The Relegation Candidates ...

[Clarets4me]

Southampton, on 34 points are now 5 points clear of the nearest Club, Brighton ( 29 points ), followed by Watford, Bournemouth, and West Ham ( 27 points ), then Aston Villa ( 25 points ) with Norwich at the bottom on 21 points. It looks likely that the 3 relegated Clubs will come from these six.
The League table on the BBC website shows the form for the last 5 games, and, a statistical quirk shows that each of the bottom 6 have picked 4 points from the last available 15 !! No clues there then, as to anyone hitting a " purple patch ", to draw them clear ...

Firstly, who would you like to see relegated and why ? Secondly, who do you think will actually go down ?

I'll kick off, West Ham, Brighton & Watford ( Owners, Plastic fans & general dislike ! ) ...... but I think it'll be Norwich, Villa & Bournemouth !

[Bigvince]

I’d like to see Arsenal, Man U and West Ham go down
I think Norwich, villa and Bournemouth will go down

[Rileybobs]

It’s going to be a record total to survive this season remember. 45 points probably.

[RVclaret]

Would like to see the following go down:

Villa - thought they were billy big b****** spending over £100m despite the club almost being liquidated the previous year

West Ham - just to see the reaction of their fans who think they are something they are not

Brighton - most peculiar set of fans in the league without doubt (Mostly plastic)

But if I was to predict the three it will be Norwich, Villa and Bournemouth.

[Bigvince]

It’s going to be a record total to survive this season remember. 45 points probably.

I think 38 will survive

[Bigvince]

Some tough run ins

[Rileybobs]

I think 38 will survive

Three teams who have got 27 points from the 29 games to date, less than a point per game. I doubt all three of them will get 9 points from the remaining 9 games so I would say that 36 points will be enough.

[Bosscat]

18 Brighton
19 Watford
20 Norwich

But in reality

18 Bournemuff
19 Villa
20 Norwich

[Bigvince]

Three teams who have got 27 points from the 29 games to date, less than a point per game. I doubt all three of them will get 9 points from the remaining 9 games so I would say that 36 points will be enough.

The run in’s always throw up a few shock results tho, Watford v Liverpool, Norwich v Leicester for example
Also villa have 11 games left

[Rileybobs]

The run in’s always throw up a few shock results tho, Watford v Liverpool, Norwich v Leicester for example

Yes but in reality this shock results happen throughout the season, not just in the run in. Norwich beating Man City for example. Very unlikely the teams placed 16th-18th will all improve their points per game ratio in the remaining 9 games.

[Bigvince]

Yes but in reality this shock results happen throughout the season, not just in the run in. Norwich beating Man City for example. Very unlikely the teams placed 16th-18th will all improve their points per game ratio in the remaining 9 games.

Fair point, only time will tell. But it’ll be an enjoyable watch with us out of it!!!!

[Rileybobs]

Fair point, only time will tell. But it’ll be an enjoyable watch with us out of it!!!!

Absolutely. It’s nice to watch us relatively stress-free.

[Bigvince]

Yes! It’s not often you can watch the clarets, stress free!

[Stayingup]

Three teams who have got 27 points from the 29 games to date, less than a point per game. I doubt all three of them will get 9 points from the remaining 9 games so I would say that 36 points will be enough.

You just said 45 needed. Strong ale is it?

[Rileybobs]

You just said 45 needed. Strong ale is it?

Rioja actually. I was joking with the 45 - based on the number of people on here who said a record total would be required to finish 17th. The same is said every year yet you rarely need near 40 points to survive.

[Bigvince]

You just said 45 needed. Strong ale is it?

God I must be p!ssed, I didn’t notice the 9 point swing

[Tricky Trevor]

Here’s their run ins. The big bonus being that 4 of the 6 are Southern. I’ve discarded Saints and Newcastle as safe.

2726F255-A32B-4CC6-A801-E7BDF4367DD7.jpeg (336.99 KiB) Viewed 3896 times

[MT03ALG]

Preferably Man. Utd., Man. City, Arsenal
Probable: Norwich, Aston Villa and Man. City (following 50 points deducted by the Premier League a la Saracens)

[Vegas Claret]

Bournemouth's fixture list is pretty horrific, I don't see more than 9 points for them. West Ham v Villa on the last day might be interesting if anything is riding on it, Villa have a tough run in but were excellent against City last week (as much as you can be) and I would expect them to pick points up IF they can replicate that form.

I just want us to relegate Brighton tbh

[Clarets4me]

Here’s their run ins. The big bonus being that 4 of the 6 are Southern. I’ve discarded Saints and Newcastle as safe.
2726F255-A32B-4CC6-A801-E7BDF4367DD7.jpeg

We still have to play all three ( West Ham, Brighton & Watford ) of the sides I'd prefer to drop through the trap-door !
Do your duty, Gentlemen !!

[paulatky]

It’s going to be a record total to survive this season remember. 45 points probably.

Nowhere near 45 will be required. !!!

[Rileybobs]

Nowhere near 45 will be required. !!!

I was joking. Thought it was obvious but clearly not. Sorry.

[Steve1956]

I'm another who wants us to relegate Brighton on the last day,with Villa & Norwich

[yorkyclaret]

Me for Brighton too, Jay with a yards offside last minute goal, just as there is a power cut at VAR HQ.

[Goobs]

Would like to see West ham, Villa and Brighton go down.

Think it will be Norwich, Bournemouth and Brighton.

[Tricky Trevor]

Just seen MotD2 on the form table none of the bottom 7 have taken a point per game from their last 5. 9 to play, excepting Villa(11), so 36 should be safe.

[Taffy on the wing]

Bournemouth's fixture list is pretty horrific, I don't see more than 9 points for them. West Ham v Villa on the last day might be interesting if anything is riding on it, Villa have a tough run in but were excellent against City last week (as much as you can be) and I would expect them to pick points up IF they can replicate that form.

I just want us to relegate Brighton tbh

Brighton have a pretty tough run-in!

[jojomk1]

Have had a treble on Villa, Bournemouth and Brighton

[Stanbill05]

Didn’t used to mind villa but would love to see them drop this year. Would enjoy relegating Brighton on the last day too. Watching west Ham temporarily implode on relegation might be fun.

Norwich, Brighton and Bournemouth for me though, which might save some mileage next year.

[claretandy]

Norwich are gone, Villa and West Ham are both big spending so i would like to see them go, Watford, Bournemouth and Brighton are similar to us.

[ElectroClaret]

I'm just surprised some of the resident perennial faint-hearts on here (ie Boatshed Bill, Dark Cloud, jurek, etc)
haven't pointed out that we haven't got forty points yet.

I think it could go right to the last day.
Bournemouth
Villa
Norwich

For me.

[Firthy]

I'm another who wants us to relegate Brighton on the last day,with Villa & Norwich

Ditto and I can see it happening

[BOYSIE31]

Villa / West Ham / Brighton

Norwich / Villa / Bournemouth

[Goodclaret]

I predict Norwich, Villa and West Ham for the drop - West Ham to finish bottom looking at their run in! Bournemouth will be close but will just nick 4th bottom.

[andyh]

Norwich are as good as down

I’d love the other two to be villa and West Ham. However looking at the run ins I think it will be Brighton and Bournemouth. Can’t see either of them getting more than 35 points.

[Lord Beamish]

18th: Brighton
19th: Villa
20th: Norwich.

We will send Brighton down on the last day I’d the season, to much wailing, gnashing of teeth, and pearl clutching in the away end. Especially after Rodriguez scores the winner.

[nil_desperandum]

I was joking. Thought it was obvious but clearly not. Sorry.

It was unless you were "on strong ale"

[bobinho]

Brighton.

Brighton.

Brighton.

Disgusting club. Disgusting fans. After the bar stewards and dirty leeds, my most hated club. I’m sure they are ok with that tho...

[summitclaret]

Brighton.

Brighton.

Brighton.

Disgusting club. Disgusting fans. After the bar stewards and dirty leeds, my most hated club. I’m sure they are ok with that tho...

I don't want Bournemouth or BHA to go down, as we tend to get plenty of points off them. Ditto Southampton.

[Guller Bull]

Final Day v Brighton

I think it will be even Stephens till the 98th minute (It could Bissouma) then Jay Rod will pop up with a screamer to Dunk them into the Championship. The Trossards will be Propper Maupey after that.

[FactualFrank]

I'm going from Brighton and below, as I feel Southampton will pick up enough to be safe.

I've checked out the remaining fixtures and from those at the bottom I rank them in this order - most difficult remaining fixtures, first.

Aston Villa (by a long way)
Brighton
Bournemouth
Norwich
Watford
West Ham

Norwich are likely to be down, 6 points behind and poor GD. From the rest, Villa certainly look to be in the brown stuff - 2 points from safety, and the most difficult remaining games... Leicester, CHELSEA, WOLVES, Liverpool, MAN U, PALACE, Everton, ARSENAL, West Ham

The bookies also think Villa are going down: 3 faves are Norwich, Villa and Bournemouth.

Assuming Norwich are down, then Villa joining them and us sending Brighton down on the last day, would go down a treat.

[ClaretAndBlue94]

Villa - Frustrates me when teams spend huge amounts and think they have a god given right to finish top 10.

Brighton - I just cant stand them. The irony here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-51357532

Norwich - I like Norwich - but they will go down !

Shame it can't be West Ham instead of Norwich.

[Tricky Trevor]

Brighton - I just cant stand them. The irony here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-51357532

On the plus side a number of home fans did grass him up. Good on em.

[ClaretTony]

It’s going to be a record total to survive this season remember. 45 points probably.

At this stage last season the bottom four had the following points: Southampton (27), Cardiff (25), Fulham (17), Huddersfield (14)

This season the bottom four have the following points: Watford (27), Bournemouth (27), Aston Villa (25 - 2 games in hand), Norwich 21

The obvious difference this year is a lack of stragglers as Fulham and Huddersfield were, but fourth from bottom has the same number of points as was the case last year.

Last season, 35 was enough to keep you up - Cardiff went down with 34 - and I don't think it will be too many more this season. I'd say possibly 37.

[Rileybobs]

At this stage last season the bottom four had the following points: Southampton (27), Cardiff (25), Fulham (17), Huddersfield (14)

This season the bottom four have the following points: Watford (27), Bournemouth (27), Aston Villa (25 - 2 games in hand), Norwich 21

The obvious difference this year is a lack of stragglers as Fulham and Huddersfield were, but fourth from bottom has the same number of points as was the case last year.

Last season, 35 was enough to keep you up - Cardiff went down with 34 - and I don't think it will be too many more this season. I'd say possibly 37.

Yeah agreed. I was just joshing at the expense of the panickers who were saying that over 40 points would be required.

[Stalbansclaret]

I'm really hoping for a final day death match between West Ham and Villa...winner stays up, loser goes down. They draw..relegating both.

[ClaretTony]

I'm really hoping for a final day death match between West Ham and Villa...winner stays up, loser goes down. They draw..relegating both.

Which, of course, would still leave the cream of claret and blue in the Premier League.