SA Footy

As those who followed the corresponding thread last season know, I find the battle for promotion, and to avoid relegation, just as much fun as who's going to win the league(s). Probably as I follow Derby LOL !!

PREMIER LEAGUE.
They say 40 points is a good enough buffer to avoid the drop.

Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Liverpool & Birmingham all have 33 points or more so all would be safe or close to.
Fulham, Stoke, Sunderland, Everton & Blackburn all are past the half way mark of the 40 point season so would appear to be OK.
Burnley 20, Wolves 19, Wigan Athletic 19, West Ham Utd 18, Bolton 18, Hull City 18 & Portsmouth 14 are the teams at this stage that are in the battle to avoid the drop.

Will do the Championship, League 1 & 2, plus Blue Square leagues later....

Game on lads !!!

Nice work Jabba, loved this thread last year.

I think the bottom 3 will stay as they are.

Pompey are screwed. No 2 ways about it, they are going down.

Hull are terrible (watch them beat Spurs on the weekend now ) especially away from home. They don't have the points behind them from a good start like last term. So if they finish like they did last year - good bye tigers.

Bolton - I just can't see them picking up enough points. For years Reebok was a tough place to go, but it's lost that aura this year. I hope they beat the gooners on the weekend, but just can't see it and they are also strugglers away from home.

devilsadvocate wrote:Nice work Jabba, loved this thread last year.

Thanks DA !

Since 1992 (first season of the revamped EPL), the highest relegation points total was;
49 by Crystal Palace * this was with 22 teams

1994/95 saw the Premier League reduced to 20 teams, 4 teams got relegated, and Crystal Palace
was relegated after finishing 19th with 45 points.

42 points by West Ham United 2002/03 was the highest point tally with 20 teams, to see relegation.

Of the teams finishing bottom;
Derby had the lowest ever points total of 11
Nottingham Forest had the highest of 40 * this was with 22 teams in 92/93
Forest again had the highest of 34 points with 20 teams in 96/97

Yes good job Jabba, so well structured the soccer leagues, interest across all levels

Constance_Perm wrote:Yes good job Jabba, so well structured the soccer leagues, interest across all levels

Thanks Spermy !

With the Championship, League 1 & 2, the cut off mark for safety is 50 points (or a tad over in some seasons). In each leagues there are 24 teams fighting for promotion or trying to avoid relegation.

The Championship

The top 6 (with automatic promotion for the top two play offs for the rest ) are;
Newcastle on 51, Nottm Forest 46, WBA 45, Cardiff City 38, Leicester City 38 & Swansea City 37
The next wave and pushing for a berth in the top 6 are;
Blackpool on 35, Sheffield Utd 35, Crystal Palace 34, QPR 33, Middlesbrough 32, Bristol City 32, Watford 32 & Coventry City 31
The next lot are probably too far from the top 6, but look reasonably safe from the drop
Doncaster on 30, Barnsley 30, Preston 29, Derby County 26, **** 26 & Ipswich Town 25
The relegation battle will include some of the teams from above, but this lot are in some trouble
Reading on 23, Plymouth 21, Sheffield Wed 19 & Peterborough 18.

Derby (yep my mob) are in real strife....

The ribbing they'll get of Forest get promoted will be unbearable......

SJABC wrote:but this lot are in some trouble Reading on 23

i think liverpool could be in big trouble

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:i think liverpool could be in big trouble

I think you could be in big trouble

SJABC wrote:The top 6 (with automatic promotion for the top two play offs for the rest ) are;
Newcastle on 51, Nottm Forest 46, WBA 45, Cardiff City 38, Leicester City 38 & Swansea City 37

The ribbing they'll get of Forest get promoted will be unbearable......

Obviously there is some bias in that unhappy face!

But in all honesty, I'd like to see Forrest come up. They had some great battles with Spurs back in the '80's and are one of the genuinely big clubs in England.

Constance_Perm wrote:

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:i think liverpool could be in big trouble

I think you could be in big trouble

yeah i could be in big trouble when Brum qualify for champions league whilst liverpool do a leeds and sink into oblivion

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:

Constance_Perm wrote:

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:i think liverpool could be in big trouble

I think you could be in big trouble

yeah i could be in big trouble when Brum qualify for champions league whilst liverpool do a leeds and sink into oblivion

Remember to change hands at 100 bud

well gotta cling onto something

while theres life theres still hope

Nice thread SJABC.

I like to keep an eye on the odds and here is the current market for relegation from the Premier League:

Portsmouth 1.33
Hull 1.44
Burnley 1.83
Wolves 2.25
Bolton 4.00
West Ham 4.00
Wigan 4.50
Blackburn 7.00
Stoke 10.00
Sunderland 17.00
Birmingham 34.00
Everton 34.00
Fulham 41.00

Not looking good for Pompey or Hull
As for Burnley: JTC I'm sure I speak for all SAFooty people - we'd like to see them avoid the drop
Why are Birmingham even on this list?
And Cossi11 nice to see Everton still sweating it out in the relegation zone.

Different ball game this year.

Teams P GD PTS
10 Stoke City 20 -7 24
11 Sunderland 20 -3 23
12 Everton 20 -6 23
13 Blackburn 21 -18 21
14 Burnley 20 -18 20
15 Wolves 20 -19 19
16 Wigan 19 -23 19
17 West Ham 20 -9 18
18 Bolton 18 -10 18
19 Hull City 20 -22 18
20 Portsmouth 20 -14 14

I think it could be any two of 10 assuming Pompey are screwed. Fact is Pompey have no money, an embargo on buying anyone and trying to sell whoever they can to raise funds. Even thier £7m TV payout this month was diverted to clubs who are still owed money. I understand they still owe another £6m so the embargo stands.
They are struggling to even pay the wages, with the players only getting paid last week for December's salaries.

Personally I think salvation could be a lot lower than in previous years with all of the bottom 10 capable of beating each other. Burnley's away form is shite and that might be thier downfall. Hull, Wolves, West Ham, Wigan and Bolton are also crap.

Bolton have two games in hand and a new manager so maybe they will escape,
West Ham have no money and even if the buyout goes through, it will be too late for January
Wigan are trying to buy thier way out of trouble and if they lose Roddeaga (sp), they're stuffed
Wolves are a champoinship side and will rely on others around them having a worse season
Hull don't have the luxury of a jammy start this year and look poor at home as well as away
Blackburn haven't won in 9, and the knives are out for Alladyce but with no money they are as vulnerable as any below them
Everton have had a terrible season with injuries, which should improve and keep them safe
Sunderland, another with no win in 9 but with so many crap teams below them , they have just enough points at this stage to keep clear of danger
Stoke hadn't won in 6 and scored in 5 proir to thier demolition of Fulham although they did thier best to throw the game away. A win against Liverpool today could be enough to see them through.

Goal difference might well be the decider. Wigan, Hull, wolves, Blackburn and Burnley in that order all have worse goal differences compared to Bolton & West Ham.

So the race for promotion to the Championship is on.......

LEAGUE 1

Leeds United on 57, Norwich City 54 & Charlton 51 are leading the pack and looking at AUTO Promotion (Top Two).
Colchester 45, Huddersfield 41, Swindon Town 41, MK Dons 39 & Millwall 37 are the contenders looking for a Playoff spot
Bristol Rovers 34, Brentford 33, Walsall 31, Hartlepool 30 are hanging around with a sniff
Southampton 29, Southend 29, Exeter City 29, Yeovil Town 28, Carlisle 28, Brighton 27 need a huge lift
Gillingham 26, Oldham 25, Leyton Orient 24, Tranmere 21, Wycombe 19 & Stockport 14 are in trouble BUT all bar Wycombe have a few games in hand !!

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

PROMOTED
And the winner is.......NEWCASTLE. One year down, and straight back up to the EPL.
WBA also promoted after finishing second.

PLAY OFFS
Nottingham Forest , Cardiff City and Leicester City.

Blackpool is 6th, a win over Bristol City on the last day will secure their place.
Swansea face Doncaster Rovers at home hoping for a slip up.

RELEGATION

Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle adios !

Either Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace will join them with the two sides meeting at Hillsborough on Sunday. A draw will be enough to keep Palace up, as they sit two points clear of Wednesday and have a superior goal difference, but for Alan Irvine's side only a win will do.

LEAGUE 1

PROMOTED

Norwich City as Champions.

PLAY OFFS & PROMOTION

One point separates second placed Leeds United and Millwall in third, while Swindon, Charlton and Huddersfield could all mathematically still steal the final automatic promotion place so this battle could go down to the wire.

All five teams are guaranteed at least a Play-Off place with Huddersfield Town securing theirs last weekend with a 6-0 win over Stockport County at Edgeley Park.

RELEGATED

Stockport County & Southend United.

Wycombe Wanderers and Tranmere Rovers currently occupy the other two relegation places but Gillingham, Exeter City and Leyton Orient will all still be looking over their shoulders.

Both Wycombe and Tranmere could be relegated this weekend if they fail to win against Leyton Orient and Millwall respectively, while even a win for Wanderers might not be enough as they currently sit five points from safety with just six to play for.

LEAGUE 2

Both Notts County and Rochdale were promoted last weekend and they have been joined by Bournemouth, following their 2-0 win over Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.

County secured the League 2 title with a 5-0 win away at Darlington.

Darlington were relegated on April 13th and they will be joined by one of either Grimsby Town, Barnet or Cheltenham Town.

Barnet missed the chance to secure their safety, losing 1-0 at Accrington Stanley in midweek and travel to Grimsby Town on Saturday.

PROMOTION

Stevenage Borough from the Blue Square Premier League to League 2

RELEGATION

Portsmouth & Burnley back to the Championship from the EPL will be joined by Hull who need a miracle

Brilliant summary there Jabba!

I know you'll slate me for this, but I'd like to see Forest come up. Spurs had some great clashes with them over the years, so it would be good to see that again. I have a couple of mates who are Forest fans and it will be great to stick it to them when Spurs beat them!!

Massive game at Hillsborough this weekend. I'd like to see Palace stay up.

Another big game right down the bottom of the Leagues between Grimsby Town and Barnet.

devilsadvocate wrote:Brilliant summary there Jabba!

I know you'll slate me for this, but I'd like to see Forest come up. Spurs had some great clashes with them over the years, so it would be good to see that again. I have a couple of mates who are Forest fans and it will be great to stick it to them when Spurs beat them!!

Massive game at Hillsborough this weekend. I'd like to see Palace stay up.

Another big game right down the bottom of the Leagues between Grimsby Town and Barnet.

HUUUGE game. CMON Grimsby.

Another big game is Charlton v Leeds tomorrow night. I believe it will be on Fox Sports with the red button viewers choice.

1st time in 26 years all 4 midland clubs in the top flight

Villa
Brum
Wolves
Now joined by WBA

The race for second spot and automatic promotion to the Coca Cola Championship has been thrown wide open tonight

Leeds, in second lost 1-0 at Charlton, whilst Milwall lost 2-0 away to Tranmere.

Going into the last match of the season the table will be: (Goal Difference in brackets)

Leeds 83 (32)
------------
Milwall 82 (31)
Charlton 82 (17)
Swindon 81 (21)
Huddersfield 80 (27)

The biggest game without a doubt is between Milwall and Swindon at Milwall. Hoping for a draw in this game.

Leeds are at home to 9th placed Bristol Rovers, so you would expect a win there. Although being Leeds, anything could happen.
Charlton are away to 17th placed Oldham. So you would expect them to win.
Huddersfield are away to 20th placed Exeter. So, again you would expect them to win.

I definitely do NOT want to see Leeds in the playoffs again. C'mon lads!