It is widely believed that within the Premiership, there are mini leagues.
The top mini league consists of Arsenal, Wigan’s opening day opponents Chelsea, and Manchester United. These three will battle it out for who becomes Champions.
The second mini league is the largest and consists of those sides that are deemed safe from relegation and a successful season would be European qualification. One or two of these may suffer a bad season and drops close to the relegation zone but should have the quality to survive.
Teams in this group are Everton, Middlesbrough, Charlton, Bolton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle, Manchester City, Blackburn and Aston Villa.
The third and final mini league is made up of teams whose only aim is survival, consisting of Wigan, West Ham, Sunderland, West Brom, Fulham and Portsmouth.
Ahead of the forthcoming season, I believe that any of seven teams could well face the drop. Blackburn, Everton, Wigan, West Ham, Sunderland, West Brom, Fulham and Portsmouth could all be starring at the trap door come May 7th.
Blackburn Rovers
As ever the Rovers fans would be happy with a safe mid-table finish, whilst the prospect of a European finish would be deemed a very good season indeed.
What these supporters fail to acknowledge is that the Rovers could well be sucked into a relegation fight. It’s unlikely but not beyond the realms of reality.
Should Craig Bellamy blow his top (probable), Shefki Kuqi fail to adapt to the Premiership and Morten Ganst Pedersen prove to be a one season wonder then the Rovers will be struggling for goals.
At the back, Freidal is ageing and Short has been let go. A bad season at Blackburn is possible, but Mark Hughes is a very good manager and should have the nouse to steer his side in the right direction.
Everton
After last seasons amazing 4th place finish hopes are high at Goodison. The additions of Simon Davies and
But Alan Stubbs and Steve Watson have left and will leave a big hole in defence. Up front, James Beattie, Duncan Ferguson and Marcus Bent will not frighten too many defences and goals may be a problem if Cahill fails to reproduce the form he showed last season.
European football could also be a distraction. The Toffees already have a small squad and this could be stretched if the club has a good cup run. We all saw what happened to Ipswich Town after European qualification.
West Ham United
Where to start? The Hammers would be my tip for the drop. Alan Pardew is not up to the job and has thrown money at dead wood this summer.
Yossi Benayoun is being paid £25,000 a week for two years, and Roy Carroll is not too short of that. These two are good Premiership players but may limit the Hammers’ push for players in other areas as Pardew has wasted his budget.
He has already realised that Carroll is useless and has brought in Shaka Hislop. Maybe he’s planning on playing two goalkeepers?!
Benayoun in particular could prove to be a talent as he has shown in the Spanish league. The aggression of the Premiership could well be too much for him though.
Otherwise, the club are pinning their hopes on inexperienced youngsters such as Ferdinand, Ward, Reo-Coker and Noble. Premiership no-hopers such as Zamora and Etherington, aswell as the oldest player going in Teddy Sheringham, who is being asked to spear head a weak attack at the tender age of 40!
Relegation by Christmas for the Hammers who think they are god’s gift to football.
Sunderland
A good young side who walked away with the Championship last season. McCarthey has made some good additions to his already useful side.
Davis in goal will be a big signing whilst Miller in midfield could weigh in with some vital goals. Stead isn’t the best buy for a striker as the Premiership has found him out.
Goals will be hard to come by next season at the Stadium of Light, but McCarthey is a more than capable manager and could help his side survive, he’ll be their biggest asset.
Survival is not impossible.
West Brom
They won’t finish bottom, but only because West Ham are in the league this year. Horsfield, Campbell, Kamara and an out of favour Earnshaw are not going to be enough to get goals.
There’s no Kieron Richardson this year and Zoltan Gera is likely to leave at some point. Brian Robson got lucky keeping them up last season after his previous failure at Bradford in the Championship.
I’m just thankful to the Baggies and the Hammers for giving us a fighting chance of survival. Having these two in the division means that the other five teams have just one place to fight against.
Fulham
They stole Heidar Helguson from under our noses but have let a number of first team stars go.
Edwin van der Sar is one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation while Andy Cole upfront will bag 15 plus goals a season. Both have been let go without suitable replacements being found.
Luis Boa Morte is another who will surely depart shortly, leaving Chris Coleman, with what looks like a Championship squad.
Releagtion is likely for the Cottagers.
Portsmouth
The loss of Yakubu will be massive for Portsmouth. He is one of the top strikers in the Premiership and the South coast club have not replaced him. Fellow striker Kamara has also left for West Brom.
Harry Redknapp is no longer at the club and Alan Perrin will have to make a swift adjustment to Premiership football if Pompey are going to survive.
They have some very good players in the squad but have let an awful lot of talent leave this summer.
It is unlikely that Mbesuma will be able to replace the Yak and David Unsworth is no longer Premeirship standard. Laurent Robert is a loose cannon and the midfield is thin on the ground.
Wigan
We will survive.
I’m not being biased but I am of the opinion that Paul Jewell is doing a very good job. He has bought wisely this summer and just a few more quality additions should see the Latics safe.
We already have a superb strike force in Ellington and Roberts, whilst Graham Kavanagh in midfield, Stephane Henchoz in defence and John Filan in goal will help keep the ship steady.
The backing of Dave Whelan could be vital come Christmas time. If the Latics have managed to impress those Premiership superstars, Paul Jewell may well be able to attract a few stars to the JJB and give the club a final push to survival. He has made some inspired January signings in the past already.
We will survive.
Verdict
Blackburn
Everton
Wigan
Sunderland
Portsmouth
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Fulham
West Brom
West Ham
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