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The brave boys of Tranmere have surged into the top half of the table with a battling 1-0 at the weekend - the play-offs are still a mathematical possibility, but then so is relegation. Say what you like about the Nationwide, but the almost universal mediocrity of the teams keeps you guessing...
But Leeds... at the risk of tempting fate, it looks like they might be hitting form at just the right moment. The players can worry less about off-field issues, and concentrate on playing either for a place in the starting line-up next season or, more realistically, a transfer to a good team. They're level on points with Blackburn, who are in freefall, and other strugglers are finding it near-impossible to get their form together. I think the injury to van Buyten couldn't have come at a better time for Leeds - without him, I can genuinely see Man City going down with Leicester or Blackburn.
It's a shame - I particularly wanted Wolves to stay up, although why exactly when their success (such as it is) came from the resources of UKIP-supporting Jack Hayward I don't know. Respect and sympathy for Dave Jones, I think. Without the Hayward money coming in, I don't think they ever really had a chance, and they may well struggle to get back into the premiership - rae is leaving, and aging, as is Ince, so they are going to be out a midfield at the start of next season and don't have any players of genuine quality not nearing the end of their careers. It's sad, but that's life. Blackburn, man City *or* Leeds would be more disturbing, as it would dump a whole bunch of notionall premiership players, with wage bills to match, onto the transfer list and into the Nationwide.
So, where did it go wrong for these teams? The problems of Leeds have been well-documented, and Leicester's reliance on free-transfer offcuts trying to get on the end of Muzzy Izzet corners was always going to be tricky, but did the rot start for Blackburn with the failure to replace Damien Duff? Brett Emerton not turning out to be all that? And Man City - theoretically potential UEFA material, if nothing better - will Keegan stick to his policy of spending twenty pounds in attack for every pound in defence at his *next* club? |
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) And i know many will be pleased to see us go.
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