So after all the hyperbole, all the anticipation, the 'Premier League' was here. Within the past month it had been unavoidable, sprayed all over the media like a Jackson Pollock painting, the seconds being counted as its commencement drew ever closer. Having tuned into the first MotD of the season, one of the undoubted highlights of every football fans' summers, I can't help but feel rather empty, a bit short changed however. It is fair to say that it was one of the most underwhelming first days of the season in a long time.
Joey Barton fighting. Totally out of character...
It was just as if the last season had never ended; Blackburn losing a scrappy game at home, Fulham drawing a game, Liverpool struggling to beat lesser opposition at Anfield and Arsenal just generally being comically incompetent. Tell me something I don't know. Credit has to go to Norwich for battling to an away point at Wigan and getting points on the board at the first time of asking. I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Canaries survive by the skin of their teeth this season, they play good, honest football and have a talented manager in Paul Lambert. The same cannot be said however about Norwich's fellow new boys, QPR. A 4-0 home defeat, a bad looking injury to one of your stellar signings and a red card is not the stuff dreams are made of and it has to be said they looked very poor today. It is early days and in Warnock they have a tough, experienced manager who has the stomach for a fight, the issue is though how long he will stay there. Briatore is not an easy man to please and has simply not coughed up any money to invest in players and I fail to believe that he really is passionate about the club and its loyal fans, it seems almost a hobby for him. It will be interesting to see how both teams cope over the season and I am especially looking forward to seeing how Swansea fare later on in the weekend, Brendan Rodgers is a superb manager who plays the game the right way. Time will only tell but my bet would be that the most likely of the three heading for an immediate return to the Championship would be the west London outfit.
There is one manager though who might have their P45 through the post even sooner than Warnock; the Blackburn Rovers manager, Steve Kean. After a disappointing start to the season today, losing 2-1 to Wolves he is the bookies' favourite to be the first manager to be shown the door. He has never really connected with the fans and things haven't ever been rosy to be honest, there is a great number of disillusioned Rovers fans who just don't think he is up to the job and perceive him as a 'glorified coach'. I do have sympathy for Kean though, he has almost had to take the blame of the sacking of Sam Allardyce last season which the fans were particularly angered about and he has had little support from the new Indian owners who claim to be interested in all these global stars but have taken no action. Of course Big Sam's departure is nothing to do with Steve but football is a fickle business, he seems a likeable enough guy and I hope his luck turns around.
Brand new season, same old Arsenal. The talk pre-match was all about last season's epic contest, the 4-4, the capitulation that ultimately contributed to Arsenal's crumbling season last term. Ironically it ended 0-0 but the scoreline doesn't explain the half of it, Arsenal are the perennial entertainers of the premier league, they weren't going to leave us without points of interest. New signing Gervinho had a debut to forget as he went down the path of so many others, and who can blame them, by trying to smack Joey Barton and in turn receiving an early bath. Wenger, who actually saw this incident ( I know!) was spot on with his post match comments, both players should have been red carded, and I would argue that Gervinho's slap was far more innocuous than Barton's man handling. It was totally unnecessary from Barton and at times it is like he is content of gaining the hate of every football fan worldwide, it is a shame as he is a gifted player technically and can produce at the highest level, yet is deeply flawed.
On the pitch though it was a case of deja vu for the Londoners, it is almost as if you don't even have to watch Arsenal to actually write a match report on their matches anymore. They dominate possession and chances, play incredible football that is so easy on the eye yet remain ever frail in defense and weak psychologically and it was no different today. Next week they play Liverpool which is sure to be a great game between two teams believed to be battling eachother for 4th spot this year and it could be a pivotal game for both sides. Liverpool also had a disappointing draw today as Sunderland earned a well merited point based on their second half performance. Steve Bruce's side were second best in the the first 45 minutes yet rallied for a great second half showing and were good value for their point. Disappointing for the Kop but I'm sure it'll take a lot more than that for them to lose faith in King Kenny.
It is still very early days and with City, United, Chelsea and Spurs yet to play it is sure to be yet another enthralling season at the top and bottom of the table. 1 down, 37 to go...
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