Happy 50th Anniversary MOTD

I'm from a generation where watching football is free. I can watch it when ever and where ever I want to. But this wasn't the case 50 years ago where there was hardly any football coverage. But with great persuation from broadcasting legend Sir David Attenbourough the BBC aired thier first MOTD show 22nd of August 1964. The beautifal game hasn't been the same since.

From Jimmy Hill to Des Lynam to the current great Gary Linekar whose made the she show into his own and made it become not only a TV show that will be a treasure in the British culture but a British institution hence why it's one of the BBC's longest running shows for a reason. We may live in the digital age where the internet, Sky Sports and new imposing sports gaints BT Sport are dominating British football coverage. BUT let's not forget it's MOTD that paved the way for them all. Saturday nights are just not the same with out it.

MOTD is part of many football fans lives it's the heartbeat to the footballing culture and it's show that will be here for years who can forget when Alan Hansen said "You cant win anything with kids" Then Man Utd won the league. Who can forget when Man City won the league with last kick of the game in 2012? We can't that's all thanks to the culture that is Match Of The Day, to another 50 years.

The Usual Suspects

Alan Shearer said the other night that the Premier League is divided into two divisions the top 7 and the other 13 teams that will fight not to be relegated. Well he's wrong the league is split into 3 categories there's the bottom 13 that will fight to stay in the league or stay in mid table the dark horses who will have a say in the title race and will push for a Champions League spot which are Everton and Tottenham who have formidable squads who will be a problem on their respective days. And we cant forget the top 5 who spend big and are always in a shout to lift the trophy come next May. Here is my assessment on the usual suspects for the up and coming season.

Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has probably had the most successful transfer window of his whole Arsenal tenure by bringing in young gem Callum Chambers whose had a promising start and World Cup heroes Alexis Sanchez & David Ospina who will add good cover in the goal keeping department. Alexis is a great player who will boast a high chance of Arsenal winning the league with his pace and goal threat. Arsenal will go into this season with optimism and will be a team feared with their attacking options this season. 

Why they can't/won't the league this season?
Arsenal are lacking a world class goal scorer upfront that will win them tight games and a striker with a goal threat. Joel Cambell may have had a good World Cup, Sanogo may have looked the part in pre season and Giroud looking the part at times in the last two years.But all 3 are no Luis Suarez. There is still questions whether Giroud can be consistent and be the main man that leads the Gunners to their first league in 10 years. Not to mention their poor form against the big teams, if Arsenal want to be title winners they need to beat their fellow rivals.

Chelsea

Chelsea have bought big and have brought real quality to the club that they were missing last season. In Cech Fabregas they have a midfielder who will make things happens and make goals lets not forget Fabregas can be a real worker in midfield something Ramires and Luiz failed to do last season. They've also brought in a quality striker which the Special One failed to do last season. Diego Costa's exploits for Athletico Madrid has made him one of the most feared strikers in Europe if he continues that for Chelsea, Chelsea will be a force in the league and could probably run away with the titles if the Spanish hitman fires on all cylinders for the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Why they can't/won't the league this season?
When you think about title winning teams you think about the options they have on the bench and players that can come in and do a job when one of the preferred 11 is injured. Especially the "super subs" of the past that most of these winning teams have had  Man Utd had Ole Gunner Solsjaer, Arsenal had Kanu, Wiltord and Edu, Man City have Jovotic, Dezko, Milner and even Chelsea had Kalou. But there's holes in this squad that Mourinho needs to close up especially in the striker department, Drogba may have been a coup in the eyes of some fans and neutrals this summer but hes 33 now he may have desire and passion but his pace and goal threat to compliment them have dispensed in recent years and Torres we all know about him I don't even want to start I think his Vine compilation that has become an internet hit has already speaks for me.     

Liverpool

Liverpool weren't even given a hope in hell last season they're probably won't be this season. But with the players Brendan Rodgers has been bringing in and not to forget the dangerous attacking talents of Sturridge, Sterling and Coutinho. Liverpool will always be with in a shout and as Lovren whose been added to the mix to give Liverpool that steel in the defense that cost them the title with their woeful conceding record last season. Liverpool will always be up their in the mix.
  
Why they can't/won't the league this season?
They cannot replace a talent like Suarez who has gone to Barcelona. His 30 plus goals will be missed as Sturridge as we've seen for England cannot and finds it hard to lead the line by himself. He's best playing with another striker playing besides him. Plus as many neutrals have pointed out Liverpool have brought in shed loads of new players to the club. As Tottenham realized last season it takes time for new signings to gel and play as a team The Kop are in danger of following the same fate which could cost them the title this season. 

Manchester City

Last seasons Champions are the current favorites to regain the title they have strengthened well, that boasts the strongest squad in the league and did their business early which helped them last season. Not only do they have so many options like a buffet they have two teams that can win them the title. With one of the strongest spines in Premier League history with players such as Joe Hart, Kompany, Toure and Aguero the Ethiad outfit will be a team feared and weary of this season.
 
Why they can't/won't the league this season?
If Man City are not consistent they will loose the defense of this title and with Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool adding depths to the squads and looking strong it will be hard playing catch up as they realized two years ago where they couldn't keep up with Man Utd. Out of all the top 5 City have less weaknesses the only thing that could stop them is themselves and juggling European commitments.  

Manchester United

They finished 7th last season and people are saying qualifying for the Champions League will be a even harder task for them but if LVG can get the best out of Rooney, RVP and Mata and can add another 3 to 4 faces of quality in the next two weeks of this window. Man United will be back to the devastating title chasing team that they have known to be. We saw glimpses of what they can do in pre season so if Man United can replicate that form and get the best out Rooney and co who have been inconsistent last season. The Red Devils can do anything even though they're still in transition after the post Ferguson era.

Why they can't/won't the league this season?
 Man United haven't really added bodies to their squad, apart from the additions of Shaw and Herrera which is really needed as they are few signings short of a title winning team. They have sold their most experienced defenders and if Van Gaal really wants to play 3-5-2 he really needs to invest in some world class center backs if that formation is going to work. I doubt they will bring in the targets as there is a week and a half left of the transfer market. 

It looks likes it's going to be a two horse race between Man City and Chelsea but remember this is the Premier League it's not as linear and predictable like this years Eastenders story line (The who killed Story Lucy Beal is dragging too much and grinding my gears). So sit back be prepared to cry, root your team to glory be frustrated and roar in joy when your team scores. As the Premier League has just gone underway and the next 9 months will be one hell of a ride. 

Are Arsenal Title Contenders This Season?

I ask myself this question every season? "Are Arsenal title contenders" I ponder on the squad, who Wenger has sold and brought in, then I make my conclusion and think o my self "We're doomed." But since the FA Cup win there is call for belief and optimism since Arseen has brought in world class super star Alexis Sanchez and rising star Callum Chambers who had the time of his life on Sunday? This season Arsenal are going to be a team feared espically with the pace the Gunners have on the counter attack.

We may have beat the Premier League champions convincingly on Sunday but lets not forget they were a under strengthed side.  Let's see how we fair against a full strong team when we play the big boy's this season. If we can repeat Sunday's dominating performance against the Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd's of this world the title is ours. Hence as many pundits and neutrals have pointed out Arsenal lack a leader and someone that will drag the game by the horns in the deciding games of the season. I feel Jack Wilshere is this player but lack of form, controversies ( Someone explain to me why a professional player smokes and post it on Instagram? That's like recording yourself having sex and showing it to your parents. He always seems to shoot himself in the foot on social networking sites) and injuries have blighted him from the captains armband even though I feel he and Flamini are the only players at the club that play with their hearts on their sleeves. Wenger should've chosen one of these two instead of the experienced Arteta as they can turn the game on it's head if they rally thier fellow team mates more often in these games with their burning desires to win.

With Wenger citing he has more signings to make and maybe Khedira coming to the Emirates. Arsenal have options in midfield with Walcott and the Germany World Cup winners to come back they don't need another midfielder. They lack a striker with goal scorer depth Giroud may have shockingly scored 22 goals last season. But he's not the guy that will scores us goals that will win the league. Arsenal need someone like Remy who we missed out on due to Wengers poor negotiating, who is a danger and has goals in his blood or a Lukaku, that not only scores goals but can hold it down on the front of line and link up play. Every time I've seen Giroud play he's failed to do this. Sanogo is coming to promise so is Costa Rican star Joel Cambell but Arsenal need someone that's established. This season will be a big season for the Gunners and many questions will be asked of this new look Arsenal team that's for sure.