English Premier League(EPL) is back again!

It looked like ages since the last one finished though it has just been under 3 months! It is back again with the first round of matches last weekend. ESPN as usual is beaming it Asia-wide this time and with their quality analysis of the game, I am eagerly looking forward to the season.

While Arsenal seems to have started with a bang, thumping Everton 6-1, their challenge would be to do that consistently. Both ManU and Chelsea won their first round of matches as well, but Chelsea got away with a freakish goal from Drogba in the injury time though his first one was a real quality one. Hull City gave a descent fight, but the difference in quality was obvious. Birmingham did pretty well too, holding off ManU attacks and challenging them at times. I for one don't think the loss of Chrisiano Ronaldo would be a problem for them - there is enough quality in the side for others to step up. I am really interested in seeing if Michael Owen can seize the opportunity he has got at ManU - he didn't take the open chance he had coming on as a substitute which would have made it a great EPL debut with ManU. But his movements were pretty sharp and I for one thinks that Sir Alex Fergusson's move to get him was a pretty smart one. Hopefully one would see Owen as a regular along with Rooney in ManU first eleven.

It was a superb performance from Tottenham beating Liverpool 2-1 at home. Had Robbie Keane taken the couple of open chances he had, the game would have been over by the half time. But it was great display from Tottenham and hopefully Harry Redknapp can inspire them to keep it going. But it looks like they can challenge the big 4 with that kind of display. Redknapp is one of the best English managers on show inspiring his players to give the best day in day out. I don't rate Rafa that high as a manager - he seems to lack the finesse of a Rednapp or a Fergussion making best use of the resources at hand. Alonso may be a difficult gap to fill it appears at the first look of it and Rafa didn't have any clear strategy to counter it either.

Mancity had 3 points from an away game and a clean sheet, which is a good start, but I am doubtful of Mark Hughes' ability to make them a great team with all the stars upfront and a bit suspect in the back.

I was also very pleased with my team, Hammers, with a 2-0 win against newly promoted side Wolves. To be fair, Wolves had a good game as well, but Robert Green held on for a clean sheet and I don't see any other English goalkeeper challenging him for the England's #1 spot. He has been pretty consistent for couple of seasons and if he can keep up his form till the world cup, England will be difficult to beat as well. Hammers play a different type of pleasing but effective football since Zola took over and it was on display with some neat passing. The first goal was a superb effort from Mark Noble from outside the box, which should be one of the best of the weekend. In fact there were many good strikes from outside the box in the first weekend. While the club isn't really in great shape financially, Zola seems to have managed the resources well to make it a descent outfit. I am hoping that they can claim a Europa league spot this time at the least.

Needless to say, this is a long drawn out affair, early results are usually not the great indicators of the things to come in the next 9 months, but there is entertainment in store for sure!