Premier League? It's all over.

The fledging premier League Table makes frightening reading. After only one game, it looks to me like the prizes and the penalties have already been decided. 


Chelsea began with a wholly predictable thumping of newly promoted West Brom and already look like they will waltz to the title again unless Manchester United can stop them. The odds for correct scores at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea play the weaker sides must make interesting reading because I suspect 5-0, 6-0, 7-0 and 8-0 are probably shorter odds than 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and 4-0.  How depressing is that? Man U go tomorrow at home to Newcastle and 3-0 or 4-0 looks likely to me. Don't be at all surprised if we go into next weekend with Chelsea top from United.


I watched the Liverpool v Arsenal game this afternoon and I am not buying into the hype that Arsenal are ready to challenge for the title. They are a decent top side and will be hard to beat at home, but I don't fancy them when it comes to it against the better sides and for that reason, Arsene, I'm out. They struggled against ten man Liverpool today and only a Spanish goalkeeping error earned them a point they barely deserved. Their own Spanish goalkeeper has been their Achilles' Heel for far too long and a more ruthless manager than Wenger would have dispensed with his services a long time ago. I expect Roy Hodgson to prove his doubters wrong again but that would mean third place.


At the other end of the table, it's all the W's again after only one match. West Ham, Wigan and West Brom are already in the drop zone and their fans had better get used to it. We know the problem of being a yo-yo side but West Brom appear to be desperate to take this to extremes. I assume someone at the Hawthorns is making a tidy profit because the Baggies have been on big money and parachute payments forever and they never seem to push the boat out.

Blackpool may have taken the headlines for their commendable walloping of fellow Lancastrians, Wigan, but that result might not look so outrageous come the end of the season. Wigan have had six seasons in the top flight and they are due to run out of steam. That leaves the hapless Hammers who are still adjusting to the pound-wise double-act who have been upfront enough to tell anyone who wants to listen that they intend to turn a profit whilst running the club they both grew up close to. I'm sorry, but that's mission impossible at West Ham's end of the table and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are prepared to see their club relegated rather than gamble extravagantly if necessary as seems likely. I have a soft spot for the Hammers and hope they will be good enough to catch Stoke, Bolton, Blackpool or Wolves.


If the league tables after one or two games give us a good indication of the finishing positions in May 2011, I don't suppose too many Addicks fans will be complaining but we would need to acknowledge that Millwall could be making an unlikely double promotion. They have made short work of their first two opponents and face the awkward trip to Elland Road next weekend where their travelling support will again be limited to 1284 and those making the trip will need to have national security clearance and and will be bussed in and out like scab workers entering a South Yorkshire colliery during the Miners Strike.


For us, things couldn't really be better. We go into our second home game of the season knowing that a win over table-toppers Oldham will take us two points clear at the top. The real test comes the week after that when we travel to promotion favourites Huddersfield who don't lose too many at the Galpharm.


Football's back!