For Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea dropping out the top 4 is the same as relegation for teams like Wigan, West Ham, and Wolves. Loss of status, loss of income, having to cut back on players, and so on. Of course some teams come straight back up, for them it is little more than a hic-cup. For others it is the beginning of a long term decline like Leeds. So who are your favourites for 'relegation' from the top 4 and for who will it be the start of a long term decline or just a hic-cup?
Liverpool have already dropped out of the top 4 for a couple of seasons, Spurf. They're 4 points behind Arsenal and Chelsea too and 3 points behind Newcastle, so they may face another season without Champions League football. Winning the Carling Cup would give them something worthwhile from the season, though and the morale of the two London clubs they're chasing must be very low. I'm hoping that we can cement our place in the top 3 and that Newcastle can nick 4th, but I suspect that either Arsenal or Chelsea will grab it, to be honest.
I predicted a couple of seasons ago, that 'Pool would be outside the top 4 for at least a decade, and I am seeing nothing in their current set-up to encourage me to change my view on that. I think we will finish in the top 4, which means there is only one place up for grabs. I'd, too, like to see it taken by the Toon, but I suspect that it's a two-horse race between Arsenal and Chelsea. I don't want either of those to get it, really, but of the two I'd want Arsenal to finish outside the top 4. Whichever one does finish outside the top 4, it is going to have a massive effect on them, although I suspect that the mad Russian oligarch's millions will protect Chelsea from the worst of the financial ravages. AFC will not fare so well, and will have to suffer a fair bit of collateral damage, including the loss of RVP, Walnut and Whinger. It will set them back a good few seasons, in which they will reside in our shadow.
1st - Manchester United 2nd - Manchester City 3rd - Tottenham Hotspur 4th - Chelsea Leaving Liverpool and Arsenal out of the top-four
I'm still nervous about us finishing top 4, so not worrying too much about others' demise ATM. Lose at Arsenal and Chelsea win at home to Bolton, then it's game on again. Chelsea have some winnable fixtures coming up, I just hope Bolton can profit from their current disarray. Naturally, if we win at Arsenal, that's our top 4 place sealed (for me anyway).
Thanks, and all that effort with colours as well. How much was the crystal ball and where did you get it?
You're welcome. I like to bring a little colour into people's lives. £20 from Amazon How much was the man with the hand glued to his face and where did you get him? Or, more importantly, why the sarcasm when all I've done is answer the question you asked in the OP?
Did you? Read it again Sorry there goes another one, but you have asked for it by not reading the OP very well.
"Who are your favourites for relegation from the top-four?" To which I replied Liverpool and Arsenal.
Good debate, I am with Ghoddle10 at the moment tho and am still a little concerned at being caught out ourselves. Ignoring us tho, I think it will be Chelsea and Liverpool that miss out. I just think that Chelsea's problems on and off field will have a massive effect on the rest of their season. With Terry out for 6-8 weeks will also help Arsenal to 4th IMO, watched the game last night and Chelsea were woeful at the back. Liverpool are too inconsistant at home and have dropped far too many points there, plus they are as said 4 points adrift already. Arsenal although can be terrible, are capable of putting in decent performances like the one against Sunderland in the league, so for me Arsenal to get 4th.
Fair enough, and the rest of the question? If you think I am being harsh, I apologise, I responded to your league position forecast which I believe to be a harder question to answer than the questions I posed, and was not the point of my post. My point is to gauge opinions on the future of Arsenal, Chelsea, & Liverpool, as it is certain that at least one and maybe two will be 'relegated'. Who will be the top 4 is not what I asked.
Whilst I think Chelsea are better off in the longterm sticking with AVB, I think their chance of finishing 4th is comparable with Newcastle's unless they get a new manager in to get some short term momentum. I make Liverpool strong favourites for 4th with Arsenal 2nd(won't be saying that again for awhile). Edit: to clarify so Spurf doesn't bite my head offp), I think Chelsea will bounce back once they get rid of their old malcontents and Liverpool will become a bit of a yoyo team in and out of the top 4.
To be strictly accurate; as PNP has pointed out Liverpool have already been 'relegated' so in their case the question is will they bounce back soon or will it be long term decline.
Could be any of them, TBH. Depending on how their respective boards react to the situation. For instance, Chelsea could be very vulnerable if their sugar daddy loses his current multi- billion pound lawsuit against Berezovsky. He could then decide that he wasn't able, or didn't want to invest any more of his money in football.
Chelsea are in the strongest position of the three IMO . It's very difficult to see where Arsenal will go with Wenger and it's also difficult to see where they will go without him. Chelsea have survived despite all the managerial changes but now reach a very difficult time as there stars age without the legacy of an established manager and will end up (if they haven't already) with a team formed by a committee. Liverpool hmm! In the long term they will be back (they always are) but how long?
if they had the character to drag themselves out of the doldrums Luke...then they would have done so by now..i think too many people jizz themselves when it comes to chelsea just because of their recent success in the past...they are a dire team with alot of big mouths.
