>Carlo Ancelotti newest Chelsea manager, already seeing transfer strain of EPL financial woes

Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti left AC Milan to become the most recent manager at Stamford Bridge. This is Chelsea’s fifth manager since hiring Jose Mourinho away from FC Porto in 2004.

While Mourinho brought the club two Premier League titles and many other trophies, none after him were able to do the same until this past FA Cup victory. Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s owner, has longed for the manager that can handle the throng of superstars since Mourinho’s departure. His hasty hiring and firing practices has led him now to Ancelotti.

Ancelotti has already felt the financial strain of the Premier League. He wishes to sign a major player to help change the identity of the Blues, but realizes that might not be possible without a sale of his own. Surprisingly, Much has been said about captain John Terry’s possible sale.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe

Some even suggests that the sale of Terry may be the financial gain they need to change the identity of the team to Ancoletti’s liking. Crazy to think of Terry in anything other than Chelsea blue. If Terry or Chelsea actually go through with such a move, one has to question the loyalty in sports today as Terry seems to be of the character of said trait.

Speaking of John Terry…

> Manchester City pulling its best Real Madrid impression, sign Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor

While other clubs have felt the strain of worldwide economic woes, big spending Real Madrid and Manchester City have thrown any financial caution to the wind and have spent. The team making the most headlines this summer in Manchester is not the one you would think.

Manchester City has signed Carlos Tevez away from neighboring Manchester United as well as Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor. City has plenty of fire power and have to be considered a huge threat for the top four positions and Champions League and possibly even the Premier League title.

It’s looking more and more like they won’t get their English star in Terry, as Chelsea have already rejected two offers in the realm of 30 million pounds. Regardless, City have added expensive players like Robinho, Tevez, and now Adebayor. The battle for Manchester may augment itself and become the battle for the Premier League.

>Seattle Sounders drawing consistent crowds, currently sit second in MLS standings in first year

How many people attend an MLS game? I can’t tell you the average across the league, but I bet Seattle’s franchise can debunk your prejudices concerning MLS attendance. For their home games in 2009, they currently average 29,983. Yes, I typed that correctly. In fact, they exceeded 31,000 on three occasions, two of which have been their last two home games. I have plenty of questions.

Should I be surprised? Something tells me that their attendance will drop dramatically after this inaugural season. I have mentioned before that I am a big fan of the Philadelphia franchise building its stadium in Chester, PA. There will be much more of a demand there. But I don’t know if interest in the MLS can be sustained like it is in Seattle.

It might also help that the Sounders, who formerly played in the USL divisions, are one of the league’s best teams. They only trail Houston in terms of standings, attaining 28 points with a 7-3-7 record. Their goal differential is also tops in the leagues along with Houston at +10.

They aren’t without their noticeable players either. Former U.S. national team goalkeeper and Fulham goalkeeper Kasey Keller plays in the net. The Washington state native has recorded five clean sheets so far.

Forward Fredy Montero leads the team with 9 goals and 6 assists. The twenty-one year old Colombian, who celebrates his twenty-second birthday this coming Sunday, is fun to watch. He has skills to become a great player and not just in the MLS. He was very popular in playing in his native country and has four caps for the Colombian national team.

But here is the key for the MLS: can they hang on to a young star like Montero? They’ve lost Jozy Altidore, Maurice Edu, and many others to European transfers. As far as Seattle, it seems to be a beakon of hope as far as soccer interest. European clubs have made many a summer trips to the city because they know there is a demand there. Chelsea returned for a friendly against the Sounders this past Saturday and I think Real Madrid was there a couple of years ago.

You can see Montero’s ability to settle the ball and find the back of the net here. His debut in the MLS where he scored 2 goals and had an assist against New York below. An amazing player.

Got any soccer news or comments? Take a seat on the bench and let your ‘pickins’ be heard.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Football fans, January and February probably seems like heaven. The BCS bowls and National Championship followed by the pinnacle of the pigskin: The Super Bowl.

Maybe you’re a baseball fan. The best times of year are certainly book ends for you. Many try to suppress elation when pitchers and catchers report, but most find their pastime bliss in October and early November.

Basketball and hockey fans seem to have an eternity of a season. Ask most and you’ll certainly here about June.

For me, none qualify as the best time in sports. As the title states, the best time of year is the end of May. Not because the English Premier League will be crowning a champion, but due rather to the battle at the other end of the table: the fight against relegation.

For those unfamiliar with relegation in soccer, allow me for a moment, soccer connoisseurs, to explain to those novices like me reading.

Take all levels of professional baseball for example: A, AA, AAA, and the Major League. Eliminate the whole farm system affiliations and make each team its own business entity that can hire and fire as it pleases.

The EPL replicates this idea with the Premier League (Majors), League Championship (AAA), League 1 (AA)and League 2 (A). The only difference is the top three teams get promoted at season’s end, and the bottom three teams get relegated.

So based on last season, The Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres would be competing this season in AAA. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, Louisville Bats, and Pawtucket Red Sox, all of the International League, would be playing Major League baseball in 2009.

Think of how that might change professional sports in America.

Even though I’m a basketball guy, the last few weeks of May present to us something quite unique in sports.

The majority of sports fans are average Joes, but more times than not, professional sports is a tale of nobility. The biggest, strongest, richest, and athletically gifted win the championships. Players who could not be further from who we are or the roles we have in society prevail while the ordinary begin reciting the infamous sports maxim, “there’s always next year.”

Sure we want our favorite teams to win, but since that is rarely the case, we often look for an underdog. Why? Because the underdog represents us.

Why do you think the best story come March is a Cinderella team? It’s a reflection of who we are.

Every season, The bottom the EPL becomes a perfect microcosm of middle-class America. The CEOs, like Manchester United, continually challenge for the top spot while the average employee, such as Sunderland, just wants to survive another day with the company.

The rich prosper and bask in the glory of championships and trophies. Meanwhile, the peons like me struggle to make ends meet month-to-month and are left only with delusions of grandeur.

American sports are unrealistic. If a team fails miserably, there’s no consequences. In fact, fail bad enough, and teams get rewarded with picking the new hot shot player for next season.

Not in the EPL. Finish in the bottom three and it’s a punishment. Moreover, teams won’t be bidding on top players; they’ll struggle to keep those who are good enough to be loaned to Premier league team. That’s more representative of life.

Time and again we see smaller clubs fighting for their Premiership lives by the end of May. Big clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea may feel dejected if they don’t win a championship, but smaller clubs, like Fulham last season, feel uninhibited respite when they narrowly avoid being relegated.

The joy of fans’ faces as the referee blows the final whistle exudes a feeling not often seen in sports: the feeling of accepted mediocrity only relative to those bidding adieu to the topflight football.

West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough, Hull City, Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Portsmouth will all be playing for the Premiership lives in the final two weeks of the 2008-2009 season.

Their respective matches are sure to be entertaining and hard fought. Fans will either sob for their club’s demise, or, for those lucky clubs who narrowly avoid the bottom three, revel in the fact that for another season, even if by only an inch, they can say that they’re competing with the best.

I’m a little guy. I love my teams, but they aren’t me; they suffer no consequences if they tank a season.

So you can have your NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, and game sevens. Take your Super Bowl Sunday and Mr. Octobers. Every year, I can’t wait for the end of May to watch the purest form of sport on display in any professional league.

Where teams are playing at their highest level until the very end. Where fans are more than proud to finish seventeenth. Where the common man takes center stage and plays with more heart and grit than a jaded, inflated payroll ever could.

What do Bruce Springsteen and The English Premier League have in common? Admittedly not much. But the Boss does have a way with words, and in honor of his much anticipated halftime performance in Super Bowl XLIII, I figured he could help me better understand the first half of the Premier League season and perhaps even what to expect.

“Waste your summer praying in vain For a savior to rise from these streets” – Thunder Road

Maybe it’s because I’m relatively new to the beautiful game or because my knowledge of it does not stretch too far out of English football, but it seems like this past summer clubs spent way too much money on new players in hopes of finding a savior.

After a solid stay at Blackburn (13 goals and 23 assists in three season), David Bentley joined Tottenham. Much was expected of the English national player after the departure of forwards Berbatov and Keane, but so far he has only produced one goal and two assists. Tottenham has been fighting off relegation since day one and currently sit sixteenth.

Irishman Robbie Keane joined Premier League power Liverpool. This move proved a little more important once it was decided that Spaniard Fernando Torres would be sitting out a great deal due to injury. Keane took a while to get situated, though, scoring his first league goal in November. He has a total of five. Though Liverpool is still sitting in the top four, Keane’s play must be leaving Reds fans yearning even more so for Torres’ return.

Champions League veteran Deco joined Chelsea from Barcelona. His three league goals may be attributed to an injury suffered early on, but he is certainly not being mentioned nearly as much.

A couple clubs, however, heard their prayers answered through summer transfers.

Andy Johnson went to Fulham from Everton and has provided some exciting goals in the post-Brian McBride era. Fulham, an annual pick for relegation, actually sits in the top half of the table at tenth.

Peter Crouch returned to Portsmouth from Liverpool. The 6’7″ Englishman has scored seven goals. Though Portsmouth sits in twelfth, they are only three points from the relegation zone. Don’t blame Crouch – Portsmouth has switched managers and also lost their best player, Jermain Defoe, to Tottenham.

Geovanni came over to newly promoted Hull City after a stint with Manchester City. The Brazilian midfielder has scored six goals and along with his club, caused early season hysteria by completing the North London sweep (Arsenal and Tottenham). Hull City has since dropped out of the European picture but still sits in ninth place.

“So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise” -Brilliant Disguise

This season has brought a few new clubs and faces to the attention of a soccer novice. Since their promotion in 2005, Wigan has finished above fourteenth place just once – their first year in the Prem – and narrowly avoided relegation in 2007.

Now they sit in seventh place thanks in large part to Egyptian transfer, Zaki, who currently has ten goals (third in the league). Wigan has seemed like such a boring team in seasons past, but now with one of the more exciting goal scorers in the league and hot on the trails of perhaps a UEFA berth, I’m going to be looking hard and twice to see if this is the new Wigan or just a disguise.

Aston Villa has climbed from a sixteenth finish in 2006 to now looking primed to take a top four finish in 2009. Former Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill, has built a convincing club since his hiring in 2006. Twenty-two year old Gabriel Agbonlahor has impressed with nine goals thus far. Aston Villa has started strong the past couple of years but then dropped off. With February around the corner, they currently reside in fourth place ahead of Arsenal and Everton.

A brilliant disguise? I think Villa and O’Neill are the real deal this year, but the last few months will certainly answer that for us. Seven of their last fourteen games will be against teams sitting in the top half of the table. They play Chelsea in February, Liverpool in March, and visit Old Trafford and defending Champion Manchester United on April 4. Villa will have a long hard look in the mirror and find out if they’re ready to challenge the top four.

“Didn’t you think I knew that you were born with the power of a locomotive able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? And your Chelsea suicide with no apparent motive you could laugh and cry in a single sound.” -For You

Chelsea without a doubt has the power of a locomotive. Ballack, Drogba, Deco, Terry, Lampard, Cech. Expectations were and are high. But supermen the Blues apparently are not. They’ve leapt the smaller clubs, but have stumbled against those taller ones. They only managed one point after two meetings with Manchester United, the last a 3-0 drubbing at Old Trafford. They’ve also dropped one match each to other powers, Arsenal and Liverpool. A single bound? The Blues are still jumping.

With Champions League still a reality for fans, they have to wonder whether this team will come together or commit a “Chelsea suicide.” Didier Drogba seems unhappy and has been quoted recently as desiring a return to a French club. And now recent reports that players are not happy with the manager, Luis Scolari, and his training sessions. Avram Grant was run out of town, but now the job he did does not look all that bad. His start was points ahead of where Scolari and Chelsea are right now. To me, with all their experience and talent, it will be up to the players to decide whether they make their fans laugh or cry by season’s end.

“Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king And a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything” – Badlands

Manchester City desperately wants to be a big time club and qualify for European play. When purchased this summer by an Arab investment group out of Dubai, they immediately bought Robinho for £32.5m. With eleven goals in sixteen games, he’s delivered. The new owners have tried their best to acquire former FIFA player of the year, Kaka, from the Italian club AC Milan during the January transfer window. Reported offers had it at a record deal but nothing came of it.

I couldn’t agree more with Bruce on this: rich men do want to be king of something, and Man. City wants to be king of the Prem. Unfortunately money hasn’t solved their problems as they sit only four points away from the relegation zone.

“This storm’ll blow through by and by / House is on fire, Viper’s in the grass /…./ I’m gonna pray / Right now all I got’s this lonesome day / It’s alright? It’s alright? It’s alright” -Lonesome Day

The most fun I’ve had watching sports the last two years is watching teams on the verge of relegation play as if they’re lives depended on it. This year will perhaps be the most exciting, as thirteen clubs currently are within eight points of the relegation zone. I can’t even begin to explain the excitement I have for how the end of this season will play out at the bottom half than the top half.

Middleborough, Stoke City, and West Brom currently sit in the last three spots based off of goal differential. Portsmouth, Bolton, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottnenham and Blackburn are all within three points of the bottom three. West Ham, Hull City, Fulham and Manchester City have a little more breathing room, but not enough to exhale quite yet.

The eminent danger of relegation is there for all of these clubs. Eventually, that viper is going to strike and when it does, no amount prayers will help. For those who haven’t already heeded the warning from Bruce, all they might have come May 24 is that lonesome day and the reality of relegation.

“Well now I don’t wanna be greedy / But when it comes to love there ain’t no doubt / You just ain’t gonna get what you want / With one foot in bed and one foot out / You got to give it all or nothin’ at all” -All or Nothin’ at all

Photo by Stephen Cohen

My pick, Chelsea, may have the easiest road to pick up three points at a time. They play Aston Villa and Liverpool in February, but after that their toughest games will be Everton and Arsenal on May 9.

Along with their May 9 clash, Arsenal will have Liverpool in April and a visit to Old Trafford in May to play Manchester United. The Gunners may have the toughest road ahead of them along with more ground to make up as they sit in fifth place.

The key to the championship may be Hull City. They play Arsenal, Villa and United in the final months of the Prem. If anyone can play spoiler, the Tigers of Hull City have already proven it can be them.

It’s been an interesting season to say the least. It’s past the midway point and teams will certainly be giving it all, otherwise they may come away with nothin’ at all.

10. Manchester City
MLB equivalent: New York Mets
Poor Mets fans, forever destined to play second fiddle. Sure you’ve had some success, but you’ll never live up to your neighbors. Mets fans, you will find solidarity with your EPL equivalent team, Manchester City. Sure they beat Manchester United last year in the regular season causing sheer euphoria, but as always, who had the last laugh? You emphasize the small battles in hopes that someday you’ll reign supreme in your own city. Unfortunately everyone but you realizes you don’t stand a chance. It’s like the Yankees and Manchester United is the annoying older sibling who lets out all his frustrations on you because – well – he can. Expect a standard finish this year for Man. City, right near the middle of the table.

9. Aston Villa
MLB equivalent: Seattle Mariners
Both these clubs seem notorious for two things: either a fast start only to sputter out or a whole lot of wins with nothing to show for it. What a depressing existence these teams share. If you look back at their history, there have been some great seasons with quality players. What you won’t find is evidence of a trophy or celebration at season’s end. You’ll always have people claiming, “This will be their year” and pick them to finally achieve something great. I’m not falling for it. Look for Aston Villa to contend early and start to drop matches around early October.

8. Newcastle United
MLB equivalent: Chicago Cubs
You have to love your team. No – I mean you have to really love your team. You can’t bail on them if the best player goes down or they continually bag their managers. You have to be willing to stick with your team through the multi-layered dimensions of complexity that is your understanding of why they just can’t put it together and win a championship. Being a Newcastle fan or Cubbies fan is no joke. You have to base your whole being around their often miserable existence and be willing to rationalize incoherently about why it all fell apart this year or that year. If you desire the glory and need your team to win constantly in order for you to jump up and say, “YES! This is my team,” then being a fan of these two is not an option for you. Passion. Dedication. More commitment than your own marriage. This is Newcastle United and the Chicago Cubs. With a healthy Michael Owen, Newcastle will definitely be better off this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish in the top six.

7. Everton
MLB equivalent: Cleveland Indians
You know that team that’s always on the brink of greatness, but seems to always stumble over that last hurdle? Then they take a few years to recover from that travesty and just when they get it back together, they fall face first again right before the finish line? I’ve just explained the past several decades for Everton and the Cleveland Indians. Basically they will become a big tease for all their fans every few years. Neither can make the big signing or big trade, but they always find mild success with what they have – eventually. The same core of guys can then turn around and completely falter for a season or two. This is Everton’s spot unless they can turn out a healthy year, then expect them to contend at a spot or two higher. Already with Tim Howard and Yakubu playing strong, Cahill and Arteta at full strength could make this a dangerous squad.

6. Tottenham Hotspur
MLB equivalent: Milwaukee Brewers
Neither team has won anything remotely important in many, many years (Tottenham the League and FA cup in 1960 and the Brewers a pennant and some MVP’s in the 1980’s). Perhaps finally realizing this has motivated both to improve their roster. The Brewers loaded up their pitching staff to make a final push this season while Tottenham has been the busiest club in the off-season. The only question is, are all of Tottenham’s transactions a recipe for success? They’ve certainly lost big when they gave away Robbie Keane to Liverpool and now rumors are swirling that striker Berbatov is the apple of Manchester United’s eye. But they have signed some good players, my personal favorite being Croatian midfielder Luka Modric. If they hold on to goal scoring hound Berbatov, they may contend for European play. If they lose him, expect them to possibly drop a couple of spots.

5. Arsenal
MLB equivalent: Toronto Blue Jays
Arsenal is a very popular London club who has been knocking on the door the past couple seasons, most recently losing to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final (They won the Prem in 2004). They always seem to have a spirited team and continue to compete in a tough “division” akin to the Blue Jays circa 1988-1994. Although, every team slips and I think Arsenal may find some slippery slopes this season. For one, their North London rivals Tottenham are determined to take both regular season matches. For two, where other clubs in the upper echelon like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Portsmouth seem to be signing big time players, Arsenal is trying desperately to hang on to theirs. I know soccer fans will call me crazy for placing them this low, but the loan period is not over yet and Robin Van Persie is a hot commodity. Plus, Rosicky may take his time getting back to full health.

4. Portsmouth
MLB equivalent: Florida Marlins
This is definitely my risqué pick. Portsmouth has climbed steadily up the Premier League table since their promotion a few years ago. Similar to the Marlins, they are finding success quickly despite being somewhat of an expansion team (though the term expansion doesn’t really apply here). They won the FA Cup this past year and have reloaded with the off-season acquisition of Peter Crouch. Along with fellow Englander Jermain Defoe up front, Portsmouth will be a handful in the open field as well as set pieces. With a solid goalie in David James, Portsmouth should keep climbing the table. Can they actually qualify for European play again? I think so. Will it be Champions League as I’ve predicted here? Probably not. Are you sick of me answering my own questions? Okay then, let’s move on.

3. Manchester United
MLB equivalent: New York Yankees
Do you enjoy winning at all costs? Would you like to share your favorite team with millions upon millions of fans worldwide, most of whom could not point to the borough or city on a map? Are you as interested in following your team’s players in the gossip column as much as you are the sports page? If you answered yes to any of those questions, more than likely you’re a Yankees fan which also means you’d enjoy Manchester United. They win championships, have the world’s best players, and plenty of obnoxious fans don United regalia without being able to name five other teams in the Prem (“But hey – we’re champions!”). You’re going to experience much success and elitism at it finest, but expect all the drama and rumors you can handle. In all seriousness I do not think the Red Devils will win three straight Premier League titles this year. Cristiano Ronaldo will start three weeks late following his surgery after Euro ’08. Rooney continues to have injury issues. I’m sure Nani and Carlos Teves will fill in quite nicely, but eventually the grueling schedule of the EPL, the FA Cup, Champions League, and players leaving to complete World Cup qualifying matches is going to catch up with them.

2. Liverpool
MLB equivalent: Atlanta Braves
If we ignore Liverpool’s domination of the league before 1990, this is a perfect comparison. Since their English championship in the ’89-’90 season, they’ve won only one major tournament – 2005 Champions League. Yet, every year they are loaded and are capable of racking up a bunch of tournaments. But as far as the Prem goes, they haven’t exactly lived up to expectations. What appears to be domination year after year has not resulted in a championship. Sound familiar? The Atlanta Braves. All those years of NL domination and only one World Series Championship to show for it. Liverpool is a great club who has made some quality signings the past two years with strikers Fernando Torres and now Robbie Keane, but when will it equate to a league championship? Liverpool fans will tell you this is the year.

1. Chelsea
MLB equivalent: Boston Red Sox
Ahh – the loveable losers. They try so hard through signings and trades, come so close year after year but fall short. They’re so gracious in their efforts that even fans of other teams cheer for them. So much history yet so little to show for it. But wait – what if they win a championship? Loyal fans rejoice and forget about years of torment and bask in the glory. Suddenly the “other” fans can’t stand this team and its new found successes while on the opposite side of the spectrum you have the band wagon overflowing. Success continues and suddenly fans expect championships. Red Sox Nation – this is your Premier League team. Chelsea went 50+ years with no championship until the ‘04-‘05 season and just like the Sox, have won two this decade and are on the verge of another.

So why Chelsea? Scolari is a great coach who I think the players will respond to much like they did with Jose Morinho. Drogba will be healthy, John Terry will be out to prove something, the Deco signing has everyone excited, and there is still a chance at getting Robinho. Ballack doesn’t hurt either even though it looks like he may be the Manny Ramirez of the club. In the end, I see Chelsea being the most consistent and only think their disappointment in the Champions League final will serve as motivation towards retribution.

20. Hull City
MLB equivalent: Detroit Tigers
Remember how dismal the Tigers were in 2003? 119 losses if you’ve forgotten. And remember how they turned that around in a few years and won the American League pennant in 2006? Tiger fans, say hello to Hull City, your EPL equivalent team! Hull City has recorded the third fastest climb in all levels of English football the past few years to finally reach the Premier League. But unfortunately with a fast climb comes a quick descend, eh Detroit? Hull City should enjoy their resurgence – I anticipate them to finish bottom of the table and make a trip back to The Championship, the league below the Premier League. And if that isn’t enough of a similarity for you, both teams sport the tiger mascot.

19. Sunderland
MLB equivalent: Cincinnati Reds
Both these clubs have a ton of success…just not recently. Sunderland has fantastic fan support and is one of the traditional English clubs. I don’t think they have the manpower to match up this year against other Premier League teams. Expect them to be scratching and crawling to stay away from the bottom three by season’s end.

18. Wigan Atheltic
MLB equivalent: Tampa Bay Rays
Much like the young upstart Rays, Wigan is the newest member of the league, having first being promoted to the Prem in 2005 and has narrowly avoided relegation ever since. Similar to the Rays this season, Wigan will have to prove if they’re actual contenders in the Prem or just pretenders these past few years. I’m afraid Wigan’s stay in top-flight football will come to an end this season.

17. Stoke City
MLB equivalent: Washington Nationals
The Senators/Nationals made their return to the Majors this century after a long absence. Stoke City is newly promoted this year, making their return to the top competition after a twenty-three year absence. It is not unusual to see two of the newly promoted teams get relegated, so Stoke City will have a lot of work to do to avoid the bottom three spots.

16. Fulham
MLB equivalent: SF Giants and LA Dodgers
Fulham has been a popular club in the past with Americans because it had so many U.S. players like Reyna, Bocanegra, McBride, and Keller. This London club does boast some tradition, as they are the oldest club in all of England. Unfortunately the successes and advancements of other London clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have made Fulham like the red headed stepchild, similar to how the Yankees took over New York and forced the original New York baseball Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers to take a back seat to their successes. The addition of striker Andy Johnson from Everton should boost their offensive production – only if he can get and stay healthy. Expect Fulham to avoid relegation again.

15. Bolton
MLB equivalent: Pittsburgh Pirates
Bolton and the Pirates have had some really good years. More recently, however, Bolton and the Pirates have had some not-so-good years. Even though Bolton qualified for European play last season, it doesn’t seem to me they are committed to continuous success. They give away good players, just like the Pirates, and have dangerously flirted with relegation (they finished sixteenth last season only securing their stay in the Prem in the last game). Expect much of the same from the Wanderers this season.

14. Blackburn
MLB equivalent: LA Angels
Everyone likes a management willing to go out and make the team better, right? The Angels have made some good signings recently and it’s paid off in their record, just not in a championship (of course I am referring to signings after the 2002 World Series). Blackburn continues to sign quality players from all over and continue to find themselves in the top of the table. Both clubs have experienced championships, Blackburn in 1994 and the Angels not far removed from their own. It seems like too many other teams have made the big time signings for Blackburn to break into the top of the table this year.

13. West Ham United
MLB equivalent: Philadelphia Phillies
Quick – which American city has the craziest, most unstable fan base? If you answered Philadelphia then you, sir (or madam), are a true American sports aficionado. Who would boo Santa Claus? Who would throw batteries at opposing players? Who would place a whole judicial system in their new stadium? Okay, that last one was the Eagles, but you’re missing the point. Nobody loves their team so much that integrity and common decency goes out the window when they feel cheated like Phillie and West Ham fans. Phillie fans, you have to cheer for West Ham United because if you completely flip out and involve yourself in some hooliganism following a tough loss, nobody will be surprised nor will they even care. You’re sick of your neighbors like the New Jersey Devils and New York Yankees experiencing recent success. So is West Ham; they have to play in London next to Chelsea and Arsenal. So confide in one another Phillie and Hammers fans. And when your team loses, pick up the nearest blunt object and throw it in the general direction of human life.

12. West Bromwich Albion
MLB Equivalent: Texas Rangers
West Brom won The Championship last season to get promoted and had a +33 goal differential, scoring eighty-eight goals. Now that’s some firepower. Who else in the Majors the past few years has been as explosive as the Texas Rangers? Twelfth seems pretty high for a newly promoted team, but it’s not uncommon. Two years ago Reading made their first year in the Prem a memorable one as they finished eighth and recorded some big upsets. As Derby County taught us last season, you have to come into this league with some cannons, and West Brom apparently has some. I think they’ll impress and finish somewhere towards the middle of the table.

11. Middlesbrough
MLB equivalent: Baltimore Orioles
I admit I don’t know much about Middlesbrough. From the games I’ve watched, they don’t exactly fill the stadium. But there is always this group of tightly compacted fans behind one of the goals that stays loyal throughout. Camden Yards is the same way. You can see empty stadiums in the Majors and it is as dead as it looks. Not Camden Yards. I’ve been to Camden Yards and they have a similar loyal fan base like Middlesbrough. Always present. Always cheering. Never allowing the state of the team or management to dull the pride they have in their beloved Orioles. And if you think about it – does anybody really hate the Orioles? I don’t get that feeling from Middlesbrough either. They’re just so darn likeable and I don’t know why.

EPL Preview Part II