EPL - Coming Soon!

The new season of the EPL is rolling out soon to keep us busy on Saturday and Sunday nights again starting with the traditional Charity Shield between last season's League and FA Cup champions which means a local derby involving Manchester United and Manchester City next week.



The wheeling and dealing, cat and mouse game in the transfer market makes the new season so an interesting one. Let me provide you an update for the top teams because no money no talk.

Arsenal

The Gunners has loan out Brazilian Denilson to Sao Paolo and they have sold Gael Clichy to Manchester City. Cesc Fabregas, no longer the same force he was maybe because his head and heart has not been sorted out as he may still be sold to Barcelona at the "right price" and Samir Nasri too to another bidder. Even as Wenger promised to buy more nothing has happened yet perhaps till the transfer window closes. Right now they only have Carl Jenkinson (from Charlton), Ryo Miyaichi and Gervinho (from Lille) signed.

Both Ryo and Gervinho could be the next big things as they are very exciting players. I'll tell you what and who Arsenal need. They need a consistent and reliable goalie (Ben Foster-Birmingham?), they need to improve their defence (Gary Cahill-Bolton?), a ball winning midfielder (Scott Parker-West Ham?) and one with steel (Joey Barton-Newcastle?) and a striker that can knock in 20 goals a season (Karim Benzema-Real Madrid?). They have a target in Spanish winger Juan Mata of Valencia. Oh yes, they will need to replace Gael Clichy at left back so maybe Leighton Baines from Everton? Watch:




Chelsea
Chelsea is the old rich from Roman Abramovic's money, therefore also known as Chelski. So far no big movement except interest in players like Neymar (Santos, Brazil), Luka Modric (Spurs), Falcao and Hhulk (Porto), Samir Nasri (Arsenal), Scott Parker (West Ham). Scott is primarily to replace the injured Michael Essien. Why do they clamour for Neymar? Watch:

Liverpool

They have signed a back up goalie for Reina in Alex Doni from Roma, Jordan Henderson from Sunderland - a future Steven Gerard they touted, Charlie Adam from Blackpool to beef and boss the midfield and Stewart Downing from Aston Villa because he could score and provide deadly crosses that would benefit Andy Carroll immensely. Will Anfield rise again so that You'll Never Walk Alone?

Manchester City

If Chelsea was filthy rich, then at Manchester City or as they called Abu Dhabi City, money is no object. The Nouveau Riche. Mancini survived last season with an FA Cup win. They must surely be going for broke for the title now and take Europe by storm failing which I will be applying for the job for manager. Gael Clichy has come aboard from Arsenal and their biggest signing to date - Sergio Aguero who if he were Hokkien would be call "Agu". You see Agu is the son-in-law of Maradona and plays like former Brazilian great Romario. If everything goes right he could be a hit!

They wanted to buy man more class acts like Kaka, Samir Nasri, Samuel E'too, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thomas Mueller, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Lavezzi. The only question that remains is - can money buy success? If so, can money buy immediate success? It is left to be seen how egos are being soothed. You have to watch Sergio Aguero or Kun Aguero to understand. Is he the next big thing? Singapore will one day have our own "Ah Gu" not the guy who sells durians or something else at Geylang.






Manchester United

Man U signed a promising young Spanish goalie David De Gea and added on young England defender Phil Jones and England winger Ashley Young. They sodl Wes Brown and John O'Shea to Sunderland. Edwin van Der Sar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes have all retired. It is the dawn of a new era for a team emulating to take over Barcelona. A main target Alexis Sanchez of Chile has proven elusive as he signed on for Barcelona but Man U may target youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton (son of former England winger Mark Chamberlain).

They need a long term replacement for Paul Scholes and perhaps Wesley Sneijder fits the bill But Sir Alex said he is not looking at Sneijder and Sneijder earlier siad he was not going anywhere. Lately, Sneijder is saying somewhat different things. Simply explained, Sneijder's asking bill in salary was too hefty so Sir Alex was playing a hard ball game called "who blink first". They may need a hard man like Roy Keane and who is harder than Joey Barton of Newcastle. These are lads who when you put them alone in a room and they could end up fighting with themselves. They are the pitbulls of soccer. They may also go for another striker in Dutch man Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.


There is still time and then you will see the rush. Who blinks first may not just be between clubs and players. It is also between clubs. The danger of money is that the super rich may not even have to compete. Like in the business world, they just have to buy out the competition. Buy Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Xavi, Iniesta, all other top players and you could even keep them as substitutes and go on to beat the entire competition. For the EPL, it is red, blue, red, blue, red as above. All the usual suspects and one of them to win the league.

The lull period for soccer fans will be over soon. You'll be busy on Saturday nights again. Cheers!

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