As we are beginning to regularly witness in the Premier League, the teams who emerge from The Championship into the Promised Land are having much more of an impact than expected; often it is not in terms of the stories and off the pitch drama they bring like the wealthy (yet unpredictable and regularly poor) QPR, it is the football they play and the confidence to do so that is changing slowly but surely over the years. It seems that the Championship’s quality is setting high standards as it continues to entertain every football fan.
If we backtrack to this time last year, the dominant QPR are looking pretty certain to win the league, Norwich are surprising many as they charge towards a second successive promotion and the play-off places are being relentlessly fought for by a number of clubs.
As QPR were taken over by Tony Fernandes in the August of last year, high profile signings like Joey Barton were attracted and later, players like Djibril Cisse joined the squad to add their experience and ability, all in aid of hoping to keep QPR in the Premier League.
You would be no fool to think that, back then, Loftus Road would be playing host to top-flight football for the foreseeable future.
And yet, take a look at the table today; the contrast between the two teams that were given relatively no chance in the big time and the big spenders is startling. Norwich and Swansea especially have become a joy to watch. Not only have they done a ‘Blackpool’ and exceeded general expectation in front of goal, they can defend (something which the Tangerines lacked). Their consistent results and performances mean they are hovering around the ‘safe’ 40 points mark-incredible, you may think.
Norwich leapt from the Championship into the most exciting league in the world with a bang. Under Paul Lambert, who hauled the club from League 1 in two years, the Canaries have stuck with their attacking style of football which has resulted in them becoming a real force to reckon with. Norwich have deservedly achieved some huge results this season.
One of their star men, Grant Holt, sums up Norwich. Holt, 30, has had no easy ride to reach where he is today. Via Australia, Singapore and a long time spent in the Football League after being discovered in the amateur divisions, he is finally living the dream; due to his prolific scoring record, there are people out there eagerly wanting him to be given a chance in an England shirt. Lambert plucked Holt from Shrewsbury Town for around £400,000 to play for his League 1 Norwich side and has not looked back. The Scot has expertly built a side with hard work and belief instilled; their desire to do well plays a major part in them comfortably sitting mid-table, neck and neck with their Welsh compatriots, Swansea.
Brendan Rodger’s defiant Swans, the play-off winners of last season’s Championship, have been the most eye-catching team to bathe in the limelight of the Premier League out of all 20 clubs, never mind just the promoted three.
Facts and statistics bring to light how much of a revolution Swansea’s fluid, pass and move football has been this season. Fans have nothing but admiration for a club who never give up; remember their opening game of the season? In case you don’t, they were beaten 5-0 away to Manchester City, but enjoyed better possession in the first half and continued to pass and move until the final whistle. So it’s no surprise then that the Welsh club have had a better possession average per game than Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool. Additionally, they are the third-highest passers in terms of completion in the Premier League. At one stage, Midfielder Leon Britton had a better individual pass accuracy rate than Xavi Hernandez of Spain and Barcelona-yes, you did just read that.
Along with Britton, stars like Michel Vorm, the athletic goalkeeper has kept several impressive clean sheets this season. Scott Sinclair has had some season too; his twisting, perfect volley against Chelsea prolifically stands out as a moment to remember.
These two clubs set an example for those promoted in the future; QPR have a difficult run-in, facing many of the top teams (which could ultimately be decisive as whether they stay up or not). If however, against all odds, they do manage to stay up it will be the first time since 2001-02 (Blackburn, Fulham and Bolton) that all 3 promoted clubs stayed up.
Surely then, that would prove the quality of the Championship especially is on the up.
Or does it? You could argue that Premier League teams have been below par this season. Until desperation has begun to take over, experienced Premier League teams like Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan and Wolves have all been particularly poor.
On the other hand, looking at Norwich and Swansea, it seems teams like this are now setting the standard for those who take playing in the Premier League for granted. If you look at the teams on the verge of promotion, it could be a similar story next season.