Premiership Plus

With almost a third of the season gone already (scary eh?) it's about time N&R gave some thought to the Premiership season so far.

Arsenal, after looking like they were going to run away with the title undeafeated, suddenly lost. A piece of pizza and a bowl of Heinz minestrone was thrown and they haven't won since, drawing to what would have once been the easy fodder of Southampton & Crystal Palarse. Meanwhile the Chel$ea dream chugs on. Top of their Champions League group and now 2 points clear at the top of the Prem. Is this going to be the first time in 10 years that someone other than Arse & Man U win the title (Bondy will get his wish)?

Behind the top 2 are not Man Utd, Liverpool or Newcastle but Rooney less Everton, Bolton, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. All four have had wonderful starts.

Everton are all about hard work, conceding just 11 goals. Bolton are brimming with confidence and look like they can beat anyone on their day, Boro's 'free' transfer signings of Viduka, Hasselbaink and Boudewijn Zenden are all doing the business and maybe after spending about a zillion pounds on wages Boro can join the elite? I did say maybe.

As for Villa, David O'Leary is proving he is a good manager, I thought he did a good job at Leeds too but his record was tarnished by all the financial doings.

Newcastle have lost their last two matches and the honeymoon period is now over for Graeme Souness and it will be interesting to see how they respond this week with Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Wednesday and United in the League on Sunday.

Liverpool are just too inconsistent. At times, expecially offensively they look like the old Liverpool, then they go and lose at home to Birmingham who had won just one game all season. Even sick note scored!

United have massive fire power - Van Nis, Rooney, Saha, Smith, Forlan (okay I'm joking about Forlan) but this is a team in transition and maybe Europe or the Cups is their best chance of glory but the squad is so young that the United dynasty is only resting and will be back.

Pompey, the Addicks, Fulham on the back of two great results and Man City sit around midtable followed by Tottenham - who I must admit thought would be top of the table by now because they are so good!

Birmingham, despite splashing big money in the summer, have had a poor start to the campaign but had a real confidence boost after their first win at Anfield in 25 years on Saturday. Palarse are now 4 games unbeaten (3 in the league) and if they can keep Andy Johnson through the 4 weeks of January then they have a great chance of staying up.

There has been plenty of talk about Charlton & Curbishley among Addicks fans but the Curbs out minority need look no further than the bottom four places in the table. Three of the sides West Brom, Southampton & Blackburn have all sacked or lost their managers this season and although it is too early to tell if Bryan Robson (the expected new manager of the Baggies....well he did such a great job at Bradford didn't he?) will move WBA up the table, it certainly is food for thought for over expectant fans and chairman alike. Watch out Spurs, the omens are not good!