Newcastle United — Many feared the worst after the sales of Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique and Kazenga Lua Lua. However, Alan Pardew’s plundering of France’s Ligue 1 as well as the signing of future Ballon d’Or winner, Gabriel Obertan, have transformed Newcastle into a solid unit capable of challenging for Europe. The Sports Direct Arena has been rocking all season.
Norwich City — Two promotions in two seasons and Premier League survival in the season after that. Paul Lambert is a manager with a bright future in the game. Norwich aren’t a side that rely on flair or trickery. They are a team who simply go out ‘to get the job done and this philosophy is working wonders for them. Long may it continue.
QPR — QPR definitely have the playing squad to avoid relegation. Neil Warnock and Mark Hughes have spent a fair bit of money putting this team together so you’d hope that come the end of the season that investment pays dividends. Owner Tony Fernandes hasn’t shied away from opening his wallet and I bet all clubs would love an owner like that.
Stoke City — Stoke are one of the most entertaining teams in Premier League history. Their attitude of ‘how can a team win a football game without their legs’ is something of which The Potters can be proud. A game against Stoke is what the English game is all about, putting everything on the line for the win. It’s extremely rare to witness Tony Pulis’s men being turned over.
Sunderland — Martin O’Neill truly is a master of his craft. He has a knack of getting the very best out of average or underperforming players. Since he stepped in, Sunderland have become a bit of a force, they have strikers that can cause the best defenders to panic. I’m also happy that Sunderland seems to have become the ‘final resting place,’ so to speak, for those surplus to requirements down the Old Trafford way.
