Premier League:
The easiest place to start our tour is by taking a look at who is hot in the EPL. Manchester United are a perfect 5 - 0 and have already banged in an astounding 21 goals. Wayne Rooney is off to a blistering pace with a pair of hat-tricks and a total of 9 league goals. Rooney has also helped England to two straight victories in Euro Cup Qualifying by knocking in 2 more goals. Ashley Young has been another huge contributor for United with 2 goals and a league leading 5 assists.
United's noisy neighbors, Manchester City, currently sit in second place in the league table. The transfer of the summer, Sergio Aguero is challenging Rooney for the Golden Boot with 8 goals. The heartbeat of City's play is the dynamic tandem of David Silva (3 Assists) and Samir Nasri (4 assists).
Arsenal are by far and away the biggest disappointment of the new EPL campaign. 5 matches and only 4 points to show. Arsene Wegner's team is only 1 point above the drop. Injuries, suspensions and Arsene Wegner's jaw dropping transfer policy (spend some f**king money) have all contributed to the Gunners pitiful start. Things don't get any easier either. Jack Wilshere is out until November and from 9/20 to 10/02 Arsenal have 4 fixtures including a Champions League match with Olympiakos and trip to White Heart Lane. Good luck with that you "Gooners"
A few Individuals stinking up the EPL ... Number one with a Bullet is the $75 million turd Fernando Torres. Have a look at El Stinko in action:
A few others who are not quite up to their normal standards... Frank Lampard. This guy can barely get off the bench for Chelsea these days. When Fernando Torres told the Spanish media that his teammates were old and slow he was surely was talking about Mr. Lampard.
Jaime Carragher. I do believe the Ghost of Bill Shankly is going to visit me in my dreams tonight and kick me in junk for writing this, but Mr. Liverpool seems to have lost it. Carragher's blunder lead to Bolton's only goal in Liverpool's 3 - 1 victory. Carragher took down Jonathan Walters inside the penalty area (Walters converted) in The Pools loss to Stoke. Carragher was again called for a penalty today in Liverpools 2 - 1 Carling Cup win over Brighton. Pace has never been Carragher's strength but he appears to be running around in cement boots
La Liga:
Before this season started all the pundits, bloggers and footy junkies were saying that this is a two team league. Meaning Barca and Madrid would be fighting it out for the title. But here we are 4 games into the Spanish season and the boys with the bats on their shirts are in first place. Valencia has started the season with victories over Santander, Gijon and Athletico Madrid. Their biggest match of the young year was played today at home against Barca. Valencia held Europe's reigning champions to a 2 - 2 draw. Valencia has been powered to the top of the table by Roberto Soldado's league leading 5 goals. Can you hear that knock Fernando Torres? That's Soldado coming to take your place on the Spanish national team. Trust me
As hot as Valencia are, the same can not be said for Real Madrid and Barcelona. Barca already has 2 league draws and they drew against AC Milan in the Camp Nou! What?!?! Real Madrid have already drawn a league game and have been beaten by Levante!!! The Royal White's and The Blaugrana better wake up and stop taking these clubs for granted.
Bundesliga:
Ah yes...Germany. Home to fanatical fans, high tech stadiums and 1000 Derbies. Bayern Munich are off to a flying 5 - 0 - 1 start. Mario Gomez has knocked in 8 goals. They have already beaten some of Germany's best clubs in Schalke, Wolfsburg and Hamburg. Munich also started out their Champions League campaign in fine fashion with a comfortable win over Villareal.
Borussia Monchengladbach had a dreadful 2010-2011 season. They finished in 16th place and just missed the drop! So how did they start the new campaign? By giving FC Bayern their only loss of the season in the Allianz Arena! M'gladbach are currently third in the Bundesliga table. M'gladbach are one of the most successful clubs in German history and it's good to see them starting the season so well.
Not starting well is my favorite German club, Hamburg SV. The Red Shorts have played 6 league matches and only have one f'ing point! ONE F'ING POINT!!! Coach Michael Oenning has already been sacked. Just a few seasons ago, Hamburg was a side overflowing with internationals and stars. Now I look at their lineup and I see nothing. At least there is no where to go but up.
Another Bundesliga team that is off to a stuttering start is current title holders Borussia Dortmund. They have started the season 2 - 1 - 3 and they are already 8 points behind FC Bayern. Perhaps playing in Europe has coach Jurgen Klopp's men rattled? Btw... have I mentioned Jurgen Klopp before in this blog? Well let me tell you about this guy. Jurgen Klopp rocks! He is as enthusiastic and as animated as any coach in Europe. He is all fire all the time. When his team scores I always expect him to run into the stand and join the supporters in some flag waving. I will say Klopp let me down a bit in Dortmund's UCL fixture with Arsenal. He was wearing a suit! In league games you rarely see him without a sweet Dortmund Hoody. He dresses like a common supporter! I love it. Turn it around Dortmund or you'll have to deal with this:
And finally... The Serie A
Only three games into the season and guess what? Inter have already sacked their coach Gian Gasperini. Nice knowing you dude, but you can't lose a Champions League match to the second best team in Turkey then start your league campaign going 0 - 1 - 2. Italy is a weak league so they might be able to claw their way up the table but right now things look bleak.
AC Milan is not fairing much better at the moment. They have started the season 0 - 2 - 1. Inter and Milan have combined to win the last 7 Scudetto (league) trophies. It will be nice if another team can reach the top of Serie A. Perhaps....
Juventus. Juventus has added some real quality to their team with new boys Andrea Pirlo, Eljero Elia and Arturo Vidal. GiGi Buffon is healthy for the first time since Italy won the World Cup back in 2006. At least it seems like it. And Juve have a brand new state of the art stadium in Turin. Aptly named 'Juventus Stadium'. How clever
Thanks for your time today or night or whenever. Let me know if there is something I missed by leaving a comment.
YNWA,
Scouser in St. Louis
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