Premier League Relegation Thread - 2015/2016

Paully D

Always an interesting thread and since we're virtually halfway through it's time for this seasons edition.

So, who do you think is going to drop this season?



IMO it's very difficult to see Aston Villa and Sunderland getting out of trouble now. 9 and 5 points behind respectively while other teams down there are ticking on points relatively regularly. They're also essentially 10 and 6 points behind a few teams considering their horrendous goal differences of -17 and -18 respectively compared to some of their relegation rivals. Though Villa do have a superb run of games to take them to the end of February, failure to beat Watford and West Ham at home in recent weeks wouldn't give much confidence, while Sunderland have already blown the vast majority of their easier home games. Both sides do play each other in the New Years slate of games however which will be interesting if not one for the neutrals!

Villa and Sunderland down with 1 more to follow for me. I've always thought Bournemouth might be quiet similar to Blackpool in the way it goes for them so I'll select them as my 3rd team to drop despite a fantastic effort after a few serious injuries to key players.

Poll to follow. And no, before someone suggests it Chelsea won't be getting relegated or included in the poll.

Bottom 2 plus Bournemouth I would've thought.

Pacing Mule

Poll to follow. And no, before someone suggests it Chelsea won't be getting relegated or included in the poll.

Why not ?

Pacing Mule

Pacing Mule wrote: »

Why not ?

Realism/common sense/trying to encourage reasonable discussion I would have guessed.

keeponhurling

Sunderland could easily escape tbh

Guy:Incognito

West Brom

Leicester arent safe yet......................:)

Lovely Bloke

Swansea

Villa, Sunderland and Norwich

BoJack Horseman

Swansea

Chelsea aren't a poll option?

Fr Tod Umptious

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

Chelsea aren't a poll option?

Because Chelsea posess enough resources both on the field and in the bank to allow themselves get out of trouble.
Something the likes of Bourmouth, Norwich, W.B.A etc don't.

davycc

Norwich

hopefully villa , newcastle and sunderland go down 3 teams that contibute very little imho and deserve a few seasons in the lower lgs with portsmouth and leeds

dfx-

Southampton

Villa, Swansea and West Brom. The Premier League needs a clearout of some of the hangers-on that offer nothing, so hopefully Newcastle/Sunderland go instead of Swansea.

Harry Palmr

Swansea

Deffo

Aston Villa
Sunderland

and probably

Norwich

though you can make a case for a few others (but not Soton!), Swansea and Bournemouth for example grabbed some points recently but they feel like sides that could go into a tailspin with some bad luck, that said January cometh and both have teh chance to buttress the attack in particular.

thebaz

keeponhurling wrote: »

Sunderland could easily escape tbh

agree , every year we hear Sunderland are doomed , and a couple of wins and Big Sam at the helm , and they are back in it .
There is no way Chelsea will be relegated , by April they will be at the very least mid table.
Hope West Brom go down , nothing against the club, but can't stand Pullis and his horrible football , and never-ending moaning.

keith16

Southampton

davycc wrote: »

hopefully villa , newcastle and sunderland go down 3 teams that contibute very little imho and deserve a few seasons in the lower lgs with portsmouth and leeds

I never get this argument of "contributing". What exactly is it that a club like Villa need to contribute? I am no fan of Villa, but they have a long and rich history in top flight football and contribute a hell of a lot to the local community.

westernfrenzy

Bournemouth

Villa, Sunderland and Swansea. The third choice was hard enough but just went for Swansea

Paully D

West Brom

dfx- wrote: »

Villa, Swansea and West Brom. The Premier League needs a clearout of some of the hangers-on that offer nothing, so hopefully Newcastle/Sunderland go instead of Swansea.

As a Sunderland fanzine quite rightly put it yesterday:

SuperTortoise

Swansea

Villa, Sunderland and Norwich for me.

Shanotheslayer

Swansea

Villa,Newc,Norwich

LiamoSail

West Brom

As much as I'd like to see Villa stay up, I think they're too far gone. Sunderland however, I believe are capable of getting themselves out of it.

Sunderland have the experience and the perfect manager to scrap together the results necessary to get out of this. With Defoe and Borini, they have strikers capable of getting them the goals too. West Brom aside, I don't think there's another team down there that have a manager as capable of grinding out results as Big Sam.

I can see Bournmouth fading as fatigue takes its toll on their smaller squad. Additionally, going into the second half of the season, they'll find it difficult, as newly promoted clubs generally do, with their weaknesses becoming more known and exposed

Ferris_Bueller

West Brom

I'd say Aston Villa, Newcastle & Bournemouth. Aston Villa have been terrible this year and I can't see them getting any better, a relegation might be the kick up the arse that seems to be needed at Villa. Bournemouth were always going to find it tough this season and despite their better form lately I think their smaller squad and real lack of PL quality players could hurt them by the time May comes around. I think Sunderland will pull off the escape towards the end of the season and it could come down to them or Newcastle for the final spot, Sunderlands experience in relegation scraps could come in handy.

monkey9

Swansea

Villa are the definites for me, that's already one place gone as far as i'm concerned. I think Allardyce will be experiencing his first relegation. The last spot was between Bournemouth or Norwich and i've chosen Norwich.

davycc

Norwich

keith16 wrote: »

I never get this argument of "contributing". What exactly is it that a club like Villa need to contribute? I am no fan of Villa, but they have a long and rich history in top flight football and contribute a hell of a lot to the local community.

all pl clubs contribute off the pitch to their local communities but it should not be used as a reason for me to take it easy on villa:)
same arguement didnt save leeds going down after all their glorious past

villa along with sunderland and newcastle have served up such slop on and of the field that they deserve relegation in my opinion and have been just hanging on far too long

Paully D

West Brom

Sunderland v Aston Villa today at 3pm.

A huge game for both sides, but I think the fact that even with a win today Sunderland would be at least 4 points from safety and even with a win today Villa would be at least 8 points from safety shows how much trouble both teams are really in.

Skylinehead

keith16 wrote: »

I never get this argument of "contributing". What exactly is it that a club like Villa need to contribute? I am no fan of Villa, but they have a long and rich history in top flight football and contribute a hell of a lot to the local community.

I think you're looking at it a bit much - he's effectively saying they're shite so should go down :pac:

HalloweenJack

Norwich

Reckon Villa are good as gone. The way they are talking it's as if they've already accepted relegation. There doesn't seem to be any fight whatsoever in them.

Sunderland seem to be struggling again after a brief bounce following Allardyce's appointment and don't seem them being able to turn it around again.

I reckon Newcastle are the going to be the third side. They seem to really struggle to get into any kind of form. A few wins here and there but they don't seem to be able to click over the course of a few games.

I think the other sides have enough in them to be able to stay ahead of those three and I think Alex Neil and Eddie Howe, in particular, both have enough know-how to keep their sides up.

Paully D

West Brom

Sunderland 3-1 Aston Villa.

Surely there's no way back for Villa now, though it might also be too little too late for Sunderland to be fair with Norwich and Bournemouth picking up points yet again.

Sunderland remain 4 points from safety, 5 when goal difference is accounted for, and have 1 fixture they'll be favourites to win in between now and the start of April.

Guy:Incognito

West Brom

Yeah, short of some sort of miracle , I can't see Villa getting out.

SuperTortoise

Swansea

Villa has 98% of the vote so...there's one person that voted that does'nt think they will go down!

Fair play, that's a brave shout!

dr.kenneth noisewater

Swansea

Villa are gone. Reckon it'll be 2 from Newcastle, Norwich and Swansea.

I can see Big Sam pulling Sunderland clear and it looks like Bournmouth will strengthen over the window. I think if Swansea get a good manager in they will pull clear but that doesnt look like happening anytime soon

cson

Interesting couple of weeks down the bottom...

Bournemouth 24
Norwich 23
Newcastle 21
Swansea 19
Sunderland 18

Bournemouth have surprised me with their last couple of results & Afobe looks like an astute signing regardless of where they finish -he's proven in the Championship if they do go down.

Norwich are in freefall, as are Swansea. Think Big Sam will get a tune out of Sunderland sooner or later and Newcastle just have better players than everyone around them which will see them scrape through imo.

Villa, Swansea and Norwich for me.

Paully D

West Brom

Sunderland and Villa are gone for sure.

It's all down to that 18th spot now which is between Bournemouth, Swansea and Norwich for me.

Newcastle will be absolutely fine.

astonaidan

Paully D wrote: »

Sunderland and Villa are gone for sure.

It's all down to that 18th spot now which is between Bournemouth, Swansea and Norwich for me.

Newcastle will be absolutely fine.

Pah I still have faith in the Villa, win our next 5 and were out of the drop zone :pac:

Paully D

West Brom

A huge win for Swansea at Everton puts another nail in the coffins of Villa and Sunderland.

Sunderland play City (H), Liverpool (A), United (H) and West Ham (A) in their next four games :rolleyes: 4 defeats on the way there and will be out of touch by March.

Newcastle, Bournemouth, Norwich and Swansea battling to avoid that last spot, though I still think Newcastle will be fine. I'm still confident with my Villa, Sunderland, Bournemouth prediction.

astonaidan

Paully D wrote: »

A huge win for Swansea at Everton puts another nail in the coffins of Villa and Sunderland.

Sunderland play City (H), Liverpool (A), United (H) and West Ham (A) in their next four games :rolleyes: 4 defeats on the way there and will be out of touch by March.

Newcastle, Bournemouth, Norwich and Swansea battling to avoid that last spot, though I still think Newcastle will be fine. I'm still confident with my Villa, Sunderland, Bournemouth prediction.

Its funny, if the Villa had Defoe, I dont think we would be in this problem right now

Guy:Incognito

West Brom

For the bottom team that only had 8 points, Villa had a reasonable few games, picking up a win and a couple of draws, yet they end up a point further adrift of safety than when the thread was started.

ArielAtom

Chelsea look odds on for a precious three points in their battle😉

eh i dunno

Can you include Everton in the poll because we have dougal McGuire as manager

blueser

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

For the bottom team that only had 8 points, Villa had a reasonable few games, picking up a win and a couple of draws, yet they end up a point further adrift of safety than when the thread was started.

Villa are screwed. As you've said, they're not closing the gap at all, and don't look capable of doing so. Who's going to score them the goals that they need?

Paully D

Paully D wrote: »

A huge win for Swansea at Everton puts another nail in the coffins of Villa and Sunderland.

Sunderland play City (H), Liverpool (A), United (H) and West Ham (A) in their next four games :rolleyes: 4 defeats on the way there and will be out of touch by March.

Newcastle, Bournemouth, Norwich and Swansea battling to avoid that last spot, though I still think Newcastle will be fine. I'm still confident with my Villa, Sunderland, Bournemouth prediction.

Starting to doubt my confidence in Sunderland for the first time since October.

I knew their fixtures improved significantly from end of Feb but if they are too detached, at that stage, then belief and morale might be too low.

They could really do with two points from their next four games and, as unlikely as that seems, this has been an unpredictable season to say the least. Hopefully they manage four points. If they are within reasonable distance after those four games, for example don't lose all four, then I would still expect a rally from them.

They did beat Villa and Swansea recently but really dropped the ball against Bournemouth. A win in that game would've put them right where they needed to be before this tough run of fixtures.

I still think they have the experience to get out of trouble and if Defoe stays fit they definitely have the goalscorer they need.

No doubt, in my mind, that Villa and Norwich are gone.

It's too early to say if Swansea's new found form will become their norm although a victory away to Everton was very impressive. It might just be the new manager bounce with normality to resume shortly.

Bournemouth have been great to watch and I think, considering injuries, their style of play and the all round joy seeing such a small club do well, they deserve to stay up.

Would love to see Newcastle go down but I think they have too many good players and have added two more in the window with talk of more to come.

It looks like it's between Sunderland and Swansea for that final place.

Paully D

West Brom

Bump after gameweek 25.

A huge win for Newcastle at home to West Brom. Sunderland fight back from 2 down to draw 2-2 at Anfield. Swansea draw 1-1 at home to Palace and Norwich lose 2-0 to Villa at Villa Park.

Again, very difficult to see Sunderland or Villa doing anything despite picking up good results today. Newcastle will be fine after their recruitment in January (making them one of Europe's biggest spenders this season) and the fact they generally win their home games against those around them. Norwich fans must be extremely worried now.

Mushy

Swansea

I predicted for Villa, Sunderland, Norwich when this went up. Can't see much changing that. Villa, Sunderland have too much to do, Norwich are worst of the rest.

thebaz

I think Sunderland might get out again , they have been playing better , and Big Sam will drive them to there best - think Swansea and Norwich might drop - hope West Brom go down and see the back of Tony Pullis hoofball revolution at the Hawthorns

That_Guy

Paully D wrote: »

Newcastle will be fine after their recruitment in January (making them one of Europe's biggest spenders this season) and the fact they generally win their home games against those around them.

Jaysus Paully you're more obsessed about our spending than most Newcastle fans. :rolleyes:

WoollyRedHat

I reckon Leicester will.

That_Guy

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

I reckon Leicester will.

You're living in the past WoollyRedHat, quit living in the past.

Paully D

West Brom

I've just had a punt on Bournemouth at 18's with Bet Victor. Norwich look like joining Sunderland and Villa to be honest, but Bournemouth should be less than half that price IMO.

dfx-

Southampton

Looks like Swansea will survive, huge points recently. Norwich are doomed to take their place after that defeat to Liverpool, it'll take them weeks to recover.

Paully D

West Brom

dfx- wrote: »

Looks like Swansea will survive, huge points recently. Norwich are doomed to take their place after that defeat to Liverpool, it'll take them weeks to recover.

Yeah Swansea will be fine. It feels a lot longer than just 3 weeks since they lost 4-2 at home to Sunderland! 8 points from Watford (H), Everton (A), West Brom (A), Palace (H) since then and they've still got home games against Norwich and Villa as well as away games against Bournemouth and Newcastle to come amongst other winnables.

That_Guy

Sunderland win.

Norwich play West Ham at home.

Newcastle away to Chelsea.

---

This could be a big day in the relegation battle. West Ham haven't beaten Norwich at Carrow Road in the Premier League and as bad a slide they're on right now, it surely can't last forever....

Newcastle have an ok record against Chelsea away from home recently but they're on the longest unbeaten run in the league right now.

Norwich losing is the best result I can hope for anyway before we kick off at 5:30pm.

I still think the Tyne-Wear derby will determine who of Newcastle or Sunderland will go down. Given the dominance Sunderland have in this fixture, it could well be them who survive but still a good bit of football to be played until then.

Getting nervy now because Sunderland look to be coming into their annual good string of results phase.

GavRedKing

West Brom

That_Guy wrote: »

Newcastle have an ok record against Chelsea away from home recently but they're on the longest unbeaten run in the league right now.

Stat attack, no team in the last 5 seasons have taken more points off Chelsea than Newcastle and I dread every time we play ye.

Last 5 seasons Newcastle have picked up 13pts against us, I wouldnt read too much into that record either theres been some terrible draws, Watford x 2 , Everton and WBA come to mind. We're really poxy this year not to be lower and in the mix to go down and thats not hyperbole.

I genuinely think Newcastle could pick up points today too, we've PSG away in a few days, all the players wil be looking at that game and may not want the battle Newcastle could put up.

That_Guy

Oh FFS, Norwich winning now.

As it stands currently:

16th - Bournemouth 28pts
17th - Norwich 26pts
18th - Newcastle 24pts
19th - Sunderland 23pts
20th - Villa 16pts

Disaster of a day.