Relegation, Europa, Champions League, Champions

Poeltl has well-covered the three major games of the weekend, but attention should be paid to the clubs firmly entrenched in the mire. Stoke won a crucial six-pointer against Middlesborough, and as I've thought for quite some time, Stoke appears to have too much fight in them to go down. They can grind out a result against anyone (just ask my Reds how their games against them have gone) and have really been bolstered by their January signings. There were plenty of games that had results in relation to the relegation fight, so I'm going to go through the teams that are in the relegation fight currently (within 5 points of relegation zone):

West Bromwich Albion Outlook: Dire
WBA has been putting up a valiant fight these past weeks, but talent is talent, and they don't have enough. It'll probably surprise many that it's very probable that the only promoted team to go down is West Brom, as many were calling Hull and Stoke two of the worst premiership teams ever before they had even tied up their boots. They absolutely have to win at home against Stoke in two weeks time, and then win at Fratton Park. Those two six-pointers are their only hope to have a hope, and even if everyone above didn't get a point from those two games, they'd still be two from safety. They still have City, Spurs and Liverpool (three of the most resurgent teams in the league right now) on the schedule and barring a miracle beyond Fulham's of last year, it appears the Baggies are going to yo-yo back to drinking Coca-Cola

Middlesbrough Outlook: Grim
Stewart Downing will most likely get his transfer wish this summer, but by way of a relegation release clause (I hope he has one of those) as things are looking increasingly grim for Boro. Liverpool will celebrate, as a guaranteed lost 3-points at their bogey ground in Riverside will disappear in the mist of the championship, but for a club that's enjoyed a decade in the premiership, it'll be a startling realization that Preston, not Chelsea, are coming to visit to battle for top of the league. They're 5 points from safety, with crucial six-pointers against Bolton and Hull upcoming. They have struggled the most it seems against their fellow relegation fodder, and that's a very poor omen for a team that needs to claw its way back to safety, and after their two six-pointers, they have 6 final games, five of which are against top-half teams (Manchester United, Arsenal, Fulham, West Ham, Aston Villa) and it looks like Boro will need to find a gear that haven't all season to save themselves.

Newcastle United Outlook: Dark and Ominous
Newcastle is three points from safety, so are only a victory away, but those victories seem exceedingly difficult to come by for Mike Ashley's men. A very difficult schedule (Anfield, White Hart Lane, Villa Park, and then Fulham, Chelsea at home await) places a steep obstacle for the Magpies. Outside of Fulham at home, it's very difficult to imagine Newcastle picking up a point in any of these fixtures. This places enormous pressure on their three final games against fellow relegation-threatened clubs, against Stoke, Boro and Portsmouth. Going to the Britannia is tough on any day, and they'll struggle to find a point there as well. Newcastle therefore needs to pull an upset, and Michael Owen will have to be the man to provide that spark. He was once a man who could turn matches on their head by himself, and he'll have to start doing that again if Newcastle have any hope of staying up.

Blackburn Rovers Outlook: Cloudy
Rovers are safe for now, but to think they're safe in anyway long-term is naive at best and moronic at worst. With a formidable schedule (Anfield, Stamford, Britannia, City of Manchester Stadium, as well as home matches against Wigan and Spurs) and only two points separating them and Newcastle, it seems like it could be a battle to the death of these two drastically underperforming teams. Blackburn has some talent, and enough to hopefully stay up, but their tough schedule could open the door for Newcastle (maybe Boro if they're extremely frisky at the end). This is the same team that showed a lot of grit by playing with Manchester United this past month, and don't seem to get blown out often, but instead drop a lot of close points. If they can convert that into some points, they should not have a problem staying up.

Stoke City Outlook: Home-Cookin'
Stoke has an advantage none of their relegation counterparts can boast: a formidable home-field advantage. With an 8-4-3 record at home, they can boast a better home record than Villa or Everton, and have dropped only two more points than Arsenal or Chelsea at home. However, this has a clear flip-side for a relegation-threatened club. They have yet to win on the road this season and have picked up just 4 points in 15 away matches this season. If they can reverse that at The Hawthorns this weekend, they're all but assured of safety in my book, as they two winnable home games immediately following against Rovers and Newcastle. Two more home games against the clearly-not-invincible West Ham and Wigan should mean around 8 points for the Potters, and a team that has shown so much grit will stay up (mostly thanks to the golden guns of Rory Delap). Stoke is proving, just like Fulham, that formidable home form is the surest way to staying in the premiership

Portsmouth Outlook: Partly Cloudy
Portsmouth are 3 points clear with a game in hand, and Peter Crouch is finding his form at the right time. A huge win over Everton has proven that this team can beat almost anybody outside the top 4, and Portsmouth has 7 more matches against those teams. A rather talented team to be so far down (they did have 57 points last season and finish 8th, not to mention win the FA cup), they should have enough talent to get through, and their schedule is clearly an advantage.

Sunderland Outlook: Certainly Not Safe
Sunderland has been on quite the wild ride this season, with Spragia filling in the for the abruptly departed Roy Keane, and like their Hull City and Bolton counterparts, are a couple good wins out of the mire. However, these are the types of teams that can lose form and lose their way into the bottom 3 (remember Sheffield United a couple years back?). Roy Keane built a talented enough squad, and between Cisee and Diouf, they should have enough douchebag talent to stay afloat. However, they've been rocky this year, and anything can happen this time of year. A couple wins saves them, but until then, hold onto your hats.

Hull City Outlook: Why Are You Here?
What was once such a great story is now such a sad one. With trips to Old Trafford and Villa Park remaining, as well as a visit from the Reds, the tigers have to get a few quality wins to make sure their great start doesn't turn into one of the greatest collapses ever witnessed in English soccer. This was a team that tied for the top of the league back in October, and now is finding itself only 4 points above the drop. Hopefully Phil Brown can garner some results of his side, but after only one win since the 6th of December, he can't feel confident of his side's ability to stay up. It seems unthinkable that they're here today, and considering they've had the worst run of form between themselves and the teams below them (maybe WBA oustanding), it is very feasible for them to lose themselves back into the Championship. Yet again, a couple wins and they're safe, but those wins get harder and harder as the season goes, as Hull City's amazing collapse has already shown.

Bolton Wanderers Outlook: Probably safe
Bolton has really only one win or two between themselves and another year in the Premiership. Davies is tearing it up, and he should have enough goals in him to win another two. I'm pretty confident they're staying up, nothing else to say.

Prediction for Relegation
West Bromwich Albion
Middlesbrough
Blackburn Rovers

Now to the teams on the other side of the table, with the top three teams decided (though not in order) and the next three also selected (also order not chosen). Championship battle:
I can't help but thrilled but Manchester United giving Liverpool a sliver of hope for the title race. No one is on better form than Liverpool right now, and if they can continue this through the rest of the year, they could easily win out their final 8 games. Manchester United in that situation would only need a loss and a draw, and while this would seem like a terribly tall order for Manchester United, they do seem to not be coping well with the Quintuple pressure. I think it's safe to say Chelsea has scuffed their chance, with 4 points back and a game in hand. I can't really see Chelsea winning it over Liverpool, though the Reds have to go to Fergie's new House of Horrors in the form of Craven Cottage next match. It's interesting to see how Manchester United will handle the pressure, as Liverpool is finally hitting top-form, but will it be too late?

Prediction
1. Liverpool
2. Manchester United
3. Chelsea

The Chase for the Champions League
Aston Villa held the pole position for quite some time, but have scuffed with a horrendous run of form that has seen then slip from a probable bet for Champions League, to battling to keep fifth from a resurgent Everton. Everton and Villa both have hope for the fourth spot, as Arsenal still have a game against each of the top 4 remaining, as well as a match against Manchester City. Losses in those matches would be sufficient for Everton to even snatch the fourth spot. However, Arsenal is also in great form, and Arshavin has really found his groove in the English game. Arsenal will not relinquish fourth, and merely curse themselves for letting it slip out of their grasp for so long. If Villa can't right the ship, they'll have to kiss goodbye to fifth as well, and as football is all about momentum, I think they'll have to.

Prediction
4. Arsenal
5. Everton
6. Aston Villa

The Battle for the Last Europa Spot
The semi-finals of the FA cup is inhabited entirely by top 6 clubs, and seeing as Everton will not relinquish their 7 point lead on 7th, it's safe to say that 7th will also be a ticket into Europe this year. This leaves the rest of the teams left in the Premiership battling for it (Wigan, West Ham, Fulham, City, Spurs) in a bizarre season where everyone still has something to play for. I'll start ruling clubs out now. I love Fulham to death, but with two top 4 matches to go, and an unenviable road record, I don't think Fulham has the impetus or the ability to fully take 7th out of the grasp of the other 4 clubs. So, this leaves an intriguing four. Despite being tied on goal differential, I'm going to also rule out West Ham based off of a tough remaining schedule and the fact that I don't see as having enough to quality to battle the other three. This leaves three talented teams, one consistent, one wildly inconsistent, and one surging up the table. I think City is too inconsistent to take it this year, and thus killing their ability to sign players for another year. Tottenham still has many tough matches, and as much as it kills me, I have to say, I don't see Tottenham catching the ever-crafty Wigan Athletic. Wigan will squeak some more quality wins, and we'll look at the following:

Prediction

7. Wigan Athletic
8. Tottenham Hotspur
9. Manchester City
10. West Ham United
11. Fulham

Therefore for my full table projection
1. Liverpool
2. Manchester United
3. Chelsea
4. Arsenal
5. Everton
6. Aston Villa
7. Wigan Athletic
8. Tottenham Hotspur
9. Manchester City
10. West Ham United
11. Fulham
12. Bolton Wanderers
13. Portsmouth
14. Sunderland
15. Stoke City
16. Newcastle United
17. Hull City
18. Blackburn Rovers
19. Middlesbrough
20. West Bromwich Albion