Only one team with a goal differential better than -20 has been relegated (Hull, -18) in the past twelve years. Two of the chief contenders are nowhere near that as we hit the stretch run. Meanwhile, Palace has a shot at posting the worst goal differential of any top half side in that same span. Football is weird.
The decision for Chris Wilder to walk away from Sheffield Utd was being reported as being a mutual one on Radio 5 this lunchtime. There was also a report that he was in the running for the Celtic job which I think would be a major surprise. If you want a longshot, I wonder what the odds would be of Wilder rocking up at Southampton assuming we decided to say goodbye to Hassenhutl ? There are connections with the Saints but also I think the poor state of the Utd academy was one reasons cited for him leaving. In my opinion, they over-achieved last season and I was not surprised to see the struggle in 2020/21 even if I had not expected them to be so poor.
Everton really are dreadful at home. Makes it so annoying that we put in one of our worst performances of the season when we went there.
Sure we shipped 5. But we were bold enough to take on City's main guys. Fulham have played for a 0-0 draw since the first minute, against a hugely depleted City, and are also three down anyway. I'll take Ralph's way, thanks.
No De Bruyne, no Foden, no Sterling, no Gundogan and no Mahrez and they're still 3 down. They should have just gone for it.
I wouldn't be shocked if Bmouth were the winners out of this. They get to offload Tindall to Sheff Utd (as assistant manager) - via their own previous sacking - and can now pick up Wilder from them as his replacement. Woodgate's only chance of getting the job himself in the summer is surely by getting promotion - which I can't see. And Wilder must surely be a stand out candidate, especially after three months to recharge his batteries first.
Indeed, he can't be judged on this season alone and has worked miracles to get Sheffield Utd to where they got to with the squad at his disposal. I mean we rejected McGoldick and Billy Sharp several years ago in the Championship. He should be a hero with Blades fans as he has added multi millions to the value of the club.
The only PL job which I can see being available anytime soon is Palace (given that Roy's contract is up). Maybe Newcastle, but I still feel that's unlikely. Other than Liverpool, and maybe Arsenal, I wouldn't say that any PL club is under-achieving this season. Which maybe illustrates how we've got to March, and Wilder is only the third manager to have left. So if he does want a bigger club than Bmouth, the options aren't plentiful. He might be waiting a while (assuming he doesn't look towards Celtic or abroad).
Historically, yes of course. But whenever looking at a Championship club, those in receipt of parachute payments are always going to be highly attractive. And again, there's the question of availability.
