Originally posted by Barcelona:
I hope those interested in the games today will know already the scores. I was surprised to see Chelsea's final score. It might be too early, but a loss in the second game is strange given how superior they have been in the last couple of years, do you think that this year is not going to be so easy for Chelsea? If so, what other teams? Manchester United has started very strong, but again it is still too early, Arsenal, Liverpool, any other?
Chelsea has not looked good in the three matches I've watched them play. That's the problem with high turnover - assuming all the pieces will just fall into place overnight. Sure, they will get better, but how long is it going to take? If it takes too long, the ego problem will set in with guy on the bench and the team losing. I think this is a bigger test than Mourhino thinks it is.
Arsenal will plod along, but like United with Keane, they miss their strong midfield presence in Patrick Viera. I forgot how much he could control a game until I saw him again in the world cup. Thierry Henry cannot do it all by himself.
Liverpool on paper have few holes, but Peter Crouch is not creative enough to carry the team. I really think Dirk Kuyt is the wild card here. He's creative and can score goals in Holland, but can he score at this level? Fowler and Bellamy, when not kiling each other, will wreak havoc on others, but they're past their prime. Oddly, a lot of injuries early, which doesn't bode well for a long campaign.
New Castle, poor New Castle. Just when they solve their problem up front, they lose him for the season. Adding Martins is of small consolation. A brilliant midfield (way too many options in my opinion), but a weak back four and a suspect front two make for a long season for New Castle fans. Moments of brilliance, moments of despair all season. Not enough to win the premiership for sure.
Tottenham are slowly discovering the value of Robbie Keane. Without him 0-2 loss. With him, 2-0 win. It's not what he does inside the box, it's what he sets up outside the box that is his true value. I would have sold Carrick for 18 Million pounds too, but they don't seem to have the proper replacement. Plus they're Tottenham, which guarantees frustration all season. Glad I only like Keane.
That leaves United. Without Hargreaves, I think Fergie rotates the middlefield until he finds a combination that works. Nobody can fill Roy Keane's roll, but that won't stop United from trying. Fergie went through 11 keepers trying to replace Schmeichel before finding Van Der Saar. That's just the way he is. The back four, when healthy, will likely be as strong as ever - Heinze is undervalued in my opinion. The real problem will be a strong, tough defensive midfielder and scoring goals when Rooney's out. Saha has never played a full season, Smith is coming off an awful injury, and Rossi is unproven, to say the least. Ole Gunnar Solskjær to the rescue? I don't put it past him, but I'm not putting any money on it either. Yes, 8-1 in the first two matches, but consider the competition. I will say this - this team has been playing together for a few years now, and the first two games it has really shown. That might be the difference between Chelsea and United this year.
