Lenny Boyle
Premier League Sunday and Monday Preview
18/08/2012
Wigan v Chelsea
Man City v Southampton
Everton v Man United
As ever in the world of modern football and the Premier League, many of the most intriguing fixtures are moved outwith the traditional Saturday 3pm kickoff.
Man City v Southampton was previewed in the previous blog post.
Wigan v Chelsea kicks off the first Super Sunday of the season. And Wigan will be hoping it is just as super as their end to last season. Of their last nine games Wigan won seven. Including shock victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United. Another giant slaying would be the perfect way for them to kick off a new campaign.
Canny old Dave Whelan, the granddad of the league and the man who’s on Sky Sports News more than Jim White, can be grateful he held on to his manager. Roberto Martinez was on Liverpool’s radar for some time but was beaten out for the job by Brendan Rodgers.
Chelsea meanwhile begin a new era - as they do almost every season - under the reign of new permanent manager Roberto Di Matteo. It’s the battle of the Robertos at the DW. He was rewarded a two year contract after he led Chelsea to their first Champions League title.
As ever the concern for Di Matteo will be where the goals are coming from. They have a plethora of attacking midfielders but will still need Fernando Torres to up production if they want to finish better than last season’s sixth place in the Barclays Premier League.
Man United have not lost on the opening day since 2004. Sir Alex Ferguson will be more than eager to continue that impressive stat. Losing the league in the manner they did last season to city rivals Manchester City can only have reignited - if it needed any igniting - his passion for the game. His will to win.
And with new signing Robin van Persie, who is no spring chicken after all, the message is clear; Fergie wants to win now.
Everton meanwhile don’t have the greatest of records against United - who does? - and for them the goal is to start the season with a bang, and get into a roll. They have been regular slow starters in recent campaigns.
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