Transfer Window Deadline: My Top Ten Transfers for the Barclays Premier League

As the transfer window deadline looms, here are top ten transfers that I would like to see happen.

The Flat Back Four's Top ten transfers
1. Hernanes to Liverpool
2. Eidur Gudjohnsen to West Ham
3. Rafael Van der Vaart to Manchester United
4. Yasuhito Endo to Arsenal
5. Stuart Holden to Aston Villa
6. Mohamed Aboutrika to Everton
7. Douglas Costa to Manchester United
8. Steven Defour to Liverpool
9. Ruud Van Nistelrooy to West Ham
10. Hatem Ben-Arfa to Chelsea

However, the more realistic transfer window deadline moves are,
1. Michael Turner from Hull to Sunderland
2. Ryan Shawcross from Stoke City to Manchester United
3. Tal Ben Haim from Manchester City to Portsmouth
4. James Collins from West Ham to Aston Villa (please don't take Upson away from UP!)
5. Scott Brown from Celtic to Spurs
6. Aiden McGeady from Celtic to Aston Villa
7. Johnny Heitinga from Atletico Madrid to Everton
8. David James from Portsmouth to Tottenham Hotspur
9. Niko Kranjcar from Portsmouth to Tottenham Hotspur
10. Bolo Zenden to Blackburn Rovers

Follow The Flat Back Four on Twitter as we try to catch the last minute drama on deadline day!

2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Season: Week 3 Review and Top Five Observations

Week 3 of the Barclays Premier League has just concluded. And what a week it has been, full of events, talking points and incidents. We have had pitch invasions, stabbings, world class diving and finally the all-conquering Barcelona capturing another trophy, this time the UEFA Super Cup.

So, it was good to get back to the mundaneness of Week 3 in the Barclays Premier League. Here are all the scores for last week.

Monday, August 24, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	Liverpool	1 - 3	Aston Villa

Saturday, August 29, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	Chelsea	3 - 0	Burnley
Final	Tottenham Hotspur	2 - 1	Birmingham
Final	Blackburn Rovers	0 - 0	West Ham United
Final	Bolton Wanderers	2 - 3	Liverpool
Final	Stoke City	1 - 0	Sunderland
Final	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1 - 1	Hull City
Final	Manchester United	2 - 1	Arsenal

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	Portsmouth	0 - 1	Manchester City
Final	Everton	2 - 1	Wigan Athletic
Final	Aston Villa	2 - 0	Fulham

Liverpool started the week terribly losing to Aston Villa on Monday night. What's more worrying was that all goals conceded so far have been goals from setpieces, giving the impression that Liverpool defence isn't as solid as they have been in previous seasons. The purchase of Greek defender, Sotioros Krygiakos who is touted as a no-nonsense and strong in the air will certainly help address this. His physical presence was a big help against Bolton where he was winning most of the headers ahead of Kevin Davies. Glen Johnson's impressive showing in Liverpool's colours continue with another great goal. His attacking instincts will be vital to the Reds this season. The Gerrard-Torres fulcrum is gathering speed as we speak, in the last four matches, the duo have contributed to five goals and three assists. Undoubtedly, the best duo in the Premiership right now.

West Ham could not break down a tough Blackburn defence though Carlton Cole tried his hardest to break the deadlock. His reward for another impressive display of power and pace was a call-up into the England squad together with Upson and Green. Another Hammer due a call-up is Scott Parker but I would imagine only injuries to Barry, Lampard or Gerrard will force Capello to call up Great Scott. On a more nostalgic note, it was good to see Blackburn's David Dunn back in action and looking in good form. Alessandro Diamanti steps into a very talented squad and will be expected to link play intelligently together with Luis Jiminez. All in all, four points from the first three matches means West Ham are sitting comfortably in 11th position. The lack of goals is naturally worrying but hopefully that deficiency can be addressed through the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur have a new found spirit and resolve about them this season. Perhaps it is going to be a Big 6 this term after all. A late Aaron Lennon goal maintained a 100% win record this season. The introduction of Peter Crouch troubled Birmingham, thereby underlining the strength and variablity of the Spurs attack.

Manchester City also have a 100% wins record and more prominently, they have yet to break sweat. Without knowing his best eleven, Mark Hughes have quietly moulded a strong team together. A team with plenty of Premiership experience and a team with a winning mentality.

Chelsea continues to impress, looking strong in all departments. Michael Ballack is clearly benefitting from Ancelotti's trust in him as he is finally looking like his imperious self while at Bayern Munich. Two goals from four starts proves that the swagger and self-confidence are permeating through the German's play.

The first Big 4 clash between Manchester United and Arsenal proved to be a highly entertaining match. Ferguson fielded a side intent on stifling the talented Arsenal side and they did so in whatever means possible, legal and illegal methods included. A match with loads of talking point, not least a dubious Rooney penalty. Andrey Arshavin again showing his big match temperament with a wonderful all-round game, his goal easily the goal of week 3. What this match highlight ed was the cautiousness of Fergie when approaching a Big 4 clash. Will this success mean that he will continue to load up the midfield and stop Chelsea and Liverpool from playing? Obviously United do not have the players to take the game to Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. Sir Alex Ferguson is pragmatic enough to accept that he will have to employ a spoiling tactic to get the better of these more superior teams.

Finally, these are my top five observations from last week's matches.
1. Emmanuel Adebayor has scored three goals in three matches, two of which have been match-winning goals. He is the focal point for the CitiZens right now.
2. Sir Alex Ferguson will not start Owen and Berbatov for massive games simply because he does not trust them. Besides, Berbatov do not have the stomach for Big 4-type matches as he is a bit of a pansy. Owen is far too profligate to be a first team starter.
3. Liverpool only became effective when Steven Gerrard retreated to midfield and started controlling the Bolton game from there. The winning goal was a result of Gerrard taking up a position which otherwise would be Xabi Alonso's.
4. Carlton Cole is the only West Ham threat upfront during the Blackburn match. Zola must really strengthen the attack with another signing. The capture of Alessandro Diamanti will offer a different attacking dimension to West Ham but is it enough?
5. Chelsea is the strongest of the Big 4 or Big 6 after week 3 with a dominant display against a Burnley side that has beaten Everton and Manchester United. The last time the Blues won four opening matches in a row was in the 2005/2006 season. Chelsea took the Premiership title that year so beware!

Form team of the week: Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Rubbish team of the week: Blackburn, Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic.

Next weekend is World Cup qualifiers weekend. A number of West Ham players will be involved, a testament of Zola and Steve Clarke's work with the boys. Carlton Cole, Matthew Upson and Robert Green will be with England to face Slovenia (friendly) and then Croatia in the World Cup qualifier. Jonathan Spector hopes to win his 19th and 20th US caps against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago. Welsh duo, Danny Gabbidon and James Collins will try to help Wales keep their dream of World Cup qualification alive. Another Welsh dragon, Jack Collison will be on U-21 duty. The younger Hammers, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas, Fabio Daprela and Danny Purdy will also be on international duty with their respective clubs. We wish them all an injury-free international outing.

Related Articles:
2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Week 1 Review
2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Week 2 Review

Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Who Will Win The First Big 4 Clash?

Old Trafford will witness the first Big 4 clash of the 2009/2010 Barclays Premier League season. The second plum fixure of this weekend pits Manchester United against Arsenal. Already the press is building up the historical rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

This is a testament of the great start that Arsenal have made this season. Ten goals scored against Everton and Portsmouth have made them one of the in-form team in the league. United, notoriously slow starters, may find this match has come a little bit too early for them.

Cesc Fabregas is already ruled out of this game and his absence will be missed. Nevertheless, the attacking trio of Eduardo, Robin Van Persie and Arshavin are a threat to any team. Vidic and co will have to work hard to contain the clever movement and pace of the Arsenal attack.

United's midfield have only a slight edge over the Gunners trio of Diaby, Song and Denilson. Arsenal look lightweight in midfield and that must be addressed during the transfer window. Manchester United have experience and tenacity in their midfield. Much will depend on the Denilson vs. Carrick matchup.

Former Ajax captain Thomas Vermaelen has been a fantastic influence in the Arsenal defence, making light of Kolo Toure's departure to the Manchester City. Together with Gallas, this confrontation with Rooney and Berbatov will be his hardest test so far. A good display against the United duo will prove that Arsene Wenger is the undisputed leader in talent spotting.

I expect an entertaining match between two footballing sides. United looked to have more power about them but Arsenal have the technical ability to score against any team. Hence, the expectation is that the first Big 4 match will end in a score draw.

Blackburn Rovers vs. West Ham United: Expect A Physical Battle

West Ham travel to Ewood Park this Saturday to face Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn are pointless after the first three matches and will be tough to play against at home. The Hammers received a boost this morning when Zola managed to capture the signing of talented Alessandro Diamanti.

Hopefully, Diamanti will have a part to play in the match tomorrow afternoon. West Ham should be in for a highly physical afternoon as Sam Allardyce's side will try to address the gap in passing ability by roughing up the West Ham players.

Again, Scott Parker will be an important presence, acting as a minder for the younger West Ham midfielders. His experience and robust nature should be able to curb the physical Blackburn side, thereby allowing Mark Noble, Junior Stanislas and Jack Collison (or Kieron Dyer) to get into the game.

The Rovers defence will be understrengthed as Ryan Nelsen is possibly nursing an injury. The departed Steven Warnock has left a gap on the left side of defence. Mercenary Pascal Chimbonda is not as dependable as Warnock has been for Blackburn. Carlton Cole will look to add to his first goal of the season last weekend here at Ewood. It will be another physical test for Luis Jiminez, I hope he can cope and perform to the best of his capabilities.

It should be an afternoon where West Ham can put the nightmare of four horrific incidents behind them with a victory.

West Ham Transfer Targets: Are They Coming?

After a horrific week at West Ham United, what better way than to get a boost from the transfer market. If the transfer rumours are to be believed, then there is a very high chance that three top players are coming to grace the stage that is Upton Park. Are there any credibility to these players strengthening the first team? Let's expect that Zola and Scott Duxbury are working towards closure.

These three top quality players are,
1. Eidur Gudjohnsen
2. Alessandro Diamanti
3. Marouane Chamakh

Let's look at each of them separately.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is nicknamed "The Iceman". He is possibly the best footballer that Iceland has produced. A veteran of the English Premier League with Bolton and then with Chelsea, he will be an experienced and best striking partner for Carlton Cole. He has a proven goal scoring record in the Premiership. He has been reduced to bit-part player since Pep Guardiola took over the reins and would be available on loan from Barca. Played with Zola at Chelsea and would love to return to the Premiership. A top addition to the Hammers' first team squad, if this storyline is true.
Make your own mind up by watching the video highlights of Gudjohnsen in action for Barcelona. This was compiled by namiska.



Alessandro Diamanti is a 26-year old Italian forward who had come good last season moving up from Serie C to Serie A. He scored 16 goals in Serie B last season, gaining promotion for Livorno. He has publicly pleaded with Livorno to let him go stating that "going to West Ham and the Premier League will be a dream come true". I find that a bit dramatic but there is no question that his ability and skills will surely help the Hammers. Described as a cross between Paulo Di Canio and Zola himself, he appears to be Francesco Totti-like i.e. Diamanti looks suited to play in the hole between midfield and attack. A great free kick taker and creator of goals but also someone who easily falls to ground at the slightest touch. The media suggest that it is a £5.7m signing payable over three years.
Watch video highlights of Diamanti in action for Livorno by piazzaxx and let me know what you think.



Marouane Chamakh is a French-born Moroccan international. He has 50 international caps, scoring 15 goals for Morocco. He is playing very well for French Champions, Bordeaux at the moment. Highly rated by Laurent Blanc, he has started the season well, scoring three goals in three matches. With a strike rate of 1 goal every 4 games, he does not seem prolific enough in my eyes. However, Chamakh is a super header of the ball and his dribbling skills is reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo. Looks a potentially top-class player. The Daily Telegraph rated the likelihood of him joining West Ham at 8/10 but I doubt this transfer will take place.
Video highlights of Chamakh by girondin92. Do watch the whole of the video.



Which of these three transfer targets are the more likely one or two? The media has also reported Goran Pandev and Massimo Oddo. Oddo is a player I like though aged. He could do a commendable job at rightback for sure. Whatever it is, there is no doubt that the first team is a little threadbare and will need reinforcements in the fullback and striker areas. Transfer window deadline is on Sept. 1st 5pm UK time. You can be assured that I will be looking out for the news of a West Ham signing. On a personal note, I would like to see Zola bring in Gudjohnsen on loan and sign Diamanti permanently. The more likely outcome would be only Diamanti donning the claret and blue of West Ham.

Going back to the violence at "The Battle of Upon Park", it has truly brought a terrible week to a head at West Ham. The potential career-ending stabbing of Callum Davenport, the tragic death of Jack Collison's father, the London derby loss and the pre-planned gang fight between Milwall and West Ham thugs (suspected to be from the infamous Inter City Firm) have brought a sense of solidarity and unity among the players, coaches, managers and fans.

I hope that the club can put this together and more importantly, find the thugs and prosecute them. Although these events have put football in the shade, the best way to display honour and respect is for the club to push on and have the best season that we can have. That said, although all of us football fans like a bit of intense rivalry, the FA should make an assessment on high-risk matches such as Milwall-West Ham and play them behind closed doors.

Instead of praises for the performance of Junior Stanislas and the resolve of Jack Collison, the football back pages were filled with bloody scenes and ugly confrontation. TheDA opines that no one actually remembered the scoreline due to the mayhem...well, it was a 3-1 extratime win for the Hammers.

For those who might want to know more about football hooliganism, this link explains about football firms.
There was also a 2005 movie called Green Street Hooligans, based on a story and screenplay by a reformed football hooligan, Dougie Brimson. The movie has a fair sense of realism and confirms that the gangs were not interested in football but just meaningless violence.

2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Season: Week 2 Review and Five Milestones

Week 2 of the Barclays Premier League gave us five milestones. These were:
1. Burnley beating both Manchester United AND Everton 1-0
2. Wayne Rooney scoring his 100th and 101st goals for Manchester United
3. Michael Owen notching his first goal for United and promptly kissed the badge on his shirt
4. Spurs winning their three opening matches for the first time in 49 years
5. Jermain Defoe topping the goalscorers charts after his Hull hattrick

In short, it was another busy week for football fans such as myself. Here are the week's scores including the weekend ones.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	Sunderland	1 - 3	Chelsea
Final	Wigan Athletic	0 - 1	Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	Birmingham	1 - 0	Portsmouth
Final	Hull City	1 - 5	Tottenham Hotspur
Final	Burnley	1 - 0	Manchester United
Final	Liverpool	4 - 0	Stoke City

Saturday, August 22, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	Arsenal	4 - 1	Portsmouth
Final	Birmingham	0 - 0	Stoke City
Final	Hull City	1 - 0	Bolton Wanderers
Final	Sunderland	2 - 1	Blackburn Rovers
Final	Manchester City	1 - 0	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Final	Wigan Athletic	0 - 5	Manchester United

Sunday, August 23, 2009
Status	Home	Score	Away
Final	West Ham United	1 - 2	Tottenham Hotspur
Final	Burnley	1 - 0	Everton
Final	Fulham	0 - 2	Chelsea

The Chelsea machine is rolling along with supreme efficiency and power. This experienced Chelsea team will be hard to beat. Ancelotti has somewhat got the team playing with Italian precision coupled with an English doggedness. The Anelka-Drogba partnership is flourishing under the former AC Milan coach and both looked to have formed a solid understanding. Hiddink brought them together and now Ancelotti may be benefitting from Hiddink's work.

Every time Arsenal plays, they invariably entertains. Goals can come from anywhere and this week, the goals came from the midfield. Diaby, Ramsey and Gallas scored in the 4-1 win over Portsmouth. A big game is in store this weekend with a visit to Manchester United. A win will enhance the Gunners' title aspirations and strengthen Wenger's belief that he has a title winning squad.

Liverpool finally got the show on the road by demolishing Stoke City 4-0 with Torres on the scoresheet. Eager to dust off the aberration of a poor opening loss to Spurs, Liverpool went about Stoke City with a lot of intent and achieved an early breakthrough. Happy that Torres has opened his account for the season. More is expected from Liverpool and already Xabi Alonso's departure looks to have left a gaping hole in midfield.

Manchester United overcame the shock of losing to Burnley by hammering five past Wigan. Rooney achieved a personal milestone in his United career and Owen similarly opened his account with a clinically taken goal. The midfield still remains a concern area and Ferguson will need to come up with something special if the Red Devils hope to beat an in-form Arsenal.

Spurs got lucky against a spirited West Ham, running out 2-1 winners undeservedly. Three consecutive opening wins meant that Harry Redknapp's team is being compared to the 1961 double-winning Spurs team. This Spurs team will need to do something special to even be mentioned in the same breath as my team of the 60's decade. One thing's for sure, Redknapp are getting the best out of his team right now and why not, it is his team and players that he has brought in after all.

Manchester City continues to impress which is rather depressing. Depressing because I actually wanted them to implode and then witness the first managerial casualty of the season. Well, City have a 100% record thus far, so Hughes look to be staying longer than expected. City have yet to outplay their opposition, so an unsuspecting team is due a thrashing soon. Already, Tevez is baiting Ferguson into a psychological war of words. Even Hughes have cleverly use words like "big club" to highlight the "perceived" growing stature of Man City during the pursuit of Joleon Lescott.

Finally, who are my form team at the moment?
Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs

And who are rubbish at this time?
Aston Villa, Bolton and Pompey

West Ham United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Focus On The Positives Instead of Cole's Blunder

On a sun-baked afternoon at Upton Park, West Ham United had their first real test against the high-flying Tottenham Hotspur. I stated in my previous post that for the Hammers to gain all three points, they have to stop Jermain Defoe which was exactly what they did.

I have to say that the performance merits at least a draw. Spurs looked a different side than the one that took Hull City apart. Then again, Hull does not have the quality players that West Ham have. Jermain Defoe was kept extremely quiet by Upson and Collins. Robbie Keane also had a poor game and was largely anonymous thanks to some excellent defending by West Ham's two centrebacks.

Zola's tactics seemed spot on, with Scott Parker simply outstanding. He was a giant, similar to Mascherano. The determined running and tackles he made were at times breathtaking. In truth, Defoe and Keane were starved of the ball and it was Parker who takes the credit for breaking up the Spurs' midfield play. The one time that Parker did not get across to help cover for Jonathan Spector resulted in Lennon firing home the winning goal.

Defoe equalising after a suicidal back pass from Carlton Cole - Image from Empics

Carlton Cole did really well as the lone striker up front. He conjured up a stunning goal out of nothing and at that point, West Ham really looked in control. Unfortunately, he also played a blind pass into the path of Defoe (his only real chance) who gleefully scored the undeserving equaliser. Cole fell to the ground at the end of the match, distraught at what he had gifted Tottenham. If he was at fault, then Jonathan Spector should be equally culpable for not clearing the ball, allowing Lennon to nip in and score.

On the negative side, much was expected from Mark Noble and Jack Collison. The performances from both were disappointing, the duo hardly got into the game or threaten the Spurs goal. In fairness, Jack Collison made a great run into the box, taking the ball well on the chest but could not finish the move. Mark Noble on the other hand, did nothing notable.

More worryingly though was my observation that Luis Jimenez may be too lightweight for the Premier League. His skills and abilities on the ball are great but if he is continually out muscled by Premiership defenders, West Ham will not benefit from his intelligence and creativity.

Equally worrying is the lack of depth on the team bench. 19-years old Junior Stanislas started this match in place of injured Kieron Dyer. Young Zavon Hines and newly acquired 18-year old Frank Nouble was thrown into the fray in the hope that he will find a goal to rescue a draw. The two experienced players on the bench were Radoslav Kovac and Danny Gabbidon, both of whom are not impact players. Much as I hate to see Collins leaving, the transfer money would help West Ham's season if a striker can be acquired before transfer window closes.

Still, it's great to see the boys play with skill, verve and determination. If a prolific striker is bought, I don't see any reason for us not getting into Europe next season. Millwall is our next fixture in the League Cup, this match should help West Ham get over the disappointment of this loss.

First Goal for Michael Owen as Manchester United routs Wigan 5-0

Finally in his third game in Manchester United's colours, Michael Owen has scored his first goal for the club. And it will be the first of at least 15 goals this season. After missing several gilt edged chances against Burnley and Birmingham, Nani spotted a trademark run from Owen along the line of defence, and Owen promptly obliged with a precise finish past Chris Kirkland. The gloves are now off! Watch Owen score a sackload from now on.

Owen scores first goal against Wigan - Image from Sunday Express

As far as goalscorers go, Michael Owen is up there with the best. His scoring rate of one goal in every two games is not something to laugh at and he remains a dangerous player in and around the six-yard box. The one flaw that one can point to Owen is his poor goal-to-chances conversion rate. In his previous seasons with Newcastle United, his goals to chances conversion rate was 21%, world class strikers typically have a conversion rate of 40%.

Since Ferguson clearly sees Owen as an impact substitute, he will definitely need more chances to attempt to score from. This United team unlike Newcastle, have the quality and creativity to provide Owen with the chances he needs. An even better formation for United, in my opinion, is 4-3-1-2, with Berbatov as the midfield link man. Owen and Rooney up front is a guarantee for goals and lots of it.

Against Wigan, United looked menacing upfront but were made to work very hard for their goals because of some determined defending by Wigan. However this win could not hide the Red Devils previous dependence on Cristiano Ronaldo. Without his direct penetrating runs and pace, United looked blunt down the attacking centre, causing Wigan problems through industrious wing play. Admittedly, Berbatov had a super game, with his intelligent link play and excellent distribution. If he can add goalscoring to creativity and vision, then maybe Ronaldo won't be missed as much. 15-20 goals each from Rooney, Berbatov and Owen should compensate Ronaldo's 68 goals (in two seasons).

Until then, the loss of the "winking one" will cost Manchester United this season's Premiership title.

West Ham United v. Tottenham Hotspur: Stopping Jermain Defoe is Key to Hammers Win

It's only the second match of the new season for the Hammers and already the London derby is upon us. Spurs have played superbly in their opening matches, beating Liverpool at home 2-1 and then putting on an attacking display against Hull City 5-1. A new Jermain Defoe has emerged from the summer break. A stronger and quicker Defoe is now on show and Harry Redknapp is raving about his improved performances on the pitch.

Defoe scoring the winner against West Ham at the Barclays Asia Trophy - Will he do it again?

West Ham have made a great start to the season, winning 2-0 against Wolves. However, that win has been marred by ongoing rumours of Matthew Upson leaving, Zola resigning and the board pushing Duxbury and Zola to sell West Ham's best players. It would seem that not all are rosy in the boardroom and so what better place to put things right than on the football pitch.

Jermain Defoe has firmly established himself as the first choice striker in the Spurs attack, having scored a stylish hattrick at the KC Stadium. Harry Redknapp believes that Defoe is in the best physical shape and form since he was 14 years old! His strength and pace at the start of this season are evident. This adds to Defoe's versatility as he can now be relied upon to play with his back against goal, potentially providing more assists than before. This extra dimension to Defoe's game meant that I cannot help but earmark him as the Spurs man to stop. A Hammers' win depends on it.

Cutting out the supply to Defoe has to be the solution and Scott Parker is perfect for the role of destroyer. Serving as the protective screen in front of the Hammers' defence, Parker will be counted upon for determined tackling and intelligent ball distribution.

Defending against Defoe can be difficult due to his quickness. As soon as he is on the ball, the West Ham central defenders must close him down and not give him any room to accelerate. If Danny Gabbidon is fit, his pace and excellent defensive abilities can be a perfect foil against Defoe.

The message is clear. Stop Defoe and Zola's boys will celebrate another three points. History indicates that it will be a tight match but I still think there will be lots of passion and determination in this game. It will surely be exciting.

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)

11 April 2009 - Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 West Ham United
8 December 2008 - West Ham United 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
9 March 2008 - Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 West Ham United
25 November 2007 - West Ham United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
4 March 2008 2007 - West Ham United 3-4 Tottenham Hotspur
22 October 2006 - Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 West Ham United

Overall record v Tottenham Hotspur (all competitions) W 43 D 34 L 55

Wolves 0-2 West Ham: The Minute-by-Minute Match Commentary

As I had said, I wanted to provide the blow-by-blow account of the Hammers' first Premiership match of the season. It took me a while to locate the right post for this but here it is.

Teams:

Wolverhampton: Hennessey, Foley (Vokes 75), Mancienne (Stearman 66), Craddock, Stephen Ward, Halford, Henry, Milijas (Edwards 80), Jarvis, Keogh, Ebanks-Blake.

Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Elokobi, Surman, David Jones.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Collins, Upson, Ilunga (Spector 65), Noble, Parker, Collison, Dyer (Stanislas 73), Cole (Nouble 90), Jimenez.

Subs Not Used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Payne, Hines.

Goals: Noble 22, Upson 69.

Att: 28,674

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Minute-by-Minute Match Commentary

90	The referee blows for full time.
90	Foul by Scott Parker (West Ham) on Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton) from left wing, resulting in open play. West Ham substitution: Carlton Cole replaced by Frank Nouble (injury).
90	Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton) to centre, resulting in open play.
90	Corner from right by-line taken short right-footed by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton). Cross by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton), resulting in open play.
89	Foul by Julien Faubert (West Ham) on Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) from left wing, header by Richard Stearman (Wolverhampton) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards), save (parried) by Robert Green (West Ham).
88	Defending throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
86	Attacking throw-in by Jack Collison (West Ham).
85	Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
84	Defending throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
83	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
83	Shot by Carlton Cole (West Ham) right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), missed left.
82	Carlton Cole (West Ham) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
82	Shot by Luis Jimenez (West Ham) right-footed from left channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
81	Luis Jimenez (West Ham) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
80	Wolverhampton substitution: Nenad Milijas replaced by David Edwards (tactical).
80	Cross by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton), resulting in open play.
79	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
79	Attacking throw-in by Jonathan Spector (West Ham).
78	Attacking throw-in by Junior Stanislas (West Ham).
77	Attacking throw-in by Jonathan Spector (West Ham).
76	Attacking throw-in by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton).
76	Cross by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton), shot by Sam Vokes (Wolverhampton) left-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
75	Carlton Cole (West Ham) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
75	Wolverhampton substitution: Kevin Foley replaced by Sam Vokes (tactical).
74	Foul by Julien Faubert (West Ham) on Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
74	Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
73	Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
73	West Ham substitution: Kieron Dyer replaced by Junior Stanislas (tactical).
72	Carlton Cole (West Ham) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, passed.
72	Shot by Mark Noble (West Ham) right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), blocked by Richard Stearman (Wolverhampton).
71	Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
71	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
68	Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) to centre, headed goal by Matthew Upson (West Ham) (bottom-left of goal) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards).Wolverhampton 0-2 West Ham. Assist (cross) by Mark Noble (West Ham) from left by-line.
67	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
66	Wolverhampton substitution: Michael Mancienne replaced by Richard Stearman (tactical).
66	Shot by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), over the bar.
63	Foul by Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton) on Herita Ilunga (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play. West Ham substitution: Herita Ilunga replaced by Jonathan Spector (injury).
62	Cross by Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton), clearance by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
62	Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton) right-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
61	Shot by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), save (blocked) by Robert Green (West Ham).
61	Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
60	Foul by Karl Henry (Wolverhampton) on Kieron Dyer (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
60	Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) to near post, clearance by Jack Collison (West Ham).
59	Shot by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), blocked by Scott Parker (West Ham).
58	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
56	Defending throw-in by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton).
56	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
56	Shot by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), over the bar.
55	Cross by Kieron Dyer (West Ham), clearance by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton).
54	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
53	Attacking throw-in by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
53	Shot by Jack Collison (West Ham) left-footed from left side of penalty area (6 yards), blocked by Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton).
50	Attacking throw-in by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton).
50	Shot by Karl Henry (Wolverhampton) right-footed from right channel (30 yards), blocked by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
50	Attacking throw-in by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton).
49	Defending throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
49	Foul by Mark Noble (West Ham) on Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
48	Defending throw-in by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
47	Shot by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), save (parried) by Robert Green (West Ham).
46	Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) to centre, header by Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton) from right side of six-yard box (6 yards), resulting in open play.
46	Shot by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) left-footed from right channel (20 yards), save (tipped over) by Robert Green (West Ham).
45	The second half kicks off.
45	The referee blows for half time.
45	Foul by Michael Mancienne (Wolverhampton) on Scott Parker (West Ham). Free kick crossed right-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) from right wing, clearance by Karl Henry (Wolverhampton).
45	Goal kick taken short by Robert Green (West Ham).
45	Shot by Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), missed right.
45	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
44	Defending throw-in by Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton).
43	Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) to near post, save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
43	Foul by Carlton Cole (West Ham) on Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton) from own half, passed.
42	Foul by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton) on Scott Parker (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Julien Faubert (West Ham) from own half, passed.
42	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
42	Attacking throw-in by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton).
41	Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) to centre, resulting in open play.
41	Shot by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left channel (20 yards), save (tipped round post) by Robert Green (West Ham).
40	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
40	Shot by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) right-footed from right channel (35+ yards), over the bar.
39	Kieron Dyer (West Ham) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
36	Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) to centre, save (caught) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
35	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
35	Defending throw-in by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
31	Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Luis Jimenez (West Ham) to centre, resulting in open play.
31	Shot by Herita Ilunga (West Ham) right-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), save (tipped round post) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton). Shot by Herita Ilunga (West Ham) left-footed from centre of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Kieron Dyer (West Ham). Shot by Kieron Dyer (West Ham) left-footed from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), save (blocked) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
31	Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) to centre, resulting in open play.
30	Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) to centre, header by Herita Ilunga (West Ham) from right side of penalty area (18 yards), save (tipped over) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
30	Shot by Kieron Dyer (West Ham) right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), blocked by Michael Mancienne (Wolverhampton).
30	Shot by Carlton Cole (West Ham) right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
29	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
29	Shot by Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton) left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), over the bar.
28	Shot by Carlton Cole (West Ham) right-footed from left channel (35+ yards), save (caught) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
26	Foul by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton) on Scott Parker (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Matthew Upson (West Ham) from own half, passed.
25	Outswinging corner from left by-line taken left-footed by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) to near post, resulting in open play.
24	Kieron Dyer (West Ham) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Jody Craddock (Wolverhampton) from own half, passed.
22	Goal by Mark Noble (West Ham) right-footed (top-left of goal) from right channel (20 yards).Wolverhampton 0-1 West Ham. Assist (pass) by Carlton Cole (West Ham) from right channel.
22	Attacking throw-in by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
21	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
21	Shot by Kieron Dyer (West Ham) right-footed from left channel (20 yards), over the bar.
20	Defending throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
19	Shot by Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton) right-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), blocked by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
19	Attacking throw-in by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton).
18	Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, passed.
18	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
17	Shot by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton) left-footed from right channel (20 yards), over the bar.
16	Cross by Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton), save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
15	Defending throw-in by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton).
14	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
14	Cross by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton), header by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), over the bar.
12	Handball by Carlton Cole (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton) from own half, resulting in open play.
12	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
11	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
11	Shot by Mark Noble (West Ham) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), missed left.
10	Cross by Matthew Jarvis (Wolverhampton), save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
10	Shot by Andrew Keogh (Wolverhampton) right-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), blocked by James Collins (West Ham).
9	Defending throw-in by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton).
8	Foul by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton) on Julien Faubert (West Ham). Free kick crossed right-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) from right wing, resulting in open play.
8	Foul by Karl Henry (Wolverhampton) on Kieron Dyer (West Ham). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Matthew Upson (West Ham) from own half, passed.
7	Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
7	Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton) to far post, resulting in open play.
6	Defending throw-in by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
6	Goal kick taken long by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
5	Cross by Julien Faubert (West Ham), resulting in open play.
5	Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Luis Jimenez (West Ham) to near post, resulting in open play.
4	Cross by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton), save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
4	Attacking throw-in by Kevin Foley (Wolverhampton).
3	Foul by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton) on Herita Ilunga (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
2	Shot by Jack Collison (West Ham) right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), save (caught) by Wayne Hennessey (Wolverhampton).
2	Cross by Julien Faubert (West Ham), resulting in open play.
2	Attacking throw-in by Herita Ilunga (West Ham).
2	Foul by Stephen Ward (Wolverhampton) on Scott Parker (West Ham). Direct free kick taken right-footed by James Collins (West Ham) from own half, passed.
1	Attacking throw-in by Greg Halford (Wolverhampton

In essence, Zola's men had a great opening match. The manager put out a very mobile 4-5-1 which quickly turned into an attacking 4-3-3 when West Ham had the ball. Though it was only Wolves, it still would do no harm to the boys to at least get three points under their belt and at the same time, play some very attractive, penetrative football.

Now, Spurs who are in very good form will prove a more quality opposition. I expect West Ham to be fully fired up for this.

2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Season: Week 1 Review

The 2009/2010 Barclays Premier League started with a bang this weekend. The first round of matches saw six out of ten matches settled by away wins. Furthermore, there are no draws on the opening weekend which could imply that managers are focused on getting all three points. Here are the weekend scores.

Home	Score	Away
Chelsea	2 - 1	Hull City
Portsmouth	0 - 1	Fulham
Wolves	0 - 2	West Ham United
Blackburn	0 - 2	Manchester City
Bolton	0 - 1	Sunderland
Aston Villa	0 - 2	Wigan Athletic
Stoke City	2 - 0	Burnley
Everton	1 - 6	Arsenal

Home	Score	Away
Manchester United	1 - 0	Birmingham
Tottenham Hotspur	2 - 1	Liverpool

Darren Bent "twitter"ed his way to Sunderland and promptly repaid Steve Bruce's faith by heading home the winner against Bolton. Roberto Martinez showed why he is Premier League management material by fielding an enterprising Wigan side.

Ambitious Manchester City had pressure right from kick-off to perform and they did. Emmanuel Adebayor started a City attacking move and scored at the end of a precise counter attacking move three minutes into the first half. Blackburn were at their combative best but could not beat Shay Given in goal. Blackburn became complacent in defence which allowed Stephen Ireland to score City's second goal. At least City looked a lot fitter and had a bit more understanding than in their preseason friendlies.

Chelsea reverted to their "Mourinho era" gritty self. They kept going at Hull City and finally found the breakthrough. Chelsea seemed to be one of those clubs who thrive solely on pressure and negative press publicity. The resilience and self-belief that Hiddink had brought back to Chelsea, Ancelotti reinforced. The Blues kept going when Hull faded and Drogba finally scored a lucky winner. It will take some more matches to fully understand how the midfield diamond formation will work out but Chelsea still remain my favourite for the title.

Manchester United resumed Premiership action without the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo. Since the opposition was Birmingham, it was hard to decide if the Red Devils missed the directness of Ronaldo. Needless to say, Wayne Rooney took over scoring duties and came close a few times. He even had the presence of mind to chest a ball through to the substitute Owen who wasted a one-on-one chance. Berbatov looked too balletic and non-fussed to be playing in United colours. The United midfield is definitely missing a creative influence when Carrick does not play. Ben Foster acquitted himself well but Joe Hart definitely has a future hold as the England goalkeeper in-waiting.

Most football fans would pick Arsenal to be the most vulnerable to the money-filled ambitions of Manchester City. I almost forgot the feeling of euphoria watching an opening day match where six or more goals were scored. Arsenal with their Barca-esque football brought back some joy and fantasy back to the Premiership. It was great to see Eduardo scoring. I am sure Everton will not be as generous for the rest of the season. Whether or not, key players can stay injury-free will determine Arsenal's season.

Enjoy highlights of Arsenal's third goal which is my pick for the best goal of the week, simply because I have never seen a move which involves "nutmegging" the opposing players three times before the ball ends up in the back of the net. Amazing stuff!

Liverpool on the other hand, endured a tough afternoon against a well-organized Spurs team. Jamie Carragher seemed to be overly fired up for this match, head-butting poor Martin Skrtel and then not covering Spurs' new defender, Sebastien Bassong as Liverpool lost their first opening match in two years.

Jamie nuts Skrtel - Image from Associated Press

At times, Liverpool laboured and toiled but did not have enough creativity to win the match. With the loss of Alonso, Rafa may have to rethink and probably break up the much feared Gerrard-Torres partnership. The dynamism and drive that Gerrard displays (until Aquilani is fit again) will help the Liverpool midfield but surely put a lot of pressure on Torres upfront. Question is, who plays with or behind Torres as the second striker? An inept performance from Liverpool, but a positive note is that Liverpool's performance is bound for improvement.

Lastly, West Ham scored an away win against newcomers Wolves. England U-21 captain, Mark Noble opened the scoring with a breathtaking long range shot. The five-man Irons midfield played fabulously and James Collision goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by the Wolves defender. The runs into the box by the West Ham midfield players were causing lots of concern to Mick McCarthy's men. There were other standout performances, most notably from three other England internationals, Carlton Cole, Matthew Upson and Robert Green. The London derby match against Spurs is next and West Ham will be in good nick for that as well. Redknapp's return to Upton Park is surely a match worth watching.

Next up, the mid-week matches kicks off with these top matches. Home teams are depicted in bold.

Burnley	v	Manchester United
Liverpool	v	Stoke City
Sunderland	v	Chelsea

Arsenal will play Celtic in a Champions League playoff and thus their Premiership match is postponed. West Ham's match against Aston Villa is also postponed as Villa will be involved in Europa League commitments.

Find out in more detail West Ham's performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers in my next post.

West Ham United: A Look At The 2009/2010 Premier League Season

West Ham kick off their 2009/10 Premiership season with an away tie against promoted side Wolverhampton Wanderers. There is no reason why the Hammers cannot open the campaign with a resounding victory.

It should be fair to say that the major concern for West Ham is the lack of depth upfront. Apart from Carlton Cole, no other West Ham player had scored above five goals last season. The club recently issued a statement saying that they will endeavour to ensure that a striker is brought in before transfer deadline. Signing a striker is a priority. Let's hope that Zola and the club management are able to make good on that promise. Despite being linked with a number of players, that striker or two have yet to show up at Boleyn Ground.

Luis Jimenez, on loan from Inter Milan, therefore remains the most significant signing of the season. During pre-season, "Jimmy" as he is known, has shown that he is a neat little player. A tricky player who takes defenders on, displaying flicks, little cute passes and smart interchanges mean that his talent and style of play is in keeping with the West Ham tradition. He will very important to the Hammers this coming season.

West Ham's strongest department is the midfield. Scott Parker is undeniably the engine of the Hammers' midfield. He is the ideal person to take over as captain of this side and forcibly drive the team forward towards positive results. A preferred midfield quartet of Parker, Mark Noble, Luis Jiminez and Jack Collision looks a strong balance of industry and creativity. There is significant strength in midfield for West Ham and Zola may opt to play with five midfielders across the park.

Defensively, the return of Welsh international, Danny Gabbidon will be a boost to Zola and Steve Clarke. The emergence of young James Tomkins as a reliable Premiership defender meant that the imminent departure of Lucas Neill, the Aussie mercenary will not be felt at all. It is nevertheless important for the Hammers to hang on to Matthew Upson who was one of the most consistent performers of last season.

The wait for the perpetually injured Dean Ashton has been painful and meaningless. He is a great player but if Stoke City wants him, then Zola should do business. Zola and Clarke still believes in Savio Nsereko, who is still only 20. Zola must get this youngster to start believing and performing.

After a great first season, the management team of Zola and Clarke will be put to more tests in this second season. Getting more out of Collision, Stanislas, Tomkins and Noble will prove to interested parties that he is indeed a Premiership manager.

This is the full First Team lineup for this season's campaign.

Player Profiles (as seen at West Ham United FC Official Website) 1 Robert Green Goalkeeper 4 Daniel Gabbidon Defender 7 Kieron Dyer Midfielder 8 Scott Parker Midfielder 9 Dean Ashton Striker 10 Savio Nsereko Striker 12 Carlton Cole Striker 13 Luis Boa Morte Midfielder 15 Matthew Upson Defender 16 Mark Noble Midfielder 17 Luis Jimenez Midfielder 18 Jonathan Spector Defender 19 James Collins Defender 20 Julien Faubert Midfielder 21 Valon Behrami Midfielder 23 Herita Ilunga Defender 26 Nigel Quashie Midfielder 27 Calum Davenport Defender 28 Peter Kurucz Goalkeeper 30 James Tomkins Defender 31 Jack Collison Midfielder 33 Fabio Daprela Defender 35 Josh Payne Midfielder 41 Zavon Hines Striker 44 Bondz N'Gala Defender 45 Jordan Spence Defender 46 Junior Stanislas Midfielder Marek Stech Goalkeeper

Onwards then to the Molineux Stadium for the first match of the Hammers' 2009/10 Premier League season.

2009/2010 Barclays Premier League Season: Five Must See's

And it starts this weekend! The 2009/10 Barclays English Premier League season is going to be an incredible one. Why do I say that? There are two reasons for this. One, if either Manchester United or Liverpool wins it, then that club will surge ahead as the leader in the titles won category. Second, if Manchester United wins it, then they will be the first club to have won the league title four times in a row.

Previewing the 2009/10 season, the Big 4 (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United) should continue to occupy the top four places in the league table.

Manchester United won the Premiership last season by dominating the smaller clubs. United registered an 84% wins statistic against teams outside the Big 4. More significantly, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 17 of his 18 league goals against these clubs. United will have to look to Rooney, Berbatov or Owen to shoulder this loss of output and maintain this phenomenal dominance. For United to retain the title, they cannot afford to slip up against the clubs outside the top 4.

Losing Alonso, their best player last season, may have killed off Liverpool's chances of title no. 19. Signing the oft-injured but talented Alberto Aquilani is a gamble at best. So, like the last two seasons, Liverpool will rely heavily on the Gerrard-Torres partnership. Even in an injury-hit season as last season, the G-T tandem garnered 19 goals and five assists in 14 matches together, winning 100% of those games that they started together. That shows the effectiveness and potency of the best strike partnership in the Premiership. The fitness and physical conditioning of both players will be vital if Liverpool want to wrest back the Premiership from the champions.

Sadly though, my own opinion is that neither will capture the crown come May 2010 but instead Chelsea looks to be well-suited to be the pacesetters and eventually clinch the title. Much will depend on the Chelsea players settling into the diamond formation favoured by Carlo Ancelotti. Frank Lampard should have a great season playing in the "Kaka" role for Chelsea.

Being the season before the 2010 World Cup, there are plenty to play for...national team selection are up for grabs and the players know this is the ideal time to state a strong case for inclusion.

These are my five Must See's for the 2009/2010 Barclays English Premier League.
1. Manchester United's Michael Owen scoring goals eventually winning a place in the England World Cup team.
2. Liverpool's Alberto Aquilani playing on the pitch and staying injury-free.
3. West Ham United breaking into the top six and making it into the Europa League.
4. Manchester City's Mark Hughes sacked.
5. Arsenal's team of very talented kids winning the FA Cup.

Do you have a list of Must See's? What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know in the Comments section.

Though I will doubtlessly cover the travails of the Big 4 clubs, my special focus this season is on the trials and exploits of West Ham United and Gianfranco Zola's second season in club management. If you would like to read about West Ham for the coming season, then you may subscribe to The Flat Back Four RSS feed.

Find out more about the analysis behind the Gerrard-Torres partnership here.
Read the statistics on Manchester United and their dominance over the teams outside the Big 4.
A recap of the previous 2008/09 season can be found here.