Separating the contenders from the pretenders

A review of the top 4 English Premiership clubs

TOPE ORIOLA STAFF

For soccer fans the world over, there is no missing the English Premiership every week. With the league’s combination of splendour, sheer entertainment and litany of controversies, what we have in our hands is arguably the world’s most exciting league. Here are what many consider to be the top four clubs. I leave you to determine which are contenders and which are pretenders.

Arsenal

Unless your idea of success is a soccer club that perennially finishes second or third, supporting Arsenal is a waste of emotions. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s coach, essentialized his club’s baggage of inexplicable woes and near-successes at the end of the FA Cup match with the Blackburn Rovers. They were defeated 1-0 by Blackburn and effectively eliminated from the tournament. This came just four days after the finals of the Carling Cup, in which they were defeated by Chelsea. While their chances of defeating Chelsea were purely statistical, how could they have lost to Blackburn? Wenger looked solitary, forlorn and in agonizing despair at the end of the shocking loss. As a retired Arsenal fan, I know it is frustrating to support a club that chooses the best moments to disappoint. If you are still a fan of Arsenal, you must be an incurable optimist.

Arsenal does indeed boast world-class players, such as Thierry Henry, Julio Baptista, Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and a host of promising youngsters, yet they have been unable to turn their individual skills into any significant team success in the past few seasons. Admittedly, there has been a marked improvement from the days of the team’s unhealthy dependency on Thierry Henry. Two seasons ago, if Henry failed to perform or was injured, Arsenal was doomed. The situation is now different, but will this team ever win the Premiership again or the elusive Champions’-League?

Arsene Wenger is a world-class coach, but needs a bit of motherluck perhaps. To all Arsenal fans out there, your time will come — in less than a decade or so.

Liverpool

If you are in love with nostalgic recollections and still caught in the past, this is the club to support. Liverpool, though the Premiership’s most decorated club, has not been very impressive in the local league for some seasons. This club is dogged by inconsistency. Last week, they defeated Barcelona, but followed that victory with a defeat at the hands of Manchester United. It was a game they should have won, but thanks to a disallowed goal and dull strikers, they didn’t.

As usual Liverpool will manage to finish in the first 10 again this season and probably manage a spot for Europe. A vista of opportunities is available to them in the Champions League, but in the long term, they need to get more quality strikers if they intend to go far. They would do well to retain the services of their coach, Rafael Benitez. My money, however, is not on Liverpool.

Manchester United

The big boys. Undoubtedly, Man U has a knack for discovering, signing and even poaching promising youth. This has clearly paid off. With the likes of Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick still in their prime, Man U is a delight to watch. The efforts of the youngsters complement those of old war-horses like Edwin van de Sar and Ryan Giggs.

Man U also enjoys superfluous luck. Please see highlights of their March 3 game against Liverpool if you’re in doubt. Premiership referees seem awed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s players.

Love them or hate them, the “red devils” are almost certain to win this season’s Premiership. However, cracks may begin to appear if Ronaldo decides to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. Those who booed the young man after the World Cup have buoyed him to outstanding form.

Man U, however, needs to begin to plan towards a post-Ferguson era. By now a successor should have been spotted and made to work under his tutelage. How long the honeymoon, which began in the 1990s, will last remains to be seen. But for now, this is the best time to be a Man U fan.

Chelsea

Money indeed answereth all things. With the billions of Roman Abromovich to count on, Chelsea is here to stay. No one took Chelsea seriously four seasons ago, but with oil money flowing, some of the world’s best soccer players now apply their trade at Stanford Bridge. Chelsea already has the Carling Cup in its kitty this season, stands a good chance of winning the Champions League and FA Cup and a statistical chance of lifting the Premiership shield. Two of these should be enough for the season.

Jose Mourinho though will do well to speak less and focus on his team rather than running unsolicited commentaries on rival clubs and coaches. Unless irrationality prevails on the board of Chelsea and Mourinho is sent packing, Chelsea will be a dominant force not only domestically but in Europe. For those who wear the blues with pride, this club is quite promising.

If your Premiership club is not among these four, you are probably in the wrong company. However, wherever your sentiments lay, the Premiership’s glow and sparkle will continue to warm your heart though the hearts of some may become broken. Enjoy the beautiful game.





Volume 94 Issue 23	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	March 07, 2007

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Separating the contenders from the pretenders A review of the top 4 English Premiership clubs TOPE ORIOLA STAFF For soccer fans the world over, there is no missing the English Premiership every week. With the league’s combination of splendour, sheer entertainment and litany of controversies, what we have in our hands is arguably the world’s most exciting league. Here are what many consider to be the top four clubs. I leave you to determine which are contenders and which are pretenders. Arsenal Unless your idea of success is a soccer club that perennially finishes second or third, supporting Arsenal is a waste of emotions. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s coach, essentialized his club’s baggage of inexplicable woes and near-successes at the end of the FA Cup match with the Blackburn Rovers. They were defeated 1-0 by Blackburn and effectively eliminated from the tournament. This came just four days after the finals of the Carling Cup, in which they were defeated by Chelsea. While their chances of defeating Chelsea were purely statistical, how could they have lost to Blackburn? Wenger looked solitary, forlorn and in agonizing despair at the end of the shocking loss. As a retired Arsenal fan, I know it is frustrating to support a club that chooses the best moments to disappoint. If you are still a fan of Arsenal, you must be an incurable optimist. Arsenal does indeed boast world-class players, such as Thierry Henry, Julio Baptista, Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and a host of promising youngsters, yet they have been unable to turn their individual skills into any significant team success in the past few seasons. Admittedly, there has been a marked improvement from the days of the team’s unhealthy dependency on Thierry Henry. Two seasons ago, if Henry failed to perform or was injured, Arsenal was doomed. The situation is now different, but will this team ever win the Premiership again or the elusive Champions’-League? Arsene Wenger is a world-class coach, but needs a bit of motherluck perhaps. To all Arsenal fans out there, your time will come — in less than a decade or so. Liverpool If you are in love with nostalgic recollections and still caught in the past, this is the club to support. Liverpool, though the Premiership’s most decorated club, has not been very impressive in the local league for some seasons. This club is dogged by inconsistency. Last week, they defeated Barcelona, but followed that victory with a defeat at the hands of Manchester United. It was a game they should have won, but thanks to a disallowed goal and dull strikers, they didn’t. As usual Liverpool will manage to finish in the first 10 again this season and probably manage a spot for Europe. A vista of opportunities is available to them in the Champions League, but in the long term, they need to get more quality strikers if they intend to go far. They would do well to retain the services of their coach, Rafael Benitez. My money, however, is not on Liverpool. Manchester United The big boys. Undoubtedly, Man U has a knack for discovering, signing and even poaching promising youth. This has clearly paid off. With the likes of Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick still in their prime, Man U is a delight to watch. The efforts of the youngsters complement those of old war-horses like Edwin van de Sar and Ryan Giggs. Man U also enjoys superfluous luck. Please see highlights of their March 3 game against Liverpool if you’re in doubt. Premiership referees seem awed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s players. Love them or hate them, the “red devils” are almost certain to win this season’s Premiership. However, cracks may begin to appear if Ronaldo decides to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. Those who booed the young man after the World Cup have buoyed him to outstanding form. Man U, however, needs to begin to plan towards a post-Ferguson era. By now a successor should have been spotted and made to work under his tutelage. How long the honeymoon, which began in the 1990s, will last remains to be seen. But for now, this is the best time to be a Man U fan. Chelsea Money indeed answereth all things. With the billions of Roman Abromovich to count on, Chelsea is here to stay. No one took Chelsea seriously four seasons ago, but with oil money flowing, some of the world’s best soccer players now apply their trade at Stanford Bridge. Chelsea already has the Carling Cup in its kitty this season, stands a good chance of winning the Champions League and FA Cup and a statistical chance of lifting the Premiership shield. Two of these should be enough for the season. Jose Mourinho though will do well to speak less and focus on his team rather than running unsolicited commentaries on rival clubs and coaches. Unless irrationality prevails on the board of Chelsea and Mourinho is sent packing, Chelsea will be a dominant force not only domestically but in Europe. For those who wear the blues with pride, this club is quite promising. If your Premiership club is not among these four, you are probably in the wrong company. However, wherever your sentiments lay, the Premiership’s glow and sparkle will continue to warm your heart though the hearts of some may become broken. Enjoy the beautiful game.


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