongest area of the squad, with record signing Tyrone Mings (£8m) and former Everton star Sylvain Distin (free) joining an already stingy defence that leaked less than a goal a game last season.
With a stadium that fits less than 12,000, and in their first ever top-flight season, Bournemouth are without a doubt the biggest underdogs in this edition of the Premier League. Since saving the club from the brink of relegation from League Two in 2008/09, Howe has produced some incredible results in his time at Dean Court, overseeing the majority of Bournemouth's incredible transformation.
The 38-year-old, who is only a fraction older than some of his players, seems quietly confident ahead of the most daunting challenge in the club's history. While pre-season form has been slightly worrying (losses to Cardiff and non-league Sailsbury), do not be surprised if these giant killers continue on their merry way in 2015/16.
Prediction: Survival
Watford secured automatic promotion from the Championship last season using no less than four managers, and a fifth is set to oversee the Hornets' return to the Premier League. Former Valencia and Real Madrid defender Quique Flores became Watford's fifth manager in 12 months when he took over in June, and he has since outlaid over £20m on 10 new signings, including former Tottenham midfielder Etienne Capoue (£6.3m), Udinese's Matej Vydra (£4m) and former West Ham United man Valon Behrami (£3m).
Much will be expected of captain and striker Troy Deeney, who scored 23 goals last season. Since his release from prison in late 2012, Deeney has turned into a goalscoring machine, with 66 goals in 124 league appearances. If the powerful frontman can repeat his Championship scoring record in the Premier League, Watford could well defy the odds and stay up.
The biggest question mark at Vicarge Road is stability – will the evolving managerial door continue if results don't go their way early? While the squad appears strong on paper, will the new signings gel? At this stage it's too early to tell, but if one thing is for certain, there's sure to be fireworks at Watford this season.
Prediction: Fireworks
Perhaps only QPR could rival Norwich as England's premier yo-yo club in recent years, with the Canaries suffering relegation three times in their past five seasons in the Premier League. The last of these was in 2013/14, when they finished third bottom, however under new manager Alex Neil the club gained promotion back at the first time of asking last season when they defeated Middlesbrough in May's play-offs.
In comparison to the other promoted teams, Norwich has been fairly quiet on the transfer front, with only four key signings made thus far. Former Hull City winger Robbie Brady has been brought in for £7m, while Liverpool's Andre Wisdom has been loaned in to shore up the defence. Midfield duo Graham Dorrans and Youssouf Mulumbu have also been brought in from West Bromwich Albion, with the latter's Premier League experience likely to be vital in a relatively young squad.
In Neil, the club has a bright young manager who has had a tremendous start to his managerial career. The Scotsman won 17 out of 25 games since his inspired appointment at Carrow Road last January, having led Scottish side Hamilton Academical to promotion the season prior.
Norwich's biggest troubles will most likely come up front, with striking duo Cameron Jerome and Gary Hooper so far unable to replicate their prolific Championship scoring form at Premier League level. Record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel returns to the club this season after spending last term on loan with French club Saint-Etienne. But having scored just one goal in 25 league appearances for Norwich in their relegation season of 2013/14, Neil will be praying the 26-year-old can recapture the magic he found in spells at FC Utrecht and Sporting Lisbon.
For the Canaries to stay up, a decent start is a must, especially considering they start the season with a relatively kind run of fixtures (Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Stoke, Southampton and Bournemouth). A win in Saturday's season opener against Crystal Palace would end a 12year run without a win on the opening day of the league.
Prediction: Relegation
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