EPL Power Rankings

There is really so much to cover in the world of international football right now, that I couldn't possibly write about it without boring the death out of you. So instead I introduce my Power Rankings through the first 7 round of the EPL season. I'll try and keep it short and sweet. By the way I have discovered a great show on Fox Soccer Channel. Every Tuesday night you can catch Fox Football Fone-In at 8PM (time varies depending on games and such.) The show is hosted by two very knowledgable, very likeable Brits, and they discuss EPL, Champions League, and MLS. On to the rankings.


1. Manchester United (1st in table; 5-1-1; 16 pts)
The fact that Rooney has been playing in very poor form and this team is still at the top of the table speaks volumes. The brilliance of C. Ronaldo has been spectacular, he and Saha are carrying this team.

2. Arsenal (8th; 3-2-1; 11 pts)
I know this seems odd here. They started the season very rough to say the least. And there are 6 other teams in front of Arsenal on the table, but this team is fuego. Cesc Fabregas is unbelievable, Arsenal fans are really enjoying Gallas.

3. Chelsea (2nd; 5-1-1; 16 pts)
Their one loss was very flukey at Middlesborough. The draw against Villa says a lot about that club, but this team just has not clicked. They have not shown the chemistry and the quality we have come to expect from Mourinho coached clubs.

4. Aston Villa (6th; 3-4-0; 13 pts)
I am so impressed with this team. I can't tell you how well they have played despite all the controversy they had coming into the season. David O'Neill is without question the best manager right now. The draw at Stamford Bridge was hard fought, this team is going somewhere.


5. Everton (5th; 3-4-0; 13 pts)
I put Villa ahead of them simply because of the win at Chelsea. This team can play just as well, if not they are better. Cahill and Johnson are playmakers in every sense of the word. I promise you they will be in the top portion of the table at the end.



6. Portsmouth (4th; 4-1-2; 13 pts)
This team started fuego, and have since been cooled off significantly, by insignificant opponents. They had better get back to the pace they started off on. I think they are playing back to their true form.

7.Bolton (3rd; 4-2-1)
I probably should have placed this group of guys higher, I'm not 100% sold on them yet. I love Big Sam, I think they are playing well together, and they have made the Reebok an impregnable fortress. Ask Liverpool.

8.Blackburn (9th; 3-2-2; 11 pts)
Started really slow, but starting to come together. This team plays dirty, and are uber-dislikable. Every time I watch them I like them less and less, and their manager is a real pompous prick. Still they have been catching fire since Chelsea spanked them.

9. Liverpool (10th; 3-1-3; 10 pts)
This team is garbage. The excuses are coming out now that they are really a European style team, not English style anymore. That is why they perform so well in Europe and not so well in England. Whatever the case, they don't look good.

10.Reading (7th; 4-1-2; 13 pts)
Yeah, you read that correctly. Reading, the new boys up, are playing unbelievably well. Rumors are surfacing now that they are in the lead to get Freddy Adu (very strange) and he could be wearing blue and white by January.

11.Fulham (11th; 2-3-2; 9 pts)
This team plays so hard, but they just don't have that much skill. It'll be interesting to see how long they can keep up that determination and the hard work to keep level.

12.West Ham Utd. (16th; 1-2-4; 5 pts)
This team has spun wildly out of control. I don't get it, they started the season solidly, then they picked up the Argentinian duo and have just completely lost it. Rumors are circulating that the team is about to be sold, and Big Phil may come over from Portugal to manage. I still think they are good enough to compete.


13. Newcastle Utd. (13th; 2-1-4; 7 pts)
Ugh, please play to your potential. I think it is slowly coming to the realization of everybody that Glenn Roeder really isn't that good. I like him as a person, I think he's a decent manager, I just don't think he's cut out for this.



14.Tottenham Hotspur (14th; 2-1-4; 7 pts)
They really miss Michael Carrick more than anyone thought. Lennon comes back over the fortnight's break. They're finally starting to pay well, it's about time.

15.Manchester City (12th; 2-2-3; 8 pts)
These guys are terrible. They finally won their first game since the first round on Saturday, they are by no means even mediocre.

16.Watford (19th; 0-4-3; 4 pts)
I think this team is really good, when they are at home. They give everyone a good fight, including Manchester United. Watch the Fulham game from Monday and tell me you don't love the way those teams play.

17. Middlesborough (17th; 1-2-4; 5 pts)
It's shameful that their only win is against Chelsea...shameful for Chelsea that is. These guys are mis-managed and undercoached. They have the personnel, Garteh Southgate just isn't ready yet to manage.

18. Wigan Atl. (15th; 1-2-3; 5 pts)
I haven't had a chance to watch them play, but from all accounts I haven't missed much.

19. Charlton Atl. (20th; 0-1-6; 1 point)
As bad as that record looks, this team is not that bad at all. They have shown flashes of quality, they have had a couple of really tough losses with PK's and such. Darren Bent has been playing great.

20. Sheffield Utd. (19th; 1-2-4; 5 pts)
When you watch this team you just get the feeling that they are not anywhere near as good as the competition. I feel bad for them, it's going to be a long year just to get to relegation.

All Football, No Pink

Ew. This is the grossest NFL season ever. We are a quarter of the way through the season and I don't think there is a single team that looks like a legitimate Super Bowl champion. Every team I want to say looks great, ends up showing up a number of flaws the next week. It's a nice feeling if your team hasn't been performing particularly well (I'm looking in your direction New York Giants), knowing that a team can't be that far behind. So let's take a look at some of the "best" teams in football.
Baltimore, Indianapolis, and Chicago are the only three undefeated teams left in football. Can anyone remember the last time when so few teams were really good? Even looking at those three teams, has anybody really been that impressed? Chicago looked unbelievable against Seattle the other night, but let's not forget that Seattle's biggest weapon was out. It was incredible that nobody gave any credence to the fact that Shaun Alexander wasn't in the game. Chicago also barely escaped Minnesota with a win the week before, so let's relax before we annoint Rex Grossman as the greatest QB ever. The defense looks excellent, just like last year, but I'm not sold on this team as Super Bowl champs just yet.
Speaking of defense, wow the Baltimore Ravens know something about that. Can anybody find out exactly what drug cocktail that Ray Lewis is on? Has anybody scared you this much, ever? But that offense is STILL TERRIBLE. If I have to hear or read one more thing about how "Steve McNair is winning games in Baltimore," I'm going to vomit. That guy is barely holding on in Baltimore. He should be writing thank you books to Ray Lewis and everyone on that defense. On the other hand, this defense won Baltimore a Super Bowl a few years ago with Trent Dilfer and Tony Banks calling the shots. I do think McNair can contribute more than those guys, so it'll be interesting to see where this team can go. Their schedule is pretty light not including that brutal AFC North. Either the Ravens, Steelers, or Bengals are missing the playoffs, and if Ben Roethlisberger doesn't start playing the way he should it's going to be a lonely January in Steeltown.
And when you think of lonely Januarys, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and overevaluated teams; you have to think of the Indianapolis Colts. I am not getting hooked into this Indy trap again. I am simply not impressed with these guys. Yes, Peyton drove the field in the clutch against the Jets the other day. Yes, the Colts passing attack is more potent than ever. That lack of a running game is going to get to them soon (the game against the Jets was really the first time Addai and Rhodes looked remotely competent). Their defense is non-existent to boot. I don't care how good your passing attack is, without a running game and a solid defense, you can't win football games. I've watched about 10 quarters of Colts football, and just have not once said to myself, "wow, this team looks unbeatable." The Giants and Jets offenses were able to pick that defense apart. If not for a few lucky bounces against the Giants and the Jaguars, and the determination of Peyton against the Jets this team would be 1-3. I know it's not fair to point out woulda, coulda; but it merrits a mention.
Parity has caused the league to really bunch up a good amount in the middle there. Even the teams that are 0-4 haven't looked god-awful to me...except the Raiders. They are bad, like really bad. They play the Niners this weekend, I'd rather watch pee-wee football.

Games to Watch
Cowboys at Eagles, 4:15 FOX
Obvious reasons there. I can't wait to see what that Philly trash does to O.D...I mean T.O.

Giants at Redskins, 1:00 FOX
Giants must-win, Redskins have to get on a consistent track.

Steelers at Chargers 8:15 NBC
This is a biggie. Let's see if Phillip Rivers can bounce back from that heartbreaker in Baltimore...oh yeah and the Steelers season could be on the line.

Baltimore at Denver 9:00 ESPN (Mon. Night)
I promise you that Baltimore loses this game. I also promise you that the Under is the safest bet I've ever seen.