Kean: Plenty to smile about
11th – Blackburn Rovers – 32 points
Quietly, Steve Kean and Blackburn have defied expectations since Sam Allardyce was removed from his position as manager in December. 11th in the table, and with the continuation of Allardyce’s side’s reliable home form, Rovers are well-placed to go into this summer ready to build for new owners’ Venkys’ vision of a more attractive Blackburn side. Rumoured swoops for Ronaldinho and David Beckham may have failed in January, but you feel that Venkys will make that marquee signing at some point – it’s important they remain in the Premier League, though, and thanks to the unassuming hard work of Kean and his team, it looks like they’re going to manage it with points to spare.
10th – Stoke City – 33 points
Sadly, Stoke are now an established fixture in the Premier League, and despite a rocky start to the campaign it looks like we’ll be lumbered with them again next season. The team who has best defined ‘anti-football’ since the Premier League began are still at it, and boorish smart-arse Tony Pulis’s half-hearted effort to change the way they play was practically abandoned with the sale of Sanli Tuncay in January. It’s the same as it ever was, a punt to the corner and a delivery into the box by either Jermaine Pennant or Matthew Etherington. If it ends up out of play, just get Rory Delap to hurl it in (after drying the ball for 30 seconds if they’re winning). Still, you can’t exactly say it’s unsuccessful – Stoke haven’t been in serious danger since their promotion, and they certainly won’t be this season.
9th – Newcastle United – 35 points
Newcastle have responded to relegation in the best way possible, and the way their supporters will have wished in all but one respect. Most of the deadwood is gone, and an organised, committed unit has propelled them back into the Premier League and to feats unimaginable for some seasons (coming back from 0-4 down against Arsenal a particular highlight), but Mike Ashley remains. The sacking of Chris Hughton, despite an apparently safe league position at the time, and appointment of Alan Pardew, just sacked by League One Southampton, prompted criticism from neutrals as well as those on Tyneside, but it’s worked out quite well to this point. As well as that spectacular result against Arsenal, Pardew’s side eased to a 2-0 win at St. Andrew’s in their last game – that’s exactly the kind of result which will guarantee their heads will be kept above water.
