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Which promoted team has the best chance of staying in the Premier League?
Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Hull City are no strangers to the top tier of English football, with all three having played in the top flight in the past decade. Yet many pundits, YouTubers, fans, and grandmas are predicting a very tough season ahead for the three promoted clubs from the 2015/16 English Championship.
Are we right to think all three of these clubs are going to struggle in the Premier League?
The season’s opening games provide little evidence for obvious reasons, for example, it is unlikely Arsenal are going to wind up 14th in 37 games time.
However, each of three teams got three separate results with Hull defeating the defending champions Leicester City 2-1, Middlesbrough being pegged back to a 1-1 draw with Stoke City while Burnley lost out to Swansea City by 1 goal to nil.
In their opening games, none of the teams looked like they were doomed, but such is the current competitive state of the Premier League it is becoming harder and harder for teams to beat the drop.
The transfer windows and momentum are more than likely going to be key aspects for all the teams but particularly Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Hull who re-adapt to life in the top flight.
Just how can each team fare this season?
Burnley
The biggest issue they suffered within their last Premier League campaign (2014/15) was a lack of goals, despite the attacking threats of George Boyd and Danny Ings. With just 28 goals netted, they scored the lowest total in the league, yet still letting in 53 – only QPR, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Leicester let in more.
However, there was a resounding impression among many that manager Sean Dyche had done a solid job with the Clarets, and he proved his credentials last season by winning the Championship, instantly promoting his side back into the Premier League.
Their opening game of the season against Swansea was what could be described as a typical Burnley performance, playing well but struggling to kill the game off, ultimately seeing Leroy Fer put one past them.
There’s a strong sense that despite Dyche’s qualities and the pluckiness of the Clarets, they are just slightly too small in terms of financial power and infrastructure for the very top of English football.
However, goalkeeper Tom Heaton could be a key player this season, as could Welsh striker Sam Vokes, and the loaned in Jon Flanagan at right back who will be eager to impress.
Burnley face an uphill battle, but there’s nothing substantial to suggest they can’t pull off a surprise.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough haven’t been in the Premier League since the 2008/09 season when Cristiano Ronaldo was still at Manchester United, but the club have for a long time been front runners in the second tier, and it was almost inevitable that one season they would make their way back up to the top division.
Aitor Karanka, however, has been busy this summer, bringing in a whole host of talent, particularly between the sticks.
Ex-Barcelona number 1 Victor Valdes joined the Boros on a free transfer after a period to forget at Manchester United, but despite it not working out in Manchester there is no denying his goalkeeping ability, and his domestic record speaks for itself.
Middlesbrough have also signed Brad Guzan from Aston Villa for free, Gaston Ramirez on a permanent deal for free, Viktor Fischer from Ajax, Marten de Roon from Atalanta and Alvaro Negredo on a season-long loan deal from Valencia.
Those signings are more than enough to keep the fans believing, and they signal Karanka and Middlesbrough’s intent this season; they don’t want to be there to just make up the numbers.
Negredo has already made an instant impact scoring on his league debut for the club against Stoke City, and everybody knows having a potent striker in your ranks goes a long way to securing safety; just look at Jermain Defoe at Sunderland.
Like any of the less financially powerful teams, at this stage of the season, Middlesbrough must be considered to be in the relegation battle but they definitely have the capability to beat the drop.
Hull City
Of all the newly promoted teams, Hull are arguably the least well equipped to deal with the Premier League and are a lot of people’s tip for demotion back into the Championship come May next year.
Steve Bruce’s resignation has done nothing to help their cause, with Mike Phelan stepping in until the Tigers can find a permanent replacement to lead their Premier League campaign.
Their transfer business hasn’t exactly been encouraging either, losing Sone Aluko to Fulham and Mohamed Diame to Newcastle United, and only bringing in goalkeeper Will Mannion from AFC Wimbledon.
However, they proved against Leicester City that anything is possible, as they took an unlikely victory via great goals from Adama Diomande and Robert Snodgrass.
Other key players for Hull this city are likely to be midfielder Tom Huddlestone, forward Abel Hernandez and defender Michael Dawson, the skipper.
It is impossible to predict how a league season will pan out, especially in the Premier League, but it looks a little bleak for Hull City right now unless they can pull off some great signings before September, including a new manager.
Burnley, Middlesbrough, and Hull all did enough last season to reach the Premier League, but do they have what it takes to stay there?
Only time will tell, but just because they are newly promoted it doesn’t automatically mean they will go straight back down.
If you need proof, just look at AFC Bournemouth’s season last term.
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