Prem 2 - Europe to relegation 2018 - 2019

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by EB Hornet, Aug 11, 2018.

  1. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    only 2 games though - must have been a pretty tough start !
     
  2. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    Although they are in the bottom 3 now, I don't expect them to go down but I don't expect them to do great either.
     
  3. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player


    Who'd be your tip for the third relegation spot then Otter?

    Obviously Cardiff and Huddersfield are two of the three going down, but who's the third one if not Newcastle?

    Can't see Palace, Fulham, Burnley or West Ham going down. Nor Everton unfortunately - hysterically funny though that would be. Southampton are possibles, but ought to have too much quality you'd think.
     
  4. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Perhaps Rafa will resign,he seems to be building up to a snake-like strop.
    Brighton could be vulnerable,they seem to be getting a few more injuries this season.
     
  5. Otter

    Otter Gambling industry insider

    If Zaha does get injured, I can see Palace struggle. Re Burnley, they may have won handsomely the other day but I wouldn't let that cloud my judgement that they will be down that end of the table, likewise Brighton despite that one result v Man Utd I think they are a poor side and don't have great strength in depth.
     
  6. Jossy

    Jossy Reservist

    Both amazing and disappointing that the gulf between the top clubs and the rest is starting to show in the table already. On their day, a team can live with (and beat) a top 6 side over 90 minutes. But over a season (or even roughly a 1/6th of a season), they can't compete.

    A defeat to Arsenal by 2 or 3, and a Utd win by a similar score will see the 'big 6' restored to its usual members:(.
     
  7. V Crabro

    V Crabro Reservist

    No need to be too discouraged by today's setback. Remember GT said "don't look at the table until you have played 10 games". After the Huddersfield game in 4 weeks time, we could be on 20 points from 10 games. We have played 3 of the "top six" in our first 7 fixtures, at the end of October we will have a clearer idea of how this season might pan out.....

    If we are competing with 13 other teams 52 points is a good target (13 x home wins, 13 x away draws).
     
  8. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    I put £5 on us to get relegated today. I think bournemouth will beat us and we'll lose heavily at wolves. Then the rot really will have set in. Our flukey start will soon be forgotten.

    You don't win anything with crap strikers.
     
  9. Bournemouth Dom

    Bournemouth Dom First Year Pro

    I think realistically we could get 9-10 points from our next 5 games. To be on 22-23 points after 12 games would put us in a decent position.

    P.S. Cardiff are truly awful and if we don’t take 6 points from them we have cocked up somewhere.
     
  10. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    I concur. Bounemouth (h) W, Wolves (a) L, Huddersfield (h) W, Newcastle (W), Southampton (D). 23 points from 12 games would be a fantastic return and would set us up for a top half finish.
     
  11. Siohmy

    Siohmy Reservist

    Wolves are overrated.
     
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  12. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Going into the weekends games it's encouraging to see we are the only team to be unbeaten against fellow Prem 2 sides. Updated table below. Some sides are struggling in this league and yet have hardly played one of the big boys, so I'd say some early judgements can be made.

    Prem 2 table 2018 week 7.PNG

    And updated goalscorers from this mini-league

    Prem 2 top scorer 05 10 18.PNG
     
  13. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Any updates on this @EB Hornet, please?
     
  14. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Will get it done this week, if I get my work done possibly even tonight
     
  15. cyaninternetdog

    cyaninternetdog Forum Hippie

    What happened EB?
     
  16. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Work, so I’ll get my priorities straight and get this done as want to see it myself! Sorry all those following it
     
    Bwood_Horn likes this.
  17. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Leave the craftsman alone or I'll report you for cyber-bullying.
     
  18. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    IT'S BACK! Big apologies to those following this with some interest. Quite a bit of movement up and down since last time. The top 4 look like a 4 way WFC grudge match, but aside from who they are, it's all about scoring the goals this year (Burnley won this mini-league last year with a tight defensive record). Quite a gap appearing at the moment, and as always the fight against relegation will be a tight affair with a number of teams possibly getting sucked into it.

    Prem 2 Table 2018 Week 8-10.PNG

    Added in light green as these teams have best chance of a top 10 finish overall.

    Top scorers from games in this league only

    Prem 2 top scorer 18 11 18.PNG

    And as a little extra, I took a look at how many different goalscorers each team have had against these teams. The top sides, so least reliant on any individual, are

    Bournemouth - 9 different scorers
    Burnely - 8
    Leicester - 8
    Watford - 8
     
  19. Sort of OK

    Sort of OK Reservist

    Great stuff as ever EB.

    Interesting that a few teams have played 5 of big 6 in the opening twelve games, when viewed like that Cardiff actually haven't had a bad start considering they are new up and spent buttons. I tipped Southampton for relegation at the start of the season and nothing here is suggesting I should change my mind, 7 goals in 9 against the also rans is not great. Palace only 5 in 8 as well, must all that fouling of Zaha that goes unpunished.
     
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  20. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Cheers sort of

    Noticed those things as well. Was pleased to see Bournemouth have had the ‘easiest’ start so far. Little bit frustrating (bearing in mind our results against them) that Newcastle have a shocking goals for tally and Fulham a woeful defensive record, even when you take out the top 6.
     
  21. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    The Geordies have just stuck this up:
    [​IMG]
    Interesting that that table puts our performance (judged by points) closer to Spurs than the 'Muff-Divers.

    [​IMG]
    NB - we're bang on average. Good or bad?

    [​IMG]
    This is something we've all felt/seen in matches?
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  22. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    7 teams within 2 points at the bottom. Looks like an interesting battle to avoid the drop this season.
     
  23. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Will try do an update soon on this. Just watching Everton getting a spanking with a smile on my face!
     
  24. vic-rijrode

    vic-rijrode First Year Pro

    Only a smile, I'm laughing so much the tears are rolling down my face.......
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  25. Really is getting interesting for the middle league. Manu down to Bournemouth being only 4 points, and the 2 meeting each other is tasty.

    Barring Wolves, the other 4 teams (Watford, Everton, Leicester and West Ham) all have much lower league opposition so will be favourites.

    I know people will hate me for this but I'd like a Bournemouth win on Sunday.

    Could all tighten up again to 6th place.

    Obviously hoping we win so that we keep pace with the rest.
     
  26. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    End of 2018 update

    Prem 2 Table 2018 end of Dec.PNG

    Struggling to score against Newcastle doesn't look so bad when you look at their goals against column against sides from outside the top 6. Hard to find too many negatives from our point of view looking at this. To win half your games against these teams is good going. Last season you only needed to win 7 / 8 of these games to avoid relegation. Only half way through and we've done that already.

    Goal scoring doesn't look like a problem either here, although obviously a couple of extra goals could have jumped us to the top of this league.

    Quick edit - Bournemouth is going to be one hell of a tough game (just in case that wasn't 100% obvious anyway!)
     
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  27. RookeryDad

    RookeryDad Squad Player

    Playing in this league, a Euro competition with teams of comparable standing & the FA Cup/league cup would make for an interesting & varied season.
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  28. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    I used to hate the idea of a European Superleague breakaway, but if there were a fair promotion / relegation system for it I reckon I'd be up for seeing how it played out. It would allow the rest of us to have a competitive league where anyone could potentially win the league at the start of the season. A bit like a better standard Championship.
     
  29. But without the big 6 in the league, most of the sponsorship and funding would drop out meaning most teams probably wouldn't be able to afford the players we can now and we'd basically turn into the Scottish Premier League.
     
  30. EB Hornet

    EB Hornet Reservist

    Yeah possibly, but assuming the best teams from Spain, Italy, Germany, France etc all joined it then I guess the English Premier League would still be the best league outside the super league?
     
  31. I'm not entirely sure it would to be honest. I don't think there is enough interest outside of England for any team outside of the big ones. Not enough to attract the big sponsorship which in turn means the big players. Other countries fans would just follow the super League.

    And the gulf in quality of the teams that get left behind would grow so huge that if a promotion/relegation scenario were included, any team going up would just be anhialated every week, while the team coming down would romp the league.
     
  32. FromDiv4

    FromDiv4 Reservist

    Yes there will be less money for teams outside the super league, but this is true for all team in Europe. The teams in the super league will not have more highly paid players, so where are all the current players going to go? Most of them will still be playing for teams they are now, just for less money.
    Don’t need promotion/relegation, just let them go.
     
    EB Hornet likes this.
  33. But without the big money wages in the premier league there would be much less incentive for them to come here.

    Unless you're Richarlison of course who followed Everton since he was 10.
     
  34. FromDiv4

    FromDiv4 Reservist

    So where would they go?
    I would still think most would earn more money in the UK. Maybe only 2x instead of 10x.
     
  35. I don't know the full economics of each league, but would they get 2x if it wasn't for the sky machine? Based on national TV interest only and gate receipts, there's no where else for the money to come from.

    Also, aren't tax rates higher here?
     

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