Who scores more goals this season, Darren Bent or Robbie Keane?
The former and current Spurs strikers both scored at the weekend and have begun the season in fine form. Bent has 6 goals to date and Keane has 5 after plundering 4 against hapless Burnley on the weekend.
Over the past 7 years, going back to his first season with Tottenham, Keane has 13, 14, 11, 16, 11, 15 and 10 league goals (the last including 5 goals during his ill-fated stay with Liverpool). Bent, during the same spell, has 12, 16, 20, 18, 13, 6 and 12 league goals (the first 3 taking place in the Championship for Ipswich). Both are consistent performers with Keane averaging a goal every 2.73 games during his Premiership career and Bent averaging a goal every 2.46 games.
Their current employers Spurs (17) and Sunderland (14) have been amongst the top scorers in the division this year although it seems likely the London club will score more over the course of the season. While Tottenham will probably rotate their forwards that much more, Keane is, in the absence of Ledley King, the team captain and will start the majority of games, as should Bent. Neither has struggled with long-term injury.
One point of note would seem to be the mildly different roles they play for their respective employers; Keane more of a creator, Bent as a finisher. The Sunderland man, in the vain of confidence he is currently in and considering the quick accord he has built with Kenwyne Jones, might be favourite to edge the Irishman.
Where do Burnley get their first goal and points away from Turf Moor?
0 goals, 14 conceded and 0 points in their 4 away fixtures so far this term. Their next 6 away fixtures; Blackburn, Man City, West Ham, Portsmouth, Wolves and Everton, their last before the turn of the year. Blackburn, despite a poor start, have only lost 1 of 4 at home and are a physical and experienced Premiership team, Man City should be too strong so...Portsmouth right? Maybe not. The South coast side will surely have lifted their form by them (they can't lose every game this year) and Fratton Park, historically, has been a site of strength.
What about West Ham. They have been vulnerable at home, having lost both their games at Upton Park this season, and have proven inconsistent under Zola - they've won 3 of their last 10 home league fixtures.
Who has more by Christmas; points for Portsmouth or goals for Louis Saha?
Saha scored his fifth goal of the season in toppling Pompey once again, leaving Portsmouth with no points yet from their 7 games played and 11 games before Christmas 2009. Saha, who has missed large chinks of the past 7 years due to groin, knee and hamstring injuries but, when fit and available, is a clinical finisher, as has been seen this season and in the last FA Cup final.
Saha might be expected to score at least another 3 or 4 before the festive period, even considering the return of Yakubu and the fact that he probably won't start every game. Pompey have games against Wolves, Stoke, Hull, Wigan, Blackburn and Burnley as well as Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United and Spurs. Can they pick up 10 points from that schedule? Probably. Go on. Yes.
Which team will be the first to break into the top-4?
Man City and Spurs can claim to be the biggest threats in the early stages of this season. But what if Arsenal, Liverpool, United and Chelsea finish in at the summit once more? Then perhaps Everton or Aston Villa would be in the conversation too.
City, with their resources, would have to be favourites but Everton were the last team to break the monopoly, finishing 4th in the 2004/5 season and are coming off the back of successive 5th place finishes while Spurs and Villa might have the strongest young English nuclei in the division.
Despite their varying credentials, City are the standout prospect. Even if the squad isn't capable of it this season, they can buy those that will.
Will Ryan Giggs win 20 major domestic trophies?
The Welsh wing wizard has 18 - 11 Premier League trophies, 4 FA Cups and 3 League Cups. So, only needing 2 more, the question simply revolves around his longevity and whether United can retain their domestic dominance during his remaining years.
Giggs, now 35, was PFA Player of the Year last term and has shown little inclination to retire. His stamina cannot be questioned and, albeit in a more restricted role, Giggs is still a top player.
David James is 39, fellow Welshman Gary Speed was playing Premiership football at 38 and former United teammate Dwight Yorke was still a Sunderland player at 37 so there is precedent. However, Giggs will finish his career at Old Trafford and almost certainly would not want to remain at the club if he was not capable of performing to a high level. Could he be there for 2 more years? 3? 4? Would he retire if Ferguson retired? What if he won another Champions League? Here's hoping it's safe to pencil into United squads for another couple of seasons.
Well, then he has to be a lock for 20 trophies right? Probably, United have won 4 domestic trophies over the past 3 years, including 3 league titles but, without Ronaldo, with the golden generation heading towards retirement and some of the young players yet to flourish, the Reds might not be the prevalent force atop the mountain of English football in the immediate future.
Giggs should make it. Just.
Will Fernando Torres score more than 100 league goals for Liverpool?
The Spaniard has 46 goals in 64 appearances. Again, it's purely a matter of how long Torres hangs around. At his current rate, he would only need to play until the end of next season, although injuries might restrict him slightly.
What about 120 goals? That would mean playing with Liverpool until the end of the 2011/12 campaign. Will Benitez still be boss? At 27 or 28, would Torres consider leaving to return to Spain? Will Liverpool be in the financial position to reject a monumental offer from one of Europe's richest?
Here's a few more teasers:
Will Wayne Rooney (0) or Steven Gerrard (1) finish with more PFA Player of the Year awards?
Will Michael Owen (146) finish with more Premiership goals than Andy Cole (189) and be second only to Alan Shearer on the all-time list?
Will Frank Lampard (438), keen to play until he's 38, finish with more Premiership appearances than Ryan Giggs (currently 528)?
Will Leeds be a Premiership side again within 5 years?
Who will be the staring goalkeeper for Manchester United on opening day 2011/12?
I'll leave you to muse over those for a while...
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