Premier League Recap

Sports - Football - Premier League - Recap

Looking back at my pre-season blog, it makes a funny read. My predictions could not have been further off. Arsenal and Chelsea have been most impressive and whilst Manchester United and Liverpool especially have struggled to find consistency. A lot has happened since my last blog and I will dare not predict how it is all going to end this season. I am just going to recap on the last month-and-a-bit:

Champs: Arsenal certainly surprised me with their youngster's uprise over Christmas and into the new year. They reached top spot but that did not last all too long. The last match against Manchester United was definitely a wake-up-call back to reality and never to underestimate United. The ease with which United overcame Arsenal exposed the Gunners' weakness and lack of resilience and depth in the side.

Hero: Wayne Rooney has been riding the show for United and topped it all with his hat-trick against Wigan. At the other end of the table, Boaz Myhill starred for Hull City against Tottenham and has been the man of the team on more than just that occasion. We will see in a couple of months how crucial both players' performances and contributions will prove to be in the title and relegation battle.

You Beauty! Chelsea's thrashing of Wigan just showed their class just as United's cruise past Arsenal showed that there is a much bigger gap between the two teams as the table may show. The players, the team connection and performance, consistency and stamina showed extreme contrast.

Has-Beens: Portsmouth, West Ham, Manchester United and Liverpool have been in all the wrong headlines with their ownership fiasco and financial problems. I think it is sad when a team makes news with a crises which is out of the players hands, they cannot do anything about themselves, but it affects them on the pitch as much as off it.

Zero: John Terry has grabbed most of the headlines lately, also for all the wrong reasons. As a football star - or a professional/celebrity in general - he is a role model and cannot expect anything to stay unnoticed and undiscovered by the media and in general when he is followed and watched by (and paid) millions week in and week out.

Ouch! Rio Ferdinand's elbow-act against Hull City striker Craig Fagan was unprofessional, to say the least. He should have known better than to appeal and challenge the FA, which I found very childish when the cameras showed obvious and definite contact (Ferdinand may call it "frivolous" but it is still wrong). The FA was right to increase the ban, to stop players taking the mick and thinking they can get away with their stupid actions.

Last 6 games:

1) Manchester United - 5 wins, 1 draw, 0 lost - 16 of 18 points

2) Manchester City - 5 wins, 0 draws, 1 lost - 15 of 18 points

3) Chelsea - 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 lost - 14 of 18 points

4) Liverpool - 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 lost - 14 of 18 points

5) Everton - 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 lost - 14 of 18 points

6) Arsenal - 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 lost - 11 of 18 points

7) Tottenham - 2 wins, 3 draws, 1 lost - 9 of 18 points

8) Blackburn - 2 wins, 3 draws, 1 lost - 9 of 18 points

9) Aston Villa - 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 lost - 8 of 18 points

10) Birmingham - 1 win, 4 draws, 1 lost - 7 of 18 points

11) West Ham - 1 win, 4 draws, 1 lost - 7 of 18 points

12) Stoke - 1 win, 2 draws, 3 lost - 5 of 18 points

13) Bolton - 1 win, 2 draws, 3 lost - 5 of 18 points

14) Wolves - 1 win, 2 draws, 3 lost - 5 of 18 points

15) Wigan - 1 win, 1 draw, 4 lost - 4 of 18 points

16) Portsmouth - 1 win, 1 draw, 4 lost - 4 of 18 points

17) Hull - 0 wins, 4 draws, 2 lost - 4 of 18 points

18) Fulham - 1 win, 0 draws, 5 lost - 3 of 18 points

19) Sunderland - 0 wins, 3 draws, 3 lost - 3 of 18 points

20) Burnley - 0 wins, 1 draw, 5 lost - 1 of 18 points