Still, the "Play-offs; money spinner or grossly unfair?" argument is for another day. The big issue is how do the three promoted sides weigh up when compared to the teams who have gone down. Looking at it from a purely selfish point of view, how much easier do they make it for us?
Obviously it's standard media practice to write off all the promoted sides, and I think it will be a struggle for them. However if I was to back one of them it would have to be Wigan with their £25m transfer kitty. Some people have been heard to remark, "It's only Wigan - what player would want to play for them"; but it's well worth remembering the Middlesbrough example where big money means big names. Wigan represent a real threat at the bottom end of the table and, what's more, another irritating journey up north. Having said that, travelling to the JJB is not the most intimidating of arenas.
Speaking of irritating journeys up north, you just know we're going to get Sunderland away on a Tuesday night in December. Obviously a lot of how well they do depends on how much money they've got to spend and who sees them as a decent career move, but I think they've got a really difficult season ahead. They'll be relying on The Stadium of Light to be a fortress, and when it's packed to the rafters it's not an easy place to go, but look on the bright side - they've got Gary Breen in defence. And he's rubbish.
And finally the last confirmed new boys down at West Ham. There's some good and bad points really; thank god Preston haven't come up because that would be yet ANOTHER northern away game, whereas instead now we've got a nice London day out - but unfortunately West Ham have got much more of a chance of staying up than Preston would've done. They've not got much cash to splash but they are seen as a fairly big name and as a "footballing team", so they're also going to be a tough proposition and stand a good chance of staying up.
So how does that link with those who went down?
Sunderland are pretty much the replacements for Palace, who we beat home and away. I can't see that happening again sadly. Norwich slipped out in favour of Wigan, and as we did against the Canaries this year I can see us drawing both games with them. And finally, West Ham for Southampton - well, West Ham aren't our bogey side so it's not a guaranteed defeat in the away game, and we can share our dislike of Harry Redknapp. But even so I think they're a better side than Southampton and the league is looking a lot tougher next season than this year's generally poor showing in the bottom six or so.