Not So Hallowed Turf

What a strange Barclays (that's right; they haven't yet gone bust) Premier League season we have in the works, eh? We’re past the halfway mark, and not only has the current league leader never won the top division title, since the inception of the Premier League, but the famed “top four” sides have all been humbled by lesser teams already. Could this be the first season since 2005 that a club not known as Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, breaks into a Champions League qualification spot? Aston Villa certainly think so.

So, with most teams having played 20 out of the allotted 38 games, we can spot some very unusual league positions. First of all, Liverpool – whom I thought were in disarray prior to the start of the season, due to off-the-field disruption heavily affecting player and manger confidence; and, might I add, who are a team that I believe didn’t spend very wisely in the summer (Robbie Keane being the biggest name to come in, has, for the most part, failed to adjust his style of play successfully enough to hit the back of the net as many times as he has done over the last few years) – are still setting the pace, with an impressive record of 13 wins, 6 draws and 1 defeat. For a Liverpool side marked by its similitude to the one that could only attain 4^th place last May, this turnaround seems to be all the more remarkable. However, the Anfield faithful have ridden their luck more than once so far; 4 of those draws have come at home against Premier League “minnows” (Fulham, Hull City, Stoke City), and before their demolition of Newcastle United late last year, they hadn’t scored more than 3 times in a single match – an unappealing, unrivalled record on the part of the other three big name clubs.

In terms of failing to beat Fulham and Hull City, on the other hand, Liverpool have little to be ashamed of. Both aforesaid sides reside in the top half of the table; tremendous given that Fulham evaded relegation by the skin of their teeth in 2008, and Hull only managed to rise to the highest echelon of football competition in England – for the first time – after a play-off final victory against Bristol City. In fact, the accomplishments of these two teams this season are extendible; Fulham have the 4^th best defence in the league, conceding only one more that Liverpool, and Hull have not only earned a home draw away to one of the nouveau riche, Manchester City, but have also beaten Arsenal away from the KC Stadium, and scored 3 times at Old Trafford (Newcastle United are the sole other team score away to Manchester United, and they netted just once). Perhaps Hull’s meteoric rise to Premier League stardom is and will be the most captivating story to emerge from this season. Or maybe it will be the prostration of Arsenal, as Arsène Wenger finally realises that his current crop of players are not good enough to win titles or cups without a wealth of experience elsewhere in the side.

Far be it from me to impugn the stance of Wenger, or his management style. It’s worked erstwhile; not necessarily with a succession of sides, but famously with the Manchester United string of youth players in the 90s, and, a long time before that, with the “Busby babes”. But therein lies the problem. Past prodigies do not uniformly reap future dividends, and nowadays, given the fervour the Frenchman has displayed, opposing sides refuse to downgrade the threat of Arsenal. What’s more, behind the scenes, stumbling blocks have aggravated any issues there may be, with the apparent lack of a mediator in William Gallas proving to be of magnified importance. Arsenal, for large proportions of the season up to now, have appeared stagnant, with their players lacking conviction, vigour. Crunch time, and they've fallen flat on their faces; losing to 2 of the 3 promoted sides. Therefore, Wenger has been left in a quandary – should he persist in using youngsters until one day, his perseverance and fortitude pays off with ascension into footballing history; or should he concede now, give up on his virtues and start afresh with the introduction of older, proven talented individuals, so that the young ones provide them with the respect that should be expected?

Whatever the case with Wenger and Arsenal, this season is one of the tightest yet. Predictions are near impossible to make with a large degree of certainty behind them, but do not wait in anticipation for the rankings to look like they do come May. In my humble opinion, there’s no need to watch out for a flurry of activity in the transfer markets, though past fortunes and misfortunes in matches may become inverted; Hull City are not safe yet! 8 points separate Wigan Athletic in 7^th, and Stoke City in 18^th. Anyone from 7^th placed downwards is placed squarely in the unmerciful of looming relegation, whilst Chelsea could so easily become impervious to dismemberment.

And the second half is under way...