Big guns start well...Newcastle shine bright.
The Premier League is up and running. Bright sunshine greeted most of the fans across England as the football season started in earnest. Fans, deprived of action for a few months and surviving on transfer news and rumors, headed back to the ground for real action.
The first week of a season is always a bit tricky; it is like heading back to school after a break. There would be new classmates, new teachers, and new rules.
The new boys face the bullies .
Among the newly promoted teams, Luton and Burnley faced teams from last year's top layer. It was a tough welcome for them. Man City and Brighton were dismissive in their wins as the newcomers struggled to adapt to the new settings. City rolled on as Haaland moved the beads on his counting rack. De Bruyne's possible injury is the only worry for them, but a big one at that. Brighton was clinical and looked as sharp as ever.
Sheffield United, the third of the new teams, probably had a lesser bully to face in Crystal Palace. Although they lost by a solitary goal, but the fact that they have a lot more work to do was evident. Palace, if things had gone their way, would have scored a few more.
Wins for Manchester United and Arsenal, while Tottenham survive.
Arsenal looked organized, with their formations in place and ready to go. The new signings, Rice and Havertz, seemed comfortable as they continued to settle down. They scored twice but then seemed to switch off and concede a late goal, and they had to hold off some inspired running by the Forest substitutes.
Manchester United's day was saved by Varane. They will need much more out of their stalwarts if they have to make this season count. Fernandes was out of sorts, Rashford was almost missing, and Garnacho was miserable.
Tottenham started off their lives without Harry Kane and Brentford without Toney, suspended for his off-field antics. All four goals in a draw came in a lively first half. The second half was forgettable, to say the least. Madison was probably the only saving grace, as all others put on a rather subdued show.
The Blues and Reds dish out pedestrian stuff
Chelsea and Liverpool played out what was touted as the match to watch in the first round. While supporters and fans would love to take some positives, there was no denying the fact that it will take some doing for both of them to be anywhere near the title race. The match, for most of the time, looked like a mid-table struggle.
In many of the phases, the passing was miserable , the ball control poor, and the game was difficult to watch. It was a letdown in terms of footballing quality and a match that surely deserved to be drawn.
Referees get tough
In a move that can only bode well for the game, the officials decided to go tough. There is evident steel in the refereeing. Playing times increased as adjustments were made for goals, stoppages, etc. Players trying to push balls away in dead ball situations are now getting cards. Arteta and Ryan Mason got booked for their antics in the technical area, and there is also room now to report players if the referee is crowded by disagreeing players.
Protests from clubs can be expected, for valid and flimsy reasons, but it is refreshing to note that the FA has moved on discipline. It is not over by any stretch of the imagination, and one will need to watch this space.( Read more here...English Premier League : In need of a repair job)
Newcastle shine
In what turned out to be the most entertaining match of the first week, Newcastle sparkled. They were clearly resuming where they left off last season. In a brilliant display of attacking football, they demolished Aston Villa.
Villa, who themselves had a great season last year, were already missing Emiliano Buendia and Tyronne Mings injury in the first half, added to their woes. The way Newcastle played, it would have hardly mattered. Their new signing, Sandro Tonali, had a dream debut, scoring early, and Isak demonstrated his finishing prowess to get two to his name. Howe would be pleased with the synergy demonstrated by the midfield and the strikers. One player, however, who caught my eye was Anthony Gordon. The youngster, signed from Everton last year, was a livewire as he imposed himself on the Villa defense with his speed and movement on the left flank.
In a week where most of the teams are just settling in, this Newcastle side has looked capable of being among serious challengers to Manchester City.
It is a showdown that is due next week at the Etihad. Newcastle seem to have the power to shock Manchester City, whose reliance on the genius of Kevin De Bruyne could well be exposed.
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Sudhir Bhattathiripad
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