So we’ve already investigated which sides appear to be the main protagonists in the title race and the battle for the European places this year in the Premier League, but often the most exciting battle of the season is for survival. For many teams finishing 17th and avoiding relegation constitutes a successful season, so great is the financial peril of being relegated to the Championship.
Although we’re only in the early stages of the season, you can already formulate an idea of who will be struggling in the lower reaches come May. Therefore Vision takes a look at the teams who face a fight against relegation this campaign.
QPR
Mark Hughes’s side have made a dreadful start to the season, with only three points after nine games. Yet to record their first win of the current campaign, and having only netted seven times, things look grim. However when you dig deeper, you can see a squad of undoubted talent, and one that should not be struggling as much as they are. A lot of money has been invested into the playing side of the football club, and if results don’t improve then you have to imagine that Hughes’ job will be under threat. They may be in a mess at the moment, but you’d expect that by May the new players will have bedded in, and the club will turn the situation around to ensure survival.
Southampton
Life back in the top flight has proved testing for Southampton, who currently sit 19th in the Premier League with only four points on the board. Going forward they seem to be able to pose a threat, with dangerous players including Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana. Their problem though is defensively, as their porous backline has already leaked 26 goals in the league this season. For the Saints to survive they’re surely going to have to remedy this issue, else too much pressure will be placed on their forwards to deliver the goods. The side is not star studded, and early signs suggest it will be a difficult season for Southampton, which will see them embroiled in a relegation battle.
Reading
The same logic very much applies for Reading. A difficult start has left them in the relegation places, and the longer their run without winning a game continues, the more the pressure will build. Defensively Reading have not been the worst, apart from the seven goals leaked in the cup in midweek. They’ve had some tight and thrilling encounters in the opening weeks of the season, and have shown promise and potential, but are yet to translate that into results. The question is, are their players good enough to make the transition into the Premier League, so far we are yet to truly see.
Aston Villa
The days of Villa challenging for European places, seems to be a distant memory, as the Midlands side are already involved in another battle against relegation. 2012 has been a dismal year for the side, who’s form has been atrocious. They only narrowly avoided relegation last year, and a flirtation with the drop seems on the cards for Paul Lambert’s young side again this time around. The presence of a natural goalscorer in Darren Bent may prove their saviour, but only seven goals to date suggests a potential problem. Their away form has been concerning, and they’ll need to improve on their one point from five games. In truth another difficult season looks as if it lies ahead.
Norwich
Paul Lambert’s old side, could be another who suffers with second season syndrome. After a fabulous 2011/12 campaign, Norwich now under Chris Hughton, have seen a poor defensive record hamper the early stages of the season. Their goal difference is poor, and come the end of the season that could be crucial. Grant Holt doesn’t seem to be in the same prolific form as last year, and the whole side seem to be struggling to replicate the successes of the past three seasons. Despite that four points from the last two games, and progression through to the League Cup quarter finals, has boosted morale, and they’ll be hoping to continue the momentum against Stoke this weekend. A harder season than last lies ahead though, and a fight against relegation appears likely.
Wigan
The perennial survivors are likely to be amongst the strugglers again this year. Year on year they scrape their way to survival, and who would bet against this year being any different. They can be beautiful to watch and play delightful passing football, whilst on occasion they can be hopeless. A solid start this time around sees them with two wins on the board, but you’d imagine that come May they’ll be one of the teams fighting to avoid the drop once more. Scoring goals has always been one of their major problems, but the shrewd signing of Arouna Kone, coupled with the improving Franco Di Santo seems to be helping to quell that problem. They do have a tendency to be vulnerable at the back though, and that could prove costly over the course of the season.
Swansea
By looking at the table you wouldn’t consider Swansea as a candidate for relegation, but after losing key players over the summer, the Welsh side could struggle this time around. New signings such as Michu seem to have bedded into the side well, and there have been promising signs. Under Martin Laudrup they have continued to play their delightful style of football, but at times this season have looked like a side which are brittle and lacking a physical presence. Against West Ham they were brilliant, yet that has not always been the case. A joy to watch, I certainly hope they don’t get embroiled in a relegation battle, but I fancy they may well spend much of this season looking anxiously over their shoulders.
So there are seven teams which I fancy may struggle this season, and find themselves in a battle for survival. I honestly can’t see any other sides being dragged into a relegation dogfight, simply as i’d consider them to be significantly stronger than the above mentioned. Football is a strange game and a bad run of form could see a surprise package be dragged into the mire. It’s hard to tell at this stage of the season. It isn’t the current table that is important, it’s the final standings in May, and for quite a few teams they’d more than happily finish 17th.