Sunday 15 August 2010

Straight Shootin' Opening Weekend Thoughts

So, the opening weekend of the premiership season has come and gone and what a weekend it has been, with goalkeeping gaffes, great goals and cards I have to say its already been a fun season and its only going to get better. In terms of great goals, my pick of the bunch has to be David Jones of Wolves with one of the most inventive free kicks i've seen in years against Stoke City because that could have went horribly wrong, but looked absolutely sublime as it went so right and proved decisive in giving Wolves their 2-1 win. In terms of teams there could only be one team who gets my vote as team of the week and that is Blackpool. The tangerines really impressed me with the way they basically pounded what was a poor Wigan side (who i've nicknamed the new Middlesbrough over the last year and a half) into the ground with aplomb, Ian Holloway looked proud of his side, but Gary Taylor-Fletcher had to be the proudest man in the team with the sheer fact that he scored the Seasiders 1st ever goal in the premier league, it may be their 1st time in this league but they shoed they won't go without a fight, but the one thing you hope for their sake, is that they haven't scored all of their goals at once as that opening day brilliance may end up a hollow victory for Holloway. Chelsea admittedly laid down a marker with an emphatic 6-1 win over the leagues Yoyo team West Bromwich Albion, but tougher tests will be coming to the bridge for sure. Man City vs Spurs was an intriguing watch, there were many questions to be answered on the day such as, who will be City's no.1 keeper? Given or Hart? Will Ledley King and his rickety knees play? Will City show they've got title credentials and hand Spurs a beating on the opening day, considering all the money that has been spent in the summer so far? Well, Hart was no.1 on this day and proceeded to show the league, if not the world why, it remains to be seen if Shay Given will get his place back after how well Hart did. It was an entertaining game but Spurs looked most likely to win it and if not for Joe hart and an amazing string of saves Spurs may have been out of sight at half time, but still, contrary to my expectations it ended 0-0 but the lack of cohesion throughout Manchester City's team was evident to all who saw that match and those who have City pegged as title contenders will find a lack of fluidity to be a source of consternation. Moving along to Sunday Liverpool v Arsenal was the marquee match and in my view didn't disappoint. As usual Arsenal did dominate possession but in the only flashpoint of the 1st half Joe Cole (and as a Liverpool supporter this hurts me to say this) was deservedly sent off for a challenge that wasn't malicious, but was dangerous all the same. N'gog drilled in a shot that by rights should never have went past Almunia, but after uncharacteristically sloppy passing from Arsenal, 10 man Liverpool went ahead and stayed ahead until about 86 minutes in when our player of the season last year conceded an unlucky, but still silly goal which gave Arsenal the draw, a result both teams probably would have taken at the start of the day. Everyone makes mistakes and fortunately for Mr Reina, he wasn't the only usually consistent keeper to drop a clanger this weekend as Tim Howard cost Everton 3 points with his 'dropping of the ball' against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Still though, I know i've missed out a couple of things such as Lee Cattermole's silly sending off (by silly I mean the challenge he put in for his 2nd yellow card) and Koscielny's stupid 2nd yellow that shouldn't have been a yellow, and the 2 legitimate goals ruled out in Blackpool's match, I could go on but i'm trying not to be long winded, point is, this weekend has been a lot of fun and there are surely a lot more to come!






I'm The Straight Shootin' One, And thats my opinion!!!

Liam Angell aka Straight Shootin' LJA