EPL review

[The Merse]

Right guys, was quite bored and I've considered doing a football blog at some stage. I've just penned a bit of a review on the EPL title race so far, going to add more in regarding relegation and European challengers etc tomorrow.

 

I'd be interested in any feedback regarding what I've written so far, good or bad:

 

 

Premiership Review:

 

During the opening weeks of the campaign it was almost universally accepted that Chelsea were going to be the team to catch in the battle to become the Barclaycard Premiership Champions 2010/2011. In many peoples eyes it was thought that they could even run away with the title.

 

The last few weeks have now suggested this might not be the case with cracks aplenty appearing in the Blues armoury. A thumping defeat from Sunderland at the Bridge followed an unconvincing midweek victory over Fulham which was on the back of being given the runaround by Roy Hodgson?s inconsistent Liverpool side.

 

So what are the problems at Chelsea? Well first and foremost I think their early season form, as good as it was, was overhyped. They played a select group of teams who are all likely to be fighting for relegation this season. They were thumping teams left, right and centre, but in truth, they weren?t playing scintillating football, they were however incredibly clinical.

 

Their first real test of the season came at Man City, a test which they failed, against a team who are also suffering from their own mini crisis, which will be talked about a little later. This match showed that Chelsea were not the all conquering force that they had been hyped up to be, a fact which has become more and more apparent as the season has moved on.

 

The defeat by Sunderland showed that Chelsea no longer have the strength in depth in their squad that they have had in recent campaigns. Only two players were missing from the defence on Sunday, yet when the going got tough the defence fell to pieces. Ivanovic, and particularly Fereira were given a torrid time by the front line of Wellbeck and Gyan, and if we?re being honest, the scoreline of 3-0 to Sunderland flattered Chelsea ? it should have been more.

 

There has not been much mention of the how key the sale of Ricardo Carvalho to Real Madrid could be in terms of Chelsea?s campaign. The partnership he built up with John Terry over the years gave Chelsea a base to build on. Now with Terry aging and Carvalho gone, they no longer look like the rock solid force that they have done in years gone by.

 

Midfield also appears to be a problem, Ramires has not settled yet, Essien has had his injury and discipline problems and it?s not clear if he will ever be able to put in a run of games and really show us how great a player he is. Lampard is a year older, and his return to the side is not imminent. Zhirkov has not settled fully and has not impressed in his first 15 months or so at the club. So with all that in mind, and the general bemusement over the release of assistant manager Ray Wilkins last week, it is clear that the title is no longer the foregone conclusion that it was originally believed to be.

 

Of the teams waiting in the wings to mount a challenge to Chelsea this season, the strongest challenge looks as though it will be coming from Arsenal. As ever, Arsene Wenger?s men have been playing classy football and entertaining the masses, for a few seasons this has not been enough to bring silverware to the Emirates, however Arsenal seem to have new found grit in their side and away wins at Wolves and Everton this week emphasises this point.

 

They will however have to cut out the silly points dropped at home to the likes of Newcastle & West Brom if they are to sustain their challenge and this will ultimately decide whether they are also rans again or serious contenders. Arsenal appear to have been slowly building their squad over the last couple of seasons, and no longer is it always the case that if they have an injury that it?ll be a youngster who has to step up to the plate. They have more strength in depth than that now with the signings over the last couple of seasons and the youngsters don?t need to be thrown in at the deep end, where it has to be said they have performed admirably without any tangible success.

 

In Samir Nasri, Arsenal have one of the form players of the season so far, the nimble Frenchman has pace to burn and skill to match, and this season he has added goals to his game, with Nasri?s form and the emergence of Wilshere in the team, Arsenal are no longer too reliant on Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas is undoubtedly Arsenal?s best player, but Arsenal can grind out wins without him, which last season was not the case. If Fabregas didn?t play last season, Arsenal didn?t play. But with Wilshere and Nasri they have players able to dictate the play in a similar fashion to Fabregas, Arsenal CAN grind out wins without their star man.

 

Defensively there are still a few question marks over the Gunners but the additions of Koscielny and Squillaci, they look to have shored up the defence to some extent. The goalkeeper situation is still a worry for Arsene Wenger but despite Fabianski being to blame for the goal conceded against Newcastle last weekend, he has shown he is improving and could be the answer for a position that has plagued Arsenal in recent years.

 

Come May I do believe whoever finishes above Arsenal, will win the league.

 

It would be foolish to discuss the title race in the Premiership without talking about Manchester United. Despite a slow start, they are still right in the mixer and are the only side who remain unbeaten. They clawed back an impressive point at Villa Park at the weekend where they looked down and out at 2-0, but as we know Fergie?s teams never give up the ghost and that is why they cannot be ignored.

 

However, they appear to be lacking quality all over the pitch and it will be a monumentous effort were they to reel off another title. With Rooney bang out of form, Berbatov being as consistent as the summer weather in Britain, a lack of guile in the middle of the park and the long term loss of Valencia on the wing, it?ll be nothing short of a miracle if this team are able to wrestle the title back to Old Trafford.

 

The dour Manchester derby of last week showed that there is something missing from both sides of the city. You cannot deny the squad that City have is quality, but there seems to be something deep rooted within the club which is stopping them moving forward at the rate you would expect for a team who has spent circa ?300million in recent seasons.

 

Fingers are rightly being pointed at the manager for the lack of upward momentum coming from Eastlands this season, Mancini?s negative approach is infuriating fans, the substitution of Carlos Tevez at the weekend was met with a chorus of boo?s from the home support, the goalless draw against Birmingham meant City had drawn back to back games 0-0 at home, and only created a handful of chances across the 180 minutes of football.

 

For this to be the case after the money invested, is simply unforgivable in the eyes of the fans. It can be argued that the money has not been spent as well as it might?ve been, but there are also serious questions over the system. A system which leaves Tevez stranded on his own trying to win games single handedly while City continually play with 3 sitting midfielders and 2 wide men who do not do enough to support the lone frontman. Unless there is a change in manager, it looks as if City will not win enough games to put in a title challenge, Mancini has claimed he will be happy with a 4th place finish, if those are the height of his ambitions I feel he may not be in the hotseat come May, and if he is, I fear City may not even get the coveted Champions League spot for finishing 4th.

 

More to follow.