This is the closest Premier League title race for years and also the most decisive. Not only is the destination of this season’s title at stake but potentially the destination of many more as Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United battle it out to be the pre-eminent force in English football.
It is no coincidence leagues are dominated one club over a period of time - perpetuated by ability, wealth, momentum and fear. But at present there is a vacuum of power at the top of the Premier League. English football is in a transitionary phase with Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all uncertain of their current status.
They all have the ability, they all - to an extent - have the wealth, but crucially no team has a monopoly on fear. For the past few seasons any of the top four have had the capabilities of beating anyone else in the top four and this has filtered down the league to the point where even the promoted clubs believe they can upset the leaders. The likes of Stoke and West Brom now eye wins against the big teams rather than rolling over and pleading for mercy.
When one team assumes the status of being feared by the entirety of the league, not only have they proved themselves to be a good team but they ensure the passage to the next title is infinitely easier.
Manchester United dominated during the 90s, Arsenal were the team after the turn of the millennia and Chelsea, bankrolled by Abramovich, were the most recent dominators. Now they, plus Liverpool, are vying to be the next dynasty team.
Liverpool have not dominated since the 80s. Arsenal’s empire crumbled at Old Trafford a few years ago when a 2-0 defeat ended their 49-game unbeaten run and obliterated the self-confidence. This was confirmed by Arsene Wenger’s reaction to their FA Cup triumph a few years ago when he vowed never to win ugly again.
Many believe Chelsea’s demise coincided with the arrival of Luiz Felipe Scolari or Avram Grant. The truth is Chelsea are still reeling from the summer of 2008. It was Jose Mourinho, not Grant nor Scolari, that oversaw the beginning of the end of Abramovich’s revolution.
Mourinho’s success was based on a pragmatic platform spiced up by the cutting edge of Damien Duff, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole. The replacement of Robben with Florent Malouda failed and Chelsea retreated into a conservatism that was inconducive with winning the league. Scolari has attempted to reverse this but - after missing out on Robinho - it has taken longer than many thought.
Manchester United are closest to filling the void vacated by Chelsea. Though crackling with attacking possibilities, they are yet to attain the aura they enjoyed when Roy Keane was in command. But if - as many expect - United prevail this season they could be set for another period of sustained success.
That is until Sir Alex Ferguson leaves.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
The Final Word on the weekend
The Final Word
Arsenal
The success of Samir Nasri’s Arsenal career could be defined in the coming months. A bold statement but with Cesc Fabregas injured for a further few months, Nasri’s creativity and scoring touch from midfield will be decisive in Arsenal’s push for Champions League football. The Frenchman, who started the season so brightly, scored on Saturday and must now consistently impose himself on Arsenal’s season.
Aston Villa
The question is will Ashley Young’s dismissal derail Villa’s surge towards the top four. They will certainly miss his pace, goals and assists and crucially absence could place too much pressure on Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Blackburn
Hard, direct and damned effective: this is football Sam Allardyce style. Blackburn has never been as pretentious to claim they only value `beautiful football` unlike one of Allardyce’s most recent clubs and Saturday’s opponents. The question is who are the happier?
Bolton
If Bolton successfully avoid the trap door this season they will have Jussi Jaaskelainen to thank. The goalkeeper may not have been able to save them on Saturday but by the end of the campaign he will no doubt done enough to save them.
Chelsea
The relief was evident as Frank Lampard led a swarm of Chelsea players racing to the touchline to celebrate with boss Felipe Luiz Scolari. But possible more defining in Chelsea’s season is the injury to Joe Cole. Chelsea are desperately short on width and creativity at present and Cole, at his best, can bring both. Is this the time for Miroslav Stoch.
Fulham
For such a consistent and disciplined defence, Fulham’s back four had an erratic day which was exemplified by Paul Konchesky. The left-back hit a stunning long-range drive before cutting down Carlton Cole, for which he should have been sent off, to give away a stupid penalty.
Hull
Their slide down the league is gathering a queasy momentum that could see them drop out of the top 10 soon. But they have garnered sufficient belief and nous over the past five months to see them through.
Manchester City
There is only one name to be heard at the Eastlands at present and no it is not Pablo Zabaleta - who scored the winner against Wigan. However the Argentine illustrated an important point: it will be the men around Kaka that will define the £100million man`s success as much as the player himself..
Manchester United
That which seemed inevitable for months has finally happened. United have hit the top and despite his indifferent demeanor Dimitar Berbatov is looking priceless.
Middlesbrough
Could chairman Steve Gibson, `the merciful`, even be forced to wield the axe? The guardian angel of beleaguered Boro bosses may have to fire Gareth Southgate should Middlesbrough continue their fall towards the bottom and the Championship.
Newcastle
Can Joe Kinnear open his month without spitting vile abuse at anyone in his presence? He was amazingly fortunate to have got the job and even more so to keep it so long. His continued presence only signifies the depths to which Newcastle’s expectations have plunged.
Portsmouth
Sol Campbell looked fearful of the potential stream of abuse awaiting him as the teams lined up in the tunnel ready to emerge onto the pitch, but for the majority of the game he showed none of it. A mighty response from the former Tottenham defender.
Stoke
So the creator turns the finisher. Rory Delap, so often the tormentor, took advantage of some atrocious Chelsea defending to slot home to prove he is much more than a human catapult. Though it was not enough for the draw, Stoke face bigger games ahead.
Sunderland
Life after Roy Keane is not necessarily rosier as you’d expect. May be Sunderland should have waited a little longer to give the reigns to Ricky Sbragia on a full time basis.
Tottenham
Spurs can surely claim to have the most wasteful strike line in the Premiership. They missed a sack load and more. Darren Bent was the simplest chance but Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko also fall into the category of less than efficient forwards.
West Brom
They were beginning to take root, but West Brom are off the bottom of the Premier League table. A crucial psycological barrier overcome or a temporary window full of false hope? Almost certainly the latter.
West Ham
A 3-1 win over Fulham proved that there is plenty of talent in the squad beyond Craig Bellamy. They must snap Mark Hughes’ arm off if he offers the rumoured £14million for the Welshman who has only started to play in recent weeks when the transfer window came into sight.
Wigan
In the summer Wigan manager Steve Bruce look back on Amir Zaki’s horrendous miss and thank his lucky stars. The Egyptian headed over when scoring seemed infinitely easier but it should help Zaki stays off the radar during transfer window and give Bruce a decent shout at signing the striker in the summer.
Arsenal
The success of Samir Nasri’s Arsenal career could be defined in the coming months. A bold statement but with Cesc Fabregas injured for a further few months, Nasri’s creativity and scoring touch from midfield will be decisive in Arsenal’s push for Champions League football. The Frenchman, who started the season so brightly, scored on Saturday and must now consistently impose himself on Arsenal’s season.
Aston Villa
The question is will Ashley Young’s dismissal derail Villa’s surge towards the top four. They will certainly miss his pace, goals and assists and crucially absence could place too much pressure on Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Blackburn
Hard, direct and damned effective: this is football Sam Allardyce style. Blackburn has never been as pretentious to claim they only value `beautiful football` unlike one of Allardyce’s most recent clubs and Saturday’s opponents. The question is who are the happier?
Bolton
If Bolton successfully avoid the trap door this season they will have Jussi Jaaskelainen to thank. The goalkeeper may not have been able to save them on Saturday but by the end of the campaign he will no doubt done enough to save them.
Chelsea
The relief was evident as Frank Lampard led a swarm of Chelsea players racing to the touchline to celebrate with boss Felipe Luiz Scolari. But possible more defining in Chelsea’s season is the injury to Joe Cole. Chelsea are desperately short on width and creativity at present and Cole, at his best, can bring both. Is this the time for Miroslav Stoch.
Fulham
For such a consistent and disciplined defence, Fulham’s back four had an erratic day which was exemplified by Paul Konchesky. The left-back hit a stunning long-range drive before cutting down Carlton Cole, for which he should have been sent off, to give away a stupid penalty.
Hull
Their slide down the league is gathering a queasy momentum that could see them drop out of the top 10 soon. But they have garnered sufficient belief and nous over the past five months to see them through.
Manchester City
There is only one name to be heard at the Eastlands at present and no it is not Pablo Zabaleta - who scored the winner against Wigan. However the Argentine illustrated an important point: it will be the men around Kaka that will define the £100million man`s success as much as the player himself..
Manchester United
That which seemed inevitable for months has finally happened. United have hit the top and despite his indifferent demeanor Dimitar Berbatov is looking priceless.
Middlesbrough
Could chairman Steve Gibson, `the merciful`, even be forced to wield the axe? The guardian angel of beleaguered Boro bosses may have to fire Gareth Southgate should Middlesbrough continue their fall towards the bottom and the Championship.
Newcastle
Can Joe Kinnear open his month without spitting vile abuse at anyone in his presence? He was amazingly fortunate to have got the job and even more so to keep it so long. His continued presence only signifies the depths to which Newcastle’s expectations have plunged.
Portsmouth
Sol Campbell looked fearful of the potential stream of abuse awaiting him as the teams lined up in the tunnel ready to emerge onto the pitch, but for the majority of the game he showed none of it. A mighty response from the former Tottenham defender.
Stoke
So the creator turns the finisher. Rory Delap, so often the tormentor, took advantage of some atrocious Chelsea defending to slot home to prove he is much more than a human catapult. Though it was not enough for the draw, Stoke face bigger games ahead.
Sunderland
Life after Roy Keane is not necessarily rosier as you’d expect. May be Sunderland should have waited a little longer to give the reigns to Ricky Sbragia on a full time basis.
Tottenham
Spurs can surely claim to have the most wasteful strike line in the Premiership. They missed a sack load and more. Darren Bent was the simplest chance but Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko also fall into the category of less than efficient forwards.
West Brom
They were beginning to take root, but West Brom are off the bottom of the Premier League table. A crucial psycological barrier overcome or a temporary window full of false hope? Almost certainly the latter.
West Ham
A 3-1 win over Fulham proved that there is plenty of talent in the squad beyond Craig Bellamy. They must snap Mark Hughes’ arm off if he offers the rumoured £14million for the Welshman who has only started to play in recent weeks when the transfer window came into sight.
Wigan
In the summer Wigan manager Steve Bruce look back on Amir Zaki’s horrendous miss and thank his lucky stars. The Egyptian headed over when scoring seemed infinitely easier but it should help Zaki stays off the radar during transfer window and give Bruce a decent shout at signing the striker in the summer.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
January sales: 5 of the best and 5 of the worst
Despite the unnicersal tightening of belts, the threat of relegation and Man City's billions mean the should be plenty of activity in the transfer market this January. Here we look at the best and worst of the potential buys....
Best buys:
1. Michael Owen - Despite the statements to the contrary, Owen is desperate to end his turmoil with the Toon. And why wouldn't he be. The thing is a sale now could make sense for Newcastle, assuming they will avoid the drop without him, as the striker is certain to be off in the summer.
2. Amr Zaki - The attributes are obvious and a drop in form, induced by a period of injuries, will have lowered the price a touch and means a reasonable bid could scrape under the radar.
3. Marcos Senna - The Villarreal and Spain midfielder is available and still has much to offer. The 32-year-old's experience and grit mean there should be no shortage of suitors. Perfect stop gap for Arsenal or Manchester City.
4. Roque Santa Cruz - The ties have been mended in order to pave the way for a transfer to be done without anyone losing face or cash. Man City's interest could force a prohibitive price but he remains a top striker with an average team.
5. Mathew Upson - Over the past few seasons the West Ham defender has confirmed his quality and with West Ham a selling club once again expect him to be in demand. The figures (£15million) maybe highly fanciful but a more measure price should be agreed although he may have to wait for the summer.
Worst buys:
1. Craig Bellamy - Will he never learn, will they never learn. Decent player but by no means special enough to justify the grim excess baggage especially if you are the richest club in the world.
2. Adriano - Problems off hte pitch and poor form on it at Inter Milan mean the Brazilian is available and looking for a move but they also mean he is a gamble of Russian roulette proportions.
3. Joey Barton - Reportedly Tony Adams is willing to give the disgraced Newcastle midfielder a sporting chance at Pompey. If he does, Adams will be stepping into a whole new hell.
4. Emie Heskey - The Wigan striker is the ultimate fashion accessory. Heskey seasonally goes in and out of fashion but the fact remains he is a striker that does not score goals. Sure goals aren't everything but they are definitely something and to have a striker under no obligation to hit the net is ridiculous. Has already proved he cannot cut it at the top.
5. Andrei Arshavin - A strange choice perhaps. But if Arsene Wenger believes the Russian forward can transform Arsenal's season, he is distressingly deluded. A transfer would be an overpriced puchase of a yet to be proven player.
Best buys:
1. Michael Owen - Despite the statements to the contrary, Owen is desperate to end his turmoil with the Toon. And why wouldn't he be. The thing is a sale now could make sense for Newcastle, assuming they will avoid the drop without him, as the striker is certain to be off in the summer.
2. Amr Zaki - The attributes are obvious and a drop in form, induced by a period of injuries, will have lowered the price a touch and means a reasonable bid could scrape under the radar.
3. Marcos Senna - The Villarreal and Spain midfielder is available and still has much to offer. The 32-year-old's experience and grit mean there should be no shortage of suitors. Perfect stop gap for Arsenal or Manchester City.
4. Roque Santa Cruz - The ties have been mended in order to pave the way for a transfer to be done without anyone losing face or cash. Man City's interest could force a prohibitive price but he remains a top striker with an average team.
5. Mathew Upson - Over the past few seasons the West Ham defender has confirmed his quality and with West Ham a selling club once again expect him to be in demand. The figures (£15million) maybe highly fanciful but a more measure price should be agreed although he may have to wait for the summer.
Worst buys:
1. Craig Bellamy - Will he never learn, will they never learn. Decent player but by no means special enough to justify the grim excess baggage especially if you are the richest club in the world.
2. Adriano - Problems off hte pitch and poor form on it at Inter Milan mean the Brazilian is available and looking for a move but they also mean he is a gamble of Russian roulette proportions.
3. Joey Barton - Reportedly Tony Adams is willing to give the disgraced Newcastle midfielder a sporting chance at Pompey. If he does, Adams will be stepping into a whole new hell.
4. Emie Heskey - The Wigan striker is the ultimate fashion accessory. Heskey seasonally goes in and out of fashion but the fact remains he is a striker that does not score goals. Sure goals aren't everything but they are definitely something and to have a striker under no obligation to hit the net is ridiculous. Has already proved he cannot cut it at the top.
5. Andrei Arshavin - A strange choice perhaps. But if Arsene Wenger believes the Russian forward can transform Arsenal's season, he is distressingly deluded. A transfer would be an overpriced puchase of a yet to be proven player.
Friday, 2 January 2009
The weekend’s big one: Hull v Newcastle
Hull v Newcastle
Saturday 3, January 3pm
In one of only two FA Cup third round ties between Premier League sides, Newcastle and Hull go in search for some solace from their trials in the league.
Heavy defeats in recent weeks means both sides are as much looking for an up turn in form to ensure Premier League survival as they are eyeing Wembley glory.
The bosses:
Phil Brown - The festive season may have little good news for the Hull boss, but he and Hull remains the story of the season.
Joe Kinnear - The real works starts now for Kinnear. With the club no longer for sale and robbed of the siege mentality that has thus far defined Kinnear’s regime, the next few months will inform whether he has what it takes to guide Newcastle up the table with a more long-term plan
Team News
Hull - Craig Fagan could make his first start for four months and Phil Brown could shuffle his pack with the league remaining his primary target.
Newcastle - Fitness doubts persist over Jose Enrique, Nicky Butt and Shola Ameobi with Habib Beye, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Joey Barton and Claudio Cacapa all facing prolonged periods on the sidelines.
Key Players
Hull - Despite scoring an own goal last time out against Aston Villa and a torrid run of form, Kamil Zayatte remains a central component to Hull’s defence and if he can regain his early season form he could help keep Newcastle’s frontline quiet.
Newcastle - Michael Owen has cut a disconsolate figure on Tyneside for the last few seasons and that will not change soon, but at least the former Liverpool striker is in the goals again and he is vital to Newcastle's chances.
Prediction
A late goal from Michael Owen rescues a replay for Newcastle, although it is one that neither side wanted. 1-1
Saturday 3, January 3pm
In one of only two FA Cup third round ties between Premier League sides, Newcastle and Hull go in search for some solace from their trials in the league.
Heavy defeats in recent weeks means both sides are as much looking for an up turn in form to ensure Premier League survival as they are eyeing Wembley glory.
The bosses:
Phil Brown - The festive season may have little good news for the Hull boss, but he and Hull remains the story of the season.
Joe Kinnear - The real works starts now for Kinnear. With the club no longer for sale and robbed of the siege mentality that has thus far defined Kinnear’s regime, the next few months will inform whether he has what it takes to guide Newcastle up the table with a more long-term plan
Team News
Hull - Craig Fagan could make his first start for four months and Phil Brown could shuffle his pack with the league remaining his primary target.
Newcastle - Fitness doubts persist over Jose Enrique, Nicky Butt and Shola Ameobi with Habib Beye, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Joey Barton and Claudio Cacapa all facing prolonged periods on the sidelines.
Key Players
Hull - Despite scoring an own goal last time out against Aston Villa and a torrid run of form, Kamil Zayatte remains a central component to Hull’s defence and if he can regain his early season form he could help keep Newcastle’s frontline quiet.
Newcastle - Michael Owen has cut a disconsolate figure on Tyneside for the last few seasons and that will not change soon, but at least the former Liverpool striker is in the goals again and he is vital to Newcastle's chances.
Prediction
A late goal from Michael Owen rescues a replay for Newcastle, although it is one that neither side wanted. 1-1
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