BPL's 3 newest additions

Congratulations to Reading, Southampton and West Ham, all of which beat the competition and achieved promotion to England's top division. But with the Premier League getting stronger and stronger, how will the three teams fare in their returns back to England's top tier?

Reading - 1st (Champions)
Ian Harte has set peice expertise, but will his lack of
 pace at the back be exposed?
Reading eclipsed all expectation when they came from mid table to emerge victorious from the Championship. They have a very solid team, backed up by a very secure defence and pacey strikers, and both these factors will be extremely important for them in the Premier League. They have genuine goal threat from all over the pitch as well, with Ian Harte’s set piece expertise proving invaluable for them over the past few years. When I've seen them play on occasions I have also been very impressed by the strike partnership of Jason Roberts and Le Fondre, who seem to combine well and thrive off each others ability. Reading also have money to spend on the market, and have already boosted their team with some big name players, most notably Premier League stars Pavel Pogrebenyak and Danny Guthrie, proving they have the money and attraction to rival the established Premier League clubs. My only worries would be the lack of pace at the back and the inconsistency of the wingers. Ian Harte and Kasper Gorkss in particular are not getting any younger, and could be exposed by pacey strikers over the course of this season, whereas Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff can be electrifying one game and then dire the next.

Prediction: 14th
I think Reading have the quality and strength in depth to survive in the Premier League next season with a comfortable 5 point margin above the relegation zone.

Southampton - 2nd (Runners-up)
Will Rickie Lambert be able to hold his own against
some of the worlds best defenders?
Southampton made it back to back promotions from league 1 to the Premiership, and deservedly so. Nigel Adkins has transformed the clubs fortunes, as Southampton looked like they would be stuck in League 1 for a lengthy time before he was appointed. Rickie Lambert must also take credit for his role in taking the Saints to the Premiership, as his ability to score goals from all over the park have propelled the club up the divisions and into England's top tier. Another big player for the club is Adam Lallana, whose wizardry in either the wing position or in the centre of the park is priceless. However, big question marks are raised about the overall quality of the team, with only a handful of them having Premier League experience. Another massive question mark revolves around Rickie Lambert, who has never graced the Premier League. The club rely on his goal scoring ability, and if he can't cut it, then I struggle to see where the goals will come from.

Prediction: 19th
I like Southampton but I just don't see enough quality in the clubs ranks for them to survive in their debut season back in the Premiership.

West Ham - 3rd (Playoff Winners)
Jack Collison has the quality to perform very well in the Premiership
The Hammers accomplished promotion via the playoffs after a tense 2-1 victory over Blackpool, courtesy of goals from Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te. However they were widely tipped to run away with the Championship title, but it will be a massive relief for both West Ham fans and Sam Alladyce by successfully returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking. West Ham have a very solid defence, with strength and height at the back complementing Alladyce's route 1 style football. Whereas pace may be lacking in an attacking front, it is made up for with strength and aerial threat. Mark Noble is a born and bred Hammer, and his passion and desire to perform to the best of his ability is vital for his teams success. Equally impressive players in the teams ranks consist of Jack Collison and Kevin Nolan, both of which in my eyes are Premier League quality and will be key in overcoming their battle against relegation. The only problem is that West Ham will arrive back in the Premiership with a very similar team to the one they departed with, which means if they perform to the same level as they did last time round, they will find themselves in massive trouble once again.

Prediction: 16th
West Ham arrive back in the Premiership with a similar team to the one they went down with, which could spell danger for them. However, Sam Alladyce knows how to survive in this division, and I think he'll keep the Hammers afloat.

@JamesStroud1995



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