Jim White

Jumping to conclusions

Fri Aug 21 11:01AM

Just a week into the new season and already we know what will happen next May: Manchester United's post-Ronaldo hangover will remain monumental, Liverpool will miss Xabi Alonso to the point of distraction, champions Chelsea will just pip the newly invigorated Spurs on the last day of the season, Burnley will achieve unexpected mid-table security and Portsmouth are doomed.

All of the above conclusions push the art of clairvoyance well beyond its natural scope. Apart from the Portsmouth bit, obviously. And maybe the Chelsea bit.

That is not to say that after six days of action patterns are not emerging. Many a United fan, for instance, could have told you in the middle of last season that their side were capable of some horribly mundane performances: lacklustre, moribund, bereft of any star quality. Yet they still managed to win the title. And they did so largely on the back of bullying the league's smaller clubs: they accrued 58 points out of a possible 60 against the bottom 10, many of those won by goals from their now departed number seven.

Which is why the defeat at Burnley has a significance. It doesn't mean United are finished. It doesn't mean Burnley are safe. But it does mean that things have altered subtly at Old Trafford and that the old orthodoxies can no longer be relied upon. And it certainly means Alex Ferguson needs a goalscorer. Right now that bloke lumbering around in the outsized shorts who, if you look very carefully has the appearance of someone who might once have been Michael Owen, is clearly not the answer.

As for Liverpool, the surprising thing about their defeat at Spurs was not Rafa Benitez's lengthy rant against the referee, it was his insistence that Fernando Torres pull his finger out and stop allowing himself to be intimidated by opposing centre-backs. Such a public admonishment of his greatest asset was unusual indeed. Seemed to work mind; Torres was back on the score sheet by Wednesday. And Liverpool's opening day wobble might just have been that. Apart from Arsenal in 2004, every club can expect to lose a couple on their way to the title. Maybe Benitez was just getting his losses out of the way early.

Or maybe that defeat told us more about Liverpool's opponents. Maybe, after generations of pretending, Spurs are shaping up at last to be the real thing. With all the focus on Manchester City's spending over the summer, nobody thought it might be Tottenham who could break into the top four this time. It is way too early to laud them yet. But Harry Redknapp has managed to produce a well balanced side from the wreckage strewn by his predecessor.

Remember when Redknapp took over last season, Spurs were looking down the barrel of relegation, stone cold bottom with one point from nine games to their credit. Now, with pace and power across the line-up, they suddenly look contenders. It just shows what a bit of experienced management can bring (not to mention a £76 million transfer budget).

One thing, though, in this opening week of surprises that we all might have predicted: Chelsea look in ominous shape. A compact, tough, hugely battle-hardened squad, this is probably their last chance to do something big together. It might not be the Premier League, but the wise punter should retain their money on them winning something. The way Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, John Terry and the rest have twice come back after falling behind so far this season speaks of a resolve which might well take them far.

I know saying Chelsea are going to win something hardly constitutes the most daring piece of futurology, but after the most topsy turvy opening to a Premier League campaign anyone can recall, right now it is about the only thing of which we can be certain.

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Good article. First comment.
From dbraynelll on Fri Aug 21 11:44AM
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First
From dbraynelll on Fri Aug 21 11:45AM
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Jim White, why dont you completely tell the obvious that there are many Blues around the world, some have been there for ages but there is only one Blues with Mighty behind it i.e. Mighty Blues and its Chelsea....you can even call us Blues Army. They are Blues but they are actually Mighty Blues Army.
If Barca couldnt beat us last season except with the help of ref. on aggregate how will they be able to do so if we ever meet again perhaps, how on earth will Real (new team) equals us with their extra ordinary overstocked fresh and retiring stars? No way. Because we are not just any other Blues, We are CHELSEA. And this is our season.
Long Live Chelsea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From lennoxmallory on Fri Aug 21 11:56AM
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I've been waiting for quite a few days to hear Jim's take on the start to the Premiership and I've got to say - I was hoping for a little more. You've made me demand perfection dammit!!
From david.yarwood on Fri Aug 21 12:01PM
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Jim White first article of the new season, went a whole 16 words without mentioning manu. Is that a record??
From willjh_2003 on Fri Aug 21 12:07PM
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Here's another next May prediction you can add to your list: Jim White will remind us all yet again that Manure did this, and Manure did that, and blah, blah, Manure blah.
From london_league_promoter on Fri Aug 21 01:10PM
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Chelsea's two matches before the league season started had comebacks too. In the Charity Shield they went behind against United. And the match before that they were 2-0 against Reading after 90 minutes and drew 2-2 after 92 minutes.
I'll resist pointing out that after Arsenal didn't lose in 03-04 Chelsea then lost less than a couple in 04-05, losing only once to an Anelka penalty at Man City.
From robert_macmillan on Fri Aug 21 01:13PM
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"A compact, tough, hugely battle-hardened squad ..." I agree 100%. And I am a United fan.
From denigma2002 on Fri Aug 21 01:16PM
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Every year we bang on about breaking into the top four. Why! In desperation to make our league appear more interesting. Yet year after year although a slightly different order the same four teams reveal how much better they are over every one else. (Europe to boot)! Spurs fans should lap it up now, cos as soon as the ground gets heavier come autumn we'll see the real defoe, keane, modric, crouch. lightweight and AVERAGE!!!
From leonpaulcook on Fri Aug 21 01:18PM
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Jim White changed the title? I thought the title was "Strive yourself in:..." Ok Oh JW
From lennoxmallory on Fri Aug 21 01:22PM
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In 2007, United+Ronaldo got 2 points from their opening 3 games and they ended up European Champions, in 2008 United+Ronaldo got 2 points from a possible 6 and they ended up Premier league Champions, European Runners Up, so grow up people.
From fady.incrediblehulk on Fri Aug 21 01:22PM
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This article is a bit hypocritical. First he admonishes all these early predictions that people are making, and yet further down he starts making his predictions. So in other words Jim, are you saying "forget what other people are saying, my opinions are better"? Stick to one theme will you.
From paqman78 on Fri Aug 21 01:24PM
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jim white for prime minister, paul parker for binman
From ronbean666 on Fri Aug 21 01:24PM
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predictable boring crapp
From dave.hartley on Fri Aug 21 01:26PM
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actually it was 2 points from 8 last year for Spurs not 1 from 9.
From minichip1 on Fri Aug 21 01:27PM
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well summarized!
From rohit0544330 on Fri Aug 21 01:37PM
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He didn't mention Arsenal at all!!!!
From omar.fahmy21 on Fri Aug 21 01:45PM
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Jim u r correct. man utd may win nothing this season
SAF has reused to re-invest CR7's windfall. MU4life
From olasamoau on Fri Aug 21 01:49PM
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what does jim white think about Arsenal?
From stephann009 on Fri Aug 21 01:52PM
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As an Arsenal supporter (and being objective) I would agree with Chelsea as the most likely eventual winners this season. Man Utd must now feel like Harry Potter, without their obnoxious magic wand, Ronaldo, who essentially saved their bacon last season, except against Barcelona thankfully. Liverpool may come close. BUT... with two or three key players introduced, Arsenal may be able to shock the lot of them! However, this all depends on Mr.Wenger being able to remove the superglue that always seems to hold his wallet stubbornly shut!
From alan.habanero on Fri Aug 21 02:09PM
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#17 Paul parker for binman lol
From buymydrugs1 on Fri Aug 21 02:22PM
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Leon Paul @#$%!! Spurs fans should lap it up now, cos as soon as the ground gets heavier come autumn we'll see the real defoe, keane, modric, crouch. lightweight and AVERAGE!!!
Defoe, Keano, Modric all lightweight and average? Seriously? You are without doubt a complete and utter @#$%! Neither of those three are lightweight, especially not Modric given his size and neither of those three are average, again especially Modric who even Ferguson raves about, saying he can play in any side in the world, and he can. So remove your head from your @#$%, and stop being a di ck.
Also glad someone pointed about the whole 1 point from 9 games. Jim White are you suppose to be a professional at this writing lark? If so, try researching first. Even a @#$% could tell you Spurs had 2 points, from 8 games.
From shadyaftermath2k on Fri Aug 21 02:23PM
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Prem league table at end of season.
1.Man United
2.Chelsea
3.Arsenal
4.Liverpool
5.Tottenham
6.Man City
Bottom 3.
Burnley.
Pompey
Wolves
Carling cup:Chelsea
FA Cup:Man United
Champions league:Barcelona
From andyhorgan28 on Fri Aug 21 02:25PM
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You know what I say? The top teams haven't made a good start to the season except for Arsenal and Chelsea aren't looking bad either. I think that Liverpool turned their defeat against Tottenham into a lesson and they did learn from it... trashing stoke city. Manchester United just need some time since they suffered three big losses.. Tevez, Ronaldo and Van Der Sar not to mention losing to Burnley by 1-0 is unacceptable for a team like United. I think that Chelsea have a big chance if they keep it up like they have so far. And Sir Alex, just find a new winning formation that your team can use and NOT FAIL!
A Die Hard Juventus Fan,
Forza Italia!
From borg_jeanpaul on Fri Aug 21 02:58PM
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It's time 4 Chelsea 2 conquer the league..
From hellkhai4699 on Fri Aug 21 03:03PM
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Not sure any striker can compensate for United's soft centre in midfield. It was exposed horribly in CL final and has been against most top quality opposition for the last 18 months. Where are the successors to Keane, Robson or Scholes in his prime? Certainly not Carrick, Fletcher and Anderson. United should buy two midfielders - one who can tackle and one who can create chances and chip in with a few goals - before they splash out on another striker.
From trevormarch43 on Fri Aug 21 03:07PM
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PREM TABLE AT THE END OF THE SEASON
CHELSEA
LIVERPOOL
TOTTENHAM
MAN CITY
ARSENAL
MAN U (YES MAN U) THEY HAVE INJURY PRONE FERDINAND, ROONEY AND BERBA CANT SCORE, CARRICK OVERRATED, SCHOLES GIGGS TOO OLD, NOT A GOOD RB, THERE TWO BEST PLAYERS LEFT........
From zabrov2000 on Fri Aug 21 03:16PM
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I think it shows the depth of quality in the prem. We will I suspect still call it a top 4, but in reality we will have a top 6 again. Man City, spurs and everton will do well. Perhaps too well. There will certaionly be days off for the bigger guns and get turned over like Liverpool. The champions this year may well be Chelsea but I suspect they be beaten 5 or 6 times on the way.
From ian.sykes on Fri Aug 21 03:26PM
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lol. chelsea to win the title after 2 GAMES.LOL. i hope so. but we were here last season and the season before and the season before. its becoming predictable.THANK GOD that crying terrorist(Ronaldo) is gone we dont have to deal with his skillful weeping @#$% anymore. and before i forget liverpool suck BALLSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From groka1 on Fri Aug 21 03:40PM
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Where s ARSENAL?
From marclent_utpkam on Fri Aug 21 03:49PM
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