Who messed up in their opening match?
1. Manchester United
We are sure Fraizer Campbell will become a very good player in his own right, but he is not ready to lead the line for the champions of Europe. Man Yoo did not look comfortable against Newcastle, and you don’t want to be relying on Darren Fletcher to score your goals all season.
2. Dimitar Berbatov
Symptoms: moody face, thinks every pass should go to him, throws arms out in a flamboyant gesture of disgust, standing still in the oppostion half moaning at your team-mates.
Diagnosis: Thierry Henry-itis.
3. Stoke City
Learned the hard way that in the Premier League, even the bullies are bigger than in the Championship.
4. Valeri Bojinov
I had high hopes for Manchester City’s Bulgarian striker. He looked sharp after a year out and was duly drafted into my fantasy football team. What does he go and do? Snap his achilles in the warm-up.
5. Portsmouth
Spanked, albeit by an excellent-looking Chelsea side. Harry Redknapp gave a very frank assessment of his side’s need for new signings with a bit of pace. Jermain ‘Snail’ Defoe’s legs must have gone.
6. Tottenham’s new signings
There was nothing special on offer from Modric, Bentley and co. In fact, Spurs looked distinctly average and lacked balance.