The relegation battle

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Bottom four head-to-head
SAT 10 FEB West Ham v. Watford
WED 21 FEB Watford v. Wigan (game in hand for both)
SAT 24 FEB Charlton v. West Ham
SAT 3 MAR Watford v. Charlton
SAT 31 MAR Charlton v. Wigan
SAT 28 APR Wigan v. West Ham

[TFF]

Who's for the drop?
By Saj Chowdhury

The January transfer window has closed and teams are now left to make do with the players they have until the market re-opens in July.

For the sides fighting relegation in the Premiership, their wheeling and dealing last month could decide whether they will visit Old Trafford or a Championship club next season.

BBC Five Live's football summariser David Pleat knows something about the pressures of managing a club in the elite division, having taken charge of Luton Town, Tottenham and Sheffield Wednesday.

He gave BBC Sport his verdict on whether the four teams struggling at the foot of the table have done enough in January to save themselves from the drop.

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WIGAN - 17th, P 24, Pts 22

IN: J Aghahowa (£2.1m), C Folan (£500,000), T Kupisz (undisclosed), D Unsworth (free)
OUT: D Wright (£200,000), G Teale (£600,000)

When you spread your money over getting in a few players, it rarely works - you have to spend money on getting in the big players.

I reckon the Wigan board must have sat round a table and taken into account their outgoings and incomings and calculated against taking any risks.

I feel sorry for manager Paul Jewell. He has been dreadfully unlucky with injuries.

He lost centre-back Arjan de Zeeuw, who was crucial to Wigan's defence, and his main striker Henri Camara at the start of the season.

The Latics are in a precarious position at the moment having lost nine on the trot.

A lot of people are hoping they can stay up. But it will be tough, very tough.

WEST HAM - 18th, P 25, Pts 20

IN: M Upson (£6m rising to £7.5m), L Boa Morte (£5m), C Davenport (£3m), N Quashie (£1.75m), L Neill (£1.5m)

OUT: H Ephraim and T Mears (free)

West Ham have signed a handful of players with high levels of experience, although I reckon they paid a little too much for a couple of their signings.

Now, the problem for manager Alan Curbishley is getting them all to gel into the team quickly.

I do hope they stay up because Curbs is a genuine guy. But he has to get his A team sorted out soon and keep them together.

It's what previous boss Alan Pardew did. He bought one big player last season, Dean Ashton, and helped them to a respectable position in the Premiership and to the FA Cup final.

If, at worst, they go down then they will have the comfort of parachute payments and, along with the help of their good signings, I fully expect them to be challenging for promotion in the Championship.

CHARLTON - 19th, P 25, Pts 20

IN: M Bougherra (£2.5m), B Thatcher (£500,000)
OUT: D Traore (£1m), A Andersen (undisclosed)

Charlton have enough playing staff but the question is, do they have enough quality?

The signings they made are OK but the crucial thing for them was to hold on to star striker Darren Bent. They were not seduced by clubs trying to lure him from The Valley.

My issue is, they don't have anybody else but Bent to put the goals away. And do they have enough creativity? I'm not certain about that.

The team certainly have enough spirit but it will be very hard for them.

WATFORD - 20th, P 24, Pts 15

IN: W Hoskins and L Williamson (£1m), S Kabba (£500,000), M Ashikodi (nominal), C Avinel and G Williams (undisclosed), J Cavalli (free)
OUT: A Young (£9.65m) and M Spring (£300,000)

I think at an early stage this season, Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd must have known his side were going down.

That's not to say that they've given up the fight.

They didn't gamble too much in January, although selling Ashley Young for £9.65m will have a big impact on the club.

But I think this impact will be good. They have the money from the Young sale and the parachute payments next season will help in their efforts to come back up at the first time of asking.

Also Watford fans should not be too aggrieved about losing Young. He went for an inflated price and you never know, there may be an 17 or 18-year-old who is waiting in the wings to fill the midfielder's boots.

It is not impossible for the Hornets to stay up but it will be massively difficult. They must start winning their home matches.

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PLEAT'S TIP TO STAY UP: Wigan

[Mr Angry]

Villa aren't out of the dogfight yet either.

[The whole year inn]

Pardew to pull Charlton clear, as already mentioned the three W's to go down

[AthleticoSpizz]

haven't read much of the above....yet...hope West Ham choke on their own ceremonial noose before the rest


£m's spent, to buy their way out of the mire..................try actually playing your way out of the sh1t with the capable assets that you already had Curbs?



The days of the Chelsea £bramavich bail out/futuresque are done

[Silver Fox]

Interesting to read in today's currant bun that ALOLan CurbishLOLey's record this season (1 win in is worse than LOLes Reed's (1 in 7)

As LOLes was apparently the worst manager in premiership history surely Egghead Magnusson will be pulling the trigger shortly.

[Ian Royal]

One thing is for certain. If West Ham do go down it won't be their fault it will be some massive conspiracy of bad luck and the FA hating them for being so good.

FOr that reason I hope They go down bottom. Curbs is too good for them and I'd love it if Pardew put the final nail in their coffin. Then we relegate Charlton next season.