What happens to relegated clubs? [If you don't like stats... look away now!]

[No Mad 0]

OK what do you think of this?

In the last seven years (to03/04), 20 teams have been relegated from Premiership (Leicester twice). In the first year back in the first div/championship:

• 4 got automatic promotion (WBA, Lei, Man C, Cha)
• 3 made play-offs (West Ham, Bol, Sun)
• but half(10) finished outside top 10
• although none were relegated

What are long-term prospects for relegated teams:

• 7 are now in prem (West Ham, WBA, Sun, Man C, Cha, Bla, Bol)
• 9 are still in championship (Lei, Lee, Wol, Ips, Der, Cov, SW, Wat, CP)
• 4 are in L1 (NF, Wim/MK, Bar, Brad). Others spent time there!

Of those who finished outside top 10, only one is in prem (Bla - and they finished 11th) and three are in L1

This means:

• Relegated teams have a one in five chance of automatic promotion first year and one in three overall
• Half the relegated teams finish outside top ten in first year
• No relegated team has been relegated again to L1 in first year [in last 7 years anyway- has this ever happened?]
• Finishing outside top ten is extremely bad news - more likely to end up in L1 than prem

A final thought....

So why do so many teams struggle? Possibly three reasons:

1. Financial meltdown and dismantling team - e.g. Leeds - finished 14th last year, Leicester finished 15th
2. Not good enough - overachieved to get promotion - e.g. Bradford and Barnsley?
3. Poor morale and confidence as a result of getting beaten week in and week out in prem

Which do you think it is in our case? I would go for No. 3 but am becoming concerned it could be No. 2.

If you are upset by all the stats... i did warn you to look away

[Trent Canary 0]

Its a good point, (Well done for collating all those stats by the way!)

 

How about another option - It could be argued that we over-achieved two years ago? Looking back at our squad from then its amazing we dominated the league so much.