Who goes down?

The Toon fans are in despair on their Board. It wassn't the loss but the total lack of tactical nous and team spirit.

 

Stoke & Sunderland in the mix with the promoted clubs. Hopefully we can help Di Canio's journey towards the Championship this coming w/end.

 

I'd forgotten about Kinnear. That is a very weird decision, appointing him. Perhaps insanity has gripped the boardroom and they really are doomed. I take it back about Newcastle not going down, though I still think the tree promoted sides are the most likely for the drop.

 

If they sell Cabaye we'll be phoning the Samaritans. JFK will have a week to reinvest 10 mill...what could go wrong.

 

This weekend I watched most of the games; Liverpool-Stoke, Southampton-WBA, Swansea-United, Tottenham-Palace, and first half of Chelsea-Hull and City-Newcastle game, and also MOTD.

It's clearly still early days, but few conclusions can be drawn.

Crystal Palaca are, indeed, very poor. Their lack of quality was evident, and there was a huge difference in class beetween them and Tottenham, despite Spurs also playing poorly. So CP are mine number 1 favourite to go down.

It's going to be a struggle for the two remining spots beetween these teams; Hull Tigers, Cardiff City, Stoke, Sunderland and possibly even Newcastle.

Hull was beaten at Stamford Bridge, but they looked decent enough, they were well organized, they could pass the ball ecc. I think it's still too early to dismiss them.
Cardiff fell to a promising West Ham side, it's no big deal, although they shoud strive to collect points from these kind of matchess, but, according to MOTD, they failed to test their keeper enough.
Stoke nearly won a point at Anfield, they even created a few chanches, but overall they didn't seem to me as a team who has goals in it, and considering they haven't defended as well as they used to under Pulis, I think they should have many problems this season.
Sunderland bought quantity, but did they bought quality? I'd give them some time, it too soon to tell.
Newcastle, much like Hull, lost to a better opponent, but they looked considerably worse then Hull, and that saying something. Nontheless, they have a number of very good player and we shouldn't even consider them as relegation favourites, but their inability to deliver kind of performances they ought to puts them right up there in the mix.

 

Just seen Sunderland's fixtures up until Christmas.

It's possible they could get to that point with zero points at home! Could be a lot of pressure on Di Canio fairly soon

 

Palace Cardiff and Sunderland for me.

Stoke are still going to be tough to beat, Hull looked ok I thought (their biggest asset is their manager) and Newcastle have goals in Remy, Cisse, Ameobi and Ben Arfa

 

That's a pretty dire run of home games although they could beat MK Dons! League wise they are up against it until nearly xmas.

 

Palace, Hull and one of Newcastle, Sunderland or Stoke.

 

Don't think anyone has plumped for Fulham but despite their signings I think they could struggle.

 

Palace, Hull and Stoke. The bookies have the three promoted sides as most likely to go down, but I think that Cardiff have signed some good players. You need to score goals and I don't think Hull and Palace will do so. Stoke finished poorly last season and Mark Hughes isn't a great manager.

 

It's always nice to see promoted teams stay up [and yes I begrudgingly include Saints in that, especially after back-to-back promotions] as they are always top of the "pudits'" lists of candidates for the drop. I'd like to see a couple of well established Premier teams go down instead. I was really hoping Villa would go down last term.

 

Hooray..!

A new season and a new energy in Lamballana to start new threads. But who to pick..? For me, the contenders are:

Cardiff
Crystal Palace
Hull City
Sunderland
Newcastle
Stoke City

Crystal Palace are nailed on [sorry Palace fans, but you're not ready] as far as I can see, with probably Hull City going the same way, although I'm not convinced. I think Cardiff will be OK, so I'm going for Stoke City, with Mark Hughes having another dull thud of a season. Great player in his time but, as manager I don't think he's a motivator. We'll see.

These prediction threads aren't half a bloody waste of time.

 

Dear Santa,

Please can West Ham go down.

Yours,
LTL.

 

Just seen this post. I needn't have written mine, it seems.

 

Its so important to get off to a good start in the Premiership, that is why our survival last season was all the more remarkable. If we turn over Sunderland at the weekend, I can see the pressure starting to build on D iCanio?
Its Hull, Palace and either Stoke or Sunderland.

 

Well, if you're asking Santa, I'll choose ManU, Arsenal and I can't make my mind up about a 3rd choice, so I'll leave that one to chance. Those two clubs been up there too long, think they have a god-given right to be there, and they need a bit of humbling. It would also make the Premier League more interesting for a season or two.

 

I would plead with Santa that it be Chelsea, Everton and Stoke each for very obvious reasons.

 

I need a coffee...thought you mean John F Kennedy

 

You're going to have to explain that one, Godders, 'cause they're not obvious to me.

Chelsea are just rich kids like Man City. They'd never been hugely successful until Roman came in. Everton have never done anyone any harm, and you can't blame them for Adrian Heath [well, I suppose you could], and Stoke are Stoke. OK, I can see a reason for Stoke.