Expectations run high as Premiership restarts
By Vic Mills
LONDON (JP): The twelve-day break due to World Cup commitments has served only to heighten expectations as Premiership soccer returns to English grounds this weekend. Old Trafford stages the most prestigious fixture with the meeting of Manchester United and Arsenal.
Having lost three consecutive Premiership games as well as its proud forty-year undefeated home record in European competition, United will not relish the visit of an Arsenal side brimming with confidence.
The loss of form at Old Trafford, no less startling than defeat for Mike Tyson, has demolished several Mancunian myths. Gone, for instance, is the legendary impregnability of keeper Peter Schmeichel. Last season he loomed large over goal and penalty area. The combination of speed, agility and immaculate positioning created the legend.
In the space of five months, however, once for Denmark and twice for United, he has proved vulnerable to the chip-shot from Davor Suker, Philippe Albert and Matthew Le Tissier. Add this to his errors in conceding two goals in the last home game against Chelsea and the damage is far worse than a simple loss of form.
For Schmeichel has, in the eyes of all that play against him, shrunk to normal size. His goal, correspondingly, has grown immense behind him. The myth has gone. Cantona has suffered a similar fate. His form has gone steadily downhill since the carefree days of August and September. Anonymous against both Juventus and Fenerbahce in the Champions Cup, his decline has revealed a hitherto unseen vulnerability.
Arsenal
Arsenal, in contrast, arrive at Old Trafford in swaggering form. Everything is blossoming in the Highbury garden and none more so than its latest recruit, Patrick Vieira. Playing in front of the three centerbacks, the 20-year-old Frenchman provides the vital link between defense and attack.
His deceptively languid movement belies both pace and perception. The main benefactor of this exciting new talent is Ian Wright. The rejuvenated striker is reveling in Vietra's vision and precise passing.
The strength of this North London club, however, is not in the individual talents, as impressive as they are, but in the collective responsibility and spirit of the players. Only Wimbledon, of Premiership clubs, comes close to matching this unity. This same spirit carried Arsenal through its early season trials and tribulations and has now galvanized its quest for the championship.
Newcastle United currently stands two points clear of Arsenal at the top of the league. A lead, that is unlikely to be threatened this weekend as Newcastle entertains a talented but erratic West Ham side at St James' Park.
Tyneside fans were buoyed by the news this week that Alan Shearer has been given the all clear to step up his training regime following successful hernia surgery. The 15-million (US$24.75 million) striker is delighted with his rehabilitation and has not ruled out a comeback before the end of the month.
Third-placed Wimbledon looks set to continue its title challenge and adds to a nine-game unbeaten run with a fixture against lowly Coventry City. It will not be easy though as the visitors, desperate for points, play an equally direct game and in the likes of Salako and McAllister in midfield and Dublin and Whelan up front have enough talent to take the points.
In the past, fixtures between Leeds and Liverpool were the yardsticks by which the English game was judged. Times as well as fortunes, however, have changed. Liverpool, fourth in the Premier League, remains in the ascendancy; Leeds, by contrast, has fallen on hard times.
The signs are though that Leeds may be coming out of their trough, Deane and Bowyer are fit and playing after lengthy injuries and Yeboah is back in training. Meanwhile, manager George Graham, keen to continue the momentum, is said to be close to signing Swiss international defender Ramon Vega after agreeing a 3.5-million fee with Italian club Cagliari.
Although early days, the feeling around both club and city is that Graham is taking the first steps towards building a team that could rival his achievements with Arsenal.
The quest for the Liverpool manager, Roy Evans, is not one of rebuilding but of continuing the Shankly, Paisley, Dalglish dynasty. A task made all the more difficult by the maverick behavior of Stan Collymore.
At a cost of 8.5 million, Collymore has so far refused to move house from the Midlands; failed to turn out when selected for the reserve team; complained that the team's tactics have not been adjusted to suit his style; and, as a consequence, has spent much of the season on the substitutes bench.
A transfer appears the only answer, with Aston Villa firm favorites, although not before Liverpool has found a replacement. Top of the Anfield shopping list is young the Leicester City forward Emile Heskey.
One transfer that was completed this week saw Chelsea add to its Italian contingent with the 4.5 million signing of Gianfranco Zola from Palma. More a reunion than transfer, Zola will join forces with countrymen Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Di Matteo under the guidance of player manager and one time Serie A opponent, Ruud Gullit. Fifth-placed Chelsea travels to improving Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
English Premiership Fixtures
Saturday Nov. 16: Aston Villa v Leicester Blackburn v Chelsea Everton v Southampton Leeds v Liverpool MU v Arsenal Newcastle v West Ham Tottenham v Sunderland Wimbledon v Coventry
Sunday, Nov. 17: Derby v Middlesbrough
Monday, Nov. 18: Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest