Chelsea have well and truly established their title winning
credentials. Undefeated, with five wins from six games, has shown this on paper.
But it’s wins against rivals that really count at the end of the season.
Arsenal had impressed so far, none more so than in a comfortable 2-0 win at
Anfield earlier in the season. I was beginning to consider them title
contenders. But where the Gunners often fall short is against the other teams
likely to challenge at the top. So, for every hard-earned draw like that
against Manchester City last week, there is an underwhelming defeat like the
2-1 reverse against Chelsea. For the Blues, the season is looking bright. Both
Manchester clubs have looked short of their best so far. And while Fernando
Torres remains a shadow of his former sense, he is certainly an improvement on
the player who was more likely to get a yellow card than score a goal for
Chelsea. If he can continue to contribute to the goal-scoring, that could be
the difference between Chelsea fighting for a Champions’ League spot, or
challenging for league title glory.
2
Liverpool is a football club with a rich history. But far
too often, it relies too much on that history. In team selection, it has also
been the case that successive managers have been afraid to make big changes.
Brendan Rodgers can’t be accused of shying away from big changes, and I have
written before about how he has to be careful not to change too much too
quickly. Liverpool fans can be quick to turn against a manager who appears to
be underperforming. But I was glad to see his bold team selection today against
Norwich, with three teenagers in the starting line-up. It’s only a start, but
if Liverpool want to return the their former heights then developing this young
talent, instead of splashing the cash on unproven players, then it is the way
forward. Luis Suarez’s hat-trick was obviously the main catalyst for a 5-2
victory at Carrow Road, but the young players are contributing to the team.
This can only be good for Liverpool in the long term.
3
Liverpool might be at a crossroads, but their cross-city
rivals seem to be finally reaching the culmination of a plan more than ten
years in the making. Everton have stuck by David Moyes through thick and thin,
and now that loyalty (by both parties, it must be added) is coming to fruition.
The Toffees now sit top of the table, though Chelsea do have a game in hand.
They will have a hard road to be there come May, but they certainly have the
makings of challenging for a Champions’ League place. None of the usual big
guns are dominating other teams so far this year, and that gives Everton a
chance to rise up the table on last season. They’ve had no problem scoring
goals, averaging over two per game coming from a variety of sources. And they’ve
shown they can match-up against the big boys. The true test will come at the
end of next month, when they host the Merseyside Derby. It’s a game in which
they have squandered the chance to win far too often. If they can overcome
this, it will mark the completion of their transition.
4
Steven Fletcher is looking increasingly like a bargain as he
scored his fifth goal in four league games for Sunderland, as the Black Cats
won their first Premier League game of the season against Wigan today. Eyebrows
were raised at his fee, and many refused to be convinced by his two-goal debut.
But since, he has continued to score at will, and few can now deny that his
signing was good business. Sunderland will have some cocerns, though, as every
league goal for the team this season has come courtesy of Fletcher. His more
than a-goal-a-game ratio can’t go on forever. Somebody will have to step up and
fill the void, whenever Fletcher’s short-term profligacy goes down. I have no
doubt that somebody will do so, but it would be nice for the rest of the
players to begin contributing goals before Fletcher’s form dips.
5
Few teams go to Old Trafford and bully Manchester United,
but Tottenham Hotspur did just that in the first half of today’s evening
kick-off. I have talked about United’s frailties at the back, but Spurs uncovered
them for all to see today. But one thing that United can’t be accused of is
lacking mental toughness, which is what was required to make a game of it
today. Gareth Bale’s goal to make it 2-0 was appalling for United, as the
defenders backed off and allowed him to sprint in and shoot. While they fell
asleep to allow Clint Dempsey to restore the two-goal advantage almost
immediately after Nani’s goal. United’s second half resilience gave them a
chance, and they piled the pressure late on. Spurs have struggled this year to
hold on to leads, but Brad Friedel was in excellent form. Friedel has felt the
pressure of having big-money signing Hugo Lloris backing him up, but seems to go
from strength to strength despite being 41 years old. For Macnhester United,
there are still problems which need to be sorted out. Robin van Persie has
misfired more than he did last year, and Wayne Rooney has yet to impress after
his injury. It’s a concern that the team is solely relying on Paul Scholes, a
man who this time last year was in retirement!
6
With most teams having now played six games, the table is starting
to take shape. Unfortunately, the managerial hot-seats are starting to be
brought out. Nigel Adkins comes straight to mind, especially considering Harry
Redknapp’s association with the club. A convincing win against Aston Villa has
bought him time, and a tough fixture list has contributed to their struggles.
Chris Hughton has yet to strike gold at winless Norwich, and Reading are also
winless though with a game in hand. But the big one to notice is QPR. The
owners have spent a lot of money on an all-star squad, but Mark Hughes’ side languish
at the bottom of the table. A win on Monday against West Ham would see them
rise up the table, but another defeat and fans and board members alike will
start to raise concerns. It’s a shame that managers who have achieved so much
at their clubs, or those who’ve yet to have had the time to do so, are having
their jobs put in peril. But it’s the reality of modern day football, and there
are a few who look at risk.
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