- Arsenal fans are in for a terrible, terrible season. They currently sit in 16th place (facing a daunting Man United in Old Trafford later today), barely got past an Udinese side that thoroughly dominated them over both legs during Champion's League qualifiers, and lost 'El Capitan' Fabregas and Nasri with an obvious refusal to spend any money in the transfer market to replace them. So go ahead Gunner fans and get ready for a loooong season: hey at least the your club made a profit this season and I suppose a fairly reasonable Champion's League Group Stage draw. Enjoy it while you can fans, Arsenal won't qualify for the CL anytime soon.......
- Inter Milan are committing absolute suicide by letting Samuel Eto'o go and then potentially allowing Wesley Sneijder to leave as well. There is no way they can compete with the likes of Milan, Napoli, Roma, and dare I say it, Lazio.
- While the EPL is the most exciting league in terms of fans, commercialism, and intensity, its quite obvious to this American football fan that the absolutely best technical, attacking, and beautiful football on the planet earth is played in Spain and Germany. I love what I've seen so far from those leagues and it's quite clear why technically-gifted foreign players typically dominate the gladiator, physical style of play in England. Just look how easily players like Van Der Vaart, Silva, Torres, Nasri, Modric, Chichurito, Aguero, etc. so easily adapt and allow their superior skills to control and succeed on the pitch.For my money, Spanish and German football currently represent the summit of world football.
- I'm seriously starting to warm up to Manchester City. While they do have the luxury to spend, spend, spend, the team they have assembled is impressing me more and more each week. David Silva was an absolute monster back in his Valencia days when he and David Villa would terrorize Spanish defenses with their flair and technical ability, but to see him control and run the show with Man City is a thing of beauty. With the likes of Nasri to help him run the show in midfield,Yaya Toure providing rock solid steel to protect the midfield duo's attacking exploits, and a strike force that includes Aguero, Tevez, Dzeko, and Balotelli, what's not to like about this club??
- Poor Real Madrid and the increasingly ridiculous Jose Mourinho. They played their absolute best against a sub-par Barcelona squad and STILL could not manage to beat them in the Spanish Super Cup. Barcelona simply are the best on the planet Earth and Real Madrid can whine, cheat, exhibit poor sportsmanship, spend ridiculous money, beg for mercy, even allow Mourinho to ruin their club's image and it simply won't matter.As Soccer Mania alluded to seasons ago: Real Madrid have shown no discernible difference under Mourinho and should have stuck with Manuel Pelligrini.
- I'm excited by Athletico Madrid's acquisition of Brazilian Diego from Wolfsburg and Ramadel Falcao of Porto. These boys will do damage in La Liga this season.
- I'm excited at the prospect of AC Milan landing Kaka and/or Mario Balotelli. Obviously Real Madrid can't compete with Barcelona and I honestly think the only team on the planet that can defeat Barcelona (not necessarily are better, but can defeat over two legs or in a final) are AC Milan. With the addition of a creative midfielder in Kaka and perhaps another attacking option in Balotelli, I think they are the only club that can defeat the mighty Barcelona. Man United proved that they simply aren't good enough; Man City don't have the pedigree and need time to gel (not to mention they are in the group of death in CL group stages); Bayern Munich require a world class striker and a healthy, productive Ribery-Robben combo on the wings; and Chelsea require an in-form Torres (who I personally believe has already seen his better days) and a healthy Michael Essien to even hope to compete with the likes of Barca.
- The following are teams I will keep a close eye on this season for various reasons, mostly because they will play entertaining football: Porto, O. Lyon, Malaga, Athletico Madrid, Udinese, Roma, Lille, Lazio, Werder Bremen, Paris St. Germaine, Man City, Valencia, Ajax, FC Twente, Napoli, AC Milan, and of course Barcelona.
- The Champions League is THE BEST athletic event on the planet: better than the NFL Playoffs/ Superbowl, the World Cup, and even more exciting than the Summer Olympics and baseball's World Series.
- I really feel bad for the Group of Death draw in this year's Champion's League: Bayern Munich, Napoli, Manchester City, and Villareal. I wish the quality of the teams had been distributed more evenly throughout the group stages. My sleeper teams this term are Ajax, Valencia, and Porto. Perhaps they will surprise some of the favorites.
That's it for now Soccer Maniacs. I'm looking forward to enjoying another exciting season of the world's beautiful game!
-Lord Sabre-
Wenger could be gone by October at the latest! I agree with Spain and Germany being great leagues for technical ability, however, I think that the Italian league should get more credit. I watch alot of soccer and the italian games can be slow or boring at times, but thats because the game is played on the ground and in the middle of the pitch. Rarely, do you see a team playing direct back to front football and the defenders in Italy seem to play out of trouble rather than kick the ball out of bounds to slow an attack. Many italian players play in italy an rarely are successful it seems in the EPL or outside their own league. However, fundamentals and creativity I love the way the italians play the game. Everyone strikes the ball well, comfortable on the ball, and have creative passing and vision. Also, don't forget about the Dutch!
ReplyDeleteArsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal. Arsene Wegner is a well respected manager for what he did over 6 years ago, but alas, its 2011 and the game has passed him by. Cesc Fabregas spent 6 years at Arsenal and saw no silverware. In less than 2 weeks at Barca, he has two trophies. I do not expect Arsenal to dominate like Barca, but I do expect Arsenal to compete. They teased us with a brief run at the EPL crown during the first half of last season, but I think we all knew it was smoke and mirrors and during the second half of the season, the wheels fell off and Arsenal showed their true colors and the slide has not stopped since.
ReplyDeleteNow, this season, we could excuse Arsenal's performance due to injuries, but when you look at the top squads throughout Europe, their reserves are some of the biggest names in the sport. Arsenal has a couple of injuries and they bring in a group of young players that are either overwhelmed by the moment or are not prepared for play in England. It would be great if I could look to a couple of holes Arsenal could feel to become contenders again, but they are weak on each line. No strikers on the front line. Weak midfielders with no one to create opportunities. A back line that couldn't stop me. Champions League is out of the question, but is regulation?
As far as Real Madrid...I watched them play yesterday and they are an awesome squad. When you have Higuain and Kaka coming off the bench, you know you can compete with any one in Europe...except Barca. Looking at Madrid makes me appreciate Barca that much more.