Odds for 2017/18

[Claret&Green]

Just looked on oddschecker, we are favourites to go down, with Brighton & Huddersfield

[simonclaret]

Third favourite then. Sounds about right.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I think Bournemouth and Watford will struggle next term. Although Silva is a decent appointment.

[Zom Zom]

I think Swansea will fare rather better next term. Bournemouth will probably have more than enough once again. Watford, as cricketfield says, may struggle but only down to constant change - it certainly cannot be healthy to have so many changes of head coach/manager. It will be interesting to see who rocks up at Crystal Palace, and with a mooted collapse of the current Leicester squad with so many supposedly wanting away, whoever takes the job on may have a tough time. I have a little feeling that Stoke may be embroiled more than they would wish next season too.

We certainly need improvement in the attacking areas. We have been superb but we cannot rely on turning the big boys over on our patch. It's fair to say we were maybe 'found out' during the last third of the season (but that run of away games didn't help). I wonder, will Defour step up to the plate or simply be moved on? Can we add to the firepower in front of goal? I feel this summer will be much bigger than last for us, but hey, BRING IT ON!

[Quicknick]

I'd be worried if we weren't one of the relegation favourites.

[Guich]

Not as 'nailed on' as we were last season then.

[happyclaret17]

6/4 for us to go down means we are more likely to stay up than go down according to the layers...think we were 1/2 last season which is 3 times shorter....I think Stoke at 8/1 look a value poke to take the drop...huddersfield look bankers to drop though...I think Brighton could go either way.

[AshevilleNCClaret]

if sigurdson and llorente leave Swansea I think they will be in a heap of trouble. not too sure about Newcastle as well.

[Goobs]

Way too early to call at the moment, without seeing who does what business throughout the window.

Huddersfield look like they have a mountain to climb, they probably need quite a few signings but then too many can usually result in them not gelling which is just as bad if not worse.

Brighton are no worse than us or any of the others that are down there although it is usually difficult for teams to make the step up to the PL at the first time of asking.

I expect they will both be in the bottom 3. The other space is likely to be filled by one of us, Watford or Swansea (if they lose Siggurdsson) IMO.

[Colburn_Claret]

We have the experience over Brighton, and a lot better squad than Huddersfield, who have done brilliantly to even get promoted.
I still think Clement has a lot to prove as a manager, and as said above, if they lose Sigurrdson they could be in trouble again next season.
Next season will be just as hard for us, getting points on the board early is a must, whether they come home or away. Playing catch up in the prem is soul destroying. IF we can beat the drop again, then I think we will be in a fantastic position to push on.
An awful lot riding on this transfer window, hopefully getting players in early enough to influence the first 6 games.

[FactualFrank]

At the moment, I couldn't disagree with us being 3rd faves for the drop. Brighton and Huddersfield, on paper, as things stand are the only two sides I'd say are weaker than us. But fortunately, things could change significantly during the next 2-3 months.

[cricketfieldclarets]

A lot also rides on what happens at Southampton IMO.

[RocketLawnChair]

I'd agree with us being amongst the favourites for the drop along with Huddersfield and BHA. Watford and Swansea will be around the relegation places all season. I'm going to throw WBA in as well I just sense they are on the slide. And I fully expect Newcastle to turn into the usual circus once Rafa decides the 150 million spent in the summer wasn't enough.

[bfc1984]

I think I would of fancied Watford bigtime but I do think silva is half decent,although in reality he still did his part in taking hull down he is not Houdini.I fancy Huddersfield rather than Brighton to have more a chance of staying,think Brighton could be similar to boro.Be very interesting and hard to pick.The team that maybe no one has said yet I think will be down there maybe not quite go is Southampton,there having a bit of a moan with brand of football etc and struggled at the backend this time,I may take a sneaky punt on them.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I agree, I mentioned Southampton. Think a lot rides on what they do this summer players and manager wise.

[jurek]

I think we'll have as good a chance of staying up as 5 or 6 other teams.
Much will depend on who leaves and who comes in and no doubt all these other teams will be
investing as well.

But hey, at least we're in there which is as much, if not more, than we could have expected or hoped for.

[PIE]

Fully expect us to be in the mix at the bottom, but also agree that the likes of Palace, Southampton, Leicester and Watford could be in for a tough season. The summer transfers are going to be huge and I'm hoping that with us surviving the drop we have a bit more to offer to potential targets than the new boys. I like Huddersfield and I'm interested to see who Wagner can bring in. Wouldn't surprise me if he finds a few bargains from the continent and the German leagues instead of targeting journey men and mercenaries like Boro did.

[RingoMcCartney]

if sigurdson and llorente leave Swansea I think they will be in a heap of trouble. not too sure about Newcastle as well.

I believe sigurdsen has a 85 million buy out / release clause in his contract. If he went that's a lot of dosh to strengthen.

Can't see us going in for him Though. Sadly!!

[bfc1984]

Sorry missed your post cricketfield,just had a look most bookies are around 25/1 for Southampton to go,they may just have enough but it could be terrific value.

[Down_Rover]

Why did nobody mention Wet spam? If they start slowly again they may not recover

[Spijed]

I believe sigurdsen has a 85 million buy out / release clause in his contract. If he went that's a lot of dosh to strengthen.

Can't see us going in for him Though. Sadly!!

Did you read that correctly? He's a good player, but not that good! I doubt he or his agent would have allowed such a high figure because if he does want a move it makes it almost impossible with a 85 million buy out.

[UpTheBeehole]

Huddersfield ended the season with a goal difference of -2.

They scored the fewest of the top 6, and only Reading conceded more from that group. Forest who stayed up by the skin of their teeth scored more than them.

They can't carry that through to next season, they'll be down by easter if they do.

5 of their first teamers were on loan, including their top scorer, who scraped 10 goals.

Lump on at 8/11.

[bfc1984]

I just think this Wagner is a seriously good manager,there surely going to spend a bit now and I think the German market is key for them,he will get some canny additions.I really fancy them to stay up,but I can understand people thinking the opposite.

[RingoMcCartney]

Did you read that correctly? He's a good player, but not that good! I doubt he or his agent would have allowed such a high figure because if he does want a move it makes it almost impossible with a 85 million buy out.

I'm sure that's what they were saying on the radio earlier on.

They were saying it's break records. They were saying the rumour is man Utd were looking at him and hed be a good fit there.

They laughed and said hed be a good fit anywhere.

Could be wrong but I'm sure that's what they said. I was surprised too

[Spijed]

I'm sure that's what they were saying on the radio earlier on.

They were saying it's break records. They were saying the rumour is man Utd were looking at him and hed be a good fit there.

They laughed and said hed be a good fit anywhere.

Could be wrong but I'm sure that's what they said. I was surprised too

I was basing it on Trippier's buy-out clause. It was a figure that gave us another season, but then Trippier got a hassle free move.

[TheFamilyCat]

Huddersfield ended the season with a goal difference of -2.

They scored the fewest of the top 6, and only Reading conceded more from that group. Forest who stayed up by the skin of their teeth scored more than them.

They can't carry that through to next season, they'll be down by easter if they do.

Are we having Easter again in November?

[FCBurnley]

11 points from the last 15 games will be making the bookies think we will be relegation fodder next season. Obviously depends on summer sales and signings. Keane and Mee were rocks at the heart of the team and either will be tough to replace. Brady needs to step up as does Defour ( or leave). Going to be an interesting summer

[Spijed]

11 points from the last 15 games will be making many on here think we will be relegated next season.

Depends on who we sign!

[KRBFC]

Our form is terrible, thankfully we were found out too late and had the points on the board to escape. I don't see much changing in terms of style of play, doesn't look good for us. I think the PL will be stronger next year, I doubt we'll see a side like Sunderland. Swansea and Hull were absolutely hopeless for more than half a season too. Either way, I wouldn't be too disappointed with relegation, back to back seasons at PL level is an amazing achievement. I feel like the bottom 8 sides in the PL are delaying the inevitable relegation, ultimately we will be relegated its just how well you're prepared for the inevitable when it does happen.

[happyclaret17]

Not sure why you say that y KRBFC
we are in a far better position than ever before...we have an astute chairman and manager and funds to strengthen our squad and training facilities the envy of many a premiership club....personally I dont think we will go down but it may not be as clear cut as this season as I cannot see us getting all those home points again.
Turf moor though is just not a place that premier clubs like coming to...a big advantage to us....god forbid we ever get a soulless new build stadium.
4th or 5th bottom perhaps on the cards but if bournemouth can finish mid table year after year then why cant we ?

[KRBFC]

Not sure why you say that y KRBFC
we are in a far better position than ever before...we have an astute chairman and manager and funds to strengthen our squad and training facilities the envy of many a premiership club....personally I dont think we will go down but it may not be as clear cut as this season as I cannot see us getting all those home points again.
Turf moor though is just not a place that premier clubs like coming to...a big advantage to us....god forbid we ever get a soulless new build stadium.
4th or 5th bottom perhaps on the cards but if bournemouth can finish mid table year after year then why cant we ?

When I said delaying the inevitable relegation, I meant that the bottom 10 or so teams will inevitably be relegated whether that be in 5 years or 10. The longer we delay the better of course, but I think the only real stable PL teams are the top 8. Like Villa and Sunderland, they did well to delay the inevitable a long time but it happened.

[kentonclaret]

These are the Relegation odds for last season before a ball was kicked in anger.

Because bookmaker prices vary I have used William Hill odds as at 2 August 2016.

HULL 8/11
BURNLEY 10/11
MIDDLESBROUGH 5/4
WEST BROM 2/1
WATFORD 9/4
SUNDERLAND 5/2
BOURNEMOUTH 3/1
SWANSEA 4/1
CRYSTAL PALACE 11/2
STOKE 10/1
LEICESTER 11/1
SOUTHAMPTON 16/1
WEST HAM 33/1

To finish BOTTOM Burnley were 7/2.

To STAY UP Burnley were 4/5

[Spijed]

When I said delaying the inevitable relegation, I meant that the bottom 10 or so teams will inevitably be relegated whether that be in 5 years or 10. The longer we delay the better of course, but I think the only real stable PL teams are the top 8. Like Villa and Sunderland, they did well to delay the inevitable a long time but it happened.

It does seem that from 8th downwards there is a bit of mediocrity as six points separated ten teams. The gap from Everton to Southampton was a staggering 15 points.

[Diesel]

Spurs don't like playing at Wembley, should have enough away from 'home' though.

[nil_desperandum]

Whilst it's unarguable that we only got 11 points from the last 15 games, our away form was awful all season, and 9 of those games were away.
The home fixtures were also more tricky - having already played all the weakest teams at home..
Looking at those last 15 games - before we played them, many of us thought that we would struggle to pick up more than about 10/ 12 points.
If we had needed points against Bournemouth or WHU, l'm sure we would have played much better, so 11 points from 13 games was job done.

[RingoMcCartney]

I was basing it on Trippier's buy-out clause. It was a figure that gave us another season, but then Trippier got a hassle free move.

Just googled it. It's 10 mill!!

I thought 85 was a bit Real Madridesque!

Hold me hand up !

[happyclaret17]

so much for the odds on to go down.... .

[Falcon]

Let's not count any chickens yet. If we're on 40 points by Easter then I'll rest easy.

[duncandisorderly]

We'll be on 40 points by Easter. Rest easy.

Corrected that for you.

[FactualFrank]

At the moment, I couldn't disagree with us being 3rd faves for the drop. Brighton and Huddersfield, on paper, as things stand are the only two sides I'd say are weaker than us. But fortunately, things could change significantly during the next 2-3 months.

I believe things have changed pretty significantly!