Defoe is in for Spurs, he will single handedly put Brum down IMHO( a brace at least!) as Spurs protect 5th place and Europa League place..............
Thinking about next season's campaign, I would like to see the weaker and smaller teams to go down. I think it will be Blackpool and Wigan, neither of whom will offer much competition for Saints next season. If Blackburn or Birmingham go down, then they will be challenging for a play-off position at least . Although West Ham have been woeful under Avram Grant, they will bounce back next season under a new manager and will be one of our main competitors. I have the same approach to promotion as I think Swansea have been lucky this season and Reading have the set up to ensure that they would be a nuisance. Other than the fact that they are more local, I think it was a good job they went up even if you have to have a bit of sympathy for Dave Jones' Cardiff. The situation with Avram Grasnt has been interesting. Something of a cult hero at Fratton Park, he has been a disaster at West Ham. Makes me wonder if Portsmouth might have faired better with someone else last season - notwithstanding the fact that they started the season under the management of Paul Hart who has always been something of a disaster zone. 1-0 to Man Utd. Park has just scored...
They've had good chances, Blackpool. Fail to take them at OT and you're ****ed. Holloway has his game plan wrong. A team at the bottom cannot go gung ho at Man U. It just plays into United's hands.
Birmingham, horrible ground. Last time I went there, chavs spent the entire game lobbing coins. One hit a female saints fan, cutting her head, stewards did absolutey nothing and actually got arsey with saints fans who were trying to point out the scumbags that were still throwing coins. Blackpool, think they'll sink back down the leagues now. West Ham will be in a mess I reckon for most of next season.
Oh such a pity....Blackpool relegated.........Couldn't of happened to a nicer manager....what a shame!!!!!!! Dreams do come true...........
That comment by Holloway was so bitter, we completely passed/played them off the park and he knew it. Maybe he just doesn't like us after we stayed up and his Leicester side went down a few seasons back?
Lets face it no one likes you! Three cheers for SB3 for getting his final prediction of the season bang on and earning a nice skiing holiday in The Alps in February 2012!
Odds on Sky for next season, Birmingham at 8/1, Blackpool 14/1 I think. It's the two teams most of us thought would come down. I'm a bit disappointed Wigan survived. They don't do a lot to enhance the Premiership. It's encouraging that the bookies fancy Saints to have a good crack at promotion.
Birmingham and West Ham might both have problems next season. Neither are in great shape financially by all accounts. However Gold and Sullivan do know how to get a club out of the championship, and McLeish knows his way around as well. Blackpool will finish mid-table most likely, they had one flash in the pan good season, and that'll be it like it was for Burnley and Palace. It's impossible to know who the challengers will be at the top of the championship though. You can make a realistic case for 75% of the league having a chance at the play-offs, and the other 25% could make it if they have a good season.
Wisescummer I am not so sure. West Ham have been a bit of a yo-yo club of late and I think they will get their house in order by August to be in a position to be a serious contender. I feel that Leeds will have a good shout too. These would be the two clubs I would consider to be favourites. The other teams mounting a challenge would certainly include the likes of Birmingham, Forest, Cardiff and Reading assuming that they can't beat Swansea who have been a surprise package this season. I definately think Saints can do well in this league and a play-off place is well within our capabilities. No one would have seriously considered Norwich last August and I suppose an unfancied team will certainly emerge again in 2011/12. Assuming Portsmouth sort themselves out financially, I think they we be a good bet although failure to secure investment resulting in a scratch squad being hastily assemble could seem them in a relegation battle. West Ham's failure this season was a bit of a surprise. Although they experienced difficulties in 2009/10, Grant did seem like a good acquisition even if he could not save a poor Portsmouth side hampered by a serious financial crisis from relegation at that same time. It will be fascinating to see how they react to the new stadium in 12/13 and perhaps equally intriguing to see if a historic club like Orient can survive in the light of a big club moving within their doorstep. I think the Hammers are capable of being promoted but they are the archetypal team requiring a bit of stability. It wouldn't surprise me if they managed to tempt Steve Cotterill away from Portsmouth either. I've got a funny feeling that this might happen.....
I'm not a WUM. I know where it's at. Just check out my prediction for relegation from the Premier League. It was spot on. As for Pompey well I shall keep quiet as poor old Bluefew3 got the answer to his own thread completely wrong. What does he know about anything?
