Blue Moon Rising???

There is already talk of Manchester City being the new force in the EPL after their win over Chelsea.All of a sudden,people say Chelsea can't now compete with City's money,ManUtd have got either too old veterans or too young Rafaels and Evans,and Arsenal aren't a threat anyways...But is it really true??? Are ManCity really good enough to challenge for title?? I don't think so.

First thing,they weren't too great in their win over the Champions.Yes,they deserved the win and all that,but when it was 0-0, they weren't really ready to go all out and win the game.For a team talking about Title dreams,you can't afford to play for a draw in home games,let anybody be the opponent.And while they have now beaten Liverpool and Chelsea already,they have also lost to Sunderland and drawn at home to Blackburn.That's City's problem,they can beat the big boys,but what about the minnows??? For 3 consecutive years,Man Utd won the title,by not destroying Chelseas and Arsenals,but by being efficient versus the lesser opponents.Even Last year,although Chelsea beat Manutd ,Arsenal home and away,the real reason for title,was their responses to defeats by City and Tottenham.They just went on long unbeaten runs,that really put the title away from other contenders.

Man City have now got Newcastle and Blackpool to play next,and a lot will depend on whether they can take 6 points from these 2,otherwise the "Blue Moon Rising" might turn out to be a daydream!!!

10 Best Deals in Summer Transfers-2010

The Transfer Window closed a couple of days ago,with there being a late dramatic transfer happening as usual.Its amazing how clubs drag the deals till the last few minutes,when they have the entire summer to make their moves.The transfer budgets decreased significantly this year,Man City being the clear exception.A staggering 130 million pounds were spent on a squad that had been assembled by just that much money in last 2 years only.Although it doesn't mean they got the best deals though,there were some amazing free agents to grab as well,with loan deals also being the latest trend in the market.Here are the the 10 best deals I thought happened in this summer.

10. Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux to Arsenal) (Free) :

Just what Arsenal have been lacking for last few years,an outright goal-poacher.Chamakh may not be as skilled as Torres and Drogba,but he provides the cutting-edge Arsenal so sourly lack.And a huge plus is he comes for Free.Quality strikers don't come cheap.Just ask Liverpool,they have been trying to get one to support Torres for ages !!!

9. Yaya Toure (Barcelona to Man City) (29m Euros) :

Of all the players Man City signed,Yaya Toure may prove to be the most crucial.Man City hugely overpaid for him,but fact is they do need a big midfield enforcer.Nigel De Jong is untidy,violent at times,and Toure provides a more powerful approached,sometimes launching into threatening runs in the opponent's area,initiating many attacks.Barca may rue the move to replace him with short-tempered Mascherano.

8. Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege to Liverpool) (Free) :

One of the best signings Liverpool have made this season,and there aren't many of them.Jovanovic is an excellent attacking player,capable of playing through centre or on wings.His Physically imposing frame ,might come handy for Liverpool in Set-Pieces.

7.Rafael Van der Vaart(Real Madrid to Tottenham) (8.3m pounds) :

Rafael Van der Vaart was a player touted for greatness,when he arrived at Real.But after injuries plaguing his debut season,followed by arrivals of Kaka and Ozil,Vaart was forced to move elsewhere.Still,he's a brilliant player,with typical dutch class and style (not what they exhibited in WC final),and he may work out great for Harry Redknapp's Spurs,although he faces tough fight for a spot with Modric and Kranjcar.

6. Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla to Arsenal) (8m pounds) :

One of the better signings Arsene Wenger may have made this season.Squillaci,a seasoned defender,with plenty of experience,might add some much wanted steel to Gunner's defence.His arrival may be decisive in Arsenal's hunt for silverware this season.

5. Ramires (Benfica to Chelsea ) (18.3m pounds) :

Ramires was a virtually unknown player till this summer's World Cup.But,a highly impressive showing,and he's suddenly found himself moving to the English Champions.He will face tough fight for a starting place,with Essien and Mikel around,and may need a couple of years to establish himself.But, Carlo Ancelotti believes he's got a world-class player who may turn out to be the "Future of Chelsea and Brazil".

4.Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona to AC Milan) (24m euros) :

Ibra may have been a flop for Barca,but he knows too well how to score in Serie A.An outstanding striker,he has been one of the best forwards in Serie A,for Juve and Inter.And,with the price Milan got him at,24m euros (that's 40 millions less than what Barca paid for him less than a year ago.)he might be the man to take Milan back to the Elite standing in Europe.

3. David Villa ( Valencia to Barcelona) (40m euros) :

Whatever may be the price,Barca have managed to pull off one heck of a signing here.Villa is at least one of the best 3 forwards in the world,if not the best.I also think Villa's perfectly matching to Barca,he is one of the deadliest finishers on the planet,and with the creativity of the Messis,Xavis and Iniestas backing him up,we can expect an explosion of goals from the Spanish hitman.

2. Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea to Real Madrid) (6.6m pounds) :

If Jose Mourinho leads Real Madrid to much wanted Silverware this season,he will have to thank not Ronaldo or Ozil,but Ricardo Carvalho,such is the importance of his signing at Real.Madrid have had world's best attackers at their disposal for last few years,but they have lacked a Strong Centre-back,Cannavaro unfortunately failed to shine at Bernebau,but Carvalho is one of the best Central defenders in Europe,and if he manages to stay fit throughout the campaign,teams will find breaking Real's defence much more difficult.

1. Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen to Real Madrid ) (12m euros) :

People are already comparing him to Lionel Messi after a dazzling World Cup,and if you can get a player of that calibre for such paltry price,you just don't miss the chance.Ozil is young,stylish.skillful and if given proper opportunities,he might develop into one of the World's best players.Real have already got Ronaldo and Kaka,they might just have got their own Messi !!!

Guys,I have left some good players out of this like Javier Hernandes and Joe Cole and Yossi Benayoun.I agree they are good players,and may prove cunning signings,but I feel Hernandes will need time to develop,and Cole and Benayoun might have to wait and adapt.I know you'll surely disagree with me in some case.So,please DO express your opinions here.

At the First Hurdle...

The Premier League has begun in an enthralling fashion,with Champions Chelsea setting the bench-mark for others with 3 straight wins,while the biggest upset was Wigan's win over Tottenham.So,with 3 weeks gone,who's standing where,and who are the favourites for those elusive Champions League spots,here's a quick look :

Chelsea :

The Champions looked formidable in first 3 games,without conceding a single goal,while netting 14 themselves.There were huge doubts about Carlo Ancelotti's men after a heavy defeat from Man Utd in the Community Shield,but the Blues have quickly moved to remove them,following 6-0 demolitions of West Brom and Wigan by dismantling a hard-working Stoke.Drogba looks in ominous mood,Anelka is playing some heavenly stuff,and the Defence looks rock-solid.Warning to all the title contenders,The Champions do not plan to give away their crown without a fight !!!

Manchester Utd :

Apart from a disappointing show at Craven Cottage,United have looked at ease vs Newcastle and West Ham,winning comfortably. The main issue is Rooney not being upto the mark,while Hernandes is too young at the moment,but I think Dimitar Berbatov is looking superb at the moment.3 goals in last 4 matches,and his play has been stylish,the Devils might see the real "King Berba" this season.....

Arsenal :

Arsenal are another team looking brilliant from the start.Apart from a draw at Anfield,they have been pretty fluent.Arsene Wenger has done pretty shrwed business this year,getting Sebastien Squillaci and Konscieny to add strength to his defence.Walcott is looking great on the right,but the goalkeeping may still be an area to worry for the Gunners.

Liverpool :

There were high hopes from Roy Hodgeson's Liverpool this year,but Reds hav looked plain ordinary in 3 weeks.Unconvincing vs Arsenal,shambolic vs City,and just about winning against a weak West Brom.The new signings have been ordinary,with only the likes of Konchesky and Poulsen willing to join.Joe Cole was supposed to be a "marquee signing".But,he really made his mark on his debut with a red card,he may still be a success there,but Liverpool will hav to improve to finish respectably,and they need to do it Fast.......

Manchester City :

For all the huge money spent,City haven't been upto the mark at the start.Yes,the big win over Liverpool was great,but they were lucky not to get beaten by Spurs,and not so Lucky to get beaten at Sunderland.From Now on,each dropped point is going to increase pressure on Mancini,with a sword always hanging on his head.City have paid massively,but they haven't necessarily got best players,James Milner and Kolarov aren't the players who can guarantee you the titles.Yaya Toure is a Barcelona-flop,while a talented player like like Stephen Ireland had to leave to make space for the big names.Have we got another Richard Dunne in the making???