Maple Lions

We may be only six games into the new season but already the results give us cause to consider the fate of the EPL’s likely lads:

Tottenham

After a dizzying year under Martin Jol that nearly took the Yid Army into the Champions League — with the high of a classic derby against the poilus of Highbury and the low of the final day botulism run — fans were expecting much more at White Hart Lane. Over the summer Tottenham kept Davids and acquired Berbatov but lost Carrick to Manchester United. And the result? 17^th in the table, including a right shellacking at the hands of the Scouse. Two wins in hand could in theory take them back up but their form (no away wins, GD -6) isn’t encouraging.

Wigan

Dave Whelan’s boys burst onto the scene with an opening day nail-biter against Chelsea and kept their form to finish midway in the table in their first year of promotion. Their start this year was much less flashy and one wonders what impact the sales of Nathan Ellington and Jimmy Bullard may have had.

Reading

The new Wigan. Their disciplined drive through the Championship has barely faltered, especially when they recently held the Red Devils to a draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Aston Villa

This season’s Cinderella tale, without question. After a player uprising and the humiliating departure of gaffer David O’Leary, there was genuine doubt over the future of Birmingham’s last outpost in top-flight football. But with the arrival of Martin O’Neill and the club’s purchase by financier Randy Lerner, the Villans have escaped the clutches of both the sheriffs and the Grim Reaper. Their current form is encouraging, going undefeated thus far.

Paul Canniff

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• Dietmar Hamann is leaving Anfield for the Reebok Stadium.
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink heads down to the Valley.
• Liverpool keeper Chris Kirkland goes on loan to Wigan.

Update: Bolton claims their bid for Hamann is off, with Man City now a potential suitor.

Paul Canniff

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Following up on Paul’s post, The Guardian are reporting that AJ is moving to Goodison.

Everton last night won the race to sign Andrew Johnson from Crystal Palace for a club record £8.5m, with the England striker agreeing to move to Goodison Park in preference to either Wigan Athletic or Bolton Wanderers.

But, but, but…

The fee represents a huge proportion of Moyes’ summer transfer budget and may frustrate his attempts to sign a high-profile centre-half.

Sign the Goal Scorer! ~ 2005/06 could have been so different for Everton had they managed even just a few more goals.  While I will not count my chickens here before I see Andrew Johnson in a blue Chang jersey, I’m am guardedly hopeful that Moyes has finally pulled the trigger on a proven striker.  But who knows what last minute wrangling will happen from Bolton and Wigan.

The 25-year-old will meet with Moyes again today but his preference - first expressed last summer following Palace’s relegation from the Premiership - had always been to move to Goodison Park, despite the fact that his other suitors were offering a more attractive financial package.

That would have seen his weekly salary rise from £24,000 to over £40,000, yet he has instead opted to fall within Everton’s own stricter wage structure, most likely on a par with his future strike partner James Beattie, at around £30,000 a week. After 85 goals in 160 appearances at the Selhurst Park club, he is expected to be unveiled as the most expensive player in the Merseysiders’ history next week.

The Guardian article indicates that AJ’s friendship with James Beattie is part of his interest in Everton.  While we’re not sure at this point what the final story really is, I think I’ll allow myself a Woo-hoo! anyway.

Mike C.

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Rooney:

He’s traveling to Germany but only with the prospect of a further scan on June 14. As noted by one of our regular contributors, this is proving to be a tricky dilemma both medically and politically.  So count him out of the group stages for now.

Johnson:

Andy’s definitely on his way back to the Premiership.  Wigan and Bolton are both ready to pony up £8.5M for his services. I would hope that he tends towards Wigan:  Paul Jewell is getting it right at the JJB, whereas Big Sam has been failing in the clutch of late while on the road.  And I still hope that Andy gets a call-up for Germany in light of Rooney’s condition.  I will not hop onto the inexplicable bandwagon for the Merseyside Lurch.

Update: Now the Toffees have joined the bidding war for Johnson. I still stand by my observation above.

Paul Canniff

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The results may read 4-0 for Manchester United over Wigan Athletic but today’s game is a victory for both teams.

Sir Alex has some hardware to claim after a tough season in the EPL and the CL. The Red Devils face a domestic league far more challenging with the rise of Chelsea, the rebirth of Liverpool and the tailspin of Arsenal. They can still display remarkable football talent in the crunch. Whether that will satisfy the gruesome Glazer clan has yet to be seen.

The Latics can take pride in the journey that took them to Cardiff today. Despite a lopsided final score, Wigan sits within an EPL spread between fifth and ninth places of only three points. A spot in the UEFA Cup next year is not out of question.

Taken together, these performances are a reassuring sign that the EPL is not caught in the death spiral of ennui that has been the hallmark of its Scottish counterpart.

Paul Canniff

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After round 26 of the EPL, there are some stories overlooked by the pundits. Among them are the amazing performances of newly promoted sides West Ham United and Wigan Athletic.

The Hammers have returned to historic form and are firmly esconced in a dramatically transforming London footie scene, marked by Spurs on the cusp of returning to Europe and Millwall sliding from an FA Cup final to crashing out of the Championship. BTW try to catch “Green Street” if you can. Yes, it’s about the Hammers’ hoolies but it’s still remarkable entertainment.

But the Cinderella story of English football has to be the Latics. Has anyone seriously analyzed how Dave Whelan pulled off a decade-long plan to take a side into the Premiership? Wigan only entered the Football League in 1978. In this season they have held their own admirably against all comers, only losing to the top four in hotly contested matches with narrow margins. Now they look forward to battling Man U for the League Cup and may have a UEFA Cup slot slide their way. This saga needs to be sung!

Paul Canniff

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