The best Premier League battle in years
Sebastien Bassong wary of top four competition
Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong believes that this Premier League season is the most competitive for a long time. With the season now well underway the Cameroonian believes as many as seven clubs could battle it out for the top four spots and an all-important place in next year’s Champions League.
The 25-year-old told talkSPORT: “The league is getting crazier and crazier. We can’t even pick who is going to be in the top four or who is going to get relegated.
“It is really interesting and there will be a lot of teams involved in the title race.
“It is going to be a tough season, you have to win regularly and keep the levels really high no matter who we are playing against.”
Take a look at the runners and riders chasing the holy grail of Champions League football and make your own mind up over who will achieve their goal.
The top team in the country at present and looking completely unbeatable. After trouncing rivals United in the Manchester derby they confirmed their rightful place in the top four and having grabbed their first Champions League win against Villarreal last week they are going from strength to strength in the fight for trophies here and on the continent. With the ocean of talent at their disposal and the world-class talents on show in the form of Aguero, Silva and Balotelli, they are virtually guaranteed to finish it the top four and more than likely as Champions.
Fergie’s team are wounded at the minute but it should turn out to be nothing more than a blip in the machine that is Manchester United. The Red Devils have made the most consecutive appearances in the competition than any other side, currently on a run of 16 seasons. Although he’s been quiet in the last few games, Wayne Rooney will surely play a big part in the team’s success and the young blood of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley will want to show they can be the next home grown legends at Old Trafford. It would be a brave man to bet against them making a return next year. Expect them to chase City all the way.
Under young buck Andre Villas-Boas, the Blues have made an understated start, flying under the radar into third place and only a point behind Fergie’s men. With eight years fighting at the top under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, the experience is there to continue that battle despite the fresh face of the manager. Having reached the final in 2008 only to lose on penalties, they will want to keep trying until the fully repress the demons of that day. The disciplinary record may affect them, having had five players sent off already this season but the players at the club are likely to be able to guide the club into the top four even if a few more see red.
With three places pretty much certainly taken, fourth place is the one everybody else is fighting for. The Spurs side have got a taste of the Champions League now and are determined to get back. The Europa League is not a consolation for Harry Redknapp and the teams he selects for those games reflect how little he cares for it. Having started the season against both Manchester clubs they were unfairly near the bottom, but five wins in the last six games have put them right in contention. Last season the squad was strong but tired towards the end and Harry will be hoping that the acquisition of Adebayor and energetic Scott Parker will be enough to steer them back to the Promised Land.
Everybody’s dark horse for the League this season have disappointed so far, failing to turn their dominance into points on occasions, particularly in front of the home crowd against Norwich. Having said that, the side was very strong in the second half of last season and are in a much better position than twelve months ago so if the form they should early in 2011 comes back at the turn of the year, they will be staking their claim come May. Luis Suarez and returning captain Steven Gerrard will be pivotal in deciding whether the fly or fall.
Following their horrendous start to the season everybody was wondering whether the Gunners would even reach the top half, nevermind Europe. But three consecutive wins in the league over Bolton, Sunderland and Stoke have put them in seventh, only six points behind Chelsea. And with Robin van Persie banging in goals from all angles, you wouldn’t 8-2 be an Arsenal fan right now.
Dreams do come true, right? After the regular summer controversy at St James’ Park where three of the clubs best players followed Andy Carroll out of the exit door, one to the Championship and two following some uncomplimentary tweeting, it didn’t look too promising for the Toon Army. But nine games in they are the only team other than the mercurial Manchester City that are unbeaten and have looked strong and composed under Alan Pardew. Chiek Tiote is in good form and Collocini has been a rock at the back, while Demba Ba is showing the form that made West Ham take a punt on him. It could happen. That’s why we love football.
Who do you think will fill the top four? Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991.
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Funny isn’t it lots of Newcastle United supporters are convinced the media and the pundits in general have it in for NUFC and I used to think it was unfounded paranoia but reading articles like this I am starting to see what they mean.
Are you a spurs fan by any chance?
As you have already (maybe wishfully) elevated them to fourth place and dropped NUFC to seventh while logic would have commented on the teams in the order they currently sit in the league thus showing no preference, you appear to have commented on them in an order that maybe you desire like pushing Arsenal who incidentally, historically are superior to spurs, down to sixth.
Persecuting on a subliminal level, or maybe the paranoids are correct after all and the media has it in for them.
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Very interesting to see how your mind works, but could it not be that I wanted to single out how well the Magpies had done rather than stick a comment about their great start in the middle?
I would love Newcastle to finish in fourth place because it would mean that the Champions League places are not confined to certain teams and they have played fantastically this season. They are in fourth place, I accept that but they are still dark horses for that position come May and many Newcastle fans are not expecting to finish fourth (and yes, I do know some Newcastle fans). I am also not a Spurs fan, I am a United fan, it is on my profile. I do not have it in for Newcastle, they looked to have a number of problems before the season but are a great success story so far. Good luck to NUFC.
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