Football Season Guide

West Bromwich Albion followed up on their impressive top ten finish in 2012 with an even better eighth placed finish last season. Considering that avoiding relegation was the main aim, all credit must be given to Steve Clarke and his side. The Baggies hit the ground running and had a great start to the season. They slumped either side of Christmas but still hit the magical 40-point mark before the end of February. Romelu Lukaku was very much the main man last season but with the striker now returned to Chelsea, Clarke has placed his fate in new signing Nicholas Anelka to replace the seventeen goal youngster. Apart from the 34 year old Anelka, the club have yet to make many other new signings, however Clarke has suggested that he expects another three or four new faces before the start of the season. Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long would seem to have the potential to develop further and has a decent chance of improving on his goal haul with the help of Anelka. Good things are expected from attackers Markus Rosenberg and Graham Dorrans also, although they expected to play second fiddle to Long and Anelka