|
(to the top
division via their performances ON the footie field)
A year ago
I wrote “So, another new season is finally here, and there are three
more changes to the membership of the Premiership. We say goodbye to
Sunderland, West Brom and Birmingham City, and I have to admit I’m not
going to miss any of them.“ Well another season is here and typically we
welcome back two of those three teams, Sunderland, and Birmingham City
(West Brom made it to the play offs).
Sunderland
may have been rubbish the season before last, but after a disappointing
start to the season Roy Keane got some much better performances out of
his team resulting in their winning the title by two points from second
placed Birmingham City, and enabling him to be victorious in the battle
between the two ex Man United captains.
|
|
Team |
No of
seasons |
|
1. |
Everton |
|
53 |
|
2. |
Liverpool |
|
45 |
|
3. |
Manchester United |
|
32 |
|
4. |
Tottenham Hotspur |
|
29 |
|
5. |
Aston Villa |
|
19 |
|
6. |
Chelski |
|
18 |
|
7. |
Newcastle United |
|
14 |
|
8. |
Middlesboring |
|
9 |
|
9. |
Bolton Wanderers |
|
6 |
|
9. |
Fulham |
|
6 |
|
9. |
Blackburn Rovers |
|
6 |
|
12. |
Manchester City |
|
5 |
|
13. |
Portsmouth |
|
4 |
|
14. |
Wigan Athletic |
|
2 |
|
14. |
West Ham United |
|
2 |
|
16. |
Reading |
|
1 |
|
17. |
Sunderland |
|
0 |
|
17. |
Derby County |
|
0 |
|
17. |
Birmingham City |
|
0 |
|
20. |
Woolwich Squatters |
|
- * |
Spurs (fans
– the players and staff will fly surely ?) face a long trip to
Sunderland this weekend for season’s opener and will hope that as with
our trip to the North East in August 1992, we can burst the promoted
team’s bubble (back then a single goal from Teddy Sheringham saw us take
all three points from newly promoted media darlings Newcastle United).
As for Hossam Ghaly-less Birmingham we don’t get to play them until
December 1st when they visit the Lane.
Derby
Country won promotion through the play offs and must be relieved that
they did having actually finished in third place, just two points behind
Birmingham but a hefty eight points ahead of west midlands duo West Brom
and Wolves. For the Rams, who visit WHL on 18th August for
our first home Saturday game of the season, this will be their first top
flight campaign since relegation in 2003.
Of last
season’s relegated clubs two were from the capital: Charlton Athletic
and Watford. Their departure is possibly a good thing as its generally
better to have fewer London derbies, although with these clubs in
particular we’d enjoyed good results last year, beating Charlton twice
(hammering them 5-1 at the Lane and relegating them via two goals in the
return) and Watford at home (I don’t need to remind anyone about the
battle of the goalkeepers that day), although only (just about) getting
a goalless draw at Vicarage Road.
The third
club to be relegated was of course West Ham United…
This is
Spurs 30th consecutive season in the top division – a
continuation of a club record started last season. As I said this time
a year ago, a spot of silverware would be nice…
Paul Lederer
*: Thierry Henry headed south this summer, will any
remaining Goons please follow ? |
