Well, I have to say that I find the Premier League a lot more interesting this time of year than I did last year, although I’m pretty sure the outcome will be more of the same. My preseason pick was Chelski and I don’t see much to dissuade me at this point. Man Ure seem to burn hot and cold whereas the Russians seem more consistent, despite their relative inconsistencies. Ars*nal, for me, will fade in the winter months and Liverpool have ruled themselves out already by virtue of their losses and generally shoddy squad. There’s no chance for the chasing pack.

The Big Four is definitely under siege, but really only by Manchester Citeh who seem a bit too immature to get over the hump. It’s a little depressing that the richest folks in the world can’t simply buy their way into the top four, so entrenched they are. From my preseason musings, not all that much has changed, except that I think Liverpool is the team struggling to stay in the top four. Ars*nal look a lot better than I gave them credit for, but I still don’t take them too seriously as title contenders. They’re still a few players short in the squad, but they’re not as far off as I originally thought—-indeed, wished.

And I have to say that Citeh has become my second team, mostly because they are equal parts infuriating and fascinating to watch. I find it laughable when people say the money being pumped into Citeh is somehow ruining the integrity of the game, as if having the same four teams shuffling around in the top spots for the better part of a decade is somehow admirable, fair, and interesting. Citeh square off against Birmingham tomorrow and I hope to be watching.

If I had more time in life, I’d watch more La Liga. I’ve watched very little thus far, but it’s getting pretty interesting over there as well. Barcelona, despite being the best team in the world, isn’t having it go all their way. What impresses me about La Liga is how the minnows still play the game without resorting to hoof-n-hope. It’s as if they’d rather go down than play an inferior brand of footie. Long live La Liga.

Real Madrid is a team you can’t take your eyes off of either. They can be bloody brilliant, but they can also be a case of “How can that team not win every damn game they play?” I hope Pellegrini can figure out how to get Benzema more involved, since he’s been le sulk almost from the get-go, and that’s a shame.

I scored a good goal today. My first in six games and it was almost worth the wait. Just sayin’.

Current Mood: Quite tired |