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Expected, that is all I can say about how we have done this week. Yet I was expecting much worse than we are. Our fellow writers feel that Wigan will finish 15th if things stay how they are. Is that going to happen? Are we doing well enough? Or are we doing better? Those are several questions that I imagine Martinez has been thinking of the past week.
We played well against Manchester United for the first half before, we played 135 minutes of dire football. Followed by 90 minutes against West Ham, where our second sting side looked in fin form. To say it doesn't all add up, is an understatement.
It has a feeling much like last season, where we couldn't put a run together, before we went on to lose eight on the trot. That will hopefully not be the case, a string of good results and we could be up the table. But lets see where everyone else has been placed, and what we have to do to move up the table.
No. 1 - Manchester United (Average ranking - 1.60): After a slow start, this United side still look poor, but are managing to win games, how they do it. That is the big secret that none will let the cat out of the bag on. Yet you can only see them go from strength to strength as the season goes on. Especially once Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie play up front together.
No. 2 - Chelsea (2.40): Who would have thought they wouldn’t be in the top spot? Well I didn’t I put Chelsea top and that is where I see them staying. They are slowing down a bit now, but they have a good mix of young and old talent and could be real title challengers this season. They showed they can deal with the big strong players of Stoke and there are none better at that type of football.
No. 3 Manchester City (3.47): A surprisingly slow start for this City side. They have started to drop points, and that isn’t a good sign. Will they fall short this season? Well if they play like they did at the weekend, then they don’t look like title contenders. Defensivly sloppy and out of ideas going forwards, just goes to show that money isn’t everything.
No. 4 - Arsenal (4.13): Getting better and they will continue to do so. Their new signings are fitting in well and they should only add to the strength they already have as the season goes on. Two good wins in the past weeks. The 2-0 win over Liverpool was much deserved, before a 1-1 draw against Manchester City where they deserved better.
No. 5 - Everton (4.67): The unexpected high flyers don’t look like stopping in the league as they flew past a poor Swansea side 3-0 at the weekend, and I don’t think they will continue to stop with ethe mix of hard working players and attacking talent. Return to Europe on the cards?
No. 6 - Tottenham Hotspur (6.80): Hard to tell with Spurs they have looked very poor this season. Yet Jermain Defoe as looked really sharp and doesn’t look like he won’t stop scoring. That really is the only one bright light in the current Tottenham side.
No. 7 - West Bromwich Albion (7.13): Who would have thought they would be doing so well. I don’t think any of their fans would have thought so. Yet they are going well and with another win under their belt against Reading. Could they be this season surprise package?
No. 8 - Newcastle United (8.07): They don’t look as strong as they did last season. Some area where they could do with improving, but last season would be hard to beat. Consolidation will be the main aim for the season with a big cup run. Yet if they can pick up wins like against Norwich who knows.
No. 9 - Fulham (8.27): They deserve to be this high. A great home form, and after beating Wigan at the weekend, they only look even stronger for it. Possible European contenders? I would like to think so.
No. 10 - Swansea City (10.80): Great start, yet they have started to fade away with two defeats. Yet it isn’t all doom and gloom, they can still play that great football.
No. 11 - Sunderland (11.47): The average team, four draws and remaining undefeated. Hard to beat but hard to win; will be a tough test for Wigan this weekend.
No. 12 - West Ham (12.00): Typical Sam Allardyce team make it hard for the opposition to beat you and look to get in behind them. It is work so far and they remain comfortable in mid-table.
No. 13 - Stoke City (12.80): Long ball strength football can do well, and Stoke are going to do their usual and stay nice and safe in mid-table. A good performance against Chelsea at the weekend and were unlucky not to pick up a point.
No. 14 - Liverpool (13.67): Passing football, check. Better possession, check. Goals and points, oh we forgot them. Report card shows they must do better, even a 2-1 defeat against united looked like a win after Liverpool’s very good performances, but its points that win prizes.
No. 15 - Wigan Athletic (15.46): Then there is us!
No. 16 - Aston Villa (15.93): This Villa side should be doing better, and they have started to look better a 4-1 win over Manchester City in the league cup will have done them the world of good, going into this weekend’s fixtures.
No. 17 - Southampton (16.13): They won at the weekend, and are starting to look really confident. Can they keep it up? I wouldn’t bet against them pushing on now with their first win behind them and looking to get out of the relegation area.
No. 18 - Norwich City (18.20): Losing Paul Lambert looks like it will sot them. Not the same side at all, no fight or flow and they could be certain relegation hopefuls.
No. 19 - Queen's Park Rangers (18.27): Throwing money at your problems, and what do you get a pile of rubbish. Even Brazils legendry goalkeeper couldn’t save them from a destructive 2-1 win against Tottenham at the weekend after taking the lead.
No. 20 - Reading (19.40): Not the way the season was written for the London club. They will hope for better. Yet they look lifeless against West Brom and I don’t think that anything will change for them, unless they do something radical.
For the official list click here.