da imperador bet： After Norwich sauntered to playoff glory against Middlesbrough this week, the twenty teams who will battle it out in next year’s Premier League were decided. So joining Norwich in replacing relegated QPR, Burnley and Hull will be champions Bournemouth and runners up Watford.
da doce： After two of the three promoted teams were sent back from where they came this season, can this year’s crop fare better? Will they follow the example set by Leicester City or will all three be readying for a return to the second tier in twelve months’ time?
Bournemouth were the surprise package of the Championship this year, few expected them to challenge for the playoffs, almost no-one pre-empted them lifting the title. They played a brand of football that earned them admirers nationwide, their free flowing football will be a welcome addition to the top flight.
It will be interesting to see whether Eddie Howe and The Cherries will approach next season in the vein of Burnley; they have a solid team spirit which has born so much of their success and splitting that up could cause problems. However, for all of their dynamism and attacking prowess, next year they will still need to improve on quality. Callum Wilson notched 19 times last term and appears central to their hopes of survival, their resolve may be tested if rumours are to be believed with a number of potential suitors interested in the former Coventry man.
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If Bournemouth can add some Premier League experience and Wilson can translate his Football league form to Premier League form, then The Cherries could once again confound the critics.
Many will expect to make an instant return to the Championship but they have momentum, something which can be so vital and if Howe gets it transfer policy right, as he so often does, then they could ensure their Premier League journey is not a short one.
Watford timed their run to promotion perfectly, winning ten of their last 14 fixtures to steal an automatic spot right under the noses of Middlesbrough and Norwich. However, as is becoming a traditional custom at Vicarage Road, the managerial dugout is once again empty. Slavisa Jokanovic’s departure ensures that The Hornets are set for their fifth boss in a year. The constant upheaval and lack of longevity is surely not a set up for success.
In Troy Deeney they do have a player that has flourished in the lower leagues and deserves his crack at the top level. But past Deeney they have few standout players, they were a side that were a sum of all parts and for them to succeed next year they will surely need heavy investment.
Although they finished second, Watford at this point are arguably the weakest of the three promoted clubs and they could face a struggle next year.
The final club Norwich made an instant return to the top flight following their win at Wembley and they still have the look of a Premier League team. Nathan Redmond was undoubtedly a Premier League talent plying his trade in the Championship and in Bassong they have a defender of immense talent and experience.
Of course it is inconceivable that Norwich can expect to stay up without investment and they do need a number of players to ensure they can truly compete with the ‘big boys’ next year. Manager Alex Neil recognises that it will be an extremely tough task, whether they will be ready is yet to be seen.
At this point in time for one reason or another all three will start the season as the bookmaker’s favourites for the drop, but critics are there to be wronged and they will all fancy their chances at achieving their number one task of staying in the top flight.
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