excuses and apologies

Okay, let’s get through the excuses and apologies first. Truth is I used to be a fairly prolific writer – five to six pieces every week in a well-circulated Sunday paper. But – excuse number 1 – I’ve been out of that gig for the better part of six years now and this blog is my way of getting back in the game. The game of writing that is. As for the beautiful game itself, I never left. So, I hope you’ll forgive me – if there’s anyone out there – for the lack of activity of the first two weeks of soccereccos’ existence. And while you’re at it, you might as well forgive me if my posts do not come in as regularly as scheduled and for any hint of rust as I get my groove back.

I intend to post something here every week and you can bet it’ll be well worth your while. If you hadn’t guessed yet, it’s going to be soccer, soccer and more soccer and it’ll be as wide in scope as you like.

I‘ll be starting this week with a look at the four contenders for this season’s Premiership title. Or does anyone seriously think there are any other title contenders? Don’t be fooled though; this isn’t a Prem only blog – even if Liverpool is my number one club. But the season’s fresh and there’s loads going on so……here goes.

Sluggish start for Man U – no complaints here – and Chelsea are squeezing out wins as usual. I expect both teams to be there or thereabouts come season end in May. Talk of stating the obvious, right? Despite the slow start, I think Man U have made the stronger additions to their squad, especially in Hargreaves and Tevez. BTW, I’m pretty irritated that the Argentina striker ended up at Old Trafford. What Liverpool fan wouldn’t be?? Like they weren’t strong enough, already. But getting Tevez could well secure a successful title defence for Man U this season. He’s obviously one of the best young strikers in the world, and anyone who can make the Argentina team has got to be special. I don’t think he’s Leo Messi-special, but then again, who is? How West Ham, a team in a relegation battle, could have left Tevez and Javier Mascherano on the bench early last season still bugles my mind! But that’s a matter for another day. Everyone will be looking to stop Ronaldo this season so we may not get quite the same impact from the winger this term. But, of course, they have Wayne Rooney as well..

Last season appears to have taught Jose Mourinho the value of squad players, hence the arrival of the likes of Steve Sidwell, Claudio Pizzaro and Tal Ben-Haim. No silly talk of playing with a small squad from “The Special One” this season and hopefully, we won’t have to put up with all the whining about losing players to injury this season. Chelsea isn’t ever likely to ever win the entertainment award, but who needs that if you can keep winning. Mourinho’s a brilliant coach with quality players at his disposal and Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard keep scoring they’ll be fighting till the very end. For me though, the key to Chelsea’s success is a guy I call The Bionic Man – Ghana’s Michael Essien.

Expectations are high at Anfield where Rafa Benitez as assembled the most attack-minded Liverpool side in eons. I’ve been particularly thrilled with Ryan Babel, the young Dutch winger. He plays with pace, purpose and great skill – if 15 minutes against Aston Villa is enough to go on. He’s gonna bump Pennant to the bench pretty soon – if Rafa decides to play him on the right. Fernando Torres has looked sharp too, but there’ll be loads of competition from Andrii Voronin, Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt for places upfront. At the back, things should be as tight as ever – or even tighter, with Mascherano fully integrated in the team. Whether that’ll be enough to win a fist league title in 17 years remains to be seen, but Liverpool should be more fun to watch this season.

Then there’s Arsenal – sans Thierry Henry. Arsene Wenger’s latest creation sure looks lightweight without their record goal scorer, and even more so when you consider the established stars that have left in the just three seasons – Bergkamp, Vieira, Pires, Wiltord, Campbell, Cole, Lauren. But they’ll be as exciting to watch as ever and if Cesc Fabregas keeps performing, I think they’ll be even better this term. Sure they’ll miss Henry, but he was out for the better part of last season anyway, and in Robin van Persie – if he can stay healthy – they have a capable source of goals. Maybe not Henry-esque 30 goals per season, but if Nicholas Bendtner and Eduardo da Silva settle quickly and Emmanel Adebayor continues to develop the Gunners could be back on the way up. Okay, I guess there are too many ifs in there to suggest that the title will end up at the Emirates, so which of the other three will win it?

I kind of gave up soccer predictions several years ago and I’m going to chicken out of this one too. I hope it’s close and exciting and I very sincerely hope that Liverpool can edge out the other three and bring the title to back to Anfield. That’s my heart talking. My head is kinda quiet right now.
I’d love to read your thoughts though, so don’t be shy now!
Catch you later.