Will Villa be top come May? (Premier League 2000 - 2001)

Member Name: barabz

Product:	Premier League 2000 - 2001
Date:	28/10/01 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 4 very strong title contenders, Finally there will be a title race, Liverpool might be champions

Disadvantages: none

Aston Villa on top of the Premiership? A good joke? No, it's not actually, but will they still be there in May? I doubt it, but heres my views on the top 5 placed teams in the Premiership:

1) ASTON VILLA - let's be honest, how long before Villa begin to slide down? They are a good team, but we have seem them have good starts to a season before, but not last. But praise is due where its due, and a 3-1 defeat of Liverpool at Anfield deserves maximum credit. Angel seems to have finally settled in, and they have some excellent young english players (Barry, Vassell, etc), but I think that selling their two centre backs, Southgate and Ehiogh to 'Boro last season was a mistake. Still, Peter Schmeical seems to be an extra defender for any team, and with the team they have they should be pushing for a UEFA cup place in May.

2) LEEDS - David O'Leary's young boys keep getting better and better. They are serious contenders for the title, and their draw away to Utd proved that they can take points off the best (something that they couldn't do a few seasons ago). They have a few world-class players (Bowyer, Kewell, Ferdinand, Martyn, Viduka), but as a whole their squad is young and may lack the experience needed to carry them through the difficult mid season period, especially if a few reults go against them. Howvever, even though I hate Leeds, they have a very bright future, and should be an unstoppable force in years to come. The UEFA Cup could be a real possibility for them this season though.

3) ARSENAL - even without the Old Guards at the back, Arsenal are a top-class team. Henry is on fire at the front, and Viera shows his class in every single game. There seems to be nothing wrong with them, and to be honest there isn't. In defence, Cole, Wright and Upson have come in and shown that they are still difficult to score against. But would they be the same team if Patrick Viera left? He holds Ar
senal together, and even with the other top quality midfield players they have, how would they perform if he got injured or sold? To be honest though, I really can't see where Arsenal are ging to mess up.

4) LIVERPOOL - Stand-in manager Phil Thopmson is doing a great job while Houllier recovers. While the Frenchman may be out for a few months, his team show no signs of anxiety. Above Man Utd with a game in hand is a dream come true for every Liverpool fan, and they have the possibility to go top of the league. Michael Owen's back, but what Liverpool need is another of their strikers to get into form (but really I think Fowler should be patnering Owen). Heskey and Litmanen have not been on fire but Liverpool have a midfield capable of grabbing the goals. Their only main problem seems to be in defence, where I think we need another quality centre-back as cover (although Steven Wright is doing well). The only major injury worries are Hyypia and Babbel, but even without them Liverpool have no problems at the back.

5) MAN UTD - Could their dominance of english football finally be broken? Well, they have no problem up-front but defensively, they have never been the same since Schmeical left. The champions should not have conceded the third-highest amount of goals at this stage, and the arrival of Laurent Blanc seems too little, too late. But this is Utd we are talking about. They have the best midfield in the world (even counting countries), and have top-quality players in every position. But, as I say, the centre-backs are a problem. Wes Brown is a superb prospect, but he needs more experience, and Barthez's exuberance has finally got the better of him. There's no doubt though that they are serious contenders for the title. It's Fergie's last season, and they will want to make it his best.

So, out of the five, I think that there are four teams capable of winning the League. Obviously, being a Li
verpool fan, I'd like to say that Liverpool will be top in May. But I think that the matches between the teams will seperate them. Every team will be looking to maximise points against lower opposition, and if they do, then it will be the games between them that will seperate them. I can't honestly say who I think will win. This season, it seems, there will finally be a title race.

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