Premier League Round 16: The good, the bad and the ugly

The Good

Surprise Top Four Contenders

At this point, we all know about Leicester City. They are top of the table again and have lost just one match in 16 this season.

There is no more sneaking up on the competition if you are Leicester City and there is no more sleeping on them as legitimate contenders. They are for real.

Lost in all of the attention Leicester City are deservedly receiving is the fact that Crystal Palace and Watford have crept into the discussion for a place in the top four.

I’ll be the first to admit that I think it is a bit kind to include Watford in the discussion, but they are just four points behind Manchester United and one point behind Tottenham. Crystal Palace sit sixth in the table on equal points with Tottenham.

Alan Pardew’s Crystal Palace are playing good football and have crept back into the picture for top four, especially considering the multitude of problems facing Manchester United at the moment. They play fast, counter-attacking football and they are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the big dogs.

What Pardew has done with Crystal Palace has been extremely impressive, and he deserves to be linked with the England National Team job. Is it the right move for him, though?

I’m not sure it is. Being a manager is stressful. Being manager of the England National Team is an entirely different level of stress.

Pardew is a Crystal Palace man through and through. He is leading the club he played for to heights previously not reached by the Eagles. The team is young, exciting and fun to watch. Why would he leave, other than money, for a situation that more closely aligns with the stresses he faced as manager of Newcastle?

I would recommend Pardew continue with the Crystal Palace project if he was ever offered the England job. See how far he can take it.

Back to Watford, now, as they are one heck of a story. Before the season I saw I ton of pundits predicting that the same three sides which were promoted would be relegated.

Norwich City and Bournemouth are both in danger of going back to the Championship, but Quique Sanchez Flores has Watford well clear of the relegation fight at the moment.

Only five clubs — Leicester City, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Crystal Palace — have more wins this season than Watford. Only Manchester United have kept more clean sheets (nine to seven) than Watford this Premier League campaign.

Not bad for a side which signed 16 new players and hired a new manager (Flores) before the season started. That is a lot of upheaval for a club also attempting to adapt to the Premier League. Flores has managed to do so with relative ease and it has been very impressive.

They also appear to be close to bringing in another well known player.

While they have not picked up a signature win against a side above them in the table, all that means is that they are handling their business against the sides they are supposed to beat. That is a good sign that they will be able to pick up the requisite number of points to ensure safety with plenty of time to spare.

While other sides seem to be regressing (Manchester United), Watford are getting better and better. Watford will need to continue to improve as their next four matches are against Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City.

Watford need to keep their confidence and belief, no matter what happens during the next four matches. They have proven they can consistently beat the teams below them in the table, or at least draw a ton of them, which given their current point total, will be enough for an extended stay in the Premier League. If they emerge from those matches haven stolen a win or two, then it could do wonders for their confidence.

Only time will tell where they end up this season, but it has been a fun ride so far.

Next: The Bad