In most footballing seasons, at this particular time of year, quite often a side which, previously, had been comfortably placed in mid-table, goes through a bad spell and gets sucked down into the relegation zone amongst the dead men there and then seems to struggle until the end of the campaign.
It's a strange phenomenon, but one which is regularly repeated, so I've just been pondering over who, in my mind, are the likely 'contenders'.
Norwich and Swansea seem to be acquitting themselves pretty well at the moment and, although Blackpool proved everybody wrong in this repect, last season, both of these newly promoted sides seem to have enough confidence, organisation and skill to stay safe (for this year at least, although the second season syndrome might catch them out next year).
Everton are probably dirty and experienced enough to kick their way out of trouble and keep their heads above water, although if Twitcher leaves Tottingham and everyone's favourite London Club replace him with David Moyes, things might develop differently for them.
I expect the MoN/new Manager effect to continue a little longer at Sunderland, so I don't think they will suddenly implode and be dragged down (next season might be different ??).
Sides such as Fulham, QPR and West Brom have been in the lower reaches of the table for a large part of the season, so they don't really qualify as a mid-table outfit being sucked into the mire and you could make an argument for including Aston Villa in this category of being 'basement boys', as well, so I'll not include them in this pondering exercise.
I wondered about Newcastle collapsing, after their recent dip in form, but they seem to have come out of their difficulties quite successfully and now could be pushing for a top four spot, if things go fortunately for them.
On that basis, to my mind, it leaves Stoke as the side which could be ending the season on a slide. Perhaps, in view of their European commitments, their League form has been suffering and they do seem to be on a slippery slope at the moment (and they lost again today to Fulham). At some point, they could start to look over their shoulders with some concern and begin to play the game of scrutinising the points, mathematics and performances of the dead men below them, as we City fans have done so often in the past.
It seems incredible that, given their uncompromising style and the way their squad has been strengthened last summer, they should get sucked down into trouble at this juncture, but a trend does seem to be unfolding.
I wonder if anyone has any thoughts about Stoke being relegation contenders (or any other side for that matter), or do they have the sheer bloody-mindedness and discipline to grind their way out of trouble ??
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