As the new season beckons, the Community Shield served as a little taster of things to come. And all in all, despite the disappointment of losing yet another penalty shoot out, the omens as far as we CFC fans are concerned look good.
No change there, as well as in the tabloids. I totted up the points awarded by The Mirror this morning and the Man U players scored 9 points more than the Chelsea ones. On average the Chelsea players scored 6.3 whereas the United ones just over 7. One would think that we were outplayed for most of the game, when in truth we were either in control (first half) or in command (second half). We had enough chances to have won the game in normal time and that would have had the tabloid press saying that we would walk over the rest of the Premiership at will in the coming season.
Having watched bits and pieces of the pre-season friendlies and yesterday’s match, I can safely say that we did well in the transfer market this summer. Malouda looks a class act and despite me being an avid Robben fan, an injury to him (very likely) or a transfer to Madrid (fifty/fifty), means we will not miss him so much this time round.
I thought Ben Haim looked nice and solid, as did the returning Glen Johnson, especially in the second half. Pizarro looks much more suited to lead the line than Shevchenko ever did and Sidwell fitted in nicely when he came on. So there is plenty to be optimistic about.
United and Liverpool have outspent us by some distance but in both cases I do not think that their first eleven will be much better than that of last year. Much hullabaloo was made about the Hargreaves signing but looking at United’s line up last season, the question is where will he play? Scholes is still an untouchable in Fergie’s eyes so the fall guy is likely to be Michael Carrick, which is bloody good news because Carrick is a better player than Hargreaves. I also ask what Nani and Anderson will bring to the party that already isn’t there? Tevez is a good player, but again an equally good player will have to be taken out to accommodate him.
The same goes for Liverpool. Their one really big signing, Torres, will take time to settle in. He is used to playing in a team that plays solely to his strengths, which will not be the case at Liverpool. The one difference I see from last season is that they won’t struggle to get third spot in the Premiership and take their now customary place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, having to sweat to join the big boys in the group stages. (Read between the lines, Rafa and stuff your history.)
The other place will be more hard fought this year. Spurs will give Arsenal a good run for their money for the fourth Champions League place, as will Newcastle and Manchester City. I know you have had to read through five hundred words of drivel for my first out of the ordinary prediction but I have a gut feeling that those two clubs will do well this season. Sven has made a few interesting signings and if he manages to get them to gel quickly, City will shock a few people. Most of the names are unknown outside England but then since when has Sky talked of any other football outside the Premiership and the Champions League on Wednesday. That Bianchi fellow they signed from Reggina is a bloody good centre forward and could do a Ravanelli in his first season and come close to topping the Premiership scoring charts. You also have a point if you mention that Ravanelli and Boro went down after the Italian’s first season there.
I’d like to see Blackburn do well. I, like you, have still not forgiven them the brutality of that cold, February night two and a half years ago. But I guess like every other Chelsea fan I still have a soft spot for Mark Hughes. Just as that incident with Makoena still rankles thirty months later, my heart still fills with joy when I close my eyes and see Hughesie volleying the winner against Vicenza. Add Benni McCarthy to the mix, who besides being a great centre forward looks like a thoroughly decent guy, and I can’t help but root for then when they are not playing us.
So this is what I see when I gaze into the incredible Micallef crystal ball this Monday morning, less than a week away from the big kick off.
Premiership Champions Chelsea
Runners Up Man United
Third Liverpool
Fourth Spurs
FA Cup Spurs (if not us)
League Cup Newcastle (if not us) – who will go on to celebrate like they have won the World Cup. The League Cup will be declared as the most important trophy in the history of football by the Geordies.
Champions League Chelsea, with Ballack scoring the winner in the final
Surprise Prediction Andy Gray will rant on and on about every refereeing decision that goes our way while glossing over anything against us and in favour of Man U in particular.
Most Ridiculous Growth Rafa’s beard/moustache combination
Parting jibe It hasn’t rained in Malta since May 30th
