EPL Overlook

After eight of third-eight rounds the plot of the English Premier League is starting to take shape. Each week offs a new challenges for every club. While the top clubs will be looking for the league crown and a spot in the Champions Leagues. Smaller clubs may be shooting for the Europa League as a possible goal. Even the bottom dwellers have their own race to compete is, and the always painful effort to avoid the embarrassment of relegation. After eight weeks here are some
observations around the league.

Usually Suspects On Top: Right now Chelsea lead the league with 21 points, and Manchester United trails with 19. The two clubs came in as the favorites, and they are not disappointing. Didier Dragba leads the Blues with 6 goals, and 5 assist. Chelsea can attribute their success to an undefeated record at Stanford Bridge (4-0). The Red Devils are at there heels with Manchester's 2-2 draw with Sunderland as the difference between first and second. Wayne Rooney leads Manchester with 6 goals, and crowd favorite Ryan Giggs has 5 assist, the most among Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The top two play their first game against each other November 8th at Stamford Bridge.

Champions League Spoilers: Every year you here the same old story from the experts. Which one of the 'Big Four' will take the crown, and can anybody crack into this fantastic four. Well this year two of England's elite are out of the top four, and one would miss international competition all together. Tottenham Hotspur sits in third with 16 points, ahead of Manchester City in fourth who trail the Spurs on goal differential. At the beginning of the year I received some criticisms for not putting the Spurs in my top 7 for the league, (this is my sincere apology). Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe lead the Spurs with 5 goals a piece. Meanwhile Manchester City (with all the money in the world, seriously you are threatening the financial market of the game). OK rant over, Manchester City sits in the final Champions League position, looking to become clean of the mark of being the team in Manchester that nobody cares about. City was predicted to have lots of turmoil, but give credit to Mark Hughes who has this side in fourth. Craig Bellamy and Emmanuel Adebayor both have four goals. Despite losing in a thriller to their cross-town rivals. The Blue club in Manchester is proving to be money well spent.

Giants On The Outside Looking In: With Tottenham and Manchester City breaking into the top 4, two clubs are left out: Liverpool, and Arsenal. Arsenal was the one threatened to drop since they have such a young club. The Gunners are doing well enough with the youth right now in fifth, good for a Europa League spot. However in North London, Champions League is still the expectations, and Arsene Wenger. A positive not to Arsenals play so far is the goal scoring. Arsenal has put in 24 goals in only 7 games, scoring 4 or more goals in 4 games. The other big club that would be out of all international competition would be Liverpool (the club that I picked to win the EPL -AND I'M STICKING BY IT). Liverpool had a slow start losing two of its first three matches. Then the Reds went on a roll until losing a match at Chelsea 2-0. Fernando Torres is doing most the work in Northeast England putting in eight goals, which is more than a third of Liverpool's total production. Other teams that I though would threaten the top four are Aston Villa: 7th, Everton 10th and Fulham: 15th. Win Some Lose Some.

The Battle Of The Bottom-Feeders: One idea that needs to make it to this side of the Atlantic:Relegation. Just think then the Detroit Lions, and the Oakland Raiders of the NFL will never have to ruin a league of high quality teams. In English Football the teams at the bottom of the standing have to fight to stay in the top division, as the best of the minor-league teams will be promoted to the big show. Right now Hull City, West Ham United, and Portsmouth would be relegated. None of those clubs as big as Newcastle who were in the guillotine last year. West Ham being relegated would be a shock (and make for a really good plot to Green Street Hooligans II)-cult classic I recommend it. Clubs flirting with the disaster area are newly promoted Wolverhampton, Blackburn (former EPL Champions), and Fulham (yes, my beloved Fulham who I picked to be a contender for the Europa League are flirting with disaster.) What is an interesting note is that right now Wolverhampton, Stoke City, and Birmingham, all promoted teams are still above the relegation zone. Still a long way to go to be thinking your safe from the bottom three, and plenty of time to get out of English Football limbo.

The important thing to note is that it is still early in the year. The current plot is bound to change, and new characters will emerge in lead rolls. With every game proving to be a challenge, it should be another great year of English Premier League Football.