A mid-table finish wouldn't be a bad result for Alan Pardew
Alex Johnson looks at the teams in the middle of the Premier League table to see if they are likely to stay there or not.
There are sure to be many twists and turns ahead but which six Premier League teams are going to have to settle for a mid-table finish?
Despite their poor starts, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham will surely get their acts together and challenge for a top-six finish, while Southampton have been brilliant so far and there seems little chance of them fading.
The Saints are already seven points clear of the fourth-placed side and are showing little sign of disintegrating.
Chelsea already look champions in waiting, while Manchester City will surely raise themselves from their current malaise and clinch the runners-up spot.
The relegation battle looks set to include the three promoted teams who currently occupy the bottom three spots - Leicester City, QPR and Burnley - with Crystal Palace, Hull City and Sunderland the other sides most in danger of slipping out of the top flight.
That leaves six teams battling for the ninth to 14th spots, with most of them relieved not to be involved in a relegation battle but with little prospect of making a run for a Europa League spot.
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Swansea City
There is a case to be made for the fans of the Swans being one of just five sets of Premier League supporters who are content with their sides' starts to the season - the others being Chelsea, Burnley, Southampton and West Ham.
Most of the other teams' supporters have something to grumble about but Garry Monk has managed to put together an entertaining and winning side in South Wales.
The 2-1 victory against Arsenal lifted the Swans up to fifth in the table and they really have been one of British football's most endearing stories of the last decade.
Swansea were playing in the fourth tier in the 2004/05 season, but three promotions in seven seasons following the building of the Liberty Stadium, which has helped to transform their fortunes, lifted them to the Premier League.
A League Cup success in 2013 and the probability of a fourth successive mid-table finish has kept Swans fans content and confident Monk can keep the club flourishing over the next few years.
Newcastle United
Another mid-table finish may keep owner Mike Ashley happy but Newcastle fans remain disgruntled despite their side's recent resurgence.
A League Cup success, and first major trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 1955, would certainly lift spirits on Tyneside and they are buoyant after beating Manchester City in the last round and being drawn against Tottenham in the quarter-finals.
A month ago a relegation scrap appeared to be on the cards but Alan Pardew's side have won their last four Premier League matches and there is enough quality in the squad to ensure they finish in the top half for the third time in four campaigns.
West Ham
Even though the Hammers have made a magnificent start to the season, and are currently fourth after winning five of their first 11 Premier League matches, even Sam Allardyce has admitted his side is over-achieving.
Andy Carroll is fit again, for the time being, but surely Diafra Sakho, Stewart Downing and Enner Valencia cannot continue the blistering form they have shown in the first third of the season?
This may be the best West Ham squad to have been assembled for some time, but Allardyce's men are likely to be overtaken by Manchester United, Arsenal and possibly even Tottenham over the winter months and may have to settle for mid-table respectability once again.
Stoke City
The Potters are enjoying their seventh successive campaign in the Premier League and are hardly ever mentioned in pre-season as possible relegation candidates.
However, it must be remembered that before their promotion in 2007/08 they had endured more than two decades outside the top flight.
The last six seasons have seen Stoke finish between ninth and 14th and there seems little to suggest such a pattern will not stretch into a seventh year.
Mark Hughes has evolved Tony Pulis' side into a more skilful outfit although they remain a team of giants and one that can unsettle more cultured teams on their day.
West Brom
The Baggies were among the favourites for the drop before the season started but there is enough quality in Alan Irvine's squad to ensure they stay out of trouble.
The form and goals of Saido Berahino have been vital and Albion will be desperate to hold on to him in January when the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool will step up their interest.
If the 21-year-old does leave the Hawthorns in the winter transfer window, a lack of goals in the rest of the squad could become an issue as Victor Anichebe and Georgios Samaras are hardly prolific scorers.
However, there is a strong spine to this Albion side, with Ben Foster in goal, Joleon Lescott marshalling the defence and quality in midfield, with the likes of Graham Dorrans and Craig Gardner fine players.
The Baggies may struggle against the top sides in the division but they have already beaten Leicester City and Burnley and it is key wins like that which will ultimately prove decisive and keep them out of trouble.
Aston Villa
After three successive seasons of struggle, Villa, despite their current seven-match winless run, should be able to steer of a relegation dogfight this term.
Paul Lambert's side showed in their opening four games of the campaign, when they conceded only one goal and took 10 points from matches against Newcastle United, Stoke City, Hull City and Liverpool, that they have sturdy foundations to build on.
Goals are certainly a problem - they have managed to score only five in their first 11 matches - but Christian Benteke showed in the game against Spurs before he was sent off that he can be a menace to most Premier League defences.
When the Belgian returns from his suspension, Villa will start to climb the table and their fans should be able to enjoy a tension-free second half to the campaign.
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