JUVENTUS

While Juventus failed to sign a crack centre forward diver Asamoah will solve the clubs long standing left sided problem. Isla, the other player signed from Udinese, can play almost anywhere in defence and midfield and is an excellent passer. Giovinco is back after two sensational seasons at Parma whether he can fill Del Piero's shoes remains to be seen, unlike most midgets Giovinco is not stockily built. The combination of Vidal, the World's best DM, and Marchisio provide the protection for Pirlo to work his predictable magic. With Milan and Inter severely weakened in recent years Juventus are heavy favourites to retain the scudetto. The only question mark is how they will cope with the dual pressure of fighting on all fronts, Pirlo is particular struggles when having to play twice a week.

Key Players : Pirlo, Vidal, Vucinic
Prospects : Champions/Runners-Up


NAPOLI

Napoli's meteoric rise from Serie B to Serie A's elite ground to a halt last season, the added strain and stress of Champions League football proved detrimental to the club's domestic fortunes. Pandev arrives as Lavezzi's replacement following a successful loan spell. Napoli have spent modestly compared to recent seasons though again, inexplicably, have failed to strengthen in defence - Napoli's back three (Aronica, Cannavaro and Campagnaro) are bloody awful and De Sanctis, now 35, is prone to the occasional howler. Napoli are irrepressable going forward. Wingbacks Zuniga and Maggio are a terrific source of croses for Cavani, the World's best centre forward and the much hyped Lorenzo Insigne has impressed Mazzari, known for his lack of faith in youngsters, to warrant a start place. Napoli are best placed should Juventus slip-up. Failure to finish in the top 3 however may see Cavani and Hamsik finally leave.

Key Players : Inler, Pandev, Cavani
Prospects : Champions/Runners-Up


INTER

Inter ignored the sorry state of their finances and returned to their big spending ways with a host of internationals. Gargano, carelessly discarded by Napoli and Guarin give Inter some long overdue muscle in midfield - Cambiasso is a pussy. Palacio is a fantastic forward and it will be interesting to see how he links with Milto when Sneijder inevitably gets injured. Inter's biggest problems are in defence. They may well rue showing Maicon the door, there's nothing to suggest Jonathan is an adequate replacement. Juan and Ranocchia are dreadful defenders. The Argentinean duo of Silvestra and 34 year old Samuel may prove to be Inter's best bet. Stramarioni has been throw in at the deep end and given the team's defence shortcomings needs to show he really is one of the best up and coming coaches in Serie A as opposed to Leonardo II.

Key Players : Handanovic, Sneijder, Milito
Prospects : Champions League/Europa League


ROMA

Media darlings Roma have replaced one tactically naive foreign coach with an older, equally tactically naive foreign coach. Where this missplaced faith in Zeman comes from is a mystery. Zeman's Roma show the same defensive fragilities they did under him 13 years ago. Even the main defensive reinforcement is attack minded - swash buckling leftback Balzaretti. Bradley and De Rossi should be dynamite in central midfield, once the former recovers from an early injury. While Totti remains a key figure the team are no longer Totti dependent, Lamela and Pjanic are two of the most exicting young midfileders in the World and Destro a fantastically gifted striker. Roma have a Champions League midfield and attack and a Serie B defence. Once Roma appoint the right coach, someone pragmatic like Stefano Pioli, they'll emerge as genuine scudetto contenders, in the meantime don't expect any major improvement over the past two seasons.

Key Players : De Rossi, Totti, Osvaldo
Prospects : Champions League/Europa League


LAZIO

Valdimir Petkovic, a coach with a mediocre track record, seemed a bizarre, risky appointment but early signs are encouraging. As usual Lazio showed little ambition in the transfer market with Ederson the most high profile arrival - on a free transfer. The hugely inconsistent but immensely talented Candreva could prove to be an excellent addition. Klose is still a formidabble finisher but not durable enough to play week in week out. Floccari isn't an adequate replacement. Dirty Dias and Biava are a strong centreback pairing but the wrong side of 30. Lazio's starting XI are capable of beating any team in Serie A but a lack of squad depth will continue to compromise their chances of a return to Champions League football. The outstanding Hernanes dragged them to the brink last season only for his team to slip away in the last month of the season. Lazio must strengthen in January if they are to avoid a repeat.

Key Players : Marchetti, Hernanes, Klose
Prospects : Champions League/Europa League


MILAN

Having been a linesman's flag away from retaining the scudetto Allegri finds himself on the edge of the presipis. Years of financial missmanagement by Galliani revealed deficits of €250 million and in a bid to balance the books Milan's best two players, Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva were sold and the contracts of six senior players were not renewed. Just when it couldn't get any worse the clubs main creator in chief, Cassano, left following disagreements with bald idiot Galliani. Pazzini and useless midget Bojan are laughably inadequate replacements. Pazzini is entirely dependent on service and the club don't have a playmaker - the timid Montolivio doesn't have the personality to play in that role and the only player who can consistently put in good crosses is 19 year old full back De Sciglio. At youth level El Sharawwy continues to excel, suggesting once he develops physically he'll become one of the best players in Serie A and Europe but at right now he's not ready. To expect Allergi (or anyone else) to deliver Champions League football, let alone challenge for the scudetto with this squad is ridiculous.

Key Players : Abate, Ambrosini, Robinho
Prospects : Europa League