Most people predicted the 3 promoted sides would all go straight back down, and for much of the season it has looked that way. Even Evertons 10 point deduction was quickly wiped out by a winning run.
Sheffield United have looked pretty awful and still look certain to drop. Burnley haven't showed much more. However, Luton Town have pulled out some big performances and got a couple of notable results. They sit on 15 points, one behind Everton but with a game in hand.
Everton still remain in trouble, and have lost 3 on the bounce after a strong run of wins. They are fighting to get at least some of the points back that were deducted and that would put a comfortable distance between them and the drop zone.
Brentford have had an awful run, 7 defeats in 8 games. The injury to Bryan Mbeumo has hit them harder than the loss of Ivan Toney by the looks of it. However, Toney is back in a couple of weeks and if he hits the ground running the results should start coming.
Nottingham Forest were the second team to fire their manager, with Nuno Espirito Santo replacing Steve Cooper. A new manager bounce has seen them beat the Uniteds of Newcastle and Manchester to give them breathing space.
Crystal Palace are another team who had a long winless run (1 win in 12, 8 without a win) but that came to an end with a good 3-1 over Brentford. If Eze and Olise can stay fit they have 2 players of genuine match winning quality to add to a solid defence.
Bournemouth have pulled clear after 6 wins and a draw in 7 games, including a 3-0 over Man Utd and beating many of those below them. They look pretty secure at the moment.
Fulham ended a run of 3 defeats with victory over Arsenal, and showed they have quality with back to back 5-0 wins before then.
Of course the transfer window plays a big part in the battle, for some of these teams keeping players could be as vital as buying is for others. Eze, Olise, Solanke, Toney and others are being linked with "bigger" clubs.
So, is it still the promoted 3 going down, or are you predicting one of the other strugglers to get caught up in the drama and ultimately lose the fight for survival?
Relegation Battle??
posted on 3/1/24
Luton might be able to drag Forest or Palace back into it. Everton are too good to go down
posted on 3/1/24
comment by Christopher huffing glou (U20930)
posted 33 minutes ago
Luton might be able to drag Forest or Palace back into it. Everton are too good to go down
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Those 2 wins for Forest were massive and have given Nuno the start he needed. I think they will be too strong at home to get dragged back into it.
Palace - Hodgson is too wise to let them get in a scrap, they will be epically boring but will grind the points they need. They also have 3 fantastic players in Guehi, Olise and Eze - I would have all 3 at Spurs.
Brentford might get sucked into it though, they are on a horrible run and they look jaded to me. Collins performance against Wolves was one of the worst I’ve ever seen from a Prem defender and he is usually very good - wonder if they are completely knackered
posted on 3/1/24
This all comes back to one club doing something. Luton.
As we speak neither sheff utd (manager changed already) nor Burnely look like accumulating 30 points. That might change with one club having a little run but right now it seems unlikely.
Luton have played 10 home games and won 2 and drawn 2. They've played 9 away games and won 2 and drawn 1.
so that 15 points is not totally coming just form their little pokey ground or a special crowd. they are working just a swell away form home.
If you look at palace or brentford or forest they are more reliant on home form. Even fulham are totally reliant on home form and are worse off away than luton.
Everton by contrast have done way batter on the road than at the toxic woodison. Thats now changed round since the injustice narrative started.
But lets talk the real form.
Over the last 8 games luton have taken 9 points. If you give then a point a game then they will be on 34.
in the last 8 Brentford have only taken 3. thats why Brentford are in trouble and why they need to do something very soon to reverse that
The issue for me is do we really believe luton will continue on accumulating points
Burnley a
Brighton H
Newcastle A
Sheff utd H
man utd H
Liverpool A
Villa H
Palace A
Forest H
Spurs A
Arsenal A
Bournemouth H
City A
Brentford H
Wolves A
Everton H
West Ham H
Bournemouth A
Fulham H
I'd say the need wins in the relegation 6 pointers to do it.
posted on 3/1/24
Wouldnt surprise me if all 3 promoted sides got relegated... but all scoring more goals than Man United
posted on 3/1/24
Yeah, still the promoted 3 are most likely but Luton and Burnley are showing something and Everton Brentford etc might be dragged into it. Still wouldnt change my prediction of the 3 promoted going back down though. But theres a lot to play still and a january window too.
posted on 3/1/24
Itd be funny if Everton go down the only year in the last 4-5 years they havent deserved to.
posted on 3/1/24
comment by moreinjuredthanowen (U9641)
posted 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
This all comes back to one club doing something. Luton.
As we speak neither sheff utd (manager changed already) nor Burnely look like accumulating 30 points. That might change with one club having a little run but right now it seems unlikely.
Luton have played 10 home games and won 2 and drawn 2. They've played 9 away games and won 2 and drawn 1.
so that 15 points is not totally coming just form their little pokey ground or a special crowd. they are working just a swell away form home.
If you look at palace or brentford or forest they are more reliant on home form. Even fulham are totally reliant on home form and are worse off away than luton.
Everton by contrast have done way batter on the road than at the toxic woodison. Thats now changed round since the injustice narrative started.
But lets talk the real form.
Over the last 8 games luton have taken 9 points. If you give then a point a game then they will be on 34.
in the last 8 Brentford have only taken 3. thats why Brentford are in trouble and why they need to do something very soon to reverse that
The issue for me is do we really believe luton will continue on accumulating points
Burnley a
Brighton H
Newcastle A
Sheff utd H
man utd H
Liverpool A
Villa H
Palace A
Forest H
Spurs A
Arsenal A
Bournemouth H
City A
Brentford H
Wolves A
Everton H
West Ham H
Bournemouth A
Fulham H
I'd say the need wins in the relegation 6 pointers to do it.
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Their home games remaining are far more winnable than their aways.
I can’t see it though, I think Everton will win 6 more games minimum which would put them on 34, Luton aren’t getting likely 7 wins
posted on 3/1/24
Palace dropping like a stone.
I worry for them, i think Woy will be sacked if they don't turn it around in the next couple of games.
I hope Luton manage to stay up they have really added to the league in a way Sheffield United and Burnley haven't.
Kompany has really struggled to adjust to the league, I wonder if they will pull the trigger on his time soon to see if that gives them a new lease of life or are they committed to him, convinced he would take them back up in better shape in a season. I'm not so I would have given him the boot already.
posted on 3/1/24
Between Luton and Brentford for the last place and Brentford should win that comfortably if Toney stays.
posted on 22/1/24
Whites smell