Fans’ club-by-club previews set out expectations for 2026-27 Premier League season
The Guardian’s fans’ network published a club-by-club guide to the 2026-27 Premier League on 16 August 2026, surveying supporters’ views on fresh talent, weak links and which managers might be sacked first.
"Having finally got the title monkey off our back, and with much of the competition in a state of flux, there’s plenty of optimism," the network reported while outlining recurring questions about transfers, key absences and tactical adjustments ahead of the new campaign.
Arsenal supporters told the guide their primary aim is for Mikel Arteta to sustain appetite and intensity while coping without William Saliba long-term; fans flagged whether the arrival of Guimarães can spark the midfield chemistry needed to break down parked defences. Pre-season form prompted calls for the return of World Cup stars Declan Rice, Zubimendi and Bukayo Saka to shore up resilience and goal threat, and supporters named Max Dowman and Tzolis as players to watch. The preview listed linked targets including Atlético’s Julián Álvarez for attacking options and Quanseh or Konsa for cover at centre-back, urged pruning of players such as Vieira and Nelson and identified Benny Blanco as a terrace favourite while saying Declan Rice will "set the tone" for future success.
Bournemouth fans framed this season around the club’s first participation in a European club competition and welcomed Marco Rose’s continuation of "fast, attacking, no-fear" football that produced the club’s highest ever finish last season. Supporters highlighted António Silva as a replacement for Senesi at centre-half, new striker Álvaro Rodríguez and attacking right-back Juanlu as arrivals to bolster the squad, and singled out Ben Gannon-Doak as a player for a potential breakthrough. Long-serving defender Adam Smith was named the club’s cult hero, and the supporters’ projection put Bournemouth to finish 12th while listing a top-four of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United; the preview named Xabi Alonso as the pick for first manager to be sacked.
Across other club entries fans identified a wide range of squad priorities and youth prospects: Mamadou Sangaré, Callum Wilson, Ouattara, Thiago and Schade were mentioned among attacking options; younger players cited included Kaye Furo, Jannik Schuster, Brian Madjo and Reggie Watson; and supporters repeatedly called for depth at full-back and in forward positions. Several previews noted that some clubs considered their transfer business largely complete while others expected further incomings or loans to be concluded before the window shut.
The fan-produced predictions included full-season placings and early-manager forecasts in multiple club write-ups: one entry declared "We will finish 1st" and supplied a top-four and bottom-three for the campaign, while individual previews named a range of managers as likeliest to be sacked first, including Sergej Jakirovic, Roberto De Zerbi, Xabi Alonso, Oliver Glasner and Matthias Jaissle. Cult heroes, potential signings from clubs’ pasts and specific positional needs featured throughout the guide as supporters balanced optimism with caution.
The Guardian’s compilation of fan previews, published on 16 August 2026, sets out supporter expectations, player watchlists and projected finishing positions ahead of the start of the 2026-27 Premier League season.