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Closer to home the likes of Lars Bohinen need to recapture their appetite

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Closer to home, the likes of Lars Bohinen need to recapture their appetite. After the restrictions of Inter - they agree to his release then sign Ronaldo - he should enjoy a return to his homeland. His task will be to return the club to the top echelon, Tony Parkes having done an excellent stabilising job. With several solid British elements already in place - Neil Redfearn is a good captain and the strikers Paul Wilkinson and John Hendrie provide experience - and a hint of the exotic in such as Clint Marcelle, Barnsley could well surprise a few teams this season.Manager: Danny WilsonCoaches: Eric Winstanley, Peter ShirtliffIn: Eric Tinkler (Cagliari) pounds 650,000, Ales Krizan (Maribor) pounds 500,000, Georgi Hristov (Partizan Belgrade) pounds 1.5m, Lars Leese (Bayer Leverkusen) pounds 250,000, Tony Bullock (Leek) undisclosedOut: NoneLast season: Promoted from First DivisionOdds: 1,000-1 Prediction: 16thBlackburn RoversROY Hodgson has been a successful coach on the continent for some years, with the Swiss international team and latterly Internazionale of Milan, and represents a shrewd recruitment. The South African Eric Tinkler could also be suited to the Premiership, though less is known about the Slovenian defender Ales Krizan. But under Danny Wilson, one of the brightest managerial prospects in the game, they played some enjoyable passing football last season and they might just be suited, as Derby County were before them, to the higher class.They have moved to strengthen their squad, too, and the signing of the Macedonian striker Georgi Hristov, for a club record fee of pounds 1.5m, looks interesting.

If early results fail to match potential, changes can be expected from the privately tough Little, and Villa should be once more near the peak, as well as challengers for the cup honours.Manager: Brian LittleAssistant: Allan EvansIn: Stan Collymore (Liverpool) pounds 7m, Simon Grayson (Leicester) pounds 1.35mOut: Gareth Farrelly (Everton) pounds 700,000Last season: 5thOdds: 20-1 Prediction: 6thBarnsleyEVERY dog deserves his day, and although it may offend the new money-men in the game who want the Premiership reserved for the "superclubs", Barnsley are a welcome addition for their first season at the top level.And their last, according to the bookmakers. Wisely, the restrained Brian Little has eschewed serious surgery for the moment, Simon Grayson being his only other significant signing. Certainly Yorke needs a more consistent partner than Savo Milosevic. Then, they had looked a neat passing team, with Dwight Yorke a revelation up front, their 3- 5-2 shape efficient and effective. They had, though, lacked a dash of inspiration and while it seemed as if the signing of Sasa Curcic might provide it, in fact it disturbed their rhythm, with midfielder Mark Draper particularly affected. Mark Bosnich's disaffection seemed to sum up the frustration of under-achievement.The main question now is whether Stan Collymore - outrageously talented despite the doubts about his temperament - can knuckle down with his home comforts closer and deliver the dash. The likelihood is that he will succeed, at least in part.Manager: Arsene WengerCoach: Pat RiceIn: Marc Overmars (Ajax) pounds 7m, Matthew Upson (Luton) pounds 1.5m, Luis Boa Morte (Sporting Lisbon) pounds 1.75m, Emmanuel Petit (Monaco) pounds 3.5m, Gilles Grimandi (Monaco) pounds 1.5m, Alexander Manninger (Casino Graz) undisclosed, Alberto Mendez Rodriguez (FC Feucht, Germany) pounds 250,000Out: Paul Merson (Middlesbrough) pounds 4.5m, Matthew Rose (QPR) pounds 500,000, Lee Harper (QPR) pounds 250,000, Adrian Clark (Southend) freeLast season: 3rdOdds: 5-1 Prediction: 4thAston VillaVILLA really should have built last season on their fourth place and Coca-Cola Cup victory of the previous campaign.

Should he fail, xenophobia could surface among fans willing so far to indulge him, despite the sale of Paul Merson. With Luis Boa Morte also a flyer, they should not want for pace.With 11 of his squad from overseas, Wenger will have to blend disparate characters into the integrated 4-4-2 he plans. But after starting well under Pat Rice, they were finally coaxed into third place by Arsene Wenger, thanks in no small measure to Dennis Bergkamp's sustained excellence. What then this time when all appears in place for a more thorough challenge? Under Wenger, 10 new players have arrived - seven this summer - and the signing of Marc Overmars looks exciting. Arsenal This time last year, were parting company with Bruce Rioch, their ageing squad had not been augmented and an early-season crisis looked likely. The dignified Roy Evans would deserve Liverpool's first title in eight years.Elsewhere, Barnsley's presence for the first time at the top level, like that of Leicester City in the Uefa Cup, will add an enjoyable dimension. And the Nationwide First Division should be excitingly cut-throat as they strive to dip snouts in Sky's pounds 9m-each-a- season trough, likely to expand when digital TV takes off next year.Blast, back to money.

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