 |
| Eden Hazard was the PFA and FWA Player of the Year last season |
OUR writers take aim at the talking points from the weekend’s big kick-off to find City’s stock rising, there’s no ‘I’ in team and Ranieri is more thinker than tinker…
Leagues apart
It has always been a privilege to see so many live Premier League games as a neutral – until this season.
Watching Match of the Day, I was left bewildered as to who is that special somebody I am supposed to look forward to seeing in the flesh the season?
Who will I be able to tell my mates down the pub tied to watching their own teams, that yes, he really was as good as everybody is making out?
Who, this year, will be the Matthew Le Tissier, Dennis Bergkamp, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or even Robin van Persie?
The player to get people bustling through the turnstiles eagerly in full expectation of seeing the unexpected?
A number of the talented players have joined the Premier League’s elite band of skilled technicians such as Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez, Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney, when he is neutered by playing in that deeper role, who have their moments but are more just the decorative flourishes on carefully constructed team outfits rather than the outstanding individual who stands out in the memory. But not a Special One.
Spanish fans, meanwhile, remain blessed with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo and for all the Premier League’s honourable traits. it becomes increasingly hard to kid ourselves this is the greatest in the world.
In-Vince-ibles?
Vincent Kompany’s goal celebration screamed intent.
After clambering on top of the advertising hoardings, he stood triumphantly statuesque in front of the Manchester City supporters.
Kompany has a point to prove following an erratic end to last season by his high standards and, likewise, City.
West Brom put up little resistance, but the sight of Kompany, Yaya Toure and David Silva all taking responsibility on the pitch, and Sergio Aguero only coming on in the 63rd minute, felt ominous.
Otherwise, what caught the eye was how little has changed compared to 2014-15.
City’s starting line-up had only one new signing in Raheem Sterling, Arsenal one in Petr Cech and Chelsea none.
Leicester carried on where they left off last term and Sunderland, too, in many respects.
The simmering undercurrent evident at Goodison Park all last season resurfaced to leave Roberto Martinez swimming against the tide and there was an eruption from Jose Mourinho albeit against a member of his own staff this time rather than a referee.
One down, 37 to go.
 |
| Olivier Giroud of Arsenal under pressure from Reece Oxford of West Ham |
No tinkering now
What impressed me most on the first weekend...Leicester.
The Foxes just carried on where they left off last season, despite the controversial change of manager in the summer.
Many feared Claudio Ranieri had not only had his best days as a boss and might be too cautious. But the Italian wisely adopted the policy of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
He didn’t attempt to change the style that carried Leicester through their great escape last season.
They were quick out of the blocks and played with the same energy, pace, and utilised the same high-tempo pressing game that proved so successful in the last few months under Nigel Pearson, who must be on the unluckiest managers ever to have been fired.
Ranieri will obviously bring in some of his new ideas but will be wise enough to do it slowly and quietly, allowing the squad to evolve, rather than wrecking the spirit and dynamic in his group.
Sunderland’s defending was awful but players like Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy will cause any team problems.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus