Finishing fourth from bottom and avoiding relegation from the Premier League would represent an "amazing season" for Leeds United.
That is the verdict of former England international Chris Waddle with a week to go until the big kick-off. Despite a summer of changed at Elland Road, many pundits and bookmakers have tipped the Whites to go down.
Daniel Farke's troops get their top flight campaign underway in 10 days time when they tackle David Moyes’ Everton under the lights at Elland Road. United have so far spent around £75m in adding seven new players to their ranks, but Farke is desperate to bolster their attacking options before the transfer window closes on September 1.
Speaking to Premier League betting site talkSPORTBET, Waddle said: "You look at Leeds and yes, they were a very good side in the Championship, but teams did give them good games and sometimes felt unlucky not to get a result or even a draw.
"They played at a high tempo, getting in teams' faces. They were exciting to watch in the Championship. But looking at the personnel they've got, yes, they've signed a few players, but I just don't think the squad's strong enough to compete in the Premier League over a season.
"I think a lot of teams will play around them and get past their high press. A lot of teams are technically very good and will play around them. Let's be honest, the Championship is an exciting league, but the quality of the Championship is not comparable to the Premier League and it never will be.
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"Their tempo, and pace were great for Leeds last year and worked well. They were the best team in the Championship, but for them, if they can finish fourth from bottom, that would be an amazing season."
Waddle fears the three newly-promoted teams - Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland - will struggle to hold their own in the top flight. History suggests the gap between the Premier League and the Championship is getting bigger every year.
"Leeds will probably think they shouldn't be in the relegation battle, but the quality you need in the Premier League isn't about having two or three good players; you need eight or nine, with legs and technique," said Waddle.
"It's not easy to find players of that level. When clubs come up and aren't spending two or three hundred million quid, they haven't really got a chance.
"Brentford have sold two key players, and a third one could go. If they lose Yoane Wissa, you do start asking questions about Brentford, they'll definitely be in that pack.
"I don't think Wolves have really brought in a lot of players. They've lost Matheus Cunha, who was a key player for them, so Wolves could again be in for a hard slog to stay in the league.
"Brentford and definitely the three promoted teams will be in the mix, and after that, you just don't know. Will teams like Crystal Palace, who probably overachieved a little, feel the effects of last season? If they lose key players, will they be in the mix?
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"There are teams that had a good season, but can they repeat it? There's a lot to talk about with the bottom seven or eight, but especially the three who came up.
"Listen, if you offer them fourth bottom, they'd snap your hand off. It's such a hard league, and we've seen over the last couple of years, teams who come up just cannot compete the majority of the weeks.
"You feel for them; the dream is to get in the Premier League, but you've got to have a plan of saying, When we do go up, we have X amount of pounds to make sure we are not coming down. Unfortunately, these clubs don't have it."
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