2021/22 Relegation battle thread

[dontcallme]

I've always enjoyed the relegation battle as there is so much more at stake.

I think Norwich are almost certain to go down. They sold their best player, Buendia, and while there is good potential with their purchases I think it's too much for them to function well enough as a team to stay up.

Brentford seem to play good football and Toney looks like he has some goals in him.

Watford will be reliant on Sarr. I think they'll struggle but it could go either way.

From the non-promoted sides it's hard to predict. Newcastle, Brighton, Wolves, Saints, Burnley, Leeds, Palace and even Arsenal are a few injuries away from being dragged in.

At this early stage I predict Norwich, Palace and Watford to go down but Watford are because I am not sure who else will get dragged down.

 

[tommo84]

Agree on Norwich and Palace. I was actually quite impressed with Watford in the first half last week. Thought they defended well and on the break they looked dangerous but lacked a true number 9.

I’ve gone for Southampton as the 3rd team. They’ve always been streaky under Hassenhuttl and I just question whether this season - minus Ings - they’ve got enough to turn things around when they hit their usual run of bad results.

 

[dontcallme]

Agree on Norwich and Palace. I was actually quite impressed with Watford in the first half last week. Thought they defended well and on the break they looked dangerous but lacked a true number 9.

I’ve gone for Southampton as the 3rd team. They’ve always been streaky under Hassenhuttl and I just question whether this season - minus Ings - they’ve got enough to turn things around when they hit their usual run of bad results.

I think Armstrong will replace most of Ings' goals. Losing Vestergaard is a bigger loss to them.

Watford could easily finish mid table. Part of me thinks a team like Burnley could go down. Teams like that appear stable but then a few injuries send them down. So Watford are my safety bet more than anything.

 

[werty]

Went with Norwich, Palace and Burnley. Was a toss up between Burnley and Newcaslte.

Norwich for obvious reasons. Palace lost a lot of experience and I don't know whether Vieira is good enough to get the most out of them. Think it's going to be a similar situation to when Curbishley left Charlton. Burnley are always a team that don't have much margin for error, but their home form has been bad for a while now, and if they don't turn that around they won't have much hope.

 

[muppetman]

Gone for:
Norwich - not convinced Farke has learnt any lessons from last time and the loss of both Skipp and Buendia will hit them hard.
Newcastle - things all appear to be getting toxic again up there and I can easily see them going on a bad run.
Crystal Palace - they need the new young purchases to gel and for Vieira to be decent - not convinced at all.

Other contenders:
Burnley - at some point Dyche's miracle act has to come to an end?
Southampton - will they have enough goals to stay up, I think this depends on Armstrong and him staying fit and productive.
Arsenal - allow a man to dream!

 

[allatsea]

Went for Norwich, Watford and Southampton. But there are a couple more clubs who could easily get in the mix.

 

[Gbspurs]

Norwich have had an unbelievably difficult start though so I think we need a few more games to judge them.

Quite a few teams don't score enough (Burnley, Palace, Brighton, Watford) and even Southampton and Newcastle struggle so it really could be anyone!

 

[Flynn]

Arsenal will probably replace lego pep cone boy by October and I think whoever they bring in will pull them out of it. They should at least win their relegation six pointers but I still voted for them because it’s beautiful talking about them this way.

 

[Pekoni]

Norwich, Watford and Southampton/Palace is my guess.

 

[whitechina]

I went with Norwich, Burnley and Arsenal! Hoping that Arsenal go down- but they'll have to out do Palace

 

[Marty]

Norwich have had an unbelievably difficult start though so I think we need a few more games to judge them.

Quite a few teams don't score enough (Burnley, Palace, Brighton, Watford) and even Southampton and Newcastle struggle so it really could be anyone!

The problem with such a difficult start is that Norwich have to play catch-up all season, that can be mentally exhausting.

Right now I think they're the only team I'd say are odds on to go down, then it's two from about eight or nine to join them.

 

[Shadydan]

Went with Norwich, Palace and Burnley. Was a toss up between Burnley and Newcaslte.

Norwich for obvious reasons. Palace lost a lot of experience and I don't know whether Vieira is good enough to get the most out of them. Think it's going to be a similar situation to when Curbishley left Charlton. Burnley are always a team that don't have much margin for error, but their home form has been bad for a while now, and if they don't turn that around they won't have much hope.

Burnely aren't leaving this division as long as they have Dyche.

 

[Monkey boy]

Would love to get rid of Burnley and Newcastle but unfortunately I can’t see either happening. Think Norwich are the only certs at the moment even though they’ve had a ridiculously difficult start.

 

[Donki]

Burnely aren't leaving this division as long as they have Dyche.

He gets a lot of shit but I like Dyche, Burnley have absolutely no right to be in the PL but year after year he gets his players grafting.

 

[Donki]

Would love to get rid of Burnley and Newcastle but unfortunately I can’t see either happening. Think Norwich are the only certs at the moment even though they’ve had a ridiculously difficult start.

I don't agree with that sort of elitism from us, the teams that stay up deserve to stay up. No point playing open expansive football if you are getting hammered every week.

 

[Monkey boy]

I don't agree with that sort of elitism from us, the teams that stay up deserve to stay up. No point playing open expansive football if you are getting hammered every week.

Its not elitism at all, I just don’t like Newcastle or Burnley for no other reason than not wanting to play them every year as Newcastle especially always seem to literally steal points off us both home and away.

It has nothing to do with how the teams play football.

 

[Marty]

Norwich look terrible.
Watford beat Norwich but I'm not convinced.
Burnley look pretty dodgy too.

My three favourites to drop as it stands.

 

[HNIM]

Wolves are also unconvincing right now although I think they have enough decent players that they shouldn’t be.

 

[tommo84]

Wolves are also unconvincing right now although I think they have enough decent players that they shouldn’t be.

Wolves have had 2 or 3 very good performances to start the season. They’ll be ok. I’ve heard they were bad today but in other games they’ve looked like they just need one attacker to hit form and they’ll be winning matches.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Norwich look terrible.
Watford beat Norwich but I'm not convinced.
Burnley look pretty dodgy too.

My three favourites to drop as it stands.

Tottenham look terrible……