As we are past the halfway point for the season I thought now would be a good place to look back and assess on how well, or in some cases, how badly, the season has been so far for the 20 clubs that make up the Premier League. Today I’ll look at the top five clubs going into 2009 and tomorrow I’ll do the same but for the teams at the other end of the table.
Liverpool. Currently 1st.
Liverpool have so far managed to cling onto top spot mainly due to the fact that whenever they have dropped points so have Chelsea. Realistically Liverpool should be a few more points clear of the pack but careless draws at home to the likes of West Ham, Stoke and Fulham may cost them towards the end of the season. What is encouraging is that this season has seen them already beat Manchester United and Chelsea which may be very important in the minds of the Liverpool players. They know they can beat the best now and if you can finish above United and Chelsea there is a good chance you’ll finish top of the league.
Prediction – 1st
Chelsea. Currently 2nd
Big Phil has tinkered with the winning formula created by Jose Mourinho to interesting effect. No longer are Chelsea the juggernaut of old but are a team that often play you off the field, best displayed when they passed Portsmouth off the field first day of the season. Key injuries to the likes of Drogba, Ballack and Terry have not helped their cause, nor have the inadequate displays of squad players like Ivanovic and Kalou – who continues to hint at being a good player but never fully delivers. Also Chelsea have struggled at home after losing their 4 year undefeated streak and their sense of invulnerability, but this will surely return once players come to terms with losing their record. With players returning from injury I can see Chelsea pushing Liverpool and United but I suspect they will pull up again just short.
Prediction – 3rd
Manchester United. Currently 3rd
United currently sit 3rd in the table with two games in hand over Liverpool. So far United have failed to reach top gear but must be pleased to still be in contention in the title race. Ronaldo, after missing the first few weeks of the season, has failed to reach the heights of last year and the increasing petulance that is displayed in his game must be of concern to Sir Alex Ferguson. The defence has been as strong as ever and the return of Michael Carrick to centre midfield, whose vision and passing is second to none, must be pleasing to all at Old Trafford. It is in the final third that United have the most troubles, attempting to accommodate Tevez, Rooney and Berbatov into only 2 striking positions. Once they all click I expect United to push Liverpool all the way but see their near neighbours just piping them this year.
Prediction - 2nd
Aston Villa. Currently 4th
Villa have been a breath of fresh air this year and it is great to see another team make a realistic challenge for the top four. With Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor they have players that can really punish the opposition with their skill and pace. What Martin O’Neill has done is bring together a good group of English players hungry for success and coupled this with some decent players from abroad. What is really missing for Villa is the 20 -30 goal a season striker that every team with title ambitions needs and with John Carew’s injuries this season Villa have found themselves rather light upfront at times. If Villa can get themselves a Defoe, or similar player they might find themselves in with a chance to finish in the top four. If they don’t spend this January I think they just don’t have the goals to outlast Arsenal, although I desperately hope to be wrong over this.
Prediction – 5th unless they buy a proven striker this January
Arsenal. Currently – 5th
Arsenal have once again failed to deliver and Arsene Wenger must be bitterly disappointed to find his talented team 10 points behind Liverpool and seemingly out of the title race. The problem with Arsenal is that they are lacking the strong spine of old and are light weight at centre half and centre midfield. Years back you knew that Adams, Vieira and Petit where the strong foundation which Arsenal built around but in 2009 it is a much different story Cesc Fabregas is an awesome player and will only get better but he desperately needs someone to help him out in the Arsenal midfield. A Gattuso/Frings, Mascherano type player is really needed and Wenger needs to address this urgently in the transfer window or risk seeing his squad seek pastures new if the unthinkable happens and they fail to qualify for the Champions league. Upfront they are strong and Samir Nasri has proven to be a wise purchase but Wenger must spend and spend big if he hopes to save his season.
Prediction – 4th
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2 comments:
Interesting comments there Mr B. Here are my thoughts on them;
I am not sure I agree that Liverpool will finish at the top come seasons end, I still have a feeling Rafa is a bit too cautious in games they should win (2 defensive midfielders when playing at home to Fulham, Hulll etc) Torres coming back may change my mind if he hits top form quickly.
Chelsea - can't make my mind up. The newspaper vultures seems to be circling for a juicy story (just like at Pompey) and I guess there is no smoke without fire. I also disagree with your views on Ivanovic, he has been great when he plays and would get into any none top 3 team but yes he is no Terry or Carvalho. I think Roman should let Scolari spend a bit, especially if they get 12mill for Bridge (what a deal!). 3rd is probably a good call.
United - very strong, can only get better when Ronnie hits form and Berbatov wakes up. Defence is rock solid and they are grinding out results. Have played the other big 3 away already and all the big 3 are still to come to Old Trafford. Still title favourites in my eyes.
Arsenal - need to spend, especially now Fabby is out for 4 months. With Peter Hill-woods comments about not having much money to spend I'm not sure they can get to 4th (although see Villa)
Villa - looking great but a worryingly bare bench. Need strikers (If defoe goes, i hope he goes to villa) and a left back and hope that they dont get too many injurys. As far as i'm concerned 4th is theirs to loose.
I shall comment too, just cause I can. I promise none of my opinions have been formed by having to listen to Andy Gray's bletherings.
Liverpool: is it January? I think it is. Remember what's happened to them in Jan before? That "coming down with the Christmas lights" problem? I think you do. I am reserving judgement until the end of the month.
Chelski: Their main problem at the moment is playing Deco out of position and Big Phil refusing to take him off when he's not performing. He needs to play Joe Cole more, who's as enthusiastic as Robbie Keane on acid at the moment, but actually doing something when he's on the pitch. Goals not a problem, but he needs Terry and Carvalho together, as proved the other day.
Man U: You know what they're like. They'll sneak up on the inside when no-one's looking purely by dint of being horrifically and single-mindedly consistent and snatch it from under everyone's noses. Bastards.
Villa; I don't think Defoe's the answer for them because he's not quite O'Neill's type of player. They would be doing even better with Carew, I agree (pronounced "Jan Car-ev" incidentally), a stronger type. More like Yakubu I think (if he wasn't injured). But they will definitely run out of puff, especially with a long Uefa Cup run.
Arsenal: Fabregas is gone for the season - nuff said. Arsene won't buy now, because he never does. Bet he wishes he'd kept Flamini now though, and wasn't stuck with 'handbags' Eboue and Denilson. Not that I'm enjoying the dark mutterings of the Gooner fans at work or anything... :)
I await your views on West Ham with interest. I advise reserving judgement until after tomorrow's result, which will inevitably go Barnsley's way. Oh, the shame.
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