Welcome to what will hopefully be a weekly summary of the weekend's football, mostly focused on the Premier League but I'll also take a glance on the lower leagues as well. I'll try not to focus on the top teams so much but this week is a bit of an exception as this weekend saw the start of the Premier League Season.
Chelsea 2-0 Hull
Chelsea have been widely tipped as favourites for the title under new (or should that be old) manager Jose Mourinho. The Special One has returned declaring himself the 'Happy One' at the helm of Chelsea Football Club. After this display they may well be rightfully favourites to win the league.
Frank Lampard missed an early penalty before Oscar tucked away from a de Bruyne through ball.
Frank Lampard atoned for his earlier penalty miss with an aplomb of a strike from a free kick midway through the first half. Take nothing away from the free kick, but Hull's wall was attroicous. Branislav Ivanovic simply leaned into it and it took three Hull players completely out of it, a case that happened again towards the end of the game. For their sake it's a good job the free kicks were brilliant, otherwise they may have got an earful from Steve Bruce and Alan McGregor!
Chelsea absolutely dominated the first half but seemed to take their foot off the gas in the second half and Hull should be thankful as it could have been a rugby score if this game had been a few weeks into the season. Hull may struggle this season against the big boys; I worry about the strike power they possess when facing the 'smaller' sides.
Ultimately great start for Chelsea and I'm so glad to see Mourinho back at the Bridge!
Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle
Manchester City are second favourites for the title although I feel they have the most to do. A relatively unknown manager and yet again a barrage of new signings to be gelled together. Having said that they seem to have made a bright enough start, thrashing Newcastle 4-0, but there will be bigger tests ahead, likewise for Newcastle, these games will not decide their season. Unfortunately I've not seen this game so I can't comment much further than that.
Swansea City 1-4 Manchester United
That makes Manchester United, the defending champions, unbelievably, only third favourites for the title! With the Sir Alex Ferguson factor gone forever from the champions, bookies and the media alike are apparently expecting a slump in fortunes for David Moyes' men. Well based on the first weekend's display, it seems they have made a terrible error in judgement. United were as ruthless as ever, scoring some fantastic goals and gaining a convincing scoreline against Swansea (a team that will probably finish in the top half and one that will not lose many games at home) after a relatively even contest. What people seem to forget is that United still have some fantastic players that are full of confidence from last seasons title victory and if anything more galvanised under Moyes' tenureship!
As for Swansea they played some nice football and have made some good signings during the summer. They should be fine and end up in the top 10 but the test for them this season will be dealing with those long hard trips on a Thursday night to the other side of Europe. We saw how difficult Newcastle found it a couple of seasons ago, but I feel Swansea are better set up for the task. Anyway, no sympathy from me I'm afraid, that's what you get for beating Bradford in the Capital One Cup final!
Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa
Arsenal fans are yet again disgruntled with their sides lack of transfer activity during the summer. Although they were certainly not at their best this weekend, they were very unlucky with decisions and injuries. I thought Anthony Taylor's refereeing was fairly poor; first penalty I agree with, second I certainly do not and the red card in the end was harsh as I believe both yellows were debatable.
In regards to the transfer market Arsenal have actually done some good business, selling both Chamakh to West Ham and Gervinho to Roma in a staggering deal apparently worth £8million. Shame they weren't able to get rid of Bacary Sagna (for me one of the worst players in the Premier League - watch the last Villa goal, he's jogging back when his counter-part is tearing through the centre of the park to score!). Players going out is not what Gunners fans are interested in hearing about however, and it is clear they need a few more players if they want to be anywhere near that top 4 at the end of the season. At the end of the day, thin squads tend to get all the bad luck with decisions and injuries so that is something Mr. Wenger and his backroom staff will have to amend sooner rather than later, to apease the fans if anything else.
As for Aston Villa, it looks like the year of risk playing with youngsters has payed off. There were some fantastic performances all over the pitch, with the team looking lethal on the counter-attack and I'll give a special mention to Brad Guzan, whose reflex save from Santi Cazorla onto the crossbar was outstanding. They could well be the surprise team of the year if they carry on this early momentum.
Best of the Rest
Norwich saved a good point at home thanks to record signing van Wolfswinkel against Everton, who already look like they have made a nice transition under the wing of Roberto Martinez, a fantastic appointment to succeed David Moyes. If it weren't for a couple of fortuitous moments from Steven Whittaker, Everton would have taken 3 points comfortably.
Liverpool were solid and convincing if not particularly sparkling in their 1-0 victory over Stoke, but that's always a nice 3 points to have, especially on the first day of the season. The Sturridge, Aspas, Coutinho combination looks like it could have serious prospects this season. Having said that Liverpool must kill off games they dominate, if it were not for a penalty save on debut from Mignolet against a predictable Jonathon Walters, Stoke would have taken an undeserved point.
Tottenham played nicely for their away win against Crystal Palace but, like Liverpool, must learn to kill off games if they are to challenge for the top four, with or without Gareth Bale. They have been active in the transfer market and that could really help that challenge. I don't agree with Ian Holloway's rant about the lack of a free-kick being awarded in the build-up to the Tottenham penalty. I think it may have been a foul, the kind you get 50% of the time but to say it was in the build-up was a little inaccurate. Palace won the ball back at least three times after that and there was at least a minute between the non-foul and the penalty being awarded. I'm disappointed with Holloway who said prior to the game he needed to be calmer and think before he speaks. Clearly that was just hot air, but at least he'll still be entertaining.
A bad start for the promoted clubs was rounded off by Cardiff who lost to West Ham. Ricky Lambert rounded off a dream week for him (scoring the winner with his first touch on debut for England in midweek) by scoring the winner for Southampton away at West Brom and Fulham made a solid start away at Sunderland, who could struggle this season.
Down the Leagues
Forest kept up their 100% start in the league with a dominant win over Bolton, another team that are expected to be up their at the end of the season. There were good wins for Leicester away at Derby, for Bournemouth at home to much fancied Wigan and a fantastic comeback from Watford saw them take a point away at Reading, too sides that are expected to be in the mix come the end of the season.
In League One, Carlisle continued their terrible start with their third 4-0 defeat on the trot at the hands of Coventry. It could be a long season for their fans. Peterborough and Leyton Orient kept up their 100% records and Wolves secured an impressive 3 points away at Bristol City. Stevenage remain in the bottom four after their third straight 1-0 defeat of the season.
All teams in League Two are now off the mark after Bury and Plymouth won and Hartlepool secured an away point at York. Oxford and Southend extended their winning starts with wins away at Torquay and at home to Northampton respectively.
Final word to Barnet (who I have a soft spot for), who have made a decent start to life outside league football, with 7 points from a possible 9.
Thank you for reading, come back for the next installment of the Premier League next weekend with Manchester United v Chelsea likely to be the big talking point.
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