the official premiership relegation 'battle'

[steve sanders]

featuring such not quite midtable-obscurity-worthy teams as:

wigan
boro
reading
newcastle
sunderland
birmingham
bolton
fulham

would any of these sides really be a loss to the top flight? to be fair, wigan and boro are probably ok. boro i think look like a reasonable side.

i hope fulham and bolton go. tomorrow sees birmingham v newcastle. it's what they call a six pointer.

[rockyoc]

I would love it if Newcastle went down.

[PatMan]

Foolham down, love to see what happens to them after - can't see 'Mo' sticking around much after that!

[ho chi feen]

Derby (obviously), Fulham, and Brum for me. Idiots to ditch Steve Bruce. He's done fantastically well with Wigan.

[steve sanders]

Derby (obviously), Fulham, and Brum for me. Idiots to ditch Steve Bruce. He's done fantastically well with Wigan.

i'm going with bolton and fulham. i think mcleish is a fairly good coach and has actually done as well as could be expected with birmingham.

i disagree on steve bruce - i think he is quite the fool but inherited an ok squad and has experience of relegation battles. but you are no doubt biased because of his united links.

that said, newcastle are in freefall and faiure to win either of their next two games (away @ birgmingham today, home to fulham on sat) should see relegation for the toon - and the boot for keegan if reports are true.

[weekender]

i'm going with bolton and fulham.

Correct me if I'm wrong but a couple of weeks ago you were saying Derby, Fulham and Reading. Not so much making predictions as reciting the teams currently in the bottom three places...

[ho chi feen]

i'm going with bolton and fulham. i think mcleish is a fairly good coach and has actually done as well as could be expected with birmingham.

i disagree on steve bruce - i think he is quite the fool but inherited an ok squad and has experience of relegation battles. but you are no doubt biased because of his united links.

that said, newcastle are in freefall and faiure to win either of their next two games (away @ birgmingham today, home to fulham on sat) should see relegation for the toon - and the boot for keegan if reports are true.

Why would you say that? Overall, his record with Brum is good. He kept them in the Premiership for years, when they went down, he brought them straight back up (which seems tough these days), so I think he got a raw deal. Wigan were in a hopeless position when he took over, now they look well placed. I rate Big Eck very highly as a coach, and while he's achieved some good results, one only needs to look at their league position- they've regressed.

[STEVIEG]

Bruce is a very good manager there was some other politics involved there though i think, not simply just football

However, McCleish is very good too and he will keep Birmingham up

Newcastle and Sunderland are now in real trouble, if pushed i'd go with the present bottom 3 but i think Newcastle could go too if Bolton get it going

[dotty]

Bruce is a very good manager there was some other politics involved there though i think, not simply just football

However, McCleish is very good too and he will keep Birmingham up

Newcastle and Sunderland are now in real trouble, if pushed i'd go with the present bottom 3 but i think Newcastle could go too if Bolton get it going

bruce jumped ship after he was out of contract at the end of the season and with all the takeover goings on there didnt seem like one was forthcoming so thought it best to head for pastures new.

done well at wigan so far,agree with ho chi re birmingham,despite impressive wins over spurs and a spirited draw with arsenal among others brum have gone backwards under mcleish,think he has enough about him to keep them up.

boro are not out of it yet imo,too inconsistent to be,lame cup exit although may be lifted by their spirited showing at the emirates on saturday.

at the moment ill say derby,fulham,reading .

[Loftydog]

I do think that wigan, birmingham and boro will all stay up. The problem for bolton, fulham and reading and to a lesser extent sunderland is goals. They just cant seem to score enough.

[Murdock]

I think Birmingham will beat Newcastle tonight. Unlike Newcastle, they seem to have some team spirit and Forssell is a class striker.

Newcastle are the biggest shambles in the League. That's what happens when you let the fans pick the manager. King Kev my hole.

[Roman Abramovich]

arsenal may just avoid the drop. stay tuned.

[Roman Abramovich]

I think Birmingham will beat Newcastle tonight. Unlike Newcastle, they seem to have some team spirit and Forssell is a class striker.

Newcastle are the biggest shambles in the League. That's what happens when you let the fans pick the manager. King Kev my hole.

keegan will get it right. just hope hes not sacked first.

[ho chi feen]

Newcastle are the biggest shambles in the League. That's what happens when you let the fans pick the manager. King Kev my hole.

It's always funny to see morons get exactly what they deserve.

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

Fulham and Bolton to go down.

Fulham have left it too late and Bolton have a bad run in for which they will be missing their keeper Jaaskelainen.

Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Barclays Premier League
Man Utd v Bolton, 20:00
Saturday, 22 March 2008
Barclays Premier League
Bolton v Man City, 15:00
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Barclays Premier League
Bolton v Arsenal, 15:00
Saturday, 05 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Bolton, 15:00
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Bolton v West Ham, 15:00
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Middlesbrough v Bolton, 15:00
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham v Bolton, 15:00
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Bolton v Sunderland, 15:00
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Chelsea v Bolton, 15:00

Although its no walk in the park for Sunderland either:

Saturday, 22 March 2008
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Sunderland, 15:00
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v West Ham, 15:00
Saturday, 05 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Fulham v Sunderland, 15:00
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v Man City, 15:00
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle v Sunderland, 15:00
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Saturday, 03 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Bolton v Sunderland, 15:00
Sunday, 11 May 2008
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland v Arsenal, 15:00

Sunderland have played an extra game than most of their relegation rivals. Not good.

[raZor]

Was going to back Fulham for the drop at the start of the season, should have had a flutter.

Boro and Bolton would not be missed in the league anyway, they cant get a decent crowd through the gate.

[steve sanders]

Correct me if I'm wrong but a couple of weeks ago you were saying Derby, Fulham and Reading. Not so much making predictions as reciting the teams currently in the bottom three places...

reading have done well in recent games. when i made that comment they were on a dire run of form. also as a newcastle fan i've had to think about it a bit more deeply with us tumbling into it...

[Otto_the_bus_driver]

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4460/picture2dv0.png

Table as it stands at 5pm on sat march 22.

[scrumpy]

delighted to see reading make a bit of progress away from the bottom 3. Boro are almost safe unless they go on a shocking run altogether. Birmingham will be looking sharpely over their shoulder, costly defeat to reading today. Fulham have an awful lot of work to do

[Roman Abramovich]

Newcastle are the biggest shambles in the League..

not doing too bad

[ho chi feen]

I think Reading are doomed. Shame. Coppel is a nice guy, and great at revitalising clubs and taking them up- but an utter fucking disaster when it comes to keeping them there, or when the pressure is on.

[ebenezer]

Meggo orchestrating a great escape.

Chelsea (away) on the last day, but I reckon 3 points at home to Funderland could be enough.

Thought Megson was doomed after the collapse against Arsenal, but my pal has fought on in a typical militarily/dictatorial style.

[scrumpy]

hows the league look now?

[ebenezer]

hows the league look now?

Derby are safe.

[scrumpy]

Derby are safe.

safe in the knowledge they're into the championship. I think Fulham and Birmingham will join them. If those teams play out a draw when they meet at Craven cottage next weekend I think both sides are doomed. Coppell will have to sort out why Reading are performing so poorly lately especially Doyle who can score for love nor money

[ebenezer]

A potentially mouthwatering prospect next season.

Forest V Derby. :D

They'll probably stuff us though, if we went up. :mad:

[scrumpy]

A potentially mouthwatering prospect next season.

Forest V Derby. :D

They'll probably stuff us though, if we went up. :mad:


That is a mouth watering prospect alright

[ebenezer]

That is a mouth watering prospect alright

Forest and Derby is more important than affairs on Merseyside, in London, in Manchester, and in Glasgow.

[scrumpy]

Forest and Derby is more important than affairs on Merseyside, in London, in Manchester, and in Glasgow.

maybe to those in Nottingham and Derby. In Cork, I really couldnt give a fuck what happens in any of those places

[ebenezer]

maybe to those in Nottingham and Derby. In Cork, I really couldnt give a fuck what happens in any of those places

Do you have any affection towards an English side http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3817/questionmhu0.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[scrumpy]

Ya I'd like to see Liverpool win out of nostalgia from the late 80's and Reading from my time being over there watching them at the old elm park but I wouldnt lose any sleep of them losing/being relegated/going in administration. I wouldnt go out of my way to watch any games that werent openly available on sky/bbc/rte

[ebenezer]

Ya I'd like to see Liverpool win out of nostalgia from the late 80's

I remember those days.

I was 5.

I have HATED Liverpool ever since.

[scrumpy]

I remember those days.

I was 5.

I have HATED Liverpool ever since.

I suppose the sight of good soccer would engage hatred in anyone. Why are you a season ticket holder there so?:? :? :?

[ebenezer]

I suppose the sight of good soccer would engage hatred in anyone. Why are you a season ticket holder there so


Season ticket at Anfield.

:lol!: :lol!: :lol!:

OMG.

You just don't get me, do you http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3817/questionmhu0.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[steve sanders]

fulham v birmingham
sunderland v bolton
reading v spurs

und dann

birmingham v blackburn
derby v reading
portsmouth v fulham

i hope sunderland 'do' bolton. i'd like to see them gone. and fulham.

[steve sanders]

it's ON again this year for newcastle, but they have a decent run in.

lots of teams in the shit mix, 8 points between sunderland in 9th and rock bottom wigan. i hope to see wigan go, they are irksome. birmingham are in bovver despite their Cup Glory, as they struggle to score goals.

the mail have crunched some numbers, but curiously have newcastle finishing in the top 10:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1362158/Premier-League-relegation-battle-Who-survive-drop.html

[Conkerz]

aston villa - hate um, wud love to see um go
wolves - wolves are a filthy pack of bastards,what would ya expect from mickos team tho
WBA - coz theyre just not good enuff

[Lapsy Pa]

Villa seem to be gone to the dogs altogether.

Lerner has severely underestimated the job that O'Neill did. Unbelievably he wouldn't back MON in the transfer market yet gave his replacement 24m for Bent and 6m for Makoun . Makes no sense.

Houllier has lost the faith of the crowd and even if they stay up he could be gone in the summer. Would like to see some big clubs go down.

[steve sanders]

many of the bottom teams will be playing each other between here and end of season, but if villa don't sort themselves out soon they're in real trouble.

next up for them is a trip to goodison, then 5 games where you can see them grabbing a share of points: homes against stoke, newcastle and wigan, and trips to west ham and a derby with the baggies. if they're not out of the woods by then it could be curtains, their last two games are at arsenal and hosting liverpool, both of whom might have something to play for...

houllier seems to have made a complete balls of things, playing lots of inexperienced (and basically not good enough guys) in defence and strengthening centre mid and attack where they were largely covered.

[steve sanders]

well, west ham are almost certainly gone. a point at home tomorrow for birmingham who host fulham will seal it.

blackpool's late rally to attempt to avoid the drop may prove in vain - they may need fergie to do them a favour and put out the reserves, but at OT on the last game of the season the reserves would probably beat them; even a draw probably won't be enough.

if fulham do win at st. andrews tomorrow though it's still up for grabs.

[Lee Bushwacker]

:cool:
Hope that Wolves go down. It's exactly what their bluffer, oops gaffer deserves!

[The Curious Lozenge]

wish i could watch west ham wigan, sounds like a great match.

[Loftydog]

Nobody seems to want to stay up at the moment; Wigan being beaten by West Ham, Birmingham losing to Fulham.

[Loftydog]

Bye bye spammers

[Good News Caravan]

Backed Fulham and West Ham in a double. Was nearly already spending at half time.

[blackie]

Comment on yahoo.

Just a thought...next season Hammars will be playing in* a stadium which has a athletic track round it...the* filed of play will be 25 meters from the poor sods who* pay good money to be there

The way they played today* is 25 Meters FAR ENOUGH...
Good ridence ...get a half* decent manager and u may have a chance to get back to* the top table again.

[Shabby]

Only one weekend of fixtures left and here are they games that are of importance to the relegation battle:

Wolves V Blackburn
Man.Utd. V Blackpool
Stoke V Wigan
Tottenham V Birmingham

How it currently stands:

15. Blackburn Pts: 40 (GD:-14)
16. Wolves Pts: 40 (GD:-19)
17. Birmingham Pts: 39 (GD:-20)
18. Blackpool Pts: 39 (GD:-21)
19. Wigan Pts: 39 (GD:-22)
20. West Ham (Relegated)

First off, looking at fixtures, Birmingham look to be in real trouble. Spurs will probably not only beat them, but beat them well and give their goal difference an awful thumping. Same could go for Blackpool at Old Trafford but they will surely face a United second string. Blackpool will attack them as they usually do. A lot will depend on how they keep them out at the other end. I reckon we'll see a draw in that. Wigan's trip to Stoke is a tough one to call. Both teams are in good form but Stoke take no game easily and are strong at home. A draw here looks likely. The other game between Wolves and Blackburn is tough to call. Blackburn have been okay in recent games while Wolves have come good at the right time. I'm going to go for a Wolves victory in this.

2 of the team involved in those games must go down. I reckon Birmingam are doomed which means Wigan must better Blackpool's result and if both lose, hope that United do more damage to Blackpool than Stoke do to them. In a rare case of Wigan, Blackpool and Birmingham being level on points and goal difference, then Blackpool will stay up with far more goals scored than the other two.

Wigan, Birmingham to join West Ham in relegation.

One thing is for sure, it'll be a brilliant day in front of the tv watching it all happen for the neutral.

[RutlandStreet]

Blowing bubbles in the Championship:(


*snigger*

[RutlandStreet]

My money is on Blackpool and Wolves to join West ham btw

[duffer31]

Only one weekend of fixtures left and here are they games that are of importance to the relegation battle:

Wolves V Blackburn
Man.Utd. V Blackpool
Stoke V Wigan
Tottenham V Birmingham

How it currently stands:

15. Blackburn Pts: 40 (GD:-14)
16. Wolves Pts: 40 (GD:-19)
17. Birmingham Pts: 39 (GD:-20)
18. Blackpool Pts: 39 (GD:-21)
19. Wigan Pts: 39 (GD:-22)
20. West Ham (Relegated)

First off, looking at fixtures, Birmingham look to be in real trouble. Spurs will probably not only beat them, but beat them well and give their goal difference an awful thumping. Same could go for Blackpool at Old Trafford but they will surely face a United second string. Blackpool will attack them as they usually do. A lot will depend on how they keep them out at the other end. I reckon we'll see a draw in that. Wigan's trip to Stoke is a tough one to call. Both teams are in good form but Stoke take no game easily and are strong at home. A draw here looks likely. The other game between Wolves and Blackburn is tough to call. Blackburn have been okay in recent games while Wolves have come good at the right time. I'm going to go for a Wolves victory in this.

2 of the team involved in those games must go down. I reckon Birmingam are doomed which means Wigan must better Blackpool's result and if both lose, hope that United do more damage to Blackpool than Stoke do to them. In a rare case of Wigan, Blackpool and Birmingham being level on points and goal difference, then Blackpool will stay up with far more goals scored than the other two.

Wigan, Birmingham to join West Ham in relegation.

One thing is for sure, it'll be a brilliant day in front of the tv watching it all happen for the neutral.

So basically you haven't a notion?

[Shabby]

So basically you haven't a notion?
Yup. I just threw out the facts and rattled out my thoughts as I went along but didn't really come to a conclusion. I did say I think Birmingham and Wigan will join West Ham in relegation but if I knew for sure, then it wouldn't be very exciting now would it? :D

[duffer31]

Yup. I just threw out the facts and rattled out my thoughts as I went along but didn't really come to a conclusion. I did say I think Birmingham and Wigan will join West Ham in relegation but if I knew for sure, then it wouldn't be very exciting now would it? :D

Only slagging. I think it will be wigan and Blackpool myself. I'd love to see Blackpool stay up,

[PatMan]

Comment on yahoo.

Just a thought...next season Hammars will be playing in* a stadium which has a athletic track round it...the* filed of play will be 25 meters from the poor sods who* pay good money to be there

The way they played today* is 25 Meters FAR ENOUGH...
Good ridence ...get a half* decent manager and u may have a chance to get back to* the top table again.

Maybe West Ham might wait until AFTER the stadium hosts the 2012 games before moving in?

Just a thought...

[Lapsy Pa]

Would like to see Wolves stay up for Mick McCarthys sake. Got his book Captain Fantastic as a present years ago and he was one of the reasons I started to following Celtic. Seems like a genuine enough fella (without going throught the Saipan episode again)Never seems to have much money to spend but what he does have he invests wisely ie. Fletcher and Doyle.

Would like to see Wigan stay up also. They at least try to play the game the right way. A lot of teams at the bottom use the old "it's about results not performances" but Martinez has them playing good stuff. If they had someone with Rodellaga to score a few more goals they'd be midtable. However even if they stay up there's more of a chance of jordan becoming a nun than there is of N'Zogbia being at the DW next season.

Good riddance to birmingham. A bunch of shit kickers and hoofers. After Zigic got injured and they couldn't hoof the ball up to him they fell apart.

[STEVIEG]

This is comical beyond words

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15336398.stm

facepalm

[DKirby]

This is comical beyond words

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15336398.stm

facepalm

Utter Joke, Relegation Battles are usually more interesting & more exciting than the race to the top battles.

What would happen in the lower divisions? There wouldn't be any reward for finishing the top of the table except a trophy??

Greed.........must be one of those deadly sin thingees.

[STEVIEG]

Yup

shows how these club owners are thinking though

[justjohn]

Swansea
Blackburn
Norwich/wigan