The season so far….

As we approach the New Year, a look at the Barclays Premier League shows an extremely tight competition with Bolton in 11^th and Stoke in 19^th only three points apart.  There have been a number of surprise results this season and a few unexpected successes. 

 

Who would have thought that Hull Citywould have a good run at the start of the season and that clubs such as Blackburn, Tottenham and Newcastle would be struggling for points?  And how many people would have put Ireland, Cisse or Turner (Hull) in their first choice eleven?

 

Having been asked for my ‘Trick’s Picks’ at the start of the season, I have to say that I pinned great expectations on Spurs and have been somewhat let down…unless Harry can turn things around, my Picks will be far worse than last year!

 

A look at our Fantasy Football League Table shows that there are a number of teams with a possible claim to the title. It could be a close-run contest, almost as close as the Premiership itself.

 

Top of the Lambert Chapman Premiership at the moment is ‘Real Cool Beanz’, managed by Lewis Sharp, with a total of 882 points. He has now been top for six weeks and looks to have a strong team. However, there are a few teams below him that cannot be ruled out – Ainsley Bowyer has 863 points and Andy Stride has 852 points. Below them in 5^thplace is Tom Drysdale, last year’s winner, with 807 points and he will be keen to retain the trophy.

 

Also deserving of a mention is ‘I’m forever…ah!’ in 10^thplace – Mike Carabine always submits a ‘theme team’ into the competition – this time, he has chosen players who have all been involved at West Ham at some point, either a permanent signing, loan signing or those who played whilst in the youth squad.  Given his strong position, it remains to be seen whether he sticks to the theme or forgoes it for a stronger squad with an eye on winning!

 

It should not be forgotten that, each month, we promote the top three teams in each league and relegate the bottom three teams.  Therefore, teams in Division 5 can still get promoted each month and get into the Premiership by the end of April, leaving them in with a chance of the trophy.

 

This is good news for the likes of Gary Luckman (858 points), Ruth Lewis (849) and Louise Jessup (827) who could all be in this position at the end of the season.

 

This brings home the importance of the transfer window to all those Managers wanting to succeed in the competition.  Once the real window has closed at the end of January 2009, we shall open our own, taking into account all transfers to that point in time.  Making the right transfers could mean the difference between success and failure – do ensure that you keep an eye on the website and make changes to your team when required.

The Premiership hots up….

As an ardent Ipswich Town fan, I would have to admit that my attentions so far this season have been focused more on the Premiership. This is partly due to the fact that Town seem to be making very little impact and are struggling to get into the play-off places; however, it is also partly due to the fact that the Premiership, in my mind, is a lot more exciting this year than normal.

 

Usually, by this stage, there are several distinct groups of teams – two or three teams vying for the Premiership title, a small band of teams aiming to climb the table from midway to a European place and several Clubs trying to avoid relegation.  

 

It seemed to me that, in previous seasons, the top teams kept winning and the bottom teams kept losing, creating a gulf which lessened the excitement of watching Match of the Day as it was clear who would win and who would lose.

 

However, this season’s Premiership table makes better reading – there are perhaps only three teams in with a shout at the title although, given Arsenal’s win, they may be back in the frame. After all, who would have thought that the top four would all fail to win a match, let alone score a goal? Just five points separate Aston Villa in fifth place and Bolton in ninth.  A further five points below Bolton are Sunderland in eighteenth.

 

Last year, the thought of watching Hull v Middlesbrough would mean that I end up neglecting to watch Match of the Day with a severe lack of interest. However, this Saturday I will be wondering whether Hull will win and possibly go into the top five (possibly sending Middlesbrough into the bottom six) or whether ‘Boro will win and go up from twelfth to seventh.

 

Only a few weeks ago, Spurs were bottom with Newcastle just ahead of them – now they are out of the relegation zone at the expense of Blackburn and Sunderland who seemed clear of trouble.

 

Who knows what next week will bring….??

Where does the next point come from?

I’m depressed. No I seriously am. I’ve said for ages “there are no easy games in the Premier League” only to find that there is at the present time – Tottenham and Newcastle. After the euphoria of our trophy last season it has gone from bad to worse and I reckon if you plotted a table from March to now we would be points adrift with Derby. No wonder Robbie Keane was so quick out of the door! How we miss him and Malbranque.

 

Hull City at home next week and a possible exit from the UEFA cup on Thursday. The next 7 days are crucial for everyone at the club that’s for sure. Having seen the Wigan match – if you could call it that – I would ask “what happened to the entertainment factor?” I was pleased when we signed David Bentley but he looks a shadow of the player he can be and at the present time if his life depended upon hitting a great corner or free kick the funeral would have been sometime last week.

 

All sports are confidence based and we surely cannot be as bad as we are playing at the moment. But you have to see a spark of something to change what is happening. We seem to be making strange decisions regarding selection and substitutions and you surely cannot accommodate everyone in the hope that it all comes right. For example, Modric signs for a lot of money looks good in Euros, reasonable in pre season but sat on the bench yesterday. Gunter does not play the first two games, appears against Chelsea does well for 70 minutes is subbed and sits back on the bench again. Corluka plays right back, not so good, plays centre back against Wigan looks solid but then goes back to right back. Zokora has been one of our best in midfield this season but has played 3 games at right back and then gets subbed yesterday when playing well.

 

Decide on your best team and stick to it should be the answer, the problem appears to be “we haven’t got a clue which team that is!” If you went back to basics you’d play 4-4-2, with a settled centre back partnership, committed wingers, a ball winner, some one creative and two up front. You’d play them all in the positions they know and understand so in my book it has to be;

 

Gomez, Gunter, Corluka, Woodgate (Cptn), Bale, Bentley, Modric, Zokora, Lennon, Pavlyuchenko and Bent.

 

I’m missing King because he cannot play all the games and as such we need to get a settled side and Jenas because for all his box to box running  I’m interested what he does with the ball and I’ve never been convinced that’s a great deal. I would have them both on the bench along with Huddlestone, Frazer Campbell, O’Hara and Giovanni and Hutton would replace Gunter when his fitness is complete.  We also need a leader on the pitch so give the armband to Woody.

 

And Ramos and Poyet? You have to stick with them at the present time. No doubt the suggestion is to spend big in January but as Mike Ashley’s statement showed a number of clubs have plenty of debt and Spurs may well be one of them. Changing Manager once more will not be the answer but if the players at the Club are not good enough a certain Daniel Commolli must take his fair share of the responsibility for that. I doubt he will see out the season.

 

No team is ever too good to get relegated. It’s down to the Spurs squad to fight for every ball, win every tackle and header and get the fans back on side. Have they the talent, I think so – but have they the desire and commitment – not on performances so far.  So COME ON YOU SPURS.