Throughout the day, Posts By Panos will be releasing our always accurate EPL Season Preview for the 2012-13 season. Starting from the bottom of the table, we will work our way all the way to the top, culminating with our pick for this season's champion. Feel free to provide your own predictions in the comments section below. Let's begin with a close look at the 5 teams who will be fighting not to get relegated for the upcoming season.
20. Reading (Last Season - 1st in the nPower Championship - Automatic Promotion)
Reading FC -5.192.000 £
Reading were last in the Premiership in 2007-08 and after being relegated have built a squad based on youth and the managerial acumen of Brian McDermott. McDermott's youth policy is a direct result of being in charge of the club's youth academy before taking the big job. Last season, all three newly promoted clubs survived their first season in the big leagues, a very rare instance and honestly I do not see the same happening this time around.
In order to survive the drop new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak, who has EPL experience after his loan to Fulham last season, will have to be the scoring threat that is currently lacking at Reading. Furthermore, Reading's youth will need to make a major leap in their development to survive arguably the toughest league in world football. Regardless, I do not see how Reading avoid the drop.
19. Norwich City (Last Season - 12th in the Premiership)
Norwich City -4.488.000 £
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| Total: 4.488.000 £ | Total: 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Norwich had a dream season last year, their first in the EPL for quite some time, finishing 12th. Of course with success at a 'smaller club' that means that the bigger clubs usually come around to poach your best talent. So while Paul Lambert, the former manager, has made his way to Aston Villa, most of the Canaries cast has returned for an encore performance.
Looking back at last year's performance Norwich scored more goals than Everton, Fulham and Liverpool, although scoring more goals than Liverpool really isn't that impressive. However, they also conceded the 5th most goals in the league. At the end of the day, Norwich over achieved last season and without their fearless leader Mr. Lambert, I would be hard pressed to back them to stay in the top flight for another year. Their lack of a defensive leader will be their undoing.
18. Southampton (Last Season - 2nd in the nPower Championship - Automatic Promotion)
Southampton FC -11.308.000 £
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| Total: 11.308.000 £ | Total: 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
With the help of back to back promotions Southampton are back in the Premiership. For the older crowd, one can not conjure memories of Matthew Le Tissier when thinking about Southampton. An absolute magician with the ball, Le Tissier was an iconic player for the Saints who probably does not get the credit he deserves for his outstanding play. It is still shocking that he was only capped 8 times for England.
Regardless, this edition of the Saints will be in tough to avoid relegation. Similar to the Blackpool squad of a couple years ago, Southampton figure that the best way to beat you is to attack and have built a squad accordingly. However, without significant depth and relying on Ricky Lambert, a 30 year-old journey man who scored 27 goals last season, will make things difficult for the Saints.
17. Wigan (Last Season - 15th in the Premiership)
Wigan Athletic -9.182.800 £
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| Total: 9.182.800 £ | Total: 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It seems that every year is a relegation battle for Wigan and Roberto Martinez, yet somehow, someway the Latics survive the drop and are gifted another season in the Premiership. Last season Wigan beat Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal within the course of a month and thus injected a serious boost of confidence to the entire squad that led them to finish in 15th position.
This year, with the impending departure of last year's MVP Victor Moses to either Manchester City or Chelsea, Wigan might not have enough horses to survive. But if there is one thing that I have learned from following the 7 year run of Wigan in the EPL is that they are the most difficult team to relegate and I see them surviving for one more year, as long as Mr. Martinez is in charge of the club.
16. West Ham United (Last Season - 3rd in the nPower Championship - Playoff Promotion)
West Ham United -10.951.600 £
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| Total: 10.951.600 £ | Total: 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honestly, isn't the Premiership just a tad better when West Ham United and Big Sam Allardyce are involved? With probably the most passionate fans in London, West Ham is always one of the most followed clubs in the EPL. After being relegated in 2010, West Ham are back in the Premiership thanks in part to a high-scoring offense that potted 81 goals and the play of their captain, Kevin Nolan.
For the upcoming season, West Ham have spent a fair amount of money, swapping Robert Green for Bolton's Jussi Jasskelainen and bringing in Marseille's defensive lynchpin, Alou Diarra. As long as Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te continue their goal scoring form, West Ham should be able to avoid the drop. Furthermore, there is enough Premiership experience in the squad to handle the week to week rigors of playing in the top flight.
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