2011/12 FA Premier League - The story so far...

THE 20^th FA Premier League season is three months old and is already developing into an intense scrap for the championship, European positions and the battle to stay afloat in the top flight.  There has been some landslide scorelines, surprising stories and sorry struggles and it is time to assess how things are panning out so far.

The rise and rise of Manchester City

SHAKING: Manchester City set a high standard at Old Trafford

Last season, Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City went very negative in games against the top teams, but this season is a totally different story.  There might have been the well-publicised conflict between the manager and former golden boy Carlos Tevez, but the players have responded magnificently to the challenge of aiming to win the title that has eluded them for so long.  They ripped Tottenham to shreds, 5-1 in August at White Hart Lane, but the result that shook the football world came last week, when they routed Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford.  If that doesn’t mark City down as serious challengers, I don’t know what will.  Sergio Aguero is the signing of the season, Edin Dzeko looks a totally different player and David Silva’s football is on another planet.  Still unbeaten, Manchester City have set a standard so far that is proving difficult to keep up with.

Never write off the Red side of Manchester

Despite the 6-1 mauling by their city rivals, Manchester United look very strong in regards to the title battle.  He has gone off the boil since the moment of madness in Montenegro for England, but Wayne Rooney is almost back to his best.  Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to give youth such as Phil Jones, Danny Wellbeck and Tom Cleverly a real chance in the first team has been a shrewd decision.  After some early season wobbles, David de Gea is beginning to look like a solid first choice goalkeeper, though he has some way to go to match standards set by Schmeichel and Van der Sar.  The 8-2 demolition of Arsenal and a masterful 5-0 triumph at Bolton highlighted United’s attacking threat, but they still look vulnerable defensively, as Chelsea proved and Manchester City showed to devastating effect.  However, seasoned campaigners often come through, so you’d be a fool to write off Manchester United.

Newcastle’s surprising start

Alan Pardew has brought together a brilliant team unit at St. James Park and the results speak for themselves.  Demba Ba is following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer in the famous No.9 shirt on Tyneside and they hold the best defensive record in the league.  Last night’s impressive 3-1 triumph at Stoke has taken the Magpies upto third place, still unbeaten and going remarkably well.  The Geordies fans will begin to expect now and although they still have some way to go, a tilt at the European positions would be daft to not rule out.  They have been a genuine and excellent surprise package so far.

AVB and Chelsea: The cracks begin to show

I criticised Chelsea strongly in the summer for their decision to hire the youthful Andre Vilas-Boas as boss instead of someone far more experienced.  Despite a promising start, which included a very open and expansive attacking line-up at Old Trafford, but ended in a 3-1 defeat, I fear the cracks are beginning to show.  Chelsea’s team is ageing and badly; the youth of the squad in the Mourinho era is long gone.  John Terry is at the centre of a race row for alleged comments he made to Anton Ferdinand during a bad-tempered loss at QPR.  Fernando Torres has shown signs of great form, but still is unpredictable to work out and discipline has been shocking, with four reds in the league already.  Defensively, they were totally exposed by Arsenal at the weekend, conceding five at Stamford Bridge in the league for the first time since December 1989.  Exciting to watch at times, but fresh new blood on the playing side is urgently required in West London.  Don’t be too surprised if Mr. Abramovich gets the chequebook out in January again.

Who is the leading light in North London?

DEVASTATING: Van Persie is in the form of his life in Arsenal's recovery

Both Arsenal and Tottenham made nightmare starts to the season, as they took heavy thrashings off the two rampant Manchester clubs, but there have been significant signs of improvement in North London.  Since losing 5-1 to City, Tottenham have won six of their last seven games, with Luka Modric looking back to his best and Emmanuel Adebayor proving an excellent loan signing.  Their 4-0 demolition of Liverpool in September was one of Spurs best ever Premier League performances.  With eight wins from nine in all competitions since woefully losing 4-3 at Blackburn, Arsenal have turned a corner, culminating in that incredible 5-3 win at Chelsea on Saturday.  Robin Van Persie is leading by example as captain and is in great goalscoring form.  I still worry for the Gunners if the injury-prone Dutchman picks up an injury, but Arsene Wenger’s youngsters have defied the critics.  Although a serious title challenge is unlikely from either side, both can’t be discounted in the battle for fourth place and that crucial Champions League chance.

Signs of recovery from Anfield

The last two years have been very bleak for Liverpool supporters, but Kenny Dalglish is slowly lifting them out of the wilderness.  Luis Suarez has shown his immense quality and that there is life after Torres.  Andy Carroll still has a lot to do to justify his hefty price tag but a morale boosting goal at West Brom on Saturday will do his confidence no wonders.  Despite Raul Meireles departing for Chelsea and Steven Gerrard’s constant injury troubles, the consistency of Charlie Adam and Lucas in the centre of the park has shown that the Reds are more than a one-man team.  A 4-0 nightmare at Tottenham aside, Liverpool have produced some excellent results, including away wins at Everton and Arsenal along the way.  Like the North London sides, a title tilt looks a long shot, but there are signs of promising recovery in the second generation of the Dalglish Anfield reign.

Great attacking from the newly promoted sides

All three promoted teams have come up and once again shown that the gap between the Premiership and the Championship is now not as big as some might think.  Swansea City’s home record is very impressive, with three wins and two draws, just conceding one goal in the process.  They sit in the top half and although I worry about their strength in depth, Brendan Rodgers has adjusted well to Premiership life.  So too has Paul Lambert at Norwich.  An expansive side, full of promising youngsters has scared the life out of Chelsea and Manchester United already.  Then, they took a deserving point at Anfield two weeks ago.  With excellent starts, both teams have a chance of staying up.  I reckon QPR have the best squad out of the new sides.  Tony Fernandes investment in the club has seen the likes of Joey Barton and Shaun Wright-Phillips arrive at Loftus Road and the 1-0 win over Chelsea was a mighty result for everyone connected with the club.  There have been bad days, such as the 6-0 battering they took from Fulham, but with the ability to strengthen when the transfer window opens again, Neil Warnock might finally have a squad worthy of his talents in the top division.  For me, there’s a good chance all three promoted sides will stay up and if so, that will be the first time this has happened since 2001/02.

Relegation worries for the established

GO: The message from Blackburn fans to their beleaguered boss

Sitting bottom of the league at the moment, Wigan can’t buy a point if their life depended on it.  They have lost seven games in a row since the beginning of September.  As he stayed loyal to the Lactics in the summer, by turning down a move to Aston Villa, Roberto Martinez is in no danger of the sack but his team need a result.  They also need Hugo Rodallega to start scoring soon; otherwise I don’t know where the goals are going to come from.  Bolton’s defence has conceded 27 goals in their first ten games and the last team to do that in the Premiership were Barnsley in season 97/98.  The Tykes were relegated at the end of that season, so the omens don’t look good for Owen Coyle’s side.  I feel for Steve Kean, who is in an almost impossible situation at Blackburn.  The fans want his head, but the side is playing well, if not getting the right results.  Kean can’t help that he has the most inept owners the Premiership has ever seen.  Note to the Indian owners at Ewood Park; Stick to the chickens, you are hopeless at football!  I worry for Wolves too, who won their first two games, but collected little since and despite showing some potential; I’m still unconvinced by Aston Villa under the guidance of Alex McLeish.  It’s difficult to say who will go down, but some of the established clubs in the Premiership will be feeling the pressure already.

Winter is approaching and the games will now be coming thick and fast.  After Christmas, things in the league will begin to take shape, but if the first three months have anything to go by, then the FA Premier League is proving once more why it is the most unpredictable league in the world.

FA Barclays Premiership Report (22nd - 24th January)

WHILST Richard Keys and Andy Gray have made the headlines of all the wrong making in the past 72 hours, other go on about their business quietly.  Manchester United remain unbeaten, some top class strikers returned to form and other ridiculous rules saw refs on the run from furious bosses, AGAIN!  Here’s the round-up of the weekend’s action in the Barclays Premiership.

Saturday 22^nd January: Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City

PRICELESS: Darren Bent made a dream debut for Aston Villa

RANDY Learner splashed the cash in midweek to bring Darren Bent in from Sunderland for £18million and he scored on his debut for struggling Villa, earning them a priceless victory.  His first involvement in the game was to score the solitary goal in the 18^th minute, tapping in from close range after Joe Hart let slip a tame Ashley Young shot.  City looked poor all night and although Nigel de Jong hit the post in the closing stages, it was a very happy evening for the home side and their new star striker.

Monday 24^th January: Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Chelsea

ON A night where Bolton paid tribute to the legendary Nat Lofthouse, Owen Coyle’s side continued their poor run of form, as they were easily brushed aside by a Chelsea team, that look back to form.  Once Didier Drogba found the back of the net in sensational fashion on eleven minutes, the game was the visitors for the taking.  Florent Malouda doubled the lead in the dying stages of the first half from a narrow angle and Nicholas Anelka also netted on his return to the Reebok in the second half.  Brazilian Ramires completed the rout with twenty minutes to go, his first goal for Chelsea, who consolidate their place in the top four.  Bolton slide down to tenth on the back of this battering.

Saturday 22^nd January: Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City  

TREBLE: Berbatov starred again

THIS was the best performance of the season from Manchester United, as they outplayed and outclassed a very poor Birmingham side.  Dimitar Berbatov’s golden touch continued, as the Bulgarian turned in his third hat-trick of the season.  The first was a tap-in inside of 90 seconds and a second on the half hour with another basic finish.  The lethal striker completed his treble in the second half, with Ryan Giggs and Nani also getting onto the scoresheet in this riot.  With Giggs instrumental and Wayne Rooney near his best, it will be difficult to see anyone stopping the leaders.

Sunday 23^rd January: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 West Brom

STEVE Kean’s first match in permanent charge as Rovers boss bought a comfortable win, as West Brom lost their seventh away match in a row in all competitions.  In an even first half, it was Blackburn who broke the deadlock on 41 minutes.  David Dunn’s dangerous cross was steered into his own net by the uncertain Gabriel Tamas.  Rovers doubled their lead soon after the restart; David Hoillett’s swerving shot viciously beat Boaz Myhill to seal the match for the home side.  Paul Robinson produced two good save to deny the threatening Jerome Thomas in the second half, as Blackburn move into a solid seventh in the table.  Once again, defensive errors cost Albion dear.

Saturday 22^nd January: Arsenal 3-0 Wigan Athletic

FIRST: Hat-trick in the Premiership for Robin Van Persie

DAVID Beckham was an interested spectator as Arsenal produced a home masterclass against a Wigan team that look more Championship material with every passing week.  Robin Van Persie scored a hat-trick; his first came on 21 minutes from an Alex Song pass.  The second was a picture book pass from Fabregas that was accurately put in by the Dutchman.  Van Persie went on to horribly miss a penalty, after Steven Caldwell was sent off for bringing down Fabregas.  However, the rocking Dutchman made up for it, by squeezing the ball past Ali Al-Habsi’s near post to complete his first Premier League hat-trick and move the Gunners into second spot in the table.

Saturday 22^nd January: Everton 2-2 West Ham United

NOBODY expected Avram Grant to be in charge of this match, probably even Avram himself.  However, his side showed a load of character at Goodison and should have won, had it not been for a ridiculous regulation in the laws that need urgent attention.  The Hammers took the lead on 26 minutes; Luis Boa Morte pulling the ball back for Jonathan Spector to score his first goal in the Premiership.  They then proceeded to miss a hatful of chances and substitute Diniyar Bilyadetinov made them pay with a nice finish from the edge of the area.  West Ham looked to have won it, when Frenchman Frederic Piquionne headed home from Wayne Bridge’s terrific cross.  Piquionne’s celebration for jumping into the travelling supporters saw him sent off for two yellow cards.  Grant called the red card a ‘joke’ and few could disagree with him.  Everton made the extra man count, as Maroualine Fellani popped up to break West Ham’s hearts in stoppage time to rescue a point for the home side.

Saturday 22^nd January: Wolves 0-3 Liverpool

SMILE: Kenny Dalglish could look on with satisfaction at victory

WHILST Richard Keys and Andy Gray were showing how unprofessional they really were, Liverpool showed real professionalism in seeing off Wolves, leaving the home club in low spirits and giving a happy Kenny Dalglish his first win back in caretaker charge.  Fernando Torres was back in the goals, with a double.  Both of his goals were tap-ins, in the first half from Raul Meireles pass, after line official Sian Massey made a correct borderline call and the second from Dirk Kuyt’s usual persistence.  This brace came either side of a Portuguese pile driver from Meireles, with a superb strike as Liverpool dominated throughout, and move seven points clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Saturday 22^nd January: Fulham 2-0 Stoke City

THINGS are beginning to look up for Fulham, as they continued their march up the table.  Clint Dempsey had the Cottagers infront on 33 minutes, finishing inside the six yard box after Andy Johnson had skimmed Ryan Shawcross.  Shawcross miserable day continued, as he saw red for hauling Dempsey to the ground in the second half.  The American converted the penalty with glee.

Saturday 22^nd January: Newcastle United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

ANOTHER week and another two points squandered by Newcastle United.  Fabricio Coloccini scored a rare goal on 59 minutes, producing control that Alan Shearer would have been proud of.  Carlo Cudicini should have done better, but the Argentine’s lovely skill deserved a bit of luck in the finish.  In an entertaining match, the Magpies were on top for most of the match, but conceded again in injury time, as Aaron Lennon’s shot beat the despairing Steve Harper.

Saturday 22^nd January: Blackpool 1-2 Sunderland

LIFE after Darren Bent started well enough for Sunderland, as Kieran Richardson stepped upto the plate at Bloomfield Road.  Richardson scored a double in the first half, his first Premiership goals since October 2009.  Blackpool bombed forward and as ever, gave the opposition goalkeeper plenty to do, but Charlie Adam’s late penalty counted for little for the Seasiders.  Blackpool’s next test will be to keep hold of Adam, who has handed in a transfer request and is under close scrutiny from the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa.