Premier League 2014/15 Relegation – The Contenders

We’re close to the start of the 2014/15 Premier League season, and you’ve probably bet on the outright winner and top scorer markets, but have you thought about who’ll get relegated to the Championship? Look no further as we’ve got it covered here at TVBet.

Newly promoted teams are always favoured to go straight back down

Sometimes one team will overachieve and finish in the top 10 after gaining promotion, but given the vast and immediate step up in quality between the Championship and Premier League, most are immediately relegated.

What’s perceived to be the key part of survival is how many players clubs bring in that have Premier League experience. Perhaps crucially, Burnley – the second placed club in last season’s Championship – haven’t added any such quality or experience of note.

Play-off winners QPR, on the other hand, look far better equipped for survival than the team who finished above them last season – both fiscally and in terms of personnel. Plus, Rio Ferdinand is a good signing for the club, bringing a wealth of experience and leadership.

Finally, along with ex-Almeria and Brighton striker Leonardo Ulloa, Nigel Pearson’s Championship winning Leicester have brought in two decent players with Premier League experience in Marc Albrighton and Mathew Upson, but will that be enough to keep them up?

Nobody wants to be at Villa

They were nearly relegated last season, owner Randy Lerner is trying to sell the club and it’s fair to say that Aston Villa have so far failed to impress in the off-season transfer market.

The Midlands club suffers from a lack of general organization, and a lack of belief on the pitch. New signings Joe Cole, Phillip Senderos and Kieran Richardson all came for free – and with two of those three well past their prime and the other having never lived up to his early promise, it looks likely to be a hard season for the former European champions.

Baggies look set to struggle

Although Alan Irvine impressed during spells in charge of Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End, he lacks Premiership experience and has a squad that looks likely to struggle in front of goal. Joleon Lescott is a good signing defensively, but West Brom should be in for a tough 2014/15.

Have Southampton sold too many players?

Amongst others, Luke Shaw, Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren left Southampton during the summer. All four could have been considered key players, so new coach Ronald Koeman looks likely to be in for a rougher ride than he expected.

2014/15 Premier League relegation betting

We expect Burnley (8/13 Ladbrokes) to suffer immediate relegation but see no value in betting on them. Instead, Leicester have a tough opening schedule – which includes games against Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea – and, as such, their 13/5 price makes them an attractive bet with Coral.

Otherwise, with the changes at Southampton reflected in their price (11/2, Betfred) and West Brom a bit short at 5/2 with Bet 365, Aston Villa are our second pick to be relegated at 3/1 with Stan James.