Down the pan

Where did it all go wrong? When the season kicked off there seemed to be a good dose of healthy optimism around Anfield. Rafa Benitez had gone after five years and an anticlimactic season ending in the indignity of having to be content with another season condemned to the Europa League. In came Roy Hodgson from Fulham, the man who could do no wrong after leading the Cottagers to the Europa Leaue final, narrowly losing to Atletico Madrid after vanquishing holder Shaktar Donetsk, Italian legends Juventus, German champions Wolfsburg and the city that would host the final, Hamburg. In light of this success, little was made of the fact that his Fulham side had dropped five places in the league from last year - incidentally, the same slip which cost Benitez his job, though from seventh to 12th is less noticable than second to seventh - and just one away win all season.

Nevertheless, the season got underway after two tedious slogs around Europe and the optimism was reinforced. Joe Cole, who had laughably compared to Lionel Messi, seen as the shining light of moving the club forward by attracting talented British players. He quickly put that to rest with his first red card while wearing his first red shirt, but there were still many positives to take from the game. Liverpool had showed the kind of determination and togetherness that had been an earmark of Fulham's Europa League campaign, only coming undone to a talented Arsenal side after a last gasp howler, despite competing for half the game with ten men.

But, unfortunately, the results didn't get any better than this. A humbling defeat at Manchester City, with a potentially naive 4-4-2 formation coming undone, was followed with a scrappy 1-0 win over yoyo club West Brom. Tehn came the goalless draw at St Andrews in which Liveprool were lucky to get a point - a result perhaps acceptable at Fulham, but not at Anfield. There were again signs for optimism despite defeat at Old Trafford, Steven Gerrard continuing to drag a lifeless side to dizzying heights with two quickfire goals almost grabbing an undeserved point.

Then things desceneded even further - first with the Carling Cup farce at home to Northampton. After seeing David Ngog head Liverpool level at the death, I thought he had spared the manager's blushes. After all, Liverpool had not lost a penalty shootout for umpteen years. Though it would be unfair if Northampton had not been victorious, their couragous display deserving to take the headlines when other high fliers such as Chelsea and Manchester City also exited the competition.

Clutching straws, Hodgson assured fans that things would be better if he could get successive wins in the next two Anfield games - both winnable fixtures against Sunderland and newboys Blackpool. First Steve Bruce was left fuming that the Black Cats had lost at Anfield - that itself a damning indictment of how far Liverpool had fall - after a comical and dishonest goal, finishing the game 2-2. Next up was the game that every side in the Premier League will expect to win, and what followed was an even more depressing result.

Blackpool had already suffered humbling experiences at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, but that did not dampen their spirits as they won 2-1 at Anfield, with Liverpool fans no doubt thinking the club's positions in the table should be reversed. Ian Holloway has showed attacking ambition since promotion and a casual attitude, a refreshing change to the defensive mindset that many promoted teams display. Their victory was deserved - another damning indictment of Liverpool.

Seven games into the season with just six points to show for it - even Hodgson has admitted that it's relegation form. He asked to be judged after ten games - but with just three remaining to reach that landmark, can he really turn things around? Questions will rightfully be asked and fingers pointed, but it's difficult to establish who is to blame.

Hodgson did not inherit a strong squad - nor did he receive the funds to adaquately rebuild it. Javier Mascherano's departure was ill timed and unhelpful for the club. Joe Cole has promised more than he has shown, Christian Poulson has looked poor, and Raul Meireles is still settling into the league. Other biys looked more forward looking than for the present - Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson are promising prospects, but not particularly helpful in the current plight. And Middlesbrough fans were glad to see tha back of Brad Jones.

Is Hodgson the right man for the job? Marseille boss Didier Deschamps revelation that he was approached for the job certainly implies that other first choice candidates were either unavailable or unwilling. Hodgson does appear to be a stop gap - the mark of a regime who want a man who can manage on a shoe string without complaining or becoming involved in board room politics and who will likely be seen as expendable if and when ownership changes.

Unfortunately, he may also be seen as a small squad manager unable to juggle the large team need to succeed at the top end of the league - the release of Alberto Aquilani on loan to Juventus would suggest that. Another concern is his style of play being far from attractive or ambitious, and if he can handle the expectation of not managing a mid table club - the fact that he has managed Inter Milan would suggest otherwise, but he is certainly not flourishing under pressure.

There has been much amusement from rival fans at Liverpool's decline, and people insisting that the club should not have such high expectations. Some even say Champions' League football is an unrealistic target. But lets be realistic - save for last season, Liverpool have consistabtly finished in the top four. Xabi Alonso was missed after his departure when the club finished just short of Manchester United, but was never the force he was made out to be after he left.

The club has a rich history, and with that comes expectation. It is too early to write them off as the next Leeds - debt may be crippling, but many clubs are under this burden, notable United in England but also Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. There still are quality players at the club and it will still have the ability to attract a calibre unavailable to other clubs. Yes, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City have strenghened, but both looked shoirt of top form last season and have continued to slip up this term, lacking the consistantly to seriosuly challenge. Liverpool should be among them pushing at the top for the top four places at the very least.

Liverpool will not sack a manager after just seven games, and rightly so - not just because it is poo conduct, but because the club can scarcely afford to. Hodgson has made a poor start and, despite his mitigating circumstances, must accept a chunk of the blame. Despite having a thin squad, no money to buy new players and a world class striker desperately short of form in Fernando Torres, it is still a manager's job to inspire and motivate his players and draw up the tactics that lead to success. He is also the one accountable for other's failings. Football is fickle and results talk - if Hidgson can get three wins on the spin then things will look a lot brighter and he may be able to talk more confidently about being judged after ten games.

(Picture - The Daily Mail)

Humbling the pretenders

In a weekend when the established Premier League giants ground out the results that were expected of them, what was more interesting was to see two of the league's teams most hopeful of cracking that cartel being humbled. First were Tottenham Hotspur, continuing last year's inconsistancy with their first home defeat of the campaign to the team that were fast becoming 2010's whipping boys. Hugo Rodallega's second half strike was enough to condemn Spurs to defeat and go some way to perhaps vanquishing the raised expectations after last season's fourth placed finish.

There is no doubt that Wigan are a poor side - conceding ten goals in two opening home fixtures, four to the play-off promoted side, is proof of that. Wigan have since last season looked poor whenever going behind, choosing to collapse to crushing defeats more often than show the spirit that saw them overturn a two goal deficit to beat Arsenal 3-2 with ten minutes remaining. In the reverse fixture of this game last season this was proved, as Spurs rampaged to a 9-1 home win and eased to a 4-0 away thrashing. But when they have gone ahead they have looked a decent side, beat Liverpool 1-0 among other noticable results last season.

Spurs should remeber that last season's campaign was not without a hitch - despite home wins over teams including Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, they still suffered the indignity of losing at home to Stoke and being doubled by Wolverhampton Wanderers. Finishing fourth was quite an achievement, but was down to the failures as others as much as their own success. While they may just sound like a Liverpool fan being bitter, it is notable that their main competitors could not perform to a consistant level - Manchester City ended up drawing around a quarter of their league games, seven in succession, Aston Villa often fell short at the crucial time, Everton failed to start playing to their potential until March and Liverpool's woes are well documented. Tottenham are succeptable to getting carried away with a good result or two, and then crashing against 'inferior' opposition - if they want another good league campaign they must resolve this, and they will be crushed in the Champions' League if they do not. No doubt the depth they have added and the squad built up will help to deal with the many games, with players like Rafael Van der Vaart likely to prove key.

Manchester City were the other aspirational team to be found wanting, succombing to the kind of late winning goal that they should be accustomed to by now after their red rivals won three games against them in this manner last season. Darren Bent stepped up to take a woeful penalty - not that the Black Cats will mind as it somehow went in - and steal the points at the Stadium of Light. Carlos Tevez put forward his effort for worst miss of the season with the sort of effort that would make an eight year old in a park cringe. City may have spent their hundreds of millions and may have a bench worth more than the bottom half of the table combined, but what will propel them up the league is results at Sunderland and the like, not at Anfield and Stamford Bridge.

The players no doubt find it easy to be motivated for the top draw games, when they take on other multimillionaires who are occupying the slots at the top half of the table. They may well get convincing results against these sides - last season they were the only side to double Chelsea. However, it is often more important to be able to defeat the sides you are expected to, as Liverpool proved when a single home goal in games against West Ham and Fulham two seasons ago would have been sufficient to win them the Premier League. If a side can beat every team at home and all of the bottom ten home and away that's 90 points and the title. The Sheikh's players may perform when they feel the need, but they will need to perform on cold nights in Wigan and Bolton and get three points when a goal down with stud marks in their legs if they are to truly realise their ambitions and not falter at places like Sunderland.

Elsewhere in the league the usual sides got their usual results. Liverpool managed to beat West Brom, and though I was disappointed that it was only by one goal, at leat Roy's boys have their first win and Fernando Torres has shown he is still capable of scoring with his hair a different colour. Manchester United eased past West Ham, who were once their bogey team, with a comprehensive win. Nani played the sort of game fans will hope he can every week, while Wayne Rooney still looks some way off the mark.

Chelsea had no problems in beating Stoke, proving that they can play fancy football and win a fight when they have to. More concerning was Frank Lampard's hat-trick of missed penalties - he seemed to emulate the Darren-Bent silly little sprint on the spot before running forward and aimlessly passing it towards the goalkeeper, which is clearly a bad strategy. Hopefully Steven Gerrard will be taking spot kicks for England from now on. Arsenal showed how they have matures past the team of three years ago who would always be bullied into defeat every time they travelled up the M6 with a win at Blackburn. Theo Walcott seems to be developing well which can only bode well for the national team.

Wolverhampton Wanderers look increasingly like an established Premier League side every week, and this time succombed to a draw against Newcastle. There are already calls for Andy Carrol to join England and the centre forward seems to be proving himself at the top level. I expect Newcastle to steer comfortably clear of relegation this season and quickly establish themselves as a mid table side. Blackburn took a point from their first home game and suffered the heartache of a late equaliser against Fulham. While it is always nice to see a team take the fancy football approach rather than the Stoke throw-it-and-head-it-in appraoch, team's that play this style without the quality are always likely to get relegated for their naivity, as West Brom prove every other year.

Birmingham are another intimidating looking side who should steer well clear of the bottom three, especially with their recent transfer activity in securing ex-Arsenal playmaker Alexander Hleb among others.They took a 2-0 lead on a tough trip to Bolton before throwing the game away, and were no doubt helped by Jussi Jaaskelainen's red-mist moment that saw him slap Roger Johnson. Johnson acted surprised at the petulant outburst and didn't retaliate - why these footballers show petty violence and not just a good thump and a proper fight is always bemusing. Aston Villa were the other team to get back to winning ways after their thrashing at St James' Park the week before. Everton continued to look blunt up with Jermaine Beckford struggling to make an impact outside of League One - they missed the chance to sign another striker but will need to sharpen up if they are to realised their potential early on this campaign.

So the teams in and around the top half of the table need to become consistant if they want to challenge for honours - and invariably make the Premier League a more exciting an unpredictable one for its followers. Chelsea and Man Utd will always be near the top and regularly grinding out the important results - now we just need a more wide spread winning mentality and focus in other teams to have six or seven teams scrapping at the top instead of just two.

(Picture: Daily Mirror)

Ups and downs

Expectations have been surpassed or fallen short of as the Premer League season entered it's second weekend and Britain's teams fought for the right to represent the country in Europe. Tottenham Hotspur managed to silence the sniggers coming from the Emirates as they overturned their first leg defeat in Bern. Harry Redknapp's minions overcame what had the potential to be a very nervy affair as they thrashed BSC Young Boys 4-0, with a hat-trick from Peter Crouch sparing their blushes and the numerous 'men against boys' puns that would have been reversed in their defeat. They will face tougher tests ahead - most obviously against holders Inter Milan in the group stage - but they also face Werder Bremen and FC Twente in a tricky group.

There were no such fears about the group stages for the other three English teams. Manchester United face Valencia minus their two best players, Buraspor (?? a Turkish side, so expect plenty of flares on the pitch) and Rangers, who will no doubt continue the recent fine Scottish tradition of failing to win any significsnt European games. Arsenal will be trying not to kick too many balls down the mountain as they head to Braga, while Partizan Belgrade and Shakhtar Donetsk, the last winners of the UEFA Cup before being humbled by Fulham the following year, should not pose too many problems. Chelsea were handed what looks like on of their annual favouable FA Cup runs (when they usually have to beat several Championship and League One teams and then a couple of mid-table Premier sides to reachthe final) as they face Marseille, Spartak Moscow and Zilina, a Slovakian side.

In Europe's second tier competition, which I now unfotunately have to take more than a passing interest in, I was pleased to see Liverpool edge past Trabzonspor - it's just unfortunate they haven't beaten any proper teams yet. Man City's millions saw them ease past FC Timisoara, with forgotten multi-million pound additions Jo and Shaun Wright-Phillips even managing to get some match time. Aston Villa continued to make fans wonder why they are so keen to get into the Champions' League with another insipid display as Rapid Vienna beat them 3-2 in Birmingham. Celtic meanwhile continued to shame Scotland in Europe as they slumped to an embaressing thrashing at Utrecht, with Dundee United and Motherwell doing their part to ensure our northern neighbours would play no part in the Europa League.

In the Premier League there were mixed fortunes and some surprise results. I was obviously disappointed to see Liverpool fall short at middle Eastlands, with a second successive Reina appearing to assist Tevez in getting his second. The team looked naive to set out in a 4-4-2 formation, and though City seemed unambitious by setting out with what looked like three holding midfielders and a back four, they clearly had more urgency and tempo and were deserved winner. Although one point from two games isn't a good start for Liverpool, the team had the same return from these fixtures last year, and had played two good teams. Pundits often speculate that to win the league you must beat the best teams, but the reverse can be true - if a team can win all of its home games and double every team in the bottom ten then that's 90 points, enough to win the league. Although this was a humbling blow for Liverpool, their season can still be defined with success in their other fixtures.

Chelsea though face the opposite dilemma of not having been truly tested yet. They eased past Wigan in a game that showed little promise of repeating last season's upset. It's too early to condemn any team, but Wigan look like they have overstayed their welcome in the top flight - they seem to have been riding their luck for the last three seasons. Each year the club sells its best players, and not neccessarily to better clubs, but often in a sideways move to rivals. Though this may be essential to their finances, it creates a situation whereby every player is not performing for the good of the team, but is rather treating each game as an audition to showcase his talent and aim for a transfer and a pay rise at a different club. This policy was bound to condemn them eventually. Roberto Martinez's men also look lost and bewildered once behind, and instead of making a 1-0 deficit 1-1 they are more likely to make it 4-0 or more.

Arsenal brought Blackpool back down to earth after the previous week's thrashing of Wigan with a 6-0 thumping of their own. The Seasiders are not likely to win these games - certainly not if they try and play open attacking football against a team assembled for ten times to cost on ten times the wages - and will be targetting other fixtures to take points from. Theo Walcott started to look a quality player and not just an impact one, and England fans will be hoping his improvement is both fast and continuous. Man Utd continued to take little joy back up the M6 from Craven Cottage as Fulham salvaged a draw. Nani irked fans with his inconsistancy as a season of poor penalties continued and the visitors could not kill off the game. After Brede Hangeland was no doubt pleased to redeem himself by equalising late on after putting the opposition ahead, and it made a surprise to see Utd dropping points in the closing stages instead of winning them.

West Ham reinforced their credentials as relegation candidates as they crashed to a home defeat by Bolton Wanderers - exactly the sort of game they should be looking to take at least one point from. Avram Grant is already conceding that staying up is the aim in what looks like a difficult season, especially with the Davids undermining his authority and demoralising the squad. West Brom showed that good football can beat mediocre sides and they will be hoping for more similar results to their win over Sunderland - though if they continue this style against the Chelseas and Man Utds there will be more thrashings than narrow victories.

Tottenham may have shown that the Britannia Stadium is not the fortress it was as they ensured Stoke have no points. It took a fluke goal and a contender for goal of the season from the revelation that has happened since moving Gareth Bale a few yards further up the pitch (Glen Johnson take note, perhaps?) and a perfectly good goal being disallowed, but it is these fortuitious breaks that are needed for a successful season. Everton's 4-6-0 formation continued to fail, and without a quality recognised striker there will be more pain ahead in dropped points as they drew 1-1 at Goodison Park with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Permenantly injured Louis Saha and league one success Jermain Beckford will not be good enough to take Everton forward - a step up of two divisions is a big ask for any player.

Birmingham still impress under the shrewd Scot Alex McLeish as they came from behind to beat Blackburn. Ben Foster looked strong in goal apart from his strong penalty save, and his improvement can only be good news for the England team. The surprise result of the weekend came with Newcastle United's thrashing of Aston Villa at St James' Park, with Andy Carrol the player everyone (well, myself at least) regretted not having in their fantasy football XI. Just when it seemed the Villains were going to be fine after Milner moved north to quadruple his salary, they get thrashed by a newly promoted side and dumped out of Europe - strange how much things can change in a week. The Magpies should have enough to stay up this season, and hopefully their fans will be content with that and not demanding Champions' League football already.

But despite all the mixed starts for different teams both home, away and abroad, it's worth remmebereding that it is only the second week of the season. Title can't be won yet - but they can be lost. There will be harder and easier games to come for all, so it is much too soon for any fans to become too disappointed or elated with their team's performance. Lets wait until at least ten games in before starting to make reasonable aims for the remainder of the campaign.

(Picture: The Guardian)

Oh dear

I was just about the enjoy the opening weekend of the Premier League when Pepe Reina decided to show Manuel Almunia that he's not the only one who can make comedy blunders. But a draw with Arsenal was almost inevitible, although it did make me angry with and blame Mark Lawrenson for his ever unambitious BBC predictions that every game between two teams in the top six will finish 1-1. Joe Cole wasted no time in making an impact and, realising he wouldn't be spending the next few weeks with Alberto Aqualini and the physio, decided he'd rather spend them watching from the stands instead. David N'gog continued to look alright in Fernando Torres' absence with a well taken goal, even if the television men can't decide how to pronnounce his name - is it 'en-go' or 'un-gog'? Maybe one day he'll do an interview and tell everyone.

Elsewhere, Manchester United continued with their ruthless efficiency last night as they eased past the fallen Newcastle. Dimitar Berbatov got carried away after one good finish and by the midway point of the second half was trying acrobatic stunts that boys try in parks to try an impress the watching girls, only it ended the same way as most attmepts in the park do, with the ball going nearer the corner flag and the player looking like an arse. Ryan Giggs continued to score in every Premier League season so can now retire with that statistic intact, and Paul Scholes managed to get through the full 90 minutes and showed no signs of turning from ginger to grey. Newcastle were never likely to win and their fate will be decided in other games, but it was disappointing to see a game where both sides looked quite content at 2-0.

Chelsea did what we have come to expect them to from last season and put smiles on the faces of everyone who had made Didier Drogba their fantasy football captain. West Brom showed the naivety that ensures relegation and the problems of newly promoted teams 'trying to play football' in the Premier League - namely that they get hammered each time they play a decent opponant. It seems that teams who are well organised and disciplined, that can defend well and counter attack and use set pieces, will always stand a better chance of surrvivng that those who come up and try to play the beautiful game.

The other big surprise result was of course Blackpool's opening day thumping of Wigan at the DW as the nomadic Marlon Harewood scored a well taken brace. Clearly I wasn't being sarcastic when I spoke about Wigan losing to 'to gift one of the promoted sides their first and only away win of their season' - which this probably will be for Blackpool. The irony is that Wigan will probably win on their trip to the coast. Though I can't see Wigan continuing the stay up this season - they have been on borrowed time now for almost four years with their continuous influx of South American jugglers each playing for a move to a better club next season as they scrape to surrvive each year. How long can a club that sells its best players to its rivals - often ones not much higher above them in the league - continue at the highest level?

Elsewhere results were much as expected. Tottenham failed to break down Manchester City in the most disappointing opening game since, well, the World Cup. Joe Hart pulled off a string of great saves while Shay Given had a strop about not wanting to be a reserve goalkeeper - why these reseve players can't just focus on playing and training well to earn a place rather than complain abiut being left out of the starting XI is beyond me. City looked like a group of strangers - which they are - and will need to gel quickly to avoid falling short again and having a carousel of managers.

Aston Villa eased past West Ham in what looks like a difficult season for 'yes man' Avram Grant, especially under the influence of the two Davids, who seem to want to meddle in team affairs as much as Florentino Perez does with his Galacticos, which isn't as bad when it costs you La Liga by a few points and sees you exit the Champions' League before the quarter finals for the umpteenth year running, but it is when it may cost you Premier League surrvival by the same margin. Good to see James Milner being a good pro and playing well, as was Javier Mascherano for Liverpool - both showed a player can be dignified in asking for a transfer without doing their sulking on the pitch.

Wolves edged past Stoke in their early potential bottom of the pile scrap, while Birmingham did well to come from two down to draw at the Stadium of Light. Stephen Carr was competing with red carded debutants Joe Cole and Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny for best start to the season as he gave away a penalty before giving the hosts a two goal cushion, so at least a draw spared his blushes. Bolton played out a bore-draw with Fulham as Blackburn got stuckin into their usual rough and tumble to scrape past Everton - good to see two goalkeepers on Merseyside having a clanger in the same weekend.

In the Championship Millwall and QPR continued their perfect start to the season - be interesting to see how their fans react if they are this strong in April if West Ham are likely candidates to go down, and the two may miss the opportunity for what would be come an biannual East End Royal Rumble.

Ipswich reverted to last season's form as they conceded an equaliser after having gone ahead just four minutes from time against newly relegated Burnley at Portman Road, while pre-season favourites Leister and Middlesbrough both failed to get their seasons going.

Sheffield United suffered a crushing home defeat at the hands of their ex-manager, and I was disappointed to see the consequence of that being Kevin Blackwell getting the boot. I thought he had done a reasonable job since his appointment, usually challenging for promotion, and though that should be the club's realistic target every season I hope they don't become crushed under the weight of expectancy. Gary Speed looks likely to be appointed manager as I write this so hopefully he will enjoy success and lead the Blades back to the Premier League.

Anyway, depsite all the hopes prematurely dashed and the expectation being built up, just remember - the season has only just begun. Man City could be challenging at the top, as could Liverpool (hopefully!), despite opening day draws - Chelsea and Man Utd will not remain invincible - and Blackpool will not win the Premier League. If you want to prove me wrong, try and get rich by placing a 2,000-1!

So don't be too disappointed or get too carried away based on the opening weekend results - there's still a long way to go! And if you've had a poor start to your Fantasy Football league like me, with no Drogba or Florent Malouda raking the points in and Torres, Luca Levia and Sol Campbell making you regret your choices, then just trsut that they will all be reacy and firing next week - or at some point over the next 37 at least!

(Picture courtesy of the BBC)