[Archived] Premiership Power Rankings

[Driftpeasant]

So those of you who are more familiar with American football may be familiar with the concept of "Power Rankings."

Power rankings are similar to polls - they're an interpretation of the relative strength of the teams and how good you think they are, regardless of actual standing in the tables. For example - Rovers are unbeaten after 4 matches, and sitting on 8 points, whereas Man City have lost 2 straight and are sitting on 9. I would judge Rovers better than City despite the table saying otherwise.

Anyway, here are my rankings for the week ending 9/2/07. I'd love to see anyone else's rankings as well.

1. Liverpool

Admittedly their latest conquest was a shellacking of almost-certain-yoyo Derby County, but they've looked the sharpest of any team thus far this season. Could this be the year they break through and win the league?

2. Arsenal

While undefeated, their play has been lackluster at times, and Lehmann's gift of a goal to Rovers raises doubts about his skills at his age.

3. Newcastle United

Fat Sam finally has a budget, and has assembled a good team - providing he can keep them from imploding. This could be the year Newcastle goes to the CL.

4. Blackburn

13 straight undefeated matches in all competitions, a core of talented strikers, and a defense that will be spectacular when it gels. They would be higher, but haven't managed to win by more than 1 yet.

5. Everton

They're young, talented, and overshadowed by their neighbors. Possibly on par with Rovers, but fall to 5 on the basis of Rovers' streak.

6. Chelsea

Against Villa they played possibly the worst game of the Mourinho era. Are the cracks showing, or will they bounce back against Rovers?

7. Manchester United

The injury bug that plagued Rovers so heavily last years seems to have taken a holiday down the A666. Will all their new players gel in time to make up the points?

8. Manchester City

Amazing out of the gate, and then a stumble. While a microcosm of a general Sven Goran Eriksson club career, does it signify City's eventual fate? Probably not - they just need more seasoning.

9. Aston Villa

A big win against the Big 4 places them top half of the table. But their kit is still ugly.

10. West Ham United

Dean Ashton's return along with Craig Bellamy prying himself away from the comforts of the Hammerettes make West Ham look like a top half team.

11. Wigan

Some good performances early, but they lost to Hull. Seriously. Hull.

12. Middlesborough

Haven't quite gotten their confidence back after dropping a lead to Rovers at home.

13. Portsmouth

They could only tie Derby, and Redknapp's tipped Arsenal to win the Prem, giving up by the 5th game. While Pompey were never realistically going to win, isn't that throwing in the towel a bit early?

14. Fulham

Goal Differential doesn't tell the true story since their #1 is out. Will Kasey Kelleher be able to turn the ship around? Will Big Brad be able to keep from breaking his neck when they have to shake hands?

15. Tottenham

As things stand, there is no chance Martin Jol survives to Christmas. Look for Kenny Dalglish to be tapped to replace him, after his family are held hostage, and a semi-detached is built for him out of 100 pound notes.

16. Sunderland

Have looked better than Birmingham. Barely.

17. Birmingham City

Have an aura of palpable failure surrounding them. It's as if New Labour became a football team...

18. Bolton

"We're going to Wembley, you're going to Burnley, We're going to Wembley, you're going to Burnley..." More seriously, are here because they can score goals, just not enough of them.

19. Reading

How the heck did they beat Everton?

20. Derby County

Should NOT have won against WBA. Could be transplanted into MLS and still be lower half.

[USRoverME]

Not bad, but you need to interject a bit more actuall comment and content to counter-act the snark. Then you are doign well.

This, can't see Chelsea below us, despite the loss, if you are valueing Rover's streak so much, then the one Chelsea jus lost has to have much more meaning, despite the fact that it was snapped.

[Driftpeasant]

Not bad, but you need to interject a bit more actuall comment and content to counter-act the snark. Then you are doign well.

This, can't see Chelsea below us, despite the loss, if you are valueing Rover's streak so much, then the one Chelsea jus lost has to have much more meaning, despite the fact that it was snapped.

I value Rovers' streak because it shows the team has gelled more. At some level, yes, it does involve Intertoto and early UEFA wins, but they ARE wins, and are something we've stumbled on historically.

[Hypo-Luxa]

Not bad, but you need to interject a bit more actuall comment and content to counter-act the snark. Then you are doign well.

This, can't see Chelsea below us, despite the loss, if you are valueing Rover's streak so much, then the one Chelsea jus lost has to have much more meaning, despite the fact that it was snapped.

haha I quite liked the snarky remarks!

[Driftpeasant]

1. Arsenal

Love them or hate them, they've looked VERY good this year. Yes, they're not perfect (Tottenham actually looked in it for the first half), but they've put together good ball and look to have overcome the "Henry will score for us" syndrome.

2. Liverpool

Admittedly below City in the table, but are undefeated with a game in hand and therefore get the nod here. If this weekend were any indication, though, it will not be an easy road to the top.

3. Manchester City

Who knows how long it will last, but they're grinding wins out and don't look too bad at home. Away, well...

4. Manchester United

A quality win over a good Everton squad at Goodison gives them the nod over...

5. Chelsea

Lots of chances against Rovers, but a spectacular effort by the officiating crew and an even more spectacular effort by Brad Friedel only give them a draw at home. Key match is, of course, on the 23rd.

6. West Ham

Apparently biscuit money spends as well as anyone else in the Prem. The tie with Wigan might indicate some longer term weakness, though...

7. Blackburn

Did not look good at Stamford Bridge, but still came away with a point and are undefeated in 14 straight matches. UEFA Cup play beckons, though, and their lineup is thin.

8. Everton

Probably better than West Ham in the long run, but haven't scored the goals to show it yet. Still, would West Ham have only lost 1-0 to ManUre?

9. Aston Villa

Have lose close games to very good clubs, and had a good game against Chelsea. One more puzzle piece and they'll be very good.

10. Wigan

Yes, they have two losses, but they've been to quality clubs in Newcastle and Everton.

11. Newcastle United

Three words: Derby Freaking County. Those are not the games you lose to break into the top 4.

12. Middlesborough

There is not much to distinguish 12, 13, and 14 on this list, but 'Boro have a win over Birmingham, and that's enough to sit them 12th.

13. Birmingham

You really think they should be higher, but they're playing to the level of their opponents. This will bite them in the end.

14. Sunderland

Ooog. Was losing to Luton a brilliant tactical move to keep the squad fresh for the Prem, or have the intervening 2 weeks shown that it won't make any difference?

15. Portsmouth

Nice draw against Liverpool. Not so good the rest of the way.

16. Fulham

Clint Dempsey looks good. The rest of Fulham, no. Still, they should end higher than this.

17. Tottenham

Looked okay for a bit against Arsenal. Still, Martin Jol's countdown has begun. Doomed, I say, dooooooomed.

18. Reading

Ick.

19. Derby County

Ick. Ack.

20. Bolton

Ick. Ack. Thbbbt!

[KimberleyBRFC]

3. Newcastle United

Fat Sam finally has a budget, and has assembled a good team - providing he can keep them from imploding. This could be the year Newcastle goes to the CL.

I disagree, Newcastle won't finish in top six let alone top 4 this year.

[lockers]

I disagree, Newcastle won't finish in top six let alone top 4 this year.

This aint a prediction thread kimberley. If i've picked up correctly, its about where Driftpleasant would rank each team on their weekly performances!

[USRoverME]

yeah, the concept behind the power rankings is basically an attempt to say, at this precise moment, who is the best team, etc. You'l notice Newcastles loss to Derby dropped them like a rock, this happens in power ranking, not because 3 lost points will kill their chances in the league, but more because a loss to a ###### poor team is an indication that something might not be right, and that the side is wobbly.

[OJRovers]

I quite like the power-rating thing - but it's difficult to do it without being bias towards Rovers (for me it is anyway!)

Like i'd suggest that we've had the most difficult start to the PL than any other club (played 4 of the top 6 already) and still are unbeaten. Whereas West Ham/Man City have got their results against lower teams.

And we have a game in hand.

[USRoverME]

On the other hand, OJ, we looked rather average at the bridge, and got away with the point luckily, many can and would argue, same with Arsenal, our goal being quite lucky. We were bossing Everton, but only got the one. Although we're unbeaten, we haven't been world beaters yet, we haven't put on a 6-0 thrashing ala pool-derby, or even really a complete game where we looked best start to finish, City would be the closest. After all, we had to come back to win on opening day, to 'boro

[bellamy11]

I quite like the power-rating thing - but it's difficult to do it without being bias towards Rovers (for me it is anyway!)

Like i'd suggest that we've had the most difficult start to the PL than any other club (played 4 of the top 6 already) and still are unbeaten. Whereas West Ham/Man City have got their results against lower teams.

And we have a game in hand.

Portsmouth