Watford, Norwich City and AFC Bournemouth were the three teams promoted to the British Premier League following their performance in the Football League Championship. The three teams promoted from the Championship usually come up and struggle to stay afloat against powerhouse teams such as Arsenal and Manchester City. This season, however, the three teams are sitting above the relegation line, and look like they could all survive at least one season at the top level of British football. Should they stay in the BPL, it would mark the first time since the 2011-12 season that all three promoted teams would stay in the league for a second season.
AFC Bournemouth has been the highest scoring of the three promoted sides, with 26 goals in 22 matches. They are very team-oriented, with only one player having as many as five goals, that being striker Callum Wilson. In fact, 12 different players have scored for Bournemouth this season, and that shows why they're surviving as of now -- they play as a unit, not a solo show.
Norwich City is a bit of an anomaly, as they have no real standouts, and are only two points ahead of Swansea. They have the worst goal differential of any team currently avoiding relegation. They are barely staying above the dreaded relegation line, but are there. They definitely can avoid relegation, especially with the poor performances of teams like Aston Villa and Sunderland.
Watford is the squad excelling in their first year of promotion. They are even on goal differential and have someone who looks like a bonafide superstar in Odion Ighalo. Ighalo has scored 14 of the team's 25 league goals this season. This is not a shock since he scored 20 goals in the Championship division last season, and you would think Watford would do anything to keep him, although we did see up-and-coming Swansea transfer out star Wilfried Bony recently.
In 2011-12, Queens Park Rangers, Swansea and Norwich City all entered the Premier league. Norwich and Swansea both competed very well, managing to tie for 10th in points, finishing just outside the top half of the table on goal differential. QPR was much closer to a disappointing relegation, finishing one point ahead of Bolton Wanderers to stay in the EPL. They could not stay for a third season, however, finishing last in 2012-13 and being bumped down. Norwich would fall in 2013-14 to 18th place, and be relegated back for just one season. Swansea has been in the EPL since that season, but are very close to relegation now, with 22 points, sitting in 17th place.
While they are not contenders for the moment, these three teams are a great story and show the positive nature of a Promotion/Relegation system. If you can make it to the top tier of British football and survive for a few seasons, you could turn into a top contender. It makes it so that teams can't tank and need to continue an upwards rise to become a legitimate contender. Most of all, it's fun to watch these teams fight for their lives at the end of the season, as it makes for great football.
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