With the Premier League season nearing its midpoint it would seem appropriate to check in on how each team is faring in relation to their expectations. Disagree? Let me know in the comments.
Arsenal
Grade: B
Current Position: 5th
Best Result: 5-2, Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Worst Result: 0-2, Swansea City (H)
Overview: Perhaps a surprising grade, given the turmoil that the club seem to be engulfed in. However, that "crisis" stems from the shift in ambition at Arsenal, and the truth is the Gunners have set themselves up well for a run at a top four finish, i.e. where most would have had them pegged back in August. Debates about whether Arsenal should be happy with these expectations are a different matter, but given the squad at Arsene Wenger's disposal, that is the best that most could hope for this incarnation of Arsenal.
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| Wenger wearing a coat nearly as long as his trophy drought. |
Aston Villa
Grade: C
Current Position: 14th
Best Result: 3-1, Liverpool (A)
Worst Result: 1-4, Southampton (A)
Overview: For much of the early part of the season, Paul Lambert's men looked like relegation fodder. Thrashings by the two Manchester clubs could easily have qualified for their worst result, but losing 4-1 to fellow strugglers Southampton was a particularly low point. A season that was all doom and gloom has borne new hope in recent weeks, as Villa have seemed to have settle on a side and a strategy that works for them. After beating Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend, they will be one to watch over the festive period. Christian Benteke looks a good buy, and if the Villains are able to hit a good run of form they could well see themselves in the top half of the table by season's end - a finish that could provide the foundations for a rise back to where a club of this stature should be.
Chelsea
Grade: B-
Current Position: 3rd
Best Result: 4-2, Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Worst Result: 2-3, Manchester United (H)
Overview: Picking a best result proved harder than you would think, given the apparent ease with which Chelsea asserted their dominance at the beginning of the season. Wins away at London rivals Arsenal and Spurs seemed the pick of the bunch, and I gave the nod to the Blues' win at White Hart Lane given the way they rebounded after losing their lead. Flying high at that point of the season, and the pick of many as title contenders, the match that I've chosen as their worst result, the home loss to Manchester United, proved the turning point of their season. Since then Chelsea have lost a manager, a Champions League berth, a Club World Cup final and the initiative in their league campaign, sitting 13 points off the lead (albeit with a game in hand). It's going to be a tough next six months for Rafa Benitez.
Everton
Grade: A-
Current Position: 6th
Best Result: 1-0, Manchester United (H)
Worst Result: 1-2, Reading (A)
Overview: Predicted by many to be heading for a mid-table finish before the season, Everton shocked United in the first round of fixtures of the new season and have seldom slowed since. Buoyed by the emergence of Marouane Fellaini as a true star of the Premier League, David Moyes' men have been the model of consistency, losing only twice and proving tough opposition for even the biggest clubs. That said, the Toffees have arguably drawn more than they should, missing out on a potential opportunity to consolidate their good form into something more tangible than their current position in the table - always a worry with a squad as apparently thin as Everton's. However, as notoriously slow starters, the blue half of Liverpool will be hoping this strong first half will prove the foundation for a top four finish.
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| Marouane approves. |
Fulham
Grade: C-
Current Position: 13th
Best Result: 5-0, Norwich City (H)
Worst Result: 0-3, West Ham United (A)
Overview: Martin Jol's team are a frustrating outfit that appear able to win or lose to anyone in the league from week to week - though some of this can be attributed to the loss of two key figures from their previous campaign, with Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembélé both moving across the city to Spurs. The arrival of Dimitar Berbatov has provided some hope, with the Bulgarian recapturing some of the form that preceded his big money move to Old Trafford, though not enough to completely stave off the Cottagers' demons. For a club that has a squad worthy of a top half finish, if not higher, Fulham's current league position is a great disappointment. True to their bipolar tendencies, if Fulham can find some form and consistency they could end up pushing for Europe, though a particularly long bad run of results could see them veering dangerously close to the relegation fight.
Liverpool
Grade: F
Current Position: 12th
Best Result: 5-2, Norwich City (A)
Worst Result: 1-3, Aston Villa (H)
Overview: Liverpool's league performance last season was meant to represent the nadir of their rebuilding process, but the Reds have struggled mightily this term. This Liverpool side are defined by dysfunction, with baffling personnel decisions (entering the season with Luis Suarez as their only recognised striker, reportedly alienating emerging talent Raheem Sterling through contract negotiations, telling Stewart Downing he can leave before the transfer window has opened) begetting inconsistent results. With manager Brendan Rodgers appearing increasingly out of touch (he recently claimed
Liverpool are still aiming for second place) Liverpool fans could be forgiven for fearing the worst from this campaign.
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| It's been that kind of season at Anfield. |
Manchester City
Grade: B+
Current Position: 2nd
Best Result: 5-0, Aston Villa (H)
Worst Result: 2-3, Manchester United (H)
Overview: Though still in second place, City have failed to regain the swagger with which they stormed through much of last season. Currently 6 points adrift, to complete consecutive title wins will prove a tough prospect, if not impossible. If the blue moon is to continue to shine atop the Premier League skyline, Roberto Mancini's men will have to improve their results against those clubs around them, with a win against Spurs their only success against any of the current top 6 (P5 W1 D3 L1). However, if the clichéd "mark of a champion" is to win a games in which you have not been the best team, then City can be seen to be achieving something like the long-term variety of that idiom, still maintaining a title challenge when surely their best form must lay ahead of them.
Manchester United
Grade: A-
Current Position: 1st
Best Result: 3-2, Manchester City (A)
Worst Result: 0-1, Norwich City (A)
Overview: Another year, another season where Manchester United sit top of the Premiership without ever truly sparkling for any prolonged period of time. These Red Devils do not strike the same fear into the hearts of their opposition as previous iterations, but they are still getting the results. Robin van Persie has settled into the side without any hint of a struggle, and for United fans the hope will be for more of the same come the new year. Though Sir Alex Ferguson's team should be wary of City hitting their stride, much of the same can be said about this United team. Should Rooney and van Persie find their best form at the same time, there's little hope for the rest of the league, even with a defence that has seemed as leaky as United's has at times.
Newcastle United
Grade: F
Current Position: 15th
Best Result: 2-1, Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Worst Result: 0-2, Southampton (A)
Overview: In many ways, Newcastle's fall from grace could have been predicted. For a squad as thin at the top as the Magpies' to get through last season unscathed was something of a stroke of luck, and with Europa League commitments to consider this term, players were going to start dropping at some point. Long term injuries to Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye have left Alan Pardew's side bereft of creativity, and spells on the sidelines for Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor at different parts of the season have contributed to a defence both unsettled and unsettling for the Toon's supporters. The prescribed tonic would be to add depth in the January transfer window, and to hold on to Demba Ba. Even if these ambitions are fulfilled, this season is already looking like a failure on Tyneside after the heroics of the last campaign.
Norwich City
Grade: A
Current Position: 8th
Best Result: 1-0, Manchester United (H)
Worst Result: 0-5, Fulham (A)
Overview: Assumed in August to be relegation fodder, Chris Hughton has the Canaries far exceeding expectations. After overcoming a slow start to the campaign, Norwich have emerged as a formidable opponent at Carrow Road, emerging victorious from matches with both Manchester United and Arsenal. Hughton has a highly motivated team of hard-working players, with Anthony Pilkington, Wes Hoolahan and Robert Snodgrass particularly impressing, along with summer signing Sebastien Bassong. However, Norwich are sure to hit a rough patch at some point, and 8th seems an unsustainable position for a team of such limited resources. The good news is that they may have already done enough to ensure their place in the division for another year, which even the most optimistic of fans of the Yellows would have admitted was this season's primary objective.
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| There's certainly cause for celebration at Carrow Road. |
Queens Park Rangers
Grade: D
Current Position: 19th
Best Result: 2-1, Fulham (H)
Worst Result: 1-3, Southampton (H)
Overview: After leaving it to the last day of the season to ensure their participation in this year's campaign, Q.P.R. enlisted the help of twelve new players over the summer to avoid the same situation this time around. It didn't work. Having taken until the 17th game of the season to record their first win, the opening half of this campaign has not been kind to the R's. So surely an F grade would be fitting? Not quite. In jettisoning Mark Hughes and replacing him with Harry Redknapp, steps seem to be being taken in the right direction. With Redknapp at the helm, a squad who have under-performed to this point will undoubtedly begin to find some of the form that gives some of its names such stature on paper. Funds will undoubtedly be available in the coming transfer window for Harry to work some of his magic (just
don't call him a wheeler-dealer); it's certainly possible that Rangers' darkest days are behind them.
Reading
Grade: C-
Current Position: 20th
Best Result: 2-1, Everton (H)
Worst Result: 2-3, Wigan Athletic (A)
Overview: Though bottom of the league, it is tough to see the season so far as a failure for the Royals, as most expected them to struggle. If anything, credit must be given for the way in which Brian McDermott's side have put the fear into many of the bigger names in the division. Reading have certainly proved they are able to score goals at this level, the problems have been at the other end of the pitch. Unable to match the spending power of those clubs around them at the foot of the table, the outlook isn't particularly rosy for the Royals. The hope is that they will continue to provide the same entertainment value as they have so far.
Southampton
Grade: C
Current Position: 17th
Best Result: 2-0, Newcastle United (H)
Worst Result: 1-6, Arsenal (A)
Overview: Given a somewhat lenient grade for much the same reason as Reading, Southampton find themselves about where many would expect them to be at this point, if not higher. Also like Reading, Southampton have shown the ambition to play attacking football, and have been successful on occasion. The worry is whether the Saints have the consistency or the currency to maintain their current spot just above the relegation zone - but up to this point the season has been something of a success for Nigel Adkins' side.
Stoke City
Grade: B
Current Position: 9th
Best Result: 1-1, Manchester City (H)
Worst Result: 2-4, Manchester United (A)
Overview: Stoke City have become a model of consistency in recent years, with Tony Pulis' side ignoring the critics of their physical style and continuing to provide effective, reliable results. The envy of many clubs of a similar stature, the Potters find themselves in the top half of the table without much fanfare - though it is easy to see why: having not scored more than two goals, or conceded more than two (with the exception of their loss to Manchester United), Stoke have hardly been an exciting team for the neutral over this campaign. Not that Pulis, or the Stoke fans, particularly care - they'll happily take another top half finish. There's little reason at this point of the season to presume they won't achieve it.
Sunderland
Grade: D
Current Position: 16th
Best Result: 3-1, Fulham (A)
Worst Result: 2-4, West Bromwich Albion (H)
Overview: After his appointment last season, Martin O'Neill immediately set about making Sunderland hard to beat - a recurring feature of his teams over the years. He achieved this, and the Black Cats went on to draw many of their ensuing fixtures, appearing to be building a foundation for further improvement this term. Therefore it is startling that they have taken a step backwards. Despite the big summer additions of Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson, Sunderland find themselves in a relegation battle they had hoped to avoid this time around. Fletcher has not disappointed, but O'Neill needs a bigger contribution from those around him, particularly Johnson and Stephane Sessegnon, who has failed to sparkle as brightly as he did last season. If the performance levels don't rise, the Black Cats could find themselves running out of lives quickly.
Swansea City
Grade: B+
Current Position: 10th
Best Result: 2-0, Arsenal (A)
Worst Result: 0-3, Everton (H)
Overview: After a summer that saw Swansea lose their manager Brendan Rodgers, and several key players in Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Steven Caulker, many expected the Premiership's lone Welsh representative to come crashing back to Earth after a surprising first campaign. Instead, Michael Laudrup has the Swans sitting comfortably in mid-table, with their sights set higher, quite realistically. This has been achieved without sacrificing any of the style that has seen Swansea become the critics' darling, unearthing a rough diamond in Michu - undoubtedly the bargain signing of the season, a snip at £2 million from Rayo Vallecano despite his 15 goals in La Liga last season. Seemingly the only obstacle to the Swans' steady ascent would be a rash of injuries to key players, as there is not a great deal of depth in the squad.
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| A man who has clearly never heard Tragedy by Steps. |
Tottenham Hotspur
Grade: B
Current Position: 4th
Best Result: 3-2, Manchester United (A)
Worst Result: 2-5, Arsenal (A)
Overview: Many would have been forgiven for expecting Spurs to endure something of a rebuilding year, having lost Harry Redknapp, Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart and Ledley King in the space of one summer, but Andre Villas-Boas' side find themselves in fourth place without ever truly hitting the heights this term. This Tottenham side have been patchy, with runs of good and bad form masking the true identity of this new incarnation as it finds its feet. New signing Mousa Dembélé has proved vital to the rhythm of this Spurs team, and his inclusion would seem vital to the maintaining of a position in the top four. Despite the turmoil that has accompanied the lower ebbs of Tottenham's season, they appear well positioned to achieve this ambition.
West Bromwich Albion
Grade: A
Current Position: 7th
Best Result: 2-1, Chelsea (H)
Worst Result: 1-3, Swansea City (A)
Overview: With many predicting a lower half to mid-table finish in the wake of Roy Hodgson's departure to take charge of England, the Baggies' ascent into the upper echelons of the division has been one of the surprises of the season. Steve Clarke's side are effective and ambitious, tough to beat but dangerous on the counter attack. With Shane Long particularly impressive, West Brom have sat in or around the top four for much of the campaign. Though currently enduring a rough patch of form, the Baggies are still well set up to push for European football, a feat many thought impossible before the season.
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| ...and the Baggies haven't looked back since. |
West Ham United
Grade: B+
Current Position: 11th
Best Result: 3-1, Chelsea (H)
Worst Result: 1-2, Wigan Athletic (A)
Overview: Sitting in mid-table in their first season back in the Premiership, West Ham look set to defy their recent status as a "yo-yo club" and achieve safety from relegation. Their direct, physical style under Sam Allardyce has the Hammers sitting pretty in mid-table, having risen into the European qualification spots in moments of particularly high form. West Ham have achieved this despite a slew of injuries (most notably to the big arrival of the summer, Andy Carroll), suggesting that this good run is unlikely to tail off. With a mid-table finish appearing so likely, this season can be seen as a great success for a newly promoted team - a fact easy to forget given the status of the club and the ease with which they have re-assimilated themselves to life in the top flight.
Wigan Athletic
Grade: C-
Current Position: 18th
Best Result: 1-0, Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Worst Result: 0-4, Manchester United (A)
Overview: At what point do Wigan's results before March get disregarded? With Roberto Martinez having masterminded a seemingly impossible escape from relegation in two consecutive years, the Latics' current position feels irrelevant. It is frustrating that the club so regularly fail to build on the positive momentum they accumulate at the end of each campaign, leading many to wonder whether this is the year that Wigan's luck runs out. At this point I would hesitate to prognosticate either way, Martinez has won the benefit of the doubt from me when it comes to the run-in, but it's hard to tell whether the poor performances of this year's team to this date will undermine him.
