Superhuman feat
Kevin Keegan's claim that the Premier League has become a little "boring" and "predictable" is reinforced by a stat that will send shudders through everyone connected to the three new kids on the block.
Of the 18 teams promoted into Europe's most lucrative competition in the past six seasons, only five have managed to avoid a swift return to the championship.
The clubs from England's second tier struggle to survive when they mix it with the big boys.
Once the euphoria of an impending Premier League season has worn off – trips to Colchester's modest Community Stadium have been replaced by outings at Old Trafford and Anfield – supporters could be forgiven for feeling slightly pessimistic.
West Brom, Stoke and Hull are the three latest Premier League pretenders and will be aware that money from television revenue – each club gets £35m (Dh255m) – will have to be spent wisely if they are to buck the trend. The three chairmen may have been eager to bankroll the push for survival but, with the possibility of relegation looming large, they will be unwilling to overspend in this summer's market.
Out of the three clubs to go up in 2007 – Sunderland, Birmingham and Derby County – Roy Keane was the only manager to spend heavily on recruitment [£44m] and still just narrowly beat the drop, albeit with a game to spare.
Derby spent around £13m on 10 players following their Play-Off Final victory against West Brom, with a further £4.5m on eight new recruits in January, yet sat rooted to the foot of the table for the entire season.
Six goals conceded at Liverpool and at home to Arsenal contributed to a goal difference of -69, the worst in the competition's history.
A meagre points total of 11 – comprising one win and eight draws – will give those going up an insight into how unforgiving the Premier League can be.
However, there are some exceptions to the rule. One team usually staves off the doomsayers and manages to defy the (long) odds.
Reading, Wigan, West Brom and Portsmouth have all preceded Sunderland in punching above their weight in recent seasons, with some even basking in midtable mediocrity for the majority of the season.
So fans should dream of upsetting the heavyweights if they so desire. The league can throw up a few surprises and it can be an enjoyable 10 months after all.
Perhaps 'King Kev' should revise his opinion, and concentrate on making Newcastle the attacking force it was back when the Premier League became the most exciting league in the world.
STOKE CITY
Manager Tony Pullis, in his second spell at the helm, came back to the ailing club in 2006 and quickly reverted to basic footballing principles to turn around their fortunes. Stoke are a large, physical, direct side but don't shy away from the criticism.
After winning automatic promotion via second spot in the Championship, Stoke must make sure they are well-equipped for what will be a long 10 months ahead. Peter Coates, owner and life-long fan, will make whatever funds available he can, but the team need a complete makeover if they have serious aspirations of staying in the league. Virtually debt-free, the club can use most of their TV money to bolster the squad, yet may struggle to attract quality players to the Britannia Stadium.
Improvements in all areas are needed, with emphasis on acquiring a prolific frontman to fire the club to safety. Unsurprisingly, Pulis is searching for a bulking target man to spearhead his attack and has been linked with Aston Villa's Marlon Harewood. Shola Ameobi proved to be a hit during last season's loan spell and the Welshman may go back to Newcastle to make the deal a permanent one.
Tottenham's Anthony Gardner is the top defensive target and Pullis is keen to add some pace and guile to the midfield.
The one to watch may be the coach himself though, as he cuts an animated figure on the touchline. Vociferously vocal and intensely passionate, Stoke's boss won't hide from controversy and could get involved in a few heated exchanges when up against managers of similar ilk. Post-match interviews should provide sparks too.
Potters' points
Founded: 1863
Home: Britannia Stadium
Capacity: 28,383
Nickname: The Potters
Chairman: Peter Coates
Manager: Tony Pulis
Honours: 2 League titles, 1 League Cup
Best PL finish: N/A
Star player...
Liam Lawrence
The pacy winger was voted Player of the Year by the club last season because of his knack of scoring goals from the flanks. 15 strikes – including a hat-trick against Barnsley – made him one of the most prolific
midfielders in the Championship and when he's not in the team Stoke are nowhere near as potent in attack.
Lawrence joined from Sunderland for £500,000 (Dh3.64 million) in November 2006 after helping the Black Cats gain promotion to the Premier League two years before and played 23 times during a disappointing time in the top flight. The midfieder was one of the few bright sparks in a bleak season at the Stadium of Light, scoring stunning goals against Fulham, Chelsea and north-east rivals Newcastle.
He was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad by Steve Staunton but never made his debut under the flawed manager. His performances for Sunderland did, however, attract the Potters' coaching staff and the Irishman repaid their faith in him with some important goals last season. He may not have set the Premier League alight last time round, but Lawrence is much more experienced now.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
The Baggies bounced their way back into the limelight with fluid attacking play, scoring more goals than any other team (88) to take the Championship title with a game to spare. After the bitter disappointment of losing the play-off final in 2007, the West Midlands club started the season badly, but secured promotion with a draw against Southampton on the penultimate day of the campaign.
A two-season absence from the top flight has seen West Brom shake off their tag as a yo-yo team and Mowbray will be eager to lay some solid foundations after their opening fixture against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
One of the brightest managers in the English game, the former Hibernian coach has moulded his side into a stylish yet combative outfit. However, he will have to rely on the majority of the same squad to take on the league's top teams as the club cannot boast the same resources as their Premier League rivals.
Their squad looks a little lightweight so money will need to be made available to bring in a few new faces. They have been busy in the transfer market already, with Roman Bednar's loan move from Hearts made permanent and Luke Moore joining from Aston Villa to take some of the burden off last season's top scorer Kevin Phillips.
The talented Zoltan Gera has departed for Fulham and Albion may miss his creativity in supplying their new strikeforce. Reinforcements at the back are needed too, with the club reportedly looking at Reading's Ibrahima Sonko to add some steel as Neil Clement's partner at the heart of the Baggies defence.
Baggies' bio
Founded: 1878
Home: The Hawthorns
Capacity: 28,003
Nickname: The Baggies
Chairman: Jeremy Peace
Manager: Tony Mowbray
Honours: 1 League title, 5 FA Cups, 1 League Cup
Best PL finish: 17th
Star player...
Jonathan Greening
Much of West Brom's play goes through their captain, who was singled out as team leader after impressing Tony Mowbray in his first season in charge. Greening joined from Middlesbrough for £1.25m (Dh9.1m) in July 2004 and was instrumental in their 'Great Escape' – West Brom became the first side to stay up despite being bottom of the Premier League at Christmas – at the end of his first season at the Hawthorns.
The former Manchester United man can play anywhere across midfield and has been employed as a holding player in the centre of the park. Greening is said to prefer playing on the left, even though he's predominantly right-footed.
He was voted the club's Player of the Year for 2007-2008, starring in 53 games yet is criticised for not getting enough goals in an attacking Baggies side.
HULL CITY
The Tigers were languishing in the bottom division with players unpaid and their former ground due to be closed down, only for an Adam Pearson-led consortium to breathe life back into the ailing club by signing players and building the impressive KC Stadium.
Their rise through the divisions is the fifth fastest and now Phil Brown's side will test their resolve against the elite of the English game. The innovative manager, who learned his trade as Sam Allardyce's assistant at Bolton, relied on old heads to finish third last year, with Nick Barmby pulling the strings in midfield behind Windass.
Hull, until this year the biggest city not to have hosted top flight football, play a pressing game but may be found out in the Premier League as they struggle to score goals. Frazer Campbell, who excelled during his season-long loan from Manchester United, has since returned to the champions so a pacey striker is needed to compliment the ageing Windass (39).
Colin Kazim-Richards, since impressing at Euro 2008, has been touted as a possible solution to the problem. Brown will look to raid his old club for reinforcements, with a new backline his top priority. Abdoulaye Faye could join from Bolton and is expected to be followed by team--mate Stelios Giannakopoulos as the coach looks to add some Premier League experience to his ranks.
But the club have said it will guard against wasting resources as a swift return to the Championship is very much a real possibility. The Tigers vocal support should, however, enjoy the ride.
Tigers' titbits
Founded: 1904
Home: KC Stadium
Capacity: 25,404
Nickname: The Tigers
Chairman: Paul Duffen
Manager: Phil Brown
Honours: Old Division 3 champions
Best PL finish: N/A
Star player...
Dean Windass
When the portly striker returned to the club for a third time midway through the 2006/2007 season, the script was written for him to fire his hometown club to safety. He duly obliged by scoring the winner against Cardiff on the penultimate Saturday to secure survival.
Worshipped in the city, Windass originally joined the club as an apprentice in 1989 but failed to impress and moved to a local non-league side where he played part-time whilst working on building sites.
He was brought back to the club in 1991 and scored 60 goals in 142 games before being sold to Aberdeen for £600,000 as the club searched for funds to save them from administration. After spells at Oxford, Middlesbrough and Barnsley, he re-signed for the Tigers and has cemented his status as local hero ever since. Windass notched 11 times last season to help the side to the play-offs, but saved his best for last when he scored a brilliant volley in the final to send Hull into the Premier League for the first time in their history.