EPL: Upsets provides window of opportunity for underachievers

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Edin Dzeko of Manchester City reacts during his side’s loss against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on November 10, 2013 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

Often fleeting in nature and without a long-lasting impact, upsets in England’s most loved division are seen as an unlikely subversion of the long-established balance of power that has existed over time.

This season, however, fans have already witnessed a disproportionate amount of shock results and unimaginable performances from the so-called minnows in the league; already there have been more surprises than you can shake a stick at as the underdogs have seized the right opportunity to catch the pre-season favourites off guard.

Truth be told, so far it’s worked a treat as a flurry of matches have flashed by with all of the top four having amassed a combined total of 11 losses – something very few coud have predicted in the build-up to the new campaign.

Somehow, a revamped Everton – who currently sit in fifth position – have only lost one match, yet have drawn seven, while Manchester United who reside in ninth place have fallen to defeat on five ocassions. Arsenal, on the other hand, sat in fifth pace at the end of December in 2012, whereas now they rest proudly at the top with others doing their best to chase them down.

Is there a common denominator to all of this change?

Surely one very important factor that goes some way to explaining why so many giant-killings have come about is that the merry-go-round of managerial changes before the season finally kicked into action has had a very destabilising effect on many of the teams in the nascent stages.

Before they had time to implement their changes properly, teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea were all thrust into competitive action in the league. And while some of these sides have taken advantage of their new-found sense of self, some have faded considerably amidst the furore.

To say that any of these clubs don’t possess squads capable of challenging for the title would be grossly unfair, but nonetheless the mayhem and wilderness of the new Premier League landscape has certainly inspired the smaller clubs into affirmative action.

As a result, a window of opportunity has been opened, and it’s now time for the underachievers to ensure they make the most of it.

One great example can be seen in Liverpool. Despite their billing as a prestigious, top-shelf side, it’s fair to say that they have over-achieved, even in the early stages of the season. Credit must surely go to Brendan Rodgers for the way in which he has used his side’s lack of recent success to their advantage.

Disregarded unfairly by many at the beginning of the season due to the mayhem Luis Suarez was supposed to cause on his return, the Reds have transformed that negative feeling into something positive; they’re now using it as an effective weapon against others.

It’s this very inventiveness that could prove crucial if they are to sustain their good form to date.

Again, glancing at Everton the same level of ingenuity is evident. Roberto Martinez could scarcely believe his luck when Jose Mourinho let Romelu Lukaku join his ranks on loan – the Belgian international has become somewhat of a goal-scoring addict since arriving at Goodison Park. Along with this, the former Wigan Athletic boss also showed a very astute side to his transfer-market tradings in acquiring the signatures of both James McCarthy and Gareth Barry.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on November 23, 2013 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

With a terrifically strong spine to his team, the platform to challenge purposefully on the domestic front has been lain down and the Toffees look set to give it a right go.

In stark contrast to the uber-conservative David Moyes at Manchester United, Martinez saw the potential of building a side from scratch. It’s clear he wants his side to become a new thorn in the side of all the title contenders, thereby gifting them the chance to plant the seeds of a growing ambition.

Moving on, although Tottenham’s experiment has yet to flourish fully, it’s very easy to see them becoming a major player in the Premier League in the next season or two as well. Then again, it’s only mid-way through the season and with the go-getting, positive Andre Villas-Boas at the helm, things may well pick up come the turn of the New Year.

Looking at Chelsea, they’ve not been revolutionary enough and have lacked an apparent eagerness to solve their centre-forward quandary. By bringing Jose Mourinho back – a tried and tested method – it’s plain to see that the ambition of Roman Abramovich et all aren’t quite as rebellious as the clubs around him. Reverting back to type seems far too retrograde for a club that now finds themselves in a four-horse race for the title, and it’s obvious they need fresh ideas.

As for Manchester City, a failure to bring in any new world-class signings before the summer transfer window closed has ensured that their weaknesses from previous seasons remain. Having already lost four times – a mere two shy of the six they lost in the whole of last season – it’s clear that others have begun to exploit the lingering weaknesses.

Cardiff and Sunderland, two of the league’s worst sides so far this season have already managed to claim their scalp, so it’s difficult to see them re-emerge the other side of December revamped by Manuel Pellegrini yet another manager brought in before the season started.

For the likes of the Black Cats, Newcastle and Everton to taste victories they’ve not experienced for several decades, underlines exactly how great the recent order has been upset. Years of frustration and regret have washed over these clubs in the past few weeks and the often debilitating fear that held them down for so long seems to have been shrugged off to a certain extent.

As well as adding to the sheer drama and excitement of the league so far, it is these wonderful against-the-odds victories that underpin the ongoing struggle between the old guard and the new. With surprising, provocative and imaginative ideas clashing with some antiquated, stubborn tactics week-in, week-out, it might well be time for a role-reversal as the dominated rails against its oppressor to become the dominant.

The struggle may not go as planned. The counter-attack against those used to success might not work. But the revolution will be televised, and it certainly promises to be an exhilarating watch.