Ruthless Roman wields the axe once more

"Na, time's up Andre, bored of you. Next."

June 2011 and Roman Abramovich was heralding a 'new' era down at King's Road, Chelsea. The billionaire west London outfit had just shelled out the incredible £13.2million required to release young Portuguese talent Andre Villas-Boas of FC Porto, on the back of an astoundingly successful season which saw 'Las Portistas' win every competition they entered whilst remaining unbeaten in the 'primeira liga'.  What could possibly go wrong? Surely a youthful, talented manager who had previously been under Abramovich's employment as a member of Jose Mourinho's all conquering coaching staff would take to the position like a duck to water? Surely this 'three year plan' to overhaul an ageing squad, integrate aesthetically meriting football and bring trophies back to the Bridge was going to be given a chance?

March 2012 and news filters in that Andre has been instantly dismissed from his position with Roberto Di Matteo covering as caretaker manager. Hang on a minute...

It is hard to envisage what Roman's exact expectations were for this season, was he really predicting Villas-Boas to win another treble, match Arsenal's legendary invincibles? The Russian's short patience and insatiable hunger for instant success is well documented but this would be pure fantasy and surely common sense would've prevailed, but since when did common sense mean anything in this world in 2012? 

Abramovich had hung his man out to dry and characteristically there was not one public statement declaring his support as the results worsened; he had treated the Portuguese as a child would a new ball; fawning over it whilst it remains new, desirable even, only to let it rot and deflate along with all that pre-season optimism.

The sad thing is that it's no surprise; rather like in a famous scene from 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade', Abramovich sees his holy grail as the Champions league and irreverently tosses a disposable array of managers into the lion's den only to immediately dismiss them if they don't produce. You have to question the thinking for Villas-Boas' successor shall be the eighth manager in as many years under the Russian's tenure. Just ask Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, world class coaches who were extremely successful only to succumb to Roman's itchy trigger finger, it really is curious and must leave Chelsea's fans disillusioned in what is vast becoming a hellish season, their first for many a year.

The statistics do not favour 'AVB' with a win percentage of 45%, 3 wins out his last 12 premiership fixtures and the concession of 32 goals in just 27 domestic games. These are facts that cannot be disputed yet they do little to tell the full story of what ultimately led to Villas-Boas' demise and it would take a heartless man to not feel a twinge of sympathy for the man who seemed to become more and more ostracised as the days wore on. 

Perhaps the job came a few years two early for the rookie manager who never seemed to command the respect of prominent senior dressing room characters such as Lampard, Cole and Drogba. There were well documented rows over tactics and team selection and as the defeats racked up after a promising start, the Portuguese' post match interviews began to get more bizarre with barbed snipes at the press followed by a defensive, twitchy stance culminating in a beaten man, a pale shadow of the beaming smile we saw in June.

I think it would be fair to say he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip having inherited an ageing, depleted squad co-inciding with Tottenham and Manchester City's new found status in the Premier league. The signings Villas-Boas made such as Mata and Romeu have been successes, rare positives in an under-performing side that is in serious need of re-invigoration, one that is stagnant. Seven months is nowhere near enough time to re-build such a team and the three year project that he was promised was not delivered, by no means did he do himself any favours but it seems rather pointless to issue a P45 at this stage of the season when no big names are available. They might as well give the manager's position to Lampard and Terry who from the outside seem to have been the real men in charge since the 'Special One's' departure, whoever is the next man in will have a daunting task in front of them. The Chelsea job is vast becoming a poisoned chalice akin to that of the England post.  Who'd be a manager eh?

Wow... Where did that come from?!

 Theo Walcott's relief was plain to see on Sunday after scoring his first home league goals since late 2010 against the old enemy. Often clinical, however even more often infuriating, the England winger was certainly the former yesterday.

Every season there is a stand out game separated from the others, one result symbolic of the entire campaign; an emblematic token that will forever define a certain year to every football fan. 
Who can forget Philippe Albert's impudent chip sailing over a helpless Peter Schmeichel in a resounding 5-0 Newcastle win? Or Stan Collymore's incredible last minute finish to win Liverpool a 4-3 thriller against Kevin Keegan's Toon army? A certain Russian's performance at Anfield in 2009 anyone? You get the idea, and the very fact that I could fill this whole blog with a host of classic encounters is only testament to the premiership's appeal, it has an aura about it that allows it to tower above any of its European rivals with yesterday only re-affirming this. 

Arsenal scored two league goals at Old Trafford for
the first time in over 7 years. Said Wenger. 

This however is not news to a lot of people, the majority agreeing that it is globally the greatest league around, the surprise is that this season alone there has been a deluge of spectacular results and frankly ridiculous scorelines in comparison to previous years gone by. This term fixtures between the top 6, so usually cagey and tactical if previous encounters are to go by, have produced incredible matches, exciting scores and incomparable entertainment. Spurs steamrollered King Kenny's reds 4-0 in September which got the ball rolling for City to stun the world of football with a remarkable performance at Old Trafford followed just a week later by a Van Persie inspired Arsenal team to romp to a 5-3 triumph at Stamford Bridge. Of course unforgettably the Gunners suffered at the hands of the 'Red Devils' in the fledgling season with a complete capitulation. This not including yesterday's match is 25 goals in 5 games and only Sepp Blatter would argue that this isn't entertaining to the fans.

David Luiz has had reason to hide after recent defensive displays

 It is almost certainly no co-incidence that the English team's poor performances in Europe this year have come at the same time as so many goals being conceded domestically, a full blown epidemic of comical defending that has clearly swept our nation and you evidently get punished for that at the very highest level. David Luiz is a fine example, although an extremely talented player he is to defending what N-Dubz are to music and Villas-Boas would be wise to re-evaluate the Brazilian's position, his fine goal this weekend evidence of his offensive capabilities. 


Back to yesterday's football though, Arsenal vs Spurs was a fantastic advert for the Premier league,  a topsy turvy rollercoaster of a game. Out of all the big match ups over the years, the North London derby has been the fixture for football purists in recent years with only one goalless draw in the past 32 league and cup encounters, including some memorable results along the way, most notably 4-5, 4-4, 3-3. They are frenzied, basketball style affairs, events in which the country sits down to take notice, occasions where the only thing moving at a faster rate than the ball itself is the heart rates of the fans involved. Yesterday was no different, it was a blur, when the final whistle was blown a brief pause for actually absorbing what had just happened occurred, a short moment to pinch yourselves perhaps if you reside from the red half of north  London. 

Van Persie netted his 23rd league goal of the season with this blistering equaliser.

Tottenham went into the derby as favourites for the first time in over ten years in away match against an Arsenal side fresh off the back of an FA cup exit and a more than probable Champions league exit, and after Saha opened the scoring in the 4th minute, the script seemed clear. Redknapp's men started much the brighter team and seemed happy to caress the ball harmlessly around the glorious Emirates turf, until Luka Modric pounced. The Croatian hit a wonderful first time pass to set Gareth Bale free until the Welshman chanced his luck with an 'optimistic tumble'.. ahem... to earn his side a penalty. The all so charming and ever so popular Emmanuel Adebayor slotted home with for once muted celebrations and with Spurs 2-0 up at the half hour mark surely Arsenal were set to lose again, their routine post January kamikaze like submission.This was different though. The home team reached well and were in dreamland to go in at the break at 2-2. Arsenal were dare to say it, like the Arsenal of old for 15 minutes, fluent, potent, direct and effective. Sagna's header was a great finish off of a good cross into the box, something the Gunners don't do enough of. Van Persie's equaliser was sublime, a strike that words cannot do justice for one must see, as soon as the Dutchman's bullet left that sweet left peg, the momentum was with Wenger's men, Spurs were shell-shocked. 

Bad day at the office for 'Arry but he has every right to be
proud of Spurs' season thus far

Tottenham never really turned up for the second half and when Rosicky flicked in a neat finish early in the proceedings to give Arsenal the lead for the first time the stadium erupted. Walcott was a different player from the timid, indecisive boy of the first half and burst through twice in the space of 5 minutes to score two great finishes, much with Van Persie's assistance. Arsenal were in dreamland, nobody expected this, not even the most ardent fans on the North Bank for the simple fact is that their team had not shown this spirit, fight or desire for a very long time, it was unexpected, an inculpable relief. Harry Redknapp joked after his side's 0-0 draw with Stevenage last weekend that it wasn't the best audition for the England job, what would he be saying after this showing?

Stop the Press! The F.A show common sense!

John Terry: charming bloke.

     Who would have thought it eh? The rich men in suits who are seemingly intent on ensuring football descends into a non-contact sport made a good call, the guys who thought that this man was the solution made the right decision. The news this week that John Terry had been stripped of the England captaincy for the second time in little over two years wasn't surprising for its moral reasoning; but more so for its decisiveness. It is fair to say the FA have been far too ponderous and perhaps weak on decisions gone by; Terry's controversial re-instatement after losing the captaincy initially in 2010 being a fine example. 

Do I really need to write a caption?

    John Terry is a great defender, an iconic figure within English football, that is of no doubt. He may not be as influential and unrelenting as he once was but he certainly still has a daunting presence on the field. The fact is that he was the England captain and he was due to appear before a criminal court on charges of racial abuse after this summer's European championships, as the case was delayed.  Terry's position was by all accounts untenable, how could England allow another incident to overshadow preparations for a tournament, it was a sense of deja vu; a dark mark hovering over the camp like an unwanted swarm of wasps at a picnic. Many of England's best players are black and that is the reality, in fact the victim in the whole saga, Anton Ferdinand, is the brother of Rio, the man who Terry displaced as captain last year after incredibly being re-instated following the Wayne Bridge furore. The whole situation is farcical enough as it is, the FA had to make a decision and it was one that was well warranted. The very fact that this has made such big news this week is saddening in a way; surely a normal society would unanimously agree that it is the correct decision beyond doubt. It lacks of integrity from the Chelsea captain to plead 'not guilty' to the charges and thus dragging out an unwanted, ugly saga. I am by no means a lip-reader but everybody has seen and heard the footage, how long can it take to process that through court? He will need an extremely good lawyer come July 9th, personally I cannot fathom a plausible defence for such actions.

     

      I do not believe for one minute John Terry is a racist but he is certainly guilty of racial abuse and as the England captain, 'the biggest rolemodel' in English football it is unforgivable, with this decision the FA have reduced us from laughing stock to figure of fun. There have been whispers of 'JT' quitting England all together after being 'humiliated', my heart bleeds along with many others I'm sure. England have a wealth of talent to choose from defensively with younger talents such as Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Chris Smalling, Michah Richards and Joleon Lescott's relatively recent emergence. It might suit both parties if he had received his last cap, who knows? They are all typical unconfirmed reports from mysterious 'sources' though so it would be unwise to read into that too much. 

    Despite not playing this weekend, Terry's team rounded off the worst of weeks for their skipper after capitulating against old foes Man Utd in a pulsating 3-3 draw, a game that saw the Blues race into a three goal lead early in the second half, only to decide that wasn't exciting enough and in turn self destructing. It was an incredible turnaround from United and although their team looks one of the weakest Red Devil teams for a while on paper, their spirit and hunger is insatiable. It is the hallmark of a Ferguson team, that tenacity and never say die attitude is what differentiates them from their 'noisy neighbours' Manchester City.

    

Thierry Henry grabbed his 1st premiership goal for 5 years this weekend,  Torres might have to wait 6.

      The result left Chelsea only three points clear in that prestigious champions league position after Arsenal went goal crazy against a hapless, albeit ten men, Blackburn Rovers outfit. Van Persie grabbed a hat trick recording his 22nd league goal of the season, before Oxlade-Chamberlain helped himself to a brace and Thierry Henry put the icing on the cake with a late tap in. It was a perfect day for the Gunners and a very welcome result for the perennially under pressure 'Profeseur', Arsene Wenger. At the the top of the table City opened up a two point gap over Utd with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham in wintry conditions at the Etihad, Sergio Aguero dazzling for Mancini's men. 

World of Sport

• Pakistan compounded England's misery with a remarkable comeback in the final test in Dubai to complete a 3-0 series whitewash of the world's number one side. Pakistan became the first side since 1907 to win a test match having being bowled out for less than 100 in their first innings, further rubbing salt into the wounds. 
• The Spanish cyclist, Alberto Contador has been stripped of his 2010 Tour de France win and banned from the sport for two years after being found guilty of doping this week.
• Eli Manning joined the elite after leading his Giants team to a thrilling 21-17 victory over the Patriots in Superbowl XLVI on Sunday. Eli now has two Superbowl rings, one more than his legendary brother Peyton and two Superbowl MVP awards. 
• In Rugby the annual six nations kicked off with the biggest game of the weekend being Scotland vs England at Murrayfield with the Calcutta cup at stake. Charlie Hodgson scored the only try of the game as England sneaked their first away win against the old enemy for five years in a 13-6 victory. Other results saw Wales grab a brilliant win in Dublin in a close game 23-21 and France complete a routine 30-12 victory over Italy at the Stade de France.
• The F1 teams unveiled their new cars for the upcoming season this week, with Lewis Hamilton feeling his usual confident self. The English driver has claimed he can 'win every race' this season and that is his aim. Good luck to him.

Another week, another crisis...

It's looking ominous if you're a water bottle in North London this season...

   It gives me absolutely no pleasure in continuously writing about Arsenal's troubles and after my last post regarding the Fabregas saga it is with great reluctance that I am again beginning at the Emirates stadium. It is by no means my intention to have an Arsenal themed blog but at present they are the team everyone is discussing; there are so many unanswered questions and differing opinions across the country and even within the Gunners' fanbase that it is simply unavoidable. 


   I think it wouldn't be too far a stretch of the imagination to call tonight's second leg match against Udinese the most important of Wenger's fifteen year reign at the club, with a loss simply unthinkable after fourteen consecutive Champions league campaigns. The financial implications of not qualifying, although problematic, wouldn't be the main problem for Arsenal. Failing to play amongst Europe's elite would really signal a change at the Emirates, somewhat confirming the decline that we have witnessed in recent years. The already disillusioned fans would become apoplectic and the already slim chance of signing the world's finest players would disintegrate with the offering of Europa league football. 

Wenger needs to spend to appease the fans

    It is not just signing the best players that the fans are crying out for either, it is holding onto them more importantly. With Nasri's imminent departure days away, the crucial Champions league showdown tonight and a daunting trip to Old Trafford at the weekend it truly is a sense of when it rains it pours for the Arsenal faithful. It seems that Wenger is the only person who cannot see the necessity of strengthening the team and I would be surprised if any major signings were made at all. All I know for definite is that a squad with Squillaci as your covering centre back and only one striker who can finish isn't going to be challenging for the top honours come the business end of the season. It is commendable that with the sale of Fabregas Arsenal are now the only Premiership team to have made a profit on buying and selling players since the league's formation in 1992. The problem is the fans aren't going to hang around whilst Wenger does a lap of honour with the balance sheet, are they supporting a football team or a business? 




Sporting highlights and talking points of the week

England's cricket team and Man Utd confirmed their status as the best whereas Eto'o got a nice little pay rise and Murray won in Cincinnati.

•     England's Cricket team tore through India at the Oval on Monday aided by Graeme Swann's tremendous match figures of 6-106. It completed a memorable 4-0 whitewash of the visiting team who were world number one before the tour started and have now been displaced, just emphasising how far England have come over the past couple of years under the guidance of Andy Flower.  Having won 3 of the last 4 Ashes series and an incredible 7 out of the last 13 Tests by an innings it is difficult to see anything else other than  complete global domination from Strauss' men in the same ilk as the great Australian and West Indian teams before them. 

•       Manchester United ruthlessly dismissed Tottenham 3-0 with their new youthful squad on Monday night. Ferguson's team had just an average age of 23 years and were good value for the three points against a team tipped to challenge the top 4 this season. It was a very impressive performance from the Champions and although the fact that it was Tottenham's first game of the season has to be taken into account, it looks ominous for the Red Devil's rivals with such a young spine to the team and cover in every position. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck all had great games which can only be a good thing for the England national team's future and you have to hand it to Alex Ferguson, love or loathe him. The way he builds new teams full of young home grown talent and installs that winning mentality over and over again is truly remarkable. 

•     Samuel Eto'o was involved in a shock move to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala this week, a move which further damaged the modern day opinion on footballers being mercenaries. Heads were turned when the move was announced, why would a 29 year old world class striker with at least 3 years left at the top level leave a great institution such as Inter Milan to join an obscure Russian team? Well the answer was pretty obvious once the Cameroon international's wages were confirmed; a staggering £364,000 a week after tax, equivalent to £52,000 a day and 60p a second, usurping Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's highest paid footballers. It says a lot about the integrity of the modern day footballer and it is a sad reflection on the way the game is heading. It is fair to say that for a player whose previous clubs include Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan, a move to a mid table Russian club is purely a financial decision. Club loyalty is a thing of the past.

•    It was a good week for British sport with England's cricketers conquering the world, United's English youngsters playing well and last but not least Andy Murray winning the Cincinnati Masters tournament. Murray's victory lies him in good stead and will give him the confidence to push on in next week's US Open, a tournament he has previously been runner-up in 2008. The Scotsman overcame world No.1 Novak Djokovic in the final at Cincinnati albeit due to the Serb retiring midway through the second set struggling with a shoulder problem. Murray was already leading the match however and looked strong all week during the course of the tournament,  he is edging ever closer to winning his first Grand Slam and I fancy him to do the business at Flushing Meadows this month. 

Adios Cesc

Fabregas moves to Barca. The least surprising event in football since Kieron Dyer was stretchered off on his debut at the weekend.

     There was a depressing air of powerlessness engulfed all around the Emirates Stadium. After years of frankly disrespectful grooming, the Catalan juggernaut finally sealed the return of the prodigal son.You would have had to be living in a cave for the past few seasons to find the move unsurprising. The infamous comments from Xavi regarding Cesc's 'Barca DNA' infuriated the red half of North London none more so than Puyol and Pique's constant pining for a re-union; fate as they would have us believe. 

     

    The £35million fee after bonuses is a surrender on Arsenal's part, an acceptance of its inevitability after previously being so adamant on their £40m pricetag. A player who had created the most chances in all of Europe's top leagues over the past five years, surpassing even the metronomic Xavi, had been sold for less than Andy Carroll; an unproven striker with half a Premier league campaign under his belt. It is fair to say that football is unwell with more money than sense being thrown around and no signs of that changing in the near future. 

     

  An underlying feeling of bad blood between the teams no doubt remains; certainly from the fans' perspective. There is definitely mutual respect between the two clubs and the managers for footballing reasons however it is fair to say that the Spaniards could have handled the saga with a lot more integrity and morality. 

     

   At the press conference on Monday Wenger looked despondent, deep in thought and genuinely disheartened at the loss of his captain; the boy from Catalonia who he had transformed into a European Championship and World cup winner. This was different to the departures of Vieira, Henry, Pires, Ljungberg and Overmars, superb players no doubt but players who left in the twilight of their careers, players who never really reached the heights they did under Wenger's guidance.  Fabregas is 24 with his best years ahead of him, a frightening thought only testament to his prodigious talent and meteoric rise so young. Wenger knows this better than anyone and I have no doubts he could have done no more to keep hold of his captain. 

   

   An already disillusioned fan base at the Emirates are wondering what is happening to their team and although Wenger continually cites the benefits of patience and faith it is fair to say another trophyless season could spell the end of the Frenchman's glorious reign. It is paramount that all of the transfer fee received for the deal is re-invested in players if Wenger can lead Arsenal to an incredible 14th successive Champions league qualification. 

   

    On his departure Fabregas though was keen to stress the importance of believing in Wenger, the man who he described as the best man he has and ever will meet in football. Speaking at an emotional unveiling at the Nou Camp, Cesc had nothing but kind words for his former club claiming that his biggest regret would always be never lifting a cup as Arsenal captain and that he expects former colleague Jack Wilshere to captain England sooner rather than later. Though Arsenal fans are hurt by losing such a talented player, most know of 'El Capitan's' genuine love for the club and don't begrudge him returning home for he wouldn't have left North London for any other team. There isn't the sense of animosity that entangled the transfers of Gallas and Ashley Cole before him and will be sure to surround the imminent departure of Nasri to oil-rich rivals City.  Fabregas may not be looked back on in the same ilk as the likes of Vieira or Adams but after the dust has settled he will be looked back on fondly at the North Bank. 
   
     Aside from the repercussions for Arsenal it has to be said how formidable Barcelona look and surely a certainty for another successful European campaign. Having added Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez to an already incredibly strong outfit it seems it might once again prove too difficult a task for anyone to stop the Catalans. 

Premiership Predictions

Who will lift the trophy come May?

      The great thing about football is its unpredictable nature, the fact that David does regularly topple Goliath, it is what makes it so addictive and creates so much passion. People keep rushing back for more because it always provides, there isn't a more emotional sport in the world.
         Having said all this, it seems a bit ridiculous to now say I am going to attempt to predict what will happen come May next year. It is academic really, hypothetical guesses made on what I have seen in recent seasons and over the summer, yet since when did where you finished last season mean anything in the intense, merciless Premier league of today in which past glories mean little and every point must be earned?
       Obviously at the time of publishing this blog there remains over two weeks of the transfer window, a period in which the majority of the transfer moves are made. Yet as it stands, this is what I think will happen this season, and how the teams are shaping up in the transfer market.


ARSENAL
Last season: 4th
Captain: Cesc Fabregas (for the next day or two)
It is troubled times at the Emirates stadium at the moment, 6 years and counting without silverware and patience is growing ever thin among the terraces. Despite the lack of success on the field the board have also decided on a 6% rise in season ticket prices, a decision met with disgust from the fans. Wenger is under intense pressure to spend money and regain former glories but so far remains stubborn and has only made one major signing in Gervinho whilst looking set to lose the influential Fabregas and Nasri. It is certainly the worst point of Wenger's Gunners career and if a trophy isn't in the Emirates stadium cabinet come May, it looks unlikely he would continue.
Prediction: 4th  Arguably a weaker team than last season, and major signings must be made with the money from the Fabregas and Nasri deals. With a couple of defensive signings and a flair player to replace Fabregas Arsenal should seal another champions' league place as Wenger so reliably does. The question is are the fans just happy to settle for 4th every year whilst watching their rivals win anything? Anyone?


ASTON VILLA
Last season: 9th
Captain: Stiliyan Petrov
It is safe to say there won't be a statue of Alex McCleish erected in Birmingham anytime soon after his acrimonious move across the city. After relegating Villa's fierce rivals; Birmingham City last season despite winning a Carling cup it is fair to say he has been met with scepticism at Villa Park. He needs to make a good start to the season as the fans are already against him, make a bad one and it could become an unobtainable position. It will be especially tough on the field as well after losing their best two players from last season, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
Prediction: 7th  The signing of Charles N'Zogbia was a good piece of business by McCleish and he could be a pivotal supplier of goals for £24 million striker Darren Bent. If the England forward is firing and the squad can stay relatively free from injury, it could, on paper be a fruitful season for the Villans. With a big six now formed including City, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs it is safe to say that Villa are the best of the rest.


BLACKBURN ROVERS
Last season: 15th
Captain: Ryan Nelsen
It is safe to say the Blackburn fans are not a happy bunch. After having seen Sam Allardyce sacked out of the blue last season and replaced with a rookie in Steve Kean, they saw their team narrowly avoid relegation and not really inspire much excitement. The new Indian chairman, owners of the Venky chicken group came full of delightful promises of stellar, world class signings, putting Blackburn on the map and even pulling a transparent PR stunt claiming to have acquired Ronaldinho's services. Instead hardly any moves have been made and their signature signing is Goodwillie from the SPL, not exactly what the fans had in mine.
Prediction: 17th  I believe they will survive by the skin of their teeth merely because there are three worse teams in the division. The squad needs major strengthening and the voices of discontent from the Ewood park terraces are creeping up ever so steadily in volume.


BOLTON WANDERERS
Last season: 14th
Captain: Kevin Davies
Wanderers came flying out of the tracks last season with a blistering start to the campaign. Owen Coyle has brought an attractive style of football to the Reebok stadium and his team were right in contention for a European place until dwindling in the final few months and eventually falling away down the table. Fatigue caught up with a limited squad and a horrific injury to key player Holden suffered at Old Trafford last term was a huge loss.
Prediction: 10th With a few decent signings made this summer including Reo-Coker, Eagles and Mears it could be a decent year for the Trotters. They have  an excellent manager in Owen Coyle and with a bit of luck and not too many injuries they should be fairly comfortable bang in the middle of the table. It is vital they hang onto the influential Gary Cahill who really commands their defence.


CHELSEA
Last season: 2nd
Captain: John Terry
Abramovich wielded his axe again last season, dismissing Carlo Ancelotti for the 'ignominy' of a trophyless season just a year after delivering the club's first ever double. It is fair to say the Russian is an impatient man, knows what he wants and if he doesn't get it is in no way afraid of making a change, his fascination with the Champions league many managers' downfall. Ancelotti's replacement at Stamford Bridge is Andre Villas-Boas, a young, handsome, talented manager who joined Chelsea on the back of incredible success at Porto, sounds familiar right? There is incredible pressure on Villas-Boas who was in fact Mourinho's assistant during his trophy laden stint at the west London outfit and he will have to rejuvenate an ageing side who looked a shadow of their former selves last season.
Prediction: 3rd   It is a very tough ask of the Portuguese to deliver immediate success, and although he is no doubt talented it will be interesting to see how the dressing room respond to a man who at 33 is actually younger than some of the playing staff. It has been a relatively quiet transfer period for the club with only one real major signing taking place in the teen Belgian sensation, Romelu Lukaku. The squad is definitely strong enough to mount a title challenge but a lot of it will depend on Torres, Drogba and Lampard's form after all having disappointing campaigns last year. If Torres re-discovers the form that lit up Anfield then it could be a glorious year for the Blues, if not I just can't see them competing with the incredible strength in depth that lies in both halves of Manchester.


EVERTON
Last season: 7th
Captain: Phil Neville
Credit has to go to David Moyes for consistently providing top half, respectable finishes year upon year with a shoestring budget. The Toffees have somewhat of a reputation for starting a season terribly and improving rapidly as the months progress and last season was no different with City, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea all leaving Goodison Park with 'nil poi' at the business end of the season.
Prediction: 8th  Once again Moyes has had no transfer funds, the Toffees' being the least active team in the marketplace. Although no one of real quality has come in, the crucial point would be no major departures. If Moyes can hold onto Arsenal target Jagielka, whilst retaining the services of Fellaini, Cahill, Arteta, Neville and Saha I expect Everton to continue their consistent performances in the Premier league and perhaps even have a decent cup run. They have a deeply talented squad with a mix of experience and promising youth players such as Coleman, Rodwell and Barkley. The only flaw with the squad would be its strength in depth  yet they have enough about them to ensure Goodison park will still remain one of the toughest away fixtures for any team this season.


FULHAM
Last season: 8th
Captain: Danny Murphy
Last season was a consistent one for the Cottagers, finishing a very respectable 8th position and playing an aesthetically pleasing brand of football under Mark Hughes. Unfortunately they were rocked by the news when Hughes handed in a shock resignation at the end of the campaign. The board made swift moves to install Martin Jol, a manager who has previously enjoyed Premiership success with Fulham's London neighbours, Tottenham. It is a like for like switch with both managers talented and having similar visions on how the game should be played.
Prediction: 9th Jol has managed to retain the services of the core of his squad that gained a respectable finish last time around and with Hangeland, Murphy, Dempsey, Zamora and Duff all firing there is no reason to say they will not enjoy similar success this season. The signing of vastly experienced full  back Jon Arne Riise looks to be a great signing and if the nucleus of the squad remain injury free it is not beyond the imagination to see a high mid table finish and a decent cup run. In Al Fayed, Fulham have a rare breed amongst modern football; a supportive chairman who seeks stability rather than  trigger finger reactions and I can see Jol settling nicely at the Cottage.


LIVERPOOL
Last season: 6th
Captain: Steven Gerrard
Once again, Anfield is awash with blind optimism, an unerring quest and belief that this is our year, that King Kenny is finally going to bring back the glory days and it is a feeling not completely unfounded. Having spent near enough £50 million this summer on Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson, Doni and Jose Enrique, there is little doubt that the Reds are a much stronger outfit than last term. The presence of Andy Carroll will also be like a new signing for Dalglish after the Geordie striker missed most of last season with injury. There are many Kopites deliriously claiming they are finally prepared for a title assault though this is out of optimism rather than expectancy. One thing that I think is guaranteed is a charge for 4th place and that lucrative Champions league slot and I would expect to see them challenging the likes of Spurs and Arsenal all the way for it.
Prediction: 5th  I think they will fall narrowly short of 4th position, they missed Gerrard's influence last season and he is going to have to remain fit for Liverpool to have a good season, such is the impact of the man. Dalglish has made some good signings in key areas and the strength in depth is greater than that of any Liverpool team of the past few seasons. Without the distractions of the Europa League I can also see a possible domestic cup win as the players will have less distractions and remain fresh. It is certainly going to be an interesting campaign for Dalglish's men and it will be fascinating to see the fans' reaction if their 'King' struggles to get the results they strive for.


MANCHESTER CITY
Last season: 3rd
Captain: Carlos Tevez
The new kids on the block, the 'noisy neighbours' as Alex Ferguson refers to them broke into the top four last season and look set to hang around for the foreseeable future. With Mancini having unlimited funds at his disposal he is under intense pressure to deliver silverware and was no doubt the most relieved man in Manchester after last season's FA Cup victory at Wembley. This summer has been no different to the last few with millions and millions being spent and now with the the added attraction of Champions league football, the very best stars are realistic targets. The big story is where their influential captain Carlos Tevez will be playing his football come September the 1st. After repeatedly claiming his desire to leave it seems the Argentine may have to suffer the ignominy of staying due to no concrete interest from other clubs.
Prediction: 2nd  The signing of Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid was a fantastic one for the club and they have a genuine superstar in the making with the Argentine striker. A partnership of Tevez and Aguero upfront with the craft and guile of David Silva in behind makes for a mouthwatering prospect at Eastlands and the strength in depth is phenomenal with the likes of Dzeko and Milner being perennial bench warmers. There is no doubting that the squad has enough talent to win the league however the team chemistry and togetherness is just as crucial in a 38 game marathon and I feel this is ultimately what will cost them. A debut Champions league campaign is also another exciting prospect and one thing's for certain , they will never be far from the limelight.


MANCHESTER UNITED
Last season: 1st
Captain: Nemanja Vidic
United ended last season with mixed emotions, there was the euphoria of finally 'knocking Liverpool off their perch' , usurping their 18 league titles and in turn becoming the most successful domestic team in England followed by the utter dismantlement received at the hands of Barcelona's geniuses. There is of course no shame in losing to arguably the greatest side of all time and Ferguson , well aware of this has spent the summer rebuilding a new generation of players in an attempt to match the all conquering Catalans. After the retirements of intstrumental figures such as Van Der Sar and Scholes, Ferguson has been active in the transfer market picking up David De Gea, the young goalkeeper from Atletico Madrid, Ashley Young and promising Blackburn defender Phil Jones.
Prediction: 1st  As ever with an Alex Ferguson team they will be right up there challenging for honours at the business end of the season. Traditionally slow starters before putting their foot on the pedal after Christmas I would expect the same this year. They have strengthened in  key areas and with Rooney looking back to his imperious best and the ever reliable impenetrable force that is Vidic and Ferdinand at the back I would be surprised if the Ferguson's men weren't the team to beat.


NEWCASTLE UNITED
Last Season: 12th
Captain: Fabricio Coloccini
After assuring fans that every penny of the £35million received from the Andy Carroll sale would be re-invested in players, Mike Ashley hasn't really stuck to his word. With less than £10million being invested in the squad plus the departures of key players such as Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique  you could forgive the Newcastle fans for feeling a little despondent. Hatem Ben Arfa will be a key player when fully fit and the spark he provides was missing last season after that horrific injury he received. Of course they have the ever popular Joey Barton whom for all his trials and tribulations is a solid, reliable premier league performer and the signing of Demba Ba who looked West Ham's only quality player last season, Scott Parker aside. Gabriel Obertan also looks like a decent signing for the Toon and could provide much needed pace upfront.
Prediction: 12th  More of the same for the Toon as I see them finishing comfortably if not spectacularly mid table. Alan Pardew is a decent manager at this level and I feel there is enough ability in the squad to make every game competitive, Demba Ba and Obertan will provide some much needed flair and pace up front. Having said all this, if results start to go against the Magpies, voices of discontent will be headed Ashley's direction and not for the first time.


NORWICH CITY
Last season: 2nd (Championship)
Captain: Grant Holt
If you told Norwich City supporters two years ago that they would be about to begin a season in the Premier league they would have thought you as mad as Delia's infamous pep talk such is the meteoric rise that the Canaries have experienced under Paul Lambert. Back to back promotions later and its a reality, after a 6 year absence they are back in the big time, it is stories such as these which make football so enticing. There is no doubting the talent and experience of manager Paul Lambert , a Champions league winner himself as a player and the determination and vigour of a squad whom have won successive advancements up the football league.
Prediction: 16th  Heavily reliant on the powerful and influential Holt and the skilful Irishman Wes Hoolahan I back Norwich to have enough in the tank to stay afloat this year. I think Lambert is a brilliant manager and it is ultimately his level head and know-how which will prevail over a survival for the Canaries. There have been a few good signings also this summer with Premier league minutes under their belt, Kyle Naughton from Spurs being a fine example.


QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Last season: 1st (Championship)
Captain: Adel Taraabt
Neil Warnock is very good at gaining promotion, problem is he hasn't quite worked out how to stay up once you're there. After walking the Championship last season and emphatically securing promotion many QPR fans thought they would be here to stay, that the billionaire owners, Briatore and company would invest heavily ensuring survival. 2 weeks left in the transfer market and the ever injured Kieron Dyer , DJ Campbell and Jay Bothroyd are all they have to show, decent signings but nevertheless not big names that get the pulses racing. There is a division forming at Loftus road in which supporters feel the chairman is completely out of touch with the common fan, charging as much as £50 per away ticket and £80 to see Chelsea come to town. I can see QPR remaining competitive and certainly not doing a Derby but unfortunately I just feel with the lack of investment to the squad it will be a step to far for them to stay up. One thing's for sure, for them to have any chance of survival Adel Taraabt must stand up and reproduce his scintillating form from last season yet question marks definitely remain about whether he has the attitude and commitment to succeed at the highest level.
Prediction: 19th


STOKE CITY
Last season: 13th
Captain: Ryan Shawcross
Ever since Stoke gained promotion in 2008 they have looked every bit the Premier league team and credit has to go to Tony Pulis for the incredible job he has done. Not only did they secure their third successive mid table finish last season but they reached their first ever FA Cup final, narrowly missing out 1-0 to the billionaires of Manchester City. They certainly aren't no Barcelona but what they do is play to their strengths and are extremely efficient as a result, every player is of similar ilk and they all put their head on the line for eachother and of course no Stoke summary would be complete without mention of the infamous Rory Delap throw which proves so effective time and time again. The capture of Woodgate and Upson, two internationally capped defenders can only strengthen an already solid team and I would expect to see more of the same from the Potters this season with another cup run and a European adventure to look forward to. One thing is for certain, the Britannia stadium will be a daunting place for visiting teams this season.
Prediction: 13th


SUNDERLAND
Last season: 10th
Captain: Lee Cattermole
After a great start to last season including a magnificent destruction of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge things stuttered in the second half. After seemingly being contenders for a European position, the Black Cats never really recovered from losing star striker Darren Bent in a £24 million deal to Aston Villa. The Wearsiders stumbled across the finishing line to a respectable 10th position yet the fans knew it could have been so much more. The sale of Jordan Henderson to Liverpool for over £20million has left Bruce with a significant war chest and the aim this season will no doubt be to challenge for a European place and of course finish above their fierce rivals Newcastle. A major coup was persuading promising talent Connor Wickham that his future lied at the Stadium of Light and along with other experienced Premier league signings Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Seb Larsson and Craig Gardner it is fair to say that a European place is not all that unrealistic. Asamoah Gyan will also be crucial to the team's hopes and if he can forge a partnership with Wickham then you never know, personally I see them finishing mid table. They won't be far off a Europa league spot but the Premier league is incredibly competitive.
Prediction: 11th


SWANSEA CITY
Last season: 3rd (Play-off winners)
Captain: Garry Monk
Brendan Rodgers has done a superb job in ensuring Swansea are the first Welsh team to play in the English Premier league and he has done it the right way with an exciting brand of football. They remind me of Blackpool and although the Tangerines won many fans last season with their great attacking play, they ultimately paid the price with relegation. I can foresee a similar, roller-coaster of a season for the Swans, and players such as Lita, Graham and Sinclair are going to have to stand up and play to their potential for Swansea to have a chance of avoiding the drop. Arguably, an even more crucial aspect will be keeping hold of Rodgers who has a burgeoning reputation within the game and could be on a lot of club's radars. 
Prediction: 20th


TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Last season: 5th
Captain: Ledley King
It was a mixed season for Redknapp's men last year, the euphoria of the incredible European run that saw the likes of AC and Inter Milan being put to the sword, crossed with the disappointment of finishing 5th and thus missing out on another opportunity to take on the continent's finest. The emergence of Gareth Bale as a world class winger was one of the major talking points and he will need to be firing all season if Spurs are to rejoin Europe's elite. Keeping hold of Luka Modric is paramount to the club's ambitions and if he, Van De Vaart and Bale remain fit and firing then 4th could be an achievable goal. There has been little transfer activity at White Hart Lane but the capture of Brad Friedel will be a welcome one from the fans who must worry for their health when watching the ever erratic Heurelho Gomes behind the sticks. Friedel will provide stability and much needed experience at the back and although I believe 4th is a stretch too far personally, I wouldn't bet against a cup success.
Prediction: 6th


WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Last season: 11th
Captain: Chris Brunt
Roy Hodgson done a phenomenal job of steering the Baggies away from relegation last season after replacing Roberto Di Matteo during the campaign. The signings of Ben Foster and Shane Long look very good business for the club and retaining the services of Odemwingie and Brunt can only be positive. It is Roy's first full season in charge of the club and with a pre-season under his belt I expect the Baggies to be sitting fairly comfortable come the season's climax
Prediction: 15th


WIGAN ATHLETIC
Last season: 16th
Captain: Gary Caldwell
After having flirted with relegation for the past few seasons and narrowly surviving mainly due to other team's incompetence rather than their own merits I fear this could be the season the Latics go down. Roberto Martinez is a talented young manager who likes to play football the right way yet he has a thin squad and with the departure of N'Zogbia to Aston Villa they look desperately lacking upfront. They are a betting man's nightmare as they are as likely to beat the top teams as they are to capitulate to the lesser ones, the most inconsistent team in the league. Cleverly's return to Man Utd is a blow and young midfielders Watson and McCarthy will have to have good seasons for the team to stand a chance.
Prediction: 18th


WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Last season: 17th
Captain: Roger Johnson
Wolves were unlucky last season and should have secured their premier league status well before Stephen Hunt's late goal on the last day of the campaign. They have a good nucleus with new signing and captain, Roger Johnson, the capture of Jamie O'Hara on a permanent deal, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher and should have enough about them to be fairly comfortable. It was the Wanderers form against the lesser opposition that cost them last time around having beaten United, City, Liverpool , Chelsea and Spurs at Molineux and it is definitely something Mick McCarthy will be looking to address. The manager has vast experience and seems to have a close knit squad with a grit and determination about them, I think they should be safe with games to spare this season.
Prediction: 14th


My final Premier league table 2011/12:


1) Manchester United
2) Manchester City
3) Chelsea
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool
6) Tottenham
7) Aston Villa
8) Everton
9) Fulham
10) Bolton
11) Sunderland
12) Newcastle
13) Stoke
14) Wolves
15) West Brom
16) Norwich
17) Blackburn
18) Wigan
19) Swansea
20) QPR

Oh, was that it?

Joey Barton fighting. Totally out of character...

         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.


       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...