Ordinarily finishing in the top half of the table is not an achievement to write home about. The merit payment reward structure of the English Premier League has however motivated teams to fight for a finish in the very best possible position, if not for pride, the financial benefit that comes with each higher position.
Given the events that clouded Liverpool over the last few weeks, I started to strongly question my prediction that they would squeak into the Europa League places. The new ownership at Liverpool would however surely provide just the tonic needed to spark them into a run that would close out the challenge of Aston Villa and Everton.
Liverpool’s revival was not helped by their loss to Mersey rivals Everton during the week of their take over but as long as the owners remain patient with Manager Hodgson, they still stand a good chance of climbing up the table.
Everton have had their traditional slow start to a season but they now seem to have turned around the corner to mount a serious challenge for the Europa League places. This should be a season where the Mersey rivalry will be as bitter as ever, as Everton fiercely battle for that last Europa League place against Liverpool. If Roy Hodgson is given time to mold this group and the funds to make a couple of smart additions in the January transfer window, Liverpool may just nick this battle.
Aston Villa have played well in spells but the signing of Gerard Houllier as Manager has not moved them up a level as the owners must have expected. In fact the owners may be starting to wonder whether they should have given assistant manager, Kevin MacDonald the chance he craved to have a crack at the job. Villa should still finish in the top half of the table although the fans will be disappointed not to mount a challenge for Champions League places, as they have got accustomed to over the last couple of seasons.
It is that last place in the top half that will have the most captivating battle. Sunderland and Birmingham have over the last couple of seasons invested heavily into their squads. Fulham has a very experienced squad and capable manager in Mark Hughes who will want to sustain the success enjoyed under previous manager, Roy Hodgson.
Stoke has also invested in some flair players to make them less of a one dimensional physical team which relies on Rory Delap’s long throw. Bolton too has added quite a bit of silk to their steel under manager, Owen Coyle. All three newly promoted teams have also had quite a decent start to the season and it would not be too much to expect one of them to crack into the top half. West Brom particularly looks disciplined and show signs of improving with every game while Blackpool is a very adventurous outfit which is a breath of fresh air to a league where the lesser teams often preach caution and are characterized by a very cagey style.
Tough as it is to call, I will bank on Sunderland’s depth, experience and extra quality in the striking department to eventually come good and fire them to the top half. Darren Bent is a constant goal threat and he now has quality back up in Asamoah Gyan who will improve with each game.
If you learned in school that being average was a sign of complacency, this EPL season’s fight and the challenge to sustain middle class quality of life in these tough economic times will soon make you change your mind.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Manchester United and Liverpool Rivals or Twins?
It is not very often that you will find a diehard Liverpool fan share a cup of tea with their counterpart from Manchester United. In fact the two clubs historically have one of the most significant sporting rivalries in football, you could easily brand them archenemies.
If you take the time to look deeper though, you will find that Manchester United and Liverpool have so much in common they could easily pass for twins.
For starters, both United and Liverpool hail from the North West of England and they have won 18 top domestic flight titles a piece to make them the joint most successful English clubs.
Granted, Liverpool founded in 1892 and Manchester United founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, changing its name to Manchester United in 1902 do not share a birthday but it is amazing how much more they have in common.
The cornerstone of the history of both clubs is shaped around disastrous events. For Liverpool it is the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster that stands out while for Manchester United it is the 1958 Munich Disaster.
There is the issue of unpopular American owners that riddled both clubs with huge amounts of debt. United was purchased by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005 in a deal valuing the club at almost £800 million. Liverpool did not have to wait much longer before George Gillett and Tom Hicks acquired the club in February 2007 for £218.9 million.
Liverpool fans at least need to celebrate their near survival of administration and tremendous reduction in debt following the recent purchase of the club for £300 million by American sports investment company NESV! Even in this transaction though, Liverpool’s resemblance with United is what probably led Hicks and Gillett to fight for £1 billion in damages, the approximate value of Manchester United according to Forbes Magazine’s April 2010 issue.
In recent weeks, the prolific center forwards of both United and Liverpool, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres have looked nothing but a pale shadow of themselves. The form of both clubs has also suffered and with that compromised the title challenge of both in a season that promised so much with the signings of Roy Hodgson for Liverpool and Javier Hernandez for United.
In the rare event that diehard fans from the two clubs share a cup of tea, they will often focus on the trivial differences between the two clubs. For instance they are facing different predicaments with Liverpool in a relegation dog fight! United is not having much joy either as it faces a season so similar to Liverpool’s two losses for the 2008/2009 season that still finished with no trophies to show because of simply too many draws.
Granted, Hodgson at Liverpool is facing the risk of losing his job while Ferguson is secure at United but both are hugely successful old British managers. Ferguson was also reportedly on the verge of being dismissed when his United career was saved with the 1990 FA Cup victory and Hodgson may simply need the same lucky break to spark Liverpool’s revival and end a 20 year championship drought. Remember it took United 26 years to end their championship drought with the famous 1993 triumph that led to the current era of dominance, identical to Liverpool’s of 1970’s and 1980’s.
My verdict on this most bitter of football rivalries is that it is simply one that is borne out of their twin similarities. If you would like to avoid a fight over your cup of tea, pay more attention the next time you choose someone to share it with. After all, even scientists have taught that like poles repel.
If you take the time to look deeper though, you will find that Manchester United and Liverpool have so much in common they could easily pass for twins.
For starters, both United and Liverpool hail from the North West of England and they have won 18 top domestic flight titles a piece to make them the joint most successful English clubs.
Granted, Liverpool founded in 1892 and Manchester United founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, changing its name to Manchester United in 1902 do not share a birthday but it is amazing how much more they have in common.
The cornerstone of the history of both clubs is shaped around disastrous events. For Liverpool it is the 1989 Hillsborough Disaster that stands out while for Manchester United it is the 1958 Munich Disaster.
There is the issue of unpopular American owners that riddled both clubs with huge amounts of debt. United was purchased by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005 in a deal valuing the club at almost £800 million. Liverpool did not have to wait much longer before George Gillett and Tom Hicks acquired the club in February 2007 for £218.9 million.
Liverpool fans at least need to celebrate their near survival of administration and tremendous reduction in debt following the recent purchase of the club for £300 million by American sports investment company NESV! Even in this transaction though, Liverpool’s resemblance with United is what probably led Hicks and Gillett to fight for £1 billion in damages, the approximate value of Manchester United according to Forbes Magazine’s April 2010 issue.
In recent weeks, the prolific center forwards of both United and Liverpool, Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres have looked nothing but a pale shadow of themselves. The form of both clubs has also suffered and with that compromised the title challenge of both in a season that promised so much with the signings of Roy Hodgson for Liverpool and Javier Hernandez for United.
In the rare event that diehard fans from the two clubs share a cup of tea, they will often focus on the trivial differences between the two clubs. For instance they are facing different predicaments with Liverpool in a relegation dog fight! United is not having much joy either as it faces a season so similar to Liverpool’s two losses for the 2008/2009 season that still finished with no trophies to show because of simply too many draws.
Granted, Hodgson at Liverpool is facing the risk of losing his job while Ferguson is secure at United but both are hugely successful old British managers. Ferguson was also reportedly on the verge of being dismissed when his United career was saved with the 1990 FA Cup victory and Hodgson may simply need the same lucky break to spark Liverpool’s revival and end a 20 year championship drought. Remember it took United 26 years to end their championship drought with the famous 1993 triumph that led to the current era of dominance, identical to Liverpool’s of 1970’s and 1980’s.
My verdict on this most bitter of football rivalries is that it is simply one that is borne out of their twin similarities. If you would like to avoid a fight over your cup of tea, pay more attention the next time you choose someone to share it with. After all, even scientists have taught that like poles repel.
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