Leeds, Southampton, Sheffield Wed, Forest – which Premier League old boy is missed the most?

Southampton:

When the Premier League was formed in 1992, Southampton had already established themselves as a top-flight team having played in the division since 1978. During a 13-year spell in the Premier League, Southampton went through various managerial phases, and the likes of Matt Le Tissier among others had helped to prove that the club could compete in the top tier of English football. Like Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton generally ended their campaigns around the middle of the table, but in 2005 newly appointed manager Harry Redknapp was unable to save the Saints from relegation, thus ending 27 successive seasons of top flight football for the club.

In their first season in the Championship, Southampton looked to be in danger of their second relegation in as many years, however a turn in form in the latter period of the season helped the club to safety. Such safety was short-lived, and despite reaching the play-off semi-finals in 2007, Southampton were relegated to League One in 2009. In May 2011, the club achieved promotion back into the Championship, and currently sit second after five games in to the new campaign. Having established themselves as Premier League regulars, nobody could have anticipated the effect that relegation had on the club, and only now do the Saints look at all likely to challenge for promotion back to the top-flight.

Leeds United:

Leeds United were the last side to win the First Division championship, before the Premier League era began in 1992. However, in the season that followed the defending champions narrowly avoided relegation. Leeds looked to improve the following year, and began to build a team capable of breaking in to the top European competitions. In 1998, David O’Leary was appointed manager at Elland Road, and brought in both Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith to join up with the likes of Harry Kewelll and Jimmy Floyd Hasselabaink already at the club, as Leeds finished fourth and then third in consecutive seasons, qualifying for the Champions League in 2000. After a successful run that ended in a semi-final defeat to Valencia, Leeds were faced with a number of financial difficulties and forced to sell some of their top players, including Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, and Robbie Fowler.

Leeds never really managed to discover the kind of form required in the Premier League after the sale of these key players, and despite rebuilding a side including the promising young talent of James Milner and Aaron Lennon, Leeds were eventually relegated to the Championship in 2004. In 2006, Leeds lost the play-off final at the hands of Watford, and things went from bad to worse as the club were relegated again the following season, after voluntarily entering administration in 2007. After three consecutive seasons in which Leeds reached the play-offs, Simon Grayson guided Leeds back to the Championship in 2010, and his side narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season. Leeds are renowned for their passionate fans and there is an air optimism around Elland Road this year, and a sense that promotion back to the Premier League may not be too far away.

Which of these Premier League ‘old boys’ do you think we have missed the most? Do you expect any of them to be back any time soon? Let me know either below or @sixthofficial on Twitter!