Judgement Day 22/5 - Who's going down?

[TBM]

Final day and its 2 from 5 to join West Ham

Wigan travel to Stoke
Blackpool travel to Man Utd
Birmingham travel to Spurs
Wolves host Blackburn

[roadrunner]

Interestingly Blackpool can stay up even if they lose at Man Utd due to the goal difference scenario. Great end to the season for the neutral fan.

15 Blackburn Rovers 37 -14 40
16 Wolves 37 -19 40
17 Birmingham City 37 -20 39
______________________
18 Blackpool 37 -21 39
19 Wigan Athletic 37 -22 39
20 West Ham United 37 -24 33

I'm plump for Birmingham and Wigan to follow West Ham down.

[Big Foot]

I think Birmingham will lose against Spurs
Wigan will beat a dejected Stoke side with nothing to play for
Would love it if Blackburn were relegated, everything crossed for a Wolves win (unfortunately)

[Super_horns]

Blackpool (sadly) and Wigan (who we'll get on a Tuesday night in November no doubt!)

[PEARCEY]

Blackpool and Wigan to go down. If we don't go up I'd rather these two came down.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

I think Birmingham will lose against Spurs
Wigan will beat a dejected Stoke side with nothing to play for
Would love it if Blackburn were relegated, everything crossed for a Wolves win (unfortunately)

Massive win for Wigwam today - and something that IMO will keep them up. What is is about teams being 2-0 and then winning 3-2 in their run in to eventually save themselves (Fulham @ Eastlands in 07/08)

Think Wolves will beat Blackburn however I can't see both Blackpool & Brum getting a point let alone a win so it'll be irrelevant.

My predictions:

Wolves to beat Blackburn
Wigan to draw at Stoke
Blackpool to lose at OT
Brum to lose at WHL by a bigger margin than Blackpool

Final table

16. Blackburn 40
17. Wigan 40
18. Blackpool 39
19. Brum 39
20. West Ham

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Wigan (who we'll get on a Tuesday night in November no doubt!)

If this season is anything to go by, all the decent local away trips end up being midweek (we had Bristol City, Cardiff and Millwall) so you should be OK.

[TBM]

Weeks ago i said this, Waxy didn't agree

People aren't talking about Birmingham but their run-in isn't easy

Wovles (h)
Newcastle (a)
Fulham (h)
Spurs (a)

apart from the bit where they play Wolves and Fulham at home

[superreadingfan]

blackburn and Birmingham but probably be wolves n Birmingham

[Mike Hunt]

Brum and Blackpool for me.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Brum and Blackpool for me.

Yeah, me too - Wigan have belief and momentum, Brum are just basket cases.

[Schards#2]

Just realised that Blackpool could lose and still stay up, Birmingham just need to lose by one more. There is hope.

Blackpool have brought more to the Premeirship in one season than Birmingham/Wigan/Blackburn combined. I hope they survive and wouldn't rule it out as Fergie will, no doubt, show his respect for the competition by fielding a reserve team.

[PlasticRoyale]

Can't see Blackburn or Wolves playing for anything more than a draw (unless they hear other results)

[Svlad Cjelli]

Can't see Blackburn or Wolves playing for anything more than a draw (unless they hear other results)

That's the risk - if they only draw and those below them win they're down - bigger risk for Wolves because of the GD, though.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

as Fergie will, no doubt, show his respect for the competition by fielding a reserve team.

If he does make say 7 or 8 changes you'd like to think that the PL would treat Man Utd the same as Wolves and Blackpool in recent seasons and be charge Man U under the same rule regarding team selection (not fielding a full strength team or whatever it was).

Can't see it happening myself.

[PlasticRoyale]

Thing is he could play the weakened squad that played and won CL semi-final

[rhroyal]

Voted with my heart for Wigan and Birmingham. I'm aware that Wigan and Blackpool is more likely.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Thing is he could play the weakened squad that played and won CL semi-final

Yes he could - however technically that isn't playing "his strongest available team" or whatever the rule is.

Don't get me wrong - I'm totally against this rule, especially now the "squad of 25" has been introduced as effectively managers are being told how to pick their teams despite only having a squad of 25 to choose from. In this case, however, the PL have made a rod for their own back with previous instances so I guess this will be a test of how hypocritical they can be.

[rhroyal]

Thing is he could play the weakened squad that played and won CL semi-final

Yes he could - however technically that isn't playing "his strongest available team" or whatever the rule is.

Don't get me wrong - I'm totally against this rule, especially now the "squad of 25" has been introduced as effectively managers are being told how to pick their teams despite only having a squad of 25 to choose from. In this case, however, the PL have made a rod for their own back with previous instances so I guess this will be a test of how hypocritical they can be.

If Fergie makes 8 or so changes he won't be punished. Double standards.

There's also a slight difference. Man Utd have already won the title and can afford to rest players. Wolves and Blackpool definitely still had points to play for but chose to "write off" one game in order to concentrate on more realistic fixtures.

Don't get me wrong, it's all ridiculous and managers should be able to pick who they want. However there are enough subjective technicalities around for the FA to let Fergie off if necessary.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Which team would be most likely to get a result for Man Utd on the day?

The "1st team", most of which will have 1 eye on the CL final, place secured and wanting to aviod injury.

or the "2nd string" all of whom will give their all with something to prove?

For this game, the latter is proabaly the strongest team.