Man City let their fans sit biting their nails for the the lion's share of the game, scoring early once again and, instead of putting the game to bed, let it stay up late to jump around near the good china. Being a City fan this season might be more enjoyable, but it certainly doesn't look like it will be more relaxing than before.
City 1 - 0 Wolves
Just as Liverpool answered their critics midweek by crushing Stoke, Man United have silenced the naysayers this afternoon by scoring 5 away to Wigan - and all within the space of forty-five minutes. Always a man to rise the occasion, Michael Owen scored when it mattered most to put United 4-0 up in the 85th minute.
Wigan 0 - 5 United.
True, I say this as a City fan. But I say it with a level, impartial head. I think we've wasted a lot of our money this summer, buying Class B players at Class A prices. But at only £12 million, Barry is a Class A player for a Class B price. Pittance, really, when you consider we spent almost £20 million on Brazilian flop Jo, whose name spelt backwards seems to almost make OG.
Gareth Barry has consistently proved himself to be one of the best five midfielders in the Premiership, and will provide the leadership that City, I had feared, would sorely lack. An absolute certainty for any Fantasy Football Leagues this season, that's for sure.
While we're on the subject, why not join the Fantasy League over at Football Corner, and be in with a chance of winning a prize.
The only problem with that, as I see it, is that City have spent the summer looking to sign some big money defenders, and they just don't seem to be able to find any of them available. So, if Everton got rid of Lescott, how do the fans imagine they would find it easier to find another big money defender?
That said, I think that at this stage, with the player now having requested a transfer, Everton have little option but to let the star centre-back go.
After a long and, I confess, unannounced recess for the summer, An Educated Right Foot returns just in time for the start of the season. Chelsea won the Community Shield last weekend, and already, we have scores of column inches arguing to and fro about refereeing inconsistencies. Add at An Educated Right Foot to your list of daily visits to read our balanced analysis on the controversies that will no doubt unfold this season.
For the record, I think Chelsea let themselves down, and not for the first time, by not kicking the ball out of play, especially considering the tournament it took place in, the virtual friendly that is the Communitee Shield.
Check back all this week to read our predictions for the new season, and our take on the signings and sightings of the summer.
It has for years been the axis around which Man United have flourished, but it looks like the end is nigh for the stars of 1992 FA Youth Cup. David Beckham left for Real Madrid in 2003, while Nicky Butt went the other way, to Newcastle in 2004. Meanwhile, with lesser clubs interested in their aged legs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville look set to follow this summer. That leaves Ryan Giggs, who somehow won Player of the Year this season, but whose performance in the Champions League final, more or less, made him look better suited to the Welsh team than ever, and essentially epitomised his form over the last few years: slow and wasteful. I wouldn't expect him to play much of a role in next season's campaign.
Tevez missed the bus home today. Very ifficul.