With what seems like only a short time without Premiership action, mainly due to the u21 tournament and confederations cup filling the time, the first week of the season started with a bang at the weekend.
All eyes were on the big game of the weekend with Liverpool’s trip to Spurs on the Sunday. After 40 minutes of Spurs minor pressure and a few chances saved by Reina the home side went one up. Liverpool looked stale and off pace, the big players didn’t turn up. On top of that even the most rose-tinted glasses wearing of scousers would be unable to make a case for the depth of the Liverpool squad with the likes of Voronin and alongside some of the clubs young ‘prospects’. Spurs look like more the side that they were a few years ago and with challenge for the Europa league places with a strong squad of internationals. Liverpool don’t have the squad for a season in the Premiership let alone for Europe and the cup competitions. Liverpool are the only team capable of dropping out of the ‘big four’. That won’t sit well with Liverpool fans, but too many people are getting drawn into Liverpool’s last season. That was a fluke. Torres and Gerrard with win games on their own but in reality if either gets injured for any length of time they don’t have the attacking force to replace them. Neither is capable of performing at the top level for a whole 60 game season. They will have a blip, but my gut feeling is they will have the nous to finish 4th.
The massive talking point of the weekend’s action saw Arsenal’s destruction of a poor Everton side 6 goals to 1. As much as the papers talked about the lack of aerial ability of the Arsenal side, the performances both defensively and going forward told its own story with 2 headed goals. Thomas Vermaelen made an impressive debut at the heart of defence winning the majority of headers and challenges that came his way, but it was Alex Song who was easily man of the match. His quick feet, awareness and tackling would have gone unnoticed to many, but his ‘invisible wall’ performance will put the mind of many Arsenal fans to rest. Everton look like a side who lack a cutting edge upfront and a team who need to sell Lescott before his unrest causes more problems. Sky Sports reported that he asked NOT to play in the game because his head wasn’t right and it showed as the defence lacked leadership. Everton will be barmy to turn down the reported £22m offer coming their way from Citeh. I still believe he will be sold, probably early next week, Everton will bring in Senderos whose personal terms are already agreed and Arsenal will bid late for Hangeland. Arsene will already have in mind who he will buy, but he will wait till the last minute to pick up players. Arsenal will solidify their position with a squad growing in confidence but without significant strengthening wont challenge for the title, eventually finishing 3rd. Everton will get in Europe again with the same squad as last year.
Man City outplayed a bottom half level Blackburn who were missing players. The new players all received debuts with Barry the pick of the bunch breaking up play with a strong midfield performance. Citeh were a class above their opponents, and will press till the end of the season but finish 5th.
The United game was interesting. Manyoo lined up without their best 5 players last season. Tevez, Ronaldo, VDS, Rio and Vidic. Did it make any difference? Yes it did, as they staled to a 1-0 win against newly promoted Brum. United defensively looked pretty strong and Brum didn’t really attempt to create much bar a couple of counter attack half chances. It was at the other end that the losses showed up, with everything having to go through Rooney they lack the cutting edge and moment of brilliance that Ronaldo can bring. United’s new recruits had a mixed effect; Valencia’s effect was of a player who looked slightly in awe of his surroundings. His usual wing play disappeared and he trundled alone in out of position for most of the game. Owen only saw the last few minutes of the game out but succeeded in missing a one on one.
Sunderland and Fulham both recorded wins. Darren Bent looked lively; I think he’ll get some goals this season especially with Jones partnering him. Bent’s record is still good even though his time at Spurs didn’t go like it should have. Pompey were Fulham’s victims, they lacked backbone and look dead certs to go down without investment. Goals will be few and far between. Sunderland beat Bolton who will bully their way safe this season as always.
I won £130 on a 5 team accumulator. Fulham, Leeds, Charlton, Arsenal, City.
Next set of games I’ll put my tips down before as proof.
So what have we learnt from the opening weekend of the season?
1. Owen is not a magical striker who comes on a scores at every opportunity, he is neither Tevez or Ronaldo
2. Unless Gerrard or Torres perform Liverpool will lose games
3. Arsenal’s height is not a major problem, it turns out the papers forgot about Song, Bendtner and Van Persie not being Borrowers
4. Spurs have great depth, they have potential to be the best team outside the big 4
5. Chelsea will win games without playing well, Man Utd without Ronaldo may not
6. Everton and Villa won’t finish 5th and 6th this year; neither have the squad of Spurs or Sunderland, let alone Citeh.
7. Gomes is still a clumsy clown, Harry may make a move to replace him
8. Transfers over the last few days of the season may render all the above points void.
Football is back.
