The Orange

It looks like Blackburn under our own Captain Ryan will be around next season.

I’ve got to admit that while I’ve never really paid too much attention to the EPL, the sheer drama of the relegation death match is something to really appreciate.

While a lot of the media’s attention is focus on the top of the table, the reality would seem to be that the top four or five positions are largely determined at the start of the season with only the order to be sorted.

On the other hand, all the other teams have the threat of slipping into the relegation zone and joining the death spiral that comes from relegation from the EPL.

Blackburn look to be safe now with a 2-nil win over Portsmoith at the weekend.

However, the relegation battle is far from over.

WBA looked doomed even a couple of weeks ago but they are making a last desperate big to avoid relegation.

Conversely, Hull City were everyone’s darling at the start of the season wehn they were sitting comfortably at the top.

With just one game to play, Hull are but one win ahead of the bottom three.  And worse, the team immediately behind them – Newcastle have a game in hand and a better goal difference.

The big game was played overnight – Newcastle in 18th position on 31 points play Middlesborough in 19th position also on 31 points.

A draw will do neither team any favours.  A win for Newcastle will see them move out of the relegation zone while the Boro would need to win by three goals to sneak ahead of Hull.

I’ll blog more later in the week.

As a final comment, it’s something that we miss with our top level franchises all pre-determined and no promotion relegation.  Not for NRL, S14, ARL or any of the four pro sports in the US.

I can’t see it ever being introduced but it adds a level of sheer emotions the franchised systems can’t deliver.

We’ve (both of us) have been tracking Blackburn Rover’s struggle at the foot of the EPL.

Rovers were up against middle of the table Wigan and the weekend – a loss would have kept Rovers just one place above the drop zone and only one win (three points) above second to last.  Not good.

Perhaps Captain Ryan has been getting some inspiration from this blog (Tui ad time).

Whatever the case, he finally broke his duck with his first goal after over one hundred appearances.

But still, what a game to score your first goal.

Check out the table here.

Blackburn are now 15th, six points ahead of the relegation zone with only four games remaining.  Sadly, it must be a little tough when the challenge last year was whether or not they could get into Europe.

Still, if you can be bothered, check out Hull’s free fall.  A parachute would reall help.  After 10 games, Hull were third (3rd in case you think that’s a typo) and now they are the last one not to be voted off the island.

Check out their fall here … looks like the share price for a US investment bank.

Anyway, good on ya Captain Ryan!

You’ve got to hand it to us here at the Orange … as soon as we start following Toulon, they turn the corner.

And we appeared to have worked the Oracle with Ryan Nelsen’s Blackburn Rovers (not to be confused with the team at Napier City).

I think we mentioned some of the big upcoming games in our last post (and if we didn’t for the sake of my credibility let’s imagine that I did).

Tottenham figured as a big game … not seriously in the relegation zone but not one of the top tier teams (if you like your alliteration).

The Big Match was at the weekend and Rovers (not the team from Hawke’s Bay) came from a goal down to win 2-1.

That gives them seven points in the last 4 games (a big deal when you’re staring the relegation zone in the face).

Remarkably, Blackburn have now stormed to 14th … albeit only 2 points ahead of 17th.

So, still plenty of interest left in the season with seven games to go.

Full details here.

Check out what a fellow blogger predicted here.

He’ll no doubt be drowning his sorrows down at the Rovers

Just checked and I’ve been a little slack on the Ryan Nelsen watch front.

When we last had a look, Blackburn were struggling in the relegation zone, admittedly with a game in hand.

Since then, it has been a real battle, not just for Blackburn.  While Blackburn haven’t been losing lots of games, they haven’t been winning either.

At least they have managed to get out of the relegation zone – just!

Blackburn are currently in 17th position on 31 points two ahead of 18th placed Newcastle.

But it’s close – just 5 points cover 12th-18th and Middlesborough aren’t out of it either a further 2 points behind Newcastle.

This time last year, Blackburn were happily bumping around 7-9th places and the biggest worry was whether or not they would make Europe.

The bad news is that in the 8 games to play to round off the season, Blackburn still have to play Liverpool AND Chelsea both away.

On the flip side, Blackburn’s last game is against WBA who are currently last.

Nevermind Ryan … there’s always a place in the Nix waiting for you!

Premier League table

The Orange has patented Tana Watch, there should be as much interest in New Zealand’s highest paid sports star, Ryan Nelsen (in case you needed a bit of help).

In case you need a little bit more help, Nelsen is a defensive player with Blackburn in the English Premier League and good enough to be captain.  He’s also good enough to be paid a rumoured $8 million but that’s strictly between Nelsen, his accountant, and the blogosphere.

So, here is the first official Nelsen/Blackburn watch.

The situation is shall we say challenging.

Here’s the situation as it stood Sunday pm NZT on 22 Feb.

Blackburn are in the bottom three (relegation zone) but with a game in hand.

Check out this cool graph – straight out of Premier Manager! Problem is that the red line – this season – is dropping like the proverbial stone.

Maybe Ryan needs to check out opportunities at the Nix next season?