Premiership Relegation Battle 2009-10

This is the most open Premiership Relegation battle since it's inception back in 1992 -so it's a great time to get on the Sporting Index relegation market. There's lots of value out there if you have take a view on this season's strugglers...

The Probables...

Portsmouth (1st Quote 14-17, New Quote Susp.) - In dire financial trouble, with stories of unpaid wages, transfer fees owed to other teams and winding-up orders from the inland revenue! Could it get any worse for Pompey, well if they go into administration, then they will be certain to finish bottom of the table.
Prediction : Will there be a financial meltdown on the South Coast? The bookies are getting nervous...

Burnley (1st Quote 31-34, New Quote 29-32) - Managing to hold their own in the top flight, but now have fallen into the drop-zone. It may come downto whether there are three teams worse than Burnley. So far, their home form is superlative, but they have to keep nicking points away from home against fellow strugglers. Made a surprise appointment their in new manager Brian Laws, but it is in-keeping with Burnley's policy of trying to play attractive football. They have the best run-in of the strugglers.
Prediction : Could they be this season's Stoke?

Hull City (1st Quote 25-28, New Quote 23-26) - Hull's manager has been given time by the new chairman Adam Pearson -so will Phil Brown be able to repay his faith by keeping the Tigers up? Just shipped four at Old Trafford -letting Rooney run riot, but got a welcome point against Wolves.
Prediction : Phil Brown's men won't last another season in the top flight -unless they start winning...

Birmingham (1st Quote 21-24, New Quote 0-0.5) - After a great result against Fulham, the Blues have followed it up with a vital draw against Man Utd. With McLeish at the helm they should survive -as long as he is allowed to manage without any interference from the new owner Carson Yeoung. He will have money to spend in the transfer window and should be looking for a new midfielder just to bolster the ageing legs. A solid performance against Wolves where they nicked it in the last ten minutes.
Prediction : They look to be safe following some fantastic results in November and December.

Wolves (1st Quote 11-14, New Quote 19-22) - Mick McCarthy has been here before with Sunderland -let's hope there is a different outcome this time for the affable ex-Barnsley defender. Recently fielded a weakened team at Old Trafford-to save his best players for other, more-winnable fixtures. Like Burnley, they will be hoping that Pompey, Hull and Bolton get cut adrift from the rest.
Prediction : Will get past the magic 40 points mark with a couple of games to spare.

The Possibles...

Stoke (1st Quote 12-15, New Quote 0.1-0.5) - Defied the critics last season by making the Britannia Stadium into a real fortress. They are performing solidly in the league and having a great cup run -following their trouncing of the might Arsenal.
Prediction : Mid-table at the moment -and looking comfortable.

Wigan (1st Quote 8-11, New Quote 11-14) - Steve Bruce marshalled his troops to a creditable 11th place last time, but new boss Roberto Martinez is finding things somewhat tougher this term. They are truly a Jekyll and Hyde team -with performances that vary between brilliant and dreadful. They are involved in a dogfight with Bolton, Hull, West Ham and Wolves only time will tell...
Prediction : Half a dozen points in the clear.

Bolton (1st Quote 6-9, New Quote 5-8) - The fans have had their way and got rid of Gary Megson -but it is going to difficult for Owen Coyle -who takes over at the Reebok Stadium. New signing Ivan Klasnic is scoring regularly and could be their salvation come May. They may start looking over their shoulders as other strugglers have found some form. A huge drop of 11 points this week!
Prediction : They are hoping for three worse teams in the division to spare them the dreaded drop!

The Unlikely Lads...

Blackburn (1st Quote 5-8, New Quote 0.25-1) - Back on the right track now that Big Sam is in charge -but without Ecuadorian Santa Cruz (although they do have his younger brother!). They hope that Kalinic from Hadjuk Split will fill that gap with 20 goals, so they don't have to play Samba upfront again... They also need Dunn, Reid and Pedersen to stay fit. Consistently picking up points against the bottom teams is all they need to do.
Prediction : No change at Ewood Park -they will quietly about the business of finishing 14th.

Sunderland (1st Quote 4-7, New Quote 5-8) - With Steve Bruce at the helm, Black Cats fans are hoping for great things -although being the top club in the North East is now a given after last season! Darren Bent's goals are keeping them comfortably in mid-table and as long as he stays fit, then they are safe.
Prediction : A new era at the Stadium of Light will see them avoid any relegation issues.

Fulham (1st Quote 3-6, New Quote 0-0.5) - Roy Hodgson is working his magic and showing the rest of the strugglers what real management is all about -you need a system rather than star players. His team showed real spirit last term with Johnson, Murphy and especially defender Hangeland all getting rave reviews. Will need to improve away form to repeat top eight place, but like Blackburn, they will keep picking up points against the relegation candidates.
Prediction : Looks as though they will surpass the 50 point mark.

West Ham (1st Quote 3-6, New Quote 7-10) - Financial problems off the field have not helped Zola -will he be able to keep Upson, Cole and Collison in the window? What may be their saving grace at the end of the season is their tight defence has kept their goal difference under control. Another inconsistent side, they can be both brilliant and dreadful in the same match!
Prediction : You never know what to expect from the Hammers -could be 8th or 18th!

The Field (Others) (1st Quote 1-3, New Quote 0-0.5) - There is always one team who starts so badly that they get drawn into the relgation fight -last season it was Spurs, until Harry Redknapp steadied the ship. This year it was Everton -but you can't see them being there againd since they drew clear.
Prediction : Doesn't seem likely that there will be an unfamiliar face in there.

 

Well now you have seen a brief rundown of all the teams involved in the relegation shake-up, there are several questions to ask about each team when trying to assess their chances of surviving the drop...

How Good Is The Squad?
Does it have depth to it and will it be able to cope with the inevitable injuries that you pick up during the course of a 40+ game season? Having two or three star players may not be enough if they are on the treatment table for ten games or more. In the past few seasons the injury curse cost both Bobby Robson and Glen Roeder their jobs at Newcastle -where the patience of the league's most tolerant fans finally ran out.

Are They Up For A Fight?
One of the accusations levelled at the Middlesboro team (who last season experienced the drop) was that they just 'weren't up for it' -meaning that the players didn't seem prepared to battle for their Premiership lives.

Some clubs, such as Portsmouth and Chelsea have been labelled battling teams in certain areas of the media and it has been well-documented how an uncompromising Bolton side muscled a more talented but less physical Arsenal side out of several games over the last couple of seasons. Last season, Arsene Wenger accused Stoke of being in it just for a fight!

Is There A Talismanic Player That Will Inspire Them?
For nearly a decade, Southampton were kept in the top flight by the presence of one player -the mercurial Matthew Le Tissier. This was a player whose genius on the field would so inspire those around him that they would play above the level of their own expectations and ability. Most recently, Joey Barton and Carlos Tevez kept their respective teams, Manchester City and West Ham in the top division.

Having a truly great player in your team can also keep the fans on your side, as it gives them a chance to applaud and take some comfort from all those away defeats. Little consolation perhaps -but football fans will cling to anything when facing the prospect of away days the following season at Barnsley and Doncaster...

Will They Be Able To Spend Their Way Out Of Trouble?
Having deep pockets can be one method to avoid relegation. It used to be much easier before the transfer window came into operation back in 2002-03. A manager used to be able to simply 'pinch an in-form striker from the lower division for a couple of million and ten goals later you were back in mid-table safety.

Not so now, when a club has only the month of January to bolster thread-bare squad. On the face of it, spending five million to save yourself fifty seems like a good idea at the time -but take heed from the tale of Bradford City , who, back in 2000-01 decided to spend big in order to retain their top flight status. Players such as Benito Carbone, Neville Southall, Dean Saunders and Dean Windass were brought in at tremendous expense and enormous wages, but were unable to prevent Bradford from plunging into the first division. The financial strain was all too much and City ended up with debts in excess of £30m.

How Many Points Will They Need?

There appears to be so much competition this season that forty points may just be good enough to ensure survival -the only year in recent times that it hasn't was 2002-03 when a massive 43 points was required for safety. See our table further up the page -it shows what you would have needed over the last seven seasons.