John "Bubba" Burridge

I kinda miss John Burridge, bubba Burridge as I would see him to be, the grand ol pundit on the football channel these days. Whatever happened to the one man entertainer in an otherwise dry half time talk in BPL live telecasts?

Yes, yes... John has his quirky side. His dressing sometimes puts Freddie Mercury and Steven Tyler to shame. Bright yellow suits, unmatching neckties... John shows why he is better off a football man. But this guy cracks me up from time to time, although his very thick accent does confuse, I do enjoy some of those annoying exchanges with the host on Football Channel (what is his name again?)

ESPN, bring John Burridge back !! The guy's got more entertainment value compared to Carlton Palmer (yawns...) and Trevor Sinclair (double yawns...). His dressing alone beats the monotonous comments made by those two. I can't stand Carlton Palmer's repetitive and "condemning" comments on the modern footballer, but I will leave that to another post.

John "Bubba" Burridge... that is my kind of pundit for a half time commentary.

Up my ass

I really hope the paramedic washed his ass. I believe the player was more concerned about his face getting wiped by some guy's ass than his injury. Or maybe this is the way of miraculous recovery as it helps the patient take his mind of his pain and injury, re-directing his focus.

Hughesy gets the sack

Saw it coming.

Man City's owners make what has long been predicted in my last post on Man City. Mark Hughes will get the sack before the end of the season. Only thing is no one expected it to be that soon.

Hughes was never the big name manager that Man City's lofty ambitions demand. Even if he had won most of his games, his pedigree as a Blackburn manager was never going to convince the big spending owners. What they were looking for was a marquee name, that could galvanise a dressing room full of egos, whether Robinho or Adebayor.

Mancini might not be that fantastic a name as well, but the Italian has got himself some credit for winning the Scudetto and having quell a team full of egos himself when at Inter Milan. For the Man City fans, this could be the beginning of a Chelsea whirlwind ala Roman Abramovich style. Manager turnovers, new signings and potential misfits, expensive flops.

Mark Hughes can only blame timing, he could have built himself a dynasty but the owners these days have little patience for building a soccer club. They want instant success and that in itself is contrary to a dynasty. Unless Mancini is as strong a tactician, character and influence in the dressing room as Jose Mourinho and deliver consistency as Jose incredibly did in his first season, I seriously doubt he will survive next season.

Player Watch: Gabriel Obertan

Unlike many who was quick to dismiss Obertan, I believe Man Utd might have found the answer to Cristiano Ronaldo. Ok... maybe Obertan might never replace Ronaldo, at least not everything Ronaldo has given the club in terms of goals, joga bonito and the attacking threat he brings in set pieces but Obertan sure has more potential than anyone else in the Man Utd squad now to meet that.

The talented winger is a gifted player, as displayed in his recent performance against Wolfsburg. He destroyed that German defence ala Thierry Henry style to deliver a killer assist for Michael Owen. That boy is dope to watch. He came on late in the match and he turned it around, the mark of a great player in the making. Don't we just love skilful wingers... Man Utd is famous for producing George Best, Andrei Kanchelskis, Giggsy, Lee Sharpe and Ronaldo. You can start adding Obertan to that list.

While Antonio Valencia is a solid winger, he is not quite as exciting on the pitch. Obertan is set to replace Ronaldo in terms of his direct style and flamboyant flicks, the kind of player Man Utd fans are blessed with and have grown to love all these years. He is the kind you can build a team around. It is still much too early to say if Obertan might become another Ronaldo. He still needs to work on his shooting and decision making. But the boy is exciting and he generates buzz amongst the fans, slowly if not surely based on that Wolfsburg performance. He is on par if not better than Ronaldo when the Portugese whizkid first arrived. For one, I like the boy's work ethic on the pitch and his teamplay which you cannot say Ronaldo had while making his name in the Man Utd jersey.

I like to see Obertan become the next Ronaldo for sure... but I think he might actually develop into a Thierry Henry, the dominant one man attacking machine we saw at Arsenal (not the basketballer we see against Ireland). He is at the best club to do that. He will get into the habit of winning, and that infectious confidence and insatiable hunger to succeed at the highest level will assist him immensely in fulfilling that big potential. The sooner he develops into a complete player, the sooner we might witness another World Player winner in the making. The supporting cast of Anderson, Welbeck, Macheda, Eikrem, Gibson, King and the Da Silva brothers make a more than encouraging thought for the Man Utd of the future. Notice I left Nani out. I don't think he is good enough based on his development so far. I still harbor hope of seeing Karim Benzema in a Man Utd jersey and ditch that dream of an "all star team". Hopefully, Alexandre Pato or Bojan Krkic will think of Man Utd if they wish to leave their current clubs AC Milan and Barcelona.

The future is looking tremendously exciting.

Time's up?

The curtains for Champions League football this year falls early for Liverpool. Winning 1-0 against Hungarian opponents Debrecen was a useless stat as they fail to qualify for the 2nd round.

Its a shame that Liverpool, traditional European powerhouses are knocked out so early in the competition. It wasn't so long ago that Rafa Benitez was deemed the saviour of Liverpool football club having won the Champions League in a dramatic comeback win. Things have obviously moved on, and Liverpool has been on a journey of ups and downs. Last year was more of an up as they challenged for the BPL crown and almost got it had it not been for a dip in form mid-season. This year is a terrible start for the Kop faithful. Unable to win domestically, their poor form had even affected their usual dominance in European football. It is one of the lowest points for all Liverpool fans.

Truth is, is it time for Rafa Benitez to go? Sure, we should not put all the blame on the manager. Afterall, he has had bad luck, losing Torres and Gerrard to injuries this season. But can he blame his luck? We all know the failure to plan is a plan to failure. As a seasoned manager who knows how important it is to have able backups for key positions, he has not done reasonably well enough to cover up the holes upfront. Without Gerrard and Torres, Liverpool is thin and toothless. Whatever happened to Kuyt? He is left on the right these days. Only Rafa knows how to misplace players from their best positions.

Robbie Keane will be so useful backing Gerrard up, but Rafa didn't see it that way. Alonso will not have left if Rafa did not condemn him before he shone in the heart of midfield. 20 million for a right back is debatable by any standard of spending by a manager. The owners meanwhile get lambasted by the Kop faithful for spending little. Well, the stats show that Rafa had been the spendthrift. The reserves are dry because the Spainard had spent on misfits like Babel, Degen, Dossena and now maybe Aquilani. He got rid of a class player like Robbie Keane and God knows why he let go of Bellamy who could have given him great wing play. Mark Hughes demonstrates how to use Bellamy effectively on the wing at Man City, something Rafa never saw.

Rafa has also done little to develop the Liverpool youngsters. How many Liverpool youth academy players can you mouth off now, considering Man Utd has got players like Fletcher, O'Shea, Brown, Evans, Welbeck and Macheda playing regularly for Man Utd, having been groomed at Man Utd's Academy. Disappointing really for a club of Liverpool stature that had produced greats like Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Jason McAteer, Jamie Redknapp, Steve McManaman and many others.

Has Rafa lost the plot? He might have won the Champions League and came close to pipping Man Utd, but reputation counts for little at times when a fresh change might ignite new ideas and renewed vigour. Think Guus Hiddink or maybe the Special One Jose Mourinho (boy, will that be an explosive relationship...)

Well, the Liverpool faithful are not complaining, so why should a Man Utd supporter worry?

C'est la Vie

Controversy is never far in soccer matches of extreme importance to a country and so it was... France broke Irish hearts and the chief instigator is their French captain and chief Thierry Henry. Cheeky as it was, Henry controlled the ball with his hand before laying it square for William Gallas to score.

What a nice bloke Henry is, to admit his mistake. But of course, it will be easier to do so after the whistle has been blown and the referee has given the goal that sends the French through to World Cup 2010. Well cna you blame Henry? He could easily push the blame to the ref... the poor ref who obviously will never step onto Irish soil in the next few months, honestly, isn't it about time technology is used to help these referees make better decisions. Ironically French legend Platini who is also the UEFA chief and who has been lobbying for referee assistance could have seen his country knocked out had his cry for more referee aid gone through.

So the Irish could complain all they want... demand for a replay all they want... and the French will reply, well fairly enough... "C'est la vie" The Irish will find it a bitter pill to swallow, but I don't see how things will change.

If it is any consolation at all, the French will not make it far in the finals anyway... for one... they need to get rid of Domenech, the one man who single handedly turned a mighty footballing nation like France into a minnow of sorts at international level... IF the French are serious about winning the World Cup again, they need to rid themselves of the clueless Domenech.

And to my Irish friends... "C'est la vie"... life goes on... you will remember Maradona's "Hand of God" and identify with English hearts... you ain't the first and you won't be the last... the history of football constantly reminds us of that.

Dear Patrick Kinghorn... you've got mail.

Dear Patrick,

I wonder why, but our last post with your name has really been attracting some response from our readers, albeit really angsty ones too. The latest comes from someone we believe you might know. Maybe, you should come out and say something... we will be glad to host your reply.

Meanwhile, thesoccertalk editors will like to reiterate that our blog is truly dedicated to the beautiful game of soccer. Peace out.

Glen Johnson: "We've been awful." KOP: "You'll Never Walk Alone."

I liked what Glen Johnson said, "We've been awful. But things like this happen in football. You stick together and keep fighting.". I cannot guarantee that what he says is what he genuinely feel. However, I share his same sentiments.

In this world, there is bound to be ups and downs. Liverpool fans worldwide would definitely be whining about the team's performance this past few months and in general, feel disappointed. However, this should be THE time to show our support as fans. We are supporting not the results but rather the culture, the history, the club, Liverpool F.C. Let's band together and offer our team the support it deserves. Remember Liverpool's song and let the KOP sing it out loud in their next match after these two weeks of break. It is a great pity that I will not be present at the stadium to offer my support but I would like to garner the support of all fans who will be present at the next match to use their voices, sing out loud, cheer your hearts away and bring the team back to life. Football is not just about winning. Football is a sport and we are here to support a team that has set out to play the sport right. "You'll Never Walk Alone."

When you walk through a storm

hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of a storm is a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,

Walk on through the rain,

Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone,

You'll never, ever walk alone.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone,

You'll never, ever walk alone.

Man Utd vs Chelsea

The big match of the season so far. With Liverpool far from being a title challenger now, the heavy favourites Man Utd and Chelsea, barring the likelihood of a Arsenal revolution will be going head-to-head at the Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Both teams are equally matched to say the very least. Chelsea has maintained it squad depth while Man Utd traditionally stronger, has lost Ronaldo and Tevez which has had an effect on their season thus far. Chelsea and Man Utd this season however will be I reckon more interesting than previous seasons. The main reason is the attacking style of Chelsea brought about by the Italian maestro Carlo Ancelotti. Chelsea has stabilised under his management and has re-found the confidence in their team play and that overwhelming team spirit that has saw them conquer the BPL during the Mourinho heydays.

Man Utd is patchy in recent matches. The loss of a confident goalscorer like Ronaldo definitely hurt the goal ratio but Rooney, Berbatov and Valencia has since stepped up to play major roles in winning games this season. Man Utd will be expecting a colossal fight in defence, a physical one with the mercurial Drogba keen to destroy the makeshift defence pairing of Brown and Evans. Man Utd will also find it hard to break down the defence and midfield of Chelsea, especially at their home ground.

I wonder who Man Utd will play in the match. For one, I am definitely expecting the midfield scrambler Darren Fletcher and the big match experienced Ryan Giggs. I am also expecting Rooney and Berbatov plus the in-form Valencia leading the attack. Right-back will be big John O'Shea and left back definitely Patrice Evra. I think they key is in defence as I have my reservations about Wes Brown's defence capacity at the centre. For Chelsea, I expect Ballack to be placed alongside Lampard, Essien and Joe Cole to try and win the midfield battle. The defensive roles are pretty much self picked: Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole and Bosingwa/Ivanovic, with Drogba and Anelka likely to be unleashed together.

The first to win the battle at the top will no doubt have the psychological edge for the rest of this year. Man Utd will hate to lose again to another Top 4 team following Liverpool. Chelsea meanwhile will like to prove that they are worthy title holders.

All these makes for an exciting match and the likelihood of drama in 90 minutes. Don't miss it for the world.

Life is a "beach"

In no uncertain terms, Rafa Benitez must be feeling the pressure... no thanks to a red beach ball, we'll call him Beachy now.

Beachy has become the newest celebrity on the football circuit. Everybody from the coach to the pundits are discussing fervently the impact of Beachy that could have just ended Liverpool's title hopes for another season. Beachy might just have given Pepe Reina the worst nightmares in his sleep... Unleashing his instincts in the penalty box, he deflected to perfection Darren Bent's strike to completely dumbfound Pepe Reina in goal. It send the Sunderland faithful into absolute delight and Beachy rolled away in celebration....

Beachy, ironically introduced onto the field by the Liverpool Kop was famous instantly, drawing loud applause from Manchester and London for his heroic antics. Beachy's goal could be the nail that encoffins Liverpool's title ambitions. What a goal that has significant importance, considering this could be the year that the title of the most successful club in English football is decided !!

Funny enough that Beachy gets such great attention, when Liverpool's poor performance should be the highlight of the game. Sure, it was bad luck... but Liverpool was just as toothless as they have ever been without Torres and Gerrard. Alonso's position is always going to be a problem. There were no able replacements to replace all three of them and it showed. Kuyt was clueless, Benayoun looked lonely, Babel is a misfit and Lucas... well... I leave you to decide why Rafa sticks to him in the first eleven.

Rafa has no one and no beach ball to blame but himself. HE should have kept Robbie Keane. HE should have purchased someone who could replace Alonso, not some Italian youngster for 20 million to sit on the bench for months on. HE should have not spend 20 million on Glen Johnson and use that money to buy someone who will have a greater impact upfront or in the middle of the park. Someone tell me why Arberloa was sold when he played so well last season? HE should have spent some time thinking about developing his younger players. Jay Spearing is never going to be a Liverpool player and it was painfully obvious.

Life is a "beach"... yeah... face it.

Hand of God works again.

In 1986, England was fuming over the "hand of god" by Diego Maradona that won the World Cup quarter finals for Argentina. Maradona was held as a hero in Argentina, and the dimunitive legend has always held great regard in his home country.

Since then, Maradona has gained more than a few kilograms, he has his own share of drug issues including cocaine controversy in 1994 and in the last year was responsible for Argentina's World Cup hopes. A name synonomous with great footballing and ingenius football skills, Maradona has perhaps one trait that he will always be remembered by, his luck.

Argentina pulled through to the World Cup Finals in 2010 by the skin of their teeth by beating Uruguay in the dying minutes with a late goal. Maradona for certain will lose his job if Argentina did not qualify automatically. As coach of a immensely talented team that boasts the best footballer in the world in Lionel Messi, coupled with the deadly duo of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero and many other talented players national teams will die for to play for them, Argentina has no good reason to not qualify as a top 4 team in South America. The only reason I can conjure is poor management and Maradona's abilties as a coach is clearly in doubt.

Many wonder if the man to lead Argentina at the finals could be Maradona. Afterall, the team struggled badly and did suffer a huge scare in this qualifying round. Maradona could ill afford to be cocky, but as always, his traditional manner of treating his critics is to make sure he gets the last laugh... at least for now.

Looks like Maradona is an enigma himself, a player and now coach that somehow has the extra factor - luck. While not doubting his genuis on the field, Maradona like most talented individuals seldom stick to a fixed route to stardom or success. The Hand of God incident gave Argentina the win. The controversies often come together with the success stories.

You could be a wonderful coach but without luck on your side, you often lose. Maradona might not be a great coach, neither is he the best tactician and manager... but if he stays on... who knows... Argentina might just win the 2010 World Cup. Now that miracle will surely surpass the "hand of god" incident, wouldn't it?

The Return of Avram

Pardon the cheap poke. But other than his less than appealing image and physical appearance, Avram Grant is a pretty good coach. I mean, come on... he didn't do that badly at Chelsea picking up the pieces left behind by the self proclaimed Special One Jose Mourinho.

So I was actually glad that Avram is heading back to the BPL again, and in fact is picking up again what was his first job as director of football at Portsmouth. Little is known about the new powers sitting at Portsmouth, but the oil rich billionaires that took over Man City and went on a shopping spree have raised expectations for the Pompey fans, knowing that they belong now to the same category (or maybe its just what they are led to believe).

Avram Grant is warming the seat for a while... the classic case of if Paul Hart screws up, Avram takes over immediately. But in any case, Portsmouth looks like they are in for a dogfight. They don't have good enough players to escape the relegation battle this season. Their strikers are firing blanks most of the matches and they have little creativity in the team since losing Krancjar. Without goals, you don't win matches.

Unless in January, a mini miracle is performed on the transfer market, Portsmouth will slug it out with the very poor Hull City, the less than convincing Birmingham, the toothless Wolves and just maybe the lacklustre West Ham. I won't count Burnley out yet even if they are winning at home.

We shall see if Avram and his gang of merry men will be able to turn Portsmouth's slow start around and park themselves firmly in the Premier League or be "toad"away to the lower divisions... as in towed away.... toad... towed.... get it get it ?!?! *roll eyes*

The "Sol" walks again.

Sol Campbell is well remembered during his days at Arsenal and also for his contribution to England. However, Sol's recent antics have landed him 2nd place on the top 10 shortest transfers. Sol Campbell walked out of Notts County after 1 game for the club which ended in a 2-1 defeat at Morecambe.

It's not the first time Sol Campbell has done something like this for he has walked out of Arsenal in 2006 after a horrendous first half against West Ham. Reports say it is due to a reality check that he decided to leave Notts County. For me, I see it as a simple act of irresponsibility and a display of terrible character and professionalism.

He may be a good defender and may be snapped up in January by some struggling clubs in the Premier League when the transfer window opens. But my advice to these clubs is that they be ready for the signing of a non-committed player and a player who doesn't seem to put the club above himself. All in all, a selfish player who is fickle and probably makes uninformed choices.

Manchester Derby Classic

Best derby I have ever witnessed, period.

Pulsating action, end to end stuff, two teams playing at the best yet prone to defensive errors that added to the great excitement of a Barclays Premier League derby.

First goal, Man Utd was pure Rooney, grit, determination and immense strength to finish past Shay Given

Second goal Man City, poor poor mistake by Ben Foster, giving Carlos Tevez the chance to poke the ball to Barry to slot home easily.

Third goal Man Utd, Fletcher arrives in the box to head into bottom corner of goal. Excellent cross from Giggs.

Fourth goal, Man City, nothing you can do about this one. Bellamy cuts in and rifles home a stupendous drive into the top corner.

Fifth goal, Man Utd, Fletcher again... arrives in the box to head Giggs's free-kick past Shay Given. Prior to this, Given was excellent to stop three clear goal attempts.

Sixth goal, Man City, boo boo by Rio Ferdinand, outpaced by Bellamy, finished off cooly by the Welshman. 3-3... looks like a draw.

SEVENTH goal, Man Utd, Michael Owen at the death of the game, controls Giggs through ball and slots it past Given for an emphatic last minute winner. Old Trafford erupts in euphoria.

Why do I watch soccer you ask? For moments like these...

Dwight Yorke finally retires.

Dwight Yorke has decided to hang up his boots at the age of 37 and take on the role of the assistant manager for Trinidad and Tobago. He was one of what I called the "Oreo Team" at Manchester United, partnering Andy Cole. They were the attacking pair when I started watching Manchester United play and I shall never forget the way they demolished Liverpool in the Charity Shield and other tournaments.

He has offered quite a lot of entertainment during his days as a player and was fondly referred to as the smiling assasin due to his ability to score goals and his ever existent smile! It'll be exciting to see him follow the footsteps of his other teammates such as Roy Keane and take up a managerial role with a English club in the near future. If that happens, it would then seem that Alex Ferguson is sowing his seeds in the game, especially the English game.

There goes the "Oreo Team" and the beginning of a new attacking partnerships at Manchester United.

Child Trafficking, what?

The focus these days while football is on international week is the recent ruling by FIFA to ban Chelsea for 2 years for allegedly signing a minor, Gael Kakuta (above) from Lens without going through the proper procedures.

Similarly, a hundred over clubs have jumped on the chance to get some resolution to similar cases, against the who's who of English football, such as Man Utd, Man City and Everton for signing youth players with great potential from their ranks.

The saga is truly an interesting and debatable one, with both sides of the argument engaged in fiery exchanges. On one side, you have the major clubs of world football, the Man Utds and the Chelseas who can and are able to attract younger players based on their namesake alone. On the other side, you have the minnows as you would have it from the lower leagues in Europe, the Lens, Le Harves, Lazios and Fiorentinas who are unhappy about losing their best homegrown talent to the bright lights of the bigger clubs.

To be bluntly honest, I think the whole saga is a load of crap, invented by the people who do not know and have no idea whatsoever, of the reality in a real world. Arsenal's manager, one of the few men who should deserve praise if not accolades for grooming talent such as Henry, Anelka, Fabregas and lately Jack Wilshere voiced out quite rightly that the people who made these policies are clearly not thinking right. Well, he didn't exactly said that, but he meant that.

Obviously, every young player wants to play for the biggest clubs in football. Not only does he get a better footballing program at a bigger club, his wages are much better to which allows him to assist in supporting his family which in most cases are not well off. His academic education is taken care of. He gets a chance to play with the best in the world which will inevitably improve his skills and mental capacity as a footballer. Most of all, in a footballer's short career of fifteen years the most, he will not get many golden oppportunities from the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal knocking at his door... For goodness sake, give the kids their break to chase the dream.

It is sad to know that footballing authorities are so disconnected with the real world. If they are parents who have a child that has a chance to study at Harvard or Oxford with a full scholarship provided, what are the chances that they choose to restrict their kid to a less renowned university locally?

The modern world is built on a system of merit, people move on to greener pastures on their own accord, consequences and rewards of their decision borne by oneself. In all corporate bodies, established companies poach talent from the smaller firms, oh yes... the reality for smaller companies is very ugly, but the individual should be given their decision to make, not the regulating body or the Ministry of Manpower for instance. Why should football be any different? Is there an over-enthusiastic intention here to level the playing ground? At what costs will FIFA be willing to take? At the cost of denying a kid his dream? Will it even work in the first place, when often times smaller clubs are not making the grade not because they have lost their best players but simply because they do not have the right structure for a competitive advantage in the first place?

Truth of the matter is, the best players want to play in the best team. Cristiano Ronaldo was deemed by the same authorities; to be a slave to his contract last season because his rightful employers Manchester Utd refused to let him go to Real Madrid, the club of the Portugese star's dream. Now they are calling on new policies to deny hundreds of young and promising footballers the chance to play for the clubs of their dreams. Isn't that just lame hypocrisy? Where is the consistency in all of these?

Clubs pay a tribunal fee to the smaller clubs for young talent they bring on board to the club. it is not as if the smaller clubs receive nothing for the player being groomed at their grounds. But because there is no professional contract signed for players below 18 years of age, the fee has to be decided in a fair and netural system for both parties. At the end of the day, the player's career and his choice of progress should be given the priority of thought. The bigger club can then decide if they want to pay the fee stipulated by the deciding authority for compensation of sorts to the smaller club for discovering and training the player.

Reputable clubs with strong and established youth academies like Man Utd and Arsenal provide a wholesome education for their players. They have the capacity to take care of the financial issues for the young player and his family so that he can concentrate on developing his footballing talent, and thus the chance at a brighter future in football. It is a scholarship based on merit to which the young player must earn his place among the club's elite while learning and refining his trade at the academy. The young player can only benefit from this experience. It makes him stronger as a person and his prestigious footballing education ups his value almost immediately (liken it to a degree program at Harvard or Oxford), setting him up for life as a professional footballer. Denying talent the space to grow by fixating him to a smaller club befuddles me.

I think FIFA must draw a line on what they deem as child trafficking. Is it child trafficking at all? Even if the minor cannot make the choice, can the parent not make the best choice for the child? Bribing the parent with money and luxury houses is obviously wrong by any ethical standard, but offering the parent a chance to provide his/her child with a world class footballing education and an opportunity to improve their standards of living is surely not morally or professionally flawed.

If the issue is about levelling the competitive field for football clubs, at what cost will FIFA force it through, will they even restrict the individual discretion to make personal career choices? Eventually, the talented player will still move on to a bigger club if he has outgrown in stature and ability to the rest at the club. It is only a matter of when. Anyway, the whole idea of levelling the playing field in football is nonsensical to me, but this shall be discussed in a different column at a more appropriate date.

Emergence of a new Super League?

UEFA and FIFA have been stamping their authority all over the place before all the major clubs have even started their official season properly.

First, the diving ban on Arsenal's Eduardo, then a curb on club spending which will affect perennial big spenders like Manchester City and Real Madrid, and now a rule on exploiting young talent which could force bans on most clubs with a youth policy like Chelsea and Manchester United.

In what is the third event outside of the game that could affect the top footballing clubs, FIFA has decided to ban Chelsea from purchasing any new player for two years or two transfer window periods for allegedly tapping on the youth system of a smaller French club to recruit the promising youngster Gael Kakuta.

Two transfer windows with no new players is a big problem for a club like Chelsea. With no new blood to compete at Chelsea, it will be harder for them to challenge for top honors in the next two seasons. And with the team ageing and new coach Ancelotti eager to acquire new talent like his young protege Alexandre Pato from AC Milan to inject youthfulness at the club, the ban is set to derail Russian owner Abramovich's plans of winning a European Champions League trophy.

Which brings me to my point, how long will it take before the dawn of a new European Super League? With Michel Platini at the helm of UEFA, the top clubs are increasingly unhappy at the policies that have been introduced by the Frenchman. In truth, Platini has consistently upset the super-rich clubs by trying to bring some equilibrium to club football. These series of events and new changes could potentially trigger off a new super league albeit a private league set up by the superpowers of football, with the likes of Real Madrid and Man Utd clashing on a weekly basis, rather than the occasional European match.

Though I am no big fan of a super league, since the smaller clubs are likely to be ostracized, imagine what it would be like if UEFA keeps pushing the limits. No matter how authoritative the governing body is, the big clubs and their players are what fans and broadcasters look out for. They, the superpowers of club football hold the true power. I liken this scenrio to the recent Formula 1 saga, when the major racing teams (Renault and Ferrari) with the backing of their billionaire funders and legions of fans managed to overturn a ruling made by the top man at FIA, Max Mosely and force what will eventually be his resignation.

So I say UEFA must thread their grounds carefully. They do not want a potential showdown with the major clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea or Real Madrid to decide the future of European football, because the outcome is the very likelihood that a super league can be formed and do just as well if not better than the current leagues in Europe. With the powers gone, a league comprising of Hull City, Burnley and Wigan just do not seem enticing or market-worthy to TV fans at all when compared to the elite of world football competing on a regular basis. If that outcome happens, UEFA will disappear into anoymity in no time. UEFA can only lose in a such a scenario.

Honestly, Platini needs to learn control over his French temper and be more cautious and strategic in his approach to implementing changes. Too many at a time and you risk a potential backlash, a serious one that could happen if pushed hard enough.

Review: World Cup Qualifiers

Brazil has ensured a place in the World Cup Finals while Spain is on the brink of qualification after a sensational 5-0 win over Belgium. Portugal on the other hand seems to be in trouble as they only managed a 1-1 draw with Denmark. It seems that Ronaldo Cristiano alone may not be sufficient to make a difference enough for Portugal to secure an early qualification into the World Cup Finals.

The next few matches will be interesting as fate of most countries shall be decided within the next 2 games. It would be a pity if Portugal fail to qualify as it would mean that we will not be able to see Cristiano perform his magic for us on screen and it will definitely be disappointing for Ronaldo Cristiano as we know him as a player who loves to entertain during big games as he feeds his ego from the crowds' cheers.

The next match will be taking place within the next week and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these "great" footballing nations might not qualify for the World Cup Finals.

Mad Rush on Transfer Deadline

A flurry of transfer activity marked the end of the transfer window for the summer as English clubs scramble to buy players available on the market, sometimes at ridiculous prices.

Sunderland's acquisition of Michael Turner costs 12 million pounds. Whether the Hull defender who came on the scene last year with Hull City can live up to his billing remains to be seen. Valued by Liverpool at a considerably lower price, Turner might be a solid defender with a knack for scoring from set-pieces, but he is still some way from becoming a full fledged England international.

Everton did a bit of smart buying by adding Johnny Heitinga (above) from Athletico Madrid. Replacing Lescott who left for Man City, Heitinga adds some poise and class at the back, and with a proven player like Slyvain Distin also joining from Portsmouth, the central defence is well covered by David Moyes. Moyes also managed to add Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov whom if he manages to settle in quickly into English football could add some much needed creativity for the Toffees.

Niko Krancjar marks another astute signing by Harry Redknapp. Portsmouth's most creative player was signed by Harry for next to nothing really. He provides excellent cover for Modric who is out with a broken leg and his ability to run at defenders and smooth playmaking abilities resemble that of Spurs hero David Ginola who could also play across the midfield or just behind the front two.

Richard Dunne, a loyal servant of Man City for close to ten years now deserved better from his club for his loyalty and stellar performances for a team who had not went through the best of times during his playing days. It seems ill fitting that the club captain has been sent to Aston Villa as he was deemed surplus to requirements with Toure and Lescott preferred at the back. Dunne is a classic English defender, hard to play against and no-nonsense. Most importantly, he understood Man City and what it stood for. The transfer of Dunne to Villa signifies the change-of-guard at Man City, when a new era of highly paid "superstars" will now officially take over from the old boys of Man City.

The other clubs did their best to secure services of bit part players to push their bid for survival and a mid-table finish. Stoke City signed defender Danny Collins from Sunderland, Aston Villa secured another defender James Collins from West Ham, Portsmouth got centre-back Ben Haim from Man City, forward Nugent swapped Portsmouth for Burnley, Hull got Ibrahim Sonko from Stoke to replace Michael Turner who left for Sunderland. Bolton secured Croatian veteran striker Ivan Klasnic as they desperately look for goals upfront.

No big signings from outside the Premier League this season as all the clubs look to consolidate from within the league where the seasoned players understand the guile and doggedness of the Premier League game in game out.

Should UEFA ban Eduardo?

The footballing body made news today for two major annoucements. One, it has decided to ban Eduardo from Arsenal for allegedly diving in the penalty box. Two, it has decided to use force to curb club spending in order to bring club spending to equilibrium. All these make for interesting commentary, but the diving incident must have ruffled a few feathers already in the Arsenal camp.

Eduardo's diving incident is as we say, very typical of competitive football these days. More often than not, players go over easily when being touched in the penalty box, as if they have been shot by a sniper. Why? For the simple reason that you could earn yourself a penalty in a game. Now is that gamesmanship or sportsmanship? You be the judge. Eduardo could have dived purposely, or he could have reacted instinctively to the goalkeeper coming quickly at his feet. Was the referee supposed to make a better decision? Perhaps if the referee was better equipped by UEFA, whether it be technology or new rules to include video footage in live play, the incident could have been prevented.

Will Celtic react as furiously if they have won the game, or will they have given up... say a qualifier's berth if they had won by a single penalty themselves? I don't know if the Scottish FA will have cried foul if they had went through to the group stage and had their positions flipped. Truth is Celtic did get outplayed in both legs and they probably didn't deserve it as much as Arsenal, penalty or not.

In a fair opinion, I don't think punishment here is something that should be discussed when the match is over. Punishment meted out for this scenario is still pretty much a grey area. Call me old fashioned, but I believe in human integrity. Sports is a measure of a man's true character and has always been a test of the human spirit, whether it be persistence, determination or simple honesty.

If Eduardo did dive and felt that the penalty was undeserved, he could have raised his arm and ask the referee to reverse the decision. I remembered Robbie Fowler doing that in a crucial game for Liverpool. Liverpool lost the game eventually but everyone including his own manager and especially the referee respected him for his decision to stand up for what he thought was right. If the UEFA body wants to teach fairplay, then start with inculcating integrity and commend exemplary examples like Robbie Fowler. The sages and the mentors of this younger generation of footballers must stand up and teach integrity. To change a corrupt system, don't punish those who get sucked into it. The young players grew up to a system that taught them to dive when they can, and it has been covered up as gamesmanship, which till this day is debatable.

Many will admit that the system in modern football leaves little room for the right ethics. You would think that the younger players need to learn integrity from the people who should lead by example, the coaches and the managers. These are the people who form the beliefs in a young footballer and teach them the true spirit of competition. By punishing the player, it does not change the core issue which till now is the mantra being harped on; "to win at all costs possible", if not explicitly, then implicitly understood in the dressing rooms of major football clubs.

To overhaul a system fraught with an integrity issue, I wonder if deterrence is a long term solution, if a solution at all. Perhaps club education and public commendation for exemplary acts of integrity is a more sustainable one that serves to change a generation's mindset.

Nothing to fuss about...

Liverpool crash to two defeats in their first three games, Man Utd loses to lowly Burnley, Burnley records second victory over a top six team by beating Everton at Merseyside, Man City and Chelsea make it a 100% winning record so far, Spurs are increasingly looking like Championship material, Arsenal is free scoring and looking like serious title challengers...

Oh well, if the all the buzz is to be believed, the season is going to be really exciting with a top four potentially now a top six, Man City and Tottenham the new favourites. And based on form, Burnley looks like it could spring a few surprises and stay up while Everton might look destined for the dreaded relegation drop.... ..... but really, is it worth the fuss?

Alas, at the start of the season, results often go *whacko*, new teams to the division are high on spirits and players fly in for every ball, which could suggest why Birmingham, Burnley and Wolves are doing exactly what they are not expected to... ... win games.

The Premier League is famed for its energy and over-enthusiasm... but sooner or later, everything pretty much returns to equilibrium when mid season or specifically when December arrives. Fans who get too excited now over the results are not doing justice to what has transpired over many many seasons before the current season.

One clear fact is players tire and get injured over the season, and through a long and arduous season, thinner squads with less quality in depth fade badly. Case in point, Hull City last season. They were top five contenders early last season, only to lose the second half of the season so badly, they were on the brink of relegation. I don't expect Burnley to survive the drop. *You can take that as a prediction from me.

Chelsea and Arsenal might win handsomely now. But we all know the story don't we? Arsenal is just too thin to last a season in Europe and England. They can play pretty against any team but the litmus test comes when a Van Persie or a Fabregas gets laid off through injury, then what? Who can replace them in the team? Zilch. Chelsea, well.... they started the same as last season under a new coach called Luis Felipe Scolari... but we all know what happened to him by mid-season. Ancelotti implements a new formation, it looks great against Fulham, but Fulham is no title challenging team... so no ego booster for the Blues really.

Man Utd are perennial slow starters... they only hit top gear in November/December. Pacing yourself is the name of the game. Rooney has stepped up to the plate as a matchwinner. Now can he do it consistently like Ronaldo did? Liverpool might lose twice already but the issue here isn't about the record in three games, its more about what they seem to be lacking and what is painfully obvious to the bystander. No creative playmaker means less chances. Less chances means less goals. No matter how good Torres is, he cannot convert what is not created. Gerrard who is likely to fill that position will see his goal ratio dry up from last season. Rafa doesn't need to panick into buying, but can he solve the problem without doing so?

Man City is like an unproven entity. If they can get their act together, they might work out because of the players bought. Most of these players have proven track records. But the team balance is awfully off. Playing Barry and Ireland in midfield and having Robinho and Wright Phillips on the wings to support a front two is what I reckon a very adventurous lineup with little cover for the back. But with the defending quality of Lescott and Toure as well as having a more than able keeper in Shay Given, they might actually have some consistency in terms of results. Mark Hughes knows he needs time to build a championship team, but his exponential and growing investments so far also mean less and less time expected of him. Will his Arab employers be patient with succees as they profess to be or are they just another Abramovich in disguise? That is crucial to what pans out over the rest of the season for Man City.

All in all, its only been three games, there is really nothing to fuss about. And even if there is, it shouldn't be taken as definitive for the season.

Review: Liverpool stunned at Anfield

Liverpool has made a disappointing start to this season, having lost 2 of their 3 opening games. Last season, Liverpool lost 2 games in total and they have lost the same amount in just 2 weeks to the start of this season.

Liverpool played sloppily and caused themselves to have conceded 2 goals in the first half. Although Torres was able to bring them one up, Gerrard went on to conced a penalty, allowing Ashley Young to convert it, resulting in a 3-1 defeat for Liverpool against Aston Villa, at Anfield.

Well, I believe Liverpool have their work cut out for them if they wish to once again challenge for top spot in the Premier League this season. Benitez! Stop your foolish mistakes and get your act right. The loss of Xabi Alonso could be the reason as to why Liverpool has had a disappointing start. But it is definitely not an excuse. Benitez must learn to adapt to situations and change tactics based on their current squad selection and squad depth. The key to a successful manager is not only in acquiring good players but to turn their good players into fantastic players for the team, transforming their players into a squad that works and produces results!

Newbies defeated Champions!

Burnley stunned the Red Devils last night with a 1-0 win at Turf Moor. Burnley's Robbie Blake shot in the winning goal in the 19th minute and despite awarded a penalty, Michael Carrick was unable to convert the chance as Brian Jensen made a "heroic“ save. It was 33 years ago since Burnley had a home win in the Premier League and it is to the fans' joy that they have recorded their first home win in the Premier League since 1976 against Premier League Champions, Manchester United.

I guess Manchester United is beginning to miss the firepower of Ronaldo Cristiano as they were unable to break down Burnely's defense. I guess we will have to see if Burnely can continue to resist the attack from the Big Boys and if they are able to keep up their wins to stay alive in the Premier League by the end of the season.

First Round Review: Trio Impresses while Merseyside slumps

In what is an exciting start to the new season, the first round of matches suggest there is more to the eye this season than the usual top four suspects.

With all top four clubs losing key players over the summer, there is a larger degree of equilibrium these days with the likes of serious pretenders Tottenham and Man City knocking at the door. The three sides that looked really good on first match impressions were Arsenal, Tottenham and Wigan.

Man City was closely scrutinized because of their big spending over the summer. While Adebayor scored, Man City still looks far from the finished product of top four calibre. Mark Hughes was not able to birng out the best of Gareth Barry or Robinho in a lineup that saw Blackburn conjure more shots on target than their prized strikers despite a 2-0 loss. Had it not been for the reliable Shay Given, the match could have turned in Blackburn's favour. The defence needs to be better protected at the midfield if Man City is to face a bigger side than Blackburn.

Arsenal impressed with a 6-1 thrashing of lifeless Everton. Without Arteta, Everton was lacking creativity and their conservative approach was punished by Arsene Wenger's stylish side. Normally solid in set-pieces, Everton gave away two goals to Arsenal's centrebacks from free kicks. If David Moyes is wise, he will cash in on want-away Jolean Lescott to cash-rich Man City and reinforce his ailing team. Lescott's recent antics look like a serious dent on the usually water tight Everton defence. But if anyone was quick to point Arsenal as firm favourites for the title, Arsene Wenger was quick to deny it. He will know... afterall his squad is so thin, all it takes is an injury to one key player to seriously affect their chances.

Liverpool was left rueing their loss of Xabi Alonso. Without their Spanish playmaker who dictated play last season, Torres and Gerrard was not the potent attacking force of last season. Without a main man spreading those visionary passes, Rafa has a major decision to make. Either he places Gerrard in the Alonso position and sticks Benayoun behind Torres or he can continue to believe in an inferior Lucas Leiva to do the job. What will Rafa do? Only Rafa knows, but he needs to change something quick to prevent a domino effect from this first loss to the Spurs. The Totenham Spurs on the other hand was impressive in their first outing of the season. Bassong was majestic in defence, Modric was silky smooth, Robbie Keane was inspirational, Palacios was tigerish; even more so than the Reds' Mascherano. the only blip is the clumsy goalkeeper that is Herulho Gomes. For heaven's sake, Harry Redknapp should start thinking about getting rid of him.

Wigan was the surprise package of the first round. Roberto Martinez the new manager in charge of the club had managed to transform the club into a classy attacking side that had more poise and purpose in their style of passing. Expect that from a Spanish manager who harps on beautiful football. One player who stood out was Roberto's countryman Jordi Gomez who fills in the creative role behind the chief striker Hugo Rodallega. Think Deco, Iniesta... Jordi is looking like the surprise of the season at a club that had given the Premier League fans unpolished gems like Palacios, Valencia and to a certain extent Amir Zaki. A 2-0 victory at Villa Park was indicative of a genius in the making in Roberto Martinez who is set to raise a few more eyebrows over the course of the season. Martin O'Neill for one was honest in saying he did not expect Wigan to be that good against his side which finished just behind the top four teams.

Exciting start to the season for the fans. Mind-boggling one for the managers who are still living in the yesteryear.

Review: Liverpool's terrible start.

What a terrible start to a battle for the top spot in the league for Liverpool. They went down 2-1 to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday. The only consolation that Liverpool had was when Gerrard converted a penalty awarded for Gomes' out right foul on Glen Johnson. After the game, we see Benitez ranting and blaming the referees for the loss that Liverpool has suffered.

Truth is, Liverpool is lacking cohesiveness and most importantly, lacks the attacking power and depth that a champion needs. We will have to see what more does Benitez have up his sleeve over the next few months. From there, we can better assess Liverpool's chances of challenging for silverware and top spot in the Premier League this season.

Footballing Tragedy

The footballing world as a whole was left in shock as the game lost one of its top professionals in the captain of Barcelona club Espanyol's Jarque.

While Jarque might not be a household name in football, his untimely passing is starkly similar to the death of Antonio Peurta from Sevilla not so long ago. Both had passed due to heart failure. Some have wondered if the professional game's physical demands had contributed to such untimely and sudden deaths. Most of all, one has to wonder how extremely fit atheletes such as Jarque could just topple like that, its almost too hard for the fans of Espanyol or the general public to contemplate the early death of a young and professional footballer, with a world of opportunities ahead of him.

Being lovers of football and the passion it stands for, the editors of this blog will like to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and the fans of Daniel Jarque.

Charity Shield 2009 Match Analysis: Manchester United

Man Utd was at their free flowing best in the first half of the Shield. For a moment, Nani gave hope to all Man Utd fans of forgetting Cristiano Ronaldo when he struck a sweetly taken goal after cutting in from the left. He has scored a few times from that exact position, and I think it will not be his last.

Nani is no Ronaldo and we know that. Clearly, Man Utd is still adaping to play without a winger who gives you penetration from all over the field. You could kind of see clearly now that Man Utd is more about passing and finding the best positions to threaten defenders. Players are working harder to run into spaces and also slow down play when options are few. Finding the right player in the right position in a classic 4-4-2 formation, with Rooney and Berbatov switching places throughout the match in a staggered front two is the key to Man Utd's attacking play now that there is no Ronaldo to go to when looking for a spark.

The keyword is spark. Ronaldo was the spark for Man Utd in the entire 90 minutes he plays on the field. Now the team has to share that responisbility. Nani provided it in the first half. The evergreen Ryan Giggs provided it in the second. Berbatov made intelligent runs and linkplay while Park was his usual industrious self, finding himself in good scoring positions more than a few times. It is a more balanced footballing side now at Man Utd. Yes, the lack of a go-to man can be less of an advantage to Man Utd now, but the teamplay has improved as a whole with Ronaldo gone. While he used to hog the play of Man Utd, his absence now has given Man Utd an edge in unpredictability. The team showed more variety and the linkplay within the first half was exquisite to say the least.

Chelsea did came back stronger in the second half. Man Utd will have to improve their defensive awareness in the coming week, especially that of the custodian Ben Foster whose kicking leaves more to be desired if he is to replace the excellent kicker that is Edwin Van der Sar.

The most encouraging sign of the day for Sir Alex must be the equalising goal by Rooney in the last minute of the game. It showed that the team has not lost any of its winning appetite and fighting spirit that they are famed for, and that without Ronaldo, other players like Giggs and Rooney are still capable of coming up with the goods when crunch time is on. The coaches and players will be encouraged to see that they did not look out of sorts against a top four rival than what many will have predicted them to be without a certain star player in Ronaldo.

Man Utd can adapt to play without Ronaldo. The thing that Sir Alex will be worried about though is the lack of players who can play behind the opposing defence. Ronaldo use to do that many times against slower defenders on the turn like John Terry when Carrick punted those searching long balls from midfield. Micheal Owen was the best at it during his heydays but he has lost some of the pace that allowed him to beat the fullbacks now. Rooney and Berbatov generally prefer to play with the ball to their feet. Sir Alex will look to rectify that during this last week leading up to the new competitive season. Owen will probably fulfill the role of chasing down long balls now but at his age of 29, Sir Alex and his coaching team needs to find the right balance in Owen's game to utilise him fully.

This season is a test of wits and tactical acumen for the coaching team at Man Utd. To replace Ronaldo, you need more than a like-for-like player, you need to change a system. The team does look like they are up to it, but they need to sustain momentum for a longer period than just a half if this match is anything to go by.

Charity Shield 2009 Match Analysis: Chelsea

Even though The Charity Shield is only a pre-season friendly before the season starts officially next week, the game between Chelsea and Man Utd suggests anything but friendliness.

Both sides are renowned for their competitiveness and their thirst for silverware, so a Charity Shield still makes a tasty match between two of the closest rivals in English football. In the end, Chelsea won on penalties but the post match analysis will draw more attention than the victory itself.

With the experienced Ancelotti on the side of Chelsea, it was interesting to see the kind of football Chelsea will adopt under the Italian tactician who guided Milan to two Champions League wins. Adopting the "diamond" formation as has been widely reported these days, Chelsea looked tight in the centre of the park but evidently was much weaker on the wings. With no cover on the wings, the Chelsea fullbacks were under immense pressure from a Man Utd side that always had and has more than capable wingers with intelligent offensive play. I seldom see Ashley Cole play a bad game for Chelsea or England, this was one of his worst to date... but to be fair, the diamond formation has inevitably added more defensive pressure on him than when Chelsea played a 4-3-3 formation.

A new formation will take time to settle into and especially at Chelsea where they have played Mourinho's 4-3-3 for so long. The key Chelsea playmaker Frank Lampard looked out of sorts in the first half. He got lucky in the second with a goal that should not have happened in the first place. Referees like Chris Foy spoil an otherwise entertaining game with questionable double standards by failing to stop play when Man Utd left back Evra was clearly in distress (he stopped play earlier with Man Utd in an advantageous position when Chelsea man Ballack was laying injured on the ground) The subsequent counter attack saw Chelsea score a cheap goal in a three to two situation. That sort of redeemed Lampard's non existence in the first half, but he returned to anonymity again... soon after.

Lampard is no Kaka as Ancelotti will love him to be in the diamond formation, and frankly his best position is deeper in midfield, linking play and spreading long passes instead of being just behind the front two of Anelka and Drogba. To play Lampard in such a forward position like Gerrard with Liverpool is clearly making the same mistake when England did the same thing with him before Capello took over. The close scrutiny of the opposing defensive midfielder and the tight spaces in front of the centre backs meant that Lampard has little space to make those late runs into the penalty box where he scores many of his goals. Its fair to say that Lampard's dribbling and running with the ball is inferior to Kaka which made Ancelotti's diamond formation looked class and dangerous. At least from this match alone, I seriously think Lampard will have it hard and Chelsea might suffer some disorientation if he sticks to that position on top of the diamond in midfield.

With Essien and Malouda on the two sides of the diamond, what you have are the roles of Gattusso and Seedorf for Ancelotti's diamond at Milan. Is it smart for Ancelotti to make Chelsea adopt his style of play? Perhaps time will tell. Essien looked less than his usual combatative self except for a header at goal in the first half. Malouda was not all too effective playing deeper in midfield with Anelka also looking overwhelmed with his partner Drogba again hogging most of Chelsea's play when they revert to the direct style that they are always more comfortable with since Mourinho first instilled it. They will always have a part of Mourinho in their play and Ancelotti will have his hands full to get the players' heads around his style of play.

If I am a Premier League manager watching Chelsea, I will think there is a chance to beat Chelsea if I deploy wing play- get in the face of the fullbacks and try to stop them from linking play on the wings, pressure the defence by popping balls in from the wings. By stifling Lampard in the role behind the strikers, you basically kill Chelsea's supply line and goal ratio. Drogba is a menace but he can be dealt with by more experienced centre backs now. Chelsea's main threat will still be their set-pieces with physically gifted players all round the team posing aerial threats but I presume Stoke City can also give them a go at set pieces too. With Chelsea playing a diamond formation, only having one player for defensive cover in midfield can and will catch their own central defence flat footed when being splitted through opposing runs down the middle, Giggs's run and clean through pass for Rooney's late goal in this match proved that the one midfielder covering the defence might work in Serie A but in the BPL, you are courting trouble.

Chelsea might have won the Charity Shield, but I am not sure if they have won pre-season bargaining rights to the English Championship. There is plenty of work to be done and I think Carlo Ancelotti knows that.

30 million cash injection from sale of Xabi Alonso.

Alonso's recent departure to Real Madrid meant that Perez has spent 220 million pounds on bringing players into Real Madrid, of which two came from Liverpool (Alonso and Arbeloa). Alonso's departure also meant that only two players (Gerrard and Carragher) remained from the 18 players that featured in the penalty shoot out with AC Milan in 2005, which ended withM Liverpool lifting the Champions League Cup.

It is sad that Alonso is leaving, especially since he featured an important role in Liverpool's success in contending for top spot in BPL last season. While we can't stop players from moving on to greener pastures, it would be exciting to see what Benitez will be doing with the cash that he has in hand from the outgoing summer transfers.

My suggestion would be that he increases his attacking options which is greatly affected after Alonso's departure. Hopefully Liverpool can remain title contenders this season and hopefully re-claim top spot soon...

The Real and City effect

Have love, don't hate... that could be harder to do these days when clubs like Man City and Real Madrid are flaunting their cash around, grabbing up players by the dosens from the most popular clubs in football.

Man City has been eating away at their closest competitors this summer. Champions Man Utd has lost Carlos Tevez to their city rivals. Liverpool has lost their top transfer target Gareth Barry to the Blues as well. Arsenal lost both Adebayor and Toure to the riches at Eastlands. Chelsea? Well, they were the first club to feel the effect when the loss of luring Robinho to Stamford Bridge last season eventually cost them a Premiership title.
Those which finished above Man City suffered huge losses as well. Aston Villa no longer have their captain Barry, Everton looks like they might just lose Manchester homeboy Jolean Lescott as well... West Ham has already lost Craig Bellamy to them last season. No one is spared from the new cash floating around in the league, a new financial power in football.

Real Madrid meanwhile looks set to disrupt Liverpool's plans to overtake Man Utd this season. Arberloa has already left for the Spanish giants, reinforcing the backline of Real but weakening the options at the Kop. But the most painful must be the impending departure of Xabi Alonso who handed in a transfer request. His loss looks set to handicap the Liverpool midfield badly, in fact it could be fatal to their title hopes. Without Alonso, it is hard to see who can replace his role since Gareth Barry has already joined Man City. And Rafa looks like he has a major crisis on his hands with Mascherano seemingly unsettled by Barcelona's interest. That is three very important players from their best season. If Liverpool does not get replacements fast enough in central midfield, this season will be really really challenging.

Real and Man City are already starting to shift powers in world football even before a ball is even kicked. They might have a lot to prove with the massive spending, but they have also created some questions for their close competitors as well. Intriguing season ahead...

Return of Patrick Vieira ?

Could this be true? Rumors are flying off the shelf that Patrick Vieira is set for a sensational return to Arsenal.

My word.... that will be something wouldn't it? I mean there is no one better than Vieira replacing the void left by Vieira himself when he moved on from Arsenal... The player might be getting on in footballing years... but the experience, the charisma that went with him when he left... that was something Arsene Wenger never found again in another...

What a way to boost Arsenal spirits if this turns out to be true !! Nothing beats the return of a cult hero, much less the return of a legend like Patrick Vieira to the Premier League again...

Valencia impresses in debut

Though it is pre-season for Man Utd at the Audi Cup, Sir Alex sure doesn't expect the boys to take it any lightly. No matter which tournament Man Utd plays in, the gaffer wants to win it. And it is the same mentality throughout the club, from the manager to the kit man...

Despite a 2-1 victory over Argentina giants Boca Juniors, Sir Alex expressed his disappointment with the overall team performance, stressing that the team has got to improve from their pre-season performances in the Far East. Classic Alex Ferguson isn't it, he ups the tempo and the standards expected once the boys think they might have done enough. That keeps everyone on their toes in the club and explains the driving force behind that insatiable desire to win at the club.

Despite the honest assessment by Sir Alex, there were more than a few bright spots in the team's performance. Again, Man Utd showed why they have the best youth system in football today by slotting in Craig Cathcart and Fabio Da Silva into the starting defensive backline. The players impressed, just like how many before them did when they first stepped into the first team. The depth of the team is truly impeccable in my opinion. When you can slot anyone from the Reserves into the first eleven and have them feel comfortable playing at their best straightaway, there must be something special at the club that makes everyone click. A lot of this is credit to Man Utd's youth policy and training methods. The mantra is the same from the youth academy players to the first team; everyone knows what it takes to be a Manchester United player.

Anderson scored his first goal for Man Utd. That is always something I wished I could have mentioned in the past two years of Anderson's career at the club but it finally came today. A sublime free kick markes the end of Anderson's goal drought and hopefully the start of many more to come in bigger games than this. His immense talent certainly befits more goals from him.

The most impressive debut I have seen in a Reds shirt for a while now has gone to Man Utd's summer signing Antonio Valencia. He is already showing obvious signs as to why Sir Alex picked him to be Ronaldo's successor on the right wing. Lightning quick, energetic and packed with an amazing shot, Valencia have already started proving Sir Alex's astute eye for talent yet again. Add to that a team mentality and a hardworking attribute to track back and defend and you've got a new star in the making at Man Utd. Plus, he scored a goal on his debut, the second signing to do so since Michael Owen. Now thats the best way to announce your arrival at a club like Man Utd.

16 million pounds is now looking like a shrewd investment for someone who is definitely more than able to make up for a 80 million Ronaldo. He is looking like a very exciting prospect for Man Utd fans this season.

Though its early days yet, Man Utd fans can start looking forward to the days ahead without a certain CR7...

Zola defiant and defends "non-spending" methods.

With Manchester City on a spending spree, we would expect rival clubs like West Ham to fall behind especially since Zola has been so quiet in the transfer market. However, it has recently been reported in the Metro that Zola remains defiant that money is not everything and that there are more ways to succeed in soccer than simply spending money.

It was mentioned that Zola felt that Manchester City's spending is a short term and short cut to trying to be successful, with the keyword being "trying". Only time will tell and we shall see if Manchester City's spending spree will pay off and whether Zola's "non-spending" methods will prove to benefit West Ham in their bid to contend for survival in the BPL and for a place in the Europa / Champions League Cup.

Man City rips into paper-thin Arsenal

Man City has found a happy hunting ground for desperate players who are looking to increase their retirement pay package... Arsenal.

The North London club has lost its chief striker in Adebayor to the Eastlanders and looks set to lose their stand-in captain for most of last season Kolo Toure to the new found riches at Manchester. Incidentally, both Toure and Adebayor have been reported to be of bad influence in the dressing room, with a less than warm relationship with the fans and other players at the club. I wonder if this is a gimmick pulled by Arsenal to hide the regret and dismay Arsenal fans must be feeling at seeing their squad thinning out again for a new season.

It looks almost certain that Arsene Wenger is clearing his first eleven of the old guard, to which Adebayor and Toure belongs to. Next in line could be Eboue who is attracting interest from Fiorentina. Arsene has so far bought only one defender in Vermaelen, a Belgian international whom not many have heard of. Well, he could slot into Toure's position at the back. Eduardo Silva could probably become the main goal poacher for the Gunners and take over Ade's responsibilities alongside the promising and imposing Dane, Nicklas Bendtner.

The Arsenal team still has a lot of footballing potential in Fabregas, Arshavin and the returning Rosicky. Problem is Arsenal never seem to learn the fact that players get injured over the course of the season, and a paper thin squad is NOT going to win you the Barclays Premier League. This Arsenal squad has long been labeled as a team of kids. This season, they are no longer kids. They are full internationals who are expected and expect themselves to win trophies. Fabregas has already tasted sweet victory with Spain in the European Cup, he is widely expected to shoulder the leadership responsibility of the entire team. Whether he can change the trophyless streak of Arsenal for the past few seasons with such a thin squad is going to be the biggest test of his young career. And he is not getting much help from the management who keeps selling players but never seem ready to replace fast enough.

Another season in the doldrums i.e. a fourth place finish or out of the the top four will condemn Arsenal to losing Fabregas to Barcelona, and the likelihood that Arsenal will not be able to keep any of its major stars anymore to compete realistically in England or Europe. Surely, Arsenal must find some way to re-energize the squad. The team needs at least a new signing in defensive midfield and another leading forward to be considered worthy opponents to Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea. Hopefully, Arsene is allowed to reinvest the 25 million for Adebayor and the 14 million for Toure to getting a good enough player to complement a talented but underachieving team.

The Gunner fans are keeping their fingers crossed for the rest of the summer.

Liverpool held in Thailand by hosts

Liverpool started its Asian tour with a 1-1 draw against the kings of South East Asian football, Thailand.

In what is a game that saw more of Liverpool reserves pitted against the Thai national team, it was a good game to gauge the depth of Rafa Benitez's squad. The verdict? Not too good.

Unsurprisingly, the sweltering heat got to the Liverpool players who are used to playing conditions that are way less humid. The torrential rain towards the end of the match also contributed to the play difficulty... a good test for the fitness of the players.

As far as the match has gone, you could see a distinct difference in standards between the Reserve team and the First team of Liverpool. A 10 minute period at the end showcased the very best of the Reds first team... Torres lighted up the match with his exceptional pace and killer instincts, reminiscent of his fantastic season with club and country... Albert Riera showed glimpses of his silky smooth best on the wing, and Mascherano is well... the bad ass you hope to never play against in the centre of the park, he made himself a nuisance and tackled as tigerishly as you expect him to against any opponent. Carragher had a solid first half while Kuyt worked tirelessly from defence to attack. The first team players were impressive though they were wisely preserved by Rafa for fear of over exerting themselves in the Thai climate.

The most impressive Liverpool player of the day happened to be Ryan Babel, the goalscorer for the Reds. Looks like he will have a better season than the last one when he was in and out of the first eleven. He looks to be more assured and decisive on the ball, and is a good option to have when looking for pace and width in the play.

What I was looking out for though was not so much the first team but the lesser known players on the team. It was a good check out session on the youngsters Pacheco, Nemeth, Spearing, Kelly and also a good runout for fringe players like Degen, Dossena, Voronin, Ngog, Leiva.

My honest say is... it does look like none of them is in the same league or even near the standards as the first team of Liverpool, especially in attack where Gerrard and Torres excel. Knowing the fraility of strikers, Liverpool does not look like they have a solid backup plan for Gerrard-Torres. Ngog and Nemeth looked raw and uninvolved, too easily subdued by the less able Thai defenders. Voronin missed a sitter late in the game and really don't look like a part of Rafa's plans for the team. The other quality options like Kuyt seems to have settled on the right flank... while Babel looks more at home now on the wings, which means the options for Rafa down the centre are limited and too lightweight to be considered competitive at the highest level in the BPL.

While Man Utd can switch between Macheda, Owen, Berbatov and Rooney... I am not so sure if Ngog or Nemeth will be able to stand in for Torres or Gerrard. Liverpool looks like the team that threatened to take the BPL title from Man Utd last season but I do think Rafa could do with one more attacking minded player, maybe in the form of Spainards David Villa or David Silva. The balance in the team will reach optimal and the overall attacking play will be less predictable than just Gerrard-Torres. Whether Rafa has the cash to do so is a big question.

Liverpool travels to Singapore next to take on a Singapore selection team in their next pre-season game in South East Asia.

Beckham Booed! Beckham Angry! Beckham Leaps!

David Beckham returned to LA Galaxy after a stint at AC Milan only to be greeted by angsty fans who jeered and booed at him everytime he touched the ball. Fans were up and about with signs telling Beckham to "Go Home". It has been reported that Beckham rushed the stands and tried to leap over the barrier to confront the fans as he couldn't take the jeering and booing. However, contraversial interviews with Beckham states that he was just trying to shake one of the fan's hands but the fan refused.

Well, it isn't the first time Beckham has reportedly lost his temper with a similar incident during England's defeat (2-3) to Portugal in Euro 2000. I guess the fans have the right to be angry especially when their star player had left them to play with AC Milan in San Siro. I don't think we can blame anyone completely in this situation as both parties have a part in this. If Beckham did allegedly try to rush the stands and confront the crowds, it is simply because he is human and he was agitated and provoked by the fans' more than humiliating banners, comments and actions. If so, Beckham should have expected nothing of a welcome when he returned to LA Galaxy after stating his desire to stay at AC Milan and even eventually returning to the English Premier League. Beckham could have handled things better and well, could have controlled his temper a little better if he really did try to rush and confront the fans.

The fans too have a part to play in this. They have a right to be unhappy and to display their disappointment but personal attacks, humiliating remarks and constant provocation will only lead to trouble as players are only human.

Such is the situation of soccer today where fans get overly emotional with the going ons of the club and such is the devotion and emotional attachment that fans have today with their clubs. Good and bad I suppose. We can expect more of such incidents around the world especially with rich clubs like Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid going around tempting players with unbelievable amounts of money. Money talks. Cash is King. Stars could possibly sell their loyalty and committment to the cause of their club for a better paycheck else where.

Owen the Red Legend

Michael Owen scores the match winning goal in his first outing with Man Utd, after coming on as a substitute in a exhibition match against a Malaysian Selection XI.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Michael Owen is going to be the season's trump card for Sir Alex and the surprise of this season.

Even though Owen is such a proven player on international and club level, his doubters seem to cling on to every injury he has had and harp on his less than impressive season with Newcastle. They try to disown emphatically one of England's most gifted strikers in recent years. And although the emergence of Rooney has kind of turned the attention of Fabio Capello, you cannot deny that Owen is the epitome of lethal finishing and the classic fox-in-the-box goalscorer that every manager loves. To me, Owen is going to be a crucial piece in the jigsaw for Man Utd's style of attack.

Last season, Sir Alex lamented the lack of finishing despite the abundance of goalscoring opportunities created by a talented foursome of Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez and Ronaldo. Incidentally, all these players are genuises in their own kind of attacking play but still, all of them lag behind in the quality that Owen excels in, the knack for finishing of half chances.

I don't care what football club you are into, you could play pretty and create dozens of chances in a match, but every decent football coach will tell you that no statistic matters more than the number of goals you score in a match or a season and for that matter, Michael Owen gurantees you goals. He is not going to be a Ronaldo who nutmegs and makes fools out of defenders with countless stepovers, neither is he going to battle tigerishly and as hard as Carlos Tevez BUT Owen will give you goals... And I will gladly swap that treasured statistic for all the joga bonito Ronaldo and Tevez gives you on the pitch. Of course, having everyone of these talents on the same pitch will be the ideal situation but I am more than happy with the reality of having Owen in Man Utd's attacking lineup for the season.

A hungry striker is the most dangerous player on the pitch. A striker with something to prove will prove it with the number of goals notched for his club. A striker who feels that his best play is in a team which is confident and poised is the best thing a manager can ask for to lift an established club to another level altogether.

To all critics of Michael Owen, give the man some time... in fact just wait for the season to start. I am confident we are going to witness the re-emergence of Owen on the big stage. I am confident he is going to surprise more than a few defenders, and definitely more than a few of his critics when he strides onto the pitch with his new found confidence and his new teammates.

Michael Owen is going to become a quick legend with the fans of the Red Devils... A genuinely nice guy... formerly from a rival club and yet hungry like the rest of the team for success and silverware. Mind you, he is an English too... that means no showboating or flamboyant disregard for teamwork. Owen is going to be a Red success, I can so feel it...