Every football fan knows that titles, European qualifications and relegations are not settled at Christmas. However, as the league creeps past the half way point for most teams, it is a good time to make informed predictions and see who had a merry festive period and who was left with a lump of coal.
Winners
Sunderland: Martin O’Neill has only been in charge for six games and in that time he has seemingly transformed a team spiralling into the relegation places into a team that looks as though it could compete for European qualification spot as pre-season suggested. Steve Bruce’s last game in charge was a demoralising home defeat to Wigan. Only a few weeks later and Martin O’Neill takes the same side to the DW Stadium and inflicts a crushing 4-1 loss on the home team. The festive period has seen Sunderland only drop two points - at home to Everton - propelling them up to a lofty 10th position.
Tottenham: Harry Redknapp’s men just keep marching on. After their demolition of Norwich on the 27th of December the Spurs juggernaut looked unstoppable; until it came up against the Liberty Stadium fortress and the Swans that inhabit it. Redknapp was high in his praise for Brendan Rodgers’ men highlighting just how good a team Swansea are, especially on their own turf. After narrowly hanging onto a point it was a tough home game against West Brom where Spurs had to deal with injuries to Sandro, William Gallas and Jake Livermore whilst already being without Scott Parker. Most Spurs fans will tell you that last season this is a game that they would have probably lost; however, this year’s Tottenham side seem to have more steel and have gone to within three points of Manchester United with a game in hand.
Blackburn: When looking at the fixtures coming up for Steve Kean it looked as though he was a goner. Successive trips to Anfield and Old Trafford could not have been stadiums that any fan wanted to see, let alone fans of a club struggling at the bottom of the league. However, to Steve Kean’s and Blackburn’s credit they came out of those fixtures with four massive points. A 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a shock 3-2 win at Manchester United that no one saw coming. Despite these astonishing results they did then lose at home to Stoke and are propping up the Premier League, so they are unlikely winners of the festive period. But, one win could lift them to 16th and after confidence boosting performances such as those; they could be a dark horse to survive until next season.
Losers
QPR Three festive fixtures and only one point collected. Not a total disaster if like West Brom you faced Manchester City, Everton and Tottenham. However, the R’s had to contend with the two sides that they beat to the Championship title last year and a trip to the Emirates. Granted, no one expected them to get anything from Arsenal, and they didn’t, but Wolves managed to gain a point, showing that it can be done. The solitary point that they did earn came at Fortress Liberty, which is a good point for Tottenham, so still a good one for QPR. Nonetheless, considering the money that they have had to spend and the fact that they finished higher in the league than Swansea, perhaps they should be faring better in this higher division? Admittedly they were very unlucky against Norwich when they had captain Joey Barton sent off for a non-descript head-butting incident. Conversely, they still had to pick up points in these games, subsequent failure has left them only one point above the relegation zone.
Arsenal The Gunners have been an indifferent team this season. After a dreadful start they managed to put their season back on track, stringing together a few decent results. And then it struck again. A poor draw at home to Wolves was followed by an unconvincing win against struggling QPR only to be finished with a loss at Craven Cottage in injury time after leading the match for a lengthy period. Four points out of a possibly nine has left them a point behind fourth placed Chelsea, but six behind third placed Spurs. On top of this, talismanic returning Gunner Thierry Henry’s two month loan signing has been stalled because of failure to agree dates with his parent club New York Red Bulls.
Chelsea AVB has not had the smoothest of introductions to English football with some fans calling for his head already just because he has not had the instant success of his mentor Jose Mourinho. Failure to dispose of both Fulham and Aston Villa at home left the Stamford Bridge crowd exceptionally frustrated and anxious about the following game at Wolves. Despite an unconvincing performance and a large slice of luck (by not having Frank Lampard or Ashley Cole sent off) the West Londoners came back with victory. Villas-Boas has to do what Ferguson has been doing for years and rebuild an entire team. This January transfer window could be crucial for Chelsea as they lose key players to the African Cup of Nations and look to strengthen an aging squad.
Other teams that have had a mixed festive period have to be the teams from Manchester. After thumping Wigan 5-0, United looked set to be sending Blackburn for the same fate. In fact, it was United who were put to the sword. Usually after United have a terrible result, the next team feel the full force. In this case it was Newcastle. But it was them who made United feel the full force of two straight Premier League defeats. The only saving grace for United was the form of their City neighbours. Held at The Hawthorns and then beaten at the Stadium of Light was not a good start to the festivities. Their own saviour was the 3-0 defeat of Liverpool after New Year’s Day which sent them three points clear at the top.
In this most unpredictable year it is difficult to pick a title winning team at this stage. Manchester City are three clear, but Manchester United never give up and we Brits love an underdog who many neutrals with be Spurring on.
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