The opening weekend was somewhat a distant memory thanks to the grit and determination from Hangeland; the class put on show by Newcastle and such class a finish by Gareth Bale we are already talking about a goal of the season contender.
It was almost easy to forget in the midst of a hat-trick by an otherwise unknown english forward in Andy Carroll that another young English player had netted three the day before in a 6-0, crash back down to earth, spectacular display put on by arsenal with Theo Walcott getting his just rewards with his three goals. It was a weekend where all it needed was a big clash like say... Liverpool versus Manchester City to leave the fans licking their lips at the prospect of what this season has to offer... oh wait theres still that game for monday night football!
The 2009/10 season was renowned for its spectacular unpredictable nature where the top four was dropping like flies to 'lesser' teams where Liverpool had lost 11 games in total in the league, Arsenal lost 9 and even Manchester United, a team renowned for its ability to grab any chance of luck for a win, lost 7 times in total last year. Even eventual champiosn Chelsea lost 6 times and all these drop in points led to Tottenham breaking into the top four in what was the closest fought battle for the fourth place in a long while. This unpredictable nature of last season lay down the stepping stone to prove the premier league is definately the best league in the world, not only for the best football or best footballers but for its ability to provide shocks where bookies are left scratching there head at say how Blackpool managed to net four past Wigan perhaps. We have seen signs of that unpredictable nature reappearing this season with Fulham's Brede Hangeland showing the character of a Premier league star making up for an unfortunate Own Goal to put Mancherster United in the lead, only to come back into the United box, with spring in his step and all his neck muscles tensed up he unleashed a powerful header past Edwin Van Der Sar to level the game for a well deserved point. We are early days into the season and can't read to much into it, but sides like Bolton, Birmingham and even Wolves are yet to drop a point as Owen Coyle seems to be re-working his magic at a struggling bolton side into the sort of side he moulded at burnley to get them promoted last year. In Birmingham we are seeing a slow progression that now have become a regular top ten team on the verge of pushing for europe. Wolves are proving to be a surprise package as yet with a win against a stoke team that the top four sides find hard to beat and then gaining a point away from home at a daunting Goodison Park.
There is also no denying the amount of goals being scored aswell, already we've had four 6-0 wins, a 4-0 win and a 3-0 win, and only two bore goalless draws, one of which thankfully did not set the tone for the season by Tottenham and Manchester City. But the increase in goals can only be a good thing for the league in making it more exciting to watch and making a big name for yourself, say like Andy Carroll has with his heroic hat-trick, another super number 9 perhaps on the border for the St James Park faithful?
So here's hoping Liverpool and Manchester City provide a show of class, provide the goals which have been ever present, and hope the many talent on show by both sides play to their full potential to provide a gut-busting encounter which will leave fans licking their lips at what else the season may provide.
No comments:
Post a Comment