Red Ramblings: 2011-12, our season of reckoning.

It has been a long wait for the start to arrive. 2 months of off-season makes us realize how badly we miss our teams, and how badly we miss the Premier League. Manchester United, winning their 19th league title last season, surpassing 18 0f Liverpool, makes them the starting favorites like every year. Every fan would accept that. So will a United fan respect that things change over the year. It is a long season. It has been a busy summer for most of the big teams and it would be an interesting view on where they stand as the season starts.

Old Trafford is the first destination. Everything seems on a high there. Defending champions they are, Sir Alex Ferguson claiming only Barcelona are the better club than them in the world and his goal would be to catch them. Retirement of Edwin Van Der Sar and Paul Scholes left a big hole to be plugged, but great teams are great because they replace great players so well. David De Gea has big shoes to fill in between the posts. Manchester United have always struggled when their keepers fail, and if De Gea fails to take the pressure of one of the best clubs in the world, he is in for a ride. Phil Jones is a good addition to the defensive set-up, and Ashley Young heats up the first team places’ fight. If they manage to replace Scholes with their current pursuit of Wesley Sneijder, as a rival fan, it is scary. Manchester United look good to fight for top honors again this season.

As for the other side of Manchester, will it be another season of only making sound? Sergio Aguero is a huge buy and will bolster their chances of the title, or at least a title push. Carlos Tevez looks like he would stay for sometime at least at Eastlands which would be music to the City fans. Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and David Silva would be able support. With a strong physical backline, If the dressing room stays harmonious, they will edge the title.

Chelsea have not made many big-name additions to their squad during the transfer market except for the 18-year old teenager in Romelu Lukaku, who would need some time to get used to the physical toughness of the league and is not expected to be an instant hit, but has arrived with enormous potential. This reflects the strong squad they already possess. They’ve probably got in the most important need, Andre Villas-Boas. If Chelsea have the same start as they did in the last campaign and keep that up for the entire season, they will be placed well for the title. The biggest concern would be an aging team and I can stick my neck out and say that the form of Fernando Torres would play a pivotal role in shaping their season.

And as for the other two London clubs, many things are in disarray at the moment. Every one predicts Arsenal and Tottenham to fall from their finishes of 4th and 5th respectively last season. Tottenham are only in pursuit of holding on to Luka Modric, and may lack the self-belief to push for a top 4 this season. Huge task ahead for Harry this season to get Tottenham back in the Champions League. With the other 5 teams possessing very strong squads, I don’t see a Champions League place for Tottenham.

Arsenal are in the same state with attempts to hold on the their treasured Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. They have to hold a rampaging Barcelona to keep their club Captain. If somehow, come August 31st, these two stay at Arsenal and the brilliant addition in Gervinho, Arsenal will prove many wrong. Addition of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ryo Miyaichi may turn out a brilliant deal for the future, if not this season. The biggest task for them is this month of August, hold of other teams from Nasri and Fabregas. If they leave, hmmm, I’d like to reserve my comments on Arsenal.

Liverpool, disappointing in the last couple of seasons, have dug very deep to try and find back their place as the most successful club of England. Finally having good owners this year, their KING in Kenneth Mathieson “Kenny” Dalglish and players who want to play for Liverpool FC. As Dalglish puts it up, “No player is bigger than the club.” The depth in squad lacked. Departure of Fernando Torres opened up places in the team. Signs look good this season. Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll are as good as new additions, and with them come Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing. And with Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Carragher, Pepe already established in the team, Liverpool look settled. Steven Gerrard needs to be fully fit the entire season for a successful campaign. My trump card for the player of the season for Liverpool would be Charlie Adam. Concern looking at the pre-season friendlies would be the defense which is a little thin but arrival of Jose Enrique from Newcastle United sounds pleasant. Another center-back would be welcome this month, probably Scott Dann. With signs looking positive, title still seems a distant away at the start of the season. I see no reason why we don’t finish in the top 4 and get back to the Champions League, but as they say, it is a long season. One thing is for sure, LFC will play like the old LFC, notice will be taken.

6 teams, capable of reshuffling spots anytime amongst themselves, makes this League to be worth watched. Come 13th August, another 10-month long season with 38 games would make a treat for the fans!

In the end, I would upload my favorite snaps of 2010-11. Hope you like them.

PICTURE OF 2010-11.