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After nine (EPL roundup) by Paul O'Donnell So, here we are ten games into the season when the next round of play ends on the weekend of October 20. Any surprises so far for you? The "early days" frustration and inconsistent play has affected a few teams but one surprise is that no manager has been forced to turn in his badge (yet).
This break will see some truly decisive Euro 2008 games as England faces Estonia at home then travel to Moscow four days later. More importantly for EPL managers will they get their players back fit and ready to rejoin the fight for the league? Someone usually goes down during these breaks unfortunately and with the top EPL sides heavily laden with international stars its almost sure to happen to at least one team. Let’s hope that’s not the case this time out.
Chelsea
On that score the really big surprise has to be Jose bailing out at Chelsea. Or, maybe its not for those insiders that heard the rumblings that something big was coming at the Bridge. It surely came as a surprise to me. Only 15 points from 9 games is a big comedown for the Blues who along with Man United were the lone EPL sides to average more than 2 points per match over the season last time out. A 4-3-2 record at this stage is not the Chelsea standard that is for certain but their unbeaten run in the league at Stamford Bridge continues. 2-2-2 over their last 6 is positively pedestrian and they visit the Riverside when play resumes on Saturday, October 20. Will they be a fully fit side for the restart or will Boro pin their ears back?
Arsenal
The young Gunners have been dominant so far and along with Liverpool are the league’s only unbeaten teams after nine. They have been awesome in their last three and are on a run of six consecutive victories in league play. Van Persie has been on a tear scoring several goals that could be in the running for goal of the year and Adebayor has been on another level since August and has Arsenal fans asking "Henry who?" They’ve been scoring goals and dominant in possession making their weakness on defense and missing key players on that backline of little consequence. Wenger’s Gunners are showing that a great offense can be the best of defenses too.
Liverpool
The team that seemed prepared to mount a real challenge got out the gate with a decent start but have settled into a funk. Playing poorly at home dropping 6 points the Reds have had some difficulty finding the net and seem to lack what some call ’the killer instinct’ or the ability to close down a match successfully. Unbeaten at this stage in the league the Reds do seem to be unsettled which is no surprise given Rafa’s rotation policy and changing five or more players from match to match. Despite the wealth of talent Liverpool is a team in search of an identity and winning only 1 of 4 at home is not what they need to produce if their challenge for the title is to be taken seriously. Frankly, the last one should have been a loss to Birmingham who was hard done by the offside flag. The Reds resume play in the big derby with Everton at Goodison Park which is always a stiff test.
Man United
SAF has his guys following closely behind Arsenal’s fine start and in their last outing they busted out with a 4 goal barrage after having some difficulty finding the net in their previous 3 games. Expect Rooney, Tevez, Saha and company to go on a rampage. United visit the up and coming Aston Villa when play resumes.
Tottenham
The off season’s biggest spenders have seen little in the way of return on their investment so far as Spurs, in need of a fast start have produced precisely the opposite. Inability to hold a lead has led to dropping points by the bushel in the final few minutes of match after match. Heart break after heart break has been the norm for Spurs fans as Jol watched a win turn into another draw with the last kick of the ball last time out at Anfield. After being the better side for much of that match Jol saw all that hard work and the brilliant individual efforts of Robbie Keane result in two more dropped points. Spurs have truly been the better side in most of their games this season but have given points away just like this last one at Man United, Fulham, Sunderland and now Anfield. It would be an injustice for Jol to be fired but the truth is what else can the board do at this stage? Some say he’s gone regardless and the winter break may be the decision point. Look for Spurs to recover with a decent run the only question being will it be enough? When play resumes they travel to St James’ Park to face a resurgent Newcastle for the Monday night contest Oct 22.
Everton
The guys on the blue side of Mersey got off to a good start but have hit a rough patch going 2-1-3 over their last 6. Noyes really needs Cahill back on the pitch and AJ to shake off his run of bad luck. They’ll face a stiff test in the Mersey side derby as their neighbors from the red side come to Goodison on Oct 20.
Aston Villa
The team that led the EPL in draws last season is on a mission to turn some of those D’s into W’s this time out and O’Neill has them headed in that direction with a 4-1-1 record over their last six. O’Neill’s biggest challenge in the new season may be to keep Marlon Harewood positive and under control and keep Carew healthy. They entertain Man United when the league starts up again on the 20th and that contest could tell us a lot about Villa’s prospects for a truly successful run to a European spot. I believe O’Neill has them poised to do just that.
Portsmouth
Redknapp has Pompey on a good run with 3 straight wins and they return to the league on the road at Wigan which should keep their good run going.
Man City
City is 5-0-0 at home and sports a fine +7 goal difference so far, a major improvement from last season and their inability to score goals on their home ground (City managed only 10 goals in 19 home games last term). Their fine start with significant contributions from their youngsters has them sitting 3rd in the table and they will welcome the unlucky Birmingham to the City of Manchester Stadium when play resumes.
Blackburn
Mark Hughes has his Rovers on a good run going 3-2-1 in their last 6 despite their poor performance in the UEFA Cup. This guy knows better than most how to get the best from his players and he has them sitting 6th and they will welcome Reading to Ewood Park on the 20th. Rovers have managed that lofty spot in the table despite not getting the production they need from Bennie McCarthy so far. Filling the blanks for Rovers has been Santa Cruz who could turn out to be one of the better gets of the off season.
Propping up the table is Derby County, Bolton and Fulham with two of those three among my picks for relegation. That compliment will change of course and surely Tottenham will rise from their current 17th place whether Jol remains the manager or not.
Bolton is too good to stay there for long and don’t be surprised if they press Arsenal to the wall at the Emirates when the league gets going again. Bolton took 4 points from the Gunners last season beating them 3-1 at the Reebok and in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see them turn their season around with a good performance in this one.
I’ve got my fingers crossed that they do just that and knock Arsenal from the top spot.
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