Meanwhile the familiarities come at Stamford Bridge whose Goalkeeper rightfully being sent off was construed by the Special One as being against Chelsea from day one, although he did mention he wasn’t complaining that officials were against Chelsea from day one, just mentioning it.
This weekend his side travel to the Etihad where they will face title rivals Manchester City. So how will the fixtures play out? Let me have a go.
Friday 14th August:
Aston Villa v Manchester United:
This is Tim Sherwoods first full season in charge of Aston Villa and it was a tricky opening fixture. Away to newly promoted Bournemouth, and with the way the previous season had ended, it could have been a banana peel of an fixture for the Villains. Yes they started slow and only won by the single goal, but three points are more important than performance or dominance when it comes to a side I still feel will be at the wrong end of the table come May.
For United the Van Gaal excuses stop now. Last season money was spent and fourth place was only barely secured with the World Cup limiting his impact in last summers transfer window, and then the ‘no one moves in January’ arguments being used. This summer he has had no such distractions, has spent more money and, if the opening game is anything to go by, another long and frustrating season.
Yes they one their opening game but at home, with the money spent, shouldn’t fans be expecting more than a lucky own goal being the difference? The goalkeeping crisis continues at United and that is certainly something which should have been dealt with and in the past now, but its not and, going into the opening fixture, it was front and center.
Will it be the case that being away from Old Trafford will ease the pressure on the Manager and players? Last season this fixture ended in a draw with both goal scorers that day, Benteke and Falcao, moved on. It’s a different Aston Villa from last season and United fans will be hoping it’s also a much different United.
Prediction: 1-1.
Saturday 15th August:
Southampton v Everton:
Neither side started the League season impressively. Southampton were ahead against Newcastle before conceding two goals either side of the break and will thank Shane Long for his goal ten minutes from time to share the points.
Everton opened their season at Goodison Park against relegation favorites Watford and twice had to come from behind to secure their point. After the game Toffees boss said he needs three more signings in order to be competitive this season. Providing their defender Josh Stones sticks around you would have to say he is correct. Away to Southampton last season Everton suffered a 3-0 defeat including a Lukaku own goal. A similar result this weekend will certainly see the pressure begin to increase on Martinez.
Prediction: 2-1.
Sunderland v Norwich:
Tough opening results for both clubs again in the opening weekend. Sunderland struggled last season while Norwich, who are newly promoted, both lost by two goals to sit in the bottom four. If you’d have told Norwich and Sunderland fans that after the first round of fixtures they would be higher than Arsenal in the League both probably would have ripped your arm off. As it happens they are both above Arsenal, but not the way they want.
Thirty years after the Milk Cup victory for the Canaries over the Black Cats the two sides meet once more for the unofficial ‘Friendship Cup’. Both sides will be desperate to get points on the board and you would have to say that Sunderland, being the home side, look the more likely to do that. For City, possibly a draw would be a good result, and I think that is where I am going to go for the prediction.
Prediction: 1-1.
Swansea v Newcastle:
Positive starts for both clubs in the opening weekend. For Swansea it was a case of a hard fought draw away to the current Champions in yet another tough opening fixture for the Swans. A lot was made of the decision to send off Courtois and award a penalty changed the game but the truth is that had the Chelsea keeper not taken the guy out he would surely have scored anyway. Nothing should be taken away from the Swansea performance and they will be hoping for more of the same at the weekend. Last season the Swans started off with an away win against United before following it up with a win at home to Burnley.
Newcastle also tied their opener 2-2 although they were much the better side for the majority of the game. Certainly what cannot be argued with is that they were head and shoulders above where they were last season. The question is how long can they keep this up and when will the fans turn?
Last season in this fixture the pair shared the points and that might be a Swansea win this time around and possibly, just possibly, the first blip on Steve McLarens Newcastle career.
Prediction: 2-0.
Tottenham v Stoke:
A Tottenham player scored last weekend and they lost 1-0. Stoke hosted Liverpool and a wonder goal was the difference between them and Liverpool. Certainly the score lines and the way the winning goals were scored would suggest the two sides are close to where they want to be but in truth Stoke were poor in front of their own fans, seven shots with just the single one on target which, considering the 6-1 win on the last day of last season, was a surprise.
Tottenham have more of an excuse, being away to big spending United, but if they want to move into the top four then they have to go into these games with the belief they can get something, and I don’t think they did.
At home to Stoke will show what progress Spurs have made from last season when they were defeated 2-1 in the corresponding fixture. While I do not see Tottenham breaking into the top four this season I do think they will get their first win of the season at the expense of Stoke.
Prediction: 2-0.
Watford v West Brom:
New boys Watford will be pleased with the way their opening game went. A point away to Everton was a great result for the side but this weekend could be more difficult. Firstly they at home, in front of their own fans and host a wounded West Brom side.
Manchester City destroyed the Baggies Monday night and Tony Pulis held his hands up to take responsibility (note to Jose Mourinho). He will be looking to rectify that situation at the expense of the new boys and I would expect a more attacking performance.
Prediction: 1-3.
West Ham v Leicester:
Pretty much any result West Ham gets this weekend will surely be an anticlimax after the opening weekends win against Arsenal. The same could be said for Leicester, who also got the season off with a win.
Leicester struggled last season until an outstanding end to the season saved the Foxes so I am not sure you can look at last seasons 2-0 defeat at West Ham as a judgement. Both sides have changed manager since that time and both incoming managers play a different style to the one they replaced.
Both managers will be looking to build on the good start they had last weekend but also be realistic about their sides limits and restrictions. With that in mind I can see this being a tied game.
Prediction: 0-0.
Sunday 16th August:
Crystal Palace v Arsenal:
Before the start of the season if you’d have said this fixture was going to pit the third place side against the side currently second from bottom you would most likely say, ‘Don’t worry Palace, the season is long.’
However, it was Palace who did a job away to newly promoted Norwich at the weekend while Arsenal failed miserably to do anything at home to West Ham. The result of this is that when the game kicks off, Arsenal could potentially be bottom of the League. How will the players react? They have to unleash everything against Palace and need to get a big win, nothing else will be good enough.
Prediction: 1-1.
Man City v Chelsea:
The Chelsea appeal over the red card given to Courtois has been thrown out, meaning he will not be on the pitch when the two sides kick off in the late game on Sunday. With Begovic ready to step up the Blues do have a more than capable replacement.
Manchester City dominated the game against West Brom on Monday away at the Hawthorns and if that was a statement of intent then Sunday could be adding an exclamation mark. A win for City would put last years runners up go five points clear of their opponents. However, Mourinho has a way of putting a spanner in the works, as Wenger can testify. Last season was a 1-1 draw but I just think it might be City’s day result this time around. Will I go so far to say that Sterling will start to pay back his price tag? I think he will certainly be influential and possibly even get on the scoresheet himself.
Prediction: 2-1
Monday 17th August:
Liverpool v Bournemouth:
Thanks to a late, albeit stunning, goal from Coutinho, Liverpool took all three points against Stoke. Last season they started off with a late goal winning the game before then embarking on a five game win less streak. Brendan Rodgers will certainly be expected to do better this time around and the Kop will expect to be cheering numerous goals or at least a dominant display and win, anything less would be questioned.
Prediction: 4-0.
What Does That Mean?
So how does that leave the table looking after the weekends games? Aston Villa go temporarily top after getting a point against United before handing the top spot over to Swansea after Saturdays games. Manchester City would then reclaim top spot on Sunday with Liverpool finally resting there after a big win on Monday night.
So come the end of the weekend you could see Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester and Palace making up the top four. Manchester United would be ninth while Chelsea see them all the way down in twelfth.
The bottom three are interesting with Arsenal, Stoke and Bournemouth filling in the three relegation spots.
Let me know what you think.
Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979
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