Race for the Premiership

As the Championship promotion race is almost at an end, the inevitable promotion of West Bromwich Albion to the Premiership has been all but confirmed following a weekend which saw them pull 5 points clear of third place Hull. The Baggies’ far superior goal difference over their rivals has certainly sent out a signal that they are the prime candidate for a Premiership campaign next season. But they are the best of a pretty average bunch.

The embarrassing non-existence of Derby County’s Premiership challenge this season is a constant reminder of the broadening gulf between the leagues. The money thrown at the numerous signings in January wasn’t enough to save a doomed campaign that they were never ready for.

West Brom may well have the makings of a squad ready to survive, providing investment is made. They score the all important goals, and have the attacking potency both upfront and in midfield. If Kevin Phillips’ ageing legs can handle another year then the support of the likes of Miller, Koren, Gera, Brunt, and Morrison should go a long way to causing a few problems for opponents. Defensively they would need to sure up massively. Tony Mowbray himself has noted the customary lead they’ve tended to give their opponents recently. This would be suicide in the Premiership.

Those challenging along with West Brom this year for ‘the biggest prize in football’, particularly Stoke, Hull and Bristol City, have been surprising enough, and you have to wonder whether any of them would have the ability to step up to the demands of the Premier League. Sunderland look most likely to survive of the 3 newbies this year, and that’s taken a £30m investment in playing staff that could still turn out to be unsuccessful. Could these clubs afford this kind of outlay?

Of those in contention, I fancy Stoke to take second place. Hull’s charge has slowed recently and in Liam Lawrence Stoke have possibly the most effective player in the league in terms of goals and assists. Derby and Giles Barnes anyone? I hate to be cynical, but I do think this is one of the most average championships in a good while. Bristol City in the Premiership? Having scored fewer goals than bottom club Colchester this season I think they’d be better off without the embarrassment of a novelty season at the foot of the league.

As for the play-offs, the presence of the wily (one ‘L’) Mr Warnock makes me think it could be Palace’s year. 10 games unbeaten, and, like Roy Keane at Sunderland last year, he has taken the club from relegation zone to promotion challengers and this kind of turn around very often goes rewarded in football.

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