As we enter the new year, it is a good time to look back at what has happened so far in the Premier League. We are midway through the 2010-11 season and what a season it has been so far. The inconsistency of the top sides coupled with the improvement of certain teams has led to a very congested league table. Gone are the days when Manchester United or Chelsea used to walk away with the league. The league has become much more competitive now. Here are the highlights of the season so far:
Impressive Newly Promoted Clubs: Newcastle, West Brom and Blackpool - I have been impressed by the attractive Football played by all three of them. Their position in the league table suggests that you can play attacking Football and still remain clear of the relegation zone. Of course, it can go pear shaped in a matter of weeks but these clubs enjoy the comforts of mid-table at this juncture. Although Newcastle have pressed the self destruct button yet again by sacking Chris Hughton but I think they have enough in the tank to survive in the Premier League. Special mention to Andy Carroll who has been one of the best performers of the season so far. Things will become tougher for these clubs in the coming year with fatigue creeping in and a fixture pileup to deal with, especially in case of Blackpool who have had three of their home games postponed due to bad weather.
From European Contenders to Relegation Candidates: Aston Villa - Aston Villa kicked off their season recovering from the shock caused by Martin O'Neill's sudden departure. And, things have gone from bad to worse for them during the course of the season. People would argue that they are too good to go down and I also think that there a lot of worse teams in the League than Aston Villa. But, anything can happen in Football and Aston Villa certainly are in the dogfight. To be fair to Gerard Houllier, his team has suffered a lot due to injuries. But, there is no excuse for the dire displays week in week out. Aston Villa need the likes of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor to stand up and be counted.
Indian Connections: Blackburn Rovers - Finally, Indians have entered the Premier League. In November, Blackburn Rovers became the first Premier League club to be owned by Indian businessmen. Venky's India Ltd bought the Lancashire club for a reported fee of £23 million. But, I have been disappointed with their handling of the club so far. The sacking of Sam Allardyce has left serious question marks over the intentions of the owners. Sam Allardyce's style of Football is not the most attractive to watch but it is effective. And for a club like Blackburn, it is good enough. Why fix something that isn't broke? I initially thought that they might have someone more high profile in their minds but the decision to appoint Steve Kean as the Manager has been puzzling. This decision might come back to haunt Blackburn owners at the end of the season.
The High Fliers: Bolton and Sunderland - The progress made by these two clubs has been fascinating to watch. Owen Coyle has taken only a few months to change hoof ball merchants Bolton into a decent passing side. Mark Davies' recent goal against Blackpool would make Barcelona proud. Like Bolton, Sunderland have progressed superbly under Steve Bruce. Their record against the top sides has been fantastic, with a 3-0 hammering of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the highlight of their season. Both, Bolton and Sunderland will be battling for a European berth come the end of the season if they continue to play like they have so far.
A club in free fall: Liverpool - If Rafa Benitez's last season at Liverpool was bad then this season has been a disaster. Many pundits felt that Roy Hodgson was a sensible appointment at the start of the season but he has proved them wrong. There are so many problems at that club, I don't know where to start. Players look disinterested, fans are not backing manager and the manager himself looks out of his depth. Roy Hodgson's press conferences have been embarrassing to watch at times for the Liverpool fans and the team hasn't done enough on the pitch either. They have hit new lows every time I thought things couldn't get any worse. Losses at home against the likes of Blackpool and Wolves haven't gone down well with the fans. There is an argument in Hodgson's support that the squad inherited by Rafa isn't good enough. Yes, it isn't good enough to win the league or even get into the top four. But, they are surely better than their current league position suggests. The poor form of top players like Torres and Gerrard hasn't helped matters. Hodgson is under severe pressure to turn things around but I can't see him continuing for long if things continue like this.
Aiming for the Champions League: Tottenham - I must admit that I have enjoyed watching Tottenham play this season. They are arguably the most entertaining team in the Premier League with their gungho style. Tottenham finished fourth in the Premier League last season and qualified for the Champions League. Their first season amongst the European elite has been terrific so far and everyone associated with Tottenham Hotspur would love to qualify for the competition again. I initially thought that Tottenham will find it hard to replicate their success of last season because of European exertions but it hasn't been the case. The biggest reason is their squad. They have fantastic backup in every department. Against Fulham, they had King and Woodgate out injured and Kaboul suspended. Still, they had two top class center halves, Dawson and Gallas, on the pitch and Bassong on the bench. Alan Hutton got injured during the match. No problem, in came Vedran Corluka. This highlights the kind of options at Harry Redknapp's disposal. Tottenham's midfield is one of the best in the league. Gareth Bale is a favorite to land the Young Player of the Year award due to his wonderful form. Rafael Van Der Vaart is probably the best signing of the season so far and Luka Modric has kept Spurs ticking. They are a striker away from being truly World class. Maybe, they can even challenge for the title if they sign the right players. For now though, they need to aim for the top four.
Lacking Confidence: Chelsea - Who would have thought that we'd be questioning Chelsea's title credentials mid way through the season but their woeful form over the last couple of months have contributed to their fall. Chelsea started the season in stunning form dispatching teams like they did last season. They were scoring goals for fun. Then came the slump. It started with the game at Anfield where they lost 2-0. Two games later they were hammered at home by Sunderland. Chelsea's first choice center backs were injured at that time but a team challenging for the title should have adequate backup. Chelsea's squad is paper thin. The origin of this problem goes back to the summer when they released Ballack, Deco, Carvalho, Joe Cole and Belletti. Although these players were not the first choice in their positions but they added invaluable experience to the squad. Imagine the likes of Ballack and Deco coming in when Lampard was injured. Instead, it was inexperienced Ramires who started and performed badly. The form of top players like Drogba, Essien and Malouda has been poor as well contributing to Chelsea's slump. Now, all the major players are fit but Chelsea are still lacking the belief that they can win. I think Chelsea are desperately in need of fresh faces. January transfer window has arrived just at the right time for Chelsea. Failing to find the right players at this point of time may cost Chelsea the title and even their Champions League spot.
Money Talks: Manchester City - I hate it when clubs just splash the cash and try to 'buy' success. Chelsea started it a few years ago. Manchester City have taken it to another level. This summer was again a busy one at Eastlands. In came David Silva, Yaya Toure, Milner, Boateng, Kolarov and Balotelli. These arrivals have definitely added more quality to the squad. It took some time for the players to gel and Mancini's defensive tactics contributed to a few dropped points. But, now it looks like the team is playing near its potential and they are raking up the wins. Carlos Tevez has been their best player once again. The biggest challenge for Mancini is to keep his overpaid stars' egos in check. Every week there is a new story. Tevez's transfer request, Balotelli's sheninghans, Johnson's moaning etc have kept Mancini on his toes. I must admit that he has done a reasonable job so far. City are close to signing Bosnian hitman Edin Dzeko who would undoubtedly add more quality to their frontline. At this juncture, City look nailed on to finish in the top four because of the quality of their squad. They may even challenge for the title if other top teams continue to be inconsistent.
Coming of Age?: Arsenal - The Arsenal fans must have debated about this over and over again. When will their kids mature? I think the make or break time has come for this crop of players. I don't think Cesc Fabregas will hang around much if Arsenal don't win a major trophy. Are Arsenal good enough to win the league this season? I am uncertain about it. The main problem is their defense. Although Gallas was not a likeable bloke but he was one of their best central defenders. His departure in the summer created a void which has not been filled by the likes of Koscielny and Squillaci. Add to that their goalkeeping woes and Arsenal suddenly look like a very weak defensive outfit. Their attacking side of the game is definitely one of the best in the league. Samir Nasri has been prolific so far and Chamakh has given Arsenal a very good option up front. Consistency is the key for Arsenal. They have a relatively easy run-in in the second half of the season but that doesn't mean anything if they are going to drop points against the likes of Wigan after steamrolling Chelsea. The whole theme about Arsenal is uncertainty and they definitely add an interesting dimension to the title race.
Gunning for Nineteenth: Manchester United - Manchester United are unbeaten in the Premier League so far after 20 matches. But, it hasn't been vintage United. Lots of points have been dropped on the road and lots of late goals have been conceded. Its not that defenders are playing badly. Vidic and Ferdinand have been rock at the back. But, lapses in concentration at crucial times have cost United. Overall, United haven't played great Football but they sit at the top of the league table. I suppose, if the players play to their potential consistently, especially Carrick and Anderson, then United may run away with the league. The squad is definitely there and they have the experience of winning when it matters most. The likes of Nani and Berbatov have been immense. But, Wayne Rooney has let his fans down with his actions both on and off the pitch. He looks like a shadow of the player who scored 34 goals last season. Rooney's lack of form hasn't affected United much because of emergence of Javier Hernandez. The little pea has become a fan favorite in such a short space of time. United usually improve in the second half of the season. Antonio Valencia's return from injury is crucial for United as is Rooney's return to his best. I don't think that this squad is anyway near the best United squads under Sir Alex Ferguson but they are definitely good enough to knock Liverpool off their perch.
Impressive Newly Promoted Clubs: Newcastle, West Brom and Blackpool - I have been impressed by the attractive Football played by all three of them. Their position in the league table suggests that you can play attacking Football and still remain clear of the relegation zone. Of course, it can go pear shaped in a matter of weeks but these clubs enjoy the comforts of mid-table at this juncture. Although Newcastle have pressed the self destruct button yet again by sacking Chris Hughton but I think they have enough in the tank to survive in the Premier League. Special mention to Andy Carroll who has been one of the best performers of the season so far. Things will become tougher for these clubs in the coming year with fatigue creeping in and a fixture pileup to deal with, especially in case of Blackpool who have had three of their home games postponed due to bad weather.
From European Contenders to Relegation Candidates: Aston Villa - Aston Villa kicked off their season recovering from the shock caused by Martin O'Neill's sudden departure. And, things have gone from bad to worse for them during the course of the season. People would argue that they are too good to go down and I also think that there a lot of worse teams in the League than Aston Villa. But, anything can happen in Football and Aston Villa certainly are in the dogfight. To be fair to Gerard Houllier, his team has suffered a lot due to injuries. But, there is no excuse for the dire displays week in week out. Aston Villa need the likes of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor to stand up and be counted.
Indian Connections: Blackburn Rovers - Finally, Indians have entered the Premier League. In November, Blackburn Rovers became the first Premier League club to be owned by Indian businessmen. Venky's India Ltd bought the Lancashire club for a reported fee of £23 million. But, I have been disappointed with their handling of the club so far. The sacking of Sam Allardyce has left serious question marks over the intentions of the owners. Sam Allardyce's style of Football is not the most attractive to watch but it is effective. And for a club like Blackburn, it is good enough. Why fix something that isn't broke? I initially thought that they might have someone more high profile in their minds but the decision to appoint Steve Kean as the Manager has been puzzling. This decision might come back to haunt Blackburn owners at the end of the season.
The High Fliers: Bolton and Sunderland - The progress made by these two clubs has been fascinating to watch. Owen Coyle has taken only a few months to change hoof ball merchants Bolton into a decent passing side. Mark Davies' recent goal against Blackpool would make Barcelona proud. Like Bolton, Sunderland have progressed superbly under Steve Bruce. Their record against the top sides has been fantastic, with a 3-0 hammering of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the highlight of their season. Both, Bolton and Sunderland will be battling for a European berth come the end of the season if they continue to play like they have so far.
A club in free fall: Liverpool - If Rafa Benitez's last season at Liverpool was bad then this season has been a disaster. Many pundits felt that Roy Hodgson was a sensible appointment at the start of the season but he has proved them wrong. There are so many problems at that club, I don't know where to start. Players look disinterested, fans are not backing manager and the manager himself looks out of his depth. Roy Hodgson's press conferences have been embarrassing to watch at times for the Liverpool fans and the team hasn't done enough on the pitch either. They have hit new lows every time I thought things couldn't get any worse. Losses at home against the likes of Blackpool and Wolves haven't gone down well with the fans. There is an argument in Hodgson's support that the squad inherited by Rafa isn't good enough. Yes, it isn't good enough to win the league or even get into the top four. But, they are surely better than their current league position suggests. The poor form of top players like Torres and Gerrard hasn't helped matters. Hodgson is under severe pressure to turn things around but I can't see him continuing for long if things continue like this.
Aiming for the Champions League: Tottenham - I must admit that I have enjoyed watching Tottenham play this season. They are arguably the most entertaining team in the Premier League with their gungho style. Tottenham finished fourth in the Premier League last season and qualified for the Champions League. Their first season amongst the European elite has been terrific so far and everyone associated with Tottenham Hotspur would love to qualify for the competition again. I initially thought that Tottenham will find it hard to replicate their success of last season because of European exertions but it hasn't been the case. The biggest reason is their squad. They have fantastic backup in every department. Against Fulham, they had King and Woodgate out injured and Kaboul suspended. Still, they had two top class center halves, Dawson and Gallas, on the pitch and Bassong on the bench. Alan Hutton got injured during the match. No problem, in came Vedran Corluka. This highlights the kind of options at Harry Redknapp's disposal. Tottenham's midfield is one of the best in the league. Gareth Bale is a favorite to land the Young Player of the Year award due to his wonderful form. Rafael Van Der Vaart is probably the best signing of the season so far and Luka Modric has kept Spurs ticking. They are a striker away from being truly World class. Maybe, they can even challenge for the title if they sign the right players. For now though, they need to aim for the top four.
Lacking Confidence: Chelsea - Who would have thought that we'd be questioning Chelsea's title credentials mid way through the season but their woeful form over the last couple of months have contributed to their fall. Chelsea started the season in stunning form dispatching teams like they did last season. They were scoring goals for fun. Then came the slump. It started with the game at Anfield where they lost 2-0. Two games later they were hammered at home by Sunderland. Chelsea's first choice center backs were injured at that time but a team challenging for the title should have adequate backup. Chelsea's squad is paper thin. The origin of this problem goes back to the summer when they released Ballack, Deco, Carvalho, Joe Cole and Belletti. Although these players were not the first choice in their positions but they added invaluable experience to the squad. Imagine the likes of Ballack and Deco coming in when Lampard was injured. Instead, it was inexperienced Ramires who started and performed badly. The form of top players like Drogba, Essien and Malouda has been poor as well contributing to Chelsea's slump. Now, all the major players are fit but Chelsea are still lacking the belief that they can win. I think Chelsea are desperately in need of fresh faces. January transfer window has arrived just at the right time for Chelsea. Failing to find the right players at this point of time may cost Chelsea the title and even their Champions League spot.
Money Talks: Manchester City - I hate it when clubs just splash the cash and try to 'buy' success. Chelsea started it a few years ago. Manchester City have taken it to another level. This summer was again a busy one at Eastlands. In came David Silva, Yaya Toure, Milner, Boateng, Kolarov and Balotelli. These arrivals have definitely added more quality to the squad. It took some time for the players to gel and Mancini's defensive tactics contributed to a few dropped points. But, now it looks like the team is playing near its potential and they are raking up the wins. Carlos Tevez has been their best player once again. The biggest challenge for Mancini is to keep his overpaid stars' egos in check. Every week there is a new story. Tevez's transfer request, Balotelli's sheninghans, Johnson's moaning etc have kept Mancini on his toes. I must admit that he has done a reasonable job so far. City are close to signing Bosnian hitman Edin Dzeko who would undoubtedly add more quality to their frontline. At this juncture, City look nailed on to finish in the top four because of the quality of their squad. They may even challenge for the title if other top teams continue to be inconsistent.
Coming of Age?: Arsenal - The Arsenal fans must have debated about this over and over again. When will their kids mature? I think the make or break time has come for this crop of players. I don't think Cesc Fabregas will hang around much if Arsenal don't win a major trophy. Are Arsenal good enough to win the league this season? I am uncertain about it. The main problem is their defense. Although Gallas was not a likeable bloke but he was one of their best central defenders. His departure in the summer created a void which has not been filled by the likes of Koscielny and Squillaci. Add to that their goalkeeping woes and Arsenal suddenly look like a very weak defensive outfit. Their attacking side of the game is definitely one of the best in the league. Samir Nasri has been prolific so far and Chamakh has given Arsenal a very good option up front. Consistency is the key for Arsenal. They have a relatively easy run-in in the second half of the season but that doesn't mean anything if they are going to drop points against the likes of Wigan after steamrolling Chelsea. The whole theme about Arsenal is uncertainty and they definitely add an interesting dimension to the title race.
Gunning for Nineteenth: Manchester United - Manchester United are unbeaten in the Premier League so far after 20 matches. But, it hasn't been vintage United. Lots of points have been dropped on the road and lots of late goals have been conceded. Its not that defenders are playing badly. Vidic and Ferdinand have been rock at the back. But, lapses in concentration at crucial times have cost United. Overall, United haven't played great Football but they sit at the top of the league table. I suppose, if the players play to their potential consistently, especially Carrick and Anderson, then United may run away with the league. The squad is definitely there and they have the experience of winning when it matters most. The likes of Nani and Berbatov have been immense. But, Wayne Rooney has let his fans down with his actions both on and off the pitch. He looks like a shadow of the player who scored 34 goals last season. Rooney's lack of form hasn't affected United much because of emergence of Javier Hernandez. The little pea has become a fan favorite in such a short space of time. United usually improve in the second half of the season. Antonio Valencia's return from injury is crucial for United as is Rooney's return to his best. I don't think that this squad is anyway near the best United squads under Sir Alex Ferguson but they are definitely good enough to knock Liverpool off their perch.
