The weekends action brought just the one win for a team in the relegation mini-league. My team Wigan grabbed a vital 3 points against a dismal Derby side.
I think we are all aware that Derby are as good as down, so now it's down to two places to join them in the Coca-Cola Championship:
So just who will take the plunge?
When the teams are analyzed, I honestly believed Wigan are the best equiped to stay up. On paper I believe Newcastle are the strongest of the bunch but they are playing awful. There is no belief in the side and that is why they are in freefall. Birmingham and Wigan on paper have similar ability on paper but are both too inconsistant. However, I believe both will be safe as they have got good managers who know what they are doing. Both squads ooze premiership quality and the players play with belief. If neither squad is depleted in the summer, I also believe they will do well next year.
I can't quite put my fingure on Bolton. They have the toughest run in of the lot and I genuinelly worry for them. Gary Megson could either be a hero or a villain come May. I think they have the quality and passion to stay up though and I really hope they do. They have a good set of fans who have their heads screwed on. Their european exploits have never gone to their heads, which is perhaps more than can be said for their players.
Fulhams and Reading have very poor squads. Fulham have shown a bit of fight in recent weeks and have shown signs that they could spark a West Ham style escape. Reading on the other hand are in free-fall. They are getting poorer and poorer by the week. They remind me a lot of how Wigan were. Great first season and then the second season syndrome hit. The Latics also went on a very similar loing streak the to the Royals at a similar time last year. They need to pull themselvs together and one win can do that.
Sunderland are the worst side of the bunch in my honest opinion. The only two players I rate in their team are Craig Gordon and Kenwyne Jones. The rest are just Championship players. They are punching above their weight and riding their luck. I believe they will be found out soon enough and sink like a stone.
Predictions
Newcastle's quality will eventually shine through and they will stay up. Wigan and Birmingham will stay up comfortably and it will between the other 4 to take the two spots. Bolton have some hard fixtures but their grit and passion will show through. As hard as it is to call I think Reading will eventually get a win and win a couple more. They are a confidece based side, much like last years Wigan and with very little quality but I think they will pull out of it.
13. Birmingham
14. Wigan
15. Newcastle
16. Bolton
17. Reading
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18. Sunderland
19. Fulham
20. Derby
Joined: 2008-02-03
Joined: 2008-02-18