Creasy’s Premiership Round-Up
Posted on 18. Aug, 2009 by Creasy in Football, Sports
Saturday saw the official curtain raiser to one of the most intrigue driven seasons to date. The Barclaycard premiership directors always promise a season of change, progress and excitement and they usually dont fail in that sense. Opening weekend as always, had goals surprises and controversy. It is back and as always it didn’t fail to live up to expectactions. Here is the first weekends review….
Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Some of the Everton players are still in pre-season and some are more concerned with the possible departure of their max £9m defender that might be leaving for a Manchester City price of £23m, and this led to them being caught cold by an Arsenal team who started the season with conviction, purpose and a point to prove to the critics who do not see them finishing in the top 4, though Arsene Wenger is aiming for 1st place. The first goal was well worked by Bendtner, yes Bendtner, Fabregas then a sublime curling shot by hot and cold midfielder Denilson. The second and third goals showcased the mind of Everton defenders who still think they have sometime to go before their league begins, goals a typical David Moyes Everton side do not concede. Vermalen, Fabregas were the outstanding players of this match. Worst player, despite his goal, goes to the man with the redicolous blond hair!
Stoke 2-0 Burnley
It’s a new premiership season, I am expecting great football when I turn to MOTD, and I come across a Stoke throw-in. Rory Delap is still a premiership player and still very efficient with his most successful tool on a FOOTball pitch, his arm and the long throw. Stoke welcomed Burnley into the Premiership. 2 set pieces, two goals. Minimum requirement for the premiership survival, defend set pieces. Both teams were evenly matched, with Stoke showing more quality in the final third. Come March and April we will be seeing these two teams battling for survival.
Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham
Portsmouth vs Fulham had a striker celebrating a goal that he didn’t know anything about and which came of his arm, and another had 100 years to put the ball anywhere in the goal but once again lacked real quality… On this performance Capello will not be going to Craven cottage in search for more stikers at Fulham. This opening match says, Portsmouth will finish below 14th place, James, Distin and Krankjar vital to their survival, and Fulham will prove that last year was not a fluke, better finishing may improve the league standing.
Bolton 0-1 Sunderland
Bolton vs Sunderland, personally I believe Bent like Carlton Cole have the potential and attributes to be Englands number 9 in South Africa next summer, his volatility in front of goal may cost him his ticket come June 2010. Bent and Jones looks like they have hit the ground running with their partnership, leading to Jones looking less selfish in front of goal, but with Richardson and Malbranque behind the pair, the strike force could prove very exciting for new Sunderland manager Steve Bruce. Mid table premiership finish for Sunderland, while Bolton may spend most of the season looking over their shoulder, if they are not involved in the relegation battle. One guarantee from Bolton is, Davies will win most of his arial battles!
Blackburn 0-2 Manchester City
Manchester City’s millions were in actions this weekend for the first time, with the squad not still needing a centre back, in the opinion of Mark Hughes, eyes were fixated on Eawood park to see how far gone the Work in Progress is working. A quality two nil win, which after spending near enough £100m will get you. It is a good start, but it is also a long season, with the owners money proving longer. I believe Mark Hughes has bought well, buying quality, experienced premiership players. The premiership now has another member of its champions league class club, the top 5, in what order, you would be a footballing genius to get it right! The other team on the pitch will also finish comfortably in the middle of the table…erm…Blackburn..that’s it!!!
Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan
I was personally looking forward to this match on the opening weekend of the premiership. Fist of all to see how Wigan will perform under their footballing manager Martinez, I am hoping he will do well, as I am a big fan of footballing teams / managers and secondly to see if Scotland of Wigan and Delph of Villa can cut it in the premiership. Too soon to make an opinion on Delph, though he will come good, and Scotland is still waiting for his premiership bow. The game produced a contender for goal of the month and Wigan and Martinez have shown they may not always end up last on MOTD. Villa were surprised and just came out the blocks a bit slow. I believe top 5 is beyong them, but they are in line to be the best of the rest with spurs also contending…
Chelsea 2-1 Hull
Like Martinez I was looking forward to seeing another new premiership managers team in action. The two games I have seen them play, Charity Shield included, Chelsea look like they have a lot of chances in them and not only do they have two strikers in the league that belong to a team like that, Ancelotti’s believes they will function well together. They haven’t failed so far. A team creating soo many chances you wouldn’t believe a cross-come-goal will win a game. Chelsea are definitely one of the teams to beat. They have one their first game, and as the team continues to understand the system, you can’t help but feel, they will embark on a long unbeaten run during the course of the season.
Wolves 0-2 West Ham
Wolves’ next two games are against the two teams in the city of Manchester. West Ham gave them a taste of what the premiership is about. The first stating, you cannot give quality space outside the box, punishment is the only result. The second, once again defending set pieces. You cannot afford to concede simple goals; otherwise we will be in for a week-in week-out statement by Mick McCarthy “We played well; we need to dust our selves of and go again”. I am looking forward to seeing how Evans-blake handles the demands of premiership striking and this could prove how big the gulf between Championship and Premiership really is. West Ham’s England’s candidate did not do themselves any harm at all with this game; Robert Green, Upson, Noble and England’s likely new number 9 Carlton Cole. I hope Zola can keep this team together, amidst rumours he may have to sell his best players for financial reasons, another good footballing team.
Manchester Utd 1-0 Birmingham
Manchester United looked somewhat ordinary, but they did what they do best, WIN. There is still a long way to go, and this is the only time I am ever going to say this because he (Ronaldo) is gone and shouldn’t be referred to anymore… This is the kind of Ronaldo revels in, no other play in premiership history, maybe that man Henry, bullies the lesser premiership teams like Ronaldo did. A good win, considering Birmingham looked from the outset to have a mindset of damaged limitations. Too early to draw conclusion’s on Fergie’s men and definitely do not doubt them. Birmingham looked well organised for large parts of the game, and this could go a long way against lesser premiership teams.
Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool
Decisions went against them, but you can’t help but feel Alonso was missed at the Lane yesterday. Lucas was MIA and for large parts of the game, and until Benayoun came on Mascherano was holding the midfield on his own. Not often do I criticize Benitez, but I put it down to poor team selection, Gerrard should sit alongside Mascherano until Aquillani (very good signing is fit). Babel will need to contribute a lot more to the red’s course if they are to challenge sufficiently, the word potential is out of the window, he has to produce (I can’t help but think he would be a different player if he signed for Wenger…another player to regret a decision away from Arsenal). The red’s are still too dependant on super captain, Stevie G and El Nino. A very good attacking display by Johnson at right back. The strength and depth of their squad is highly questionable, Manchester City and Spurs both have a better squad (not a better starting 11). Lucas, Babel, Ngogg etc all have to “up their game” Spurs on the other hand looked a good outfit and gave a brilliant account of themselves. The distance between the two clubs proving minimal. Spurs will definitely be disrupting the top 4.
