tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61392284464342817942024-02-21T05:17:37.723+05:30Football: The Global GameMy views about the beautiful game, with a focus on the English Premier League.The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-36563315095514320592009-08-29T16:53:00.003+05:302009-08-29T17:08:03.292+05:30La Liga kicks offAfter all the drama witnessed in the off-season over their transfer deals, the player parades, the gazillions spent, it is time for the on-field action to begin in earnest for Real Madrid.All eyes will be set on the 80 million man Cristiano Ronaldo as he looks to justify his world-record price tag. Giving him company will be Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso as the Madristas look to take Spain The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-36734425586352953002009-08-29T10:12:00.002+05:302009-08-29T11:17:23.712+05:30Gameweek PredictionsBlackburn Vs. West HamIt’s been a tough time on and off the pitch for West Ham going into this one. And expect Blackburn to give them no quarter. Allardyce’s men will be tough to break down, and I can see this petering out into a draw.Prediction: 1-1Bolton Vs. LiverpoolLiverpool, one of the favourites to lift the title this season, have seen a poor start to the season, slumping to 2 defeats in 3 The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-30230236500908561842009-08-29T10:11:00.003+05:302009-08-29T16:24:11.162+05:30EPL Season Preview 2009-2010How do we start? Well, how about a season preview of the English Premier League season 2009-2010, even if it’s around 2 weeks late. Will the big 4 survive the new forces? Who will go down? How will the new boys fare?I’ve decided to split up the teams into 4 groups, based on the level of challenge that they will pose this season. 5 teams inhabit each group, and we’ll go group by group.The four The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-83074098708969185552009-08-29T09:59:00.005+05:302009-08-29T16:24:33.072+05:30The StrugglersBirmingham City FCManager: Alex McLeishGround: St. Andrews (Capacity: 30,009)Last season: 2nd in ChampionshipKey Player: Christian BenitezStar-in-waiting: Joe HartMAJOR TRANSFERS:INs: Christian Benitez (Santos Laguna, up to £9 million), Joe Hart (Manchester City, loan), Giovanny Espinoza (Barcelona Sporting Club, undisclosed), Roger Johnson (Cardiff City, £5 million), Lee Bowyer (West Ham United,The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-58253556177397697682009-08-29T09:57:00.004+05:302009-08-29T16:24:56.542+05:30The SurvivorsBlackburn Rovers FC Manager: Sam AllardyceGround: Ewood Park (Capacity: 31,367)Last season: 15thKey Player: Morten Gamst PedersonStar-in-waiting: Franco Di SantoMAJOR TRANSFERS:INs: Gael Givet (Marseille, undisclosed), Lars Jacobsen (Everton, free), Franco Di Santo (Chelsea, loan), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split, £6 million), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid, free)OUTs: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester CityThe Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-43222991838388734422009-08-29T09:55:00.003+05:302009-08-29T16:25:17.499+05:30The ContendersArsenal FCManager: Arsene WengerGround: Emirates Stadium (Capacity: 60,355)Last season: 4thKey Player: Cesc FabregasStar-in-waiting: Jack WilshereMAJOR TRANSFERS:INs: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax, £10 million)OUTs: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City, £25 million), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, £16 million)I’ll stick my neck out and say that Arsenal is the team that plays the most beautiful game in the The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6139228446434281794.post-22159857794578069752009-08-29T09:49:00.003+05:302009-08-29T16:25:42.824+05:30The ChallengersAston Villa FC Manager: Martin O’NeillGround: Villa Park (Capacity: 42,640)Last season: 6thKey Player: Ashley YoungStar-in-waiting: Fabian DelphMAJOR TRANSFERS:INs: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough, £10 million), Fabian Delph (Leeds United, undisclosed), Habib Beye (Newcastle United, undisclosed)OUTs: Gareth Barry (Manchester City, £12 million), Zat Knight (Bolton, undisclosed)Under Martin O’Neill,The Football Fanatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08912970071505075859noreply@blogger.com0