No more hiding…

As a huge Coventry fan, I am preparing myself for the possibilty that the Sky Blues really could get relegated this coming Sunday. The league table doesn’t lie, and it does not make pretty viewing right now.

Pos	Team	Played	GD	Pts
18	Blackpool	45	-5	53
19	Coventry	45	-9	53
20	Sheff Wed	45	-4	52
21	Leicester	45	-3	51
22	Southampton	45	-17	51
23	R Scunthorpe	45	-23	45
24	R Colchester	45	-24	37

Southampton are in big danger of the drop and their minus 17 goal difference means that even if they end up on level points with another team, they are likely to go down due to their abysmal defensive record, and with their final match against the in-form Sheffield United, they are the 1/1 favourites to go down

Leicester have the best goal difference out of the five teams that could be relegated, but they are away to Stoke City, who know that a win would seal their promotion to the Premiership. You can get odds of 6/4 on Leicester to go down, but their impressive goal difference (considering the circumstances) really could prove vital.

Sheffield Wednesday have arguably the easiest game of the lot, at home to Norwich who have nothing to play for but pride. However, saying that it’s an easy game means nothing – Wednesday still have to do the business on the pitch. Odds of 13/2 are very good value. 

So we come to Coventry, just two points clear of safety, and with the second worse goal difference of the five. We are away to Charlton, but with Addicks boss Alan Pardew saying that he’s ready to give “the kids a run out” that could spell disaster for Chris Coleman’s men – young, hungry teenagers willing to prove a point.

I can only hope and pray that results go our way, because I can’t see us winning. Coventry are actually the outside bet to go down at 25/1, which is superb value, and well worth a quid or two (even if I say so myself!). 

I’m even half tempted to put £10 on Coventry to go down myself, that way, even if we are relegated I’ll have enough money to drown my sorrows!

Meanwhile, 18th placed Blackpool face play-off candidates Watford, at home, in a far from easy clash. Despite odds of 22/1 to go down, I wouldn’t say that Blackpool are totally safe. Anything could, and probably will happen.

See you on the other side…

(All odds courtesy of http://www.bet365.com)

 

We was robbed!

As if Southampton don’t have enough problems!

Unfortunately it has emerged that several members of the playing staff from both Southampton and Burnley football club were the victims of theft during Saturday’s clash at the St. Mary’s Stadium.

Rumours are circulating that up to £2,500 was taken as well as other personal belongings.

One question must surely be asked… Where were Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nathan Dyer during the robbery? Do they have solid alibi’s? Because let’s face it, their track record isn’t exactly wonderful!

“Police were called to St Mary’s Stadium shortly after the end of the match against Burnley on Saturday.

Five home and nine away players had cash stolen from their belongings in the changing rooms during the second half of the Championship match.

Hampshire Constabulary said it was investigating whether the doors were unlocked and was studying CCTV footage.”

Let’s hope that the culripts are caught, but in the mean time, Southampton will be hoping that that they aren’t robbed on the pitch during their vital next match against table toppers West Brom.

Tough at the top, tight at the bottom

Well, what a superb weekend of Championship football. Things are getting uncomfortably close for teams both vying for promotion and dreading the drop.

West Brom moved one step closer to finishing within the top two while Leicester climbed out of the bottom three with Sheffield Wednesday taking their place.

Stoke moved in to the second automatic promotion spot with a 2-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City at the Britannia Stadium.

Mamady Sidibe grabbed both the goals for Stoke and in doing so doubling his season’s goals tally! One wonders if ‘Big Mama’ will make the grade in the Premiership, should Stoke get there.

Elsewhere Coventry boosted their survival hopes with a thumping 5-1 win at relegated Colchester while Southampton remain in big trouble after a 1-0 home defeat to Burnley. Coventry’s win took them from 21st in the league to 17th. What a difference an hour and a half makes, hey.

Hull missed the chance to cement their place in second spot after a 2-0 defeat at 10-man Sheffield United and Crystal Palace boosted their play-off hopes with a 2-0 success at Watford. Any of the teams down to 9th placed Wolves still stand a chance of promotion.

Down at the bottom, things are equally, if not more tense:

Pos	Team	Played	GD	Pts
15	Preston	44	-3	55
16	Blackpool	44	-2	53
17	Coventry	44	-9	52
18	Norwich	44	-10	52
19	Barnsley	44	-13	52
20	Leicester	44	-1	51
21	Southampton	44	-17	50
22	Sheff Wed	44	-6	49
23	R Scunthorpe	44	-24	42
24	R Colchester	44	-23	37

With six points still left to scrap for eight teams still face the prospect of relegation. Looking at the table now, I feel that Southampton will have to work very hard to secure their Championship status and with games against West Brom away and Sheffield United at home, they will do very well to grab a win against either.

Ricketts the saviour?

 

 

It has emerged that Southampton have offered a trial to ex England international Michael Ricketts in a bizarre attempt to boost their ailing attack. Are you as confused as me? The words ‘Ricketts’ and ‘goals’ havn’t been used together for years!

Perhaps this is just one last chance for Ricketts to regain a few ounces of dignity, after he became a free agent in January. His contract was cancelled by world football big guns Oldham Athletic.

The big striker famously made his England debut against Holland back in 2002, but I think it’s fair to say that he didn’t exactly kick on from that achievement.

He made his name at Bolton, and under the guidance of Sam Allardyce he actually looked a good player for a while. But his £3 million pound move to Middlesbrough proved to be his downfall. Four goals in 38 matches showed the football world that he wasn’t actually so great after all.

Since then Ricketts has spent time at Leeds, Stoke, Burnley, Cardiff, Preston, Oldham and Walsall.

Saints boss Nigel Pearson has said that ‘it never hurts to look at a player with his track record’. I would probably have to disagree with that statement on that basis that he is now 29 years old, which in football terms may not be that old. In fact some players are just reaching their peak at that age, for Ricketts though, i’m afriad his peak was a long time ago.