Which Newly-Promoted Premier League Side Has the Best Chance of Survival – Talk the Football L
- Sam Greasley-Machin
- Jul 30, 2019
- 4 min read
Premier League football, credit: pixabay
Norwich City and Sheffield United were the two sides to secure automatic promotion to the promised land of the Premier League last season, joined by Dean Smith’s Aston Villa via the play-offs. Both Norwich and Villa have recent Premier League experience, while Chris Wilder’s side had their last stint in the Premier League in 2006-07, but the trio of sides will all know the challenge that awaits in maintaining that all important top-flight status.
The teams have taken contrasting approaches in how they are setting up for the up-coming season. Aston Villa have gone gun-hoe in splashing out over £133m in transfers, while Norwich very much have done the opposite in only spending a reported £3.75m (most of which has gone towards Ralf Fahrmann’s loan-fee). Sheffield United meanwhile have very much gone for a mixed approach spending just over £42m.
These newly-promoted sides very much all played attractive football during the Championship last year, which is unusual to have three new clubs do that, and would be expected to very much stick to their philosophies. However, the mountain of staying in the division is a big one to climb, where many have failed, will be interesting to see which side/s (if any) remain in the Premier League as we asses their chances.
Sheffield United’s ground Bramall Lane, credit: Wikimedia
Sheffield United
As mentioned the Blades have spent a total of £42m, but much is remained to be seen over how much of this has been spent well. Chris Wilder has brought in Lys Mousset for £10m, this is a very similar fee to which they sold David Brooks a year prior. Except the French striker is far from the player Brooks is or could be from what has been seen to date and has a far from impressive goal record at Bournemouth. It’s questionable what quality Mousset can really bring to the side (as most of his appearances have been from the bench), which could also be said for Callum Robinson and Luke Freeman and how they may step-up to top flight football. While the very much travelled Ravel Morrison hardly inspires confidence, which is shown by his one-year deal.
On the whole Wilder has kept the core of the squad, but it is worrying as to where they might be scoring goals because in the Championship you can get away with the slower, traditional type of forward, but in the Premier League it’s too often about pace. While they have brought in Lys Mousset and Ollie McBurnie who offer something different to the forwards previously at the club it is questionable what there impact could be. Overall they don’t look to have the quality to stay in the League and even to some degree look like they are assembling a great Championship side for 2020/2021.
Prediction: Relegated (20th)
Norwich City’s badge, credit; Flickr
Norwich City
The Canaries are a side that weren’t able to spend the money their fellow promoted sides can, a result of poor spending in years gone by when they have been promoted to the Premier, and then subsequently relegated. Although they have added some quality with Ralf Fahrmann in net on-loan from Schalke, the loan signing of Manchester City’s Patrick Roberts and bringing in striker Josip Drmic could be a good piece of business on a free-transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach. It will be interesting to see how the Championships top scorer Teemu Pukki fairs as well.
Daniel Farke is a very exciting young manager who will no doubt go on to manage bigger sides, but currently with Norwich his biggest problem is the midfield which isn’t the strongest and the only central addition being Ibrahim Amadou on-loan. Simply on paper it isn’t good enough for the Premier League and could be their down-fall particularly with their high pressing football. One notable sign of encouragement is tying down Max Aarons on a five-year deal, who had reported interest from top Premier League sides. It’s fair to say Norwich could easily be seen as a side to either just be relegated or just stay up, it certainly will be close.
Prediction: Just Relegated (18th)
Aston Villa’s homeground Villa Park, credit: Photo © Richard Humphrey (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Aston Villa
A sleeping giant in Aston Villa spent way more time in the Championship than anyone could have expected especially with the finances that have been pumped into the club, but thanks to the appointment of life-long fan Dean Smith he has taken them to the top-flight once more. The Birmingham side have spent a ridiculous £133m so far and many have serious doubts over their business, questioning whether they mainly simply ‘do a Fulham’.
However, where Villa have invested is in promising talent that suits the model of Dean Smiths footballing philosophy, perhaps inspired by Wolves in the previous campaign.The likes of Wesley, Douglas Luiz, Trezeguet and Ezri Konsa are all promising so-called stars of the future that will need to adjust quickly. While Tyrone Mings and Matt Targett are both still young, but come with experience in the top-flight – albeit limited.
Dean Smith has always been a manager in the Championship that has no doubt played some of the best football in the league both at Villa and previously at Brentford. He will be the clubs biggest asset and is very much a manager the club and fans trust. Their turnover is excessive, but looks more to go in the direction of Wolves rather than Fulham under Smith. If he can get the new acquisitions hitting the ground running, a mid-table finish could easily be seen to be achieved with how they play and with many of them only young they can only grow.
Prediction: Comfortable Survival (14th)
There will no doubt be a lot of disagreement with these predictions so leave your thoughts below and don’t forget to follow TalktheFootballleague on Twitter to hear all the latest Football League news and discussions @TalktheFL.
By Sam Greasley-Machin
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