Inthehood said:
Liverpool are a bigger club, but then what's football if smaller club's can't have their chance? Manchester United are England's biggest club, yet they don't have the divine right to be champions every year. The fact is Chelsea did not care about winning. They care only about The Premiership and Champions League, and destroying Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield I also disagree that Liverpool fans are superior. They have a hooligan element (Heysel) and they always cheer when a serious injury to an opponent, i've heard the songs about Riise breaking Smith's leg.
Anyway, one game means nothing. An average Benfica side beat Liverpool in two legs last season, doesn't mean they are a better side. Lampard and Ballack cannot be judged on one game together, the 1-4 victory at Liverpool last season, Carragher and Hyypia were ripped apart, but most of the remiander of the season, they were excellent.
Bellamy will be injured before long, as usual, or arrested for beating a woman in a nightclub, and Pennant will be back inside on more drink driving offences, so don't hold your breath with them. Gonzalez could be the part, we'll see, he's already saved Liverpool against an Israeli side, they should have beat by at least 4 on paper. I wouldn't rely on Sissoko either, he's a massive candidate for red cards and couldn't hack it in Spain, the world's best league.
Chelsea will win the league, and I suspect Arsenal will finish runners up. Rosicky is the best signing of the summer.
Sorry, I just don't think Liverpool or Man Utd have what it takes this season. Neither have a top class striker (yet) and as a Dutchman, I assure you Kuijt will not be the answer, and anyway, he's already said he'd prefer Newcastle to Liverpool, so may not be an option. Liverpool have far too many 'on the day' performers, and the new signings are just that.
Shame you did not get Simao, as he's 10 times the player Pennant is, a player not good enough for Arsenal.
If you sign a top striker and some cover for Alonso and Gerrard (Zenden is not adequate) then you may get within 6 points of Chelsea.
Ballack will prove his class, the guy is one of the most complete midfielders in the world, Shevhenko will score for fun, Makelele will come back, Cech will come back, and it'll be Gallas or Ashley Cole at LB. Kalou is an amazing talent, Joe Cole to come back as well, Chelsea have an embarrasment of riches and Diarra and Mikel are 2 kids who will be the mutts nuts as well.
It would be good to get a Liverpool team and Man Utd team able to challenge, but the likes of Kewell, Bellamy, Crouch, Fowler, Saha, Solskjaer are not going to win anyone anything. They are either past it or simply not top class for a big club like the 2 mentioned. United have Rooney, but he can't do it on his own.
I don't support Chelsea, but don't mind them having money, no other club would refuse to be bankrolled like them, but due to jealousy, people can't handle it.
First thing for your team though, is to get qualified for Champions League. It's not done and dusted yet, although the fact the 2nd leg is on neutral territory, will help Liverpool.
I'll remain unconvinced. Pre-season Liverpool were beaten by 3 weak sides, with a pretty strong team out.
Be good to see a 4 way battle though, so wish your team luck, even if I don't see it happening.
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Every club has a hooligan element and it was only because of our fierce rivalry with Maure. I don't know what happened when we lost 4-1, but we were crap at the start of the season and we accumilated the most points of anyone from October onwards which bodes well for this season. I can assure you we enjoyed knocking them out of the Champions league and FA Cup semi finals as well!
Sissoko got at least one champions medal in Spain when he was still a teenager so I urge you to swot up a bit on Spanish football before you talk about it!
A few red cards never hurt Keane or Viera did it? Bellamy will not stuff up again now he's at his favourite club and Pennant kept his nose clean all last season. Gonzalez ripped the Spanish defenses apart last season so when he settles in he's gonna be sensational.
I've no doubt Ballack is a top class player but him and Lampard playing together robs Chelski of all their width, they were awful before he was injured and Lmpard played alot better when he went off. Shevchenko is the top striker They've been crying out for but I can see alot of unhappy egos being damaged.
Frendlies mean nothing, grudge matches mean only slightly more we'll have to wait and see. I do think that if we sign a prolific striker we have a shot at the league but I think we're puting too much pressure on Bellamy to score. So I really hope we do sign another striker that Rafa has hinted at.