http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11689/8685753/Premier-pedigree The Premier League carrot continues to dangle tantalisingly in the face of two clubs heading into the final day of the Championship season - with Hull City and Watford hoping to get their hands on the most lucrative of vegetables. Just one point separates the two sides entering the final round of fixtures, with Hull City holding the upper-hand in terms of points return - but they face title-winning Cardiff City on Saturday while Watford play host to a Leeds side destined to end the campaign lost in mid-table obscurity. There is still all to play for then, with two sides who have graced the Premier League in the recent past desperate to return to English football's top table without the need to purchase a ticket for the play-off lottery. Who, though, would be better suited to life in the top flight? Do the Tigers have enough bite to handle the step up? Would promotion take the sting out of the Hornets? Chris Burton considers the merits of both sides, with it possible that both could end up on the Premier League calendar next season - one will just have to take the scenic route. Watford It is not difficult to see what the biggest challenge facing Watford would be were they to go up - with the amount of loanees in Gianfranco Zola's ranks and a transfer embargo something of a concern. The Hornets have no less than 12 players currently on their books that do not actually belong to them. There is definitely a case for arguing that you do what is required to get the job done in any given season, then address future issues as and when they arise. If Watford go up, they will have taken the right approach. It will, however, be interesting to see how Zola tackles the summer, as the Hornets are banned from bringing fresh faces in until 31st August. Having the Pozzo family on board is an obvious benefit, as further loan agreements involving players at Udinese and Granada could be struck. Sticking with the short-term approach may not be the best idea, though, with it vital to have stability and continuity if you are to hold your own on the Premier League stage. Watford would also be putting a lot of faith in players that have never experienced the English top flight before. The Championship is a difficult animal to tame, the Premier League is a different challenge altogether. Those that have starred this season would, however, have 12 months experience under their belt and would be well adjusted to the demands of English football - the physicality, speed etc. That would serve the Hornets well, as they would enter the top flight ready to unleash relatively unknown quantities onto unsuspecting opponents. Their efforts this season have not gone entirely unnoticed, though, and they will have to win promotion if they have any hope of keeping the likes of Matej Vydra. The Czech forward is considered to be of Premier League quality, but could be lured away from Vicarage Road if the Hornets remain stuck in the second tier. It could be argued that staying down would not be the end of the world for Watford, as they remain very much a work in progress and were not among those tipped to challenge at the start of the season. Going up too early could cost them - with Reading once again a prime example of having too much too soon. Watford have tried and failed to cement a top flight standing in the past, with it difficult for a club of their size and stature to compete with the biggest of big boys. This time could be different - they have ambitious owners and an attack-minded side that has plundered 14 more goals this season than any other side in the division. They must, however, tread carefully heading forward, with it important not to try and run before you can walk.
No. We just have to run it past the FA to make sure we're doing things correctly. I'm not sure this is too much of a problem.
31st August is a Saturday so the deadline may be moved to Monday 2nd, in which case we could have a very busy 48hrs
I'm sure you are correct but even if there is an embargo, there is nothing to stop the players we need being here for pre-season etc just postponing the formaility of signing.
Campaign to stop the broken record! Get ready for more of this over the summer boys, regardless if we go up or not.
Well we need to make sure the loan players we want do SIGN pernament deals otherwise we might have a problem IF the FA do change their regulations but as Knight says we can sign players..just it has to be vented beforehand which I though would happen anyway...
Yes accepted.. what I mean is the endless waves of lazy journo that will print exactly the same news over and over again not knowing or looking into the embargo clauses.
Probably - they'll hate us going up anyway because we haven't got a big fancy posh media area like at most of the big grounds. The media will love Zola - that's about it. Not that we'll care!
