Premier League Week 1: West Ham - Man City

The Premier League is underway! Who knows how long I'll keep this up, but Week 1 is like the first day of school -- I arrive way early, drenched with enthusiasm, trying to do every last thing I think I want to do. Eventually, I just do what I have to do. So we'll see.

Breakfast: Three-egg omelet with dill, prepackaged ham slices, orange bell pepper, and organic tomatoes. I'm learning as I go -- eggs by themselves should be cooked over low heat, but I think omelets demand higher heat because the rest of the ingredients are cold, and it would take for-freaking-ever over low heat. With kickoff less than five minutes away, up goes the heat, baby. Oh, and Twinings English Breakfast tea.

First Half

City starts out dominating the midfield. While I detest the lack of attacking possibilities that a lone striker offers -- think France playing two holding midfielders at last year's World Cup -- playing five in midfield when your opponent insists on four is a sure way to control possession. West Ham plays rather carelessly, giving away the ball at seemingly every opportunity. Petrov takes several shots from distance, and they're not bad shots, they're just not on goal. I'm impressed by how well-timed almost every challenge is and by how dangerous almost every cross is -- the Gold Cup and MLS have lowered my expectations. After a well-timed tackle on Boa Morte, the ball pops straight to Hamann, who releases Elano down the middle of the pitch with space to run at the West Ham defense. Elano directs Bianchi to his left, then simply runs around the defense to the right, plays a firm, curving ball perfectly back across between the keeper and Ferdinand for Bianchi to slide home from three yards out. 1-0 City. A rather simple goal, and poor defending by Upton to let Elano get around him, but watching Elano on the ball here was like watching Jason Kidd run a fast break.

West Ham looks to have settled. Bellamy is spending way too much time on the left wing, and any advantage he may have over Corluka in speed is more than compensated for by the Croatian's size. I used to think Bellamy was tall, but that could be because he's just insane. Bianchi clearly doesn't speak any English, and I have to wonder how team chemistry overcomes a language barrier. I can't think of an office job in which fluency with the predominant language isn't absolutely required, so I really don't know what it's like to be able to do your job without perfectly understanding your coworkers. Some chances for West Ham, some nice dancing in the box by Boa Morte, but it must be frustrating for the West Ham supporters to watch each attack wasted without a quality attempt at goal. Surely enough, they boo at the halftime whistle.

Halftime beer: St. Peter's English Ale. I'm a huge fan of St. Peter's Cream Stout, but in keeping with today's theme, I'm going with this English pale ale. My first thought was, "This smells like MGD." Seriously, this is a beer that should not be served directly out of the refrigerator. Much better aroma after it warms up a bit and other flavors have a chance to contribute. Decent beer, but I'm not spending $3.49 a pint to drink decent, so no repeat purchase on the horizon here.

Second Half

Live-blogging takes commitment. This is in no way live blogging. Beer + open laptop = less attention on a not-totally-enthralling game. West Ham uses all three subs at the break, and creates better chances in this half, including a great diagonal, lofted pass to the endline by Zamora to...some guy...who rifles the ball across the face of goal, just missing Ljungberg, who really just had his weight on the wrong foot to be able to react in time. City get a second goal after some great work by Onuoha sets up Giovanni in the right side of the box to bury a low shot inside the far-post. Wow, I have no tolerance. This is ridiculous. Cheaper this way, but still ridiculous.

Checking other scores...whoa, Spurs lose late at Sunderland. Hey, it's Week 1, I'm motivated, I'll stick around for the highlights. And Derby gets a point! At home, but still, it's Pompey, so not bad. Ohhhhhh...Tottenham, that is a weak goal. Four minutes into stoppage time. Way not to mark the guy right in the middle of the box.

Well, fun start to the Premiership. It's a rare Saturday that I've had a good breakfast and gotten tipsy before 11:00a.m. We'll see how long I can keep this up.