AMONGST all the hype and knee-jerk reactions that surrounds the opening weekend of the Premier League season, it’s important not to get too carried away by early results.
In the previous two seasons Manchester United have drawn with teams who ended up relegated – Reading and Newcastle – at Old Trafford in their first game before going on to win the league on both occasions. In fact in the 2007/08 season, they only picked up two points from their opening three games before racking up an impressive 87 from 38 games.
So Liverpool shouldn’t be too concerned that they lost their opener to a good Tottenham side. White Hart Lane will be a tricky place to go for any Premiership team this season, while their main title rivals, Chelsea and Man United, hardly set the world alight with one-goal victories over sides who are likely to be fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table come May.
However, there are two key areas that need to be addressed if Liverpool are going to end their 20-year wait to win the league. Their first worry is the amount of goals they have conceded from set pieces over recent years, Sebastien Bassong’s headed winner being the latest. Surely it is time for the zonal marking system to be given the boot. Secondly, looking at their bench against Tottenham hardly inspires you with much confidence. While Liverpool’s first 11 looks strong, the depth is simply not there and two or three signings before the transfer window, with the priority being a striker, must surely be on Rafa Benitez’s mind if there is any more cash to splash.
Elsewhere, Roberto Martinez made a great start to life as a Premier League manager as his Wigan side recorded an impressive 2-0 victory at Aston Villa but weren’t we saying the same thing 12 months ago when Paul Ince’s Blackburn won 3-2 at Everton on the first day and look what happened there. Both are young and talented managers, I just hope Martinez gets more time than Ince did.
Like Ince at Blackburn, Martinez is trying to mould a side to play attractive, free-flowing football, rather than the more physical and in your face sort of approach that those particular northern sides have become renowned for. While Wigan looked very good on Saturday, they are unlikely to come up against a side as out-of-sorts as Villa were once the Premiership is in full swing and the challenge will be whether they can maintain the high standards they have now set themselves.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Arsenal fans refunded for Bendtner shirt
NICKLAS BENDTNER was wearing the number 52 shirt for Arsenal in their 6-1 win over Everton on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Apparently the Denmark striker requested it because it’s his lucky number and they changed it so close to the start of the season that those who bought the shirt with his old number 26 on the back were given refunds.
No, I can’t believe it either. With the likes of Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott, and Van Persie in their team, some Arsenal fans actually got Bendtner’s name on the back of their shirt!
Apparently the Denmark striker requested it because it’s his lucky number and they changed it so close to the start of the season that those who bought the shirt with his old number 26 on the back were given refunds.
No, I can’t believe it either. With the likes of Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott, and Van Persie in their team, some Arsenal fans actually got Bendtner’s name on the back of their shirt!
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Premier League 2009/10 season preview
IT’S easy to get excited at the start of any season but the 2009/10 Premier League campaign really does promise to be the most intriguing in many years.
How will Manchester United cope with the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez? Can Liverpool end 20 years of hurt and finally win the Premier League crown? Is Carlo Ancelotti the man to take the title back to Chelsea? Can Arsenal get back to the top after five barren years? Or most interestingly, can billionaires Man City break the big four dominance or even win the Premiership?
Starting with the champions, it looks as though Man United have a real job on their hands to hold onto their crown. To win it three years in a row is a fantastic achievement but no club has ever made it four in a row, and after losing one of the best players in the world it may just prove beyond them.
Instead, Liverpool will feel now is the time to snatch the crown. After going so long without winning the league, or rarely even coming close, it was crucial that they put in a serious title challenge as they did last year. Another year on and valuable lessons learnt, they are in the best position to take advantage of any vulnerability at Old Trafford. The sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid won’t be too much of a loss as long as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres stay fit for most the campaign – but strength in depth is one area where United hold the advantage.
When Sir Alex Ferguson says Chelsea are United’s biggest rivals, you feel that may just be the first of many swipes at Rafa Benitez. The same man wrote off Chelsea last year, claiming they were too old and their squad hasn't changed an awful lot since.
Ancellotti’s appointment at Chelsea is an interesting one. Like his predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Premiership is new to him, although the Italian should adapt better having been involved in club football more recently. No-one can doubt his success in Europe having won the Champions League twice with AC Milan, but the fact that Inter Milan have dominated Serie A in recent years is less impressive. Chelsea may be more of a threat in Europe than the Premier League.
Everyone has been quick to write off Arsenal, but I’ve got a feeling that might just suit Arsene Wenger. Remember two years ago when Arsenal were unexpectedly flying at the top of the league until Eduardo broke his leg and then captain William Gallas had his famous tantrum on the pitch in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham?! With around £40m to spend from the sales of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor – both of whom who pretty average last season - to Man City, a couple of good signings, in particular a strong holding midfielder to play alongside the creative Cesc Fabregas, would make the Gunners real contenders and Andrei Arshavin could well turn out to be the star of the season.
Given the money Man City have spent a top four finish should be the least of their expectations. It is probably too soon for them to be serious title challengers and although they should score plenty of goals their defence still looks as though it could be shaky, even if Joleon Lescott joins from Everton.
As for the other contenders, if Harry Redknapp can continue his great start at White Hart Lane then Tottenham could be an outside bet to finish in the top four. Aston Villa looked like finishing there for much of last season and will be strong again, while Everton will continue to over achieve under the astute David Moyes.
At the other end of the table expect another desperate scrap for survival. Of the promoted teams Wolves look best equipped to deal with the demands of the Premiership, while Birmingham have made some good signings and should have just enough to stay up as long as there aren't too many boardroom distractions. Although Owen Coyle has done a fantastic job at Burnley, it is hard to see them being able to compete with clubs much bigger than them. Hull look relegation fodder unless they dramatically improve from the second half of last season and Portsmouth fans would surely take 17th place if it was offered to them now after losing several players and uncertainty over the club’s future. The likes of Bolton, Stoke City – desperate to avoid second season syndrome –Wigan Athletic may all flirt with the danger zone but should ultimately be fine.
Whatever happens, its all set up nicely for a rollercoaster nine months and then for the small matter of the World Cup in South Africa next summer.
How will Manchester United cope with the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez? Can Liverpool end 20 years of hurt and finally win the Premier League crown? Is Carlo Ancelotti the man to take the title back to Chelsea? Can Arsenal get back to the top after five barren years? Or most interestingly, can billionaires Man City break the big four dominance or even win the Premiership?
Starting with the champions, it looks as though Man United have a real job on their hands to hold onto their crown. To win it three years in a row is a fantastic achievement but no club has ever made it four in a row, and after losing one of the best players in the world it may just prove beyond them.
Instead, Liverpool will feel now is the time to snatch the crown. After going so long without winning the league, or rarely even coming close, it was crucial that they put in a serious title challenge as they did last year. Another year on and valuable lessons learnt, they are in the best position to take advantage of any vulnerability at Old Trafford. The sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid won’t be too much of a loss as long as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres stay fit for most the campaign – but strength in depth is one area where United hold the advantage.
When Sir Alex Ferguson says Chelsea are United’s biggest rivals, you feel that may just be the first of many swipes at Rafa Benitez. The same man wrote off Chelsea last year, claiming they were too old and their squad hasn't changed an awful lot since.
Ancellotti’s appointment at Chelsea is an interesting one. Like his predecessor Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Premiership is new to him, although the Italian should adapt better having been involved in club football more recently. No-one can doubt his success in Europe having won the Champions League twice with AC Milan, but the fact that Inter Milan have dominated Serie A in recent years is less impressive. Chelsea may be more of a threat in Europe than the Premier League.
Everyone has been quick to write off Arsenal, but I’ve got a feeling that might just suit Arsene Wenger. Remember two years ago when Arsenal were unexpectedly flying at the top of the league until Eduardo broke his leg and then captain William Gallas had his famous tantrum on the pitch in the 2-2 draw at Birmingham?! With around £40m to spend from the sales of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor – both of whom who pretty average last season - to Man City, a couple of good signings, in particular a strong holding midfielder to play alongside the creative Cesc Fabregas, would make the Gunners real contenders and Andrei Arshavin could well turn out to be the star of the season.
Given the money Man City have spent a top four finish should be the least of their expectations. It is probably too soon for them to be serious title challengers and although they should score plenty of goals their defence still looks as though it could be shaky, even if Joleon Lescott joins from Everton.
As for the other contenders, if Harry Redknapp can continue his great start at White Hart Lane then Tottenham could be an outside bet to finish in the top four. Aston Villa looked like finishing there for much of last season and will be strong again, while Everton will continue to over achieve under the astute David Moyes.
At the other end of the table expect another desperate scrap for survival. Of the promoted teams Wolves look best equipped to deal with the demands of the Premiership, while Birmingham have made some good signings and should have just enough to stay up as long as there aren't too many boardroom distractions. Although Owen Coyle has done a fantastic job at Burnley, it is hard to see them being able to compete with clubs much bigger than them. Hull look relegation fodder unless they dramatically improve from the second half of last season and Portsmouth fans would surely take 17th place if it was offered to them now after losing several players and uncertainty over the club’s future. The likes of Bolton, Stoke City – desperate to avoid second season syndrome –Wigan Athletic may all flirt with the danger zone but should ultimately be fine.
Whatever happens, its all set up nicely for a rollercoaster nine months and then for the small matter of the World Cup in South Africa next summer.
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