Division One Sack Race

The bottom half of D1:

38 points needed to avoid the sack, 43 to avoid relegation….

Villa and Valencia are already down. The lowest points totals ever for 20th was Southampton’s 12 last season, while Schalke amassed a meagre 21 points to finish 19th in S12.

Fenerbahce need four more points to equal the lowest ever points total for a team finishing 18th in D1 (record currently held by Dortmund in S5).

Manchester United under new manager Tharani need another nine points from five games to reach the magic 43 points total. Unlikely, but not impossible.

Espanyol need another four points, which seems more likely. Manager Glen Mullan is keen to avoid his side becoming a yo-yo team with what would otherwise be a third relegation from the top flight in five seasons.

A disappointing season for Real Madrid. Level on points with Espanyol, you would think they will survive, but after finishing sixth in manager Rob Ryan’s first season in charge this has been a season to forget.

Despite a brief renaissance and a 3rd place under Andy Kelly in S17, arguably the club never recovered from Roy Keane’s decision to sell all his ratings for youth in S6 and then appointing Beddows when it all went tits up.

The fans will surely not tolerate another relegation?

S18 Champions Arsenal are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone on 40 points. After seasons of mediocrity under Michael Bowes, manager Heath Brown broke the Barcelona/Chelsea dominance in D1.

Atletico Madrid are on 41 points, 2 from “guaranteed” safety. More of the same from manager Gav Harmer.

Bayer Leverkusen are level with Atletico on points, and have never managed more than two straight seasons in D1. Staying up this season will mean a third straight season in D1 Under manager Marco G – arguably Leverkusen’s greatest ever manager.

Genoa have 42 points and should be fine.