EPL 2010-11: The best of them all

The much talked about hectic holiday period has just culminated and it’s turning out to be the most competitive season in the history of premier league. For once it has not been a top-four race with one dropping out within two months and another by Christmas and eventually being reduced to a two-horse race. As many as five teams are in with a shout with the defending champions Chelsea, who once effectively opened up a seven point lead, is seeing their hopes of retaining the Barclays Premier league going up in smoke. The usual suspects in Manchester United and Arsenal are right up there in first and third respectively with the Gunners posing as serious contenders for the first time since their unbeaten season triumph in 2003-04. Irrespective of whether Wenger’s men lift the trophy in May, they have vanquished the notion that Arsenal can be bullied out of a football game. The blue half of Manchester in a bid to combine money and a mean defense into a title winning strategy have made it to second place thanks to some typical Italian defensive tactics from gaffer Mancini and the sheer drive and determination of skipper Carlos Tevez. Enough praise cannot be lavished on Spurs and Harry Redknapp though. With an astute signing of player of the season contender Rafael Van der Vaart and the coming of age of the sensational Gareth Bale, Spurs have earned the right to consider themselves as title contenders. They haven’t let regular Champions League football come in the way of their domestic form and although Spurs may not be the best bet, come May, they have certainly played some of the best attacking football this season. Manchester United may yet be unbeaten and sitting atop with games in hand on their nearest rivals, one should not forget they have trips to the Emirates, Stamford Bridge, White Hart Lane and Anfield yet to come.

However it’s not the performance of the big teams that’s lit up the premier league season. It’s some of the unheralded teams who have managed to take points of the title aspirants who should be credited for it. Owen Coyle has worked miracles at Bolton metamorphosing what was once a long-ball-up-to-Kevin Davies team to a serious contender for a European football next season. Steve Bruce’s Sunderland and newly promoted Newcastle United spearheaded by striker Andy Carroll have proved to be quite a handful. In Henderson (Sunderland), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Gareth Bale (Spurs) and Samir Nasri (Arsenal) the premier league has witnessed a new era of midfielders coming through the ranks and lighting up stadiums across England.

As much as it has been competitive at the top, the bottom half of them table has been even more tightly contested with only 5 points separating Everton on 11^th and West Ham on the bottom of the table. Birmingham, Wolves, West Brom after having taken points off the likes United and Chelsea are still hovering around the drop zone.

The shocker of the season has undoubtedly been Liverpool. As much as nobody expected miracles from Roy Hodgson, not even the most ardent Liverpool hater would have condemned to a mere five points above last placed West Ham. An FA Cup exit at hands of Manchester United and it could mean Roy Hodgson would be walking alone.

City have already landed Dzeko from Wolfsburg and a loan move welcoming England’s most loved albeit slightly over rated footballer, David Beckham to Spurs might well be completed by next week. Abramovich might have to have to spend some to tighten up his defense and it would be interesting to see if Blackburn can indeed pull off Ronaldinho. One thing we do know for sure Arsene Wenger isn’t spending in the January transfer market and is confident this is the year his footballing philosophy gets vindicated. There is no doubt its going to be a nail-biting finish, be it the premier league title, the relegation dog fight or a bid to get lace in Europe. However this season finishes there can be no doubting, EPL 2010-11 would be remembered as the best of them all!