Champions, relegation and other tittle-tattle

[kerpow]

Haven't dropped in for a while but thought it would be a little busier than this with the season almost upon us.

So who's going to win it then? I don't want to make too bold a statement until I know exactly where the Viera saga will lead but by the looks of it he's off to Madrid so I'd have to say Chelsea look like the smart money. Arsenal are a great team but if you take away the fulcrum they're bound to struggle once Champions League games come rolling around.

I'll take Liverpool 3rd. I was literally crying when Houllier left as I've always known they've got a good team. Add the form of Baros and the power of Cisse and I think they'll be very frightening.

I imagine United will take 4th, Newcastle 5th. That completes the premiership elect with Boro most likely to crash the party.

At the bottom all the talk is Everton going down but I don't see it happening. Portsmouth were very weak last year and by taking Unsworth off our payroll I'm convinced that will be the nail in their coffin. Palace and West Brom to join them. Fulham and Blackburn will struggle but Norwich should be fine.

Just my opinion of course, open to debate.

[pompeyrob]

Well I think Everton are total crap and they`ll get relegated with the lowest points total ever! Just my opinion of course. :)

[Palace03]

Cant go past Arsenal, even without Viera, i think they have enough to win it. Chelsea, Man U, Newcastle to go 2, 3, 4.

Hard to find three teams that Palace will beat this year, but ill back Norwich, West Brom and Blackburn to go down and the mighty Palace to stay up

[sydtheeagle]

I will say this: there are more teams who "could" be relegated this year than there have been for a while. There are a good half a dozen teams who, on paper, look almost certainly to struggle. I think the relegation battle this year will not be a matter of 2 teams clearly down from mid season, and perhaps the 3rd being decided from only one or two other sides. There are a good 6 or 7 genuine candidates for the drop this year.

The three promoted sides, obviously are among them. Add to them Man. City who obviously have problems and look no stronger than last year, when they struggled badly. Everton are also obvious candidates with boardroom squabbles (the hallmark of a troubled side), a manager being undermined from within, major debt problems and top players wanting out. Then, there's Portsmouth who also have major boardroom/managerial issues (the Mandaric/Redknepp relationship is a recipe for disaster) not to mention a weaker side than last year, by their own admission, when they only just stayed up. That's six rgenuine elegation candidates right there.

On top that, there's always a surprise relegation candidate or two. What about Fulham? Alright, Chris Coleman far exceeded expectations last year but I wonder if he can do the same again. Or Spurs? To quote one source, Santini "has the look of Christian Gross about him." Spurs supporters I know are less than confident on the basis of what they've seen so far.

Alvin Martin and Graham Roberts on Talksports on Sunday, for what it's worth, both predicted Palace to stay up (the Dowie factor) while touting Norwich and West Brom to go down joined by Everton (Martin) and Man. City. (Roberts). The point of all this: it'll be a tight race.

[salmacis]

Alvin Martin and Graham Roberts on Talksports on Sunday, for what it's worth, both predicted Palace to stay up (the Dowie factor) while touting Norwich and West Brom to go down joined by Everton (Martin) and Man. City. (Roberts). The point of all this: it'll be a tight race.

Yeah, the London bias isn't showing there at all, is it? :-)

Seriously, most seasons Everton would have gone down with 39, and they do look significantly weaker this year. Palace are clearly the weakest of the promoted teams. Of the others, one of Norwich, West Brom, Portsmouth, Man City or Blackburn, in that order.

[kerpow]

I think Charlton are rapidingly becoming quite a force. They have finished the last 2 seasons quite poorly but by adding Rommedahl, Jeffers and Murphy I think they will cause the big boys alot of problems. Remember, its teams like this Charlton side or perhaps Boro that can have a big impact on where the championship goes. I

[Alan_V]

Yeah, the London bias isn't showing there at all, is it? :-)

Seriously, most seasons Everton would have gone down with 39, and they do look significantly weaker this year. Palace are clearly the weakest of the promoted teams. Of the others, one of Norwich, West Brom, Portsmouth, Man City or Blackburn, in that order.

I think Spurs should be on your list as well. They battled relegation towards the end of the year, and whilst that may be down to Pleat, they have let a lot of experienced players go. They've bought well for the future, but the I think the learning curve will be quite steep for them. They could go down without getting some experienced help.