Burnley F.C (Currently 20th) - What is largely frustrating for a lot of Burnley fans is that they have on a number of occasions this year played some great football, and given some of the 'big' sides a real run for their money. They play as a real team unit, but have some great individual players at the same time. Danny Ings, George Boyd and Kieran Trippier have all performed admirably for the Lancashire side, but I simply do not feel like they have enough top quality players, that you need to survive in the Premier League. The only thing that might help Burnley in their bit for survival is the fact that their run in is far more appealing than the other sides who are battling to save their premier league statuses. Their final 5 games are all against sides who are in the bottom 5 of the League, but 3 of those are away games. The relegation battle will go to the final day, and Burnley face Villa away from home, I cannot see them winning this game at all. I think Burnley will face the drop and be one of the sides who are relegated this season, for me they have a great team spirit but simply don't have the quality in numbers to prosper in this division. Q.P.R (Currently 19th) - Being a Q.P.R fan is truly like being in a football roller-coaster ride, one week they can really turn up and play, and get results and the next they look very average. Millions of pounds have been spent on the playing staff over the last few years and this simply does not reflect on the sides performance. If you look at the Q.P.R squad on paper, and with names like; Steven Caulker, Joey Barton, Junior Hoilett and Eduardo Vargas, you would think that they shouldn't be anywhere near the relegation zone. For me the problem lies in the management, and lack of consistency in selection and tactics. I have never been a fan of Harry Redknapp, he has only done average at all the clubs he has been at. I don't think he bought in the right players at all, and although they needed experience at the start of the season I feel he bought in far too much. But will they avoid the drop? Yes I think they will, just about. They face 2 true finals in their last 3 games, at home to Newcastle, I think they will win, and then in a true make of break game, they must perform against Leicester City.
Leicester City (Currently 18th) - At the end of March Leicester City had only claimed 4 wins from 29 Premier League matches and relegation looked more than obvious from an onlooker. But after 3 wins from 4 games and a rejuvenated squad it seems they could be set for survival after all. Their run-in is certainly favorable, 4 out of 5 game are at home, an against beatable sides. One thing about Leicester that I have noticed is they have always scored goals, and a large number of them, and this doesn't seem to change even if they play sides further up the division with better defenses. They have the ability to score, which is what other sides who are relegated generally do not possess in their locker. I think Leicester City will stay up, and great praise should be given to Nigel Pearson for this, considering their league position less than a month ago. They however do need to make sure they don't make any mistakes in their final game against Q.P.R.
Hull City (Currently 17th) - I like Steve Bruce as a manager, I think he is a brilliant man manager and has such a good football brain. However this summer I think his signings where very weak. Abel Hernandez has been an aberration, only managing to score 4 goals in all competitions, which for their marquee signing at £10M, is simply not good enough, a poor addition for me. Tom Ince was also bought in in 2014 and has since been loaned to championship side Derby County - a very strange move for me. Mohamed Diame has also not had the best of seasons, last season he was fantastic at West Ham but he hasn't produced the same form under Bruce this season. I don't think the board have helped either, getting involved in the club too much is never a good idea, you only have to look at Cardiff City last season as proof for this. Hull City have made it almost a tradition in surviving in relegation battles over the past few years, but I feel this one is one too much for them. Their run in is scary. Fixtures against Man United, Liverpool, Spurs and Man City will be too much for Bruce's side and they will be relegated this season.
Sunderland F.C (Currently 16th) - Utter turmoil at the Stadium of Light. With 4 managers in just over 1 year, I think there Premier League status has just 6 games left. Too many changes of manager's and poor investments, and lack of investments in the playing squad have seen there performances and consistency severely drop. With an ageing squad and specifically an ageing deference they are doomed. With away games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Stoke, I cannot see them getting anything from these, maybe 1 point at the most. I cant see them creating goals in games, and Defoe hasn't been as prolific as Sunderland has needed.
Aston Villa (Currently 15th) - Villa looked like they where really stumbling towards relegation for most of the season, and looked they like have been going backwards for some time. Tim Sherwood has motivated his squad and his really getting the best out of a team, who on paper should be challenging for the Europa League positions. Christian Benteke has been crucial for Aston Villa's turnaround in fortunes, 10 goals in his last 7 games, including a hat-tick in the league and one that helped Villa to an F.A. cup final. They will comfortably stay up, as long as they get something from Arsenal or Man City. So for me its Burnley, Hull and Sunderland who will go down in May, they all have severe problems within their squads, not a good enough core in the middle of the park for these sides. Q.P.R certainly are not comfortable and they could easily be swapped for Burnley, depending on how either sides perform in the Run-in!
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