Buoyed by Mark Hughes’ overachievement and shrewd signings, Blackburn had been living in a fantasyland of consistent contention for Europe. Paul Ince transported them rudely back to small city reality. Blackburn took an admirable risk, hiring the Premier League’s first black manager, but, in this instance, it clearly backfired. You know things are dreary when Sam Allardyce […]

Stoke City are a newly promoted side from the Championship, and they certainly play like one. The operating procedure has been physicality, holding the line at home and hoping for some magic from Rory Delap’s wicked throw-ins. It has worked with a modicum of success. They are sixteenth in the table on 32 points. Form: […]

Until late October, Portsmouth seemed destined for a mid-table season. After a rough August start against Chelsea and Man United, the trophy-winning club won four out of seven matches, looking frisky once again. Then Harry Redknapp left for the Tottenham and the seam exploded. Tony Adams had no perceivable managerial skill. Financial problems forced the […]

Sunderland rose to the Premier League two seasons ago with Roy Keane’s magnetism, and it was the same presence that kept them afloat last season.  The reform movement lost steam when Keane left, and Sunderland have been rudderless since Ricky Sbragia transcended the interim label.  The club is in fourteenth place, but just three points […]

With Aston Villa's demise the top of the league once again appears calcified, so, like Kim Kardashian crammed into a designer dress, the bulk of the tension will be at the bottom.  Here is the first of a series of assessments of this season's relegation candidates. As wretched as Manchester City and Tottenham have been […]

With 24 more points available in the 2008-2009 season, I hesitate to say that next weekend's match with Stoke City is a must-win for West Bromwich Albion for its hopes for avoiding the drop. But it really is. The Baggies are rooted to the bottom of the table with 24 points with eight matches to go […]

Table topping Wolves keep up their assault on the Coca-Cola Championship with a draw at Bristol City. Wolves went up 2-0 thanks to goals by Collins and Jarvis but after the break Bristol City pulled even with Adebola and former Crewe trainee Nicky Maynard getting the equalizer on 87 minutes. Reading failed to capitalize on […]

With almost 20% of the season completed, we already have a good idea of which clubs will shine and underwhelm this 2008/2009 Premier League season, as well as which ones are destined for mid-table mediocrity. Sure, we still have 80% of the season remaining, but out of the clubs you've seen thus far, which ones […]

The playoffs are almost done and only two more teams will be vying for promotion to League One, Rochdale and Stockport. What is known after today are what teams will be leaving and coming into the Championship for next season. Gaining promotion to the EPL along with the riches and glory are West Bromwich Albion as […]

It's squeaky bum time in the Premier League, with two matches left to play.  There is the ever exciting battle between underwhelming uberclubs for the title.  Yawn.  The second tier battle to see which club can send itself careening down next year's table for the right to lose to a Spanish club in the UEFA […]

Fulham FC sprang back to life on Sunday, with a startling 1-0 victory over European-bound Everton. The win, Fulham's fourth of the season, places gives them 23 pts – an effective four points away from safety. However, Odds and Sods will now make a bold prediction.  Fulham will not be relegated. The club has momentum. […]