Rob Critchley discusses the ups and downs of Norwich City, Swansea City and QPR, the three promoted sides.
Watching QPR easily brush aside a Swansea side who’s passing game has been so vaunted this season had the majority of the crowd at Loftus Road wondering what all the fuss about Brendan Rodgers team was about.
Swansea had previously managed to look so solid, but have now gone four games without a point, conceding ten goals in the process.
Swansea and QPR both came up from the championship last season, along with Norwich who have comfortably adapted to life in the Premiership.
For the early part of the season, it looked like the play off winners from South Wales would be the surprise package of the season.
The Swan’s hadn’t been great on their travels, but it was the home games where they were picking up the plaudits.
One defeat up until Norwich’s visit in mid February looked to have all but wrapped up their Premiership status, and Rodgers’ nomination as manager of the year.
However, since they thumped Fulham at the Cottage, the wheels have fallen off in a big way. At Loftus Road, against a side admittedly fighting tooth and nail for every point, the pedestrian nature of their pass and move game was exposed by a hungrier, more dynamic Rangers side who put pressure on at every opportunity.
Only Scott Sinclair offered any outlet, and when Nedum Onuoha got to grips with his pace, that outlet was snubbed out quickly too
From the evidence of the past four games, it is obvious that Swansea will need strengthening come the summer.
They will survive in the Premier League, although it looks like the margin will be much closer than predicted in mid March.
It also leads to the question, have Swansea now been found out, or have the players mentally switched off awaiting their summer holidays?
Rodgers, in his press conference after the game intimated it was not the latter, and he believes his players are an honest and strong willed group. How many will be there next year, remains to be seen.
And although individual honours will be furthest from his mind, the nomination for manager of the year is not looking as sound as it was.
In fact, if there is a manager of a promoted club worthy of the accolade, Norwich’s softly spoken Paul Lambert is, at the moment a more worthwhile choice.
Maybe he doesn’t exude the character others do, but that should make him more, not less worthy, and his Norwich side play a style of game which is more suited to the Premier League, and also look like they have a plan B, when things aren’t going their way.
All three promoted sides, have at some point this season outdone themselves and produced victories which could have only been dreamt about this time last year.
There is a strong possibility, if QPR can maintain their home form, and pick up a point or two on their travels that all three promoted sides will avoid bouncing straight back down again.
With the money they have behind them, survival and then progression will be the order in W12, and I do see QPR staying up, but it may be by the slimmest of margins.
The most impressive, tactically aware and robust of the three has been Norwich, and Lambert must take the lions share of the credit.
Alan Pardew and of course Alex Ferguson must be up there, but as the manager of the year, Lambert will take some beating.
image: © joncandy
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