Overhit Crosses, Aug 18 2006

[BuffloSoldier]

--The big story this weekend? The Premiership begins as everyone tries knocking The Special One and Chelsea off the mountaintop.

Previews, (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=410163&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=2&title=Premiership+season+preview) Previews, (http://football.guardian.co.uk/season200607/0,,1840692,00.html) Previews. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5237764.stm)

What do I think? I think it's awfully early for some to be knocking Chelsea down a peg because of an uneven preseason. To quote a man of nature, "to be the man, you have to beat the man."

There are teams that can do it. I know I'm supposed to hate Liverpool, but Rafa Benitez has put together a team on its best day I can't help but enjoy. If Lurch can finish with regularity and Steven Gerrard stays healthy (well, the team as a whole, but that's common sense), Liverpool can do the business. The acquisition of Dirk Kuyt (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4801197.stm) can't do anything but help.

Arsenal has the league's best player, perhaps it best manager, Ashley Cole and kids. Lots and lots of kids. Of course, I'm somewhat exaggerating the kid quota--but Arsene has to depend on a lot from players 25-and-under. Can the team do well with the distractions (Cole, Jose Reyes, etc) currently on board? Cesc Fabergas is going to have a lot asked of him. But as Alan Green was once proven wrong, you can win with kids.

And speaking of Mr. Green, Manchester United. Yes, they have imperfections--several, in fact. A sometimes suspect backline. The lack of a true midfield glue/destroyer/leader. A suspect strikeforce. Perhaps its two best players having a dislikefest bubbling under the surface.

The addition of Michael Carrick will help, and even if they overpay, United needs a player in the mold of Owen Hargreaves. No, he's not Roy Keane--not even close. But a player with some combination of guile, ability and drive is needed to offset the skillful players. The preseason showed Paul Scholes can't do the job; tackling is not a strong suit. The midfield will be needed to help both drive the attack and keep pressure off Ferdinand and co.

And then there's the other stories--can Spurs break into the top four? Who survives the drop? Can Martin O'Neill turn around Villa? Can Newcastle actually achieve instead of underachieve?

There's only about ten months to find out.

Prediction? Chelsea, followed by Liverpool, United, Arsenal. Going down? Watford, Fulham, and Sheffield United (the latter two on the last day).

--Sigi Schmid backs off the ledge a bit. (http://www.columbusdispatch.com/crew/crew.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/18/20060818-F1-04.html) At least the Crew have Duncan Oughton back...that's good, right?

--In other non-Anglo news, Frank Rijkaard believes some fine tuning is needed by Barcelona. (http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6023547,00.html) But Espanyol objects to Barca's "Injured? No." personnel tactics in the King's Cup. (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=376178&cc=5739)

--Over/under for Reggina's penalty after appeal is seven. (http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/aug17n.html)

[The Cold Sea]

--The big story this weekend? The Premiership begins as everyone tries knocking The Special One and Chelsea off the mountaintop.

...

What do I think? I think it's awfully early for some to be knocking Chelsea down a peg because of an uneven preseason. To quote a man of nature, "to be the man, you have to beat the man."

There are teams that can do it. I know I'm supposed to hate Liverpool, but Rafa Benitez has put together a team on its best day I can't help but enjoy. If Lurch can finish with regularity and Steven Gerrard stays healthy (well, the team as a whole, but that's common sense), Liverpool can do the business. The acquisition of Dirk Kuyt (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/4801197.stm) can't do anything but help.

Arsenal has the league's best player, perhaps it best manager, Ashley Cole and kids. Lots and lots of kids. Of course, I'm somewhat exaggerating the kid quota--but Arsene has to depend on a lot from players 25-and-under. Can the team do well with the distractions (Cole, Jose Reyes, etc) currently on board? Cesc Fabergas is going to have a lot asked of him. But as Alan Green was once proven wrong, you can win with kids.

And speaking of Mr. Green, Manchester United. Yes, they have imperfections--several, in fact. A sometimes suspect backline. The lack of a true midfield glue/destroyer/leader. A suspect strikeforce. Perhaps its two best players having a dislikefest bubbling under the surface.

The addition of Michael Carrick will help, and even if they overpay, United needs a player in the mold of Owen Hargreaves. No, he's not Roy Keane--not even close. But a player with some combination of guile, ability and drive is needed to offset the skillful players. The preseason showed Paul Scholes can't do the job; tackling is not a strong suit. The midfield will be needed to help both drive the attack and keep pressure off Ferdinand and co.

And then there's the other stories--can Spurs break into the top four? Who survives the drop? Can Martin O'Neill turn around Villa? Can Newcastle actually achieve instead of underachieve?

There's only about ten months to find out.

Prediction? Chelsea, followed by Liverpool, United, Arsenal. Going down? Watford, Fulham, and Sheffield United (the latter two on the last day).




I remember Chelsea pasting Man U at the Charity Shield and [foolishly] thinking, "this is our year!" Er, no, MU walked it. Ten months and 38 games along with FA Cup, Europe and the League Cup makes for a loooooong season. For once, I don't think Chelsea will start out at a sprint, but come into their form as Makalele and Cole come back. Fergie has a dynamic team and with [if they get] Hargreves they could take second away from Liverpool who I think is always one $tevie G hamstring or Xavi groin away from mediocre and bunkerista. I would say the top five will be Chelsea, MU, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. Going down, the three who came up, which is sad because I like Reading. I think they'll struggle mightily.

Can't wait for the UEFA Champions League group stages draw, however. The prospect of Chelsea and Barca in the same group is exciting.

[Matrim55]

I'm one of Chelsea's doubters, and I maintain that it was more than just an uninspired preseason; it was a pedestrian second half of last year as well.

They still have the most talent and are the odds-on favorite to win it, but I expect them to do much more than break a sweat this year.

[The Cold Sea]

I'm one of Chelsea's doubters, and I maintain that it was more than just an uninspired preseason; it was a pedestrian second half of last year as well.

They still have the most talent and are the odds-on favorite to win it, but I expect them to do much more than break a sweat this year.

They need a spark. After the Barca matches last year they played in spurts. Just good enough and better than anyone else who challenged. They will have to break a sweat this year to win anything. They need to be challenged to bring out the best they have.

[barthez4]

For the first time in a while, I'm genuinely concerned about how good Liverpool can be this season. They have a great squad, a great manager and I think that the strikeforce of Crouch, Bellamy and Kuyt can all hit at least 10 this year. Add to that the goals you get from Gerrard, and the many players who are good for 4-6 goals per season, and you have a good well rounded team in terms of scoring. Their defense (minus Mainz) is one of the best in the world, and held more clean sheets than Chelsea last year. The thing that scares me the most is the midfield of Alonso, Sissoko and Gerrard. That, in my opinion, will beat a midfield of Makalele, Essien/Ballack and Lampard 75 percent of the time.

However, I think the Chelsea "juggernaut" will edge it out this season, in a close three way race between Chelsea, Liverpool and United. Tottenham and Arsenal will be a few points back, and won't be further than 5 points from each other.

Fulham, Sheffield and Reading will go down, I think. I am hoping for Watford to do well, mainly because Ben Foster's on loan there.

[B Rock]

The midfield will be needed to help both drive the attack and keep pressure off Ferdinand and co.

Which is why Hargreaves is NOT the answer. He fits the latter version of your description but goes completley wanting in search of the former.

People really do forget how dire Hargreaves is going forward.

There is a reason that Sven, his biggest fan, was more willing to use his utility skills on the backline then to fill what for many years was England's biggest weakness at LM and its because he's useless in attack.

Manchester United need a player who can do both as you astutely pointed out. Signing a glorified destroyer hardly fits the bill for my money.

Why not make a move for someone who can defend and link up like Parker (with a defensive slant) or Reo-Coker (with a more offensive slant)?

[DSM1]

Whooooo! Love the Ric Flair reference and yes, it is too early to write off Chelsea.