The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

Premiership Top 6 Manchester United Chelsea Liverpool Arsenal Man City Spurs Relegated Wolves Burnley Portsmouth Championship West Brom Cardiff City Middlesbrough (Play - 0ff Winners) Relegated Plymouth Scunthorpe Peterborough League One Leeds United Millwall Charlton (Play - 0ff Winners) Relegated Yeovil Swindon Exeter Stockport League Two Notts County Bradford Rochdale Chesterfield (Play - 0ff Winners) Relegated Accrington Stanley Burton Albion

I didn’t expect Arsenal to start the season in such explosive fashion. A 6-1 opening day win is good. But up at Everton is something special. I did though expect Arsenal to struggle this season; however an inspirational performance showed they still will be hard to knock out of the top four. They played and looked like they did a few years ago when they were an unbeatable force. I was also impressed with Manchester City. Now you would expect them with a team they have to beat Blackburn, which they did. But it was the performance at the back I was most impressed with. Given, Dunne and Toure looked good and dealt with whatever Rovers threw at them. Adebayor scored on his debut and fan’s player of the year, Stephen Ireland netted his first of the campaign. With Everton and Villa’s slow starts City could mount a serious top six challenge. Manchester United started the defence of the title with a steady 1-0 win over newly promoted Birmingham City. But even in the first game they look like t...

The football league is back!!! A week ahead of the Premiership, the teams and fans of the football league sides start their campaigns for glory. The Championship round-up starts with, Cardiff City’s 4-0 victory at their brand spanking new stadium over Scunthorpe. Cardiff if you remember missed out on the Play-Offs by one goal last season. Newcastle United put the turmoil of the summer behind them and drew 1-1 at West Brom. These two teams will be there or there abouts come May. Goal of the weekend was Clinton Morrison opener against Ipswich Town. His curling lob over the keeper and two Town defenders is a contender for goal of the month already. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=32823450001 In League 1 Colchester put on the best show. An amazing 7-1 win at Norwich was a perfect way to start any season. This overshadowed Gillingham’s 5-0 win over Swindon. League 1 this year will be tight with fans of Leeds, Millwall, Charlton, MK Dons and Southampton look...

Manchester City F.C was the biggest movers in the summer transfers market here in England. Only Real Madrid in Spain spent more. City are clearly ready for one of their most promising and important seasons every. They are in a position to break into the top four like Everton done a few seasons ago. They transfers they made are all improvements and they have taken some of the best from other clubs. Tevez was one of United most important hard working players. His goal a Wigan towards the end of last season put one hand on the title for the reds. City has not only taken one of the best footballers in the world. They have taken a great player from their great rivals. And the billboard advert welcoming people to Manchester with Tevez on the front is on show for all United fans to see. Barry was an influential part of Aston Villa’s midfield for many years. Now an England international he will want to prove the City fans and Capello he is ready for the big time. The Adebayor and Toure signin...

Being a Queens Park Rangers fan you always receive a fair amount of stick. But now being one of the richest clubs in London, this season we must finally deliver. Last seasons campaign was memorable with three different managers, rumours the chairman picking his favourites in the team and basically mediocre football. Flavio Briatore needs to let the manager pick the team and stay out of the dressing room. This time Jim Magilton in charge, for how long is anybodies guess. He is not the most inspiring choice, but must be given a chance. Ipswich did outplay us twice last season with ease. We need to hit the ground running or it will then replicate last year, with fans moaning and turning on the management team early. We have our star players back and fully fit. The likes of Rowan Vine and our own ‘White Pele’, Akos Buzsaky were sorely missed last year. We also have the advantage of having a well established and Premiership class keeper in Radek Cerny. He was outstanding last year and he ...

Blackburn Rovers No Santa Cruz, Big Sam will need to replace the star or change his tactics to benefit Rovers this season. Rovers have potential and with an ambitious manager in Allardyce they can achieve a lot more then last seasons finish. Be sure they will be ready for the arrival of Burnley, a derby match which means everything in Lancashire. Key Man - Chris Samba is a rock in the Rovers defence. Powerful and a goal scorer his impact this season at the back will be a back bone to what Rovers do. Burnley Play-Off winners Burnley will be looking forward to their first season in the Premiership. They will look at the inspiration from Stoke last year to just battle and use what you can to survive. Key Man Robbie Blake - Hopefully will find the form of last year in a much tougher league. Chelsea Ancelotti’s first season in England, he better get use to it fast. With the departure of fan favourite Guus Hiddink last season, Chelsea fans are expected of great things. Champions League succ...

Arsenal How many years has it been since the Gooners last saw winners medals? In Wenger we trust is the motto, but for how long. They have the stadium, they play the wonderful football, and they also have some of the best up coming talent n the country. (Ramsey, Walcott and Wilshere too name but a few) Its time for Arsenal to finally deliver. Key Man - Robin van Persie If fully fit for the whole campaign he could easily reach 20 goals and lead Arsenal to where they want to be. Aston Villa Villa nearly broke in to the top four last season. But their small squad couldn’t keep up. With the lose of Barry things will be harder. However with a heap of British talent, Villa can go further. Key Man - Ashley Young Without a doubt one of the most promising players in England. And with it being a World Cup season Young could shine. Birmingham City Newly promoted, spending cash, City are looking to stay in the top flight. It will be hard for the Blues, and their home form will tell a lot to whet...