Game On

Don’t remember the last time I was so eager for a mid-August. Certainly, as an English Premier League fan, I wouldn’t expect it to come so quickly. Ever since the game in Rome was over, days -especially weekends- have become very boring. Of course the transfer market did lit up life to some extent, but the lackluster spending of Real Madrid and Man City made the transfer market nothing less than a boredom and monotonous.

Ever since the last day of Premier League was over, I have been waiting for the new season to start in no time. Being a hardcore Man United fan, I never thought that Christiano Ronaldo would leave United, though Real never looked like leaving him in England. On the other hand, Carlos Tevez’s departure was imminent, especially after seeing him wave to the crowds after United completed a third Premier League title in as many seasons.

Both the players had been fantastic for the Red Devils. But CR7 was more than just fantastic. 68 goals in two seasons in the most entertaining and hard-fought football league in the world is not an ordinary achievement. The charismatic winger had expressed his willingness to join the Los Blanco in the past, but he never let that affect his services to United. He may not have reached the same levels as the previous season but the last season as a Red Devil was never a lesser achievement for the Portuguese and thus making his name into the United’s ever growing list of legends.

On a personal note, the departure of CR7 was a surprise to me, especially after both the player and the United manager announced that none of them are in favor of the transfer. However, one must appreciate the way the deal has been made. Without much of a buzz, United agreed to let Real talk to the player. Though there was a talk of some pre-agreed deal on the transfer, that doesn’t stand any relevance.

Once CR7 and Tevez left United, it was no surprise the whole football world has looked at Sir Alex Ferguson. Arguably, the United boss was under some pressure to fill in the void left by the departures of two of his key players. Starting from the long awaited Karim Benzema to a not so well-known Nilmar, Sir Alex attracted a complete bunch of strikers and wingers. Most of the United fans, football fans thought Benzema was the obvious replacement for the star role emptied by CR7. But, the intentions of Real were different. The launch of the new Galactico generation has taken the world less of a surprise and more of an irritation. Clubs have really made a chance for themselves by increasing the valuation of their players irrespective of what they are worth of.

Whether it was intending to make the most out of it or to keep their valuable asset to themselves, Bayern have priced Frank Ribery out of everyone’s, including Real, reach. Benzema has opted to join the group of stars at Real, rather than proving himself as a star by joining the Red Devils. There were several cases of valuations not meeting the player’s worth or the valuations not meeting the player’s tag set by their respective clubs. Whatever it was, the current market has hit the less-spending clubs hardly. Most of the clubs couldn’t even think of making new signings.

However, Sir Alex has been successful in grabbing another of his long-lasting targets in Antonio Valencia. The young winger has really impressed the vastly experience United boss and he did impress United fans allover the world in pre-season. But, the most shocking and surprising move of the transfer market has seen the England and former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Michael Owen join the Red Devils in a ‘free’ transfer. If it was not Michael Owen, I would have never liked any of the Liverpool players joining United. That might sound a little absurd, but that is the passion for your club. Before someone asks me why Owen, I will make it clear that Michael Owen was the only second footballer I ever heard of.

If Real has swept the stars all over the world, the big money spenders of England, Man City has targeted the stars inside England and the Premier League. The addition of Gareth Barry, Adebayor, Toure and Tevez has really strengthened the other half of Manchester. But can they challenge the Red side of the city and can they challenge the other top four teams for the title?

Well, if that was what happened in the last 2 months, the coming 9 months will hold nothing less than a spectacle. 19 clubs fight for the prestigious Barclays Premier League for 9 months, with breathtaking football. If the last season was a closely fought league, then this season would be much more intense than that. The departure of CR7 has certainly weakened the Red Devils but that is nothing but a curtain raiser for the likes of Federico Macheda, Nani, Anderson and many more waiting in a very big United squad. Now it’s up to Wayne Rooney t deliver the goods for the Red Devils with his preferred role as a central striker. Can he deliver the needed?

Chelsea, on the other hand, may not have made too many valuable additions, other than the promising Zhirkov, but they bought in a new manager in Ancelotti, who boasts a lengthy list of European titles, both as a player and manager. Will another manager for another season change the fate for the Blues? Liverpool, who finished second in the table last season despite losing only 2 games in the league, lost a key player in Fernando Alonso, another of the new generation Galactico, and replaced him with a talented yet delicate Aquilani. Can he fit into the shoes of Alonso? Can the captain fantastic Gerrard and El Nino Fernando Torres stay fit for complete season? Can Liverpool go a step forward and end their trophy draught this season?

There is nothing much to talk about Arsenal or Arsene Wenger though. I wonder why neither Wenger nor the Arsenal fans understand that football is not business, to buy a kid and sell him for triple the buying price. Even a layman plants a seed expecting to devour the sweetness of its fruits. When will Arsenal, as a club and a fan community, understands that they are playing for titles rather than money? Will it be the season Arsenal proves people like me wrong by winning something other than money? Will the Arsenal fans realize that they need to think about something more than the trust in Arsene? But, first of all, can they hold on to Fabregas? However, I must appreciate Arsene Wenger for his economic brains in selling Adebayor. The player has long been in for a move away from the club. However, he must have used some of the earnings. He may have to answer a few questions at the end of the season for sure if he doesn’t answer many of them during the season.

Though there is much talk about Man City replacing one of the current top four, and winning the league according to some more, I personally do not think it is in their reach, at least for this season. However, I do really feel the likes of Tottenham and Aston Villa giving tough fight to one of the top four teams and dethrone them from the elite club. Watch out for Arsenal to survive, they are the most vulnerable of the crop. Not to forget Everton, they had a good season last time around and have been consistent in the last couple of seasons.

That really sets the pace for the upcoming season and ends the long wait for another cracking Premier League. I am sure every honest Premier League lover would have real sleepless nights in the next 9 months. It’s time for kickoff folks- Game on!