BPL Game Week 1 Review

What an amazing opening week for the BPL. In my weekly post-mortem, I will once again devote 3-4 themes/incidents of the particular game week that would be called Talking Points. This will be accompanied by a player, team and goal of the week. Well, here goes…

Talking Point 1: Debut Goals

12 out of the 28 goals scored this weekend were goals that came from players who made their league debuts. This could only mean that the purchases made during the summer did improve the league’s attacking flair. Although not every goal was a gem, there were certainly a couple of crackers. The most obvious one would be Olivier Kapo’s scorcher against Chelsea. What a goal that was.

Talking Point 2: Goals Galore?

28 Goals in 10 games. Only one 0-0 draw and that came from the team that scored the most goals last season, Manchester United, despite dominating the match with over 70% possession. If this is a marker for how the entire season will pan out, fans will be in for a goal glut as majority of teams seem more willing to move forward, rather than sit back cautiously. Heck, even Birmingham managed to get two against Chelsea. This could be due to the attacking quality that the league purchased and with the likes of Bojinov, Tevez and Eduardo da Silva yet to feature, there can only be more.

Talking Point 3: No Pushovers

The promoted teams showed they were no pushovers with Sunderland even managing a last minute winner against a weary Tottenham side that is supposed to be challenging for a Champions League place this season. Sunderland looked disciplined and patient without the ball but were admittedly lacking up-front even though they managed a win. Although Birmingham were dominated by Chelsea, they still managed two goals, one of which was down to individual brilliance; imagine if they started playing like a team. Their defense though, looks extremely disorganized and panicky. Derby may lack in quality, but they sure make up for it with spirit, as exemplified by manager Billy Davies. Coming back from a goal down, they clinched a good result with a draw with a Portsmouth side that looked impressive in pre-season.

Talking Point 4: Big 5 Appraisal

Chelsea: Excellent display. Malouda, Pizzaro, Essien and Wright-Phillips had good games and there’s still Alves on the way, Shevchenko, Drogba, Terry unfit. Defense will be more stingy when the full team is fit and back in action. Looks on course for another successful season barring any surprises.

Manchester United: Showed that when opponents sit back and let them attack, they lack ideas. Too reliant on their counter-attacking style of play. Desperately needs fresh options up-front and the injury to Rooney will push the likes of Tevez and Anderson into the fray earlier than planned. Would do much better as the season progresses and the team gets into gear together.

Liverpool: Steven Gerrard is once again their main player and he was involved in every move. New signings Torres and Babel look menacing with their pace, intelligence and skill. Overall, they did not perform as well as the score would suggest as Villa made a good account of themselves in the 2^nd half, but managed to grind out a result. Can only improve from here.

Arsenal: Excellent movement off the ball and work-ethic. Jens Lehmann still proves to be a liability, and the lack of a leading figure up-front meant an attack that lacked direction and finishing. Eduardo could solve that problem, but it is too early to predict. Should have done better against a side like Fulham, but a win is a win.

Tottenham Hotspur: Needs a lot of work on the training ground if they are serious about breaking into the big four. Darren Bent looks like an absolute waste of money, Even Rose Wallace looked more promising than him. Needs King presence in defense badly as Anthony Gardner is not up to the mark. Expect them to come out blazing in their next match.

Team of the Week:

Sunderland. What a way to start off the season. Holding their own against a club that was supposed to have a stroll in the park against them; even managing to snatch a last gasp winner. Credit to Roy Keane for instilling patience, discipline and spirit in a side that lacks quality on paper. If they keep playing the way they did for the rest of the season, he will have more to smile and clap about.

Player of the Week:

It was a close fight between Steven Gerrard and Paul McShane, but the result that Sunderland got and the role he played in that victory left me no choice but to name McShane. Disciplined and strong, he played his role out to perfection as Berbatov was left evidently frustrated. Could be a one off performance from him, but let’s hope he proves us wrong. Smile son, you are on camera!

Goal of the Week:

As a consolation, Stevie G’s extraordinary free-kick that won the game for Liverpool late against Villa comes in as goal of the week.

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It will be a hectic week for me as there are mid-week games as well as games on the coming weekend. Will try to keep up with the action, and pen my thoughts. Till then...