With only a month to go before the new season kicks off the Barons staff is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the new look team. The MLS season kicked off with the Colorado Rapids winning their first ever season opener at their brand new facility. The Rapids had been 0-9-2 on opening day over the previous 11 seasons. Plus we're only a week away from the USL Div I season getting out of the blocks despite the turmoil of the shutdown of the Virginia Beach Mariners.
Across the pond with six games to go Chelsea has closed to within 3 points of Man United thanks to the 3rd defeat in 4 years for United at the hands of Pompey at Fratton Park. Since January Jose has been pointing to the match at the Bridge with SAF as the one that will determine the title. Looks as if he was right.
That said, the real show is at the other end of the table. With both Charlton and West Ham playing well and having the look of teams on a mission the question is who joins Watford next season in the Championship?
This is really interesting for me this time around because back on August 20 in a note I sent to Nick Webster of Fox Soccer Channel I said both Fulham and Blackburn go down and would join Watford. I also suggested that this just could be a season where we see a team relegated that earns more than the magic 40 points on the campaign. In case you haven't looked closely there are 9 of the 20 teams that have not yet managed to win 40 points this season.
Man City, who were sliding down the table have turned their game around winning 7 of the last 9 points available and now appear headed in the right direction. While still short of the magic number with only 37 points Stewart Pearce must feel much better than he did just ten days ago.
While Blackburn look safe with their current tally at that magic number they have had a troubled patch of late and may yet find themselves in difficulty. Those in the most immediate danger seem to be Wigan, Sheffield United and Fulham. None of them are in the sort of form they'll need to hold off Charlton and/or West Ham who have both picked up their game at just the right time.
The Cottagers have managed only 3 points in their most recent six games and only bottom side Watford have been less productive over that span. Sitting 15th with 35 points they are in real jeopardy. With no positive contribution from Clint Dempsey to help stem the tide this West London outfit could slip beneath the Thames. Whether they do or not this could be the final season for their young manager Chris Coleman.
Sitting clear above the zone just a few weeks ago Sheffield United have been on a poor run of form that has seen them concede 11 while scoring only 2 over their last five. The result is that now they have been sucked back into the relegation fight.
Also threatened is last seasons wonder team Wigan Athletic. What a difference a year makes! Some might recall my little rundown on the EPL's under-achievers from last time out. In it I suggested any team that depended on Emile Heskey (then with relegation bound Birmingham City) would rue the day they took that position. I have to wonder what Paul Jewell thinks of having made that move over the summer? That could turn out to be the decision that costs him his job and sees the Latics take the drop but that’s really not fair. The loss of Chimbonda, Francis and Jason Roberts are surely a big part of the story too. At any rate Wigan look to be headed the wrong way at this important stage of the season. If either Charlton or West Ham, or both, are to survive Wigan could be one of the teams that takes their place.
Of those in this fight West Ham has the more difficult fixture list in the remaining games. Charlton has their nose in front at the moment over Sheffield United on goal difference and Pardew looks to be their savior.
A crazy twist don't you think? Pardew and McClaren change seats and both find themselves in the relegation battle. It’s likely only one will survive. I'm betting on Pardew. We'll never know the full story but after taking his team to the FA Cup Final last season he was "hard done by" (as they say in England) with the change in ownership at West Ham.
For Pardew to carry Charlton to survival would be justice from where I sit.
