Who's Going Down to the Championship?

[SantiSuk]

Fascinating day of relegation battles yesterday.

Congrats to Crystal Palace for pulling clear. Never thought I would see myself praising Pulis who seems to have gone for attractive attacking football and pulled it off. Definitely contender for manager of the month along with Brendan and Roberto.

Sunderland look doomed, though they were unlucky to drop all the points against Everton. The yo-yo between divisions in the North-East continues.

My best guess: Sunderland, Norwich and Cardiff

[CFC]

My Guess is Sunderland, Norwich and you would have to say Cardiff but Aston Villa cant buy a win and could get sucked in. I hope Fulham survive. Norwich treated Chris badly and wanted to sack him all season. I hope they go down.

[jellydog]

My Guess is Sunderland, Norwich and you would have to say Cardiff but Aston Villa cant buy a win and could get sucked in. I hope Fulham survive. Norwich treated Chris badly and wanted to sack him all season. I hope they go down.

I think Sunderland is done, and a shame as I like Poyet. They deserved much better from the Everton game.

Norwich, Cardiff and Sunderland, with Villa plummeting and maybe Cardiff escaping as a result.

[mrbojangles]

Sunderland obviously but I'd also like Cardiff and Swansea to go down and return the EPL to the EPL

[bartender100]

My Guess is Sunderland, Norwich and you would have to say Cardiff but Aston Villa cant buy a win and could get sucked in. I hope Fulham survive. Norwich treated Chris badly and wanted to sack him all season. I hope they go down.

With respect if your not a Norwich support you don't know what we have had to put up with with him, sure he is a football Mr Niceguy, but have you never wanted a manager out of your club? I don't think we treated him badly at all, he was given plenty of time to turn it around

His negative tactics are the reason why we are where we are, he brought 3 strikers at the start of the season for 18 million, of which they have score 8/9 goals between them

Norwich played very well against Fulham, even their manager agreed "It was dramatic but we were very lucky. Norwich were the better team and they played very well," said Magath

This was with our new manager, new formation, new desire, the fans were happy with how we played

Its possible, but unlikely that we will not pick up some more points in the last 4 games, tough as they are, we do play better against tougher opposition, Arsenal at home on the last day, with their mind on the FA cup, maybe

As you say, still a few teams could get sucked in, Villa have been terrible lately, also beaten by Fulham recently at home

Sunderland still have 2 games in hand, so their position could change

[SantiSuk]

Hope the Canaries are already safe by the time they play us, Bartender, though it seems quite likely that game will be massive for at least you guys. Still have a soft spot for them having followed them in my student days. I called a few weeks ago that the last game of the season at Carrow Road with us could be massive both ways - and I would hate to predict how a massive game for both teams would turn out.

Unlikely we would be distracted by the FA Cup Final if we need points to keep 4th though. One week recovery time is a luxury in the modern game and there are no guarantees that Wenger will not prefer his FA Cup squad for the final, having stuck with them for the semis. I'm guessing he would field a full team and that half of them would be expecting it to be their last start of the season. They may even be wondering whether they've got to impress potential incoming new managers by then!

Fascinating season this!

[sotsira]

Norwich and Sunderland have the hardest run of games left so i think they'll both go down.

Then it's a toss up between Cardiff or Fulham, and i think Fulham will just do enough to stay up

and Cardiff will go down.

[wilai]

No one mentioned Swansea yet? They have to play some of the relegation candidates and could still get sucked in themselves.

[mrbojangles]

No one mentioned Swansea yet? They have to play some of the relegation candidates and could still get sucked in themselves.

Sunderland obviously but I'd also like Cardiff and Swansea to go down and return the EPL to the EPL

[wooloomooloo]

Unlikely we would be distracted by the FA Cup Final if we need points to keep 4th though.

I can't see Arsenal reclaiming a top four spot if I'm honest.

Norwich will have to pull a rabbit from a hat to overcome a run in of Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal. [Relegated]

It doesn't get much better for Sunderland with Man City, Chelsea, Cardiff, Man U, West Brom and Swansea. [Relegated].

Will be interesting to see who joins them.

[carmine]

I'd love Cardiff to go and go they will. Vincent tans's a complete knob head. Hopefully Norwich too, if nothing else but for their ridiculous decision to sack a manager with only a handful of games remaining.

Sunderland's the other but its a shame its not West Ham. Their vile Sam Alladichi anti football belongs in a lower league.

[SantiSuk]

Duplicate

[SantiSuk]

I prefer teams who hoof the ball upfield, than teams who hoof the opposition's legs Carmine . But it has not been a bad year on the latter front. Both Stoke and the two North-eastern teams seem to have softened up a bit. It's good that teams that are coming into the division seem to play their way to stability with football not brawn.

[SantiSuk]

Shame for Sunderland/Gus Poyet. Have played well enough to have deserved at least 4 points out of Everton and Man City, but only got one!

[SantiSuk]

What price fat Sam for the chop before the end of the season?

Who's going to do the houdini act this season - Sunderland and Fulham deserve to with recent performances, which seems to leave Norwich, Cardiff and one of the Black Country duo cut adrift.

Fascinating

[jellydog]

A lot of teams at the bottom showing great character lately.

I love the concept of relegation. There is absolutely nothing like it in the states.

[mrbojangles]

I love the concept of relegation. There is absolutely nothing like it in the states.

it's an emotional roller coaster jelly. Jack and I have been through enough with City to last a life time. Although when we got relegated in 1996, after about 3 years of struggling in the Prem and scrapping relegation, it was a kind of relief to be honest. However, we thought we would start winning games (which would be a nice feeling again) but instead of that we got relegated again after 2 seasons.

That was the lowest part of my time supporting City. We then got to the play off's and played Gillingham in the final. Boy was that a <deleted> nightmare, losing with only seconds to go in injury time.........then Dickov pulled off the goal that would eventually make the journey home a happy one. That game is firmly cemented in my head for life. Look it up on youtube.

We got relegated again in 2001 but bounced back the following season. That was a happier time as we had Kevin Keegan and his gung ho style was great to watch. Believe me, when your team is battling relegation, it's an awful feeling. That's why I don't give two hoots about these muppets going on about our "lottery win". I know what times I prefer.

[jellydog]

I love the concept of relegation. There is absolutely nothing like it in the states.

it's an emotional roller coaster jelly. Jack and I have been through enough with City to last a life time. Although when we got relegated in 1996, after about 3 years of struggling in the Prem and scrapping relegation, it was a kind of relief to be honest. However, we thought we would start winning games (which would be a nice feeling again) but instead of that we got relegated again after 2 seasons.

That was the lowest part of my time supporting City. We then got to the play off's and played Gillingham in the final. Boy was that a <deleted> nightmare, losing with only seconds to go in injury time.........then Dickov pulled off the goal that would eventually make the journey home a happy one. That game is firmly cemented in my head for life. Look it up on youtube.

We got relegated again in 2001 but bounced back the following season. That was a happier time as we had Kevin Keegan and his gung ho style was great to watch. Believe me, when your team is battling relegation, it's an awful feeling. That's why I don't give two hoots about these muppets going on about our "lottery win". I know what times I prefer.

Better to be in the money than to be out of the money, eh MrB ?

I know its tough for those who go down, but overall relegation is incredibly good for the sport itself. If you are an owner and you don't do the right thing then you pay a significant price. In the states a sports franchise can muddle along in mediocrity, or worse, for years and years and not pay any price whatsoever. The owners can rake in cash regardless of the club's performance, and never be adequately motivated to improve the club one iota.

[SantiSuk]

Norwich (away to Chelsea and home to Arsenal) are doomed

Fulham (away to Stoke and home to Crystal Palace) look unlikely to be able to pull out having dropped two points to Hull yesterday

Sunderland v Cardiff at noon today is as massive at the bottom end as Pool v Chelsea is at the top. I think Sunderland (away to Man U, home to West Brom and home to Swansea) have a great chance to 'do the Houdini' even though they are still bottom. Their goal difference gives them a spare point.

Cardiff (away to Newcastle and home to Chelsea are close on doomed)

We could well see West Brom (away to Arsenal and Sunderland, home to Stoke) escape with only their current 36 points. Maybe even Villa (away to Man C and Spurs, home to Stoke) on 35 points are already safe.

Present table:

Norwich 32

Fulham 31

Cardiff 30

Sunderland 29

Best guess end result:

Sunderland 35 (3 points from Cardiff and another 3 from one of West Brom or Swansea - yes they have 3 remaining winnable home fixtures)

Fulham 34 (3 points from Palace at home)

Norwich 32 (null point, I hope in respect of the Arsenal game - but also hope we don't need points by the time we get to Carrow Road)

Cardiff 31 (one point at Newcastle)

On the other hand if Cardiff can win at Sunderland .... gonna be worth watching this as a pre-prandial to the Anfield game.

[bartender100]

I am resigned to Norwich going down, I don't blame Ricky v Wolfswinkle I blame the managers for constantly picking him when he has never looked a Premier League striker, one goal all season, missed a dozen sitters, totally out of his depth in every game he played, Luciano Becchio sat every game on the bench, I think he played about 5 minutes of football all season, such a shame he was never given a chance.

Back to 5 seasons in the Championship, oh well

[wilai]

Personally, I am pleased Palace stayed up

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmVnV1KIEAIwcxZ.jpg:large

[carmine]

I am resigned to Norwich going down, I don't blame Ricky v Wolfswinkle I blame the managers for constantly picking him when he has never looked a Premier League striker, one goal all season, missed a dozen sitters, totally out of his depth in every game he played, Luciano Becchio sat every game on the bench, I think he played about 5 minutes of football all season, such a shame he was never given a chance.

Back to 5 seasons in the Championship, oh well

You could also blame the berk that sacked a manager with half a dozen games to go. Absolutely ridiculous thing to do.

[jellydog]

Hoping Villa go down. They are arguably the worst team in the league at the moment. Would like to see Poyet save Sunderland. I think Cardiff and Norwich are toast, but I guess that's obvious.

[uptheos]

Hoping Villa go down. They are arguably the worst team in the league at the moment. Would like to see Poyet save Sunderland. I think Cardiff and Norwich are toast, but I guess that's obvious.

Maybe if Cardiff go down, Tan will capitulate and change back to blue, you can understand the fans frustration.

I'm always reminded of Delilah Smith's ridiculous rant 'let's be having you, where are you?" So they can go too.

I quite like both the Sunderland and Fulham managers.

Norwich

Fulham

Cardiff

[bartender100]

I am resigned to Norwich going down, I don't blame Ricky v Wolfswinkle I blame the managers for constantly picking him when he has never looked a Premier League striker, one goal all season, missed a dozen sitters, totally out of his depth in every game he played, Luciano Becchio sat every game on the bench, I think he played about 5 minutes of football all season, such a shame he was never given a chance.

Back to 5 seasons in the Championship, oh well

You could also blame the berk that sacked a manager with half a dozen games to go. Absolutely ridiculous thing to do.

We were up against it with whoever was in charge, but against Liverpool and Fulham under Neil Adams we looked a much better side, 6 points against Chelsea and Arsenal, our last two games, and we will be sale, lol

[Jip99]

I am resigned to Norwich going down, I don't blame Ricky v Wolfswinkle I blame the managers for constantly picking him when he has never looked a Premier League striker, one goal all season, missed a dozen sitters, totally out of his depth in every game he played, Luciano Becchio sat every game on the bench, I think he played about 5 minutes of football all season, such a shame he was never given a chance.

Back to 5 seasons in the Championship, oh well

You could also blame the berk that sacked a manager with half a dozen games to go. Absolutely ridiculous thing to do.

We were up against it with whoever was in charge, but against Liverpool and Fulham under Neil Adams we looked a much better side, 6 points against Chelsea and Arsenal, our last two games, and we will be sale, lol

I think you are right.

However, should your prediction fantasy not come to fruition then you are down with Cardiff and Fulham.

I think Sunderland's two home games will see them safe - but if they screw up AND Fulham get 6 points ... who knows... it is a great time of year for crazy results.

I don't think 35 points will be enough...

[tso310]

Fulham are dead. Losing a 2 goal lead at home was catastrophic. Their last 2 games, Stoke and Palace, are against teams pushing hard for top 10 positions and both of these teams now have Newcastle in their sights. Hard teams to play against. Cardiff are gone, the 4-0 against Sunderland will have crushed their spirits. The interesting game is the Arsenal v Norwich. I reckon Arsenal will have qualified for the Champions League before this game, cup final the following week. Do Norwich have enough spirit left. If Villa loose to Hull then its game on for Norwich against Arsenal. They will loose on Sunday at Chelsea. I can't see Villa getting anything in their last 2 games, Man City and Spurs. But I'm sure there will be an unexpected twist somewhere.

Being a Sunderland supporter I know they'll be safe.

[tso310]

The Daily Mirror has a useful article

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/premier-league-relegation-permutations-after-3469343

[Chicog]

Fulham are dead. Losing a 2 goal lead at home was catastrophic. Their last 2 games, Stoke and Palace, are against teams pushing hard for top 10 positions

Yes because lots of teams push hard for top 10 positions when they already have their summer holidays booked.

[SantiSuk]

I think you are right.

However, should your prediction fantasy not come to fruition then you are down with Cardiff and Fulham.

I think Sunderland's two home games will see them safe - but if they screw up AND Fulham get 6 points ... who knows... it is a great time of year for crazy results.

I don't think 35 points will be enough...

Check the maths - which of Norwich (32), Fulham (31) or Cardiff (30) is going to get to 36 points with only 2 games left to demote Sunderland, who are surely capable of at least 35 and have a good GD? I think 35 is gonna be sufficient this year. Norwich might get to 35 if Arsenal soft-pedal it. I very much doubt Fulham or Cardiff can get 2 wins. Ergo 35 is enough.