I’VE been following the English Premier League but not for the reason one might expect.
While the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United might offer the best football in England, it’s the lower ranked teams that I’m following with much anticipation right now.
And like many Filipinos who are fans of the Azkals, I’m rooting for Cardiff City, a team based in Wales.
The more obvious reason for that is Azkal Neil Etheridge, Cardiff’s first goalkeeper.
Not so long ago, Azkals fans celebrated Cardiff’s thrilling promotion to the top flight. Much wasn’t expected of the club, and true enough, fast forward to the season’s climax, struggling Cardiff is holding on for dear life to stay in the Premiership.
And that, dear friends, is what makes the bottom four of the league truly exciting and meaningful for me as a football fan. Unfortunate clubs who find themselves in these spots will be relegated to The Championship.
As it stands, Cardiff is at the bottom three, and at season’s end, the u Division of the English Football League.
At 18th spot is Cardiff with 28 points after 32 matches, ahead of fellow cellar dwellers Fulham (19th) with 17 pts. and Huddersfield (20th) 14 pts., while it trails Southampton (16th) and Brighton (15th) both with 33 pts. but the latter has a game at hand.
But of the three, Southampton seems to have the best odds of avoiding relegation. Why? It will face more teams that are less difficult to beat: Wolves (8th), Newcastle (15th), Watford (10), Bournemouth (13th), West Ham (11th), and Huddersfield (20th).
Brighton, on the other hand, will face Cardiff this Saturday, but has tougher days ahead against Wolves (8th), Tottenham (4th), Newcastle (15th), Arsenal (5th), and Manchester City (2nd).
After the match against Burnley (14th), Cardiff will face Brighton, but won’t be having it easier against Liverpool (1st), Fulham (19th), Crystal Palace (12th), and Manchester United (6th).
Neil Etheridge and his Cardiff squad must win their next two matches--against Burnley this Saturday and against Brighton this Wednesday--to keep their hopes alive of staying in the Premiership.