A nice opening weekend. As I watch Liverpool – Tottenham battle it out at White Hart Lane, I thought I’d share some of my observations from the Premier League’s first gameweek.
Due to a combination of multi-screen viewing and Tivo-ing (Setanta on my PC and ESPN / FSC on the tele) I was able to take in 8 matches over the past two days. Yes, eight matches. I love the beautiful game. My significant other was not too pleased, but since most of the viewing was done whilst she was asleep (5am to 9am), there was no adverse effect on the relationship.
I watched:
- Chelsea – Hull (full)
- Aston Villa – Wigan (full)
- Stoke – Burnley (~ 45 minutes)
- Wolves – West Ham (~ 60 minutes)
- Blackburn – Man City (full)
- Arsenal – Everton (~ 45 minutes)
- Man United – Birmingham (full)
- Tottenham – Liverpool (full)
So there you have it. Here are my thoughts on players and teams. It’s only one game, but a good first impression goes a long way in my mind…
Carvalho looked excellent in Chelsea’s win over Hull. His distribution from deep was quality. Mikel looked poor – the ball bouncing awkwardly off his knee in the box to gift Hull an equalizer. Drogba squandered a first half volley but more than made up for it with a man of the match performance. He admitted in the post-game press conference that he meant to cross with his eventual game-winner, not to shoot, but you make your own luck in this game. George Boateng looked sharp for Hull.
Aston Villa looked a shell of their high-flying team last year with the losses of Gareth Barry and Martin Laursen. Wigan, as we predicted, started off the season in style with the 2-0 away win. Gomez, N’Zogbia, and Rodallega were the most impressive – and I’m not just saying that because those are the three players I highlighted as keys to Wigan’s “beautiful football” in my post last week. Koumas took a nice goal, as well. Ashley Young and James Milner won’t see a second of playing time in South Africa next summer with performances like that.
Stoke were very lucky not to concede at home. Burnley were up for it – but Sorensen made some incredible saves to keep them out. I’m just disappointed I left him on my bench for my fantasy team. Burnley deserved a goal, but didn’t get it. Funny Feeling Friday selection Liam Lawrence was man of the match for me, despite not receiving any love from the mysterious fantasy premier league bonus point gods / monkeys. He set up the first goal with a great free kick, and tracked back to help the defense during Burnley’s onslaught on Sorensen’s goal. Shawcross, a pick in our predicted EPL Gameweek 1 Best Eleven, did not disappoint, with an amazing goal, clean sheet, and 3 bonus points (15 fantasy points). I doubt he’ll score higher than 15 in a single week the rest of the season.
The Wolves - West Ham match was a strange one. Nenad Milijas was excellent in his debut, but Robert Green was even better – “pulling a Sorensen,” with a vintage goalkeeping performance and making 2 or 3 world class finger-tip saves on Milijas and others. Milijas could have had 2 goals if Green would have been replaced with say, Kasper Schmeichel. Green and Sorensen are the early favorites to take over Mark Schwarzer’s position from last season as “brilliant budget fantasy goalkeeper.” Wolves should have done better in the box, though looked decent. Julien Faubert looked dangerous as a wide man w/ pinpoint crosses for West Ham. As I’ve mentioned dozens of times in the past, Noble has always been one of my favorite midfielders to watch – he’s just never had that breakthrough season from a fantasy perspective despite taking penalties and corner kicks.
Blackburn deserved more from their game against Man City but Shay Given was inspirational. A good goalkeeping weekend all around then for Sorensen, Green, and Given – literally saving their teams from draws rather than wins. Bellamy, Ireland, and SWP looked lively for City – with their pace and effort. Gamst and Andrews looked good for Blackburn. It was the same old story for Tevez - he moved from United to City for first team football, but he found himself on the bench behind Robinho – Bellamy – Adebayor. He made a late second half substitute appearance.
Not much needs to be said about Arsenal’s amazing opening day performance. The Gunners deserved the big win, and looked great. Everton looked just a step slow all match. Fabregas and Bendtner were excellent – RvP and Arshavin weren’t as dominating as the scoreline suggests, but chipped in – but it was a delightful Brazilian not named Robinho who really caught my eye. I wasn’t expecting much from Denilson this season, but he looked great.
Man United did just enough this morning against Birmingham. I’ll be interested to see who picks up the fantasy premier league bonus points – but in my mind, Scholes and Evra were the best players on the pitch, by a long shot. Berbatov and Rooney looked dangerous (Rooney got the game winning goal, while Berbatov saw a header cleared off the line as well as being denied a penalty call after Carr lunged into him in the box) but United could never really finish off their attacks. In limited action, Christian Benitez (it says Chucho on his uniform) looked lively and very strong. He’ll be good for 10 Premier League goals, as long as he stays fit.
It’s 1-0 to Tottenham over Liverpool at the half in a fairly even game. I’ll now grab some breakfast and enjoy the remainder of the game.
Leave your opening weekend observations about players, teams, and/or fantasy football in the comments. Hope everyone is happy that the Premier League is back.
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Nice write up. Didn't get to see so many minutes, BUT was very thankful for your heads up on the ESPN2 acquisition of rights to the Saturday morning game. Do you know if that will be a regular Saturday a.m. event?
Thinking of the season in a long term way, it was interesting that Aston Villa and Everton struggled as they did given the strides they made last year. I'm initially inclined to give Everton more of a pass and just to write this one off as being due to a massive Arsenal performance. But I haven't a clue what to make of Villa at this point and wonder how far they may fall. Don't want to get carried away based on a single game, but they can't be pleased.
Interesting opening weekend…Could cesc join lamps and gerard after we all thought it would be ashavin…might be worth having both arsenal mids
i'm worried berbs is going to be taken off for owen with 20 mins to go in every game..decreases his value immensely for me
robbie keane…barn door…miss