Transfer Latest - Nicolas Anelka returns to the Premier League

Like a cat with nine lives, 34 years old Nicolas Anelka is back in the Premier League. The nomadic Frenchmen signed a one year deal with West Bromwich Albion, his sixth Premier League club in his near 17 years professional career.

After moving from PSG as a promising youth player, Anelka started his English journey with Arsenal. From title success with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, to a megabucks deal with Real Madrid, to PSG again, then Liverpool, Man City, Fenerbahce, Bolton, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua and most recently, Juventus, Anelka has become one of football's most journeyed players.

Liverpool rising

The foreigners are coming! Yep, they should. The whole buy British thing didn't quite work out, so enter Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto with January transfer whizkid, Coutinho (in picture). In Suarez, Sturridge, Sterling, Borini and Downing, they have a legitimate squad of fast and skillful players to start the season. Let the preseason party begin!

Premier League Pre-Season Ranking

Pre-Season Ranking: Top 5

• #1. Chelsea - with the return of the Special One and the re-instatement of the old guard led by John Terry and Frank Lampard, Chelsea fans expect to be leading the charge this season. They will need to address their striking problem with Torres and Ba shooting blanks most of the way last season. Lukaku may be the dark horse if their troubles continue, Jose is not shy when it comes to making changes.

• #2. Manchester United. It really doesn't matter if they lose Wayne Rooney or not, he's no longer that relevant to the club's standing. They are ranked #2 simply because they've lost that one advantage that ensured success - Sir Alex. Having RVP should be good enough for second place.

• #3. Manchester City. Manuel Pellegrini, Jesus Navas and Fernandinho will not be enough to pushed City back to the title. On the contrary, look for them to fall back one step from last year as the new manager adjusts to his new environments.

• #4. Arsenal. Every year, the 'Doctore' Arsene Wenger finds a way to prove that Arsenal has not lost it's biggest asset - himself. This year will not be different. The Professor will find a way to stay in contention. For once, it doesn't look like he would be losing any major players, so that should bode well for player morale and fan confidence

• #5. Liverpool. Liverpool looked very good in the second half of last season with the addition of Daniel Sturridge and Phillip Coutinho. Brendan Rogers, has also done well to add to that with Spaniards Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas. With or without Suarez, Liverpool will come within distance of Champions League this season. Not good enough for 4th, but 5th is certainly achievable.

Pre-Season Ranking: Top 6

• #1. Manchester City. Why? Very simple: the same team that won last year is still impact, plus the have Carlos Tevez drama-free (so far). Key players that are making Man City the team to beat - Yaya Toure, David Silva, Carlos Tevez, Balotelli, Vincent Kompany and Joe Hart. As long as these mentioned players are wearing the sky blue colors, Man City are favored to repeat.

• #2. Manchester United. Until last night, I had Manchester United ranked third behind a resurgent Chelsea. However, after factoring the Robin Van Persie coup, it's a Manchester affair once again.

• #3. Chelsea. The Blues fans will have a lot to say about the top 2 snub, but moving from 6th to 3rd will still be a huge achievement for the Champions League winners. Make no mistake about it, this ball club has the potentials to challenge the Manchester teams for the crown this year. Investments in Oscar, Hazard, Marin to complement a liberated Torres, Mata and Ramirez is no joke. This season promises to see the return of Chelsea to the top 3

• #4. Arsenal. Every year, the 'Doctore' Arsene Wenger finds a way to prove that Arsenal has not lost it's biggest asset - himself. This year will be no different. The Professor will find a way to stay in contention. For once, he has bought well and early in the transfer market. This gives his team the advantage of being the most molded coming into the season.

• #5. Liverpool. Every new signing at Liverpool these days is greeted with relief and hope, regardless of the talent level - Brendan Rogers, Fabio Borini and Joe Allen (who?). That's how low my darling club has fallen. Nonetheless, they still have a fit-looking Steven Gerrard, an ever hungry Luis Suarez and a solid backline in Agger (if he stays), Skrtel, Johnson, Enrique and Reina. Not good enough for 4th, but they will come close. Still a work in progress.

• #6. Newcastle. Yes, I'm picking them over Tottenham. Without Luka Modric and Emmanuel Adebayor, Andres Villa Boas will not match Harry Redknapp's success at Spurs. His recent handling of the Modric affair and his very loose press comments shows he hasn't grown up from the Chelsea experience. Back to Newcastle - two words: French Connection!

Manchester City are Champions: Pictures

My Daddy is my hero

Sienna Kompany looks like she needs a little help with the Barclays Premier League trophy just won by Dad, Vincent Kompany and his Manchester City teammates. 

"...there you are Dad, can you get this?"

Man City are Champs!!!


Reaping where you did not sow


...what happened? I thought we had it.

...nope, Phil (Jones), you don't got it! Get rid of the Sunderland shirt. You'll get one eventually when you retire from United and get sent to Sunderland, United's retirement home.

...well what do you know, Michael Owen is still with Manchester United. Even United fans did not know that! It's ok Mike, you still have one title more than your former Liverpool teammates. It doesn't matter that you barely broke a sweat for it either. Better luck next season as a coach/ballboy/player

"...damn, I almost dived myself to a title", says Scuba-diver, Ashley Young, who got more penalty calls spreading his legs in the air than an Escort gets tips from satisfied gents in a month.

Give the Escort business a go, Ashley.

Footy Bozz - End of Season Honors

EPL Goalkeeper of the Season -

Winner - Joe Hart - Manchester City/England

Ist Runner Up - Michel Vorm - Swansea City/Netherlands (interestingly, he's not even his country's second choice keeper)

2nd Runner Up - Tim Krul - Newcastle/Netherlands (He is Netherland's second choice keeper ahead of Vorm)

EPL Defender of the Season -

Winner - Vincent Kompany - Manchester City/Belgium

Ist Runner Up - Patrice Evra - Manchester United/France (i'm not a big fan, but he was consistent)

2nd Runner Up - Daniel Agger - Liverpool/Denmark His accomplishments were overshadowed by Liverpool's poor season

EPL Midfielder of the Season -

Winner - Yaya Toure - Manchester City/Cote de Voire. One word for this guy - STRONG!!!

Ist Runner Up - Juan Mata - Chelsea/Spain - sheer delight to watch this guy play all season. A born maestro in the skillful art of football

2nd Runner Up - David Silva - Manchester City/Spain - Early season contender faded away down the stretch.

EPL Striker of the Season (excluding Robin Van Persie) - 

Winner - Clint Dempsey - Fulham/United States. Outside of Arsenal's Robin Van Persie and perhaps an honorable mention for Newcastle's Demba Papiss Cisse, Deuce's accomplishments cannot be understated. 23 goals in all competition for a midfielder are monster numbers that can't be ignored.

Ist Runner Up - Wayne Rooney - Manchester United/England - He's always in the top 3 of every season. Reliable.

2nd Runner Up - Demba & Demba (Demba Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba) - Newcastle United/Senegal - You can't mention one without the other. One started the season, the other finished it with some amazing goals. And of course, the glory to Allah with the head down on the turf. Can't help but love them.

The King of the English Premier League -

Bow Down! - Robin Van Persie - Arsenal/Netherlands

Liverpool's new kit - not too shabby

So the Warrior era has begun, goodbye Addidas. The new kits are not bad at all. As a matter of fact, I will be getting those soon. 

Hopefully that should bring some luck to the Reds next year. I doubt it. They need 3 new midfielders and 2 wingers.