Crisis? What crisis?

After Chelsea's somewhat surprising but certainly comprehasive defeat at home to Sunderland last weekend, the title race is 'wide open again'. Sure is. If Arsenal beat Spurs in today's lunchtime kick off, the Premier League will have a new leader for the first time since the opening afternoon. Man Utd face Wigan at home (a team that has not beaten them at 10 tries in the Premier League) coming off the back of a Great Escape against Aston Villa last week, and Wayne Rooney could see some action (on the pitch). Chelsea go on the road without Terry, Lampard and Essien to face a Birmingham team that held them to a 0-0 draw last season (the now departed Joe Hart had a large part to play in that result). Momentum appears to be shifting.

Losing John Terry for what could be an extended period (althought I suspect may only be a few weeks-especially since Alex has delayed what is presumably necessary surgery) will not help-he's not the best centre back in England, but he gives 100% and at least he knows the position-starting a game with 2 nominal full backs, one of which was playing on the wrong side of the centre, is not a recipe for a clean sheet. In addition, Chelsea lack impact players on the bench-Kalou aside, you don't expect to see goals from Sturridge, Kakuta or McEachran. On last weekend's evidence, Chelsea looked to have taken the wrong Danny from Manchester-Welbeck looks a much better prospect than Sturridge.

Looking ahead for each of the Top 3 is interesting:

Chelsea

20/11 A v Birmingham
28/11 A v Newcastle
4/12 H v Everton
12/12 A v Spurs

Prediction 5 points from 12

Arsenal

20/11 H v Spurs
27/11 A v Villa
4/12 H v Fulham
13/12 A v Man Utd

Prediction 7 points from 12

Man Utd

20/11 H v Wigan
27/11 H v Blackburn
4/12 A v Blackpool
13/12 H v Arsenal

Prediction 12 points from 12

If I'm right, by xmas the table will be

Man Utd 37 points
Chelsea 33 points
Arsenal 33 points (trailing by a few goals)


Italian managers really got people's goat on Wednesday night. Fabio Capello played Steven Gerrard for longer than he agreed with Liverpool in England's friendly over France, and Gerrard ended up aggrevating a hamstring injury and will miss a few weeks. 'Il Trap' decided that a meaningless home friendly against Norway was not the time to give a debut to Seamus Coleman, who is perhaps Ireland's outstanding/in form player in the Premier League at the moment. What exactly anyone was to learn from watching Aiden McGeady for 20 minutes at the end of the game is beyond me, and much of the Irish support as well I would think. The old Italian man is living off 60 minutes of football against a wretched French team and a reputation forged long ago in European club football (his record with Italy-a 2nd round exit on the 2002 World Cup to South Korea and a dismal Euro 2004).

And on a more sombre note....on my way to work on Wednesday morning I was listening to Des Cahill reading the sports news on RTE Radio 1. Des was singing the praises of the Munster rugby team, who had beaten the Aussies the night before. 'Thank God for Munster, they've lifted the mood in the province....' This after these stories were reported in the news the day before. Stay classy Des.