The 2017/18 Premier League season is underway
and fans were treated to an entertaining weekend all over the world.
If we were to judge based on
preseason results and transfer dealings, then the overriding feeling before
kick-off would have been that top sides would get off to a flying start. But
this is the top flight of English football and things are never so simple.
On a weekend where the reigning
champions Chelsea were humbled at home by Burnley, while the favorites showed
us their title credentials and Liverpool was Liverpool,
here's few things we learnt
from the Premier League on Match Day 1
1. Arsenal may not win the trophy but will have
a big say in who wins it
The Gunners started the Premier League at home
with a nail biting but exciting seven goal thriller with Leicester.
The game showed us that should Arsenal be able
to steer clear of injuries and all the unnecessary off the pitch issues that
usually plague them, they will be a deciding factor in finding this season's
winner. With a potent front line and a back line that looks ready to collapse
at any point in the season, we can expect the Gunners to be themselves by
having a shot at the trophy in the first half of the season and capitulate
midway and try to salvage it at the end. Unless they delve into the transfer
market and strengthen some defensive positions, expect Wenger and his men to be
kingmakers this season.
2. New Season, Same Old Liverpool
Usually the Premier League is unpredictable but
it has one constant: Liverpool! There's the usual hype and furor about their
transfer dealings and performances in the off season , the inability to transfer
the performances to the season consistently and then the tag "Robin
Hood".
Though the season is young, The Reds
showed signs of these in another goal-fest on Matchday 1 against Watford. Yes,
there was the enforced and "semi-enforced" absences of Coutinho and
Lallana but with the kind of squad Klopp has at his disposal, this should not
be an excuse. A failure to improve in defence and goalkeeping will counteract
all the work in attack. There is still time this season for Klopp to improve
his and Liverpool's fortunes from "Next Year Will Be Our Year" to
"This is Our Year".
3. Signs of Second Season Syndrome for Conte
After a title winning season in his maiden
season in England, Antonio Conte has been anything but happy in the lead up to
his second season.
With a
somewhat unsatisfactory transfer campaign and the apparent lack of squad depth,
it looks like the second season demons that plagued Ancelotti and Mourinho (in
his second spell) are back and part of the blame lies squarely at his doorstep.
His shocking treatment of Diego Costa, an apparent lack of communication
between the board and himself (Matic sale) and his tactical rigidness (so far)
all make up a recipe for disaster and this is imminent! With the improvements
made by title rivals, a lack of depth and a grueling season ahead, it is safe
to say Chelsea won’t be winning anything neither will they be defending
anything. It might be the end of Conte’s stint at the Bridge. Failure to invest
in the squad and a tweak in tactics will mean the ''Second Season Syndrome''
strikes and the London Bridge falls down.
4. Mourinho
building Chelsea 2.0 at Old Trafford
Jose Mourinho is building another solid side with
Manchester United and Chelsea may have given him the final piece. United’s
signings seem to have gelled well but the addition of Nemanja Matic has all but
solidified the side and given the team freedom to be fluid while occasionally joining
the attack. With a burly target man with the form of Lukaku , pacy wingers at
his side, creative midfielders behind him and pivot of Matic and Pogba not
forgetting a solid backline and a world class goalkeeper, Mou has all the
ingredients to create title winning juggernaut at the Theater of Dreams. Watch
Out England, Jose is Coming.
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