Premier League preview and predictions: QPR, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea

Continuing talkSPORT'S Premier League preview by looking at the prospects for QPR, Stoke, Sunderland and Swansea...

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QPR: BILLIONAIRE BARGAIN HUNTING

Strengths: Neil Warnock has forged an unshakable team spirit at QPR in the face of uncertainty at board level, which may be crucial in the club's bid for top flight survival. In Adel Taarabt, the Rs boast a player with such natural ability he can turn games at any level, yet the Moroccan's erratic temperament and defensive frailties could also prove costly in such an unforgiving league. Rangers kept 25 cleans sheets in 38 league games last season, and they'll need a similarly solid springboard to ensure any contributions from the impressive looking front line of Jay Bothroyd and Dj Campbell yield points.

Weaknesses: QPR have some of the richest 'backers' in world football, but a summer of discontent has been charactised by free signings and a lack of support for manager Neil Warnock, which is threatening to dent the club's hopes of establishing themselves in the top tier. Rumours persist that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone would like to sell their shares, perhaps an explanation for their reluctance to spend more than £1.25m on transfers, despite fellow promotion winners Norwich and Swansea forking out closer to £10m each.

One to watch: Midfielder Michael Doughty, 18, son of Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty, is being hotly tipped to develop into a top player at the club. He made his senior debut as a late substitute in the FA Cup trip to Blackburn in January 2011 and featured in QPR's last pre-season game against Luton Town, replacing Kieron Dyer in the second half.

Key man: Adel Taarabt, the Championship's best player last season, scored 19 league goals and created another 16 for his team-mates, more than a third of the Super Hoops total goal tally. Like Kevin Nolan did at Newcastle last season, replicating this form in the top flight will be crucial for QPR, although Neil Warnock admits he may even be forced the sell his captain before the end of August, should he make a blistering start to the campaign. You'd fear the worst for the club if their talisman moves on.

Big signing: Jay Bothroyd. Bagging 15 goals in Cardiff's first 16 games last year earned the former Perugia forward his first England cap and a trip back to Loftus Road on a free transfer, where he started out as a youngster. One of the players he teamed up with as a school boy there, DJ Campbell, was England's second highest scorer behind Darren Bent in last season's Premier League, and his £1.25m capture from Blackpool sees the pair reunited for the first time. If Bothroyd stays injury-free, their partnership could provide QPR with a glimmer of hope in their fight against the drop.

Fact: Paddy Kenny won QPR's players' and supporters' player of the year awards last season, despite Adel Taarabt being crowned the Championship's player of the season.

Odds to win the Premier League: 3000/1 (Ladbrokes)

talkSPORT Magazine prediction: 19th place.

STOKE: SOLID AS A ROCK

Strengths: With top quality defensive reinforcements Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate joining Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross in Stoke's backline this year, Tony Pulis' typically resolute team may be even more difficult to break down. Rory Delap's long throw will, as ever, add a unique attacking dimension to the back-line, especially if they manage to secure the services of towering England forward Peter Crouch, a long term target.

Weaknesses: Accommodating players with top continental experience without sacrificing the physical toughness which has stimulated progress at the Britannia will help the Potters in their first European quest since the '70s. But the club's failure to incorporate Eidur Gudjohnsen into their system last season suggests a little tweaking in style could be needed if they wish to make the step up to the next level in the Premier League, too.

One to watch: Ryan Shotton. The promising 22-year-old right back enjoyed a successful loan spell at Barnsley in 2009/10, before returning for last season's Premier League campaign. He made his league debut at Blackpool in April 2011 and was thrown on as a substitute in the club's two Europa League games against Hadjuk Split this year. Shotton's versatility - he's often utilised as a make shift striker - will see him make Pulis' 18-man match day squad more often than not.

Key man: There's little doubt Jonathan Woodgate was one of England's best central defenders when regularly available and his signing could turn out to be a masterstroke if he manages to put years of dreadful injury troubles behind him. When he plays, Woody can marshal Stoke's back four better than anyone else at the club.

Big Signing: To complement Woodgate in defence, Pulis has managed to lure England international Matthew Upson to Stoke, also on a free transfer. Upson partnered John Terry in England's dismal 4-1 World Cup defeat to Germany in 2010, but did manage to get on the scoresheet and remains more than capable at Premier League level. If he rediscovers his finest form, something which evaded him last season when West Ham were relegated, his signing will stand the Potters in good stead.

Fact: Manager Tony Pulis played in Hong Kong during the 1981/82 season with a team called Happy Valley. As far as we know, he didn't wear a cap during games.

Odds: 3000/1 (Ladbrokes)

talkSPORT Magazine prediction: 10th place.

SUNDERLAND: BRUCE'S PRICE IS RIGHT

Strengths: Steve Bruce's links with former club Man United appear to give Sunderland the edge when bidding for the Red Devil's also-rans. Not good enough for United, but Wes Brown and John O'Shea join Keiran Richardson and Frazier Campbell this summer from Old Trafford, and will slot straight into the Black Cat's back four, providing the defensive solidity and experience which deserted them so painfully at times last season.

Weaknesses: Only Wigan, West Ham and Birmingham scored fewer goals than Steve Bruce's side in the Premier League last time round, as they fell evidently short of options following Darren Bent's move to Aston Villa in January. They won't have Danny Welbeck to call on this year either after he returned to Man United, putting added pressure on Asamoah Gyan or unproven new boys Ji Dong-won and Connor Whickham to find the back of the net.

One to watch: Ji Dong-Won's Premier League development under Steve Bruce will be interesting for the Black Cats, who snapped him up from Chunnaam Dragons shortly after his 20th birthday in June 2011. Dong-Won has netted six times in 11 games for South Korea, including four at the 2011 Asian Cup.

Key man: Swedish international winger Sebastian Larsson almost joined Man City on loan in January 2011 and was also linked with a return to Arsenal when he became a free agent following Birmingham's drop into the Championship. That didn't stop Steve Bruce pulling off a major coup by securing the services of the man he signed for Birmingham in 2007. With experienced Dutchman Boudewijn Zenden departing the Mackems, expectations for the 26 year-old will be high this season.

Big signing: Ever since Connor Whickham made his senior Ipswich debut 11 days after his 16th brithday, the Premier League's biggest clubs have been tracking his progress intently. Last year proved his finest in the Championship to date, picking up the division's young player of the year gong and scoring 13 goals in the process. Still only 18, his £8.1m move to Sunderland could yet prove an extremely shrewd piece of business.

Fact: Sunderland's home, the Stadium of Light, shares its name with Benfica's home ground, known in Portuguese as the 'Estadio da Luz'.

Odds: 3000/1 (Ladbrokes)

talkSPORT Magazine prediction: 8th place.

SWANSEA: ALL WHITE, BUT NOT ALRIGHT

Strengths: The Swans have earned plenty of plaudits for their fluid style of play under Brendan Rodgers, while their home form was the best in the Championship last term, conceding just 11 goals in 23 games. The Liberty Stadium must continue to be a tough place to visit for away sides if the Welsh club are to beat the odds and extend their stay in the Premier League by more than one season.

Weaknesses: The Jacks lost 11 of their 23 games away from home last year - by far the worst record on the road in the Championship's top six - suggesting they could be the Premier League's whipping boys this time round. Hanging on to defender Ashley Williams – linked with a move to QPR earlier in the summer – will be crucial to Swansea's slim hopes of survival.

One to watch: Spurs youngster Steven Caulker impressed on loan at Bristol City last year and links up with the Swans for his debut season in the Premier League. At only 19, the England U21 defender will be hoping to prove he's capable of fitting into Harry Redknapp's plans at Spurs, much like Kyle Walker did at Aston Villa towards the end of last season.

Key man: Scott Sinclair proved a revelation with 19 league goals last year following a £1m move from Chelsea. It was the first time the winger had found a settled home after a succession of loan spells and a failure to break into Chelsea's plans under Jose Mourinho, Luis Felipe Scolari and Carlo Ancelotti. If his former mentor at Stamford Bridge, Brendan Rodgers, continues to nuture his talent in the Premier League, hanging on to Sinclair will be tough for Swansea.

Big signing: Championship top scorer Danny Graham's decision to turn down West Brom and QPR in favour of a move to Wales was a big boost to the club over the summer and they'll be hoping their £3.5m acquisition is capable of firing them to safety against the best players in the country. A haul of 24 goals in 45 games was an impressive return for a player in a mediocre Watford side last term, something the Swans are hoping he'll achieve in an unfancied Premier League team, as well.

Fact: Swansea will become the first ever Welsh club to feature in the Premier League this season.

Odds: 5000/1 (Ladbrokes)

talkSPORT Magazine prediction: 20th place.

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