Which club is best equipped to win promotion back to the Premier League?
Derby County, as everyone is aware, are the worst team in the history of the Premier League. A 4-0 home defeat by Reading on the final day of the season left the once-mighty Rams with the unenviable record of played 38, won 1, drawn 8, lost 29, goals for 20, goals against 89 (goal difference minus 69), points 11.
Paul Jewell may have appeared suicidal at times this season over the abject nature of some of his side’s performances, but he is not a bad manager. He knows what it takes to win promotion from the Championship and will doubtless have a wholesale clear-out in the summer.
Reading, who were a welcome addition to the Premier League when they were promoted two seasons ago, found life much tougher second time around. The Berkshire outfit hit a barren spell in front of goal when it mattered most – at the end of the season – failing to find the net in six successive games leading to a nosedive into the relegation zone from which they were unable to recover. There are, however, going to be worse teams than the Royals continuing to ply their trade in the Premier League next season.
Birmingham too big a club to go down? Absolutely not. All that messing about in mid-season with the on-off takeover talk of Carson Yeung had a destabilising effect which prompted the departure of Steve Bruce. Alex McLeish, feted for the work he had done in almost guiding Scotland to the finals of Euro 2008, came in and enjoyed instant success with a win at Tottenham Hotspur. That win on the road proved, however, to be a false dawn, as it was their inability to collect points away that proved to be their undoing. But James McFadden, their best player, has pledged to stick with the club next season, so there must be some optimism that they can take the Championship by storm.
What do you think: Which club is best equipped to win promotion back to the Premier League?
Cast your vote and please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.
Birmingham is not too big a club to go down as any club can virtually go down. Tottenham and Newcastle United had to do something quick in order to save themselves and they did. Birmingham are however a big enough club to compete in the championship and come back up. I do foresee birmingham city coming back up very soon.
Posted by: Manchester United Credit Card | May 13, 2008 at 03:49 AM
Derby, natch. Which of the three was planning to go down all season? Which of the three has a full season's Premiership cash in the bank because they didn't spend any of it?
More obscurely, which board of directors has spent this season planning for the long-term instead of gambling on avoiding relegation?
If you want a recipe for survival in the Premiership, then being promoted next year with 30+ million to spend and a manager of the calibre of Paul Jewell is definitely up there.
Posted by: josh | May 12, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Parachute money has actually had little impact on teams coming down to the football league. Although common sense suggests that the increase in revenue gives them an advantage the reality is that the likes of Southampton, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Charlton and Norwich went backwards with parachute payments.
As for the teams coming down, Derby were hardly settting the Championship alight when they got promoted. They were a combative team that was hard to beat, who stuck in the playoff zone. West Brom should have gone up, but choked in the playoff final. The Championship is so competitive now that it's hard to see them picking up after a year of humiliation.
It will be interesting to see how Mcleish's Birmingham do in the Championship. They could trive and dominate, or they could struggle in the same vein as Charlton or Sheffield United. They got back up last time by concentrating on young, hungry and fearless talent. It will be interesting to see if they learn their lesson.
Reading have to be the strongest contender. A good footballing side with a strong defence, they were formidable two years ago. My personal opinion is they will be runaway winners. Assuming Steve Coppel stays.
Posted by: Jon | May 12, 2008 at 04:19 PM
All 3 clubs will be well equipped to challenge next season. The parachute money will give them an advantage although Derby could do with a season of consolidation.
My money is on Ipswich Town. With 12million to spend in the summer Magilton's army will be hard to stop.
Posted by: Tractoroo | May 12, 2008 at 03:55 AM