The season so far: EPL review part 4
With the EPL season
starting to gather pace and the transfer window now closed, let’s have a quick
look at the teams taking part and how they’ve started the new season.
Sunderland
The Black Cats were
one of the busiest during the window with 12 players joining the club either on
loan or full-time. Results have been terrible so far, with the club languishing
second from bottom in the league.
Paulo Di Canio’s side
only just avoided relegation last season (by a meagre three points) and if
results don’t improve soon they’ll be facing the same again this term. Pressure
is starting to build at the club and they face a tough game at Arsenal next.
The new signings have
to make their mark if they want to improve on their solitary point.
Swansea City
The Swans impressed
last season, finishing ninth and qualifying for the Europa League, but more
impressively, they have managed to keep hold of manager Michael Laudrup and
star striker Michu.
The League Cup winners
signed Wilfred Bony for £12m and the forward has already found the net for his
new club and looks to be a hot prospect. One win in three isn’t the best form
but at least the Man Utd and Tottenham games are out of the way now.
They aren’t out of the
woods yet, with their next league game at home to league leaders Liverpool.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have been on the
attack since the close of last season, with some very astute buys in the
transfer market, albeit at a massive overlay. The sale of Gareth Bale cushioned
the blow massively and gave the club time to rebuild.
Tottenham recorded
back to back 1-0 wins in their first two games, but the derby loss against
Arsenal was a major blow for a team on the cusp of excelling their bitter
rivals.
Despite their new
signings, Tottenham were second best against Arsenal and Andre Villas-Boas
needs to win games like these if he truly wants to take the club to the next
level this season.
West Bromwich Albion
The Baggies finished 8th
last season, (although they were 12 points behind 7th placed
Liverpool) but they currently prop up the table, with just one point from their
opening three games.
West Brom have yet to
score in the league, but Nicolas Anelka is back from compassionate leave
following the death of his agent to boost their ailing frontline. Wantaway
striker Peter Odimwingie completed his move to Cardiff in the window and his
goals will be sorely missed.
Shane Long, Anelka and
Victor Anichebe have to pick up the slack if they want to get off the foot of
the table anytime soon.
West Ham United
The Hammers are in a
worrying position this early in the season, with some bookmakers lowering the
odds on their relegation prospects after the injury to Andy Carroll. With
Carlton Cole failing a medical West Ham are shockingly short up front.
West Ham played well
in their 2-0 win over Cardiff but they were lacklustre against Stoke, conceding
their first goal of the campaign, suffering their first defeat and their first
home defeat since February.
Mladen Petric has
signed for the Irons on a free transfer from Fulham, where he scored 5 goals in
23 appearances. At 32, he could still do well for West Ham in the coming
months.
So, that’s the
roundup. Anyone can lead in the title race when it’s so early in the season but
Liverpool have done well to cement an early lead. Arsenal did well to beat
Tottenham while there may be worrying times ahead for West Ham and West Brom.
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