The Battle Thickens

An update on the premiership relegation battle. Things don't look good for Charlton. And with Wigan failing badly at home today, they very well may be going down instead of West Ham. But Sheffield United go the job done today. What will Fulham do tomorrow? Sheffield United - 38 points Fulham - 36 points Wigan - 35 points West Ham - 35 points Charlton - 33 points Watford - 24 points And the remaining games : Charlton's remaining games : @ Man City April 6th ~ 0-0 Tie Reading April 9th ~0-0 @ Everton April 14th ~ 2-1 Loss Sheff Utd April 21st ~ 1-1 @ Blackburn April 28th ~ 4-1 Loss Tottenham May 7th @ Liverpool May 13th Fulham's remaining games : @ Everton April 6th ~ 4-1 Loss Manchester City April 9th~ 1-3 Loss @ Reading April 14th ~ 1-0 Loss Blackburn April 21st ~ 1-1 @ Arsenal April 29th Liverpool April 5th Middlesbrough April 13th Sheffield United's remaining games : Newcastle April 7th ~ 1-2 Loss West Ham April 14th ~ 3-0 Win @ Man Utd April 17th ~ 2-0 Loss @ Charlton April 21st ~ 1-1 Watford April 28th ~ 1-0 Win @ Aston Villa April 5th Wigan April 13th West Ham's remaining games : @ Arsenal April 7th ~ 0-1 Win @ Sheff Utd April 14th ~ 3-0 Loss Chelsea April 18th ~ 1-4 Loss Everton April 21st ~ 1-0 Win @ Wigan April 28th ~ 0-3 Win Bolton May 5th @ Man Utd May 13th Wigan's remaining games : Bolton April 7th ~ 1-3 Loss @ Aston Villa April 9th ~1-1 Tottenham April 15th ~3-3 @ Liverpool April 21st ~ 2-0 Loss West Ham April 28th ~ 0-3 Loss Middlesbrough May 5th @ Sheff Utd May 13th

Paul Allen's Southampton Takeover

To some it may seem the rumor that Paul Allen is looking to buy Southampton FC (English Championship; division 2) has been put to rest. A spokesman for Allen has denied any interest in buying Southampton or any English club. It seems simple enough that if the spokesman says there is no interest, there is no interest. But the last time we saw that happen, it was a spokesman denying that Kroenke had any interest or intention to buy Arsenal. But soon after that, Kroenke ended up buying ITV's stake in the club. Could it be that a bid by Paul Allen is still in the wings?

English Championship (Div 2) Promotion Race

With 2 games left it's a 3 way battle for the 2 automatic spots. Birmingham - 83 points Sunderland - 82 Derby - 81 Birmingham Games Remaining : Sheffield Wednesday Sat April 28th @ Preston North End Sun May 6th Sunderland Games Remaining : Burnley Fri, April 27th @ Luton Sun May 6th Derby Games Remaining : @ Crystal Palace Sun April 29th Leeds Sun May 6th The worst any of them can do is a playoff spot. But surely at this point they're all looking to go straight up and not risk the playoffs. Derby may have the easiest last 2 if Leeds loses next week and Hull wins. If that happens Leeds is relegated no matter what their result at Pride Park on the last day. As mentioned, the one play-off spot is settled. The question is who will land in the other 3 spots. Technically Cardiff could get their closing out the year with 2 wins and a few of the teams above them closing out with loses. That scenario is very unlikely. So I'll leave them out. As it stands Preston North End - 71 Points West Bromwich Albion 70 Wolverhampton Wanderers 70 Southampton - 69 Stoke City - 69 Colchester United - 69 Sheffield Wednesday - 68 Wolves are at a bit of a disadvantage to the others with their -2 goal difference since they'll lose that tie-breaker to the others. The same with Preston North End. Their +12 isn't bad but with 2 games left other than Wolves the others have 16-20 and PNE won't be closing that gap baring some improbable 8-0 win. With Colchester playing at Stoke this Saturday it's likely that whomever loses that game is out of the picture. A draw would likely have the same affect for both teams. And who would've thought that Colchester would be in the mix for promotion?!?!?!??? Preston North End Remaining Games : @ Plymouth Sat April 28th Birmingham Sun May 6th West Bromwich Albion Remaining Games : @ Coventry Sat April 28th Barnsley Sun May 6th Wolverhampton Wanderers Remaining Games : Q.P.R. Sat April 28th @ Leceister Sun May 6th Southampton Remaining Games : @ Norwich Sat April 28th Southend Sun May 6th Stoke City Remaining Games : Colchester Sat April 28th @ Q.P.R. Sun May 6th Colchester United Remaining Games : @ Stoke Sat April 28th Crystal Palace Sun May 6th Sheffield Wednesday Remaining Games : @ Birmingham Sat April 28th Norwich Sun May 6th At this point I'd give PNE the best chances of nabbing one of those play-off spots with Southampton's relatively easy last 2 games giving them the best chance of winning their last 2 to get a play-off spot. And hopefully for the sake of Cinderella stories Colchester can nab the 4th playoff spot.

If Wigan and Sheffield United....

A friend pointed out why Fulham should be part of the relegation race in the Premiership. If Wigan beats West Ham at the JJB Stadium Saturday AND Sheffield United beats Watford at Brammal Lane, what Fulham does comes into play. At that point Sheffield United and Wigan would be at 38 points and GDs that were no worse than -18 and -19. And with West Ham's current -30 goal difference they, for all practical purposes, need 39 points to finish ahead of those teams. So what Fulham does matter. If Fulham wins, they're at 39 points and West Ham's hopes are 99.9% down the toilet. That said, West Ham and Charlton really do need to win their remaining 3 games and hope that Wigan, Sheffield United or Fulham slip up. After this weekend the picture of what has to happen will be a lot more clear. Fulham's remaining games : @ Everton April 6th ~ 4-1 Loss Manchester City April 9th~ 1-3 Loss @ Reading April 14th ~ 1-0 Loss Blackburn April 21st ~ 1-1 @ Arsenal April 29th Liverpool April 5th Middlesbrough April 13th

Premiership Relegation Battle Update

In my last look at the relegation battle, I mentioned that I thought Fulham would stay out of the fight. In the mean time they seemed to slip into it. But some of that was more appearances than points and results. Sure they danced on the edge of it. But they've shown they can get draws and back then with 6 games left with the point gap all it would take was a few points to ensure they didn't slip into the mix. Wigan has shown this starting out lower but keeping their chances of survival decent with draws against Aston Villa and Tottenham. And to add to the perception that Fulham was in a relegation battle, the board panicked and fired Coleman and brought in interim manager Lawrie Sanchez. West Ham has picked up some points where we didn't expect them. And Charlton has been putting up a fight. They both have a chance to drag themselves to safety from their original positions during the last 3 games. For West Ham, if they're going to do it, they'll need to beat Wigan. But it'll be difficult for them and Charlton with Wigan and Sheffield United having easier schedules to close the season out. Although they missed out on a big chance to stay up with a 3-0 loss to Sheffield United at Brammal Lane. With their goal difference, West Ham essentially needs an extra point since baring huge losses by Charlton, Sheffield United and Wigan if they tie on points they'll loose out on the first tie-breaker, goal difference. Watford was relegated last weekend after their tie with Sheffield United. Wigan - 35 points Sheffield United - 35 points Charlton - 33 points West Ham - 32 points Watford - 24 points And the remaining games : Charlton's remaining games : @ Man City April 6th ~ 0-0 Tie Reading April 9th ~0-0 @ Everton April 14th ~ 2-1 Loss Sheff Utd April 21st ~ 1-1 @ Blackburn April 28th Tottenham May 7th @ Liverpool May 13th Sheffield United's remaining games : Newcastle April 7th ~ 1-2 Loss West Ham April 14th ~ 3-0 Win @ Man Utd April 17th ~ 2-0 Loss @ Charlton April 21st ~ 1-1 Watford April 28th @ Aston Villa April 5th Wigan April 13th West Ham's remaining games : @ Arsenal April 7th ~ 0-1 Win @ Sheff Utd April 14th ~ 3-0 Loss Chelsea April 18th ~ 1-4 Loss Everton April 21st ~ 1-0 Win @ Wigan April 28th Bolton May 5th @ Man Utd May 13th Wigan's remaining games : Bolton April 7th ~ 1-3 Loss @ Aston Villa April 9th ~1-1 Tottenham April 15th ~3-3 @ Liverpool April 21st ~ 2-0 Loss West Ham April 28th Middlesbrough May 5th @ Sheff Utd May 13th

Polish Power!

Another Foreign Prem Owner?

Malcolm Glazer bought Manchester United as part of a leveraged buyout. Roman Abramovich owns Chelsea. Randy Lerner bought Aston Villa. Stan Kroeke owns about 12% of Arsenal. George Gillett and Tom Hicks and recently bought Liverpool. And now former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shiniwatra is looking to buy Manchester City (Thaksin had previously been linked with buying Liverpool). Is owning a premiership team really that great of a business proposition or is this trend a matter of rich guys buying glamorous toys?

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