MAKING PREDICTIONS IS a dangerous game but here at TheScore.ie we’re willing to put our necks on the line. The relegation battle looks like it could be quite tight this season and here we analyse six of the contenders to make the drop to the Championship.
1. Burnley: The Lancashire side are favourites to make the drop this season after finishing in second place in the Championship last season. Their last appearance in the Premier League was 2009/10 season at the end of which they were relegated.
The Clarets conceded a record low of 37 goals last season and will have to maintain a strong back four this campaign if they are to have any chance of staying up. With the smallest budget of any of the promoted teams Sean Dyche has looked to the Premier League experience route so far this transfer window, bringing in Michael Kightly, Matt Taylor and Ireland’s Steven Reid.
Tipped by many to struggle in the Championship last season Dyche worked wonders with the squad at his disposal, finishing a comfortable eight points clear of third placed Derby County.
Sure to gain fans looking to get behind the underdog Dyche, dubbed the ‘Ginger Mourinho’, will have to perform yet more miracles to have any hope of remaining in the top division.
Odds to go down: 4/7.
First three games: Chelsea (home), Swansea City (away), Manchester United (home).
Verdict: Relegation.
2. Queen’s Park Rangers: ‘Arry Redknapp’s side required a last minute Bobby Zamora strike to see off Derby County in the playoff final in May after disappointing on their return to the Championship, given the squad Redknapp had to work with. This season has to be better than the disaster of the R’s last campaign in the top flight when problems on and off the pitch saw them relegated.
One thing the London side have ahead of their fellow promoted teams is a significant financial platform to work from. This was evidenced in the signing of Rio Ferdinand after his release from Manchester United as well as the acquisitions of Stephen Caulker and Jordan Mutch from Cardiff City. More players are sure to come in on deadline day as well as ‘Arry yet again gives into the temptation of announcing a signing through the window of his 4×4.
Despite the loss of midfielder Stephen M’Bia, Redknapp’s squad is still packed with talent and Premier league experience such as Joey Barton and Adel Taarabt. The goalscoring prowess of Charlie Austin up front will also be a huge plus for the R’s.
If the former Spurs manager can maintain peace in the dressing room amid volatile personalities like Barton and Taarabt the Loftus Road faithful should be confident of seeing their team beat the drop.
Odds to go down: 2/1.
First three games: Hull City (home), Tottenham Hotspur (away), Sunderland (home).
Verdict: Survival.
3. Leicester City: The Foxes are back in the Premier League for the first time since the 2003/o4 and look to be the most exciting team to watch of the three promoted. Regularly deploying a 4-2-3-1 system last season Nigel Pearson likes to focus on the attacking side of the game. Think Swansea or Southampton type tactics. It was such tactics that amassed a total of 102 points last season and took City to the Championship title.
Shades of Ian Holloway’s Blackpool side from the 2010/11 season come to mind when watching Leicester. However a lack of Premier League experience could be their downfall with the core of the team comprising Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drnkwater and Jamie Vardy. Excellent players to have in the Championship but they could struggle to step up to Premier League level, though the signing of Marc Albrighton from Aston Villa could make a big difference.
The £8 million club record signing of Leonardo Ulloa, who will team up with last season’s 20 goal striker David Nugent, shows Leicester’s intent for the new campaign at least. Probably the most difficult side to predict of the three promoted their first four games include a trip to Chelsea as well as Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United at home meaning the first few weeks of the season should be a decent barometer for where they will end up.
Odds to go down: 9/4.
First three games: Everton (home), Chelsea (home), Arsenal (away).
Verdict: Relegation.
4. Crystal Palace: Last season was Palace’s first in the Premier League for eight years and looked to be ending in relegation until Tony Pulis was brought in to replace Ian Holloway, sparking a revival at Selhurst Park. There could be a danger this year of ‘second season syndrome’ kicking in but Pulis has made some astute signings to attempt to ensure the Eagles survival.
Fraizer Campbell, Scott Dann and Brede Hangeland have all been brought into the Palace squad over the summer. With key players such as Jason Puncheon, Marouane Chamakh and Mile Jedinak remaining at the club over the summer Palace should be comfortable enough in avoiding the drop and ensuring Pulis’ record of never being relegated remains intact.
Odds to go down: 11/5.
First three games: Arsenal (away), West Ham United (home), Newcastle United (away).
Verdict: Survival.
5. West Bromwich Albion: The disaster of last season following the sacking of Steve Clark could carry on into this season for The Baggies as they don’t look to have strengthened over the summer window. The signings of Premier League journeymen such as Chris Baird and Joleon Lescott hardly inspire confidence in The Hawthorns faithful although manager Alan Irvine has splashed out over £10 million on the Nigerian international Brown Ideye.
Despite this however a lack of goals could still prove to be a problem for West Brom meaning that they will most likely be fighting for their Premier League status come the final few weeks of the season.
Odds to go down: 5/2.
First three games: Sunderland (home), Southampton (away), Swansea City (away).
Verdict: Relegation.
6. Aston Villa: Villa have battled relegation for the past two seasons and look set to do so again this year. It is a minor miracle that Paul Lambert is still in charge after the last two campaigns so it is no surprise that the former Celtic midfielder is one of the favourites to get the sack early on in the season.
The appointing of Roy Keane as assistant manager could go either way if Lambert and the Corkman don’t see eye to eye on certain matters.
Were that to happen it could lead to a Villa derailment that could see them slip out of the top tier of English football for the first time since 1987. Signings of Joe Cole, Keiran Richardson and Phillipe Senderos reads like a list of ‘players that used to play for big clubs in England but are now past it’.
There is no doubting that Villa have a lot of quality in their squad, certainly more so than some of their relegation rivals, and that should be enough to see them steer free of the relegation zone.
Odds to go down: 3/1.
First three games: Stoke City (away), Newcastle United (home), Hull City (home).
Verdict: Survival.
Who do you think will be relegated this season? Let us know in the comments below.
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