They may look the weakest on paper but they're not a bad team. When they came to Old Trafford and got a 3-3 draw in the group stages they played well and I think Fergie underestimated them with the team he put out and it nearly backfired on him. It's a cliche, but at this stage, there is no easy games.

I'm a bit indifferent on the race for fourth. On the one hand, I would like Liverpool to miss out but not if it means City get it. Hopefully Spurs or Villa will pip them both. In an ideal world, would love Everton to get it as that would really irritate Liverpool fans

We'll only compete for fourth once Moyes realises that the season starts in August.

Would like too see Spurs get it but then again i'm not Wedknapp's biggest fan, he thinks he triffic enough without taking Tottenham to the CL.

Will be a great race either way.

Almost as baffling as the Iain Dowie one. Surprised Curbs never got approached for either.

There are a few 'average' managers knocking around the PL though.

I expect Liverpool to finish 4th. I'd love Spurs to do it though. I wonder if the City fans(Cibaman, as he's the only one who posts when they haven't just won a game) will be gutted of they don't make it? I know Hughes said his goal at the start was top 6, but surely expectations have been raised.

'Curbs' certainly has a meatier CV.
Have Dowie or Laws ever taken a Premier League side down?

Part of my hope that they don't make the top 4 is based upon it being harder for them to recruit if they aren't a CL side.

TBH, if Citeh are willing to blow money in a Tevez fashion, finishing 4th might not actually make that much difference.

I thought top 4 was too much of a jump this season. I think they were mad for getting rid of Hughes when he was making a clear improvement in the side. But having got rid of Hughes, it's pretty obvious that not finishing in the top 4 will be a failure.

Should Citeh fans be gutted if they don't do it? IMO not really. ATM they are just at the start of a journey which should see them becoming one of the powers of English football. They should be enjoying the experience that the Sheikh has given them, not fretting all the way that they're not getting there quickly enough.

But Curbishley also has a recent history of shafting a club because everything didn't go his way. That's unlikely to endear him to any PL chairmen.

Dowie most definitely will have taken a PL side down. This will be Laws first and only experience of managing in the PL. Having PL experience will probably help him in the eyes of Championship and League One clubs, where he'll be lucky to be in the future.

Meatier was intended to cover the walkout at Charlton. Neither Laws nor Dowie have taken a Prem club down of course that will all change come the end of May.

Dowie was in charge of C.Palace when they got promotion in 2003/2004 and was still there when they got relegated the year after IIRC !?!