It`s interesting how the Premier League is panning out, now the season is up and running and the transfer window signing have all settled in.With Chelsea`s transfer dealings appearing to the leave the current champions short on squad numbers, as ever, they were written off as possible contenders for the title this time round.
At the start the season the two teams considered most likely to finish top of the table were the two Manchester clubs. Four games in an that`s how it`s still looking. City have got off to a flier, but let`s not forget, they did last year. United, under Jose Mourinho, look to have a team more than capable of competing on all fronts. Add to that Mourinho`s second season syndrome, where he generally wins whatever league he`s competing in, and for United the signs are good.
Meanwhile, down in that London, Arsenal are continuing where they left off last season, in some respects. The ‘Wenger Out` cries are still there, despite a couple of decent results. The recent capitulation to Liverpool, shows they still have a weak underbelly. Something Chelsea should look to exploit this lunchtime.
Over at Wembley, Tottenham have still not conquered their problems, being away from White Hart Lane. With the old ground, now in ruins, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have to try and get used to playing at the National Stadium. To be fair it`s not a place they`ve, historically, visited much, so maybe it does take some getting used to. That aside, they are a good team, maybe they`re just finding out what it`s like to be considered good and to have every other club trying to beat you. Inevitably, the smaller Premier League teams will relish a trip to Wembley, and as such raise their game.
Back up to the North-West and the two ‘media darling` clubs from Liverpool. Everton sold Romelu Lukaku and spent big, bringing in a number of new signings, in an effort to push for a top four spot. With Ronald Koeman being tipped as a future Barcelona manager, the Toffees, ought to be on the way up. Sadly for them, they are discovering, that, unlike Chelsea you can`t just snap your fingers, buy some new players and win the title. There`s more to it than that, there has to be a cohesion that runs throughout the club. Despite Chelsea`s, at times dysfunctional behaviour as a club, there is a winning mentality.
Jurgen Klopp`s Liverpool are once again flattering to deceive. At times they are unstoppable, they attack with pace, as Arsenal found out but are still vulnerable in defence. The potential ruination of their season, will surely come as a result of screwing up the Virgil Van Dijk transfer. Not only did they fail to sign the Dutchman but they didn`t have an alternative, it was a case of win or bust. With Klopp now in his third season at Liverpool, he ought to be under pressure to win a trophy.
The problem for all these potential wannabe league champions, they don`t have the will to win ingrained in their clubs. Liverpool did back in the eighties, undoubtedly, but somewhere in amongst their takeover by foreign investment, it has disappeared. Everton and Tottenham have never really reached the heights of success in the modern era of football. They have not been able to compete with the, so called, bigger teams in terms of the pay structure amongst their squads.
Although, hated by most, Chelsea do have a will to win, and that`s why there is such a dislike for Chelsea Football Club. Manchester United have it as well, With Mourinho in charge success will return to Old Trafford, for a time anyway. The nouveau riche, at City are not there yet but with Pep Guardiola in charge, expect it. Then there`s Arsene Wenger`s Arsenal side. Unfortunately for those who support the Gunner`s, outstanding as Wenger was when he first arrived, the will to win has gone, he`s lost it, and with it, he lost the players and the fans as well. Until he sees it and goes, it won`t be back.
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