Few weeks back I had mentioned Chelsea as the front runners with ManU and Arsenal close behind. Over the last two weeks things have not changed too much apart from the fact that Chelsea has left the door open for those chasing them. It would be difficult for most teams barring United to catch them but the way top teams are tumbling nothing can be taken for granted.
Look at the traditional top 4 and none of them look as strong as previous years. They all look fragile and prone to a shock. As the table stands right now, Chelsea are still upfront but they do not look as invincible as few weeks back when they had threatened to run away with the title. United had the opportunity but they failed to punish the Blues after City had shocked them. While Gunners have also failed to close in with a mid week draw with Burnley, Liverpool’s season is still waiting for a fillip which I guess will have to wait until next year and by that time it would be all too little too late for them. If the reds finish in the top 4 it would be a huge surprise for me looking at the way things stand right now.
Let's look at some of the outsiders who could upset the applecart. Villa and Spurs look threatening while City and Liverpool cannot be taken for granted at any stage. Then there are Birmingham and Fulham both capable of untimely surprises for any of the top runners. The closeness of teams this season has meant a wonderfully entertaining and competitive league- especially for an outsider.
Wenger has summed it up quite nicely by stating this years’ as the most open title race -
"Yes [this is the most competitive I have known the Premier League since joining Arsenal]. It is, why? Because nobody looks to run away early in the season and there are six, seven, eight teams that can create a surprise any weekend and it is certainly the most open race," Wenger said in his pre-match press conference. "I think yes, that many [eight] can mount a title challenge."
While Wenger is upbeat about his teams title chances, Harry Redknapp has proclaimed the end of the Premier League's big four by declaring that only Chelsea and Manchester United are certainties to finish in the Champions League places this season and that the other pair of prized berths for Europe's elite tournament could be filled by any two of several teams – including Tottenham Hotspur.
Redknapp said "I've said since the start of the season that the champions will come from Chelsea or Manchester United but after that it's up for grabs," he said. "Anything is possible this season. Look at Arsenal, you would have expected them to go up and win at Burnley after beating Liverpool, but they didn't so that shows you how hard it's going to be."
Read more at:
http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/12/15/1689097/arsene-wenger-highlights-most-open-premier-league-title-race
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/17/harry-redknapp-tottenham-manchester-city
Thursday, December 17, 2009
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I am waiting for the Afro-Asian Cup to kick-off. I don't know when it's scheduled & who/when "Shitsea" play during that window. Curious to see how they perform without Drogba , Kalou , Essien & others as they are likely to be on national duties. They might squeeze in a couple of players in January but even then ,this is going right down to the wire , that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteThis is what Ancelotti had said in November:
ReplyDelete"A lot has been made of the fact we might have problems in January when some of our players go off to the African Nations Cup."
"But of the squad stays in the same condition as it is now, then it will be strong enough to cope for that period without those players - and that will mean we do not have to go out and buy someone."
Who would Chelsea play during the afro-asian cup window:
ReplyDeleteHull City, Sunderland, Birmingham City and Burnley.
United would play - birmingham, burnley, hull and arsenal
ReplyDeletei am suprised that rekdknapp has the testicular fortitude to say this after the drubbing we gave them ...
ReplyDelete- Zaph
Gunners are going down. There season is over unless Wenger loosens up his purse strings in January. If he feels Arshavin is his strike force upfront, I am sorry to say he is mistaken. Redknapp has a point .. I am sure his team has the balls too"
ReplyDelete