Here is the first of our 2009/10 Seasonal Previews. it comes from our sister site, Wakuba.com…

The Championship

Over the past few seasons the Championship has become one of the most competitive leagues in the world, with 24 teams all of relatively similar standard fighting it out in attritional game after attritional game. Managers and signings that turn out to be good, injuries, luck… all can have a strong influence. So you really can’t rule anyone out, although it is perhaps slightly fanciful to think Barnsley or Scunthorpe will win it.

That is why, in the ‘To Be Promoted’ market, 19 of the 24 sides are 16/1 or less to be promoted – and Scunthorpe are the longest price to finish in the Top 6 at (again) just 16/1. Contrast that with the Premiership, where Burnley are 50/1 to finish Top 6 (remember there are only 20 teams), and you can see the difference. Any one side can beat any other.

Newcastle are currently favourites for the title in most places – as short as 5/1 in places – which seems absurd considering the turmoil on and off the field. Yes, they have good players on paper – but if they cannot perform in the Premier League its unlikely they will fancy a midweek trip to Plymouth. Of course if a takeover is completed they could well have an influx of money designed to bring a quick return to the Premier League – but that is a big if.

Where Newcastle aren’t favourites, West Brom are, and this seems a far better pick. They have the nucleus of the side that went down last season, which is also the team that won the division so comprehensively the year before. In Roberto Di Matteo they have a promising young manager who did well at MK Dons, and will stay true to Tony Mowbray’s footballing principles. At a best price 13/2, if our money was going anywhere, it would be on the Baggies.

Other teams to consider include Boro, the other team to be relegated – they’ve remarkably kept most of their good players, and though Tuncay will probably join Downing in exiting the North East, they still have good players and an excellent crop of youth players.

Roy Keane’s excellent Championship record and the money available at Ipswich makes them a worthy consideration, and the teams who were there or thereabouts last season, like Reading, Cardiff, Preston, and Sheffield United are all worth considering.

After a summer spending spree Nottingham Forest have shortened from 40/1 to 25/1, and could be a decent each way punt even at that reduced price. In Billy Davies they have a canny manager with an excellent record at this level, and the word is they are making a concerted push for the Premier League.

As we said, any team could have a good season and push on – two that stand out are Doncaster, whose end of season form would have taken them into the playoffs over the season (12/1 for top 6) and Nigel Clough’s Derby, although the 3/1 in the same market is very short.

In terms of relegation, in the same way any side could conceivably finish top 6, a lot of sides could be dragged into the mire. It’s difficult to see any of the sides we mentioned as challengers actually getting relegated; but Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Blackpool and Barnsley must be anticipating tough seasons ahead.

Then you have the unknowns; the promoted sides Leicester and Peterborough, Swansea under new manager Paolo Sousa, and teams that could be dark horses like Sheffield Wednesday, Palace, and QPR. Any of these could feature at the top of the table – but also at the bottom!

Now watch one of the few teams we haven’t mentioned streak away at the top of the table…

And little is left to be decided. Manchester United have clinched the title, West Brom are down, Boro are almost down… a slightly anticlimactic final weekend will see Hull, Newcastle and depending on tonight’s result Sunderland fighting it out to stay in the Premier League, Everton and Villa competing for fifth, and Spurs and Fulham battling to see who won’t put out a full side in the Europa League next season…

Man United win the League

Just a tremendous achievement – eleven for Alex Ferguson, eleven for Ryan Giggs, eighteen for Man United, including three in a row… the superlatives are endless. Giggs has won more league titles than any CLUB except Arsenal and Liverpool, and if United win it again next season they will be the first side to ever win four in a row. Their success was built on the run of 15 clean sheets through the middle of the season, and on a phenomenal squad; arguable the first eleven of United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are all comparable, but United’s phenomenal strength in depth has allowed them to rotate, change, and get the best from their entire squad (except Nani).

West Brom are Relegated

Tony Mowbray has admirably (if deludedly) defended West Brom, their footballing philosophy, and their chances of staying up throught this season. But even he had to admit defeat when they were finally mathematically consigned. He insisted the Baggies would bounce back; and they have to be amongst the favourites, depending on who they keep/lose, having proved last season that they can play themselves out of the Championship. Plaudits indeed for their attempts to stay in the Premiership playing ‘football’ – but Stoke proved that is not necessarily the best approach. Also, West Brom just didn’t score – and if you sacrifice resilience for aesthetics and free flowing attacking, you simply have to. 36 in 37 games just isn’t good enough.

Who else will go down?

Sunderland play Portsmouth tonight, and even a point should make them safe. Boro are down – unless Newcastle and Hull both lose, and Boro turn around a four goal deficit on the latter. Tuncay’s excellent overhead kick was his seventh goal of the season, making him Boro’s top scorer; and therein lies the problem. They, like West Brom, just couldn’t score. Afonso Alves, at £11m, has to be on of the worst signings in Premiership history. Newcastle’s defeat to Fulham was somewhat surprising, considering the feelgood factor that must have been prevalent since their win over Southgate’s team. It just goes to show again what a fantastic job Roy Hodgson has done at Fulham, not only making them challengers for European football, but also maintaining their hunger until the end of the season, and even making them able to win away from home! Hull should have beaten Bolton, and would have done were it not for the heroics of Jussi Jaaskelainen; but at least their fate is in their own hands, admittedly against Man United… but they stay up as long as Boro don’t make up three points and four goals, and Newcastle lose at Villa (although there are few teams you’d rather play!). In summary – who knows what will happen. I still fancy Newcastle to stay up, and United’s second string to beat Hull and confirm one of the most spectacular implosions of recent seasons.

And the Europa League…

Who cares about this, really? The English sides strive desperately to get into Europe, then don’t play full strength sides when they get there. What’s the point? The cynic would suggest managerial bonuses for European qualification. Next season, to win the ‘Europa League’, you have to paly 18 matches. 18! The competition will undoubtedly suffer, sides like Fulham just don’t have the resources to play a whole other season with their shoestring squad. The authorities are blinkered by the pound signs – but which fans are going to bother watching Fulham reserves? It seems like a spectacular shot in the foot.

As we always say, in-depth reports and stats are better found elsewhere – we usually recommend the BBC, but after the Strictly Come Dancing fiasco they can no longer be trusted… so try Times Online instead.

Our mini-round up starts with the Big Four – a couple of weeks after they all failed to score, this time they all failed to win – each of them drawing. Chelsea were booed off the pitch after drawing with Zola’s West Ham, their former darling rapturously cheered upon entry. Scolari has said the fans were right; after dropping points in 6 of their last 9 home games, who can blame them? Arsenal and Boros’ inconsistency continued as they played out a draw, while Hull continued their superb form against the top sides, going 2-0 up to Liverpool before being pegged back and eventually holding on for 2-2. Man Utd will be the least worried of the top sides, drawing with a resurgent Tottenham side.

Villa won in thrilling style again, inspired by one of the most exciting English talents in recent years, Ashley Young. He followed two goals last week with another goal and assist in a 4-2 against Bolton, a game in which Gabriel Agbonlahor also starred.

Mark Hughes is under increasing pressure after City slumped to a home defeat to Everton – Tim Cahill stealing all three points with a last minute goal. But not as much pressure as ex-Man Utd team mate Paul Ince, who is hanging on by a thread – and probably not for much longer – as Blackburn were out thought, out fought and generally out played at Wigan. Steve Bruce, despite looking like an old lesbian woman, holds the bragging rights from that trio. Roy Keane’s memory is fading fast at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland crushed West Brom 4-0. It’s amazing what a chance of manager can do sometimes.

Stoke and West Brom played out a predictably dull 0-0, while the final game of the weekend saw Portsmouth crushed 3-0 by a Michael Owen inspired Newcastle. Perhaps as a result of that, he has today been officially offered a new contract.

Will he take it? Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton, and Villa, to name a few, will be keen to find out.

Here is the second half of our feature on the Premiership managers, focussing on the bottom half of the table. You can read the first half here.

11. Wigan – Steve Bruce
Arguably the most inconsistent team in the Premiership – blessed with talent such as Zaki, Heskey, Palacios and Valencia, Wigan blow hot and cold like no other. In some sort of form having won their past two games (for the first time in Bruce’s reign) – if it wasn’t for that they would be in the relegation zone. None of the teams in the bottom half are remotely safe as its so, so tight – but Wigan are at least the best placed of them.
Overall: 7/10. Its the points rather than the position you have to look at. Bruce has made some good signings, but you wonder where the goals will come from if, as expected, Zaki leaves in January.

12. Middlesbrough – Gareth Southgate
Southgate has assembled a young, exciting Boro side who, if they can keep the nucleus of the team together, could be one to watch over the next few seasons. However, they also suffer hugely from inconsistency, not helped by the erratic performances of their strikers Alves, Mido and Tuncay. As always Steve Gibson will give Southgate time, and lots of it – and the portents are good. A young squad and prolific youth system bode well, as long as they can stay out of trouble this season.
Overall: 7.5/10. Southgate is still learning the managerial game but signs are promising.

13. West Ham – Gianfranco Zola
Zola’s promise to bring pretty football to the Boleyn Ground has not really been realised. Somewhat surprisingly he has instilled some defensive solidity, with their third consecutive clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool. Mark Noble is quoted saying it will take two years for West Ham to learn to play in Zola’s image – but does he have that long? Needs to score some goals and get some wins to bring some security.
Overall: 6.5/10. Slightly disappointing, but has sorted the defence out which deserves credit. His first managerial job and will surely be given time by the board.

14. Stoke – Tony Pulis
Rory Delap has been the revelation of the season with his rocket launched throw-ins – and Tony Pulis makes no excuses for the physical style Stoke adopt. They have won their last 5 home games and are formidable at the Britannia; away from home it is a rather different story. Without Delap’s throws Stoke would be bottom, so that is a cause for concern.
Overall: 8/10. As a promoted side, they have done well. Though there are concerns if their home form slips or sides figure out Delap, which must happen at some point…

15. Man City – Mark Hughes.
Positionally, desperately disappointing, but Hughes will point out they are only one win away from the top 10, two wins from the top 6, and three wins from the Champions League places! However, compared to last season progress has most definitely been backward (they sat second). With the addition of Jo, Robinho, SWP, Kompany et al that must be hugely concerning for the owners. Yes, signings need time to bed in, but if you spend that much you want some instant results. Hughes needs to turn things around, and fast, if he is not to be out on his ear. January signings may help – but they will take time to adapt, as the close season ones have.
Overall 4/10. Spending £75m and being nine places below Hull is inexcusable. Hughes is in desperate need of results. But with them, everything could so soon look so different.

16. Tottenham – Harry Redknapp.
His honeymoon period appears now to be over after consecutive defeats, but his rip-roaring start will remain long in the memory. Spurs are undoubtedly in a far better position that when he took over – but are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Redknapp, and the fans, must remember that the first target is to avoid going down. A top 10 finish, with a good cup run, would be an excellent season considering the start they had.
Overall: 9/10. Despite recent defeats, an excellent start. If he can turn around the recent setbacks they will shoot up the table.

17. Newcastle – Joe Kinnear.
A wholly uninspiring appointment, but he has brought some sense of stability to St James. A couple of draws, a win or two – and he was given the job until the end of the season. The best moment of his tenure was his outburst at journalists – ‘Which one of you is Simon Bird?’ will live long in the memory. Newcastle probably won’t go down, probably won’t finish above 12th, and Kinnear probably won’t have a job next season.
Overall: 6.5/10. Meh.

18. Sunderland – Roy Keane.
Until the last six games Sunderland would have been higher in the table and the outlook would be totally different. But five defeats in six, and losing their last four at home including the shambolic 1-4 defeat to Bolton, have heaped the pressure on. You would not bet against Keane walking away if he didn’t feel he was the right man for the job (he has said as much) – and surely he would walk before he he was pushed. That is not yet a possibility (remember they were bottom of the Championship only a couple of years ago) but board and fans will want Keane to turn things round, and fast.
Overall: 5/10. But a good run of results will push it back up to a 7/8, where he was earlier in the season.

19. Blackburn – Paul Ince.
Second favourite in the sack race (behind Keane) Ince is reported to have asked for six games to turn things around for a struggling Blackburn side. It was always going to be difficult to continue the great work Mark Hughes did, but under him they were consistently top 10 and board and fans will want, at the very minimum, safety. 19th is not good enough, and unless Ince can engineer a change in fortunes, he will not be there at the end of the season.
Overall: 3/10. Has done nothing to suggest he is up to the job. But, with things so tight, again a few wins and the outlook will be very different.

20. West Brom – Tony Mowbray.
Admirably steadfastly sticking to his principles of pretty football – unfortunately its only proved to be pretty ineffective. Stone bottom and favourites for relegation, West Brom desperately need their backwards and sideways passing to produce results. The most disappointing aspect will be the defeats to Stoke and Hull – West Brom finished comfortably above them last season, and if they cannot beat those sides, what chance do they have?
Overall: 4/10. You cannot rate someone too highly who is bottom of the league. Deserves respect for his footballing mantra but that will cut short shrift if results don’t improve.

A wholly uninspiring set of results yesterday. You can can get full match reports and details of the tedium elsewhere, so we’ll focus on a more abstract element of each game.

Stoke 1 Hull 1

A debatable 73rd minute penalty, won and converted by Ricardo Fuller, cancelled out Marlon King’s excellent strike on the stroke of half time in the battle of the promoted sides.

Dean Windass endeared himself further to the Hull fans – if that’s possible – by obstructing Rory Delap’s freakish throw ins from the bench. Twice he warmed up deliberately in the path of the ugly one’s mammoth run up – twice he was reprimanded, and once booked. Novel, if not exactly sporting…

Sunderland 1 Bolton 4

Goals from alleged-homosexual Matt Taylor, Gary Cahill, and Johan Elmander (2) won this for Bolton after Djibril Cisse’s early strike.

This game compounded Sunderland’s terrible recent form – 6 defeats in 7 games – and extended Bolton’s good run – 4 wins in 5, including three away from home. Roy Keane is now favourite to be next manager to go, at 11/8 – incidentally followed in the betting by two other Alex Ferguson proteges, Mark Hughes and Paul Ince.

Cahill reiterated the Fantasy Football dilemma; goalscoring defenders who do not keep clean sheets. He notched 14 points, but similarly to Hull’s Michael Turner, you can never back on the shut-out. I’m personally against them; you select a defender for a clean sheet, and there are only rare occasions you would back Bolton or Hull to keep one (maybe 4 or 5 games a season). If you rely on your defenders to score goals for points, you’re clutching at straws.

Wigan 2 West Brom 1

Goals from Henri Camara and Emmerson Boyce won this for Wigan after a trademark error from Titus Bramble let in Ismael Miller to give the Baggies the lead.

With Wigan’s remarkable inconsistency you wouldn’t have ruled out an away win here – evidence of that is that yesterday saw Wigan gain their first back-to-back Premiership victories under Steve Bruce, after a year / 39 matches.

Villa 0 – 0 Fulham

Villa are now unbeatable but cannot score – how much they need big John Carew back to get on the end of Ashley Young’s penetrating crosses. In this game, Gareth Barry missed three and Martin Laursen two chances created by the exciting young winger (no pun intended).

Roy Hodgson is doing a great job at Fulham; a shoestring budget and a threadbare squad, but a well-drilled, well-organised side that are difficult to beat.

In this game Brad Friedel broke David James’ record for consecutive Premiership appearances, making his 167th start in a row for Blackburn and now Villa.

Boro 0-0 Newcastle

Tyne and Tees were united in delight at Sunderland’s demise – but there was little else to warm the cockles in a dull game.

Obafemi Martins provided a rare moment of interest, throwing his armband to the ground and storming down the tunnel after being replaced towards the end of the game. After the abject performance of a patently unfit Michael Owen he was perhaps right to be aggrieved…

Let’s hope today provides us with a few more interesting genuine footballing highlights!

For the first time for nearly a century all of the current big 4 – Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, and Arsenal – failed to score on the same weekend. Arsenal were the only side to lose, 3-0 to Man City, to further compound their misery and disarray. This is the most testing period Arsene Wenger has faced since he took over, and it will be interesting to see how he deals with it. What he would have given yesterday for Fabrice Muamba, who drove Bolton forward, or for Matthew Upson, so strong for England in midweek – both cast-offs from his reign. Arsenal are in trouble, there is no doubt of that. They are no longer in the top 4, and have never looked less likely to go on one of their famous runs. Can ‘The Professor’ sort them out?

For Man Utd, Chelsea, and Liverpool, who all drew 0-0, there is less cause for concern. Each will be delighted not to lose ground on the others. Each were held for differing reasons – Utd versus a genuinely quality opposition (Villa), Chelsea against a team who performed a textbook parking of the bus (Newcastle), and Liverpool having a slight off day against a well-organised and well drilled Fulham side.

They will all breathe a sigh of relief that they have not slipped from their current positions, and redouble their efforts next weekend (after the Champions League in midweek).

Of the other two games yesterday, Bolton secured a well earned 3-1 win against Boro, ending the home side’s 5 match unbeaten run – Matt Taylor reminded us of his goalscoring ability, and Johan Elmander got back on the scoresheet.

Finally, in the battle of the promoted sides, Stoke’s belligerent physical ‘football’ overcame West Brom’s sideways and backwards passing, their 1-0 win thanks to a header from the massive Mamady Sidibe.

Spurs take on Blackburn in just under half an hour – and there’s no place for Frazier Campbell, as Pavyluchenko starts alongside Darren Bent. Brilliant. (See here).

Results, scorers, and less interestingly bookings, in full:

Aston Villa	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Man Utd
Bookings: Davies 77

Chelsea	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Newcastle
		Bookings: Gutierrez 50 Guthrie 86

Liverpool	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Fulham

Man City	3-0 (HT 1-0)	Arsenal
Ireland 45+2 Robinho 56 Sturridge (pen) 90+2
		Bookings: Song Billong 87

Middlesbrough	1-3 (HT 0-2)	Bolton
Pogatetz 77		Steinsson 8 Taylor 10 Elmander 78
Bookings: Pogatetz 7 Digard 22		Bookings: Muamba 52 Cahill 63 Samuel 67 Nolan 70 McCann 84

Portsmouth	2-2 (HT 1-0)	Hull
Crouch 20 Johnson 63		Turner 54 Pamarot o.g. 89
Bookings: Diop 85 Davis 90+5		Bookings: Windass 86

Torres starts for Liverpool, while Lucas comes into the side for Xabi Alonso, while Fulham remain unchanged from the side that defeated Tottenham.

Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra are both injured for Portsmouth, replaced by John Utaka and Richard Hughes. Hull are unchanged from the 2-2 draw with Man City.

Lampard does indeed make it back for Chelsea, alongside Ashley Cole and Joe Cole (I doubt Capello will ne too pleased to read that – not that he’ll be reading this site, obviously). Cech also returns in goal. The crocked Joey Barton is replaced with Danny Guthrie for Newcastle, while the legendary Michael Owen comes in for Shola Ameobi (who must think himself a bit unlucky after 2 in his last 3, and an assist)

Wheater is in for Boro and Steinson in for Bolton in probably the least interesting game of the day.

RIcardo Fuller is suspended for Stoke and replaced by Dave Kitson (no goals in 14 games) while Tom Soares starts in midfield. Roman Bednar and James Morrison are out for West Brom, replaced by Chris Brunt Do-Heon Kim.

From the BBC: Deep breath now… Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger leaves skipper William Gallas out of the squad after the player made derogatory comments about his team-mates this week – and Emmanuel Adebayor is also excluded. Keeper Manuel Almunia is handed the captain’s armband. The exclusion of Gallas is one of four changes (Adebayor was on the bench last time out), with Cesc Fabregas (suspension), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Bacary Sagna (ankle) out. In come Gavin Hoyte, Johan Djourou, Alex Song and Robin van Persie.

Man City replace Tal Ben Haim with the returning Richard Dunne.

That concludes the team news for the 15.00s… I’m off to watch hairy Jeff Stelling.

Here is the Premiership table updated after this weekend’s fixtures (courtesy of the BBC).

			| Home					| Away
	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Chelsea	13	3	2	1	13	3	7	0	0	19	1	28	32
2	Liverpool	13	5	1	0	11	4	5	1	1	10	4	13	32
3	Man Utd	12	5	1	0	18	4	2	2	2	7	6	15	24
4	Arsenal	13	4	1	2	14	10	3	1	2	11	5	10	23
5	Aston Villa	13	3	2	1	10	7	4	0	3	12	9	6	23
6	Hull	13	2	2	3	7	14	4	1	1	12	7	-2	21
7	Everton	13	1	3	3	7	12	4	1	1	12	9	-2	19
8	Middlesbrough	13	3	1	2	7	9	2	2	3	7	9	-4	18
9	Portsmouth	13	3	1	2	8	6	2	2	3	5	12	-5	18
10	Fulham	12	5	1	1	10	5	0	1	4	2	6	1	17
11	Sunderland	13	2	1	3	6	8	2	2	3	6	11	-7	15
12	Man City	13	3	0	3	16	8	1	2	4	10	14	4	14
13	Bolton	13	2	2	3	6	7	2	0	4	5	8	-4	14
14	West Ham	13	3	1	3	11	11	1	1	4	5	11	-6	14
15	Stoke	13	4	0	2	10	9	0	2	5	3	15	-11	14
16	Wigan	13	1	2	3	3	8	2	2	3	12	10	-3	13
17	Newcastle	13	3	2	2	11	9	0	2	4	6	13	-5	13
18	Blackburn	13	1	2	4	4	12	2	2	2	10	12	-10	13
19	Tottenham	13	2	1	3	6	6	1	2	4	10	14	-4	12
20	West Brom	13	2	1	4	8	14	1	1	4	2	10	-14	11

There are a ridiculous 10 points between bottom and 6th place, and anyone across that range is very much at risk of relegation. It is a bit early to start making predictions, but judging on form so far this season, here’s our analysis of the battle to avoid the drop.

Aside from the Top 4, and Villa, you have to say that anyone else could still go down. Hull are in all probability safe, but they risk their ‘unknown’ factor being lost in the second half of the season; teams will know how to play them, and they will struggle to pick up points. They still need to double their current tally to be safe and that is easier said than done. It would take a drastic loss of form and unlikely run of results to condemn them, however.

You also have to think Everton will be ok, they have a lot of quality (Yakuba, Saha, Cahill, Arteta, Fallaini, Lescott, Jagielka) and are now coming into form. Man City should be fine – if only by buying their way out of trouble – and Redknapp’s legacy at Portsmouth (bar a fire sale in January) should see them clear. Roy Keane and Sunderland should have enough to avoid struggling – Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse are a potent front two, and acquisitions such as Malbranque and Chimbonda add further quality.

You would have said Spurs would push for the top 6 now they’re a rejuvinated outfit uder Redknapp, but a surprise defeat to Fulham has re-raised doubts, and could do the same to the players. You cannot underestimate how much of a liability Huerelho (how do you spell that?) Gomes actually is. But, with the team they have, and assuming ‘Arry gets them back on the rails, you have to fancy them for a top 10 finish.

Middlesbrough have an exciting young side and though inconsistent, on their day they can beat the better sides and thus should accumulate enough points – a team to watch over the next few seasons.

Roy Hodgson is an astute manager (remember he very nearly got the England job not so long ago) and his nous, plus key men Hangerland, Bullard, Murphy and Johnson, should see Fulham to at least 17th place.

So that leaves us with Newcastle, West Ham, Bolton, Stoke, West Brom, and Blackburn. Take your pick from those six – sticking my neck out, I’ll say West Brom, Stoke, and – depending on managerial changes – one of Blackburn and West Ham to go down.

West Brom play great football, pass the ball nicely, and try to outplay rather than outfight of out manouevre teams – but they just don’t have enough quality. They will never, in a passing, footballing style, outclass Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs – even Fulham. And though I admire them, admire Mowbray for his ideals, his purism could be the death of him.

Take out Rory Delap’s long throws and Stoke would be comfortably bottom; and that weapon will, eventually, be nullified. Like Hull, they’ll suffer from losing their surprise factor, and I see them really plummeting in the second half of the season. They just don’t have any good players!

Blackburn and West Ham both have young, inexperienced managers – but decent squads. If either can turn it around – or either are fired and replaced with experience and nous – both are capable of pulling clear of danger. But, I don’t think both will, and one will go down. With previous form in that area, West Ham probably have most to worry about.

And so, rather because of the paucity of other sides than their own quality, Newcastle, Bolton, and Blackburn may survive.

I’ll revisit this in 6 months time…