HAPPY BLUE
YEAR
If Christmas is the season to be jolly, January is a time of
recovery and sober reflection.
And football is no different.
Most of England's Premiership sides have crammed four games into
eight days - a festive feast for fans but a savage session for
players.
But as the lights go out and the tinsel is packed away, one team
has emerged unscathed from the fixture frenzy.
Like an elite athlete who trains on Christmas Day while everyone
else over-indulges, Chelsea - blessed by quality in depth - have
kept up their relentless march towards a successful defence of the
title with four wins out of four.
The chasing clubs, on the other hand, are like the rest of us -
breathing a sigh of relief that it's all over.
And they're now assessing the damage inflicted over the holiday
period, more congested than usual this season to allow a four-week
break before the World Cup.
Second-placed Manchester United survived intact with two wins and a
draw, and with a game against Arsenal to come on Tuesday, Sir Alex
Ferguson's men could make inroads into Chelsea's 14-point
lead.
Liverpool's 10-match winning streak in the Premiership may have
come to an end with a 2-2 draw at Bolton, but the Reds have also
kept in touch in third with 10 points out of a possible 12.
The likes of Tottenham, with two wins and a defeat from three
matches, Blackburn (w, w, w, l) and Aston Villa (w, d, d, w) have
also managed to limit the ravages of the season.
But as the Premiership takes a two-week break for FA Cup and
Carling Cup fixtures, Sunderland will have plenty of time to
contemplate their position 10 points adrift at the bottom.
The Black Cats suffered two defeats and a draw, and with their next
league game against Chelsea on 15 January, they may be unable to
close the gap until the end of the month.
By then it could be too late, if it is not already.
The newly-opened transfer window will allow some teams the chance
to breathe life into their campaigns and refresh injury-hit squads,
though it mus not be forgotten that Chelsea also rule the
marketplace.
Newcastle could be first to test the water, possibly with a bid for
Henrik Larsson to cover for Michael Owen, who will be out until
April after foot surgery.
Struggling Portsmouth, too, could have some cash to splash after
Russian businessman Alexandre Gaydamak bought into the club.
In the Championship, leaders Reading also threw down the gauntlet
after three wins and a draw since Boxing Day to emerge 10 points
clear.
Behind, Leeds' four straight wins rocketed them up to third and
into a position to pose a creditable challenge to second-placed
Sheffield United, who play Hull on Tuesday.
Crystal Palace, relegated from the Premiership last season, also
picked up maximum points to put pressure on fourth-placed
Watford.
But for last year's other relegated sides Norwich (11th) and
Southampton (14th), the respective chairmen face a difficult
decision - to gamble and invest heavily in the hope of going back
up, or consolidate and accept a spell in the Championship.
Further down the football hierarchy, League One leaders Southend
edged ahead of Swansea and Brentford with three wins and a draw,
while Wycombe's 5-4 defeat to Macclesfield on Monday left the top
of League Two wide open.
In Scotland, the festive calendar was relatively leisurely and
Celtic's two wins in two games included a significant 3-2 away
victory over second-place Hearts.
Celtic extended their lead to seven points and with Roy Keane
likely to make his debut against Clyde in the Scottish Cup on 8
January, 2006 is looking rosy at Celtic Park.
Many New Year resolutions will face their first tests in the coming
weeks, but every club across the land will hope they can stick to
just one - give up losing.
Every club apart, that is, from Chelsea, for whom it looks like
being a very happy blue year.
- credit: Rob Hodgetts, BBC
Sport
