1. Chelsea FC
Top of English Premier League, Top of UEFA Champions League Group D
Yeah, I'm Convinced: The diamond midfield is working, there's harmony between Drogba and Anelka, and no one is scoring on them at Stamford Bridge. Just one goal allowed at home in all competitions back in August against Hull.
I'm not so sure: They couldn't close out a struggling Atletico Madrid last week, and the debate will carry on all season whether or not John Terry's goal against Manchester United should have stood. This is still an aging team, and it's yet to be seen if they can sustain this form all season. History tells us a dip is coming at some point.
2. FC Barcelona
Top of La Liga, 3rd in UEFA Champions League Group F
Yeah, I'm Convinced: That's 4 goals on a Real Mallorca side that, by La Liga standards, was rather stingy in defense going in. Unbeaten through 10 in a deeper than you think Spanish top flight.
I'm not so sure: The Champions League struggles are glaring. They have yet to prove they can unlock a defense that's prepared to keep them out of goal. Believe it or not, their European season hinges on getting a win at home against Inter on November 24th.
3. Manchester United FC
3rd in English Premier League, top of UEFA Champions League Group B
Yeah, I'm Convinced: The win over Arsenal is looking better and better, how many teams do you know can rally from 3-1 down to rescue a point? That was a 95-minute battle with Chelsea, and should have come out with a draw. If Chelsea is #1, then Man United could be #1A.
I'm not so sure: A team known for its attacking prowess could only manage 2 shots on goal over 95 minutes at Chelsea. The Liverpool loss looks terrible right now, and this is a team that better get healthy quick.
4. Arsenal FC
2nd in English Premier League, top of UEFA Champions League Group H
Yeah, I'm Convinced: What? Ahead of Manyoo in the standings but behind them in the rankings? The Gunners are crushing and killing everything in their way right now. The Tottenham win looks really good.
I'm Not So Sure: Winning 4-1 at Wolves does not solve the away issues. A team this good should win on their travels at West Ham and AZ Alkmaar. The early struggles at Standard Liege from Matchday #1 in the Champions League are still not forgotten.
5. Sevilla FC
3rd in La Liga, top of UEFA Champions League Group G
Yeah, I'm Convinced: They still have the win over Real Madrid to be proud of, and just beat a Villarreal team that was looking like it was coming out of its funk. They have the attacking talent to matchup with Manchester United and Arsenal.
I'm Not So Sure: If you're this good, you shouldn't be struggling to a draw at home against a Stuttgart team that has had all sorts of issues this season.
6. Real Madrid
2nd in La Liga, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group C
Yeah, I'm Convinced: All things considered, they coped rather nicely without CR9. No shame dropping that game at Sevilla, or Milan on their current form. Oh, and Mr. Ronaldo is back from injury.
I'm Not So Sure: There are still issues on the backline. El Clasico is coming up at the end of the month, and Mr. Pellegrini would be wise to get things sorted out.
7. Bordeaux
Top of French Ligue 1, Top of UEFA Champions League Group A
Yeah, I'm Convinced: They are top of their league and Champions League group. In so doing, they have beaten Monaco, drawn Juventus, and twice beat Bayern Munich. However.....
I'm Not So Sure: Beating Bayern Munich are at present the signature wins, and it's not much to get excited about right now. There's also an ugly 2-0 defeat to bottom-half of the table Lille to deal with too. Juventus comes calling November 25th, though. Win that and they may be top 5.
8. Lyon
2nd in French Ligue 1, Top of UEFA Champions League Group E
Yeah, I'm Convinced: Just when it looked like Liverpool was crawling back into contention for a Champions League knockout place, Lisandro Lopez might have taken it away from them. You tell me if you want your team to face this side right now.
I'm Not So Sure: They needed that Lopez effort to draw a below-strength Liverpool side, and on three occasions dropped two points in that (albeit thrilling) 5-5 draw with Marseille at the weekend. The league form is worrying, just 4 points out of their last 12 possible.
9. Inter
Top of Italian Serie A, Top of UEFA Champions League Group F
Yeah, I'm Convinced: The 4-0 derby win over Milan suddenly looks fantastic, and they're starting to distance themselves from the chasing pack in Italy.
I'm Not So Sure: It took a furious rally in the last 5+ minutes to beat Dynamo Kiev, top their Champions League group, and avoid their trip to Barcelona being an elimination match. Drawing a struggling Roma side at the weekend shows how wildly inconsistent they are.
10. Rubin Kazan
Top of Russian Premier League, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group F
Yeah, I'm Convinced: 5 points from 3 matches against Inter and Barcelona. 5 points from 3 matches against Inter and Barcelona. 5 points from 3 matches against Inter and Barcelona.
I'm Not So Sure: While the Russian Premier League is suddenly starting to produce some terrific football (and rising stars), it's not the same level as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, or Bundesliga. Would you take this team over Milan, Juventus, or Leverkusen at the moment?
11. Juventus
2nd in Serie A, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group A
That oopsie against Napoli are keeping them out of the top 10. Otherwise they are yet to lose in the Champions League this season and turning on the style in Italy (12 goals in their last 3 matches). Showdown at Bordeaux next in the Champions League and a prove it game coming up against Inter in a few weeks.
12. AC Milan
3rd in Serie A, Top of UEFA Champions League Group C
Do you want to play them now? Since that embarrassing loss to FC Zurich, they've been unbeaten in their last eight in all competitions (5 wins, 3 draws). The four points from Real Madrid look great. Pato is emerging into the next big thing, and Thiago Silva should be in the discussion of best defenders in the world.
13. Tottenham Hotspur
4th in English Premier League
That's a decent looking win against Sunderland. Losses this season include Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea (no shame in those), and with those three out of the way for now, a great chance to rack up some points.
14. Bayer Leverkusen
Top of German Bundesliga
Unbeaten in what's looking like a wide open German top flight, and like I said in the past, they are keeping things tight at the back. The sharing of points with contenders like Werder Bremen, Hamburg, and Schalke might look good now, but could hurt them once their league form starts to escape them.
15. Fiorentina
4th in Serie A, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group E
Scored for fun over two matches against Debrecen, and grinded out a big 1-0 at Udinese over the weekend. They are a win or a draw away from ending Liverpool's Champions League campaign before the New Year. Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino are forming quite a strike force, and wunderkind Stevan Jovetic has been out through this recent run. They've really dropped because the the likes of Juventus, Milan, and Bordeaux have picked up impressive wins or been on impressive runs.
16. Valencia
4th in La Liga, 2nd in UEFA Europa League Group B
10 match unbeaten run in all competitions, and only 1 loss so far all season. David Villa is being David Villa, scoring 10 goals in all competitions (8 in La Liga), and the defense is keeping it just tight enough to get results.
17. Aston Villa
5th in English Premier League
They still have that win over Chelsea and just put 5 past a Bolton team that was playing reasonably well recently (save for getting crushed by Chelsea). A disappointing loss at West Ham means they stay put at 17.
18. Werder Bremen
2nd in German Bundesliga, top of UEFA Europa League Group L
Plenty of attacking options in this team, and despite drawing their last two league matches, they've been on a tear. Quietly have put together 19 straight unbeaten in all competitions.
19. Hamburg
3rd in German Bundesliga, 2nd in UEFA Europa League Group C
Suddenly have forgotten how to win in Germany, as they have one loss and three draws in their last four. What's worse, they would be top had they not split the honors with Leverkusen and Schalke.
20. Deportivo
5th in La Liga
Valladolid finally hit them up for 4 goals a couple weeks back, but since then have gotten on track, big win at the weekend over Getafe as they jockey for position for a Champions League place.
21. Manchester City
6th in English Premier League
Suddenly getting exposed, playing uninspired, or both. 5 straight draws, Aston Villa is understandable. But Wigan, Fulham, Birmingham, and Burnley? Arsenal has yet to play Burnley but they beat the other three by a combined 8-1. The difference betweend contending and pretending. Still, on their day, could be as good as anyone. Yes, yes, they beat Arsenal but we're going on current form here.
22. Schalke 04
4th in German Bundesliga
Draws with fellow contenders Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, and Bayern Munich suggest the Felix Factor is taking effect. Let the Gelsenkirchen side hang around under Magath's watch, and you may see them at the top of the Bundesliga.
23. Wolfsburg
5th in German Bundesliga, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group B
Huge win at Hoffenheim on Saturday, and in position to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Winning 3-0 in Turkey at Besiktas suggests they could be a force going forward. Misimovic is in great form.
24. FC Porto
3rd in Portuguese League, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group D
Really here because they earned their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League, but sitting 3rd behind Benifca and Braga means maybe they should make this list too.
25. Olympiakos
2nd in Greek league, 2nd in UEFA Champions League Group H
Slipped a little by losing to Standard Liege in the Champions League and drawing Iraklis at the weekend, need a couple strikers to get healthy.
OTHERS CONSIDERED
Panathinaikos
Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev
SL Benifca
SC Braga
Bayern Munich
Sampdoria
Napoli
So do you agree or disagree? Hit me up with your thoughts.
Schalke in front of WOB? Blasphemy! WOB excelling in the CL and seem to have turned it around in the BL, plus they beat Schalke head to head earlier in the season. I realize a win is a win, but Schalke had some tremendous luck to pull out that draw vs Leverkusen a few weeks back. Maybe my dislike of Schalke and their Felix Magath-stealing ways have clouded my judgment, but I cant see ranking them this high.
ReplyDeleteYou could probably say they are tied for 22nd. It is the 22nd and 23rd ranking so obviously it is close. That was one I was wrestled with I promise you, but I give the slightest edge to Schalke.
ReplyDeleteJust a few random thoughts: Last time I said I hate United with every fiber of my being ( or something to that effect) well I hate City too. Why don't they just annex the entire city of Manchester. Seal it off like they would a leper colony. The sheikhdom is proving to be a fraud. You can spend like there's no tomorrow and still not get them to play together. And guess what folks, there is a tomorrow. Arsenal was set-up for failure at Eastlands. Their record there is less than stellar, Ade got his chops in and they were still numb from dominating those arseholes United for 89.5 minutes and coming up short due to a freak mistake and a shyte call. Things will be much different for the return match at the Emirates.
ReplyDeleteLiverpool are going through what Arsenal went through the last two seasons. Racked with injuries, a key component gone in the transfer window with no one properly filling the void and struggling to hang around long enough to get the injured players back and hopefully finish fourth in order to play CL football. I feel for them. They are a proud club with an incredible fan base. Plus they routinely kick United's arses at Anfield.
A tip of the cap to: Rubin Kazan for showing everyone how to play lockdown defense once again. FC Porto for consistantly getting to the knockout stages and putting themselves in the mix. Marcello Lippi for calling up Giampaolo Pazzini for the two friendlies. He belongs in the squad for South Africa.
A kick in the ass to: FC Bayern Munchen for playing uninspired, disorganized and heartless. Sampdoria for joining the ranks of the not ready for prime time players.
Thanks for the outlet
Jerod
Jerod your comments are always welcome here. I agree with Bayern, WTF is going on out there? And Samp losing at Cagliari? The Island teams in Serie A (Cagliari, Catania, Palermo) hold their own at home though, especially Cagliari and Palermo.
ReplyDeleteI think Liverpool will at some point get their act together. They can't be this poor for this long.