Sorry, this is a long post. I posted this in another thread, but it got me thinking about which teams are the worst ever. Earliest relegation dates. Derby County: 2007-08 Season, 29th March Huddersfield Town: 2018-19 Season, 30th March Fulham: 2018-19 Season, 2nd April Leicester City: 2001-02 Season, 6th April Portsmouth: 2009-10 Season, 10th April Sunderland: 2002-03 Season, 12th April Leicester City: 1994-95 Season, 13th April Ipswich Town: 1994-95 Season, 14th April Sunderland: 2005-06 Season, 14th April By most metrics, Derby are easily the worst. Lowest points total and only one win all season (against the mags, lol!), it's staggering to work out just how bad they actually were. One win, eight draws and twenty nine defeats in 38 games. They lost 3/4 of the league games the played that season, themselves and Huddersfield are the only two Premier League teams to be relegated before April. They held the record for most goals conceded in a season (89) until Sheffield United took it in the 23/24 season (104 goals conceded) and share the record for lowest number of goals scored (20) again with Sheffield United (in 20/21 season). They share the record for worst goal difference (-69) again with Sheffield United (in the 23/24 season). Because they only won one game, they naturally hold the record for most consecutive games between wins (32). The fact that Southampton are so close to Derby is astonishing and you can make a case that they are actually worse than Derby were. They've already set a new record for early relegation by being relegated with 7 games remaining (Derby had 6), they have the same number of points that Derby did with the same number of games remaining, however Derby got to 10 points after 28 games (a 0-0 draw with us), got to 11 points after 32 games (with them relegated that day) and losing the remaining 6 games. Southampton have lost 12 of their last 14 games, 5 of their last 6 with only Leicester in worse form in the League. It's nowhere near a given that they'll get at least another point. They've only won 2 games all season, but have also only drawn 4. At this stage Derby had drawn 7. Southampton have lost 25 games, so it's not out of possibility that they could lose at least another 5 games and set a new record for most games lost in a season. They've conceded 74 goals and scored 23 with a goal difference of -51, concede another 19 or more goals and they could set a new record for worst goal difference. Unless they do something the equivalent of what Fulham did in the 2018/19 season, where they won 3 of their last 5 games (ending up on 26 points), they look certainties to be at least the second worst premier league team. Which asks the question, currently who is the second worst team in English top flight football? Here's a list of some of them. SAFC 2005/06. Won 3 drew 6 lost 29 (shared with Derby, Sheffield United (20/21) and Ipswich (94/95 in a 42 game season). Scored 26, conceded 69, goal difference -43. 15 points. Huddersfield 2018/19. Won 3, drew 7, lost 28. Scored 22, conceded 76, goal difference −54. 16 points. Sheffield United 2023/24. Won 3, drew 7, lost 28. Scored 35, conceded 104, goal difference −69. 16 points Aston Villa 2015/16. Won 3, drew 8, lost 27. Scored 27, conceded 76, goal difference -49. 17 points. SAFC 2002/03. Won 4, drew 7, lost 27. Scored 21, conceded 65, goal difference -44. 19 points. We also set a record of 15 consecutive defeats in the league from 18/1/03 to 11/5/03. Portsmouth 2009/10. Won 7, drew 7, lost 24. Scored 34, conceded 66. Goal difference -32. 19 points (9 points deducted for going into administration). Sheffield United 2020/21. Won 7, drew 2 (shared record), lost 29 (shared record). Scored 20. (Shared record), conceded 63, goal difference -43. 23 points. I've included them as despite winning 7 games they share some of the worst records. Fulham 2018/19. Won 7, drew 3, lost 28. Scored 34, conceded 81, goal difference -47. 26 points. Three wins in their last 5 games gives it a degree of respectability, but with out them they'd have been relegated on between 17-20 points. Some real horror stories there. However theres potentially a worse one. Wayback in 1985. Stoke City. Played 42, won 3, drew 8, lost 31. Scored 24, conceded 91, goal difference -67. 17 points. A record low points total that lasted 21 years until we broke it, but in our defence we had 4 fewer games to play.
Must admit I havent looked at the premier league table this season. theres a 12 point gap between 17th and 18th - that is mad. Its also looking very likely that the 3 promoted teams are dropping straing back down. IF we get promoted its going to be a very difficult season ahead. We'll need to spend big and spend well. the gap is getting wider every season.....
its like the 3 promoted teams will have to break FFP just to try and stay up but City.... with their 115 charges....
