LIVERPOOL GARAGE SALE - PLAYERS THAT NEED TO MOVE ON

1. Christian Poulson  - unbelievably poor. Liverpool will even consider paying to get rid of him
2. Sotiris Kyrgiakos  - Poor Man's' John Terry'. League One caliber defender. Every touch looks like a penalty or own goal waiting to happen.
3. Milan Jovanovic  - Anderlecht is considering charging Liverpool money to take him
4. David N'Gog  - If you can't trap the ball, you shouldn't be in the Premiership
5. Joe Cole  - I never thought Joe Cole would ever make such a list, but I've seen enough.
6. Jonjo Shelvey  - Looks like an alien, plays like one

MLS please come and take them for free!

PREMIERSHIP: PRESEASON RANKING

#1. Manchester United
Area of strength - Attack. Ashley Young and Nani delivering balls into Rooney, Chicharito and Bebetov is a very scary picture.
Areas of weakness - Defense/Central Midfield. Van Der Sar left a big void. Jones, Evan and Smalling are still work-in-progress, though Smalling has shown signs of being solid sooner than expected. The central midfield needs a maestro. Carrick and Anderson are not the greatest. Giggs is getting up there to be a winger, and might move into a more central role.
Verdict - Team to beat. Their pace on the wings and forward positions will prove too much headache for opponents to exploit their defensive weaknesses

#2. Manchester City
Area of strength - Midfield. Without doubt, having Yaya Toure, David Silva and Nigel De Jong makes Man City's midfield the most solid area in the team. Barring karate kicks and some questionable tackles, De Jong is an enforcer. Silva's flair is mesmerizing and a delight to watch. He gives you the same feeling as being in a theater, and usually caps his performance with a goal, leaving his audience truly fulfilled. Yaya Toure's utility speaks for itself.
Area of strength - Attack. With or without Carlos Tevez, this attack with 'El Kun' Aguero, and 'Super Bad' Mario still looks good (with Edin Dzeko on the bench). Adam Johnson and David Silva should provide enough opportunities for them.
Area of weakness - Defense. Besides Joe Hart, everyone else is suspect and shaky
Verdict - I know most Chelsea fans will disagree, but Man City is my first pick to challenge their neighbors for the title.


#3. Chelsea
Area of strength - Defense. Chelsea have conceded the least goals in 2 seasons. Petr Cech is still a good keeper, even if he's lost a little bit of his quick instincts since the head injury. Terry is getting up in age, but still effective in most games. While David Luis and Ivanovic have done well, Alex is still an important piece to keep around. Ashley Cole has also been very consistent for Chelsea (not so much for England). Bosingwa's time may be up. He's defensive lapses have caught up with him (very decent player to scoop up in the transfer market).
Area of strength - Attack. It's been six months since Torres swapped the red shirt of Liverpool for Chelsea's blue. As a die hard Liverpool, I was traumatized by that move. It felt like relegation. My feelings aside, El Nino is still one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premiership. In my opinion, few are greater, one of which is Didier Drogba his team mate. Add the ageless Nico Anelka, Kalou, Malouda, Sturridge and you have yourself a swarm of bees waiting to string any defense to death.
Area of weakness - Midfield/Manager/Owner. While Chelsea's midfield is not exactly bad, injury to Michael Essien makes it the weakest link in a strong Chelsea squad. The Manager is also an area of weakness until he proves himself. Ancelotti was a huge lose, thanks to their erratic owner (Chelsea's biggest liability).
Verdict - Managerial change and Essien's injury drops Chelsea one spot from last season.

#4. Arsenal
Area of strength - Attack/Manager. Gervinho is a solid buy. A healthy RVP is a bad boy any day, especially if Theo Walcott is at his best with his wing runs. Yes Wenger is a big strength for the Gunners, and has been for the last 5 years. No Manager has lost so many good experienced players, had to rely on kids and still finish top 4 in the hardest league in the world.
Area of weakness - Midfield/Defense/Goalkeeper/Manager. No Cesc, No trophy. Young Jack is capable of steering the midfield to a top 4 finish, but without Fabregas, Arsenal will not surpass last season. Wenger, please buy some defenders and 2 goalkeepers! It will not kill you to spend!

#5. Liverpool
Area of strength - Manager/Suarez/Kop. While the top 4 teams have been ranked based on 'team based' areas of strength, Liverpool has none. The only sign of life in this old lady of a club is actually the Manager and the next  rising star of a striker. Dalglish 'willed' Liverpool back from 12th place to a sixth place finish by his charisma and a certain fire ball called Luis Suarez. Liverpool die hard supporters should see them win many home games, enough for a 5th place finish.
Area of weakness - Defense. Atrocious!
Area of weakness - Midfield. Too many deadweights!

#6. Tottenham
Area of strength - Van Der Vaart/Bale/Lennon. These three players will be enough to finish in the top half of the league. All three were instrumental to the Spurs finishing 5th when all their strikers chocked.
Area of weakness - Midfield. A lot of their midfield players are unsettled, and Tottenham may see an exit of Modric, Palacios and Kranjar.

The rest -

#7. Sunderland - moves up 3 spots from last season. Gyan and Sessegnon combo will shine
#8. Fulham - Martin Jol is a good addition. Riise could also bring some excitement. Dempsey and Dembele will entertain.
#9. Everton - The imminent loss of Arteta will prove too much to retain their previous season rank at #7
#10. Bolton - Returns to the top 10, up 4 spots. They ran out of steam towards the end of last season, crashing from 6th to 14th. Owen Coyle, who is a master of the 'loan market' will learn and make adjustments.
#11. Stoke - The league's 'Muscle' team. Would have ranked them higher, but Europa will take a toll on conditioning. They still move up 2 spots from last year (because of more bad teams in the league this year)
#12. QPR - Don't know much about them, but they seem to have more resources and better players than most Championship level teams.
#13. Aston Villa - I believe the Bent and Nzogbia combination will help, but they will finish 4 spots down from last year because of their new 'turncoat' manager from Birmingham, Alex M

Relegation Challenge - in no particular order -

• Newcastle
• Norwich
• Wigan - No Nzobgia, no premiership
• Wolves
• Blackburn (sure bet)
• Swansea
• West Brom - Roy will choke again

'Buy British' Policy Worth the Money

'Buy British' Policy Worth the Money

I'm sure if you took a poll of a 100 English Premier League football fans today regarding the Tevez and Fabregas saga, 101 responders will tell you they can't wait to see them leave the league.

Reading the latest commentaries and news surrounding their continued 'bondage' and 'sufferings' in the hands of tyrannic clubs not willing to let them join their families and buddies, your heart will bleed for both.

My heart bleeds for the clubs who have to put up with modern day football divas. You would think we were talking about a 'Kadashian' being denied a camera crew or paparazzi in their bedrooms. Man City, while I don't care for them much, deserve some sympathy in this saga. Think about it -

• they wrestled Tevez from the tender grips of city rivals United
• initially pay him 150,000 big ones a week
• revised that wage to more than 220,000 to make him not feel belittled by the African, Yaya Toure
• gave him the Captain arm band so he would stop being grouchy
• put up with his jungle ways and reluctance to learn the English language

Man U fans will tell you Man City deserved what they got, and that Sir Alex was right. True.

In Cesc case, it hasn't been quite as dramatic. However, if one more of his Spanish buddies or his 'childhood sweet heart' - Messi, say one more word about wanting an emotional reunion, I'll hang myself. Be done with him already!

What should Arsenal and Man City do? 

Cash in and buy British, that's what!

Yes, I know they are overpriced and never fully reach their potentials (we've been waiting a long time since Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney). But think about the Pros for a second -

• they are going nowhere else, their families are close by
• even if they do cross over to another local club, they will fetch a handsome sum for that inconvenience
• if you buy them young, it's a long term investment
• the fans love them
• they are committed to the game (a liitle too much in tackles) and club
• they don't have to travel far for international call ups

Look at young Jack Wilshere. Who wears the Gunners colors with more pride than the young lad? I watched young Flanagan, Martin Kelly and Jack Robinson (17 - 18 year olds) play their hearts out for an injury-hit Liverpool last season.

Man U has benefitted from having a core of British players over the last two decades. Even Chelsea with Lampard and Terry, have managed to keep the British lights on and energized their fan base. 

How long do you think it will be before the likes of Torres follow Fabregas back to Spain? Even Suarez, who just arrived at Anfield has '60+ goals and three years later' written all over his face. He has expressed a strong desire to play for Barcalona later in his career (like 1000 other top and mediocre players)

Let's go back to buying 'organic' and give Sir Alex and Man U a run for their money!

Buy British!!!

Sunderland is Manchester United Retirement Club

Sunderland is Manchester United Retirement Club

Gary Neville's and Paul Scholes retirement from football should come as a shock to all, especially when you factor in that they both had two years to play retirement football at Sunderland.


Heck, even young players who did not make it at the 'Grand Old Club' have been retired early to Sunderland. Let's take a roll call:

1. Steve Bruce (yes, he qualifies)
2. Frazier Campbell
3. Phil Bardsley
4. Kieran Richardson
5. Danny Welbeck (loan)
6. Wes Brown
7. John O'Shea
8. Darren Gibson (a matter of time)
9. Anton Ferdinand (family ties)

I guess Nicky Butt did not get the memo, or he would have still been at Sunderland. Rio Ferdinand is so lucky that kid brother Anton is one of the worst defenders in the league, otherwise it would have been a 'prisoner swap' between both clubs.

Nothing like keeping it in the family and collecting retirement benefits with your fraternal connections! Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs will be next in 2012!

Man City cannibalizing rivals

Man City cannibalizing rivals

Off they go again taking advantage of the spoils of their rivals in the English Premier League. One could fault the transfer techniques of Manchester City as a catalyst for bloated transfer fees and salaries, but one fact stands out - It is paying off!

You don't think so?

Of course you can argue that the transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Shaun Wright Philips, James Milner and Lescott had little or no impact on Man City's 3rd place league finish and the FA Cup victory. However, not having those players at their disposal certainly weakened their EPL rivals.

Fast forward to July 4, 2011. Gael Clichy, the last of the Gunner 'Invisibles', signs for Man City. Unlike the Ashley Cole and Gallas swap, the Gunners just gave Clichy up for $11.2 without any demands on Man City. Surely, Man City would have paid more for Arsenal to take Wayne Bridge off their books.

While this does not necessarily make Man City any stronger, it certainly presents a challenge for Mr. Wenger and the Gunners. It does raise an eyebrow that todays players are willing to sacrifice regular on-field play for a spot on the bench in the hopes of winning a trophy.

I thought that was ridiculous until I saw Javier Masherano lift the Champions League trophy.

Perhaps the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal are the ridiculous ones for watching teams like Man City and Tottenham challenge the status quo by attracting greater interest and influence in the transfer market. Liverpool has already suffered the consequences of this by being shut out of the top four, two seasons in a row.

Is Arsenal next?

Transfer Winners and Losers (So Far)

Transfer Winners and Losers (So Far)

1. SUNDERLAND - The club has greatly benefitted from the Man U Alumni club - Wes Brown and John O'Shea. You can say whatever you want about those two players, but the fact remains that they were part of multi-title winning club. Seb Larsson is not a bad piece of business either, along with his 'penalty-fighting' team mate Craig Gardner. I guess Gyan penalty taking days are over with those two on board. They also found a way to make a cool $20 million from Liverpool for little tested Jordan Henderson.
2. NEWCASTLE - Surprise surprise. Demba Ba is a solid catch. Big, strong, bold and tested. Sylvain Marveaux, Mehdi Abeid and Yohan Cabaye are little known, but highly regarded on paper. Time will surely tell. Plus, they still have change from the $35 million they got for Andy Carol (again, from Liverpool).
3. MANCHESTER UNITED - As much as I hard to admit, being a Liverpool fan and all, Ashley Young was a very smart acquisition. With Chicharito and Rooney in the middle, all you need to win is crossed balls all day long. Young was born to cross, and does so without frustrating fans as much as Nani does. Phil Jones is a good buy for the future. SAF has found a way to inject youth into his squad without losing the experience flavor that Giggs, Rio and Evra bring. If they pick up Wes Sneijder, they will vault to #1.
4. LIVERPOOL - Henderson may be questionable especially given his price tag, but one can't deny journey-man Charlie Adam's desire to excel beyond his abilities. It will be interesting to see if he brings the same guts and left-foot dead ball accuracy he was known for at the Tangerines. Stewart Downing (if deal closes today) is a nice piece of business

LOSERS -

1. ASTON VILLA - without Young and Downing, they should get ready to be relegated. They have just the right Manager to do that!
2. MAN CITY - Gael Clichy is not enough
3. CHELSEA - they've bought nobody for now. Getting Modric and Neymar could change that.
4. ARSENAL - Gervinho is not the answer to losing Clichy, possibly Nasri and Fabregas. Wenger needs to step it up.