The 2025/26 Relegation Battle Thread

[Marius57]

Tbf we spent the first half of last season looking like relegation fodder. We looked like an absolute abomination of a team under Dyche.

Yep, not because the players weren’t good enough. Because the manager was crap.

As some of us were saying from the start of the season.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Let it go lad, it's turned into an obsession.

You and Ashley Young? or you and Nathan Patterson?

 

[MikeH72]

Tbf we spent the first half of last season looking like relegation fodder. We looked like an absolute abomination of a team under Dyche.

The fact Dyche had us scrapping around with 3 of the worst teams this league has ever seen says everything about his managerial ability. Nobody else could possibly do any better of course.

 

[catcherintherye]

Burnley - good defence but no goals in that side. If they lose Trafford that's gonna hurt them badly too.

Leeds - awful manager and they'll try to play like they did in the championship and will get mullered badly, recruitment isn't that good so far and a team full of players who can look good the level below but who will struggle badly.

Brentford - set piece coach as answer - teams been plundered with losing all the managerial and cos hing side

Wolves - terrible besides one purple patch and have lost their two best players by a mile.

Think Sunderland will survive, recruitment has been good and got some good young players, but they badly need to bring in a couple of good centre backs or they'll struggle badly at the back.

Agree with most of that mate, but think Sunderland go down. They remind me of Ipswich.

I've said the last seasons the promoted teams all go back down, probably under 30 points. I don't think this lot coming up are better than Leicester were, so I'll stick to that.

It's a huge leap now, and it needs a bit of a miracle to stay up.

The surprise strugglers may be West Ham.

 

[Rodebaard]

Difficult to look past the promoted teams, but I have a feeling that one or more of them might survive. None of the promoted teams seem like potential whipping boys, but then I guess we'll see. As someone pointed out up-thread, I don't see a clear candidate from the bottom half PL teams from last season to go down. Wolves might be a favourite I suppose, but they finished strongly. Other fans would probably say us too and it would be quite ironic that we went down this year after finally getting a bit of dosh and the new stadium (and some hope?). Brentford have lost some important players, but like Wolves will have some money to re-invest (not always easy to buy good replacements though...). Hard to imagine Spurs and ManU will be quite as bad, but it would be delicious if one of the scab 6 went down. I feel like there are a few teams that have been punching above their weight - Fulham, Bournemouth, even Brighton - that might find things harder this year. Fingers crossed we are well out of it by Christmas time

 

[ToffeeTim]

It's still impossible to know what is realistic this season. Our squad as it currently stands would almost certainly end up in a relegation battle, but we would hope to bring in 5 or 6 more players.

Until we add proven quality attackers and goalscorers, a relegation battle is always a possibility.

 

[Timbucktoo]

Difficult to look past the promoted teams, but I have a feeling that one or more of them might survive. None of the promoted teams seem like potential whipping boys, but then I guess we'll see. As someone pointed out up-thread, I don't see a clear candidate from the bottom half PL teams from last season to go down. Wolves might be a favourite I suppose, but they finished strongly. Other fans would probably say us too and it would be quite ironic that we went down this year after finally getting a bit of dosh and the new stadium (and some hope?). Brentford have lost some important players, but like Wolves will have some money to re-invest (not always easy to buy good replacements though...). Hard to imagine Spurs and ManU will be quite as bad, but it would be delicious if one of the scab 6 went down. I feel like there are a few teams that have been punching above their weight - Fulham, Bournemouth, even Brighton - that might find things harder this year. Fingers crossed we are well out of it by Christmas time

If they get to the group stages in Europe I think Forest and Palace will start to struggle from around December to the end of the season. Spurs will probably improve under a better manager, I got the feeling as the season went on they put all their eggs in the Europa League basket and it worked out for them, and Frank coming in will probably see them back in the top half. United I`m not so sure about. I don`t think their manager has what it takes to push them on and they`ve lost that fear factor they had in years gone by, and instead of teams being so afraid of them they were nearly beaten before taking the field, every team seems to fancy their chance home or away against them.

Of the three coming up I`d think Sunderland might have a spell where they get a run of good results but ultimately go down early, and Burnley could struggle even with their pretty solid defense last season they were not so good in front of goal. Leeds might stay up for a season or two, but when the going get tough Leeds seem to fall apart.

 

[14_dollars]

If we don’t sign at least 2 outfield players by the end of July, this thread should be pinned.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Think Burnley are gone. But have a feeling either Sunderland and Leeds might stay up. Both seem to be willing to spend money. Sunderland already have and Leeds after signing Stach and a couple others are linked with the likes of Muniz and Paixao.

Dont think we will be in it. There are a lot of weaker teams in league now that I can see dropping. Main two are Brentford and Wolves but dont think Bournemouth are completely out of it

At a guess something like below with very little from Brentford to Bournemouth with a huge gap between Burnley and Brentford


Everton
Brighton
Nottingham Forest
West Ham
Bournemouth
Leeds
Sunderland
R - Wolves
R - Brentford
R- Burnley

 

[brieverton]

We have work to do to ensure a comfortable season. Europe would be out of the question with the squad as it is.

We will make additions so we should be ok for mid-table.

It would be nice to start the season well though, momentum is half the battle in football.
If we're short on players, then you can get the opposite effect and a "here we go again" feeling from players and fans.

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

Could see Leeds managing to stay up but Burnley and Sunderland less so. So perm one other to go with them, my guess would be Wolves. but hey it is a long season .....

 

[Toffe3m4n]

If we don’t sign at least 2 outfield players by the end of July, this thread should be pinned.

Window runs to September 1st mate

 

[windymiller]

Could see Leeds managing to stay up but Burnley and Sunderland less so. So perm one other to go with them, my guess would be Wolves. but hey it is a long season .....

I think they probably all go straight back down. The jump between the PL and Championship is massive now and Farke couldn't keep a promoted team in the league when the gap was smaller. I also think that the bottom of the PL is further away from the top too. PSR is working exactly as planned. Lock all the teams in to their own little mini divisions and let the chosen clubs prosper

 

[jazzy]

Relegation candidates for me
Leeds
Sunderland
Burnley joined by
Wolves
Brentford
Bournemouth.

Appreciate that Brentford and Bournemouth will surprise most. Not convinced at all by Andrews as manager plus lost their best player.
As for Bournemouth their defence has been ripped apart

 

[Lanolin]

I think Sunderland have got a decent chance of staying up if they manage to add a bit more experience and nous to guide the younger players through. Saw they were linked with Xhaka, he'd make a difference. I like their manager and they have some good young players, think they could surprise a few people.