And they call it a Recession

Money talks

It’s official; Real Madrid have become so consumed by thoughts of getting back at Barcelona that they’re prepared to plunge the footballing world into utter madness. As good as Ronaldo is, he’s no where near worth 80m pounds. This sets new standards in football that about 3 clubs in the world can meet, and let’s hope they’re not stupid enough to do so. Even Fergie, who said last year that he wouldn’t consider selling even a virus to Real Madrid, could see the pragmatism behind accepting the deal.

It’s hard to see how Perez thinks 80m for a player, after already having spent 56m, is justified. Especially for a team that already boasts of a fine array of attacking talent, but sorely lacks defensive solidity. On the one hand, you could argue that the revenue Ronaldo generates over the course of the next 10 years will eventually repay the money, but Ronaldo alone is not going to transform Real Madrid into a title winning team.

Having said all this, I don’t think the deal would be considered madness if it was similar to the money they payed for Kaka. On paper having two of the past World Players of the Year is certainly enticing, and, indeed, if Perez still has money left to spend on defensive players, it makes the situation all the more remarkable.

Just like the previous Galactico era, they are about 2, maybe 3, players short of the ‘perfect’ team. If they do get their next target Villa and convince Nemanja Vidic to follow Ronaldo to Spain, they will indeed have gotten back at Barcelona. With a manager as astute as Pellegrini at the helm, it’s hard to see how things could go wrong. The stage is all set for a titanic battle between Spain’s finest, and, for the moment, my money isn’t on Barcelona.

What are Man Utd going to do with all that money? Well, they could buy Newcastle.

Return of the Galacticos

"Fooled you!"

“I say it for the last time, I don’t want to leave Milan. In this period I prefer to stay quiet because I don’t want to be misinterpreted. To the millions of Rossoneri fans I say my decision has been made. I have said I want to stay. Now please leave me in peace.

Thank God we qualified for the Champions League. We missed it and I missed it. I want to keep winning with Milan. I’m staying at Milan. And as of today, this case is over.”

In football you always take such comments with a pinch of salt, and the events that have transpired in the week that followed are a case in point. I don’t for a second doubt the integrity of Kaka, who now claims he moved because Milan would benefit from the 56 million pounds Real Madrid signed him for, but the fact remains that the whole business of transfers in football has become a shady, and not to mention expensive, affair.

But for Florentino Perez, breaking the world transfer record on three occasions isn’t enough. The Kaka deal has barely been finalised, and yet the Cristiano Ronaldo rumours have resurfaced, with Perez himself confirming his interest in the player. Throw in Franck Ribery, David Villa and even Nemanja Vidic as other Real Madrid targets, and things start to get ridiculous.

Now, Perez claims to have learned from the mistakes of his disastrous ‘Galactico’ policy that defined his first spell as President, but it doesn’t appear to be so.

I don’t actually believe that the Galactico policy was bad to begin with – it was the manager merry go round that doomed it to failure. Vicente del Bosque did a great job of handling all the inevitable ego issues that cropped up among the team of prima donnas, and it was his sacking that led to the club’s downfall, extending even into Calderon’s presidentship. All of Del Bosque’s successors, with the possible exception of Fabio Capello, were overwhelmed by the political power wielded by some of the senior players such as Raul and Guti.

But that’s a bygone era. In the recent Presidential elections Perez was given another chance by angry Real Madrid fans, deeply hurt by the treble success of their rivals Barcelona. Perez, for his part, promised them major signings of the calibre of Kaka and Ronaldo. He’s delivered thus far, even surprising a few by naming Manuel Pellegrini as the new manager. Pellegrini is exactly the kind of man Real Madrid needed, but it remains to be seen how he will react to having pretty much no say in transfer dealings.

The way things have begun you can’t help but believe that Ronaldo will follow suit, and with the potential revenue created by the predicted summer clear out, there lies the possibilty of signing – dare I say it – Franck Ribery and David Villa. Now THAT would infuse optimisim around the Bernebau, which, incidentally, is the venue for the 2010 Champions League final. When you consider who the current Champions are, it’s a hollywood script in the making, not just for Real Madrid, but for European football too. The battle’s begun already, and Barca have big name targets of their own. Not that they need them, ofcourse. But they will certainly sit up and take note; Kaka could be the beginning of a revival.

Injustice at Stamford Bridge

Bitter end at the Bridge

It’s really quite funny how so many people, all self professed football ‘purists’, are blind to the fact that Chelsea, and not Barcelona, are the team that deserve to have a place in the final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The all knowing press led everyone to believe that Pep Guardiola’s team were the most irressistable attacking force on the planet, and that Chelsea would do well to simply prevent a massacre.

The Blues not only prevented a massacre, but came within a minute of clinching a chance at redemption against Manchester United in what would have been a rematch of last year’s final. But that wasn’t to be, for Barcelona left it to the last minute to show everyone how devastating they can be. The stubborn Chelsea resistance was broken just when you’d thought the job was over, and the irony of it all was that over the previous 92 minutes, Barca did not manage a single shot on target.

In the first leg, Chelsea produced a sterling defensive performance and managed to do what no other club has done this season; keep a clean sheet at the Nou Camp. But rather than applaud that fact, both the ‘purists’ and the Barcelona players themselves decided that Chelsea were “anti-football” and that that was why Barcelona flattered to deceive on the night.

Fast forward a week to Stamford Bridge. Michael Essien gives Chelsea the lead with a stunning Zinedine Zidane-esque volley in the 9th minute. Barca dominate posession but fail to do anything with it. Inspite of having only 30% possession Chelsea look the ones more likely to score and have 2 penalty appeals turned down in the first half; a clear indication of their attacking intent. Barcelona on the other hand look toothless and lost for ideas, with Alves not managing to cross the ball to save his life, and Eto’o mysteriously missing from the action. To the 2nd half and Abidal gets the red card he ought to have got 40 minutes earlier. Granted, the challenge he did get the card for was not even a challenge at all and he was hard done by. Barcelona continue to look toothless and Chelsea are denied another stonewall penalty for a Pique handball. 4 minutes of time added on. Miscued clearance from Essien allows Messi to pass to Iniesta who duly blasts the ball past Petr Cech in what was Barcelona’s first shot on target. Chelsea denied another penalty for what appeared to be an Eto’o handball. The final whistle blows and chaotic scenes follow.

Much of the sympathy Chelsea deserved was lost because of the disgraceful way in which Drogba and Ballack conducted themselves. Certainly understandable given the ultimate cost of the referee’s wrong decisions, but unacceptable given that they are professionals. John Terry and Frank Lampard were magnaninmous in defeat, but Terry’s subsequent defence of Drogba was baffling.

Indeed, the reaction of the Chelsea players deflected attention from the referee, sadly. The conspiracy theorists are without a doubt deluded, but it goes without saying that Uefa wanted Barcelona in the final. Ultimately Chelsea will have to look at themselves and wonder why they didn’t go for the killer goal. Drogba is the man who must shoulder the blame, not only for missing sitters in both legs, but feigning injury that led to his subsequent substitution which he didn’t even want. Perhaps if he was less inclined to the theatrics he’d have stayed on and Chelsea might have got the goal. Part of the fury which he directed at the referee was fury at himself for missing the chances. As a fan of Chelsea, I am sick and tired of Drogba’s antics and will be glad to see him leave. His importance to the team as a player is undermined by the temperamental problems and continuous tantrums.

The Spanish media rejoiced at the final result, citing it a victory for football over anti football. That is ridiculous to say the very least. For all of Barcelona’s slick passing and deft touches, it was Chelsea who with 30% posession created the better chances. If Chelsea did go through Barcelona could have no complaints.

What is especially strange is the hypocrisy within the press, and indeed, some fans. When Liverpool employ similar tactics they are hailed as the kings of Europe, and, funnily enough, the current kings of Europe – Manchester United – employed similar tactics to overcome Barcelona in last year’s semi-finals, and that was before Pep Guardiola came in and transformed the team.

Look back a decade when it was the Italians who dominated Europe. Then such performances were hailed as sterling examples of defensive prowess, yet now the amusing tag of “anti-football” is used upon Chelsea who were tactically brilliant. If they tried to play as Barcelona do, the press would have got the massacre they wanted. But the fact is that Chelsea out-thought and outplayed Barcelona, who openly admit that they do not have a plan B. That was clearly in evidence, and Alex Ferguson must be licking his lips at the prospect of another Champions League crown. Barcelona will certainly give Manchester United a very difficult game, but they are simply not as efficient as Chelsea and their single-minded approach to the game is naive, to put it mildly. It is why they have been eliminated regularly by English opposition.

As for Chelsea, the wait continues. They can hold their heads high for the way they kept such an exceptionally gifted Barcelona team in check, if not for the way some of their players conducted themselves after the game.

One day, their time will come.

One step closer to Rome

Trophy in sight

The draw for the knockout rounds of the Champions League is always an eagerly awaited affair. This year it’s no different.

With teams like Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Arsenal all failing to win their respective groups, there exists the possibility of some mouth-watering match-ups.

There is a strong sense of déjà vu when you think about the possible draws. Take the case of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. His side is in a particularly unenviable position; he faces the prospect of once again coming face to face with old rivals Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester United. His encounters with them during his tenure at Chelsea are the stuff of legend. The other two teams he could draw are Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, who he once defeated as manager of Chelsea, and none other than his former club Porto, who he, again, defeated, not once, but thrice, at Chelsea.

Jose being who he is, would particularly relish another encounter with Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool, who have twice denied him a place in the final. It would definitely be an encounter that would have the whole footballing world’s attention.

Barcelona and Manchester United should be wary of drawing Inter. I doubt if the red half of Manchester would want to see Jose sprinting down the Old Trafford touchline in delight, as he once did while manager of Porto.

Chelsea and Arsenal both face tough draws as well. As with Inter, there is a sense of déjà vu about their potential match-ups. Arsenal could get Juventus, Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Roma, or Bayern Munich. They have faced Juve, Barca and Bayern in the recent past, while an encounter with Panathinaikos would be a homecoming for Gilberto Silva.

Chelsea could draw Juventus, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or Porto. They’ve drawn the latter three, especially Porto and Barcelona, quite often Europe, while Juventus and Panathinaikos are managed by Claudio Ranieri and Henk Ten Cate respectively – both men who once plied their trade in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

We then come to the once all conquering Real Madrid, who have been shockingly poor in Europe in recent seasons. It’s been four years since they last reached the Quarter-Finals, and their prospects this season don’t look too bright, with the possibility of drawing Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and of course Roma – the team that knocked them out last season. Sacking Bernd Schuster means that their seemingly endless quest for stability continues, however in Juande Ramos they have a two time Uefa Cup winner. Everyone is writing them off, but I feel they will put up a better showing in the knockout stages this time round. Unless they draw Manchester United, I can see them progressing to the Quarters.

The remaining teams, the supposed “lightweights” include Porto, Sporting Lisbon, Lyon, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Panathinaikos. Porto are former champions, while Villarreal were semi-finalists in 2006. Panathinaikos were more than a match for Inter in the group stages, and Atletico should feel disappointed they didn’t beat Liverpool to top spot. None of these teams can be taken lightly, and it all adds up to yet another intriguing latter half to the Champions League. Almost every possible match-up has something fascinating about it. The best bit: We’re absolutely assured of a few explosive ties. What’re the odds for a Real Madrid vs Manchester United encounter? Or still better, a Cesc Fabregas captained Arsenal vs Barcelona?

The road to Rome has begun. Quite literally, for the team that draws Roma.

Spurs get their act together

Darren Bent with the equalizer

Chelsea 1-1 Tottenham

It’s funny that Tottenham should raise their game against the big 4, and then slip back into mediocrity against the smaller teams. That’s what happened for much of last season, and so far, that’s what’s happened this season.

Full credit to them though – they didn’t roll over after Chelsea’s opening goal like Portsmouth did two weeks ago. This should provide them the confidence they require to overcome their poor start to the campaign. Their next game against Aston Villa will be the real litmus test.

This presents Liverpool, who’re playing Aston Villa right now, the perfect opportunity to go top of the table. Who’d have thought it?

The best Serie A in years?

Jose Mourinho has won over the Italian media

Mention Serie A and what immediately comes to mind is dull, unimaginative football, punctuated by the occasional goal, and remembered for the dour stalemates. The Italian teams have always done well in Europe, but outside of Italy, their playstyle hasn’t won them a large fanbase. When you add to that the fan hooliganism and the Calciopoli scandal, it is clear to see why the Serie A isn’t as avidly followed around the world as the La Liga or the English Premier League. But from the moment Jose Mourinho signed for Inter Milan, interest in Serie A has steadily been increasing.

There’s no middle ground when it comes to Jose – you either love him or you hate him. But what cannot be denied is, the man is a character, and there’s never a dull moment when he’s around. What is really interesting though, is that his team’s main title rival – Juventus – is managed by none other than Claudio Ranieri, the man he replaced at Chelsea. The 2 have already begun the mind games, but there’s already been a clear winner. Ranieri claimed Abramovich would have willingly sold Lampard to him. Mourinho retaliated by labeling Ranieri a ’70 year old with no success’. If this is a sign of things to come, I cannot wait.

With AC Milan now focusing exclusively on reclaiming the Scudetto, with Luciano Spaletti’s Roma looking as strong as ever, and with Fiorentina bolstering their squad with $50M worth of talent, Inter are certainly not going to have it easy this time round. Regardless of whether or not they will successfully defend their crown, this is shaping up to be the best Serie A in years.

It begins today!

Cottagers gun down Gunners

New season, same old story for Arsenal.

It all looked so promising when they got off to a flier against West Brom. Maybe the young side had indeed come of age. Maybe they wouldn’t get bullied against physical sides anymore. Maybe they’d even win a trophy.

Or maybe, they’d disappoint again. Sadly for Arsenal fans, it was the latter that occurred at Craven Cottage yesterday. Fulham were a team beaten by Hull City on the opening day, and none but the eternal optimist would’ve given them a chance against Arsenal. I certainly didn’t. But continuing off from yesterday, where I commented on how the top teams (excluding Chelsea) weren’t really playing to the level you’d expect , Arsenal were poor, to say the least. On paper Adebayor and Van Persie should form a good partnership, but they lack the clinical finishing that you would find in out and out strikers such as Eduardo and Berbatov.  Without Fabregas, Arsenal are scarily light-weight in midfield, especially considering they’ve already lost Flamini. They need Xabi Alonso or Gareth Barry, if they aspire to finish in the top 4.

Liverpool, another top 4 team, once again flattered to deceive against an enthusiastic Middlesbrough. By all accounts they deserved to lose, but predictably, a certain Steven Gerrard saved their blushes with a winner in the 94th minute. It’s unbelievable how many times he’s done it for them. They’re now top of the table, thanks largely to an Aston Villa slip up away to Stoke City.

It’s nice to see the new boys Hull and Stoke start off on a confident note. They should strive to maintain this new found self belief for as long as possible, if they are to survive. Fulham’s win at Arsenal and Newcastle’s draw at Old Trafford should encourage the weaker teams – play positive football, and you will get results.

Talking of positive football, all eyes are now on Chelsea, as they make the trip up north to Wigan. The 4-0 win against Portsmouth was a far cry from the tactical, physical Chelsea we’ve grown accustomed to. Scolari’s approach to the game is refreshing, and the only potential cause for concern for them now is the media expect them to obliterate teams week in week out. And well, if they do sign Robinho, who’s to say that won’t happen. The heat is on Manchester United. The season’s still in its infancy, but thus far – Blue is the colour.

Juandé Tottenham will live up to expectations.

Juandé (One-Day) Ramos

And all Spurs fans will hope that day is today. Juandé (One-day) Ramos got it all wrong last week at Middlesbrough, and the prospect of facing a resilient Sunderland side 7 days later would not have helped him sleep any easier.

It’s probably harsh to judge Spurs by one game, and also unfair on Middlesbrough, who were brilliant, to suggest that they won purely because of a below par Tottenham. But with all the hype surrounding the new look Spurs, it really was underwhelming. “Our aspirations for the season remain intact” said Juandé. And they should. I think Spurs will pick themselves up, eventually, if not today at home against Sunderland, to challenge for a top 5 position. It’s simply a matter of finding the right combination – and well, maybe we are underestimating Middlesbrough. Boro are a side heading in the right direction, and Gareth Southgate’s done an admirable job in managing to integrate both English youngsters and foreign talent.

His team head to Anfield, where Rick Parry and Rafa Benitez supposedly had a “clearing the air” talk. Until Liverpool get over the ridiculous Barry saga they cannot hope to continue grinding out wins, let alone win the title. Torres and Gerrard will win you games, but you need more than 2 players to win you a league championship. Boro should take heart from Newcastle’s performance at Old Trafford last week. A draw wouldn’t surprise too many people.

Speaking of surprises, guess which club Mikel Silvestre’s signed for? Arsenal. Yes, the Arsenal of the English Premier League. The Arsenal managed by Arsene Wenger. The Arsenal that has an average age of something like 24. What’s even more surprising is they let Justin Hoyte go and brought in Silvestre, who’s 8 years older. The light in Wenger’s head finally seems to be switched on, and he’s realized the importance of experience. Silvestre won’t set the world alight, but he’s a steady performer who will link up well with Gallas. Maybe Kolo Toure will now have to take a few tips from his brother Yaya on playing in the holding midfield position, as people are suggesting that Wenger is planning to make him Flamini’s replacement. Interesting.

A week’s left before the transfer window closes. That means Dimitar Berbatov and Manchester United are running out of time. What appeared to be a done deal a few weeks ago now looks unsure, and considering the short time left, Manchester United could either end up with a bargain, if Spurs are in a hurry to sell, or could end up $64M dollars less, if Tottenham get their way. The last week of the transfer window never disappoints.

As we approach Gameweek 2, one of the main talking points is the soap opera of the English Premier League – the Thaksin Shinawatra issue. One must feel for the Man City fans. Only time will tell whether their team turns out to be the new Leeds United, or whether Thaksin will, as reports suggest, be prepared to leave the club. Mark Hughes has managed to rope in the promising Belgian Vincent Kompany from Hamburg, strengthening an already strong defence (on paper, that is). Like with Liverpool, the sooner the backroom issues are dealt with, the better. Man City have a strong team, and should be able to finish in the top half of the table.

What was interesting about last week was that apart from Chelsea, the ‘big 4′ didn’t really appear too big. Liverpool’s late goal robbed Sunderland of a well deserved draw, while West Brom should feel aggrieved at not having scored a goal. This does bode well for the rest of the season – maybe Scolari’s prophecy will come true and we’ll have 6-7 teams fighting for the top positions. It might be far fetched to hope for that, but judging by the first week, anything is possible. Football’s a funny game.

Tottenham still Rottenham | Hull make Fulham look dull

Folan with the winning goal for Hull

Last minute winner. 4th minute opener. 35 yard screamer. Paul Robinson blooper. You name it, we saw it. It was one Hull of a day.

It started off on a fantastic note in the opening encounter between Arsenal and West Brom, with Samir Nasri scoring his debut goal as early as the 4th minute. An absolute annihilation looked on the cards, but this isn’t the Arsenal of 3 seasons ago. Full credit to the Baggies – they did not let the early goal disrupt them, and they worked tirelessly to stifle the Arsenal midfield. Adebayor once again showed his failure to be clinical in front of goal when it matters. Arsenal should be very disappointed at not having increased the 1 goal margin. They’re not going to win the title by playing like they did yesterday.

I thoroughly enjoyed the next 2 matches – Everton against Blackburn, and Middlesbrough against Tottenham. The game at Goodison Park was intriguing in the sense that there was supposedly unrest in both camps, with David Moyes furious at not being given any money to spend in the transfer market, and with the media doubting the credentials of Paul Ince. Considering that, it was very surprising to see how confidently Blackburn began the game, and for large durations, Everton had their backs against the wall. David Dunn’s scintillating opener was cancelled out by Mikel Arteta’s free-kick, largely thanks to yet another error in judgment by Paul Robinson. Everton made the most of their luck in the second half by taking the lead through Yakubu, the goal once again being created by Mikel Arteta. 60 seconds later however and Joleon Lescott, the one man you’d never expect to make a mistake, allowed Roque Santa Cruz to go past him and net the equalizer.

It looked like both teams had settled for the draw, until Andre Ooijer stepped in and blasted the ball past a hapless Tim Howard with the very last kick of the game. What a time to score your first goal for your club. The game was a surprisingly open encounter, in contrast to the dour stalemates played out between the teams in past seasons. The better team won, and this could be the beginning of a very troublesome time for Everton, especially if they fail to sign any players before the transfer market closes.

I spoke yesterday of how I expected Tottenham to do well, and, well, they didn’t. Same old story. Their play was very reminiscent of the Galactico era at Real Madrid – excellent players, no coordination. It’s Middlesbrough who looked the rejuvenated team, and they should be very optimistic about their prospects for the season now. Juande Ramos has his work cut out, if he’s to stop Tottenham from being the laughing stock of England.

The other games had Hull grabbing a win in their first game in the top flight, Bolton reminding Stoke of the long hard season in store for them, a nervy West Ham edging past an entertaining Wigan side, and a surprisingly below par Liverpool scraping past a resilient Sunderland thanks to that man Fernando Torres.

The Liverpool game looked like a relegation battle. If Arsenal were disappointing, Liverpool were shocking. Torres bailed them out of jail, no two ways about it. They’re gonna have to seriously step it up if they want to realize their long standing dream of winning the league.

All in all, it was as close to a fairytale beginning to the season as you could hope for. There were a few dodgy decisions, but none that cost teams any points. It was a day filled with drama, and there are 3 matches still to be played.

Good times.

The Wait is Over

It’s been over three months since Manchester United pipped Chelsea to the title on the last day. Three months. Thank God for the Euros, because apart from that one month, it’s been an exceptionally dull summer. Normally it’s the transfer rumours that keep us interested, but now it’s what we’re sick of. The word ‘hypocrisy’ has been taken to a whole new level by two of the biggest clubs in the world – Manchester United and Real Madrid. The Ronaldo saga was ridiculous, and I’m sure both sets of fans would agree.

But now its time for football to take the front seat again, as in about 90 minutes, the 2008/2009 Premier League season will kick off at The Emirates stadium. If last season is any indication, we should be in for 9 months of top-draw entertainment.

The season opener pits Arsenal against new boys West Bromwich Albion. It’s been a summer to forget for Arsenal. The only real quality bit of business they did was signing Samir Nasri. Two vital members of last season’s title challenging team – Aliaksandr Hleb and Mathieu Flamini – are no longer at the club. What is especially strange is both players left against the wishes of manager Arsene Wenger; a clear indication, perhaps, of their disillusionment with Wenger’s policy of fielding youngsters rather than veterans. Wenger never had any qualms when selling club legends such as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. On both occasions, his decision turned out to be fruitful, with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas stepping up to the plate. This time, however, you wonder if there is anyone who can fill the gaping hole that now exists in the Arsenal midfield adequately.

What must be said though is that the team is now a good deal more experienced. Inexperience cost them dearly last season, and they will ensure that they do not repeat the same mistakes. Emmanuel Adebayor deciding to stay is a big boost for them, and when you look through their squad, you find experienced campaigners in William Gallas and Kolo Toure, and also young blood in the form of Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott. A great blend of youth with experience, however the lack of depth in the team is worrying. They have enough to mount a challenge for the title, however lack the grit that Chelsea and Manchester United have. With Mathieu Flamini now gone it is upto Abou Diaby to add steel into the midfield. It is doubtful, though, that Diaby can be to Arsenal what Michael Essien and Javier Mascherano are to Chelsea and Liverpool.

On the bright side – Arsenal have comparatively easy opening fixtures, and if they manage to get a string of early wins, and maintain the momentum till atleast February, they can be the surprise package. Who knows, maybe the departures of Hleb and Flamini will actually turn out to be blessings in disguise, with Theo Walcott and Denilson making the most of their improved first team opportunities. It’s happened before.

West Brom are the most exciting of the promoted teams, and it should be interesting to see how they approach a game against another like-minded team. They’ve strengthened in all the right areas, they’ve got themselves a decent goalkeeper with Premiership experience in Scott Carson, and are used to relegation battles – something Hull and Stoke aren’t used to.

Today’s other six games are also interesting, with Middlesbrough vs Tottenham being the most intriguing. Tottenham are a team reborn. They is no reason why they will not challenge the top 4. Juande Ramos is building a formidable side, and the big 4 could very well become the big 5 next season. People claim Tottenham are being overhyped, but hey, I’ve bought into it. I believe they will have a successful season, both in Europe and in England. A Middlesbrough win, though, would undoubtedly be hilarious.

The final game today is at the Stadium of Light, with Roy Keane’s strengthened Sunderland taking on Rafa Benitez’s somewhat new look Liverpool team. Rafa is still smarting at the owners for having missed out on Gareth Barry, but I believe he should have bigger worries in his mind. He’s under more pressure than ever to deliver league success, and the mid-week performance in the Champions League qualifier was far from convincing. It’s absolutely, completely, mind bogglingly stupid that people cite Steven Gerrard not playing as an adequate excuse. So Liverpool need Steven Gerrard to beat a team filled with players who wouldn’t even be good enough to play in England’s 3rd division?

Rafa’s major signing was that of Robbie Keane. Ordinarily a good signing, but not for $40M. With Manchester United set to buy Dimitar Berbatov for just a little more, Liverpool look silly. In defence, they’re slightly stronger. Degen and Dossena should fill the full back slots admirably, while Skrtel should now be fully settled in England, eager for his first full season. A little further forward, however, and you have the likes of Jermaine Pennant and Yossi Benayoun on the wings. Hardly championship winning material. Like Arsenal, Liverpool will manage to mount a title challenge, albeit one that will fade come Christmas. They’ve now got a deadly strike pair in Keane and Torres, but at the cost of Gerrard playing a less attacking role. If Liverpool fail to pick up 3 points, I think we can safely say they’re out of the title race. Before it even begins.

Sunderland now resemble the Tottenham reserve team, with Roy Keane cashing in on the Spurs rejects. They’re stronger than last season, however will be wary of the infamous ‘second season syndrome’ . They should learn from what happened to Reading last season. They are short on quality, but they’re still stronger than the promoted teams, and that should ensure Premiership football for them next season.

I could go on forever talking about the matches, but I’ll stop, because there’s just about 5 minutes left before coverage begins!

Let’s all hope for a controversy-free, exciting season, where the only true winner is Football!

My predictions as far as league standings go:

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

Let the games begin!