Some interesting ramblings from The World Game:
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/stuart-randall/blog/1019553/The-EPL-power-of-10The EPL power of 10
Four 6-0 results in the opening two weeks of the English Premier League season. What the hell is going on?
1. Chelsea doesn’t get the credit it deserves
When you win three successive games 8-0, 6-0, 6-0 you should be getting more credit for the style of football you play. Those results aren’t flukes, although playing Wigan twice has helped.
Chelsea may not be loved in the same way as Arsenal is for its football, but these performances should be admired. Malouda is as good as anyone in Europe.
2. Theo Walcott is not the Messiah ... yet
He was very, very, very good and this may be the second coming but it was only Blackpool. We’ve seen this from Theo and Arsenal before. Stand by.
3. Wigan is in desperate trouble
Roberto Martinez wants two strikers brought in. Is he cracking jokes? May I suggest a casual glance at the goals against column?
Crowds are disappearing, the club's starman N’Zogbia reckons the Birmingham bench is a better option than Wigan and the players appear to have given up.
Something has to change in the north.
4. Woy’s Honeymoon at the Weds is over
It’s been a tough week for Hodgson, with a narrow, nervy Euro win followed up by a hiding at the hands of City side that performed with fluency, spirit, pace and no amount of flair.
Liverpool appeared to be the same bedraggled outfit that sleepwalked its way through last season, and with the Mascherano affair now an issue one way or the other, the new era has already lost a bit of its sheen
5. Fulham is United’s bogey team
It’s not quite that simple, as Nani scores the pen and United wins in a canter. Instead, Fulham shows the spirit of last season, combined with a willingness to never take a backwards step, and it pinches a draw.
Shame that Fulham wore Rash Vests straight off Bondi rescue though...
6. Joey Barton shaved
Thank God. While we’re at it, Newcastle a 6-0 winner over Villa. I didn’t see that coming. Neither I imagine did Brad Freidel.
A magnificent start for the Geordie nation, which may turn in to that good at home rubbish away type of team.
Oh. And Andy Carroll is not the Messiah. Yet.
7. West Ham is a shambles
It actually played alright against Bolton, but when you’ve shipped three on opening day in comical fashion, you need a positive result, and shipping another three at home to Bolton is not that.
Nor is missing a penalty to settle it all down early on, Carlton Cole. Nor is a diving header into your own net Matthew Upson. Avram Grant may have jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
8. Everton is still on holiday
A good result for Wolves but another sluggish performance from Everton. Fantastic, albeit wasteful, in the first half, and just not at the races in the second. One point from games against Blackburn and Wolves is not the haul of a side with ambitions of breaking in to the top six.
9. We don’t need video technology
Just better referees. Or referees with the courage to award a goal for a shot that crosses the line when they are standing three yards away from it. Not look through the crowded area in vain for your assistant who had no hope of seeing it.
Stoke denied a clear goal, and referee Foy in line for a promotion to referee the next North Queensland Fury match...
10. Gareth Bale IS the Messiah
I love the boy, and 'Arry’s post match comments on how he’s turned Bale’s career around, “I just said, ’stop f***ing about with your barnet." Technical stuff. Magic.
As you can see, this article was written BEFORE round 3.
