Season 2006-2007 of the English Premier League has already commenced and while there is already speculation over managers getting the sacked within the first 5 matches in the new season, it is also least surprising to see that there are few teams who could give the ‘Special One' Jose and his Chelsea charges a run for their money!
Manchester United have started the season well with the romping of Fulham. Then again, they will always looking a class of its own whenever they faced mediocre sides like Fulham. And then there is Aston Villa who didn't quite look the class of flops they were last season under the miserable stewardship of David O' Leary! Martin O'Neill has certainly brought in the confidence to this midlands side and base of what we saw in that Arsenal game, it certainly looks like Villa could just do the business this season by at least picking up a Mickey Mouse silverware if not anything else.
Elsewhere, Newcastle (still hoping to beef up their attack by signing Miroslav Klose) has certainly signed a few charges to mount a serious challenge to their campaign. Only time will tell if Glen Roeder's side can maintain a winning form and not drop points at home as they seriously have done in the past. The same is likely to apply to Liverpool although there are questionmarks on the aqqusition of Dirk Kuyt.
Did I mention Sam Allardyce's Bolton along with the speculative recruiting and taming of ‘Le Sulk'? If as if Sammy hasn't got any more problems to deal with El Hadji Diouf being around!
Newcomers, The Hornets, The Blades and the Royals (who?) Well if scripted right, The Royal Readings could spring up a surprise this season and that result against Boro in the opening game must have certainly shocked them more then Southgates men! “Do a Wigan”, must have been the cry from Steve Coppell to his charges and with the 3 points bagged in from their opening top end league game, they will hopefully do well to maintain their form and consistency however a bigger baptism awaits when they go to Old Trafford, The Emirates, The Bridge and even Anfield.
Watford and Sheffield U have all been there and done that before in the past and if lessons are learned, they too can mount a serious challenge in how to not avoid the drop. The bookmakers have already recorded a least-generous 2/1 for either of these 3 newly promoted teams to face the drop at the business end of May. I suggest that a few more matches will determined how these boys can handle their own now that they plying their trade in this big league.
Well, as always there are plenty more to say and the stories are are coming in thick and fast. Brace yourself for more Premiership drama this season be it on or off the pitch. For the time being if you have any shout-outs you can channel it to the Soccergurus! Just mail it over to guruji@soccergurusasia.com
Back in a mo!
