An Alternative Look at the Footballing Week - Ed. No.1

So, the first of many basically pretty eclectic posts about football and what has caught my fairly wandering eye in the last few days/weeks (depending on how organised I am). I'll obviously be doing specific posts as well as these updates on generic sports stuff.

Opening Day

So finally, after a certain wait, though notably, it seems, a much less lengthy wait than previous seasons, the Barclays Premier League is back on. This also means that for the next two weeks, I'll care about my Fantasy Football team. Having been rather disappointed by my exclusion of Simon Mignolet, following a stunning performance in the 12.45 kickoff, I was buoyed by Christian Benteke's two goals at just past 3 o'clock, meaning I'd be at least not completely planked in the first week. Sadly, I'd left him on the bench too. So, a bit of a bummer, but like the rest of my fellow fantasy footballers, I included Robin Van Persie in my team, plus as a captain, so double points. So yeah, that was alright, still mid-table though. (Ed. - 11/32, actually)

Incidently, if you haven't seen RVP's first goal, it is a really nice piece of footballing intelligence, beats the ball down, and times it just right to get his boot right, even with the awkward bounce. As David Moyes pointed out in his post match comments, he's just "got different players"... Yakubu to Van Persie. One thing that did strike me about Moyes though was that there are striking similarities with him and Ferguson  - "Even if we'd lost, I'd be doing the same thing.". Bullish Fergyness... Perhaps allowing SAF to appoint his successor was a better plan than simply appointing the latest star manager. Still early doors though, and the first real test will be next week vs Chelsea, who seemed to be fairly decent in that first half at Hull.

Same old problem
I know it's a 'cult' programme, so it's like I'm criticising the NHS, the Queen or the Beatles, but, since this is pretty off the cuff - MOTD - it's just as bland as last season. Danny Murphy really is as boring as Mark Lawrenson, and obviously Shearer is just talking the usual guff. A few things were particularly noteworthy.

Shearer on Danny Welbeck - "I was worried he'd be the same as last season, and I thought against Scotland that he's going to be the same. But today, that proves he's not the same." This is working on the premise that Welbeck scored one goal last season. He scored two yesterday. Yes Alan, that proves he has changed.

MOTD cock-ups - They managed to mix up most of United's midfield singlehandedly, attempting too hard to be like Sky Sports with their snazzy graphics. It just doesn't work.

They also got Danny Murphy to do the spelling for the show graphics, clearly trying to implement a more inclusive presenter policy. That's key "decisions", lads. Oh, that and they forgot to put ironic quotation marks around "Analysis" whenever they attempted talking about the football.

On the subject of Sky Sports, it was also notable to see Lineker messing around doing post-match interviews through the TV, with Martinez, just like Gary Neville might. I don't know whether it's sadder that they have to compete with satellite, or simply their attempts at competition.

Shown the red card, Danny.

There was, however one positive to the whole show - Lineker (again) featuring, this time using twitter really rather well. Here he decided to take play-wright Stephen Simon's tweeted prelude to the Premier League season and use it has his opening line for the show. Genuinely original initiative - better than Sky's scriptwriters too.

Teams what I like round-up...

First up, though I couldn't find a dodgy stream for this anywhere, I was very buoyed in mid-week to see the mighty Liechtenstein lose 3-2 to Croatia. To the common anyway half decent expectation of most football fans, bar those of Plymouth Argyle, this may seem strange. But scoring two goals against a side of Croatia's quality, even in a friendly, bodes very well for the next campaign for the Euros. This was even a side including Eduardo - that one who broke his leg - who scored two of the three. Notably for the 'Stein - Peter Jehle making his hundredth appearance, and what a servant he has been, especially given his commitments all over the world at times. Also, Michele Polervino's goal is an absolute beauty. Hit first time, ricochets the top of the bar, and then goes in. Must go down as one of the best I've seen of Liechtenstein's, though not quite topping Mario Frick's goal against Scotland. Nothing will.

Then, on Saturday - not a bad haul - as 50% of my teams won, which I've no doubt will deplete rapidly as the season unfolds, and the genuinely good sides remember how to play football. Notts County went away to Walsall, and drew 1-1, in what can only be described, and in fact, was described as fairly outrageous. The second (hypothetical) goal, ruled offside - does look pretty onside, so I have to say, pretty annoying, not only for the valuable points, but also because it would've been Arquin's second, which is always nice - particularly as it might shut up a few overly critical Notts fans, and get Kiwomya through the first half of the season. A highlight from Facebook after Walsall opened the scoring -  "this team is a joke this club is a joke". Hmm.

Meanwhile, at Pittodrie, Celtic began their campaign having lost two of their most valuable players (Hooper and Wanyama), though it is my opinion that it won't effect them in the slightest in the League - Europe is a different matter. This was sort of gratified by a confident win, the like we have become used to - not 4 and 5 nils, but a simple two goal victory. Notable, that a) refereeing decisions were fairer - the penalty was unquestionably so, and also b) very nice finish from Forrest from a dangerously acute angle, it would not surprise me if he really stepped up from now on. A trip to play 'some team where Borat's from' awaits.

Finally, a very quick results look at other teams I have a vague affinity to. Mansfield won, which is always nice, albeit against Wrexham, who looked pretty dire when I saw them at the end of last season. Whether they'll manage without Matt Green this season looks still to be seen. Hoffenheim - won 5-1! Again, I can't see it lasting, though there's nothing wrong with a positive start, and valuable points, meaning that at the end of the season a relegation scrap can be avoided potentially.

Final Comment

Last night I watched some of the first half of PSG vs Ajaccio - what a good innovation of BT Sport's to have French football on the English telly - really was quite enjoyable, though I have to say the away team looked pretty rough and ready, though managed to squeeze a draw from France's very own Citeh. I've made a mental note - and Ligue 1 will definitely be a keeper to follow more closely this season - especially if I can watch it with moronic English analysis at half-time.

The only blonde Frenchman. Nearly.

NB - In that match Benoit Pedretti scored Ajaccio's only goal. Reminded me of many happy years collecting French football magazines/stickers. I am telling you, he is the only French player of any note who is blonde. Bar Philippe Mexes, but he doesn't really count, shocking cut.