City And Aguero Off To A Flyer.............

Oh yes!!!!! The football is back!!!!!
All the expectations, disappointments, and indeed brilliance was back last weekend as England's elite league got under way, with what was some what tentative start by most standards.
Yes there were outstanding performances, and none more so than Manchester City new-boy Sergio Aguero.
The new £38 million man got his City career off to an astonishing start as he came off the bench for thirty minutes against newly promoted Swansea and set about destroying their resilience by scoring two and setting up another as City strolled to a 4-0 opening fixture win to get their title challenge off to the best possible start and cement the fact they mean business for real this time round.
City dominated the play in advanced area's whilst Swansea played nice stuff but without any conviction or end product, but showed the league exactly what they will be about this season.
But it wasn't until the little Argentine, this time not Carlos Tevez, but Aguero entered the frey as it was looking more and more frustrating for the Blue's of Manchester.
They had just taken the lead through Dzeko moments earlier but it wasn't until Aguero came on that City really flexed their muscle's and he certainly took centre stage.
His first was a simple tap in from two or three yards, then he flicked the ball over the keeper and somehow managed to keep the ball in, but also in the same lunge set up Silva to make it three.

Then in the last minutes of the game he picked the ball up around 35 yards out, was given space to drift in by the lax Swansea defense and he duly obliged with a thunderous shot which crashed in the corner to round off a very impressive 30 minute debut.
City's neighbours United struggled past a resilient West Brom side who had pegged back the Champions after Wayne Rooney's opener, but almost inevitably United somehow got their win as they seem to do so often without particularly playing to well.
Optimistic Liverpool fans would have been left ruing several missed chances in their opening game, especially being at Anfield against a Sunderland team that was totally new-look.

Luis Suarez was back for the Red's fresh from his virtuoso performances for his country helping them lift the Copa America just a couple of weeks ago, and he certainly looked fit as he charged down the defender, went clear through and was crudely bought down by Richardson as he was rounding the keeper.
Yellow for Richardson, penalty for Liverpool which Suarez promptly smashed into row triple z as he failed to put the home side ahead.
It wasn't long though before he made amends as he nodded in a free kick from Charlie Adam as Liverpool totally dominated the first 45mins.
Sunderland came out refreshed after the break and pushed the home side further and further back and were rewarded with a sublime equaliser from new boy Seb Larsson as he scissor kicked a cross which flashed past Pepe Reina. They deserved the equaliser and Liverpool didn't really have an answer. Point was fair result. Sunderland would have been the happier camp though.
The other 'Big Guns' also faltered as both Chelsea and Arsenal were both held to goalless draws by Stoke and Newcastle respectively.

Arsenal had a more eventful game as their new striker Gervinho was red carded for a fracas involving, who else but the ever involved Joey Barton.
The scouser felt the Arsenal man had dived to try to win a penalty, he was actually clipped in the box but DID go down in about thirty five stages to make a meal of it. Barton grasped him by the collar and told him his version of events and got a slap for his input. Gervinho then saw red and the game drizzled out to finish 0-0.
Barton was stamped on by Song in this game also, Song has now been charged by the F.A for this.
Fulham hosted Villa at Craven Cottage but this was also a game dominated by the defensive parts of the two sides as this encounter also ran up zero goals.
Relegation candidates went head to head in the first 'Six Pointer' of the season as Wigan welcomed promoted Norwich City to town, both teams battled hard and Wigan broke the deadlock from the spot after 21 min's. But their lead didn't even make it to half time as the visitors pulled level on the stroke of half time to ensure no 'Let's Be Havin' Ya' rally cries from Delia Smith from the stands.
The game failed to bare any more fruit for either team in the second period and yet another two sides shared the spoils as this one finished 1-1.
Two more relegation baited teams went head to head at Ewood Park, Blackburn took on Mick McCarthy's Wolves team. Blackburn's Manager Steve Kean had been quoted as saying that their aim over the next 4 or 5 seasons was to make the Champions League places....yes you read that right....CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, not CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
This opening day defeat saw them take the lead on 20 mins, only to be pegged back two minutes later by a force full Wolves side. It ended 1-1 at the break only for Blackburn to concede two minutes after the re-start and hold on to pick up a very good three points against one of their rival's down at the bottom.
The only other game that was played was Championship Champions Q.P.R hosting Bolton at Loftus Road.
Unfortunately for the promoted club, Bolton showed the gap between even the 'mid-table' sides in the top league and the new clubs who will be in a season-long relegation battle.

Cahill curled in the opener and pick of the goals, and reporters being told that 'he does that every week in training' by his team mates after the game.
So, first game down, and on the opening games showings it does look like the club's from Manchester will be definitely setting the pace..........

The Countdown Begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The seasons showpiece opener has been and gone and the daily countdown to the big kick off has really started now as we are just FIVE days away from the start of which is shaping up to be possibly the closest season in The Premier League's history!!!!
All the big boy's are starting their engines in anticipation of the first outings in this seasons, all the new faces are no doubt anxious to hit the ground running at their respected club's, and  the managers will soon be feeling the screw of pressure being tightened on them by their teams results and performance's.

The Charity Shield as always kicked off the season and this season's 'friendly' did not fail to disappoint.
There is never such a thing as a 'friendly' game between the two sides in this years game though as the two big guns from Manchester went head to head at Wembley.
United looking to stamp their already impressive mark on the new season, starting this campaign as defending Champions once again, Fergie's men were looking to exert some early fright into their challengers to their throne. Whilst their neighbours in blue are playing catch up and looking to show their progress during the close season having made additions to their squad this summer.

All eye's were on Wembley as this is a game that could lay a blueprint for the season ahead and both sets of fans can be buoyed by their teams showings here.
City took the lead through Lescott and then doubled their tally on the stroke of half time through one of their growing list of strikers, last seasons big money man Edin Dzeko.
There wasn't much De Gea could do about the first, but a keeper that has been entrusted with keeping goal for the Champions and to follow in Van Der Sar's huge footsteps should not have been beaten by a 30 yard daisy cutter in my book. I'm sure he will improve but this wasn't the debut I'm sure he himself was hoping for.
Although City were two goals to the good, United were by far the better side and would have been aggrieved to find themselves two goals behind.
Astonishingly at half time Bookmakers were offering a gargantuan 16-1 for Fergie's men to turn the tide and run out winners!!!! Two goals down yes, but this is still Manchester United, the comeback kings, so whoever was creating the odds on the fightback I'm sure will be counting the cost of his/her mistake this morning!!!!
Being the comeback king's and never letting up, United went back on the attack, and in all honesty out-played City, they got their breakthrough through Smalling as he vollied in from 4 yards and was soon followed by their second after the move of the match as one-two's were exchanged between Rooney and Nani including a back heel before Nani coolly finished over Hart to level it all up.

The game was looking to be heading for Penalties but as City launched their final attack, the ball was cleared up field and as Kompany looked to have an age to make a decision Nani was onto him and the City Captain ricochet the ball off of the Portuguese attacker but it sprang into the path of Nani who sprinted clear, rounded Hart and rolled it into the empty net to give the Champions a much deserved victory right at the death.


Fergie would have been pleased with his teams fightback, City will be happy with their first half showing, and no doubt City fans will be looking forward to the curtain raiser this coming weekend with high hopes, and even higher hopes of seeing their new £38 million pound man, Sergio Aguero.


Either way, fan of these sides or not, this was a great advert for the coming season and me for one cannot wait for Saturday!!!!
My quick predictions for this season.......

• Sergio Aguero to win the Golden Boot @ 16-1
• Manchester United to win the league with Aguero top scorer double @ 40-1
• Swansea to finish in top ten @ 8-1

My three tips for all the gambler's out there..........

My top four will be this: 1. Manchester United
                                     2. Manchester City
                                     3. Liverpool
                                     4. Chelsea

Relegation anyone????? 1. Wigan
                                     2. Blackburn
                                     3. Norwich

Now if any of you out there reading this have any different predictions or bets that are worth looking at, please do not hesitate to tell us......spread the wealth and we can all be happy!!!!!

Is Aguero The Missing Link For City?????

Yes yes yes the season is upon us, and the transfer mill is slowly winding up and the big fish are slowly circling and the big names are starting to arrive.....none bigger than Sergio Aguero arriving in the blue half of Manchester.
City have been the big spenders in the recent transfer windows and this time round is no different, as they stump up almost £40 million for the Argentine striker that most thought was going to replace the want-away Carlos Tevez, but this may not yet turn out like that, having the transfer to Corinthians for their captain crumble at the last minute the two Countrymen may well head up the strike force this Sunday in the seasons grand piece opener, the Charity Shield.
Now just how good is their new South American????? Well I can tell you, top top drawer.
This is a young man, son-in-law of the illustrious Diego Maradona, who scores goals for fun. In the past two seasons he has scored more goals than Tevez, he really is the Real Deal.

He is very similar to Carlos but to have a player that is more prolific than their already loved Tevez, can only bare ripe fruit for the waiting Citizens, and I cannot blame them for being excited!!!
As a fan of football I personally can't wait for him to take Europe's biggest stage, The Premier League.
It is the best league in the world and players are rarely judged until they have pitted their wits in the league.
Me personally think the 12-1 odds of Aguero winning the Golden Boot in his first season is astounding, and not in a bad way!!!
I have to remind everyone that Tevez won the honour last season, all-be-it joint with Berbatov, and yet Tevez was obviously not happy last season, handing in a transfer request in January and missed many games through injury also, and still he managed to win the strikers most prized possession.
This season, a man who is a more out and out goal getter will be heading the line, the team will have grown once again, giving themselves more chance to gel after last seasons big spending. They will always create chances and this is the man to net their goals I can assure you.
So here me loud and clear, Aguero will be top scorer next season, 12-1, get your money on NOW!!!!

Onto an enigma that is surfacing in the transfer doing's this close season.......Spurs......Daniel Levy has a pot of gold he is sitting on, and continues to sit on, is he hoping for it to miraculously hatch into more money???!!!
Harry was quoted two weeks ago as saying 'It is early days in the transfer market' well if you believe that you'll believe anything!!!!
I think Levy is going to to many boot sales or something!!!! At a boot sale you either get there early, scour the stalls for the bargain's and get your dealings done before the hoards arrive, OR you wait until the stalls are packing up and just want to offload the crap at the end that they don't want to take back home with them....and that is exactly what Tottenham are going to be left with if they carry on.

All the other clubs are doing deals and the Spurs Chairman seems to be hoping for another Van Der Vart deal to be the saviour of their pre-season and keep the fans happy, but I don't believe that will be enough.
There has been plenty of speculation but nothing concrete for the Yid army to clutch onto, and at least have a bit of belief that their club has the ambition that they should be having after their first season in the Champions League. No they didn't make it again last term but surely that is even more reason to be strengthening their squad with top players??? Or am I missing the point here????
Harry may look like he has managed to convince Modric to stay, at the minute at least but this will not be enough unless they bring in at least one top striker, and one other to enhance the squad, just to keep pace, not improve it!!!!!
It could be a long season for the Spurs fanatical fans if this is not rectified.......