The Race For EPL's Fourth Spot - Jakarta Globe

The Race For EPL's Fourth Spot

Manchester City has had the gentlest of starts to an English Premier League season, with home games against the likes of Wigan Athletic, Everton and Aston Villa as well as Swansea City. Given the money City spent preseason and given that Wigan, Everton and Villa were woeful in the road last season, each earned maximum points on four occasions and you would expect a flying start from Roberto Mancini's men.

Three points separate the top three while it is the unlikely team Newcastle United which occupies the coveted 4th place, ahead of 'bigger' clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal. And yes, it has been an impressive, unbeaten start to the season for the Magpies and the six goals they have conceded means their defense is proving as tight as both Manchester clubs. But will Scottiswood Road be echoing to the Blaydon Races as the Toon Army looks at a UEFA Champions League campaign next season? Manager Alan Pardew has a large chunk of cash sitting in his back pocket after selling Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique and there is a fair chance he will need to spend some of that in the January window if Newcastle is to maintain its fine start.

One team with a big investment waiting to pay off is Liverpool. Yes, they are fifth but with two defeats already this season they are already eight points behind leaders City. Recent quotes from new owner may have left fans scratching their heads as well. Henry was quoted as saying he knew more about Manchester United than Liverpool and he wasn't sure Kenny Dalglish was the right man to restore some glory to Liverpool who have not won the title since 1990. Dalglish has looked to recapture the glory days by imitating them. For Toshack/Keegan, Rush/Dalglish and Aldridge/Bearsdley, read Carroll/Suarez. Gerrard is back from injury and that will be a massive boost while Charlie Adam has come in from Blackpool and looked good.

Another club with high hopes of Champions League football is Tottenham Hotspur. They're in sixth place with a game in hand on the clubs above them. Their manager, Harry Redknapp, is frequently portrayed as an East London barrow boy made good and it is certainly a role he likes to think suits him but he may well regret one trade that never happened. Luka Modric was publicly chased by Chelsea all summer but Spurs dug their heels in and he stayed. A poor run of form leading up to Christmas and the Croatian midfielder may just start making come hither eyes at the big money teams again.

Tottenham played in the Champions League last season and got a taste for it. With their North London rivals Arsenal appearing to fall behind the other big clubs, Harry's men would have thought they were ready to fill the void. But they missed out this season and a second season in the Europa League, or worse, could well have players like Gareth Bale and Rafael Van Der Vaart encouraging their own suitors.

While romantics may like the idea of a Stoke City or a Norwich City finishing fourth, realistically it isn't going to happen. And anyway, Arsenal fans may say they are not out of the race yet anyway!

In a way it's kind of nice to have a race not so dependent on big money and big names. Yes, there are a few sprinkled among Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Arsenal, but it is the managers and their ability to get the best out of all their players who will decide fourth spot. Once upon a time, before satellite TV and its millions got involved, that was what football was like.

18 Oct, 2011

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