Tottenham Hotspur are right in the thick of a relegation battle and you still think ‘surely they’re too good to go down’. Plus, a recent late draw at Liverpool and a morale boosting win against Atletico in the UCL might see a bit of a resurgence.
It seems unthinkable with the likes of Simons, Kudus, Van de Ven, Romero, and many international players in one team. As the saying does go though, “you’re never too good to go down”. Along with literally finishing 17th last season.
They haven’t won a game in the Premier League since December vs Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and when you look at their run in, they still have to go to Sunderland, Villa Park and face Leeds, Everton, etc, which aren’t easy games. Quite the sight considering they were European (as in Europa League of course) champions less than a year ago.
Also a mention on Nottingham Forest, who at one point last season were enjoying a mini ‘title charge’ but mainly challenging for a European spot and they are even in the Europa League quarter finals right now after beating FC Midtjylland on penalties. Shows how things can change very quickly in football.
One things for sure, if one of these teams (as the other 2 spots look destined to be Wolves and Burnley) actually do go down it might be the one of the quote ‘best’ teams to get relegated.
And funnily enough Tottenham are up against Nottingham Forest this Sunday, in a massive “6 pointer”. You’d have to think, whoever comes out of that with a win might push themselves towards safety and a loss would be pretty damaging. Both will be up for it following their wins in midweek.
But also West Ham and Leeds are in the mix so we can’t forget about them. And there are a handful of decent players in each of their squads aswell.
But then it hit me…what are the ‘best’ – if you want to call them that as they still got relegated – teams that have gone down?
Whether it’s the performances throughout the season or players at the disposal that season these (for me) are some teams that come to mind…
Key Players: Joachim Andersen, Mario Lemina, Ademola Lookman, Alphonse Areola
For me, this Fulham side should not have gone down. When you look at the whole squad it features players who have played in Champions League finals, and in the World Cup, yet went down with such a whimper, finishing 9 points from safety in 18th, only winning 5 times (although 1 was a big win against Liverpool at Anfield) throughout the season.
But there might be a reason for this in my opinion.
Scott Parker.
He’s shown that so far, even until this day, his record in the Championship is a far cry from the Premier League. One of a few promotions he had with this Fulham side amongst others, he just couldn’t bring that Championship form into the top level and at least have some sort of stability. Although there is a lot of debate that he should have done much better with this squad. A theme I’ve heard from Fulham fans themselves.
It was also the season of THAT Ademola Lookman chip against West Ham (yeah that was an awful paneka attempt). But look where he is now, at the highest level with Atletico Madrid. Football, ay?
Key Players: Roberto Pereyra, Ismailia Sarr, Troy Deeney, Gerard Deulofeu
When a side goes through 4 managers throughout the season, you’re always going to have trouble. Take it from a Chelsea fan who has seen a proper manager merry-go-round, but Watford’s ones over the past decade or so is absolutely ridiculous and that season it really did show.
Just the season before they had a settled Premier League season (pushing for Europe at times before the end of the season) finishing 11th and even getting to the FA Cup final losing 6-0 to Manchester City – but let’s be honest in that time Manchester City could do that to ANYONE anyways – so it was a big surprise seeing Watford in that relegation scrap.
One thing to point out from that season is that they famously ended Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League streak that season on Matchday 28, triumphing 3-0 – and it was well deserved. Plus they had a great calibre of decent Premier League level players so it did come as a surprise.
Key Players: Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksander Mitrovic, Moussa Sissoko, Ayoze Perez
One thing about this relegation. I think if Rafael Benitez was hired earlier than he did, then I think Newcastle would have stayed up, and probably at the expense of rivals Sunderland as they finished just 2 points clear of them in 17th.
Now who was Newcastle’s manager before that you ask.
The infamous ‘Wally with the Brolly’. Steve McLaren.
Considering his managerial career prior to that appointment, it was a very baffling decision to bring him into the Newcastle job. A squad with the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksander Mitrovic, etc probably wouldn’t have been expected to be fighting a relegation battle and losing.
And the fact that it took 9 games to get off the mark for a first win of the season set the tone. It’s clear there is a common theme in these so called ‘best’ teams. Just starting the season in a horrible manner…
Key Players: Ben Foster, Sebastian Larsson, Craig Gardner, Cameron Jerome
Yes, this picture was taken in the same season that Birmingham City were relegated as they won the Carling Cup (now called the EFL Cup) by beating Arsenal 2-1 in the final earlier that season. Even the season before Birmingham had a decent year in the Premier League finishing 9th.
Maybe the players celebrated too hard after that cup final triumph?
Because in the 12 games left after the cup win Birmingham only won TWO more and plummted from 13th place to a final day relegation decider against Tottenham on the final day. I actually remember watching that game aswell and a certain Roman Pavyluchenko scored 2 really well taken goals to send Birmingham down in between a Craig Gardner rocket into the bottom corner (he loved those kind of goals).
Quite a few of their players were snapped up by Premier League clubs the following season and I thought they were a decent and established (kinda) Premier League side.
Key Players: Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Youri Tielemans:
Look at those key players that I just named above. From the Leicester legend himself Vardy, who fired Leicester to a league title 7 years before this relegation, to the likes of Barnes and Tielemans who have featured in the Champions League in the last 2 seasons.
It always felt like Leicester City were due to be mainstays in the Premier League after their unbelievable title triumph, and in the 2021-22 season, they were 1 game away from a UEFA Conference League final and finished comfortably in 8th place in the Premier League (Oh and the season before that in 2020-11 they were FA Cup Champions!). So who thought that they would be fighting for relegation the following season?
I don’t think no-one did.
But a horrendous start to the season in which it took 8 games to get their first win, set the tone for the season.
Funnily enough it coincided with the signing of the French CB Wout Faes to replace Wesley Fofana who joined Chelsea for £75million, who is someone I’ve not heard a positive opinion about once. Not that it’s all his fault but it was a bad fall from grace following the previous years.
Have I missed any? Any teams from further back? Do you have other teams that you were surprised in anyway that got relegated? If so comment below, would be great to hear your thoughts!
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