Heh, a lot of friends give me shit for supporting Manchester United. They are all either Arsenal or Chelsea fans, or just plain do not like Manchester United because they are a big team. Well, if the team isn’t big and it isn’t winning cups, would you want to support it? Unless you are native to the UK and have a respective soccer team in the area which you live, I don’t really think so.

Man U started their champion’s league qualifier with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford against some Hungarian team. Heh, you wouldn’t expect anything less from them. The 3 R’s – Rooney, Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy (well, Van Nistelrooy is actually a V, but for having a nice ring to it, they will call him Ruud) are a rather potent force to deal with.

Actually more interested in the progress of the other teams now. I started learning about other teams’ players because of their star status in the league. Namely Arsenal, who went unbeaten for such a streak, and had such high flying games with numerous goals. Then there is Chelsea. Chelsea, well, we don’t need to talk about Chelsea. They are the most expensive team ever assembled. All their players, even the ones on the bench, are first team material.

I’m currently watching Liverpool very closely. Only because of the amazing come back at the Champion’s League final. AC Milan will feel that hurt, just as Bayern Munich did against Man U, for the next two decades or so. Heh. The manager is the one that makes the glue stick for the team. With new signings and some from last year no longer cup tied, it’s going to be a very interesting season ahead.

The predicted outcome of the Premiership (quoting Soccernet as a source) is Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United taking the top, 2nd etc spots respectively. Man U looks like a team in decline, a spent force. However, history always states that you never ever write them off. Heh.

At the moment, just looking forward to the starting match of the 2005/06 season with Everton vs Man U. Everton is now a Champion’s League team (well, if they qualify, and the moment things look slightly grim) but after being humbled 7-0 by Arsenal last season, I’m pretty sure they’ll be on their toes in the opening match.

Something to look forward to over the weekend.