Not sure if this is interesting to others, but I've been tracking the "league within the league" made up of the clubs outside of the teams not expected to be competing for Europe. In light of early results you could argue one or two of the teams, but at the start of the season I identified the following 12 as being in the Mini League:
Watford; Burnley; Newcastle; West Brom; Huddersfield; Southampton; Stoke; Brighton; West Ham; Swansea; Bournemouth; Crystal Palace.
And therefore outside the mini league would be these 8: Man City; Man Utd; Tottenham; Chelsea; Liverpool; Arsenal; Everton; Leicester
The mini league reflects total Prem points, but treats points against teams outside the mini league as bonus points.
A few things strike me.
- Watford, Newcastle, West Brom and Southampton have only played one of the "big" teams so far. That should worry Southampton particularly and the other three a little perhaps.
- Stoke and Bournemouth have played four big teams already and Palarse three.
- Burnley have taken five points from the big sides already.
I know mini league membership is highly debateable (which teams are "big" and which aren't etc), but I've found it quite interesting so far.
Watford; Burnley; Newcastle; West Brom; Huddersfield; Southampton; Stoke; Brighton; West Ham; Swansea; Bournemouth; Crystal Palace.
And therefore outside the mini league would be these 8: Man City; Man Utd; Tottenham; Chelsea; Liverpool; Arsenal; Everton; Leicester
The mini league reflects total Prem points, but treats points against teams outside the mini league as bonus points.
A few things strike me.
- Watford, Newcastle, West Brom and Southampton have only played one of the "big" teams so far. That should worry Southampton particularly and the other three a little perhaps.
- Stoke and Bournemouth have played four big teams already and Palarse three.
- Burnley have taken five points from the big sides already.
I know mini league membership is highly debateable (which teams are "big" and which aren't etc), but I've found it quite interesting so far.