Week 4 — Three Things
I often think about what it takes to truly be elite. In any field. It’s a complicated answer and it varies. The certainties I can come up with are above average skill, some degree of luck and in almost all cases, incredibly hard work. Sacrifice is a guaranteed part of the journey. In nearly all sports it requires way more than Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours. It requires a level of narrow-minded focus, where everything else in life is just white noise. It requires either passion or fear. Maybe an absolute passion for a game or feeling. Maybe an unhealthy fear of failure. Depending where you are from and are striving to get out of, it could be from some hybrid fear-driven passion. And in most cases it requires certain influences to keep you going when life’s curveballs inevitably have you doubting your singular obsession.
When it comes to team sports, I think it requires something that few talk about but the best have it. It’s a paradoxical quality. And I fully recognize it flies in the face of my point last week to get joy in other’s successes. Thoughtful perspective and situational awareness are needed to understand the gray zone here. One that requires us to understand where a pendulum is in its swing. And where it needs to be for optimal results. It’s about playing on the edge of crazy, but with the understanding of the bigger picture. If you’ve played team sports (I never played American football but I know there’s a disproportionate amount of crazy required), I’m sure you’ve played with teammates who are no doubt batshit crazy. And then there are some who you are pretty sure are crazy, but not 100% sure because they never quite ‘go there’. They always find a way to reel it in at the last second. They know where the line is. They play with the edge required to miss 10 shots in a row and still scream at their teammates to pass to them because they know they’ll make the next one. They’ll very easily take out a teammate in practice, won’t think twice about it. They play with the dedication that no one will get to the field earlier than them, or stay later regardless of what else life has on their plate. Sir Alex Ferguson writes about this in his book about both Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham. They make that tackle at the beginning of a game or in retaliation after one of their star teammates is hacked that says both ‘we’re here for a battle and if you touch my teammate, I’ll end you’. But yet, they make that tackle in a way that the ref’s first instinct is to show red, but usually ends up yellow. It’s just not quite enough. Even in the heat of battle, they see where the line is. They tip toe on it. Play a little ‘floor is lava’ with it. But they rarely get caught. I believe this is an unspoken quality, where each profession (see business or entrepreneurship) has its version, that is a material ingredient to being elite.
Last weekend, my 8 year old played in a competitive 3v3 football (soccer) tournament. His team only brought 4 kids and played up an age group. It was hot as hell. And they were playing against some solid kids that were used to playing 3v3. They understood the movement, the combos, the defensive shape. My son’s team was getting thumped in their final game and one of the better kids on the other team dribbled at my guy and did a rainbow successfully over him. And my son just watched in awe. As a father, it was painful. My little guy is typically a fighter, always confident and never wrong in his eyes. Lives life with a bit of an edge. I want to be on his team, hate playing against him, for multiple reasons. But in this instance his surprise/appreciation of this kid’s skill temporarily outweighed his ‘edge’. And on the ride home it was time to go into ‘dad mode’. Multiple things were on the line here. Pride. Ego. His team’s reputation. The Boyle Family Crest. I was fuming when it happened, probably too much, but I hope/don’t think anyone noticed. After the game it was an interesting opportunity to have a conversation with him about ‘the line’. Having pride but also making sure his actions weren’t detrimental to his team. I may or may not have said…’if a kid tries to do a rainbow over you, you throw an elbow in his chest’. I was taught that the ball or the man gets by you, never both. But I also definitely said, ‘after you put him on his ass, you help him up and put a ‘sorry sir’ hand up to the ref to let him know you’re “remorseful”’. It’s a complicated lesson to teach and learn. But my hope is that it is one my son will learn with time. Pushovers finish last. Crazies hurt people and definitely hurt their teams. But having pride, situational awareness and a little EQ can keep you on the right side of the line when it comes to being appropriately feared, respected and appreciated by those you compete with and against on your journey to the top of whatever field you’re in.
I grew up loving Dutch football and Manchester United. My two favorite players were Edgar Davids and Roy Keane. Both teetered on that line (occasionally crossed it) and demanded excellence from all who played with them. Strongly suggest watching their highlights. With Matchday 4 behind us, and Matchday 5 coming midweek (lucky us!) on to the THREE THINGS!
While 4 matches provide little statistical significance, as I mentioned in Week 2’s post, supporters are always trying to hastily size up their squad. The EPL table as it stands today means little because it’s just four games in a 38 game season (20 teams in the league, every team plays the other 19 teams twice, home and away) and also because the schedules for each team vary greatly at this point in the season. So I decided for Week 4’s Three Things, I am creating three categories of teams based on their performance to date against their strength of schedule so far. Although it’s not too complicated, stay with me here. I took all 20 teams as they are ranked today on the table. And I came up with a ranking system that weighs the strength of their first four opponents based on: 1. where they stand in the current table (1/3 weighting) and 2. where those four opponents finished in the ‘21/22 season (2/3rds). If your team isn’t mentioned, relax, just means you are likely where you expected to be.
(Group) Number 1: ‘Just breathe, you’re not as bad as you think you are.’ Headlining this group of ‘down on their luck’ squads are Bournemouth, Southampton and Leicester. All three teams I spell wrong every time. They’re my ‘rhythm’ and ‘entrepreneur’ of the EPL. Never get those words right, thanks spellcheck. So what’s unique about these lovable losers? They’re all on the bottom third of the table, 17th, 13th and 20th. But! They have had a really tough draw to start the season with all three teams in the top 5 hardest schedules to start the year.
Newly promoted Bournemouth has been dealt 3 of the top 6 (refresher: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Spurs) to start with City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Not cool at all. Fresh off their 9–0 drubbing from a very angry Liverpool squad, Bournemouth can at least be thankful they got their 2–0 win over Villa in Week 1 after the buzzsaw they knew was coming their way. An aggregate of 16–0 in their last 3 games probably sets a record, and not the good type. But they need to be goldfish and realize that the rest of the season isn’t going to be like this and start cracking away to grab some points against the rest of the clubs that aren’t throwing around hundreds of millions of £s in the transfer windows.
Southampton has drawn Spurs and United early. I know everyone thinks United is terrible (I may have thought and/or written about that even though they’re my squad) but Southampton isn’t supposed to win that match. Sitting at 13th in the table, Southampton had the short-lived lead vs. Spurs, came back to tie against pesky Leeds and took care of an ailing Leicester team. They are hard to play against and have some talent other clubs are eyeing up, I don’t anticipate they will be bottom third of the table for long.
And then there’s Leicester, who had had to contend with Arsenal and Chelsea in the first month with the 5th hardest schedule. Admittedly, this is charity. I can’t even fake it. I saw them play Week 2 vs. Arsenal and they were in shambles. When Fofana goes to Chelsea and if Tielmans finds a way on a better team, they’re even worse. I think the fairy dust from 2015’s improbable title is entirely gone. If I were James Maddison (not the president, two ‘ds’), who I still believe is one of the most underrated #10s in the EPL, I’d get my ass outta Leicester before this trade window closes because at this rate, I can’t see Leicester staying out of the relegation zone.
(Group) Number 2: We’re done with the little kid’s table, we’re adults, d*mnit! These three teams are all sitting top 7, with schedule difficulty ranked 7–9th hardest Brighton, Newcastle and Leeds want some #respect. They’re playing good teams and they’re getting results. Last week I wrote about how Newcastle chose to play daring football against City. And I can’t stop writing about Leeds. Brighton is the story here. Last year’s 9th place finish for the ‘not-so-regular EPL’ south coast (where my middle guy had his first fish and chips nine years ago) squad was not a fluke (dad jokes!). Graham Potter, who I hope to cover more shortly, is using more than floo powder to get the best of his team (I’m on a roll. That’s a Harry Potter reference for those living under a rock). They are organized, efficient, productive. They possess, they generate chances and they capitalize. Their squad is on the older side and they are showing maturity, not their age. They won’t stay top 4, but I don’t think it’s crazy for them to seriously compete for a Europa spot (top 6). Who knew?!?
(Group) Number 3: Don’t tell anyone or say it out loud because you might jinx them, but these clubs are good. IMHO these two teams are lying in the weeds, waiting to pounce. Hoping that everyone assumes they are what everyone expects them to be. A perennial mid-table performer and a Premier League/Championship yo-yo that just lives life in the non-threatening relegation/promotion zone…kinda like the ‘friend zone’ of English football. One is just there, mid-table at 12th. The other is outperforming it’s typical bottom-table real estate. The hidden gem is both of these teams have had to go against the best of the best to start the season. Crystal Palace the blue-collar south London squad is sitting at 12th, right where they belong, but with Arsenal, Liverpool and City in their first three games. What a painful start! And while they’ve only salvaged a point (against Liverpool) vs. those three, they took care of their business against Villa (feels like everyone is taking care of their business against Villa) and have a lighter load for the next couple weeks. This team is good. Well coached by Patrick Viera, who lived his life on ‘the edge’ with epic battles against the previously mentioned Roy Keane. They’re well organized defensively with 5 in the back, athletic in front, spring loaded for counter attacks and have a handful of players (namely Wilfred Zaha, Eberechi Eze, and Joachim Andersen) that could be playing for top 6 clubs. The other overachieving club that might really be on to something this year…is the weaker, less attractive, shorter brother to Chelsea, Fulham. Love that they start two Americans (Jedi (best nickname ever) Robinson and the timeless Timmy Ream (who went viral in ’21 for the greatest reason ever)) at the back and are playing confident ball. They have a bad guy from a casino movie in Mitrovic and have a couple castaways from top clubs that are proving they belong. Fulham’s sitting at 11th on the table, boasts the 3rd hardest schedule (Liverpool and Arsenal) and have managed to generate results (1W, 2D) in their first 4 matches. Don’t sleep on this typically sleepy sleeper. They’re good.
(Bonus Group) Number 3a: I’m not trolling, just trying to be objective and point out what might not be obvious to the casual watcher. Yes, they are showing grit. They are coming from behind. They are young, scrappy, hungry. They’re playing some beautiful ball. But they’re playing against the minor leagues. Arsenal congrats on being top of the table four weeks in. But you have played no one. Easily winning the ‘easiest schedule so far’ competition. Two of Arsenal’s four wins have come against teams that were not in the Premier League last year. One was against Leicester, who as I mentioned above, might quit midseason. And the other (their first match) was against a fiery Crystal Palace, so kudos. They have one real win. Gunners are absolutely on the right track, and I’d rather be them than United by a mile. I’m just saying…slow your roll until you’ve actually played a real schedule :).
Alright, that’s it for Week 4. Paying homage to the cute little guy who had his first fish and chips in Brighton. For those that don’t know him, Andrew is now 10 and he is on the autism spectrum. I guarantee you have never met anyone like him. One of my best friends. He is a boy of only a couple passions, one of them being music. He is a jukebox of eclectic tastes and if he’s got control of Spotify expect a rapid fire (no more than 10 seconds a song…kinda like ‘Name that tune’!) playlist that will touch every genre known to music. And he can carry a lovely tune, songbird of his generation. For the moment, Ang (which is what I call him because he started calling himself that years back…think soft ‘g’) is on a serious Twenty One Pilots kick. In particular, Tear in My Heart. So we’ll leave Week 4 with lyrics from this song that reminds me very much of the line I talk about above. Just like Roy Keane, Patrick Viera, and Edgar Davids, knock an opponent down, but help him/her up.
“She’s a butcher with a smile, cut me farther”
See you next week, where we have Matchday 5 and 6 and the first trade deadline (I’ll explain) coming up!
