So with no games this week in the English Premiership, this fixture break gives a chance to reflect on the season so far. In the Premiership we have Chelsea in pole position, but they have not looked unassailable, possibly because they have not played any in-form teams, aside from Man. City at Eastlands. Arsenal played quite well last week at Stamford Bridge, but did not take their chances. As a caller to the Radio 5 606 phone-in said, there is a rectangular thing at the end of the pitch, where the ball is meant to go if you want to win games. Pretty approach work does not count in the end. Overall that game was an example of Chelsea’s power wearing Arsenal down, and the blues scoring two great goals, and impressing overall.

There is a long way to go and the Chelsea squad, dare I say it, despite their obvious quality, looks a bit thin, especially at the back, ahead of the inevitably difficult winter pitch conditions. They had a preseason midfield clear-out anyway involving Ballack and Cole; now Benayoun is sidelined for a long period, and Lampard and Alex are on the injury list, with the squad not getting any younger. The same applies to John Terry who has just pulled out of Capello’s squad with a back injury; it means he has only featured once for his country since the World Cup.

As a team Manchester United do not look balanced yet and are vulnerable away from home, as Sunderland showed last week. This at least means that provided Chelsea do not pull away the battle for the title should at least be interesting for the neutrals.

The Black Cats have an impressive 10 players on International duty this week, see http://www.safc.com/news/20101007/black-cats-on-international-duty_2256213_2174235 - and aside from the established professionals, this group includes a number of promising young players, such as Jordan Henderson, who scored for the U-21s with an impressive volley versus Romania, and U-17 Jordan Pickford. Bruce has engineered a situation where he has a number of excellent young prospects at his disposal, it is easy to forget for example that Egyptian international Al Muhammadi is just 23, and he has produced some very assured displays this season.

Darren Bent has actually been drawing praise from Capello, and may have his first competitive start for England, http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=831216&sec=euro2012&cc=5739&cc=5739, following that fine goal against Switzerland last time out. All genuine Sunderland fans have been very excited about Darren Bent’s development into a consistent goalscorer for both club and country, and I for one look the see him growing further in confidence and being a fixture for England.
©Lars J.S. Knutsen