Once again its ON!!! Welcome back MANIACS!!! (2011-2012 Season Begins...)
Good summer I trust? Anybody catch the women's world cup? In my opinion, there may be no greater tragedy in soccer than that of WOODWORK. The ladies love good wood, but in this case, there was a tragic consequence to the finals that followed a dominant performance for the US Women side. Late goals seemed to lock down the US Women's third World Cup tittle but it wasn't to be. Down 2-1 in the second period of extra time, once again the game we know and love shows us that you PLAY TILL THE VERY LAST WHISTLE IS BLOWN.(check the link) Rewards for never quitting? Champion's Glory for the country who had never won a women's world cup. It couldn't have come at a better time for their side, considering the difficult times that nation is facing with the disasters it has experienced. Tip your caps ladies and gentleman to the 2011 Women's World Cup Champions: Japan.
CONGRATULATIONS JAPAN!!!! You earned it....
As well making some bold predictions.... So here goes...
This off season, you may or may not remember the teams I identified as my favorites... The list is as follows: PSG (Paris Saint Germain), Juve (Juventus), FC Hollywood (Bayern Munich), Seville, and lastly but not least, the Gunners (Arsenal). Each represent a chosen squad from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and England. In my opinion, the power house leagues in Europe. I hold a soft spot for Ajax, a team in Netherlands, as well as Celtic, a team in Scotland and always wolf affilliations. (one of my animal favorites: For instance, Wolfsburg and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Major underdogs, but I cheer them on just the same) At any rate, lets break down the Leagues and have a little comment on some dark horse action.
England
Lets begin with Arsenal, who have disheveled two of their best by season's opener. Team capn Cesc Fabregas is making a glorious return to the club where he started: Barcelona. No doubt there to study and eventually take the reins from midfield marvel, the prince of passing, the visionary defense breaker and King Clever himself; the irreplaceable Xavi (check the link!!!). That's a tall order to ask of Fabregas, but make no mistake: he's probably glad to be back at a club that wins trophies, glad to be back home in Spain, and more than anything glad to be back with the club that he started off playing for in the first place. Good luck Fab, we'll miss you. This is a BIG blow to the gunner's hopes this season. While the transfer deadline is not quite complete, losing a talented player who fits into the scheme of the offense is hurtful to any squad, but to lose a team captain to the team that eliminated you from Champion's league play last season is even worse. (painful grimace) Also on the departure list is Samir Nasri, who looks to be joining Man City. While he was a good winger, I don't feel his presence was essential for a winning season that claims hardware for the gunners. I preferred the Russian, Arshavin over him anyway. Him we'll definitely see on the pitch in EPL play.
Wenger & the Gunners will most likely have another frustrating year after a poor off season....
Losses accounted for, now we look to the notable acquisitions for the gunners. Gervinho, a striker from French Champion Lille, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, another striker was aquired in the transfer market this season. This leaves gaping holes in the midfield. A team without a central core in the midfield is doomed for mediocrity. Having not adjusted for the talent loss in the midfield is gonna cost majorly. The non acquisition of a world class top finishing striker, or one with the potential of being in the top ten strikers in the world is unacceptable. This team make up is a lot different from last season, but I don't see the gunners seriously contending for any hardware.
(EPL fans be weary of two teams this season: Manchester City & Liverpool... Dark horse to win it all: Liverpool; favored to win: last year's champs, Manchester United)
France
Looking onward to my other teams, I'll go on over to Paris, where PSG is rallying for a tittle run in France. Last year they finished fourth in the league, but have made some offseason acquisitions that in my opinion werent at all shabby. The off loading of one of my favorite midfielders in Ludvig Guily was compensated by the management very nicely in bringing in Menez from Roma, gladiator-like defensive midfielder Muhammed Sisokko from Juventus, and Javier Pastore from Palermo.
These aquisitions give this team the balance in the midfield that put them in more than a good position to be highly competetive against most teams in the world. If they can stay healthy then they should be expected to go deep into the season and have a really good shot at some hardware. I like the quality for quality decision by the front office as well as the investment in a world class midfield. Defensive aquisition Milan Bisevac should shore up the back line. Although they did not aquire any strikers in the off season, I am convinced that this is one of the better teams that we've seen from the Parisian side in quite a few seasons.
Off season grade: B+
Off the wall prediction: Always be weary of shockers in this league. Last year until the last two weeks of the season, it was still highly competitive till the finish. Hard to make any bold predictions in this one, so I'll just state the obvious. PSG ALL THE WAY this year!!!!! Who's with me!?!?!?!
Italy
Of course its Juventus for this soccer maniac! Who else but the Turin Giants? This off season has seen Juventus off load the midfield in favor of another that in my opinion should mesh well together. I see it being most beneficial if the tactics are changed from the 4-4-2 formation to one that compensates for the lack of speed now appearant in the midfield. That said, Juve has gotten rid of Philipe Melo, Mohommad Sissoko, and Tiago Mendez in favor of Aturo Vidal Pardo, Adrea Pirlo from AC Milan, and striker Mirko Vucinic of Roma. I cant for the life of me understand why they have not yet parted ways with Del Piero!!!! Admiration and respect for a great player is one thing, but SERIOUSLY!?!?!?! He's 37 years old and a black hole for the offense. I like the Vucinic aquisition for generating more offense, but must admit my disappointment in not getting Villareal striker Rossi. That would have been big. SMH. Vucinic is a clever striker who I enjoy watching, and he will support strikers Mitri, and Quagliarella. The mid field is crucial in Serie A play, and I believe that in order to have decent shots at claiming victory more personell will be needed. But with so many changes, Juve is also still searching for its identity. If they can stay healthy and manage to compensate the midfield with great defending, they should see good results all season long.
Juve will look to rise from the ashes of mediocrity and into the glorious light of victory this season...
Off season grade: B
Off the wall Serie A predictions: Inter is letting go of Eto'o, and will suffer heavily for it, unless they miraculously get some world class striker who can come close to the 37 goals Eto'o was responsible for last season. AC Milan is eager to repeat as champions, but must be weary of the champion's lull known to be the cause of many a failed repeat attempt. I'd be very weary of Udinese this season, making its first appearance in the Champion's League in nearly a decade as well as Napoli who were close contenders for the crown last season until a meltdown late saw AC Milan pull away and win comfortably. Dark horse prediction: Napoli, Serie A Champions.... ??? (its not that I have no confidence in Juve, but they can show me a lot better than they can tell me, definite Champion's League birth next season.....)
Germany
Here is a well run club that knows when to say when. I have a lot of respect for a team that holds on to its seasoned, winning veterans long enough to give them proper send off, but lets them go. Such was the case this season with one of my favorites, Bayern Munich. This offseason, the German giants off loaded star striker Miraslov Klose. In addition to that they also off loaded Andreas Ottl, and Nicola Sansone. In order to bolster the defense, they added Jerome Boateng from Manchester City, goal keeper Manuel Neuer from Schalke 04, while adding the talents of midfielders Takashi Usami from Japan, and Rafinha from Genoa. All in all a good off season to support the likes of Super Mario (world class striker Mario Gomez), and the duo known as Robbery (stellar wingers Arjen Robben, and Franc Ribery). This club traveled far into the champion's league last season and will look to reclaim the German throne this season.
Off season grade: A-
Predictions: Germany is far too difficult a league to predict therefore I'll go all out and say Wolfsburg with the return of Felix Magath as head coach will return to championship form and reclaim the Bundes Liga. If not, then go ahead and lite the victory cigar for FC Hollywood, Bayern Munich. Any takers?
Spain
The truth about this league: This season La Liga is a two jagurnaut team league with the scraps of third and fourth places up for grabs. Barcelona and Real Madrid boast the power of La Liga. Its no secret. Hate it or love it these two teams always end up somewhere deep into the Champion's League and almost every season, one of these two teams are competing for the tittle. My team on the other hand, hasn't won La Liga since the 1945-46 season. Dismal almost unending drought. But I refuse to join either of the two evil empires. That said, the departure of Louis Fabiano last season was, in my opinion a big blow to the offense. The Brazillian playmaker and striker is missed. But where there is Frederic Kanute, there is hope.... This off season, Seville has picked up defender Emir Spahic from League 1 side Montpillier HSC, and striker Ibusuki Hiroshi from Girona. Notable players lost for Seville were midfielder Diego Cappelle, and striker Lautaro Acosta. While the transfer window isn't completely done, Seville have not made a significant enough of a move to strike fear into any of their Spanish cohorts. World class players must be brought in if there is to be a serious threat posed for the tittle.
Freddy Kanute will need a lot of help from upstairs to win it all this season....
Off season grade: C-
Prediction: Sevilla will do well to have qualified for a Champion's League spot next season. Definitely will make the Euros if nothing else. Truth is, Barcelona is a team to be feared this season. They pretty much have their entire starting line up from last season returning or nursing injury and they have added world class talents in striker Sanchez from Udinese, and midfielder Fabregas from Arsenal. If anything a strong team has just gotten stronger and just like the hated Yankees of nYc, the front office is not afraid of spending the money, almost to the point of bankruptcy. There are some definite Soccer Maniacs in their front office who sincerely believe that hardware is not a priviledge, but a REQUIREMENT. Imagine that!!!!!?!?! Not winning will get a coach fired, or players transferred. Little to no loyalty to anything besides winning. WITH THE MONEY TO DO IT!!!! And replace you with what they assess is the best in the world. Believe me, THIS TEAM IS SCARY FOLKS. They will win La Liga, and go deeply into the Champion's League and will pose a great threat to anyone in their paths.....(They wouldnt have beaten Arsenal last season without that extra help from the referees in giving Robin Van Persie a red card in the second leg of the quarter finals last season. The gunners were their only real threat and now they have the heart and soul of last year's gunner squad. We were the last hope.)
Yeah maniacs, I'm still bitter about that one. Make no mistake about it. I wanna claim revenge, but Arsenal isnt the same class of team this season. Not with the current acquisitions we have now. But all the same, thats why we play the game. Its back. Euros and Champion's League qualifier games have already begun, and there has already been an El Classico for the Spanish Super Cup! (Barcelona won if there was any question. Tight two games and fights but Barcelona once again prevailed.) English Premier League has begun, and So has the German Bundes Liga. League 1 is underway, and we now await the beginning of the Italian Serie A, and the La Liga (If the Spaniards can end the strike). Either way I'm super excited to be with you once more for the game we enjoy commercial free.(of course)
Don't have a squad? PICK ONE!!!!!!!!!!!! (check the link) Check the stats, highlights and get any questions you may have answered! When you do and its not one of my favorites listed above, see you on the pitch....
I hope you enjoyed the off season report card edition. Comments? Wanna send in ratings of your favorite squad? Please feel free! Hope to hear back and make no mistake about it: VICTORY WILL BE MINE!!!!
Till next time maniacs,
Professor Phantom
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