The new Premier League season is just over a month away, with champions Manchester City the 5/4 favourites to retain their crown, but who will be preparing for the Championship in 12 months’ time?
Last season’s relegation battle was full of high drama on the final day as QPR gave City a real scare before Roberto Mancini’s Blues found a way to win the game and claim the Premier League for the first time.
City became the fifth club to have won the title since leagues were reorganised in 1992 – Manchester United, Arsenal, Blackburn and Chelsea are the others – but QPR still survived as Bolton could only draw at Stoke City.
The Trotters were joined by Blackburn Rovers and Wolves in dropping out of the top flight as all three promoted sides – Rangers, Norwich and Swansea – managed to survive.
New for 2012-13 are Southampton, Reading and West Ham, with the Hammers going up via the play-offs and, at 2/1, the shortest price of the trio to suffer relegation.
Saints are currently 5/4 shots while the Royals, who have secured new investment, are priced at 11/10 for the drop.
While it is no surprise to see Southampton and Reading the favourites for relegation, there must also be concern for a few of the Premier League clubs – some more established than others – with Wigan as short as 3/2.
Latics have flirted with the dreaded drop for years now but always seem to put a slow start behind them before powering away to safety once the weather starts to warm up again.
History suggests their luck will eventually run out one day and that time could well be nigh.
Saints have done what Norwich (13/8) did and come straight up from League One via the Championship in consecutive seasons and in Nigel Adkins they have a manager who can follow the Canaries’ blueprint.
However, the side from Norfolk paid the price for their success when boss Paul Lambert was tempted away to Aston Villa, who flirted with the drop themselves last term.
Norwich have turned to Chris Hughton and he represents a safe pair of hands for the Carrow Road faithful, with Villa’s relative lack of investment over the last couple of seasons meaning they are likely to be nearer the bottom three than the top four.
Swansea (2/1) are also in the same boat as Norwich and must hope Michael Laudrup hits the ground running given the fact the Danish legend never played in England during an illustrious playing career which took in the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
QPR are 9/2 for the drop but it must be remembered they were tipped to stay up this time last year and only managed it by the skin of their teeth.
However, Mark Hughes has had more time to strengthen than Neil Warnock got last season given the timing of the Tony Fernandes takeover, and the Welshman has significantly made sure the spine of QPR’s team is now ready for more than just a survival battle.
IN DANGER: Southampton, Reading, Swansea, Wigan and Norwich.
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