Howdy hoo people, its the Christmas fervour across the premier league but not for the teams. This is the week when games come quicker than tomorrow and teams gets affected in more ways than one during this time. Still in the festive spirit of things lets do a mid season review, shall we.
Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | Liverpool | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 42 | 19 | 23 | 36 | |
| 2 | Arsenal | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 17 | 16 | 36 | |
| 3 | Man City | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 51 | 20 | 31 | 35 | |
| 4 | Chelsea | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 18 | 14 | 34 | |
| 5 | Everton | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 16 | 13 | 34 | |
| 6 | Newcastle | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 30 | |
| 7 | Tottenham | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 30 | |
| 8 | Man United | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 20 | 8 | 28 | |
| 9 | Southampton | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 24 | |
| 10 | Stoke City | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 21 | -4 | 21 | |
| 11 | Swansea City | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 20 | |
| 12 | Hull City | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 20 | |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 19 | |
| 14 | Norwich City | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 29 | -14 | 19 | |
| 15 | Cardiff City | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 17 | |
| 16 | West Brom | 17 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 16 | |
| 17 | West Ham | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 22 | -8 | 14 | |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 17 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 27 | -16 | 13 | |
| 19 | Fulham | 17 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 17 | 34 | -17 | 13 | |
| 20 | Sunderland | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 30 | -18 | 10
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With due respects to the other teams, shall we do the first part of the review with the usual suspects for the title???
1. Liverpool– start of the season if someone said to Brendan Rodgers that his team will be at the top come Christmas, he would have been like well if you say so. Flash news Brendan, your team is indeed topping the table.
Pros-1.Luis Suarez. The best player in the league is scoring at a rate which will make him score more than 40 goals this season and remember he missed the early part of the season. Luis Suarez on his own can carry this team and so far there is no stopping the juggernaut. Liverpool’s biggest accomplishment this season may just have been holding on to him.
2. Jordan Henderson- The heir apparent to Stevie G may just have announced himself. Assured, confident and being able to have a sense of clam has made Jordan the driving force behind the free scoring Liverpool team.
When you are winning everything seems to fall in place. The defence looks good, Mingolet seems assured and for once even Gerrard is not missed.
Cons- It does need Suarez this team, without him its half as potent as with him being there. Stevie G is now a question mark. With age catching up the liverpool legend, he may actually slow down the momentum to this team (when he comes back) which seems to express themselves better without him being around. But how can you drop your club captain? BR has a tough decision. The defence in big games seems to panic and may be found out quite harshly against the big boys specially away from home.
Mid season rating- 8/10. Not playing in the European competitions is actually benefiting Liverpool. A minimum of top 4 should be the target going forward.
The Arsenal– Level on points, second in the league, regulatory knockout stages of the champions league and a future to look forward to, the Gunners have had a solid if not stunning start to the campaign and come Christmas they are in with a real shout for the league, or are they???????
Pros- Wins rather than draws have ensured that the usual Arsenal way of dropping points to smaller teams at the start of the season, has been eclipsed. Ensuring that the first team has remained intact from the last season and also getting a certain Ozil has meant that the team as well as the supporters have a genuine belief that this just might be the season. The form of the centre backs, GK,Ramsey and Flamini has meant that the Gunners are picking up points than dropping them in games which they used to do.
Cons- Not a big game team, still havent beaten a poor united and chelsea teams and were humbled by City. The goals from the midfield have dried up after Aaron Ramsey has had a lull. Not many have put their hand up and taken responsibility.Form of Cazorla is a concern and an alternate to Giroud has no takers. Sagna’s contract saga is a distraction which has come at the wrong moment.
Mid Season rating- 7/10. You dont need to beat only the big teams to win the league, beat the rest and you are in with a shout. Arsenal need to ensure they carry forward the momentum or else they may sag away in the end. Character anyone?????
Manchester City– What is the target for the season- win all the trophies we play for. Pellegrini and his men seem to be picking up their form at the right moment and look odds on favourites to win the league.
Pros- it will take a miracle or a tsunami for them to lose at home, win all their home games and they are well on their way to the title. A strike force which is the best in the league, the best CDM in the league and a sense of invincibility seems to drive this team to greater heights.
Cons- their away form though prove that they are human and can be ordinary to. Repeated defensive errors, Joe Hart’s impetuousness, a centre back pairing which seems unsure all suggest that city are a team which rides on momentum but can succumb on the same.
Mid season rating-8/10. If they sort their away form and if Europe doesnt become a distraction, City are the favourites to win the league.if only everything goes according to the script!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chelsea- Happy one comes home to make everyone happy. Well so far he seems to be sulking a lot but quietly has got his team in a space where they can drive forward.Never say never when it comes to jose.
Pros- If you cant win, dont lose. No one does it better and specially in big games, Chelsea know the knack of getting a result and that very well sets up their season which tends to get better as the season progresses. Whatever be the team lined up, you are certain that they will give it their all, its an attitude that takes no prisoners.
Cons- Mou won his titles with a defensive bed rock, this team doesnt have one. The signing of his favourites like Eto and Essien has done no one any favours at chelsea fc. Publicly demeaning his team and players may not augur well.
Mid season rating- 7/10. Chelsea will be there till the end, they wont fade away, jose knows the art of winning, can he do it one more time and make it happy indeed, well lets see.
With due respect to Everton who have been magnificent and as refreshing as any team in the league we will now move to the one team who are well, the defending champions.
Manchester United– David Moyes era begins, the chosen one has arrived. Well so far it hasnt gone as per the script for the team as well as its boss.
Pros- Even after a traditionally lumbering start, united are just 8 points behind the leaders. The team that picks up the best post Christmas has always been United and 8 point aint a tall order for a team which knows how to win. Wayne Rooney may not have sorted his contract still but that has not affected his playing on the pitch, he has been a stand out and with the fixture list being “convenient”, rule out united at your own peril.
Cons- The signings or the not so signings have had an impact and not a good one so far. The home ground seems to hold no fear to others and suddenly a fergie less team is beatable afterall.
Mid season rating-6/10. They need to gather momentum and quickly to. Injuries and the lack of cohesion may hurt them a lot more than they realize and most importantly teams above them are in no mood to relent.
There we go part 1 has just covered the usual suspects. New year may bring in new hope, new players and a new sense of purpose for these teams or they may fade away to oblivion. Time will tell but watch the league unfold its own twists and turns before the winner is known. Its a beautiful game and more so when there is so much to look forward to.
Regards
Vinay