Football Dispatch

Premier League look-ahead: 25 & 26 August

WE'RE getting into the finding-out stage of the season in the Barclay’s English Premier League. It may sound ridiculous to attach such importance to the fourth match-day of the season, but one look at the table suggests that a number of things are likely to be found-out about a number of clubs – probably sooner than later.

Off the top, however, my obligatory comments regarding England’s midweek debacle against Germany at Wembley. Debacle, for starters, is probably too harsh a word. England lost, true enough, and have won just three of their past nine matches. They have yet to win at Wembley and, quite frankly, do not look as though they will start winning anytime soon.

Still, it’s hard to read too much into a friendly. England created their fair share of chances and were really rather unlucky to end up on the wrong end of the score-sheet. Micah Richards had another solid performance, as we all expected; and Frank Lampard managed to hush his critics somewhat with his goal in the 9th-minute.

Which brings me to Steve McClaren. My opinion of the current England manager is no secret. I was opposed to his hiring from the start, called for his dismissal last autumn, and am quite curious how the likes of Fabio Capello and Marcello Lippi are doing at the moment. Quite simply, whenever I hear McClaren’s post-match comments, I grimace.

Wednesday’s teamsheet, however, was a curiosity unto itself. Why, in a friendly match, would the manager select the un-fit and jet-lagged David Beckham, the un-fit Michael Owen, the gaffe-prone Paul Robinson, and what is essentially a cast of players assured of their places anyway? What better opportunity than to give starting assignment to the likes of Scott Carson, Jermaine Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips, and, dare I say, Jamie Carragher?

The bottom line is that McClaren selected his best possible team in order to save his job. That he himself believes his job to be on the line a full ten-months ahead of EURO 2008 is, in itself, troubling. His inevitable sacking will inevitably come after England fail to produce results against Israel and Russia next month. By then, of course, it will be too late; and the care of the national side will fall to an interim manager while the FA mulls over who next it will throw to the dogs.

While England are found-out well near every time they take the field, Manchester City may just be revealed as the Premier League’s biggest over-achievers since Blackburn Rovers of 1995. Blackburn’s blip on the screen lasted a full season, however; and City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson would be worshipped at Eastlands from here to eternity if he could do the same.

I can’t see City getting their fourth win of the season away to Arsenal. And while I rather expect the Gunners to have a poor season by their standards, I feel that City will play right into their hands. Arsenal are at their best when facing a side which comes at them, attempts to be creative, and leaves themselves vulnerable at the back – all without being too physical, of course.

City are exactly such a side. Sven’s new signings are exciting and fun to watch. Martin Petrov is a whirlwind of energy, Elano is creative and a superb provider, Giovanni is a poor man’s Mikel Arteta, and Rolando Bianchi looks as though he can finish in front of goal. And although Micah Richards and Richard Dunne have been superb in the centre of defense, it’s not all that hard to get to them; and Arsenal will get to them fast and frequently.

I would also expect that Arsenal feel as if they have something to prove heading into this weekend. After a draw with Blackburn Rovers on Sunday and a fortunate win over Fulham a fortnight ago, manager Arsene Wenger will be expecting nothing less than a convincing victory. I think he’ll get it; and it should be a good one to watch.

No less exciting will be Aston Villa v Fulham at Villa Park. After bolstering his squad during the off-season, Villa manager Martin O’Neill has yet to break through into the win column. That said, I fully expect his club to be among the European places in the spring. And if he succeeds in signing Per Mertesacker, O’Neill will finally deliver some substance to the Villa supporters’ perennial optimism. Mertesacker is pure quality. He is a fixture in the German national side and, at 22-years-old, has his best years waiting.

Speaking of optimism, manager Lawrie Sanchez has instilled plenty of it into the Fulham faithful so far this campaign. Cottagers are skillful and attractive to watch. David Healy is scoring for club and country and new signing Diomansy Kamary will finally get a look after the long-term injury to fan-favorite Brian McBride. Of most importance, however, is that Fulham seem finally settled at the back. Paul Konchesky, Aaron Hughes, Liam Rosenior, and Chris Baird were excellent signings to a man; and Sanchez looks to have addressed his goalkeeping situation by signing Kasey Keller on a free transfer from Borussia Moenchendgladbach.

What I notice most about Fulham is how quickly the club has forgotten about Chris Coleman. Now in charge at Real Sociedad, Coleman was often hailed as a hero at the Cottage – due, in no small part, to the belief that his shrewdness and motivation were the only reason Fulham consistently remained above the annual relegation fights. The mantra was that as Fulham were not blessed with the financial resources of bigger clubs, Coleman’s intelligent frugality was an element the club could not do without.

Lawrie Sanchez has done nothing but toss that notion on its backside. The former Northern Ireland boss has been proactive since arriving at the club. He made a host of signings over the summer – most notably Healy, Baird, Kamara, Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey, Aaron Hughes, and Paul Konchesky. While Coleman was passive to a fault, Sanchez has wasted no opportunity in improving his squad. He has done wonders. And I personally hope that Fulham are competing for a spot in the top-half of the league come springtime.

I’m predicting a draw in this one. I think both sides will go for the three points and wind up canceling each other out.

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur is clearly the match of the week. Both clubs are desperate for the win and are sure to come out flying. United, in particular, will mean business and hope to get on the score-sheet as early as possible.

I feel that things at White Hart Lane are too uptight, even for the players. This whole business about Martin Jol getting the sack and Daniel Levy contacting Juande Ramos is utter foolishness. But it has cast a shadow over the club and the players are likely to feel a good deal of tension when they line up at Old Trafford.

Despite their poor start, I don’t get the impression that anyone at United has hit the panic-button. What also impresses me is that nobody has made injuries or suspensions an issue. Sir Alex Ferguson has an embarrassment of riches among his depth players; although the losses of Rooney and Ronaldo have obviously hampered things somewhat.

Still, it’s not as though United have been played off the park in any of their first three games. Quite the contrary. They have bossed things 90% of the time and have merely lacked the ability to finish their chances. If that continues past Sunday, Ferguson may start to worry. A win, however, would allow United to put their slow start behind them and move on. I’ll say 2-0 to United.