As a long suffering Bolton Wanderers supporter, it’s been quite a while since I watched football really worth getting excited about, and even longer since I last watched a Premier League game in the flesh. The last time I had such a pleasure was when I watched my beloved Whites succumb to relegation as they fought and battled, but could only muster a 2-2 draw at Stoke City, a result which I level some blame for to Manchester City, due to their incapability to be beating QPR by at least three goals at half time.
I’m bitter, you see.
So when the opportunity arose for me to finally go and watch my first Premier League game since that faithful afternoon in May 2012, I didn’t hesitate in accepting the invitation.
Here are some of the things I learned on my first visit to the Etihad Stadium since I watched Coldplay, as Manchester City took on Liverpool.
I still think Yaya Touré is overrated.
Hardly the best way to endear myself to this site’s reader base, but this is a controversial opinion I’ve held for some time now. Don’t get me wrong; Touré is a fantastic footballer, who is capable of some spectacular things but, for me, he doesn’t offer an awful lot for the majority of a 90 minutes. I went into the game on Monday night hoping to have my viewpoint changed after watching him live, but I’m afraid it hasn’t. He was quite frustrating to watch at times, as he often made the wrong decision on the ball, was sloppy with his passing and just seemed to get in the way a bit. I will no doubt get hounded for this opinion, but I just feel Yaya could be a whole lot better than he is.
Jovetić might just make it in England.
When the game first started and I was taking some notes for this article, I noted how I didn’t think Jovetić will make it in the Premier League, he looked weak and couldn’t seem to adapt to the physicality of the game. But, that view soon changed. After Jovetić stuck his first chance away, he looked like a different player. He suddenly seemed full of confidence, he was showing off some easy on the eye flicks and turns and was battling for the ball, even out-muscling the likes of Skrtel and Lovren. Then there was his second goal, a clever flick in the build up and then easily putting away quite a difficult chance. So, Jovetic might just make it in the Premier League yet, and I sincerely hope he does.
Fernando could be the signing of the summer.
Obviously Fernando isn’t the best player to have arrived on these shores this summer, but he could prove to be the best value for money. In the inflated market which clubs now operate in, a reported £12m for Fernando seems like an absolute steal and he was my man of the match by far last night. He was everywhere, constantly breaking up play and reading the game expertly, then allowing the game to flow by playing simple passes off to his team mates. Really impressive.
City’s squad depth is frightening.
Hardly a groundbreaking statement, I know, but City’s squad depth is impeccable and they really showed it off against Liverpool. Being able to start players that will control the game, then bring on pacey attackers who will punish the opposition as the game gets more and more stretched is quite the thing to have, and Pellegrini utilised his substitutes perfectly. City have at least two very good players for every position and as I like to say: teams win matches, but squads win titles.
The Etihad is a fantastic stadium, play decent music, great surrounding area, half time entertainment nothing on Bolton’s though!
I was really impressed with the place, a lot of work has been done since my last visit and it’s really nice. From the surrounding area that really provoked feelings of visiting Wembley for me, to the immaculate pitch. From the decent music that got played, to the glorious cushioned seats which I got to sit on. It’s rare that a match goes by when I don’t get a cold arse, but Monday night was one of them. One flaw however, the halftime entertainment has got nothing on the hilarity offered down at the Macron!
