2012/13 Premier League relegation thread

Morzadec

Other

Would be very, very surprised if Newcastle or West Ham went down. Sunderland too I imagine are safe (they have some handy home games that will give them the 2 or 3 wins they need). Fulham and Norwich who were both dark horses both got wins this weekend to take them to 32 points. They are also safe.

It's probably not going to take a huge total to stay up this year. West Ham are a very good side at home and will easily pick up at least 2 more wins, and a couple of draws needed for safety.

Newcastle after their win against Southampton are safe. They have the quality in their squad now to be finishing in the top half.

I would agree that QPR are close to relegated. It would take a big turnaround.

So probably 2 from Wigan, Reading, Villa and Southampton.

That_Guy

Table looking a lot better for us but still won't be comfortable until we can pull further away. On paper we've a good squad. We also had a good squad on paper when we went down that time.

Though there doesn't seem to be any mercenaries on the books this time around and we're all pulling in the same direction. Ben Arfa still to come back too which is massive.

As I say, on paper we've a good squad but a midfield of

Ben Arfa ---Cabaye --- Tiote --- Gouffran

Sissoko

is a mouth watering prospect.

Morzadec

Other

That_Guy wrote: »

Table looking a lot better for us but still won't be comfortable until we can pull further away. On paper we've a good squad. We also had a good squad on paper when we went down that time.

Though there doesn't seem to be any mercenaries on the books this time around and we're all pulling in the same direction. Ben Arfa still to come back too which is massive.

As I say, on paper we've a good squad but a midfield of

Ben Arfa ---Cabaye --- Tiote --- Gouffran

Sissoko

is a mouth watering prospect.

Newcastle could (and should) finish in the top half this season. Only 3 points from Stoke in 10th. Next season they should build towards a push for European places again.

That_Guy

Morzadec wrote: »

Newcastle could (and should) finish in the top half this season. Only 3 points from Stoke in 10th. Next season they should build towards a push for European places again.

Survival is happy with me for now. Even if we finish 17th, I'll be happy.

Truthfully, we should have gotten these players in the summer but we're starting to get strength in depth... FINALLY!!

mike65

QPR win everyone else in the immediate danger zone (30 points) lost or drew (Sunderland)

The next round of games contains a few of those six-pointers or as good as

Norwich City 15 : 00 Southampton
Queens Park Ra…15 : 00 Sunderland
Reading 15 : 00 Aston Villa

plus

Newcastle United 15 : 00 Stoke City neither of whom can breath easy yet.

Morzadec

Other

mike65 wrote: »

QPR win everyone else in the immediate danger zone (30 points) lost or drew (Sunderland)

The next round of games contains a few of those six-pointers or as good as

Norwich City 15 : 00 Southampton
Queens Park Ra…15 : 00 Sunderland
Reading 15 : 00 Aston Villa

plus

Newcastle United 15 : 00 Stoke City neither of whom can breath easy yet.

QPR beating Sunderland would suddenly make things very interesting.

I wouldn't bet against a draw in the Newcastle vs Stoke game - at this stage of the season with the way the table is, both teams will know that they just need to keep the points total ticking over slightly to ensure safety and perhaps won't see a point here as a bad result at all.

Norwich might be thinking the same in their match

mike65

Alain Peugeot says he wants to push for top 10 finish.

GavRedKing

Aston Villa

mike65 wrote: »

Alain Peugeot says he wants to push for top 10 finish.

I assume hes talking about next season?

2 or 3 games go against them and others around them win they'll be dragged into it, although ultimately, I cant see them going down.

mike65

Norwich City 0 - 0 Southampton
Queens Park Ra…3 - 1 Sunderland
Reading 1 - 2 Aston Villa

Norwich blow it failing to convert a peno in extra time, for Soton point not that much use but they'll take it
QPR fightback is on! Sunderland being dragged into this dog fight?
Massive win for Villa big loss for Reading

klose

10 (10) Fulham 28 8 9 11 39 44 -5 33
11 (11) Stoke City 28 7 12 9 26 33 -7 33
12 (12) West Ham United 28 9 6 13 32 41 -9 33
13 (13) Norwich City 29 7 12 10 27 45 -18 33
14 (14) Sunderland 29 7 9 13 32 41 -9 30
15 (15) Newcastle United 28 8 6 14 38 49 -11 30
16 (16) Southampton 29 6 10 13 39 51 -12 28
17 (18) Aston Villa 29 6 9 14 28 54 -26 27
18 (17) Wigan Athletic 28 6 6 16 33 55 -22 24
19 (19) Reading 29 5 8 16 35 56 -21 23
20 (20) Queens Park Rangers 29 4 11 14 24 45 -21 23


Ten points seperating the bottom half of the table, should be a close one this season, qpr might do ot again

mike65

QPR have a good run until the final 3 games by which point they might not actually need a win. All speculation of course but I've a horrid feeling 'arry will do it!

Morzadec

Other

mike65 wrote: »

Norwich City 0 - 0 Southampton
Queens Park Ra…3 - 1 Sunderland
Reading 1 - 2 Aston Villa

Norwich blow it failing to convert a peno in extra time, for Soton point not that much use but they'll take it
QPR fightback is on! Sunderland being dragged into this dog fight?
Massive win for Villa big loss for Reading

A point away for Southampton is nothing to be sniffed at in the slightest, especially considering they are a couple of points outside the relegation zone. They will be delighted with that last minute penalty miss. Could be absolutely crucial come the end of the season.

Sunderland being dragged in?

Yes imo. They still have some winnable fixtures, but we can't rule anything out and they are not many points clear.

This relegation fight has been nowhere near as straightforward as some predicted when this thread was made, and I'd expect some twists and turns yet.

COYVB

Other

Sunderland look to be precariously placed. O'Neill teams have a habit of running out of steam around this time of the season, and they could still do with another couple of wins to get themselves away from the bottom three. If they don't pick them up in the next 3 or 4 games it'll really be squeaky bum time around the Stadium of Light I think

mike65

Fascinating weekend at the bottom

(West Ham

---

33 currently losing 2-0)
Newcastle Utd lose---33
Sunderland draw

---

32
Soton win

---

31
Villa win

---

30
Wigan win

---

27
Reading lose

---

23
QPR loose

---

23

KERSPLAT!

Southampton

Wow, Wigan lucky today! Huge 3 points for them. This the start of their season? Usually happens about this time

mike65

Suddenly Norwich have been dragged into the mire! If momentum counts then Soton look to be on their way to safety as do Wigan (of course!), none of the rest bar Villa and West Ham possibly have anything to build on really.

West Ham win

---

36
Soton win

---

34
Stoke City lose

---

34
Norwich City lose----34
Newcastle Utd lose---33
Sunderland lose

---

31
Wigan win

---

30
Villa lose

---

30
QPR lose

---

23
Reading lose

---

23

Juniorhurler

Reading, QPR unfortunately as I am a supporter since 1992, and out of the rest I think Sunderland look the most likely. In the unlikely event that Di Canio gives them a dead cat bounce I think that Norwich may be in trouble.

mike65

Bad loss for Stoke was also a vital win for Villa
Norwich really needed a win rather than sharing the spoils with Swansea.

More excitement tomorrow!

retalivity

Wigan

great win for villa

come on wigan, do the business tomorrow!

Chucky the tree

I'd love it if Stoke got relegated.

COYVB

Other

Chucky the tree wrote: »

I'd love it if Stoke got relegated.

Can't see it happening, sadly. Their fixtures are a lot better than Sunderlands, and they only need 4 points in all likelihood - Sunderland, on the other hand, need to find 7 from somewhere

Morzadec

Other

Stoke a massive 8/1 to go down according to Paddy Power - surely there is massive value there.

They are on awful form at the moment and are right down there. I would certainly agree that Sunderland and Wigan are more likely candidates but 8/1 seems very generous. Also Norwich at 14/1 seems great odds as well.

Maybe I´m underestimating the importance of the few more points they have, but they are both firmly embroiled in the battle and the price doesn´t really reflect that.

Pleased that Southampton are all but safe - a good addition to the Premier League imo

COYVB

Other

Morzadec wrote: »

Stoke a massive 8/1 to go down according to Paddy Power - surely there is massive value there.

They are on awful form at the moment and are right down there. I would certainly agree that Sunderland and Wigan are more likely candidates but 8/1 seems very generous. Also Norwich at 14/1 seems great odds as well.

Maybe I´m underestimating the importance of the few more points they have, but they are both firmly embroiled in the battle and the price doesn´t really reflect that.

Pleased that Southampton are all but safe - a good addition to the Premier League imo

Comparing the fixtures of Stoke and Sunderland respectively, it's almost impossible to see Stoke dropping...

Stoke:
United (H)
QPR (A)
Norwich (H)
Sunderland (A)
Spurs (H)
Southampton (A)

Sunderland:
Chelsea (A)
Newcastle (A)
Everton (H)
Villa (A)
Stoke (H)
Southampton (H)
Spurs (A)

KERSPLAT!

Southampton

Huge game tomorrow for Wigan and QPR. Wigan win I think they stay up handy enough with a few points to spare, QPR win and theyre right back in it and would only be 4 from Wigan and 5 from Sunderland in 17th who are away to Chelsea

JPA

Morzadec wrote: »

Stoke a massive 8/1 to go down according to Paddy Power - surely there is massive value there.

They are on awful form at the moment and are right down there. I would certainly agree that Sunderland and Wigan are more likely candidates but 8/1 seems very generous. Also Norwich at 14/1 seems great odds as well.

Maybe I´m underestimating the importance of the few more points they have, but they are both firmly embroiled in the battle and the price doesn´t really reflect that.

Pleased that Southampton are all but safe - a good addition to the Premier League imo

Stoke were atrocious today for what's it worth.

COYVB

Other

Princess Petulia Pissy Pants wrote: »

Huge game tomorrow for Wigan and QPR. Wigan win I think they stay up handy enough with a few points to spare, QPR win and theyre right back in it and would only be 4 from Wigan and 5 from Sunderland in 17th who are away to Chelsea

QPR are gone regardless. A win for them tomorrow would only make the clubs on 33-34 points breathe a bit easier

Fuzzy_Dunlop

COYVB wrote: »

Comparing the fixtures of Stoke and Sunderland respectively, it's almost impossible to see Stoke dropping...

Wigan could also get above Stoke.

COYVB

Other

Fuzzy_Dunlop wrote: »

Wigan could also get above Stoke.

Yup, but if Sunderland don't it won't make any difference to Stoke. For Stoke to go down they need every team but 2 who are currently below them to bypass them

Sunderland are, quite easily, the least likely out of the teams below to get the necessary points to do that (excluding the bottom 2)

Morzadec

Other

COYVB wrote: »

Comparing the fixtures of Stoke and Sunderland respectively, it's almost impossible to see Stoke dropping...

Stoke:
United (H)
QPR (A)
Norwich (H)
Sunderland (A)
Spurs (H)
Southampton (A)

Sunderland:
Chelsea (A)
Newcastle (A)
Everton (H)
Villa (A)
Stoke (H)
Southampton (H)
Spurs (A)

I'm not sure I'd agree completely. Stoke have 1 point from their last 6 games.

Of their remaining fixtures the home match against Norwich is the only one they go in as favourites. I'd almost say it's a must-win unless they can be efficient about picking up regular draws in away games or against top opposition at home.

Sunderland meanwhile have really tough fixtures but a fantastic opportunity to potentially get above Stoke with the home match. If Stoke aren't more than 3 or 4 points clear by then, then a win for Sunderland could turn everything around. They follow that up with a match against Southampton at home which they will see as winnable.

These are the two bad-form teams in the Premier League at the moment. It's up to whatever team can turn it around. If Di Canio coming in can kickstart Sunderland into some form and Stoke continue this abysmal run then we could definitely see them going down.

The massive game for Stoke is against Norwich imo. They'll be relying on away points or trying to pick something up against United or Spurs otherwise

COYVB

Other

Nah, Stoke's biggest game remaining is against Sunderland. If they win that they'll finish above them

They've got 3 points over Sunderland as it is - a win there would make it 6 - and can you then see Sunderland picking up 6 points PLUS however many more Stoke get for their other games from that fixture list? I can't see sunderland getting any more than 3 tbh

Chucky the tree

Looking at the fixtures I don't think it's that unlikely for Stoke to be dragged down. Sunderland vs Stoke will be huge. Hard to predict how Sunderland will do with Di Canio.

Morzadec

Other

COYVB wrote: »

Nah, Stoke's biggest game remaining is against Sunderland. If they win that they'll finish above them

They've got 3 points over Sunderland as it is - a win there would make it 6 - and can you then see Sunderland picking up 6 points PLUS however many more Stoke get for their other games from that fixture list? I can't see sunderland getting any more than 3 tbh

No not at all, but that's easier said than done - Sunderland will be favourites for that match imo. Stoke have usually relied on strong home form. They rarely win away from home. However a point may be enough for them.

But if they are not more than 3 points clear when they have to play Sunderland, then Sunderland will have a fantastic opportunity to overtake them.

Stoke will be looking not to give them that chance, and Pulis will be looking at that Norwich fixture thinking they have to win it. It's their best chance by a mile to get a vital 3 points.

There are 2 main reasons why I think Stoke are more likely to go down than you or the bookies suggest:

1. They are (on current form) the worst team in the league at the moment. Their recent run has been abysmal. Sunderland are the only other relegation-threatened team that have anywhere near a comparable record recently.

2. They have traditionally relied on strong home form to pick up the wins they need. Of their remaining home matches only 1 looks realistically winnable.

Also don't forget Sunderland have a game in hand (albeit against Chelsea away).

To make myself clear, if I had to call it now I'd go for Sunderland. But I wouldn't be at all surprised if Stoke go down, and I expect them to come close.

I don't at all make them the relative longshots at 8/1 that PP have them at.

EDIT: Just checked PP again, they've reigned Stoke in slightly in the last hour, now have them at 13/2.

Zeek12

Sunderland

The Di Canio factor is going to be crucial here. If he can have a similar effect to O'Neill in his early games, Sunderland could well stay up. And if so, Stoke look like the team in most trouble. They've been very poor for months now.And you can tell Pulis is getting desperate when he starts dropping old favourites like Crouch.
Their home form has been the secret of their success in the Premiership. But they were shocking against Villa today. And home games against United and Spurs still to come. Hard to see them getting many points there either.
Whichever way it goes I'd say its the end of the Pulis era at Stoke. He's taken that team as far as he can with a very limited style of play.

Kerrigooney

Wigan

If Stoke get relegated I'm going back on the beer and throwing a week long party.

SlickRic

"Operation Relegate Stoke" is gathering momentum.

excellent.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

COYVB wrote: »

Yup, but if Sunderland don't it won't make any difference to Stoke. For Stoke to go down they need every team but 2 who are currently below them to bypass them

Sunderland are, quite easily, the least likely out of the teams below to get the necessary points to do that (excluding the bottom 2)

Haha yeah sorry. Bit of a brain fart!

double GG

Massive chance for Wigan to grab 3 points from QPR after Zamora's red card.

Professional Griefer

Other

QPR just gone down to 10 against Wigan.

retalivity

Wigan

i really want to see harry & qpr go down, but the comical way they are doing it makes it even more hilarious.

their training sessions must be a constant foot-shooting exercise

dreamers75

Would like Wigan to stay up, dont care who goes

Morzadec

Other

Not sure if Zamora meant any harm but he can have little complaint. Almost took Gomez's head off.

Ref has to give a red.

Probably to final, fatal blow to relegate QPR

Morzadec

Other

That's Newcastle safe.

5 teams for 1 spot now (unless QPR pull something off with 10 men)

dfx-

Other

SlickRic wrote: »

"Operation Relegate Stoke" is gathering momentum.

excellent.

Unfortunately they've picked the one season where there's only one spot available between many poor teams..

GLaDOS

QPR go 1-0

ctrl-alt-delete

Remy scores a super goal to give QPR hope and stunt Wigan's revival.

Lovely Bloke

Great goal that was

Hank Scorpio

Wigan

some goal... 5th of the season for him

RandolphEsq

Aston Villa

Wigan have played like they expected the goal to come when QPR went down to 10 men.

Professional Griefer

Other

YES!!!!!

RandolphEsq

Aston Villa

Wow. What a free kick! Unbelievable!