English Premier League Fourth Five Preview 2021–22
Our Fourth Five EPL preview 2021 – 22, that is our fourth and final tier of five teams, is comprised of the football clubs we feel are most likely to be caught in the relegation vortex. Of course, nothing is certain. This is especially true when it comes to preseason previews and the English Premier League season. Plus, ultimately, only three teams will be relegated.
Fourth Five EPL Preview 2021 -22
16. Southampton
The Saints’ unanticipated sale of striker Danny Ings to Aston Villa is huge. Afterall, for the past three seasons, Ings has been the team’s top scorer. Plus left-back Ryan Bertrand is off the Leicester City. Bertrand was a major stabilizing force on the team. At this writing, central midfielder and team captain James Ward-Prowse is still with the club.
Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, who joined the team in December 2018 and saved them from relegation, was signed to a four-year contract extension in 2020. He may need all that time to get this team, which finished 15th last season, on track. What Southampton will do between now and the end of August to improve their chances of enjoying a successful season is unknown.
17. Burnley
The Clarets have managed to hang on in the Premier for five seasons. Last year, they finished 17th. Their strategy this year is to finish… 17th. Manager Sean Dyche, who’s been with the club since 2012, certainly knows how to maneuver and stay alive in the EPL. In his first nine years with Norwich, they’ve been top flight for six. The club has some foundation elements that work to keep them afloat.
Those include defender and captain Ben Mee, center back James Tarkowski, keeper Nick Pope and striker Chris Wood. There's been very little significant transfer movement under the new owners ALK. However, our Fourth Five EPL preview 2021 – 22 finds that they are smart enough to keep the essential parts of the club intact. Relegation? Maybe, maybe not.
18. Newcastle United
The Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League last season. They’ll be luck to evade relegation this season. Manager Steve Bruce, ownership, and the football club are all unpopular with fans. Overall, Bruce has been given a bad rap. He’s actually done a fine job with very little. However, fans feel that Bruce has been lucky to escape two relegations, long for the return of Rafael Benítez, and suspect a squad endowed with the attacking talents of Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin is capable of more than mid-table finishes. Not much on the transfer wire at this point.
19. Watford
In 2020, Watford was relegated, and this season they were promoted. Might they be relegated again? There’s a good chance that the Hornets of Vicarage Road will once again be headed downward. Manager Xisco Muñoz, who did a fine job in his first season, returns for a second. He’s the 12th Watford manager since Gino Pozzo took over the club in 2012. Overall, the issues for are this team are related to money.
They don’t spend the way many other clubs do, which makes for thin ranks. Young striker Emmanuel Dennis is the designated goal maker. New arrivals include left-back Danny Rose and striker Ashley Fletcher. Winger Ismaila Sarr is always dangerous. However, our Fourth Five EPL preview 2021 – 22 observes that the Hornets are lacking in many ways with their biggest issues being depth and stability.
20. Norwich City
The last time Norwich made it into the top flight was two years ago, and it did not do well, as relegation followed. Finishing first in the Championship League, they’re back for the 2021-22 season. Manager Daniel Farke, who guided them to the top of the Championship table, will lead them this season. Unfortunately, their primary playmaker Emi Buendía is off to Aston Villa. However, the Canaries did snag on loan Chelsea's premium young midfielder Billy Gilmour. Although they’ve acquired additional talent, Norwich City is still lacking. They’ll have to fight hard to stay in the EPL.
Fourth Five EPL Preview 2021 – 22
All-in-all, Southampton and Burnley have the best chance of surviving this season. Our Fourth Five EPL preview 2021 – 22 sees New Castel United, Watford, and Norwich City balancing on the regulation bubble. Then again, it is a long season, and a solid winning streak at any time can lift a team out of the morass.
