English Premier League

Hooray! We can get our soccer fixes again real soon.

How quickly time flies. With the fading sounds of the World Cup vuvuzelas come August the EPL begins. Sir Alex Ferguson has said the same things as me to the F.A. to make changes otherwise England's World Cup saga will continue but I believe he said it for his Manchester United. The EPL will also probably ban the vuvuzelas as some top clubs have already taken the lead. The problem with the vuvuzelas and the complaints have been that it was too loud. I think besides the sound, vuvuzelas are pretty long instruments such that any over-excited fans when raising his vuvuzela not only send the sound a few rows ahead but along the way could bang a few heads. This can lead to fights. Vuvuzelas can also be used as weapons such as converting it to a blowpipe with poison darts or clobber one another with. What they could have easily done is to cut it shorter and possibly the sound will no longer be as loud just like in golf where longer clubs would hit longer and "bigger heads giving louder noises" (true for humans too). Cutting it shorter can also help reduce the name from vuvuzela to just vuzela and if shorter still just zela. It is easier to remember and to spell in writing. Some people still call it a zuzuvela and all kinds of concoction. It can come with a proper instruction manual. If you have a job to write manuals, do fill me in as I can write some good stuff with clear instructions like "please dispose of plastic packaging carefully and not use it to suffocate young children". "Please blow from the correct smaller side to use vuvuzela otherwise it becomes zelavuvu". "To have sound, please blow the horn after taking deep breath and not suck it or you may get choke and hurt by small parts".

It may have to do with African culture where some folks give themselves the same name twice such as soccer player Jay-Jay Okocha. Or was it because he was so good they name him twice? During our younger days, my a friend's neighbourhood friend who played soccer with us and about our age was standing at 6 ft. 1 ins. as a teenager. One fellow said he had unnecessary bones all over his body. The 2010 World Cup's best players were all not tall. 1.70m seems to be a good height. Wesley Sneijder, Andreas Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and even Lionel Messi clearly confirmed that. "Size does matter but depth matters more".

Roy Hodgson has got a job nobody wants - to manage Liverpool. He's the best guy around since Sir Bobby Robson that's why he was last season's Manager of the Year! I'll be happy if Kenny Huang-led CIC (China Investment Corporation) wins the bid for Liverpool as there are no bigger clubs with the legendary status as Liverpool other than Manchester United, not even Chelsea or Arsenal. It is also time for Asia to flex some muscles. How about Temasek buying some? Get Singtel, Keppel, SIA, Capitaland and it would be funny if you see BreadTalk or Kopitiam emblazoned on the front of club jerseys. C'mon guys just do it.

Beloved Newcastle is back after one season down below. Chris Houghton has done a good job bringing them back. St. James Park will get interesting again. Hope they stay around. Let the Toon Army roar. Who do you think is going to win the 2010/2011 season? The usual suspects?

Arsenal has Cesc Fabregas again despite the fact that the Spanish players draped a Barcelona shirt around him at the World Cup Final celebration. He is only 23 and Arsenal needs to win something soon but regardless I see Fabregas returning home in 1-2 seasons. The Gunners still play the best football but they do need a good goalie. They are coming of age a bit. They can get better than 3rd but they have to start early and maintain it.

Aston Villa got off to the wrong start when Martin O'Neill resigned as manager. Everyone knew how good he is and he was plain tired of selling off his top players every year. This is not good. They have a good squad but the sudden departure is not good and shall drop off a few notches from last year's 6th.

Birmingham was tough and did well last season but it is hard to see them getting further ahead. If they stay the same they would have done well. Their strength is in defence but they couldn't score much. Joe Hart on loan is now back with Man City. Ben Foster was signed to replace him. Unlikely that they can maintain and may drop from last season's 9th position.

Blackpool is in their first season in the Premier League. They have a great history but it is not enough. This maybe a brief fling. It is hard to expect them to immediately be able to cope with the top tier.
Bolton has been survivors. Years of experience fighting for survivor may see them through. Like what he did to Burnley whom he left to join Bolton, he has made Bolton play better. New addition Martin Petrov from Villa is a good signing but hard to see them improving from previous 14th position.

Chelsea were last season's champions! They will be around there yet again depending on Manchester United and Arsenal. Played well initially in the Charity Shield but crashed 1-3 to the Red Devils. Some Chelsea players are aging but Germany's Ozil may be signing. May come up a bit short. Chelsea is no longer as tough to beat but they play a lot better. Will be hard pressed to be Champions again.

Everton. It's not easy if you are not a rich club. If you make or get good players and then shortly you have to sell them. Sometimes you don't to either and stay put but you can have 1-2 great seasosn and don't you can suddenly crumble but Everton has been stocking in there. Everton had Chang Beer from Thailand Liverpool has CIC. Mersey side will rock. David Moyes will continue his good job but with no big signings may be difficult to improve their position.

Fulham lost Roy Hodgson to Liverpool and got Mark Huges. Hughes is a fighter and can build on Fulham's success last season. If anything, Fulham will be tougher. Just look at Hughes' huge thighs. No one has such huge thighs than Hughes except maybe Roerto Carlos. These were built for Muay Thai. The same team is still about there. So will be their place too.

Liverpool faces uncertainty like never before. I want to see them cleared of debt, build a new stadium and pump in money for some great players and start to build their own players like in the days of old. It is not impossible, people are just lazy and want quick fixes in the modern game. Spanish clubs are still doing it. Play the Liverpool way of Bill Shankly again. Don't expect wonders even with Joe Cole and a few other acquisitions as it is time for rebuilding. Having Lucas Leiva still around is a scary thought. He is Brazilian.?? Surely they can do better than last season.

Manchester City is also know as Abu Dhabi City or Chelski version 2. Money talks and can quicken the pace for success. They have lost out narrowly to Spurs the last time. I want to manage a club like this and get the sack 2-3 months into the job. You can't lose. Yahya Toure, younger brother of Kolo Toure is getting 200,000 pounds a month signing from Barcelona. This is outrageous. It makes a mockery of all of us and the important things we do. Top four this time but I wonder if Roberto Mancini would still be around.

Manchester United being the red half missed the title marginally the last outing. No prominent changes except for Mexican youngster Javier Hernandez who scored a funny goal in the curtain raiser last week when he shot as he fell and the ball hit his face to go into the net. Great Mexican skills! If that was a trick shot it was most certainly magic. Fared well against Chelsea but I think they may not be the same force of years ago. Rooney could play at the World Cup but boy can he pee int drains.

Newcastle like Liverpool has a great crowd. Coming back after one season down showed their resoluteness. No big signings, no big fanfare. They should just concentrate on staying up and Tyneside has the experience to do just that. They won the 1st Division Championship straight away with margin to spare. They have added the experience Sol Campbell and talented Evertonian Dan Gosling. Argentinians Gutierez and Coloccini are still around and so are England U-21 striker Andy Carroll and captain and the best player Kevin Nolan. May surprise with a 10-12th position achievement.

Stoke was wonderful last season. They showed effort each time and gave a good account. Should be here and thereabouts. They have some good players and play stoutly as a team.

Sunderland did alright and could continue much in the same vein. Steve Bruce has done a good job but goalkeeper Gordon Brown's bad injury without greatly strengthening the squad may see them faltering from their previous 13th position. It also depends if Darren Bent can put another 25 goals into the net like he did last time.

Tottenham Hotspurs has big ambition. They finally broke into the big four by just pipping Manchester City. They must capitalise on their good achievement and at least maintain it so that the Cockerel can crow. They play lovely soccer. Can they pull it off again? They will be distracted by European competition and may drop 1-2 places from previous 4th.

West Bromwich Albion was once a great team. Having just came up they may lack strength in depth and resources. You'll be surprised to learn that former Chelsea player Roberto Di Matteo is the manager. They are well organised and can entertain but it is going to be tough in the big league and may see themselves from 16-20th. A fight from the start from relegation.

West Ham is an important part of English football. They are like Farrer Park to Singapore. They are perennial strugglers and may yet be so but they should make it to be around. Former Chelsea & Portsmouth manager Avra Grant is in charge and have some seasoned pros and many talented youngsters. They can't do worse than their previous 17th, just beating the drop. Perhaps improve by 2-3 places.

Wigan was quite impressive at one time. Last season was a horror show and are fortunate to be still here. However, they may not last and be here again next August. So enjoy them while they are still here. Probably around 17-20th.

Wolverhampton Wanders has been around a long time and for a good part they were brave despite the odds. Bravery alone may not be enough but at least they have better experience now.

Winners' Pool

Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspurs, Liverpool.

Losers' Pool

Blackpool, Wigan, WBA, Wolves, West Ham.

Yes Sir! Captain Obvious!

Meantime, they voted Rooney the ugliest footballer on Planet Earth. He may have a bad World Cup but there are others who may be uglier like Franck RIbery and Carlos Tevez. Rooney? He just looks like Shrek. That's all. He is not ugly, just cute that is ugly but adorable.

I hope China lands the World Cup for 2026 but it is such a long way to go I wish it were ten years sooner. The Chinese had already hosted the Olympics where Zhang Yimou renacted 5,000 years of Chinese history into 4 hours, something that I think even London can't match in the next Olympic quest. Play it in out time zone, we deserve it! World Cup in China, you can't get bigger than that. Go China go!

I heard that after the World Cup debacle, England has lined up three new sponsors - "TOTAL FCUK UPS". Is that true?