Coming into the second half of the 2016-17 Premier League season this morning, I wanted to see if certain developments came ahead of today's matches - which ultimately did not (the Swansea coaching vacancy, though word has it Paul Clement will be in as early as tomorrow full-time). Nonetheless, here is my mid-season Premier League Report
Best: Chelsea
Honorable Mention: Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham
Their undefeated run right now just sums up how Antonio Conte has done time and time again with making the necessary adjustments to win. He did it with Juventus and the Italian national team and now at Chelsea Football Club.The blip of last season seems to be well behind them now and are well in control of their destiny.
Worst: Swansea
(Dis)honorable Mention: Crystal Palace, Hull City
This team simply cannot play together. It is seemingly last season's Chelsea 2.0 or perhaps 0.5 as it were. Should Bradley have had the transfer window, I don't know. What I do know is that he was likely going to be doomed from the start - any manager in this situation for that matter. This team must go down this year meaning I can't see anything else happening to this club this season, period.
Over-Achievers: West Bromwich Albion
Honorable Mention: Burnley
Tony Pulis is a good manager for keeping clubs up around mid-table. As it stands, West Brom would have their joint best finish in the Prem if they stay at 8th position. This would also be Pulis' best finish as a Prem manager. And they are doing it rather quietly keeping pace with nearest opponent Everton, who themselves are having a bounce-back year under new manager Ronald Koeman. If they keep up and a top team slips up, they could very well see time in Europa League play next season, a reach though it may be.
Under-Achievers: Leicester City
Honorable Mention: Manchester United, Sunderland, Southampton, Watford
Vardy managed to stay, Mahrez managed to stay. But who is feeding them the ball? That was N'Golo Kante, who's enjoying great success at Chelsea. However, they were fortunate to draw on the easy side in the group stage of the Champions League, but still managed not to lose until their last game to finish top of the group. This team can still be a mid-table side under Claudio Ranieri, but results need to come sooner rather than later.
Biggest Surprise: West Ham United
Honorable Mention: Bournemouth
While they started out slowly, they seem like they are starting to salvage something out of the season. Payet just hasn't seen the form of last season and that hasn't helped. The Olympic Stadium is not what Upton Park was, and that might be hurting them in different ways. It would seem that their start to December of three straight wins and the draw prior to that might be the blue print to be consistent enough in the coming months.
Biggest Disappointment: Manchester City
Honorable Mention: Crystal Palace, Stoke City
Antonio Conte has done his job at Chlesea. Pep Guardiola at City, well... not so much. Sitting in the Europa League spot behind Spurs and out of the Champions League places cannot be sitting well with Guradiola - or Sheikh Mansour for that matter. The fact that Yaya Toure is probably their bright spot in recent weeks shows what trials and tribulations are being experienced at the Etihad.
Since losing to title rivals Chelsea, this squad has not shown enough that this team can be champions of England.
As it Stands:
Chelsea - 49
Liverpool - 43
Arsenal - 40
Totenham Hotspur - 39
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Manchester City - 39
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Manchester United - 36
Everton - 27
West Bromwich Albion - 26
Southampton - 24
Bournemouth - 24
Burnley - 23
West Ham United - 22
Watford - 22
Stoke City - 21
Leicester City - 20
Middlesbrough - 18
Crystal Palace - 16
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Sunderland - 14
Hull City - 13
Swansea City - 12
Predictions:
(Preseason)
Top 4: Southampton, West Ham, Arsenal, Man City
Europa: Watford
Relegation: Burnley, Sunderland, West Brom
(Now)
-Ricky
Best: Chelsea
Honorable Mention: Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham
Their undefeated run right now just sums up how Antonio Conte has done time and time again with making the necessary adjustments to win. He did it with Juventus and the Italian national team and now at Chelsea Football Club.The blip of last season seems to be well behind them now and are well in control of their destiny.
Worst: Swansea
(Dis)honorable Mention: Crystal Palace, Hull City
This team simply cannot play together. It is seemingly last season's Chelsea 2.0 or perhaps 0.5 as it were. Should Bradley have had the transfer window, I don't know. What I do know is that he was likely going to be doomed from the start - any manager in this situation for that matter. This team must go down this year meaning I can't see anything else happening to this club this season, period.
Over-Achievers: West Bromwich Albion
Honorable Mention: Burnley
Tony Pulis is a good manager for keeping clubs up around mid-table. As it stands, West Brom would have their joint best finish in the Prem if they stay at 8th position. This would also be Pulis' best finish as a Prem manager. And they are doing it rather quietly keeping pace with nearest opponent Everton, who themselves are having a bounce-back year under new manager Ronald Koeman. If they keep up and a top team slips up, they could very well see time in Europa League play next season, a reach though it may be.
Under-Achievers: Leicester City
Honorable Mention: Manchester United, Sunderland, Southampton, Watford
Vardy managed to stay, Mahrez managed to stay. But who is feeding them the ball? That was N'Golo Kante, who's enjoying great success at Chelsea. However, they were fortunate to draw on the easy side in the group stage of the Champions League, but still managed not to lose until their last game to finish top of the group. This team can still be a mid-table side under Claudio Ranieri, but results need to come sooner rather than later.
Biggest Surprise: West Ham United
Honorable Mention: Bournemouth
While they started out slowly, they seem like they are starting to salvage something out of the season. Payet just hasn't seen the form of last season and that hasn't helped. The Olympic Stadium is not what Upton Park was, and that might be hurting them in different ways. It would seem that their start to December of three straight wins and the draw prior to that might be the blue print to be consistent enough in the coming months.
Biggest Disappointment: Manchester City
Honorable Mention: Crystal Palace, Stoke City
Antonio Conte has done his job at Chlesea. Pep Guardiola at City, well... not so much. Sitting in the Europa League spot behind Spurs and out of the Champions League places cannot be sitting well with Guradiola - or Sheikh Mansour for that matter. The fact that Yaya Toure is probably their bright spot in recent weeks shows what trials and tribulations are being experienced at the Etihad.
Since losing to title rivals Chelsea, this squad has not shown enough that this team can be champions of England.
As it Stands:
Chelsea - 49
Liverpool - 43
Arsenal - 40
Totenham Hotspur - 39
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Manchester City - 39
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Manchester United - 36
Everton - 27
West Bromwich Albion - 26
Southampton - 24
Bournemouth - 24
Burnley - 23
West Ham United - 22
Watford - 22
Stoke City - 21
Leicester City - 20
Middlesbrough - 18
Crystal Palace - 16
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Sunderland - 14
Hull City - 13
Swansea City - 12
Predictions:
(Preseason)
Top 4: Southampton, West Ham, Arsenal, Man City
Europa: Watford
Relegation: Burnley, Sunderland, West Brom
(Now)
-Ricky
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