I'll go for 40. I think Wigan, Swansea, Southampton, Reading and Fulham will be in the mix. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm worried for you guys - second season syndrome (and without Lambert)
i don't know the stats, but how often has '2nd season syndrome' actually happened, cos as far as i'm aware, its incredibly rare. it seems there is a myth about it - its a bit like '3rd place never goes up up in the play offs' - actually, most of the time, they do. personally, i feel stoke might have their first wobble in the top flight this year.
I don't know if you're aware of this, but Tony Pulis has never ever been in charge of a team that has been relegated during his tenure!
Fulham are unlikely candidates IMO. They are sometimes slow to get going, bit like Everton, but they are a good solid PL side. Sensible recruitment, good manager and, if they need to buy in January have the funds to do it. Top half of the table side for me (but then, I'm nearly always wrong; I always insisted Lambert wouldn't leave .)
17 - Norwich ----------------- 18 - Reading 19 - West Brom 20 - Swansea I think Norwich will stay up but will be in the mix. Its very hard to change Manager just before the second season with the syndrome lurking. That's why I think Swansea will succumb to the virus but you boys will just have enough. QPR already suffered their SSS in the first season if that makes any sense? 13th for them.
I think the points total needed will depend on the top clubs. If enough of them play better this season as opposed to last season, then I think the points total needed might be only 36. But if the league evens up slightly and teams can nick points off the Chelseas and Tottenhams, then 40 will be necessary.
i did know dave. i didn't go as far as to say they'll go down, just that they'll be in the mix this time. they've never really been threatened before but i'm sure they will this time around. its pretty obvious that there will be about 12 teams who start the season under threat, norwich are one of those, but any 3 of them could go down - none can be sure of survival because everyone is so close in terms of ability. it'll be exciting (and nerve-racking) but you're doing bloody well if you correctly predict the three that will go down at this stage! of the three who are coming up i feel saints will do really well and the other two will struggle more, but i'm not sure any of them will go down.
What a stupid post. What about us being robbed in the six-pointer at Bolton? Isolate one incident and forget the other 37 games why don't you. I've always thought they were alright but I'm really starting to dislike Norwich now. I hope we beat you cu*ts next season after comments like that.
Where the **** has that come from? All I said was on the final day of the season it could have all been so very different! I wasn't having a go at QPR, iwas having a pop at yet another refereeing disaster, and a little tosspot that tried very hard to bite the hand that feeds him! If you continue with that sort of unwarrented outburst, you will leave me with no other option! I await your apology!
hmm, one stupid post and ignoring the other 37 games is wrong? ok, I'll buy that. However, I wont buy one person making such a post as good reason to hate the entire football clubs and all it's supporters. See the irony?
You have GOT to be kidding me? Don't tell me this plank is actually a Moderator?!!!! And I thought not606 had standards. That really is funny!
ok, back to the original thread. I guess it's 40 at this stage, we don't know how good the top teams will be, or how poor some of the bottom teams could be. there might not be a wolves this year. but mainly it will depend how many points the top 4 accumulate. there were some really poor teams in last year's league, so let's hope for oursakes some of them don't improve much next season.
Agreed. I think Arsenal and Chelsea will both be more consistent than last season; Man Utd and Man City will be as they were; and I expect Newcastle to keep challenging (despite being in the Europa League). Tottenham under AVB, and Liverpool under Rogers, are difficult to assess, though Liverpool can hardly be expected to show the same poor home form as last season. So my feeling is that, overall, points from these seven are going to be a bit harder to come by than last season. In which case you may be right that 36/37 might again be enough.
It was pretty tight last season. This year I think 1 or possibly 2 teams will be isolated probably WHU and Swansea on low points and I can see 40 being the mark to avoid the last spot down the chute.
I posted a contrite and conciliatory message the other day to you and that weird little fella with the picture of Craig Doyle as his avatar, and never even got a response. And to now find out you are a Moderator! I'm at a loss for words, I really am. What kind of a circus are you running here?
Swords probably won't see this, but I asked Syd to ban him from our board! I don't think I'm being unreasonable!
