The overall quality of the Premier League is consistently increasing and thanks to an equal share in TV rights, along with the Financial Fair Play rule. The league is becoming incredibly tight and is consequently creating a division where any one team can beat anyone else. Not only due to the money but also purely down to the sport itself, football is a game full of luck, and if things go your way as an underdog, you can topple the big boys on many occasions.
It’s because of that reason that every team should be prepared for a roller coaster season, where their fortunes look fantastic one moment, yet dreadful the next. Although the current season is in it’s early stages, there have already been some strong examples of positive turnarounds, and it won’t be long until there are some in-form sides dropping down the league table like stones.
We’re only 11 games into the season yet take Alan Pardew and Newcastle for prime example. After a rough end to last season, the pressure was on Pardew very early. He signed a whole host of new players, for more money than his previous seasons. Things didn’t work immediately and only four game weeks ago they were one of only two teams without a win (after seven games) and were sitting in the relegation zone. Now after a run of five wins in all competitions (4 league, 1 cup), including trips away to Spurs and Man City, along with the home match versus Liverpool, The Magpies sit in eighth position. The ‘Pardew Out’ calls were growing at an increasingly alarming rate and to say his days looked numbered was an understatement. However, this run alone has sent all those who were calling for his head into the shadows of St James Park, and just like that things are good again at Newcastle.
Despite it being so early in the season, there are other examples of drastic changes. Queens Park Rangers were bottom of the table after eight games, and after a dismal lack-lustre defeat to West Ham, things were looking very bleak for the London club. However, after an unfortunate loss to Liverpool they beat ‘relegation rivals’ Aston Villa before losing to the only unbeaten side in the league Chelsea via a penalty. Not exactly a massive change in terms of points and positioning but following a hard fought 2-2 draw against Man City, the change in their belief and work-rate has changed a few people’s minds over the future of the club this campaign.
It’s fair to say that Southampton, West Ham and Swansea are all punching above their weight at this point in the season as they occupy 2nd 4th and 5th places respectively. Yet there will certainly come a time when times get tougher, maybe they’ll go a whole month without a victory and/or their strikers will stop scoring. It’s at these inevitable times that the supporters must get behind the team and the good times will come flooding back sooner than expected.
Life in the Premier League isn’t easy, but it’s certainly becoming more open. With the exception of Chelsea, everyone has already faced positive and negative moments – especially after Burnley became the final side in England’s professional leagues to pick up a victory. Yet times will get tougher for some and better for others, the roller coaster ride will unsure that everyone tastes the good and the bad, so sit back and enjoy as much as possible.
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