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I think that's a bit harsh on Norwich, they've been a lot more than functional. don't Be fooled by their terrible premier League season the last time around.
they have a core of players who were likely to be playing premier League football next season even if Norwich didn't go up.
Aarons pukki, cantwell and Buendia would all have been snapped up.
either of the Cardiff sides to have won promotion - there weren't clubs queueing up to pick apart any of our any of our championship sides.
they will have a battle to keep Buendia as it is, who is one of the best players at this level in years, has even just been given an Argentina cap. I think he'll go to a top half premier League side for close to 50m
Swansea were a decent mid table side who had a good run of results, and Barnsley a very effective one dimensional side.
I don't think it has been weak this year at all though.
usually the sides who come down there are one or two who are in a complete mess, with a bloated squad of overpaid players who can't contribute. none of the relegated clubs this time around were in that kind of a mess. they were all able to keep together enough quality in their teams to be very strong at this level. I do fear it is the shape of things to come as well
Norwich spent much of the season winning games by the odd goal. They rarely battered anyone. Indeed, during the first half of the season they only managed to beat two teams by two clear goals - Bristol City (3-1) and Cardiff (2-0). They were good, solid, organised and had that bit of quality that most teams this season lacked, but they were by no means special.
No, I didn't say they were average. They were clearly well above average in what was a desperately poor division. I said they were functional. They got the job done regularly, but narrowly more often than not. They rarely blew teams away because they were functional rather than spectacular.