With Leicester, Burnley and one of Derby or QPR readying themselves for the Premier League next season, we take a look at the teams that have made the same move from the Championship. Will our latest trio of promoted teams suffer the fate of Cardiff or will they become mainstays of the top flight?
Recent History
- The Championship winner has never been the highest ranked of the newly promoted teams the following season.
- In the last two seasons, the Championship winners (Cardiff 2012/13 and Reading 2011/12) have been relegated the following season.
- Twice have the Championship Play-Off winners (Blackpool 2009/10, Burnley 2008/09) been relegated the following season.
- The Championship runner-up has never been relegated the following season.
- Two newly-promoted teams have finished in the top 10 the following season (West Ham – 10th in 2011/12 and Birmingham – 9th in 2008/09).
- Leicester finished this season with 102 points. The last Championship team to score as many as 102 points was Newcastle, who finished the next season in 12th with 46 points.
- Exactly one team from the newly promoted sides has been relegated the following season four out of five times. No newly promoted teams were relegated in 2010/11. Never have two or three newly promoted teams been relegated the following season.
Conclusions
The most interesting conclusion is that the Championship winners have not been the highest ranked team the following season. In fact, in the last three seasons, they have been the lowest ranked, the last two seasons they have been relegated, and last season Cardiff finished rock bottom. This handy table offers a full look at the history of promoted sides in the Premier League. Surely a team like Cardiff, who won the league by eight points should have had a strong enough squad to at least guarantee safety. Perhaps they did. And perhaps the aforementioned teams were victims of investing too much in unproven players the following summer, in failed attempts to strengthen their teams. Cardiff spent £31m on eight players during the summer window, Reading £2.3m on nine players QPR £9.5m on 10 players.
The same could be said for Crystal Palace, whose 14 new signings had them 19th in the table when Holloway departed, and their fortunes turned only after a change at the top. Hull City, meanwhile, strengthened their team wisely by only investing in key areas in which they lacked quality and depth. Could Burnley’s apparent lack of money to spend be an advantage to them going into the new season as they may have a largely unchanged squad? And will Leicester, who finished the season on 102 points, feel it is necessary to revamp their entire squad?
9 years, 11 months agoI tend to avoid newly promoted sides. But will keep an eye out for the odd 4m player. Burnely as well could be interesting. They got off to a flyer when they first got promoted - produced some outstanding results (goes misty eyed as he remembers Graham Alexanders 23 pt haul).