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The English Premier League has been quite eventful so far. If the initial signs are anything to go by, competition for the title might not be as tight as last year, but there is still some time to go before we can say for sure. Certain teams have upped their game, while many big names have regressed.The league table does not look that good for fans of most of the big teams, while fans of the smaller ones will be rejoicing at how well their teams have done so far.Here's a comprehensive look at the top teams and their performances so far this season:
#1 Chelsea
Chelsea sit pretty on top of the Premier League table with a near perfect record. They've faced all the top teams in the league and they haven’t looked in trouble against any of them, which is a clear indication of their dominance.
It was definitely expected that Chelsea would be a better team than last season, but certainly not to the extent they have exhibited till now. After a rare, trophy-less previous season, Chelsea acted decisively in the transfer market to complete the signings of Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Filipe Luis. The result has been a team that have been dominant so far, both in the League and in Europe.
This Chelsea team are unlike any of the earlier ones. They entertain the crowd when they go on the attack, and have a healthy balance in the team, both offensively and defensively. In Diego Costa they have a pure goalscorer upfront and the best defense in the League at the back. After facing difficulties in their midfield last year, this season has been a welcome change for them as Fabregas and Matic have added the requisite silk and steel.
Chelsea have been so good that the League looks like a foregone conclusion. Their nearest competitors in the league are Southampton, who trail Chelsea by 4 points and are not expected to challenge for the title.
Grade: A+
#2 Manchester City
The defending champions have failed to live up to the hype that their win last season generated. Like their last title defense, this one too has been a tepid affair.
After a relatively quite summer, City looked in perfect condition to defend their title. The roster didn't receive much of a shake-up, but their defence was strengthened and almost all their players returned early from the World Cup. The atmosphere around the club was very stable, and ideal for them. But lately, things have begun to go horribly wrong for them on the pitch as they have dropped points in their recent matches.
The topic of City's complacency has often been broached this season. The failure to beat teams such as Stoke, West Ham and QPR has piled the pressure on them, and increased pressure has led to increased scrutiny. This in turn has exposed the weak points of the team in public, and has raised questions as to whether they will be able to give title defence a genuine shot.
City are no longer the sturdy outfit they were last season, and appear quite shaky at the back. Mangala hasn't adapted to the League as was expected and most of the team is still struggling for form. Poor performances in the Champions League has only added to the pressure. Their fans will be hoping that this is only a blip.
A team of City's quality will, sooner or later, find their stride. The only fear is that by then it'll already be too late. 11 games in, they are 8 points behind leaders Chelsea. City will need to start firing now, if they intend to prevent it from becoming a one horse race.
Grade: B
#3 Arsenal
The goodwill built over the summer, after the FA Cup triumph and the purchase of Alexis Sanchez, has faded away. The promise of a better season has died a sordid death as the Gunners have seen Arsenal's campaign has reduce to a battle for tge ruf
Five draws and two defeats don't do justice to the talent and potential of this Arsenal squad. The manager, Arsene Wenger, has so far got his tactics all wrong. After a strong pre-season, Arsenal surprised fans by starting the season with a new formation. As with any such changes, problems ensued. The team failed to adhere to instructions and many players failed to adapt to their new roles. Injuries have again devastated the squad.
Arsenal's problems are basically a creation of their own. The same mistakes have repeated again and again, with the hope that something new will come off of it. The fix will, no doubt be the same. But by the time Wenger comes to it, it'll have been too late to salvage the season. Another cup run is all the fans have to look forward to.
Grade: D
#4 Liverpool
Compared to last season, Liverpool have been hugely underwhelming so far. Even their best performances of the season pale in comparison to their exciting displays last season. Liverpool have regressed and the Champions League might have perhaps played a part in the same.
Brendan Rodgers has often bemoaned the lack of time he's had for tactical training with his team due to their involvement in the Champions League, and this has showed in their performances. The football is no longer entertaining while the defense has worsened despite considerable investment. None of their new signings have really impressed and have all been sub-par.
A lot of the blame for their performances can be put on the inexperience of their manager or the fact that the new players haven't had enough time to bed in. These same reasons have, after all, affected even the best of teams at the best of times. Having said that, a team of Liverpool's quality and stature should be scoring more points than the fourteen they've accumulated over the last eleven games.
Grade: D
#5 Southampton
Southampton's performances this season have been most inspiring, especially for a team that most pundits thought would get relegated after the mass exodus in the summer.
Ronald Koeman has worked wonders with the Saints so far as they have earned 25 points from 11 games and are currently second in the table. A most extravagant start for a team of their stature indeed!
Southampton currently sit four points off of Champions elect - Chelsea and are also, four points ahead of current champions, Manchester City. Their league position is a testament to their perseverance and effort to produce top quality football. They've been breathtaking in attack and solid in defense (Second best defense in Europe currently).
dThey've recruited wisely after a summer in which they were forced to a lot of their crucial players. The manager has been very clear about what he wants from the players and has done brilliantly to help them accommodate to a new country, league and team. All these factors have come together to produce this ruthless Southampton side.
Grade: A+
#6 Manchester United
United had a stinker of a season last year. Although they aren’t doing much better this season, the fact that the team are fighting for all three points on the pitch.
Hiring an experienced manager who achieved success at the very highest level was a shrewd move by the United board, but leaving the purchase of requisite players till late in the window, not so much. Van Gaal started the season with the same formation that brought him success at the World Cup – the 5-3-2, as he was adamant that it was the philosophy that suited the players at his disposal and that it would reap dividends in the long term. Though it didn't have the desired effect on the team, he persisted with it for some time.
Towards the end of the window, following the purchase of Blind, Rojo, Di Maria and Falcao, he was forced to reconsider his tactics to accomodate them all. This led to the undoing of all the work that he'd done since the beginning of his reign, and resulted in further upheavel for a team already in transition.
This whole business of muddled transfer activity coupled with an Arsenal-esque injury list, has seen United record their worst start to a season since 1986-87.
Manchester United have shown glimpses of their potential in some games, but it has mostly stayed hidden. It is incredibly hard to judge them as of now as there could be a major change in their performances between now and the end of the season. The only metric to judge them by, right now, is to see if they meet the expectations of the fans. The answer to that is unfortunately, a resounding no.
Grade: D
#7 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have been very inconsistent so far this season. The constant change in managers and approach at Tottenham seems to finally be taking a toll on the effectiveness of the team. The result is that Mauricio Pochettino is now left with a group of players that no longer know what they're doing.
Spurs' season has constantly fluctuated between the abject and the bizarre. They've been unable to live with teams of similar or greater repute while they have swatted aside the smaller teams. Their only credible results have been the victory against Southampton and a draw away from home against fierce rivals Arsenal. They're languishing in 12th after losing 5 and drawing 2 of their opening 11 fixtures.
Tottenham have been uninspiring, unimaginative and utterly directionless so far. What is the worrying part is that they don’t seem like they are going to snap out of it anytime soon.
Grade: D
