This season’s relegation poll went live at about 8.30 on Wednesday morning. By 2.30 some eighteen hundred votes had been cast. Hull received about a third of them and remained clear favourites. Burnley stayed in second place, although the gap had widened, and we had moved up to third. The other five clubs were well behind:
| Club | Votes |
|
| Hull | 589 | |
| Burnley | 398 | |
| Sunderland | 241 | |
| Watford | 151 | |
| Boro | 150 | |
| Bournemouth | 123 | |
| WBA | 78 | |
| Another club | 57 | |
| Palace | 46 |
And then it all went quiet. There were more votes, as you might expect, but nothing like the numbers we saw in the first few hours, and they mirrored the votes already cast. The graph you see above, generated on Wednesday afternoon, is pretty much where we are now.
What, I wonder, has moved Sunderland up the poll? Could it be Sunderland fans, pessimistic after a transfer widow which had seen no new faces arrive? Or was it fans from other clubs taking exception to their being named as relegation possibles? Perhaps Smoggie, a frequent visitor, has enlisted the help of ‘Boro-supporting friends to vote for us? I don’t know, although I suspect the answer lies more with the middle possibility than the others. Unless, of course, it’s a well-considered, impartial analysis of our situation by even-minded football supporters from all over the country.
Not that it matters. The poll will run for the rest of this week, and I’ve made results visible so you can see if the numbers change as more signings are made and squads become settled prior to the big kick off.
Once again we have the Premier League to thank for transfer information, which I’ll endeavour to keep up to date through the week, using different colours to signal changes.
And once again, your comments are welcome. Did you vote for us as candidates for relegation? If so, why? Or what other clubs have you chosen and why? Share it with us, and with any poor benighted souls which just happen to come across this website.
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poll[polldaddy poll=9487892] |
Club |
Activity |
| Hull | Manager resigned. One player in, three players out | |
| Burnley | Four players in, five players out | |
| Bournemouth | Eight players in, seven players out | |
| Middlesbrough | Nine players in, four players out | |
| Watford | Manager replaced. Five players in, seven players out | |
| Sunderland | Manager replaced. Three players in, eight players out | |
| West Brom | One player in, three players out | |
| Crystal Palace | Three players in, nine players out |
We [ SAFC } were looking okay at the end of last season, and I don’t think we are weaker.Palace, Watford, Bournmouth, and WBA had tanked, and survived as a result of their early season points.
A lot will depend on how well the up-coming clubs adapt. Hull don’t inspire confidence, and I think Burnley will again struggle. Middlesborough look to me, the strongest of the three.
At this early stage, I’d tip Hull, Burnley and Watford for the drop. But, who knows. I thought Leicester would be relegated at the beginning of last season!
To paraphrase The Proclaimers:
Johnson no more, Toivonen no more, M’Vila no more, Yedlin no more. Fletcher no more. Graham no more, N’Doye no more, and probably Kone no more.
With only one unproven centre back in so far, how can we not be weaker than we were last season? OK five of those names we can do without but with two not re-signed or replaced and one looking as if he is on the way out we have a squad of about 16 experienced Premiership players and that includes Watmore and Pickford.
The Dortmund game showed just how threadbare we are. God help us if Defoe, Kirchhoff and Kaboul are all injured at the same time. Jones, Seb and Rodwell competing for the right back spot and no-one pushing PvA on the other side says it all really.
Malcolm – Fair comment
My comment about not being weaker is based on being pretty certain that David Moyes having stated that his priorities are a striker, a midfielder, and a right back.
As we speak Kone is still here [ and I agree we would be weaker should he go ] and M’Vila and Yedlin are not out of the picture. If they don’t re-join I’m confident that Moyes will have alternatives in mind.
I don’t think losing Fletcher, Graham or Toivonen weakens us as I feel that the emergence of one or two of our young players will compensate their loss.
Maybe I’m over optimistic, but I have a high regard for David Moyes, and I very much doubt that Mr Short would not back him [ in the market ] given the favourable things he has said about Moyes being his long term managerial target.
Sunderland finished well with players just learning to play together. They will be fine.
Too early to assess. Wait until the transfer window has closed an then predict.
Hull, SAFC and Burnley to go down. Difficult to argue against that assessment.
Hull – in turmoil and losing players rather than bringing them in – and Burnley – perhaps weaker than when they came up last time – are nailed on for me. I also have a sneaking feeling about WBA who are struggling to strengthen and ‘boro who are basically a Championship side with a sprinkling of unproven signings at Prem level. Mackems should be fine, and Watford are stronger than last season so should also do fine after a tough start.
Not me mate, I didnt even vote in this but I do think both Boro and you lot will stay up, we’ll be maybe a place or two above you. And we might both be on top of Leicester, fair play to them but a big flash in the pan there