Transfer window set to disrupt top clubs
IT was third time lucky for Unai Emery, Arsenal’s new manager, as the Gunners got their first win of the season against West Ham. Rumours doing the rounds suggest that Mesut Özil was dropped from the team after a training ground bust up with the manager.
Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola deciding to rotate his squad, were held to a draw by the spirited new boys, Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving one to wonder how much longer the manager will have faith in the ageing captain, Vincent Kompany. The Belgian clearly had one of those games to forget as he was caught out of position quite a few times by the counter attacking Wolves.
Liverpool will enjoy sitting on top of the table, courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s 23rd minute winner against Brighton. New goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s vital save in the dying minutes suggests money well spent. Dare we suggest that this season could be their season?
By the time this article is published, the “Theatre of Dreams” will have hosted Tottenham, with hopefully a sober Hugo Lloris in goal for Spurs. The Frenchman was arrested on a drunk-driving charge in the early hours of Friday morning and spent around seven hours in police custody. He has since apologised for his actions.
As much as I want to avoid the sorry situation at my beloved Manchester United, I am compelled to give the Red Devils some mention. José Mourinho is feeling the pressure of not being able to lure top players to Old Trafford during the now closed transfer window for English clubs, and this season is going to be a long and frustrating one for the United hopefuls if the “Special One” and his boys don’t bounce back from the embarrassing defeat at the hands of Brighton in the previous match.
The transfer window officially closes at the end of August, with Barcelona and Real Madrid looking to strengthen their sides. Real Madrid have basically closed their interest in any other player and focused everything on Neymar Jnr. Word on the streets of Madrid is that they are prepared to shatter the world record fee that Paris Saint Germain paid to Barcelona when they lured the Brazilian to the Parc des Princes stadium a year ago.
However, Los Blancos will only table any tempting offer if PSG is found guilty of breaking FFP regulations, a ruling which is expected to be announced by UEFA shortly before the end of the month and hopefully before the transfer window shuts.
Barça, on the other hand, are still mulling over whether to make a formal offer for the unsettled Paul Pogba or leave it to the Frenchman to ask to leave, especially since Pogba and Mourinho seem to be clashing regularly of late.
AFTER a few weeks break, Formula 1 returned to Belgium last weekend with the battle resuming between Mercedes, Ferrari and the rest.
Lewis Hamilton may have grabbed the 78th pole position of his career in Saturday’s qualifying session, but Sebastian Vettel ensured it was a shortlived advantage when he took the lead in a spectacular first lap of Sunday's race that saw the Renault of Nico Hulkenberg crashing into Fernando Alonso’s McLaren, sending it airborne and over the top of the Sauber of Charles Leclerc.
Vettel held on to claim his fifth win of the season, thus reducing the gap on Hamilton. Roll on to Monza this weekend where the Ferrari's pace will be expected to add more misery to “Grumpy Lewis”.
THE All Blacks again mauled the Wallabies for the second week running and will be a massive test for the Springboks when they meet September 15.
However, Siya Kolisi and his men, after contrasting results against the energetic Argentinians in their backto-back fixtures, will first have to overcome the mentally wounded Aussies, who will be hungry to bounce back from their embarrassing two losses from two games.