2010-11 English Premier League Preview

Another Premier League season begins tomorrow, and those looking for variety might want to look elsewhere. With few significant changes since May, the table figures to shakeout in a manner similar to last season. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal will battle for the title and a pack of teams a notch below will fight for a coveted Champions League spot.

A League and FA Cup double got Carlo Ancelotti's tenure at Stamford Bridge off to a memorable start last season, and his veteran Chelsea squad fully expects to maintain the title this year. The core of this team feels like they've played together forever- Lampard, Terry, Drogba, Cech- all back in blue for another go at the European crown that has alluded them. With the transfer deal for Brazilian midfielder Ramires now complete, Chelsea add an exciting young playmaker to their roster of seasoned pros.

Speaking of seasoned, Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United have been unusually quiet since the end of the last campaign, unlike the carnival surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer a year prior. The addition of Mexican Javier Hernandez is the only change of note. Wayne Rooney had the look of a beaten man in the World Cup. If and when he returns to form will dictate whether or not the Red Devils reclaim the title.

Arsenal hung around the fringes of the title chase much of last season and if not for a few letdown matches could have nabbed the top slot. The fact that Cesc Fabregas hasn't landed at Nou Camp with Barcelona yet is surprising, but for now the World Cup winner remains the focal point of Arsene Wenger's side. Another World Cup finalist, Robin van Persie, will also be key in the Gunners bid for their first title since the "Invincibles" team of 2004.

Beyond the those three, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and, to a lesser extent, Aston Villa and Everton, will set their sights on a top four finish. Manchester City were big offseason spenders for a second-straight season, this year looking to strengthen a shaky defensive unit. The additions of Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng should help in that regard. David Silva and Yaya Toure have also been added as City aim for a Champions League berth.

Tottenham broke into fourth last year, and savvy manger Harry Redknapp is eyeing some additions to keep his side there again. Assuming they can move past Swiss side Young Boys (and what a terrible name that is for a team) in the last round of Champions League qualifying, Spurs will face the tricky balance of league aspirations on the weekend and matches against Europe's elite midweek. With that schedule, top scoring threat Jermain Defoe will need help.

Joe Cole and Roy Hodgson bring a fresh excitement to Liverpool, but a lack of depth has burned the Reds in recent seasons. When Steven Gerrard and/or Fernando Torres get hurt, which tends to happen a lot, Liverpool have few reliable options.

The surprising resignation of Martin O'Neill less than a week before kick off has put a dent in Aston Villa's already long shot hopes of reaching the top four. O'Neill's left because of a lack of transfer funds, which should tell you all you need to know on how much Villa spent improving the squad. Similarly, Everton have the ability to win against any opponent, but lack the depth to make a full-season push.

I'll predict a Chelsea repeat for 2011, followed by Arsenal, ManU, Man City and Liverpool.

England: 2009-10 Premier League Preview

I was getting ready to draft my Premier League preview when I stumbled across the news of ESPN's agreement to air games in the U.S. this season. Talk about a great way to start the season. Now that I've calmed a little from that excitement, it's time to talk Premier League!

If there is a silver lining to the global economic crisis, it might be this: With wild spending down, we are looking at potentially the most competitive season in the history of the Premier League. Only Manchester City flashed serious cash this summer, while the big four migrated back to the pack. A second tier of contenders might have a shot at the title.

But let's not get carried away. The leading candidates are still the big names we're accustomed to seeing, led by Manchester United and Chelsea. Last Sunday's entertaining Community Shield clash could foreshadow a see-saw battle between the winners of the last five EPL titles. While ManU will clearly miss Cristiano Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent, Carlos Tevez, the Red Devils will still contend for a record fourth-straight crown. ManU has gotten off to slow starts but recovered to win the league the last two seasons. To avoid another sluggish opening, they'll need goaltender Ben Foster to show he's capable of replacing the injured Edwin van der Sar on a permanent basis.

The biggest off-season addition among the big four wasn't a player, but rather new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. The former AC Milan skipper is the fifth man to hold the top post at Stamford Bridge since 2007, but it would be surprising if he doesn't bring stability to the position. Chelsea return a loaded roster, but you have to wonder if their primary focus is the Premier League the Champions League. Europe's biggest prize is the only one Roman Abramovich's men are missing. After crushing defeats against Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona the last three seasons, the quest remains the same. Ancelotti actually won more Champions League trophies (two) than Serie A titles (one) in his time at the San Siro. If that trend is any indicator, the Blues could be celebrating in Madrid in May, while someone else takes the EPL.

Could that someone else be Liverpool? In Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the Reds have a leading duo as good as any in the world. But in order to capture their first Premier League title, Rafa Benitez's team will need to overcome the maddening inconsistency that sunk their 2009 title bid. Liverpool took 14 points from six matches against ManU, Chelsea and Arsenal, highlighted by a 4-1 romp at Old Trafford. But a series of baffling draws against lesser opponents left the Reds in second, despite only two losses. If they can convert those draws into wins, a long-awaited title will be coming to Anfield.

Arsenal aren't going plummet, but Arsene Wenger's team has suffered too many losses to mount a serious challenge. Waiting to take their place in the leading quartet are Manchester City. Backed by big bucks from their UAE-based ownership, the Blues roster now features Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, along with last year’s key addition, Robinho. But many superstar-laden teams have looked unbeatable on paper. How this group gels under manager Mark Hughes remains to be seen, and questions abound regarding the ManCity defense.

If the race remains tight, Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham could sneak into the mix, but realistically those sides are hoping for a Champions League slot at best. Look for last year's top three to pull away again in 2010. While my heart pulls for Liverpool, by head says Chelsea. God I hope I'm wrong.

If you want EPL previews from more knowledgeable outlets, here are some options:
The Times of London
The Independent
Sky Sports
ESPN Soccernet

Checking in on the Champions League

On Friday UEFA drew the 10 fixtures that will determine the final qualifiers for this year's Champions League. Under the revised format, 22 teams are already in via automatic qualifying. In one of the most appealing qualifying round meetings ever, Celtic will face 2009 semifinalists Arsenal. For two teams accustomed to appearing in the group stages, a demotion to the Europea League will be tough to take.

While the fixtures in the "Champions Route," are lacking big names, they will accomplish UEFA's goal of getting more countries involved in the group stages. The champions of Moldova, Israel, Cyprus and Latvia are among those just two matches away from a huge windfall.

Premier League Schedule Released

The Premier League released its 2009-10 schedule today. You can get a team-by-team schedule here and the week-by-week schedule here. The Premier League Web site also has a rundown of key matches for the upcoming season, including the "Big Four" meetings between Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Counting Down the Best European Cup Finals

Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona has the potential to be an all-time classic. All season long, ManU and Barca have stood out as the top two teams in Europe, so if you're not a fan of one of the two sides, you have to hope that Wednesday's meeting in Rome joins the list of great finals. Here's my take on the top 10 European Cup finals of all-time.

10) 1994: AC Milan 4, Barcelona 0: A meeting of the winners of three of the last five cups was noteworthy not for the match's close score line, but for the impressive manner in which AC Milan pounded the favored Catalans. Without star defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, the Rossoneri scored four times within the first hour en route to their fifth title.

9) 2006: Barcelona 2, Arsenal 1: An early red card against goalkeeper Jens Lehmann left Arsenal down to 10 men, but the shorthanded Gunners shockingly took the lead on a 37th minute goal by Sol Campbell and gamely tried to preserve the advantage. But two goals by Barca in the final 15 minutes- a 76th minute equalizer by Samuel Eto'o and the winner from Juliano Belletti four minutes later- gave the Spaniards their second Cup.

8) 1987: Porto 2, Bayern Munich 1: Just 12 minutes from time, a sublime back heel touch from Porto's Rabah Madjer erased Bayern's first half lead. Before the Germans could recover, Juary put home the winner two minutes later. It would not be the last time Bayern would be victimized by a pair of late goals.

7) 1967: Celtic 2, Inter Milan 1: Another match highlighted by a second-half rally, Celtic broke the 11-year cup dominance of Mediterranean sides, becoming the first British team to win the title. The Celtic roster, made up entirely of players from within 50 minutes of Glasgow, are still celebrated fondly as the "Lisbon Lions."

6) 1960: Real Madrid 7, Eintracht Frankfurt 3: While many consider this match the greatest final of all-time, the lopsided score keeps it from ranking higher on my list. This was, however, the Real Madrid dynasty at the peak of its power. Ferenc Puskas scored four times and Alfredo Di Stefano added a hat trick as Real captured their record fifth-straight title.

5) 1968: Manchester United 4, Benfica 1, a.e.t.: In front of a pro-ManU crowd at a packed Wembley Stadium, Manchester United found their second wind in extra time, scoring three times in a five-minute span to capture their first title. Bobby Charlton scored the Red Devils' first and last goals, while George Best put home the eventual game winner.

4) 1999: Manchester United 2, Bayern Munich 1: The ultimate late show saw Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both score in stoppage time to give Manchester United the treble. The shock ending lead to one of the all-time great broadcasting quotes from Clive Tyldesle: "What must Lothar Matthäus be thinking? Well, with the greatest respect, who cares?"

3) 1962: Benfica 5, Real Madrid 3: A meeting of the first six cup winners was a back-and-forth affair. Real took first half leads of 2-0 and 3-2, with all three goals coming from Puskas. After Benfica tied the match early in the second half, Eusebio netted a pair of goals to give the Portugese squad back-to-back titles.

2) 1956: Real Madrid 4, Stade de Reims, 3: The first European Cup Final set a lofty standard for future matches. Real rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, with Marquitos scoring in the 79th minute to send the innaugural title to Madrid.

1) 2005: Liverpool 3, AC Milan 3 (Liverpool wins on PKs): The two games above were the only time a team had rallied from two goals. Never had a team recovered from a three-goal margin. That was the deficit staring Liverpool in the face at halftime of their final against AC Milan. But as fast as you can say Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso, the Reds leveled the match and hung on for PKs. Two years after sealing a shootout win against Juventus, Andrei Shevchenko saw his spot kick saved, giving Liverpool an improbable fifth title. The match was the highest-scoring European final in 33 years.

If you don't like my list, SI.com has its own take on the Top 10.

Champions League: Pick Your Pair

With the Champions League semifinals beginning this afternoon, the four remaining sides offer four potential Final match-ups with compelling story lines. Which of the following will we see in Rome May 27?

The 2006 Re-match: Arsenal vs. Barcelona: Arsenal rode the goaltending of Jens Lehmann to the 2006 Final with 10 consecutive clean sheets. Despite Lehmann's red card, 10-man Arsenal fought bravely against Barcelona, even taking the lead, before two goals in the final 15 minutes denied the Gunners. While Lehmann is gone and Thierry Henry has switched kits, there are plenty of Arsenal players and supporters who would love another crack at the Spaniards.

The 2008 Re-match: Manchester United vs. Chelsea: A Final settled on penalty kicks is never satisfying (just ask John Terry), so Chelsea would gladly take another fixture against their neighbors to the north. With Manchester United out of the FA Cup, the end of their bid for the quadruple takes some of the sizzle out of this match-up. But the showdown would be a historic first; two teams have never met in the European Final in consecutive seasons.

The All-London Final: Arsenal vs. Chelsea: No London side has ever captured the European Cup, but a showdown between the North London Gunners and the West London Blues would send the capital city into a frenzy.

The Dream Final: Manchester United vs. Barcelona: Ten years ago, Manchester United met Bayern Munich in a classic final in Barcelona. That match marked the last time that two teams that won their domestic leagues faced off for Europe's top honors in the same season. With both Barcelona and ManU in comfortable position atop their leagues, we could see that scenario repeat itself. These two sides have been Europe's best all year; a match-up of the two giants would be a fitting end to the season.

Prediction: ManU's form has slipped of late, while the fortunes of Arsenal have improved along with the team's health. Look for Arsenal to pull the upset and earn another date with Barcelona in the Final. 

The New York Times and Chicago Tribune have their takes on the semifinals as well.

England: EPL Race Takes Shape

The English Premier League season is roughly one-quarter done, and the results of the last four days have brought some separation at the top. The leaders are Liverpool, and if a September home win over Manchester United didn't establish the Reds as leading contenders, Sunday's shock win away to Chelsea certainly did. In his previous four seasons at Anfield, Rafa Benitez has made his name through Liverpool's Champions League success. But the message from fans this season has been clear: win the league, something Liverpool has not done since the dawn of the Premier League. Liverpool are pulling out come-from-behind wins and late victories this season in the types of games that ended in draws or losses last year. That form has resulted in a three-point cushion atop the table.

So which team's will mount the biggest challenge? Chelsea, despite the end of their 84-match home unbeaten streak, have used superior firepower to overcome early injuries and should still be considered the favorites. Unlike Liverpool, Chelsea have buried weaker competition and are building a sizable goal differential advantage (currently nine goals better than Liverpool) that could be critical in a tight race. And after last season's slow start/fast finish, no one will discount Manchester United, especially now that the Cristiano Ronaldo saga has simmered considerably.

The member of the Big Four most likely to fade from contention is Arsenal. Wednesday's home draw to Tottenham put the Gunners six points off the pace, but the psychological impact of the match may prove more damaging than the loss of two points. Hosting their bottom-of-the-table arch rivals, Arsenal allowed two goals in the final two minutes of the match for 4-4 draw. Arsenal's November slate includes ManU, Chelsea and Aston Villa, so Arsene Wenger should know by the December if his men have the mettle to stay in the race.

Champions League: The Draw for Round Three

Heading into Friday's draw for Champions League third round qualifying fixtures, Atletico Madrid was the name all the big boys were hoping to avoid. Based on their status as Champions League participants for the first time in 12 seasons, La Liga's fourth-place team could have been drawn against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal or Juventus. The unlucky foe turned out to be Schalke, the German side that advanced to last year's quarterfinals. The Gelsenkirchen outfit will now have a tough time reaching the group stages. The other noteworthy fixture was no doubt met with groans in the home of Steve McClaren. The new boss at Dutch squad FC Twente will not be greeted warmly at the Emirates when his troops face Arsenal.

The third-round qualifying doesn't get the coverage and attention of the Champions League proper, but in many ways carries more pressure than the group stages. Look at a team like Liverpool, which got off to an awful start in the group stages last season, but still had time over the course of the six-game mini league to gather themselves, advance and eventually reach the semifinals. While the competition for the big teams may be weaker in these two-legged qualifiers, there's no time to fall behind and rally as there is in the group stages.

Last year I attended the third-round qualifier second leg between Celtic and Spartak Moscow in Glasgow, (that's when the picture at the top of the page was taken) and the constant reminder in the press before and after the game was how much money was at stake. There's roughly $10 million US waiting for group stage qualifiers, and that's cash that can have a major impact on many teams' annual budgets. The combination of high stakes, quality competition and the potential for season-altering victories and defeats make for some tense encounters.

Let the Transfers Begin

With the focus shifting back to club sides, July will be a busy month in the transfer market. It's always a challenge separating truth from rumor, but here's a look at some of the names and possible moves to watch in the coming weeks.

• Deco to Chelsea: Done deal as of today, as the Portuguese midfielder follows Big Phil Scolari to Stamford Bridge


• Frank Lampard to Inter Milan?: Will Frank take all the pies with him as he re-unites with The Special One?


• Didier Drogba to AC Milan?: The Chelsea makeover continues. Drogba could end up with either San Siro squad, but his Champions League Final red card was most likely his final act for the Blues.


• Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal?: Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan have all been mentioned as possible destinations.


• Ronaldinhio to Manchester City?: Manchester's number two team has some cash to throw around, and although the Brazilian seems past his prime, this would elevate the squad's profile immediately.


• Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona?: With Deco gone, the likelihood that either Eto'o or Ronaldinhio stay put seems greater.


• Gareth Barry to Liverpool?: This one's been in the works for awhile. Let's get it done, please.


• Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?: How will the soap opera play out? If ManU stick to their word, Ronaldo will be back in red this year.

Stuff I Read in World Soccer This Month: June 2008

When I first became interested in the European game in the mid-90's, I was delighted to discover the wealth of information each month in World Soccer magazine. Now with everything you need available on the Word Wide Netweb, WS is no longer the essential reading it once was, but I still enjoy picking up the preview and wrap-up issues for reference and posterity.

With that as your background, I'm adding a new occasional feature: "Stuff I Read in World Soccer This Month," a collection of interesting tidbits.

*Arsenal's newest source of revenue stinks. The North London side have invested in shares of a rare North Sea cod, with plans to sell the stock once the price escalates. I've been looking for more details on this online, but haven't found any. I have this comical image of Arsene Wenger and Cesc Fabregas heading out in a Norwegian fishing boat to catch some cod.

*Nice war of words between outgoing Valencia coach Ronald Koeman his least favorite player, Joaquin. Koeman: "Joaquin cost 30 million pounds, but his displays were worth about 30." Joaquin's response: "What Koeman should be worrying about is the five or six glasses of wine he has with his evening meal."

England: 2008-09 Premier League Schedule Released

Mark your calendars- the 2008-09 Premier League schedule is out!

Manchester United begin defense of their title August 16th at Old Trafford against Newcastle and their early schedule will be tricky- the Red Devils visit Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all before mid-November. If they get through that stretch in first, they'll be tough to catch. The schedule of "big four" matches includes:

Sept. 13: Manchester United @ Liverpool
Sept. 20: Manchester United @ Chelsea
Oct. 25: Liverpool @ Chelsea
Nov. 8: Manchester United @ Arsenal
Nov. 29th: Arsenal @ Chelsea
Dec. 20th: Liverpool @ Arsenal
Jan. 10th: Chelsea @ Manchester United
Jan. 31st: Chelsea @ Liverpool
March 14th: Liverpool @ Manchester United
April 18th: Arsenal @ Liverpool
May 9th: Chelsea @ Arsenal
May 16th: Arsenal @ Manchester United

Take It To The Next Level

If you haven't seen the latest commerical from Nike, you're in for quite a treat. I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of this during Euro 08, which is fine by me.

Not sure if this is suppose to be from the perspective of Robin Van Persie- he's the only player on Arsenal and the Dutch National Team- or an imaginary player, but either way it's good stuff. Enjoy.