I’m eating humble pie in my mid-term report ..but let us savour the feast Pep is serving up
THIS weekend marks the halfway point of the Premier League campaign, and Headmaster Sav is flexing his cane and preparing each club’s half-term report.
Don’t take it personally if you don’t agree with my assessment of your team’s performances so far. Remember, it’s only my opinion.
Thank you to everyone who continues to read my column and for all your comments, positive or otherwise, because football is nothing without the most important people – you, the supporters. Have a great Christmas.
ARSENAL Still nowhere near the title, and it looks like Alexis Sanchez will be off for nothing in the summer. Apart from the odd spectacular goal like Mesut Ozil’s volley against Newcastle, they aren’t even as free-flowing as they used to be.
BOURNEMOUTH After finishing 10th last season, and now just a point above the relegation zone, I don’t hear anyone calling for Eddie Howe’s head – and nor should they. Defensively, they are a worry despite spending £30million on Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic. BRIGHTON Only Liverpool have really turned them over, which is a tribute to manager Chris Hughton’s organisation and knowledge. But they are the division’s third-lowest scorers and a new striker will be a priority. BURNLEY Absolute revelation. We all thought their win at Chelsea on the opening day of the season was a freak, but it was a taste of things to come. Fantastic spirit, hard to beat, and Sean Dyche is a contender for manager of the season. CHELSEA Defence of the title has turned to dust, and they must get past Barcelona to go further than the last 16 in the Champions League. Alvaro Morata has settled in well as Diego Costa’s replacement with 11 goals, but Antonio Conte needs reinforcements. CRYSTAL PALACE
After no points and no goals in their first seven games, it’s been a good recovery and Roy Hodgson’s experience has been valuable. Wilfried Zaha’s return from injury has been the catalyst for their improvement but with their firepower Palace should never have been rock bottom in the first place.
EVERTON Jekyll and Hyde. After spending £145m in the summer there were expectations that they could break into the top six, but it turned sour for Ronald Koeman and Everton’s Europa League campaign was terrible. Sam Allardyce has steadied the ship and they could finish in the top seven – but is that progress? HUDDERSFIELD I predicted they would finish bottom of the pile, but they have collected 21 points already and the humble pie is in the oven. They beat Manchester United, took City to the wire and they have decent players. Underestimate David Wagner’s side at your peril – these Terriers can bite. LEICESTER Claude Puel may not have been the obvious choice when the Foxes made another change of manager in October, but he has silenced the sneers that his brand of football is dull. Puel has unleashed the potential of Demarai Gray, Jamie Vardy’s firing again and Riyad Mahrez is back to his best. LIVERPOOL Safely through in Europe, a real opportunity to reach the Champions League quarter-finals and the goals are flowing. Mohamed Salah has been one of the buys of the season and his goals are taking Jurgen Klopp towards another top-four finish – but it’s 28 seasons since the title came to Anfield and the wait goes on. MANCHESTER CITY Top of the class in every subject. Simply breathtaking. The football is a joy to watch, they are on course for 100 points and 100 goals... and much as he refuses to acknowledge it, Pep Guardiola (left) has a real chance of an unprecedented Quadruple: Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. MANCHESTER UNITED Getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Bristol City wasn’t part of the masterplan, especially when trophies are Jose Mourinho’s priority and United are 11 points off the pace at the top. They cruised into the Champions League knockout phase from an easy group but the possibilities of silverware are limited and Mourinho must take the FA Cup seriously. NEWCASTLE Rafa Benitez is in limbo – will the takeover on Tyneside happen soon enough for him to strengthen his hand significantly next month? He is currently plotting a course for safety with a squad of Championship players and they have had a wretched run. Keeping Newcastle up will be no mean feat for Benitez. SOUTHAMPTON So let’s get this straight – Saints sacked their manager in the summer after he took them to eighth in the Premier League and a Wembley final because the football was boring, and they replaced him with a guy who probably won’t finish eighth or go to Wembley this season... and the football is no better. STOKE No point in glossing over it, this weekend’s game with West Brom is massive for Mark Hughes. Although Stoke were one of the lowest net spenders in the summer, Hughes won’t be happy and he expected to do better. Above all, they need shoring up at the back, where they have the leakiest defence in the Premier League. SWANSEA Good luck to caretaker Leon Britton, a magnificent servant to Swansea, but I don’t understand the logic of sacking Paul Clement if there is no permanent replacement lined up. There is no secret to their struggle – the Swans are the lowest scorers and have had the fewest shots on target in the division. TOTTENHAM After two close shaves with the title, maybe their best chance of winning the Premier League with this team has gone. There is no point in beating Real Madrid with a swaggering performance in Europe if you are going to drop points against Swansea and West Brom at Wembley on the home front. Not sure they will even finish in the top four. WATFORD Terrific start, worrying decline since head coach Marco Silva was linked with the Everton job. Five red cards and a frightening injury list at the back hasn’t helped, but at their best Silva’s team have played with tempo and style. Richarlison (below) and Abdoulaye Doucoure are two of the Premier League’s rising stars. WEST BROM They should be comfortable in mid-table because this is Albion’s best squad of the Premier League era. But have they shot themselves in the foot after getting rid of Tony Pulis, a manager who has never been relegated? The football may be more attractive under Alan Pardew, but one goal in four games is hardly an improvement. WEST HAM All the summer optimism, after bringing in Joe Hart, Javier Hernandez and Pablo Zabaleta, dissolved in the run of wretched home performances culminating in Slaven Bilic getting the sack. But David Moyes has done a terrific job so far, after a lukewarm reception, and I simply do not see them going down now.