Monday, August 18, 2014
EPL - Opening weekend thoughts
What an interesting start to the season. The three ( out of this seasons big four) that have played so far, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool, all managed to claw out wins after tougher than expected opening weekend matches. I think only two home teams have won this weekend and Manchester City was the only team to win by a two goal margin.
This is a season where a few pundits have talked about the big seven and the rest of the league. I am more in favour of a hierarchical classification schema consisting of the the big four, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City; the top 7 with the addition of Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham; and the rest of the teams, who seem to be competing in a mini-league of their own for the title of the best of the rest . If any of the teams outside my big four makes a serious and sustained title challenge I will be surprised.
The contest was closer and keener in the 4+ matches that I watched than what the above mentioned classification would suggest. Credit must go to some of the managers of the not so big spending teams. In all the four matches the less favoured team was willing to play at a fast tempo and attack relentlessly in hope of catching out the higher ranked clubs, who are still nursing their world cup exhausted super stars back to 90 minute fitness. For Swansea this approach paid good dividend and in all the matches made for highly entertaining football. Maybe later in the season, when every point will matter, we will see the more conventional smash and grab approach being employed by the weaker clubs but till then it is fun to see Liverpool and Manchester City engaging in "desperate defending" and hanging on to the 3 points by the skin of their teeth.
I am looking forward to Chelsea playing this evening. After that I come back with brief comments on individual matches this weekend.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
English Premier League 2014-2015
The date is August 16th 2014 and another season of the most exciting football league in the world is just a couple of hours from starting. This being a ( very entertaining ) World Cup year, the extent my off-season football watching withdrawal is slightly less than normal, but the idea of following a nine month long league in which almost every team goes through ups and downs, moments of on-field brilliance and drama both on and off the field is something very different and as already mentioned addicting. Most weekend evenings ( and sometimes Mondays) are now going to be reserved for watching EPL on TV. I am a happy dude.
There are two points I would like to discuss before the season kicks of.
One is predict the winner/ champion so I can say "I told you so" at the end of the season. I am going to, without hesitation, say Arsenal. The signing of Alexis Sanchez gives them the cover they needed up front last year. Their mid-field options are young, talented and experienced. For me they have the best midfield in the world. Ramsey, Wiltshire, Podolski, Ozil, Walcott, Arteta, Carzola, Oxalde-Chamberlain, Flamini, Rosicky etc. All are capable of turning a game with individual brilliance, good support players and most importantly hard working enough to scrape out that draw on an off-day. The defense is good and settled though I would have preffered that Vermaelen had stayed. He was not getting first team football and that says something about the defensive partnership. Mertesacker having hung up his international boots is also a plus. All in all I am willing to bet that Wenger will win the league again this campaign.
The other thing I would like to comment on is Wayne Rooney getting the Man United captaincy. There are a lot of reasons being mentioned for this and the lad may deserve it. I think Rooney cot the arm band because Van Gaal is not sure that Robin Van Persie will remain fit throughout the season. I get the feeling that Man U is focusing on ensuring Champions League qualification this year rather than make an all out go at the League.
It is time to watch the games now. More updates will follow.
There are two points I would like to discuss before the season kicks of.
One is predict the winner/ champion so I can say "I told you so" at the end of the season. I am going to, without hesitation, say Arsenal. The signing of Alexis Sanchez gives them the cover they needed up front last year. Their mid-field options are young, talented and experienced. For me they have the best midfield in the world. Ramsey, Wiltshire, Podolski, Ozil, Walcott, Arteta, Carzola, Oxalde-Chamberlain, Flamini, Rosicky etc. All are capable of turning a game with individual brilliance, good support players and most importantly hard working enough to scrape out that draw on an off-day. The defense is good and settled though I would have preffered that Vermaelen had stayed. He was not getting first team football and that says something about the defensive partnership. Mertesacker having hung up his international boots is also a plus. All in all I am willing to bet that Wenger will win the league again this campaign.
The other thing I would like to comment on is Wayne Rooney getting the Man United captaincy. There are a lot of reasons being mentioned for this and the lad may deserve it. I think Rooney cot the arm band because Van Gaal is not sure that Robin Van Persie will remain fit throughout the season. I get the feeling that Man U is focusing on ensuring Champions League qualification this year rather than make an all out go at the League.
It is time to watch the games now. More updates will follow.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
I am back and bald
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Friday, August 11, 2006
Lake Palace, Udaipur 
Friday, June 16, 2006
The World Cup and the joy of life
8 hours of football everyday. what more could one wish for? Maybe England winning the World Cup. Amen.
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Sunday, February 19, 2006
Online shoping in india
sucks bad. I wanted to spend some money without moving out of my house today. Did not find anything worthwhile to buy online that would be delivered to my house and was not chinese made. I am tired by my 4 hours of browsing.
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Thursday, February 16, 2006
Bad Foot
I hurt my foot. Have to walk with a stick now. The Doctor says that I will have to walk like this for over a week.
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