EPL Season’s Preview

Despite my best efforts to explore topics beyond football in recent weeks, the allure of the new EPL season is too much for me to resist. A leopard can’t change its spots, eh? I warn you now, not to read further unless you follow football closely because most of it won’t make sense otherwise. But I hope that even if you don’t read the entire post, you would at least have the courtesy of leaving a generic comment like good post, nicely written etc.

Predictions:

Champions

Chelsea: A controversial choice I know, but they have the players to do it. With Lampard and Drogba staying Chelsea have received a massive boost. Bosingwa’s arrival will sure up the problematic right back spot. Scolari is an excellent coach and will get the best out of his Portugese contingent. With Cech in goal and the first choice pairing of Terry and Carlvalho fit simultaneously, the Blues will be miserly at the back. Drogba upfront, followed by a host of goal scoring midfielders will provide the attacking impetus. Ronaldo’s audacious tally of 40 goals was the difference between ManU and Chelsea last season and since I can’t see him matching that Chelsea are my pick for the title.


Runners Up

Man United: Fergie hasn’t made any additions to his squad so far and with inspirational figures Scholes, Giggs and Neville getting close to the end of their careers ManU could have done with some reinforcements. A striker is a priority and while Berbatov and Henry have been mooted, neither seem forthcoming. I don’t expect Ronaldo to be as prolific as last season and in any case the inspirational winger will be sidelined for at least two months. ManU will have another good season, but I expect them to just miss out on the title to Chelsea.

Champions League Places (3rd and 4th place)

Arsenal and Liverpool: In that order. Despite a midfield exodus which has seen a creative midfielder (Hleb), a workaholic (Flamini) and an enforcer (Gilberto) leave the Emirates for pastures anew, Wenger won’t be perturbed. The all too familiar pattern of star players leaving Arsenal and youngsters filling the void is likely to repeat itself. Samir Nasri is a great buy and will fit in perfectly in Wenger’s quick passing system. Expect Fabregas to be brilliant again. Arsenal to finish third, comfortably ahead of Liverpool.

Liverpool have brought in Robbie Keane who is likely to become an Anfield favorite very quickly. If his form for Spurs is anything to go by, the Red scousers can expect 20 goals and 15 assists from the Irishman. However, despite boosting their goal scoring potential, Liverpool still haven’t done anything to strengthen their squad in terms of wingers and full backs. With Kewell and Risse gone the only feasible option on the left is Babel, who doesn’t seem ready to play week-in, week-out yet. Expect Pennant on the right to have another mediocre season and Kuyt and Gerrard being forced out of position to compensate.

Uefa Cup Places (5th to possibly 7th , depending on results of the Cups)

Between Spurs, Villa, Pompey and Everton: Spurs seem most likely to finish fifth. With Berbatov likely to stay, Bent’s explosive pre-season form and the signings of Bentley, dos Santos and Modric, Spurs look well equipped to be the closest challengers to the top 4. Robbie Keane’s astuteness and creativity will be missed but Ramos has spent the money he made off Keane’s sale wisely. Beating Roma 5-0 in the pre-season has made a very definite statement and Spurs will be keen to shrug off the disappointment of underachieving last season. However, it is still a worry that a frail defense might be their undoing if Leadley King continues to have injury problems.

Villa have been spending freely this summer and Martin O’Neil has done well to bolster his squad with proven performers. Luke Young, Nickey Shorey, Steve Sidwell, Carlos Cuellar and Brad Friedel are all value for money signings; and if reports are anything to go by, O’Neill isn’t finished yet. However, keeping their inspirational skipper Barry will be the key. It’ll also be interesting to see how Villa cope with the added pressure of European engagements. Expect young guns Agbonlahore and Ashley Young to sizzle again.

Portsmouth have pulled off something of a coup by bringing Crouch to Fratton Park. The giant striker looks a great partner for the diminutive Defoe and the pair has contributed immensely to the optimism at Pompey. With a solid squad overall Harry Redknapp’s men are likely to be in the top six.

Last year’s fifth place finishers Everton have seen their squad being ravaged by departures and injuries. Moyes so far has struck an impasse in the transfer market and will need to pool all his resources to be competitive. Highly rated academy scholars, Jose Baxter, Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling were the bright spots of a disappointing pre-season and might have important roles to play through the season for the Toffees. The only thing the transfer window has brought so far for Everton is despair and pessimism but the arrival of any of the transfer targets- Moutinho, Vagner Love, Diego Milito, Stephen M’Bia and Alan Smith- will mark a dramatic change in their fortune. However, despite my love for Everton, I can only see them finishing seventh or lower this season.

Dark Horses

Sunderland- Roy Keane has been given good money to spend and has already brought in Teemu Tanio, Steed Malbranque, Pascal Chimbonda and El-Hadji Diouf. It is unlikely that Keane’s spending spree is finished and I expect the Black Cats to finish ahead of some more fancied rivals like Blackburn, West Ham and Newcastle.

Best Buy

Giovanni dos Santos (Tottenham) - For an upfront fee of only about £4.5 million the Mexican playmaker seems an excellent bargain. Already impressive in pre-season expect the talented youngster to take the league by storm. Also, Bentley, Robbie Keane, Luka Modric and Samir Nasri are all likely to be great signings.

Biggest Flop

Johan Elmander (Bolton) – Elmander has come at a fee close to £10 million and his performances at Euro 2008 didn’t indicate anything special. He has been good in the French League the last two seasons but a 10 million price tag might be too much to live upto. Gary Megson might end up looking stupid by signing Elmander and selling Diouf for a fee in the region of £2 million.

Player of the Season

Michael Essien (Chelsea) - Since I’m picking Chelsea to win ,I expect a Chelsea player to be the player of the season. Jose Bosingwa’s arrival will ensure that Essien doesn’t have to fill in as a right back. The influential Ghanaian is likely to be a constant in his preferred midfield role, following the departure of Makelele and his drive and energy might be what leads Chelsea to glory.

I’m sure the usual suspects- Lampard, Gerrard, Fabregas and Ronaldo, will also be right up there when the honors are distributed.

Young Player of the Season

Theo Walcott (Arsenal) – Being a die-hard Evertonian I can be insanely optimistic and say that 16 year old Jose Baxter will burst on to the scene and be the next Rooney, but if I’m being objective I’ll pick Walcott. Hleb’s departure will translate into more first team opportunities for the Arsenal youngster and I expect him to weigh in with his share of performances on the wing and through the middle.

Top Scorer

Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - With Robbie Keane by his side El Nino would be the favorite to retain his Golden Boot, but expect him to be pushed by Drogba and Adebayor.

Toffees to the Four!

At the onset let me make it very clear, this post has nothing to do with me distributing confectionery to four people. You might consider that an unnecessary clarification but given that Ravi has already interpreted it that way once, I felt it was best to digress briefly.

So, coming to the point now, this post is meant simply to be an acknowledgment of the fantastic season that Everton(nicknamed the Toffees) are having till date. Everton are currently sitting pretty in the league in fourth place(Now you get it, don't you?); are virtually in the Round of 16 in the UEFA Cup; and have had a very laudable Carling Cup which ended in the semi-finals. True, we would have ideally liked to have done better in the FA Cup, but you can't win them all.

Our good form this season is due largely to a settled team. The crux of the squad has been together for a couple of seasons now and they are starting to gel. The spine of the team is strong and consistent. Man Utd reject Tim Howard has blossomed under Moyes and is now one of the most reliable keepers in the division. Joseph Yobo and Jolean Lescott have been rocks in defence. Mikel Arteta's passing and movement have made him Everton's prized asset and the pint sized dynamo, Tim Cahill has been phenomenal in a Blue shirt. Leon Osman too seems to be recognizing his potential and is beginning to fulfill the promise he showed in his younger days. The versatile Phil Neville(another Man U reject) has enjoyed a renaissance since his transfer and proudly sports the captain's armband these days. Andy Johnson's been bagging goals and terrifying defenses with his pace for a long time now. Big money summer recruit Yakubu has settled in very quickly and is repaying the huge faith and money invested in him with rich dividends. Young defenders Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka, also drafted in over the summer, too have made good starts to their Everton career. The versatile Jags has already played as a holding midfileder, a full back and as a center back. His ability to play as a central defender has afforded Everton the luxury of deploying Lescott as a left wing back and the former Wolves man has been a part of countless meaningful attacks. Borussia Dortmund's Steven Pienaar, who struggled to cope with the Bundesliga, has really taken to life in the Premier League and the attack-minded midfielder is expected to make his loan move permanent in the summer. Probably, Moyes's masterstroke in the transfer market has been signing Manuel Fernandes from Valencia on loan with a view to a permanent deal. Moyes could well have pulled off a major bargain for a man the Che paid more than $17 Million for.

The team is primarily composed of young players who have their best days ahead of them. The strike force looks especially potent with highly rated youngsters Vaughan and Anichebe waiting in the wings. What is a perfect coincidence is that Vaughan is a lot like Johnson and Anichebe is the striking image of Yakubu. Needless to say the young proteges could not have had better mentors. Even though a huge Everton favourite James Mcfadden has been sold to Birmingham to reclaim some of the money invested in the summer, the Toffees continue to look very sharp in attack.

Moyes has Everton playing very simple and effective football. Unlike the labyrinthine tactics of some of the other sides, Everton focus on getting the basics right and building from the back. Moyes's formations often involve two attacking midfielders starting ahead of two deeper midfielders and just behind Cahill playing off the striker. The attacking style is possession oriented and is particularly effective on quick breaks. All in all Everton set out to win 1-0 but often play some great football. Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Andy Gray are just a few of the experts who have acknowledged that.

After many years the Everton squad looks to have the depth needed to excel in a variety of competitions. Most punters are starting to eye up Everton as genuine contenders for the UEFA Cup and serious challengers for the fourth place. No matter, what happens from now till the end of the season, David Moyes and the team can give themselves a pat on the back for winning six on the trot(a streak likely to be extended) in Europe-a Toffee record; and challenging Liverpool, who have spent more than 40 Million pounds this season to buy players, for a Champion League spot.

Will Arsenal Gun Down the Red Devils?

Ever since I can remember Arsenal vs Manchester United has been one of the most eagerly awaited games of the season. It's no different this time around, as two of the traditional superpowers of English football get set to lock horns at the Emirates on Saturday. As it often has been in the past, Arsenal vs ManU is a match up between first and second. Arsenal lead the table presently on goal difference and have a game in hand.

Both teams have been playing scintillating football this season. Arsene Wenger in an attempt to form a super team for he future has moulded a wonderful team for the present. ManU have spent their Yankee money very wisely this season and their new recruits Tevez, Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson all look the part. Arsenal, on the other hand haven't spent great sums and have relied on the old faithfuls(this was about the only expression in which I could use old for wenger's lot) to do the job and they have all risen to the task. Fabregas has been the player of the season so far. He has been scoring, passing, tackling and doing just about everything else as well. Robin van Persie too has matured and filled the boots of the departed French master. Aleksander Hleb has been passing the ball flwlessly and ripping the opposition to shreds with his movement. Flamini has been a revelation, his work-rate has been so impressive that Gilberto has had to sit on the bench. Gallas, now sporting the captain's armband has lead from the front(or from the back, if you prefer) and has formed an impressive central defensive partnership with Kolo toure.

Man United started the season very slowly but have been a juggernaut of late romping down teams by huge margins. Cristiano Ronaldo has started the season from where he left off last term and the goals have been flowing in for the Portuguese winger. Speaking of Portuguese wingers, United new boy Luis Nani has had a great start to his career at his new club and could play an important part in Saturday's clash. The timeless wonder Ryan Giggs( How old is he? 33 now) has been playing good football again this season. He could be the mascot for Energiser(One, because he looks funny and two, because he just keeps going on and on). Rooney and Tevez have started to gel and form a frightening attacking duo, they already have 11 goals between them for the club. ManU's real strength lies in defence. Nemanja Vidic has been one of the finest defenders in the league since last season. Together with Ferdinand, the two have been the major protagonists in a miserly defence.

This really is the irresistible force against the immovable object and so my prediction for the game is a draw.

So, as I get set to sneak off to Kaifu's house to watch the game, I suggest you do the same(watch the game, not sneak off to Kaifu's house), because this one is sure to be a humdinger!

Men to watch: Cristiano Ronaldo(ManU), Francesc Fabregas(Arsenal)
Notable Absentees: Paul Scholes(ManU), Robin van Persie(Arsenal)

My Prediction: Arsenal 2 - ManU 2

The Thrills and Chills of Being a Die Hard Evertonian

For the ill-informed, Everton is a football club in Liverpool, England that plays in the Premier League. It is a club that has contested more seasons in the top flight of English football than any other; a club that is among the top five most successful English clubs in terms of major honours, having won the League nine times, the FA Cup five times and the UEFA Cup Winners Cup once; and a club that yours truly supports very passionately.

Everton's glory days, however were in a bygone era and for years the Toffees(A nickname for Everton) have been lost in mid table mediocrity. Though David Moyes(The present manager) has been doing his best with limited resources, including a 4th place finish recently, Everton are certainly not setting the world alight. Since, the club is prone to oscillate between the efficient and the shambolic ( A 1-0 win over Manu and a 7-0 loss to Arsenal in the same season should prove my point) Evertonians have a roller coaster ride throughout the season. I, cool as a cucumber during normal life, find myself having the irresistible urge of jumping up and down when watching Everton play. The Mersey side Derby(match with fierce rivals Liverpool) is an eagerly anticipated fixture in my annual calendar and I can forgo almost any social engagement in order to watch it(or read live commentary when in the Hostel). Though these derbies aren't easy occasions for me. With Liverpool's star players, Steven Garrard (a boyhood Everton fan, that's atleast a moral victory, right?) in particular, wins in a derby aren't easy to come by and defeats are difficult to take, especially with so many Liverpool supporters around me. But, I take most of them on the chin, unless if the referee (read Mark Clattenburg) snatches away our point(s). So, that's that, being an Evertonian requires a lot of heart, but I guess it could have been worse, I could have been a Spurs' fan!