01/09/12 Premier League week-end round-up

West Ham 3 – 0 Fulham:

The early kick off in saturday's matches was a good chance for West Ham's new loan signing Andy Carroll to display his talents to the home ground, and he did just that, tearing up Fulham's defence and set the Hammers on the way after just 53 seconds when his knock down header allowed Ricardo Vaz Te to tee up Kevin Nolan to slot home with his left foot. Then in then 29^th minute the Irons doubled their lead after defender Winston Reid powered in a header when he found himself free from a corner. West Ham virtually sealed the win in the 41^st minute after Matthew Taylor finished from outside the box into the bottom corner. Carroll left the Upton Park pitch after 68 minutes after concerns over a hamstring injury, but he most certainly played a huge part the West Ham victory that was secured after a rampant first half display.

Swansea 2-2 Sunderland

Sunderland's new £14 million signing Steven Fletcher scored twice on his Sunderland debut to draw Swansea's 100% start to the season to a close. 

Fletcher's first came after Ashley Williams's horrific backpass was miscued and left Fletcher one on one with Vorm, and the Scotsman cooly slotted home. Swansea's response was almost instant when Wayne Routledge fired home from 10 yards out. However the resiliant Sunderland side struck back with Fletcher's second goal of the afternoon, a tap in at the far post just before half time. Sunderland were denied the win however after Michu secured a point for the home side who survived the last 20 minutes with 10 men after Jose Manuel Flores was sent off.

Tottenham 1-1 Norwich

Norwich managed to snatch a point late on at White Hart Lane against 10 man Tottenham, resigning them to their worst start to a Premier League season for four years.

Deadline day signing Moussa Dembele had put Spurs in front with a goal on his debut, but with time running out Robert Snodgrass managed to find a pocket of space and let fly with a low left-footed shot that beat the Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel all ends up. Boos echoed around the Lane at the final whistle, leaving Andre Villas-Boas still without a competitive win as Tottenham manager.

West Brom 2-0 Everton

Unbeaten West Bromwich Albion recorded their best start ever to a Premier League season at the cost of Everton's unbeaten streak at The Hawthorns. 

Baggies Irish striker Shane Long tucked in the close-range opener from substitute Peter Odemwingie's low left-wing cross. Defender Gareth McAuley powerful header tied up West Brom's victory as Everton lost for the first time in 12 top flight games. Everton's best chance fell to in form Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, but he slashed the opportunity wide.

Wigan 2-2 Stoke

Stoke and England striker Peter Crouch managed to rescue Stoke a point at the DW stadium after Franco Di Santo looked to have secured a victory for the home side Wigan. 

Di Santo's fifth goal in eight games had put the Latics 2-1 up in the 49^th minute before Crouch powered home Jon Walters' cross. Stoke's new signing Charlie Adam, who joined on deadline day in a £4m deal from Liverpool, was denied a heroic winner by Ali Al Habsi's stunning save late on.

Man City 3-1 QPR

The day's late kick off saw two big summer spending clubs clash, QPR signing 12 new players through the summer, and the champions Manchester City who made 5 signings on deadline day. 

City managed to maintain their unbeaten start to the new season against QPR at The Etihad. The Premier League champions were watched by Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho ahead of their meetings in the champions league. Yaya Toure gave City the lead in the 16^th minute in a first half that they totally dominated. QPR managed to stun the City crowd after grabbing an equaliser through Bobby Zamora 59 minutes into the game. Just 2 minutes later however City were back in front through Edin Dzeko before Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez secured the win in stoppage time to calm the home crowd's nerves.

This is the Premier League table as it currently stands, with 3 games being played on Sunday.

 Chelsea remain the only team to take full points from their 3 games, but Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City still also remain unbeaten. Everton slip down to 5th after their loss and West Ham are among the teams rising in the league after their comfortable win at Fulham. QPR remain near the bottom with only Aston Villa below them who play Newcastle United tomorrow.

Team GB squad and their chances at the London 2012 Olympics

13 Englishmen and 5 Welshmen have been named by Team GB manager Stuart Pearce in his 18 man squad for the summer 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Interestingly, Pearce has not picked any Scottish or Northern Irish players for the tournament, and has even left out one of Great Britain's figureheads for the Olympic Games bid, David Beckham. Leaving Beckham out of the side has left pundits having mixed feelings about Pearce, and his choice to select Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards as his three over twenty three players. Pearce confirmed there was no political pressure on him to select Beckham for his Team GB Olympic squad - and that he would not have accepted the job if there had been.

Swansea have three players named, the most of any club - Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen and Neil Taylor, while Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who has been included, also played his football in Cardiff last year at the Liberty Stadium for the Swans. 

Other notable names that have been selected to play for Team GB include Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, who many considered to be unlucky to miss out on the England team for the European championships that have just passed. 

Manchester United's up and coming star Tom Cleverley is one of the central midfielders to get the nod from Stuart Pearce.

Arsenal's Welshman Aaron Ramsey is also in the squad and bidding for a start in Team GB's opening game after stellar performances this year for Arsenal. 

London 2012 will be the first time that Team GB have competed in the men's football competition since the 1960 Games in Rome.

Team GB kick off their Olympic campaign in Manchester at Manchester United's stadium Old Trafford, against Senegal on July 26, before playing the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on July 29 and Uruguay at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on August 1.

Team GB Squad

• Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City) and Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)
  
• Defenders: Micah Richards (Manchester City), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Jack Cork (Southampton) and Stephen Caulker (Tottenham)
  
• Midfielders:Joe Allen (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham) and Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
  
• Forwards: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Marvin Sordell (Bolton) and Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea)
  

Analysis of squad

The set of players that Pearce has chosen to represent Great Britain looks very promising as we have great experience in players such as Giggs and Bellamy as well as a lot of potential from players like Sturridge, Cleverley and Allen. Team GB's only problem could lie in not having an experienced, commanding centre-half in the squad and this could be a problem if we encounter any world class opposition.

Prediction

If our young players can step up to the big stage and our older, more experienced players can lead the field and show the younger players the ropes, I can see Team GB getting a medal at the Olympics this year.

Team GB will finish: 2^nd/3^rd Place

Please leave your comments below on your views about Pearce's selections and what round you think Team GB will reach this year.