With the 2011/2012 season around the corner, which of the nearly promoted sides has prepared themselves best for the battle ahead. Queens Park Rangers, Norwich & Swansea will all want to emulate the efforts of both Newcastle & West Brom, who comfortably avoided the drop last season.
Throughout the summer, each club has strengthened their squad to give them the best opportunity of avoiding relegation, but which club has bought the best? The Championship champions from last season, QPR, have brought in a couple of new signings, with Jay Bothroyd moving on a free from Cardiff and Kieron Dyer on a free from West Ham. Both of the these players have had experience of the top flight, but bring doubts to the quality and form they can bring to the team. Bothroyd has struggled at this level in the past with Blackburn & Charlton, while Dyer has suffered with injuries for the last couple of years. Although the significant news coming out of Loftus Road this summer, is the announcement of Adel Taarabt staying at the club, as he almost single handily got the club promotion last season.
The Championship runners up from last season, Norwich, have brought in the greatest number of new signings, spending in the region of £7 million. Manager, Paul Lambert has decided to bring in a number of stand out players from the Championship, rather than bring in players who have had Premier League experience. The signings who could become a success for Norwich, are Kyle Naughton, who showed how good his attacking side is, by scoring 5 goals last season from right back. Also Steve Morison has scored 40 goals in his two seasons at Millwall, showing he knows how to find the net, earning him the call up into the Wales national side.
The third promotion spot was secured by Swansea City after their dramatic play off victory over Reading in May. Unlike Norwich they have kept almost the same side from last season, apart from replacing their goalkeeper De Vries with the Benfica stopper Jose Moreira, and the signing of Watford striker Danny Graham. They were unable to bring in the striker Fabio Borini, who signed for Italian side Parma, as he secured the play off spot last season with 6 goals in 9 games.
Which side will fair best in the Premier League this season? Looking at the fixtures for the start of the season, QPR will feel the most comfortable, not facing one of the top 5 until mid October. Their season will be determined by the form of two players, Bothroyd & Taarabt, who have the ability to change a game, but without these two players QPR could struggle to create and score goals. For Norwich & Swansea they will initially rely on the good form from the back end of last season continuing, similar to what Blackpool achieved last year. Norwich’s success will depend on the way their players cope with the step up in class, as very little of them have Premier League experience. Finally, Swansea may struggle to play their attractive football when they are met with quality opposition, who don’t allow much time on the ball. My prediction would be QPR with the opening fixtures being very kind to them and the quality of Taarabt will prove vital in their bid to avoid relegation. All these questions will begin to be answered on the 13th August when the season commences.
“Unlike Norwich they have kept almost the same side from last season”
Wrong!!!
Norwich have not sold a single regular player from last season. Lansbury and Pecheco have returned to their parent clubs but were not regular starters at the end of the season anyway.
It’s a common misconception that Taarabt “single handedly” won us promotion last year, the fact that he is famous for not tracking back combined with QPR having a record number of clean sheets should tell you as much. QPR were extremely efficient last year and only the points deduction fiasco stopped them winning the league by around 10 pts. They should finish comfortably above the drop zone and the other two teams, but of course a signing for real money wouldn’t go amiss.
David, I think you will find that QPR didn’t suffer a points deduction after all so certainly were not 10 points better than 2nd place!!
Without doubt Norwich will surprise all the critics and finish easily above QPR, Swansea, Wigan, Wolves and Blackburn. dont be surprised if even they finish mid table. Paul Lambert is a genius and will get the team gelling together from the start. He’s made some quality signings and the team is going from strengh to strengh! Sorry QPR and Swansea but you will scrapping it out at the bottom with Wigan, Wolves and Blackburn.
Whilst ignoring the rather hopeful ambitions of James; Gavin, you miss my point. I am aware there were no points deducted (my life revolved around it for many weeks) – but it affected our results and the players to some extent. That’s why we hobbled over the line in contrast to the rest of the season.