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Most unpredictable this season - Premier League or Championship?
Football pundits have been having a right old time of it this season so far. Results have caused the usual manager sackings galore, and we've seen what we thought were good teams not getting the points when we've least expected it.
Predictions for the Premier League have been particularly difficult. So many draws! Arsenal, with 13 of them so far are going to push the record close for an EPL season (18 by Man City & Sheffield United in 1993-4 and even then it was a 42 game season). Their most likely route to the Champions League now seems to be winning the Europa League.
There have been surprise packages, and there's little doubt that Sheffield United have been a joy to behold. The Blades have been consistently solid since promotion and were most of the media's choice to go straight back down. Not happening!
They might even be in the Champions League in 2020/21 season at this rate. It's all been made even more possible with that vacancy (probably) made available by the penalising of Manchester City for their alleged dirty dealings. What an achievement it would be for a newly promoted club.
Southampton also deserve an honourable mention here. After being whipped 0-9 at home on a day to forget, the only thing you'd have tipped them for was more of the same and likely relegation. What an incredible turnaround they have shown us. It seems that it was all just part of Ralph Hasenhuttl's master plan after all. That result certainly seems to have jolted the best out of his team.
Wolves have also played some fantastic football, albeit without always reaping the rewards for their efforts (12 draws to date) and they are also realistically vying for the Champions League places. Yes, Wolves!
And what of the teams who were expected to perform well and haven't. Tottenham were disappointing early in the season and cost the manager his job just months after appearing in their first Champions League Final. This was the team that many expected to finish third. Jose Mourinho and some January buying looks to have given Spurs the momentum again but they are part of the chasing pack now.
Speaking of great expectations, Manchester City were roundly expected to push Liverpool all the way, too. That fell by the wayside at least a month ago. Even Manchester United beat them at the Etihad. If they lose again this season, it will be the most losses Pep has had in a season in his managerial career. Football, eh?
Turning to the pre-season Championship predictions, and who foresaw West Brom leading the chase at this stage way back in August? Not many (Baggies fans excluded). Leeds were the favourites to finish top and they still may well do it, so no surprise about that.
Millwall have looked so strong under Gary Rowett, laughing off most pre-season predictions of finishing near 15th place for parts of the season. Their organisation has been top-notch and their attacks starting from Mahlon Romeo and Jed Wallace have been a feature, not to mention their solid defence. However, they've dropped off again and are in danger of falling away. It's a long, unrelenting season in the Championship.
Hull City were also widely tipped for a poor season and potential relegation. They then performed admirably until a month ago and looked solid - but have now fallen away just when they became a team that you might back to carry on. Inconsistent.
Sheffield Wednesday find themselves in a much loftier position than most had expected them to be in August, but again it's been tales of the unexpected. Just when you thought they were becoming reliable after beating (then) top side Leeds at Elland Road on January 11th, The Owls completely dropped away and not won a game since.
Stoke have to be the one of the biggest disappointments of the season so far, though. Languishing near the bottom of the table, the club were generally tipped to push for promotion back to the Prem. They should beat the drop, but it will be tight.
Barnsley, too. Not many saw them sitting dead last at this stage back at the start of the season. It was always going to be a challenge to stay up, but they have found life back in the Championship just too hot to handle thus far.
Most other Championship teams have been there or thereabouts where they were forecast to be back in the days of that long hot summer of 2019. Although, of course it's not over yet.
It feels like the Premier League has provided more unexpected results overall.
Football pundits have been having a right old time of it this season so far. Results have caused the usual manager sackings galore, and we've seen what we thought were good teams not getting the points when we've least expected it.
Predictions for the Premier League have been particularly difficult. So many draws! Arsenal, with 13 of them so far are going to push the record close for an EPL season (18 by Man City & Sheffield United in 1993-4 and even then it was a 42 game season). Their most likely route to the Champions League now seems to be winning the Europa League.
There have been surprise packages, and there's little doubt that Sheffield United have been a joy to behold. The Blades have been consistently solid since promotion and were most of the media's choice to go straight back down. Not happening!
They might even be in the Champions League in 2020/21 season at this rate. It's all been made even more possible with that vacancy (probably) made available by the penalising of Manchester City for their alleged dirty dealings. What an achievement it would be for a newly promoted club.
Southampton also deserve an honourable mention here. After being whipped 0-9 at home on a day to forget, the only thing you'd have tipped them for was more of the same and likely relegation. What an incredible turnaround they have shown us. It seems that it was all just part of Ralph Hasenhuttl's master plan after all. That result certainly seems to have jolted the best out of his team.
Wolves have also played some fantastic football, albeit without always reaping the rewards for their efforts (12 draws to date) and they are also realistically vying for the Champions League places. Yes, Wolves!
And what of the teams who were expected to perform well and haven't. Tottenham were disappointing early in the season and cost the manager his job just months after appearing in their first Champions League Final. This was the team that many expected to finish third. Jose Mourinho and some January buying looks to have given Spurs the momentum again but they are part of the chasing pack now.
Speaking of great expectations, Manchester City were roundly expected to push Liverpool all the way, too. That fell by the wayside at least a month ago. Even Manchester United beat them at the Etihad. If they lose again this season, it will be the most losses Pep has had in a season in his managerial career. Football, eh?
Turning to the pre-season Championship predictions, and who foresaw West Brom leading the chase at this stage way back in August? Not many (Baggies fans excluded). Leeds were the favourites to finish top and they still may well do it, so no surprise about that.
Millwall have looked so strong under Gary Rowett, laughing off most pre-season predictions of finishing near 15th place for parts of the season. Their organisation has been top-notch and their attacks starting from Mahlon Romeo and Jed Wallace have been a feature, not to mention their solid defence. However, they've dropped off again and are in danger of falling away. It's a long, unrelenting season in the Championship.
Hull City were also widely tipped for a poor season and potential relegation. They then performed admirably until a month ago and looked solid - but have now fallen away just when they became a team that you might back to carry on. Inconsistent.
Sheffield Wednesday find themselves in a much loftier position than most had expected them to be in August, but again it's been tales of the unexpected. Just when you thought they were becoming reliable after beating (then) top side Leeds at Elland Road on January 11th, The Owls completely dropped away and not won a game since.
Stoke have to be the one of the biggest disappointments of the season so far, though. Languishing near the bottom of the table, the club were generally tipped to push for promotion back to the Prem. They should beat the drop, but it will be tight.
Barnsley, too. Not many saw them sitting dead last at this stage back at the start of the season. It was always going to be a challenge to stay up, but they have found life back in the Championship just too hot to handle thus far.
Most other Championship teams have been there or thereabouts where they were forecast to be back in the days of that long hot summer of 2019. Although, of course it's not over yet.
It feels like the Premier League has provided more unexpected results overall.
