Well, Premier League season 08-09 has started, more with a whimper than a bang.

 

Arsenal 1-0 WBA - what can I say?  I expected more from Arsenal, with all due respect to WBA, I expected Arsenal to give WBA a pasting, is this because last season Arsenal found it so difficult to hold onto a one goal lead that they now play this way?  I am not sure.

 

Chelsea 4-0 Portsmouth - Well, Scolari promised more attacking football (not that difficult in reality when you consider some of the tactics employed by Jose Mourinho (which, with all being said and done, did work)) and we got it!

 

Having said that, though, Portsmouth where nowhere near as good as they can be, they got what they deserved.  Chelsea looked awesome, but it will be interesting to see how they fair against other big-boys of the league.

 

Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United - Likewise, what can I say about this one?  On paper this should have been (again, with all due respect to Newcastle) a walk over for Manchester United, and it wasn't.  In fact, if NU hadn't gone down to 10-men for a period of time when Taylor was off getting treated for injury, I think NU would of won it.  MU looked like they where missing Ronaldo big time.

 

(Before I get any threatening words LOL, this is not a wind up, but a genuine question) Are ManU in danger of becoming a one-man team?  Are they already?

 

I know ManU are missing other players as well (Tevez et al), but with the likes of Rooney, Giggs and Scholes to still call upon I would have expected ManU to rip NU a new a. hole, at Old Trafford at least.  And, if memory serves me correct, everytime they left out Ronaldo last season they failed to win.  It is a dangerous path to go down, I should know after previous seasons with Stevie G at times.

 

Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool - Well, I said last week that I thought this was the toughest of all the top 4's first games, Sunderland away is a rock hard tie, and Roy Keanes side did not disappoint!  They played some good football and fought for absolutely everything, I would expect nothing less from one of his teams.  One thing though........

 

TORRES!  Now, for me, he is the best player in the league at the moment.  I know, I know, but 33 goals in his first season is tremendous (remember, Ronaldo managed 7 in his first) and he looks to be carrying on that form into his 2nd season (arguably a players worse season is his 2nd)!  I hope so!  I hope so!

 

His explosive pace from 0-whatever is 2nd to non (including Ronaldo, although Ronaldo after a certain distance may, just may, edge it, but for explosive starts, no one is as good or as fast as Torres).

 

We did not play to our best, and, arguably like United, we missed 3 of our first team players, but when you have Torres on the pitch you just cannot afford to give him a centimetre never mind an inch!  The guy is lethal!  Long may it continue.

 

Also, special mention must go to Xabi Alonso who almost tied up goal of the season already if only it was on target!

Let me just say this, this Olympics has been one of the best as far as Team GB are concerned that I have seen in ages!

 

After Super Saturday and Stupendous Sunday we are now neck and neck (with a bit of help from Monday's events) in 3rd place on the medal table with Australia!  This is a massive achievement and we have our biggest medal haul since Antwerp in 1920!

 

That is some going!  We still have a fair few gold possibilities left as well!  This has been one amazing Olympic year for Team GB and is a major stepping stone towards the 2012 Olympics whereby, hopefully, we can come first in the medal table.  It is not beyond the realms of possibility the rules mean that the host country automatically qualify for ALL events.  Also, this Olympics, China (1st) and the USA (2nd) have massive squads of over 640 competitors each!

As we stand at this minute, China has 37 Golds, USA 19 and GB 12!  That is some going, however, in some events we could have done better, but considering we sent some kids for experience ready for 2012 the overall haul is tremendous!

 

Lets look at the achievements of our young athletes as well, they have plenty of time to develop and it is a scary thought that (Dame) Rebecca Adlington is only 19 and can get better!  In fact, how is this for attitude, she broke (nee, smashed) the WR on Saturday and won gold yet thinks she can do better, 19 year-old WR at that!

 

Also, lets not forget the mens pommel horse!  The 19-year old kid who won Bronze when he was not expected (as far as I remember) to win anything!  A tremendous achievement and a massive hope for a gold in the 2012 if his development carries on as is!

 

I haven't even begun on cycling and rowing!  We seem to dominate in those events (although less in the womens rowing, oddly) and are getting plenty of medals from those disciplines.  Anyone else think Chris Hoy is massive?  His thighs must be about the same size as the average persons chest!  LOL

 

Lets spare a thought, though, for a few of our atheletes.  The womens four in rowing, who got silver, had a very good race but just could not keep hold of first, yet they gave there all.  And whatabout poor Paula Radcliffe?  I really do feel for her, she only had 3 weeks of training but was determined to have a go despite injury, good on you Paula!

 

I have no doubt that our track and field will improve, the youngsters who got sent out all did well!

 

Well done to all at Team-GB!  Keep it up peeps, and good luck for the rest of the Olympics!

 

 

It was interesting to hear Michael Johnson (if I remember rightly) state that he does not believe Phelps to be the best Olympian of all time, as he said, if 400m running allowed you to run backwards, sideways, on one leg etc etc, then he could have won 8 golds!  And that's from a compatriot!  However, I believe a big hand is required for Mr Phelps, if not the best, he is the most successful!  Well done that man, well done!