In the brevity of two weeks enough action and reactions took place in the football world to fill a stadium. Although a lot has happened, it changes nothing: there is never a dull moment in the English Premier League.
I’ve composed a list of ten events which took place on and off the pitch that have kept viewers, critics and pundits contending.
10. Cesc Fabregas’s Exit Out Of Arsenal, 15 August
“Big clubs don’t sell their stars,” said Arsene Wenger. Really? They don’t? According to a clip in The Guardian, Wenger wouldn’t consider Arsenal a “big club” any longer if both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas were sold.
I guess a simple lesson in logical deduction would solve this puzzle: Wenger claimed if Nasri and Fabregas were sold Arsenal would no longer be a big club. Wenger sold both Nasri and Fabregas. Therefore, Arsenal is no longer a big club.
9. Luka Modric’s Exit Out Of Tottenham – Man City Match, 29 August
We’ve heard of last gasp wins, but how often do we hear of last gasp withdrawals from participating in a match a couple of hours before the whistle blows? A baffled Harry Redknapp is more concerned with Modric’s long term dissatisfaction and longing to exchange his Hotspur jersey for a Blues one rather than why he wanted to pull out of the match two hours before kick-off.
8. Luis Suarez To Become New Liverpool Legend
Is Liverpool FC’s Suarez the new Torres?
Liverpool’s new star striker Luis Suarez is exactly what The Reds need this season to bring hope back to winning a trophy. Despite missing a penalty on opening day, he managed to score the opening goal in a 1–1 draw against Sunderland.
Sporting a number 7 jersey, as past Liverpool legends had, Suarez is a goal scorer and his energy and determination on the pitch mimics that of ex-Reds striker Fernando Torres when he made his debut at Anfield 19 August, 2007.
7. Andre Villas-Boas Begins His Career at Chelsea 14, August
On opening day against Stoke, Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas went against the grain and started Torres leaving Drogba and Anelka on the bench. I assume he wasn’t taking a chance on Torres, as taking a chance would infer the move was risky. I liked him immediately.
The decision coming from the ex-Porto manager overturned criticism stuck to Ancelotti that even if Torres didn’t score, how was he expected to live up to that ridiculous price tag if he sat on the bench? Not only did Villas-Boas start everyone’s favorite no. 9, he left him on the pitch for the full match.
As fans and critics are losing faith in the aging Blues, the 33-year-old manager is making his mark on the club – as long as they continue to win.
6. Football Pundit Cascarino’s “Holocaust” Remark, 28 August
Inappropriate remarks appear to be a job requirement to work at Sky Sports. First you say it, then you’re sacked. Or verbally lashed and scrutinized.
To quote Cascarino’s comment during Manchester United’s match against Arsenal, “Poor Traore at right back is having a holocaust because he’s finding himself against Nani, who’s literally running him from everywhere and Arshavin’s just not tracking his runners.”
Etymology of the word “holocaust” states that “for hundreds of years, the word holocaust was used in the English language to denote great massacres,” the dictionary has it as “large scale destructions” as in a nuclear holocaust, etc. I don’t believe Cascarino had any harmful intentions. After all, it wasn’t as if he were caught spewing offensive comments when he thought his microphone was switched off. Who is that stupid?
5. De Gea’s Failed Man U Debut, 14 August
Nobody said the transition from La Liga to the English Premier League was going to be easy. Especially for a callow goalkeeper. Good thing Sir Alex Ferguson is patient, or is he?
On opening day David De Gea committed a Red Devil sin by letting the ball slip under his hands, erasing their lead to an even 1 – 1. Luckily a West Brom own goal saved him from the shame of a draw in the 81st minute.
4. Didier Drogba’s Knocked Unconscious, 27 August
What it means for Chelsea’s future isn’t as important as Drogba’s recovery as a person, implied Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas when interviewed after the match that collapsed the striker. But now that we are assured the player is fine, the question pops up: what does Drogba’s absence for several weeks mean to Chelsea’s future?
Well, it might mean a lot. Considering the first half of the season is most important, since by December the standings don’t usually move more than one or two places on the chart.
Or, it could mean little. It could mean a spotlight opportunity for new signings Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku.
3. Arsene Wenger’s Face, 28 August
The poet John Keats once claimed “forlorn” was the darkest word in the English language. During Sunday’s match at Old Trafford, United’s goals thundered past Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny as drearily for The Gunners as the word reverberated in “Ode to a Nightingale.” As the score grew to an excess the expression on Wenger’s face was the product of his own miserable ballad.
2. Manchester City’s 5 – 1 win over Tottenham
Dzeko 34, Dzeko 41, Dzeko 55, Dzeko 93.
Right, and there was a goal scored by Aguero, too, making it a 5 – 1 over Tottenham with Kaboul scoring in the 68Th minute.
It’s been predicted that Manchester City, with their recent signings Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri, would charge in like a lion and remain so throughout the season and, according to The Telegraph, has been likened to Barcelona by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp.
1. Manchester United’s 8 – 2 win over Arsenal, 28 August
And some were worried about a particular hurricane that was to hit the northeast, USA…
Forget what this match meant for Arsene Wenger, but what it meant to Manchester City. The Manchester United’s win on Sunday gave a whole new meaning to the word “upstage.” And if continuing to upstage a star-studded team like Man City is what we have to look forward to, it is going to be one of the EPL’s best seasons yet.
