These teams are all good enough to stay alive this season, but one or two key injuries could put them down for the count. Same thing goes with a few dropped points against some of the other relegation-bound clubs, lose a match at home against Hull or Stoke, and we could be saying bye bye to these clubs instead.
16. Middlesborough (PREDICTION: 41 Points)
This team stinks. I'd love to sink them to relegation status, but they have enough players on the team that you can call talented to keep them up. I don't know what happened to the team that went all the way to the UEFA Cup 2 years ago, but this is a shell of those guys. On top of all that, Gareth Southgate their manager, looks like one of the most inept people I have ever seen on a sideline. He makes Herm Edwards look like Bill Parcells. I meant what I just said. They added another underachiever in Didier Digard from Paris St-Germain to the club, and they lost a long list of veterans. Among them, Mark Schwarzer, Luke Young, George Boateng, and Lee Cattermole. I'm not talking about guys who make up a World XI, but role players who contributed to a chronically underachieving group. Look for Stu Downing to play a major role in this team, whether it is a good role or a bad one is yet to be seen. 15. Fulham (PREDICTION: 44 Points)
This team just manages to get by every season don't they? They were supposed to go down last season, but Brian McBride came back from a gruesome injury to save the club. Now, he's gone and the club have brought in Andy Johnson in his stead. AJ is a serviceable striker, with about as much talent as McBride has, perhaps a little more. What Johnson lacks however, is heart. He is known for his diving and crying, two things McBride would never do. The only other players worth noting that Fulham have lost are Hameur Boazza on loan to Charlton, and Carlos Bocanegra which will probably turn out to be addition by subtraction. They brought in Schwarzer from Middlesborough and a pair of Hammers, Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil. I think they've improved the team enough to take a step ahead this season, but not too far. I don't believe they will have to worry about relegation at all this season, but like I said, one injury is all it takes.
14. Wigan Athletic (46 Points)
I like this team. There I said it. I really like this team. They are definitely moving in the right direction. A year ago they were close to being sent down, but they have really turned things around since Steve Bruce became manager. They have done a good job securing themselves in the Premier League since their rise up in 2004. Last season, after Bruce took over management of the club, the team made a nice steady climb to keep themselves safe and finishing the season in the 14th slot. This year, Bruce has been able to add some firepower to the team, and anytime you give a good manager the team he wants, you have to like their chances to improve. The only reason I don't have them going a little higher, is because I think the other teams just ahead of them did enough to improve as well. Still, all a fan can ask for is consistentcy, and Bruce has it in spades. He removed the dead weight from the club and added some interesting guys, including Olivier Kapo from Birmingham. I like this team's chances, and I think the JJB will be a tough place for opponents to go. Let's get that Merseyside derby a makeover, Wigan as champions of Liverpool!
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