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We said the Premier League’s absurd Christmas schedule would be entertaining, and it hasn’t disappointed: goals, upsets, sackings, slides down the table and very nearly a change at the top. So settle back and relax as The18 casts its weary eye over a week of footballing mayhem.
Chelsea: Conspiracy or Conditioning?
Well, that didn't go as planned. Culminating in a dreadful 5-3 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea picked up just four points from a possible nine and ceded their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League. The Blues and Manchester City are now separated by nothing more than alphabetical hierarchy, and Jose Mourinho would have you believe it's everybody's fault but their own.
For weeks, The18 has consistently highlighted Mourinho’s reluctance to use the full depth of his squad, relying on the likes of John Terry, Gary Cahill, Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas week in, week out with little hint of respite.
Mourinho chose the same starting XI for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day fixtures, and made only three changes for the intervening game on Sunday: just 14 different starters for three matches in seven days, with eight players taking part in 270 minutes of ultra competitive football across a week.
We respectfully suggest, Jose, that the physical and mental tiredness of your over-stretched squad had considerably more to do with Chelsea dropping five points in three games than conspiracies, refereeing decisions or the Illuminati.
Model Citizen
Frank Lampard marked the New Year's Day confirmation of his extended stay with Manchester City with another goal, this time against Sunderland.
So are Chelsea now rueing the decision not to offer their former number eight a one-year contract extension? After all, while five goals in 15 Premier League appearances for the Citizens isn’t exactly mind-blowing, three of Lampard’s strikes were game-changers: match-winners against Leicester City and the aforementioned Sunderland, and his late equalizer against Chelsea themselves.
That’s five points City wouldn’t have without Lampard’s goals, and two that Chelsea would.
Kane is Able
With three goals and an assist over the Christmas period, including two against Chelsea, Harry Kane is proving to be both Spurs’ and Mauricio Pochettino’s striking saviour. The young Englishman has now scored five in his last five Premier League starts, including late winners against Swansea, Burnley and Leicester.
With 16 goals in all competitions, only Sergio Aguero has more. Exalted company.
Toffees Stuck To The Underside Of The Table
West Ham’s Christmas tumble down the table was eminently predictable given their difficult fixture list (which is why even we foresaw it), but Everton’s failure to scrape a solitary point from three games was less so.
Losses against Stoke, Newcastle and Hull made it four defeats in a row for Roberto Martinez’s men, with only one win in their last seven. So is this just the inevitable side-effects of a Europa League campaign we’re seeing, or something more systemic? One theory has it that the defensive discipline instilled over ten years by Martinez’s predecessor David Moyes has begun to wear off, and the numbers certainly sustain such a school of thought: no team has made more defensive errors leading to shots on goal than Everton, while only Queens Park Rangers have conceded more goals this season.
So is Martinez’s job under threat? Probably not. For all their struggles, The Toffees are still well above the relegation zone and remain in the Europa League, while Bill Kenwright is probably the most patient Chairman in England’s top flight.
And it’s probably a good job, too: with a visit from the reigning Premier League Champions next on the horizon, things are likely to get worse before they improve.
Have West Brom Just Guaranteed Their Premier League Survival?
We waited, breath bated, half a season for the first managerial sacking. Inevitably, like London buses, two came along at once. First, Neil Warnock was relieved of his duties at Crystal Palace and then, a day later, Alan Irvine was ushered out the door at West Brom. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
West Brom have, arguably, had the best Christmas period in terms of shoring up their survival chances. Despite picking up only one point from their three festive fixtures, the appointment of Tony Pulis as manager is potentially transformational. Remember, this is the man who last season took Crystal Palace from 19th in late November to 12th by the end of the season, turning them from a 0.6 points-per-game outfit into a 1.5 points-per-game side.
Currently sat in 17th, Pulis now has the January Transfer Window and 18 fixtures to do the same for The Baggies. His first job will be keeping hold of top-scorer Saido Berahino.
Brucie Bonus
Shortly before the Premier League’s Christmas Chaos ensued, The18 posed the question: would Steve Bruce and Hull City sink or swim? The answer? Well, if it wasn’t for his Wearside accent and substantial midriff, we’d swear Hull were under the guidance of Michael Phelps this Christmas (or, at the very least, Eric the Eel).
Six points from nine and five goals scored (improving their goal tally for the season by a full 33%) have seen The Tigers climb from 19th to 15th place. There’s still plenty to do, but it was a welcome fillip for Bruce and his men in black and gold.
The 100 Day Wait
Okay, so it was only 99 days, but Leicester City finally ended their marathon wait for a Premier League win with a 1-0 victory over the aforementioned Hull. Then, to top things off, they went and grabbed a draw against Liverpool on New Year’s Day.
The lower end of the table is now tighter than a Scotsman’s fist, with just six points separating the bottom seven teams. And a note of cheer for Foxes fans: although Leicester still sit last, guess who was an Assistant Manager at West Brom when they became the first team to break the “bottom side at Christmas always gets relegated” hoodoo?
Your favourite wild dog wrestling hard man and ours, Nigel Pearson.
If you liked this, you might like:
Jose Mourinho Responds, Totally Redeems Himself. (Not Really.)
The Hate-Hate Relationship Of Arsene Wenger And Jose Mourinho
The Biggest Names And Brightest Stars That Might Move In January
