Season Surprises

So, summer has come and gone quicker than Usain Bolt in a 100m final "race" allowing us all to once again enjoy the delights of having our belief that we will be supporting a league winning football side dashed. However, those with more realistic hopes may still feel disappointed by the start of their clubs first match of the season, unless of course you are a Notts County fan!
Liverpool are one of three clubs that were tipped by so called experts to be challenging for the title come May, yet an away loss to Spurs, with an out-of-sorts Torres, does little to boost that claim. Alonso's absence was clear for all to see and only a idiotic error by Gomes, the one player in the Tottenham team that needs to be replaced in my humble opinion, gave the Reds even a sniff of a point.
As for Chelsea, despite the fact that they won 2-1 against Hull City, it took a 90th minute fluke for them to do so. Ancelotti kept mixing up his midfield diamond, clearly trying to decide which player suits which position. Yet, in a club that rarely allows time for such luxuries he better make up his mind pretty soon, he cannot rely on Drogba getting them out of trouble all the time, even if he is returning to his best form.
Man United are aiming to become the first team ever to win the top flight of English football for the 4th consecutive year, yet in true Red Devils fashion they were sluggish on the first day of the season, yet still achieved their aim of beating newcomers Birmingham City 1-0. On the other hand though, the ever increasing injury list will not ease their worries. Ferdinand is just another member of the standard back 5 who is now out of action, this is doubly annoying as he is in my fantasy football team!
At the other end of the table, new additions to the Premiership Wolves, Birmingham and Burnley are all where they expected to be. Whilst it is also looking like an extremely long and difficult season for Portsmouth with their financial status still unresolved.
All six of the London clubs won their opening fixture, providing real hope that Zola can keep the miracle going at West Ham, that Harry really has turned it around at Spurs and that Wenger's Gunners are not dead to the fight.
Yet, all of this is just mere speculation, the first game is not the be all and end all, although it does provide confidence for the next few matches. Yet, in the previous two season's Manchester United have drawn on the opening fixture to their opponents, who have both then gone on to get relegated that season, so maybe it doesn't even provide that much confidence!