SoccerBlogs

Plus ça change. As ever, it impossible to even attempt to frame the start of the new season in the Blue Square Premier without talking, in more detail than even we might particularly want to, about the financial condition football's de facto fifth division. This summer saw the expulsion and subsequent folding of Rushden & Diamonds, which was followed by the bizarre and in some respects unedifying sight of Imraan Ladak hastily moving their former rivals Kettering Town into their ground, a chaotic couple of months at Wrexham which led to a desperate race against time in order to keep the club alive, and the lingering suspicion that there are a number of clubs playing at this level that are still struggling to come to terms with the new, tougher financial regulations that have been introduced in this league by the Football Conference.

Arsenal's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Benfica was not the only object of manager Arsene Wenger's concern this weekend as he was left sweating over the knocks that some of his key players took ahead of the season opener in less than a week.

Forward Robin van Persie, full-back Kieran Gibbs, and injury prone center-half Thomas Vermaelen have all reportedly joined Jack Wilshere in a race against time to be fully fit when the Gunners take the field against Newcastle United at St.

Although Frank Lampard was publicly declared as a doubt by Carlo Ancelotti the day before Chelsea's seasoner opener at home to West Bromwich Albion, few outside the club knew that it was more than just a knock bothering the 32-year old midfielder.

The general perception was that Lampard was suffering from fatigue after England's midweek friendly against Hungary and subsequently aggravated his condition during a training session on Thursday.

German midfielder Michael Ballack faces a race against time following his injury against Portsmouth in today's FA Cup final. Ballack, who captains his country, was the victim of a badly timed tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng that left the midfielder writhing in pain, and the ankle injury could force him to miss out on next month's World Cup.

Here's the 30-player squad.

Charlies Davies lost his race against time to get fit for the tournament.

Big SoCal representation including the Galaxy's Edson Buddle, Los Angeles native Herculez Gomez (although both were initially left off this 28! player list from U.S. Soccer that has now been updated), Rolling Hills Estates' Robbie Rogers of the Columbus Crew, Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein of Los Alamitos and Sacha Kljestan of Huntington Beach, Fontana's Maurice Edu and Riverside's Chad Marshall.

For anyone not familiar with the company called Panini, they don't make sandwiches, they make football trading cards and stickers. Recently, they've released their 20 player Euro 2012 set, effectively "calling up" 20 Italian players, even if Prandelli will actually call up 23. Glaring omissions included Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi, since it was a race against time for them to achieve match fitness.

Sitting and fiddling with the code for this site this evening, in the back of my mind was a familiar old concern. What if I make an absolute hash of something on here mess it all up. It has happened before, and there are no words that can accurately describe that heart-in-the-throat sinking feeling that comes with the knowledge that something has gone horribly wrong which frantically pressing "Control" and "Z" can't rectify.