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English Debate: Why A Big Club May Face Prem Relegation This Season
Spurs are still joint bottom, while Newcastle and Man City also sit precariously close to the dreaded drop zone. Goal.com's Alan Dawson contemplates what it will take to stay up this season and whether there will be any big club casualties come May time...
20-Jan-2009 8:55:27 PM
When a club that had never even tasted top flight football was promoted to the Premier League via a volley struck sweetly by a local hero built like a builder, many doubted whether Hull City could survive.
Likewise Stoke City were instantly regarded as the new Derby County. A whipping boy. A possible candidate to give a few of your club's kids a run-out. A certain opportunity to bolster your goal difference.
West Bromwich Albion - who had recently tasted Premier League action and could therefore draw on that experience - were viewed as the only one out of the promoted three who had any glimmer of hope of finishing 17th.
Building Bases
Little did England's top tier know that teams like Hull City and Stoke City had the apparatus in check for survival. They both boasted impressive arenas: the Tigers' KC Stadium is home to over 25,000 matchday fans; and the Potters' Britannia Stadium can hold upwards of 28,000, and has already been viewed as one of the more intimidating stadiums in the league due to the sheer noise that those on the Trent can belt out every weekend.
Both are, crucially, sponsored by local businesses. KC (Kingston Communications) is a telecommunications provider, while Britannia is a Staffordshire-based building society.
It is testament to the strength of both grounds that the former has held music events of globally popular acts such as Bryan Adams (who has also played at the Emirates), R.E.M and the Who; and should England be successful in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup, then Hull will apply for the KC Stadium to be used as a venue. For the Britannia on the other hand, there are plans to increase the capacity to over 30,000 should Stoke maintain their Premier League status.
The Baggies have the experience of battling within the division, whereas Hull and Stoke have the necessary ingredients in place to attract the players needed for survival, and indeed began their recruitment drives as far back as the summer. Geovanni, for instance, has proved an instant hit for Hull, whereas Stoke's 2007 signing Rory Delap is now a familiar household name thanks to his rocket-launching throw-ins that have slain many a side.
Compare this to a now-established top-tier side, Portsmouth. Fratton Park - at a 20,000 capacity - is the smallest stadium in the league, and the club's training facilities are also the worst. Harry Redknapp - during his time in charge of the south coast side - often bemoaned the club's training ground, and wanted a new one. In May 2008, he said: "The owner [Alexandre Gaydamek] knew our training pitches weren't up to Premier League standard." There are, apparently, plans afoot to remedy this, but it could be a few years too late.
At the time of writing only six points separate bottom of the table West Brom from ninth-placed Hull.
Current Premier League Table 9-20
Interestingly, those in the relegation zone - West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Middlesbrough - have already accumulated almost double the points amassed by 20th placed Derby County in last season's final top division standings. The Rams entered the record books for tallying a pitiful 11 points.
The gap between the top half and the death of the table is also considerably tighter than it has been in recent years.
Difference Between 9 And 20 After Round 22
Likewise Stoke City were instantly regarded as the new Derby County. A whipping boy. A possible candidate to give a few of your club's kids a run-out. A certain opportunity to bolster your goal difference.
West Bromwich Albion - who had recently tasted Premier League action and could therefore draw on that experience - were viewed as the only one out of the promoted three who had any glimmer of hope of finishing 17th.
Building Bases
Little did England's top tier know that teams like Hull City and Stoke City had the apparatus in check for survival. They both boasted impressive arenas: the Tigers' KC Stadium is home to over 25,000 matchday fans; and the Potters' Britannia Stadium can hold upwards of 28,000, and has already been viewed as one of the more intimidating stadiums in the league due to the sheer noise that those on the Trent can belt out every weekend.
Both are, crucially, sponsored by local businesses. KC (Kingston Communications) is a telecommunications provider, while Britannia is a Staffordshire-based building society.
It is testament to the strength of both grounds that the former has held music events of globally popular acts such as Bryan Adams (who has also played at the Emirates), R.E.M and the Who; and should England be successful in their bid to host the 2018 World Cup, then Hull will apply for the KC Stadium to be used as a venue. For the Britannia on the other hand, there are plans to increase the capacity to over 30,000 should Stoke maintain their Premier League status.
The Baggies have the experience of battling within the division, whereas Hull and Stoke have the necessary ingredients in place to attract the players needed for survival, and indeed began their recruitment drives as far back as the summer. Geovanni, for instance, has proved an instant hit for Hull, whereas Stoke's 2007 signing Rory Delap is now a familiar household name thanks to his rocket-launching throw-ins that have slain many a side.
Compare this to a now-established top-tier side, Portsmouth. Fratton Park - at a 20,000 capacity - is the smallest stadium in the league, and the club's training facilities are also the worst. Harry Redknapp - during his time in charge of the south coast side - often bemoaned the club's training ground, and wanted a new one. In May 2008, he said: "The owner [Alexandre Gaydamek] knew our training pitches weren't up to Premier League standard." There are, apparently, plans afoot to remedy this, but it could be a few years too late.
At the time of writing only six points separate bottom of the table West Brom from ninth-placed Hull.
Current Premier League Table 9-20
| R |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
| 9 | Hull | 22 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 19 | -13 | 27 |
| 10 | Fulham | 20 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 26 |
| 11 | Man City | 21 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 25 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 9 | 25 |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 21 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 17 | -12 | 24 |
| 13 | Bolton | 22 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 18 | -8 | 23 |
| 14 | Newcastle | 22 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 18 | -9 | 23 |
| 15 | Sunderland | 22 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 17 | -9 | 23 |
| 16 | Tottenham | 22 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 21 |
| 17 | Blackburn | 21 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 19 | -11 | 21 |
|
| ||||||||||||||
| 18 | Middlesbrough | 22 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 18 | -15 | 21 |
| 19 | Stoke | 22 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 24 | -16 | 21 |
| 20 | West Brom | 22 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 21 | -17 | 21 |
Interestingly, those in the relegation zone - West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Middlesbrough - have already accumulated almost double the points amassed by 20th placed Derby County in last season's final top division standings. The Rams entered the record books for tallying a pitiful 11 points.
The gap between the top half and the death of the table is also considerably tighter than it has been in recent years.
Difference Between 9 And 20 After Round 22
| 2008 - 09 |
9th 20th |
Hull WBA |
27 Pts 21 Pts |
| 2007 - 08 |
9th 20th |
Portsmouth Derby |
34 Pts 7 Pts |
| 2006 - 07 |
9th 20th |
Reading Watford |
36 Pts 12 Pts |
| 2005 - 06 |
9th 20th |
Blackburn Sunderland |
31 Pts 6 Pts |
| 2004 - 05 |
9th 20th |
Man City WBA |
31 Pts 13 Pts |
The race for the title is often lauded as the most exciting part of any season, and indeed no team have even etched their initials on the crown as yet; but the battle at the bottom of the league is shaping up to be far more interesting.
West Bromwich Albion emphatically beat Middlesbrough and Tottenham recently; Stoke City have twice taken points off Liverpool this season, and have beaten Arsenal at home; Middlesbrough are yet to get going this term but have remained a thorn in the foot of many a big club in past seasons; Blackburn were flirting precariously close to disaster but 'Big Sam' Allardyce will no doubt work overtime on making the Lancs side a formidable outfit; Tottenham have a motivational coach and a squad of good players; Sunderland were beaten 4-1 one week, but a fortnight later won 4-0; Newcastle - despite their forever mounting injuries - will plug away; Bolton scored seven goals in a week, but are on a barren run of five games without a win or draw; Portsmouth look like they are slipping and sliding but Tony Adams was cited as a key caller of the tactical shots while Redknapp was in charge; City pay a player who is third top scorer in the league; Fulham's home ground is a fortress, and their defensive displays have been impressive; and whilst Hull's early form has dried up, they still have an exciting young English coach bossing affairs.
No matter the team's strengths - and weaknesses - though, no team in the above list is "too good to be relegated." West Ham had players like Paolo di Canio, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and David James in the 2002-03 season yet still couldn't beat the drop. And, considering how small the margin for error is (where a heavy loss can effectively see you drop eight places in the case of Portsmouth) then - if the current motif is maintained over the next 16 league games - a well-established top-flight side may well end up competing in the Championship next season.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you think a big club will end up getting relegated this season? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think!!!
Alan Dawson, Goal.com
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