England:
Queen's Park Rangers - B - Eleventh spot in the richest and arguably hardest league in Europe is some achievement. After an opening result that saw a substandard team get spanked by substandard Bolton, QPR improved both personnel and performance to lose only twice more. Two wins and three draws since, along with the injection of much needed Premiership calibre players, has seen them steadily climb the table. QPR used to be one of London's most fashionable names at the Premiership's inception. Could this season be the first chapter in their return ? If it weren't for their recent calamitous 6-0 defeat at Fulham, they could currently be in the top half of the table.
Norwich City - B - Runaway leaders in the Premier League's first ever season, the Canaries over achieved their way into Europe before suffering a cruel relegation the following season. While not quite the yo-yo clubs that West Midlands pair Wolves and West Brom have become, Norwich's subsequent appearances in the top flight have been fleeting and tenuous. So far this season, they had alternated between competent and unlucky, but are far from calamitous as yet. Two wins from seven see them sit in ninth, notably above division stalwarts like Everton, Sunderland and Fulham.
Swansea City - B - Impressive considering that they they were plying their trade in the third tier just a couple of years ago, their style of play and enthusiasm have been a welcome respite from the negative practicality adopted by many of their promoted brethren. While an unlucky goalkeeping gaffe prevented a point at Arsenal, City's remaining games have shown the gap in class that exists between their desire to remain in the premiership and their ability to do so. As a sidenote neutrals and newcomers to the game may take heart from their style of play, often more attractive than most of the division.
Germany:
Augsburg - D - Completely out of their depth, and exposed as possible make-weights as early as their first month, Augsburg's campaign ahead holds a succession of repeated reminders that they do not belong. While their four draws have suggested a possible ability to keep opponents at bay; heavy defeats in their remaining games have confirmed the initial indication that their stay in the top flight is indeed temporary. And although they impressed while clinching automatic promotion at the second attempt last season, they never convinced. With no wins and just four points from eight outings so far this season, they still hardly are.
Hertha Berlin - B - Desite sitting in ninth, Hertha's progress this season has been tentative if steady. Three wins and 12 points from eight games is an encouraging, if hardly healthy, return. The parity of the Bundesliga does much to increase the excitement, attractiveness and competitiveness of the league but masks the mediocrity of teams such as Hertha Berlin. They haven't been good but are far from being bad and on current form are poised to extend their stay in the top flight, and with some comfort at that.
Spain:
Real Betis - A - After winning their first four games, the club from the city of Sevilla were the early leaders of La Liga, ahead of the big two, the top six and everyone else. For a promoted team to march up the table with such panache and drive was an impressive and encouraging experience that flew in the face of rightful claims that La Liga was an uncompetitive two horse race. Fearless, dogged and resilient, Betis are the cream of the promoted crop this year and remain with a top mark despite their two subsequent losses, both narrow that have seen them drop to seventh spot since.
Rayo Vallecano - C - Despite sitting in 14th, four points above and seemingly clear of the relegation mire for now, Rayo's season has been tepid, if not outright discouraging so far. Only one win in six games, despite losing just twice sees them with as many points as matches played. At time of writing they are winless in three and are yet to win at home. Midfielder Miguel Cuesta aka Michu and veteran striker Raul Tamudo apart, their squad has and will continue to struggle for goals as a prolonged relegation struggle beckons.
Granada - D - It's hard to make much of an impact when the team contains such little top level talent. By way of comparison consider Derby County in 2007-08. Their only victory, a 1-0 win over Villarreal, remains the high point of a trying campaign so far that has seen four defeats in just six games. Scoring was always going to be an issue and a return of just two goals so far bodes ill for the future. While being Udinese's farm team can be a good thing, the fruits of that connection are still to be realized. Granada's south coast derbies with Malaga (a 4-0 reverse), Sevilla and Betis will be exciting affairs, remaining poignant memories of their foray into the top division.
Italy:
Atalanta - A - Despite a six point deduction to start the season, Atalanta are already a point and two spots clear of the relegation zone, with their opening four games returning 10 points, the best such haul in the league. A recent away loss at Roma aside, Atalanta have been one of the best teams in Serie A so far and should finish in the top half with some comfort. Their defence is a litle suspect but with a wily and creative front six, the other blue and black striped team in Italy, will be more than a handful for the rest this year - especially with the Argentine duo of veteran German Denis and Max Moralez linking to some effect at the front of the park.
Novara - B - Building on successive promotions was always going to be difficult and the suspicion remains that the club are one division too high. Still, their performances have been a mix of plucky (3-3 v Catania, 2-2 at Chievo), well executed (3-1 v Inter) and exposed (losses at Cagliari and Atalanta, where they were down 2-0 including an early concession). But it appears on the whole that Novara have both the ability and belief to survive this year. A final position in the lower half of the table, but clear of the drop zone, seems eminently achievable while this club has a few more upsets still left in it.
Siena - C - Dropping an entire grade despite being just one spot lower may seem harsh but Siena are a notch worse than their fellow promoted club above. For one, their promotion campaign was built largely on loans and cast-offs from several Serie A clubs, notably Juventus, whom they mirror with their vertical black and white stripes. While the loannees have either returned or may be called back as the season continues, the castoffs are just that, players who could not cut it at the highest level. A stodgy defence has held up a club with one of the weakest attacks in the league, something that will eventually doom them as they return to Serie B.
France:
Dijon - B - An encouraging season so far for the club who achieved promotion to Ligue 1 for the first time ever last season. Three wins and two draws from nine games played sees the club sit in 11th with the same number of points. While they are just six points away from a European spot, they are also just four points above Ajaccio in 18th. And despite their wins, they have conceded far too many goals. The remaining 29 games will see the team settle a bit lower in the table with a campaign more like Arles, less like Brest, from last season. However their form up to this point has been a refreshing filip for promoted teams all over.
Evian TG - C - Like Novara, this team has been sent up twice in consecutive seasons and the over-achievement is beginning to show. After a win over Nice in week 2 they have failed to win since, going winless in their next seven. With five draws and three losses in their nine games overall, the prognosis is hadly positive. Thonon-Gallard are destined for a quick return to the second division with the tragic combination of porous defence and anaemic attack. The one bright spot however has been the spread of scoring, with eight different players having found the back of the net so far.
Ajaccio - D - While a return to the top flight after five years was supposed to be a grand rejuvenation for the club, it has been nothing of the sort. The team has struggled, with the sole high point being the 3-1 home win over Valenciennes. The remaining eight games have brought an equal number of losses and draws and the current stint in the relegation zone, is set to last, possibly till season's end. Despite the impressive efforts of Guillermo Ochoa in goal, they have leaked 17 goals, second most in the division while notching just nine strikes.
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