It’s been quite an eventful couple of days in the EPL. First came the news that Patrick Vieira was staying, quickly followed by the news that Michael Owen was leaving. The first weekend of the season meant it was finally time to get down to business. A lot to discuss, so lets’ get right down to it.
Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool. Who won, who lost? Arsenal certainly were winners, they kept an influential member of the core that has produced what could go down as one of the great teams in English (not European) football. As for Real Madrid, did they win or lose? They got Michael Owen who I suppose will sell some shirts for them. But with Raul and Morientes in the frame, I’m not sure where/when Owen is going to play.
So Liverpool were the clear losers right? Not so fast. Maybe not being English gives me a different perspective (or maybe I’m talking out my arse), but I don’t think Owen is nearly as good as he once was. I saw him play against Roma in New Jersey two weeks ago and was thoroughly unimpressed, as apparentlly was the new Liverpool coach. Owen isn’t big enough to win the ball in the air, isn’t strong enough to play with his back to the net and Liverpool, with the exception of Gerrard doesn’t have anyone who can pass well enough. Yes, he got the winner that night, but it was from a lucky deflection, not something he created. Plus, the guy can’t stay healthy. This new “Galactico” scored fewer goals than Robert Pires last season.
Throwing off the yoke of Owen will allow Liverpool to play Baros and the other stronger, more athletic strikers. I don’t expect Liverpool to win the League this year, but I don’t expect them to be 30 points adrift at the end either.
Now let’s talk about the play on the pitch. Arsenal travelled to Everton, who look to be strugglers this season. It only took the first half to confirm that notion. Arsenal started, STARTED!, Cesc, who was clearly way out of his… What’s that? Oh. Good news Premiership, Cesc, all 17 years of him looked like he could have been a five year veteran. Calm, assured and a strong passer Cesc looked great. As did Reyes, who may give Henry a run for team top scorer. Pires came on late and grabbed a classic, SuperBob, “don’t mind if I do” goal. He’s got to be the luckiest player in England. The ball always seems to bounce right in front of him as he races towards the net. Yeah, lucky.
Defense looked fine, thought Everton isn’t really a test. Couldn’t really get a read on Flamini either.
The other big match of the weekend went to Chelsea, 1-0. Those are the types of games ManU used to be able to win. Still too early to write them off, but this could be a tough year for Man United, as they may be in a deep whole by the time they get everyone back healthy.
I think England really has some strength in depth this year. In the past I’ve sided with Spain as the best league as they had more teams capable of doing things in Europe - Madrid, Barca, Deportivo, Valencia could al be counted on. Now, England’s second tier seem to be stronger than in the past. Saturday’s Newcastle - Boro match was a great example. Neither one of these teams is going to win the League, but you’re going to have to earn points against them. Fulham, Charlton, Bolton, Birmingham and Aston Villa could all be tricky ties as well. Don’t be surprised if the League is won with points in the low 80s.
Finally, cheers to all who signed up for the Arsenal America Fantasy League. I believe last year we had 38 players, this year 116! Great stuff.
15 Responses to “Winner & Losers - That was the weekend that was”
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August 16th, 2004 at 7:32 am
Rick… whose top of that Fantasy League anyway?!
haaaaaaa….I was in SHOCK when I checked it.
I know I know……just week one!
We looked very very superior to a poor Everton team. I don’t think one player (Wayne Rooney) is going to help this team much. They lack talent and depth… and thats why I see Rooney going to ManU… and soon… Everton need a quick influx of talent NOW!
Watching us dismantle Everton with relative ease, I did wonder how we were going to get all our amazing talent on the pitch on a regular basis!
VanPersie Vieira Edu didn’t play… Pires Pennant didn’t start… and those who DID play looked excellent!!! Freddie was very good, and as Rick stated, Cesc was remarkable… especially for a 17 yr.old!!!!!
Bergkamp is in fine form, and he makes this team so much better when he is playing well… hope he can stay healthy.
Reyes frightened the crap out of Everton… he is the real deal… and along with Henry, I can’t see ANYONE coping with the pace we possess in the midfield and up front.
I guess at this point, our only issue is… how do we keep everyone involved and match ready!!!!!!!!
and just think….
we didn’t have to spend $156 MILLION to have a team stocked with stars!!!!!!!!!
LET THE UNBEATEN RUN CONTINUE!!!!!!
August 16th, 2004 at 9:03 am
I thought it was a great overall performance. I was really surprised by Cesc’s performance as I really thought it would be another year before he’d be ready for the first team. Judging by that performance I expect him to get quite a few games although he’ll probably get a rest when Vieira gets fit. Full marks also to Gilberto. I thought he worked extra hard to make up for Paddy’s absence and hope the injury he picked up won’t keep him out next week.
August 16th, 2004 at 9:15 am
Im sorry to say that Everton look like a team doomed, the boardroom struggles could end the clubs fantastic record of staying in the top flight for so long. As you mentioned Stagg, the talent has run dry, excluding Rooney of course but as to united snapping him up is more a question of when and not if.
The game yesterday was impressive on more than one front, again our strength in depth showed forth, the immense amount of talent in our younger ranks too, with Reyes (Hard to believe his age as it is!) and Cesc, who Wenger states “Plays with the head of a 25/27 year old” (Without the mullet!), the fact that we seem to of “hit the ground running” is also a massive plus.
We are right though to say that Everton are a only shade of the side they formerly were and with stronger opposition the win may not have been so large. Also a few players, Henry in particular still need to get back to full fitness- a few of his tricks and runs seemed slightly out of tune, but im sure they will come along nicely. This isn’t such a bad thing, to play the type of football we did yesterday, against a lesser team albeit, but also against ManUre the previous week really does give the potential title contenders a lot to think about. A few of my colleagues are Chelski fans, they still think that Arsenal are a much better team than them (Although if the game yesterday goes for anything, neither Chelsea or United look set to light the world on fire). Im looking forward to welcoming back Romford Ray next week in a game that in my opinion will be a lot closer than people may at first think…
Up the Arse!
August 16th, 2004 at 10:58 am
Stag, u start the season (Fantasy League] the Arsenal does indeed!!
back to football, i would expect Pires, Ljungberg both would have a good season as now they are under threat from Reyes, Pennant and van Persie. Bergkamp has been in a great form, the best i have seen since 98. Perhaps the Dutch Master is determined to have a great farewell season!
August 16th, 2004 at 11:33 am
By the way, for anyone who wonder Arsenal fans’ reaction towards Vieira, just look and hear at the way the traveling fans singing his name despite he’s not even traveling with the team! See, Paddy, how much the Arsenal fans love u, don’t try to disappoint us again!
August 16th, 2004 at 11:42 am
Yes Andez… I forgot to mention that part!
I think that shows how much the supporters are HAPPY that Vieira stayed… and how much we love him… brilliant support for PV4!
On a different note… if you were trying to HELP Everton… what would you do?!
If you sell Rooney for $20 Mill… do you bring in?? A defender, A midfielder, and a striker?
Why wouldn’t they have taken Francis Jeffers at 2.5 Mill? How about Sylvan Wiltord (I haven’t heard that he is playing anywhere)… This team has more holes than swiss cheese!
August 16th, 2004 at 12:11 pm
How good was Cesc and Reyes?
Reyes steaming in from the left wing…I dare defenders to keep double teaming Henry and leave Reyes all alone or vice versa
but my man of the match was Ljungberg. It was like he had something to prove & it was awesome Henry rewarded him with a goal
August 16th, 2004 at 12:16 pm
I agree that ManU and Chelsea looked like CL summer qualifiers…oh, wait, one of them is.
Anyhow, I was not overly impressed. Chelsea has 100 million on the bench and they can’t manage anything but the ugliest goal I have seen in perhaps my entire life. Mourinho looked as relaxed, though, as that “please punch me”-looking Abromovitch looked like he was enjoying a vodka buzz, but my guess was that they were as bored with their football as the rest of us were. No cards in this one, either. Don’t know what that says exactly, but with ManU’s dominance in the second half, one would have thought that at least Geremi would have managed something before being subbed out. Interestingly, and yet not, the subs did even less.
I know it takes time to gel, but there was just no opening game spark until United’s consistently sloppy assault in the second half. Again, United are weary and missing a whole lot of horsey, but Chelsea got worse as they warmed up. The game was dull and decidely mid-table. I’m looking for Birmingham to be a bit nastier to them, and Norwich’s pacey Huckerby (what a fantastic strike!) to give United a headache.
The Gunners, fresh off of some of the same in Cardiff, showed tremendous pace and some surprisingly sharp passing (although Lehmann already had me nervous a few times). The pub where I watched both games actually saw Mancs and Blues stick around to get their money’s worth off the day. Can’t say I blamed them.
August 16th, 2004 at 12:19 pm
Yes! Freddie was in excellent form, and was always somehow in scoring position. His assist to Reyes from the left of the box was nice as well. He was seemingly everywhere, and always dangerous.
Something else I noticed was how well we tracked back and won the ball. Again, Everton. But at least the score reflected the match up.
August 16th, 2004 at 2:01 pm
I’m not normally a Cygan-basher but he didn’t look great to me and he nearly gave away a penalty. I’m still worried about the defence - why wasn’t Senderos given 20 minutes or so? Does Wenger think he’s not ready for the premier league yet? I wish we’d sign a world-class centre half before the window closes so he’s got time to settle in by the time the CL hots up. Apart from that, great - of course I share the general euphoria. And, yes, Gilberto was terrific, as ever - I’m a fan - so let’s hope he didn’t get badly injured. (At least it keeps him out of the loony friendly in Haiti.) Looks like Chelsea are going to play like Greece.
August 16th, 2004 at 2:32 pm
Ummm… Cygan just needs to hold the fort for a bit… until Sol returns…
I think he is fine for cover… we don’t have him as a starter for the season!
I don’t think he played badly at all.
August 16th, 2004 at 3:07 pm
That near call with Cygan and Campbell…that I think the official got it right. Unless he was just giving us a make-up no call since he did nothing when Reyes was flipped upside down in the box at the other end. Campbell was backing into Cygan pretty hard if you watch the replay, and Cygan was holding his ground. That seemed to be the move that initiated the shirt grab. Of course, seeing that Campbell held onto his arm seemed a deperate plea for a call. In the end, the right choice to let play continue.
In fact, I thought the officiating was on the mark throughout. Ashley Cole’s card was received with laughter and some cheers at the pub where I was. He got p*ssed at being kicked, I think, and returned the favor.
With Cygan, this time like in Cardiff, he seemed to make some important tackles. But I agree, Senderos could have come in. Luckily, things were pretty under control. And don’t forget the center back who played every second of last year, Lehmann!
August 16th, 2004 at 4:04 pm
Doubtless you’re right! Watch the REPLAY? Jeez you Americans live in another civilizational dimension. Here in N1, in my local, we peer through the cigarette smoke at a distant tiny tv, manufactured in roughly 1950, I’d guess, and all we can see when the sun is shining directly onto the screen is a kind of grey haze. Yesterday I suggested they get some blackout material for the windows when it’s sunny on match days. ‘You sit down, darling,’ they said, ‘praps we’ll av a little cloud’. We’re OK for the CL, though, ‘cos it happens after dark.
August 17th, 2004 at 8:37 am
Ewww…that sounds horrific. Can’t you pass a hat for a new TV? Oh well, I guess its about the atmosphere, too.
Funny. And sad.
August 17th, 2004 at 5:12 pm
miranda, i believe the reason Cygan got the nod ahead of Senderos was because of EXPERIENCE. Manager usually would dare to give young attackers chances than defenders/goalkeepers. ‘cos if a young forward can’t handle the pressure and plays poorly, to the worst we wouldn’t be able to score. But if a young defender makes a mistake, it may cost us a game. And it would hurt the youngster’s confidence as well.
Though i admit Cygan didn’t play well against Everton, still, at least we can understand the reason behind AW’s decision to play him.