Fansided

Preseason Premier League interesting rankings

By Michael Harshbarger

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 20: Paul Pogba of Manchester United during the International Champions Cup 2017 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – AUGUST 2: Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle United (08) controls the ball during the Pre Season Friendly match between VFL Wolfsburg and Newcastle United at AOK-Stadion on August 2, 2017, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – AUGUST 2: Jonjo Shelvey of Newcastle United (08) controls the ball during the Pre Season Friendly match between VFL Wolfsburg and Newcastle United at AOK-Stadion on August 2, 2017, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images) /

5. Newcastle

Newcastle are back!

The Magpies are another club that it feels like should always be in the Premier League. But twice in the past eight years they had to overcome being relegated, each time only spending a single season in the Championship before returning to the top flight. The most recent was last season, when they secured promotion by finishing first in England’s second division.

As is usually the case when clubs gain promotion to the Premier League, Newcastle have had a busy offseason personnel wise. So far, six players have left and six players have been arrived. Chief among the new arrivals are midfielders Jacob Murphy (Norwich) and Mikel Merino (on loan from Borussia Dortmund) as well as defenders Javier Manquillo (Atletico) and Florian Lejeune (Eibar).

Unless they swoop for a big name striker before the end of the window, they will rely on forwards Dwight Gayle (23 goals last season) and Ayoze Perez (12 goals, six assists last season) as well as midfielder Matt Ritchie (16 goals, nine assists last season). The Magpies’ number one goal for 2016-17 will be survival.

There are three things I really like about Newcastle: (1) their iconic black and white home shirts, (2) their beautiful stadium and (3) DeAndre Yedlin. The speedy USMNT regular earned the trust of Rafa Benitez last season. The Seattle Sounders product made 21 appearances, most of them starts, scoring once and adding five assists. He should be fighting for the starting right-back spot on opening day.