Tottenham entered the second leg of their playoff against Young Boys down 3-2 on aggregate, but Crouch made quick work of eliminating the deficit by heading in a Gareth Bale cross just five short minutes into the contest.  Many were calling it the biggest match ever played at White Hart Lane, and Crouch’s opener sent the crowd into a mad frenzy which never ceased for the remaining 85 minutes.  The victory means Tottenham have survived the pressure filled playoff, and have qualified for the group stage in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.  

The playoff is a very high pressure environment to play in.  The group stage is very lucrative for the clubs involved, so advancing will do a lot of good in helping Tottenham’s bottom line, but bowing out in such a vital competition this early in the season can have drastic consequences on a team’s syche, and Harry Redknapp clearly recognized the magnitude of the occasion.  Reddknapp left nothing for chance on Wednesday by pulling out all of the stops to give his squad the best shot at winning. 

One major concern for Tottenham entering the match, and moving forward for that matter, was the health of Jermain Defoe.  Defoe is Spurs most dangerous striker, and many thought he would not be made available for the match due to a groin injury that will require surgery later in the week.  Defoe was not only available on Wednesday, Redknapp inserted him into the starting line-up, and the gamble payed huge dividends when Defoe put Tottenham up by two just before halftime.  He definitely handled the ball, and the goal should not have stood, but his strike was perfect, and putting him in the line-up was a message to the entire team that this match was too important to lose. 

Redknapp will have his work cut out for him moving forward.  The loss of Dafoe for at least three weeks will not be easy to overcome.  He also know how to deal with an injury suffered by keeper Heurelho Gomes that will likely keep him out of the line-up for at least a couple weeks.  Tottenham also has to worry about winning games in the Premier League, because the fans do not want this Champions League experience to be just a one year wonder, and Manchester City have their sights set on at least a top four finish, so Spurs will have to win the vast majority of the games they play.  The issues of balancing the Premier League season with Champions League competition is common practice for the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal; but this is a brand new experience for Tottenham and most of their players.  It will be interesting to see how well this group can handle the increased workload moving forward.  Staying healthy will be vital for Spurs success, so Redknapp will needs his stars back in the fold as quickly as possible. 

Tottenham will definitely have their work cut out for them moving forward.  Spurs were drawn into Group A with defending champion Inter Milan, German side Werder Bremen, and FC Twente of the Netherlands.  Advancing out of this group will definitely not be easy, but it is not impossible.  Spurs have not only the talent to compete with these teams, but they are good enough to beat them, and if they can stay healthy and play smart football, then Spurs fans could get a taste of the knockout stage.

The Good…

Chelsea

Chelsea scored an astonishing 103 goals last season on route to a Premier League Championship, and appear poised to shatter that mark if the first two matches are any indication.  After the Blues hammered West Bromwich Albion by the tune of 6-0 in their opening match, Carlo’s boys repeated the feat against lowly Wigan on Saturday.  Twelve goals in two matches will ensure six points, and top spot in the table for a second straight week.  Chelsea’s strength was once again on full display as Niclas Anelka and Soloman Kalou each scored their first two goals of the season.  Wigan actually played the champs pretty tough for a while, but Chelsea were able to take advantage of their opportunities, and cruised to a second straight victory.  It appears that a perfect 3-0 start awaits the defending champions as they get set to take on winless Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.  The sky could be the limit for this collection of talent. 

Arsenal

The Gunners also managed to find the back of the net on six different occasions on Saturday.  Arsenal jumped all over Blackpool early, and never let up during their 6-0 romp.  The result may have come at home against much weaker competition, but Arsene Wenger will still be very pleased with Theo Walcott’s performance.  Arsenal have been waiting for Walcott to blossom into a superstar, and 2010-11 could be the year that happens.  Wenger himself has stated that Walcott appears to be more electric this season, and has matured as a player.  This could be a very good sign for a club that is already loaded with talent.  Arsenal has their sights set on a Premier League title, and are capable of contending given the number of world class players on this roster.

Newcastle United

6-0 was a very popular scoreline over the weekend, but no one expected Newcastle United to come up with such a lopsided result in only their second game since returning to the top flight.  It was tough start for Newcastle who had to open their season at Old Trafford, but they actually proved they belonged by only losing 3-0 to the powerhouse Red Devils.  The news got even better for Newcastle supporters on Sunday when the club pummeled Aston Villa.  The Magpies were led by lone striker Andrew Carroll who scored three times in the blowout win, proving he is capable of scoring with little support in the Premier League.  Many pundits picked Newcastle to survive their first season in the Premier League, and while it is still very early, the Magpies have already shown they can play at this level, and appear poised to stick around for more than one season. 

Manchester City

It was an outstanding debut for James Milner at the City of Manchester Stadium.  Milner set up Gareth Barry’s opening goal of the match, and looked dangerous all night while helping City create their attack.  Carlos Tevez continued to look strong in the early going by scoring two second half goals to secure the victory.  It was also the second straight blank sheet put up by newly minted starting goaltender Joe Hart.  Hart has been nothing short of sensational when called upon this season, which will only create more confidence for a team that is trying to contend for a Premier League title, and a win and a tie against Liverpool and Tottenham is a pretty good start. 

Tottenham

This was a huge result for Spurs.  Tottenham opened their city with a draw at home to rival Manchester City, and a loss at the Stade de Suisse in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, so a win was very much needed for a club playing under a ton of pressure.  Many will point out that Stoke City deserved at least a point when they appeared to tie the match in the final minutes, but fortunately for Spurs there is no instant replay in the Premier League, and the 2-1 scoreline stood up for the victory.  Looking beyond the controversy, the play of Gareth Bale has to leave a smile on Harry Redknapp’s face.  Bale scored both Tottenham goals, the second goal being an absolute thing of beauty, and his strong start is a clear sign that Bale is building on a great season last year.  The success of Tottenham’s season probably rests on this Wednesday’s result against Young Boys, but at least Redknapp’s club is heading into that contest in a good frame of mind after earning a full three points in a pretty tough place to play.   

Birmingham City

Birmingham City made a name for themselves last year due largely in part for their unmatched work ethic and their ability to gut out positive results.  Well it would appear that Alex McLeish’s boys are picking up exactly where they left off.  Birmingham shocked everyone with their strong performance last year, which earned them a ninth place finish in the table, and a win and a draw in their first two matches is proof that last year is no fluke. 

West Bromwich Albion

It was quite a weekend for Peter Odemwingie.  West Bromwich completed a transfer agreement for Odemwingie just 24 hours before their match against Sunderland, and it did not take Odemwingie long to endear himself to West Bromwich fans.  Odemwingie scored the lone gaol in the 81st minute to earn Albion their first victory of the season.  It was nice response from Di Matteo’s side who were hammered 6-0 by Chelsea the week before.  All three of the Premier League’s new clubs now have one win in the first two matches, and it appears that all three clubs are poised to give it their best shot to stave off relegation.

Bolton

It has been a pretty good start to the new campaign for Bolton Wanderers.  Owen Coyle would have loved to earn a victory in the home opener last weekend, but following their opening draw with a win on the road is a fantastic response.  Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen deserves much of the credit for the victory.  West Ham dominated the first half of play, but Jaaskelainen’s heroics allowed his team to escape with a 1-0 lead at the half.  Bolton were much better at seizing their opportunities, as Johan Elmander scored his first two goals of the season in the second half to seal the victory.  It will be tough for Bolton to keep up this kind of pace, especially if they continue to give up the same kind of quality chances they did against West Ham, but another good result against Birmingham City this weekend might cause some people to start believing in this team.   

Fulham

It was quite a roller coaster day for Brede Hangelen.  It appeared that Hangelen may have gift wrapped a victory for Manchester United when he scored an own goal in the 84th minute to give the Red Devils a 2-1 lead, but Hangelen responded superbly by tying the match with a goal just five minutes later, and earning a huge point in the process for the Cottagers.  Fulham deserve full credit for playing United tough for the entire 90 minutes plus, and earning a point was a very just reward for their effort. 

The Bad…

Manchester United

United did not want to give Chelsea any breathing room in the standings early in the new season, but they did just that on Sunday after giving up a late goal to Fulham and settling for a draw.  Nani missed on a penalty that would have put the match out of reach, and Ferguson stated after the game that he thought Ryan Giggs should have taken the penalty.  It is tough to ridicule a manager with the track record that Sir Alex Furguson has, but these decisions should be made before the match.  If the manager believes Giggs should be taking the penalty shot late in the match, then the manager should have made that point more clear, and Giggs should have taken the shot.  It is a little too late to be raising your concerns after the match.   

Liverpool

It appears that the 2010-11 season could be a long one for Liverpool supporters.  Liverpool may have earned a draw against Arsenal in their opening match, but the Reds were clearly outplayed for most of that game, and that trend continued against Manchester City.  Liverpool entered the match with an eight game unbeaten streak against City, but they were no match for the high spending club on Monday.  It was a tumultuous off-season for the Reds as the Rafa Benitez saga went on for much of the summer, and rumours swirled regarding the fate of some the squad’s top talent, and the continued uncertainty regarding the impending sale of the club is clearly not helping matters.  Liverpool fans will likely have to wait until all of the problems off of the pitch are solved before anything can get much better on it. 

Stoke City

This loss was a tough pill to swallow for Stoke City, especially after losing their opening match to Wolverhampton.  Stoke appeared to have tied the match late when Jon Walters shot appeared to go over the line.  However, referee Chris Foy did not see it the same way allowing play to continue, which ensured Tottenham held on for the win and Stoke suffered their second straight defeat.  While this is just the latest example of why the football world has to accept instant replay, the fact remains that the referee’s decisions remain final, and Stoke will simply have to live with the defeat and try their best to rebound from it.  Things will not get any easier for Stoke who now head to Stamford Bridge to take on high scoring Chelsea.  Giving up less then six goals might be all they can ask for in that contest. 

Sunderland

Steve Bruce’s side is a tough one to figure out.  They appeared poised for a breakout season at the start of the year, but a disappointing start has everyone wondering just how low this club could finish.  Sunderland blew a late two-goal lead in a draw last week, and followed that up with a disappointing loss to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.  It is clear that the Black Cats simply rely too heavily on Darren Bent to provide their offense.  If Bent does not score, Sunderland does not score, and that is too much to ask of one man at this level.  Teams are keying on Bent, and will continue to do so until someone else on the Sunderland roster proves they can provide some offense.

Everton

I feel a bit betrayed by the Toffees.  I admit that I bought into the pre-season hype, and the players and management had me convinced when they stated time and again that this team would not repeat last season’s dreadful start.  Well the Premier League season is two weeks old, and Everton has yet to win a match.  Adding to the dissapointment is the fact that Everton is not exactly facing the cream of the crop to start the season.  The Toffees opened with a loss on the road against Blackburn, and followed that up with a home draw against Wolverhampton.  David Moyes must find a formula that leads to more goals.  Everton has managed to score just one goal in their first two games, and they will likely require more this weekend if they hope to defeat Aston Villa. 

Aston Villa

Speaking of the Villans, Sunday is a day that everyone in the organization would like to forget, but the supporters and media probably will not let that happen.  Losing to a team fresh from promotion is never a good thing, but losing to that team by six gaols is absolutely atrocious.  This was Villa’s first match without James Milner, and it could not have gone any worse for the Villans.  Interim manager, Kevin MacDonald, will have his work cut out for him this week as he tries to re-group his troops, and get them ready a hungry Everton squad.  MacDonald had better hope his approach works, because United States skipper Bob Bradley has expressed interest in the job, and a move could be made quickly if the team does not respond well.

Wigan Athletic

This season could not have started any worse for Wigan.  Athletic thought the schedule makers had done them a favour by giving them two straight home matches to start the season, but those two matches saw the squad surrender ten goals and score zero in two blowout defeats.  No one expected Wigan to beat Chelsea on Saturday, but everyone expected a better scoreline than.  Wigan’s defense once again looks absolutely brutal this season, and Athletic are one of the early favourites to be sent down at the end of the season. 

West Ham United

West Ham United are the other club that appears to be pretty serious about being relegated at the end of the season.  The Hammers suffered their second straight loss of the season with a 3-1 loss at home to Bolton.  Bolton won just four matches away from Reebok Stadium last season, but managed to pick up the win in their first game away from home this year.  It all adds up to a terrible start for the Hammers who were hoping to bounce back from a bad season a year ago.  Avram Grant clearly has his work cut out for him if he is going to make that happen. 

Blackpool

Week two was a bit of a wake-up call for Blackpool.  The Tangerines shocked everyone with a convincing 4-o win in their opener, but were no match for high powered Arsenal.  Blackpool manager Ian Halloway could only praise his opponents after the match.  It is going to be a long season at times for Blackpool, but they must learn to try and limit the damage even against the biggest clubs in the league. 

The Good…

Chelsea

There were many questions surrounding this Chelsea squad as they embarked on defending their Premier League championship.  Some key players left in the off-season, Chelsea struggled to find their form in the pre-season, and a number of Chelsea’s big stars were simply awful in South Africa, leaving many to wonder if they could bounce back.  If the first game of the season is any indication, Chelsea will be just fine.  Didier Drogba once again led the way by scoring a hat-trick.  Chelsea depends heavily upon Drogba to supply most of their goals, and Ancelotti will be relieved that his superstar striker has put a disappointing World Cup behind him.  Ancelotti will also be happy to see how wellFlorent Malouda played in the opening match.  Everyone knows what happened to the French squad in South Africa, and it appears Malouda is quite happy to be back at Stamford Bridge.  A 6-0 drubbing of West Bromwich Albion would indicate that Chelsea are picking up right where they left off last season. 

Manchester United

United were the second top club to be taking on a Premier League newcomer in their season opener.  Everyone remembers how Sir Alex’s side handled Burnley in their second match last season, so it is no surprise that the Red Devils did not take their opponents lightly.  Wayne Rooney may have looked completely out of sorts during the opener, but the rest of the squad did more than enough to make sure United’s season got off on the right track.  Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were simply outstanding again for Manchester United, but that has become a common site at Old Trafford.  United supporters should be more excited about the start of Demitar Berbatov.  Berbatov struggled mightily in his first season at Old Trafford, but he looked superb throughout the pre-season, and his immense skill was on full display with his opening goal in the 33rd minute.  Ferguson needs to get Rooney back on track, but the supporting cast appears  ready to handle a greater share of the load this season, making United that much more dangerous. 

Aston Villa

It was a crazy two weeks for the Villans.  Manager Martin O’Neill abruptly resigned just before the start of the new campaign, which left many wondering how the players would be able to handle the controversy surrounding the club.  Interim manager Kevin MacDonald did an outstanding job preparing his club for their opening match, as Villa completely dominated West Ham United from the opening kick.  However, the controversy surrounding this club is not going away any time soon.  James Milner has been shipped to Manchester City for Steven Ireland and cash.  Milner was absolutely superb for Villa on Saturday, and many are wondering how his departure could affect this club moving forward.  Ireland is very good player in this league, but Milner is one of the top young talents, and will surely be missed by his teammates. 

Blackpool

Wow!  Blackpool was picked by most pundits to finish dead last in the Premier League this season.  That could still very well happen, but Blackpool looked like a team that has serious thoughts of playing in the Premier League beyond this season.  The Tangerines jumped on their hosts early when Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored in the 16th minute, and newcomer Marion Harewood scored two times before the first half was even over.  Many will point out that this victory came against another lesser club in Wigan, but winning on the road is never easy in this league, and Blackpool should be very happy with their effort and the result.  Wins will not come easy for Ian Holloway’s side, but this type of effort could make Blackpool one of the surprise teams this season.   

Wolverhampton

Wolves survived relegation last season by the skin of their teeth, so opening their second campaign with three points will definitely be a welcomed result for Mick McCarthy.  Wolverhampton pounced on their opponents early, and then played solid defense the rest of the way to pick up the victory.  Wolves are once again going to be fighting to stave off relegation all season, and know that protecting home field is vital in order to remain in the top flight.  Beating a fairly solid Stoke City side is definitely a positive sign for this club moving forward. 

Manchester City

No it was not a victory, and City did give their opponents plenty of chances to score, but earning a draw in a very tough place to play is definitely a positive result.  Starting the season at White Hart Lane against the very squad that captured the much coveted fourthspot last season was not an enviable task for any team, let alone one withvery high expectations this season, but Roberto Mancini’s squad did enough to escape with one point.  City have once again spent huge sums of money in the off-season in an attempt to contend for a Premier League title, and earn a place in the Champions League.  It appears the only thing that could hold City back are themselves.  If Mancini can keep Bellemy, Tevez, Adebayor, along with others happy then the sky could be the limit for this team.  It already appears that Bellemy is very close to leaving Manchester, which will alleviate some of the headaches, but Adebayor’s recent comments regarding his desire to play for Juventus should ensure Mancini has his hands full all season.  

Blackburn

Blackburn may have benefited from a terrible gaffe by Everton keeper Tim Howard, but they deserve full marks for playing tough defense throughout the rest of match in order to secure the three points.  Blackburn are coming off a very impressive tenthplace finish last season, which could have been a lot better with some improved play in their own end.  Blackburn is not a team that can spend large amounts of money on world class strikers, so a commitment to solid play on their own end of the pitch is the best way to build off a solid season. 

The Bad…

Wigan Athletic

Brutal!  That’s the best way to sum up Wigan’s effort at home on Saturday.  Playing newcomers Blackpool on the opening weekend was thought to be a good thing for a Wigan side that should find itself involved in the relegation fight all season.  However, that fight may not last very long if Saturday is any indication.  Wigan gave up the second most goals last season, and were hoping that 2010-11 campaign would be different.  It could be another long season for Wigan supporters as the defense looked very shaky all match, and keeper Chris Kirkland was simply awful in goal.  Martinez has to find a way to fix these problems soon, or this season could be lost very quickly for Wigan. 

Everton

The Toffees got off to a brutal start last season, which ultimately cost them a spot in every European competition.  Their strong second half last season had many wondering just how high this squad could finish this time around.  Players were very optimistic regarding the 2010-11 season and told anyone who would listen that they would not repeat the same mistake again this year.  However, Everton onceagain got off to a very slow start with a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn.   The Toffees offense was almost non-existent for much of the match.  Everton’s fortunes changed last year with thearrival of Landon Donovan, but they cannot afford to wait that long again or another eighth place finish will be the best they can hope for. 

Stoke City

Stoke City were a team that appeared poised to make a statement last season.  The may have faltered a tad down the stretch, but still managed to finish a very respectable eleventh in the final standings.  Many thought 2010-11 would bring more positive results and an even higher placing.  The only way for Stoke to make a move up the table is to find more positive results on the road.  Molineux Stadium is one place where a road team can find positive results, but Stoke City failed to capitalize.  Stoke now face a desperate Tottenham sideat home on Saturday.  They have to come out with a better effort at home, or they will quickly find themselves behind early.   

Liverpool

Liverpool were being dominated by Arsenal early at Anfield, and then found themselves down to ten men before the end of the first half when Joe Cole was given a red card.  It appeared that an opening home defeat was a formality, but an early second half goal from David Ngog had the Anfield supporters once again believing in their beloved Reds.  Everything then took a turn for the worse with justminutes remaining as Pepe Reina bobbled the ball into his own net, and Liverpool lost out on two points.  No one needed a better start than Liverpool this season, and beating one of the top teams in the league would have provided them with exactly that.  Liverpool will face an even tougher test on Monday when they travel to Manchester to face high spending City.  Good luck Mr. Hodgson, you are going to need it.   

Arsenal

Earning a draw in a very tough place to play, without the services of Cesc Fabregas should be considered a positive, but the same problems that plagued the Gunners last season crept up again in the first game of the 2010-11 campaign.  Arsenal dominated much of the possession and created numerous chances to score, but could only generate one goal.  The side clearly missed Fabregas, and Van Persie only came on in the final fifteen minutes, but Arsene Wenger’sside must find a way to produce more goals.  Arsenal dropped a number of big points last season when failing to capitalize on scoring chances, and that cannot continue to plague this team again if they plan on catching Chelsea or United in the table.  Losing Samir Nasri for a month due to injury will not help the cause either.     

Tottenham

In many ways Tottenham had a dream season last year.  They finished fourth in the table, which gave them a place in the Champions League playoff.  However, it could have been even better for Harry Redknapp’s side if they had not dropped so many big points at White Hart Lane.  Those dropped points almost dropped them out of the top four, and it surely will this year if the problem is not fixed.  Spurs had numerous chances to score against City on Saturday, but were foiled time and again by the superb play of Joe Hart.  Given the number of world class strikers at Redknapp’s disposal, Spurs should be capable of burying most of their chances.  Spurs do play an up-tempo style that leads to opportunities, but too many times those chances go unfulfilled.  Tottenhamwill have to bare down when they travel to take on a very disappointed Stoke City side on the weekend.  It will be a very tough test for Spurs, especially considering the fact that they will have to fight through the pressure of playing in the Champions League playoffs, and focus entirely on Stoke City.  Earning a point on the weekend would benefit this squad greatly, but the result of their upcoming match against Young Boys on Wednesday could make or break Tottenham’s season. 

The Premier League season is off and running, and the intrigue is building already.  This weekend is already a big one for a number of clubs who will be looking to rebound from a disappointing opening matches.  The Premier League season is a marathon, but getting off to a hot start can be the springboard for great things.

An arguement can be made that the blown call completely changed the outcome of this match.  England would have tied the score in a matter of two minutes, and could have carried the momentum into the second half.  Of course if FIFA had implemented instant replay before the tournament everyone would know how the match would have played out.  At some point the world of football will have to realize that instituting replay for the purpose of determining a goal has to be done for the sheer integrity of the sport, but anyone who argues that England’s only problem is with the officials after Sunday’s contest is sadly mistaken. 

England’s performance on Sunday was simply not deserving of a victory.  Germany were by far the superior side on the pitch Sunday, and it showed in the 4-1 scoreline.  Sure, it should have read 4-2, but England’s faults were easily exposed by the Germans on numerous occasions, and Germany could have easily put up more than four. 

England’s defense, led by John Terry, was an absolute disgrace on Sunday.  Germany’s first goal came from a goal kick, which John Terry misread, and Upson allowed Miroslav Klose to out-muscle him to the ball, and slip it past David James who was slow off the line probably due to his own disbelief in what he was witnessing in front of him.  The second, third, and fourth German goals came as a result of the fact that England had no response for Germany’s speed, pinpoint passing and ability to finish.  England’s defense simply could not keep up with the younger, more talented German’s, and that had nothing to do with poor refereeing. 

Poor play at the back was not the only problem plaguing Capello’s side.  England has suffered from lackluster play in goal in recent years, and South Africa was another fine example.  Robert Green’s gaffe in the opening match will be shown for years to come, but David James’ play against Germany was far from exemplary.  While all four of Germany’s goals came as a result of poor play in front of James, the English squad would have definitely benefited from some timely saves.  If Capello is still around in four years, he would be wise to speed some quality time searching for a top notch keeper, but he also has plenty of holes to fill in other places. 

It has to be noted that potential troubles at the back and in goal were supposed to be less of an issue in South Africa due to England’s potent attack.  That attack was to be led by Wayne Rooney, who was coming off the best goal scoring campaign of his career with Manchester United, but his struggles at the international level continued.  Rooney failed to score a single goal in England’s four matches, and the longer Rooney went scoreless, the shorter England’s stay would last.  One could make the argument that Rooney was held back in part because most of England’s starting XI had to play so deep to support the defense, but he is on this team to score goals, and when he fails to do so, he has to accept some of the responsibility when the team is eliminated. 

Some people will blame poor officiating, others will blame Capello’s tactics, but the lion’s share of the blame belongs with the players.  This was supposed to be England’s golden age with the likes of Terry, Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney leading the way; but these men have failed to deliver on numerous occasions.  Given the ages of Terry, Lampard and Gerrard; one has to wonder if South Africa was their last kick at World Cup glory.

Given their cap issues, everyone was expecting the Blackhawks to be busy making deals this off-season, and the Byfuglien trade could just be the first of many this weekend alone.  The Hawks knew they could not afford to keep their current Stanley Cup winning roster together, and speculation immediately began regarding who might be leaving the windy city this summer.  Byfuglien was one of the big names mentioned, but was not the only one.  Patrick Sharpe, Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ladd are also a few names that have been prominently brought up in a number of scenarios.  While trading Byfuglien likely means Sharpe is staying put in Chicago, Versteeg and Ladd could still find themselves in different uniforms next season. 

Versteeg has garnered a lot of interest from a number of teams due to his immense skill level and young age.  Versteeg was one of the members of the Hawks who received an unexpected raise last season as a result of Dale Tallon’s RFA tender flap, and that put the Hawks in immediate trouble.  Versteeg’s rather large $3.083 annual cap hit is making it rather difficult for the Hawks to keep his services.  His performance in the playoffs has only increased interest in Versteeg, and that could mean the timing is right for the Blackhawks to pull the trigger on a trade.  It is always tough to trade away high end talent from the current roster, especially a winning one, but maximizing the return is the job of every general manager, and Stan Bowmen could find the offers to good to pass up.

The Blackhawks situation with Andrew Ladd is very similar to Versteeg’s.  Ladd does not have the offensive upside of Versteeg, but his is a rugged two-way forward, that is capable of providing some timely scoring, and also brings a physical element to the ice.  Ladd is a restricted free agent, and it is believed his price could be too high for Chicago.  Many teams would definitely benefit from having the two time Stanley Cup Champion on their roster, and Stan Bowman will once again be in a position to maximize this asset.  The Hawks would love to keep Ladd apart of this group, and have held contract talks with his agent, but if the price is too high, Ladd could find himself with another organization as soon as this weekend. 

The Boston Bruins are the other team garnering the most attention on the rumour mill over the last week.  The Bruins find themselves in a very odd situation.  They are a team that appears to be very close to contending for the Stanley Cup after advancing to the second round the last two seasons, but they also hold the second overall pick in this year’s draft due to last summer’s Phil Kessel trade.  Boston have already pulled the trigger on the Nathan Horton trade, but it does not appear that GM Peter Chiarelli is finished wheeling and dealing. 

The Horton trade, along the selection of Hall or Sequin at number two overall, leaves Boston with a surplus at the forward position, but very thin on the blueline.  Every summer rumours begin to emerge of the potential departure of Marc Savard, but the Bruins might actually be seriously considering such a move this time around.  However, Savard could still find himself in a Boston jersey next season if Chiarelli is able to fill the void on the blueline by dealing goaltender Tim Thomas.  Thomas lost the starting job last season to the much younger and cheaper Tuukka Rask, which means Thomas’ departure from Boston is imminent.  There are a number of teams throughout the league in need of a goaltender, but one has to wonder how much any team will pay for Thomas’ services given his cap number, and the Bruins desperate need to ship him out.     

The Bruins came very close to a deal last summer that would have brought Tomas Kaberle to Beantown, and those same rumours have crept up again one year later.  And why wouldn’t they?  Not much has changed, Kaberle remains one of the few assets Toronto has to deal, and the Bruins still need a puck moving defensemen.  While a trade with Boston is not out of the question, there are said to be a number of teams very interested in Kaberle, and Brian Burke will be looking to maximize the return.  The Leafs could still decide to keep Kaberle apart of their current roster, but given the money already assigned to Toronto’s backend it appears likely that Kaberle’s days in Toronto are numbered.  The Leafs desperately need more scoring and depth in the organization, so if a high end forward or draft picks are offered, Burke will probably pull the trigger.  Kaberle’s no trade clause does kick in again until July 1st, so the Leafs do have to make a decision quickley in order to have full control over their return on investment.

Kaberle is not the only offensive defensemen being shopped at the draft this weekend.  The Edmonton Oilers have made it abundantly clear that Sheldon Souray is available.  Souray will not be the easiest asset to move.  His cap hit comes in at a lofty $5.4 million, and he is coming off an injury plagued season.  Souray only played in 37 games last season, compiling just 13 points in the process and finishing a whopping -19 in that short time.  He has never been known for his defensive prowess, but he does still bring a rocket from the point, and can improve almost any team’s powerplay.  Teams will be interested in Souray, but Edmonton fans may not be getting the kind of return they want for such a high profile player. 

That leaves us with possibly the most high profile player available this summer in Ottawa’s Jason Spezza.  Senators’ GM Brian Murray publicly stated this week that Spezza would not be opposed to a trade, which basically let every other general manager in league know that the Sens are open for business.  Spezza fell out of favour with fans in Ottawa after the star struggled mightily in an opening round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.  It appears that the booing from fans has turned off Spezza, and the press conference would also indicate that Spezza may have also fallen out of favour with team management.

Trading Spezza will not be easy, however, as the Sens number one center is not only coming off a disappointing campaign, but his $7 million cap hit will make it difficult for any potential suitor to fit him into their system.  Spezza is also due a $4 million bonus on July 1st, and most teams would rather make a deal with the Sens after Ottawa pays out that bonus.  A trade involving Spezza is probably more likely to happen over the summer months, but there are a few franchises that would definitely benefit from Spezza’s offensive talents, and they could decide to make the mover quickly before other teams become seriously involved. 

These are just a few of the players being mentioned in potential draft weekend trades.  Teams are always trying to tweak their line-ups in an effort to improve over the summer, and deals are almost certain to take place when every general manager in the league is brought together.  The prospects maybe the reason everyone is in Los Angeles, but the trades will likely become the biggest story.

Halak has put together two pretty solid seasons with Montreal while sharing the goaltending duties with Carey Price, but he became a household name for hockey fans during Montreal’s run to the Conference Finals in this spring’s Stanley Cup playoffs.  Halak almost single handily beat out the top seeded Washington Capitals with one of the greatest goaltending performances in recent memory.  He carried on with that strong play during a seven game series in which the Canadiens ulimatley emerged victorious over the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.  Halak play started decline against Philadelphia, but he could hardly be faulted for the Canadiens failure to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Halak’s strong play left the Canadiens in the unenviable situation of having one the hottest goaltenders in the league on their roster, but also one of the top goaltending prospects.  Carey Price was drafted to be the franchise goaltender in Montreal for years to come, and while he has shown brilliance at times, he has failed to put together a strong consistent effort, and ultimately lost the goaltending battle to Halak this past season. 

Montreal also felt hamstrung given the fact that Halak was set to become a restricted free-agent on July 1st, which forced the Canadens to decide who would be the goaltender moving forward.  Montreal’s brass clearly must feel that Price still has the better upside of the two, and also still feel he is capable of reaching that potential in Montreal.  While this does show Price the organization still has extreme confidence in him, there will be immense pressure on Price to perform at an elite level during this upcoming season.  Halak finished last season with 26 wins, and also finished fourth in the league in save percentage and ninth goals against average.  The Canadiens would not have even made the playoffs without Halak in goal, let alone reach the Conference Finals, and now the fans will expect Price to do the same next season.  The bar has been set very high for Carey Price in 2010-2011, and it is still a question as to whether he is capable of exceeding that level.

If Halak suddenly starts to struggle as a member of the St. Louis Blues, the pressure could ease a bit, but Price’s relationship the fans in Montreal has be rocky to say the least, and it will be strained even further the Habs struggle early.  The fact that Montreal GM Gauthier did not get a bigger name back in return is also not helping matters.  The Blues roster is loaded with young talent, but the Canadiens were not able to land any member on the Blues current roster.  The two prospects being sent back in return for Halak are two of the brightest in the St. Louis’ system, but there will undoubtedly be growing pains along the way, and no one can ever be too sure what they are truly getting back in return when dealing with prospects.  The fact remains that it is highly unlikely that either Eller or Schultz can step into Montreal’s line-up next season, and put up huge offensive numbers, which will only add to the spotlight that will be shining on Price this season. 

The deal appears to be a no-brainer from the Blues perspective.  Chris Mason, who started in St. Louis the last two seasons, was an unrestricted free-agent, so the Blues had to make a decision regarding the direction they wanted to take in goal.  While Mason provided solid goaltending in St. Louis, he did struggle at times last season.  Halak is seven years younger then Mason, and has already shown more of an upside in his game.  Some are thinking that Halak has peaked too soon, and will never reach these levels again, but his numbers during the regular season were terrific, and his performance with Slovakia at the Olympics along with his play in the playoffs would indicate that Halak could be as good as advertised. 

The Blues are loaded with talent at the forward position throughout their organization, so Eller and Schultz were both expendable assets.  St. Louis has shown an incredible knack for selecting top notch prospects at forward and on defense, but they have failed mightily when it comes to grooming goaltenders.  The last St. Louis goaltender to come through the system and star at the NHL level was Curtis Joseph, so seeking a goaltender from outside the organization appears to be the right move.  There is always a risk involved when trading top prospects who could both blossom into top scorers in the NHL, but the possibility of landing one of the top goaltenders in the game is one that the Blues cannot pass up.

With every group having now kicked off in the World Cup there have already been a few surprises that have thrown a wrench into the plans of many nations.  The surprises started on day one when South Africa came very close to pulling off an unbelievable upset of  Mexico.  Despite carrying much of the play, Mexico required a late gaol from Marquez to stave off a complete disaster. 

Facing the host nation in the World Cup is never a envious task, but SouthAfrica, outside of North Korea, is the lowest ranked squad in the tournament, and Mexico were hoping to earn a full three points.  Points are at a premium in what was thought to be a very tough group A.  However, given the lackluster performance put in by an uninspired French team, many are wondering if Les Blues are capable of beating anyone.  No host nation has ever failed to advance past the group stage, and South Africa clearly has a chance at keeping that streak alive.  That would definitely rank as one of the greatest stories to emerge from this competition, but France could easily steal some of those headlines if they continue this horrid play. 

New Zealand continued the trend of unexpected results on Tuesday.  It surprised no one when New Zealand went down a goal to Slovakia in the 50th minute.  However, everyone was sent into shock, especially the Slovak supporters, when Winston Reid scored during the final seconds of injury time to earn New Zealand their first point ever at the World Cup.  The All White are still the favourites to finish fourth in their group, but Reid’s goal gives the entire nation hope, and will go down as one of the greatest moments in New Zealand’s football history. 

The most shocking result to take place prior to Switzerland’s win was the stunning victory pulled off by Japan.  Japan had never won a game off the continent of Asia, and that was a not a good sign considering their first opponent was Cameroon.  Cameroon should have felt very comfortable playing on their own continent, but they looked uninspired for much of the match, failing to put in the required effort needed to win at this level.  Meanwhile, Japan played strong defensive football, and converted on a catastrophic defensive lapse from Cameroon at the back. 

This result definitely does not push Japan over the top, but it does leave them in prime position to advance.  Meanwhile, Cameroon now has a mountain to climb in order to advance.  Their match against Denmark is now a must win, and then they will have to hope Japan loses the rest of the way.  Cameroon put in a solid 15 minutes of work at the end, but will need to play a full 90 for the rest of the way. 

Japan was not the only Asain country to earn positive results in their first match.  South Korea was not considered to be as large an underdog as Japan, but the Koreans have also struggled away from Asia in the past.  However, Moo’s side looked absolutely dominant in a 2-0 victory over Greece.  It was a good test for the Koreans who like to play an up tempo style that has left them exposed at times at the back, especially against opponents who like to hang back and then break on the counter attack.  The fact that Korea was able to beat the Greeks so handley is a great sign for Huh Jong-Moo’s men moving forward.

It was not all surprises during the first five days of action.  Italy got off to their usual slow start in a 1-1 draw with Paraguay, and English fans were once agains forced to witness one of their keepers make a glaring gaffe that ultimately cost the English a victory over the United States.  But it is the surprising results that occur in each and every World Cup that create drama.  One match has the ability to throw a country’s dreams into chaos, while it can lift another to new heights.  Just ask Switzerland and Spain!

Spain is dealing with a few injuries at the moment, but it appears that everyone should be ready to go.  Fernando Torres may sit out the first match, but that will only be as a precaution to rest his sore knee, and this team has the talent to overcome his limited absence.  However, Torres is not the only member of this team coming off an injury.  Mid-fielders Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Cesc Fabregas are all coming off of various injuries, and manager Vicente del Bosque will be hoping they all manage to stay healthy for the length of the World Cup.  Injuries appear to be the only thing that could stop this football superpower from advancing very deep in South Africa.

The rest of the group is simply hoping to finish second because topping Spain is virtually impossible.  Chile is coming off a phenomenal qualifying campaign, and enter the tournament as one of the team’s to watch.  Chile’s strength lies with their offensive talent, and manager Marcelo Bielsa loves to let his players attack the opposition.  Bielsa’s squad is loaded with young talent up front, and the team has scored a lot of goals, but their weakness is at the back, and Chile subsequently allowed quite a few goals as well.  It will be interesting to see how well these young, talented players hold up under the spotlight of the World Cup.  If Chile gets off to a good start against Honduras, this team could be primed for a trip to the second round. 

Like Chile, Switzerland also brings a very young squad to South Africa, but that is where the similarities end.  The match between Switzerland and Chile will be a clash of styles.  Switzerland will try to use their stifling defense to win low scoring matches.  It worked for them in the group stage in Germany four years ago, but their lack of goal scoring caught up to Switzerland in the second round.  Switzerland will be depending heavily upon Alex Frei to score enough goals to give them a chance to win.  It will be a tall task, but the Swiss will have to be able to shut down Chile, and then find some offense on the counter-attack.  If this system works, Switzerland could once again find themselves in the second round. 

If Spain and Chile are fighting an uphill battle, then Honduras is climbing a mountain.  Honduras surprised everyone just by qualifying for South Africa, but not much is expected from this tiny country at the World Cup.  Honduras lacks the offensive flair of Chile, and the tenacious defense of Switzerland.  Honduras does have some very talented players on its roster, but they will need to play perfect football just to earn a single victory in this group. 

Spain should walk away with Group H.  Their talent can only be matched by Brazil, and those two squads will only face each other if both reach the final.  Chile and Switzerland will be involved in the fight for second.  If Chile’s stars are performing, it will be very difficult for even Switzerland to hold off their offense for an entire 90 minutes. 

Predictions

1. Spain

2. Chile

3. Switzerland

4. Honduras

Many pundits have picked Brazil to win the entire competition, so it is not surprising they are considered the favourites to win the group despite its strength.  Brazil brings to South Africa was of the best starting XI units in the world, and probably the deepest bench.  While everyone on the pitch is capable of causing serious problems for the opposition, Kaka is the man that makes this motor run.  He controls the ball in the middle, and has the ability to not only beat the opposition by himself, but distributes the ball with pinpoint accuracy when a teammate is left open.  Brazil attacks with flair leaving the opposition on their heels for most of the match, but this side also plays very strong defensive football.  That combination is what makes Brazil one of the best in the world. 

Tuesday’s match between Ivory Coast and Portugal could very well decide which country advances to the second round, and which country will be going home very disappointed.  Ivory Coast was favoured heading into the tournament given their recent strong performances heading into South Africa, but everything changed when Didier Drogba suffered a broken arm during a tune-up match.  When healthy, Drogba is arguably the best striker in the world.  He uses his fantastic combination to size and speed to bully his way past defenders, and then possesses the skill to turn opportunities into goals.  However, Drogba is not expected to be available for the match against Portugal, and even if he is able to play, it is not known how effective he can be.  Ivory Coast contains a number of talented players, but this team depends on Drogba to score the majority of its goals, and it is doubtful they will be able to find an adequate replacement if Drogba is unable to play during the tournament.

Portugal, meanwhile, not only has their own injuries to deal with, but their is also a concern regarding team chemistry, which could be enough to put them in jeopardy of failing to advance past the first round.  Portugal enters the World Cup ranked third in the world, but a very poor qualifying campaign left many wondering what is wrong with this team.  There have been rumours of a rift between manager Carlos Queiroz, and some of his players.  While everyone is denying the rumours, the issue has apparently come  to the forefront once again.  Nani was sent home from South Africa with an apparent injury, but he told the local press that he was only going to miss one game due to the injury, so everyone is know guessing the real reason he was sent home.  Team officials are sticking to the story that it was due to injury, but if things start poorly for the Portuguese, the finger pointing will soon surely follow. 

Not much is expected from North Korea, but not much is known about the team either.  North Korea played a very stingy defensive game during qualifying, and that is not expected to change at the World Cup.  However, playing almost 90 minutes in your own end of the pitch against the likes of Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast does not appear to be a recipe for positive results.  North Korea will simply be trying to keep their matches close, as the opposition will be trying to lift their goal totals against the much weaker competition. 

Brazil should advance into the second round as group winners.  They enter the tournament with the deepest and most talented roster of teams involved, and that should ensure positive results.  The battle for second will come down to the play of Drogba and Ronaldo.  If Drogba is unable to play, then Ivory Coast will struggle to score goals without their leader.  Ronaldo is healthy entering South Africa, but he has struggled to find his goal scoring touch in international competitions.  Ronaldo will be doing his best to shed that reputation, and if he finds his touch then Portugal could be headed to much bigger and better things in South Africa.    

Predictions

1. Brazil

2. Portugal

3. Ivory Coast

4. North Korea

Advancing beyond the group stage of the 2010 World Cup should not be a problem for the Azzurri.  This team not only has the talent to win this group, but they still have the talent to win the tournament, despite the worries over their age.  With age comes experience, and Italy has plenty of that.  The Italians have always been known for their strong defensive football, and that should once again be the staple of this team in South Africa.  Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, and Criscito will form a phenomenal defensive corps that is capable of shutting down the best offensive players in the world.  The defense will have to be very good in South Africa, because the offense could struggle at times to score goals.  Italy will not require many to win, but Gilardino and Iaquinta will have to have very good tournaments if Italy is going to have any shot at repeating as champions.

Paraguay is one team in Group F that many are thinking could give Italy a run for its money.  Paraguay also plays a very strong defensive game, but they love to push men forward on the counter-attack, which places a great deal of pressure on the opposition’s defense.  Paraguay is the odds on favourite to capture the second spot in Group F, and will be considered a serious threat to reach the quarterfinals.  Their counter-attacking style is made possible due to the skill this team contains up front.  Santa Cruz, Valdez, and Cardozo provide manager Gerardo Martino with plenty of options up front.  Martino will be hoping his squad avoids the early demise suffered four years ago, when they lost a heart-breaker to England in their first match, and could not recover in their final two matches.  Paraguay must avoid placing too much emphasis on their opening match against Italy, because the matches against Slovakia and New Zealand are just as important. 

The Slovaks pose the biggest threat for creating an upset, and advancing beyond the group stage.  Slovakia is yet another Eastern European country known for their disciplined style of play.  However, this roster also boasts a number of great offensive players who bring a great deal of quickness to the pitch.  The Slovaks have a tendancy to play a little too conservative at times, but they would be wise to let their players attack, because their speed could give every other team fits.  Vladamir Weiss’ side will have to get off to a good start against New Zealand to have any shot at earning a spot in the second round. 

Not much is expected of New Zealand.  The All Whites qualified out of the easiest group, and their international record does not exactly inspire confidence in the squad.  New Zealand will likely play a very cautious defensive game in an effort to keep the score close, giving the team a shot at winning games in the second half.  However, a lack of goal scoring and a suspect defense will likely result in an early exit for New Zealand. 

Italy’s age will only become a factor later in the tournament, and the Azzurri should enter the second round as Group F winners. Paraguay’s combination of great defensive play along with strong striking ability should be enough to propel the the club through.  Slovakia could still surprise, but it will take a fantastic effort against Paraguay on June 20th to do so. 

Predictions

1. Italy

2. Paraguay

3. Slovakia

4. New Zealand