Ok guys, another week is in the bag, and another set of Power Rankings on the way. A thriller in Manchester left City unable to break into the top 2, but they have now firmly solidified themselves as not only Top 4 contenders, but title contenders. Tottenham seems to have fallen back to Earth, and sad to say, it looks like anything better than 6th will be a tall order for Spurs, especially considering the resurgent Villans. Without any further ado, here are the rankings.
1. Chelsea Last Week: 1
And the vice grip on first remains! Chelsea is looking rather tough to top this year, and after dismantling Spurs, they are showing that most teams just aren't in their class. Two huge questions for Chelsea now though. How long is Drogba out? And who will score?
2. Manchester United Last Week: 2
Man United is looking rather frisky already this year. An absolutely thrilling derby win that might just put Michael Owen into...the heart of United fans? Who would ever have thought I would type that one day? Weird times. Well, the Mancs are blowing up, and I think I speak for the soccer-watching community in saying I'm waiting for their match with Chelsea with baited breath.
3. Manchester City Last Week: 3
Well, they really could have jumped to 1 with a big-time win, but, not everything can work out so splendidly for the Middle Eastlands. They're much better than anyone really predicted, and Sparky deserves boatloads of credit, especially considering how much shit was talked about him (myself included) and they were quite unlucky to lose that match to United. A great derby, it showed their on equal footing with United. Watch out, they could win this thing.
4. Arsenal Last Week: 5
Well, two tough losses to teams above them in the rankings shouldn't throw them down the list. Another comprehensive blowout of a lesser team shows that while Arsenal still has some figuring out to do when it comes to beating other top sides (this will be most worrying in the Champions League), nobody destroys lesser teams better right now. Comprehensive blowout of Wigan, and I'll be interested to see how they do at the Cottage this weekend.
5. Tottenham Hotspur Last Week: 4
Well, they just pulled an Arsenal. They lost twice in a row to better teams and are getting written off. I don't think they're contenders, and really, it'll be a miracle if they make the Top 4, but they're a strong side who is really punching above their weight right now. Let's hope they can keep it going, but as the season wears on, how will the Lilywhites hold up?
6. Aston Villa Last Week: 7
Look, they beat Portsmouth. Big deal, I know. But really, they haven't lost a Premier League match since their opening loss to Wigan. So, why exactly is everyone down on them? They beat Liverpool and have won everything that they should have. If they can grab another 3 points this weekend at Ewood Park, they'll have a lot at stake when City comes to visit, and if they can get points out of that match, maybe, JUST maybe, they can contend for the Top 4 again.
7. Liverpool Last Week: 6
Title contenders, eh? It's been a rough start to the season for Liverpool. Outside of comprehensive victories against Stoke City and Burnley, they've lost to Tottenham and Villa, and have needed thrilling last-minute finishes to beat West Ham and Bolton, not to mention they had a not-so-convincing Champions League win over some team from Hungary. If anyone is looking vulnerable in the Big Four, it's clearly the Reds, and unless Aquilani channels Zidane when he gets back, things aren't looking up anytime soon. Liverpool is looking like Tottenham of the Berbatov-Keane days. They have some world-class players, but too many average players and a lack of chemistry will prevent them from making the Champions League. Let's hope for my sanity that they turn things around.
8. Burnley Last Week: 13
OK, this part of the table is really hard. Why? Because normally, the way I go about these rankings is I check my table from last week, and see what changed. Normally this doesn't involve every team from 8-12 losing (or drawing with Bolton, which is basically a loss) so I had to go with Burnley, who beat Sunderland despite being significantly outplayed. If Sunderland had held on to win, they'd be 8th, but alas, no one remembers that game they outplayed and lost, and in the end, the points belong to Burnley. And how about David Nugent? Who knew he still had it in him? I think it would be great if he got back to scoring goals, the man has been through hell and back with supporters and it would be sweet vindication for him to hit 15 this season.
9. Sunderland Last Week: 9
One of the more unlucky 3-1 losses you'll see this year, so really, it would be harsh to drop them anywhere, especially considering they put in a great game at Turf Moor, which is quickly turning into Britannia Redux. Sunderland has a real quality side, and I think they can do some damage, but given the strength above them, there is just no way they'll make a European competition without winning a Cup.
10. Stoke City Last Week: 10
Look, I know Stoke is not a great traveling side, but really, only a point against Bolton? Poor form. To be fair, no one was expecting miracles, and they were rather unlucky to give away a penalty in the 89th, but those points are lost nonetheless. Stoke is a more consistent Burnley, in that they won't have wild fluctuations like the Clarets but they won't be beating top teams at home too often either. Well, they can prove that wrong this weekend if they can put a dent in United's title ambitions with an upset.
11. Fulham Last Week: 8
Another awful traveling team, but really, Wolves? A lackluster performance, and frankly, I'm sick of seeing teams that can be world-beaters at home just slump to disappointing loss after disappointing loss on the road. Fulham doesn't look like they'll be able to get back into Europe this season with the emergence of City and Spurs crowding them out, so they should really live it up while they're in it, because they won't be going back.
12. Everton Last Week: 14
They're crawling up the standings, and if they can get a nice little run going, they'll maybe make it back to the top half! They already have three losses on the campaign, so they'll need quite a run to really make any sort of attempt to get into Europe. However, unlike the teams I just said weren't good enough, Everton is good enough, and at this point have only one less loss than Tottenham. But no more joking around, results like today's need to become commonplace, and Everton needs to get back to business.
13. Wigan Athletic Last Week: 11
I know, I know. Birmingham and Wolves have one more point! Not really relevant, as Wigan is a better team than either. They just happened to play Arsenal at home this week, and got pummeled for it. Wigan now has Chelsea to contend with. So, they'll probably drop further in rankings next week, but I expect them to bounce back in the long run. It is always hard to get blown out though, and considering it'll happen this weekend too, I'm curious to see how Martinez can rally the troops.
14. Wolverhampton Wanderers Last Week: 17
A quality win over a disappointing Fulham, you still can't take away the fact that Wolves won just as much as Fulham lost. This year is going to be interesting in the Premier League, as you have tons of team who either seem roughly equal at either the top, the middle and the bottom, and considering we are about 6 or 7 deep in each area, that will make this year's relegation fight quite interesting. The points this weekend were huge, and any result at the Stadium of Light will be just another boost in the arm.
15. Birmingham City Last Week: 16
I mean, it's Hull but still a good win. As I've said before, Birmingham is frightfully boring, and I don't really enjoy writing about them. I don't know anything about them, and don't care to. Another 1-0 game, oh joy! And guess how they scored, wait I'll ruin it, header. YAWN.
16. West Ham United Last Week: 12
Seems like quite a big drop for a team that barely lost to Liverpool, but the situation warranted it. After all Bolton just did it too, how hard can it be? I know the excuses though, it wasn't a game they had to win, blah blah blah. But here's a scary thought: they don't have an easy game until Hull. When is that game you ask? That's 7 games away. They have 6 games they could legitimately lose and could be staring at 4 points after 11 matches. They have following matches upcoming (home games in CAPS): Manchester City, FULHAM, Stoke City, ARSENAL, Sunderland, EVERTON. So, their easiest game there is what? A trip to Britannia or Stadium of Light? Or a home match against Fulham or Everton. Needless to say, sometimes you need to win hard games.
17. Blackburn Rovers Last Week: 15
Really, only above Bolton because they seem feistier, and Bolton just seems to be a touch unlucky. Thoroughly dismantled by the corpse of Everton, which may actually be returning to life. A tough round of matches upcoming for Rovers as well, and they'll really have to capitalize on any chance they get. If that means Blackburn needs to park the bus everywhere they go, I'm sure Allardyce won't mind.
18. Bolton Wanderers Last Week: 18
A lucky draw with Stoke, and a tough loss to Liverpool might mean that this team has more potential than we give it credit for. But, like West Ham, sometimes you have to show that. Like the last few teams, they have a tough schedule after this weekend's match with Birmingham, but to be fair, most teams at this point in the rankings would consider any game hard.
19. Hull City Last Week: 19
And now the two delinquents at the bottom. Hull sucks, simply put. And Phil Brown is an assclown. Jozy Altidore is unfortunately having some issues adjusting to the Premier League, but to be fair, his teammates suck and his coach, and his formations, substitutions and motivational techniques, suck. You know what this all adds up to? It's going to suck to be a Hull City fan.
20. Portsmouth Last Week: 20
The last team to lose 6 games out of the gate in the top flight of English football? 26 years ago in Leicester City. Amazingly they stayed up that year (but not for long). I don't see too much to get hopeful about on the South Coast, and they might challenge Derby County for the worst Premier League season ever. Congratulations Portsmouth, for sucking at unprecedented levels!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Ron Weasley
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spursxtra.html?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=thfc-site&utm_campaign=spurs-xtra1. Visit that site.
2. Scroll down a little bit.
3. Observe the greatest ally that Spurs have (other than the Republic of Croatia).
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I have no problem with what Adebayor did (and why we need more of it)
Look, I'm not talking about the stamp on RVP. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but either way, that sucks and I don't endorse that. What do I endorse? This:
Nothing like that to get the juices flowing right? Look, I realize Arsenal fans were pissed off, and rightly so. But this is what sport is all about. It's about rivalries, tension and (moderate) hatred. I enjoy cheering against certain players as I enjoy cheering for my own. And when you add in the whole scorned-former-player angle? Fantastic! Just like taking your shirt off, this is something that should not warrant a card because it's something that should be an acknowledged aspect of the game. If you want to shower abuse on a former player, and he then scores the goal that downs your hopes? Be prepared for him to showboat. I'd want to, you'd want to, it's human. Nothing is sweeter that revenge, especially in football. As long as you aren't going West Ham-Millwall about it, what's the big deal? Do you watch soccer to watch players disinterestedly pass the ball around and then give a small smile and a wave when they score? The only point of sports is to watch physical art, and with it, the passion it incites. Without passion or feeling, there is no point to sport. So, let's give our players the same freedom. If they want to flip off the home crowd after they dagger them in the 90th, go for it. If they want to goad the defender they just destroyed to get towards the goal, sounds great. And if they want to run the length of the pitch to let their hate-filled former fans know how they really feel, well then soccer is all the better for it.
Nothing like that to get the juices flowing right? Look, I realize Arsenal fans were pissed off, and rightly so. But this is what sport is all about. It's about rivalries, tension and (moderate) hatred. I enjoy cheering against certain players as I enjoy cheering for my own. And when you add in the whole scorned-former-player angle? Fantastic! Just like taking your shirt off, this is something that should not warrant a card because it's something that should be an acknowledged aspect of the game. If you want to shower abuse on a former player, and he then scores the goal that downs your hopes? Be prepared for him to showboat. I'd want to, you'd want to, it's human. Nothing is sweeter that revenge, especially in football. As long as you aren't going West Ham-Millwall about it, what's the big deal? Do you watch soccer to watch players disinterestedly pass the ball around and then give a small smile and a wave when they score? The only point of sports is to watch physical art, and with it, the passion it incites. Without passion or feeling, there is no point to sport. So, let's give our players the same freedom. If they want to flip off the home crowd after they dagger them in the 90th, go for it. If they want to goad the defender they just destroyed to get towards the goal, sounds great. And if they want to run the length of the pitch to let their hate-filled former fans know how they really feel, well then soccer is all the better for it.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Power Rankings, September 13
Hey guys, there has been a bit of hiatus in the maintenance of the glorious Chads United, but it's really because all of us went back to school and are still getting used to having shit to do all day. But anyways, here are the power rankings as of September 13th.
1. Chelsea Last Time: 2
Look, I don't like Chelsea, and they are taking on the habits of another team I really don't like: Manchester United. What habit? The games where they play like garbage, don't take their chances, but get a last-gasp winner to take all the points. You know what teams like this normally do? Oh right, win titles.
2. Manchester United Last Time: 4
Well, it seems like they are doing just fine without Cristiano. Despite one aberration of a loss to Burnley, they've dismantled their two North London rivals and despite their penchant for slow starts, they have started the season in devastatingly good form. Rooney's goal this weekend (the third versus Tottenham) showed off his class, and maybe he is living up to the hype.
3. Manchester City Last Time: 5
Yes, it is rather odd that I've placed a 100% team that just beat a title contender rather thoroughly and only conceded their first goal of the season this weekend in third, but that just is the strength of Manchester United and Chelsea. Yes, a Burnley loss looks bad, and Chelsea haven't looked consistently convincing, but who would you rather play? City are looking much more in the title race than many pundits thought, and having passed their first test of the season rather triumphantly, the question is slowly becoming, who in the Big 4 will be left out?
4. Tottenham Hotspur Last Time: 3
Well, we all knew that Spurs wouldn't last that long at the top didn't we? Despite a rather convincing loss, Spurs shouldn't hang their heads just yet. They're still in great position, and already have one Big Four scalp in the campaign, and if they can take at least a point off of Chelsea, they'll have to be considered just as much in the hunt as any of these top teams. The biggest question for them right now is whether or not Jermain Defoe can keep up his scintillating start.
5. Arsenal Last Time: 1
Ah, the difference a few weeks makes. After dismantling Everton and Portsmouth, we were all ready to crown Arsenal weren't we? Well, the city of Manchester has been rather unkind to them in the last two rounds, and it'll be hard to forget how they were bossed, particularly against City. They are a young team that has lots of natural instability (tons of players moving in and out of starting lineup) and that generally is an advantage, but with two losses on the trot, including one particularly disheartening one this weekend, can they avoid a serious slump?
6. Liverpool Last Time: 6
Well, they have two convincing 4-0 wins over two teams that were promoted in the last two seasons, and that's about all there is to be happy about. A loss at White Hart Lane isn't horrible, but a loss at home to Villa is. Not only did that remove some invincibility factor to Anfield, it inadvertently strengthened a rival as Villa has totally righted the ship. I'm not getting excited over this past win because they followed up a similar destruction of Stoke with an uninspired loss to Villa (though it was a rather unlucky 3-1). A confident win at Upton Park could do wonders.
7. Aston Villa Last Time: 12
Well, Scoops ended his last update on Villa with "Pull yourselves together, Villa!" Well indeed they have. While many could have seen the victory at Anfield as merely a slipup by an inconsistent Liverpool team crumbling under expectations, Villa has grabbed hold of that momentum and beaten the team they finished a spot above last season as well as their local derby. The gulf between 6 and 7 is easily the biggest, and I really would be stunned to see anyone from the current top 6 drop out barring a monumental collapse, you know, not too unlike the one Villa had last year. If Villa can pick up 6 points before City come to town, and get a result then, I'll reevaluate, but until then, have fun in Europa.
8. Fulham Last Time: 10
Fulham has two losses and two wins, not exactly first half material, but what it really comes down to is the competition. They lost to two teams above them in the table and these Power Rankings, one away and one home to Chelsea, and they've won they should have. Fulham is very well-managed and have a quality side, but it'll be a dogfight to get back into the Europa League next season. The most worrying aspect of the Chelsea loss is the possibility that this team can no longer grind out draws against top-shelf clubs at the Cottage, and without that, they'll be back in the bottom half in no time.
9. Sunderland Last Time: 9
Sunderland is something of an enigma and I really don't know what to make of them. To be honest, they'll probably be a lot like Steve Bruce's Wigan: a team that wins when they should, and loses when they should. They lost at Stoke, and then dropped a game to Chelsea. Rather expected. They then let their quality doing the talking against Bolton, Blackburn and Hull. They'll be the best mediocre team in this league, no doubt about it.
10. Stoke City Last Time: 11
Stoke were dreadfully unlucky not to get a point against Chelsea, and outside of the loss at Anfield, that would be more good news for the club. They've remained the same scrappy, difficult-to-beat team with a terrifying home atmosphere, except in this year's more watered-down league, they've become even more formidable. I expect a lot of 1-0, 2-1, 2-0 wins to come out of the Britannia this season, and they'll keep grinding them out to another season up.
11. Wigan Athletic Last Time: 14
It's surprising how bad I consider these teams now that we're in the bottom half. Hopefully in a month the league with have more form, but right now saying that Wigan is on the cusp of being a top-half team seems deranged, but really, who else? They've lost to Wolves, got throttled by Manchester United and are the only team Everton has gotten points from, but despite that, they've beaten Villa, and most importantly, just got a home win over the 12th ranked team, meaning that I am obliged to place Wigan above them. Who is that team you ask?
12. West Ham United Last Time: 7
Well, they SHOULD be better, but they aren't. They really are only in this position because of their talent level, and despite this talent, they've only picked up 4 points. Don't get riled up on me because Burnley has two wins and what not, I'll get to them soon enough. West Ham have been quite good defensively, they are just (unsurprisingly) finding out that Carleton Cole isn't the answer at striker. Actually none of their strikers are the answer. They need goals, and if they don't get them, they better pray they get a lot of 0-0 draws because having to keep clean sheets week in and week out will definitely wear down this defense.
13. Burnley Last Time: 8
It's hard to take a silver lining from losing 7-0 over two weekends, but it WAS at Stamford Bridge and Anfield, and did any of us predict anything different to start this season? No, not at all. Does it mean they're screwed? No, it just means they were able to successfully park the bus against the Red Devils and the Toffees at home, but will probably be lucky to Stoke anyone else this season. They've proven scrappy and look to have a great chance at staying up, and really, that's all they should shoot for. No Europa, no top-table, none of that. Just stay up. And they can.
14. Everton Last Time: 13
We've now reached a group I'd like to call the "Shit-Tastic Seven." You could probably throw West Ham in here too, but they have shown some signs of life. All in all, the following seven teams all fucking suck. Sorry for the profanity, but it needs to be said. So who is the leader of this inept group? Well, the team that should be battling with the Big 6 right now. The team with great talent and team spirit that FINALLY is healthy, and then promptly sucks. They've lost to Burnley and Fulham, got slaughtered by Arsenal and got a win against Wigan. They should be on at least 7 points, they're on 3. I didn't anticipate the Jolean Lescott thing screwing up their precious chemistry so bad, but guess what, I think it did. Bad days for the Toffees.
15. Blackburn Rovers Last Time: 19
So Blackburn is on quite a roll, they're last two games have been a draw and a MULTI-GOAL WIN! Amazing times right now down at Ewood Park. This team is pretty dreadful, but they get the nod purely because of their last two games, where getting 4 out of 6 points is rather respectable most places in the table, and particularly at this one.
16. Birmingham City Last Time: 17
This may be the single most boring team to ever grace the Premier League. The scores of their games thusfar? 1-0, 1-0, 0-0, 2-1, 1-0. 2-1! What a barn-burner! This team can't even lose emphatically, and really, the Birmingham-Stoke 0-0 draw must have led several onlookers to gouge their own eyes out. Almost fascinatingly boring, but not, so instead, just dreadfully so.
17. Wolverhampton Wanderers Last Time: 15
Wolves on the other hand are a harder team to figure out. They have some great games (giving their all at City, beating Wigan) and then their awful ones (getting destroyed by BLACKBURN). Probably the one team in the premier league I have the worst handle on, and that's definitely aided by the fact that I didn't watch the Championship at all last year. Seeing as I can't say anything with any sort of conviction, I'm just going to move on.
18. Bolton Wanderers Last Time: 18
Well, they've gotten significantly better since their loss to Hull (something like that makes you pay attention) and were unlucky to not get a point with Liverpool and then had a way-too-close win against Portsmouth. They're not a quality side, and staying up will be difficult, but for some reason I like Bolton. I don't know why.
19. Hull City Last Time: 16
Ah Hull, what a wild ride you always provide. A surprisingly talented squad, and already have a win and a draw! I would have placed them over Bolton, considering they beat Bolton, but they've also been destroyed twice this season. They were scrappy against Chelsea, and if they can be Good Hull just enough times this season, we might get another season of Orange-Glo Phil.
20. Portsmouth Last Time: 20
At least they have an owner.
1. Chelsea Last Time: 2
Look, I don't like Chelsea, and they are taking on the habits of another team I really don't like: Manchester United. What habit? The games where they play like garbage, don't take their chances, but get a last-gasp winner to take all the points. You know what teams like this normally do? Oh right, win titles.
2. Manchester United Last Time: 4
Well, it seems like they are doing just fine without Cristiano. Despite one aberration of a loss to Burnley, they've dismantled their two North London rivals and despite their penchant for slow starts, they have started the season in devastatingly good form. Rooney's goal this weekend (the third versus Tottenham) showed off his class, and maybe he is living up to the hype.
3. Manchester City Last Time: 5
Yes, it is rather odd that I've placed a 100% team that just beat a title contender rather thoroughly and only conceded their first goal of the season this weekend in third, but that just is the strength of Manchester United and Chelsea. Yes, a Burnley loss looks bad, and Chelsea haven't looked consistently convincing, but who would you rather play? City are looking much more in the title race than many pundits thought, and having passed their first test of the season rather triumphantly, the question is slowly becoming, who in the Big 4 will be left out?
4. Tottenham Hotspur Last Time: 3
Well, we all knew that Spurs wouldn't last that long at the top didn't we? Despite a rather convincing loss, Spurs shouldn't hang their heads just yet. They're still in great position, and already have one Big Four scalp in the campaign, and if they can take at least a point off of Chelsea, they'll have to be considered just as much in the hunt as any of these top teams. The biggest question for them right now is whether or not Jermain Defoe can keep up his scintillating start.
5. Arsenal Last Time: 1
Ah, the difference a few weeks makes. After dismantling Everton and Portsmouth, we were all ready to crown Arsenal weren't we? Well, the city of Manchester has been rather unkind to them in the last two rounds, and it'll be hard to forget how they were bossed, particularly against City. They are a young team that has lots of natural instability (tons of players moving in and out of starting lineup) and that generally is an advantage, but with two losses on the trot, including one particularly disheartening one this weekend, can they avoid a serious slump?
6. Liverpool Last Time: 6
Well, they have two convincing 4-0 wins over two teams that were promoted in the last two seasons, and that's about all there is to be happy about. A loss at White Hart Lane isn't horrible, but a loss at home to Villa is. Not only did that remove some invincibility factor to Anfield, it inadvertently strengthened a rival as Villa has totally righted the ship. I'm not getting excited over this past win because they followed up a similar destruction of Stoke with an uninspired loss to Villa (though it was a rather unlucky 3-1). A confident win at Upton Park could do wonders.
7. Aston Villa Last Time: 12
Well, Scoops ended his last update on Villa with "Pull yourselves together, Villa!" Well indeed they have. While many could have seen the victory at Anfield as merely a slipup by an inconsistent Liverpool team crumbling under expectations, Villa has grabbed hold of that momentum and beaten the team they finished a spot above last season as well as their local derby. The gulf between 6 and 7 is easily the biggest, and I really would be stunned to see anyone from the current top 6 drop out barring a monumental collapse, you know, not too unlike the one Villa had last year. If Villa can pick up 6 points before City come to town, and get a result then, I'll reevaluate, but until then, have fun in Europa.
8. Fulham Last Time: 10
Fulham has two losses and two wins, not exactly first half material, but what it really comes down to is the competition. They lost to two teams above them in the table and these Power Rankings, one away and one home to Chelsea, and they've won they should have. Fulham is very well-managed and have a quality side, but it'll be a dogfight to get back into the Europa League next season. The most worrying aspect of the Chelsea loss is the possibility that this team can no longer grind out draws against top-shelf clubs at the Cottage, and without that, they'll be back in the bottom half in no time.
9. Sunderland Last Time: 9
Sunderland is something of an enigma and I really don't know what to make of them. To be honest, they'll probably be a lot like Steve Bruce's Wigan: a team that wins when they should, and loses when they should. They lost at Stoke, and then dropped a game to Chelsea. Rather expected. They then let their quality doing the talking against Bolton, Blackburn and Hull. They'll be the best mediocre team in this league, no doubt about it.
10. Stoke City Last Time: 11
Stoke were dreadfully unlucky not to get a point against Chelsea, and outside of the loss at Anfield, that would be more good news for the club. They've remained the same scrappy, difficult-to-beat team with a terrifying home atmosphere, except in this year's more watered-down league, they've become even more formidable. I expect a lot of 1-0, 2-1, 2-0 wins to come out of the Britannia this season, and they'll keep grinding them out to another season up.
11. Wigan Athletic Last Time: 14
It's surprising how bad I consider these teams now that we're in the bottom half. Hopefully in a month the league with have more form, but right now saying that Wigan is on the cusp of being a top-half team seems deranged, but really, who else? They've lost to Wolves, got throttled by Manchester United and are the only team Everton has gotten points from, but despite that, they've beaten Villa, and most importantly, just got a home win over the 12th ranked team, meaning that I am obliged to place Wigan above them. Who is that team you ask?
12. West Ham United Last Time: 7
Well, they SHOULD be better, but they aren't. They really are only in this position because of their talent level, and despite this talent, they've only picked up 4 points. Don't get riled up on me because Burnley has two wins and what not, I'll get to them soon enough. West Ham have been quite good defensively, they are just (unsurprisingly) finding out that Carleton Cole isn't the answer at striker. Actually none of their strikers are the answer. They need goals, and if they don't get them, they better pray they get a lot of 0-0 draws because having to keep clean sheets week in and week out will definitely wear down this defense.
13. Burnley Last Time: 8
It's hard to take a silver lining from losing 7-0 over two weekends, but it WAS at Stamford Bridge and Anfield, and did any of us predict anything different to start this season? No, not at all. Does it mean they're screwed? No, it just means they were able to successfully park the bus against the Red Devils and the Toffees at home, but will probably be lucky to Stoke anyone else this season. They've proven scrappy and look to have a great chance at staying up, and really, that's all they should shoot for. No Europa, no top-table, none of that. Just stay up. And they can.
14. Everton Last Time: 13
We've now reached a group I'd like to call the "Shit-Tastic Seven." You could probably throw West Ham in here too, but they have shown some signs of life. All in all, the following seven teams all fucking suck. Sorry for the profanity, but it needs to be said. So who is the leader of this inept group? Well, the team that should be battling with the Big 6 right now. The team with great talent and team spirit that FINALLY is healthy, and then promptly sucks. They've lost to Burnley and Fulham, got slaughtered by Arsenal and got a win against Wigan. They should be on at least 7 points, they're on 3. I didn't anticipate the Jolean Lescott thing screwing up their precious chemistry so bad, but guess what, I think it did. Bad days for the Toffees.
15. Blackburn Rovers Last Time: 19
So Blackburn is on quite a roll, they're last two games have been a draw and a MULTI-GOAL WIN! Amazing times right now down at Ewood Park. This team is pretty dreadful, but they get the nod purely because of their last two games, where getting 4 out of 6 points is rather respectable most places in the table, and particularly at this one.
16. Birmingham City Last Time: 17
This may be the single most boring team to ever grace the Premier League. The scores of their games thusfar? 1-0, 1-0, 0-0, 2-1, 1-0. 2-1! What a barn-burner! This team can't even lose emphatically, and really, the Birmingham-Stoke 0-0 draw must have led several onlookers to gouge their own eyes out. Almost fascinatingly boring, but not, so instead, just dreadfully so.
17. Wolverhampton Wanderers Last Time: 15
Wolves on the other hand are a harder team to figure out. They have some great games (giving their all at City, beating Wigan) and then their awful ones (getting destroyed by BLACKBURN). Probably the one team in the premier league I have the worst handle on, and that's definitely aided by the fact that I didn't watch the Championship at all last year. Seeing as I can't say anything with any sort of conviction, I'm just going to move on.
18. Bolton Wanderers Last Time: 18
Well, they've gotten significantly better since their loss to Hull (something like that makes you pay attention) and were unlucky to not get a point with Liverpool and then had a way-too-close win against Portsmouth. They're not a quality side, and staying up will be difficult, but for some reason I like Bolton. I don't know why.
19. Hull City Last Time: 16
Ah Hull, what a wild ride you always provide. A surprisingly talented squad, and already have a win and a draw! I would have placed them over Bolton, considering they beat Bolton, but they've also been destroyed twice this season. They were scrappy against Chelsea, and if they can be Good Hull just enough times this season, we might get another season of Orange-Glo Phil.
20. Portsmouth Last Time: 20
At least they have an owner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)