Opinion: 2015-16 EPL relegation candidates @Komptrolla
Having examined the chances of top teams gunning for the EPL title, it's only logical for us to look at those that will walk the rope in the coming season, either to survive or to nosedive into the second tier of English football, the new boys are in the market, with a trimmer budget however.
But we've seen in the past how meager money signings can challenge norms and question price tags.
A certain £2m Michu comes to mind not long after Mr El Niño drove to Stamford bridge and Hollywood styled Andy Carrol jumped to Anfield at astronomical prices. The rest is history...
It is a list dreaded by all, avoidable for some and practically inevitable for a few, it's worth mentioning the survivors of last season, and if there's any award for the best survivor, it has to go to the foxes.
They were doomed at the turn of March only for them to string 6 wins out of 7 to usurp contenders and steer clear to safety, Leicester city live to fight next season albeit without their inspirational manager who was given the marching orders last week.
Burnley went down but not without a fight, most notably the amazing result against the Abu Dhabi boys and the draw against champions Chelsea, QPR deserved to go down, the nonchalance of their men, managerial changes and ill advised acquisitions compounded their woes and nailed their coffin as early as February, looking at the current contenders, we X-ray what would likely play out at the wrong end of the most followed league around the globe.
Step forward Leicester City:
After flirting with relegation for the best part of 2014/15 season, the foxes rallied and dusted death at the death, their early season form which saw them beating Manchester United and holding Arsenal at home almost amounted to nothing, sadly, they are candidate number one for the drop again, a new manager, same old situation, late season run in doesn't quite suffix, it will take a brave assault for Leicester City to stay up come May 2016.
Watford FC showed how nervy they can be at the alter of glory on the last day of the championship season when they slipped up with seconds remaining to finish second behind Bournemouth thanks to a heartbreaking equalizer, they've been ambitious in the market but the ghost of that final day meltdown will haunt them all season long, history and fixtures aren't on their side, anyone's money is on the yellow jersied Londoners to slide down earlier than hoped.
Sunderland have survived three seasons in a row, they've been helped by the U-turn of manager Dick Advocaat, but looking at their ageing squad, it's hard to take them serious, they flirt with relegation season in season out hoping strong run ins bail them out always, they won't be very lucky this time if they fail to fight early on, brace up black cats.
Norwich City bounced back into the EPL swiftly unlike Portsmouth and Wolves, they showed character in their playoffs against Middlesbrough, they are not likely to return if they take advantage of their favorable run in, keeping the core of their promotion winners will do them a lot of good, their manager will be among the front runners for the sack letter but that might be the turning point to their survival, this is EPL, get ready boys.
AFC Bournemouth won the championship league by one last stroke of misfortune at Watford, they are odds on to return swiftly to the league they dominated last season however, it would be a massive surprise if they aren't down by the turn of the new year, history isn't pointing them up... Rather down.
Everyone is monitoring the situation at Newcastle with the return to EPL of Steve McClaren, if they get it right early they might not be mentioned anytime relegation is the topic, but Aston Villa may yet struggle again, if Manchester City price their Jewell Fabian Delph away and Benteke drifts elsewhere, they have promising squad members who can spring surprises, but consistency is key, though demolished by hungry gunners in their last official game of last season, they have positives to look up to, appearing in a cup final that had Chelsea, the two Manchester sides and Liverpool all knocked out is worth some smiles, but Tim Sherwood must do more to avoid pre-Christmas sack.
Written by @Komptrolla
But we've seen in the past how meager money signings can challenge norms and question price tags.
A certain £2m Michu comes to mind not long after Mr El Niño drove to Stamford bridge and Hollywood styled Andy Carrol jumped to Anfield at astronomical prices. The rest is history...
They were doomed at the turn of March only for them to string 6 wins out of 7 to usurp contenders and steer clear to safety, Leicester city live to fight next season albeit without their inspirational manager who was given the marching orders last week.
Burnley went down but not without a fight, most notably the amazing result against the Abu Dhabi boys and the draw against champions Chelsea, QPR deserved to go down, the nonchalance of their men, managerial changes and ill advised acquisitions compounded their woes and nailed their coffin as early as February, looking at the current contenders, we X-ray what would likely play out at the wrong end of the most followed league around the globe.
Step forward Leicester City:
After flirting with relegation for the best part of 2014/15 season, the foxes rallied and dusted death at the death, their early season form which saw them beating Manchester United and holding Arsenal at home almost amounted to nothing, sadly, they are candidate number one for the drop again, a new manager, same old situation, late season run in doesn't quite suffix, it will take a brave assault for Leicester City to stay up come May 2016.
 |
| Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo who plays for Watford will be hoping he can continue his goal scoring form to hep his club stay in the EPL |
Sunderland have survived three seasons in a row, they've been helped by the U-turn of manager Dick Advocaat, but looking at their ageing squad, it's hard to take them serious, they flirt with relegation season in season out hoping strong run ins bail them out always, they won't be very lucky this time if they fail to fight early on, brace up black cats.
Norwich City bounced back into the EPL swiftly unlike Portsmouth and Wolves, they showed character in their playoffs against Middlesbrough, they are not likely to return if they take advantage of their favorable run in, keeping the core of their promotion winners will do them a lot of good, their manager will be among the front runners for the sack letter but that might be the turning point to their survival, this is EPL, get ready boys.
AFC Bournemouth won the championship league by one last stroke of misfortune at Watford, they are odds on to return swiftly to the league they dominated last season however, it would be a massive surprise if they aren't down by the turn of the new year, history isn't pointing them up... Rather down.
 |
| Newcastle new manager Steve McClaren in training with his players |
Everyone is monitoring the situation at Newcastle with the return to EPL of Steve McClaren, if they get it right early they might not be mentioned anytime relegation is the topic, but Aston Villa may yet struggle again, if Manchester City price their Jewell Fabian Delph away and Benteke drifts elsewhere, they have promising squad members who can spring surprises, but consistency is key, though demolished by hungry gunners in their last official game of last season, they have positives to look up to, appearing in a cup final that had Chelsea, the two Manchester sides and Liverpool all knocked out is worth some smiles, but Tim Sherwood must do more to avoid pre-Christmas sack.
Written by @Komptrolla
