In most Premier League seasons, the teams that drop into the Championship are those who have struggled throughout the campaign, often lacking the depth, resources or consistency to survive. However, relegation is not always that straightforward.
Over the years, some sides have gone down despite possessing real quality within their squads. Whether due to managerial upheaval, bad fortune or simply failing to get it together on the pitch, these teams were arguably too strong to be relegated—but went down nonetheless.
6. Blackpool (2010-11)
Could they defend? Absolutely not—but who cares? This Blackpool side were an absolute joy to watch. In terms of individual quality, this squad is comfortably the weakest on the list. Many of these players were experiencing top-flight soccer for the first (and only) time, but what made the Tangerines so special was their fearful, attack-first approach.
Manager Ian Holloway was not widely associated with expansive soccer before taking charge at Bloomfield Road in 2009, but after watching Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side, the eccentric Bristolian embraced a more adventurous philosophy.
With a youthful Charlie Adam pulling the strings in midfield and DJ Campbell leading the line with support from Gary Taylor-Fletcher, the Seasiders came agonizingly close to survival, finishing on 39 points—just one short of safety.
5. Newcastle United (2008-09)
By the end of the 2008-09 season, Newcastle United had managed just seven wins, gone through four managers and suffered relegation from the Premier League for the first time in their history.
Off the pitch, the Magpies were in total disarray. Kevin Keegan resigned in September after a dispute over transfer control, with Joe Kinnear brought in as his replacement. He was later replaced by Chris Hughton in February, before club legend Alan Shearer took over in April, tasked with keeping his boyhood club up. However, passion alone wasn't enough, and Newcastle were ultimately relegated.
The collapse was all the more striking given the level of talent at their disposal, including Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, Geremi Njitap, Damien Duff and Nicky Butt, among others.
4. Blackburn Rovers (1998-99)
Just four years after lifting the Premier League title, Blackburn Rovers were relegated, collecting just 35 points during the 1998-99 season.
So how did it unravel so quickly? Only a year earlier, Rovers had finished sixth, with many expecting another push toward the upper reaches of the table. Several members of their title-winning squad—including Chris Sutton, Jason Wilcox and Tim Flowers—were still at the club, while promising young talents such as Damien Duff were also beginning to emerge.
In the end, however, a lack of a consistent goal scorer proved decisive. Blackburn's top league scorers were Kevin Gallacher and Ashley Ward, who managed just five goals apiece. The team won only five matches all season and ultimately dropped into the second tier.
3. Middlesbrough (1996-97)
Juninho was a bona fide soccer genius, but even the little Brazilian magician could not do enough to keep Middlesbrough in the top flight during the 1996-97 campaign.
Alongside the fiery Fabrizio Ravanelli—who scored an impressive 31 goals in all competitions—Juninho and his teammates collected 39 points, finishing just two short of safety.