da doce： The Premier League is split into three separate divisions this season. The top six are in their own mini-league, with sixth-placed Manchester United five points clear of Everton, and the bottom six are becoming cut off from the rest of the table. And, in between those two groups, a third lies safe in the security of mid-table.
da heads bet： While both relegation and European qualification is still mathematically possible for all of these clubs, it is severely unlikely. Watford are as long as 8/1 for relegation, for instance, and Everton are out at 9/1 to finish in the top six. It looks as though the top and bottom six of the Premier League are locked into their zones of the table, with the order of the clubs within those mini-leagues yet to be decided. There may be the odd club that breaks out – particularly at the bottom of the table – but chances are the ‘middle-tier’ teams are stuck where they are.
Mid-table has plenty of positives, though. Safety from relegation means another year of Premier League football and another year of the associated riches. It does, however, leave clubs with a quiet, potentially uncompetitive climax to the campaign.
This clutch of teams in the comfort of mid-table can go one of two ways. We will likely see at least one team put together a great run of form and finish at the upper-end of the middle-tier, while one or two teams will relax with several matches to go and end up in an unflattering league position.
It is a natural consequence of league football, really. Some teams will end up playing half the season without any realistic hope of ‘success’ and without the threat of demotion. It is a side effect we are all too accustomed to, but could clubs be doing more to make use of this ineffective part of the season?
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Tactical testing might seem a bit of a risk when clubs are yet to be confirmed as safe. We may be a little early for the bolder decisions like that to be made, but there is no reason that managers should stick with the same formation all season, especially when the pressure is lessened. Ease in some training on a new system or approach and test it out towards the ‘already on their holidays’ part of the campaign. It can be a means to keep the players on their toes and learn about the bounds of your squad for the next season.
One thing that mid-table managers should be doing already, though, is testing out some of the hottest prospects from their academies and under-23 teams. While players like Reece Oxford look set to head out on loan and others are left in the monotonous dead-end of the reserves, there are Premier League opportunities there for some of these players. Ronald Koeman has already made bold moves to do just this and is reaping the rewards through the early impressions made of players like Tom Davies.
Other clubs in similar positions to Everton have already given minutes to youngsters, with Southampton at the forefront once again. The experiments and chances given to these players should still be greater at this time of year.
There is little to lose for many of the managers (other than maybe upsetting a few first teamers) and they could unearth a gem. That gem could be ready to play a key role in the first team next season, which would sure make their summer dealings a fair bit easier. Rather than players gaining first team experience out on loan, they can adapt to the ways of the first team at their club, get used to the style of play and the manager can learn so much more about a player this way.
There are 16 Premier League matches left, but it is time for managers to plan for the summer and 2017/18. Some of this season’s relaxed middle-tier clubs will be in the heat of relegation battle in 12 months, some might be pushing for a top six place. These 16 matches are an opportunity to do the groundwork for next season and help identify what they really need to focus on over summer.
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