We lost. To CSKA Sofia. 1-0. Though our aggregate was 3-2. So what?? I didn't play. Luis did, as a sub. Stevie was injured. And on Friday, we face CSKA Moscow in Monaco at Stade Louis II. Why aren't we performing?? We are European Champions. We should be playing like European Champions. Not like 5th-place finishers at the English Premier League. True, Rafa did field a second-best team, but still, those players should be playing with their hearts on their sleeves. We're lucky to be able to scrap through like that. Oyy, buck up lahh, team.

Okay, here are the players to watch & young guns from each of the 21 (if I'm not wrong) teams in the English Premier League:

West Ham:
Player to Watch - Teddy Sheringham
Young Gun - Mark Noble

Wigan Athletic
Player to Watch - Jimmy Bullard
Young Gun - Leighton Baines

Sunderland
Player to Watch - Julio Arca
Young Gun - Stephen Elliot

West Bromwich Albion
Player to Watch - Zolta Gera
Young Gun - Richard Chaplow

Tottenham Hotspur
Player to Watch - Edgar Davids
Young Gun - Tom Huddlestone

Portsmouth
Player to Watch - Lauren Robert
Young Gun - Collins Mbesuma

Newcastle United
Player to Watch - Scott Parker
Young Gun - Steven Taylor

Middlesbrough
Player to Watch - Yakubu
Young Gun - Matthew Bates

Manchester United
Player to Watch - Edwin van Der Sar
Young Gun - Giuseppe Rossi

Manchester City
Player to Watch - Darius Vassell
Young Gun - Nedum Onuoha

Liverpool
Player to Watch - Xabi Alonso (me, me!!)
Young Gun - Mohamed Sissoko

Fulham
Player to Watch - Sylvain Legwinski
Young Gun - Collins John

Everton
Player to Watch - Tim Cahill
Young Gun - James Vaughan

Chelsea
Player to Watch - Hernan Crespo
Young Gun - Lassana Diarra

Charlton Athletic
Player to Watch - Alexei Smertin
Young Gun - Osei Sankofa

Bolton Wanderers
Player to Watch - Jared Borghetti
Young Gun - Joey O'Brien

Blackburn Rovers
Player to Watch - Morten Ganst Pedersen
Young Gun - Matt Derbyshire

Birmingham City
Player to Watch - Mikael Forssell
Young Gun - Neil Kilkenny

Aston Villa
Player to Watch - Kevin Phillips
Young Gun - Steven Davis

Arsenal
Player to Watch - Aleksander Hleb
Young Gun - Quincy Owusu-Abeyie

All courtesy of ESPNsoccer.com, as usual. Where else do I get my info from, if not there?? If the names of most of the players seem unfamiliar to you, don't worry. They're unfamiliar to me too.

Transfer market is drawing to an end, with the windows closing on the 31st August. Good luck to those whom are chasing Michael Owen to come back to the Premiership. I have little doubt that he would, even though he's miserable at Real Madrid. Bosses whom are out there finding those needed players like Rafa, who needs defence & Fergie who needs midfield; all the best in finding your wanted players. Hopefully you don't waste your money on a transfer that will end up being lousy. And sell those players whom you think is more of a liability than an asset to the team, e.g. Milan Baros. Whoops!!

Here's a little snippet I found on the web, about us 'Pool players & of course, our coach:

Ra ra ra Rafa Benitez,
Ra ra ra Rafa Benitez,
Xabi Alonso, Garcia and Nunez,
Rafa Benitez, Rafa Benitez.

Ahahahakz!! So lame, but never mind. I don't know who composed it or anything, but thanks anywayz. As usual, been thinking of doing a photoblog, but I just can't bring myself to keep rearranging photos; it's irritating & I hate it. But, I'd do it if it makes readers happy. Of course, they're all soccer pics for now because I don't have my hard disk with me.

Tonight's game features me as Ruud van Nistelrooy (whahahahakz!! So egoistically nonsensical!!) playing for Manchester United versus Debrecen of Hungary. We are travelling to Budapest to some stadium that I can't remember the name because the previous stadium that we were supposed to play & train in is waterlogged. I hope I score some more goals to add to my goal count. Should be a cool match. Considering it's Champions League. Ahahahahkz!!

Laterz...
Lenny JC