Premier League: Ranking the Favourites to Be Relegated

The “favourites to go down” tag is routinely slapped onto several teams as soon as one season ends, but rather than rush into any hasty judgements, we’ve waited until just before the new campaign starts to assess who could be candidates for the drop from the Premier League.

If a week is a long time in politics, as former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson allegedly once said, then a 38-game Premier League season must be an eternity. Lots will happen between now and next May, but here’s my assessment of who could be in the mix for relegation.

Into the top flight for the first time in 41 years, and getting their first sniff of the rarefied air of the Premier League, Cardiff were strong at home last season and they will need to carry that form into the new campaign to give themselves the best chance of staying up.

New signings defender Steven Caulker and striker Andreas Cornelius will be expected to justify their collective fees of £15m in a squad that is short of top-level experience, but Craig Bellamy will relish another chance to harass anyone within range and will add vital know-how. A move for Benfica’s Oscar Cardozo has been mooted, as reported by Sky’s Paulo Freitas, and a prolific, experienced striker keen to play in the Premier League could be just what they need. 

There may be trouble ahead at times, but I reckon Cardiff will emulate Welsh compatriots Swansea and stay up after their first season in the Premier League.

Last season’s halfway point saw brave talk of a place in Europe for the Canaries, but poor form after Christmas had the Norfolk club’s fans looking nervously over their shoulders.

Norwich have had a nasty habit of getting on the wrong end of some thumpings-at home, as well as away—in the last two seasons but have got away with it so far.

The signings of Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper, for a collective £13m, must add firepower up front and will help absorb their defence’s shortcomings if they do both get among the goals.

Midfielder Leroy Fer, signed from Twente, could prove to be an unheralded find, and although they will struggle at times I see Norwich surviving again by the skin of their teeth.

The Tigers claimed second place in the Championship, with manager Steve Bruce wringing every drop out of his squad to get the club back into the top flight after a gap of three years.

Acknowledging that his squad would need bolstering, Bruce has been busy since, spending here and getting the odd free transfer there, adding some players who’ve been in the Premier League like Figueroa, Davies and Harper. Signing Yannick Sagbo will help add firepower but will there be enough goals in this squad to keep Hull safe?

It may not be enough, as trips to the KC Stadium may not hold many fears. Bruce will need to address this by trying to maintain good home form, and getting his side to glean what they can on the road, but it’s going to be a long, hard season and I predict Hull will be back in the Championship in a year’s time.

Everyone loves a trip to Craven Cottage, with its Thames-side setting and unique fans—the comments I’ve heard floating over the press box are the wittiest and pithiest in the division. But, I fear that Premier League supporters will not be visiting in 2014-15.

Last season was a struggle at times, with a couple of lengthy winless runs giving Fulham fans the jitters. The takeover by Shahid Khan earned a few headlines, but so far there has been little movement in the transfer market and it looks like they will be relying on deadline-day deals rather than marquee signings from a deep-pocketed owner.

New keeper Maarten Stekelenburg was long on Martin Jol’s radar, and defender Sasha Reither saw his loan deal turn permanent, but it’s at the other end of the pitch where Fulham will rely on the mercurial Dimitar Berbatov to deliver. The onus is on loan signing Adel Taarabt to provide some spark.

Martin Jol is a decent, popular manager but he has a big job on his hands this year and a new owner to please. I fear for Fulham and I think they will go down this year.

It’s great to see Ian Holloway back in the Premier League, he’s not to everyone’s taste but I’m looking forward to his no-holds-barred approach to the usually stultifying pre- and post-match coverage.

But the man himself summed it up neatly when he said, “we’re on a hiding to nothing” to the BBC after getting up via the play-offs.

The Eagles cannot rely on the experienced Kevin Phillips’ know-how, and it’s a big ask for striker Dwight Gayle to step up from scoring for fun at the lower levels. Jerome Thomas has top-flight experience, and Jose Campana will have to adjust to the Premier League straight away.

It’s an unforgiving environment, and I predict that Palace’s stay with the elite will only last one season.