After much waiting and anticipation the Premier League season 2011/12 is finally underway. Arsenal are on the verge of losing both Fabregas and Nasri, Liverpool’s many signings are expected to take time to gel and Tottenham lack a top striker to compete at the top of the table even if they hang onto the sought after Modric. With this in mind many pundits are predicting a three-way fight for the trophy this season. Manchester City begin their campaign at home to new boys Swansea this evening, so let’s take a look at how the two other main protagonists performed yesterday:
Champions Manchester United followed their Community Shield success over neighbours Manchester City with a 2-1 victory at the Hawthorns in a tricky opening encounter. With the departure in the summer of five players in their thirties there’s a much younger look to the squad this season, and there was a certain freshness and dynamism about the red devils play. Ashley Young seems to have fitted seamlessly into the United style and he and a younger looking Wayne Rooney were the chief irritants to Roy Hodgson’s side. With the assistance of Nani, Anderson, Welbeck and Cleverley, they provided some easy on the eye moves and intricate passing that should have seen them further ahead after Rooney’s opener.
Despite West Brom drawing level due to a mistake by new goalkeeper David De Gea, United’s persistence was rewarded when a run and cross by Young was deflected into his own net by Steven Reid. With Hernandez and Valencia in particular still to be added to the squad and Berbatov and Owen waiting in the wings, the options going forward look plentiful. However any joy Ferguson would have experienced would have been tempered by problems at the back. The solid, experienced base of Vidic and Ferdinand at the heart of the defence will not be seen again for some time, with both players substituted due to injury.
With De Gea looking shaky and being targeted by the opposition it looks as though new recruit Phil Jones will get a chance to prove his worth earlier than expected, probably alongside Evans, with Smalling continuing to fill in for Rafael at right-back.
Where United have added new young talent on the pitch, Chelsea have done so in the dugout, with 33-year-old former Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas taking the reins. He began his time in charge with a 0-0 draw away to Stoke, probably not a fixture the Portuguese would have chosen but a decent result nevertheless. Although the starting line-up was a familiar one for the blues there were some interesting pointers to take from AVB’s team selection.
Where some managers on visiting the Britannia fill their team with the most physically imposing members of their squad, AVB was happy to go with the more fleet-footed Bosingwa over Ivanovic at right-back, and the still to settle Torres over Drogba up front. Although unable to find the net, it’s the selection of Torres that could soon pay off. The Spaniard had his best game to date in a blues shirt and there was a definite change in his body language and attitude, impressively willing to battle and hustle. Injury free and after a much needed summer of rest, Torres seemed to have the pace back so obviously missing last season and was a constant menace to the Stoke defence, and on another day could have been rewarded with a penalty or goal.
With home games against West Brom and Norwich next, Torres could finally be about to start justifying his price tag. It was also interesting to note that AVB has identified a creative midfielder and winger as what’s lacking in his current squad, as this is exactly where the blues looked short. The difference between another season of disappointment and trophies could be whether Roman Abramovic’s chequebook can persuade Tottenham to part with their Croatian playmaker, Luka Modric.
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Click here to have a look out our predictions for the 2011/2012 Premier League Season!
Or have a look at the ten strikers that we think will lead the race for the Golden Boot next season
What a load of complete bo77ock5. I am a Tottenham fan, and I see a TWO team race for the title between Man City and Man Utd. Article was probably written by a desperate Chelski fan.
In a nutshell yes.