Possible EPL Relegation 2009

This year, 2009, there is an extremely tight race for the 18th, 19th, and 20th places in the English Premiere League, (aka. The Relegation Zone).  In this contest, there are five teams that could legitimately fall into the Relegation Zone that could put them into the Coca Cola Championship Division.  Those teams are as followed: Portsmouth, Sunderland, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, and West Bromwich.  All of these teams are within eight points of relegation or are already in the dreaded relegation zone.  In the following paragraphs, I will give you the reasons why each of these teams will or will not stay in the Barclays Premiere League.

West Bromwich: Result through 31 Games Played: 24 Points.

It has been an extremely disappointing and sad season for West Brom, as they have been in a pattern of relegation and promotion between the Barclays Premier League and the Coca Cola Championship Division the last several years.  This swing between the two has been a major reason why they are the only team in the English Premier League that doesn't have a shirt sponsor. They are currently in last place by three points over Middlesbrough, but it seems extremely unlikely that they will stay inside of the top division.

Where they will be Next Season:They will be relegated, as they will finish in last place in the EPL, and will play a strong season in the Coca Cola Championship Division again, just like last season, with a strong possibility that they will once again rejoin the Premiership in 2010-2011 season.

Middlesbrough: Result through 31 Games Played: 27 Points.

This year has been extremely frustrating for Middlesbrough, especially after spending the last 10 seasons up in the Premier League. After a 7th Place finish last year, they have been in free fall and even with wins against teams such as Liverpool and Aston Villa, they still have been terrible against teams that they should be able to beat (2 losses to West Brom, a blowout 4-0 loss to a weak Tottenham team) have become their downfall.

Where they will be Next Season:They probably will become relegated into the Coca-Cola Championship for next season, as they have an extremely hard schedule still (games against Man Utd, Aston Villa, and Arsenal). But, if they could gain points in some of their other games, they could possibly not be relegated, but they will need a lot of luck to accomplish that.

Newcastle United: Result through 31 games: 29 points

Where do I start with possibly the most dysfunctional franchise in all of sports? They have gone through four managers in the last year and will have to get rid of their sponsor, the Bank Northern Rock. But, now former Newcastle star Alan Shearer is their new manager, and he is promising their supporters that they won't be relegated. Currently, they are in the relegation zone by three points, but it seems possible that they could stay up in the top flight for next year.

Where they will be Next Season:There is a great possibility that they will be relegated, but I find it very unlikely. I think that Shearer will inspire the players to keep them in the top division, and that will add to his legacy. Newcastle has been in the Premier League every year since its creation in 1992-1993.  Also, they have several huge games against Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, and Stoke City, and if they could win at least 2 of these games, they could remain in the Premiership.

Sunderland: Result through 31 games: 32 points

After coming back two years ago from the Championship Division, Sunderland has been a team that has hung around the bottom of the league table. Their former manager, Man Utd. legend Roy Keane resigned in December.  Ricky Sbragia took over for the, then struggling team that was in the relegation zone. But he led them to seven points in five games, which got him to keep the managerial position there. But since then, he has struggled mightily, as he has had only one win and one draw in nine games since then.

Where they will be Next Season:  It appears that they will become relegated if Newcastle gets into a hot streak here at the end of the season. Sunderland has shown that they probably don't deserve to hold onto a spot here in the Premiership, and because of that, they will probably be relegated.

Portsmouth: Results through 30 games: 32 points

Last year's winners of the FA cup, and they also finished in eighth place, Portsmouth is the most southern of all of the Premier League teams. They have been up in the top flight since 2003, and had looked like a good team until Harry Redknapp left the team, and Tony Adams took over, leading the team to only two wins in 16 league games before being sacked in February. Since then, they have had two wins and three draws in seven games.

Where they will be Next Season:They still have a game at hand over the other teams (Even though they will probably not win that game against Man Utd.) They also have been the best of all of these teams in recent weeks and unless something disastrous happens to them, they will remain in the Premier League for next season.

Finally, this is my opinion of where the teams in the bottom of the Premier League will be next season. None of the final spots have officially been decided, but the beauty about this game is that the game isn't over until the final whistle, and any of these teams could possibly not be here next season.