The Binocular has an interesting write up about what end of October table tells about end of season table.
http://www.thebinocular.co.uk/2009/10/22/the-autumn-blues-premiership-statistics/
It's still a couple of games before end of October but I guess it's possible to say that it will be three horse race between ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal.
Let me see your predictions. Who's your money on?
Too many words to say Liverpool are out of it :)
Joking aside, good blog. But I don't think previous statistics will provide any insight to this season. We just have too many underdogs compared to any other season; Man City, Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham. We'd have only one or sometimes two.
Of the 3 clubs mentioned by Zola, Chelsea might struggle with Essien, Mikel, Drogba, etc. disappearing in January.
An indication if nothing else that money in football is self perpetuating. The successful clubs can afford the best players who deliver the success. And so forth. However, the way to go is to cap clubs rather than allow foreign investment to buy up the Premier League.
Bring in squad based salary capping and we can all enjoy competitiveness in football again.
:-)
Do Liverpool still look out of it from where you sit nvr? It's not over till it's over.
Liverpool are at the absolute limit if they're having to play an obviously unfit Torres against United in order to have 1 of their 2 on the grass. Yes, it was a great goal he scored but he was largely poor the rest of his game.
Liverpool's problem will be the same as in recent seasons - the lack of quality in depth.
Apart from Chelsea, I'm not convinced any of the bigger clubs are that far ahead of the pack this season. It'll be the usual suspects there or thereabouts but could be interesting.
:-)
As a Chelsea supporter, I'm a little concerned about the African Cup later as well with a couple of our main cogs in Essien and Drogba heading off to serve their nations. It'll be interesting to see how they cope during that stretch, but either way I see it coming down to Chelsea and Man United. Perhaps Sir Alex has met his match with Ancelotti...and obviously they're gonna miss Ronaldo's gamebreaking ability down the stretch. But I can see it going either way. I'm also gonna keep an eye on Man City from here on out as well. If anyone outside the Big 4 can pose a threat, I believe that it'll be City.
If journos are to be believed, Chelsea are looking into signing new players in January as if there was no ban. If CAS decides to suspend the ban till they reach a conclusion, we will see Chelsea buying heavily. ACN might no matter after all.
It's not only Chelsea and Liverpool that have weaknesses. Man U is nowhere near their attacking game in previous years. That was kind of expected. But nobody expected this would expose their defensive weaknesses. They are conceding a lot more than they'd like. Ferdinand's movie business does not help too much, I suppose.
Oh, you have to laugh.
:-D
Gerrard out 'til Christmas, Torres revealed to have a hernia problem, Rafa losing it and quoting musical lyrics in press conferences, about to go bust.
Anyone fancy a sly tenner on a relegation battle?
;-)
Now that Liverpool are practically out of Champions League, they will turn their full attention to Premier League. I still hesitate to write them off.
Liverpool are 9 points adrift with Johnson, Torres, Riera, Carragher and Gerard injured ... I'd like to see them in CL next year but I'm doubtful. They will be duking the forth spot out with Totters and Man City by the looks of things, doable for sure but no sure thing!
On a side note, Arsenal are looking pretty damn good atm.
All joking aside, I think Liverpool will still be pushing for 4th. If they don't continue in the Champions League (sic), they'll still surely have a run in the Europa League to deal with tho.
You have to say, with the stick that Rafa is getting atm, it's more than just a bad blip for the club. Or is it? Perhaps it's more a case that Liverpool overachieved last season. Perhaps they're not proper challenger material but 4th/5th place bit part players after all.
Even given that tho, Rafa has obviously got it hideously wrong in the transfer market over the years. Sad for a club of the level of Liverpool.
Never a truer word said Rob. Most of Benitez's signings are flops. He paid too much for average players. And in some cases he managed to get his hands on a decent player, he made a complete joke out of it. Ryan Babel even considered returning to Ajax.
That trophy in Istanbul was actually a curse in disguise.
Oh, don't get me started on Istanbul.
:-D
Gerrard ... (cough cough) ... dive ... (cough cough) ...
Another classic signs of a terrible season. Liverpool cannot win a game they played brilliantly, even worse when they were tying to turn the tide.
I wonder what the consequences will be if they can't make it into top 4.
And lest we forget, Liverpool failed to finish in the top 4 fairly recently too. It's only for the fact Steven Gerrard got shockingly fouled by a vicious looking blade of grass that meant UEFA had to change their own rules to allow Liverpool into the CL the next year.
:-)
It's like Bobby Charlton says, the CL is a 2 year competition.
International break has worked for United, hasn't it? After Lampard, Van Persie is reported injured. Papers claim he's out for the season, he says it'll be only 6 weeks. Either way it's a blow to Arsenal.
@ FeriAts - I can't agree that the international break has been kind to United - after all, Nani completely failed to get injured and remains ready for selection.
:-D
I tell you what im pissed off about?, liverpool will probably never get david villa.
