The Boss explains the first half ’08-’09 Premier League Campaign

by Patrick ‘Rey’ Reynell

What do Bruce Springsteen and The English Premier League have in common? Admittedly not much. But the Boss does have a way with words, and in honor of his much anticipated halftime performance in Super Bowl XLIII, I figured he could help me better understand the first half of the Premier League season and perhaps even what to expect.

“Waste your summer praying in vain For a savior to rise from these streets” – Thunder Road

Maybe it’s because I’m relatively new to the beautiful game or because my knowledge of it does not stretch too far out of English football, but it seems like this past summer clubs spent way too much money on new players in hopes of finding a savior.

After a solid stay at Blackburn (13 goals and 23 assists in three season), David Bentley joined Tottenham. Much was expected of the English national player after the departure of forwards Berbatov and Keane, but so far he has only produced one goal and two assists. Tottenham has been fighting off relegation since day one and currently sit sixteenth.

Irishman Robbie Keane joined Premier League power Liverpool. This move proved a little more important once it was decided that Spaniard Fernando Torres would be sitting out a great deal due to injury. Keane took a while to get situated, though, scoring his first league goal in November. He has a total of five. Though Liverpool is still sitting in the top four, Keane’s play must be leaving Reds fans yearning even more so for Torres’ return.

Champions League veteran Deco joined Chelsea from Barcelona. His three league goals may be attributed to an injury suffered early on, but he is certainly not being mentioned nearly as much.

A couple clubs, however, heard their prayers answered through summer transfers.

Andy Johnson went to Fulham from Everton and has provided some exciting goals in the post-Brian McBride era. Fulham, an annual pick for relegation, actually sits in the top half of the table at tenth.

Peter Crouch returned to Portsmouth from Liverpool. The 6’7″ Englishman has scored seven goals. Though Portsmouth sits in twelfth, they are only three points from the relegation zone. Don’t blame Crouch – Portsmouth has switched managers and also lost their best player, Jermain Defoe, to Tottenham.

Geovanni came over to newly promoted Hull City after a stint with Manchester City. The Brazilian midfielder has scored six goals and along with his club, caused early season hysteria by completing the North London sweep (Arsenal and Tottenham). Hull City has since dropped out of the European picture but still sits in ninth place.

“So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise” -Brilliant Disguise

This season has brought a few new clubs and faces to the attention of a soccer novice. Since their promotion in 2005, Wigan has finished above fourteenth place just once – their first year in the Prem – and narrowly avoided relegation in 2007.

Now they sit in seventh place thanks in large part to Egyptian transfer, Zaki, who currently has ten goals (third in the league). Wigan has seemed like such a boring team in seasons past, but now with one of the more exciting goal scorers in the league and hot on the trails of perhaps a UEFA berth, I’m going to be looking hard and twice to see if this is the new Wigan or just a disguise.

Aston Villa has climbed from a sixteenth finish in 2006 to now looking primed to take a top four finish in 2009. Former Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill, has built a convincing club since his hiring in 2006. Twenty-two year old Gabriel Agbonlahor has impressed with nine goals thus far. Aston Villa has started strong the past couple of years but then dropped off. With February around the corner, they currently reside in fourth place ahead of Arsenal and Everton.

A brilliant disguise? I think Villa and O’Neill are the real deal this year, but the last few months will certainly answer that for us. Seven of their last fourteen games will be against teams sitting in the top half of the table. They play Chelsea in February, Liverpool in March, and visit Old Trafford and defending Champion Manchester United on April 4. Villa will have a long hard look in the mirror and find out if they’re ready to challenge the top four.

“Didn’t you think I knew that you were born with the power of a locomotive able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? And your Chelsea suicide with no apparent motive you could laugh and cry in a single sound.” -For You

Chelsea without a doubt has the power of a locomotive. Ballack, Drogba, Deco, Terry, Lampard, Cech. Expectations were and are high. But supermen the Blues apparently are not. They’ve leapt the smaller clubs, but have stumbled against those taller ones. They only managed one point after two meetings with Manchester United, the last a 3-0 drubbing at Old Trafford. They’ve also dropped one match each to other powers, Arsenal and Liverpool. A single bound? The Blues are still jumping.

With Champions League still a reality for fans, they have to wonder whether this team will come together or commit a “Chelsea suicide.” Didier Drogba seems unhappy and has been quoted recently as desiring a return to a French club. And now recent reports that players are not happy with the manager, Luis Scolari, and his training sessions. Avram Grant was run out of town, but now the job he did does not look all that bad. His start was points ahead of where Scolari and Chelsea are right now. To me, with all their experience and talent, it will be up to the players to decide whether they make their fans laugh or cry by season’s end.

“Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king And a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything” – Badlands

Manchester City desperately wants to be a big time club and qualify for European play. When purchased this summer by an Arab investment group out of Dubai, they immediately bought Robinho for £32.5m. With eleven goals in sixteen games, he’s delivered. The new owners have tried their best to acquire former FIFA player of the year, Kaka, from the Italian club AC Milan during the January transfer window. Reported offers had it at a record deal but nothing came of it.

I couldn’t agree more with Bruce on this: rich men do want to be king of something, and Man. City wants to be king of the Prem. Unfortunately money hasn’t solved their problems as they sit only four points away from the relegation zone.

“This storm’ll blow through by and by / House is on fire, Viper’s in the grass /…./ I’m gonna pray / Right now all I got’s this lonesome day / It’s alright? It’s alright? It’s alright” -Lonesome Day

The most fun I’ve had watching sports the last two years is watching teams on the verge of relegation play as if they’re lives depended on it. This year will perhaps be the most exciting, as thirteen clubs currently are within eight points of the relegation zone. I can’t even begin to explain the excitement I have for how the end of this season will play out at the bottom half than the top half.

Middleborough, Stoke City, and West Brom currently sit in the last three spots based off of goal differential. Portsmouth, Bolton, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottnenham and Blackburn are all within three points of the bottom three. West Ham, Hull City, Fulham and Manchester City have a little more breathing room, but not enough to exhale quite yet.

The eminent danger of relegation is there for all of these clubs. Eventually, that viper is going to strike and when it does, no amount prayers will help. For those who haven’t already heeded the warning from Bruce, all they might have come May 24 is that lonesome day and the reality of relegation.

“Well now I don’t wanna be greedy / But when it comes to love there ain’t no doubt / You just ain’t gonna get what you want / With one foot in bed and one foot out / You got to give it all or nothin’ at all” -All or Nothin’ at all

Bruce never minces words when it comes to love. Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Everton have all been on plenty of dates now and are past flirting. They have to take matters into their own hands towards the end and fully commit to one of the top four spots. They’ve bought dinner, paid for the movies, flowers and even some jewelry – you name it. The Champions League is no whore, which is why it can only invite four. The Premier League trophy, well – that’s reserved for one lucky winner. So who will that coveted league trophy hop in bed with come May?

My pick, Chelsea, may have the easiest road to pick up three points at a time. They play Aston Villa and Liverpool in February, but after that their toughest games will be Everton and Arsenal on May 9.

Along with their May 9 clash, Arsenal will have Liverpool in April and a visit to Old Trafford in May to play Manchester United. The Gunners may have the toughest road ahead of them along with more ground to make up as they sit in fifth place.

The key to the championship may be Hull City. They play Arsenal, Villa and United in the final months of the Prem. If anyone can play spoiler, the Tigers of Hull City have already proven it can be them.

It’s been an interesting season to say the least. It’s past the midway point and teams will certainly be giving it all, otherwise they may come away with nothin’ at all.