10 Most Exciting Players & Storylines of 19/20
Weeeee're baaaack!
And so is football season, with the start of the Premier League under a few weeks away and one of the most bizarre transfer windows ever coming to a close.
Real Madrid bought the stars in Eden Hazard and Ferland Mendy, Barcelona nabbed Antoine Griezmann after a year and a half long saga and everyone from Spurs (whaaaa??? They bought someone?!), City and Dortmund have all improved by filling gaps with more promising specimen.
We have many questions going into 2019/20, like Will VAR ruin an even more epic Champions League tie this season? Will comebacks reign supreme again in Europe? Where do Liverpool go from here? How many matches will Valverde last before he's finally fired? Where will Neymar take his acting career?
We tell all!
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10.
THE GRIEZMANN SAGA: WILL IT EVER END?
With news of Atletico Madrid launching a plea to La Liga in hopes they'll either force Barcelona to pay an extra €80 million or deny the World Cup winner his league license, the Griezmann saga hasn't stopped, even after the Frenchman has made two appearances for his new club.
This is due to his dealings with Barcelona before his contract expired on July 1st, with Barca president Josep-Maria Bartomeu's arrogant confession about "the deal being settled between Griezmann and his people in March" stoking the fires on the eve of his arrival to the Catalan club.
Due to Bartomeu's flippant, stubborn and maddening board, they may have bungled their biggest ever signing and crippled the club financially at a time when they haven't even begun to address their depth in specific positions.If La Liga refuse to hand over Griezmann's license, Barcelona would then feasibly have two choices: either pay €80 million to Atletico and forgo anymore signings (at least in this window), or only use Griezmann in Champions League play as he would then be ineligible for La Liga without a license. And if La Liga hand Griezmann the all clear to play, perhaps Atletico are shrewd enough to slay a giant by sending their case all the way to UEFA.
Now according to journalist William Roberto, it seems Barcelona have settled the Griezmann matter out of courts, hopefully with a resolution coming soon so that the player, and both of these fantastic clubs, can finally move on.
Bartomeu better hope to hell there's no evidence of tampering pre-July 1st and he better be doing everything to satiate Atletico's bloodlust. Though if we were to bet, we'd put our money on Bartomeu's board of rogue money-eaters bungling this transfer before it even happened.
9.
HAS VALVERDE ACTUALLY
LEARNED HIS LESSON????
OR ARE WE KIDDING OURSELVES?
In recent months, the erratic and under-fire Barca manager Ernesto Valverde has said all the right things: moving Roberto to midfield, announcing that Rakitic "may not be in our plans" (a complete 180 from his previous obsessions with the Croatian), the promotion of Caries Alena, Moussa Wague and Jean-Claire Todibo, the opportunities he claims "will come" for Riqui Puig and his supposed new found dedication to starting and trusting Ousmane Dembele and Nelson Semedo are all fantastic turns of events...considering we're apparently stuck with this guy (and this board).
But his continued pursuit of Neymar makes him look as if he's an aging Captain Ahab overcompensating for the well established fact that he's a god awful trainer and manager.
The Neymar pursuit is a pointless exercise and ignores the bevy of world class players Valverde already has at his disposal, players who've proven more effective in playing the Barca way already (Dembele and Malcolm both move the ball quickly, combine with midfielders and rarely slow down attacks with theatrics).
Now that Malcolm may be sold off to Zenit St. Petersburg for €40 million, Valverde has bigger things to worry about, including cries for the unaffordable Neymar...but mostly, Valverde needs to worry about keeping his job until the end of September.
HAS VALVERDE ACTUALLY
LEARNED HIS LESSON????
OR ARE WE KIDDING OURSELVES?
In recent months, the erratic and under-fire Barca manager Ernesto Valverde has said all the right things: moving Roberto to midfield, announcing that Rakitic "may not be in our plans" (a complete 180 from his previous obsessions with the Croatian), the promotion of Caries Alena, Moussa Wague and Jean-Claire Todibo, the opportunities he claims "will come" for Riqui Puig and his supposed new found dedication to starting and trusting Ousmane Dembele and Nelson Semedo are all fantastic turns of events...considering we're apparently stuck with this guy (and this board).
But his continued pursuit of Neymar makes him look as if he's an aging Captain Ahab overcompensating for the well established fact that he's a god awful trainer and manager. The Neymar pursuit is a pointless exercise and ignores the bevy of world class players Valverde already has at his disposal, players who've proven more effective in playing the Barca way already (Dembele and Malcolm both move the ball quickly, combine with midfielders and rarely slow down attacks with theatrics).
Now that Malcolm may be sold off to Zenit St. Petersburg for €40 million, Valverde has bigger things to worry about, including cries for the unaffordable Neymar...but mostly, Valverde needs to worry about keeping his job until the end of September.
8.
RODRI, NDOMBELE OR FRENKIE:
WHICH YOUNG MIDFIELDER WILL HAVE A BETTER FIRST SEASON AT THEIR NEW CLUB?
All three of these highly priced (and prized) young central and defensive midfielders made big moves to clubs of higher statures: the Frenchman Tanguay Ndombele went from Lyon to Tottenham after a hardcore Premier League vs PSG bidding war, Rodri was swayed by Guardiola's City project amid feigned interest from Barcelona and Frenkie De Jong signed with the Catalans before the summer even started.
They'll all most likely turn out to be players of certifiable class and longevity, yet we know from experience that sometimes football doesn't work out the way it should. Catastrophic injuries, loss of a starting role after a string of poor performances and loss of form have always been the culprits as to why plenty of big money transfers never go as planned.
Barring injuries, we feel every single one of these versatile central midfielders will perform and influence their new clubs drastically.
Frenkie De Jong will be scary good and will give Messi the midfield backup he's been missing since the departure of Iniesta;
Rodri will prove himself (amid growing pains with the pace of the Premier League) and will find himself scrapping for time against Fernandinho; And in London, Tanguay Ndombele will have moments of anonymity combined with true class, running the Spurs midfield with a filthy all around game.
Frenkie 8.5/10
Rodri 7/10
Ndombele 8/10
RODRI, NDOMBELE OR FRENKIE:
WHICH YOUNG MIDFIELDER WILL HAVE A BETTER FIRST SEASON AT THEIR NEW CLUB?
All three of these highly priced (and prized) young central and defensive midfielders made big moves to clubs of higher statures: the Frenchman Tanguay Ndombele went from Lyon to Tottenham after a hardcore Premier League vs PSG bidding war, Rodri was swayed by Guardiola's City project amid feigned interest from Barcelona and Frenkie De Jong signed with the Catalans before the summer even started.
They'll all most likely turn out to be players of certifiable class and longevity, yet we know from experience that sometimes football doesn't work out the way it should. Catastrophic injuries, loss of a starting role after a string of poor performances and loss of form have always been the culprits as to why plenty of big money transfers never go as planned.
Barring injuries, we feel every single one of these versatile central midfielders will perform and influence their new clubs drastically.
Frenkie De Jong will be scary good and will give Messi the midfield backup he's been missing since the departure of Iniesta;
Rodri will prove himself (amid growing pains with the pace of the Premier League) and will find himself scrapping for time against Fernandinho; And in London, Tanguay Ndombele will have moments of anonymity combined with true class, running the Spurs midfield with a filthy all around game.
Frenkie 8.5/10
Rodri 7/10
Ndombele 8/10
7.
REAL MADRID:
LIMITLESS POTENTIAL,
OR POTENTIAL SHAMBLES?
Without paying any attention to a preseason result (the 7-3 debacle against Atletico Madrid), it is apparent that the honeymoon period has ended.
We all believed Real Madrid's new transfers equaled a divine right to the Champions League for the next five years, but most of us (especially Madrid fans) better wake up.
The worrying signs of last season's apathy and inner-squad disgust have continued into preseason, even with new faces Eden Hazard, the now injured Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy bolstering the veteran squad.
For starters, Hazard is too passive and "cool" to be a leader in this dressing room of oblivion...and the team is lined with leftover mutinous veterans like Marcelo, Bale and Modric, a worrying distraction for any manager. Will they buy into Zidane again?
And the man who runs the show, the manager with a record as flawless as his bald dome, seems out of his depth for the first time ever.
Zidane has half a squad he no longer wants, some great new talent who couldn't make it through preseason unscathed (Jovic is already injured and Marco Asensio's knee ligament tear contains the most concern) or they've come in overweight (Hazard) and to top it off, another bloated transfer mess involving Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez that would provide enough stress to kill an elephant (Zidane exclaims: "These two are still here?!?!").
Still, we don't feel bad for Zissou: he has some outstanding options to call upon all over the squad list.
However, we don't envy his position in navigating the intricacies of Florentino Perez's ridiculous contract situations across the top heavy unit.
Just as Valverde with Barcelona, Zidane could easily be sidetracked by the madness surrounding the club, yet his pedigree doesn't point to these issues being a problem.
Quite simply, whether he stays or goes, succeeds or fails, plays or doesn't, Gareth Bale is a luxury player and one Real Madrid may be forced to pay.
What a fragile club.
REAL MADRID:
LIMITLESS POTENTIAL,
OR POTENTIAL SHAMBLES?
Without paying any attention to a preseason result (the 7-3 debacle against Atletico Madrid), it is apparent that the honeymoon period has ended.
We all believed Real Madrid's new transfers equaled a divine right to the Champions League for the next five years, but most of us (especially Madrid fans) better wake up.
The worrying signs of last season's apathy and inner-squad disgust have continued into preseason, even with new faces Eden Hazard, the now injured Luka Jovic and Ferland Mendy bolstering the veteran squad.
For starters, Hazard is too passive and "cool" to be a leader in this dressing room of oblivion...and the team is lined with leftover mutinous veterans like Marcelo, Bale and Modric, a worrying distraction for any manager. Will they buy into Zidane again?And the man who runs the show, the manager with a record as flawless as his bald dome, seems out of his depth for the first time ever.
Zidane has half a squad he no longer wants, some great new talent who couldn't make it through preseason unscathed (Jovic is already injured and Marco Asensio's knee ligament tear contains the most concern) or they've come in overweight (Hazard) and to top it off, another bloated transfer mess involving Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez that would provide enough stress to kill an elephant (Zidane exclaims: "These two are still here?!?!").
Still, we don't feel bad for Zissou: he has some outstanding options to call upon all over the squad list.
Just as Valverde with Barcelona, Zidane could easily be sidetracked by the madness surrounding the club, yet his pedigree doesn't point to these issues being a problem.
Quite simply, whether he stays or goes, succeeds or fails, plays or doesn't, Gareth Bale is a luxury player and one Real Madrid may be forced to pay.
What a fragile club.
6.
WILL DE LIGT'S MOVE TO JUVENTUS PAY DIVIDENDS?
OR BLOW UP IN HIS FACE?
The young Dutchman spurned the chance to learn under veteran defensive master Gerard Pique at Barcelona, probably fearing he would become lost in the shuffle of the Catalan club's trio of French center backs (Umtiti, Lenglet, Todibo).
Or perhaps it was because of his agent Mino Raiola's hatred for all things Barcelona?
It seems that when the owners of De Ligt's imaging / sporting rights and business interests became aligned with the ambitious new-look and marketing strategy of Juventus, the deal became only a formality.
He ignored the pro-Barca advice from everyone to his national team manager Ronald Koeman, his family, his former teammate Frenkie De Jong and of course Ajax's sporting director (former Barca master) Marc Overmars, shocking us all when we took off to Italy.
Really, Matty?
Learning the art of defending under Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, both well past their prime, isn't comparable to the class of Gerard Pique. With the tools and attributes De Ligt has, Barcelona was the only logical move to expand those world class traits. One may be concerned that his lateral move to Juve may waste his anticipatory skills, his reading of the game and his natural on-the-ball talents.
If pure playing time is what De Ligt was concerned about, then Juventus may have been his best bet. And with his propensity to allow own goals or commit errors becoming a pattern, he may have found it hard to nail down a constant spot next to Pique in a back four anyway, at least for the duration of this campaign (that looks crazy in writing, but with a World Cup winner who's a starter and Clement Lenglet as options, moves would be made after a few bad outings).
But in Turin, De Ligt will be left alone to play, make mistakes and learn.
And with all of those ready-made options in Barcelona's defensive corps, De Ligt was never a realistic option regardless of affordability: His agent was never letting it happen.
WILL DE LIGT'S MOVE TO JUVENTUS PAY DIVIDENDS?
OR BLOW UP IN HIS FACE?
The young Dutchman spurned the chance to learn under veteran defensive master Gerard Pique at Barcelona, probably fearing he would become lost in the shuffle of the Catalan club's trio of French center backs (Umtiti, Lenglet, Todibo).
Or perhaps it was because of his agent Mino Raiola's hatred for all things Barcelona?
It seems that when the owners of De Ligt's imaging / sporting rights and business interests became aligned with the ambitious new-look and marketing strategy of Juventus, the deal became only a formality.
He ignored the pro-Barca advice from everyone to his national team manager Ronald Koeman, his family, his former teammate Frenkie De Jong and of course Ajax's sporting director (former Barca master) Marc Overmars, shocking us all when we took off to Italy.
Really, Matty? Learning the art of defending under Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, both well past their prime, isn't comparable to the class of Gerard Pique. With the tools and attributes De Ligt has, Barcelona was the only logical move to expand those world class traits. One may be concerned that his lateral move to Juve may waste his anticipatory skills, his reading of the game and his natural on-the-ball talents.
If pure playing time is what De Ligt was concerned about, then Juventus may have been his best bet. And with his propensity to allow own goals or commit errors becoming a pattern, he may have found it hard to nail down a constant spot next to Pique in a back four anyway, at least for the duration of this campaign (that looks crazy in writing, but with a World Cup winner who's a starter and Clement Lenglet as options, moves would be made after a few bad outings).
But in Turin, De Ligt will be left alone to play, make mistakes and learn.
And with all of those ready-made options in Barcelona's defensive corps, De Ligt was never a realistic option regardless of affordability: His agent was never letting it happen.
I have a feeling Juventus will be good, though not quite delivering on this Twitter hype and the former Ajax captain will struggle in patches, including in Europe.
Can he respond to the humbling?
Can he respond to the humbling?
5.
IS MESSI CURSED?
OR JUST TOO GOOD THAT
EVEN GOD STEPS OUT OF HIS WAY?
When can this guy catch a break?
Entering this summer's Copa America, Messi had endured maniacal heartbreak for two seasons running, both Champions League collapses firmly at the feet of manager Ernesto Valverde's idiocy as Barca collapsed with 3 goal leads at Anfield and Rome...still, 2019 was worse.
We've never seen Messi that depressed before, that low...it was as if the punishment from losing 3 consecutive finals, plus the Roma defeat were all toppled on to his shoulders and he was forced to watch From Justin To Kelly all at once as he walked off the pitch at Anfield to a chorus of "You'll Never Walk Alone".
Indeed, Messi truly walked alone at that moment...
his teammates and coach betraying him in the glare of the bright lights and with one hand on the UCL trophy...
Needless to say, going into Brazil for the 2019 Copa America, with a clueless new manager leaving the best players at home (Ale Gomez, Banega, Ruilli), memories of Argentina's awful 2018 World Cup campaign and the disarray of their federation still market fresh, we expected more heartbreak for Messi.
Then Neymar's injury at the dawn of the tournament opened the floodgates for unnecessary added pressure on Argentina. Now that Neymar was out of the way, intense rivals Chile were gassed from going deep in 4 tournaments in 5 years, and only Uruguay or Columbia looking to challenge them, this was the Copa America Messi had to win.
Yes, his national team had a mostly listless Copa America this summer and even when they showed drive, fight and improved performances, they were harshly punished.
In the titanic semifinal vs Brazil (that more than lived up to the hype) referee Roddy Zambrano denied a clear Aguero penalty resulting from a dangerous Messi through ball (that would've also given Dani Alves, the engineer of that 2nd Brazil goal only a few passes after, his second yellow card).
This one decision completely altered the match and handed it to Brazil, much to the eternal frustration of Leo Messi, especially since the Argentine was only cruelly denied by his one real foe: the post.
To make matters worse, he was defiant in defeat and deservedly so: Brazil didn't earn victory over
Argentina that day, not even close and Messi made sure everyone knew it when he was explicitly vocal about the shambolic, scandalous refereeing.
This rare expression of disdain was so biting, it came back to haunt him in the 3rd place match vs Chile, truly one of the most surreal and disgusting moments in international footballing history that shows how and why Lionel Messi is cursed by his own greatness, mastery and intelligence.
Argentina had revenge on their mind after losing the last two Copa America finals to Chile
and they started out ravenous, going 2-0 up before Sanchez, Vidal and Aranguiz had a chance to blink. Messi was proving untouchable against the beleaguered Chilean veterans, sending in a filthy long ball assist to Aguero (from a quickly taken free kick) and was commanding their entire defense with his each and every whim.
Knowing Messi like I do, we were in for his greatest tournament performance in an Argentina uniform, only for us to be robbed at the half hour mark. In one ridiculous moment, we were stripped of an actual chance for history in a 3rd place match, witnessed the best player in the world taken from us for non-violent protest and most importantly, the wrong call was made:
Lionel Messi was red carded after being repeatedly head-butted by a lunatic looking Gary Medel. The Chilean defender was so out of control he proceeded to shove his head into Messi even as the ref held the red card aloft, a scene too bizarre to have been true.
Did that happen???
We thought surely, in the ensuing confusion, that the red was only Medel's, right? It would be criminal to send Messi off in this situation, right???
He simply embarrasses those who fall or fail before him simply by existing and he does this in such a way that (given the right size of ego) certain people cannot accept it...and the Copa America referees this summer were the most responsible for ruining this summer's tournament.
Lionel Messi is bar none the unluckiest footballer of all time, especially given his litany of personal and club achievements, though we feel Messi is
on the cusp of something special upon Griezmann's arrival at Camp Nou.
Though if we go yet another season watching Messi dominates all-comers, registering eye popping stats and continually altering the things we consider possible on a football pitch, only for Valverde's Barcelona to collapse once again in the final stages, we'll wonder if Messi is just simply cursed.
IS MESSI CURSED?
OR JUST TOO GOOD THAT
EVEN GOD STEPS OUT OF HIS WAY?
When can this guy catch a break?
Entering this summer's Copa America, Messi had endured maniacal heartbreak for two seasons running, both Champions League collapses firmly at the feet of manager Ernesto Valverde's idiocy as Barca collapsed with 3 goal leads at Anfield and Rome...still, 2019 was worse.
We've never seen Messi that depressed before, that low...it was as if the punishment from losing 3 consecutive finals, plus the Roma defeat were all toppled on to his shoulders and he was forced to watch From Justin To Kelly all at once as he walked off the pitch at Anfield to a chorus of "You'll Never Walk Alone".
Indeed, Messi truly walked alone at that moment...
Needless to say, going into Brazil for the 2019 Copa America, with a clueless new manager leaving the best players at home (Ale Gomez, Banega, Ruilli), memories of Argentina's awful 2018 World Cup campaign and the disarray of their federation still market fresh, we expected more heartbreak for Messi.
Then Neymar's injury at the dawn of the tournament opened the floodgates for unnecessary added pressure on Argentina. Now that Neymar was out of the way, intense rivals Chile were gassed from going deep in 4 tournaments in 5 years, and only Uruguay or Columbia looking to challenge them, this was the Copa America Messi had to win.
Yes, his national team had a mostly listless Copa America this summer and even when they showed drive, fight and improved performances, they were harshly punished.
This one decision completely altered the match and handed it to Brazil, much to the eternal frustration of Leo Messi, especially since the Argentine was only cruelly denied by his one real foe: the post.
To make matters worse, he was defiant in defeat and deservedly so: Brazil didn't earn victory over
This rare expression of disdain was so biting, it came back to haunt him in the 3rd place match vs Chile, truly one of the most surreal and disgusting moments in international footballing history that shows how and why Lionel Messi is cursed by his own greatness, mastery and intelligence.
Argentina had revenge on their mind after losing the last two Copa America finals to Chile
Knowing Messi like I do, we were in for his greatest tournament performance in an Argentina uniform, only for us to be robbed at the half hour mark. In one ridiculous moment, we were stripped of an actual chance for history in a 3rd place match, witnessed the best player in the world taken from us for non-violent protest and most importantly, the wrong call was made:
Did that happen???
We thought surely, in the ensuing confusion, that the red was only Medel's, right? It would be criminal to send Messi off in this situation, right???
He simply embarrasses those who fall or fail before him simply by existing and he does this in such a way that (given the right size of ego) certain people cannot accept it...and the Copa America referees this summer were the most responsible for ruining this summer's tournament.
Lionel Messi is bar none the unluckiest footballer of all time, especially given his litany of personal and club achievements, though we feel Messi is
Though if we go yet another season watching Messi dominates all-comers, registering eye popping stats and continually altering the things we consider possible on a football pitch, only for Valverde's Barcelona to collapse once again in the final stages, we'll wonder if Messi is just simply cursed.
Last season was roundly considered a success for Guardiola's City project, though a domestic treble only hints at the promise within.
This is a team that was impossible to beat on nearly every occasion: home or away, with or without Aguero, Sane, Mahrez, David Silva or Jesus, it almost didn't matter who was playing, as long as Bernardo and Raheem Sterling were present.
However Guardiola's obsession with starting Kevin De Bruyne in meaningless cup competitions cost City dearly as the main man was hampered with injuries throughout the season, even as he grabbed 6 assists and a goal across a three match run (including 3 in the first half against Tottenham alone).Critical injuries to Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho also cost City in the final stretch as well, all three of these crucial starters being run into the ground over the course of 50+ matches a season (their preponderance of muscle injuries proves this beyond a reasonable doubt. This is something that ruined Guardiola's time at Bayern with his uber-demands).
Given such a massive squad, this Champions League failure is absolutely on Pep Guardiola for disregarding his players' health and fitness, burning nearly every one of them out by season's end (with Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva only granted minimal rest).
With such a balanced, gifted and disciplined squad to pick from and only a Kane-less Spurs squad and a young Ajax side in their way of a first ever Champions League final last season, Guardiola dropped the ball in a catastrophic way that may be remembered for a long time...that is unless City claim the Champions League this season.City have a lot of work to do in 2019/2020: with the bar set so high, anything other than a domestic treble and a Champions League title would be a failure.
3.
THE MOST UNDER THE RADAR CLUB?
While Barcelona and Real Madrid continue their transfer market arms race against each other, City stockpile talent as if they were PokeMon cards, Liverpool rest easy and dig deep into their foxhole and Bayern Munich price themselves out of every available young world class attacker, there have been smaller clubs operating at an astute level in this summer's transfer window, sealing huge purchases on small budgets that's made the transfer practises of the big boys feel as archaic as they are.
Borussia Dortmund have had a great summer of business, only losing Abdou Diallo and Christian Pulisic (already deemed surplus to requirements last season) and gaining two of the best young Bundesliga talents in Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard, weakening domestic rivals Leverkeusen and Monchengladbach in the process.
To further hurt other German clubs, they stole back former defender Mats Hummels from Bayern (someone who could coach up Akanji and Zagadou in defense) and also plugging a gap in the team, Favre scouted and sealed extremely promising young German left back, former Hoffenheim man Nico Schulz.
Such smart business from Lucien Favre and Joachim Watzke, as the Dortmund defense was either resolute and unbreakable or they were more leaky than the Trump administration.
While Atletico may have lost their prized asset, they always seem to come out on top. Simeone dove into the market and grabbed Joao Felix for over 100 million, Spurs right back Kierian Trippier, stole Real Madrid's extremely underrated and undervalued defensive mid Marcos Llorente to plug the hole left by Rodri and have shored up holes all across their team.
Atletico look like a different specimen, and with Thomas Lemar looking to prove himself this season, Joao Felix stealing the show with 1 goal and 2 silly assists vs Real Madrid, all looks right in Diego Simeone's corner.
Arsenal haven't made the splashes their fans or critics would've liked (include me among them: where the hell is a defender or two?) but with the capture of Spurs target Dani Ceballos (a tricky Spanish midfielder in the Cesc mould) and breathtaking Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, they've only bolstered their attacking quality
by a country mile.
Perhaps Unai Emery will have to mix and match his piecemeal defense game to game, though with these forward options and a young midfield core of Torreira and Ceballos, Arsenal could pose so many questions to opponents through their attack. And as we've seen, sometimes having a Grade A attack can make up for a shambolic defense, if the forward players will press and work from the front.
Meanwhile, another club we must mention is Inter Milan.
Inter has a lot of rumors tilted their way, nothing completely concrete, though their ambition in Serie A is keeping everyone on notice. They've already grabbed Antonio Conte, the magician who always seems to win league titles in his first season, with strong rumors linking them to striker Romelu Lukaku, a striker Conte has made no secret in coveting. Roma's Eden Dzeko is also on the cards, as long as Inter send Icardi their way in return.
But their real strengths have been in the midfield. This is where they've already boasted depth prior to Conte's arrival, but since then they've added Italian Nicolo Barella, Sassuolo's Sensi on loan and Mathias Vecino.
And in defense to pair up with Milan Skriniar is Uruguayan colossus Diego Godin, a player who immediately raises the level of everyone around him and a fantastic piece of business from Conte.
Will they still grab Lukaku or Eden Dzeko? Sell Icardi or keep the striker with a bruised ego and crazy wife?
One of these clubs will win the league title this season And we bet on Borussia Dortmund taking over Bayern's Bundesliga monopoly now that they're fully loaded with the best attackers in Germany on one squad: Sancho, Reus, Brandt, Thorgan and more.
And you're hearing it here first.
2.
CAN LIVERPOOL REPEAT IN THE UCL?
OR WILL THEY PUT ALL OF THEIR EGGS IN THE EPL BASKET?
Jurgen Klopp knows what his team are facing, although he's never felt the high octane brutality of having everyone hunting you.
Liverpool used to be the lovable underdogs, but since their come from behind miracle against Barcelona and their dominating, bruisingly professional performance in the Champions League final, they're now title winners, not just contenders, and the stakes have been raised.
Not just from the fans, or the pundits, the Liverpool players must raise the stakes as well. They are at an important and historic juncture: the phase in which champions fade to the monopoly of time and dynasties move forward.
Liverpool have the establishment, the core, the unbreakable philosophy, the consistent management and the mentality of a dynasty in its embryonic stage,
however the question remains: how bad do the Liverpool players want it?
And after two seasons of pressing their lungs to the point of bursting as they went to back to back Champions League finals, coupled with the interim summer tournaments, do the players have the physical fitness to make it three?
And to you Reds fans: will anything be acceptable outside of the Premier League title?
1.
BEST AVAILABLE PLAYERS ON THE MARKET?
PAUL POGBA (UNITED)
NEYMAR (PSG)
COUTINHO (BARCA)
HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX)
HARRY MAGUIRE (LEICESTER)
DONNY VAN DE BEEK (AJAX)
NABIL FEKIR (LYON)
FLORIAN THAUVIN (MARSEILLE)
JUNIOR FIRPO (BETIS)
MALCOLM (BARCA)
EDEN DZEKO (ROMA)
MIKEL ORYAZABAL (SOCIEDAD)
IVAN RAKITIC (BARCA)
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (SPURS)
ROMELU LUKAKU (UNITED)
By
Lonn Phillips Sullivan
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THE MOST UNDER THE RADAR CLUB?
While Barcelona and Real Madrid continue their transfer market arms race against each other, City stockpile talent as if they were PokeMon cards, Liverpool rest easy and dig deep into their foxhole and Bayern Munich price themselves out of every available young world class attacker, there have been smaller clubs operating at an astute level in this summer's transfer window, sealing huge purchases on small budgets that's made the transfer practises of the big boys feel as archaic as they are.
Borussia Dortmund have had a great summer of business, only losing Abdou Diallo and Christian Pulisic (already deemed surplus to requirements last season) and gaining two of the best young Bundesliga talents in Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard, weakening domestic rivals Leverkeusen and Monchengladbach in the process.
To further hurt other German clubs, they stole back former defender Mats Hummels from Bayern (someone who could coach up Akanji and Zagadou in defense) and also plugging a gap in the team, Favre scouted and sealed extremely promising young German left back, former Hoffenheim man Nico Schulz.
Such smart business from Lucien Favre and Joachim Watzke, as the Dortmund defense was either resolute and unbreakable or they were more leaky than the Trump administration.
While Atletico may have lost their prized asset, they always seem to come out on top. Simeone dove into the market and grabbed Joao Felix for over 100 million, Spurs right back Kierian Trippier, stole Real Madrid's extremely underrated and undervalued defensive mid Marcos Llorente to plug the hole left by Rodri and have shored up holes all across their team. Atletico look like a different specimen, and with Thomas Lemar looking to prove himself this season, Joao Felix stealing the show with 1 goal and 2 silly assists vs Real Madrid, all looks right in Diego Simeone's corner.
Arsenal haven't made the splashes their fans or critics would've liked (include me among them: where the hell is a defender or two?) but with the capture of Spurs target Dani Ceballos (a tricky Spanish midfielder in the Cesc mould) and breathtaking Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, they've only bolstered their attacking quality
by a country mile.
Perhaps Unai Emery will have to mix and match his piecemeal defense game to game, though with these forward options and a young midfield core of Torreira and Ceballos, Arsenal could pose so many questions to opponents through their attack. And as we've seen, sometimes having a Grade A attack can make up for a shambolic defense, if the forward players will press and work from the front.
Meanwhile, another club we must mention is Inter Milan.
Inter has a lot of rumors tilted their way, nothing completely concrete, though their ambition in Serie A is keeping everyone on notice. They've already grabbed Antonio Conte, the magician who always seems to win league titles in his first season, with strong rumors linking them to striker Romelu Lukaku, a striker Conte has made no secret in coveting. Roma's Eden Dzeko is also on the cards, as long as Inter send Icardi their way in return.
But their real strengths have been in the midfield. This is where they've already boasted depth prior to Conte's arrival, but since then they've added Italian Nicolo Barella, Sassuolo's Sensi on loan and Mathias Vecino. And in defense to pair up with Milan Skriniar is Uruguayan colossus Diego Godin, a player who immediately raises the level of everyone around him and a fantastic piece of business from Conte.
Will they still grab Lukaku or Eden Dzeko? Sell Icardi or keep the striker with a bruised ego and crazy wife?
One of these clubs will win the league title this season And we bet on Borussia Dortmund taking over Bayern's Bundesliga monopoly now that they're fully loaded with the best attackers in Germany on one squad: Sancho, Reus, Brandt, Thorgan and more.
And you're hearing it here first.
2.
CAN LIVERPOOL REPEAT IN THE UCL?
OR WILL THEY PUT ALL OF THEIR EGGS IN THE EPL BASKET?
Jurgen Klopp knows what his team are facing, although he's never felt the high octane brutality of having everyone hunting you.
Liverpool used to be the lovable underdogs, but since their come from behind miracle against Barcelona and their dominating, bruisingly professional performance in the Champions League final, they're now title winners, not just contenders, and the stakes have been raised.
Not just from the fans, or the pundits, the Liverpool players must raise the stakes as well. They are at an important and historic juncture: the phase in which champions fade to the monopoly of time and dynasties move forward.Liverpool have the establishment, the core, the unbreakable philosophy, the consistent management and the mentality of a dynasty in its embryonic stage,
And after two seasons of pressing their lungs to the point of bursting as they went to back to back Champions League finals, coupled with the interim summer tournaments, do the players have the physical fitness to make it three?
And to you Reds fans: will anything be acceptable outside of the Premier League title?
1.
BEST AVAILABLE PLAYERS ON THE MARKET?
PAUL POGBA (UNITED)
NEYMAR (PSG)
COUTINHO (BARCA)
HAKIM ZIYECH (AJAX)
HARRY MAGUIRE (LEICESTER)
DONNY VAN DE BEEK (AJAX)
NABIL FEKIR (LYON)
FLORIAN THAUVIN (MARSEILLE)
JUNIOR FIRPO (BETIS)
MALCOLM (BARCA)
EDEN DZEKO (ROMA)
MIKEL ORYAZABAL (SOCIEDAD)
IVAN RAKITIC (BARCA)
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD (SPURS)
ROMELU LUKAKU (UNITED)
By
Lonn Phillips Sullivan
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