it's soccer season again folks

Precaution: This entry is strictly NOT intended for female readers and non-soccer fans. This is rated as SF (Soccer fans only). Proceed with your own risk.


A little bit more than a month ago, World Cup 2006 Germany drew its curtain in Berlin, making way to the next World Cup host four years later – South Africa. The Italians emerged victors in Berlin, defeating France in the Final on penalty-shootout.

Just as we thought the hype of football were just cooling off, new footballing season may be well on its way to the world. Despite England’s failure to surpass expectation in the world’s greatest footballing stage, Barclay’s English Premier League remains the most watched football league in the world. All eyes are betting on the likes of defending champion Chelsea, Manchester United, who are looking to end their three years trophy barren run, and you also have Arsenal with their new home turf, as well as 2005 Champions’ League champion Liverpool.

Let’s just look at 2005-06 season in recap.

Chelsea won their back-to-back English league, backed by Russian wealth. However, they did not look as spectacular as they did a season before, as they were handed out four defeats along the way, three more than the previous season. This may boost other teams in the league, proving that Chelsea aren’t immortals after all.

Manchester United continued their title drought for three straight seasons. Nevertheless, last season looked positive for them, as they managed to spark a late push to cut Chelsea’s lead to a mere 8 points in the end. They were trailing as much as 15 points (I think), where at that point, many pundits and almost everyone in the world thought Chelsea would have been a runaway winner.

Liverpool have had indifferent form in the domestic league and cup competition. They had struggled to find form in league competition, which had resulted the third spot by end of the season.

Arsenal, probably had their worst start of the season in recent years, was constantly hovering the 7th – 10th position in the table. Tottenham, meanwhile, was enjoying their status as London’s best club on the season. They were always within the top 3 positions since the early going. However, Arsenal proved that they are still a force to be recognized with, stealing the fourth and last Champions’ League spot from their neighboring club – Tottenham.

Now here's a peep at the major transfer activities in the summer for the mentioned Big Four, also and their new kits (Home only).




Arsenal FC:

New signing:

#7 Tomas Rosicky, Czech Republic, was signed from Dortmund.





Chelsea FC:


New signings:


#13 Michael Ballack, Germany, was signed from Bayern Munich


#7 Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine, was signed from AC Milan.


#19 Lassana Diarra, France, was signed from Le Havre.


#12 Mikel John Obi, Nigeria, was signed from Lyn Oslo.


#21 Solomon Kalou, Ivory Coast, was signed from Feyenoord.





Liverpool FC:

New signings:


#17 Craig Bellamy, Wales, was signed from Blackburn Rovers.


#18 Dirk Kuyt, Holland, was signed from Feyenoord.




#16 Jermaine Pennant, England, was signed from Birmingham.


#10 Mark Gonzales, Chile, was signed from Albacete.




Manchester United FC:


New signings:

#16 Michael Carrick, England, was signed from Tottenham Hotspurs.


#29 Tomasz Kuszczak, Poland, was signed from West Brom.



At this point, Champions League 3rd round qualifiers have been played where Arsenal and Liverpool saw off their opponents with victories. England also started new era under Steve McLaren’s helm with a 4 – 0 victory over European champion Greece at Old Trafford, Manchester last night.

4 goals were scored in first half, with contributions from newly appointed captain John Terry and his Chelsea colleague Frank Lampard, as well as Liverpool’s Peter Crouch. Crouch was heavily criticized (at least from me) for his wasteful chances in Germany, but showed otherwise here against the Greeks. I did not watch the match, so I cannot be sure how he played. But for sure, he bagged himself a brace in the friendly.

English Premier League kicks of this Saturday (today). Check your TV listing and catch them live on Astro.

It’s football season again folks! GOOOOAAALLL again!!



Image source: All images used in this entry were from the football clubs' respective official websites, as well as Soccernet.com.