Just for once, let’s forget about the megastars. Sure, the Real Madrid pair of Michael Owen and David Beckham scored two of the goals in England’s 3-0 friendly win over the world’s 71st-best side, the Ukraine, on Wednesday night.
But the real star of the show at a worryingly empty St James’s Park was Shaun Wright-Phillips.
The Manchester City midfielder came on for the last 19 minutes and scored on his debut with a run from the halfway line that took out two defenders before he guided a right-footed shot beyond keeper Oleksandr Shovkovsky. Up in the stands, his stepdad, Ian Wright, prolific for Arsenal but not so hot for England, went bananas. And rightly so.
I’ve said for the past couple of seasons that Wright-Phillips, though he is the shortest of Premiership midfielders, should have been snapped up by one of the big clubs. But now, with his agent-cum-dad having organised a new deal under Kevin Keegan at the City of Manchester stadium, it looks like Wright-Phillips is staying put. Madness.
Game by game, this weekend should go like this:
Birmingham vs Chelsea
With Brum boss Steve Bruce offering to take Newcastle’s much-booed England midfielder Kieron Dyer to St Andrews, Birmingham don’t lack ambition. But they do lack the £200-million investment Chelsea have been handed by Russian owner Roman Abramovich. England fullback Glen Johnson can’t get in the Chelsea side, such is the depth of talent. Sorry, Brummies, you can’t ignore financial realities. Or a strike force featuring Mateja Kezman, Adrian Mutu, Eidur Gudjohnssen and … need I go on?
Verdict: Birmingham 1 Chelsea 3
Charlton vs Portsmouth
Charlton fans were left reeling by last week’s 4-1 defeat at the hands of a Jay-Jay Okocha-inspired Bolton. Manager Alan Curbishley (‘the only players with anything to smile about were the ones I left on the busâ€) has made some reasonable summer signings and surely Charlton can’t be that bad again?
Verdict: Charlton 1 Portsmouth 1
Palace vs Everton
Crystal Palace picked up a point in their opener against division one champs Norwich, but then both those sides are heading for the basement this season. Everton? They were just rubbish against Arsenal, who looked like they were playing an exhibition game at Goodison last Sunday. Manager David Moyes promises improvements but I watched Palace at training this week and I reckon they’re good for a point.
Verdict: Palace 0 Everton 0
Fulham vs Bolton
Sam Allardyce’s Wanderers sit firmly at the top of the Premiership, but there are still 37 games to go! Allardyce appears to have patched together another effective hotchpotch of foreigners and free transfers. Powerful Scandinavian Henrik Pedersen added a brace to Okocha’s double against Charlton last week so Fulham have plenty to worry about after their 1-1 draw with Manchester City. Then again, Fulham’s Andy Cole, the former Manchester United striker, could yet prove the best signing of the summer. He’s my man of the weekend.
Verdict: Fulham 2 Bolton 1
Liverpool vs Man City
With Rafael Benitez in charge, I thought Liverpool would make a bright start. But they were woeful in the second half of their 1-1 draw with Spurs last week.
They’ll have to improve against a City side with plenty of talent. Robbie Fowler scored a cracking over-head goal against Fulham, I’ve already mentioned Wright-Phillips, then there’s Anelka, United States captain Claudio Reyna and last week former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Steve McManaman couldn’t even get off the bench. Liverpool? They’ve got the equipment, but have they got the puff against Fowler and McManaman, two of their former heroes?
Verdict: Liverpool 1 Man City 1
Man United vs Norwich
Manchester United weren’t as bad as everyone suggested last week. Chelsea were a little lucky to come away with a 1-0 win on Sunday against a side featuring John O’Shea in midfield and Roy Keane at sweeper. Nobody can write off United, not as long as Sir Alex Ferguson draws breath.
With Rio Ferdinand still to return and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Olympics — plus injuries to Louis Saha and Ruud van Nistelrooy — they will improve. But Norwich, who still rely on the pace of veteran Darren Huckerby, will be no match for even a half-strength United.
Verdict: Man United 4 Norwich 1
Newcastle vs Spurs
Bracken’s treatment at the hands of the England fans at his home stadium on Wednesday was quite unbelievable. He’s apparently refusing to play on the right for Sir Bobby Robson and that, allied with countless naughty escapades, has made him Newcastle’s most unwanted man.
Then you’ve got Alan Shearer agitating for 90 minutes every week despite the claims of the in-form Welshman Craig Bellamy and Dutch super-signing Patrick Kluivert and, generally, Newcastle aren’t looking too clever after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s hand of God equaliser for Middlesbrough last week. Spurs? They’re even worse, though they did well to nick a point off Liverpool.
Verdict: Newcastle 2 Spurs 0
Southampton vs Blackburn
I reckon both these sides will struggle this season. Blackburn’s abrasive boss Graeme Souness doesn’t know how to keep players happy, Saints’ coach Paul Sturrock, with his former Plymouth side top of division one, is struggling in the top flight as last week’s 2-0 defeat at Villa Park showed. With his top striker James Beattie still keen on a move, Sturrock will be the first boss to get the chop this season. Defeat against Blackburn won’t help his cause.
Verdict: Southampton 1 Blackburn 2
Arsenal vs Boro
I loved the way Middlesbrough fought back against Newcastle last week. And remember, they were the only side to win at Highbury last season, with a shock success in the League Cup semifinal. Okay, that was against a half-strength Arsenal, but with Ray Parlour back at his old stamping ground, this might not be as easy as it looks for the Gunners. Mind you, one more game without defeat and Arsenal will equal the 1977/78 Nottingham Forest record of 42 unbeaten games.
Verdict: Arsenal 0 Boro 0
West Brom vs Villa
Good old-fashioned Birmingham derby this, and there can be only one winner. David O’Leary’s Villa will surprise everyone this season, especially with a strike force that includes Carlton Cole, Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel.
West Brom? They’re hoping Nigerian ex-Gunner Nwankwo Kanu can stir things up, they’ve got a couple of useful journeyman, but they’re really not on the same planet.
Verdict: West Brom 0 Aston Villa 1