The one that pays the piper calls the tune – and if Liverpool owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett want to hear Rafa Benitez whistling ‘Dixie’, well, the Spaniard better put his lips together and blow.

That the business world of football is changing is of no surprise to anybody however the speed of the change often catches traditionalists on the hop. For instance who would’ve predicted five years ago that the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea, the cream of English football, would be under American and Russian ownership respectively – but it happened and with it has come a ‘new’ set of rules.

The last ten days at Anfield have seen those ‘new’ rules enforced in a soap opera that would’ve put ‘Brookside’ to shame. When Benitez threw his pacifier out of the stroller over the possibility of being denied cash to finance January transfer targets, I’m sure he was thinking that the American duo would wipe it off and pop it back in his mouth. Instead, Hicks and Gillett decided that ‘tough love’ would be the order of the day. Rafa was put firmly in his place and if all reports are to be believed, the man who masterminded the ‘Miracle in Istanbul’ came dangerously close to losing his job after calling out his paymasters in public. I guess you could say that what we have here is a classic case of a failure to communicate that also includes the Chief Executive, Rick Parry.

With all the bluster its sometimes hard to read between the lines but I believe what Rafa basically wants is Javier Mascherano neatly tied up in a bow and sitting under the Christmas tree plus a couple of other inexpensive baubles. The problem that Hicks and Gillett are having is that they’ve already spent a tidy sum on Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres. The thought of spending another $32 million on the Argentine without a guarantee of Champions League football snapped the wallet shut tighter than a gnats chuff. No decisions will be made until the result of the final winner-take-all Group A match versus, Marseille, is known.

Adding to the confusion are rumors that Hicks and Gillett might not be on the same page when it comes to management and that the fans are unhappy with the way the pair have treated the Spaniard.

On the first count, Tom Hicks stated that he and Gillett are still tight and that gossip that he was about to sell up are false. “I am not selling any of my shares to anybody. I’ve not idea why anyone would think that. It was rubbish,” he said while scribbling a SELL order to a minion!

On the second count, the fans certainly spoke during the week marching to Anfield en mass before the FC Porto match and demonstrating their vocal support for Benitez in the way that only Liverpool fans can do. With the players also backing the gaffer, Rafa, can claim to have the hearts and minds of what we’d like to think are the two most important ingredients in any club.

With the owners basically being the absentee type though, there is only ever going to be one factor that stirs their emotions…the bottom line.

Look, as much as the ‘bean counters’ (that’s what hard-nosed businessmen are at the end of the day) profess their love for our sport and clubs, ‘where is the cash’ is the final question. If you really think it’s the welfare of the club that takes precedent, I suggest you jump in the Artic Ocean for a minute or two and wake up.

I’m not sure about Hicks’ devotion to the Reds but Gillett has publicly stated that he fell in love with Liverpool after watching a DVD of that famous night in Turkey when the impossible happened. Did I tell you that the Saints are my favorite NFL team, yeah I had some ‘gumbo’ once at the Farmers market on 3rd & Fairfax. I love the Miami Heat - Rum Runners are delicious. The Yankees are awesome - their hats are cool. What I’m saying is the passion is tenuous – it’s as deep as a paper cut. If a better offer comes along…see yah!

It’s funny because it doesn’t seem that long ago that supporters were lambasting Sir Jack Walker at Blackburn Rovers for changing the rules of the game. At least Jack loved his club. His passion for Rovers was second to none. He never answered to shareholders. Today’s owners are more like the Oakland raiders, Al Davis…’just win baby’

I think what we’re finding out is that the supposed riches these new owners bring come with a price. As ‘Barry the Baptist’ said in ‘Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, ‘when you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop.’ My message to Rafa and other clubs under foreign ownership is the following…the music is still going strong, except perhaps there will be a time when it isn’t your favorite tune.

Until then, get the beers in.

The Premier League is coming to play LIVE in America. It is no longer a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ and you can quote me on that.

Yesterday at Wembley Stadium, London, England, two football teams, the Dolphins and the Giants took center stage with a capacity 90,000 plus in attendance. The ghosts that stalk the home of English football though must’ve been turning over in their graves because this encounter was far from the ‘beautiful game’ as we know it – unless you’re a moneyman.

To the movers and shakers of the National Football League this has to go down as the smartest piece of business since the AFL and NFL merged in 1966. Gridiron football sold to a country of non-believers in a nice, tasty, regular season package. In fact if reports are to be believed, non-believers could’ve filled Wembley two or three times over such was the demand…I hear cash registers ringing!

And if the till is ticking over, you can bet you’re last dollar that the ears of all the Premier League clubs are in a state of high alert because has there ever been a cartel that has better mastered the art of separating fans from their hard earned?

In what better country to do it than the nation that practically invented commerce…America. “No, never, you’re crazy, not on my dead body” are some of the things you’ll hear from the die-hards but globalization has arrived as demonstrated by the Fins and G-Men extravaganza. The suits at PL headquarters are just bummed they didn’t think of it first.

Traditionalists will say it’s not possible to accommodate one-off matches and that the integrity of the league will be called into question as teams always play each other home and away. Well, excuse me sir, that’s no problem. Have the clubs in question play both matches on US soil to cancel out any advantage.

I think we could conceivably start the experiment next season beginning with Manchester United versus Liverpool, I mean they’re American (owned) clubs anyway. And if we’re thinking big, lets think really big. To be fair, as an owner, I should be able to make money in any fashion I see fit and I’m sure that that is what the Glazers, Hick’s and Gillette’s feel.

If we do a little math you’ll see that the economics of doing this makes perfect sense…to the owners!

Firstly, pick a massive stadium on the East Coast because the time difference is about the only factor that would have to be taken into consideration. Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor will do as it seats 107,000. With tickets going for say an average of $100 (which is cheaper than most Premier League tickets) that tabs out to be $10.7 million, which I think is a conservative estimate.

Secondly concessions. With pints going for $8 a piece and 100,000 drinking $40 dollars worth of suds, well, that adds up to another $4 million, again a very conservative estimate! Match programs at $10 would sell at least 50,000 for the collectable appeal, which is worth $500,000.

Thirdly merchandising. If David Beckham can move 400,000 replica shirts in a matter of weeks, I’m positive United and Liverpool could shift 200,000 with a little marketing at $80 each resulting in yet another $16 million.

Fourthly, I’m sure that Virgin, British Airways or some other airline would love to sponsor the two-match series. How about calling it ‘football’s coming home’. That’s surely a $5 million value at the very least.

Finally the boost to the local economy will be staggering as I can pretty much guarantee that 80,000 of the crowd will be from Manchester and Liverpool. Let’s say that roughly, $25 million would be generated from food and lodging sales.

All this adds up to a mind blowing $60 million or so dollars and they’ll be doing this twice in a season…$120 million and I haven’t even factored in the pay-per-view, yet. For that kind of money, United and Liverpool would play on the moon!

As for the true fans who pony up for the season tickets – well the clubs will factor in the cost minus the American clash knowing that the hard-core support will organize their holidays around a trip to America. With the current exchange rate, it’ll almost be cheaper than traveling to Anfield or Old Trafford.

This thing has win/win written all over it with only one downside…how do you police it? Michigan’s finest may need a little help from their brethren on Merseyside and Moss Side because Wolverine fans going crazy will be like a tea party compared to Manchester and Liverpool colliding in a match that matters. But lets not let that little detail spoil the fun eh?

For sure this idea may seem a little whacky and perhaps it won’t happen in the next year or two but within the next ten years…it’s a no-brainer. Don’t be surprised though if a one-off isn’t staged Stateside. I can seriously see the Community Shield played here or even a made up final such as a Super Cup Final involving the League Cup winners versus the FA Cup winners – the Italians did it twice in 1993 and 2003 with RFK and Giants Stadium hosting and if it’s good enough for them…

At the end of the day as much as we’d like to claim ownership to English football that is simply no longer possible. As the NFL has demonstrated, football is global and money rules. If you don’t believe me check out these quotes from West Ham’s non-executive chairman, Eggert Magnusson and American billionaire and Arsenal part owner, Stan Kroenke.

Magnusson: “I can see that happening sooner rather than later (a game in America) – it would be good for the game.”

Kroenke: There is a good chance of getting a game to go over there (America) because both owners could agree to it.”

Businessmen, pure and simple…and always thinking of the bottom line.

Until then, get the beers in.

For the 1086 days since Arsenal became Champions on May 15th, 2004, Sir Alex Ferguson has had but one thought…regaining the Premiership crown - a crown that he rightly or wrongly thinks is his by almost royal decree.

Eight times in the EPL era, the title for being the best team in England has been bestowed on Manchester United and now after Chelsea’s end of season implosion that record will be stretched to nine. As we all love to say ‘the table doesn’t lie’ and they’ll be no untruths told as we look at the table on Monday morning.

It’s been a rough few years though for SAF. An FA Cup victory over Millwall in 2004, an empty season in 2005 and just the booby prize of the Carling Cup in 2006 had tongues wagging that the great man had slowly but surely lost the plot as he attempted to build his third great side in his twenty years at Old Trafford.

As a quick refresher the first side was surely the XI that brought home the 1993 title for the first time in twenty six years containing the likes of Peter Schmeichel, Denis Irwin, Gary Pallister, Eric Cantona, Lee Sharpe, Paul Ince, Bryan Robson and Ryan Giggs. That’s right Ryan Giggs who has just won his ninth League Championship winners medal…astonishing, record breaking and most probably never equaled!

The second great XI was of course the treble winning team of 1999 which included Schmeichel, the Neville bothers, Phil & Gary, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Roy Keane, Teddy Sheringham and of course, Ryan Giggs.

Now before you rush to judgment and complain that this new side has yet to prove itself over an extended period of time, first take into account the competition…Chelsea. Never before in football history has their been such an insatiable beast as the Blues. A club with the ability to buy the best players on earth, it looked like nothing but the hubris of the ‘special one’, Jose Mourinho would deny them or the will of the greatest manager in EPL history. At the end of the day it ended up being a combination of the two.

I’ll have to admit, like many other pundits, I didn’t see United or SAF winning the title this year because apart from the Chelsea factor there seemed to be some chemistry problems within the squad, namely the relationship between Wayne Rooney and the Football Writers and Players Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. Little did we know that SAF would create giants where kids once stood.

For Ronaldo to produce the season he has had not only speaks volumes for his character but is a testament to the bond of trust he has formed with his manager. With the passing of his father Denis Aveiro in 2005 there is no doubt in my mind the SAF filled a huge hole in Ronaldo’s life providing leadership and guidance. To think that Ronaldo was public enemy number one after the World Cup, it’s almost beyond comprehension isn’t it and it’s even wilder when you consider whom his run in was with?

No doubt Wayne Rooney had a disappointing Germany 2006 however you have to consider that he wasn’t fit and only had the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders – it was a recipe for disaster. For him then to score 24 goals at a goal every other game clip and without a recognized strike partner is frightening. His on field relationship with Ronaldo is one of complete harmony and there is no faking their enjoyment playing with each other. Who made that possible…Sir Alex Ferguson.

Who knows where Fergie will eventually rate this team but I believe it will become the third great side produced by the Scotsman. Edwin Van der Sar, Scholes, OGS, Neville and Giggs won’t be around forever but Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Patrice Evra, Gabriele Heinze, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Alan Smith and Luis Saha now have the experience to not only compete at the top of the Premiership but the Champions League as well. Yes, they got a lesson by AC Milan however they’re all good for at least another five seasons and with SAF showing no signs of slowing down the champagne corks will be popping from Salford to Tampa.

With a fourth double now up for grabs if Chelsea can be vanquished at Wembley in a couple of weeks, surely the debate about who is the greatest manager in English history will now be closed permanently. Ferguson has made a career out of silencing his critics and this week we’ll all just have to put it on mute.

Until then, get the beers in.

Last week in London the annual PFA (Professional Footballers Association) team of the year was announced. Incredibly in the internet age, ballots are still collected months before the season ends which in this case have led to a team that contains players who have not played for months - this voting system must be re-addressed as I believe many deserving individuals have been ignored.

 

Manchester United dominates the team which is as follows:

 

Edwin van der Sar (United), Garry Neville (United), Nemanja Vidic (United), Rio Ferdinand (United), Patrice Evra (United), Ryan Giggs (United), Paul Scholes (United), Cristiano Ronaldo (United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Dimitar Berbatov (Spurs).

 

I know United have been great this season but this is ridiculous and I find it very hard to believe that the pros really think that eight Red Devils deserve to be in the team. Perhaps they haven’t watched as many matches as me as this following XI should’ve been honored in my book.

 

Goalkeeper: Tim Howard (Everton) After being cast aside by United, Howard has seen his career reborn at Goodison Park. Thirteen clean sheets in all competitions is a testament to not only his back four but the renewed commitment to the art of goalkeeping. Howard now has a presence that was lacking at Old Trafford and he’ll eventually take the torch from Brad Friedel at Ewood Park.

 

Right Back: Steve Finnan (Liverpool) The shocking omission of Finnan simply blows me away. According to the EPL web site actim stats he is the best defender in the Premiership however I didn’t need stats to tell me that. He is simply the most consistent full back in the country and the fact that he regularly starts for a Liverpool side that changes faster than English weather tells you all you need to know.

 

Center Back: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) Love him or hate him, Carvalho is different gravy and stands head and shoulders above anybody else in this position. Personally, I can’t stand him as at times his cynical professionalism drives me crazy however I admire his immaculate reading of the game. He reminds me of Bobby Moore in that he’s not the quickest but his mind is razor sharp.

 

Center Back: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) What does Carragher have to do to be recognized as one of the greatest defenders of his generation? It seems to me that he’s destined to play the bridesmaid role behind Ferdinand and Terry, which doesn’t seem right when you consider how he brings it each and every single game – plus he versatile and can play anywhere.

 

Left Back: Mathew Taylor (Portsmouth) C’mon Steve McClaren what are you waiting for! The most attack minded defender in the EPL has scored nine goals, that right, nine goals this season and almost every one of them has been a goal of the season candidate. At 25 years-of-age, he’s just about to enter his prime.

 

Right Midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) The Players Player of the Year is playing a different game to everybody else – he is the Tiger Woods of football and there aren’t enough superlatives to describe. Ronaldo in full flow is the greatest sight in football.

 

Center Midfield: Paul Scholes (Manchester United) After missing half of last season through blurred vision the ‘Ginger Prince’ has driven United forward with consummate skill. Please, the next time you watch Scholes play just see how many times he gives the ball away – no matter what kind of pass he plays it always finds the right target. His decision making is second to none and if I were Steve McClaren, I’d get down on hands and knees and beg him to come back to the national team.

 

Center Midfield: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)  

 

Cesc turns 20 next week and incredibly he already has 124 1st team appearances to his name. Have any of us ever seen a player with so much maturity? He makes that Arsenal machine tick along playing a game of football that at times defies belief. If Arsene Wenger can give him the surrounding cast, Cesc will become the most valuable maestro in all of football.

 

Left Midfield: Mikel Arteta (Everton) David Moyes will be fighting tooth and nail to hold onto the Spanish gem in the off-season. Eight goals combined with eleven assists makes, Arteta an automatic the my EPL XI. Here is a player who can do it all and for him to be overlooked is a staggering oversight by his fellow pros – there are other teams than United.

 

Center Forward: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Ronaldo’s only competition for the PFA award was the Ivorian who has plundered 31 goals to date in all competitions. I really admire how Drogba has handled himself this season as he’s slowly eradicated the gamesmanship that defined his game the previous two seasons. He leads the line superbly while taking a fearful battering and rightly takes his place amongst the best in the game.

 

 Center Forward: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) The bargain of the season at five million dollars – Benni has scored 21 goals, lies third in the Golden Boot race and is regularly ignored because he plays in the backwater of Ewood Park. Pace, power and craft are the tools of a quality striker and McCarthy has the full set.

 

 

I believe that this is the team that best reflects the Premiership this season and would suggest that in the next term the players be allowed to vote towards the end of the campaign. To earn all-EPL honors a body of work should be looked at, not just the first five months.

 

Until then, get the beers in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the season winds down, the drama just increases with every match and story touching near epic proportions. With so much happening in the world of football during the last seven days I thought it would be unfair to focus on just one item hence the quick hits. Manchester United: Even by the storied history of Manchester United last week was something special. After watching Edwin van der Sar meltdown at Fratton Park along with Mr. Casual, Rio Ferdinand, one couldn’t help but wonder if the wheels weren’t about to fall off their ‘treble’ dreams especially as this was their second consecutive loss following on the heels of defeat in Rome. To then produce THAT performance on Tuesday night in the 2nd leg of the Champions League against Roma defied the laws of football. Sure, the Italians weren’t that clever defensively however it’s still a remarkable feat to score SEVEN goals against anybody. Cristiano Ronaldo surely sealed the Player of the Year debate with yet another electrifying display as he was simply unplayable however I thought Ryan Giggs stole the man-of-the-match award. The Welshman who had three assists is like a Grandmaster chess champion in that he seemingly imagines moves develop seven passes before they actually happen…not bad for a 33 year-old playing top flight football for the 16th consecutive season. With Watford spanked out of sight on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park, a second ‘treble’ still looms large for the evergreen winger who is Obi-Wan Kenobi to Ronaldo’s, Luke Skywalker. Chelsea: CEO, Peter Kenyon likes to call the hunt for four the ‘Grand Slam’…well he would, wouldn’t he! As far as everyone else is concerned it’s the ‘quadruple’ and it looks more alive than ever. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there is no denying that this Blues machine is the most ruthless, efficient outfit we’ve seen in the last twenty years. Only the Liverpool teams of the late 70’s and early 80’s holds a candle to them. Jose Mourinho has instilled the quality of character throughout the backbone of his side and their stunning, yet not surprising victory in Valencia was testament to that. To then follow that win up by beating Blackburn in a thriller says to me that this club does not know when it’s beaten - they simply strangle the life out of you. If they do offer up a chance, you better take it because you only get one. Zinedine Zidane: According to the Guardian, a respected English newspaper, LA Galaxy GM, Alexi Lalas has been wooing the world’s greatest retired footballer into one last trip down memory lane, right here in La La Land. I also have it on good authority that the deal has already been done however you can't really trust the 5th cousin of the cleaning lady who used to tidy up the changing rooms at the Bernabeau or her sister! I can’t quite work out whether this would be good for MLS or not. Part of me would be thrilled to see Zizou display his wares on a weekly basis and I’m sure he’d dazzle even the likes of Eric Wynalda’s best mate, Jim Rome however he is almost 35 years-old. What with the 34 year-old Cuauhtémoc Blanco joining the Chicago Fire, it feels like that MLS is doing exactly what the NASL did – sign aging stars for too much money in an arms race to keep up with each other. I hope I’m wrong. Roy Keane: Talking of legends is there a better story this season than the job, Keano has done in his first management gig at Sunderland. I’ve written before how great players don’t necessarily make the best managers but in the Irishman’s case you’ve got to make an exception. From last to first in the space of seven months is truly a remarkable achievement. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that they win promotion or though I’m sure that won’t be needed. Next season when he takes the Black Cats to Old Trafford we’ll be something special and I have no doubt that we are witnessing the birth of Ferguson’s successor. The symmetry between Keane and Kenny Dalglish is eerie and we all know how well the Scotsman did in management. Michael Owen: Supposedly the ex ‘Boy Wonder’ will be fit to resume his career shortly for Newcastle United and I’m very happy about that because he has been missed from the game. England boss, Steve McClaren is quieting salivating at his return however the Magpies aren’t quite as thrilled and I don’t blame them. They’re out of pocket to the tune of $300,000 after the FA dumped Owen back on their doorstep injured after the World Cup finals and they’re demanding compensation. For once I’m in complete agreement with Newcastle chairman; Freddie Shepherd and I think it is only right that the FA and Football Associations in general should be made to pay for players injured while representing their countries. After all, these associations make a fortune from sponsors and TV money. It’s smacks of typical FA ineptitude. I say let Owen make his comeback nice and slowly, we’ll need him for the qualifiers in August/October. I told you it was a busy week in football. Until then, get the beers in.

Sent to me from heaven…76,098

It’s not often one gets to be part of the record books however last Saturday at the Theater of Dreams I was part of the largest crowd in English Premier League history as 76,098 souls crammed into the Republik of Mancunia for the match against Blackburn Rovers.

For those of you who have never had a chance to visit Old Trafford on match day let me tell you that it is an experience that you’ll never forget. From the moment you enter Sir Matt Busby Way, the sights, sounds and smells of one of the most fabled clubs in all of world of football begin to overwhelm the senses sending involuntary shivers up and down your spine.

I’m usually working my tail off on these occasions and unable to truly enjoy the festivities but thanks to the generosity of my chums at serious.com, Mark Hargreaves, the General Manager of Manchester United Interactive and Sameer Pabari, Director of Media, this time I’d be able to put my feet up, relax and be treated to football the 5-star way – rest assured, it’s amazing.

From the pre-match feast of roast lamb, fine wine and delicious deserts to hanging out and talking tactics with United legends, Lou Macari and Dennis Irwin, this is club that has taken the simple act of going to a football match and turned it into the equivalent of a invitation from Hugh Hefner to the mansion and all that that entails.

Having only been inside Old Trafford once before – and that when it was empty, I was completely unprepared for the physical impact that the full stadium presented as my now merry party were politely called to our seats a few minutes before kick-off. TV really does this epic temple no justice as the vast banks of fans surround the pitch with a wall of noise and color that threatens and frequently does wash opponents away.

From my extremely luxurious seat in the center of the North Stand, the hard core support is massed in the West Stand or as the locals call it, the Stretford End. Between the two tiers of this huge stand there is a row of banners hanging which perfectly encapsulate what United means – ‘The Flowers of Manchester’, a tribute to the Munich air disaster, ‘Republik of Mancunia’, showcasing Mancunian pride and ‘MUFC The Religion’, and that to me is the feeling that United provides – a place of worship.

You only had to look into the eyes of those around you to see the fervor building. These are fans that truly believe in the deity that is the Red Devils. Even as a neutral it was hard not to be swept up in the enthusiasm of it all and I really felt for the faithful as the team stuttered somewhat in the 1st half. In fact when Matt Derbyshire opened up the scoring for Rovers, I began to feel like a guilty driver passing a nasty crash – you didn’t want to look but you couldn’t help yourself.


Whatever Sir Alex Ferguson said to his team at the break had the desired effect though as ‘squeaky bum time’ was replaced with the special brand of football that only United can play when in full flow. As each goal hit the back of the net, the emotion of the flock really was a joy to behold as an electrifying surge flowed around the ground and all but lifted the roof of the place. Blackburn was simply swept away by a higher power.

SAF who knows a thing or two about winning titles was moved to say after the game,
“I think the fans are starting to smell it now - and the players are beginning to taste it. The second half performance was our best of the season”. After watching this swashbuckling display I think he is right and after a four-year drought, the trophy that means so much to him will soon be in his hands for a record ninth time.

Speaking of records, if the title does happen to be wrapped up on May 13th I’m sure we’ll see another bumper crowd when West Ham come to town and my brief stay in the books will be at an end. Regardless of the books though, if you’re ever in England during the season, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to United on match days and be prepared to experience the Republic of Mancunia, the Theater of Dreams.

Until then, get the beers in.

Football is all about opinions and not surprisingly everybody has one especially when the subject matter is about bringing back standing terracing to the top flight of English soccer. This debate is perhaps the most emotional issue within the game as no-one will ever forget the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 and the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives…the fight for justice for those that perished still rages today and rightly so.

Following Hillsborough, the English government was forced to look at football instead of ignoring the many problems that surrounded the game. At the recommendation of the Taylor Report, it was deemed that football in the top flight of England should be played in all-seater stadiums and that’s how it’s been since the formation of the Premiership.

A recent poll conducted by the Football Fans Census (FFC) found that 92% of fans want to bring back safe standing areas to their clubs while fans groups, the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) and Stand Up Sit Down (SUSD) are leading campaigns to reopen the case for standing however as far as the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Football Licensing Authority (FLA) this issue is a non starter – all-seater stadium are here to stay as far as they’re concerned. I can easily appreciate both sides of the argument.

My first taste of football as a kid was on the terraces. Back in the late 70’s I’d meet up with my schoolmates and go to the likes of Highbury, White Hart Lane and Loftus Road. We’d get to the grounds nice and early, staking out a place behind a crash barrier near to the goal. As the pens would fill up especially for big matches, crushes would develop but I never felt scared, as I was too busy soaking up the atmosphere. Looking back now the lack of fear was probably because I was a teenager and like all teenagers thought I was indestructible. I was scared getting on the wrong tube carriage though on some Saturday afternoons in the capital!

Btw this experience was incredibly cheap…ticket, travel (tube), match program, pie and chips…and I’d still have change left out of $10 hence the fact that the average age of crowds in those days was mid 20’s instead of the 40’s that we see today as the cost of following top flight football has become exorbitant.

Having been lucky enough to cover World Cups and Euros from the press box where standing isn’t an option and atmosphere is non-existent, I must admit that occasionally I find myself reminiscing while watching fans singing and celebrating behind the goals (where terracing traditionally is located). It sure does look like a lot of fun but I think deep down, I know my days of bouncing up and down for ninety minutes are over.

Maybe that’s why whenever a colleague comes back from a match my first question is never about the quality of the contest but ‘what was the atmosphere like’ – and let’s be honest, without a decent atmosphere, you might as well be watching my over 30’s team down at the park. This has become an all too common complaint about Premiership matches over the past few seasons.

The EPL has priced out young supporters and not given them an outlet to support their local clubs. You can’t hang out with your mates if you’re all seating in a row and as for signing sitting down…forget about it - you’ve got to stand to belt it out.

However you do have to feel sympathy for the person sitting behind you who fancies a nice afternoon watching some top class football and not having to reposition themselves every 10 seconds to avoid a view of your or mine ample backside!

You know that takes me back to the Rose Bowl in ’94. I’d scored tickets for my first World Cup Final and in all the excitement had a few beers before kick-off. As ####, as the match was though (0-0) I was up and out of my seat for 90% of the time much to the annoyance of an American couple behind me. “Young man, do you mind not standing up, you’re spoiling our view” said this fellow who was obviously attending his first and last ever game. I was stunned that anyone could say that, I mean, c’mon this was the biggest game of football in four years and I let him know it. However 13 years on I’d like to apologize because he was right. We were in an all-seater stadium and he’d paid the same money as me to watch the same game.

I guess what I’m trying to get at is the fact that there wasn’t a choice and there isn’t one in the Premiership either. What clubs have to remember is that supporters are customers and they should have choices.

The terracing and policing that caused the Hillsborough disaster was a disgrace and hopefully we’ll never return to those unenlightened times but for the authorities to refuse to even open up the debate about a standing seems ignorant.

We’ve seen that standing areas work well in Germany and at least 10% of tickets on sale must be for standing areas which can then revert back to seating for European and International matches. The atmosphere at Bundesliga matches is also superb with a mixture of young and old packing out stadiums with average crowds of 45,000+ and it’s inexpensive.

With the advent of CCTV, better policing, a different attitude (less hooligans), I believe that standing should once again be allowed in the top flight of English football. The majority of fans also want it back because without full grounds and atmosphere football will slowly turn into a night at the opera…sit down and shut up…it really is about choice.


Until then, get the beers in.

It’s that time of year again as the Premiership shop window re-opens after four months of hibernation. Managers become wheeler-dealers scurrying around the market floor, buying low, selling high and looking for the rough or polished diamonds that can mean the difference between relegation or silverware in the old trophy cabinet.

 

So just who will splash the cash this January and what do they need to bolster their squads…let’s find out.

 

It’s that time of year again as the Premiership shop window re-opens after four months of hibernation. Managers become wheeler-dealers scurrying around the market floor, buying low, selling high and looking for the rough or polished diamonds that can mean the difference between relegation or silverware in the old trophy cabinet.

So just who will splash the cash this January and what do they need to bolster their squads…let’s find out.

Arsenal: After dumping Liverpool out of the FA Cup in impressive style Arsene Wenger could conceivably keep the wallet shut and stand pat but you have to believe that with his young squad he needs cover in midfield. Shaun Wright-Phillips at a cut rate price may entice the Frenchman however I don’t believe that Chelsea would let him go to their deadliest rivals. Marseille’s Franck Ribbery is another story though and his relationship with Thierry Henry could hold the key.

Possible targets in: Franck Ribbery (Marseille), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea)
On the way out: No one

Aston Villa: Let’s see if new owner, Randy Lerner really is the savior of Aston Villa. The Villains need a new injection of life and a proven goal scorer must be at the top of Martin O’Neill’s shopping list. Robbie Keane looks like a good fit as he’s not getting much playing time at Spurs and he is familiar with life in the Midlands having previously played for Wolves.

Possible targets in: Robbie Keane (Spurs), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen)
On the way out: Milan Barros

Blackburn Rovers: Mark Hughes is thinking big and has expressed an interest in bringing David Beckham back to England. This maybe a little ambitious and he’ll probably have to make do with some unpolished nuggets from abroad.

Possible targets in: Yiannakis Okkas (Olympiakos), Tomas Sivok (Sparta Prague), Danny Mills (Man City)
On the way out: Lucas Neill

Bolton: If any manager is adept at picking up bargain basements it’s Sam Allardyce however I don’t believe we’ll see too much activity at the Reebok. Allardyce knows the importance of keeping harmony in the squad and he’ll not want to do anything to disrupt a winning formula.

Possible targets in: James Beattie (Everton), Aldo Duscher (Deportivo)
On the way out: Ben Haim

Charlton: Money is the issue for Alan Pardew as he attempts to perform a miracle by keeping the Addicks in the Premiership. The sale of Darren Bent will be the key but it does seem like madness to sell your top scorer in the hopes that it will fund moves for…

Possible targets in: Players that can defend!
On the way out: Darren Bent, Souleymane Diawara, Dennis Rommedahl

Chelsea: Roman Abramovich has been hinting that Jose Mourinho’s wild spending ways maybe coming to a halt. The ‘Special One’ knows though that he must have defensive cover after a series of poor displays. SWP could be used as bait for Micah Richards in a swap move with Manchester City while a fistful of dollars maybe dangled at Argentine Roberto Ayala currently playing for Valencia and widely regarded as one of the best center backs in the world.

Possible targets in: Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid), Micah Richards (Man City), Roberto Ayala (Valencia),
On the way out: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge

Everton: David Moyes will have to spend wisely and that means trolling the lower leagues as money is tight at Goodison Park. High on his list will be cover in midfield and upfront. Without Tim Cahill, the Toffees have lost so punch while James Beattie has been a $12 million dollar bust.

Possible targets in: David Nuggent (Preston), David Healy (Leeds)
On the way out: James Beattie, Alessandro Pistone

Fulham: Chris Coleman’s love affair with everything American looks set to continue. A fee has been agreed with MLS for Clint Dempsey providing the FA approves a work permit while Oquchi Onyewu looks set to move from Belgium. A creative midfield player is also needed following the departure of Steed Malbranque with Danny Murphy a possible target.

Possible targets in: Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Oquchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Danny Murphy (Spurs), Sean Davis (Portsmouth)
On the way out: Luis Boa Morte (Gone…West Ham) Pabe Boupa Diop

Liverpool: Rafa Benitez likes his Latin imports but surely he knows that they take time to settle in the Premiership and that is a luxury the Reds don’t have. Full-back, Lucas Neill is all but at Anfield as is Argentine, Emiliano Insua. Wingers still hold a fascination with the Spaniard though so expect a move in that department as Jermaine Pennant has been largely ineffective while Harry Kewell has fallen of the face off the planet.

Possible targets in: Lucas Neill (Blackburn), Emiliano Insua (Boca Jrs), Mathew Upson (Birmingham), Simao (Benfica), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto)
On the way out: Jerzy Dudek, Stephen Warnock, Sami Hyypia, Boudewijn Zenden, Peter Crouch

Manchester City: City’s mini revival has helped Stuart Pearce no end. He’ll be looking to keep the chemistry just right at Eastlands, so it’ll be a case of trying to keep players instead of buying them. Micah Richards is a target for the big four as is want away defender Sylvain Distin.

Possible targets in: Shaun Wright-Phillps comes home
On the way out: Micah Richards, Slyvain Distin, Claudio Reyna, Danny Mills, Ben Thatcher

Manchester United: Henrik Larsson will now be available for the Red Devils and Sir Alex Ferguson will be keeping tabs on Darren Bent however his prize jewel will no doubt be Owen Hargreaves. The Bayern Munich midfielder is being valued at close to $40 million though, a price maybe to high for the Glazers after the purchase of Michael Carrick earlier this season.

Possible targets in: Darren Bent (Charlton), Nigel Reo-Cocker (West Ham), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)
On the way out: Alan Smith, Kieran Richardson, Mikael Silvestre

Middlesbrough: Cover for Yakubu and Mark Viduka is an absolute must for Boro boss, Gareth Southgate as any long term injury to either man could be catastrophic. He’ll also have to strengthen the creativity of his team as Gaizka Mendieta and Fabio Rochembach are out of favor.

Possible targets in: David Nuggent (Preston), Jeremie Aliadiere (Arsenal)
On the way out: Gaizka Mendieta, Fabio Rochembach, Ray Parlour, Massimo Maccarone

Newcastle: With an injury crisis that has seemingly no end, Glenn Roeder will take what he can get however opponents will be tempted to jack up the price of any imports knowing the Magpies dire need.

Possible targets in: Zat Knight (Fulham), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Kieran Richardson (Man U)
On the way out: Titus Bramble (put him out of misery, please!), Alberto Luque (a $20 million dollar flop)

Portsmouth: This time last January the transfer window saved Pompey from certain relegation as Harry Redknapp worked his magic. This time around the situation is rosy so look for Redknapp to add cover instead of star players.

Possible targets in: Mathew Upson (Birmingham), Zoltan Gera (WBA), Freddy Eastwood (Southend)
On the way out: Kanu, Sean Davis, Lomano Lualua

Reading: Steve Coppell knows that as the season rolls into the dog days of February and March he’ll need more depth in his paper thin squad. Everybody’s favorite, Mathew Upson is on his list as is American international, Eddie Johnson. The availability of cash will be the major stumbling block to any major moves.

Possible targets in: Mathew Upson (Birmingham), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards)
On the way out: No one

Sheffield United: Neil Warnock has a paltry ten million at his disposal but he knows that he must strengthen the squad in every department. With goals at a premium at Bramall Lane, David Nuggent is on top of his wish list.

Possible targets in: David Nuggent (Preston), David Dunn (Birmingham)
On the way out: David Unsworth (gone…Wigan)

Tottenham: Martin Jol has to sell before he spends as his squad is extremely deep especially with the additions of goalkeeper, Ben Alnwick from Sunderland and on loan midfielder Adel Taarabt from Lens.

Possible targets in: Slyvain Distin (Manchester City)
On the way out: Robbie Keane, Danny Murphy, Mido, Edgar Davids

Watford: Aidy Boothroyd needs a goal scorer real bad however cash is non existent at Vicarage Road so he may have to settle for loan moves.

Possible targets in: James Beattie (Everton), David Healy (Leeds), Alan Smith (Man U)
On the way out: No one

West Ham: Alan Curbishley has already made one move picking up Luis Boa Morte and with the new Icelandic owners promising fresh funds, bold moves maybe in the offing for the likes of SWP and even David Beckham.

Possible targets in: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Beckham (Real Madrid)
On the way out: Nigel Reo-Cocker, Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez, Carlton Cole, Bobby Zamora, Roy Carroll

Wigan: Paul Jewell knows that he has to buy his way out of trouble or Wigan will get sucked into the relegation fight. A creative yet hard working midfielder in the Jimmy Bullard role is a must.

Possible targets in: Alex (Urawa Reds), Nathan Ellington (WBA)
On the way out: Leighton Baines

With three and a half weeks left in the window activity has so far been extremely light however with the Premiership resuming next week, expect a bumper rush of signings in the next week or so.

Until then, get the beers in.

Check in LIVE tomorrow for the big one.

The English Premier League super scheduling computer often throws up mouthwatering match-ups but rarely has it allowed the ‘fantastic four’ Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal or more appropriately the managers Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger to collide on the same day with so much at stake.

With the phrase ‘must win’ being tossed around like dice at a Las Vegas craps table for the Gunners and the Reds in their respective road trips to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, you knew that goals would be at a premium – however pride, power and passion, the intangibles of football would be the key factors and so it proved in 180 minutes of compelling, absorbing and utterly fascinating Sunday morning action.

With the smoke now clearing the battlefield it’s time to evaluate the performances and what it all means to the managers of the ‘FF’.

Chelsea & Jose Mourinho

Much was made of the ‘handshake’ row between Mourinho and Benitez before the start of this contest in the hopes of ####ing it up to Tabasco proportions – not that it needed it. My own view is that it’s a football match not an arm wrestling contest and thankfully that antagonism was put to rest in the tunnel between the two managers.

As for the Blues display it was typical Mourinho football and he summed it up perfectly in his post match comments. "Sometimes if you win with just quality, playing fantastic and scoring a lot of goals you can feel you are a great team. But you need these matches where you feel you are a team ready to fight. My players were very brave and the team fought very hard."

There was no doubt about the fight in Chelsea’s play as they had to compete for 40 minutes while playing a man down after Michael Ballack departed the pitch after a nasty and spiteful challenge on Mohammed Sissoko. With John Terry and Ricardo Carvallho  marshalling the back four in the most dominating central pairing in the Premiership, it was always going to be a long day for the visitors. The fact they didn’t create as many quality chances as Liverpool will not rankle the ‘Special One’ either especially if Didier Drogba can keep finding the net in spectacular fashion. His 41st minute strike was a goal worthy of the occasion and a fitting way to decide the destination of the points.

Liverpool & Rafa Benitez

Benitez has an abundance of riches at his disposal for the 1st time in his Anfield reign and that is his problem at the moment. I believe he doesn’t yet know who his best XI is yet. Leaving the red hot Peter Crouch on the bench seemed a waste and slap in the face to a man who is in the best form of his career while Chelsea killer, Luis Garcia didn’t even make the trip to London.

“I think that we deserved more because we created clear chances but at the end you need to score to win” he said, obviously not looking in Crouch’s direction. 
An eight point gap has now opened up between the two teams however Benitez isn’t being trapped into pushing the panic button just yet. "We need to think about the next game (Newcastle). It's a long race and the most important thing is that the team is improving. If we can win the next three points we will be closer and we will see what happens”, he said. If they don’t get the maximum against the Magpies on Wednesday that finger will start looking for that button.

Manchester United & Sir Alex Ferguson

If there is one thing in life Sir Alex Ferguson loves doing it’s beating Arsenal and in particular Arsene Wenger - their psychological battles over the years have been legendary. With Chelsea now in ascendance though the spotlight has been off the two competitors in recent seasons, however that hasn’t stopped Fergie owning the Frenchman in the Premiership in their last eight meetings.

With the chance to all but cosign Arsenal to also-rans this season the Red Devils fluffed it big time. Previous defeats of this nature have seen the Scotsman blame all and sundry and true to form he pointed to the exertions of Wednesday nights Champions League game against Celtic as the culprit for a flat performance. “With the emotions of it and the pace of the match, it was a real Scotland-England type of match with that type of tempo. It was end to end all night and that's without question one of the things I have to look at. Today we lost momentum in the second half when we stopped passing forward, and that was a sign of tiredness. It was the second-half that disappointed me. We tired as a team in the last 20 minutes.”

Perhaps Sir Alex should look to the fact that Arsenal was the first real side his club has played this year and that maybe the 100% start was a little smoke and mirrors. United is still a team in transition despite the addition of Michael Carrick who surprisingly didn’t start and was instead replaced by the limited John O’Shea. Wayne Rooney is still not match fit while the central pairing of Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand does not fill me with any confidence.
With three relatively easy fixtures before the visit of Liverpool on October 22nd there is enough time for the Scotsman who recently stated his desire to stay at the helm for another two years to get the machine humming to the right tune.

Arsenal & Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger attempted to play down the importance of this match but even he would’ve been aware that if Arsenal had lost, the gap between them and United would’ve been a massive and insurmountable 13 points – but in epic fashion they did the unthinkable.

One can’t help but think that this Arsenal team is a club in transition and not capable of mounting a serious challenge for the title this season however Wenger believes differently, “transition is a word you don't want, we want to win the championship. I said it before the game and I say again afterwards this team has great potential and spirit as they have shown again today and I strongly believe in the ability of the players and the team.”

Without their talisman, Thierry Henry, I thought that the Gunners would be very lucky to escape with a point but they outplayed and outfought United in every department playing Arsenal football. It was fast, lively, and attractive and more importantly disciplined defensively – no doubt the result of the season to date.

Over the course of these two matches the ‘FF’ will have learnt more about the character of their new look teams and I’m sure come the dog days of January they’ll all be at their familiar places in the table.

Until then, get the beers in.

Despite producing some of the greatest football players on the planet are Argentineans adaptable to the demands of English football…and the answer to date I believe is no!

In the fall of 1978 ex-Tottenham boss, Keith Burkinshaw stunned English football with the audacious double signing of Argentine World Cup winners, Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa. Last week history repeated itself in the capital as east London neighbors West Ham United captured two of the hottest properties on the current Argentine national team, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. In the preceding 28 years though it was slim pickings between two of the great footballing nations.

Back in the good old days of muddy pitches and one substitute, signing foreign players was practically unthinkable as British players dominated the British game. The general consensus was that these namby-pamby ‘JF’ types couldn’t compete in a league that relied on brawn over brain and to a certain degree that consensus was correct.

It took Ardiles a good season and a half to adjust to the physical demands of England before he became a true star and a legend at White Hart Lane while Villa despite scoring what is generally considered Wembley’s greatest ever goal in the 1981 Cup Final replay never really came to terms with the pace of the game.

Another member of that victorious ’78 World Cup side was Alberto Tarantini who played just 23 games for Birmingham City after his move from South America. Yellow and Red cards blighted his stay in England along with a venture into the stands to have a punch up with some supporters being the most memorable highlight.

Despite the success of Ardiles though it would take another two decades before England would look towards the shores of one of their greatest football rivals for more talent. Juan Sebastian Veron, a giant of the game in Italy transferred from Lazio to Manchester United for the staggering figure of over $50 million dollars and promptly fell flat on his face. A move to Chelsea to resuscitate his career also collapsed while his international teammate, Hernan Crespo could not settle at Stamford Bridge despite two cracks at the whip and the constant pampering of his owners.

Fulham flirted with Facundo Sava for three seasons however the striker is not best remembered for his goals but for keeping a batman mask stuffed down his shorts in case he found the back of the net (which he managed on 7 occasions).

Only Gabriele Heinze at once bitten and I guess not twice shy Manchester United has come to England and really made an impact. In fact United’s dismal run last year coincided with Heinze getting badly injured, which is why I’ll keep a close eye on him this campaign.

With the track record of Argentines in England being more miss than hit it will be very interesting to see how Messer’s Tevez and Mascherano perform over the current season while they’re parked at Upton Park – because parked is what they are until someone moves in with a bigger offer as this double transfer stinks to high heaven but that’s for another topic!

Moving on…if you’ve ever watched Argentine football on FSC you’ll know that it is a fantastic league and the best in South America. The skill level is exceptional, the pace at times frenetic and it certainly wouldn’t be considered a safe place for less physical specimens as the tackling can be at times be frightening in its ferocity. With passionate crowds and intense media exposure it is incredibly similar in almost every facet to football played in, you guessed it…England! (English sailors brought the game to South American in the late 1800’s)

Why then has that not translated to Argentinean players flooding the English market because over in Italy and Spain they seem to flourish?

Obviously the Latin culture plays a big part in the comfort level and maybe there is still lingering resentment of the Falkland Islands however I seriously doubt that this would impede a professional footballer from giving his best. Perhaps there is a superiority complex as Argentineans have certainly taken football to another level yet haven’t beaten England internationally since 1998.

I’d like to think it is because footballing wise (playing/supporting) - perhaps we’re the same and that a fear of failure has crept into both of our psyches. English players are notoriously bad travelers and it would take someone with huge canjones to travel South while after seeing the likes of Veron and Crespo suffer the EPL has developed some bad mojo.

I hope for both countries sakes that Tevez and Mascherano become huge hits this season. If they fail I feel that Argentineans will once and for all give England a wide berth despite the amazing riches they can earn here. When you compare the wages between the two countries it is night and day which is why I can’t understand why there has never been a Argentine invasion.

Until then, get the beers in.

It only seems like yesterday that I was leaving the Berlin Olympic Stadium after the World Cup Final however six weeks is a life time in football. Now it’s time to brush aside those memories and concentrate on my bread & butter…The Barclay’s English Premier League.

Last year I predicted Chelsea to win the Championship, which was about the only thing I got right as the predictions business frequently leaves us pundits with egg dripping all over our faces. This season though I’m not so sure about the Blues. Either way you’ll have to read to the end of the column to find out who will be the top three but before we get to that let’s see who’ll make the dreaded drop. (Last season’s finish in brackets)

20th Watford (Play-Off Winners): After a seven year absence the Hornets are back in the big time but with no big name stars they’ll find it very difficult to sting anyone or get the results that manager, Adrian Boothroyd will need to keep them up. In fact if they don’t get going ‘early doors’ they could be on to the same kind of hiding as Sunderland last term…yikes!

19th Sheffield United (2nd in Championship): Without a shadow of doubt Blades boss, Neil Warnock, will be the most quotable manager in the Premiership. His fiery personality will definitely leave a mark on many opponents however even with the force of his personality I don’t think it will be enough to keep the ‘Steel City’ in the elite but then again didn’t we say the same thing about Wigan Athletic last season.

18th Portsmouth (17th): Was Harry Redknapp the difference between success and failure, I guess we’ll find out as the crafty Cockney now has a full campaign at his disposal. Two very experienced signings in the form of Sol Campbell and David James feel like decent moves but they do seem to be on the downward slide of their illustrious careers. Their form at Fratton Park will be the key however if they repeat last seasons dismal return of five wins it’ll be ‘squeaky bum’ time down on the South Coast. Behind the scenes shenanigans will probably dominate the headlines.

17th Fulham (12th): There’s a little whiff of tiredness surrounding the Cottage and without a ball kicked in anger, Cookie Coleman is already one of the bookies favorites for the sack. He’ll have to get more out of his club on the road where they picked up one paltry win the entire season but with too many players itching for greener pastures those vultures have already started circling.

16th Charlton (13th): The question for the Addicks is how quickly they can transition from the Alan Curbishley era to the new regime of Iain Dowie. Over the last few years they’ve flown out of the blocks only to wilt after Christmas. A fast start is imperative again or it could be a long season at the Valley with Dowie under intense pressure to produce not only results but more importantly, attractive football.

15th Reading (1st in Championship): Any team that scores 99 goals needs to be feared which is what the Royals achieved last term in walking to the Championship title by a massive 16 points. Steve Coppell’s lads won’t find Premiership back lines so accommodating but this is a club that wants to play fast attacking football and the open style of the top flight should suit their first ever foray into the elite of England.

14th Wigan (10th): The Latics will have lost the element of surprise that they brought to the Premiership last season. I expect them to have a far tougher time because opponents will have a better understanding of how to neutralize them. Manager, Paul Jewell has spent big money but over $10 million for Emile Heskey smells of a desperation buy and with expectations high at the JJB after their previous success, a sophomore slump is on the cards.

13th Manchester City (15th): A serious lack of funds has Stuart Pearce shopping at garage sales in the hope of unearthing some hidden treasure unfortunately the likes of Didi Hamann and Paul Dickov are nothing more than retreads. This team is old, fragile and if they have any injuries problems, 13th place will be quite an achievement however I like Pearce along with his management style and believe he may just squeeze the last piece of juice out of this side before rebuilding.

12th Bolton (8th): I’m just wondering whether Sam Allardyce isn’t getting a little bored at the Reebok. He openly flirted with the England job earlier this year and has loudly expressed disappointment at the lack of funds available for strengthening the Trotters. Granted his has turned a sow’s ear into a silk purse over the last few years but how much longer can he cobble together a decent side made of promising youngster and experienced campaigners. This is the year they get found out.

11th Middlesbrough (14th): Gareth Southgate makes his managerial debut with a Boro club that excelled in cup competitions yet underachieved, big time in the league. Obviously Southgate is going to encounter a huge learning curve as he feels his way from playing to coaching however he has always been a student of the game and he inherits a squad bursting with talent. Mid table and another cup run will be about the best the Riverside faithful can hope for.

10th Newcastle (7th): Big club, big money, big ambitions and usually a big bust is how we generally look at the Magpies. With the studious Glenn Roeder now pulling the strings it’ll be interesting to see how he copes with the intense weight of expectation from the Geordie public. In all honesty I don’t think he was the number one or number two choice to take over the hot seat at St. James’ and if they start slowly, the bookies will surely install him as the 1st manager to get the axe.

9th West Ham (9th): A combination of youth and experience leads me to believe that the Hammers will consolidate on last year’s spectacular return to the Premiership. Alan Pardew has silenced the doubters with his understated brand of management and if the famed ‘Academy’ keeps churning out the occasional diamond look for another Cup run and a European adventure to keep the ‘bubbles’ flowing down at Upton Park.

8th Aston Villa (16th): The Martin O’Neill factor cannot be overlooked as the Irishman has proven himself to be one of the best managers in the business. He has a big job on his hands though as Villa seemingly lurch from crisis to crisis however I believe he’ll right the ship and within a season or two turn the Midlands club once again into contenders. There is plenty of talent in the squad and with new owner Randolph Lerner breathing fresh air after the musty odor of Doug Ellis, the sky’s the limit.

7th Everton (11th): Without the distraction of European football where in all honesty they embarrassed themselves, David Moyes and his Toffees can keep building on the excellent progress they’ve made in recent seasons. If you push aside the horror start of the last campaign this is a team that is increasingly hard to beat. On the down side is the lack of goals they score however the partnership of James Beattie and Andy Johnson is intriguing and if they gel they’ll be fireworks at Goodison Park.

6th Blackburn (6th): A solid football team is how I would describe Rovers. There’s no flash, no frills, just commitment and you have to credit Mark Hughes for that achievement. He reminds me of an ‘old’ school manager in the SAF vein but with the sensibilities of a modern coach. His squad does look incredibly ordinary though but then again it’s virtually the same team that qualified for Europe last season and you have to figure that they’ll only improve.

5th Arsenal (4th): The Gunners downfall this campaign will be their new home, Emirates Stadium. In my mind it will take them at least half a season to adjust to their surroundings and Arsene Wenger may even have to alter their playing style unless he decides to import the same pitch dimensions they had at Highbury. The faithful will also have to feel their way around the new digs and these two factors all lead me to believe that Wenger will have to be at his professorial best home and especially on the road where they were exceedingly poor last season.

4th Tottenham (5th): After missing out on the Champions League in heart breaking fashion, Spurs will be eager to set the record straight. With ambition along with money in seemingly abundant supply at White Hart Lane, Martin Jol seems to have got the chemistry right after years of under achievement. I think that this is the year that the North Londoners push on and rejoin the elite of English football as a serious contender.

3rd Manchester United (2nd): I can’t help but feel that the end of the era has finally arrived for United and Sir Alex Ferguson. I know I’ve said that over the last few years and in a way I’ve been right because Cup wins are not a satisfactory return for a club of this stature…it’s about the league. With limited forays in the transfer market and then overpaying massively for Michael Carrick to replace the long departed Roy Keane, SAF just seems to be losing his touch after 20 years in the job. If they don’t win the Premiership, you’ve got to feel that the Glazer family will do the unthinkable and replace the Old Trafford legend.

2nd Chelsea (1st): They’ll be no three-peat for the Blues as this is the year of the blip and perhaps the final episode of the Jose Mourinho era. No doubt they’ll be super competitive in the Prem but with eyes firmly on the Champions League, the ‘Special One’ has stacked his squad with players to win this trophy and then ride off into the sunset. I’m sure this year at Stamford Bridge will be a real soap opera because the type of players they’ve signed are not the type of players to sit meekly on the bench without moaning big style.

1st Liverpool (3rd): It’s been 17 years since Anfield celebrated a league title but the wait will be over in a little over nine months. I really like how Rafa Benitez has gone about his job since arriving on Merseyside. Every year we’ve seen improvement as the Spaniard has built from the back to the front. Now with the addition of pace to the squad with the likes of Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant, the final, vital, ingredient has been added and that is why I believe they’ll be Champions.

As always though these predictions are bound to blow up however get yours to me and will print the best of the bunch on my blog.

Until then, get the beers in.