Ismail
13-08-2005, 14:21
Prelude To The First Premiership Weekend
8/13/2005 11:39:00 AM
Fans of Wigan Athletic and all neutrals will dream of a famous victory on Sunday against Chelsea as the Latics make their Premiership bow with the visit of the impregnable-looking champions. A case of the newly-arrived against the nouveau-riche, a culture clash of naïve hope against self-assured expectation.
For the sake of the Premiership, the neutrals will also be hoping that Newcastle overturn Arsenal on their last-ever League visit to Highbury (which the Gunners vacate at the end of this season), and that Phil Nevilles’s Everton dent Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United on Day One, while Middlesbrough scalp European champions Liverpool.
The reality, of course, is likely to be somewhat different. Newcastle and Everton will probably give Arsenal and Manchester United, respectively, a bit of an examination, but the sides that finished second and third last season are expected to prevail. And as for Wigan? Well, they will no doubt enjoy the day, the media attention and the novelty of being among the elite. But the 90 minutes of football against Mourinho’s side – whichever eleven he selects from his abundant and extravagantly talented squad – could prove a tad painful.
The Big Three remain firm favourites top maintain their oligopoly at the top. The title could be decided by head-to-head clashes between them (Chelsea meet Arsenal next week), and the pattern of the last two seasons suggests that none of them can afford to drop points against any of the other teams in the Premiership. A good start is essential to their aspirations, because Arsenal (no defeats in 2003-04) and Chelsea (one defeat in 2004-05) have n arrowed the margin for error.
Liverpool also know that to break into that elite-within-the-elite, they must win at places like Middlesbrough. But Boro have aspirations of their own and won’t make it easy for the Reds.
Then there are Spurs, whose fans are more expectant than at the start of recent seasons. They travel to Portsmouth, who will want to steer clear of a season of anxiety and know that home wins will be crucial.
In other first-day fixtures, Fulham entertain Birmingham City, two clubs who could move in opposite directions this season, with the Londoners looking the more vulnerable; and Stuart Pearce’s Manchester City welcome Bryan Robson’s escapologists, West Brom, who know all about Premiership toil.
The other newly-promoted clubs, West Ham and Sunderland, are both at home – to Blackburn and Charlton, respectively. Again, they’ll need to hit the ground running because the next ten months could be a tough endurance test if history is any guide.
Aston Villa take on Bolton and the two managers involved possibly feel a little frustrated with their lot. David O’Leary because he’d like more cash to attract top-line stars to Villa Park, and Sam Allardyce because he’s proved his credentials as the leading English-born manager in the League, but may have to leave the Reebok to fulfil his ambitions.
First days of the season can produce surprises, and that’s probably what the Premiership needs in order not to become too predictable. But few would predict defeats for the Big Three this weekend…
From Goal
8/13/2005 11:39:00 AM
Fans of Wigan Athletic and all neutrals will dream of a famous victory on Sunday against Chelsea as the Latics make their Premiership bow with the visit of the impregnable-looking champions. A case of the newly-arrived against the nouveau-riche, a culture clash of naïve hope against self-assured expectation.
For the sake of the Premiership, the neutrals will also be hoping that Newcastle overturn Arsenal on their last-ever League visit to Highbury (which the Gunners vacate at the end of this season), and that Phil Nevilles’s Everton dent Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United on Day One, while Middlesbrough scalp European champions Liverpool.
The reality, of course, is likely to be somewhat different. Newcastle and Everton will probably give Arsenal and Manchester United, respectively, a bit of an examination, but the sides that finished second and third last season are expected to prevail. And as for Wigan? Well, they will no doubt enjoy the day, the media attention and the novelty of being among the elite. But the 90 minutes of football against Mourinho’s side – whichever eleven he selects from his abundant and extravagantly talented squad – could prove a tad painful.
The Big Three remain firm favourites top maintain their oligopoly at the top. The title could be decided by head-to-head clashes between them (Chelsea meet Arsenal next week), and the pattern of the last two seasons suggests that none of them can afford to drop points against any of the other teams in the Premiership. A good start is essential to their aspirations, because Arsenal (no defeats in 2003-04) and Chelsea (one defeat in 2004-05) have n arrowed the margin for error.
Liverpool also know that to break into that elite-within-the-elite, they must win at places like Middlesbrough. But Boro have aspirations of their own and won’t make it easy for the Reds.
Then there are Spurs, whose fans are more expectant than at the start of recent seasons. They travel to Portsmouth, who will want to steer clear of a season of anxiety and know that home wins will be crucial.
In other first-day fixtures, Fulham entertain Birmingham City, two clubs who could move in opposite directions this season, with the Londoners looking the more vulnerable; and Stuart Pearce’s Manchester City welcome Bryan Robson’s escapologists, West Brom, who know all about Premiership toil.
The other newly-promoted clubs, West Ham and Sunderland, are both at home – to Blackburn and Charlton, respectively. Again, they’ll need to hit the ground running because the next ten months could be a tough endurance test if history is any guide.
Aston Villa take on Bolton and the two managers involved possibly feel a little frustrated with their lot. David O’Leary because he’d like more cash to attract top-line stars to Villa Park, and Sam Allardyce because he’s proved his credentials as the leading English-born manager in the League, but may have to leave the Reebok to fulfil his ambitions.
First days of the season can produce surprises, and that’s probably what the Premiership needs in order not to become too predictable. But few would predict defeats for the Big Three this weekend…
From Goal