It's always more interesting than the winners race,in a car crash sort of way. The latter suffers from realistically only including three clubs with two of them from the same city. Whereas we have: Aston Villa Bournemouth Leicester Norwich Sunderland Watford West Brom And possibly Crystal Palace West Ham Newcastle Let's see who opens an early lead at the bottom!
Nothing like starting the season on a high! At least for 1 week could we have had "The race for the title"?
Interesting that many now see Palace as a 'force' (of sorts) after their miraculous turnaround last season. I must admit I am also one of those having been very impressed by what AP has done since joining them.
What were those Geordies thinking about? They loved CH and hated AP. I think I know which one I rate more highly. I avoided using "like" because I think Hughton is a very decent bloke and AP can be a bit Pearsonesque at times.... sorry for the early start but relegation involving half the division is the real showpiece.
I think AP is an excellent mid premiership manager. I don't think things were ever going to work out for him at Newcastle and he probably should have left sooner.
I can't see McLaren doing any good either. It struck me as a strange appointment and one that could turn ugly quickly.
Chelsea adrift in 16th and only goal difference keeping them away from the trap door. They've got a decent team and apparently their manager is quite special so if they can hold on to a few key players you'd fancy them to make a decent go of the Championship and bounce straight back.
My thoughts exactly HMQC. Though their manager is only special in the petty nastiness of his outpourings.
You're forgetting their owner is loaded, and they're in London which helps attracting players. They'll spend their way out of trouble if they need to. Sunderland are dead and buried if they don't turn things around significantly. I don't see Advocaat as the one to do it. Beyond that, no idea!
The problem with getting rid of Advocaat is the question of who would replace him. Who would want to enter that mess.
Crazy talk writing anyone off yet, even Sunderland as badly as they've started. They could lose the first six games, change managers and be out of the bottom three by Christmas. Yes, they look turd at the moment, and it would take something special to turn them round, but its way, way too early for anyone to even thinking about writing anyone off at this stage - we're not even in September yet!
Totally agree Tony. It is crazy to write off Sunderland after only 2 games and crazy to assume that just because we beat them we are no longer one of a few other likely candidates for a place in the bottom 3 which is what I heard a couple of people say over the weekend.
Allardyce seems to be the general consensus. He could probably do a job for them. Of course Sunderland aren't relegated by the end of August, but of all the relegation candidates, they're the ones in the most trouble right now. Didn't Di Canio lose 7 games on the trot at the start of a season, and they managed to survive? I could see it taking a similar recovery this season by the time they've got rid of Advocaat. By the sounds of it though, their high wage bill is scuppering new signings thanks to FFP, which doesn't make life easier.
Am I the only one thinking we need to focus on survival of the 2015-16 season before worrying about next? Or have I just awoken from a year long coma? Bah!
Sunderland always seem to rely on getting a new manager in every season to give them a boost and get out of relegation, it always seem to work, surely their time must be up soon?
There is indeed a big 'black hole' which has swallowed up an entire calendar year - and when you get to my age, every one of those is precious!
Bournemouth's loss tonight keeps them in the bottom 3 with 0 points. It also means we have moved out of the bottom 3 on Oddschecker's relegation odds. A win against Stoke could strengthen our position further on both counts.
8/15 to avoid the drop now, in from 5/6 at the start of the season and 5/4 after the first game. You can still get 5000/1 on us winning the thing, or 500/1 for a top four finish (I've just stuck a whopping great 37p on the latter )
