matchverdict.com

The new season of the premiership has begun and how…  There have been some great results, some great matches over the last few weeks. Its pity that there won’t be any EPL matches in the first week of this month because of international matches but this provides a great opportunity to look back on the start of the new season

The Usual Suspects

Of the famous “Big Four”, Chelsea really looks like “The” team to beat at this moment of time. They have the team which looks settled and above all they have not lost any key player. They managed to keep “Mr. Chelsea” John Terry and Didier Drogba at the club. Their new manager Carlo Ancelotti seems to have found the most effective system to play. Hence, at this moment my money would be on Chelsea.
When Manchester United kicked off the season, everybody knew that they would be light weight in front of goals this season in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. But The Red Devils recovered pretty well especially after the shock defeat from the hands of newly promoted Burnley, to thump Wigan and beat the in form Arsenal. I think Manchester United would be a bit inconsistent this season considering their lack of depth in the strike power.
If Xabi Alonso would have stayed at Anfield, I would have tipped Liverpool to be the strongest contender for the premiership crown. But his departure has disrupted the Rafael Benitez’s entire system. Steven Gerard can not play freely in that midfield because there is no Alonso. It was Alonso’s vision and his ability to see the runs Gerard and Torres that made Liverpool so dangerous. But this season, like Manchester United, Liverpool too would be inconsistent. Also the fact that they have already lost against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, puts more pressure on them.
Nobody would have expected Arsenal to start the season, the manner in which they have done. They destroyed Everton on the opening day, made the meal of Portsmouth and were too good for Celtic in Champions League play-offs. But their juggernaut came to a halt at Old Trafford. They Lost to Manchester United in a very tight match. They were better than their title rivals for most of the match. But it was that period of ten minutes, for which United were superior, rattled the Gunners. They lost it in the physical battle and not in the footballing battle. Its how Arsenal can handle such physical challenges thrown towards them by the opposition teams, will decide their fate this season.

Dark Horses

Manchester City with their star studded squad are looking good.   Though they have just edged past their oppositions in all the games, the important thing is they are having 100 percent record until now and that’s what matters in this tough league. But their big test will be on this weekend when Arsenal will visit blue half of Manchester.
Harry Redknapp has revolutionized the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur. This season he has really a fantastic squad with two good players available for each position. This change can be seen in the performance of Spurs this season. Aaron Lennon is really looking in menacing form. If they can continue their current form, they can really push “Big Four” all the way.
One would have expected Everton and Aston Villa to really challenge the others for the Champions League place. But both have started slowly and don’t really look the threats to “Big Four”.

Rest of the pack

Burnley have really caught the eye with the upsets against Manchester United and Everton. Stoke will again be a hard team to beat. I think the battle to avoid the relegation would as intense as the battle for the title. I think seven to eight teams would be involved in the Relegation battle. Wolves and Portsmouth really look in danger.

Channel: ESPN
Date: 29th August 2009
Time: 21:40 

It’s the third week of this years Premier League campaign and we are already treated to one of the feistiest encounters in the history of English Football. Match Verdict brings you an in depth preview in to this game between the two giants of the modern game. I’m sure most readers would beg to differ on me calling Arsenal FC a giant but if their record against United and the ‘Big 4’ in the last few years is anything to go by, I’m sure this will culminate in to a thrilling game of football.

Both the teams play a certain type of football that other teams in the planet can just watch in awe or try their hardest to emulate, with the exception of Barcelona, of course. Talking about Barcelona, Arsene Wenger has copied their treble winning formation to the T. Playing a 4-3-3, a formation, which according to the Professor suits the personnel at his disposal and brings out the best in his team, has already worked wonders. Arsenal have had a good pre-season losing out only to Valencia in their last friendly. Their start to competitive football is one of envy. Three wins in just as many games, the team has banged in 12 goals while conceding only two. The two goals conceded will not matter as long as the team scores an average of four goals a game. But the concern for most Arsenal fans is the lack of goals from the strikers. Eduardo is the only attacker on the score sheet with a single goal against his name – a poke in against Everton.

Man U on the other hand, lost to new boys Burnley by a solitary goal but responded brilliantly by decimating Wigan last weekend. Rooney, Berbatov got themselves on the scoresheet, while Nani and new recruit Valencia provided the much needed assists. Sir Alex has yet to decide which his mid field combination will be, having changed the entire playing four that played Burnley at Wigan. But trust the wily old fox to get it right in the big games. Ferguson will not be too pleased that he will not be able to select Ferdinand who will only be able to watch from the sidelines while his teammates take the stage at Old Trafford. Another talking point in most English newspapers in the last week has been the fact that even Evans has joined the injury list leaving Ferguson with little cover in defense. It will be intriguing to watch the formation and the players put out by Sir Alex this weekend. It is an important home game for him and Manchester’s record against the ‘Big 4’ hasn’t been that great according to the standards that the Scotsman has set for himself. His record against the lesser lights has been much better than those of Arsenal and Liverpool combined, which more than tilted the title in their favor.

But this year is a new campaign and they will have to sparkle against the monetary power of their city rivals without the help of their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo. Much depends on Rooney and he has taken up the mantle from Ronaldo quite well and in is a known fact that Ferguson, Cappello and the most of the Man U’s fans hold Rooney in high regard. And we all know that these big games are the ones that Rooney relishes and comes good in. Arsenal too has lost two experienced players in Toure and Adebayor, but I don’t think any Arsenal fans are complaining about Adebayor’s departure. New boy, Thomas Vermaelen has made the fans quickly forget about Toure with his displays in defense. Arsenal may also have to make do without their captain Fabregas who is 50-50 for the weekend clash.

MatchVerdict Prediction: Scintillating draw. Arsenal will be hoping for some revenge after the footballing lesson that was dished out to them at last year’s Champions League semi-final. Manchester, I feel, are light in their midfield area. So, expect both the sides to score goals but cancel each other out.  

Pick up your beers, put on your scarves and favorite player’s jerseys and sacrifice that little animal that helps your team win every weekend. Oopps! Those are my pre-match rituals; you may have your superstitions and do just as you like to make your team win. Do not follow mine, I have a special license to do the things I do. You never know when it’s Manchester United vs Arsenal. Gone are the days of pre and post match brawls but the football played will still be just as entertaining. The atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams will be just as electrifying. Here’s to a good game! May the best team win!

Cheers!

*Update: The latest news is that Cesc Fabregas will not feature at Old Trafford because of his hamstring.