The summer lull is over. The posts are about to heat up, so please accept my apology for the limited soccer updates. Keep checking as between Premier League action and local High School action as well as a few ECU updates, the activity will be picking up significantly. Let’s get started with Match Week 1 of the English Premier League.
As we have discussed many times, the best soccer in the world is played in the Premier League. Every team in the 20 Team league has quality. Every game there is the chance for an upset. There is no taking a game off and coasting to victory. Other top leagues are top-heavy. The Budesliga in Germany is dominated by Bayern Munich. The Serie A in Italy is dominated by Juventus. LaLiga in Spain is dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Athletico Madrid is a distant third but improving. Ligue 1 in France is dominated by PSG. But the Premier League has 6 strong clubs and the Title has moved between Chelsea (5), Manchester City (3) and Manchester United (7) with Aresenal having 2 titles and Leicester City 1 since 2000. There have been 4 different Title winners each of the past 4 years. That doesn’t include Champions League clubs Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. It is a very hard league. Great teams, great players, great fun to watch!
Match Week 1 Recap
-Liverpool takes the early lead at the top of the Table with a 4-0 win over West ham United. Liverpool has the best attack in the league and they look in mid-season form already. Salah got his first and Mane had a double.
-Chelsea 3-0 over Huddersfield Township. Sarri-ball started the season with a successful debut. New coach, new 4-3-3 system, new players leading the charge. It may take a few months to see the real system in place as the players adapt to the quick passing, vertical attack of their new coach. Jorginho looks to be a great addition to Chelsea. Cant wait to see Kovacic in midfield. Kante is still a beast and Hazard is the best dribbling/attacking player in the Premier League.
-Manchester City 2-0 over Arsenal. Manchester City started their defense of their title with a convincing 2-0 win over Arsenal. They looked dominating at times and could easily have scored 4. But as well, there were moments where they looked shaky, GK Ederson gave away a few balls in his third and I was really shocked that Arsenal did not pounce and make him pay. Arsenal could have scored a few goals and either tied or made it interesting. Solid win, but a few nervy moments for Man City. Is there hope for the rest of the league? When Man City is good, there are unbeatable.
Other winners include Manchester United, Tottenahm Hotspur, Bournemouth, Watford, Crystal Palace
Race for the Champions League Top 4
The eight winners from Week 1 are all tied with 3 points with Liverpool and Chelsea leading the table based on Goal differential. Liverpool (+4) and Chelsea (+3)
Relegation Zone
Eight teams did not earn a point in Week 1 and are tied for the bottom with West Ham United and Huddersfield Township in the last two spots courtesy of their large losses to Liverpool and Chelsea.
Week 1 Highlights
Check out Chelsea v. Huddersfield. The PK by Jorginho is so cheeky and cool. Wow. Hazard came into the game for the last 15 minutes and produced some incredible driving runs and assisted on the third goal.
High School Soccer
High School soccer is right around the corner. August 13 marks the beginning of the season as high schools across the state can start tryouts and practicing. Most teams will get formed over the course of the week and by Friday, Varsity squads are set and will start a week-long practice and friendlies to prepare for the Conference season. We will be following Memorial very closely again this year while also looking to feature the other local teams, North, Regis and maybe some Altoona updates.
This will be my first year in the past 9 years that I have not had a player involved in Memorial Soccer. I must admit, it feels a bit sad. About this time of year, my excitement kicks up a notch, my nerves pick in a little. I am ready for some high school soccer. I am still feeling pretty connected to this group of players and will do my best to track all the games, provide highlights and some great insight. Memorial lost some great seniors. I still remember being up 2-1 at half of the State Semi-Finals. I will get over it, I promise. Still stings! Who will step up this year to fill the holes??
A quick reminder from last years State Semi-Finals.
Will North take another step up the Big Rivers conference ladder?
Can Regis keep their momentum and challenge for another trip to State?
Can Altoona develop a program as their join the ranks of the Independent League?
Season previews on the way this week.