It’s the tightest relegation battle in years, with every team in the bottom half still in danger of going down. With the transfer window shut tight, which teams are best placed to get out of trouble? And who should be feeling nervous?
Relegation odds in brackets.
Fulham (4/11)
They didn’t have a bad window really. Some deadwood got shifted, and some quality introduced. It’s probably a case of too little, too late though. The majority of the squad are either past their best or just plain average, and the manager seems a right tool as well. The 3-0 home defeat to Southampton at the weekend wasn’t their first humiliation of the season, and it probably won’t be their last either.
Going down? Yes
Crystal Palace (10/11)
Second favourites for the drop, bit harsh innit? Their form since Tony Pulis took over has been more upper mid-table than relegation, and after strengthening well in the window I see no reason why that won’t be maintained. 4/6 on them staying up is where it’s at!
Going down? No
Cardiff (7/5)
Zaha will do a job, but don’t be fooled by Kenwyne Jones scoring at the weekend, purely beginner’s luck, that. Solskjaer’s Norwegian mates probably aren’t up to much either, and it seems strange that they went for quantity in January after keeping it quality in the summer. Like Meulensteen at Fulham, it’s unclear what qualifies the new manager for a relegation scrap. Does knowing Alex Ferguson actually count? Add the batshit owner in to the mix, and they’ll do well to stay up.
Going down? Probably
Norwich (15/8)
Winning one of every six games, just as the pressure’s really starting to build, and drawing a couple of the others might just about be enough to see them through, but it’s no way to live, is it? Van Wolfswinkel’s still not scoring, and neither is anyone else really.
Going down? Maybe
West Ham (9/4)
It’s looking a lot healthier now than it was before they took four points from the Chelsea and Swansea games, but no one’s putting the mortgage money on them surviving. Andy Carroll’s suspended for the next three games, and that’ll really put the skids on the ol’ pump it to the big man and have Kevin Nolan feed off the scraps trick. You just know he’ll get injured again between now and the end of the season too. Also, Roger Johnson.
Going down? Maybe
Sunderland (10/3)
They’re looking infinitely better under Gus Poyet than they did during the Di Canio unpleasantness, but before winning their last two games it all still seemed pretty hopeless. Were those victories the start of a run or just a fortunate blip? The jury’s out.
Going down? Maybe
Hull (9/2)
Only two points off the bottom three, but they’re 13th and haven’t been any closer to the drop zone all season. Should have enough 1-0 home wins in them to steer clear of trouble.
Going down? No
West Brom (9/2)
They must have felt pretty smug about getting £7m for Shane Long. Short memories, they spent the same on Victor Anichebe in the summer and he’s no sort of upgrade. A bit of January transfer-love wouldn’t have gone amiss, and what about that new manager? Could go either way.
Going down? Maybe
Stoke (7/1)
They just beat Man Utd! Charlie Adam!
Going down? No
Swansea (10/1)
Michael Laudrup could play a bit, couldn’t he? Such a handsome and charming chap too, probably safe… Or, they’ve been shocking since they won the cup last February (nearly a year ago!) and reckon David Ngog and Marvin Emnes are the men to arrest the slide. 10/1? Stick a couple of quid on it!
Going down? Maybe
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