By Alpha Abu
In Part One of my article on who will win the Barclays Premier League this season, (published last week) I looked at the chances of the teams that currently top the table - Arsenal and Manchester City - who are separated by only one point. They are closely followed in third place by Chelsea with the three teams separated by two points. What a whisker! But what are the Blues' chances of winning the title for the first time since the 2009/10 season.
CHELSEA
Jose Mourinho left Chelsea after falling out with the club’s owner, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and few expected he would ever return to the London club. During his first spell he won two Premier League titles, two league cups and an FA cup.
The Portuguese is back at Chelsea to haul in more trophies into their cabinet after winning the leagues in Italy and Spain since he left the London club. This time though, it is proving to be no easy ride as the English Premier League has certainly changed a lot in stature over the years. Even teams usually considered minnows are now putting up robust challenges against the so-called elite clubs.
The contest has become more intense and unpredictable perhaps more than ever. Yes Manchester City might be ahead of the pack of favourites to clinch English football's greatest prize and Mourinho was quoted as supporting that notion, but was also quick to note that it would be great too, should his Chelsea side lift the trophy this May. The thing is Mourinho is a big coach and he thinks big. And he can play the mind game.
Many players have been recruited over the past two years but what presently obtains at Chelsea is a case of ageing players competing with younger talents for positions. Samuel Eto’o is definitely not the complete player he was few seasons ago. He has lost his blistering pace and relentless thrusting power. Yes, he has scored some vital goals this season and just three days ago was the star man, notching a hat-trick against Manchester United. But his goals have come more as a result of experience and composure in front of goal with a bit of luck, and nothing more.
Frank Lampard , John Terry and Ashley Cole are all players who have made great contributions to the success of the club over the years. No one can take that from them. But it is time for Mourinho to start recruiting and fielding in younger and more energetic players. About half a dozen of his players are in the twilight of their careers. Simply put, he must buy players in this January transfer window if his side is to offer the strongest opposition to City’s push for the title.
Another Chelsea player that is not at his best is Fernando Torres who is being rotated or given minimal playing time. His body language these days is reminiscent of what it used to look like at Anfield months before he left Liverpool. It shows he is dispirited, making it unlikely that the Spaniard will extend his stay in London. I bet he will be out in the summer. The other day Isaac Massaquoi, a blues fan, expressed fears of Chelsea sliding down if younger and brighter recruits are not brought in soon.
But the fact is, Mourinho knows how to win games. He blends players well and is unique at inspiring a squad to get something out of nothing. That was demonstrated in their encounters with Liverpool and Manchester United at Stamford bridge. Against Liverpool in particular, Chelsea played a great game and surely that day exposed the Merseyside club as perhaps not too formidable a potential candidate for the title. The Blues coach’s preference is for players who are more physical and adventurous in front of goal and he is getting the desired results, winning games and posing the greatest threat to Manchester City who are the leading contenders for the title. There are some 16 more matches from now on to May and upsets are bound to occur. So it is for Chelsea to prove just how they can steer through such a feisty season, on to the ultimate prize!
LIVERPOOL
Away to Tottenham Hotspurs, Liverpool put up the most captivating performance in years. They were so fired up and they tore their hosts apart with a five-star display. Against City they were phenomenal and even though they lost they got bookmakers still including them among the favourites for the league title.
Call it a revolution at Anfield and you can be perfectly correct. Brendan Rodgers is at the heart of this renewed optimism now prevalent amongst players and fans. He may have signed the Aspas’s, Alberto’s who have so far been flops. But in his second season we are beginning to see how the team is being moulded to try to reclaim glory once again. It may be years away from attaining that but the project is on. The mercurial Luis Suarez is almost a changed player and his talent has taken centre stage in place of his antics for which he was better known in yesteryears. The team as a whole is reaping the benefits of the Uruguayan’s stunning performances this season. They are fourth in the table, 8 points off leaders Arsenal and a champions league spot is beckoning.
Liverpool are a mostly youthful side with Flanagan and Sterling just too superb. Persistent injuries have visited a good number of players so far which has limited the team’s ability in some games, but the truth is Liverpool are emerging from the doldrums onto the limelight which this illustrious club were accustomed to.
However, Rodgers must go into the football market in this January transfer season because depth is virtually lacking in his side. Unlike Arsenal, City and Chelsea, there are hardly dependable substitutes on the bench. If Rodgers should buy and every position becomes competitive, then we can with interest watch how they progress. Moses on loan from Chelsea has lost his initial hunger and is destined to return to Chelsea in the summer and to an uncertain future in London.
Aspas , Lucas, Cissokho and Johnson do not appear suitable playing for Liverpool and once more only the injection of new good players can keep the optimism alive and without fraught.
The way things are, Liverpool stand to claim fourth spot at best. That is, should they steer clear of a resurgent Spurs side. Or do we need to take heed of that soothsayer who the BBC reported as predicting that Liverpool will win this Premier League? I do not think he can be Paul The Octopus at the last football world cup all of whose predictions came to pass.
MANCHESTER UNITED
It is out of sheer respect for their glorious record that Manchester United cannot be ignored. They are a world famous club and the defending champions. But how the mighty have fallen!
Sir Alex Fergusson retired at the end of the season, having won everything during his iconic reign at the theatre of dreams. Today his handpicked successor, David Moyes, who inherited the same set of players in addition to a few newcomers, is certainly shocked that the season is turning to be a terrible disaster. Is this the beginning of the end of United’s reign? Most often by Christmas, the reds would accelerate their ascent to the top of the league table, asserting their dominance by January, and by March becoming almost unassailable. January is two-thirds gone and March is yet to come but United are far off the pace and are incredibly losing ground and embarrassingly too. Having lost 7 games already and lying seventh with 14 point behind the league leaders, surely these are long, long nights indeed, laden with nightmares at Old Trafford.
There should be a “purge” of players, some are just not playing and others have just lost it and must be shown the door. Youngster Januzaj, for me, is the only player with any noticeable ambition in the absence of the injured pair of Rooney and Van Persie. The teenager is the only figure of hope for a future re-imaginative and formidable United. It will be a feat if United could sneak in and get the fourth place by May. I just can’t see that happening.
Finally my prediction for the league title: Manchester City. Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are in second, third and fourth respectively. Enjoy the rest of the season.
(C) Politico 21/01/14
