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English football has four top divisions (although they have eleven divisions in total). Each team claws and scratches their way to the top tier of football -The Premier League. However, life in The Premier League has proven difficult for many newly promoted sides.
Despite this, the three newcomers last season - Brighton and Hove Albion, Huddersfield and Newcastle, all managed to stay in the top league for another season.
With the arrival of tactically skilled managers and youth players, the newly promoted teams have given top clubs a run for their money at times.
The newcomers this season will be looking to do the same and might even pull off bigger upsets. So let's take a look at the three new boys of the Premier League
#1 Fulham
The most entertaining team of the three, Fulham play attractive attacking football. Finishing just two points below Cardiff City, Fulham finished third in the championship. They would go on to beat Aston Villa in the playoffs to win back their place in the league.
With the new transfers of Jean Seri and Andre Schurrle, the London club have made it evident that they are not playing around. Under the management of Slaviša Jokanović, Fulham has made immense progress.
Jokanović has managed in seven clubs in six years and will have to use his experience and intelligence to keep Fulham in the Premier League.
Summer Signings
It was an eventful transfer window for Fulham. Signing three players on a permanent deal and one player on a loan deal. The most prominent signing is the signing of Jean Micheal Seri. The 26-year-old was linked to top clubs like Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City last summer.
However, the deal was broken down. Despite an inferior 2017/18 season, Seri will provide something that Fulham lacked - a No.8 player. He will disrupt opposition play and set up a play for Fulham with his technical ability. This also allows Tom Cairney to play with more freedom and gives Fulham a more defensively capable and flexible team built around Seri.
Fulham also brought in Aleksandar Mitrovic from Newcastle. Despite not finding his footing at his former club, Mitrovic will look to get back to his scoring ways under Jokanović. Finally, Alfie Mawson provides defensive stability and a threat during set pieces.
The London Club has also roped in former Chelsea player Andre Schurrle from Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal. The forward still has a point to prove after he was left out of the Germany squad for the 2018 World Cup. He will look to contribute positively to the team and become a top player in the Premier League again
Tactics
Slavisa Jokanović plays a 4-3-3 formation. This formation relies heavily on the wingers. Fulham majorly attacks using the width which is seen in the success of Ryan Sessegnon and now West Ham full-back Ryan Fredericks.
Widely regarded as the team playing the most attractive football in the championship last season, Fulham plays the ball from the back and pass the ball around till they are able to find an opening.
Fulham also loves to overload players and build on one side and then score on the other. This is done with the help of the pace of the wingers and wingbacks.
Fulham builds on one side of the pitch attracting the opposition's defenders to that side. They employ decoy runs and quick build-up play on the side to ensure space on the opposite side of the pitch.
Once a player on the opposite side is in space, they play a sudden through ball to him which more than often ends in a goal.
Along with these clever offensive tactics, Fulham press high. They are a trigger oriented pressing side.
The triggers include when the opposition player takes a bad touch or when the opposition plays a lateral ball. The Fulham players cut the passing lanes and hope to win the ball for a quick turnover.
Prediction
Fulham is a strong side and with the new recruits, they could give a fight to most mid-card clubs.
Although they will not attain the success of the same magnitude of their fellow London clubs(barring Crystal Palace and maybe, West Ham), they will certainly be looking at finishing between the 11th and 14th position.
For a newly promoted side, that position is not bad at all and is seen as a huge success.
#2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City got promoted to the Premier League in dramatic fashion. An unbeaten run from January 2108 up till April (barring a defeat in the FA Cup to Manchester City) saw Cardiff City quietly make their way towards England's top league once again.
They only lost twice in the championship in 2018 - to Wolverhampton and Aston Villa. Under Neil Warnock, the club has been consistent and played a fluid system.
Seen as a tactical genius by many, Neil Warnock might be the key to success for Cardiff City in the Premier League, a league where they have consistently failed to shine in.
Summer Signings
Despite being in talks for big names like Troy Deeney and Alfred N'Diaye, Cardiff City has been relatively quiet in the transfer market till now.
However, their two signings - Josh Murphy and Bobby Reid might play a huge role in extending their stay in the Premier League. Josh Murphy is 23-year-old winger from Norwich City, where he played under Neil Warnock.
He was a MK Dons' player of the season in 2015/16 and was reputed as one of the hottest prospects in the championship last season.
With Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as the only real options for out and out wingers, Cardiff needed to fix the problem of squad depth. Josh Murphy is a player who solves this problem and might even compete to be a regular starter for the bluebirds.
On the other hand, 25-year-old Reid is coming off the best season of his career. Lee Johnson's decision to convert Reid to a striker from an attacking midfielder was seen a risky move.
But it paid its dividends as Reid went on to score 21 goals in all competitions in the 2017/18 season.
He will compete with Kenneth Zohore for a place in the starting line-up which could see both strikers' hunger for goals rise. A high scoring striker is something all clubs desire and in Bobby Reid, Cardiff City might have gotten just that.
Tactics
Warnock has led eight teams to promotion in his entire managing career spanning from the 80's to today. He isn't the kind of manager that plays with one particular formation and one particular tactic. He is versatile and adapts according to the opposition.
His preferred formation is a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. However, the formation fluctuates through the course of the game as the team focuses on closing down spaces and winning the ball back quickly.
This is seen when Sol Bamba pushes up aggressively to win the ball. Bennett fills in the position from left back and the defensive line contracts to form a three at the back. The wide midfielders - Junior Hoilett and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing fall back and act as wingbacks in the 5-4-1 formation that is formed.
This aggressive style from the physically dominating Sol Bamba earned him a spot in the PFA ' Championship team of the year'.
Warnock's men play a tight game of man marking. Each player is assigned with a man who he follows throughout the game.
For the same, one might find the right back on the left side of the pitch or a left back in holding midfield. This tight man marking allows Cardiff City to win the ball back easily especially against teams that play short passes and believe in quick build-up play.
Prediction
Despite the heroics of Cardiff City to reach the Premier League once again, I wouldn't be surprised to see them fall right back into the Championship this year. With the bluebirds' limited squad depth, the quality and intensity of the Premier League might prove to be too tough for Cardiff City.
#3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Wolves finished first in the championship with a total of 99 points, nine more than second place Cardiff. This success is hugely credited to the new manager, Nuno.
With the help of Fosun's takeover, Nuno was able to put his contacts in Portugal and Spain to good use and invested in talents like Ruben Neves, Willy Boly, and Diogo Jota - all of whom contributed heavily to the title-winning story of the Wolves.
Aggressive, intense and fast-paced, Wolverhampton are a side that could take the league by storm and with top signings under their belt, they might make a huge impact this season
Summer signings
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been the most active club in the transfer window out of the three new boys. They complete the signings of Diogo Jota and WIlly Boly, who were on loan at the club. Nuno's Portugal connect came through once again as he roped in the Portuguese no.1 Rui Patrício and veteran midfielder João Moutinho from Sporting CP and Monaco respectively. The duo will provide experience to the young Wolves side as they take on the challenge of the Premier League.
The Wolves have also gotten Jonny Castro on a loan deal. The Atletico Madrid left-back spent last year on loan at Celta Vigo.
He got three goals and 12 assists last season and will look to make an impact this year as well before he goes back home to Spain. Furthermore, the role of left wingback in the 3-4-3 formation Nuno plays will give Castro more freedom and license to go forward and create chances for the striker.
Tactics
Wolves play a 3-4-3 which falls back as a 5-4-1 when defending. They play a pressing game with their pressing majorly taking place when the opposition is unable to control the ball when the opposition plays the ball wide or simply when the opposition is facing their own goal. Majority of this pressing takes place in their own half.
The wide players are able to press down the opposition at wide positions which forces the latter to play a more narrow game. This is when the central midfielder gets involved. They funnel down to win the ball in the middle of the park. Once, they win the ball, they are able to use the width and attack on the counter with pace.
Prediction
The Wolves have a dynamic team with the right mix of experienced players and young energetic players. Nuno has achieved great success in his first season with the club and will look to continue his success in the Premier League.
The new signings will bolster his attempt to do the same. I feel the Wolves will finish as a top ten club. Their dynamic style of football is different from most clubs ( especially the newly promoted clubs) and could prove to be highly successful in the Premier League.
Can the promoted teams stay up this season? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
