Is this year’s Premier League a three-horse race already?
Barely a quarter of the way through the 2012/13 Premier League season, can we already rule 17 teams out of the title race?
Before the season began most people had highlighted champions Manchester City and runners up on goal difference Manchester United to continue their epic battle for dominance, also throwing Chelsea back into the mix after some high-profile signings. The Blues finished sixth last season, their poorest Premier League campaign in a decade, but the acquisition of Eden Hazard has proven the pundits right so far and shown that Chelsea are again a force to be reckoned with.
In recent years Arsenal have continued to be there or thereabouts without ever really threatening, finishing no higher than third since 2005, a year after ‘The Invincibles’ of their historic unbeaten season. However, the Gunners have also finished no lower than fourth within this time and have an incredible record of ensuring Champions League qualification every season since their first Premier League title win in 1998.
Tottenham showed signs of challenging the two Manchester clubs early last season but ultimately faded. Only the most optimistic Spurs fans could have expectations of their side lifting the trophy, despite still having one of the best teams in the country.
After this weekend, most Premier League clubs will have played 10 games, the first point of the season which many managers say a team should be judged at. It is a time to see how everyone has fared in the opening stages. Since the gates were opened in August, who has taken the lead and who has fallen behind?
0 comments