English Premier League kick off.

Luis Suarez scores the first goal of the 2011-12 season.

So the English Premier League kicked off, and as though we were never away, the action and drama was no less entertaining than on the final day of last season. The constant calls for the ‘eye in the sky’ video referee may not have been answered, the goal line technology is still a season away, but retrospective discipline is available must be taken and taken now by the F.A. before it really gets out of hand.

The issue of diving, simulating, play acting or gamesmanship, whatever you like to call it has been the most negative side effect of the Premier League since its inception twenty odd seasons ago. A lot of foreign imports have been blamed for bringing in this ‘disease’. Regardless when it started it is now rife throughout the game as money talks and players will do all they can to get ahead. With the punishment for simulation, (which seems to be the preferred word for cheating), minimal, I firmly believe retrospective banning of the players would reduce this dramatically.

The incident at St James Park on Saturday however was initially not so clear cut. At first glance it would appear that an Arsenal player took a tumble, but there was contact. Minimal, and in a fair world the player would have got up and carried on, or more to the point not fallen over in the first place. There were incidents that were much more blatant, not just in this game that would make the game a much more enjoyable spectacle in my opinion were they to be stamped out.

Love him or hate him, Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal has always sent his teams out with a bit of steel in their play. Accusing the powers that be, of a vendetta against his side, he can have no arguments in the red card issued to new signing Gervinho. Whilst it was a feeble slap to the face of the controversial Joey Barton, raising your hands to an opponent’s face is a red card. End of story. Gervinho can count himself unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty, but the manner to which he fell did him no favours in the referee’s eyes. Barton was also involved in the most sinister event of the opening Saturday as he was stamped on, unseen by the busier than usual referee, by Alexander Song. Song should have gone, and one hopes that the discipline panel decide that a retrospective ban is mandatory as there is no place in any game for actions of that sort.

Song and Barton took the headlines for the wrong reasons.

That aside the game failed to live up to the hype of last season’s remarkable 4-4 and with Captain Cesc Fabregas and star man Samir Nasri both on their way out, one wonders if this is a season too far for the North London giants to maintain their status as one of the ‘big four’. The next few games, home to Liverpool in the league and a Champions League qualifier against Italian side Udinese could shape a season still in its infancy.

Two of the biggest spenders in Liverpool and Sunderland went head to head on the opening day, with the home side flying out of the traps. Again the talking point was over a red card, or lack of one to Sunderland’s Kieran Richardson, after bringing down Luis Suarez as he was about to score. You can’t help but feel if the incident had been in the second half instead of in the first couple of minutes, or not in the opening day game Richardson would have walked. Leniency from the referee is all well and good when the game is done and dusted and whilst no one likes to see players sent off, ultimately it cost Liverpool the win as after a blistering start where they could have scored four, Sunderland came back into the game to claim a well deserved point.

Opening day is surely too soon to be talking of relegation ‘six pointers’ but with Wigan and Norwich both expected to be fighting to retain their place in the top flight, a one all draw was more beneficial to the away side, especially after going behind. Norwich’s chairman Delia Smith would have been happy to have seen her side fight their way back against a side many believe will be going down this season. Steve Keen, manager of Blackburn is the current favourite to be the first to lose his job, and after going a goal up at home to fellow strugglers from last season, Wolves, to have come away with nothing will have increased the pressure tenfold.

Bolton may not be challenging for top honours anytime soon, but they are a solid mid table side, so a visit to newly promoted QPR would have been relished. A lack of investment at Rangers has left the fans questioning whether they can survive this season, even if they can hang onto star player Adel Taarabt. A four nil home drubbing laid the realisation firmly down that this will be a season of struggles for the London club, and on this evidence it will need significant investment if they are able to compete at this level.

Spurs, Everton and Manchester City still have to get off the mark and you would expect two of those to be pushing for a top four finish, but with Chelsea huffing and puffing, ultimately failing to break down a resolute Stoke side, and with champions Man United looking less than assured in their first game despite a win, we really could be in for a season that is open and exciting, and that cannot fail to enthral.