Newsgroup: it.sport.calcio.estero
Titolo: e se finisse come dice il Guardian?

The amazing (and probably inaccurate) Guardian Unlimited Premiership
predictor
Sean Ingle, Scott Murray, Nick Harper and Dan Rookwood
Friday August 15, 2003
1. Arsenal
How times change. Back in February, when Arsenal romped to a 5-1 win at
Maine Road, they looked the best team in England by a country mile. Kevin
Keegan even tipped them for the Champions League. Then injuries intervened.
Six months later the Gunners have been written off. But if Patrick Vieira,
Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell stay fit, they will be mighty hard to stop.
SI
2. Manchester United
Come on, be honest, Wenger was right: Arsenal were the better team last
season. And there's been no noticeable improvement at Old Trafford during
the summer. It's all very well buying potential, but remember Alex Ferguson
desperately tried to sign both Harry Kewell and Ronaldinho, an admission
that his worryingly Ruud-dependent attack needs improving here and now. And
don't get us started on Rio Ferdinand. Second, and out of the Champions
League the minute it becomes proper cup football. SM
3. Chelsea
Some people claim money can't buy happiness. Not true. Money can buy the
things that would put a smile on any man's face: Hand-stitched Italian
loafers, platinum membership at Stringfellow's, maybe even an island in the
sun. And if you're Chelsea, it'll buy you happiness in the shape of a big
shiny and ordinarily elusive cup. Only not this season. Because by the time
their money-hungry mercenaries have finally clicked, Arsenal and Manchester
United should be out of sight. It'll be a different story next time around,
mind, unless bored by underachievement, Roman saddles up his cash cow and
rides on out of town. NH
4. Newcastle
Like Pippa at Summer Bay Caravan Park, Bobby Robson just can't help but give
objectionable little tinkers a second chance. At Bobby's Borstal, past
misdemeanours - like players' names - are all forgotten. However, the
following factors will see their title challenge come unstuck like an
overused false moustache: the Champions League burden, Alan Shearer's age,
Laurent Robert's mouth and the Crown Prosecution Service's efficiency. DR
5. Liverpool
Harry Kewell should not play on the right wing. Igor Biscan should not play
in defence. Emile Heskey and Djimi Traore should not play on the pitch.
Michael Owen should not be forced to scamper after long aimless Hollywood
hoofs. Steven Gerrard should not always play the long aimless Hollywood
hoof. Gerard Houllier should not be manager any more. Discuss. SM
6. Manchester City
Last season, City got into Europe through the back door, via the dubious
Fair Play award. This time they could do it properly. If Michael Tarnat and
Paul Bosvelt's 30-something legs can survive a Premiership season and
Antoine Sibierski proves as good as Keegan says he is, then City are
well-equipped to kick on - despite the occasional blunder from David Seaman.
SI
7. Charlton
To paraphrase Spinal Tap mouthpiece David St Hubbins, it's such a fine line
between clever and potentially disastrous. The season-long signing of Paolo
di Canio could go either way. On the one hand he may add jazz to an
often-workmanlike collective. Then again, at the merest whiff of disrespect,
he might just stomp around the Valley in his pants and a brattish huff,
undermining the club's harmonious spirit. We're suggesting the former for
the simple reason that Alan Curbishley is not Glenn Roeder. And as
Curbishley has also stolen Ipswich's prize assets Matt Holland and Herman
Hreidarsson - probably before Newcastle could - a push for Europe lies
ahead. NH
8. Southampton
It's like the late 70s/early 80s all over again: high league placings,
appearances in cup finals, European campaigns, badly-designed garish kit.
Also, just before this analogy totally runs out of steam, can we compare the
little-and-lummox front pairing of Phillips and Beattie to Keegan and
Channon? Eh? Oh. But if Phillips can recapture his form of a couple of
seasons ago, and if Beattie keeps improving the way he's doing, the Saints
will be a match for anyone on their day. And they won't miss Wayne Bridge;
Graeme Le Saux is better than his replacement at Chelsea will ever be. SM
9. Tottenham
On paper, Spurs finally have a top-six side, especially after beefing up
their strike force with Helder Postiga, Bobby Zamora and Freddi Kanoute. But
in real life things aren't that simple. Hoddle, never the greatest
man-manager, seemed to lose his players completely last spring - and unless
the mood at White Hart Lane improves, Spurs' position won't. SI
10. Birmingham
A series of clever signings should ensure Steve Bruce's men continue to push
on after last season's late surge. We all know about Christophe Dugarry,
David Dunn and the under-rated Maik Taylor - but if Luciano Figueroa, who
was top-scorer in Argentina last season, can add some punch up front then a
European place isn't unattainable. SI
11. Aston Villa
Say what you like about David O'Leary - though not in front of the kids -
but he is a decent manager who can motivate like an excitable man in garish
spandex on TV-AM. With Juan Pablo Angel and Alpay having rediscovered the
will to live/play football since Graham Taylor's departure, mid-table
mediocrity is Villa's. They'll be fighting off the Venezuelan billionaires
with big sticks come season's end. DR
12. Blackburn
How will Rovers fare sans Duff and Dunn? That is the big question. Of course
there's enough quality at Ewood Park to finish mid-table at a canter, but
despite the signing of the decent-looking Brett Emerton, doubts remain about
Blackburn's cutting edge - Yorke and Cole aren't getting any younger, after
all. SI
13. Middlesbrough
No Geremi, Conceicao or Kevin Phillips even, but at least Middlesbrough
secured the services of Alan Wright this summer. Yes, that Alan Wright.
Despite Steve Gibson's blank-cheque policy, Steve McClaren seems to struggle
to sell the rugged charms of Teesside to foreigners, so it seems Boro will
start the new season pinning their hopes on a fully fit Juninho and the
tactical nous of the next England coach. Mid-table mediocrity ahoy! NH
14. Everton
"Rooney! Rooney! Remember the name!" You can guarantee that no Premiership
manager will forget it this season. And not just because it belongs to a boy
who looks like the bastard lovechild of Mr Potato Head and Lotney 'Sloth'
Fratelli from The Goonies. The stocky striker will be a man-marked man and
Everton's progress will wane like a lame pun as a result. DR
15. Bolton
Can burly Bolton boss Sam Allardyce save the Trotters from the drop for a
third season running? Well yes, as the position we've given them suggests.
Much will again depend on willing workhorse Youri Djorkaeff and the
fleet-but-itchy feet of Jay-Jay Okocha. The signing of two-time Golden Boot
winner Mario Jardel should also help - so long as those dark thoughts of gin
and hot baths don't return. All things considered, our tealeaves spell out
safety and progress for the Trotters. NH
16. Portsmouth
Spending £30m on the stadium when you're battling for survival is a recipe
for administration. Just ask Leicester. But with the likes of Teddy
Sheringham and Patrik Berger, Harry Redknapp looks to have reinforced his
squad sufficiently to avoid the drop. Now if he could only do the same for
his slack jaw-line. DR
17. Wolves
If Isaac Okoronkwo teaches wet-behind-the-ears prospect Joleon Lescott a
trick or two, Wolverhampton's defence should hold up to the rigours of the
Premiership, Oleg Luzhny or not. It'll need to, because the frontline of
Kenny Miller and Steffen Iversen is pretty lightweight. Meanwhile, now's the
time to say "hats off" to Dave Jones for achieving what many thought they'd
never see again in their lifetime: not top-flight football for Wolves, but
getting a few decent games in a row from Mark Kennedy. SM
18. Leeds
If Mark Viduka stays, if Alan Smith manages to stay out of trouble long
enough to score 20 goals, if James Milner establishes himself in the first
team and does a Rooney, if Jody Morris finally realises the promise he
showed years ago, if the board finally get the finances in order, if Peter
Reid manages to get the dressing room all pulling in the right direct...
actually, there are too may ifs, aren't there? SM
19. Leicester
It brings us no joy at all to predict an instant return to the Nationwide
for Leicester, what with Micky Adams being the type of no-nonsense
pig-goading man we so admire. But while the likes of Muzzy Izzet and new
signing Lilian Nalis from eternal underdogs Chievo may shine like diamonds
in dung, a strikeforce featuring Brian Deane, Paul Dickov and 62-year-old
Sir Les Ferdinand (who's not even a bona fide knight, might we add) should
ensure City are down before Easter. NH
20. Fulham
No more ground, no more money, the most inexperienced Premiership manager
since Attilio Lombardo's fateful spell at Crystal Palace in 1998, and a host
of players so embarrassed to be associated with the club that Fercundo
Sava's mask might just catch on. After last season's teasing flirtation with
relegation, this season they will put out. DR
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Inviato via 
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 20. Fulham
E queste dovrebbero essere le maggiori candidate alla lotta per la
sopravvivenza.
Il Bolton mi sembra un pochino meglio e il Leeds se non cede altro ha
l'incognita dei problemi societari ma la rosa è migliore.
Comunque salvo sorprese qui si gioca la salvezza.
-- 
Fabio5 [ICQ 175236943] Fondatore it.sport.calcio.estero * Gestore TotoISCE
#5 "Cafè Colombia F.C." - #5 "Marco Materazzi Fans Club"
#5 "Avanti con Cuper" - #5 "Mamma li turchi"
Ho un solo rimpianto nella vita: non essere qualcun altro. (Woody Allen)

Il Fri, 15 Aug 2003 14:50:19 GMT, m...@putney.london (Switters) ha esternato:
Bho, io so che i bookmakers danno favorito lo United (11/10) a seguire
l'Arsenal (9/4) poi il Chelsea (4/1).
Io spero vincano i gunners (non solo per te switty, ma cosě per cambiare e
perchč mi stanno piů simpatici dei red devils), ihmo il chelsea non si
qualifica in CL, poi come sopresa vedo l'Everton... per il resto forza
Southampton :)))
Franco

 Franco
Ti amo Baby....
-- 
"La vita non è un film, è molto meglio"
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