Season’s Greeting

Well, the new football season is finally upon us, and I’m currently filled with apathy towards it.   I last wrote about football on the 17th May, following Liverpool’s 2-0 win over West Brom and then promptly disappeared.  Apparently we also beat Spurs 3-1 on the final day of the season, but I clearly couldn’t be bothered writing about it.   I had also intended to do a kind of season review, but, with it all over, my enthusiasm evaporated and I busied myself with other things.

Usually, it takes only a few weeks without football before I’m getting excited about the new season, but for some reason this year is different.  I caught only about the last 5 minutes of the Community Shield last Sunday, but it felt like I had stumbled across a repressed memory, and had a horrible lurching feeling in my stomach as I remembered just how bad Sky Sports punditry has become.   The whole idea that football existed at all seemed strange, as if it was something that had existed in a parallel universe and we were viewing the match through a magical portal.  It was quite weird.

So, what has actually happened LFC-wise this pre-season?  The big story, of course, was the continual Xabi Alonso will-he-won’t-he (yes he will) saga.  This story has dominated Liverpool’s media coverage both before, and after, his inevitable transfer to Real Madrid.  The press has obviously painted this as an absolute disaster for the Reds’ season, but is it really?  Well, to an extent, we can only wait and see on this, but my feeling is that, despite him being a top player, he won’t be as irreplaceable as the newspapers would like us to think.  I also hope it will give Lucas his chance to shine and shut all his doubters up (I remain convinced that sooner or later, he’s going to be a top player – I just hope it is for us!).

In terms of getting new players in, it’s been an odd pre-season, not just for Liverpool, but also for the rest of the ‘big four’.  We have signed Glen Johnson (but sold first choice right back Arbeloa), and Alberto Aquilani, as a direct consequence of losing Alonso.  It’s natural for fans to want to make as many signings as possible, especially when you want to kick on from the previous season.  Johnson should be a good buy, and provide a bit more of a cutting edge, but Arbeloa was always a consistent performer.  The only other first-team signing is Aquilani, and he’s injured for two months.

This would be more worrying if the other clubs had been spending big, but they haven’t (other than Man City!).   Manchester United, in particular, have made very modest signings, in a summer which saw them lose Ronaldo and Tevez.  There’s still time for them to make a huge signing, but I suspect that Alex Ferguson wants to win the league this year having spent less money than Liverpool – just so he can say ‘I told you so’.

So, who am I tipping to win the league this season?  Well, if I was paid to sell newspapers or boost ratings, then I’d give you some confident bullshit on who WILL win it.  Since I’m independent, I’ll choose to sit on the fence.  I don’t think it is clear at all given such a strange summer, and there are several contenders:

Liverpool – Despite the slight sense of pessimism conveyed in this article, we’ve still got a strong squad, and have kept most of it together.  Assuming that we get over the myriad of injury problems we’ve got at the moment, we’re in with a shout.  We have been written off by some pundits because we’ve lost Alonso – but how many of these same pundits would have called him our best player before he left?

Manchester United – Probably favourites, mainly because they won it last year.  The impact of losing Ronaldo and Tevez is yet to be seen.

Chelsea – Seen by many pundits as being the favourites, seemingly because they have a new manager.   They’ve still got a strong squad, but it’s aging rapidly.

Arsenal – Pretty much written off by the press, but still have a constant ability to produce players.  Despite losing two of their big players to Man City, this could be the season when their ‘youngsters’ finally click.

Man City – They may, or may not, be consistent, but giving the amount of attacking talent they have on offer, they’ll give plenty of teams problems.

Tottenham Hotspur – The oddest team in the league; they change manager every season and are linked to, and buy, every player in the world (I’m expecting to be signed by them any minute – it must be my turn).  Unlikely winners, but on the law of averages, they must turn good eventually, even if it’s by chance.

Everton – Again, they are unlikely to win the league, but I include them with the top teams because David Moyes has improved them year on year.

Aston Villa – Well, I’m really stretching it now, but if I’m including Everton and Spurs, then I’ll have to include Villa.

And, that’s about all I have to say! I did start writing this yesterday, and this morning, while reading a match preview, I got my first pang of excitement.  In all likelihood, I’ll be drawn right back in after watching the match on Sunday.  I’ll let you know!