10 Things We Learned in the Premier League

By: Daryl | September 1st, 2008

1. The rules don’t apply if you’re a billionaire.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was spotted downing a pint at the Emirates while his team lost 3-0 to Arsenal. Slight problem: it’s illegal to drink within sight of the pitch in the Premier League. Ashley might think that drinking in the stands makes him more like one of the lads, but I’d say doing something that only billionaires (maybe millionaires) can get away with just underlines the divide between owner and fans.

2. Paul Ince has been forgiven.
West Ham fans have hated Ince ever since 1989 - when he was photographed in a Man Utd shirt while still a West Ham player - and booed his every return to Upton Park religiously. But the reception seemed reasonably polite for the new Blackburn boss at West Ham this weekend, so maybe bygones are bygones. And it only took 19 years.

3. Mark Hughes can keep a secret
Turns out Sparky knew all along that Man City were going to be bought by Abu Dhabi United Group for Development. And he answered all that speculation about City’s finances and working with Thaksin Shinawatra with pricelessley straight face. The whole thing also proves that newspapers (and blogs) know more or less nothing about what’s really going on in the world of football.

4. Chris Foy likes to let the game flow
Which is a polite way of saying that he couldn’t spot a foul if it happened five yards in front of him. And that’s not an exaggeration. Match of the Day 2 highlighted a spectacular pair of consecutive bulldozer tackles on Man City players by Sunderland’s Andy Reid, neither of which had Foy reaching for his whistle.

5. SWP is back!
Two goals on his second Man City debut - a tap in and a deft little touch. Welcome back to the world of regular Premier League football little man.

6. Heurelho Gomes can throw a football a very long way.
Did you see that? Spurs stretchy armed new keeper literally threw the ball way over the halfway line against Chelsea, using a sort of overarm bowling (for crickets fans) or hook shot (for basketball fans) motion. That’s a new weapon for Spurs right there.

7. Arsenal are Cesc addicts
Without Fabregas they’re barely recognizable and lose 1-0 to Fulham. With him it all makes sense and they beat Newcastle 3-0. Great to see a young player so accomplished, but you have to fear for the Gunners should Fabregas get injured/suspended.

8. You can’t trust Hull City
First we thought they were Derby-esque cannon fodder, and then they went unbeaten for the first two games. So they’re good, right? Well no. Because then they lost 5-0 to Wigan at home.

9. Darren Bent - not just a preseason player
He scored in a proper game, and an important goal too. With a little mental effort, it’s not too hard to remember what a hotshot he was at Charlton. I really and genuinely think that if Spurs stick with him then Darren Bent could ripple the net plenty this season.

10. Joey Barton just can’t stay out of it
He came on in the 89th minute, but still had time to cause some trouble.