Pre-Season 2009/2010

This blog has died. But I hope to revive it this season.

I'm sure having a personal blog, food blog, soccer team blog to maintain other than this shouldn't be a problem. Saying that, I'll try to update more this season. Afterall, I do watch 6 hours of live Premier League matches on the weekend. This season I might even catch some of the Real Madrid matches given the talent on show there.

I was never a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo's off-field behaviour, or perhaps even on-field antics, but anyone who is not blinded with bias, can tell you that he is a extremely gifted player. But I would watch Madrid for two players - Kaka and Benzema. I don't think I have to give any reason why. Just youtube those names.

Back to the more familiar league. I have to agree with my closest friend I discuss soccer with, that Man City is England's Real Madrid. It's ironic though, that that came from a Chelsea fan, because last I checked his team tried to buy success too. But like Chelsea, Man City would have to trial and error for a couple of seasons before getting it right. I have to admit though, Tevez, Santa Cruz and Adebayor were good starts, but a good start - that's all it is.

Being a Liverpool supporter, I detest the fact that Gareth Barry rejected us. I understand his reasons though, and I believe him when he says it wasn't because of the money. It was because the transfer to Liverpool failed to materialize last season, and he had to regain the trust of his Villa fans all over again. Having said that, Gareth, City was a strange choice, given that they didn't even qualify for Europe when Fulham did.

For all the millions that City are bidding, they aren't exactly buying world beaters. I might be saying something different should someone like Samuel Eto'o come in. But they brought in Barry, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Adebayor. I don't think Real Madrid would have brought in any of those players. Including Bellamy, Wright-Philips, Robinho and perhaps even Kompany and De Jong, Man City have a bunch of 'almost' players. Barry and Santa Cruzalmost made it to a top 4 club. Wright-Philips, Bellamy, Tevez and to some extent Robinho did and failed. They ended up being fringe players at the top clubs, and never regulars. Adebayor is perhaps an exception, but then again, Arsenal fans wouldn't miss him too much given his terrible chance-to-goals-ratio.

Then again, on the flip side of the coin, perhaps the top clubs saw something in them which they were just too starved of opportunity to produce. And may do so playing together, regularly at City.

On to Liverpool. Like many other supporters of this club, I believe we would be a strong side, if not the strongest side in the league if we keep everyone we ended the season with last season. By that, we mean Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

No doubt Glen Johnson was a great addition, given Aberloa's less than competent attacking approach. He was improving though, but Johnson is a ready-made attacking full-back. Rafa knows we lost out on the title last season because we failed to break down the so-called smaller sides, not so much because we can't beat the big boys. In the light of that, an attacking full-back, though not urgent, is a great tactical purchase.

I'm a fan of Alonso ever since he came to Liverpool. Even in the season where he wasn't performing/playing much and Rafa threatened to sell him, I still wished he stayed. This summer though, it looks likely he would move on. As much as I love my players to be loyal, if you offered me the chance to play alongside Kaka, Benzema, Cris Ron, Raul, Robben, Sneijder, Van der Vaat, Higuian just to name a few, I would jump at that chance too. So although he would be greatly missed, I will support Alonso's decision if he decides to leave the club for Madrid.

There has been speculation that Sneijder (and some cash) might be coming the other way, I wouldn't mind that at all! Wesley Sneijder is an awesome player, and if Madrid doesn't know how to appreciate such talent, I'm sure Liverpool would use him well. There is also speculation that with the Alonso money, Pool could bring in David Silva or Ashley Young, whom either would be great signings.

I would be at the edge of my seat if either of those 3 players come to Liverpool in the close-season, even if it means Alonso leaving. If I'm not already dying for the new season to begin!