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The Most Open EPL Season In Years?
Published by Ian John on November 22, 2010
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Whisper it quietly folk, but has the yawning chasm between the have’s and have not’s in the EPL finally closed? Yet another weekend of surprise results has made the Premier League table closer than ever.
At the top of the table, Manchester United’s 2-0 win over nine man Wigan was hardly spectacular but once again the Red Devil’s triumphed and they also welcomed back, somewhat mutedly, Wayne Rooney after his solo journey to Oregon to ‘recuperate’ away from the glare of the media. That combined with Chelsea’s third defeat in three games, this time at the hands of Alec McLeish’s Birmingham charges, saw United draw level on top of the table with Chelsea for the first time in a long time.
Arsenal could have gone top, but threw away a two-goal lead over rivals Tottenham to lose 3-2 at the Emirates, which is quickly becoming a fertile breeding ground for teams visiting seeking three points. Spurs second half comeback was as impressive as their first half performance was awful. Younes Kaboul grabbed the winner as Arsenal collapsed at home yet again, raising real doubts as to their title challenge credibility.
Liverpool, unbelievably now lie just nine points off the leaders after their win over West Ham. It was arguably the best non-Steven Gerrard inspired Liverpool performance since they defeated Manchester United at Anfield two years ago minus Gerrard and Torres. It has to be weighted against the fact that the win was against West Ham, who were uniformly awful to a man, but the signs are that Liverpool are at least improving.
The same can be said of Stoke City who registered another win with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Newcastle were humbled by a rampant Bolton for whome Johan Elmander has found form at the right time. Owen Coyle’s men now lie in the Champions League spots after the weekends results and that is hugely impressive for a team that I thought would struggle this season.
On Sunday Aston Villa were downed 2-0 by Blackburn Rovers who have just been taken over by Indian based poultry firm Venky’s, presumably because with Sam Allardyce in charges they knew that they were going to see plenty of fowls on the pitch (groan!). Still, at least Morten Gamst Pedersen has found his form disproving the rumour that it wasn’t just the chickens at Ewood Park that ineffective wings.
Man City however were the star turns on Sunday with a 4-1 thumping of Fulham. Carlos Tevez inspired the win once again and despite British commentators Andy Gray and Martin Tyler spending the entire first half questioning Yaya Toure’s credentials as a goalscoring midfielder, right on cue the Ivorian star turned up to slam home a goal breaking from midfield. Still, it isn’t all roses at Manchester City some would have you believe with several stars, including Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, Shaun Wright Phillips and Wayne Bridge all ready to be shipped out of the door come January.
Sunderland take on Everton tonight in what looks like being a good game at the Stadium of Light, David Moyes men are better than their current league position suggests and after their 3-0 demolition of Chelsea, Sunderland will be on a high and could push on towards the Champions League places tonight with a win. Well worth tuning in for tonight, if only to see Asamoah Gyan take on his first real taste of a North East winter… Gloves? He’ll be wrapped up in seal-skins and thermal undies for tonights clash I am sure.
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