Rival watch

The most auspicious starts I suppose were by Utd against Bournemouth and Liverpool at Arsenal. City hardly covered themselves in glory with a lucky win over last season's relegation candidates and Chelsea the same, a goal by a player who should not have been on the pitch.I don't think there will be any runaway leaders this season and I wouldn't place a thing on Hull beating Leicester. Leicester face Arsenal next. I want Spurs to go along steadily staying in touch with the leaders.

As a postscript Leicester will probably get murdered in the CL.

 

I didn't think Utd were that impressive. Their first two goals were perhaps a bit lucky. It's too early to be drawing conclusions. However one thing that does worry me is the possible continued impotence of the refs in dealing with the Sky favourites. I really hope the Fergie factor doesn't become a factor again, because I can't see there are many refs who will want to "disappoint" Maureen at Old T.

 

Good point.

 

We (United) were very disjointed and far from impressive. The most settled and complete team I have seen in the opening week has been Chelsea (not devastating or exciting), they were schooled and disciplined, they just looked like Chelsea. Even if Costa had got a second yellow they would still have won because they would have just shut up shop and WestHam wouldn't have scored.

 

That may be true but misses the point somewhat. A red card not only affects Costa's contribution for the remainder of the match it happens in, but means he doesn't affect the next match - but instead he's now available to score or otherwise contribute against Watford. Also red cards accumulate for greater bans later on that also won't happen.

Also I didn't hear what the refs view was. Did he see the foul and deem it not worthy of a yellow (it might actually have been a straight red!) Or did he not see it? If he didn't see it then of course the FA can implement their "one rule for some" rule and impose retrospective punishment. But as we know they don't do that with Chelsea.

 

Diego, take away the fact that Costa shouldn't have been there and it would have been a draw. I don't know why the ref was so lenient because Chelsea aren't that much but, who knows, corruption etc, it happens.

 

He gave it as a foul so must have 'seen it' this can't happen.

 

****ing hell Villa...
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...la-park#ooid=V1YWFkNTE6xcIPxxrA1tBitIXR96uiz4

 

I read that as Pierluigi Collina at first and couldn't work out why a retired referee was in goal for them.
Gollini cost them £4.25m this summer. He claims to have turned down Juventus for Villa. Oops.

 

Juventus offered him a role as janitor though.

 

Mahrez commits a new deal to Leicester, so that's roughly the tenth target Arsenal have missed out on .

Fair play to Leicester, I thought he'd be off at the first offer from a big club so it's good to see a player won't be swayed by the lure of some of the money-throwers. Although the cynic in me says that the new deal has been agreed on the basis he'll be allowed to leave next summer (if he has another good year) but Leicester can look at getting a mega, mega deal. The way the market has gone, if he has another season like last year, Leicester would be well win their rights to look at upwards of £55m/ £60m.

 

Rodgers Watch
Celtic were 3-0 up at half time against Hapoel Be'er Sheva...and now, with 25 minutes to go, are trying to cling on to a 3-2 lead.

 

Looks like he'd have been crap at sweeping, anyway.

 

Strolling along, then concede two in two minutes. Ouch.
Rodgers will be fuming at that.

 

Ever since his "if you spend £100m like spurs, you should be champions" comment he has turned everything he has touched to ****e...so come on...fess up...which spurs fan is the witch

 

4-2 now. Brendan gives his usual "salute".

 

If only he had this hanging on his living room wall instead of a portrait of himself...

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I am sure I read an interview with Rodgers where he claimed we asked him to be our manager after Harry Redknapp. Anyone know if we did approach him?

 

Always good for a laugh: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...dgers-that-will-make-you-cringe-31174543.html