As we approach being a quarter way through the 2012/13 season the league table is starting to take a predictable shape. Most would have predicted the top three containing Chelsea, Manchester City & Manchester United. After the early stage of the season the main question is if teams like Everton, West Brom & West Ham can maintain their current positions & form through the remainder of the season. Or will Liverpool, Arsenal & Newcastle United now slowly rise up the table and push for european positions.
Everton started the season with three wins in their first five matches but have recently drawn three of the last five matches. David Moyes team seem to be playing a far more open style this season and that has seen their normally tight defence start to leak goals at vital moments in matches. They have testing matches coming up against Liverpool at home & away to Fulham, but will also be confident of collecting points in matches with Sunderland, Reading & Norwich during November. December will be the acid test of Everton playing Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham & away to Stoke. Should they be around the top four come January then they will be very confident of mounting a serious push for europe this season.
West Brom came flying out of the blocks with three wins in their first four matches. Beating Liverpool & Everton and drawing at Tottenham certainly made people stand up and pay attention. Steve Clarke will also be looking at the next month and feeling it could really provide a clue as to the aspirations for his team this year. Trips to Newcastle & Sunderland coupled with Chelsea at home will severely test the baggies.
West Ham are a surprise to be in such a high position but when you look at their opening fixtures then you can understand how they have achieved it. Home matches against poor travelling teams in Aston Villa, Fulham & Southampton should of and has provided a maximum points return. Facing fixtures ahead against Manchester City, Newcastle, Tottenham & Manchester United will surely leave the hammers in a far more expected position come December. However I cannot see them being in any real relegation troubles this season due to the squad they have and their manager.
Of those teams playing catch up Liverpool face another difficult month facing Everton, Newcastle, Chelsea & Tottenham ahead. A very testing group of matches but if they can collect a high level of points and get through to the next transfer window the season could still be looking very optimistic. The main point for Liverpool this season will be if the supporters maintain their support for Brendan Rodgers and his style of football or if things don't go as planned will they turn on their manager. Hopefully things will continue in there current steady progression because the modern football fan is very impatient.
Arsenal face QPR, Fulham & Aston Villa in the next four weeks, these matches they must be looking for the maximum points return to counter act a derby match against Tottenham & a trip to Old Trafford. The gunners have received a mixed press this campaign, starting the season with clean sheets Steve Bould was hailed for his impact on the side but now having lost again Chelsea & Norwich the doubters have resurfaced.
The team that will feel most confident of making a major improvement of their league position before Christmas will be Newcastle, they face West Ham, Swansea, Southampton & Wigan. The magpies have been quietly going about their work this season and not attracting so much attention. The main disappointment has been their inability to turn draws into wins. Four draws from six matches must have frustrated Alan Pardew but defensive injuries have certainly showed in the goals they have conceded.
What ever happens the next month offers some brilliant fixtures for the supporters in the premier league. If the standard of football can be maintained across the league then the season offers what could be one of the most highly contested seasons every.
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