Champions League: Race to the Bottom

A hectic first week is out in the Champions League. Even though it is quite early in the season it is clear that many teams are going in quite different directions. Some have played well and impressed those who witnessed their heroic deeds on the pitch.

Many more seem to have their heads down and are shouldering on, taking some hits but advancing at their own pace towards the goal.

And some are racing to the bottom.

And at Relegation Road those are exactly the squads we love to wonder at their intent to drive their managers to apoplexy and their fans to suicidal alcoholic depression.

This will be our last look over the dregs of footballing for this week. We will limit our chortling glee to League Two, League One and the Champions League this week. The Premier League only have one game under their belt, so we will wait until next week before we give them our first eye.

So the Champion Non-champions are:

RELEGATION ZONE

Blackburn Rovers

Obviously the Riversiders are simply playing in the wrong league. Their first two games versus Championship sides, hosting Norwich and visiting Wigan thus receiving two ungracious thumpings and a  cumulative line of GF 1 GA 7 GD -6 PTS 0.

Blackburn have hit the floor and look to be pouring a concrete foundation to make sure they stay bottom for this year. After all, they did break away midweek to dominate League Two side Mansfield Town 0-2 in the EPL Cup. They simply need to be two tiers down is all.

Preston North End

Preston North End has actually looked better than Blackburn, but with another loss on Tuesday the Invincibles have been anything but. Here in the early schedule PNE has lost by one goal to Reading, Fulham and Derby. They do have a better goal differential than Blackburn. True, Blackburn has a game in hand but considering what little defense the last place team is playing Preston North End seems safe in 23rd spot.

Oh yes, the Invincibles also beat League Two side Hartlepool United midweek in their EFL Cup tie. Maybe we can get a next round tie of Blackburn and Preston. Wouldn't that be exciting?

Newcastle United

It's always fun when one of the high and mighty get stuck in the glock of the relgation zone. So now here we have Newcastle United along with legendary manager Rafa Benitez. The punters are putting in over/under wagers on how often headlines blare of "Benitez disppointed over another loss."

The Magpies have been nothing if not efficient. First up a visit to Fulham for a one nil disappointment. Then the squad followed that up with the home crown on a 1-2 disappointment versus Huddersfield Town. Benitez must have been thankful that Newcastle had no EFL Cup tie midweek. Too much disappointment is not a good thing.

OUTSIDE LOOKING UP

Cardiff City

Not in the relegation zone, and in fact Cardiff City is a couple of teams above the red line. Still the Bluebirds grab an early season mention as being the only club in the Champions League who have yet to score a goal. How often can they not score in a 46 game season?

RELEGATION GAME OF THE WEEK

Wednesday August 17

Cardiff City

Blackburn Rovers

Sky Bet League One:

A busy first week tells us much but also little. It is a small sample size in a long season. With so much football still to be played it really is too early to get really serious about anyone endangering relegation.
Except...
There is absolutely no doubt that some teams have laid a vast and smelly mound of SOMETHING in the middle of the road. Something really does smell like it has already died and a lightening visit to the medicos are in order.

Relegation Zone

Southend United

Southend United played its own terrifying battle of "Groundhog Day" while hosting Gillingham to start the new season. First the Shrimpers.took on the Kent side in the League One opener before in midweek hosting the Gills for an EFL Cup tie.

Each game marked the Shrimpers scoring early to take a hopeful lead. And also in each Southend fell apart in the second half and succumbed to identical 1-3 scores.

Their second League One match was quite more direct  when they visited Port Vale as the coast side crew simply gave way 2-0 for their third trouncing in their first week. It was a cumulative score of 2-8 and the pink chewables were out and active in Southend-on-Sea.

AFC Wimbledon

The first week of play may seem harsh for AFC Wimbledon, but the Dons nonetheless look to be needing time to get used to their new league after promotion.

First up was a trip to Walsall, who were just a few close chances off of playing Championship football this year. While Wimbledon played bravely, they seemed to be a step slow and a level low in refinement as the Saddlers spanked the newcomers 3-1. And even that scoreline was a bit gracious as the Don's only goal came in the final minute.

The midweek EFL Cup tie was at fellow League One side Peterborough United. This actually was a neat and back and forth affair that the Dons may wish hadn't gotten away. A heart wrenching goal in the 93rd minute dumped the Dons out of the competition.

Finally Wimbledon hosted a game, this time against last year's Championship relegated Bolton Wanderers, a side that hadn't won an away game in any competition in over a year. Then when Wimbledon scored early it looked like all was on the mend. At least it did, right until Bolton plunked in two goals and sprinted out of Kingsmeadow before their luck changed.

AFC Wimbledon at times have played quite well. Unfortunately they have been completely unable to play well for a full match.

Oldham Athletic

The good news for Oldham is they have shown something. Unfortunately they began as the victims of a disastrous 3-0 trouncing the opening League One game when visiting Milwall. They did follow up with a solid 2-1 home victory versus Wigan in their midweek EFL Cup tie. Then battled to a rather dour scoreless draw against visiting Walsall to closeout their first week.

Scoreline in League One is 2 games, ZERO goals scored, one point. The Cup victory gives hope, but there is work to be done here.

Charlton Athletic

Charlton almost looks like Oldham, minus an EFL Cup victory but having at least scored a goal in League One competition.

The week opened with a limp 2-0 loss when visiting Bury. This was followed by a 1-0 loss at Cheltenham at the midweek Cup tie. Then a ray of hope emerged from the gloomy skies as the Addicks managed a 1-1 draw against visiting Northampton.

Of course, what do you say when the high point of a season to date is a draw?

Outside Looking Up

Coventry City

Shrewsbury Town

Again, far to early to really get too serious about most teams. However Coventry City and Shrewsbury Town get put on our radar. Along with Oldham Athletic they are the only squads in League One who have not yet scored a goal. Sorry boys, but 0-0 draws will only get you so far in this league.

Relegation Game of the Week

Tuesday August 16

Charlton Athletic

Shrewsbury Town

Sky Bet League Two: We Deserved It

Our first relegation views are always early in the scheme of things. The fan base is still optimistic at the end of the busy first week even if their team has stunk up the joint thrice running.

And it is easier this time of the year. No matter the evidence on the field managers and coaches stand up to the proferred microphones and make a brave face. This weekend I must have heard a dozen grim faces say "That was a tough one. We should have come away with a point. We deserved it."

And everyone believes it right now. Fans are still plying on hope and optimism and possibilities. Managers, coaches and players are seeing good in with the bad and are thinking that just some hard work will iron the mistakes out.

It won't be until about week eight when the dawning realization hits that there are some serious problems, and jobs are on the line.

In League Two, we are off to a keen start. Of course the Relegation Battle in the Fourth Tier is a bit muted since only two squads will get their walking papers next year. That with the 46 game season gives everybody lots of time to dig themselves out of any hole they find themselves in by Boxing Day. Still, we have a few groups of less than stout-hearted men who deserve a word:

RELEGATION ZONE:

Plymouth Argyle

Three games: 2 League Two contests and a round of the ELF Cup with a congregate 0-6 score line, but it felt more like 0-12. Considering the Green Army were a win away in the final 2015-2016 playoff matchup from opening in League One, this is confounding on so many levels.

First out for the Pilgrims was the 0-3 spanking at the hands of mighty Luton. The telling fact was that the Green Army actually was given a lifeline late in the second half. In the 89th minute, down 0-2 the visitor's Daniel Potts was handed a Red Card and suddenly Plymouth Argyle had a man advantage. It proved only fool's gold as they could only watch Luton's Jonathan Smith fire home the final insult in extra time.

From there the Pilgrims traveled to Reading for their first flyer and only flyer at the EFL Cup. The most diplomatic statement I saw was that Reading "eased" past Plymouth Argyle 2-0.

Then at the end of a busy first week the Pilgrims traveled to Carlisle to receive a more physical thrashing. Their players were thumped about the pitch, but at least the scoreline was a vast improvement as they merely lost 1-0.

The problems are legion: Players being physically dominated by the opposition, disorder in the back, no cutting edge. Manager Derek Adams has his work cut out for himself.

Exeter City

The Lions are definitely a step above Plymouth Argyle, not only being in 23rd spot instead of dead last, but they definitely have a lot more positives to look at during their first week.

They started out traveling to Blackpool. Newly relegated side from League One, tough place to play. The effort seemed there but for some untimely mistakes in the back. They made the bus ride home after a 2-0 defeat. But then they followed that up with a bright, home 1-0 win versus Championship side Brentford midweek in their EFL Cup match.

But then came a nightmare in their second League match versus Hartlepool. In the second half Exeter seemed in control and out front 1-0 on the scoreboard when suddenly Hartlepool struck for two goals in rapid succession. Just like that, the Grecians were dumped into the relegation zone.

Exeter's problems are quite different from those of Plymouth Argyle. At times Exeter has played damned well. But then suddenly "stuff happens."

Outside Looking Up

Notts County

Notts County rallied from behind to tie Stevenage at the end of the week or else we might be taking a more serious look at the Magpies. The formula here seemed to be set in:

First game: a 2-0 thrashing at Yeovil opening day.

The EFL Cup a 2-0 thrashing at League One side Scunthorpe.

Then quickly down 0-1 hosting Stevenage and there were murmurings amongst the faithful. But home cooking is always better and so the Magpies stopped the bleeding before equalizing in the first half. The teams then fought to an entertaining 1-1 draw.

Out of these three struggling teams, Notts County at least opened on a bit of a high note - if you can call a tie a high.

Coming Relegation Battle of the Week

Tuesday, August 16
Notts County
Plymouth Argyle

Relegation Road for 2016-2017 is Upon Us

Whether it be the Premier League, or any of the dazzling worlds of English football, relegation is the wrong turn on the road.

Sure, the mightiest of the mighty disdain talk of relegation. But then the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea should also take heed. All you need to do is remember the tragic-comic story of Leeds now shuffling their games through League Two.

And with another year, not only do we get to watch the heroics and magical work of the DemiGods at the top of the table, but far down below is another struggle. Here lesser lights sweat and bleed, while supporters cringe and bang their knees every Sunday morning praying for blessings of another point to keep their side up.

The 2016-2017 relegation battle is before us. I cannot wait.