Swansea CityLast Season: 3rd in Championship (Playoff Winners)Swansea makes their return to the top flight for the first time since 1983 and become the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League.Swansea booked their spot in an exciting 4-2 victory over Reading in the Championship Playoff Final.Swansea plays an attractive and open style that should make exciting to watch.It will be interesting to see if they try to rein that style in a play a little more defensive with the step up in competition.The swans are lead by former Chelsea player Scott Sinclair who scored 19 league goals a year ago and added a hat trick in the Playoff Final.Swansea has added a few names to their squad for the season including former Newcastle player Wayne Routlege and former Middlesbrough striker Leroy Lita.They did lose Fabio Borini who was on loan from Chelsea.Swansea will have their work cut out for them to avoid the drop.
Norwich CityLast Season: 2nd in ChampionshipNorwich will return to the Premier League for the first time in 6 years this season. After a strong 2nd place finish in the Championship a year ago, Norwich look to build on that success this year. Norwich is a squad full of players with little to no Premier League experience so this could be a difficult year for the Canaries. Norwich did bring in on loan Manchester United’s Ritchie De Laet and Tottenham’s Kyle Naughton. Norwich will lean on leading scorer and Captain Grant Holt who poured in 21 goals in the Championship a year ago. Norwich has a rabid fan base and will have to rely on their home form to stay up.
Queens Park RangersLast Season: 1st in ChampionshipQPR return to the Premier League after a 15 year absence. In the Premier League first season of 1992-93, QPR were the highest placed London team with their 5th place finish. QPR has added some talent this transfer window with Kieran Dyer from West Ham and Blackpool standout DJ Campbell who had 13 goals in the Premier League a year ago. QPR also look to to hold on to Moroccan midfielder Adel Taarabt who was one of the main reasons they were able to secure promotion a year ago. Taarabt a former Spurs player, looked to be heading for the exit all summer long but for now is still a member of the team. QPR will lean heavily on Campbell and Taarabt if they are to stay up.
Wolverhampton WanderersLast Season: 17thWolves found a way to remain in the Premier League once again by the skin of their teeth.Wolves avoided the drop by a measly 1 point.Wolverhampton will look to improve their form against the bottom dwellers instead of relying on getting points against the teams at the top of the table which somehow they were able to accomplish a year ago.Wolves cannot expect to have as much success against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City this season.Wolves did make a big splash in the transfer market with the 8 million pound signing of Birmingham CB Roger Johnson.Wolves did not lose anyone of note and will head into next season trying to improve and not just stay up.
Wigan AthleticLast Season 16th Like Wolves, Wigan is a team that has barely been able to avoid relegation for the last few years. Unlike Wolves, Wigan actually has a couple of players that other teams seem to want. Wigan will have to absorb the loss of Charles N’Zogbia to Aston Villa as he was arguably their best player a year ago. Wigan did however manage to hold onto leading scorer Hugo Rodallega and in demand manager Roberto Martinez. The only major piece of business made by Wigan was making the move for Goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi permanent. It will be interesting to see if Martinez will be able to keep Wigan up next season with so few additions to the squad.
