After two weekends either side of one of those early-season international breaks that club managers find so disruptive, what have we found out about the new Premier League campaign?That Chelsea are good, but maybe not that good; that Liverpool so far are the luckiest team and Wigan the unluckiest; that Arsenal are clearly feeling the loss of key midfielders - those who departed and those on the treatment table - and still need to buy; that Hull and Stoke have the spirit and fighting qualities that should stand them in good stead; that Fulham are now a tougher proposition; that Aston Villa, with six goals scored and five conceded, could find their scoring panache undone by schoolboy defending; that Manchester City and West Ham are as erratic as ever; and that reality remains some distance away from Tottenham’s dreams. What we don’t yet know is whether champions Manchester United will indulge in a typically sluggish start: they don’t play FA Cup winners Portsmouth until tonight, at Fratton Park - their third meeting in a month.
Chelsea followed their attacking master class on the opening day with a far more pragmatic if not pedestrian performance at Wigan’s JJB Stadium. But the important thing is that they won, and have still not conceded a goal. They top the table with a goal difference of plus five and the knowledge that buying Deco from Barcelona in the summer already looks like a stroke of genius. The Brazilian-Portuguese play-maker scored for the second game running, this time with a sublime, match-winning free-kick as early as the fourth minute. Wigan, depleted by injuries before the kick-off were again unfortunate not to get something out of the game, and certainly deserve to have more to show after two games than zero points. Playing well for no reward is a trend manager Steve Bruce will quickly want to halt; but for Chelsea, who were outstanding a week ago, the adage about still winning when not at your best will be hugely encouraging.
The same can be said of Liverpool, whose own fans may even be wondering how they still have a 100% record. If victory over Sunderland on day one was a long time coming and lacked conviction, Saturday’s great escape against a Middlesbrough side who appeared to have got their measure almost beggared belief. The suddenly prolific Mido seemed to have done enough until Jamie Carragher’s speculative effort took a decisive change of direction off Emmanuel Pogatez to wrong-foot stand-in keeper Ross Turnbull. Then Steven Gerrard, whose fitness was questioned by Fabio Capello in midweek, popped up with a Roy-of-the-Rovers winner with effectively the last kick of the contest. So the Reds already have six points on the board and haven’t yet got out of second gear yet. Ominous?
As for fellow ’Big Four’ members Arsenal, ominous is a word that might also be applied to them, but for rather different reasons. They are labouring at the moment, possibly missing Flamini but most definitely missing the inspirational and creative Cesc Fabregas, on whom the Gunners appear to have become alarmingly dependent. Fulham outplayed Arsenal on Saturday and deserve every credit for that; they are not used to winning London derbies, and certainly not against Arsenal; last season they were just not used to winning, period. Arsene Wenger’s side looked bereft of rhythm and spark at Craven Cottage, inevitably prompting more questions about the Frenchman’s transfer policy. He still has a few days to bring in reinforcements. Will he use them?
There is likely to be a flurry of transfer activity in the next few days, much of it triggered by something approaching panic. Everton, for example, are desperate to bring in someone - anyone - after a summer of unrelieved frustration in the transfer market. Yet despite their worryingly depopulated squad, the Toffees earned a morale-boosting victory at West Bromwich Albion where Mikel Arteta brought quality to their midfield. It was another disappointing result for the Baggies on their return to the top-flight, but manager Tony Mowbray took comfort from the fact that Albion bossed the game for long periods and enjoyed good possession. “I cannot remember them having a shot apart from their two goals,” he said, “but we were probably guilty of not creating enough real chances despite seeing a lot of the ball." That’s a failing he’ll need to address quickly, whole Everton counterpart David Moyes puts all his energy and powers of persuasion into recruiting the six or seven players he says the Toffees need. That’s a signing a day, David.
The two sides promoted along with West Brom last May, Hull City and Stoke City, had plenty of reasons to be cheerful at the weekend, especially Phil Brown’s Tigers. Brown and Blackburn’s Paul Ince are the only Premier League managers never to have lost a game in the top-flight, though Brown will be the happier of the two. His side followed up their opening day victory over Fulham at the KC Stadium by holding Rovers to a draw at Ewood Park with an impressive rearguard action. In both games so far, Hull have battled back after going behind, which speaks volumes for their spirit.
Meanwhile Stoke, thumped 3-1 by Bolton on opening day, got their first ever Premier League victory - and first top division win for more than 23 years - by beating Aston Villa 3-2 in dramatic fashion at a packed and mostly ecstatic Britannia Stadium. They saw Villa twice extinguish their lead before Mamady Sidibie headed home the last-gasp winner from Rory Delap’s long throw. Other Premiership managers will be devoting time in training to trying to deal with that particular set-piece tactic; it flustered Villa all afternoon. Martin O’Neill’s side had roared out of the blocks last week against Manchester City with four goals, including three from Gabriel Agbonlahor; but the two they conceded in that match triggered defensive alarm bells and Stoke showed that Villa’s new-look back-four urgently need to get to know one another.
As for Manchester City, they recovered from that mauling at Villa Park by administering one of their own, a 3-0 hammering of West Ham. After the traumatic couple of weeks City have endured it was a much-needed boost to morale at Eastlands, though whether Thaksin Shinawatra - seeking political asylum in the UK - can show he’s ‘fit and proper’ enough to enjoy more such occasions as owner of Manchester City remains to be seen. West Ham have different concerns. After a dazzling first ten minutes against Wigan last week their season has plummeted downhill with gathering speed. Alan Curbishley’s task is to make sure they haven’t already enjoyed their best moments - and show sceptical Hammers’ fans he’s still the right man for the job.
Few doubt that Juande Ramos is the right man for the job at Tottenham, but things are certainly not going according to plan for the Spaniard. Played two, lost two is not what the Spurs faithful - repeatedly offered illusion and experts at self-delusion - had in mind for the start of their latest ‘breakthrough’ campaign. The parallels with last season’s opening are uncomfortable for all concerned at White Hart Lane, but in the search for mitigating circumstances, Dimitar Berbatov’s sulky rebelliousness is a perfect scapegoat. Ramos left him out of his 18-man squad altogether for the Sunderland game, to ensure his negativity didn’t infect the other players. But something else - weight of expectations? Sunderland’s tenacity? - clearly did. The Black Cats were excellent value for the three points and Roy Keane’s transfer market touch gained admirers when new-boy Djibril Cisse came off the bench to grab the winner. He’s only on loan but if he keeps that up it will become permanent at the earliest opportunity.
Another ex-Liverpool striker who came off the bench to score the winner was Michael Owen for Newcastle. The Magpies built on their creditable 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on day one by opening their home account with a victory. Visitors Bolton Wanderers paid the price for missing a penalty awarded when Steven Taylor handled a cross. Shay Given got down superbly to thwart Kevin Nolan from the spot, leaving the stage set for Owen to come on and head home Geremi’s pin-point cross at the far post and give the Toon Army hope to march with.
Tonight Manchester United will attempt to secure their first win of the campaign before a three-week break from Premier League action as they go off to contest the European Super Cup with Zenit St Petersburg. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men can’t leave the field clear for Chelsea and Liverpool to go a possible eight points ahead of them while they are otherwise engaged, so beating Portsmouth is imperative., But Harry Redknapp’s side, who have frustrated United before, need to bounce back strongly from their no-show a Stamford Bridge a week ago.
Two match days gone then, and more questions than answers - which is exactly as it should be…
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