I now continue my review of the EPL so far, concentrating on the teams that currently occupy 11th to 15th.
The EPL So Far: 11th to 15th
The Mackems have made a very decent start to the new season. Under the steady, yet influential guidance of Gus Poyet, the sun is sure shining brightly on Sunderland‘s horizon right now. A strong end of season run of form that saw them avoid relegation has been taken into the new campaign and has seen Sunderland unbeaten after their opening two fixtures. Last minute transfer business could still happen at The Stadium Of Light too. Strong rumours of a bust up between Poyet and the club’s talented young striker Connor Wickham won’t evaporate, but any move out of Wearside for Wickham will most probably hinge on the return of Liverpool’s Fabio Borini on a permanent basis. Borini wants to the move, but the Reds are holding firm on a slightly steep asking price of £14 million for the Italian. Expect some action between now and the windows’ closure though.
West Bromwich Albion remain unbeaten after two games, but they are also still winless. Questions have been asked of the club throughout the summer as to the reasoning behind the bizarre appointment of Alan Irvine as Head Coach. An experienced coach but not a manager who has tasted a lot of success lower down the football pyramid, eyebrows were raised by the Scotsman’s appointment,and with good reason too. This time last season, the Baggies were viewed as an ambitious, established EPL club that had finally rid itself of its’ ‘yo yo’ status. Yet the slump in results that saw off talented young manager Steve Clarke has never really been addressed, and Irvine will do well to last longer than his predecessor, the hapless Spaniard, Pepe Mel, who very nearly got the club relegated last season. Don’t be surprised to see a last minute transfer window raid, West Brom are going to need all the help they can get.
Playing a reasonably strong team at MK Dons in the League Cup last night was supposed to galvanise Manchester United, and inspire a maiden win of the new season. Yet the 4-0 thrashing tells a thousand stories, and leaves Louis Van Gaal with the FA Cup as the only trophy United can realistically win this term. Not good enough for a club the size of United, and a damning indictment of the troubles the club currently has. Angel Di Maria has arrived in a British record near £60 million deal – a great player granted, but where on earth is he going to fit into the team? Daley Blind may yet also still arrive into the mire, but how much longer can United continue to chuck good money after bad? Sir Alex Ferguson was an incredible manager for United. But no real blame can be attached to either Van Gaal or predecessor David Moyes until the club finally address the huge issues Ferguson left behind. The team he left were past their prime, and desperate United are now paying well over the odds for players they would have signed for a fraction of these fees back then.
If there are any EPL fans that are entitled to have a grievance with their club, it is surely Southampton‘s. Finishing 8th last season was supposed to signify a push towards European football this campaign, yet the subsequent self inflicted fire sale of the club’s greatest assets has left the Saints dreaming of a mid table finish at best. A likely defeat at Liverpool and a home draw with West Bromwich Albion have formed Southampton’s season thus far. Not a brilliant start, but not a disastrous one either, given the huge summer change in management, and playing staff. New manager Ronald Koeman will definitely try to spend some of the many millions of pounds burning a hole in his pocket before the transfer window closes, and expect fellow Dutchman, Aston Villa skipper Ron Vlaar, to push through a move to join his compatriot at St Mary’s.
It has been a slower than expected start to the season for Stoke City and Mark Hughes. Getting beaten at home by Aston Villa on day one certainly wasn’t part of the script, yet they fought back to earn a very good point against Hull City in week two. The ‘Hughes evolution’ is still in full swing at The Britannia Stadium, yet the Welshman will be under more pressure to produce consistent results now that he is overseeing his second campaign in charge, and has been strongly backed by the board in player recruitment. City are a mid table team at best, who will be one to watch in the cup competitions – but this is the clubs’ ceiling and the fans must remember this. Don’t be shocked to see any further player movement before the end of the month.
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