Geezer's weekend review

Arsenal are back in the title race; Manchester City's foreigners don't have the bottle for a scrap; Crystal Palace could be the worst Premier League team in history.

Ok, so only one of those three statements is true. I'll let you pick the one you fancy.

Not the most exciting weekend of action, but it's still just the second weekend of the season. Nothing is decided in August - it's not like Spurs can win 1-0 every week with a dodgy penalty - and if it was the same every week, Newcastle, West Ham, Everton and West Brom fans would probably never watch another game in their lives.

We need some perspective this early in the year. Although I can already see tomorrow's back pages predicting Jose has David Moyes' number, or that the Scotsman has evoked the spirit of Fergie.

Oh, and a replay of Hull v Norwich is on later. Don't forget to record that one.

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PSG finally won a game, with Cavani scoring again, but Marseille remain top after winning their first 3 games of the season... Barcelona won 1-0 without Messi, with Neymar still being used as a sub. Real Madrid play Grenada today (without Gareth Bale as things stand)... Dortmund, Leverkeusen, Bayern Munich and Mainz 05 have all won their opening 3 games in the Bundesliga - maybe it's not the two horse race I predicted (but let's give it a few weeks). Serie A review to come...

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Clint Dempsey is still goalless since his return to the MLS, but Seattle won again, so no one will care about the other stats - oh wait, it's the US, stats are all that matter. The Red Bulls were upset by bottom of the table Chivas, but with 15 of the 19 teams still in contention for the playoff places, no result in the MLS is really a surprise.

Battle of the hair

Now it seems that Spurs are about to sign Willian - making it another target that Liverpool and Arsenal have missed out on. I do wonder if Daniel Levy and AVB just wait until other teams find players they want, then offer double the wages.

It also suggests that Spurs are about to sell Gareth Bale. As we suggested in this article at the end of July, it may not be bad for Tottenham. They have seemingly already spent the money - as there is no other place they can be getting it as they didn't qualify for the Champions League again.

Another attacking midfielder joins the league. They seem to be flavor of the month, but it makes sense for Spurs after they sold Clint Dempsey and are finally realizing that Gylfi Sigurdsson is rubbish.

Maybe it's coincidence, but if Willian does come to the Premier League, then David Luiz could be off - there's just not enough room for all that hair!

Pelotas' Pondering: Deuce, MLS got it right

Clint Dempsey comes home to a 'new league'

Now that we've had time to digest the massive Clint Dempsey signing, it's looking more and more like MLS circles, including hardcore and casual supporters, agree that his capture is a historic signing for the young and growing league.

After reading the excellent Sports Illustrated article by the one and only Grant Wahl that detailed the extraordinary events of the last couple of weeks, I have to agree with Wahl and many other footy writers that this has to rank as the top signing in the 18-year journey of MLS.

You see, Dempsey is only 30 years old. He's made his mark with Fulham, flirted with Liverpool and ended up at Tottenham, where it was expected that--prior to signing with Seattle Sounders--he'd see little time with Spurs as they've been tapping the transfer market for additional reinforcements. 'Deuce' had a decent outing in his six years in England but he definitely has a couple of years left for top-flight competition.

But it's interesting to see that Deuce himself sought out a move back home, according to the SI story. That speaks volumes about the league and its stature. Yes, the money had to be right for him but to even consider that an MLS team would shell out cash for a transfer fee was unfathomable just a decade ago. It also helps that he'll be partnering up with his BFF, Eddie Johnson, and barring an epic collapse by the U.S. national team, both Deuce and EJ should be in Brazil next year.

That gives them ample time for chemistry, ideas and, most importantly, continuous playing time. Sure, Jurgen Klinsmann would've probably preferred his captain and one of the top American players the nation has produced somewhere in the vicinities of European football but Deuce was made here in MLS. The league--with all of its questionable officiating, lack of technical abilities in some matches and an occasional and unnecessary intrusion by the league front office (You Suck, A..hole!)--is growing by leaps and bounds in many aspects that many leagues around the world would strive for.

Deuce believes in MLS, MLS believes in Deuce. Now the world should take notice and believe too.

Wonder if Everton and Roma are interested in talking about bringing home some more of our boys.

-Tio Pelotas