Soccer Roundup
Anyway as the Premiership table stands today, ManU are a neat 6 points ahead of Chelsea. I will not attribute this lead solely to abilities of the Red Devils. Chelsea have lost the hunger to win that was evident in the last two seasons. Only Drogba and Essien, and when fit Terry seem to retain that self-belief. Whether it is due to Ballack and Shevchenko coming in or the boardroom chess game that Mourinho, Arnesen, Kenyon and Abrahmovich seem to be playing or the injuries to key players (Cole, Terry) is inconsequential. The results on the pitch are of consequence and Chelsea seem to be faltering there. Teams face Chelsea and believe that they can win. They now play their best games against Chelsea and not ManU. And yes, all this has helped ManU. But it could have helped Liverpool or Arsenal also.
Liverpool apart from a envious troika in the midfield, are IMHO a bloated squad of average performers. It is difficult to pick out one world class player in a position other than the midfield. Though they probably have a home record as good as Chelsea and ManU, this has hit them hard in the away matches. Arsenal is completely different story. Firstly, they are a squad in transition much like ManU a couple of years earlier. Coupled with Wenger’s stubborn refusal to buy, the entire squad with the exception of Henry and few other veterans is composed entirely of tyros. And each of them is not a new Cesc Fabregas. Another reason, for their below par season would the shift to the new stadium with a pitch considerably larger than at Highbury. Arsenal’s passing game requires a great understanding of the playing space and this was clearly lacking in the early season. I am counting Arsenal to be back in the reckoning next year at the earliest and the next to next at the latest.
Coming to ManU, all pieces have fallen into place at the right time. Scholes is back; almost as good as he was at the turn of the century. Ronaldo is in the form of his life, which greatly compensates for Rooney’s insipid form this season. Ferdinand and Vidic have formed a partnership that is now being compared with the legendary duo of Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce. And finally Carrick is in, forming with Scholes a central midfield partnership that is as good as any in the Premiership. And finally, apart from Giggs, Scholes and Neville the first eleven at Old Trafford has hardly won anything. The hunger is clearly there to be seen (lately though, ManU have squandered a few golden opportunities to make their lead at the top of the table unassailable). Even though, ManU is still short of one more quality midfielder (Owen Hargreaves/Scott Parker) and a decent backup left winger, the squad does have the rest of the positions covered with Larsson on loan and Solskjaer back to full fitness. The season however is far from complete and many things can still happen with United still to play Chelsea and Liverpool away. But what the heck, Rooney is still to fire all cylinders.
Elsewhere, Spanish Liga is taking very interesting shape with the top spot hosting three teams. Barcelona have been hit hard by the injuries to Eto and Messi. Combined with Ronaldinho’s dip of form (notwithstanding the rediscovery of Saviola), suddenly the all conquering machine does not look that menancing though they continue to lead the charts. Real Madrid are a far cry from the strutting kings they were a few years before. The squad now resembles a racing car made out of junkyard parts. However they managed to sign three of the most promising South American youngsters and the next year might mark a turning point for them. But, right now they are so wracked by internal troubles that non one remembers that they are at the top three in the table with a very realistic chance of winning the league. The surprise package however are Sevilla who have played the most consistently and have amongst them some of players that bigger clubs all around Europe are itching to sign on. Even if Sevilla wins the Liga, will it be enough to prevent the great sale. Only time will tell. And finally 6 points adrift of the league leaders are Valencia, who have been terribly unlucky with injuries and Atletico Madrid, who seem to finally coming out of their under performing shells.
Calcio has been a one horse race with Juve going down to Serie B and Milan starting with a heavy deficit and a creaking squad. Roma and Palermo just do not have the financial muscle of Inter to build a team capable of challenging for the Scudetto. So 2006 has been Inter’s year, though many had given up the hope of any semblance of competition even before the season began.
Finally, the Champions League. No major upsets, with all the usual suspects in the knock-out stages. It is here that the fun really begins but for that we would have to wait for a few weeks more.
