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