I had the chance to watch 3 of the so called big 4 this weekend and I just can't make up my mind. I say 3 as I'm not made of money and along with the coverage from Sky TV that I already pay for, I'm not being held to ransom by Santana or Setanta, oh what ever it's called.

Why should I pay extra money, on top of an already high monthly sum, for a sport that used to be the working man's game? I can see the rowing, fencing, archery and swimming for nothing on the BBC for nothing, but there hardly working class sports are they? I mean, when was the last time Dave from the cleaning team or Trisha from the canteen compete in the beam event, or one of those toff type sailing events? Never.

Any how, only the Liverpool game was out of my grasp, though I did replace that with the boys from the Sheep-town and their latest attempt to win a league game. I'll start with the early kick off down at the Emirates stadium, and Arsenal's quest to end a three season silverware drought.

The 'Kids' can only have that tag for so long and this is the season that Mr Burns look-a-like Arsene Wenger must produce,. Walcott has to repay his price tag week in week out, Flamini and Hleb must be replaced with immediate effect and Adebayor and Van Persie must remain fit for an entire season. Saying that, the players on show did an adequate job against WBA despite not being able to add to Samir Nasri's 4th minute debut goal. He also could be a key figure in the Title race.

Chelsea started my Sunday off with a 4 goal demolition of Pompy, the FA Cup winners looking more like LDV winners at time, and they demolished them with style to boot. Joe Cole and Anelka look like different players already under Scolari whilst Bosingwa and fellow Portuguese countryman Deco were class personified. Lampard can do no wrong in a blue shirt and Cech may not have to many easier days than that.

Manchester United faced Newcastle in the last of my footballing marathon, and after putting 11 goals past the Geordies last season I was hoping to be entertained. Indeed I was, but not by the Red United. King Kev's Black and White's surprised every one, inside and out of Old Trafford with a wonderful and enegetic display of youth and stability. Newcastle have also wasted very little time in replacing Ivan Campo as the Premier League's Side show Bob Look-a-like. Keep an eye out for the Argentine Collacini in the next few weeks.

All three, and this is scary for the rest of the league, have players yet to come into the first team fold. United were missing both Ronaldo and Tevez, Chelsea didn't miss Michael Essien and Arsenal will be hoping Cesc Fabregas isn't out much longer. What I did read and hear of the Curly perm boys was all very good as well. The big 4 may just remain the big 4, and for a while to I suspect.

Swan Dive

Well, the euphoria had to stop somewhere, so why not in Wales? Two dodgy goals and a sucker punch consigned Forest to defeat against Swansea at the weekend but all in all it's perhaps what we deserved. Setting aside some good period's of play for the Red's the Swans, similar to last season, battered us from pillar to post and if we had of come away with a point we may of considered ourselves lucky, alas that was not to be.

We all know that Earnie needs a little help up there and equally we realise that only time is our healer, or indeed 4-5 player healer. Let's pray for the return of Tyson, Cole, Anderson and Davies, as for Garner we knew what we were doing when the ink was going onto the contract. I don't know about any one else but I looked at the fixture list when it first came out and told my self that I'd be more than pleased with 5-7 points from the first 4 game's. Reading and Watford at Home, Swansea and Wolves away, not an easy start by any one's imagination.

If we can play the sort of football that we've shown in glimpses, and have options to freshen things up, then the season will indeed be an exiting one, time will tell on that score.
What doesn't need to happen is the moaning and groaning. One defeat does not mean the end of civilisation as we know it, it just means a loss. It's not as bad as being sat on by Lisa Riley, or a night out with Pete Doherty, it just means that the early school card reads 'must do better'

Alan March
Commentator for visually impaired spectators at Nottingham Forest and Wembley Stadium.