When Norwich were promoted their captain, Grant Holt, wore a T-shirt on which was written in pen: "From the Unibond Prem to the real Prem". A competition that can seem self-satisfied has received an injection of anti-smugness. The Premier League should welcome Norwich, Swansea and Queens Park Rangers, all of whom are supported by fans and stocked with players who will appreciate every second of top-flight life. No yo-yo clubs, no familiar faces, no unromantic promotions fuelled by parachute payments. Never has a more revitalising trio of teams come up from the Championship.
In the Premier League's 20th year, the return of Norwich and QPR is evocative. In the competition's first season, Norwich led the table for long periods before finishing third behind Manchester United and Aston Villa, while QPR were the highest London club.
Both — except for Norwich's one-season return in 2004-05 — have been out of the Premier League since the mid-1990s. Swansea have never played in it. QPR's squad boasts many players — not to mention a manager — with rollercoaster careers.
There will be no time to miss Blackpool, because three new Blackpools have just joined the big-time.
Can they stay up? History is against none of them failing. It's ten years since all three newly promoted clubs survived — though even longer since all three went straight back down.
Norwich, QPR and Swansea know they can still be Premier League clubs in 2012-13 and then start building for long-term survival, if they get this season right. But what's the best way of beating the drop?
Play with a smile worked for: Wigan, 2005-06
Written off by everybody except, perhaps, the Wigan Evening Post, but Paul Jewell and a buccaneering band of players shocked — and very nearly defeated — Jose Mourinho's Chelsea in their opening game. It proved a taste of things to come as Wigan charged into second place with wins against Everton, Bolton, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
They attacked sides, feared nobody and were still prepared to go for it in adversity — a seesawing 3-2 defeat against Arsenal was arguably the league's game of the season.
Players such as Jimmy Bullard, Pascal Chimbonda, Jason Roberts and Henri Camara were ceaselessly fearless and positive. When the setbacks came, however, Jewell was canny enough to modify the approach and more circumspect tactics allowed Wigan to steady themselves after a mid-season wobble. A top 10 finish was the reward.
Worked against: Blackpool, 2010-11
Ian Holloway promised Blackpool would play like Barcelona and that didn't seem like such an outlandish "Ollie-ism" as the Seasiders spent the first half of the season in the top ten, famously beating Liverpool (twice), Newcastle, Bolton and Sunderland. Blackpool passed the ball out from the back, scored for fun, used 4-3-3 even when they went to Old Trafford and their entertainer-in-chief Charlie Adam became a star.
When their momentum was checked, however, Holloway declined to change things and while the desire to stay positive was romantic, it was doomed. Blackpool proved too open, conceded too many goals and lost too many games. By a single point, everybody's "favourite other team" went down.
Most likely to try it: Norwich
Under Paul Lambert, the Canaries have football-ed their way to consecutive promotions and provided major thrills for their supporters, scoring 12 goals in the 90th minute or later in their Championship games, many of them winners. Norwich's passing style and positive approach will win them friends but will it gain them sufficient points at top-flight level? Lambert is a shrewd thinker and has said he is prepared to "win ugly" in some games if that keeps Norwich up.
Play the transfer market Worked for: Bolton 2001-02
After reaching the Premier League via the playoffs, Sam Allardyce decided he had to significantly improve the quality of player at his disposal to give Bolton a chance of surviving and his methodology was radical. Playing the transfer market brilliantly, Allardyce sought out older foreign players who, while past their peak, were still capable and wanted a taste of the Premier League, even if it was at a smaller club. He made 11 signings in Bolton's first season back, none more startling - and ingenious - than French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff. Others included Stig Toftig, Freddi Bobic (on loan) and Bruno N'Gotty. The influx gave Bolton enough craft to stay up and spurred young homegrown talents such as Kevin Nolan to greater heights.
Worked against: Crystal Palace 1997-98
After taking Palace up via the playoffs, somebody asked Steve Coppell what promotion meant. The laconic — and prophetic — manager replied: "Nine months of hell." So it proved. Palace embarked on a desperate and often bizarre shopping spree in an attempt to buy survival, signing 16 players for a then not-inconsiderable total of £15 million (Dh90 million). The recruits included big-name foreigners such as Attilio Lombardo, Sasa Curcic, Tomas Brolin and Michele Padovano, as well as domestic journeymen such as Paul Warhurst and Marcus Bent. Disaster ensued. Of the big signings, only Lombardo was a success. Palace won just two home games all season, Coppell resigned and Lombardo and Brolin — both coaching novices — ended the campaign as co-managers as their club finished bottom.
Most likely to try it: Queens Park Rangers
Bankrolled by some of the world's richest individuals, QPR won last season's Championship thanks to Neil Warnock's transfer acumen. Star player Adel Taarabt was among 11 permanent signings in 2010-11, while Warnock was also active in the loan market, with Kyle Walker and Wayne Routledge among his shrewd short-term acquisitions.
Many expected a spending spree to follow promotion and while that hasn't materialised in terms of transfer fees, Warnock has committed a lot in wages to bring Kieron Dyer, Danny Gabbidon, Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell to the club. More recruiting before the window closes seems likely.
Play to your strengths — Worked for: Reading 2006-07
Perhaps learning from his Crystal Palace experience, Coppell kept faith with an un-vaunted squad after winning the Championship and was rewarded with a tremendous campaign in which players with no Premier League experience, such as Kevin Doyle, Nicky Shorey and Stephen Hunt, excelled.
Reading's success was built on a great home record and well-drilled teamplay and their 8th-place finish was the best of any newly promoted club in the past ten years.
Worked against: Burnley 2009-10
Surprise Premier League newcomers thanks to the playoffs, Burnley stuck to the homely values — and largely the same squad — who had served them well in the Championship. The board's determination not to bust their club through transfer spending was admirable but, lacking in overall quality, Burnley's squad struggled to cope after the momentum gained by a famous win against Manchester United in their first Premier League home game subsided. Owen Coyle left to manage Bolton and the Clarets were relegated under Brian Laws.
Most likely to try it: Swansea Brendan
Rodgers built brilliantly on the foundations provided by his predecessor, Roberto Martinez, achieving promotion thanks to the unity and work ethic of a humble squad — and a superb record at the Liberty stadium. Despite their enhanced status, the Swans are determined to retain their low-key approach, declining to venture outside south Wales for their pre-season friendlies and making just three signings, Danny Graham, Leroy Lita and Jose Moreira.
Rodgers knows how to play good football and will look for team spirit and home form to carry his side — but will that be enough?
