If you had painted a picture of this season as it stands now on the 15th of August, most people would have called you mad, or laughed you out of town. Chelsea have lost 3 games and drawn 3 more, just past the halfway mark. That's 15 points dropped in 19 games. Meanwhile Manchester United have dropped 17 from 18 games. Arsenal, due to a surprisingly good first half, will be in second place by just a point if they win their next 2 games. Liverpool, expected by many to be challenging for the title are absurdly in 8th place having lost 7 (just one less than the number of wins) and drawn 3 games.

It that wasn't enough, Villa, Spurs and Man City are all in the contention not just for 4th place, but theoretically even for the title at this point. The league is also running at almost 3 goals per game (2.97) before this weekend compared to the previous full season highest of 2.79. So the goals are certainly flying in!

Meanwhile, Birmingham have had the best run that they have had for over 100 years! They actually sit ahead of Liverpool, despite being relegation picks before the season. Burnley too have done well especially at home! But Everton, prone to see-saw seasons are having a "saw" season and sit in 16th place. West Ham are having a horror season and are barely out of the relegation spots. Portsmouth meanwhile are a club that weren't sure they would make it through the season as a going concern at one stage.

Mark Hughes recently lost his job at Man City for failing to take them to upwards of 6th place, and Roberto Mancini is now targeting a 4th place finish. Benitez's job is currently safe but if results don't improve, how much longer will he be safe? The only other Premiership manager to have lost his job this year is Portsmouth's Paul Hart, with Avram Grant appointed in his place.

Which managers could face the sack before this season is out? Phil Brown at Hull, Gary Megson at Bolton, Zola at West Ham are possibly managers in the firing line. David Moyes might have a different problem of deciding how much longer he wants to stay with Everton and what else he can hope to achieve there.

It is interesting that looking at the managerial nationalities, there are 8 Englishmen, 3 Italians, 4 Scots, 2 Spanish, 1 French 1 Irishman and 1 Israeli. Only 3 of the English coaches are in top 10 spots currently.

So will the second half of the season be any better? Or more predictable? Lets look at the key teams.

Chelsea: have not run away with the league as they threatened to, and keep dropping points mysteriously. They will need to contend with the African Cup Of Nations (No Drogba, Kalou, Essien) and injuries and suspensions (Anelka, Malouda). But despite all of this, I can't see Chelsea finishing with less than 80 points which means that they will bein the top 2 in all probability.

Manchester United are going through a nightmare of defensive injuries and according to Sir Alex, with no end in sight. They are still struggling through games with Fletcher, Carrick, De Laet and Evra as the back 4. And more worryingly, they haven't scored in their last 2 games, having lost both. The front line is not that injury-ridden but the problems there are longer and deeper. Man United are usually much better in the second half of the season but this year, they will have to dig really deep to get to within striking distance of the trophy.

All of which means Arsenal are presented with a great chance of pulling of probably the most surprising league win of Wenger's term. Arsenal's frontmen, even without Robin Van Persie are good enough to score against almost any team. As long as their first choice midfield and defence is not hit by injuries, they could do very well, but their bench is weak in these areas. There is a second challenge for Arsenal - themselves. Arsenal tend to fold in the second half of the season and they need to get over this habit and keep the focus and will to the end of the season.

Which also means, rather startingly that Liverpool, Spurs, Villa and Man City, all have a better than usual chance of actually jumping to top spot. If Villa beat Arsenal tomorrow they will be just 4 points off leaders Chelsea. The rest of the teams are further behind, but anybody who pulls of a string of wins can jump ahead of the crowd. Villa are also known to collapse towards the end of the season because of their small squad. City have a new boss and will have to reorganize. Spurs have yet to prove that they can handle the pressure in the crunch. Even Liverpool, if they were to go on a 8-10 game winning streak, might suddenly find themselves back in contention.

A part of me feels thaat all the fantasy for the year is over. That the second half of the season will conform to stereotype. That United and Chelsea will strengthen in the January transfer window (though Ferguson has denied this, and Ancelotti has promised to run naked in the snow if Chelsea buy players in January) and willy nilly, the top 2 will pull away. With Liverpool sneaking into fourth place and Arsenal finishing 3rd.

This scenario is not unlikely, but how thrilling it would be to have at least one non-big-four club fighting for the title come April, to have 5-6 teams bunched up within 3-4 points and everything to play for till the end! And as I contemplate the table at Christmas, half way through a very strange season, I will drink to these wonderful possibilities and wish for ever more unpredictability! May this be the year of the underdog!