Promoted Premier League Champions?

[Hugo Rune]

The only way this could happen is if a team such as Chelsea or Man City (that are not profit driven, very rich and have a benefactor) are relegated from the Premier League because of financial irregularity, racism or such like. They then keep their fantastic players and return to the Premier to be champions the following season.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Pre-Prem of course but Watford finished 2nd in 1983 under Graham Taylor in their first season in the top flight (ever). They spent little money, relying on the same long-ball team up to Ross Jenkins/Luther Blissett with 2 decent wingers Nigel Callaghan and some chap called John Barnes.

PG

Were they really a long ball team? In retrospect, they seemed quite skilful on the ground with Callaghan and Barnes in particular having good ball skills and accurate passing (rather than random hoofs forward).

 

[Mo Gosfield]

I can't see it ever happening. Years ago there was always the ' surprise ' element. Teams did not have the exposure in the media that there is now and those coming up had the advantage of surprise. Even so, over the years, very few have done it. As another poster said the Premiership is markedly different from just 5 years ago and the chances of a Hull, Ipswich, Burnley or Reading stealing a march on other teams early in the season are unlikely now.
In the 60's and early 70's the league was a pretty open affair and money didn't dictate as now. Burnley, Tottenham, Ipswich, Everton, Liverpool, Man.Utd, Leeds, Man.City, Derby and Arsenal all won it. At the beginning of this season, the pundits were saying it was a straight fight between the two Manchester clubs and they were right. The Premiership has become very predictable and thats why a lot of football fans have become bored with it.

 

[Peter Grummit]

Were they really a long ball team? In retrospect, they seemed quite skilful on the ground with Callaghan and Barnes in particular having good ball skills and accurate passing (rather than random hoofs forward).

Callaghan was a good crosser and Barnes a great dribbler, but Watford would play on the break (sound familiar?), hitting the channels and looking for knock-downs. Blissett and Jenkins were both very good in the air and a lot of goals came that way. Fair play to them, it was much more how the game was played then. Remember being gutted in 84 when they did us 4-1 in the Cup.

PG