Fascinated by the final day battle to avoid relegation

[Alioune DVToure]

I can't begin to predict who's for the drop. Here's how it stands:

Blackburn - Points: 40; GD: -14

Wolves - Points: 40; GD: -19

Birmingham - Points: 39, GD: -20

---------------------------------------

Blackpool - Points: 39; GD: -21

Wigan - Points: 39; GD: -22


Fixtures

Wolves v. Blackburn
Tottenham v. Birmingham
United v. Blackpool
Stoke v. Wigan

Ramifications

Blackburn - Beating Wolves would guarantee survival. A draw would be OK as long as one of Birmingham (at Spurs), Blackpool (at Scum) and Wigan (at Stoke) fail to win.

Wolves - As above, but a draw would leave them needing TWO of Birmingham, Blackpool and Wigan to draw or lose.

Birmingham - A win at Spurs should be enough BUT... if Wigan beat Stoke by a margin of two more AND Blackpool win at the Swamp by a margin of one more both sides will leapfrog Birmingham who will go down with the loser of Wolves/Blackburn (or Wolves if that match is drawn).

Blackpool - A win at Old Trafford will be enough as long as either Birmingham or Wigan fail to win. A draw will be enough if Birmingham lose at Spurs and Wigan lose or draw at Stoke.

Wigan - A draw at Stoke is enough if both Blackpool (at Stretford) and Birmingham (at Spurs) lose. A win would guarantee safety if either Blackpool or Birmingham fail to win (as, again, this would see them leapfrog either Wolves or Blackburn or both in the event of a draw in that game.)

The mind boggles

Prediction

Wolves 1-1 Blackburn
Tottenham 2-0 Birmingham
United 2-1 Blackpool
Stoke 0-2 Wigan

Predicted final table:

Wigan
Blackburn
Wolves
---------------
Blackpool
Birmingham
(West Ham)

[bluej]

Spurs needing to win to get 5th may have just relegated Birmingham, they could have done with a Liverpool victory yesterday. I agree with your bottom 3 as well.

[Bingo Lewis]

United will field a very weak team I think with the Final coming up. They'll get a point at least there.
Wigan and Birmingham to go down for me.

[MaineRoadMemories]

I'm not going to Bolton so I'll be glued to the TV watching this unfold. Will be very entertaining.

I hope Blackpool escape just so I can do the weekend stayover trip again.

[Alioune DVToure]

Spurs needing to win to get 5th may have just relegated Birmingham, they could have done with a Liverpool victory yesterday. I agree with your bottom 3 as well.

I think 'wanting to avoid 5th' is all bluster from Ballsackface. I think he'll want to end the season strongly and will just play weak sides in Europa if they qualify. One can always do a Villa and dive out at the first hurdle if one doesn't fancy it.

[Mike J]

i want birmingham to go down. i fucking hate mcleish.

[dario2739]

I hope Blackburn go down now after the way they gave up against the Rags on Saturday!

[Goaters 103]

I think Bimingham and Blackburn may just drop into it. It all depends how interested United are, and whether they want Blackpool to stay or go. Remember both West Ham and Derby (at our expense) have recorded wins at the swamp on Unted's final home game and trophy presentation day, to save themselves so it wouldnt be unheard of for United to come out limp as a vicars handshake, with crap like O'Shea playing.

[Kladze]

I think the bottom three will stay as it stands as of now.

[CityGer]

Can't see past Birmingham and Blackpool.

It's amazing how that league cup final has had such a major impact on the two sides that played in it.

[HeyMark]

Birmingham to go down, actually wouldn't mind wigan staying up. I like the way martinez plays football

[Goaters 103]

Martinez has also brought brown shoes to the Pemiership too.

That said Wigan are a piss poor supported club that we have struggled against so I wouldnt sob to see them go, or Blackburn or Brum.

[ross.mcfc]

McLeish being very good mates with Ferguson may very well save Birminghams bacon though it wouldnt surprise me if Birming get a point against Spurs.

Would like to see Blackburn go down but I suspect it it will be Wigan and Blackpool.

[DoomMerchant]

McLeish being very good mates with Ferguson may very well save Birminghams bacon though it wouldnt surprise me if Birming get a point against Spurs.

Would like to see Blackburn go down but I suspect it it will be Wigan and Blackpool.

probably deserves it's own thread, but of those relegated teams, which i agree are likely Wigan, Blackpool and WHU, would you have any of their players for our push into CL and for the title next season? N'Zogbia? Rodallega? Adam? Vaughan? Green? Parker? Cole? Hines? etc...

i think there are a couple in there worth taking a good hard look at tbh that wouldn't break the bank and would add some quality to a roster that was somewhat depleted at times this season despite our numbers.

cheers

[Avalon]

I hope Blackburn go down now after the way they gave up against the Rags on Saturday!

I want them to go down for the way they treated Allardice.

[ross.mcfc]

McLeish being very good mates with Ferguson may very well save Birminghams bacon though it wouldnt surprise me if Birming get a point against Spurs.

Would like to see Blackburn go down but I suspect it it will be Wigan and Blackpool.

probably deserves it's own thread, but of those relegated teams, which i agree are likely Wigan, Blackpool and WHU, would you have any of their players for our push into CL and for the title next season? N'Zogbia? Rodallega? Adam? Vaughan? Green? Parker? Cole? Hines? etc...

i think there are a couple in there worth taking a good hard look at tbh that wouldn't break the bank and would add some quality to a roster that was somewhat depleted at times this season despite our numbers.

cheers

Samba at Blackburn is the only one that comes to mind. The Mail had us linked with James McCarthey of Wigan on Friday.

[DoomMerchant]

The Mail had us linked with James McCarthey of Wigan on Friday.

i haven't seen a single bit of him this season and know nothing about him -- did you see him in Scotland enough to know if he's one for the future worth taking a flyer on?

cheers

[ross.mcfc]

The Mail had us linked with James McCarthey of Wigan on Friday.

i haven't seen a single bit of him this season and know nothing about him -- did you see him in Scotland enough to know if he's one for the future worth taking a flyer on?

cheers

Decent player. Never seen anything to suggest he's a top 10 Premiership player though.

[bobby brows]

I hope Pool, Wigan and Blackburn stay up just for the days out!

+Wolves was like 40 notes this year

[HeyMark]

The Mail had us linked with James McCarthey of Wigan on Friday.

i haven't seen a single bit of him this season and know nothing about him -- did you see him in Scotland enough to know if he's one for the future worth taking a flyer on?

cheers

Decent player. Never seen anything to suggest he's a top 10 Premiership player though.

I think with the right coaching he could be! Wigan played Liverpool last season at home and he absolutely bossed gerrard in the middle of the park