Close season changes can obviously make a big difference, but the ratings at the end of the 2009-10 suggest that Wigan Athletic, Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion will be the three teams relegated from the Premier League in 2011. The next weakest teams are Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Newcastle United.
Because the ratings still need more time to settle down in regard to inter-division comparisons, the rest of the strugglers in England exclude the promoted teams. After a dozen or so games, the fate of these will be clearer but for what it's worth, in the Championship, Coventry City, Preston North End and Scunthorpe United are the expected strugglers.
In League One it's rather surprising that the three lowest rated survivors are Oldham Athletic, Milton Keynes Dons and Bristol Rovers.
League Two is tight, with not much separating Barnet, Lincoln City, Accrington Stanley, Cheltenham Town and Crewe Alexandra in the fight to stay in the League.
The Conference National strugglers will be Hayes and Yeading United, Gateshead, Histon and Eastbourne Borough, who all finish rated lower than relegated Forest Green Rovers.
These observations are for interest purposes only. It's still far too early to tell what will happen during the summer, which clubs have money to spend etc.
Difficult to disagree too much with your relegation suggestions except, under current circumstances, West Brom are certainly not one of the worst 3 teams in the Premiership.
ReplyDeleteThat's all