This occurred to me too without Lukaku they are quite ordinary - a bad run at the wrong time and 9-1 looks tasty! DN
On the topic of the championship (and perhaps I should have saved this for the new thread, but never mind), Blackpool supposedly only have 13 senior players at the moment. Ince must be mad to not have left!
They hardly spent anything last summer either, perhaps a warning that the parachute payments aren't all they're cracked up to be? With three relatively 'new' clubs coming up (I know Hull had a year up not so long back) it would be interesting to see the stats of how many teams get promoted back into the PL within a year or two of going down.
Relegation stat-time. Based on squad value as it stands, this is the first season since promotion that you wouldn't predict us for relegation, as there are more than three teams with less value: Man City: £425m (was £440m 12 months ago) Chelsea: £415m (£365m) Man United: £345m (£350m) Arsenal: £270m (£320m) Spurs: £260m (£260m) Liverpool: £240m (£210m) Newcastle: £140m (£130m) Everton: £140m (£120m) Swansea: £105m (£57.5m) Villa: £100m (£99.5m) Sunderland: £94m (£87.5m) Southampton: £84.5m (£37m) Stoke: £83.5m (£68m) West Ham: £77m (£49m) Norwich: £69m (£48m) Fulham: £63.5m (£86m) WBA: £60.5m (£51.5m) Hull: £42m (£14.5m) Cardiff: £37m (£18m) Palace: £33m (£15m) _________________ QPR: £76m (£71.5m) Wigan: £55.5m (£50m) Reading: £25.5m (£35m) Last season, only Reading and Southampton had weaker squads. It's interesting how this reflects what a lot of the discussion has brought up. WBA and Fulham to struggle would seem unlikely based on last year, but their squads aren't really that strong. I was also surprised to see Hull above Cardiff, but I guess that reflects the fact that Hull are quietly going about improving many facets of their squad, whilst Cardiff have made a single big signing. In the middle, it's interesting to see the gap between us and Swansea is almost as big as the gap from Swansea to Everton and Newcastle, it's amazing how much stronger their squad is now than on promotion. Then there's that £100m jump to Liverpool, which just highlights the massive financial discrepancies in the league. Oh and on a lighter note, the entire Ipswich squad are valued at £11.5m, or RvW+Howson.
Arguably, you could lower Swansea's value by 7.9m though as Jonathan de Guzman isn't their player, bu they still have increased the value of their squad incredibly.
But bookies play to people's prejudices, 1950. If they get lots of bets for us to go down they make big money if we don't.
If we were able to play the entire Ipswich squad claiming they are Howson and RvW, then maybe. Having 25 players on the pitch would be handy, even if most are Ippy quality.
I'm going to say they are, but it's whether the club are in a position to use them effectively or not. When we came up, we invested in players who I doubt we'd have had much interest in had we been relegated, so we could have kept the squad together, used the parachute payments to actually strengthen, and try again. There wouldn't have been much division in the camp, and we'd have kept a strong squad together. The way Hull are spending, I think they're doing likewise. The players they've brought in so far are between Championship and Premier League in ability, so with the financial advantages of parachute payments, they could probably keep a lot of the squad together and try again. If you look at QPR, Wolves, Blackburn, the turmoil in the club has made attracting the right kind of players difficult, and a lot of the decent players they had wanted out because it was such a mess. That led to large personnel changes, and a lack of proper direction from the board hasn't helped. Blackpool as well have made some pretty strange executive decisions that have cost them.
Norwich City are certainties to go down - FACT. When will you get that through your stupid little yellow skulls?! Too busy incessantly squawking through your beaks that somehow you'll fluke another season in la la land. Well I'm here to bring you back down to earth budgerigars! Back to back relegation's await for you despicable fluff-trash vermin.
Interesting thread. I actually agree with points above about Stoke surprising a few. To echo what others have said Mark Hughes does well at clubs with a modest budget and I think he'll do the same at Stoke. When he has money at his disposal he seems to spend it on has beens, but when he has to stretch a budget he looks abroad or looks at second string players within the top 6, which can work for him. I.E David Bentley. I think Sunderland is a tricky one, they've signed well. But it's going to be a race between Di Canio losing his rag or the squad gelling. If the squad gels quickly I think they will do well, if not I think Di Canio will just fly off the handle and it'll end badly. I actually think there is more chance of getting points of the top 6 this season. The new managers at Chelsea, City and United, will mean that the point tally in the top 4 will be an all time low. Especially if none of them improve on their areas of weakness as pointed out already in this thread. Liverpool will surprise a few this season and could see them finishing top 4 maybe challenge for title. This season will be the best chance for the Arsenal's, Spurs and Liverpools to do it. That's why I am quite surprised Liverpool haven't looked to improve there starting eleven yet, instead they are bringing in youngish players. I still think they'll do well though. Back to the relegation predictions though, Palace I reckon will be relegated but I can see Dwight Gayle really surprising a few. I reckon Hull will stay up and West Brom will, JUST. It'll be a miserable season in the North East in my opinion. For me Palace, Newcastle and Sunderland will go down. I just can't see Sunderland settling quick enough for Di Canio's liking and that could really get them in the ****, Newcastle are on a downwards trajectory. There key players don't seem interested anymore and I doubt Kinnear's mad moment on Talksport will have helped. Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse seem unsettled to me and look bound to lose Coloccini as well as not yet replacing Ba. I think it'll be a miserable season for them.
Yes, interesting thread. I think we'll really struggle to replicate last season's results against the top six, but with the new signings we should have the cutting edge to do better against the teams down the bottom. I'm still worried about a lack of creativity, but I don't want to renew any arguments about the San Jose game. It would help us if one of the potential implosions (Newcastle, Sunderland, Stoke) actually happened. On paper Hull and Palace look weak, but people were saying that about ourselves and Swansea two years ago. I think we will survive, probably with around 45 points.
You have to forgive Mikey, we just gave them a footballing lesson and to top it all off his citroen saxo got clamped. FACT!
thanks mikey. always good to get early confirmation of being safe next season guru, did you go to your match yesterday? i've tipped colchester to come bottom of league one. will i be in the money?
No didn't go but was getting updates from my mates, apparently we looked really good and Didds was outstanding upfront, also look out for the name Elliott Hewitt this season, he is a real gem who can play RB or RM. As for Tesco Value Utd, I reckon they will struggle but they do have some really good players if that makes sense? Freddie Sears, sanchez Watt and sam walker to name three.
i know all about hewitt! i believe i even said to you this time last year to not expect much last season but he'll be ready for 2013-14 i wouldn't describe freddie sears, sanchez-watt or sam walker as 'really good players'. they are in big trouble...
