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Radio City's Alan Irwin

Posts: 61

Alan Irwin is the Voice of Everton for Liverpool's Radio City 96.7. An experienced radio journalist, Alan commentates on all of the Blues' matches and is well placed to provide insightful blogs on the progress of the team.

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Isn't it great to get back to 'real' football?

As much as I enjoy time off in the summer months I simply can’t wait for the big kick off.

At last we can escape from the meaningless friendlies, which, let's face it, just don't cut the mustard.

We can now escape from the utter drivel that’s spouted throughout the course of the summer that fills the back pages and we can escape from our spouses and the dreaded weekend shopping!!

In fairness, this season’s summer recess hasn’t felt as long as some previous breaks (probably because our season ran until 30 May!) and that’s without a major international tournament this year.

However, I am delighted that come Saturday we’ll at last be up and running.

We simply can’t afford another start to the season like the last campaign though.

Arsenal will be tough and unlike a few others I’ve listened to I’m not writing them off this season. They’ve too much talent not to be there or thereabouts when it really matters.

We’ve got talent too. Unfortunately a fair portion of it is unavailable. With the likes of Mikel Arteta, Phil Jagielka and Yakubu still some way off first-team action we need all eleven starters on Saturday to be at their very best. And that’s difficult on day one of a new season.

It sounds like I’m talking myself into accepting a point already and, maybe, just maybe, I would!!!

August will prove a testing opening month. I can't wait! Football is back!