tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47567456110766114672024-03-12T17:09:31.624-07:00Musings of a Meddlesome MindDrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251143465316653641noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4756745611076611467.post-86126804577624378192007-07-29T15:08:00.000-07:002007-07-29T16:02:37.339-07:00Premier League Preview: Part Two<span style="font-size:100%;">So here it is, part two of my Premier League preview. No need for introductions, let's get right to it.</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">10. West Ham United</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Scott Parker (<st1:city st="on">Newcastle</st1:city>), Julien Faubert (<st1:city st="on">Bordeaux</st1:city>), Richard Wright (Everton), Craig Bellamy (<st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place>), Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0Z0MTO_bI/AAAAAAAAADU/YDVAmG5zpwc/s1600-h/tevez.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0Z0MTO_bI/AAAAAAAAADU/YDVAmG5zpwc/s320/tevez.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092755138071690674" border="0" /></a><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Paul Konchesky (Fulham), Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa), Tyrone Mears (Derby), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Marlon Harewood (Aston Villa)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some may question my placing West Ham this high, but if they keep <span style="font-weight: bold;">Carlos Tevez</span>, they’ll be up here come May.<span style=""> </span>If Tevez does end up going to Manchester United, then scrap this ranking and put them at 14<sup>th</sup> or 15<sup>th</sup>.<span style=""> </span>Besides Tevez, the most important player for the Hammers is Robert Green.<span style=""> </span>Green singled handedly kept Arsenal and Manchester United from scoring in two games during the stretch run at the end that kept West Ham in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>Besides Tevez, the Hammers have Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora, who would make for a decent attacking pair.<span style=""> </span>New signings Scott Parker, Julien Faubert, and Freddie Ljungberg will make for an exciting midfield.<span style=""> </span>Injuries could be a concern for West Ham, as Faubert and Parker are currently injured and Ljungberg was injured much of last season.<span style=""> </span>Luis Boa Morte adds a scoring punch on the wing.<span style=""> </span>Defense needs more production from troubled talent Anton Ferdinand, but Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson are both solid.<span style=""> </span>Like I said earlier, if Tevez makes his reported 30 million pound move to Man U, just forget everything I just said.<span style=""> </span>Blackburn, Aston Villa, and <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Reading</st1:city></st1:place> are two teams I would certainly place above a Tevez-free WHU. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">9. <st1:place st="on">Bolton</st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Gavin McCann (Aston Villa), Jlloyd Samuel (Aston Villa), Gerald Cid (Bordeaux), Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich), Zoltan <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0ZrcTO_aI/AAAAAAAAADM/4vvJ6bFwVAI/s1600-h/anelka.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0ZrcTO_aI/AAAAAAAAADM/4vvJ6bFwVAI/s320/anelka.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092754987747835298" border="0" /></a>Harsanyi (FC Senec), Danny Guthrie (Liverpool, season-long loan), Mikel Alonso (Real Socieded)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Tal Ben Haim (<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city></st1:place>), Henrik Pedersen (released), Quinton Fortune (released), David Thompson (released), Cesar Martin (released)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on">Bolton</st1:place> is another squad that could plummet in the rankings if their highly regarded striker ditches them for a Champions League team.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicolas Anelka</span> has been linked everywhere from a return moves to Arsenal or Real Madrid, or a switch to recovering powerhouse Juventus.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on">Bolton</st1:place>’s chances of gaining a UEFA Cup spot will rely heavily on whether or not Anelka will commit to the club.<span style=""> </span>Kevin Davies and El-Hadji Diouf are reliable in a supporting role, but neither could carry the scoring load.<span style=""> </span>The strength of <st1:place st="on">Bolton</st1:place>’s squad lies in their midfield led by the captain, Kevin Nolan.<span style=""> </span>Supporting Nolan are veterans Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, and new signee Gavin McCann.<span style=""> </span>Although they may be getting up there in age, these guys allow <st1:place st="on">Bolton</st1:place> to control the pace of the game.<span style=""> </span>The defense was hurt by the loss of Israeli international Tal Ben Haim, but Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Meite, and Abdoulaye Faye are solid contributors.<span style=""> </span>Look for Bolton to fall somewhat off their pace from last season, but if Anelka stays, this squad will still be in the running for a UEFA Cup spot in the spring.<span style=""> </span>If Anelka leaves…well, for <st1:place st="on">Bolton</st1:place>’s sake, let’s hope he doesn’t leave.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">8. Evert</span></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0ZXMTO_ZI/AAAAAAAAADE/QStioJePMXA/s1600-h/johnson.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0ZXMTO_ZI/AAAAAAAAADE/QStioJePMXA/s320/johnson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092754639855484306" border="0" /></a><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">on</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Phil Jagielka (<st1:place st="on">Sheffield</st1:place> Utd)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United), Richard Wright (West Ham), Alessandro Pistone (released), Scott Phelan (<st1:place st="on">Bradford</st1:place>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although Everton was largely inactive in the transfer market this summer, but the one move they made is my favorite of the offseason.<span style=""> </span>Phil Jagielka was the most underrated player in the Premier League last year, and now he will get to showcase his talents for a contender.<span style=""> </span>Extremely versatile, Jagielka can play at any position on the back line, midfield, and even goalkeeper.<span style=""> </span>His brightest moment of last season came when he was forced to play goalie against Arsenal and kept a clean sheet.<span style=""> </span>Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo are both very capable defenders.<span style=""> </span>If they can recover successfully from injury, then Tony Hibbert and Nuno Valente will be in the fold as well.<span style=""> </span>Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta are great in the midfield, and they provide a much needed scoring punch.<span style=""> </span>The true star of the squad is striker <span style="font-weight: bold;">Andy Johnson</span>.<span style=""> </span>Despite claims that he is a diver, Johnson is one of the best strikers in the EPL and should be a mainstay on the England squad for years to come. James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe are very talented, young forwards that will make an impact this season.<span style=""> </span>Everton has a nice mixture of old and new talent, which should propel them to the cusp of a cup berth.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">7. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Newcastle</st1:city></st1:place> United</span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough), Joey Barton (<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Man</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>), David Rozehnal (<st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Paris St</st1:address></st1:street> Germain), Geremi (Chelsea).<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Scott Parker (West Ham), Titus Bramble (Wigan), Antoine Sibierski (<st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place>), Craig<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0ZHsTO_YI/AAAAAAAAAC8/qf3prpD0r2s/s1600-h/martins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0ZHsTO_YI/AAAAAAAAAC8/qf3prpD0r2s/s320/martins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092754373567511938" border="0" /></a> Moore (released), Olivier Bernard (released), Alan O'Brien (undisclosed).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unlike all the hype that surrounds a squad like <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Manchester</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>, this is a team that is going placing.<span style=""> </span>New manager Sam Allardyce brings instant credibility to the club, and new signings Mark Viduka, Joey Barton, and Geremi are very capable players.<span style=""> </span>The attacking trio of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Obafemi Martins</span>, Michael Owen, and Viduka may be the best in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>Martins, who reportedly garnered interest from Arsenal, is still very young and will most assuredly improve on his 17 goal tally from last season.<span style=""> </span>If Owen is healthy, then he is a mortal lock for double digit goals, and Viduka was the fourth leading scorer in the EPL last season.<span style=""> </span>Joey Barton, if he puts his past behind him, could be a star in the midfield.<span style=""> </span>Despite the fact he has gained many enemies for his alleged racist comments, Emre is another very good player in the midfield.<span style=""> </span>The defense should be aided by the addition of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city> cast-away Geremi, who never quite found his groove with the Blues.<span style=""> </span>Steven Taylor and Stephen Carr are also names to watch on the back line.<span style=""> </span>This team is poised to keep climbing up the EPL table, and may in the near future crash the Big Four’s reign on the Championship League spots.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">6. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Portsmo</st1:city></st1:place></span></span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">uth</st1:city></st1:place></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>David Nugent (Preston), John Utaka (Rennes), Arnold Mvuemba (Rennes), Sulley Muntari (Udinese), Sylvain Distin (Manchester City), Hermann Hreidarsson (Charlton), Martin Cranie (Southampton)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Svetoslav Todorov (Charlton), Daryl Fordyce (released)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After finishing 9<sup>th</sup> last season, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Portsmouth</st1:place></st1:city> are ready to move into a UEFA Cup slot.<span style=""> </span>This club is<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0Y5MTO_XI/AAAAAAAAAC0/AG3_b7L2EC4/s1600-h/james.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0Y5MTO_XI/AAAAAAAAAC0/AG3_b7L2EC4/s320/james.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092754124459408754" border="0" /></a> arguably the most experienced team in the Premier League, boasting experienced veterans such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">David James</span>, Sylvain Distin, Sol Campbell, Lauren, Dejan Stefanovic, Linvoy Primus, and Pedro Mendes.<span style=""> </span>There strength is undoubtedly there defense. With James in goal and a back line that gets to pick from the likes of Distin, <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Campbell</st1:place></st1:city>, Stefanovic, Lauren, and Primus, you know goals are going to come at a premium for opposing squads.<span style=""> </span>Mendes, Richard Hughes, Matthew Taylor, and Niko Kranjcar make for an exciting midfield.<span style=""> </span>New signing Arnold Mvuemba is a talent to watch in upcoming years.<span style=""> </span>The forward position is uncertain as of right now, but David Nugent, who was the first forward from a non-top flight league to play for England since 1999, will have to live up to the hype in order for Pompey to achieve success.<span style=""> </span>Nwankwo Kanu is currently out of a contract, but if he were to return, he would provide a major scoring boost.<span style=""> </span>If he doesn’t return, look for Benjani Mwaruwari or LuaLua to start with Nugent.<span style=""> </span>Time is running out on this aging team, so it is important for Harry Redknapp to succeed while he still can.<span style=""> </span>If they had a more reliable striking corps, I would be tempted to place them in the top five, perhaps the top four, but as it is they will fall just short of that mark.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">5. Tottenham Hotspur</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Gareth Bale (Southampton), Adel Taarabt (Lens), Yuri Berchiche (Athletic <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bilbao</st1:place></st1:city>), Darren Bent (Charlton), Younes Kaboul (Auxerre).<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Emil Hallfredsson (Lyn-Oslo), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria), Mark Yeates (<st1:place st="on">Colchester</st1:place>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So much has been made of late about the dominance of the “Big Four,” but if one team were to <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0YasTO_WI/AAAAAAAAACs/NZFdMhr_b0E/s1600-h/berbatov.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0YasTO_WI/AAAAAAAAACs/NZFdMhr_b0E/s320/berbatov.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092753600473398626" border="0" /></a>break that dominance, who would it be?<span style=""> </span>The obvious choice is Tottenham Hotspur.<span style=""> </span>What’s not to love about this team?<span style=""> </span>They have a great group of strikers, a young, talented midfield, a rapidly improving defense, and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s starting goalkeeper.<span style=""> </span>If I had any guts at all, I’d put them in the top four, but I don’t…not yet at least.<span style=""> </span>Let’s start with strength of the squad: the strikers.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dimitar Berbatov</span> is one of the best strikers in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>Follow that up with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robbie Keane</span>, Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe, and Mido and you’ve got yourself quite a group.<span style=""> </span>Mido is almost certain to leave, but it looks like Defoe will stay with the Spurs for at least the first part of the season.<span style=""> </span>Although I’m not a big fan of the Bent purchase (or at least the price of it), but he has shown great promise at past stops at Charlton and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Ipswich</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Town</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>The midfield is headlined by future superstars in Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas.<span style=""> </span>Both should be a mainstay on the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> side for years to come.<span style=""> </span>The backline, which has been the Achilles’ heel for Tottenham in recent years, has been aided by the additions of Younes Kaboul and Gareth Bale, two highly rated young defenders.<span style=""> </span>Michael Dawson is another young defender that keeps getting better and better.<span style=""> </span>Pascal Chimbonda and Ledley King (when healthy) are both solid contributors and provide much needed leadership on a very young squad.<span style=""> </span>The future looks very bright for Martin Jol’s club, and do not be surprised if it is sooner rather than later when the Spurs break into the top four. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">4. <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Andrey Voronin (Bayer <st1:city st="on">Leverkusen</st1:city>), Kristian Nemeth & Andras Simon (both MTK Hungariam), Nikolay Mihaylov (Levski <st1:city st="on">Sofia</st1:city>), Fernando Torres (Atletico <st1:state st="on">Madrid</st1:state>), Yossi Benayoun (West Ham), Ryan Babel (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ajax</st1:place></st1:city>), Lucas Leiva (Gremio)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Bolo Zenden (Marseille), Robbie Fowler (Cardiff), Florent Sinama Pongolle (Recreativo Huelva), Danny Guthrie (Bolton), Luis Garcia (Atletico Madrid), Craig Bellamy (West Ham), Djibril Cisse (Marseille), Jerzy Dudek (Real Madrid)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">No team has bought and sold as many players as <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> has this offseason.<span style=""> </span>While the future looks bright for the Reds, the wholesale changes may hurt them in the short term.<span style=""> </span>In no other sport is the partnership and communication between players a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0YGsTO_VI/AAAAAAAAACk/vDiwJC4HqRU/s1600-h/gerrard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0YGsTO_VI/AAAAAAAAACk/vDiwJC4HqRU/s320/gerrard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092753256876014930" border="0" /></a>s important as it is in soccer.<span style=""> </span>If the Reds get off to a slow start (which by the way I think they will) they may put themselves into a situation they can’t get out of.<span style=""> </span>Of all their summer signings, Andrey Voronin seems to be the one most likely to make an impact this season.<span style=""> </span>Fernando Torres, their most expensive signing, is young and talented, but may take time to adjust to Premier League football.<span style=""> </span>Up front, Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch are leftovers from last season’s squad, but Crouch seems to be the odd man out of this quartet.<span style=""> </span>Ryan Babel is a very talented youngster, but I honestly don’t know where he fits in the immediate future of this squad.<span style=""> </span>He can play up front or on the wing, but he is buried on the depth chart at both positions.<span style=""> </span>The midfield is led by skipper <span style="font-weight: bold;">Steven Gerrard</span>, one of the best players in the world.<span style=""> </span>The rest of the midfield positions are up for grabs with Jermaine Pennant, Xabi Alonso, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano, Momo Sissoko, and Harry Kewell all fighting for a spot.<span style=""> </span>Mascherano was particularly impressive in the Champions League final against AC Milan.<span style=""> </span>Lucas Leiva, acquired from Gremio, is the captain of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Brazil</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s U-20 squad and is an exciting prospect.<span style=""> </span>The <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> defense is solid, led by Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyppia, Steve Finnan, John Arne Riise, and Daniel Agger.<span style=""> </span>Riise is a versatile player that is a goal scoring threat whenever he pushes forward.<span style=""> </span>If he unleashes from long range, watch out, because he has an absolute cannon of a leg.<span style=""> </span>Pepe Reina is great in goal, and is especially adept in saving penalties.<span style=""> </span>Call me crazy, but I think it will take a few weeks for the Reds to mesh their many talented pieces.<span style=""> </span>By that time, it will be too late. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">3</span></span></b><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">. Arsenal</span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Bacary Sagna (Auxerre), Lukasz Fabianski (Legia Warsaw), Eduardo da Silva (Dinamo Zagreb), Havard Nordtveit (FK Haugesund)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Jeremie Aliadiere (Middlesbrough), Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham), Mart Poom (Watford), Arturo Lupoli (Fiorentina), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Freddie Ljungberg (West Ham)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If pure talent transferred into championships, Arsenal would be far and away the winner’s of the league this year.<span style=""> </span>No other team in the Premier League has as much young talent as they do.<span style=""> </span>However the one thing they do lack is experience and that will keep them from winning the league this season.<span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0XusTO_UI/AAAAAAAAACc/QAzrh5X1qM4/s1600-h/fabregas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0XusTO_UI/AAAAAAAAACc/QAzrh5X1qM4/s320/fabregas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092752844559154498" border="0" /></a>One might point to the departures of Arsenal stalwarts Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg as signs of Arsenal’s imminent demise in the Premier League table.<span style=""> </span>The fact is, Ljungberg had lost his spot in the starting XI and obviously didn’t enjoy the impending lack of playing time.<span style=""> </span>Henry was also another player who was past his prime, and Wenger wanted to get as much value for him as he could.<span style=""> </span>Don’t get me wrong, Henry is still a GREAT player, but he had begun the gradual decline that all players go through as they age.<span style=""> </span>Even without Henry (and a whole bunch of other players) for much of the year, Arsenal still had 7 victories over the rest of the top five in Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham while suffering only 2 defeats and 4 draws.<span style=""> </span>With more consistency this season, the Gunners will be able to make a run for the top of the table.<span style=""> </span>Arsenal are stacked in goal with veterans Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia fighting off newcomer Lukasz Fabianski for playing time.<span style=""> </span>The defense, which had its lapses last season, will be strengthened by new signee Bacary Sagna and a healthy William Gallas.<span style=""> </span>Gael Clichy is a young talent to watch, as he made the loss of Ashley Cole almost non-existant during last season.<span style=""> </span>The midfield is led by 20-year old superstar <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cesc Fabregas</span>. <span style=""> </span>Skipper <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gilberto</span> is another mainstay, and Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky, Alexander Hleb, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Denilson</span>, and Matthew Flamini will all see significant playing time.<span style=""> </span>One player that seems destined to explode this year is Theo Walcott who will for the most part play on the wing this season, although he may see time at striker as well.<span style=""> </span>The striker corps will be lead by Robin van Persie who was Arsenal’s leading scorer last season before he got injured.<span style=""> </span>Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner are also going to see plenty of action up front.<span style=""> </span>New signing Eduardo Da Silva has been a prodigious scorer of goals everywhere he has been, but will need to adjust to Premier League play.<span style=""> </span>While none of these players are Thierry Henry, they will most certainly be able to get the job done.<span style=""> </span>Never count out Arsenal while Arsene Wenger is still at the club.<span style=""> </span>Although they may not have the experience to win it all, there most certainly will not be a 21 point gap between 1<sup>st</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> this season.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">2. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city></st1:place></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Florent Malouda (Lyon), Tal Ben Haim (Bolton), Claudio Pizarro (Bayern Munich), Steve Sidwell (Reading), Danny Philliskirk (<st1:place st="on">Oldham</st1:place>).<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla, season-long loan), Yves Makaba-Makalamby (Hibernian), Geremi (<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Newcastle</st1:city></st1:place>), Michael Mancienne (QPR).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city> was so close to winning the Premier League title for the third consecutive time last season, but it looks like they will have to wait at least another year to raise another Barclays Premier League trophy.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city></st1:place> have made some very nice additions this offseason, as Florent <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0XQ8TO_TI/AAAAAAAAACU/My_Qm1K2xmY/s1600-h/drogba.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0XQ8TO_TI/AAAAAAAAACU/My_Qm1K2xmY/s320/drogba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092752333458046258" border="0" /></a>Malouda is looking especially impressive in the preseason.<span style=""> </span>Petr Cech is arguably the best goalkeeper in the EPL, and their defense is headed by captain John Terry.<span style=""> </span>The defense was further solidified by the addition of Israeli international Tel Ben Haim, and Ashley Cole, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Wayne</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on"></st1:placename></st1:place><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Bridge</st1:placename></st1:place>, Paulo Ferreira, and Ricardo Carvalho will all vie for a spots on the back line.<span style=""> </span>The Blues midfield is top notch led by Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Steve Sidwell, and John Obi Mikel.<span style=""> </span>Ballack’s play last season was very underwhelming while Mikel began to impress more and more as the season went on.<span style=""> </span>Malouda, Joe Cole, and Shaun Wright-Phillips are each very effective at attacking on the wings.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Didier Drogba</span> was simply spectacular last season, which aided in taking some of the negative light away from Andriy Shevchenko’s highly unsuccessful first season with the Blues.<span style=""> </span>It will be interesting to see how Drogba holds up this season after playing in an incredible 60 games last season.<span style=""> </span>New signing Claudio Pizzaro, Arjen Robben, and Salomon Kalou complete this formidable backline.<span style=""> </span>Scott Sinclair is a youngster that will most likely be loaned out to another squad to gain experience and is definitely one to look for in the future.<span style=""> </span>Mourinho may not be pleased with a second place finish, but I just don’t see <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city> overtaking Manchester United just yet.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">1. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Manchester</st1:city></st1:place> United</span></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0W7sTO_SI/AAAAAAAAACM/CtpB4FClHys/s1600-h/ronaldo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/Rq0W7sTO_SI/AAAAAAAAACM/CtpB4FClHys/s320/ronaldo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092751968385826082" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Anderson (FC Porto), Nani (Sporting <st1:city st="on">Lisbon</st1:city>), Tomasz Kuszczak (<st1:place st="on">West Brom</st1:place>)<b style=""> <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Kieran Richardson (<st1:place st="on">Sunderland</st1:place>)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For the second consecutive year, Manchester United are going to be kings of the EPL.<span style=""> </span>I tried to convince myself they wouldn’t go back to back, but there is just no way around it, they are the best team in the league.<span style=""> </span>Keep in mind; I’m making this prediction BEFORE the Tevez saga gets sorted out.<span style=""> </span>If they add the uber-talented Argentine forward, there will be no stopping them.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cristiano Ronaldo </span>was arguably the best player in the world last year, and at 22, he will only get better.<span style=""> </span>Even younger is Wayne Rooney, 21, who has already established himself as one of the premiere strikers in the world.<span style=""> </span>Personally I think Owen Hargreaves is a little overrated, but Anderson and Nani are the real deal and will be a thorn in the side of opposing defenses for years to come. <span style=""> </span>Mix in experienced talent such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Gabriel Heinze, and Gary Neville and United are going to be very hard to dethrone.<span style=""> </span>With Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm, I have no doubt the Manchester United will be hoisting up the Premier League trophy this spring.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:180%;">Pre-Season Superlatives</span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:130%;">Footballer of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Manchester</st1:place></st1:city> United)</span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last season Ronaldo made a bet with Sir Alex Ferguson that he would score 15 goals over the course of the year.<span style=""> </span>He scored 23 in all competitions and 17 in the EPL.<span style=""> </span>As I said earlier, he will only get better, and if <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Manchester</st1:place></st1:city> United go back to back, look for him to win the top individual award.<span style=""> </span>Others to watch for are last year’s winner Didier Drogba (<st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city>), Steven Gerrard (<st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place>), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) or my personal dark horse, Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:130%;">Manager of the Year: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal)</span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Amidst all the offseason turmoil at Arsenal, if the Gunners end up in the top three, Wenger has to get the nod.<span style=""> </span>After losing Henry and David Dein, along with the whole ownership issue, everyone is assuming that Arsenal will be on the decline.<span style=""> </span>Because of all this, if the Gunners exceed expectation, Wenger will deserve the nod for manager of the year.<span style=""> </span>Also contending (besides the other managers of the Big Four) are Martin Jol (Tottenham) and Sam Allardyce (Newcastle United).<span style=""> </span>Depending on the success of their squads, Steve Bruce (<st1:city st="on">Birmingham</st1:city>) and Roy Keane (<st1:place st="on">Sunderland</st1:place>) could also be considered.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><b style=""><span style="font-size:130%;">Breakout Young Player This Season: Fabrice Muamba (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Birmingham</st1:place></st1:city>)</span><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Honestly, I wanted to put Theo Walcott here, but I figured he was already very well known.<span style=""> </span>In the end I decided on Muamba who will have the responsibility of guiding <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Birmingham</st1:place></st1:city> to safety.<span style=""> </span>Comparisons have been made between Muamba and Patrick Viera, and they aren’t far off.<span style=""> </span>Other names to watch are Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Adel Taarabt (Tottenham) and Michael Johnson (<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Manchester</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is stacking up to be a great season in the EPL, with plenty of storylines to watch as it goes along.<span style=""> </span>I, for one, can’t wait.<span style=""> </span></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251143465316653641noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4756745611076611467.post-21021607039020907782007-07-26T22:50:00.000-07:002007-07-29T15:13:10.452-07:00Premier League Preview: Part OneThis has been a wild off season in the Premier League with lots and LOTS of spending going on (sure that has nothing to do with the television mega-deal the league just signed…).<span style=""> </span>Scandals about improper transfers, transfers gone bad (i.e. Tevez and Heinze), shock departures (Thierry Henry), and teams getting new owners (Liverpool, <st1:placename st="on">Birmingham</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype>, <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Manchester</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>, etc.) have filled the headlines.<span style=""> </span>With perennial power Arsenal seemingly falling apart from the inside, along with big spending from <st1:place st="on">the likes of Liverpool</st1:place> and Tottenham, there could be a big shake-up at the top.<span style=""> </span>I know it's somewhat dangerous to do this before all the transfers are completed, because things could change drastically, but these are my predictions as of right now. So without further ado, here is part one of my 2007/08 Premier League preview. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">20.</b></span><span style="font-size:180%;"> <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><b style="">Derby</b></st1:placename><b style=""> <st1:placetype st="on">County</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b>Andy Todd (Blackburn), Robert Earnshaw (<st1:placename st="on">Norwich</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype>), Tyrone Mears (West Ham), Claude Davis (<st1:place st="on">Sheffield</st1:place> United)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses:</b> Arturo Lupoli (loan from Arsenal), Seth Johnson (released), Paul Peschisolido (<st1:place st="on">Luton</st1:place>), Morten Bisgaard (released), Paul Boertien (released), Lee Grant (released), Ryan Smith (Millwall). </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As great as a story it was for them to win promotion with a victory in the finals of the Championship playoffs, their happiness will be short-lived.<span style=""> </span>I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmV7cTO_RI/AAAAAAAAACE/wu53IxMElM8/s1600-h/barnes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmV7cTO_RI/AAAAAAAAACE/wu53IxMElM8/s320/barnes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091765702160743698" border="0" /></a>t’s hard to see this team staying in the Premier League for more than one year.<span style=""> </span>They simply do not have the talent to compete with the big boys.<span style=""> </span>Headed by Steve Howard, their striking team is sub par as they lost their second leader scorer, Arturo Lupoli, in the offseason.<span style=""> </span>It’s probably a bad sign when your club’s record signing, striker Robert Earnshaw, was bought for only 3.5 million pounds. Their midfield is lead by the young and talented <span style="font-weight: bold;">Giles Barnes</span>, who seems destined for a bigger club.<span style=""> </span>Their defense has a chance to be decent.<span style=""> </span>Todd is a wiry veteran full back who should help, and Mears seems to be a promising young player, but there is no reason to think that the squad will be in the top division come next May.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">19</b><b style="">. <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place> Athletic</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions:</b> Antoine Sibierski (Newcastle), Titus Bramble (Newcastle), Mario Melchiot (Rennes), Andreas Granqvist (Helsingborg), Carlo Nash (Preston), Jason Koumas (West Brom)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b>Lee McCulloch (Rangers), Matt Jackson (<st1:place st="on">Watford</st1:place>), Arjan de Zeeuw (released), David Unsworth (released).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last season, <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place> escaped relegation by the skin of its teeth.<span style=""> </span>They won’t be so lucky this year.<span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmVMMTO_QI/AAAAAAAAAB8/RLdEyiOxU14/s1600-h/baines.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmVMMTO_QI/AAAAAAAAAB8/RLdEyiOxU14/s320/baines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091764890411924738" border="0" /></a>It probably isn’t a good thing when your manager resigns AFTER you escape relegation.<span style=""> </span>Sounds to me like a sign of things to come.<span style=""> </span>Emile Heskey and Henri Camara are decent up front, but outside of those two, where are the goals going to come from?<span style=""> </span>Last season <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place>’s top three scorers netted 9, 6, and 4 goals respectively.<span style=""> </span>This simply does not cut it in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>Sibierski and Koumas were brought in to solidify a poor midfield.<span style=""> </span>They are both good players, but will not be enough to push <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place> over the top.<span style=""> </span>The bright spot for <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place>, if you can call it a bright spot, is its defense.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leighton Baines</span>, a highly regarded left back who has received interest from many of the top squads, and Mario Melchiot, newly appointed skipper of the club, anchor the back line.<span style=""> </span>Chris Kirkland is a fine goalkeeper, and will need to be extraordinary in order for <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place> to avoid relegation.<span style=""> </span>If <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place> has any hope of avoiding relegation, it will have to play stingy defense and hope it can poach a goal here or there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">18. <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions:<span style=""> </span></b>Tuncay Sanli (Fenerbahce), Jeremie Aliadiere (Arsenal), Jonathan Woodgate (Real <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madrid</st1:place></st1:state>), Luke Young (Charlton)<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses:</b> <span class="Style1Char">Mark Viduka (<st1:city st="on">Newcastle</st1:city>), Stuart Parnaby (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Birmingham</st1:place></st1:city>), Abel Xavier (LA Galaxy),</span><span class="Style1Char"> Malcolm Christie (released), Danny Graham (released)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This one was actually hard to choose.<span style=""> </span>The teams in between about 12 to 18 are pretty much interchangeable.<span style=""> </span>However someone has to go down, and it will be <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>It’s not that I dislike <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place>; it’s just that I like other teams more.<span style=""> </span>New signing Tuncay Sanli has<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmUCsTO_PI/AAAAAAAAAB0/MJ5oQpX6YGI/s1600-h/woodgate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmUCsTO_PI/AAAAAAAAAB0/MJ5oQpX6YGI/s320/woodgate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091763627691539698" border="0" /></a> scored plenty of goals in his past stops, but he has yet to play in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>It would be hard to imagine him producing more than Mark Viduka, who was the Premier League’s fourth leading scorer last year.<span style=""> </span>Jeremie Aliadiere is a very talented player who never quite put it all together at Arsenal, but it is unknown whether the change of scenery will do him any good.<span style=""> </span>Yakubu’s got a pretty cool name, but no one can top Dong-gook Lee.<span style=""> </span>Although he’s never scored at <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place> I have high, HIGH hopes for him.<span style=""> </span>Good thing he’s South Korean and not Vietnamese…but I digress.<span style=""> </span>Their midfield is nothing special, headlined by a talented youngster Stewart Downing.<span style=""> </span>The only other name of note in the midfield is James Morrison, and so far the only thing noteworthy about him is his name.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonathan Woodgate</span> and Luke Young are talented defenders, but the rest are nothing to speak of.<span style=""> </span>Schwarzer is a good goalie that once garnered interested from Manchester United.<span style=""> </span>For some reason I just don’t have a good feeling about this club.<span style=""> </span>Even though they’ve added some good parts, I think that other teams have done more and lost less, and therefore <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place> will be relegated.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So there it is.<span style=""> </span>As I see it right now <st1:placename st="on">Derby</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">County</st1:placetype>, Wigan Athletic, and <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place> are all on their way down.<span style=""> </span>Now to those that survive…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">17.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on">Sunderland</st1:place></b></span><span style="font-size:20;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Ad</b><b style="">ditions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Dickson Etuhu (<st1:city st="on">Norwich</st1:city>), Kieran Richardson (<st1:city st="on">Manchester</st1:city> United), Greg Halford (Reading), Russell Anderson (<st1:city st="on">Aberdeen</st1:city>), Michael Chopra (<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Cardiff</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>), Paul McShane</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmTLsTO_OI/AAAAAAAAABs/jrNn6gaHuxk/s1600-h/stokes.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmTLsTO_OI/AAAAAAAAABs/jrNn6gaHuxk/s320/stokes.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091762682798734562" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char"><b style="">Losses: </b>Kenny Cunningham (released), Tommy Miller (<st1:place st="on">Ipswich</st1:place>, released)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char">Call me crazy, but there is something about <st1:place st="on">Sunderland</st1:place>, something that makes me feel like they are going to be around for awhile in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>The young squad seemed to attach itself to its up-and-coming manager Roy Keane as they trounced through their Coca-Cola</span><span class="Style1Char"> Championship competition.<span style=""> </span>They are very inexperienced, but it’s hard to deny their immense </span><span class="Style1Char">talent.<span style=""> </span>Strikers <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony Stokes</span> and Michael Chopra</span> are twp of the brightest young talents in the Premier League and they are supported by veterans such as Dwight Yorke, David Connolly and Stern John.<span style=""> </span>Their midfielders are also young but talented headlined by Liam Miller and the newly acquired Kieran Richardson.<span style=""> </span>If there is a weakness, it is the defense.<span style=""> </span>Keane is hard at work to remedy this situation, and the recent signing of defender Paul McShane will not be his last in that department this offseason.<span style=""> </span>Even though the team itself might not be as good as Middlesbrough, or even <st1:place st="on">Wigan</st1:place>, I think Roy Keane will, through his leadership and pure willpower, guide his squad to safety.<span style=""> </span>And beware, this team isn’t going anywhere for a long time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">16.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"></st1:placename></st1:place></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmSxcTO_NI/AAAAAAAAABk/Hqtmg_3-foU/s1600-h/muamba.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmSxcTO_NI/AAAAAAAAABk/Hqtmg_3-foU/s320/muamba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091762231827168466" border="0" /></a></span><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Birmingham</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Garry O'Connor (Lokomotiv Moscow), Stuart Parnaby (Middlesbrough), Fabrice</span><span class="Style1Char"> Muamba (Arsenal), Olivier Kapo (Juventus), Daniel de Ridder (Celta Vigo), Richard Kingston (Antalyaspor), Rafael Schmitz (Lille, season-long loan)</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b><span class="Style1Char">Bruno N'Gotty (Leicester), Stephen Clemence (Leicester), DJ Campbell (<st1:place st="on">Leicester</st1:place>)</span><b style=""> <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is another squad I have a really good feeling about.<span style=""> </span>Once again the roster is filled with young talent.<span style=""> </span>Teams with great midfielders are able to control the pace of the game, and often the outcome.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Birmingham</st1:place></st1:city> possesses some of the best young midfielders in the game.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabrice Muamba</span> and Sebastian Larsson, both former Arsenal youngsters, are the real deal.<span style=""> </span>Muamba has been compared favorably to Patrick Viera, and Larsson is a goal scoring force from the midfield position.<span style=""> </span>Daniel De Ridder was a star on the wing for the recently crowned Euro U-21 championship team from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Holland</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>Olivier Kapo is a very talented attacking midfielder as well, and will greatly aid the Blues attack.<span style=""> </span>Their defense is solid with Radhi Jaidi and Martin Taylor manning the two centre-back positions.<span style=""> </span>Rafael Schmitz is an experienced, talented left back who will greatly aid the back line.<span style=""> </span>Cameron Jerome, Garry O’Connor, and Gary McSheffrey make for a promising, albeit young, attacking corps.<span style=""> </span>Steve Bruce is trying to add another experienced piece up front with Mido and Andy Cole being linked to the Blues.<span style=""> </span>I like the direction this team is going, and they’re only going to get better.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">15. Fulham</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Aaron Hughes (Aston Villa), Steven Davis (Aston Villa), Diomansy Kamara (West </span><span class="Style1Char">Brom), Chris Baird (Southampton), Paul Konchesky (West Ham), David Healy (<st1:place st="on">Leeds</st1:place>), Lee Cook (QPR)</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b><span class="Style1Char">Claus Jensen (released), Mark Pembridge (released), Tomasz Radzinski (released),</span><span class="Style1Char"> Mark Crossley (released, now at <st1:place st="on">Oldham</st1:place>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char">Fulham is another team with a very good manager and could climb up the league table in years to come.<span style=""> </span>That said, it is hard to see them finishing much higher than here this season.<span style=""> </span>Lawrie Sanchez</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmR-MTO_MI/AAAAAAAAABc/3OXzpxJh5gY/s1600-h/mcbride.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmR-MTO_MI/AAAAAAAAABc/3OXzpxJh5gY/s320/mcbride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091761351358872770" border="0" /></a><span class="Style1Char"> is a good young manager that saved Fulham from relegation last year.<span style=""> </span>The defense has s</span><span class="Style1Char">olid contributors in Carlos Bocanegra, Paul Konchesky and new additions Chris Baird and Aaron</span><span class="Style1Char"> Hughes</span><span class="Style1Char">.<span style=""> </span></span><span class="Style1Char">Liam Rosenior is a talented younger player that has a bright future.<span style=""> </span>Niemi in goal is solid as well.<span style=""> </span></span><span class="Style1Char">The midfield will be led by newly a</span><span class="Style1Char">cquired Steven Davis, U.S. international Clint Dempsey, Welsh international Simon Davies, and my personal favorite, Papa Bouba Diop (How can you not love that name?).<span style=""> </span>While nothing special, this group will be able to hold its own in</span><span class="Style1Char"> Premier League play.<span style=""> </span>Joining his American compatriot across the pond is striker <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brian McBride</span>, who will be joined by former WBA hitman Diomansy Kamara up front.<span style=""> </span>Collins John is a young forward who was Fulham’s top scorer in the 2005/06 season, but lost his spot last year.<span style=""> </span>If he can regain his form, he will provide some depth to a sparse Fulham strike force.<span style=""> </span>Last year, Fulham’s problem was goalscoring (only 12 games with 2 or more goals and 12 games where they were shut out) and that trend doesn’t seem to be going up anytime soon.<span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">14. <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Manchester</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place></b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmQ0sTO_LI/AAAAAAAAABU/Eg6LStaG33c/s1600-h/sven.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmQ0sTO_LI/AAAAAAAAABU/Eg6LStaG33c/s320/sven.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091760088638487730" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:20;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Geovanni (Cruzeiro), Rolando Bianchi (Reggina), Gelson Fernandes (FC Sion),</span><span class="Style1Char"> Martin Petrov (Atletico <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Madrid</st1:place></st1:state>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char"><b style="">Losses: </b>Sylvain Distin (<st1:city st="on">Portsmouth</st1:city>), Trevor Sinclair (released), Stephen Jordan (Burnley,</span><span class="Style1Char"> free), Hatem Trabelsi (released), Joey Barton (<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Newcastle</st1:city></st1:place>), Nicky Weaver (Charlton).</span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don’t buy the hype.<span style=""> </span>That should be the motto for this club.<span style=""> </span>Sure it looks good on paper.<span style=""> </span>A new manager, owner, and some publicized new signings.<span style=""> </span>Have people really forgotten that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sven-Goran Eriksson</span> was run out of his <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place> gig?<span style=""> </span>And people are banking on him to turn this club around?<span style=""> </span>Highly doubtful.<span style=""> </span>Bianchi and Geovanni could pan out, but how are they going to replace Distin, Barton, and Weaver?<span style=""> </span>Personally I don’t think they can do it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they fall below where I have them.<span style=""> </span>Their defense still should be solid, although not very deep.<span style=""> </span>Micah Richards will be a future superstar, and Mills and Dunne are reliable veterans.<span style=""> </span>The midfield is definitely the weak link on the team.<span style=""> </span>Dietmar Hamann and Ousmane Dabo have some experience and some talent, and Geovanni and the recently signed Martin Petrov should provide a scoring spark from the midfield.<span style=""> </span>Michael Johnson is an up and coming player that will have the unfortunate task of replacing departed star Joey Barton.<span style=""> </span>New signing Rolando Bianchi is young and talented, and will be asked to carry much of the scoring load.<span style=""> </span>Georgios Samaras has shown some promise, and Bernardo Corradi and Darius Vassell could both provide some depth at striker.<span style=""> </span>Don’t be fooled.<span style=""> </span>This is not a team that will be contending for a UEFA Cup spot anytime soon.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">13. <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Reading</st1:city></st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Kalifa Cisse (Boavista)</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b><span class="Style1Char">Steve Sidwell (<st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city>), Greg Halford (<st1:place st="on">Sunderland</st1:place>), Curtis Ujah<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Style1Char">Reading</span></st1:city><span class="Style1Char"> were the darlings of the Premier League last season (the club’s first ever season in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s top division), but this year the honeymoon is over.<span style=""> </span>You may say, “Hey, didn’t they finish 8<sup>th</sup> last season?<span style=""> </span>And aren’t they pretty much exactly the same team?”<span style=""> </span>That’s exactly it.<span style=""> </span>They were almost entirely inactive in the transfer market, plus they lost arguably their best player, Steve Sidwell (you know, the guy that almost ruined Beckham’s debut) to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>While</span><span class="Style1Char"> they were busy doing absolutely nothing, many of the teams behind them last season were</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmQDsTO_KI/AAAAAAAAABM/pSJZQ5Xf92s/s1600-h/leroy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmQDsTO_KI/AAAAAAAAABM/pSJZQ5Xf92s/s320/leroy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091759246824897698" border="0" /></a><span class="Style1Char"> buying new players and improving their squads.<span style=""> </span>The <st1:city st="on">Reading</st1:city></span><span class="Style1Char"><st1:city st="on"></st1:city> defense is led by Nicky Shorey, an established left back who was the first <st1:city st="on">Reading</st1:city> player in almost 100 years on the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> squad, and Ivar Ingimarsson, the club’s player of the year this past season.<span style=""> </span>Marcus Hahnemann, a <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region></span><span class="Style1Char"><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:country-region> international, is solid in goal as he made more saves this past season than any other Premier League goalkeeper.<span style=""> </span>The midfield is hurt by the departure of Sidwell, and James Harper will have to be the leader in the center.<span style=""> </span>Stephen Hunt and Bobby</span><span class="Style1Char"> Convey (another American) will be called on to provide a scoring spark from the wing.<span style=""> </span>Up front, the Royals have two rising stars in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Leroy Lita</span> and Kevin Doyle, who scored 14 and 13 goals last year respectively.<span style=""> </span>Dave Kitson is a solid performer off the bench, but there is a drop-off after him.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city> has some nice pieces, but their inactivity in the offseason will cost them this coming season.</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;"><b style="">12. Aston Villa</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham), Harry Forrester (<st1:place st="on">Watford</st1:place>), Marlon Harewood (West Ham).</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses: </b><span class="Style1Char">Gavin McCann (Bolton), Jlloyd Samuel (Bolton), Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls), Stephen Henderson (Bristol City), Aaron Hughes (Fulham), Lee Hendrie (Sheffield</span><span class="Style1Char"> United, released), Steven Davis (Fulham), Chris Sutton (retired).</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Where <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city> hurt itself by being inactive this offseason, Aston Villa made some movies that<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmPQMTO_JI/AAAAAAAAABE/21t_yjWgQX8/s1600-h/gareth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmPQMTO_JI/AAAAAAAAABE/21t_yjWgQX8/s320/gareth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091758362061634706" border="0" /></a> should really add to their squad.<span style=""> </span>Problem is, once again, other teams did more.<span style=""> </span>I, for one, am a big fan of Nigel Reo-Coker, who was wrongly run out of West Ham.<span style=""> </span>Anchored by Olof Mellberg, the Villa defense is sturdy although unspectacular.<span style=""> </span>Gary Cahill and Martin Laursen are two players are important in the back and need to stay healthy.<span style=""> </span>Headlined by skipper <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gareth Barry</span>, the Villa midfield also boasts Reo-Coker, Stiliyan Petrov, and the talented ex-Man United man Eric Djemba-Djemba.<span style=""> </span>Although Barry and Reo-Coker should be mainstays on the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> side for years to come, the real strength of Villa lies in their strikers.<span style=""> </span>Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, and Luke Moore are all extremely, EXTREMELY talented and under 22 years of age.<span style=""> </span>John Carew is the most experienced of the bunch (and only 27), and has been a scoring machine everywhere he has played.<span style=""> </span>Carew has a track record of moving around from club to club, so I would not be surprised if Villa sold him to gather funds to improve another area of their team.<span style=""> </span>The future truly looks bright for Aston Villa, but it will be at least another year before they are fighting for a cup position.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:20;"><span style="font-size:180%;">11. <st1:place st="on">Blackburn</st1:place></span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><o:p> </o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Additions: </b><span class="Style1Char">Gunnar Nielsen (BK Frem <st1:city st="on">Copenhagen</st1:city>), Maceo Rigters (NAC <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Breda</st1:place></st1:city>)</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Losses:</b><span style="font-size:10;"> </span><span class="Style1Char">Andy Todd (<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Derby</st1:city></st1:place>)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Style1Char"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place st="on">Blackburn</st1:place> is another squad that simply did not do enough in the offseason to keep up pace with all the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmOI8TO_II/AAAAAAAAAA8/hZTZ299WX_Q/s1600-h/benni.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqmOI8TO_II/AAAAAAAAAA8/hZTZ299WX_Q/s320/benni.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091757137995955330" border="0" /></a> other clubs who were active in the summer.<span style=""> </span><st1:place st="on">Blackburn</st1:place>’s strength is their strike force lead by the Premier League’s second leading scorer last year, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Benni McCarthy</span>.<span style=""> </span>Jason Roberts was injured last season, but has had success in the Premier League.<span style=""> </span>Matt Derbyshire is another young striker on the rise and was immortalized when he was the first English player to score in the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.<span style=""> </span>Newly acquired Maceo Rigters was sought out by many top clubs after his performance at the Euro Under-21 Championships for his role on <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Holland</st1:place></st1:city>’s championship team this summer.<span style=""> </span>On defense, the Rovers will miss Andy Todd’s toughness, but the likes of skipper Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, and Christopher Samba should be adequate.<span style=""> </span>Midfielders Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Bentley are outstanding and provide a much-needed goal scoring punch.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Coming Sunday: Clubs 10-1 and Pre-Season SuperlativesDrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251143465316653641noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4756745611076611467.post-21393209875954128172007-07-20T00:33:00.000-07:002007-07-20T14:33:22.235-07:00What this is all about...“Any time gone by was better.”<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">-Jorge Manrique</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While pondering what I would write in my very first blog post, I came across this very interesting quote.<span style=""> </span>Truer words have never been spoken.<span style=""> </span>It seems like everyone longs for the “good old days.” <span style=""> </span>Whether the “good old days” means last week, last year, or hundreds of years ago are completely up to the individual.<span style=""> </span>Time has a way of hallowing events, as the ability to create nostalgia is in every human being.<span style=""> </span>For me, the love affair with history has been a long one.<span style=""> </span>Raised by a father who has an unparalleled knowledge of sports trivia, I learned at an early age how to pick up on important names, dates and events.<span style=""> </span>With a firm foundation in sports, my passion for history increased as I gained more and more schooling.<span style=""> </span>The American Revolution, Greek mythology, and Biblical history were all subjects I became quickly interested in.<span style=""> </span>I was somewhat ridiculed in elementary school (although not too harshly) because I used to spend my free time reading the encyclopedia.<span style=""> </span>As a red-blooded, meat-eating American, military history always used to peak my interests.<span style=""> </span>As I progressed in school, I was introduced to new and more exciting historical peoples and events.<span style=""> </span>I became very interested in medieval times, and was fascinated by the unique culture of the Egyptians.<span style=""> </span>This education continued in high school, where I first had the thought of a potential career in history.<span style=""> </span>The class was World History, and it was in this class that I first delved into the depths of ancient history.<span style=""> </span>Great cultures like the Sumerians, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBm9OSkzMI/AAAAAAAAAAM/_omkrR5rcZo/s1600-h/sumerian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBm9OSkzMI/AAAAAAAAAAM/_omkrR5rcZo/s320/sumerian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089180780922719426" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Assyrians,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBnVuSkzNI/AAAAAAAAAAU/QktVz-QhKtM/s1600-h/assyrian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBnVuSkzNI/AAAAAAAAAAU/QktVz-QhKtM/s320/assyrian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089181201829514450" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">the Medes and the Persians,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBnd-SkzOI/AAAAAAAAAAc/7E85YPXhSwE/s1600-h/cyrus.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBnd-SkzOI/AAAAAAAAAAc/7E85YPXhSwE/s320/cyrus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089181343563435234" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> the Greeks,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBoAOSkzPI/AAAAAAAAAAk/UOw1G2g-r2M/s1600-h/330px-Greek_Phalanx.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBoAOSkzPI/AAAAAAAAAAk/UOw1G2g-r2M/s320/330px-Greek_Phalanx.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089181931973954802" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />the Romans,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBoZuSkzQI/AAAAAAAAAAs/EIktlviGcAw/s1600-h/Caesar_Home.gif.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBoZuSkzQI/AAAAAAAAAAs/EIktlviGcAw/s320/Caesar_Home.gif.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089182370060619010" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> and the Ottomans</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBo5-SkzRI/AAAAAAAAAA0/vMOd9QVmltw/s1600-h/Dracula.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_7SohKoBbNj0/RqBo5-SkzRI/AAAAAAAAAA0/vMOd9QVmltw/s320/Dracula.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089182924111400210" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">were all extremely captivating.<span style=""> </span>My hunger for knowledge was insatiable, and it only kept growing.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My very first college history course was U.S. History After 1877.<span style=""> </span>I was amazed at how much more excited I was about learning than I had been just months before.<span style=""> </span>If I had any doubts about my switch, they were all swept away by my sophomore year and Civ.<span style=""> </span>Western Civilization is a required course at <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Oklahoma</st1:placename> <st1:placename st="on">Baptist</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> that integrates the learning of history and literature, one that has almost reached mythical proportions.<span style=""> </span>I had heard everything from “Civ is the best class ever” to “Oh my God I hated Civ.”<span style=""> </span>I honestly did not know what to expect.<span style=""> </span>By the end of it, I think I would have to pick the first quote. <span style=""> </span>Civ not only gave me a new respect for history, but also a newfound respect for literature and its place in culture.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If there is an opposite of ADD, I’m fairly certain I have it.<span style=""> </span>When I get on something, whether it is a TV show, or a sports team, or a subject in history, it has my full attention.<span style=""> </span>Such is the case with my latest obsession, the Civil War.<span style=""> </span>I was enrolled this past spring in “Civil War and Reconstruction.”<span style=""> </span>I enjoyed the class a great deal, and was very intrigued to go into more depth than time allowed us to in class.<span style=""> </span>Having already decided I was going to live in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Florence</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Alabama</st1:state></st1:place> for the summer, I knew I would probably have a lot of free time on my hands, so I decided to build up a mini-Civil War library.<span style=""> </span>So far this summer I have read six books on the Civil War, mainly biographies on Confederate generals, and am almost done with a seventh.<span style=""> </span>Already one of my friends has told me he thinks I’m going to be an expert Civil War historian one day, an idea I’m quite fond of actually.<span style=""> </span>The knowledge I have gained this summer is quite fascinating, and will be the subject of at least a few numbers of posts that I will do in the near future.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The objective of this blog is to share my love of history (and sports) and hopefully to stimulate the thoughts of my readers into creating a passion for the past (or increasing an already present passion).<span style=""> </span>Hopefully my readers will come to realize the history is actually better than fiction.<span style=""> </span>I heard that recently in an episode of Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History (which I recommend, although you should be prepared for a William Shatner-esque speaking style) and could not agree more with it.<span style=""> </span>How can you top some of history’s greatest events?<span style=""> </span>It is impossible.<span style=""> </span>From the pyramids to <st1:city st="on">Hannibal</st1:city> crossing the <st1:place st="on">Alps</st1:place>, from Alexander the Great conquering the known world to the assassination of Caesar, these are the things movies are made of.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Don’t worry, if history isn’t your thing I will also be doing a lot of writing on sports, the other main passion of my life.<span style=""> </span>Feel free to suggest any topics you would like me to write about and I’ll see what I can do.<span style=""> </span></p>Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251143465316653641noreply@blogger.com1