Can we breathe now?!

What a difference three days makes, huh?

I wonder - well, I don't really - if the first chapter in the '09/10 edition of "RAFA'S OFF" was true. Perhaps we should want more of these: I mean, two 4-0s as a result of the reported discord? Tempting, but I'll take a 1-0 and less stress any day.

In my opinion, everyone's looking a bit shaky bar Spurs (and do we really expect them to keep going like this?). I just know with all the hand-wringing about on-the-pitch affairs the last couple of days, I know who's probably feeling the more upset between us and Manc fans right now. The champeens (with 80m in the coffers that Fergie was supposedly free to spend before anyone forgets) couldn't muster a goal from its far-from-bargain basement strike force, and "the best central midfielder in England" [or is it Europe? Sorry, I forget] missed a penalty. You have to laugh - mainly because it is funny but also because you know we'd never hear the end of it.

I mean, Whiskynose should just resign right now as clearly their season's over as ours was Sunday night ... right? Uh huh.

Anyway, outstanding team performance today - as good as Sunday's was lackluster. Ayala did well in his first senior start (though it sounds like that might be it for him with Kyrgiakos on his way) and we kept the clean sheet. Tons of movement - tons of short crisp passes and some cheeky clever ones as well (Masch's to Gerrard for the 3rd was fab) - and we generally played like the title challengers we were last season. Oh except that we *beat* Stoke this time...


And Glen, you are definitely winning me over.... But I am a sucker for a man with dreads who does a mad Peter Crouch imitation.

Bring on the Villains.

And so it begins again...

With a bunch of Saturday matches to get through in the meantime...oh well. I can wait another 24 hours.

I've no idea what to expect on Sunday - I've done no post-mortems on Xabi's and Big Al's departures but obviously both will require some adjustments. I'm certainly not comparing Arbeloa to Alonso in terms of overall quality - I'm not that crazy - but a solid defender who got forward as often as possible (with a decent cross no less) who could also play anywhere along the back if needed is nothing to take lightly. (And don't think it didn't cross my mind once or twice when both Martin and Danny got crocked - chances would've been pretty good I think that we'd have seen AA partnering Jamie this weekend.)

I wish them both well and thank them for their service - particularly Passmaster Xabi - while hoping Real win absolutely NOTHING this season.

I look forward to a big season from "Number 21, Lucas Leiva" (a RAWKite-penned song that hopefully makes its debut at WHL this weekend) - no, he's not Xabi. (The fact he's shorter and blonder should be a giveaway for most.) His inclusion makes us a different team and I am frankly chomping at the bit to see how the interplay between him, Kuyt, Benny and of course Steven, develops over the season. Yes, I know the other AA is waiting in the wings but imo, Aquilani's signing does *not* signal the end of Lucas - it will just open up "more possibilities", no?

Head is telling me draw against the Spurs but I'm going to say 1-2 anyway with Kuyt and Torres opening their accounts. I expect some defensive nerve-jangling but if we get through this and Villa next week without shipping goals, I think we can start feeling very good about our chances, especially as we'll soon be welcoming some of our injured players back into the fold.

I didn't really think I was ready - a few more weeks of responsible behavior would've been nice and greatly appreciated by those nearest and dearest - but now that it's here, bring it on.

COME ON YOU REDMEN!!