So, Wayne Rooney is the new signing for the BBC on "Match of the Day," Jason Cundy is still comedy gold on Talksport's "Sports Bar" winding up Jamie O'Hara and, it would seem that everyone, including my new Turkish Barber knows that Man Utd, who nearly went bust (if you believe Uncle Jim, I don't!), somehow found a money tree with 200 million quid on it's leaves to buy strikers, have got to hit the ground running despite a brutal opening sequence of league fixtures. Even our family dog has started doing step-overs with his toys; Football is back! But, with Chelsea winning the Club World Cup alongside a photo bombing Donald Trump, the Women's Euros featuring our brilliantly resilient triumphant Lionesses inspiring me to consume vast quantities of whiskey, due to the stress of it all...did it really EVER go away?!
Alexander Isak is the current villain of the piece with his desperate attempts to force a move to Liverpool. For the record, having won the Caraboa Cup and earned a place at the elite top table of Champions League football, the opportunity to cement his status as a legendary number 9 in the hearts and minds of the passionate Geordie public is a unique opportunity and privilege that money could never buy. St James' Park for me is an intense but amazing football cathedral patronised by an entire city that truly worhips their heroes. His current behaviour has truly upset an entire Geordie nation, disrupted the rhythm of the team and his presence at Villa Park would have completed and guaranteed a victory for Newcastle this weekend. But, football works to it's own inexplicable compelling narrative. Let's see whether £150 million actually lands on the table, or he returns forlornly to Newcastle United like a naughty schoolboy with a note of apology; written by his mum!
The death of the Jota brothers, Dioga and Andre Silva, was desperately sad. It was heart-warming to see the immediate response of both their respective football clubs, and the wider world. The tributes this weekend have been resolute, respectful and on point. Whoever and whatever you are, life is precious and for those left behind the pain is brutal. I send best wishes to their family and friends.
And so to the action itself after all the personnel changes and transfer specualation that we are all still debating. Of the new boys, with Leeds yet to play, I was excited by the energy of Sunderland in their victory at home to West Ham, a team many are predicting to struggle this season, I saw very little to change that opinion. Wolves and Brentford are other teams who showed a soft underbelly this weekend. Both those teams have lost that elite polish, in the form of key components that have kept them comfortably in the Premiership. I did not feel the same about Bournemouth despite losing at Liverpool, they had real potency and scored twice at Anfield, they will once again embarrass many good teams and remain safely in the league.
Who will win the title this season? Man City looked ruthless against Wolves and more significantly had that look of title winners. Everyone knows about Liverpool, so I will not waste words explaining their title winning abilities but on the evidence at Old Trafford, Arsenal at last feel like champions in waiting. Despite not producing great fluency and attacking brilliance, they did all the necessary things to quell the energy and noise of a packed Old Trafford without fanfare. Viktor Gyokeres was not outstanding, but the feeling is that once he finds his range, he will score those critical position defining goals. Chelsea are also in the conversation for the top 4 but compared to the other three, are not title ready. With Thomas Frank at the wheel, and an impressive performance to scare Paris Saint Germain last week, keep your eyes on Spurs. My outside tip though is Newcastle United, with or without Isak, they will have another great season if they can manage the Champions League fixtures because Eddie Howe is a brilliant leader. But, my head says it will be Arsenal, for me they have everything in place to turn draws into wins and get the job done; like the result against Man Utd today.
What about Manchester United? Ruben Amorim, as I stated in my intro, has been granted funds to get his wish to have a pre-season and work with a playing squad of his liking. Having visited the city last weekend and spent time at the Theatre of Dreams, in real-time, for the first time since 2013, which was the final season of a Fergie era, signing off with a Premier Lerague title. As I observed the significant numbers emerging from the club shop armed with souvenirs, I came to the conclusion that the team playing on the pitch are not at the level of the brand perception. The aura of the stadium shouts champions and champions league but the team I watched did not look like an upgrade on last season. Of course there was a lot of energy, desire and enthusiasm; it felt like the first day in front of the new teacher, everyone behaving properly and then Arsenal scored a soft goal...and the game was lost. Where the players meet, eat, sing Karaoke or trim their beards at the newly refurbished training ground's new barbershop is meaningless drivel! Their next three matches before the international break are away at Fulham and Grimsby (in the League Cup) and at home to new boys Burnley; failure to win all those games will encourage deafening noise everywhere for Amorim. After the break, they visit Man City and then entertain Chelsea, it's a brutal run of games. They play Brentford on Saturday 27th September, Harvest Festival weekend. I joked last week on my social media post that the manager could be sacked by that weekend but luckily for Amorim, Sir Jim and the silent publicity-shy Glazers are prepared to hold their breath for him, simply because they have sacked too many managers. The lack of those intense European fixtures will be the tonic that allows a misfiring team to find their rhythm, particularly after Christmas, and rise up the table
Roy Keane is already growling at everyone in the Super Sunday Sky Sports TV studio like a caged guard dog! My Sunday evening drives once again feature Alan Pardew and Majestic, Monday Night Football is a permanent in the diary and anyone trying to book me during June 2026 has no chance until I know the World Cup fixtures. The neighbours will tell you I've been shouting at the kids all summer and now that the action has resumed, all their requests have been granted regardless of the price!!! Whoever you support, enjoy the ride...some of it will be downright unpleasant but the gresat stuff will be magical. Enjoy!!!
