EPL Round Up.
The international break this week allows us time to evaluate the teams and players thus far after three EPL matches except Sunderland and Reading where their match was postponed due to inclement weather. Please note that due to inclement weather the courses are closed! The team by team evaluation shall be in order of their current League standing:
Chelsea - Petr Cech has been resilient and the backline remains solid with John Terry, Ashley Cole and new boy Ryan Bertrand at the helm and Ivanonic has even scored! The 1-4 Super Cup humiliation was a minor distraction. At midfield, Juan Mata is his usual self while Lampard is scoring and they have not used Marko Marin, Oscar or Victor Moses yet. Meanwhile, Torres is back in scoring form and Eden Hazard has been a revelation as expected. Their goal difference is at 8-2. The Stamford Bridge fans are being treated to a more attacking style judging by their signings. When you attack more, you will concede more unless you achieve the balance. Anyhow, Chelsea has so far looked better than anyone else. Potential champions material.
Swansea - If their first season last year was a breath of fresh air, Michael Laudrup has made the air at the Liberty even fresher but the air in Singapore right now with the haze is terrible. We need to construct some super giant fans along the entire coast to blow it back from where it came. 5-0 away thrashing of QPR followed by 3-0 trouncing of West Ham and then coming back from behind to level Sunderland twice showed a team playing with confidence, spirit and fight. Michu must surely been one of the best buys in the EPL with four goals from midfield and cost only 2 million pounds. Liverpool would love to have him. However, they have not met the big teams yet. If the Swans can keep that momentum, they will be in the top ten.
WBA - Roy Hodgson did a great job at WBA but credit must go to Steve Clark who was vindicated when they beat Liverpool 3-0. Even Tottenham could not beat them (1-1) and they went on to beat a very good Everton side 2-0. Impressive! This could be their best season yet but as the season wears you out, can they sustain their current form? Nevermind, they are doing just great.
Manchester City - The champions are conceding goals every match - 3-2 over Southampton, Liverpool 2-2 and QPR 3-1. Joe Hart must be disappointed. They scraped past Southampton and Liverpool deserved to win so there you have it. A tough champions league grouping awaits them. But they have a big and deep squad to last the season. Yahya Toure and Carlos Tevez will be the key players. Edin Dzeko is scoring too and they haven't played Balotelli. No problem with scoring here but they need work on the back line. Otherwise, the title will be handed to someone else.
Manchester United - I like their away strip of white and black with red trimmings around the collar and sleeves. They have to thank god for signing Robbie van Persie who has 4 goals now otherwise in their last game how can the devil beat the Saints? Having lost to Everton 0-1 they barely made it past Fulham 3-2 where Fulham did not deserve to loose. Again they scraped past Southampton in a game Southampton was very close to winning and shouldn't have lost. The Red Devils are having problems as they have conceded 5 goals by now. They are...the new Arsenal in terms of conceding goals. Don't write them off just yet but at this rate they are not happening.
Everton - David Moyes has always build good teams at Goodison Park. They had a flying start beating Man U on opening day even beat Villa away (3-1). Did well v WBA but WBA was exceptional on the day. It will be hard to compete with the big boys, but they won't do too badly with Fellaini doing so fine.
Chelsea - Petr Cech has been resilient and the backline remains solid with John Terry, Ashley Cole and new boy Ryan Bertrand at the helm and Ivanonic has even scored! The 1-4 Super Cup humiliation was a minor distraction. At midfield, Juan Mata is his usual self while Lampard is scoring and they have not used Marko Marin, Oscar or Victor Moses yet. Meanwhile, Torres is back in scoring form and Eden Hazard has been a revelation as expected. Their goal difference is at 8-2. The Stamford Bridge fans are being treated to a more attacking style judging by their signings. When you attack more, you will concede more unless you achieve the balance. Anyhow, Chelsea has so far looked better than anyone else. Potential champions material.
Swansea - If their first season last year was a breath of fresh air, Michael Laudrup has made the air at the Liberty even fresher but the air in Singapore right now with the haze is terrible. We need to construct some super giant fans along the entire coast to blow it back from where it came. 5-0 away thrashing of QPR followed by 3-0 trouncing of West Ham and then coming back from behind to level Sunderland twice showed a team playing with confidence, spirit and fight. Michu must surely been one of the best buys in the EPL with four goals from midfield and cost only 2 million pounds. Liverpool would love to have him. However, they have not met the big teams yet. If the Swans can keep that momentum, they will be in the top ten.
WBA - Roy Hodgson did a great job at WBA but credit must go to Steve Clark who was vindicated when they beat Liverpool 3-0. Even Tottenham could not beat them (1-1) and they went on to beat a very good Everton side 2-0. Impressive! This could be their best season yet but as the season wears you out, can they sustain their current form? Nevermind, they are doing just great.
Manchester City - The champions are conceding goals every match - 3-2 over Southampton, Liverpool 2-2 and QPR 3-1. Joe Hart must be disappointed. They scraped past Southampton and Liverpool deserved to win so there you have it. A tough champions league grouping awaits them. But they have a big and deep squad to last the season. Yahya Toure and Carlos Tevez will be the key players. Edin Dzeko is scoring too and they haven't played Balotelli. No problem with scoring here but they need work on the back line. Otherwise, the title will be handed to someone else.
Manchester United - I like their away strip of white and black with red trimmings around the collar and sleeves. They have to thank god for signing Robbie van Persie who has 4 goals now otherwise in their last game how can the devil beat the Saints? Having lost to Everton 0-1 they barely made it past Fulham 3-2 where Fulham did not deserve to loose. Again they scraped past Southampton in a game Southampton was very close to winning and shouldn't have lost. The Red Devils are having problems as they have conceded 5 goals by now. They are...the new Arsenal in terms of conceding goals. Don't write them off just yet but at this rate they are not happening.
Everton - David Moyes has always build good teams at Goodison Park. They had a flying start beating Man U on opening day even beat Villa away (3-1). Did well v WBA but WBA was exceptional on the day. It will be hard to compete with the big boys, but they won't do too badly with Fellaini doing so fine.
West Ham - Andy Carroll showed what he could do when he appeared against Fulham but went out injured later. Sam Allardyce's method is not really West Ham style but big Sam knows his methods well. The Hammers will probably survive it but along the way they will probably struggle. Kevin Nolan is doing superbly well.
Arsenal - They are now better than the same time last year. Still unbeaten but just started scoring but conceded none. Was it due to Steve Bould who played in their championship winning years. Lucas Podolski looks a winner. Cna he replace RVP is to be seen. Santi Cazorla looks like he was born in the EPL, he will be a star someday like me. Oliver Giroud still fires blank. Those who fire blanks could be unstoppable or they never realize their potential. Arsenal may do very well this season.
Wigan - Roberto Martinez is an original. They may still sustain it. Losing Victor Moses is a loss but as the season wears off, will they be able to be doing the same thing?
Newcastle - Cisse and Ba, thwo bright shining stars are note quite firing at the moment. Could it be that Alan Pardew after tasting las tseason's success has become conservative not daring to attack anymore. They should still do well having largely the same squad as last season with added reinforcement.
Fulham - After a bright start, they seemed to have fizzled out. How will the absence of Clint Demsey affect them? Perhaps the same situation as last season?
Stoke - Tony has built a a fighting team. Beanpole Peter Crouch has scored. They are workman -like and will give anyone a game. Probably the same as last year.
Sunderland - Martin O'Neill can motivate his players to play above themselves. They will be thereabouts at the end of the season.
Tottenham - Andre Villas-Boas is facing his second baptism of fire when the first time he was not baptised but just fired. They should have won two and drawn one but ended up with a defeat and two draws. He lost the dressing room at Chelsea and may do the same at Spurs if he were not careful. Replacing the popular Harry Redknapp may not be easy unless he starts winning.
Norwich - Run of the mill. Thrashed 5-0 then held QPR 1-1 and surprisingly Tottenham 1-1. Could be stretched by season's end.
Reading - Not easy to score two goals against Chelsea but they did it even though they have lost. Can the newbie last their first season in the EPL?
Aston Villa - It may be tough for Villa as they nearly got relegated the last time but their performance v Newcastle sort of vindicated them.
Liverpool - An opening day easy defeat to WBA was the undoing. It was so important and only if that result was more positive. However, their performance against the champs Man City was top notch and showcase their future potential but soon outplayed and out passed by Arsenal. Loaning out Andy Carroll to West Ham without securing Clint Dempsey was a blow for at least Carroll could have offered an alternative. Fabio Borini appeared light weight so far. Steven Gerrard oddly looked out of place. Gerrard's mistake in Arsenal's half saw Pool conceded from a lightning raid by the Gunners. To play total footaball demands superb fitness and great understanding. Liverpool is now like a budget airline missing out Dempsey for just another 2 million pounds. Brendan Rodgers seemed tasked for the long term development. Expect nothing this season or next. Oh by the way, they need a new and good goalie. Pepe Reina has been dropping balls. Liverpool fans are disgusted. Their only bright spot is on 17 year old Raheem Sterling who is fearless, pacy and has two good feet.
QPR - Conceded 9 goals in 3 matches after spending millions for many new players, QPR is a team of strangers. Unless they can gel so very quickly, they will be having a hard landing. Maverick Malaysian owner Tony Fernandez may fly manager Mark Hughes out of London on his budget airline Air Asia if things worsen.
Southampton - Lost all 3 matches but gave 2 daring and spirited displays against the top two sides of last season losing narrowly by 2-3 to City and United. How can the Saints lose to the Devils?Unfortunately their next game is against Arsenal who has started firing. They must then get the points against Aston Villa next surely. If you had watched them, you'll love the way they play. EPL rewards points for winning not hearts. If it were for hearts, they would be given a stash of heart stickers. For points, manager Nigel Adkins would be in danger. What rotten luck for opening fixtures playing the top three sides.
Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you get - Forrest Gump.
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