The numbers: 8-2-1-6-3-5 may look like an unlikely lotto winning combination or the dimensions of a most generously proportioned (and frankly disturbing) woman but they in fact tell the tale of quite why this has been such a crazy start to the season. The three results hidden in the genius Dan Brown-esque code above are, of course, United 8-2 Arsenal; United 1-6 City, and Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal.
For yonks, to be honest as far as I can remember, games between the top teams have always been tight, cagey affairs…usually with Man United edging it. On occasion over the years they have dished out or received a bit of a hiding, but nothing on the scale that we are witnessing this year. For them to utterly bitch slap a traumatised Arsenal with 8 goals of the highest order was something breathtaking to witness. To then have their own pants pulled down, on the same pitch, by their erstwhile joke local rivals was quite the turn-around in only a couple of months. The 6-1 was given a gloss with the 3 late goals, but the supremacy of the overall performance was in no doubt, and that result’s true significance will only really be known in May. Likewise the utterly entertaining (unless you’re an ‘art of defending’ purist) game last weekend at Stamford Bridge – the real weight of that result, and the truth of whether it does represent a turning point for either club, will remain to be seen. It was however a staggering result and a quite incredible game.
Indeed, the fact that Arsenal were so publicly humiliated in late August actually led in many ways to the 5 goal blitz they put past an out of sorts Chelsea. It forced Wenger into the transfer market, which has had a galvanising effect on the club and led to some extent to the excellent run of form they are now on (although more has to do with the world class RVP than any of the new signings).
Outside of these three quite extraordinary games, there have been many other reasons to raise an eyebrow in classic Ancelotti fashion. This season in fact has seen more goals per game on average than in many a year, and for the first time in ages the Premier League can boast a higher goal average than any of Europe’s other main leagues. Many pundits are of the view that tighter defending will now become a focus for managers, which will lead to a drying up of the goal deluge. United’s tight 1-0 win at Everton at the weekend may indeed point to this already creeping in, although Ferguson was always going to keep it disciplined after the 6-1. Whether the goals and madcap entertainment will dry up remains to be seen, I certainly hope not, but we can review that at the halfway stage. For now, we can reflect on a very promising start for what could be one of the finer editions of the Premier League show (now in it’s 21st series folks, thanks for watching).
Three teams that should be feeling pretty pleased with themselves at this point are the three promoted clubs, all of whom are picking up points steadily enough and, although all having suffered reality check style defeats, are showing enough to suggest they won’t go down without a fight. The star pupil however simply has to be Newcastle United. Alan Pardew has dealt exceptionally well with the loss of some key figures, recruiting some decent, hard-working players who seem to have gelled quickly into a robust and focussed unit. The Toon Army have some tough fixtures coming up, but the longer this run has gone on, the more everyone has been forced to sit up and take notice. Whether this can be sustained over a full season is something I would have serious doubts about, but lest we forget this is a side who only two season ago were in the Championship, so to be looking so established again in the Premier League is no small achievement. It’s good to have them back, they are a club which I feel belongs at the top of English football…although I do slightly hope the circus element hasn’t gone altogether. Come on Ashley, replace the coaching staff with a pack of llamas, turn half the stadium into a giant Scalextric, something, anything…
For every over-performing wunderkind there has to be the drop out, and there is a pocket of Lancashire that has spent the first quarter of this season sat at the back of the classroom, gazing out of the window and showing very little application. The bottom three places currently host Wigan, Blackburn and Bolton Wanderers. As a triumvirate, they have only 4 wins from their 30 games, and their combined points total would put them in 7th. There is still however plenty of time for any to make a move and salvage something from this season. Of the three I’d fancy Bolton to do so, they have had a less than comfortable set of fixtures so far, but for anything to be improved they need to do it soon. The last time Wigan took anything from a match was August 27th, since then 7 games have been and gone which have yielded 0 wins and only 3 goals – rancid. Their next two games (Wolves and Blackburn) are crucial for the improvement to start, otherwise things look very grim indeed up north.
We’ll look again at the halfway stage which will fall some time around the end of the year, but at this early stage: plaudits to Manchester, Newcastle and the Noobs; jury out on Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal; middle blob are treading water as expected; but serious fears for the Hotpot Lot.
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