A Song to Describe Every Premier League Team's Hopes for 2012

Football and music go together like Mick and Keef. In the right setting, each complements the other beautifully—as the myriad montages on YouTube proves only too well.

But in this article I'm using music as more than just a soundtrack to the beautiful game. I'm using it to define the Premier League's finest.

Taking into account their performance in the first half of the season, here are the songs I think best describe the current state of all 20 EPL teams.

Arsenal: Alone by Heart

Arsenal's trophy ambitions are being carried by one man right now, and than man is Robin van Persie.

If RVP can stay fit, and keep scoring, Arsenal could yet achieve great things in a season that looked to be headed to the scrapheap after an 8-2 loss to Manchester United.

Who knows, maybe returning legend Thierry Henry can take up hero duties too.

Aston Villa: The Man Who Sold the World by Nirvana

Aston Villa's second half of the season may well be defined by what happens to their most valuable asset, Darren Bent, in the January transfer window.

If owner Randy Lerner decides to sell, Villa fans will be dealt another crushing blow to their ambition. Stewart Downing and Ashley Young were among the host of players to leave last summer, and Villa don't seem to be showing much ambition of their own in the market.

Bolton: Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue

Bolton are languishing in the relegation zone and looking a good bet for the drop this season.

What they need more than anything is to pick up their atrocious home form. Just one win in 10 is simply not good enough, and Owen Coyle's mission for 2012 is clearly to make The Reebok an impenetrable fortress of long-ball thuggery.

Blackburn: Livin on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

Blackburn's manager Steve Kean has achieved the remarkable already this season—by holding onto his job despite his team's awful form and the fact they remain rooted to the foot of the table.

A win at Old Trafford sparked some belief, but let's be honest here—Blackburn's hopes of Premier League survival are living on an extremely unlikely prayer.

Chelsea: Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones

"If you start me up. If you start me up I'll never stop."

Could the classic Rolling Stones track be the soundtrack to Fernando Torres' second half of the season? It doesn't look that likely, but if it happens, Andre Villas-Boas' team could yet leave their mark in his first campaign.

Everton: I Need a Dollar by Aloe Blacc

Everton do what they can, with what they have. David Moyes has been operating on a shoestring budget for as long as most fans can remember, and it doesn't look like anything will change in 2012.

The club desperately needs to attract fresh investment if they're to avoid gradually slipping from view.

If they don't get some soon, Moyes will surely be off to more ambitious climbs.

Fulham: Ups and Downs by Snoop Dogg

Fulham have been a hard team to pin down so far. One week they get hammered, the next they achieve a notable victory against respected opponents.

Consistency is the watch word for Martin Jol in the second half of the season—that and improving on his team's woeful away form (one win and six goals from 10 games).

Liverpool: Money for Nothing by Dire Straits

Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing cost Liverpool a combined £55 million.

While Downing has shown the occasional glimpse to suggest he'll justify his fee, Carroll has resembled a hungover pub player for the most of the campaign so far.

Liverpool must either find a way to get the best out of him, or move him on quickly and reinvest the money elsewhere.

Manchester City: Under Pressure by Queen

Manchester City are so close they can almost taste it. Roberto Mancini has the strongest squad in the Premier League and the title is his for the taking.

The question is, can Mancini and his expensively-assembled team of world-beaters go the distance? Can they withstand the challenge of proven champions Manchester United, who've been there and done it 12 times already in the Premier League.

Finding out will be fun.

Manchester United: I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

If Sir Alex Ferguson can lead Manchester United to their 20th league title it will surely rank amongst his greatest achievements.

United are unquestionably a team in decline, and it will take every ounce of their manager's stubborn resistance to hold off the challenge of Manchester City, and perhaps even Tottenham.

You wouldn't bet against Ferguson pulling it off.

Newcastle: Keep on Running by the Spencer Davis Group

Few Newcastle fans expected their team to enjoy the start of the season they've had under Alan Pardew.

The Toon Army have a revelation so far, with Pardew's team among the most hard-working in the Premier League. Cheik Tiote's tireless running has typified the Newcastle approach this season, and if they can maintain their intensity, and keep hold of both Tiote and Demba Ba, a place in Europe is not beyond them.

Norwich: Underdog by Kasabian

Norwich City were tipped for the drop by many at the start of the season, but Paul Lambert's team have gone about their return to the Premier League with no fear whatsoever.

The Canaries let in too many goals, but they've scored enough at the right end to find themselves in the top half of the table at the start of 2012.

QPR: Brand New Start by Paul Weller

Neil Warnock is no more. Despite a healthy shopping spree last summer Warnock couldn't deliver on the pitch and left his team hovering just above the drop zone.

Mark Hughes is the man charged with delivering a brand new start at Loftus Road. Odds are he'll start by spending some more of club's money, and fans will be hoping he gets players of a better quality than those brought in by his predecessor.

Stoke: All Right Now by Free

Stoke had a pretty horrendous run of six defeats in eight games in the early part of the season, but Tony Pulis and his men have righted the ship since.

Now sitting pretty in eighth, and with the next step on their Europa League adventure to look forward to, it's business at usual in the Potteries.

Sunderland: Revolution by the Beatles

Steve Bruce was sacked with Sunderland 17th in the Premier League table and seemingly in free-fall.

Martin O'Neill was the man to step in, and the Irishman has now gone seven games unbeaten since taking over. Sunderland are up to 10th and the mood is completely changed at the Stadium of Light.

Let's see if O'Neill's revolution can stretch to their trip to face Chelsea.

Swansea: Good Feeling by Flo Rida

Swansea love a pass. They play a purist's brand of football that has earned no shortage of admirers this season, and it's also managed to keep them clear of the relegation zone.

If Brendan Rogers can keep them going, a highly respectable mid-table finish will be theirs and Swansea fans will be very satisfied.

Tottenham: Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen

At the start of the season, few tipped Tottenham as genuine title contenders, but a win against Wolves will put Harry Redknapp's team level with Manchester City at the top of the table.

If that happens, it's City next for Spurs, and the chance to make a serious statement of intent.

Could it really happen? Could Spurs be on course for a return to their glory days of the early 1960s?

West Brom: Fight for Your Right by the Beastie Boys

West Brom are hovering just above the relegation zone, and the next few weeks could be crucial for their survival.

Roy Hodgson's team play Norwich, Stoke, Fulham, Swansea, Wolves and Sunderland in that order—in a run of games that could take them a huge step closer to securing Premier League football next season.

All six games will be battles, and the Baggies will need to have their fighting game on. They'll also need to be more lethal in front of goal (they've scored 19 in 20 games so far).

Wigan: Highway to Hell by AC/DC

It's not looking good for Roberto Martinez and Wigan.

With a goal difference of  minus 23 there are clearly some defensive problems to address, and unless Martinez can get his team playing tighter the drop surely beckons.

At the other end Wigan are equally woeful. Nobody has scored more than four goals in the Premier League for Martinez's team and they've only managed 18 in total.

Wolves: Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees

Wolves haven't won since early December and manager Mick McCarthy is surely starting to feel the pressure.

For what it's worth, the club's owner Steve Morgan has given him his backing and McCarthy and his team now faces a nervous few months trying to avoid the drop.

I think they'll manage it.