Classmates

You just graduated from eighth grade, congratulations.  It took a few years, but you climbed your way to the top and you are king of the mountain now.  Come August, you're going to stroll into high school and you'll be the big man on campus there too, right?  Wrong, nerd!  

The experience of joining the Premier League for the first time is a lot like entering Freshman year of high school.  The work is harder, your competition is tougher, and girls prefer the older guys.  Actually, I'm pretty sure girls still talk to guys even on the newly-promoted Premier League clubs.  Maybe that's because they weren't in the marching band...or on the math team.  ANYWAYS...

We spent the last two weeks talking about the Bluebirds' history.  The decades of mediocrity, the climb back to the top, the rebranding...these things are all behind us now.  This week on Dragon and Bluebird let's talk about the future and what Cardiff City is up against.  Let's get to know the 2013/14 EPL student body.

SENIORS

The Senior class is comprised of seven clubs:  Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur.  Each of them were founding members of the Premier League and 2013/14 will be their twenty-second season.  This means that not one of these clubs have EVER been relegated and that the Bluebirds have not faced any of them in recent memory.  

Manchester United (Red Devils)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  28-5-5
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  1st
• Club Badge:

Manchester United have been the Premier League champions thirteen times and runners-up five times.

Arsenal (Gunners)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  21-10-7
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  4th
• Club Badge:

Arsenal have been the Premier League champions three times and runners-up five times.

Chelsea (Blues)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  22-9-7
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  3rd
• Club Badge:

Chelsea have been the Premier League champions three times and runners-up four times.

Liverpool (Reds)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  16-13-9
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  7th
• Club Badge:

Liverpool have been the Premier League champion runners-up two times.  Also, for you Red Sox fans that might be reading this, Liverpool is owned by John Henry's Fenway Sports Group.

Aston Villa (Villans)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  10-11-17
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  15th
• Club Badge:

Aston Villa have been Premier League champion runners-up one time.

Everton (Toffees)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  16-15-7
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  6th
• Club Badge:

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  22
• Total EPL Seasons:  22
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  21-9-8
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  5th
• Club Badge:

JUNIORS

The Junior class is comprised of four clubs:  Fulham, Manchester City, Sunderland, and Stoke City.  Each of them have significant Premier League experience, but either got promoted after the League's founding or had a bout with relegation.  Among the Juniors are the 2011/12 Premier League champion and two clubs that have played Cardiff City in Tier 2.  

Fulham (Cottagers)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  13
• Total EPL Seasons:  13
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  11-10-17
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  12th
• Club Badge:

Manchester City (Citizens)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  12
• Total EPL Seasons:  17
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  23-9-6
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  2nd
• Club Badge:

Manchester City have been the Premier League champions one time and runners-up one time.  They are also a founding member of the EPL.

Sunderland (Black Cats)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  7
• Total EPL Seasons:  13
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  9-12-17
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  17th
• Club Badge:

Sunderland last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2006/07 season.

Stoke City (Potters)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  6
• Total EPL Seasons:  6
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  9-15-14
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  13th
• Club Badge:

Stoke City last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2007/08 season.

SOPHOMORES

The Sophomore class is comprised of six clubs:  Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City, Swansea City, West Ham United, and Southampton.  Each of their current runs in the Premier League are four years or less in length.  Still, many of these clubs have had prior success in the League.  Among the Sophomores are Premier League founders, championship runners-up, and a few that have played Cardiff City in Tier 2.  

Newcastle United (Magpies or The Toon)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  4
• Total EPL Seasons:  20
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  11-8-19
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  16th
• Club Badge:

Newcastle United have been the Premier League champion runners-up two times.  They also have played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2009/10 season.

West Bromwich Albion (Baggies)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  4
• Total EPL Seasons:  8
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  14-7-17
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  8th
• Club Badge:

West Bromwich Albion last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2009/10 season.

Norwich City (Canaries)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  3
• Total EPL Seasons:  7
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  10-14-14
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  11th
• Club Badge:

Norwich City last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2010/11 season.  They are also a founding member of the EPL.

Swansea City (Jacks)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  3
• Total EPL Seasons:  3
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  11-13-14
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  9th
• Club Badge:

Swansea City last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2010/11 season.

West Ham United (Hammers)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  2
• Total EPL Seasons:  18
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  12-10-16
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  10th
• Club Badge:

West Ham United last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2011/12 season.

Southampton (Saints)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  2
• Total EPL Seasons:  15
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  9-14-15
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  14th
• Club Badge:

Southampton last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2011/12 season.  They are a founding member of the EPL and like the Bluebirds, the Saints have a kit controversy of their own.  You can read more about it in this Daily Mail Online article (Safe for Work).

FRESHMAN

The Freshman class is comprised of three clubs:  Crystal Palace, Hull City, and of course Cardiff City.  The 2013/14 season is the start of a new Premier League run for all three.  However, both Crystal Palace and Hull City have made prior appearances in the League.  And even among the Freshman, there is a founding Premier League member.

Crystal Palace (Eagles)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  1
• Total EPL Seasons:  5
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  N/A
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  N/A
• Club Badge:

  

Crystal Palace last played Cardiff City in Tier 2 during the 2012/13 season.  The Eagles have the odd distinction of being both a founding EPL member and the only club to have five one-season appearances.

Hull City (Tigers)

• Current EPL Run (Seasons):  1
• Total EPL Seasons:  3
• 2012/13 Record (W-D-L):  N/A
• 2012/13 Rank (out of 20):  N/A
• Club Badge:

Hull City last played Crystal Palace in Tier 2 last season.

Cardiff City (Bluebirds)

We've beat that horse to death, but you're welcome to read all about it in my previous two posts.

So now you have some sense of the opponents that Cardiff City will face this year.  But here's the real question...what are the Bluebirds' odds of surviving their debut season?  Historically, 56% of newly-promoted clubs survive to fight again in a second season.  Those aren't terrible odds, but they're not very good either.  

When looking back across the past 21 seasons, the average number of points needed to avoid relegation is 37 (reminder you get 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw).  Clubs have survived with as few as 31 points and in some seasons have needed as many as 43.  I'm not going to try to guess where Cardiff City will pick up its points.  But I can tell you which six they want the most. 

Next week on Dragon and Bluebird, we'll zoom in on Cardiff City's fellow Welsh club and hated rivals...the Jacks of Swansea City.

See you next week, thank you for reading, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter (@dragon_bluebird).