Peter Anderson ⚽ Just 4 weeks in to the new season and the top of the league is looking very familiar. 

The Manchester big two, Liverpool and Chelsea are manning the top spots as predicted. Everton may join them depending on last night's result, but that will only be temporary. It has been pleasantly surprising to see Liverpool and City play so well. 

I never try to hide my admiration of Messrs Klopp and Guardiola and so far this season, they have excelled. City failed to land a striker to replace Aguero after supposedly being in the hunt for Kane and Ronaldo, and Pool failed to land any stars, just a centre-half reserve in case big Virgil gets injured again. Yet they have both played much better than I expected. 

I thought the lack of signings and the passage of time might have meant that the players would have an off season, but so far this is not the case. City went to Leicester and took the three points on offer, while Liverpool went to Elland Road and played poor Leeds off the park (sorry Barry!) I expect Liverpool will fall away as the season progresses as the bench looks much inferior to those of the other top three sides, but City should only get stronger as De Bruyne and Fodden come back from injury.

Chelsea have continued their strong start with a comprehensive dismantling of the much-hyped Villa team. Two goals from Lukaku, his first at Stamford Bridge, sealed an impressive performance from the London Blues. They still remain my favourites for the title.

But the big news of the weekend was Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford. His stunning performance and goals helped send Man U to the top of the league. The atmosphere was incredible as the faithful welcomed the return of the prodigal son. Some of my mates described him as a has-been, but he scored 29 goals for Juve last season and if the weekend's performance is anything to go by, he should get a bagful this season too. While not being lightning quick like the old days he was quick enough to cause the Newcastle defence some problems. 

Varane also looked good and with some time to adapt to the EPL should bed in to being a rock-solid defender. With Bruno in midfield, Greenwood scoring freely upfront and Rashford to come back from injury, Man U look threatening. Apparently Ronaldo is having an immediate affect around Old Trafford off the pitch too. One tabloid reported that not one player had dessert at the post-game meal because Ronaldo didn't have one! Whether true or not he will definitely up the level of all the players. The big question remains: is Ole up to the task? He has literally no excuses now, if Man U don't win the league, it will be seen as a massive failure. They haven't had a better chance since Sir Alec left.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

Is Ole Up To The Task?

Peter Anderson ⚽ Just 4 weeks in to the new season and the top of the league is looking very familiar. 

The Manchester big two, Liverpool and Chelsea are manning the top spots as predicted. Everton may join them depending on last night's result, but that will only be temporary. It has been pleasantly surprising to see Liverpool and City play so well. 

I never try to hide my admiration of Messrs Klopp and Guardiola and so far this season, they have excelled. City failed to land a striker to replace Aguero after supposedly being in the hunt for Kane and Ronaldo, and Pool failed to land any stars, just a centre-half reserve in case big Virgil gets injured again. Yet they have both played much better than I expected. 

I thought the lack of signings and the passage of time might have meant that the players would have an off season, but so far this is not the case. City went to Leicester and took the three points on offer, while Liverpool went to Elland Road and played poor Leeds off the park (sorry Barry!) I expect Liverpool will fall away as the season progresses as the bench looks much inferior to those of the other top three sides, but City should only get stronger as De Bruyne and Fodden come back from injury.

Chelsea have continued their strong start with a comprehensive dismantling of the much-hyped Villa team. Two goals from Lukaku, his first at Stamford Bridge, sealed an impressive performance from the London Blues. They still remain my favourites for the title.

But the big news of the weekend was Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford. His stunning performance and goals helped send Man U to the top of the league. The atmosphere was incredible as the faithful welcomed the return of the prodigal son. Some of my mates described him as a has-been, but he scored 29 goals for Juve last season and if the weekend's performance is anything to go by, he should get a bagful this season too. While not being lightning quick like the old days he was quick enough to cause the Newcastle defence some problems. 

Varane also looked good and with some time to adapt to the EPL should bed in to being a rock-solid defender. With Bruno in midfield, Greenwood scoring freely upfront and Rashford to come back from injury, Man U look threatening. Apparently Ronaldo is having an immediate affect around Old Trafford off the pitch too. One tabloid reported that not one player had dessert at the post-game meal because Ronaldo didn't have one! Whether true or not he will definitely up the level of all the players. The big question remains: is Ole up to the task? He has literally no excuses now, if Man U don't win the league, it will be seen as a massive failure. They haven't had a better chance since Sir Alec left.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports.

8 comments:

  1. Peter

    I think Man Utd will benefit from a short-term Ronaldo bounce but it will not deliver them the Premier League as there are still too many unanswered questions about the rest of their squad. I am still going with Chelsea

    Regarding my lot; I am not sugar coating what happened to us at the hands of the other Reds. The final score was a fair reflection of the proceedings although the horrendous injury to Harvey Elliot and Struijk's resultant dismissal did affect the course of the game afterwards. Were it not for the excellence (again) of Meslier in goal and good last ditch defending we could have been looking at a record home defeat. Time for a mini-reset not wholescale panic for us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Barry - the Leeds style of open football is great to watch but without a Batty type character marshalling it all, I think they are vulnerable. How many EPL sides would give the LFC front 3 that amount of space? I think the red card was harsh and as one of the commentators said it was issued in response to the injury and not in response to the intent of the player. It seemed a fluke accident to me.
    Leeds will stay up but they can do much better

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anthony

    You are so correct. We do need a latter day Bremner, Giles, Batty or McAlister to get control of midfield and to take some of the load of Phillips.

    I am trying not to think about Friday night's game at Newcastle as a six-pointer!

    Liverpool are really back to rude health. The slick passing on Sunday was a joy (for some!) to watch. May need to be that bit more ruthless in front of opponents' goal. Will win silverware this season but I stick to Chelsea as my PL title tip. In Lukaka they have an asset which none of the other Big Four/Five/Six can match.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Barry
    I hope you are right! Anyone but Man U is my mantra.

    I agree with Mackers that you will stay up. I've always liked Leeds and Stuarty Dallas plays for youse. Leeds have enough to pull away from the bottom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter

      Man U's defeat by Young Boys Berne tonight certainly poses questions about their EPL and CL credentials. Their many outstanding (on paper) individuals do not make an outstanding team.

      Anyone but Man U used to be a mantra of mine but their post-Fergie wilderness years reign has allowed me to stop hating them.

      My fellow Tyrone man deserves to have played in a World Cup and another Euros. Would love it if he won a pot or two with us!

      Delete
  5. Big Lukaku scored again tonight. Far more rounded player this time at the Bridge.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Unknown - if your comment is for publication please sign off on it. TPQ does not carry comments by "Unknown"

    ReplyDelete
  7. It has become a farce, one defeat, admittedly a humiliating one, and its sack the manager time. Imagine if Alex Ferguson had been sacked in the early days? It took him four years to build a side. The arm chair critics, so despised in my day, appear to be a majority these days but they are not proper fans. Most, though not all, have never seen the inside of a football ground. Little wonder many of my generation attend FC United games, proper traditional football. Two Uniteds just one soul!! FC United and Man Utd, not Man U as some philistines refer to us.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete