Four wins on the trot had elevated Liverpool from relegation zone to mid-table, but the euphoric
mood was ruined in a 1-1 draw against Wigan and 2-0 defeat to Stoke. Liverpool fans are again
questioning Roy Hodgson's credentials, and sympathizing with him is difficult when clubs humble the
Reds so effortlessly.
Everton manager David Moyes has earned a reputation for leaving it late to steer the ship back
on course (not unlike Manchester United), but the abysmal start to this season's Premier League,
with potentially disastrous consequences to the club's fortune, has piled on doubts if David Moyes
is the right man to propel the club to greater glory.
It is early days in the race for the Premier League title but Manchester United's 3-3 draw at
Goodison Park means that United are now four points behind reigning champions and current table
toppers Chelsea who have yet to drop a point.
Okay we are only four games in to the season but when you look at the way Chelsea have been
steamrollering some of the opposition they have met , scoring 17 goals and conceding only one in
the process, then the task that United and the other teams face in stopping the Blues from winning
a second consecutive title looks formidable.
Who will be the new Aston Villa manager? That is a key question for Premier League watchers as a
6th placing (which the Villains have called their own for 3 seasons) is up for grabs. There are no
shortage of takers eager to qualify for Europe Everton, Blackburn, Liverpool, Birmingham, etc.
should Aston Villa languish in mediocrity.
Jose Mourinho, fresh from guiding Inter Milan to Champions League and a historic treble, is
likely to sign a four-year deal with Real Madrid after the sacking of coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Notwithstanding Mourinho's remaining two year contract with Inter Milan, Real Madrid President
Florentino Perez is certain of his appointment and could make that all-important announcement as
early as next Tuesday.
Beginners luck don't get any better than Josep Guardiola's phenomenal first season where
Barcelona virtually swept all trophies in sight La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Champions League,
Spanish Supercup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. His commitment to work ethics and
attacking football reminiscent of Johan Cryuff's sensational 1970s team impressed football fans
globally.
There is something to be said about Portsmouth going into administration with debts of around
£70 million, it became the first Premier League club to achieve this dubious honor and gave a
stark reminder that the entrapments from the richest league in the world will be insufficient to
shelter a mismanaged club from financial woes.
Patrick Vieira has returned to the Premier League on a six-month contract with Manchester City.
His name may still evoke respect from his opponents but one should bear in mind that the feisty
midfielder is no longer the box-to-box field marshall we last saw of him in an Arsenal shirt.
For now, as with any arrival, there is a great sense of anticipation.
Patrick Vieira has returned to the Premier League on a six-month contract with Manchester City.
His name may still evoke respect from his opponents but one should bear in mind that the feisty
midfielder is no longer the box-to-box field marshall we last saw of him in an Arsenal shirt.
For now, as with any arrival, there is a great sense of anticipation.
This is a guest post by Nick Walsh.
Premier League club Portsmouth have been accused of damaging the game by one of the leading
football authorities as problems mount for the south coast side.
The club failed to pay their players' wages from December on time and seem to be mired in
financial turmoil.
Liverpool came off the Merseyside derby with a 2-0 victory, their third successive league wins
at Goodison, but there was little to be proud of. In terms of entertainment value, the game was
about as bleak as the rainy weather
For David Moyes, his club remains mired in a relegation battle but they can hold their heads up
high.
Alex Ferguson is no stranger to infusing his squad with new blood and wielding the axe on senior
players. Over the years, his risk taking on team selection had resulted in handsome rewards and
some spectacular failures.
While the jury is still out for his latest bet on Michael Owen, nobody will debate the success
he yielded in the '90s when he threw his lot behind the fledglings comprising Ryan Giggs, Paul
Scholes, Gary Neville, David Beckham and Nicky Butt.
What appears to be the end may really be a new beginning. In its opening game of the 2009
Premier League season, Arsenal demolished Everton 6-1 in a scintillating display of attacking
football. This was supposed to be a stiff challenge, after all Everton had the discipline and
consistency to finish fifth for the past two seasons and was a FA Cup finalist last year.
Who would have thought Michael Owen will be training at Old Trafford? Even though it has been a
week since the official transfer was announced, the debate on his suitability rages on, at times
emotionally charged with disbelief, vitriol and ridicule.
After trading in the "world's best player" and then signing an over-the-hill striker whose
panache has been eroded by a stint at Newcastle and long term injuries, is Alex Ferguson running
out of options already?
There is a price for everything. Sir Alex Ferguson declared indignantly in December that he
wouldn't sell the Real Madrid mob a virus, not to mention his crowning jewel, Cristiano Ronaldo,
but when an astronomical £80 million check is waved enticingly, principles can be swayed.
Last week, Real Madrid shocked the football community with their audacious raids in the transfer
market.
