THE Football Ground up

Ground up, you ask why. Because we are doing an all round, from the grassroots(Kenya) to the cream of the crop(E.P.L) analysis.... or so I like to think of all the footballing action around us.Also, it shall be in no particular order.

The return of the prem. So recently European leagues took a break for the International fixtures for two weeks. Excruciatingly boring two weeks if you ask me. Premier league action resumed though, and boy was it everything we expected it to be! From Arsenal's demolition of premier league newboys Southampton, to Manchester's Wrath on Wigan, I think we all agree that it was way better than the international break. Even Chelsea and Liverpool fans with their draws will agree to it. Arsenal have rediscovered their form. Chelsea haven't recovered from the beating they received from Atletico. Liverpool... *whispers a prayer for them* I hope they don't get relegated. Manchester City... champions have to be respected even when they falter. Period

Further, apart from being the first weekend the EPL resumed, it was also a milestone in some way here and there. Lets just focus on United this once. 500 HOME games under Fergie. 700, 600 and 400 for Scholes, Giggs and Rio respectively. Narrow it down a little and we focus on Scholes. Ginger genius. Midfield Maestro. Genius. Call him what you may, but we all agree he is good. I dug up a little on him. turns out he always marks that hundred mark in a special way. On his 200th game, he scored an own goal. Must have been hard on him. But he has mostly positives in his career that am sure he doesnt even remember that one.

Scored two on his debut and one in every other hundredth game, apart from his 600th appearance. But he doesn't score too often so his goalscoring is clearly just a plus. His passing is what makes this tiny man a big gap when he lacks from the United line-up. And for that he has won everything there is to win with Manchester United. It is sad that he ended his England career so soon though. Here are a few words, by BBC Sports, in praise of this passmaster who we will all miss when eventually he does call time on his career.

Scholes was at the heart of United's revival, pulling the strings with his laser-guided passing and well-oiled repertoire of feints and flicks.
Perhaps we should have expected it, given he had found the net on his debut and his 100th game, then - after an own goal on his 200th - strikes on his 300th, 400th and 500th appearances for the club.
This was a landmark day for United. Scholes was making his 700th appearance in a United shirt and Rio Ferdinand his 400th, while Ryan Giggs took to the field for his 600th Premier League match. It was also Ferguson's 500th home league match - he had won 355 of the previous 499 (drawing 95 and losing 49). Ferguson is harnessing the past to shape the future. Tom Cleverley and others are being given the chance to learn from a man Zinedine Zidane, no less, described as "undoubtedly the greatest midfielder of his generation"

That's that. I dont think anything I would add would say it better than the facts presented above.But I can remind you of greater footballing action that is coming back... in the name of UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!!!

Lets talk Tusker Premier League. That's the new tag on our Kenyan Premier League. An achievement on the part of Kenyan football. I always thought the entry of Supersport and Goal.com into Kenyan football would help this game. And with those, am sure Kenyan football will continue to make noticeable steps in progress. Hopefully all that money will be put to good use though. Otherwise we will remain where we are... under-achieving football nation. I was drinking with some friends who were former AFC Leopards players(didn't know until the other day) the other day, and according to them, no matter how good your season was as a player, if you didn't give the national team coach at the time a kickback, then you dont get to play for the Kenya team. 

Away from the grim news that is our reality, Gor Mahia look like worthy contenders for the KPL title. They have the Mourinho mentality(If we can't win, we can't lose either). Must be their new coach, Mr Logarusic. Credit to him. They weren't exactly relegation material but were not title winning material either. Was watching Supersport 9(kwa wenyewe of course, juu me bado sufferer) the other day, they had KPL coverage... Am talking comprehensive coverage, like the one they do before a premier league match. Good stuff really. Point is, that man Logarusic has really turned Gor Mahia's football for sure; from the training drills, discipline issues down to the football itself. You never really know what could happen in football but I think Gor are looking like likely champions this season. Lets wait and see if the others... Tusker FC under Coach Matano(very strict man by the way), AFC Leopards and Ulinzi will step their games up. If they do so, then ladies and gentlemen, we will have a contest the magnitude almost of the EPL last season.

I think we need a 'Know Kenyan football' article. So that we all can at least know teams in the KPL and their managers at least, if not the players. But, I think Supersport 9 is a good start. 

Also, we(@kevin_seth and @arthurnyoiks) have set up an account on twirra, @TweepsFC since we are also planning to launch our own website twitterfc.com to do basically what we are doing here. So, we look forward to gaining your support. Peace