Who Will Be Relegated From Premier League 2012 Dogfight?

With just five games to go until the end of the Premier League season, it's really firing up towards the rear end of the league table with a bunch of teams fighting to survive. While Manchester United and Manchester City battle it out at the top of the Premier League table, we must not forget the sides battling it out for survival at the bottom of the table, too. It's promising, like so many other seasons, to go right down to the wire. Wolves, Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan and QPR are the teams in the mix - but just who will have the dissapointed set of fans come the end of the campaign? Wolves. Current position: 20th. P33, points 22. It looks like the Midlands club's stay in the Premier League will come to an end this season. It all started so well for Wanderers, winning their first two matches and following it up with a healthy draw with rivals Aston Villa. But, as we approached December time, it all went horribly wrong and in February, as we all know, Mick McCarthy was given the sack. In my opinion, it was the wrong decision. Yes, they weren't picking up the points at the time but Mccarthy, with his experience and attitude, for me would've guided them out of the drop zone by now. The thing that really got me was the club didn't actually know who they were going to appoint in replacement of McCarthy when they showed him the door, with Neil Warnock, Steve Bruce, Gus Poyet and Alan Curbishley all snubbing the offer. So who did they turn to? The assistant manager Terry Connor. They were left with no other choice. Connor looks completley out of his depth to me at Wolves and has been no improvement on McCarthy. To cut a long story short, it was a panick decision in my eyes and it's cost the side their season. On a brighter note, you can clearly see the players have respect for Connor. In the matches he's been in charge of, you couldn't have had a go at the players for their efforts. Results just haven't gone for them, with their last victory coming on 4 February against QPR, and that was when Connor wasn't even the chief. Courtesy of some poor defending and numerous on-pitch arguments, Wolves just haven't been able to pick up the points or any sort of momentum. Players like Matt Jarvis, Stephen Fletcher, Wayne Hennessey and Michael Kightly, who has been the side's brightest spark in the last few weeks, have all been playing well of late but it's Connor's lack of experience and tactical awareness that has let the team down. They are nine points from safety with just five matches remaining - I simply can't, and I'm sure many others will agree when I say this, see them staying up this term. VERDICT: RELEGATION Blackburn. Current position: 19th. P33, points 28. It's been a strange, strange season for Rovers. They endured a horrid October-November period, losing key games and key players to injury, especially in the defence. But a win over Manchester United, when Grant Hanley netted that late header, and a draw at Liverpool, albeit rather fortunate, helped the team to gain some confidence heading into the final part of the season. And they have improved in terms of displays. It's helped that the supporters have cut out the protests now, too. I remember watching the Blackburn v Bolton game live on the TV and Rovers lost it 2-1, the fans went absolutley mental at Kean who I think coped with the situation and protests really well. I mean, at the end of the day we all want to see our team win, but the protests and chants and what not were not helping anybody. Now, the performances have improved and the team have some big, big fixtures coming up. This Saturday, they travel to the Liberty Stadium, then they welcome Norwich to Ewood Park, and then matches against Spurs, Wigan and Chelsea follow. Three out of those five are more than winnable games I'd say. I can't see them getting anything out of Tottenham or Chelsea but they could get something at Swansea who are playing badly recently and maybe at home to Norwich. Then Wigan is a huge tie, one that they simply must win. One player they will have to try and keep regardless of if they survive or not, though, is winger Juniour Hoilett. Reportedley Tottenham and Stoke are interested and for me, he wouldn't look out of place in a top six team. His pace, trickery, energy and skill have all been on show for viewers to watch this and last campaign. He literally creates everything for them on the left flank and he's argueably their best asset. Also, Yakubu is a big player for Kean's men with double figures this season. Do I think they'll beat the drop? No. I'm afraid not. Despite having a decent run-in, I think the others will just have a little bit more to edge it. VERDICT: RELEGATION Bolton. Current position: 18th. P32, points 29. I've got to admit, before this season had started I really didn't think Bolton would be in the position they're in now, lingering in the bottom three. Performances, on the whole, have been decent this term and manager Owen Coyle has done well to rally his troops and get some momentum going. Before the side's 3-0 loss to Fulham at the Reebok Stadium last weekend, Wanderers had won three on the bounce. And they have a game in hand over their relegation rivals as their match with Aston Villa a few weeks back was called off due to the situation with Fabrice Muamba. And that brings me onto the Muamba incident. In my opinion, Owen Coyle dealt with the whole thing very well in what was, and still is, difficult circumstances. And let's not forget the players either, especially the ones playing in the FA Cup tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane when it happended. But, to be fair, it's made the team stronger. But, although they have a decent run-in with Swansea, Aston Villa and Sunderland all next in their three games - I'm not sure, for me, that they'll be able to beat the drop. They are just too inconsistent. They'll pull off a great result one week and then go and lose four in a row. You look at their squad, too, and a large percentage is filled with Championship players. I'm afraid their time is up in the English top-flight. Owen Coyle is a talented manager, but they just have not been good enough or up to the standards required this campaign. VERDICT: RELEGATION Wigan. Current position: 17th. P33, points 31. I've always had a soft spot for Wigan. And I don't know why. It's impressive, if you look at the club's past records, how they have survived each season in the Premier League since their promotion from the second tier in 2005. It just shows what a great job the chairman David Whelan & Co. have done with limited financial backing and players of not fantastic quality. They always seem to beat the drop. Last season, the Latics survived on the very last day beating Stoke 1-0. And this season, having been in the relegation zone for much of the term, they are now out of it with five games remaining after some impressive, confident performances of late. Before their extremely unfortunate defeat at Stamford Bridge last weekend, their last defeat was to Swansea on 3 March. Since that day against Swansea, the side drew to Norwich, West Brom then earned wins over Liverpool, which was a shock to all, and Stoke at the DW Stadium. Add all this to the fact they went and beat champions and table toppers Manchester United in midweek 1-0, then you will start to realise what I mean by saying they've picked up in form. The thing I love about Wigan is their style and no-fear approach. Everywhere they go, whatever the circumstances, they'll play their stuff. And this is mainly down to Roberto Martinez who I think is a top class coach. He and chairman Whelan have formed a really strong relationship on and off the pitch and it's having a positive affect on the team's diplays on the field. You watch them travel to Arsenal on Monday night, and have a go. Just like they did at Che;sea, when they were undone by two terrible offside decisions. I mean, yes they have a tough end to the season. But they've proved they can beat anyone on their day. People often say that's an easy game or their underdogs ect, that's aload of rubbish as far as I'm concerned. No game is easy in this division. Who would have thought United would've slipped up to Wigan? Few. I can see them getting something at the Emirates this Monday and then Fulham and Newcastle follow - tough games. And then the big two at the end, Blackburn away and Wolves at home. They're must win fixtures. But, I think Martinez's men will do it again, and prove all the doubters wrong, as they've been playing so well recently. VERDICT: SURVIVAL QPR. Current position: 16th. P33, points 31. And finally, onto Queens Park Rangers. It's been a hugely dissapointing season for the R's having earned automatic promotion last season by winning the Championship and outplaying nearly everyone. And then spending millions on new recruits in the summer window, splashing out on the likes of Jay Bothroyd, Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Anton Ferdinand, DJ Campbell and more. Many, including myself, would not have predicted Rangers to be sitting on the same points as Wigan, 31, with five games to go. The team started off so well, earning away wins at Wolves and Stoke impressively. But, it all went downhill in the festive period and January. And of course when Neil Warnock got the sack, one would think the worst. Mark Hughes has came in, and I suppose stabilised the ship a little more but hasn't exactly made a massive difference. They are still in danger and face a tough trip to the Baggies next. It's not going to be easy for them, thats for sure. However, it's vital that they secure survival this season as they can really push on and develop then into next year. The side are showered with financial backing under Tony Fernanes, and have a experienced and knowledgable boss in Mark Hughes, as well as a bunch of talented players. If they can survive this term, I reckon they'll go onto bigger and better things next campaign. And, I think Hughes's side will do it, just. VERDICT: SURVIVAL Conclusion. So, that concludes who I think will beat the drop and who won't. It's really heating up at the bottom, and I for one cannot wait to see how it unfolds.