COMICAL LIVERPOOL
That the Manchester teams won again on day 2 of the EPL is no surprise. That Arsenal drew with Leicester does not surprise me either, neither does Chelsea’s win against Watford, even though it was a tough nut to crack for Conte.
What surprises me is how Jurgen Klopp thinks he does not have a problem at the heart of his defence and what surprised me was how his defence parted like the Red Sea on both occasions for Burnley at the weekend.
Seven players around the box and yet Liverpool conceded their first goal to Vokes and If the first was hilarious, the second was comical, allowing a player to travel 60 yards to your goal as a precursor to conceding a goal is not the sort of thing you wish to see if you’re dreaming of a title challenge.
I hope Mr Klopp and his crew have re-analysed their defensive options and know it’s time to head back to the bankers so as to avoid a disappointing season.
CHELSEA
Chelsea looked strong over the weekend but I am still not convinced that the ghosts of last year have disappeared from the Bridge. Watford held on for long period in the game on Saturday and only a mistake by the Watford full back let us back in the game.
One thing that is certain is that the team looks sharper and fitter, the latter probably explaining the three late goals in the two games.
The team play disciplined football all round the pitch and when the workmen –Matic, Oscar and Pedro – made way for Moses, Batshuayi and Cesc, you knew they came in to do the job on a tired Watford team.
Conte’s style mirrors the rope-a-dope and it has helped him win three Scudettos, but this is the EPL and questions would be asked once the competition heats up. Add injuries and cup competitions to it and would the Chelsea stars be able to stay in the kitchen and take the heat?
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Yea! Pep got away with the result on Saturday, partly because of the gift of the referee and of course the embarrassing header, conceded from a positional mistake.
A goal or two however, is what you need to win a game and City did that with Nolito and co coming on to sparkle and put the game beyond Stoke.
Stoke played their part, daring to go toe to toe with City, thinking they could get a result but the rest is history.
It’s early days but Pep has some work to do before he gets City to the level he would want.
CAN MOURINHO KEEP EVERYONE HAPPY?
I have no doubt that Mourinho and United would be challenging for titles at the end of the season, especially with all the displays they’ve showed so far.
What I doubt is that even a man of charisma and man management skills like Mourinho would be able to prevent the toys from being thrown out of the pram by the players.
Too many players have been recruited in the last few years and that may just prove costly as United seek to consolidate on their first two games.
No player likes to sit on the bench and Mourinho’s problems would not only be the bench but the stands as he has so many players to keep happy. Twenty one players are very difficult to please, but twenty nine? Good luck Messrs Woodward and Mourinho.
EVERTON STEP UP THE GAME
Ronald Koeman must be laughing himself to the bank after ‘offloading’ John Stones for £52m and then buying Ashley Williams and Yannick Bolasie with some change in the bank. That’s a bargain or two! Add Gana from Aston Villa in the middle and you have a team with steel and flair.
Strong and built like a Boxing Cruiserweight, Bolasie can be one of the surprise players of the season, if Koeman allows him to play freely as he did at Palace.
And with Koeman at the helm at Everton, trust that he would inject some youths into the team, so if he can keep Lukaku and integrate his new signings quickly, then Everton may yet have a song to sing this year after the disastrous spells they’ve endured recently.
MIDDLESBOROUGH EXCITE UNDER KARANKA
It’s early days, but with shrewd transfer dealings and the euphoria of promotion, Middlesborough FC continues to excite with their new signings and good football in parts.
Can they sustain the charge? Only time would tell, but congratulations on a very bright start.
LAST STOP….
It’s at the Emirates and King Power that I’ll stop this week. Winning the title is one thing, but playing against the opposition the following season, is another challenge altogether.
Clubs find you out towards the end of the previous season, and you have to come up with Plans B, D, E and F for the new season in order to be in command and control.
That’s the EPL and Mr Ranieri has to adapt quickly, or betting companies would stop taking bets on him soon.
I know it’s early days but the cracks are already on display, first to Liverpool, and now Leicester FC. I just hope Arsene Wenger has a plan that he is keeping away from the world until the appointed time