The step up from the Championship to the Premier League is considered a large one but with all 3 newly promoted teams of last season (Swansea, Norwich and QPR) all surviving last season, there is certainly hope for Reading, Southampton and West Ham during the 2012/13 season.
Championship winners Reading lead by Brian McDermott were very much a surprise package of last season, not really challenging the leaders until the signing of Jason Roberts which sparked a great run of form culminating in the club winning promotion to the Premier League and the Championship title. Having signed proven Premier League players such as Reading old boy Nicky Shorey, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie along with exciting right back Chris Gunter, Reading have wasted no time adding to their squad. If they are to successfully survive in the Premier League next season then Reading are going to have to be reasonably solid at the back as they scored 16 less goals then Southampton last season.
Reading’s key player I believe will be Jobi McAnuff who is the captain and also a winger that has long been considered of Premier League quality. Also, watch out for Adam Le Fondre who during many substitute appearances scored crucial goals towards the end of games last season. I feel Reading may just have enough to survive next season but not finish any higher than 15th or 16th.
Southampton led the Championship for long periods last season and despite Reading’s late season surge held on to 2nd place to guarantee Premier League football at St Marys. Nigel Adkins has already made a few excellent signings with the club record of Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez, the free transfer of Steven Davis and sought after right back Nathaniel Clyne.
Southampton scored 85 goals in the league last season and with the strikers in their squad like Billy Sharp, Guly do Prado, Jay Rodriguez and last season’s Championship top scorer Rickie Lambert they look set to cause problems to some world class defenders. As well as these strikers, Southampton possess Adam Lallana who has the ability to unlock defences at will and was tipped to be in the Premier League this season even if Southampton were not. I think that Southampton will be the best of the 3 new teams with a possible finish of 11th or 12th.
West Ham also led the Championship for quite a while last season but suffered quite a few dark moments on their way to a 3rd place finish and eventual play-off victory. So far this summer, Sam Allardyce has signed a few experiences Premier League players (Jaaskelainen, Collins and Diame) but they are still expected to make big deals and they are the club out of the 3 that have the most ability to spend big. West Ham’s largest problem is the discontent within the club as over the last few years it seems there has been constant unrest between fans and the club as the fans tend to have much higher expectations then possibilities allow. In my opinion, I think West Ham will be the biggest strugglers of the 3 promoted teams and may pick up the title of “Yo-Yo club” this season.
Whether or not the team has enough quality to out play some of the teams in the Premier League, momentum and the element of surprise is crucial for newly promoted teams as shown by the Premier League’s surprise at Norwich’s rough style and Swansea’s passing Spain-like style. These advantages may wear away in the second season (commonly referred to as second season syndrome) but clubs have to use this element of surprise as teams try to work them out during the first season.
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West Ham fans took huge numbers all over the championship, and yet you still have a pop. I agree that we will be the ones that struggle the most, but don’t blame the fans. Place the blame at the door of the person who thinks we need no pace or real creativity in the side
West Ham will only struggle if we do not make further acquisitions, especially defensively. If we do not make the necessary acquisitions then wave goodbye to the OS, but still time to get business done.
Reading got on a run that gave them amazing momentum last season, that’s the only reason they beat us and West Ham for the top two spots
They won’t be good enough or lucky enough to repeat that
Reading will be good enough to have fewer losses, than wins and draws. The reason they were able to have such an amazing run last season was that strange phenom….TEAM Work! An 11 man defence,…and a 10 man attack. Any man will make a goal line save…and any man will score. It’s really tough to play against a team that believes they can win,…all the way to the final whistle!
Actually Reading would have won the league by 20 points last time but for losing Shane Long and Matt Mills at the start. The side had to be rebuilt and after 8 games were 1 place off the bottom. They beat you for the top spot because they beat West ham home and away, beat you at St Mary’s and got more points over the whole season than either of you. Luck? no, good management and good players.
reading put 7 goals against west ham we also had the best defence in the league,and the most spirit,and of course the best manager. Southampton,do those grapes taste sour.
Great analysis considering you overlook Modibo Maiga 😉