Norwich, Swansea and Q.P.R. Few people would have felt comfortable betting on the survival of any one of the newly-promoted clubs at the start of last year’s campaign, let alone all three. Yet, for only the second time in the history of the Premier League all three former Championship teams managed to avoid the drop. Now, the question becomes will the survivors follow the lead set by the other set of three to accomplish the feat back in 2001-02 (Fulham, Blackburn, Bolton) and enjoy an extended stay in the top flight? Or will year 2 mean a dose of reality for the upstarts and a trip back through the trapdoor to the Championship?
Q.P.R. seems to be in the best position for prolonged success despite barely escaping the bottom three last season, thanks to the deep pockets of its new Malysian majority owner. On the field, a promising side is bolstered by the additions of Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Nelsen while full seasons from Bobby Zamora, Shaun Wright Phillips and Djibril Cisse should see Rangers improve on their dismal goal difference (worst among all the clubs who stayed up). But most importantly for long-term survival is what’s happening off the field. Q.P.R. has money to spend.
I don’t think Park will be the last signing of the off-season for Rangers and with a board that’s sights are set on Champions League football I expect London will have to get used to another top-flight regular.
Swansea makes for a tougher call. The Swans have done well to deal with the loss of bright young gaffer Brendan Rodgers to Anfield by snapping up the well-respected Michael Laudrup, and as a result may hold on to some of their better players. Even if some of their players do exit prior to the season Swansea should look to Stoke, another recently promoted success story, for a survival outline. Stick to what you do best.
Rodgers had the Welsh side playing some of the prettiest football around last year utilizing ‘the English Xavi’ Leon Britton to perfection in the center whilst getting the most of players with something to prove like Danny Graham and Joe Allen. Swansea proved it is the system as much as the players that drives positive results and they would do well to remember that again this season despite the change in the backroom. I don’t think Swansea will reach the heights of last season’s campaign but a top-10 finish is definitely not out of the question.
Norwich City may have the toughest task ahead in 2012-13. Paul Lambert was obviously a talented manager to squeeze a 47 point season out of a squad who’s biggest name player was plying his trade for Shrewsbury Town as recently as 2009. For Chris Hughton matching or surpassing this number will be a big ask. John Ruddy, Grant Holt, and Anthony Pilkington led the way to a surprising 12th place finish but many of the Canaries wins were due to their opponent underestimating them. Clubs don’t get this same luxury of surprise in year two.
Teams will be ready for Norwich’s direct style of play and Hughton may not be able to get off to a hot start like last season while he works out the tactical kinks. If Norwich City is to sustain itself in the vicious Premier League it needs to invest this summer or risk another decade back in lower league football.
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
What a load of old tripe. Norwich were tipped to go down last season and we got to a poor start due to penalty giveaways game after game. Some deserved and some down right shocking decisions.
Norwich have built on a good side and a side full of young British talent with much to prove.
Underestimate us a second and you just look like a fool frankly.
How if Norwich go down will they be in for another decade of lower league football?
Also I don’t think any team underestimates another. Even so, we only beat 1 of the top 6 all season in Spurs. So they weren’t underestimating us, and I doubt the lower teams were.
norwich to easy stay up they have a good manager with hughton.and to try and disrespect them to say the only reason they won games is because oposition went lightly is damm right disgusting mr andrew masters..they have a good squad there ..landrup will be out of his depth in the premier leauge im afraid and the swans will struggle
“Teams will be ready for Norwich’s direct style of play…”
You haven’t watched a lot of Norwich games, have you?
My prediction for the 3 relegated clubs are… I dunno Arsenal, QPR and West Ham. That’s right laugh at such a wild prediction but this time last year did Rangers think they’d be where they are now playing a local derby with a team in hooped shirts only this time it’s Queen’s Park not Celtic. I think the season just gone has put into perspective that for all the on field activity, off the field has as much to do with than any controversial penalty decision. Norwich will stay up because they have more than one way of playing football which is more than can be said of QPR. Who buy these players with the hope they gel together and subsequently when it doesn’t go too well sack their manager and start the process all over again.
Your on drugs mate!!! QPR far better than little tweet tweet Canaries !!!
On paper QPR should of gone up with Briatore, Eccleston and Mittal taking over in 2007. Promotion only happened when they stuck with a manager for a WHOLE season. I agree on paper man for man they should be better than Norwich but now that the holy grail of Premier League has been obtained I feel that even a slight wobble as seen with Warnock, Hughes too will be out the door. One advantage Norwich do have over you is that we don’t pick up the mercenaries that are just looking for a move to the bright lights of London rather than the club itself.
man are actully being serious like.Firstly you say arsenal.Last season they finished fourth and they most likly even lose anyoone this year walcott and koscheilny have both singed new deals and no one is willing to pay what arsenal want for RVP so how could they go down.then you say qpr who have made some quality signings this year.Weve bought a better keeper weve bought park from unieted and hoillett who arsenal and spurs wanted.cisse will be more careful this season and faurlin is back.then to west ham.They have also made a few signings unlike say southhampton who just got promoted and say villa who came close to going down last year i dont feel that villa will go down but feel that they will struggle
Did you actually read my comment. For all the amazing talent you can sign if the HMRC come knocking no 30-goal a season striker is going to help you regardless if your Arsenal or Accrington Stanley.I don’t know the ins and outs of Arsenal’s finances but these are difficult economic times we’re living in. Already the lower leagues relegation places are seemingly decided by which club is in administration slapped with a 10 or 15 point penalty. I just feel you never know who’ll be the next Rangers after all they finished second in the SPL yet now find themselves 3 leagues below Ross County, hence the wild prediction.
I find this article offensive!
First of all, just because a team spends millions like man city doesn’t mean it’s going to work! QPR did that last season and just avoided relegation while Norwich spent hardly anything and finished joint 10th with (as you say) no name players!
I hope Swansea do survive tbh, they play attractive football and their fans are a great bunch! I suspect graham will have another top season!
In terms of Norwich we have spent money so far we have bought two of the hottest prospects in football, Robert Snodgrass and Jacob Butterfield, granted neither have the same headline capability as say Kompany or RVP but they are solid players who will do great at Norwich. We outside of the top six now have one of the strongest midfields in the league: Howson, Johnson, Pilkington, Butterfield, Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Bennett! Our goalkeeper is world class, russ martin is a legend (should have got more votes for player of the season in my books), up front we have holt (we all know what he can do), jackson who has looked sharp in pre season, Morrison who is also looking in good form, and Vaughn if he can stay injury free is looking fantastic!
Yes I agree Norwich do need to spend money we need more defenders, we want naughton (I’m not sure we will get him), I dont want Davis, turner looks like a good call, but we need a couple more! We were too lose at the back last year and if we had been tighter we should have finished a lot higher! We can’t rely on Martin and ruddy to save everything!
Anyway maybe watch a few more Norwich games before writing awful articles like this again!
OTBC
QPR just can’t have the same bad luck having players either justly or unjustly sent off & decisions go against them like last season.
Also ridding the club of the cancer that is Joey Barton can only help their cause this year.
I’m confident Mark hgughes will make them tough to beat and they’ll do much better.
Good luck to Norwich & Swansea too, both fine clubs with supporters deserving of Premier League football.
Swansea good passing team but don’t score norwich can score but can’t defend. Norwich will struggle big time