We are guaranteed to hear a number of football cliché’s during the season from the old classics “it’s a game of two halves” to “he’s got a good touch for a big man.” But one of the most common has to be “this is one of the best Premier League seasons ever” usually said by one of the pundits on Match of the Day when they’ve run out of superlatives for a particular team or player. However, the current Premier League season has been more unpredictable with the top four now becoming a genuine FIVE and currently only 10 Points separating 7^th from 18^th positions. So is this one of the best seasons we’ve seen in the top flight? Or is it simply one of the worst?

The Good

Over the years we have seen the Premier League title race battled out between the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal with Chelsea and Liverpool joining in the last decade. However, with Liverpool dropping out of the top four last season and replaced by Tottenham Hotspur, plus the transformation at Manchester City has seen a genuine top 5 at the top of the league.

It has brought a fresh approach to the Premier League with extra competition for the Champions League spaces, whereas in the past there was almost a gap forming between the top four and those making up the numbers outside of it (although the likes of Everton have tried to break through). The rest of the league table remains rather close with the unpredictable results this season, there is no club(s) who are doomed at the bottom of the league and are the seasons whipping boys.

It has been helped by the three teams that were promoted from the Championship last season, Newcastle United, Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion all showed a more positive approach to their first seasons in the league which has saw them all record one or two surprising results, especially the likes of Blackpool. This season has been one of the highest for goals and draws this year which suggests that games are more competitive which makes better entertainment, or this it a lack of quality?

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The Bad

Despite their unbeaten form this season Manchester United have not looked as good as previous United sides that have led at the top of the table. Their away form this season has been questionable but with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal failing to show a consistent winning form, United are still leading the pack.

Possibly players are suffering from a World Cup hangover. In previous EPL seasons we have seen the likes of Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba light up the season with their fantastic performances and goal scoring prowess. However, a look at the current Top Goal Scorers table shows you all three of those players are missing. Even Andy Carroll is 4^th and he didn’t even finish in the top 5 top scorers in the Championship last season.

Although the close gap between the top half of the table and the relegation zone will be adrift come the end of the season, it also shows that there has been a change in quality this season. Whilst teams expected to finish in the bottom half of the table have got better, the teams at the top have got a little worse making the League very mediocre.

Entertainment

When Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United, Barcelona playing some of the best football ever seen and Spain dominating International competitions there was a feeling that the English Premier League is dropping in quality and that La Liga in Spain is the new hub of football.

However, despite this the EPL has seen Manchester City spend an awful lot of money to make them a competitor for the top four and attracting players like Mario Balotelli and David Silva to England. Whilst Tottenham have added Rafael Van der Vaart and have made a great impression on their Champions League debut.

Although there has not been the high quality the Premier League is used to displaying, there has been more entertainment and drama. With the potential for the Title to be decided on the last day of the season, plus the Champions League places, as well as the Europa League places....Oh, and the several teams that could drop out of the division. I am personally excited and anticipating a thrilling end to this season because that is why I watch football.

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