Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
We are fast approaching the half-way point of the season and what a start we’ve had. At the time of going to press there are only three points separating the top five teams in the English Premier League and two teams only one win behind that group – and that doesn’t include the title holders, Manchester United.
To further illustrate the tight top table, before the weekend the big fixture-pitting Arsenal against Chelsea was between the top two sides. Yet by the time they played it was third against fifth!
Only two teams have consistently impressed with both Arsenal and Liverpool exceeding pre-season expectations, although Chelsea have lurked ominously behind despite failing to reproduce their best form.
Liverpool has finally made it to the top of the table. While recently it has been the relentless form of Luis Suarez (with 18 goals and 11 assists in 12 matches) that has propelled them to 25 goals and five victories in their last six games, previously it was Daniel Sturridge who was the revelation, scoring in the first four games of the season.
The arrival of Mesut Ozil helped cement Arsenal’s early form but was the marquee signing that fans have strived for and announced the re-emergence of the Gunners.
Yet, despite the consistency of these two, there remains a belief that it will be Manchester City that claim the title this season. Unusually porous in defence they have scored a remarkable 51 goals and are on course to set a new Premier League record. This has been built on eight successive home wins where they have out-scored their opponents by 30 goals. However, it is their away form that offers rivals hope, having lost four times, although three of those have come when skipper Vincent Kompany has been absent.
At the other end of the table the bottom three are all bedding in new managers, amongst the five dismissals already this season – not including the ‘dead man walking’ at Cardiff, Malky Mackay.
Gus Poyet has improved a leaky defence at Sunderland and has at least seen them close the gap on some of their closest rivals, although goals are still proving hard to come by. I expect that to improve in the second half of the season if his experience at Brighton is any measure.
Tony Pulis has also brought a greater sense of resilience to Crystal Palace although he will have a tough job to secure survival, maintaining, in the process, his own boast of never having managed a side into relegation.
The situation at Cardiff is shocking. The owner, Vincent Tan, apparently issued the relatively long-serving manager, Mackay with a ‘resign or be sacked’ ultimatum. Mackay refused and has handled the situation with the utmost decorum and respect. Having guided them to promotion and a win over Manchester City surely he deserves the same respect he has given.
Not that having a popular owner necessarily disrupts the side, as witnessed at Hull. The surprise package of the season have only conceded three goals at home, resulting in four wins that propelled them to a season high position of seventh.
If Tim Sherwood is to be married to the hot seat at Spurs then he certainly started in blissful fashion relying on something ‘borrowed’ and something ‘new’. Emanuel Adebayor, now a permanent fixture, albeit on the bench, rewarded Sherwood’s faith with two goals while debutant, Bentaleb, promoted from the reserves, produced an accomplished display in midfield. With Hoddle and Eriksson waiting in the wings, it will have done Sherwood’s cause no harm that he harnessed the attacking potential bought from the sale of Gareth Bale to produce an attacking display of intent that was pleasing to watch.
However, there is as much interest in who will finish in the top four positions, thereby qualifying for Europe, as there is in who will win the title. The ‘Big 4’ from the last few seasons are no longer guaranteed to fill these spaces which is leading to an intriguing battle between some of the lesser known sides.
Southampton have occupied a European position although have struggled of late. Their early rise was recognised with the selection of three players for the England squad although, having been third in November, they have now failed to win in their last six matches.
Newcastle, having secured six wins from their last eight games, are reaping the rewards of a fully-fit squad and are starting to repay the investment in the French revolution over the last 18 months.
However, it is currently Everton that are in prime position. Roberto Martinez has cast off the Toffee’s traditional slow start to the season and helped his side into fourth. The sale of Fellaini has allowed the former Swansea and Wigan boss to blood younger talent including Ross Barkley who is drawing rave reviews and comparisons with Wayne Rooney while he was at Goodison.
Finally, cast one eye towards the Championship where the ‘Wally with the Brolly’, Steve Maclaren, is showing former employers, Nottingham Forest, what they missed as he has guided Derby County into the play-off zone, nudging towards automatic promotion. The form side of the division, since his arrival Maclaren has managed nine wins from 11 matches including a record seven consecutive victories for the first time since 1995 – when, bizarrely, he was the assistant manager to Jim Smith! With away fixtures over the Christmas period against Huddersfield and Barnsley, don’t bet against him.
