The relegation scrap is heating up. While the top sides battle for European glory, big money, and the best players worldwide, it’s a different story down at the bottom. Trust me, it’s not much fun. Every weekend a battle for survival, no easy games, with the threat of financial annihilation looming over your shoulder. It’s every club’s nightmare. For the rest of us though, it’s pretty good theatre.
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Ray Parlour’s Premier League Fighters
Ray understands a relegation scrap. During his time with Hull, he fought valiantly to keep them up, unfortunately to no avail. From Invincible to relegation scrapper, he knows the pressure of being down at the bottom. We chatted with Ray about this year’s race for survival, and who he thinks could finish in the drop zone.
“It’s been a long time since the promoted three teams have gone back down, but this year it will happen again. Sheffield United, Burnley, and Luton Town just don’t have enough quality in their squad to get enough points to survive.”
You have to go back to the 1997-98 season to find the last time all three promoted teams dropped straight back down. Starting with Burnley, the expansive football worked well in the Championship, but in the Premier League, it hasn’t been as profitable. Will Vincent Kompany continue to play the ‘right way’ or could it be time to be a little more pragmatic? Luton hold the best home record of the three and with a few good results, they could climb out of the drop zone. As for Sheffield United, it’s a desperate state as it stands.
Ray continued: “Although Everton have had 10 points deducted, they have a lot more quality in their side than all three promoted teams, and in Calvert Lewin and McNeil, they have plenty of quality to score goals, and Pickford in goal with Onana in midfield is quality.
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace likewise have more quality in their squad and will have enough to stay up. I like Gibbs White at Nottingham Forest, Chris Wood has shown he can score goals too. Crystal Palace have Olise and Eze who are excellent, and with Ayew as well, they have players who can score goals.”
The standards set by the top sides mean it’s going to be tough for any club to pick up points against them, so for now it seems like every game at the bottom is a six-pointer, no matter what stage of the season. We can’t wait to see how this season unfolds and the drama that awaits.
Premier League Relegation Odds
Let’s have a look at who’s tipped to drop back down to the Championship:
Sheffield United – 1/40
Burnley – 1/7
Luton – 1/3
Brentford – 9/1
Crystal Palace – 11/1
Fulham – 25/1
Bournemouth – 80/1
Keep up to date with Ray’s tips, exclusively on the NetBet Sport blog.
*Odds subject to change.
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