|
|
 |
RELEGATION ROUNDABOUT - 4-3-08
Louis Spence
Before the start of the season I predicted on these pages that the bottom six Premiership places would go to Derby, Wigan, Fulham, Birmingham, Sunderland and Bolton. As I type this I note, I have thus far got just one wrong, with Wigan currently at fourteenth and Reading at eighteenth. For now.
With ten games left to play and just two points separating five clubs desperate to avoid what appears to be the final relegation place, we are in for a fascinating shoot-out as the season closes. Swings, roundabouts and car crash defending.
If you then add the rocky horror show that masquerades as Newcastle United (just another point clear), there is bound to be a weeping and a-wailing and a gnashing of teeth as positions change by the week. Kev's boots were made for walking, that's just what he does.
Just like a game of pass the parcel, no-one wants to be holding the poisoned chalice when the music stops.
Incidentally, I found it hilarious that Alan 'flop of the season' Smith should be exhorting his fellow Allardyce inductees to dig in to ensure their safety. With sedentary family man Mark Palooka (Pop Idle) and Joey Barmpot (he's a lad, isn't he?) in the side, I fear this may fall on stony ground.
I still cannot see Reading going down as their team spirit and work ethic should pull them through. And being a big fan of their rather under-rated manager, I hope this is the case. Still you pay your money and place your bet.
Current odds for relegation:
Fulham 1/4
Reading 5/2
Bolton 9/4
Birmingham 3/1
Sunderland 10/3
Newcastle 7/2
Wigan 4/1
As we examine the reluctant contenders, one of the interesting points is that five of the seven clubs have already ditched one manager this season.
Naturally the favourites to bullet their second are none other than the 'magnificently supported' Fairs' Cup Winners of hundreds of years ago; the 'We're behind you Kev (miles behind), Dennis, you'll have to use KK's old kit, we're not made of money, you know' rabble up the road. Taxi!! Easy, Dennis.
Of course all of the managers will be desperate to survive but surely the pressure must weigh more heavily on those brought in to replace under-performing coaches.
Amongst them we have Riveting Roy Hodgson, the insomnia cure once binned by Blackburn (aw, yeah!) and Gary Megson, of whom it must be said that failure never went to his head. It had plenty of chances.
One suspects there is more than a touch of schadenfreude being enjoyed by Senor Sanchez and wee Sammy Lee as their valium emboldened successors lurch about amongst the dead men. Oh yes and of course Al Fayed will be calling for an enquiry if yet another imagined miscarriage of justice sees the end of his squad's top flight sojourn. Diamond Giza.
Speaking for myself I would relax and enjoy the pure theatre of it all if only Boro would finally drag themselves from the threatening morass. Yes I know the FA halfwits are determined to send you packing again but you must rise above their pathetic prejudices.
Hope they don't read this or it's an ASBO now for Aliadiere for more frivolity. Now just watch how hard these nameless faceless gutless jobsworths, yes that includes you, Brian 'Nothing can be done about it' Barwick, handle glamour boy Lampard's appeal against a far more serious incident. Cowardly lackeys.
Riverside Red loyal and true
Riverside Red I wanna be like you
Singing your songs to follow your dream
And make your voice heard for your Middlesbrough team
Louis Spence.
JOIN THE DEBATE AT THE COME ON BORO MESSAGEBOARD
RETURN TO LOUIS SPENCE INDEX PAGE HERE
|
|
|
BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX
© All written site content is copyright ComeOnBoro.com 2004-2008, unless otherwise stated, and is not to be used without prior permission. |
|
