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Monday, August 15, 2005 + A new season beckons + a brief guide to the colourful clubs and mini-dramas of the impending 2005/2006 EPL season. (i really should be trying to understand my study packages instead, but wadahell shrugs) love.hate.war.peace.loyalty.rebellion.tactics.bravado. more real than reality tv. "The true beating heart of Rome lies not in the halls of the Senate, but in the blood-stained sands of the Colloseum" -extract from the movie "Gladiator" "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." -Bill Shankly, recently voted greatest football manager of all time Chelsea FC -last season's champions return to defend a trophy they haven't held for 50 years -accused to using their vast wealth to buy up Europe's creme de la creme of soccer stars (in singlish terms "spoil market") -proven to use media provocation, tatical diving, player obstruction, basically anything it takes to win. -strength: 22 international players covering every position -weakness: 22 players fighting for 11 places on the field. You can't please everyone. -noteworthy incident: last season Tottenham held Chelsea to a draw using ultra-defensive tatcics, while Manchester City handed Chelsea their only EPL defeat all season. Result: This season Chelsea bought Tottenham's Sporting Director and Manchester City's star player, spent 31mil pounds on 'em. God, i love this team. Manchester United -their era of English dominance rudely shattered, they return to battle for the glory of the past. -aquisition of Korean star Park Ji Sung and Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar, widely regarded as the best value-for-money buys of the season. -hot-headed players known to "lose it" at opponents, fans and even each other. -strength: shrewd world-class manager Sir Alex Ferguson. -weakness: fans and Board of Directors have been bred to become perfectionists, coming in 3rd and failing to win a trophy is now considered a failure. The pressure will either temper them or erode them. -noteworthy incident: They were once invovled in a food-fight with arch-rivals Arsenal. Now known as Battle of the Buffet. Arsenal -Despite selling their captain, they still maintain that winning the Premiership is more than a pipe dream. -respected as the most formidable strikeforce in the league. The same cannot be said of their defence. -manager Arsene Wenger's keen eye and coaching system regularly transforms unknown youngsters into superstars. -noteworthy incident: goals scored against them were becoming so problematic that they briefly appointed an unknown reserve as first-choice goalkeeper. Madness considering they already had Germany's no.2 best goalkeeper in the squad. Liverpool -5 time Eurpoean champions with a rich history, but finished 5th in domestic league. -so many players have been bought while others sold, it'll be a wonder if they'll find their footing anytime soon. -strength: unshakable loyalty of captain Steven Gerrad and master tactician of a manager Rafa Benitez. -weakness: yet to pose as a serious contender for the Premiership, due to players getting too many injuries, too many times. -Noteworthy incident: trailing 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time and orchestrating an amazing counter attack evening up 3-3 within 10 minutes. They go on to win the Champions League on penalty shoot-out. Everton -underdogs extrodinaire, sold their two best players last season but still finished 4th. -everyone expects them to flop this year, but then again, thats what they said last year. -David Moyes earned "Manager of the Year" by League Managers' Association, for his brilliant effort in steering a bunch of (former) nobodys to a Champions League spot. Newcastle -underacheivers extrodinaire, if their players actually lived up to their reputations, they won't have finished a dismal 14th. -strongest fan base in England, 52000 season ticket holders. -manager Graeme Souness is the bookies' favourite for "First manager to be sacked this season". Unless his players brought in this summer work the wonders they are paid for, that just as well might happen. -Noteworthy incident: two Newcastle players were caught fighting, on camera, while a match was STILL BEING PLAYED against Aston Villa! Cheers! Have a great EPL season! raises wine glass ian wong beats around the bush@ 4:38 PM Comments: Post a Comment

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Monday, August 15, 2005

+ A new season beckons +

a brief guide to the colourful clubs and mini-dramas of the impending 2005/2006 EPL season.
(i really should be trying to understand my study packages instead, but wadahell *shrugs*)

love.hate.war.peace.loyalty.rebellion.tactics.bravado. more real than reality tv.

"The true beating heart of Rome lies not in the halls of the Senate, but in the blood-stained sands of the Colloseum" -extract from the movie "Gladiator"

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." -Bill Shankly, recently voted greatest football manager of all time

Chelsea FC
-last season's champions return to defend a trophy they haven't held for 50 years
-accused to using their vast wealth to buy up Europe's creme de la creme of soccer stars (in singlish terms "spoil market")
-proven to use media provocation, tatical diving, player obstruction, basically anything it takes to win.
-strength: 22 international players covering every position
-weakness: 22 players fighting for 11 places on the field. You can't please everyone.
-noteworthy incident: last season Tottenham held Chelsea to a draw using ultra-defensive tatcics, while Manchester City handed Chelsea their only EPL defeat all season. Result: This season Chelsea bought Tottenham's Sporting Director and Manchester City's star player, spent 31mil pounds on 'em. God, i love this team.

Manchester United
-their era of English dominance rudely shattered, they return to battle for the glory of the past.
-aquisition of Korean star Park Ji Sung and Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar, widely regarded as the best value-for-money buys of the season.
-hot-headed players known to "lose it" at opponents, fans and even each other.
-strength: shrewd world-class manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
-weakness: fans and Board of Directors have been bred to become perfectionists, coming in 3rd and failing to win a trophy is now considered a failure. The pressure will either temper them or erode them.
-noteworthy incident: They were once invovled in a food-fight with arch-rivals Arsenal. Now known as Battle of the Buffet.

Arsenal
-Despite selling their captain, they still maintain that winning the Premiership is more than a pipe dream.
-respected as the most formidable strikeforce in the league. The same cannot be said of their defence.
-manager Arsene Wenger's keen eye and coaching system regularly transforms unknown youngsters into superstars.
-noteworthy incident: goals scored against them were becoming so problematic that they briefly appointed an unknown reserve as first-choice goalkeeper. Madness considering they already had Germany's no.2 best goalkeeper in the squad.

Liverpool
-5 time Eurpoean champions with a rich history, but finished 5th in domestic league.
-so many players have been bought while others sold, it'll be a wonder if they'll find their footing anytime soon.
-strength: unshakable loyalty of captain Steven Gerrad and master tactician of a manager Rafa Benitez.
-weakness: yet to pose as a serious contender for the Premiership, due to players getting too many injuries, too many times.
-Noteworthy incident: trailing 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time and orchestrating an amazing counter attack evening up 3-3 within 10 minutes. They go on to win the Champions League on penalty shoot-out.

Everton
-underdogs extrodinaire, sold their two best players last season but still finished 4th.
-everyone expects them to flop this year, but then again, thats what they said last year.
-David Moyes earned "Manager of the Year" by League Managers' Association, for his brilliant effort in steering a bunch of (former) nobodys to a Champions League spot.

Newcastle
-underacheivers extrodinaire, if their players actually lived up to their reputations, they won't have finished a dismal 14th.
-strongest fan base in England, 52000 season ticket holders.
-manager Graeme Souness is the bookies' favourite for "First manager to be sacked this season". Unless his players brought in this summer work the wonders they are paid for, that just as well might happen.
-Noteworthy incident: two Newcastle players were caught fighting, on camera, while a match was STILL BEING PLAYED against Aston Villa!

Cheers! Have a great EPL season! *raises wine glass*

ian wong beats around the bush@ 4:38 PM

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"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." -Bill Shankly, recently voted greatest football manager of all time

What we do in life, echoes in eternity