For only the 2nd time (apparently) all three promoted teams managed to stay up in the Premiership. We are soon to be joined by Reading, Southampton and either the Hammers or Blackpool so the question is can all three newly promoted sides do the same trick as us, Swansea and Norwich? If not then who would be favourites out of them to drop next May? QPR came up as champions and I don't think many pundits expected us to be hanging on by our finger nails on the last day of the season, and the same pundits probably didn't reckon on the good form shown by the two sides who came up with us. I hope we can move onwards and upwards with a solid team put together in the summer ready to hit the ground running and not end up down in the doldrums again. Saying that it wouldn't surprise me if the bottom six next season contained the three sides coming up along with the three that managed to stay up. Wigan always look like being there or there abouts and teams like Stoke and Villa need to look over their shoulders next year but I think it will be a safe bet that at least one of this years three promoted teams and one of last years will go. The Premiership does look like being divided into three mini-leagues, I'd be happy to finish towards the top of the bottom third or midway in the second third. Please, no more last game of the season soiling of the pants!
I would imagine that Blackpool if they go up might struggle. Villa need a complete overhaul or face trouble. Norwich & Swansea too might experience second season syndrome. I think Reading & Soton will be fine.
Havent got a clue who will go down until we see who does what business in the summer. I do fancy Norwich and Swansea to struggle though especially if Norwich lose their manager.
Not sure what will become of WBA now Woy has departed? Could see them sucked into the mix with Norwich + one other.
Next year will be interesting. With the 3 promoted sides surviving and Reading, Saints and hopefully Blackpool coming up, the bottom half of the Premiership has a top half of the Championship feel. Add Villa, Stoke, Wigan (if they sell players) and WBA (post Hodgson) and there is a 10 team mini league that i would expect us to be near the top of. Having yearned for a rest from the stress of last season and recovered from my hangover i now cant wait for the action to kick off again. Happy Days.
Whoever comes up need to strengthen or they will go back down. We stayed up because of the players (and when we were bad the others were worse) and change of manager. Swans stayed up because BR got them playing good football and Norwich stayed up because of manager Lambert and his physical way. I don't think other than (big Sam) the new managers are as good as last years. The Championship is a poor division and lost the 3 best teams last year For me i watched Reading on TV a few times and they were awful, looked slow and played scrappy games so unless they bring in better players they will struggle, (they have Legs and Gorkks remember)! Saints also need to invest and i can seem them doing it. Blackpool (if the win) will go back down. West Ham (if they win) will have best chance. The Prem has moved on even in our first season and it will be hard for promoted clubs
Personally think the key is held with who is in charge at all these clubs next year . You could see a real merry go round in managers. Villa & WBA already looking , Norwich, swansea, readings and wigans manager all being linked with other jobs? will Moyes and half of Everton finally leave as they have no cash ? could be an interesting summer and cause some issues with stability.
Think it's a bit too early to tell who will struggle next season, need to wait and see what happens with player and manager movements. As an early prediction, I'd guess that one of Norwich and Swansea will struggle (Norwich if they lose Lambert, Swansea I can see their style of play being sussed out), while Blackpool could again struggle if they make it up, and possibly Reading... although looking at Reading's promotion season they seem like they could be on course to mimic Norwich's achievement this year. If Villa get a decent manager in they'll be fine, and if Wigan lose Martinez they could struggle. Three for the drop: Swansea, Blackpool (fingers crossed they beat West Ham), Wigan.
Very hard to say at this juncture, but I'd like to think we won't be in the relegation mix next year, although depends on summer signings and how they gel. Hopefully the Citeh game may indicate that we're finally near ending our lousy away form. If Norwich and Swansea can hang on to their managers they will at least be able to match this years positions and I don't see them necessarily struggling next year. As has been said already, Wigan, WBA and Villa must surely struggle, and maybe Stoke added to Reading and Blackpool/ West Ham and I believe the bottom 3 will come from that group.
I have to admire the confidence you boys are showing considering you needed Bolton to drop points on the last day to keep up despite your much vaunted signings and yet your general opinion is that you will be comfortably mid-table and well above both Norwich and Swansea, even given that you won't have your captain for the first few matches of the season (assuming that you don't sack him). That said if your board sign a couple of decent players in the summer and you keep Cisse (and he keeps his head) I reckon you'll improve on this season. As posted before there are going to be some ordinary teams in the PL next season and a lot will depend on the likes of us, Wigan and Swansea holding onto our managers and WBA/Villa getting someone decent although I think that unless something radical happens Villa may be in terminal decline. I was at the game on Saturday and they were worse than Bolton - had we not taken our foot off the gas and taken off both strikers and our best midfielder in the second half it could have been a cricket score. I'm sure it will be an intersting Summer but hopefully we will keep Lambert and get our usual lions share of the points against you next year!
Look mate stop being obessed with us and go and post on your own board if yoy don't like the comments/views. This Thread is on what QPR fans think about the promoted sides.
Admire it Norfolk as I know we can and will finish very well next year. I tend to believe the remarks made by the professionals about QPR ... most expect us to kick on next year ... we have enough money to buy Norwich outright so expect a few signings. Barton won't get in the side anyway. You took six points from us ... well done but that was last season. Its sad but it's geography and money and of course flair. Norwich last year did very well but after the summer of vultures have picked your best away ... I geniuely hope you survive but I sense you may struggle
To be fair Dangerous, I haven't seen BR touted as much as PL, and on the subject of our very own MH, I saw this this morning: http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/repor...rt-with-hughes-also-on-the-shortlist_1689070? "Aston Villa are expected to make an official approach to Norwich City to speak to Paul Lambert about becoming their manager - but Mark Hughes is also understood to be a surprise inclusion on the club's shortlist." Either way given that MH has publicly committed himself to QPR for the forseeable future and PL said something along the lines of "We'll see what happens" you can see why there's speculation surrounding your manager more?
Your manager has been superb and I hope you find someone who can push you on or prevent the slide that most predict
QPR staying up will cause problems for the relegation-prone clubs next season. We'll get stronger now. Bolton, had they made it on the last day, would have been cannon fodder in the Prem next season and probably have taken one of the places in the bottom 3. I agree the managerial merry-go-around this summer will have a huge impact on who will be dead meat in the 2012/13 season
Thank god. Could also have something to do with the fact that he is the 13th highest paid manager in the world and sadly BR/PL aren't.
Perhaps MH is not in demand because the press (and other boards) know he is happy at QPR and has the full backing financially of the board. Add to that the quite clear public lack of commitment PL showed in his post-match comments on the last day of the season, and surprise surprise, PL is linked to other jobs, and MH is not. Wow, that took me ages to work out.
