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The Full English: Power Shift
Things in the English Premier League are a bit shaken up after last week’s matches, and going into another exciting week of action, Goal.com’s Shane Evans has you covered.
Mar 20, 2009 9:20:20 AM
By Shane Evans
Last night while I was watching the inaugural match of MLS’ newest franchise, the Seattle Sounders, I thought about how things are changing. The Sounders came away with a huge 3-0 victory in their first match in front of an amazing 32,000 screaming Seattle fans. Add the fact that Vancouver was given the 17th franchise on Wednesday with Portland reportedly joining on Friday, and MLS is adapting a very northwest feel.
The same goes for the English Premier League. Although, it’s always been that way as the league has been dominated by teams from that region of England for years.
When you look at the table, it’s certainly a lot different from a few weeks ago, wouldn’t you agree? It seems a lot tighter at the top, at the not-so-top and as per usual, at the bottom. With nine games remaining in the season, it’s certainly going to be a fun ride.
At the good end of the standings, the title race was over two weeks ago. Is it over now? Not quite, even if Manchester United have a game in hand. Their loss at home to Liverpool, if nothing else, made the rest of the season worth watching for an outsider. It’s going to be intense down the stretch.
Then you have the battle between Aston Villa and Arsenal, two teams locked in a battle for the fourth champions league spot. Neither team has much chance of dropping below 5th or rising above 4th, so it’s mano y mano the rest of the way. I’ll take a closer look at their best in the next “Fish & Chip Shots.”
As you move to the bottom half of the table, the riddle has yet to be solved, and outside of West Bromwich, we have no idea who will be playing in the Championship next season. The gap is only four points from 12th to 18th. Who wants to stay up? We shall see.
For now, the preview of this weekend shall commence before my mood goes westward like MLS.
The Bacon (as in Bringing It Home)
Liverpool v. Aston Villa (Anfield, March 22nd, 12:00 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
The match of the weekend. Both teams have so much riding on the outcome. If Liverpool win, they keep the pressure on Manchester United on the top, and could hypothetically pull themselves within a point of the defending champs, however unlikely. If Villa win, they’ll keep pace with an ever-improving Arsenal side who seem poised to begin a strong run of form.
Liverpool are definitely the in-form side, having beaten both Real Madrid and Manchester United handily in less than a week. As if the life has been slowly sucked from them, the former vogue squad in the EPL Aston Villa, have dropped off the face of the earth and have found themselves slipping from 3rd to 5th in a matter of weeks.
In a match like this it’s all about form. The last thing Aston Villa wants right now, considering how they have played of late, is to have an away fixture in Liverpool. It gets even worse next week as they have to go to Old Trafford. It’s a crucial time in their season right now and I’m not sure if they have enough in the tank to come out on top.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Martin O’Neill is one of the best coaches in the league, and if anyone can coach a team like Aston Villa to higher ground from their current position, it’s him. I’ve just always been a bit skeptical if they can make it last this season.
Liverpool are in a good situation now. Their coach is locked in long-term, their owners seem settled after a failed sale of the team, and the team is just playing some solid football after a prior rough patch. It all adds up to big things to come for the Reds.
TFE Prediction: Liverpool have their mojo back and take care of a stifling Aston Villa side, 2-1.
Tottenham v. Chelsea (White Hart Lane, March 21st, 11:00 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
Whenever Tottenham and Chelsea get together, it’s always an exciting match. It’s not quite the North London Derby, but it’s got that electric London flavor to it.
You can generally count on lots of chances, which usually equate to lots of goals. The way the teams are playing recently, that will be a certainty this Saturday. Spurs are moving ever-closer to safety as Harry Redknapp has stated, but they aren’t quite there yet. Six points isn’t really safety and they’ll need to grab a few more wins in the coming weeks to ensure they stay up.
Chelsea are in the race for the title and the way Guus Hiddink has them playing, anything is possible. They’ll probably need to win out to have a chance at getting to Manchester United, a feat that is entirely doable. Even though I openly don’t support the Blues, it’d be good for the league if Hiddink came back next season, something I think he’ll end up doing.
Contrary to the previous game I went over, this match is less about form and more about who wants it. Tottenham may need it more, but Chelsea’s desire to dethrone Manchester United is too strong.
TFE Prediction: It’s a shoot-out, something that will please ‘Ol Harry, but the result isn’t what he’d hope for. Chelsea up 3-2.
Newcastle v. Arsenal (St. James’ Park, March 21st, 1:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
Could we see the EPL without one of its biggest clubs next season? It’s a possibility if Newcastle don’t get their act together and soon. If you go by attendance, Newcastle ranks third after Manchester United and Arsenal. Their stadium is massive. Losing that revenue would surely hurt not only the club, but the entire league. As it stands, they are tied for the last drop spot at 29 points.
The Magpies have matches remaining against practically everyone who is anyone, starting with Saturday’s Arsenal clash. Following the Gunners, Chelsea come up to St. James’ park, with the season’s last month having the Toon Army travel to both Liverpool and Aston Villa. It won’t be easy, that is for sure. They arguably have the toughest schedule left out of any of the clubs in relegation contention.
Fortunately for Joe Kinnear, or Chris Hughton, or whoever is in-charge up there, Michael Owen is nearing full health and his goals will be vital if they are to stay up. Honestly, I can’t imagine the EPL without Newcastle. They are a unique type of team with an extremely unique type of support, one that makes the league better in many ways.
It all starts on Saturday against Arsenal though, a team who have looked rejuvenated in recent weeks. Their string of goalless draws seems to be behind them, and the scoring ways are back. Like Newcastle, they will be helped greatly by getting their injured stars back, and that will give them a much needed push down the stretch.
TFE Prediction: Arsenal have the edge in this one, but Newcastle have been full of surprises all season, I’m going with a 2-2 draw.
The Toast (as in Of THe EPL)
Rafa Benitez, Liverpool: Finally, finally, finally, the guy gets the contract he wants and will be at Anfield for another five years, we hope. He’s the right man for the job and the Reds’ brass have realized that. As I’ve mentioned before, the biggest thing he brings to the club is devotion. His players play for him and you can see that on a weekly basis. Well, his big players anyway. Good move, Yanks!
Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal: Following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Hull in the FA Cup, reports surfaced that Fabregas spat at a Hull assistant coach. Seems about right. The Ashley Cole-in-the-making seems about as mature his former teammate was circa always. Whether the reports or true or not, just the fact that they were created is enough for me to scoff in his general direction. He’s supposed to be the captain of that team, he shouldn’t be running around like a drunken north London teenager. Then again, the only reason he was given the armband was so that he wouldn’t run back to Spain in the summer.
Fabio Capello, England: Don Fabio recently stated that the fight for the English Premier League title is still on. Dang right, Fabio! He’s also said that football “needs to come home” for the World Cup in 2018. Not mention a whole host of other well-timed pro-English remarks. The guy is a Godsend for the English game. He’s an excellent manager and seems wise way beyond his years, if that’s possible. I am just brimming with excitement over what England will do in the next few years. To think he replaced Steve McClaren blows my mind.
Leicester Update:
A solid victory of Millwall last weekend put the Foxes nine points up in the table with very few matches left to play. It’s been a nice vacation in League One, but soon it’s time to get back to business in the Championship and get our EPL goals back on track. Give it a few years, but this team is too big to stay down for too long. One can dream, anyway.
The Dressing (as in What To Wear)
2009/2010 England Home - Theo Walcott #7
It hasn’t even been unveiled yet. Doesn’t matter though, as on March 28th when it is released to the world, I’ll be there watching, drooling. I’ve decided to go with the young blood for this kit, as I have practically every other England mainstay on a shirt as it is. It really doesn’t matter who I get though, it’s about the shirt, and it’s going to be brilliant.
And Finally...The Black Pudding Of The Week
Andrey Arshavin, Arsenal: I’ve hated on him all year as his never-ending transfer rumors annoyed the bejesus out of me. Now he’s finally a Gunner, and is doing his thing, wrecking havoc on opposing defenses. I never realized how little he was until I saw him in red. Oh well. His second goal last weekend still has me captivated. Look for more as the season draws to an end.
Shane Evans is an associate editor of Goal.com. His feature "The Full English" appears every Friday morning.
Last night while I was watching the inaugural match of MLS’ newest franchise, the Seattle Sounders, I thought about how things are changing. The Sounders came away with a huge 3-0 victory in their first match in front of an amazing 32,000 screaming Seattle fans. Add the fact that Vancouver was given the 17th franchise on Wednesday with Portland reportedly joining on Friday, and MLS is adapting a very northwest feel.
The same goes for the English Premier League. Although, it’s always been that way as the league has been dominated by teams from that region of England for years.
When you look at the table, it’s certainly a lot different from a few weeks ago, wouldn’t you agree? It seems a lot tighter at the top, at the not-so-top and as per usual, at the bottom. With nine games remaining in the season, it’s certainly going to be a fun ride.
At the good end of the standings, the title race was over two weeks ago. Is it over now? Not quite, even if Manchester United have a game in hand. Their loss at home to Liverpool, if nothing else, made the rest of the season worth watching for an outsider. It’s going to be intense down the stretch.
Then you have the battle between Aston Villa and Arsenal, two teams locked in a battle for the fourth champions league spot. Neither team has much chance of dropping below 5th or rising above 4th, so it’s mano y mano the rest of the way. I’ll take a closer look at their best in the next “Fish & Chip Shots.”
As you move to the bottom half of the table, the riddle has yet to be solved, and outside of West Bromwich, we have no idea who will be playing in the Championship next season. The gap is only four points from 12th to 18th. Who wants to stay up? We shall see.
For now, the preview of this weekend shall commence before my mood goes westward like MLS.
The Bacon (as in Bringing It Home)
Liverpool v. Aston Villa (Anfield, March 22nd, 12:00 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
The match of the weekend. Both teams have so much riding on the outcome. If Liverpool win, they keep the pressure on Manchester United on the top, and could hypothetically pull themselves within a point of the defending champs, however unlikely. If Villa win, they’ll keep pace with an ever-improving Arsenal side who seem poised to begin a strong run of form.
Liverpool are definitely the in-form side, having beaten both Real Madrid and Manchester United handily in less than a week. As if the life has been slowly sucked from them, the former vogue squad in the EPL Aston Villa, have dropped off the face of the earth and have found themselves slipping from 3rd to 5th in a matter of weeks.
In a match like this it’s all about form. The last thing Aston Villa wants right now, considering how they have played of late, is to have an away fixture in Liverpool. It gets even worse next week as they have to go to Old Trafford. It’s a crucial time in their season right now and I’m not sure if they have enough in the tank to come out on top.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Martin O’Neill is one of the best coaches in the league, and if anyone can coach a team like Aston Villa to higher ground from their current position, it’s him. I’ve just always been a bit skeptical if they can make it last this season.
Liverpool are in a good situation now. Their coach is locked in long-term, their owners seem settled after a failed sale of the team, and the team is just playing some solid football after a prior rough patch. It all adds up to big things to come for the Reds.
TFE Prediction: Liverpool have their mojo back and take care of a stifling Aston Villa side, 2-1.
Tottenham v. Chelsea (White Hart Lane, March 21st, 11:00 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
Whenever Tottenham and Chelsea get together, it’s always an exciting match. It’s not quite the North London Derby, but it’s got that electric London flavor to it.
You can generally count on lots of chances, which usually equate to lots of goals. The way the teams are playing recently, that will be a certainty this Saturday. Spurs are moving ever-closer to safety as Harry Redknapp has stated, but they aren’t quite there yet. Six points isn’t really safety and they’ll need to grab a few more wins in the coming weeks to ensure they stay up.
Chelsea are in the race for the title and the way Guus Hiddink has them playing, anything is possible. They’ll probably need to win out to have a chance at getting to Manchester United, a feat that is entirely doable. Even though I openly don’t support the Blues, it’d be good for the league if Hiddink came back next season, something I think he’ll end up doing.
Contrary to the previous game I went over, this match is less about form and more about who wants it. Tottenham may need it more, but Chelsea’s desire to dethrone Manchester United is too strong.
TFE Prediction: It’s a shoot-out, something that will please ‘Ol Harry, but the result isn’t what he’d hope for. Chelsea up 3-2.
Newcastle v. Arsenal (St. James’ Park, March 21st, 1:30 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel)
Could we see the EPL without one of its biggest clubs next season? It’s a possibility if Newcastle don’t get their act together and soon. If you go by attendance, Newcastle ranks third after Manchester United and Arsenal. Their stadium is massive. Losing that revenue would surely hurt not only the club, but the entire league. As it stands, they are tied for the last drop spot at 29 points.
The Magpies have matches remaining against practically everyone who is anyone, starting with Saturday’s Arsenal clash. Following the Gunners, Chelsea come up to St. James’ park, with the season’s last month having the Toon Army travel to both Liverpool and Aston Villa. It won’t be easy, that is for sure. They arguably have the toughest schedule left out of any of the clubs in relegation contention.
Fortunately for Joe Kinnear, or Chris Hughton, or whoever is in-charge up there, Michael Owen is nearing full health and his goals will be vital if they are to stay up. Honestly, I can’t imagine the EPL without Newcastle. They are a unique type of team with an extremely unique type of support, one that makes the league better in many ways.
It all starts on Saturday against Arsenal though, a team who have looked rejuvenated in recent weeks. Their string of goalless draws seems to be behind them, and the scoring ways are back. Like Newcastle, they will be helped greatly by getting their injured stars back, and that will give them a much needed push down the stretch.
TFE Prediction: Arsenal have the edge in this one, but Newcastle have been full of surprises all season, I’m going with a 2-2 draw.
The Toast (as in Of THe EPL)
Rafa Benitez, Liverpool: Finally, finally, finally, the guy gets the contract he wants and will be at Anfield for another five years, we hope. He’s the right man for the job and the Reds’ brass have realized that. As I’ve mentioned before, the biggest thing he brings to the club is devotion. His players play for him and you can see that on a weekly basis. Well, his big players anyway. Good move, Yanks!
Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal: Following Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Hull in the FA Cup, reports surfaced that Fabregas spat at a Hull assistant coach. Seems about right. The Ashley Cole-in-the-making seems about as mature his former teammate was circa always. Whether the reports or true or not, just the fact that they were created is enough for me to scoff in his general direction. He’s supposed to be the captain of that team, he shouldn’t be running around like a drunken north London teenager. Then again, the only reason he was given the armband was so that he wouldn’t run back to Spain in the summer.
Fabio Capello, England: Don Fabio recently stated that the fight for the English Premier League title is still on. Dang right, Fabio! He’s also said that football “needs to come home” for the World Cup in 2018. Not mention a whole host of other well-timed pro-English remarks. The guy is a Godsend for the English game. He’s an excellent manager and seems wise way beyond his years, if that’s possible. I am just brimming with excitement over what England will do in the next few years. To think he replaced Steve McClaren blows my mind.
Leicester Update:
A solid victory of Millwall last weekend put the Foxes nine points up in the table with very few matches left to play. It’s been a nice vacation in League One, but soon it’s time to get back to business in the Championship and get our EPL goals back on track. Give it a few years, but this team is too big to stay down for too long. One can dream, anyway.
The Dressing (as in What To Wear)
2009/2010 England Home - Theo Walcott #7
It hasn’t even been unveiled yet. Doesn’t matter though, as on March 28th when it is released to the world, I’ll be there watching, drooling. I’ve decided to go with the young blood for this kit, as I have practically every other England mainstay on a shirt as it is. It really doesn’t matter who I get though, it’s about the shirt, and it’s going to be brilliant.
And Finally...The Black Pudding Of The Week
Andrey Arshavin, Arsenal: I’ve hated on him all year as his never-ending transfer rumors annoyed the bejesus out of me. Now he’s finally a Gunner, and is doing his thing, wrecking havoc on opposing defenses. I never realized how little he was until I saw him in red. Oh well. His second goal last weekend still has me captivated. Look for more as the season draws to an end.
Shane Evans is an associate editor of Goal.com. His feature "The Full English" appears every Friday morning.
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