In the weekly column written for him by a Sun journalist, Harry Redknapp never fails to say something contestable, and this week is no exception. While congratulating his former technical director Avram Grant for re-joining the Portsmouth management team, the Tottenham boss expressed both his confidence in his former employers and a charming naivety concerning the relegation betting market:
There is a new owner, a new man to help Paul and a win under their belts. They will not get relegated this season.
If I were a betting man I’d even put 25 pence each-way on that!
Is ‘Arry right to suggest Avram Grant et al can turn things around, or can they look forward to a couple of fixtures against Hull in the fizzy pop league next year? Let us know below. Or don’t. Whatever…
Mick Harford terrified defences when he played for Luton in the eighties and nineties, but he will no longer be terrifying anyone at Kenilworth Road, as he was released of managerial duties this morning. Club managing director Gary Sweet offered the following:
“This club is far stronger now than it was when Mick joined.”
It’s a charming sentiment, but hardly one we agree with: Luton were in League One when he joined in January 2008, and have since suffered two consecutive relegations and now sit in eighth place in The Conference.
Admittedly, Luton’s plight and Harford’s workload were not helped by their financial troubles, but we find it difficult to agree that they are now “stronger”.
Newcastle’s chances of survival are rated at 5/4 by most bookmakers but The Spoiler wants to know if you think they will escape the drop. chickendinner have produced some stats on Sunday’s vital games to help you decide:
Aston Villa v Newcastle
The hosts have won just one of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Villa have only triumphed in three of their last 13 home league matches.
However, Newcastle have lost on three of their last four visits to Villa Park.
Hull v Manchester United
Manchester United have won their final match in five of the last six seasons.
The Tigers shipped three goals at home to Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.
With just 14 points from 18 games, Hull are comfortably the worst home team in the league.
Sunderland v Chelsea
Chelsea haven’t won their final league match in any of the last four seasons.
Sunderland have only lost four of their 12 home games under Ricky Sbragia.
However, Chelsea have won eight straight clashes with the Black Cats.
West Ham v Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough have lost each of their last six league visits to the Boleyn.
But the two sides have clashed three times this season and Boro haven’t lost.
The Teessiders need to win though and West Ham haven’t lost on the final day since 2001. On that occasion their conquerors were Boro.
1m British pounds for anyone who can name this man
Hull’s relegation-threatened peers have been waking up in cold sweats all week, at the prospect of Sir Alex Ferguson bringing a weakened squad across the M62 for Man Utd’s final day visit to the KC Stadium.
After some half-hearted reassurances that he might be able to sort something out…maybe…possibly…if he has time, with the squad finally announced it looks like SAF has pretty much confirmed his belief that Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough can go swivel, as he has a Champions League final to prepare for.
Gold star for anyone (who isn’t a United fan) that can put a face to every one of these names:
With as many as four clubs still in the race to join West Brom in the Championship next season, Premier League vultures are already circling in preparation to pick off the relegated teams’ best players. The Spoiler has a look at 5 players who are likely to continue plying their trade in the top flight whatever the outcome on Sunday. Jeremie Aliadiere need not apply.
Sunderland: Kenwyne Jones
Kenwyne Jones’ importance to Sunderland has been underlined by his bagging 9 goals in the league this season, despite spending the first few months on the physio’s table. Although Spurs boss Harry Redknapp recently denied he was still interested in the 24-year-old striker after a failed transfer bid in January, speculation over Roman Pavlyuchenko’s imminent exit from White Hart Lane is rife, and a move could still be on the cards.
With the final day of the season drawing nearer and Newcastle knowing they must better Hull’s result against Manchester United to survive the drop, a city vicar has rewritten some of his congregation’s most popular hymns (’All Things Black and Beautiful’, ‘Lord of the Toon’) in the hope of some favourable divine intervention come Sunday. Sadly though, according to Reverend Glyn Evans, certain members of the United Geordie Nation do not approve:
“It’s a bit of fun but sadly I have had hate mail calling me blasphemous.”
Spoiler Bonus: Newcastle United are a club steeped in rich musical history - who could forget Fog On The Tyne?
Who is least deserving of their top flight status?
As the good folks at chickendinner point out, 2008/09 seems to be the season where nobody can be bothered to survive. They have published a table showing that each of the relegation threatened sides have earned an average of less than a point per game in their last eleven - hardly the form of sides fighting for their lives.
There are arguments to suggest that Sunderland, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Hull all deserve a trip to Doncaster next season, but of course there are only two places left (and Middlesbrough have already shotgunned one of them).
In today’s vote, we’re asking you to channel all your inner schadenfreude and tell us the team that you hope to see relegated on Sunday. Would you like to see Phil Brown get his just desserts? Would you like a good laugh at the expense of the Toon Army, or perhaps the thoroughly disappointing Black Cats? Let us know below…
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