After taking a good hard look at this season's EPL contenders earlier in the week, it's time to turn our attention to the pretenders - aka the bottom 10 sides after approximately 10 matches this season.
Everton 4 wins, 1 draw, 5 losses, position 11
Everton has had a history of struggling every second year and this trend does not appear to be ending anytime soon. Having secured a Champions League qualification spot by finishing fourth in 2004-05, the Merseyside club slumped to 11th the following season before earning a UEFA Cup berth through a sixth-placed finish the next time around. However, after starting the season with back-to-back victories, the Toffees have recorded just two more wins over the next eight rounds on the back of five losses. Despite the most recent loss to derby rival Liverpool appearing a tad unfortunate, Everton has not managed to produce the goods consistently this season. It has struggled to get its best players out on the pitch, especially Socceroo goal poacher Tim Cahill whose away goals were a feature of Everton's quality start to the 2006-07 campaign. Striker Andrew Johnson has also been struggling to score, having only just recently ended a six month goal drought while Mikel Arteta has also not quite been the consistent 2006-07 version either. The Toffees defence still appears to be a relatively solid unit but its overall squad remains particularly small and could be further tested by the UEFA Cup campaign it is beginning this week. However, things could go either way for Everton and another UEFA qualification is still not out of the question for David Moyes's squad if luck finally happens to smile on the men in blue.
Reading 3 wins, 1 draw, 6 losses, position 12
The second year syndrome appears to be well and truly affecting Reading in season 2007-08. Having finished the club's first season of top-flight action in a respectable eight position, the Royals have struggled to match those results this time around and their 12th position on the table probably flatters Steve Coppell's side. That position comes on the back of three victories this season, but those wins have been far from impressive, coming against an underwhelming trio of Everton, Wigan and Derby. Scoring is not the problem for the Royals, though as Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson have been doing the job once again for Reading and the club has also played in the highest-scoring match ever seen in England's top flight, a 7-4 loss to Portsmouth. However, the Royals defence has been fragile as a -10 goal difference indicates. It is also severely missing the influence of midfield enforcer Steve Sidwell, who transferred to Chelsea during the summer, while its away form has been dire and the team appears to go to sleep at half-time as it has conceded a huge amount of second-half goals. The Royals did have a brief lull period last season before going on with the job and Coppell will certainly be hoping the situation repeats itself.
Fulham 1 win, 5 draws, 4 losses, position 13
In terms of winning, it's been a fairly dismal season for Fulham, the sometimes forgotten London club in the Premiership. The Cottagers have just one victory to their name during this campaign and that was over bottom club Bolton. That being said, Fulham has recorded five draws, including tied matches with Chelsea and Manchester City, but eight points from 10 matches still represents a degree of under-performing, especially as the club invested heavily during the summer, while also taking on successful Northern Irish manager Lawrie Sanchez after ditching Chris Coleman at the end of the last season.
The Cottagers season, though, has been blighted by injury, particularly a season-ending knee injury to striker Brian McBride. One of the club's brightest prospects in Jimmy Bullard has also not appeared so far this season after suffering a season-ending knee injury of his own during 2006-07. However, there have been plenty of positives for the club, especially the spirit it has shown to produce late draws against Tottenham and Manchester City, although narrowly avoiding being spanked by Derby in the last match can hardly have done Sanchez any favours.
Birmingham City 2 wins, 2 draws, six losses, position 14
In many ways Birmingham City has probably exceeded expectations so far this season. Widely tipped for immediate relegation to the Championship after its promotion last time around, the Blues are currently sitting in 14th and are one of five clubs on eight points after about 10 matches this season. However, looking more closely at the results, the Blues have only managed one goal victories over struggling Derby and Bolton and also have six losses to their name. The highlight of the season so far has been keeping Liverpool to a 0-0 draw after playing the most defensive brand of football pretty much ever seen in the top flight. However, in recent times, the club has been destabilised by news of a prospective takeover by businessman Carson Yeung. Manager Steve Bruce expects Yeung to sack him and has asked for a clearance to speak with then manager-less Bolton, which had been interested in the former Manchester United man's services. However, Yeung refused Bruce's request and has not even spoken with the disgruntled manager, leading to much speculation about the club's future. However, regardless of who is coaching, if the Blues avoid relegation, then the season has been a success.
Wigan 2 wins, 2 draws, six losses, position 15
How the worm turns..... and turns. On the final day of 2007-08, the Latics produced a win over Sheffield United that kept them in the top flight for another campaign. However, the stress of that effort led to the resignation of charismatic manager Paul Jewell at the JJB Stadium. Survival this time around did not start well as the club lost to Everton in round one. But two wins on the trot after that saw new manager Chris Hutchings sitting pretty with his club on top of the table. Unfortunately for Hutchings, wins from then on have been a little more difficult to come by, although the only proper spanking it has received has been at the hands of Manchester United in a 4-0 result. With this in mind, the club's defence does not seem to be the real problem. There are, however some deep issues to do with the Latics' scoring capabilities as they have only produced three goals over the last seven matches. Rumours the club has told its players to watch David Duchovny on a Monday night to help with that little problem remain unfounded.
Sunderland 2 wins, 2 draws, six draws, position 16
The fire and brimstone that was meant to have heralded Roy Keane's return to the Premiership has failed to materialise so far as his Sunderland outfit has proved to be a little underwhelming in season 2007-08. Keano was meant to have brought the biff back to the Premiership but having shaved the beard that made him look so scary in the Championship, he, like his team, seem to have flown under the radar a little. The Stadium of Light was rocking as the club defeated Tottenham on the opening day, especially as the club took about six months to record a win in 2005-06, but since then it's been lean pickings for the northern outfit, especially as instrumental midfielder Kieran Richardson has been injured. However, Keano could have forward Dean Whitehead back in the side as his recovery from injury continues while the club will be further bolstered if Michael Chopra can get back to scoring goals like he did early in the season. Regardless of what the club does from now on, though, it can still be safe in the knowledge, it will do better than last time around, for if it doesn't, the beard, brimstone and wrath of Keane will be sure to follow.
Middlesbrough 2 wins, 2 draws, six losses, position 17
Once again Middlesbrough fans appear certain to endure another season of mediocrity at the Riverside stadium. After the club produced an impressive 2004-05 which ended with a UEFA Cup spot (the club eventually got belted by Sevilla in the UEFA Cup final), it's been all downhill for Boro, especially since the departure of Steve McClaren. Gareth Southgate continues to appear a manager under borrowed time as his club has struggled to just two wins so far this campaign. Boro was probably a tad unfortunate not have defeated northern rival Newcastle in a thrilling derby encounter but, if one's searching for positives, there's slim pickings. Jonathan Woodgate, though, continues to be solid in Boro's defence ahead of unflappable Socceroos stopper Mark Schwarzer but players like Stewart Downing have not really taken the next step while striker Ahmed Mido remains inconsistent at best since crossing over from Tottenham.
Tottenham 1 win, four draws, five losses, position 18
After their barnstorming finish to last season, who would have predicted Spurs to be in the relegation zone come October without a manager. The reason for this, though, partly lies with club management. Their courting of Sevilla manager Juande Ramos inevitably destabilised a club that appeared to be going places during the summer while several early losses shook the squad's somewhat flimsy confidence to the core, particularly its opening round defeat at Sunderland. Goals are not the problem for Tottenham as the club has scored 17, just four short of the league's best in Arsenal (21). However, down the other end, Spurs' defence and, in particular under pressure goalkeeper Paul Robinson, have a tendency to concede the soft goals that ruin the forwards' good work. The best example of this came in the club's sensational come from behind 4-4 draw with Aston Villa after Spurs recovered from a three goal deficit. However, the fact that the team was celebrating that result as if it was a win suggests there is a real problem with re-developing a winning culture at the West London outfit. Whoever takes over from the likeable Jol remains to be seen, but he certainly has a job ahead of him now.
Derby 1 win, 3 draws, 6 losses, position 19
Derby may be enduring a nightmare start on its return to the top flight but manager Billy Davies remains optimistic that his team can eventually match it with the big boys. One victory from 10 - over a Newcastle side apparently feeling the strain of playing international matches - suggests that Davies also has a big task ahead, though, as the Rams seem to have deficiencies in all areas. That being said, aside from three matches where they have been flogged by Liverpool (6-0), Arsenal (5-0) and Tottenham (4-0), the Rams have presented their opposition with a concerted challenge and probably could have claimed their second victory of the campaign last weekend against Fulham but for Antti Niemi's impressive goalkeeping in a 0-0 draw. According to the BBC, Davies does admit that his side is a 'work in progress' and he is still attempting to get the right squad out on the park. The manager is also busy identifying players that might make the switch to Pride Park during the January transfer window, although he declares that his club does not have the financial assets necessary to attract most of the big names. Regardless of Davies's acquisitions, a return to the Championship looks eminent for Derby after 10 rounds.
Bolton 1 win, 2 draws, 7 losses, position 20
After 10 matches so far this season, there's not a Sammy in sight at the Reebok after Sam Allardyce departed at the end of last season and Little Sammy Lee was given his 'mutual' marching orders last week. Although everyone recognised that following in Big Sam's footsteps would be no easy task, Bolton's one victory from 10 matches has to make the club rank among the big disappointments of the season so far. After all, this is the side that has made it to the UEFA Cup umpteen times during Allardyce's tenure and the playing group remains very similar to the competitive outfit of last season. The difference seems to be in the attitude, though. While Bolton was its usual snarling, defensive and ugly-football oriented self against Arsenal last weekend, it has not shown these qualities much at all so far this season. Nicolas Anelka may be excused for he has tried his heart out along with stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen, but several other senior players have gone missing, among them one-time England hopeful and club skipper Kevin Nolan.
Trotters' management have hired former Leicester boss Gary Megson to take over from Lee over the last 24 hours But regardless of Megson's reasonable credentials, it appears Bolton fans may be in for an uncomfortable ride back to the Championhip.