Monday, August 08, 2005
Year of The Reds

The very first thing that I want to talk about,besides the main topic of this post (which is really a prediction for the new EPL season...so non-football fans...turn away if you want to),is to talk about the world-famous David Manning.

I truly appreciate the great man for reading my website and promoting it.We have started correspondence since then and as we are both great men,I have decided to return the favour by advertising his website for him.

The David Manning Home Page

Well,folks,if you guys still don't understand how famous the man is,take a look at Wikipedia.You know how good a man is when he appears in Wikipedia.
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Last night's Community Shield match between Arsenal and Chelsea confirmed my suspicions about Arsenal.

First,without Patrick Vieira,Arsenal's midfield is way too lightweight to compete in the EPL on a season-long basis.Do not get me wrong.In Cesc Fabregas,I think Arsenal has one of the most talented young players I have ever seen.It's just that,the guy is about as tall as a smurf and in the physical world of the EPL,you can't really hold your own when scraping in midfield and you're of this size.And as for his midfield partner for the day,Mathieu Flamini,I have but one word to describe him:Rubbish.


Flamini - Most flattering pic I can find...

Second,is Arsene Wenger seriously nuts?His reiteration that Arsenal doesn't need Michael Owen is just about the most rubbish statement I have ever heard.Playing a one-man strikeforce with Thierry Henry upfront,the Frenchman was marked out the game by,at times,an entire crowd of defenders intent on forcing him to try his luck from outside the box.Dennis Bergkamp,in a withdrawn supporting role,at times dropped back so deep that besides Henry,there usually wasn't anyone else in the box...besides,maybe the marauding Swede Freddie Ljungberg.

Here was a man who spent a fortune bringing the great Francis "Fox in the box" Jeffers in and then when he gets the chance to buy a genuine goalpoacher,he says,"No thanks."Arsene uncle ah,no money say so lah.Don't say you don't need Owen lah.

Anyway,the table below is the end of the season prediction by ESPN soccernet:

1. Chelsea
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool
4. Man United
5. Middlesbrough
6. Tottenham
7. Blackburn
8. Newcastle
9. Man City
10. Everton
11. Birmingham
12. Bolton
13. Aston Villa
14. Charlton
15. West Ham
16. West Brom
17. Portsmouth
--------------------
18. Fulham
19. Sunderland
20. Wigan

Nice and easy.This is MY prediction.

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Man United
5. Middlesbrough
6. Tottenham
7. Newcastle
8. Man City
9. Everton
10. Aston Villa
11. Bolton
12. Blackburn
13. Birmingham
14. Charlton
15. West Ham
16. Fulham
17. West Brom
--------------------
18. Portsmouth
19. Wigan
20. Sunderland

Not much difference of course(you wouldn't care if Blackburn was 11th or 12th what)...but if you are eagle-eyed enough,you'd notice the runners-up postion is changed plus the relegation places.Now let me explain my rationale:

1st - 4th:

Basically,England already has an established "big-three" and it's only a matter of time before one from the next tier of clubs breaks into this "tripoly".Liverpool stands the best chance at this moment,not because they are necessarily better than Middlesbrough or my beloved Spurs...it's because they're European Champions and are in the Champions' League and that means money galore.

The stranglehold of the Roman Abramovich rouble-propelled Chelsea is not likely to lessen this season.In my eyes,Chelsea has not significantly improved on last season's squad,merely adding strength in depth.It is arguable whether the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Asier Del Horno are any better than who Chelsea already have at their disposal.But now,if Arjen Robben or Damien Duff gets crocked,they have a ready replacement in Wright-Phillips(his presence also deepens the English core of the side),ditto Del Horno (with Wayne Bridge really to step in).


Roman - Chelsea's lao beh

The protracted transfer saga of Michael Essien is still on going (my most updated piece of news is that it is off...but we've seen more on-offs in this saga than my light switch at home) and again,I still think Essien merely adds strength in depth.Does a team with Claude Makelele really need Essien?But the truth is,adding the Ghanaian to the squad will give it truly frightening depth.

I have decided to gamble and place Liverpool as second,not on the basis of the team's strength alone but on the decline of Arsenal and Man Utd.Liverpool is still buoyed by the astounding victory in Istanbul a few couple of months back and the ripple effects will be surely felt this season.Steven Gerrard looks a world-beater during pre-season while Xabi Alonso remains a true gem.In these two,they do have one of the strongest midfield pairings around.But as for their flanks,is Boudewijn Zenden really a great addition?I do not see the Dutchman as a better player than anyone already at Anfield.Also can Sami Hyypia hold out another season?But at least they now have Spanish international,Jose Reina between the sticks.Hopefully he'd prove a more reliable figure than the erratic Jerzy Dudek.And Liverpool does have a formidable strikeforce in Djibril Cisse,Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes.

Arsenal's sale of Patrick Vieira does not mystify me.What mystifies me is Wenger's failure to obtain a direct replacement.Thinking that Flamini and Fabregas are up to the task of replacing the towering Frenchman.In my opinion,the closest player who can come close to replacing the role played by Vieira is Gilberto Silva,but relying on one player alone for an entire season is dangerous.This is where I think Jermaine Jenas will come in.I do not believe that Wenger will not go for him because Jenas looks and plays like Vieira in a way...ok,without the finesse yet but you get my drift.

Arsenal's defence also continues to look suspect.Is Jens Lehmann really reliable?Can Uruguay international Sebastian Viera solve this problematic position?And what about the defence?Is it one season too early to rely on Phillippe Senderos to marshal the defence?He was badly found out last night by Didier Drogba.I suspect that he'd get slaughtered in Europe.Arsenal needs Sol Campbell back.

And well,finally,of course,Wenger the poor man continues to deny he needs Owen...when blatantly,it's because he couldn't afford the man.


Wenger - Even poorer than me.

Finally,Man Utd...well,what can I say?They've been on the decline for years.Edwin Van der Sar and Park Ji-Sung are to me,suspect buys.Good luck,old man Ferguson.And to all Man Utd fans...hahahahaha!NO TROPHIES!!!


Park Ji-Sung - Proving not all Korean men look good

5th - 9th:

Tough to choose between these four clubs.But it's obvious that Middlesbrough and Tottenham are on the up while the other two are still grappling with their problems.

Middlesbrough have a formidable forward line.When you have Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink,Mark Viduka and Aiyegbeni Yakubu as your strikers,you know you have a good chance.The return of Gaizka Mendieta is also a very good piece of news for the Teesiders.One thing to look out for though is the ageing defence.Ugo Ehiogu and Gareth Southgate can't possibly last forever.And Chris Riggott is not the most reassuring of replacements.

I DO NOT know why I placed Spurs below Middesbrough because all truth be told,I think we are actually stronger in almost all departments.But Spurs have a grand tradition of blowing up in their own faces so I'd be cautious and predict us for sixth.

Tottenham has one of the most promising squads in the EPL.Paul Robinson,Ledley King,Michael Carrick and the four forwards (Jermain Defoe,Robbie Keane,Freddie Kanuote and Mido) are the envy of most clubs in the EPL.But the signing of Edgar Davids was the icing on the cake although I rather suspect it'd the duo of Teemu Tainio and Tom Huddlestone who will prove the revelations of the season.Like most Spurs fans this season,I'm actually genuinely afraid of nobody this season.Bring on Chelsea!


Edgar Davids - GOD!

As for Newcastle and Man City,not much to choose between them.I am pretty sure Graeme Souness will be sacked before ten games are up but let it be said that they did buy decent players in Emre and Scott Parker...but their forward line is woeful.Alan Shearer and Shola Ameobi...don't make me laugh.They are the only club to have a clear signal of intent on Michael Owen and God knows how much they need him.And their defence?Jean-Alain Boumsong?Altogether now...hahaha!But still,they're still marginally stronger than Man City.


Jean Alain Boumsong - Newcastle's Rock.Haha!

It is hard to gauge the impact of Wright-Phillips departure from Man City.They have not managed to sign a replacement in Steed Malbranque but have at least boosted their forward line is Andy Cole and Darius Vassell.But without a supplyline,what's the point of a decent strikeforce?

Everton overachieved by miles last season.Nobody expects them to repeat the same feat again this season so neither do I.Truth is,the Everton squad is very ordinary and it'd take a superhuman effort to repeat the heroics of a 4th place finish.

10th - 15th:

This portion gets even harder to justify.But basically,Aston Villa's signings have not been impressive.Patrik Berger,Aaron Hughes and Kevin Phillips smacks of journeymen buys to me.Bolton is again on a shoestring budget.El-Hadji Diouf should prove a good signing and Jared Borgetti,the Mexican international is an interesting signing but the squad is really beginning to look old this year.I do not believe they can scale the heights of last season again.

Blackburn,Birmingham and Charlton?Nothing to choose between them.I put Blackburn on top because of their mean defence and Craig Bellamy.Birmingham has flattered to deceive and I don't believe this season will be any different but at least they have got Walter Pandiani.As for Charlton...nah,who misses them?


Charlton who?

The surprise of this lot is placing West Ham at 15th.I believe Yossi Benayoun,the Israeli,will prove a good signing.And usually,at least one promoted team survives each season.Sunderland and Wigan look too weak to survive...so by elimination,West Ham stays.

16th - 20th:

Fulham and West Brom...they actually look pretty weak and if Fulham had sold Malbranque,they'd be my favourites to go down.They haven't sold him so in my book,they stay up.As for West Brom,they'd need more luck than a four-leaved clover to survive but guess what,I think they might actually do so.

The bottom three...don't need to say.Name me one player you know from Sunderland!As for Portsmouth,I think their sale of Yakubu will haunt them no end and I am not convinced of Alain Perrin's ability.And finally for Wigan,they just bought Henri Camara.The last two clubs Camara played for,Wolves and Southampton,were relegated bottom of the table.It's like Wigan just bought a pile of shit and smeared it on themselves.Good luck!


Some bloke playing for Sunderland v Dennis Wise



Camara (left) - Expensive shit.

And here's wishing you all happy viewing for a great EPL season ahead!Spurz Rulez.

PS: I did not wish to make the predictions before the transfer window ends but I guess it's only fair that I did.I think the below transfers will occur before the window ends.

Michael Essien:From Lyon to Chelsea
Michael Owen:From Real Madrid to Newcastle/Arsenal
Jermaine Jenas:From Newcastle to Arsenal
Milan Baros:From Liverpool to Aston Villa
Andy Van der Meyde:From Inter Milan to Middlesbrough/Tottenham