| « Ghana At Brisbane 1982 CommonWealth Games | Much Ado About Foreign Coaches » |
Chelsea Means Business
My prediction before the start of the English Premier league was that it was going to be the same old story with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, remaining the favourites, but little did I foresee that Chelsea would set such a cracking pace. Their average goal tally of five per match is simply fantastic. There is no doubt that Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have a tough task on their hands to match this marvelous take off by the Blues.
It is not difficult to fathom that Chelsea want to avoid the near trauma they went through last season when United gave them that hectic chase to the very final day of the league when they won by one point. The Blues’ historic double has incensed them to fight for more and you sense that they are bent on matching United’s enviable treble achieved in 1999.
My gut feeling is that it’s not going to be that easy if you consider the way United are fast gathering momentum and especially the rejuvenated scoring prowess of Ferguson’s trusted striker Dimitar Berbatov. It has taken the extremely stylish Bulgarian goal poacher such a long time to hit the top. He has been disappointingly missing chances with careless abandon at such an alarming rate that had it been my part of the world, the conclusion would be that his colleagues had cast a spell on him.
Berbatov’s first hat-trick since 2007 and the first by a United player against Liverpool in 64 years in United’s 3-2win over their traditional rivals has given a boost to Ferguson’s long held belief that the Bulgarian is a gifted goal poacher. I share the same belief but the Bulgarian would have to shorn some of his exaggerated antics since no additional points are awarded for goals scored stylishly.
As a United fan, I am pleased about his form especially at a time when his partner Valencia is down with injury. I hate to say this but I still hold the view that Arsenal will continue to entertain but the actual race for the title could still be between the Reds and the Blues.
We are likely to have the situation in my country Ghana where the new look Kessben with new management have set a cracking pace in the Premiership winning their first three games. You could be flattered by the fact that Kessben’s victims include the two giants of Ghana football; Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak. But most analysts are impressed by the methodical play of the two giants in their subsequent matches and tip them to be fighting for the title at the finishing tape.
There have been concerns about poor patronage of the Ghana league blaming it on the undue attention given to the English league. Happily however, the crowds are back in the stadium due to the relatively improved quality of game. This is good for the sport and it is hoped the Premier League Board will learn from the English masters and run the competition on true professional lines, interpreting rules and regulations to the letter so that we could end the season at least two weeks after the English season. They are already five matches ahead as against Ghana three.
If prompt action is taken on match reports and appropriate sanctions made, discipline would prevail and we could have quite an interesting competition comparable to the ones we see on international TV networks.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.