English Premier League Review

So today was survival sunday for four premier league teams; Sunderland, Hull, Newcastle, and Middlesborough. West Brom was already relegated to the championship. It looked like Newscastle had the best chance to survive after Hull was down one at the KC stadium. However hope for survival for Newcastle United turned south after Aston Villa scored. Sunderland played as though they really wanted to stay up! They came from 3-1 to 3-2 working hard for their loss even though they were destined to stay up. After the full 90mins and added time Newcastle UTD (for the first time) and Middlesbrough were relegated along side of West Brom to the Championship. The two teams that have secured a place in the English Premier League for next season are Wolverhampton and Birmingham City. The third team to join them will be decided tomorrow (05.25.2009) between Sheffield UTD and Burnley. more to come on this tomorrow. Now the big question is will any of the three teams make it back to the EPL. Reading f.c. made a commitment to heading back immediately this season, but came up short in the playoffs. So who do I think will make it? Well most players leave if a team is relegated. Michael Owen (Newcastle UTD) has a great opportunity to leave for Scottish Champions Celtic. If Newcastle lose any of their players they better hope to find excellent replacements. Also they need a manager! Seeing that Alan Shearer is on a temporary basis will Joe Kinnear return? Also because of thier relegation I believe there will be a backlash against owner Mike Ashley. Ashley has been viewed by the supporter as a non-sense Newcastle fan and needs to be replaced. So will Newcastle return? MAYBE. How about Middlesborough? Well they could sack manager Gareth Southgate and maybe replace him with Alan Curbishly???!!! I think Curbishly would make a great fit for Middlesbrough relatively young squad. There Keeper seems to be off in every game. Perhaps a new defense is what Middlesborough need, then again they would also need better middlefielders. So can Middlesbrough make it back? The Championship would seem a good fit for boro. Birmingham made it out so why can't they? The teams in the Championship are very experienced. Also Leister and Peterbrough (who secured promotion from League one to the Championship) look big contenders. Especially Peterbrough who were promoted last season to league one and then this season promoted to the Championship. Could they make it to the Premier League? No, not next season. There are too many experienced teams out there in the Championship like Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, now Newcastle, West Brom, Preston, middlesbrough, Cardiff and lots more) However theres a first for everything, but highly unlikely. Back to Middlesbrough, they won't make it back if their keeper does not improve. Boro survived last season becuase of Mark Schwartzer. With him gone they were obviously relegated. Now West Brom, their manager is very experience in the Championship. However he lost a lot of player during the summer transfer window during the summer of 08. WBA lost their top scorer, goal keeper, and other players which is why they were relegated. Not a good idea of getting rid of your best players right directly after promotion. This season has been excellent. Liverpool made it even close to the Premier League Title only falling short to the Champions, Manchester UTD. During the transfer window it would be interesting who Liverpool manager Rafa Benetiz will sell and bring in. I think the squad he has is the best one yet, but they need another striker like Fernando Torres. Chelsea has seen a mixed season with the sacking of Luis Felipe Scolari and the interm management of Guus Hiddinks. Also a controversal Champions League match against Barcalona, I think an FA cup win against Everton will make it all up. Arsenal nearly missed out on Champions League Footbal against Aston Villa. But do Villa fans really want to be in the Champions League group stages? I mean after they couldn't handle UEFA european cup (I think thats whats it called). Next season tends to be interesting with new signings for the big four, Sunderland recieving a big money boost, Manchester City planning to bring in quality players through their owners big purses, and Tottenham who have improved greatly under Harry Redknapp. Next season will be interesting with Chelsea expecting a new manager and maybe Arsenal id Arsene Wenger leaves for Real Madrid (unlikely according to Wenger). So overall brilliant season! Heres the final table of the 2008-2009 Premier League Season:
Premier League Table
Premier League Table - May 24 2009 Pos Team Pts

C 1 Manchester United 90 CHAMPIONS OF PREMIER LEAGUE - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2 Liverpool 86 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
3 Chelsea 83 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
4 Arsenal 72 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - QUALIFICATION STAGES
5 Everton 63 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
6 Aston Villa 62 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
7 Fulham 53 UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - QUALIFICATION STAGES
8 Tottenham Hotspur 51
9 West Ham United 51
10 Manchester City 50
11 Wigan Athletic 45
12 Stoke City 45
13 Bolton Wanderers 41
14 Portsmouth 41
15 Blackburn Rovers 41
16 Sunderland 36
17 Hull City 35
R 18 Newcastle United 34 RELEGATED TO CHAMPIONSHIP
R 19 Middlesbrough 32 RELEGATED TO CHAMPIONSHIP
R 20 West Bromwich Albion 32 RELEGATED TO CHAMPIONSHIP