Manchester could be the next Glasgow

Today I went to the pub to watch the Arsenal vs. Manchester United game. Two years ago this would have been a even contest and last year it would have been a contest but this year it was a complete rout with Man U trouncing Arsenal 8 - 2.

United's forwards were ruthless with Rooney getting a hat-trick, Young a brace, Welbeck and Nani getting a goal each. As great as United's attack were Arsenal were as terrible in defence and if conceding eight goals weren't bad enough young defender Jenkinson was given his marching orders after giving away a freekick on the edge of the Arsenal box with a desperate lunge.

This humiliation of Arsenal rounded off a "Super Sunday" dominated by the Manchester teams, scoring 13 goals between them. Previously Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspurs by an impressive five goals to one. Last year this game would have been an even contest as well but this year City seem to be in a different class with only Man U for company.

The season so far has been dominated by the Manchurian teams. Both teams have looked very impressive with the only two perfect records in the Premiership. Other big teams like Liverpool and Chelsea have looked strong but haven't had the air of superiority the Manchurian teams have been exuding.

The strength of these two teams has me worried, that unless teams rise to challenge them, the Premiership will become similar to the Scottish Premier League, dominated by two teams from one city with everyone else constantly playing catch-up. Well maybe only until the transfer window opens again and where teams like Tottenham and Arsenal have to replace their departed stars and rebuild their squads.

Arsenal's performance today made me worry for the survival with teams like Leeds and Newcastle proving that falls from the top of the table can be swift and painful. Hopefully this won't happen and it is a bit speculative of me to mention it but maintaining the balance at the top of the table may depend on teams like Arsenal and Tottenham competing with the front runners.

No-body, who's not a Man U or Man City fan want's to see a top two battle instead of top three/four/five/six battle this year.

Devon.

Wenger's Obsession

Arsene Wenger has a huge obsession with signing the young up and coming French players. When times are hard at Arsenal Wenger seems to raid the French leagues for young players. It has worked out at times with signings such as Henry, Vieira and Gallas all coming in from French sides. So far this transfer window Wenger has already signed one player from the French leagues which was Gervinho from Lille. Wenger is also linked with moves for at least three other players in the French leagues. Wenger's targets are Sochaux's 23 year old midfiielder Marvin Martin, Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila and Lille's Eden Hazard.

 

 

 

Wenger is also looking to strengthen his back line with either Bolton's Cahill or Everton's Jagielka. Wenger was unhappy with the asking price from Everton over the Jagielka, hopefully with the money now from the transfers of Fabregas and Nasri this will no longer be a problem. I hope Arsenal will also strengthen their squad from with these players and hopefully one or two others. Udinese duo Armero or Badu could also be a great addition to the Arsenal squad as they were both quite impressive in the Champions League qualifier. Armero's pace was unbelievble to watch, while Badu's strength was impressive.

 

 

 

M@tt

A Fab end to a Great Saga

The battle over Cesc Fabregas' has come to an end after he finally completed his dream move of a retutn to Barcelona. The deal is said to be around £35 million for the Arsenal captain. Arsenal are apparently already lining up his replacement in Shakter Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Jadson. Arsenal are yet to confirm their interest in Jadson. However, Shakter have come out and said that Arsenal have enquired as to the players availablity. I know very little about Jadson but if what I have heard of him is true, he is a quality player. I am excitedly awaiting to see who Arsenal sign before the end of the transfer window. I am hoping for a quality central midfielder who is fearless in defence and in attack. A player who wants all the glory and will shoot and try to score for them and to give them a bit of a chance of making the top four this season, because at the moment I think they will be lucky to finish in the top six.

<--- Arsenal Target Jadson.

I hope Arsenal will spend all the money that they have just recieved. I hope Jadson may be just one of many face that will be in the Arsenal squad by the endof tis transfer window. Arsenal also look set to lose Samir Nasri as to which club is still unknown. I think Arsenal need to cash in on Nasri while they still can as if they hold on to him until the end of the season his contract will expire and he will walk away on a free transfer. So Wenger needs to sell him now, get at least £10 million or £15 million for him and spend that money well. So as we all expected Fabregas rejoins Barcelona, it took a long time but it eventually happened.

M@tt

The 20th Premier League has begun

It was a rather dissapointing opening first day to the season with some evenly fought bore draws. While larger teams such as Liverpool and Arsenal failed to come up with the goods. Despite Liverpools domination throughout the match they failed to win as it finished 1-1. Suarez blasted a penalty in to the stands but made up for it a few minutes later by scoring the opening goal. Sunderland debutant Larsson scored a superb equaliser. New boy at the KOP Downing shook the frame of the goal with a superb strike, but close is not good enough to earn them more than one point.

Arsenal were fortunate to leave Newcastle yesterday with one point as they failed to score despite working the ball in to plenty of scoring opportunites they just never looked like scoring really, to make matters worse new boy Gervinho was sent off for slapping Joey Barton. However, Barton should have gone off also after hauling Gervinho to his feet by his jersey after Barton felt Gervinho had gone down to easily in the box. Once Barton felt Gervinho's slap he too went to ground far easier than Gervinho had moments earlier. I would have loved to have seen someone haul Barton to his feet and see how he would have reacted. Barton claimed to the referee and any other player he was close to for the next 10 minutes after the incident that he was punched. Taylor indicated to the referee that Barton had been elbowed by Gervinho despite the fact that Gervinho's elbow was nowhere close to Barton and only used the palm of his hand to give him a little slap. Footballers today need to man up and to stop bothering the poor officials. Song stamped on Barton during the game after Barton fouled him. Barton then moaned to the referee and once the referee waved him away he left the field to moan to the fourth official. Barton later moaned about the stamping on his twitter. The best game on saturday was definetly QPR vs. Bolton as Bolton Wanderers welcomed QPR back to the top flight with a good 4-0 thrashing!

Sunday has not been much better. With Chelsea having a dissapointing scoreless draw against Stoke. Torres still failing to begin a flow of goals for his new side Chelsea, chosen ahead of Drogba for this game, Torres came close with a long range effort but to be honest it never looked to be worrying the goalkeeper. Torres managed to weave his past two defenders but the finishing was woeful from the Spaniard. The only positives to take from Torres' performance was that he was getting himself in to goal scoring positions. Chelsea dominated the game and had a claim for a penalty which could easily have been given. Some great saves from Begovic kept the game level. The finishing from the Chelsea attack was largely dissapointing.

While Manchester United scraped a narrow win against West Brom. While Vidic and Ferdinand limped off injured, Rooney was on target for United's first. De Gea at fault for the West Brom equaliser as he let it slide under his body, he does not look very convincing in goal for Manchester United. It took a bit of luck and two deflection from Ashley Youngs pull back to win it for United.

I cannot wait to see how new boys Swansea cope against Manchester City tomorrow night. The most dissapointing games for me this weekend have to be Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea only managing draws. All three dominated the majority of their matches, Arsenal can keep stringing 300 passes and more together in a game but if they don't a have players willing to take a chance and take a couple of shots on goal they are not going to keep having these boring games all season long. Chelsea are getting there and will score in the next match, credit goes to Stoke's defence for shutting up shop. Liverpool did really well could very well have had more goals, Downing's superb strike could have stole the show for Liverpool. For me Sunderland did not deserve a point, as Liverpool ran riot for a lot of the game and all Liverpool fans can feel a little dissapointed, this has to be their season they have no European football so the focus has to be clearly aimed at the Premier League title challenge. I was actually quit dissapointed with QPR's start, I never expected them to get such a hammering, I had actually thought they would have done rather well, after seeing their performance against Bolton I am not so sure anymore.

M@tt

Team Digest

Swansea City A.F.C.

Facts
Swansea city were founded in 1912 and joined the football league 1921.
They were in the old First Division between 1981 and 1983, where their highest finish was an impressive sixth.
Brendan Rogers took charge of Swansea on the 16th of July last year and
led them to an instant promotion through the Championship play-offs
after a 3rd place finish.
They have become the first welsh club to reach the Premier League and cementing they’re place in the history books, well in pub quiz trivia but that is almost the same thing.
The club moved to their present stadium, the Liberty Stadium, in 2005 from the Vetch Stadium after it started to deteriorate. The Liberty Stadium has a capacity of 20,532.
Their nicknames are the Swans or the Jacks.
Their main rivals are Cardiff City and their meetings are called the South Wales derby.

Odd fact: In 2001 were bought for £1 and have provided a return of £90m after reaching the Premiership.

Summer signings: Swansea have looked to strengthen their squad over the summer after signing proven players Wayne Routledge from Newcastle and Leroy Lita Middlesbrough but their main signing has been Danny Graham from Watford for £3.5m. This shows how large the financial constraints manager Brendan Rogers is under but Swansea did beat off other Premier League clubs for his signature. His keen eye for goal and good technique should help them with what could be a difficult first season in the top division.

Summer Friendlies: Swansea have beaten both Real Betis and Celtic in preseason.

Verdict: In my opinion, without more significant funds to sign players before the season any team will find the transition from Championship to Premiership very difficult and I think Swansea will be no exception. They will be mired in what will become an intense battle to avoid relegation.

Devon