THE FORTNIGHT REVIEW

Two weeks into the Premiership brought some surprises....and has already answered a few questions. One of them being that the eventual winner will be from The Big Four....again. The most likely contenders outside the clique of Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and ManU is, or were, The Spurs, the Whitehart Lane Hopefuls. The status quo shows that they might be fighting for a place in the..................PREMIERSHIP. We can't blame Portsmouth for being last, the old geezer Harry has been complaining that he can't bring in new players; and it's not his fault, is it?

As for Arsenal, they've showed us how to play a beautiful game of football.....and still manage not to score. It seems as if they lack experience and creativity in the centre of the midfield without Fabregas pulling strings and Eboue, who was deployed as a rightside midfield winger last season, looks lost playing the role of the anchorman. And Adebayor should have been sold....Arsenal won't get the same price....or the same performance. With all the chances he'd missed, I wouldn't bet on him even if he grew his hair back. Right now, The Gunners look likely to finish fourth.

Liverpool got lucky....twice. A rare moment of brilliance from Torres in the mostly insipid game against Sunderland saved them once and the man of some moments, Gerrard, coming from an uninspiring performance against the Czechs, hit a scorcher against Borough, giving them the six points and a second-place spot. But, still, they don't seem to have the prowess required to take the title back to Anfield. The much talked about Keane-Torres partnership hasn't clicked, yet. Apart from Gerrard, their midfield lacks a killer instinct and do not show a potential to be consistent. I apologize to the Kop, but the only thing the Reds look like bringing back to Anfield is........their traveling fans.

Although Manchester United don't have their best players at their disposal, they still managed to get a point against the Magpies and won against the Pompeys. But, they still lack the fluency they showed in their football last season. Giggs and Scholes both look Fergie's age. They do need an out-an-out striker (read Berbatov), with Saha's departure to Everton imminent. But when Cristiano...I mean.... the stars do come back into action, albeit for only one season, they might pick up the tempo and wrestle with Chelsea for the crown. The only question is: Unlike like last season, will it be too late?

The most formidable outfit in the top four seem to be the Blues, whose talk about Samba football went kaput against Wigan. But, they still managed to get three points from a devilish pitch at the JJB, courtesy an exquisite goal from Deco. They pummeled Portsmouth, who look like the potential punching bags this season, and showed they can play beautiful football, but have to keep their first team players fit. Chelsea's answer to winning this season will be a blank injury list and if they can do that, The Premiership, and maybe the Champion League, will go blue this season.

A PEEK INTO THE PREMIERSHIP

Every year, before the Barclays Premiership commences, Shebby Singh predicts a winner, only to regret it later. Nevertheless, it's not so much a risk if one bets on the Big Four to win it (the Rovers were the last team, outside the Big Four, to win the league in the 94-95 season). So, instead of mimicking the Oracle at Delphi, let's take a look at the way things stand for the BF and weigh their chances of winning the coveted title (in alphabetical order).

'It is not wrong to call Arsenal a young side still, but it is wrong to call us inexperienced.'

Arsenal: Well...things don't look so bright at the immigrant stadium. Wenger's probably suffering from nightmares of Adebayor and Fabregas wearing Barca and Madrid football kits. With the transmigration of Hleb, Flamini and Gilberto to Barca, Milan and Panathinaikos resp., this summer's transfer window has really hit the Gunners; the only silver linings being the arrival of Samir Nasri, future talent Aaron Ramsey and the departure of the goofy Jens Lehmann. As for the team, the defense looks the same (no comments); Adebayor and Bendtner squabbling up front, make up the strike force, until Eduardo returns in December. The midfield looks emaciated without the supply from Hleb and the defensive qualities of Flamini, although Nasri could possibly fill Hleb's shoes. Kudos to Walcott, who'll get more starts and minutes on the pitch. Regarding their chances to win the title, the inexperience might show, as it did last year. With Ladbrokes listing Arsenal's odds akin to a dice's roll at 6/1, go with The Gunners, only if you feel lucky.

'I am not here to play pretty but to win titles. If we do both, that's great.'

Chelsea: The Pensioners hit the right note by signing Big Phil; the super-egos needed to know whose the daddy. The World Cup winner with Brazil will probably bring a new dimension to Chelsea's game, and bring the 'beautiful football' which the management desires. Instead of aimlessly dishing out Russian Rubles, the Blues have made a reasonable signing in Bosingwa, who seems to be the Deus Ex Machina to their right-back woes. And the signing of Deco will add flair and vision to an Extremely Desolate Midfield. With the addition of Bosingwa, the defense looks patched up. They've managed to hold on to Lamps, and with in-form 'eternal runner-up' Ballack & Essien, Deco, etc. the midfield looks packed, and Big Phil will have a problem with selection. There is some amount of reservation regarding the attack; both Anelka and Diving Drogba seem a bit whimsical, but the midfield will definitely help. With Kalou there to change the score from 4-0 to 5-0, and Shevchenko as a cheerleader, the attack seems enough. With Ladbrokes listing the odds at 13/8 for Chelsea to win the title, this is one bet worth taking.

'I am confident about my squad, and I am happy that we have the best squad since I arrived at Anfield.'

Liverpool: With the addition of Keane, and the presence of El Nino, The Reds have the most potent strike force amongst the Big Four. Add to that the supply from Gerrard, Babel's tricky sprints down the left, Pennant's hopeful return to form, and the services of Benayoun and Alonso, and you get quite a talented midfield. Riise's own goals have been substituted by the versatile Philip Degen, although he's been injury-prone of late. The rest of the defense looks alright, and if the team can focus on the game rather than the bickering between Hicks and Gillett, Liverpool have a really good chance, provided the rotation policy doesn't cause dizziness. Even though Ladbrokes have listed them at 6/1, it would be appropriate to quote the Spoiled One, Jose Mourinho, on this one: 'Man United and Chelsea will be fighting but one day Liverpool are going to get that title. I think it might be this year.'

'It will not be easy.'

Manchester United: Just when we thought that the only transfer news related to Man U this season would be securing the services of Cristiano, who is on a virtual loan from Madrid, Fergie manages to pull a rabbit out of the hat. The attempt to snatch Dimitar Berbatov from the Spurs has surprised everyone. With Tevez to give him regular company and Rooney and CR7 possible return to action in September, the idea of repeating the double seems optimistic. With Scholes, Giggs, Park Ji-Sung, Carrick, Anderson and Nani at their disposal, Man U have all they need in the midfield. The dynamic duo of Vidic and Ferdinand look formidable against most attacks, although Van Der Sar continues to become more eccentric by the day. The only factors working against Man U appear to be injuries and a minor weakness in defense. If, in the absence of Rooney and CR7, they can maintain a good start, The Red Devils will have quite a chance of completing the 3-peat. Ladbrokes lists them at 5/4; and with their showing at the Community Shield, you can't blame 'em.

So, with a sense of what to expect from the Big Four, can you predict who's gonna clinch it? Will it be The Gunners, The Pensioners, The Reds or The Red Devils? Or will the 94-95 season come back to haunt us? Sooner or later, we'll find out.

THE 20 TALISMANS

Last year, it was Cristiano Ronaldo. With 42 goals in all competitions, and 34 in the league, CR7 was definitely The Difference. Let's take a look at 20 pivotal players, one from each of the twenty EPL teams.

Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas
Alhough The Gunners have signed 'The Next Zidane', the youthful Fabregas remains the first and foremost player on Wenger's teamsheet. If Arsenal's much-loved passing game were a symphony, Fabregas would be the orchestrator. With the departure of many experienced, big-game players, it's up to Fabregas to carry the mantle for The Gunners this season.

Aston Villa: Ashley Young
Pace, acceleration, setpieces and an ability to perplex defenders makes the former Watford player a keystone in AV's attempt to break into the Champions League. Young has developed into a fine attacking midfielder under O'Neill's guidance and isn't far away from becoming an England first-team regular.

Blackburn Rovers: Roque Santa Cruz
The Paraguayan international scored 19 goals last season and hopes to outdo himself this time round. The Rovers are trying hard to keep this former Bayern Munich forward from the clutches of newly appointed Citeh coach Mark Hughes.

Bolton Wanderers: Kevin Nolan
He'll have to play a Captain's Role throughout the season to keep Bolton afloat in the Premiership. Having just survived a scare last season, and with a dearth of goalscorers, the onus to score goals and lead the team rests on his shoulders.

Chelsea: Didier Drogba
His absence was partly the reason behind The Blues finishing second-best. He played well, but wasn't consistent enough. Likely to form a partnership with Anelka, Drogba's return to fitness and 06-07 form may well be enough for Chelsea to cruise to a Premiership title.

Everton: Mikel Arteta
Making only 23 appearances last season, the absence of Arteta accounts for Everton's 5th-place finish. His excellent close-control dribbling and vision makes him a crucial component of the creative force in Everton's midfield.

Fulham: Jimmy Bullard
His lack of presence throughout last season was a major factor in placing Fulham in their precarious situation, albeit his free kick and Danny Murphy's header salvaged Fulham from relegation and saved Roy Hodgson's job. With a number of new teammates, Bullard hopes to remain injury-free and catch up on lost time.

Hull City: Geovanni
A former Benfica, Barcelona & Man City player, he is a signing which may as well provide the talent required to survive in the Premiership. A versatile attacking midfielder, with the ability to play on both wings, he'll give Phil Brown a variety of attacking options.

Liverpool: Steven Gerrard
Yes, it's still Steven Gerrard. Even though the 'goal-scoring machine' Torres will remain the biggest threat to opposition defenses, Gerrard plays with a passion which is seldom seen. His ability to score in big-games combined with his ingenuity in attack & defense makes him the nucleus of Liverpool.

Manchester City: Micah Richards
His rise to prominence in City's defense is reiterated by the faith Don Fabio shows in him. His physique and judgement, coupled with his pace, makes him an ideal defender for any team. An injury-free season for him is imperative if Citeh want to secure a place in Europe.

Manchester United: Cristiano Ronaldo
It just might be for only one more season, but the choice for this spot is a no-brainer. The to-be 'World Player Of the Year' award recipient is indispensable. He is and was the protagonist to United's successful story last season and the year before. The question remains, 'Can he do it again??'

Middlesbrough: Afonso Alves
With 6 goals in only 11 games, Alves showed, especially during the match against ManU, a glimpse of what he's capable of doing. Being Borough's most expensive signing, Alves hopes he can justify the price tag.

Newcastle United: Fabricio Coloccini
The potential answer to the Magpies' defensive woes, Coloccini is an established Argentinian center-back. A partnership with Steven Taylor guarantees an increase in the number of clean-sheets compared to last season's figures.

Portsmouth: Jermaine Defoe
Tired of warming the bench during his stint at Tottenham, Defoe joined Portsmouth last season and has a golden opportunity to prove his skeptics wrong. Even though he shows an occasional selfishness in front of goal, he seems to be the perfect foil to lanky teammate Peter Crouch.

Sunderland: Steed Malbranque
The attacking midfielder/playmaker, signed from Tottenham, has the knack of doing something special. He might stay silent for a good period of the game, but it's the moment of brilliance he displays, which makes him standout as a special player on the Sunderland team.

Stoke City: Ricardo Fuller
Scoring 15 goals last season for The Potters, becoming their top scorer and guiding them into the Premiership, he'll have to play a similar role if Stoke don't want to choke.

Tottenham Hotspurs: Ledley King
This injury-prone central defender, who wears the captain's armband, must play a significant amount of games for Spurs this season. As their attack seems potent enough to score against any team, the only question remains in their defense. Will Ledley King be the answer?

West Bromwich Albion: Scott Carson
The shot stopper is an England international and Tony Mowbray has secured his services at a cut price deal. He has to perform to his potential, if he wants to get picked for the national squad again.

West Ham United: Dean Ashton
A one time England International, he had his career derailed by injuries. A very astute finisher, he has it in him to regain his place in the England set-up, provided he remains injury free and has a sparkling season.

Wigan Athletic: Antonio Valencia
This Ecuadorean right-winger has got pace and an ability to go past defenders. Possessing an eye-for-goal and a commendable work-rate, he'll get opportunities, but to prove his worth, he'll have to take them.