EPL

The 2010/2011 season of the widely-popular English Premier league has started. 90% of the first-round matches have ended with Manchester United and Newcastle being the only teams who have yet to play. Let's do a review

Tottenham and Man City: Brothers United

These two teams really resemble two buddies who have lots of similarities. They invest heavily on new players, fight hard when they play a Big Four team and aim to qualify for the Champions League.

They played the opening game on a Saturday noon and it was one high tempo match. The players passed the ball as if they were shooting it. Luckily, nobody was seriously injured during the 90 minutes of fighting

Tottenham will be playing the Champions League this season but expect them to crash out in the group stages. They should crash out anyway if their priority is the Premier League. Only experienced and consistent teams like Manchester United can play in both competitions

Manchester City have signed a few players whom are all overpriced. One of their newbies, Toure Yaya, is said to be earning £200,000 a week making him one of the highest-paid players in the world. It should be a tough season for them if they want to finish top four

Judging from Saturday's performance, it is no doubt that Spurs' Gareth Bale and Man City's Joe Hart are the best players of their teams.

Bale was deployed as a left-sided midfielder (he's a left-back) and boy, it was a wonderful tactical switch. He had more opportunities to cross the ball and I must his crosses are of David Beckham standard.

The ball just swirl into the penalty box like drawing a banana. Bale also ghosts to the centre and one would need to mark him at the far post. Who says England has no more talents other than Rooney? Bale will prove you wrong.

Joe Hart was picked as the goalkeeper instead of Shay Given and he ensured that the manager made the right decision will numerous fine saves. Although still not the in the region of the world's best, Hart will surely be a big threat to Robert Green for England's No. 1

So much so for Manchester City and their spending when their best player is a goalie whom they bought from Shrewsbury Town (huh? what strawberry team?) 4 years ago.

Big Four: Still the big four

Chelsea needs a new defender, Manchester United needs a new midfielder, Arsenal needs a new goalkeeper and Liverpool needs a new owner.

The Blues are currently facing a shortage of centre-backs. They have signed Ramires, a decent defensive midfielder whom I regard as the next Patrick Vieira. Chelsea should buy one more player before the transfer window closes, most probably a centre-back.

Anyway, their attack looks strong enough to compensate any flaws in their defence. Frank Lampard alone is enough to destroy an entire defence, let alone Didier Drogba plus Nicolas Anelka.

Manchester United are still the same old Man U. Yes, the average age of this team is getting older every year. Fortunately, Alex Ferguson was right about sticking with his old guards. They dismantled Chelsea 3:1 in Community Shield with a commendable performance.

Javier Hernández looks like a good buy. He possess the instincts of a natural goalscorer and is a rare two-footed striker in the Premier League. Maybe the best Michael Owen can do for Man U is to give advice to his Mexican colleague if he ever gets injured again.

Arsenal look sort of weaker than last season. 4 defenders have left them in the summer, they had only signed one new one so far. Defence aside, their attacking force do not look formidable at all. They still need a top-class striker but choices are limited in the market.

I foresee Samir Nasri to be the key player this season. With captain Fabregas having his mind pondering about Barcelona, Nasri should be playing in a more central role this time like what he did against Liverpool yesterday. Check out Jack Wishere too.

Liverpool have imported many erm, people this summer. First was a manager in Roy Hodgson. Then came Joe Cole, no doubt the biggest transfer for the Reds before Christian Poulsen joined them.

There is also the highly-rated Milan Jovanovic who replaces the unhappy-at-Anfield Yossi Benayoun. Next to join in the party has got to be a new owner or the Reds will have no money. David N'Gog is starting to show signs of the next Torres. But it'll still be same old Stevie Gerrard doing all the work.