RELEGATION SPECIAL: Rising standards have led to increased pressure for bosses outside the top six

Getting tight at the bottom: pressure shows on the faces of (clockwise from top left) Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear, Stoke’s Tony Pulis, Hull’s Phil Brown, West Bromwich Albion’s Tony Mowbray and Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp (below) After 22 games, Albion and Stoke already have 10 points more than Derby mustered in their full 38 last season and the consensus among the experts is that the top flight's poorest teams are better equipped than ever. Alan Pardew, who led West Ham back to the Premier League four years ago and almost performed a miracle to keep Charlton up in 2007, said: 'The three promoted clubs have learned lessons from the likes of Derby. 'They have come in and been competitive; willing to invest properly in players, whereas sometimes in the past clubs have come into the Premier League and their boards have been staggered by the transfer fees and salaries being quoted.   More. Chelsea's foreigners were going down too easily, blasts Stoke boss Pulis Gloveman Gomes tells Spurs to keep faith in fight against drop Brown refuses panic over relegation fears at Hull Shearer fears for Newcastle as misery continues at St James' Park Better equipped: Former West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Pardew believes this season's newly promoted trio have learned valuable lessons 'The competition to get promoted from the Championship is so intense that no club wants to risk going down again. 'The three promoted teams have spent their money wisely and that has brought them on a par with the teams at the lower end of the Premier League.' A glance at league tables across Europe supports the idea that standards are higher at the bottom end of the Premier League. Compare West Bromwich's 21 points to Reggina's, propping up Italy's Serie A with 13 points. Osasuna are bottom in Spain, also with 13. In the 18-team German Bundesliga, it is Borussia Moenchengladbach with 11 and in France, Le Havre are at the foot of Ligue 1 with 12 points. Unsurprisingly, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has been quick to insist this is proof of the English product's quality. 'We've been harangued for predictability but this is the most entertaining season I've seen,' he said. 'I don't buy into the idea that the top four aren't as good. Every team have strengthened.' Part of the plan: Sophisticated scouting policies have helped managers like Mowbray to find better players Managers like Tony Mowbray, Tony Pulis and Phil Brown deserve credit but they have been helped by sophisticated scouting methods and smart agents are making it easier for smaller clubs to find players of a high calibre worldwide. Those who cannot compete with Manchester United's network of talent spotters can use software to record live football around the world and file clips of players. When an agent offers an unfamiliar face, the club can tap in a name and watch him in action without relying on an edited DVD from those with a vested interest in the sale. Pardew said: 'The standard of the player is a core factor and the fact those players are becoming gettable. 'The whole world wants to play in the Premier League. 'The agents are supposed to be the bad guys but they often have a greater knowledge of world markets than clubs and are involved in bringing players to the chairmen.' High-profile agent Pini Zahavi has played a key role in player recruitment at Chelsea. Kia Joorabchian has become a trusted transfer consultant at Manchester City based on his range of contacts in South America, one of the regions where English clubs continue to find value, despite the plunging pound. Super men: High-profile agents Pini Zahavi (L) and Kia Joorabchian have become key figures for some clubs when it comes to consultancy on new recruits Wigan have unearthed gems Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa from Honduras and returned to Latin America for Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega. Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock, who took Sheffield United into the Premier League, said: 'There's a lot more knowledge about bringing players with more quality. 'The play-off team is hardest hit because they have the least time, but Hull had a great start. 'But once you're on the slope it's hard to get off. It's ruthless. You can go nine or 10 games with no wins. It comes down to who is strongest mentally or a stroke of luck.' Hull have been rewarded for their aggressive transfer tactics with stunning goals from Geovanni and consistent defending from Guinea international Kamil Zayatte, on loan from Young Boys of Berne. Smart money: Geovanni cost Hull nothing in transfer fees but his winning goals, like the one against Arsenal, could prove to be priceless come the end of the May Ten years ago, Graham Taylor reached the Premier League with Watford via the play-offs and put his faith in the players who won promotion, reasoning the club might be relegated but would go down with greater intelligence and the financial clout to bounce back. The yo-yo technique had proved successful for Bolton and Charlton but that was before the Championship became such a bear pit. Hull, Stoke and West Bromwich have been active in the transfer market this month. Their bold approach and success has sparked fear among more established clubs aware of the damage relegation can cause a club saddled with a huge wage bill. Reading had clauses in place to reduce the wage bill on relegation, kept the squad together and are well placed for a quick return. Further down the pyramid lurk teams like Leeds, Leicester and Bradford, examples of what can occur on the other side of the trap door. Little wonder tension is rising.   More. Chelsea's foreigners were going down too easily, blasts Stoke boss Pulis Gloveman Gomes tells Spurs to keep faith in fight against drop Brown refuses panic over relegation fears at Hull Shearer fears for Newcastle as misery continues at St James' Park  

Source: Daily_Mail