The Athletic FC Podcast cover image

The Athletic FC Podcast

Is Premier League promotion still the promised land?

Feb 25, 2025
Stu James and Phil Hay, insightful football reporters for The Athletic, dissect the harsh realities for newly promoted Premier League teams. They discuss the alarming trend of relegation for promoted clubs, focusing on Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton. The duo navigates the financial struggles faced by these teams compared to established clubs, and the essential strategies that lead to stability. They also reflect on Leeds United's journey and how past experiences shape a club's approach to promotion and survival in a fiercely competitive landscape.
45:41

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The alarming trend of all three promoted Premier League teams potentially facing relegation highlights the widening gap in quality between the Premier League and Championship.
  • Effective recruitment strategies and robust squad compositions are crucial for newly promoted teams to achieve stability and prevent relegation amidst financial challenges.

Deep dives

Relegation Struggles of Promoted Teams

The current season is witnessing a concerning trend where all three promoted teams, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton, are at risk of relegation. The situation is particularly grim for Southampton, who are struggling with just nine points and a humiliating record of only two wins out of 21 matches. Ipswich and Leicester are not far behind, with both teams sitting on 17 points and five points from safety. This season's struggles underscore the significant gap in quality and performance between the Premier League and Championship, raising questions about the viability of newly promoted teams in sustaining their league status.

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