The second season Syndrome.

[Mr Angry]

That would be seen as, at best, inconclusive evidence to support the SSS theory; at worst, it totally dismisses it.

It would be fair to say that SOME teams haven't performed as well in their second season as they did in their first, but to imply, as the media have been doing, that ALL teams struggle to survive is complete rubbish.

[papereyes]

Backs up what I reckon - its harder the following season, but you need something else to truly ruin it. The cited teams all had some form of major change in policy between the two seasons.

So its other factors, rather than being in your second season.

After the first season, I reckon its the third and fourth that are most lethal.

[papereyes]

Yup: Of 46 relegations in the Premiership era, 21 have been of teams in their first season. 31 of the relegated teams had been in the Premiership for 4 seasons or less.

[Ian Royal]

Yup: Of 46 relegations in the Premiership era, 21 have been of teams in their first season. 31 of the relegated teams had been in the Premiership for 4 seasons or less.

some of the exceptions presumably being the likes of Coventry and Sainst who consistantly flirted at the bottom quite a lot, but kept staying up.

[papereyes]

Yup: Of 46 relegations in the Premiership era, 21 have been of teams in their first season. 31 of the relegated teams had been in the Premiership for 4 seasons or less.

some of the exceptions presumably being the likes of Coventry and Sainst who consistantly flirted at the bottom quite a lot, but kept staying up.

Yup - Coventry and Southampton the main two.

Teams like Forest and West Ham had been in the Premiership for over 10 years.

The other data is 'fate of promoted clubs' - which would be very similar, but with a number of clubs still 'safe'

[Cookie]

syn·drome (sndrm)
n.

A group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterise a disease, a psychological disorder, or another abnormal condition.

Is the syndrome a mathematical certainty yet?

[LoyalRoyal22]

Im going to put at least a tenner on us staying up.

[Gordons Cumming]

I welcome any predictions about our imminent relegation next season as this will just make us more determined to prove them all wrong.

We will not struggle.

[TWRoyal]

sec-ond sea-son syn·drome (scnd ssn sndrm, in txt spk)
n.

A group of symptoms made up by Sir Steve Coppell that collectively mean Reading continue to be underestimated, thus maintaining their preference for quietly dispatching of so-called big teams without having to massage footballers' wallets and egos.