Saturday's results

I stayed up until about three a.m. watching 3 games on DVR. Manchester United/Arsenal, then Internazionale / A.C., and finally the Real Madrid experiment against Deportivo La Coruna.

Manchester/Arsenal gets the award for most exciting. Arsenal really self destructed. The Gunners had outplayed Manchester United throughout the entire game until Almunia the keeper took out Rooney in the Penalty area. I appreciate how Rooney took the penalty, no eye contact, had made his mind up and perfectly executed it...no stutter steps. Arsenal's self destruction was complete after van Persie's free kick hit the crossbar. Shortly after, Abou Diaby scored a beautiful header for Arsenal...except it was an own goal... So Manchester United took a 2-1 lead without really doing anything positive, it was Arsenal completely gift wrapping the game for them.

I couldn't have been more wrong about Inter/AC in my prediction. A.C. Milan looked like they did not belong on the field, it was so completely one-sided you almost wished that Jose Mourinho call of the dogs and be merciful. Maicon, the Brazilian continues to amaze me and remain a really really underrated player. Inter's new additions looked really impressive and Sneijder (coming over from Real Madrid in the midweek) looked like he should have looked for Madrid; creative player, great ball striker. Inter won 4-0.

The Real Madrid experiment was a bit too close for comfort winning 3-2 with goals from the timeless Raul, new boy Cristiano Ronaldo with a penalty and a really great strike from Lassana Diarra. Real Madrid's defense remains suspect, but Pepe is still serving a suspension from last year. Not really sure why the big German Metzelder didn't start, Real was getting punished on crosses and his size may have helped prevent at least one of Deportivo's goals. I was probably most disappointed with Benzema, he just didn't do a whole lot. Plus, I was a fan of Gonzalo Higuain last year and it is going to be interesting to see how Real Madrid rotates all of their talent at the striker position especially when Ruud Van Nistlerooy is totally healthy again.

One last note...I see that Manchester City won again this morning...and it was Adebayor with the goal...dude is having a great start to the season.

huge day

Picks for this saturday: I'll take a 2-2 draw for Arsenal/Man U, a 1-1 draw for AC Milan and Inter Milan, and a 3-1 win for Real Madrid over Deportivo La Coruna.

Just for trump, i'd love to see Arsenal win at Manchester

I think Inter will be a much better team than AC this year, but this derby has a way of spiraling into a terrible game sometimes, so thats kind-of what i expect today, especially this early in the year.

In Germany, Wolfsburg, last year's champion takes on giants Bayern Munich.

What do you think?

Midweek

I know i didn't write anything regarding the matches this weekend, so here goes. First, Inter drawing newly promoted Bari in the first round. I think it is an understatement to say that result is a disappointment. AC Milan won a tough game against Siena. AC doesn't seem to quite have it together yet, and their defense worries me. Juventus also won.

In the Prem, Chelsea and Arsenal continue to steam on while the big shocker was Liverpool losing at home 3-1 to Aston Villa. Obviously, they are missing Alonso. It was a bit of redemption for Aston Villa too as they had lost on the opening day to Blackburn Rovers. It is too early to hit the panic button if you are Liverpool, but they are losing ground fast to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

There was some midweek Champions League play as Olympique Lyon and Atletico Madrid have advanced. Atletico advanced at the expense of Greek giants Panathanaikos.

And Finally...some transfer drama has been resolved as Everton have agreed to a fee with Manchester City for Joleon Lescott. Maybe Everton can finally focus on football and craw out of the cellar in the Premiership.

And Finally...La Liga and the Real Madrid experiment kicks off this weekend. Strap in and hold on.

jumped the gun

I can't read a calender and in my excitement I failed to notice that La Liga and Serie A won't start this weekend.

But, if you don't like Liverpool, today was a great day for you as they lost 2-1 at Tottenham. So if you are keeping track, Liverpool is the only team of the big 4 (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool) to not gain a maximum 3 points on the opening weekend; while new money Manchester City got the maximum points in their defeat of Blackburn. Obviously it is early, but with the amount of talent at the top, Liverpool can't afford to drop a ton of points at the early part of the season and create a huge hole they will have dig themselves out of. Also, many have picked Liverpool to win the title, mostly I think on how they performed last year, but this is a team that lost Alonso and haven't really found a healthy replacement for him.

In the Bundesliga, the top three of Wolfsburg, Schalke and Hamburg are all where they are supposed to be, while Bayern Munich dropped two points at home in a tough match against Werder Bremen.

In Ligue 1, Bordeaux and Marseille are on target with maximum points from two matches while former 7 time consecutive champions Lyon sit two points adrift.

There are some midweek matches to look forward to.

6-1? Really??

Arsenal v. Everton. I think one has to ask one's self after a 6-1 loss whether or not David Moyes was more preoccupied about the Joleon Lescott transfer saga with Manchester City versus actually preparing for Arsenal at Goodison Park. Its opening day, no team should score 6 on you if you are Everton. Arsenal are talented, but 6 goals?? Seriously? Sorry, Trump, that is ridiculous.

Tomorrow the multi-million dollar experiment that is Real Madrid kicks off, plus Manchester United and Liverpool. We have to wait another week for Italy to get started.

Big result in Ligue 1 in France as Toulouse get the win and my favorite named player Andre-Pierre Gignac scores a goal.

the results come pouring in

Not really surprised that Man City won today, more surprised by the fact that Tevez came off the bench, I wonder how he feels about, since that was one of his essential complaints about life at Manchester United.

Chelsea escaped 2-1 against Hull City but a win is a win. Also no Jozy Altidore today for Hull City, maybe all of his paper work and physical was not in order.

Aston Villa, who had a strong season last year really put up a stinker at home today losing to mid-table hopefuls Wigan Athletic 2-0

Also, curious that Ribery comes off the bench for Bayern Munich in their 1-1 draw with Werder Breman. Is he injured, does anybody know?

Currently watching Newcastle/Reading in the match of premier league has-beens

The season begins...

Tomorrow most of the big European leagues kick off. Lots of huge moves in the offseason. Kaka, C. Ronaldo, Alonso to Madrid, Inter and Barca swapping strikers...Tevez swapping Trafford for the City, and of course Manchester City and the millions they have spent in the offseason.

My prediction for the league Winners: Madrid, Chelsea, Inter, Bayern, Celtic, FC Porto, Lyon, Olympiakos

Champions League: Real Madrid

Europa League: Werder Bremen

some good games on the sched tomorrow too, werder/bayern, arsenal/everton

man, i hope espn doesn't make the premier league unwatchable