True Lion's look at EPL Leaders

General December came and left but her effects are still felt around the league.There is a new kid on the block and she is not a stranger.Yes Tottenham has everybody talking about her.They play one of the most attractive football in the league with Modric controlling the midfield like no one else.Keeping Modric was like a new signing for Tottenham as we all know Chelsea and ManU wanted the little wizard.Bale is healthy and running on all cylinders.We have also seen Adebayor come back to life under Harry.With all that said,i think Tottenham has the squad to play with the best and make a run at the EPL tittle.What they lack is the endurance and experience to win it all.I predict a top four finish for Tottenham.

ManU is always the team to beat no matter her recent stumbles.Sir Alex knows how to motivate his squad and always brings out the best out of the players.Today's defeat against Newcastle is the most recent setbacks amongst many this season.ManU has problems that they might never solve this season.Let's start with that central Defense.Vidic and Rio's injury has left ManU exposed at the back.18 million pound signing in De Gea has been a liability so far with many inconsistencies.The midfield is another area where ManU needs to build on.Giggs is being played out of position to cover that void but that is not working.Rooney cannot be the player he is because he falls too deep into the midfield to help support the non existing midfield.With all this said ManU is just 3 points from the leaders and cannot be written off.I predict ManU to finish second and my reasons for that are as follows.Van Der Sar won games for ManU last year when she struggled.This year De Gea is loosing games for ManU.With a weak defense and a struggling keeper,ManU will need to out score the Big 4 in other to win the EPL and i do not see that happening.

Arsenal had the worst start in recent years at the beginning of this season.Arsenal had two of their most important players in Nasri and Cesc leave without replacing them quickly enough.Arsenal has made an incredible run into top 5.Arteta was a great buy from Everton and he has fitted in so fine with the squad.Walcott has also been in good form partnering with RVP upfront.Song has been a rock in the midfield.Arsenal still has worries at the back four but i must admit they are not as bad.With all that said i think Arsenal will fight for a top four finish.They will need a striker during this January market that can help RVP with scoring.Wilshire and Sagna are expected to be back from injury late this month and sometime in February to buster the squad.Last but not the least the Great Henry will bring lots of experience if he completes his loan deal to the Gunners.

Chelsea has been a disappointment this season although they seat 4th in the league.It's a surprise to many but not me.The backbone of the squad is old and has been for a while.Chelsea had the opportunity to change that during the summer but instead went for a new coach.It's true some new players were brought in but it's hard for a new coach to make the right buys without knowing his squad.Torres is still not comfortable and might never fit into Chelsea.Drogba has shown signs of revival but he will be off to Africa and that will not help Chelsea.Lampard who has been so great for Chelsea in recent years is finding it difficult as the new Coach prefers him on the bench.With all that said, Chelsea will be fighting for a top four finish but will not challenge for the EPL this year.They have some bright spots in Ramires and Sturridge who is Chelsea's number 1 striker so far with 9 EPL goals.

City the lousy neighbors are making a statement with all their millions and yes Mancini has a squad that can win the EPL tittle.Silva and Yaya have been outstanding so far.Those two have been the catalyst of this City team linking up the midfielders with an explosive strike force.They are an all around squad from back to front line.Kompany has come to life as a captain with rock solid performances.Hart is one of the best keepers in the league as he continues to prove himself week in week out.Mario is matching his off field performances with goals and they seem to have made us football lovers to forget about the Tevez saga.Mancini has won tittles with Inter before and he knows this will not be easy.Getting kicked out of the UCL group stage might be the song he uses to inspire his players to a strong finish.With all that said City will miss Yaya and Kolo who leave for Africa this January.Replacing Yaya might be one of the greatest difficulties they face for a month.There is hardly a duplicate out there like Yaya.He makes good use of his physic.There is no big man out there with great sight and great control of the ball like him.City will only be weaker without him but i still have them as favorite to win it all

EL CLASSICO

It's even better with Mourinho a former Barcelona Staff at the helm of Los Merengues.The second year at Mourinho's last clubs was a charm with Inter winning the treble and you can bet that the Real Boss is going for more than one trophy this year.Real is way better than the team Barca eliminated from Champions league as well as beat to the La Liga tittle.Madrid has so many weapons and most importantly are playing like a team.Real unlike other Mourinho teams is scoring many goals and are not defending as well as what the special one is known for.With injury to Carvahlo,Ramos has been deployed to central defense.Real concedes more goals at home than away and although 10 goals conceded after 13 games is a good number,i will say that the pair of Pepe and Ramos has not been tested yet.Barcelona's away record is the opposite of how they have been playing at home so far.They are yet to concede a goal at home but have allowed 7 goals on the road so far.Their scoring on the road is also not as brilliant as their home form.8 goals away as opposed to 34 at home,that's why Pep will be going for 3-5-2 formation which will unleash their attacking mentality.This is a statement by Pep who will want to have ball possession and frustrate Madrid at the Bernabeau.

With all that being said here is what i look forward to.Madrid has to play destroyer and count on their fast players to catch Barca on the break.Counter attacking football will be Madrid's best friend on the 10TH.Madrid has to keep the game tight at the back with the midfield loaded of players that can defend.Opening up the game will be inviting disaster for Real Madrid.Barcelona on their part will try to open up the game and use their 5 man midfield as an attacking machine.Villa might be called upfront to partner Messi.Barca knows only a win will put pressure on league leaders and also cut their lead down to 3.Madrid on the other hand will be anxious to increase the gap at the top.That is if they win their upcoming weekend game.9 days to go and we are all excited to see the greatest rivalry in football.

ManC vs Liverpool

ManC will look forward to revenge the 3-0 beat down at the hands of Liverpool when they last visited Anfield.They will also want to increase their lead in the EPL following City rivals draw against Newcastle.Following a difficult lose in the Champions league Macini will need words of encouragement to boost the moral of his boys.Playing Liverpool will be a tricky one because the Reds are a physical team that are good at counter attacking football.Suarez will be a handful for the City Defense.He might start up front with Carol who had a double last season against City.Liverpool posses a good Defense with 2 good full backs that can play very well on the flanks as well.The battle will be fierce in the midfield but i see City slightly winning that midfield battle.Silva and Yaya are a powerful force to reckon with.They will take the pressure to the Reds and feed up the electrifying forwards in Aguero and Balotelli.With both teams possessing good defenses,the difference will be in the quality of their striking force.I see the advantage going to City who are not depended on one person.They have a free scoring squad no matter who starts(Balotelli,Aguero or Aguero Dzeko)Liverpool will need their 12th man to be also on top of their game as they play in the Anfield but i doubt this will have any effect on City.This game is totally different from the one last season as City has grown away from Tevez dependence and play more lick a squad.They also have good additions to their squad in Aguero,Nasri and Clichy.There is so much creativity in City's midfield,running against that Red back four will make them defend deep.Although both boost quality Defenses i predict a high scoring game 3-1 in favor of City

R.V.P

Van Persie is not a new name but a man of his own.Once in the shadows of former team mates(Cesc and Nasri)and always plague by injury,the new Arsenal captain now shines alone.No one but Wenger ever saw this coming.After their worst ever EPL start in decades many critics thought Arsenal will melt down because of the exits of Cesc and Nasri.These two were the very bright spots of Arsenal in the past years thus the backbone of a very fragile team.R.V.P had different thoughts.Scoring 34 goals out of 41 appearances this year is a stats few can boost of.He so far has 13 goals in the EPL as he stands alone on top of the goal scoring charts.He makes the most out of less and has grown from a winger into a very feared talisman.Makes me think of Thiery Henry transformation from winger to the most feared striker in Europe.Wenger knows best and should get all the credit for bringing the best out of this very talented player.What impresses me the most is the way the Dutchman waves all the attention from himself as he gives credit to fellow team mates.He praises the lightening speed and excellence of Theo Walcott who has been phenomenal.He has also lavished praises to Song who put on a great performance and has provided 2 assist to R.V.P in the space of a week.Van Persie's form will never the less depend on his ability to stay fit as we know how vulnerable he is too injury.For now he is fit and cannot stop scoring.He is great on the ball,good in the air and can play from flanks with very good movement off the ball.R.V.P is just unstoppable and will be a big challenge for Arsenal board of directors to keep him.They will need to go over the clubs salary cap to prevent the future of Arsenal from leaving.A superstar is born in R.V.P and the question is born, will this be the next Thiery Henry?

Wenger deserves more from Players

Wenger has proven to be a master at his art for so many years.From the Henry's,Anelka and now Van Persie.Wenger has produced so many good players that grow to be superstars.The master does what few coaches now our days can achieve.This is not coming up easy for him because Arsenal has not won a trophy in the past 7 years.Arsenal seems to be a squad that prepares players for bigger clubs.My opinion is strong about Arsene Wenger.He does lots with so little as his hands are tight by a board of managers who have for so long enjoyed the big profits he makes for them.Only in recent years have they provided money for more experienced players to come in,folllowing the exodus of Cesc and Nasri.V. Persie is the next made superstar under Arsene and he cannot afford to let him go.He is for sure telling the board of directors this.The reason this is critical is because V.Persie's signing will see other important players like Song,Vermalen,Theo and Wilsire also commit to the Gunners.These cast of players that received so much critism,have grown so fast than expected and are proving critics wrong.Although Arsenal has a long way to go as far as their defensive woes,they can still attract talented and ambitious players given their excellent displays in Europe.Wenger deserved more from a player like Nasri whom I thought should have taken a pay raise to reward the man who put so much trust in him.Nasri choice in City was a good pay day financially but not a good sports decision as he will play in the shadow of Silva.Nasri staying for another two years would have seen him win some silver ware with Arsenal and also increase his worth as a player.Wenger has been challenged with all the summer drama and now he knows he needs to make it right now or never.He might not win the EPL this season but I bet you Arsenal is on the verge to win big

A LOOK AT EPL BIG GUNS

There is no doubt Mancini can play with the big boys as he continues to prove ManCity is for real.We all knew they will be tittle contenders this year but no one could predict such a brilliant start.They are finally playing like a team and no longer Tevez depended.Silva is well settled in the EPL and runs the show like no one does.It will be difficult to keep City off the EPL tittle because they have so much individual talent.Players like Aguero,Nasri just to name a few can single handed change games at any giving moment.In addition to their attacking powers ManCity's defense last year was the one that won them a ticket to Champions league birth.Joe Hart is the leader of that Defense with company just in front of him.Good goalkeeping wins tittles and i can say Hart is no doubt the best shot stopper in the EPL.City faces Liverpool next week and i predict a win for them.

Liverpool is the true definition of a team.They are well organized at the back and are a hard tackling team.Liverpool won in a well balanced game against Chelsea and proved to be deadly when they counter attacked Chelsea.They have their own problems as Carol is still struggling to find the form that brought him to Anfield.Suarez meanwhile cannot stop terrorizing defenses.He is amazing on the ball and will pose a threat to City's Defense when they meet next week.At 22 points the Reds will need help from other sources if they need to make top 4 this season.Goal differences might be important in what seems to be a real fight at the top of the table.

ManU is not playing their best football at this moment but unlike Chelsea,they know how to win when playing bad.This is Deja Vu from Sir Alex team as they know how to grind victories out of poor performances.Just 5 points away from their noisy neighbors ManU must be happy given the thrashing they received at the hands of City.Sir Alex is an expert of keeping players hungry.Giggs will play a minimal but important role as he has always done.His assist this weekend was enough to see off a good Swansea team.ManU's biggest worries is at center Defense as they face fitness worries from Ferdinard and even Vidic.De Gea seems to be calm now after a shaky start and only time will tell if he finally settled down.

Arsenal will always be around when it is set and done.Criticized at the start of the campaign for lack of activities in the transfer market,Wenger is again proving to be the master.His boys have turned the page around and are now playing at the level we expect.Van Persie is a real leader and has fired his team up the EPL table.Vermalen seems like a new signing after coming back from a long lay off.They are making fewer mistakes at the back and getting wins even when they play ugly.Ramzy,Song and Arteta are a force to reckon with in the midfield.Arsenal just hopes their injury nightmare do not continue as they keep accumulating wins.

Chelsea the blue beast is in all sort of problems.Their problem lies in the midfield.They are always second best when it comes to the battles in the midfield.They loose the ball easily and are not able to create chances for their forwards.Failing to sign Modric has dealt a blow to the beginning of their campaign.Lamps is not the same player 4 years ago and also needs a supporting cast like Essien to bring the best out of him.He likes playing in a free role and so will need someone that can do dirty work and allow him focus more on moving forward.Mata is still adjusting to the EPL.With time he will be a good buy for the blues.Chelsea will need to clean the house they failed to clean come January.Anelka,Malouda and even Kalou are players they might have to let go.I think with the right midfield Drogba,Torres and Sturridge can handle the job up front.

Spurs, the party scratches are living up to their name.Harry knew he had to keep Modric.What a genius that little magician.I can guarantee he leaves this coming summer for big bucks.Spurs play one of the most electrifying football in the EPL.The addition of Adebayor is more value to what was a good squad.Their biggest gain remains in the Goalie with Brad replacing calamity Gomez.Tottenham can beat any team on a given day while playing entertaining football

Chelsea vs Liverpool

With both teams looking for consistency as they try to close the gap at the top,I will say the stage is set for an interesting game.Liverpool will hope Suarez is not affected by the racist incident against Evra as well as the knock he picked up while on duty with Uruguay.He has so far been charged and will need to answer to those claims.Suarez who is red hot for his country hopes to continue scoring with Liverpool.He will no doubt be the man to watch out for while Carol is still struggling to find the form that made Liverpool break the bank for him.Liverpool in their last game created so many goal scoring chances but could not find the back of the net in a very disappointing display.A win will take them to 22 points level with Chelsea.Chelsea has also struggled recently.They have had disciplinary issues lately but playing at the Bridge might just be the right Venue for back to back wins.They will need to count on misfiring Torres to get his act together.Chelsea's defense has consistently let them down and will only hope that the long international break gave then enough time to get their tactics together.I see a very physical game at the midfield.Liverpool will test the shaky Chelsea defense as they hope the knock picked up by Suarez during international duty does not keep him out.Chelsea will need to count on Lampard's recent form as they will need to be aggressive from get go.It will be a well contested game and I expect Liverpool to come out with atleast a point.It's game on