As the holidays approach, the January transfer window has teams searching for gifts to unwrap to turn seasons around, stay afloat or continue to build on success. Here is a holiday wish list for every team in the Premiership and the one thing they want to find in their stocking this time of year. In the current order of standings:
1. Arsenal: Health. Not much has gone wrong for the Gunners so far, even though they suffered their first defeat of the season in Champions League play last week. Still the best can always get better. And the best way for Arsenal to continue its run atop is to stay healthy and get the services of Robin Van Persie back.
2. Manchester United: Cristiano Ronaldo to continue playing like a man possessed. Arguably the best player in the world, he is the one Red Devil (sorry not Wayne Rooney), that United cannot lose or see a dip in play from. With 13 goals this season, it doesn’t look like Ronaldo’s quest to embarrass every defender in the league is going to end any time soon.
3. Chelsea: Depth. With the losses of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Mikel Jon Obi for six weeks for the Africa Cup of Nations, owner Roman Abramovich’s billions will be put to the test. If Chelsea can stay afloat for that month, it could mount a title challenge. Also, getting Ronaldinho in January would help.
4. Liverpool: Maximum points. While the Reds have not lost a game in the Premier League this season, eight wins and six draws are the reason they are in fourth. Liverpool needs to capitalize against sides it can gain three points against so at the end of the season it is not ruing missed chances.
5. Manchester City: Elano’s brilliant play. The Brazilian has taken the league by storm and made Sven look like a genius. The Big 4 wish they had studied his DVD a bit more clearly.
6. Portsmouth: Benjani Mwaruwari’s goals. Tied at the top with eight, he has helped keep Portsmouth within sniffing distance of the Champions League spots.
7. Aston Villa: For Martin O’Neill to stay. There are differing schools of thoughts on the manager, but he is a good fit for Villa and it needs him to resist the call of the FA if England want him to manage the Three Lions.
8. Blackburn: No more mediocrity. No player has more than five and after his hot start, Roque Santa Cruz has cooled off. The Rovers are just two ahead in goal differential and of the 18 goals they’ve allowed in league play, six have come in the final 15 minutes of matches. Blackburn is playing in the middle of the league in all phases and needs a push in the second half.
9. Everton: Andy Johnson to find his scoring touch. Three goals in 10 games isn’t going to cut it.
10. West Ham: Carlos Tevez. No really, the Hammers are doing well after last season’s relegation battle, but some late-game defense would be nice. West Ham has conceded just 12 goals, but five have come in the final 15 minutes of play.
11. Newcastle: Big Sam to be Big Sam. Big things were expected when Sam Allardyce took over, but so far it has been a disappointing campaign. Newcastle hasn’t won in the league since Oct. 22.
12. Birmingham: For Olivier Kapo to keep playing like a man possessed. With five goals the midfielder has helped keep the club out of the relegation zone, where most thought it would be.
13. Reading: Defense. Goodness, allowing 32 goals and scoring 18, it’s a wonder the Royals aren’t in the bottom three.
14. Fulham: Brian McBride to hurry back. The tough American is the club’s catalyst and provides much needed scoring and toughness when he’s around. Hopefully he’ll be back from his knee injury sooner rather than later.
15. Sunderland: Kieran Richardson’s transfer fee back. What a waste of money for the Black Cats after appearing in just three games. Roy Keane should have known better.
16. Tottenham: Continuity and a competent midfield. This squad is a basket case unto itself. Why it spent $32 million on Darren Bent over the summer instead of defensive and midfield upgrades is a mystery. Not even Juande Ramos will be able to save this season.
17. Bolton: Big Sam back. When Allardyce left, so to did any chance of Bolton competing this season.
18. Middlesbrough: Goals. Thirteen in 15 league games isn’t going to get it done.
19. Wigan: Luck. In reality just three points behind Tottenham Hotspur. Unless Spurs completely implode, this is where Wigan will remain realistically.
20. Derby: Championship competition. One win in 15 matches, six points and a minus 29 goal differential says it all.
