Chelsea Played20 won14 drawn4 lost2 goalsfor44 against19 goal difference25 points 46
ManCity Played20 won14 drawn4 lost2 goalsfor44 against19 goal difference25 points 46
It is evens at the top of the premiership table as the REAL-Premiership kicks off on the 10th of January!
At the moment there is nothing to separate the two teams at the top, with Tottenham ensuring that Man City draw level on points with Chelsea, with same goal difference, goals scored and conceded!
Who would be crowned champions in May? I think we are in for a marathon sprint which begins now!
Who would have thought that Tottenham would inflict such damage to Chelsea?
Who would have thought that Burnley could stop and deny Man City at such a crucial time of the season? I’m sure you’ve had it said several times: ‘That’s the beauty of the Premiership, you never know who is lurking round the corner to ambush you’
So we know about the blues and the sky blues, what about the party spoilers? Don’t discount Manchester United’s title charge, LVG has been around for long and he knows how to win titles. 24 points out of the last 27 is a real statement of intent, and with many players still due to be back from injury, Mourinho and Pellegrini need to start worrying about Man Utd.
Roenald Koeman may not win the league but he is also another astute tactician whose team would have a say as to where the Eagle lands in May.
Liverpool and Arsenal are traditional teams that would also have a part to play in deciding the champions at some point, especially when they both lunge for the final champions league spots, but isn’t it the others that we should be more concerned about?
I had a look at the relegation waters and the tides are rising by the day, engulfing teams from the bottom of the table to the 12th position!
There are 3 wins between bottom placed Leicester and 12th placed Aston Villa, so you can be assured that the teams in there would be fighting for every single point to the 95th minute of each game. As teams paddle to survive the waters, players in the boats would be desperate to give their ‘A’ games as they try stay afloat and probably also to attract interests from other teams sailing the opposite direction from the championship, just in case their own boat capsizes.
Just two wins and a draw separate five to six teams fighting for a champions league place and again, every point in this zone would be hotly contested as the daggers are drawn for Champions league money. And as the battle hardens there, players would be fighting for new and improved contracts as well as pushing for national team call ups to bolster their careers and personal brand.
What happens in the transfer window would also help determine where the pendulum swings on prize giving day: and it has already started: Lampard staying at City, Irvine off and Pulis in, Warnock off and Pardew in, and this is just the beginning……
Can City truly cope without Yaya Toure when he goes off to serve his country? Would Aguero be back in time to lead their charge? Can Pellegrini rise up to the occasion and deliver the tactical coup de grace?
What would Mourinho do? Would he go for broke to strengthen his squad? How long would Saleh and Shurrle use up foreigner spaces? Shurrle was poor again yesterday and was hauled off at half time (substituting a player at half time is just to avoid the embarrassment of hauling a player off after 30 mins of an exceptionally poor display) Saleh was not even involved. Oscar may not just be ready for the demands of exceptional displays in big games every 3 to 4 days, especially with other exceptional players around him, so he needs time to grow into the role. Is there a plan for Remy? Or would another striker be heading to the bridge? What is Louis Van Gaal’s tactic in the red corner? Shore up his defence? Make Falcao move permanent and continue to play ‘attack is the best form of defence, and possession is the best form of offence?’
Wenger? He has offloaded Podolski, so is he getting another foreigner in to replace him? Probably where everybody sees he needs a world class player, in front of his basket defence?
What would West Brom and Palace do? How many players would they go and buy? How many points would Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew steal from the top half of the premiership? Would those points decide where the title would end up?
So many questions indeed, but it is still evens at the top and this promises to go down the wire.
Finally a tribute to Steven Gerrard. A fantastic footballer and an example for many youngsters of today. Loyal professional and a true football great. Faced with exactly the same question that was posed to Frank Lampard last year from Chelsea; ‘The team has to move on and allow the youngsters to grow, so can you stay with us and play less games? His answer is ‘No, I’m off to the MLS.’ Just like Chelsea, Liverpool tried to keep him too but his mind is made.
I just hope he too doesn’t come back ‘on loan’ to Everton………………………………….