For the 1st and 2nd part of this series, we have discussed on the pros and cons of the top and mid table teams. Today, we will be sharing on the strugglers of the EPL, and unfortunately for 3 of them, it means they will start their new season in the
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | |
| Man Utd | 38 | 28 | 5 | 5 | 43 | 89 |
| Man City | 38 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 32 | 78 |
| Chelsea | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 36 | 75 |
| Arsenal | 38 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 35 | 73 |
| Tottenham | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 72 |
| Everton | 38 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 63 |
| Liverpool | 38 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 28 | 61 |
| West Brom | 38 | 14 | 7 | 17 | -4 | 49 |
| Swansea | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | -4 | 46 |
| West Ham | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | -8 | 46 |
| Norwich | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | -17 | 44 |
| Fulham | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | -10 | 43 |
| Stoke | 38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | -11 | 42 |
| Southampton | 38 | 9 | 14 | 15 | -11 | 41 |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 41 |
| Newcastle | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | -23 | 41 |
| Sunderland | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | -13 | 39 |
| Wigan | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -26 | 36 |
| Reading | 38 | 6 | 10 | 22 | -30 | 28 |
| QPR | 38 | 4 | 13 | 21 | -30 | 25 |
14) Southampton - Southampton started their season brightly. Although they were rooted to the bottom of the league early in the season, they have shown plenty of fighting spirit. Many of their games were lost only in the dying minutes of the game. That includes a defeat against the eventual winners, Man Utd.
Some history for Southampton, they were always the EPL strugglers back in the 90s. However, they were never down, until their Legendary striker, Matt Le Tissier decided to hang up his boots. So they finally came back to the EPL, i hope they do stay for awhile longer, with their nickname Saints, it should be quite interested to see if they can continue staying in the EPL like how they did during Le Tissier's time.
Looking at their team, 2 players stood out for me, 1 of them is Nathaniel Clyne the full back anf the other Gaston Ramirez. Both of these players are playing in a team smaller than their ability. Clyne got the potential to represent England some day. Already got his 1st EPL goal and 3 assists in the process, this kid got potential to be the next Glen Johnson. Ramirez on the other hand, snub his Uruguary team mate Luis Suarez and Liverpool to join Southampton. It did caught many people by surprised. So did he chose a better team? Well, league position wise no. But in terms of potential of playing regular football, maybe Saints is a better team to be in. This looks like a stepping stone to his better future though.
I dont expect them to do much better in the following season though. Saints got to get their act together if they hope to stay in the EPL for another season. Poor defence had caused them dearly.
15) Aston Villa - The Villian fans had been a poor group in recent years. They had been suffering with their team for all these years. Gone were the days where they were fighting for Europe.
Looking at the team line up, there are some good players worth mentioning though. Christian Benteke, Marc Albrighton, Charles N Zogbia, Ciaran Clark and Andreas Weimann. These players looks like a good bunch of players who can change a game. Moreover, their head coach is Paul Lambert, the man who brought Norwich City back to the EPL and flying high.
Villa almost got the drop if not for their last minute good form in the EPL. The above mentioned players would be thinking if they wishes to stick by their beloved team or move on to a better prospect future. Benteke and Weimann had already been linked to bigger teams and it looks set that they will lose Benteke. Scorer of 19 goals, Benteke is what every manager wants on their team.
Lambert will need to reorganise his team in the following season if they wishes to move up the EPL table.
16) Newcastle - Back in the 90s, Newcastle United holds one of the best attack in the EPL, deadly finishing from the strikers such as Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer, led the team to be in the top half of every season. Since then, Newcastle's ride in the EPL had been a roller coaster one. Last season's 6th place from the table, shocked many fans around the world. The likes of Demba Ba and Demba Papiss Cisse are deadly. However, it seems like the duo cannot play together.
When Cisse scores, Ba did not. When Ba scores, Cisse would not. So is there a mismatch? After the sale of Ba to Chelsea after Ba's clause was triggered, Cisse did not seem to score more. In fact, the departed Ba scored more than Cisse. Only managed 8 goals in the Premier League, Cisse had indeed let the fans down.
However, Newcastle still held on to Ben Arfa and Cabaye. They looks like the reason why Newcastle will continue playing in the EPL next season. But enough will be enough, the Board need to invest in a better lot of players in order to challenge for the next season. Money earned from Andy Carroll sale had not been used to purchase a world class striker. If they dont buck up, it wont be surprising to see Newcastle returning to the Championship just like how they did a few seasons ago.
17) Sunderland - The appointment of Paolo Di Canio seems to be a good one. Who could have forgotten about the push on Paul Alcock (referee who sent Di Canio off)? Di Canio is a villian for sure, he done what nobody expected him to do. But the Sunderland under him seems to have a slight improvement, as the black cats refused to take relegation in their books.
Looking at the team sheet, only Steven Fletcher seems to stand out from the rest. But that's not enough for sure. Yes Sunderland is an united team, not having any star player or any kind, but if Sunderland wants to avoid the same fate as Reading and Wigan, they need a massive change.
18) Wigan - The Latics are down. Finally. They had been playing at the Top flight for quite a number of seasons now. The departed Roberto Martinez would not be apologetic about the way he managed the team.
So what went wrong for Wigan? Nothing very much actually, they did much of the stuff correctly, they even won a cup! All i can say is tough luck, their inconsistancy cost them their place in the EPL next season.
So will they return ? Yes, maybe. If they can keep Callum McManaman.
19) Reading - When i was watching how Reading played in the Premier League, i cant help to think, man, this team will definitely be relegated come end of season. No big names, no good manager, no money, no great attacking football, no ambition.
20) QPR - The only thing QPR did right is to keep their name as Queens Park Rangers. They got a nice name i would say. Tony Fernandez, i am sorry but the bunch of players you recruited in are a waste of money.
So who caused QPR to be relegated? Every QPR fan will agree with me, Mark Hughes. He bought supposingly good players like Julio Cesar, Robert Green, Bosingwa, M bia, Samba , Park and Remy. Also loan a few others in, but the combination is a failure. His tactic is just simply not good enough.
Come his successor, Harry Redknapp. He had helped Portsmouth escaped relegated some time ago. He had helped Spurs reached CL for the 1st time. He was once touted as the next England Manager. But his magical touch cannot save QPR in their relegation.
Many players will start handling in their transfer request, with players such as Bosingwa laughing in the tunnel on their final game of the season following their relegation, one must be thinking, man this team got some problem?
QPR would find it difficult to return to the EPL with the tempo of the Championship extremely difficult now. It will be a matter of time before some bigger team approach Redknapp and leave QPR in the dead.
That's all for the 3 parts review of the Drama Mama EPL season as the curtain comes to a close.