Nate’s 9: European Football Preview
2015-16
I kind of
missed the mark on getting this out in time. Usually, the season starts with
the UEFA Super Cup and we go from there, but I guess because none of the
English teams challenge on the European fronts anymore, they decided to take
advantage and schedule an entire slate of games before the season kick-off.
Fine by me. An extra opportunity to make assessments, opinions and the like. In
years past, this blog tends to be a master piece of sorts (4-5pgs.), but usually
pulls in good value (200-250 readers). This year, I’m giving you all the
Twitter version (140 characters), with all hopes and purposes of only getting a
half dozen of you to actually look at this. Of course I’m kidding, thank you,
and enjoy the beautiful season!
1. The League Predictions
EPL:
Champions – Chelsea. Just barely though, I think we’re in
for a good title race this season.
Surprise Package – Stoke City. I agree with the masses for
the most part. The signings have been impressive.
Bottom – Norwich City
La Liga:
Champions – Real Madrid .
I hate this. Rafa wins a title. But they appear strong.
Surprise Package – Sevilla. Not to me, I like them for 4th.
Now, everyone will too.
Bottom – Las Palmas .
Usually, I know at least 1 player on all first division teams. Not so this year
thanks to this club.
Serie A:
Champions – Juventus. I hate the Arturo Vidal sale. But they
are still strongest.
Surprise Package – Inter. No one has them in the top 3, but
I think they push for it.
Bottom – Carpi
FC. Lovely story, and if it wasn’t for loan-ins, I would once again not
recognize a soul. But punching way, way, way above their weight.
Bundesliga:
Champions – VFL Wolfsburg .
Only if Kevin de Bruyne stays. Just
because some other major club wants Europe this year.
Surprise Package – Anyone could finish 7th. I’ll
give it to FC Koln who signed some decent players this summer.
Bottom – Bless their hearts, but FC Ingolstadt needs to get
better yesterday, if they have hope of staying up in this now, difficult
league.
Ligue 1:
Champions – PSG. Lyon sells Lacazette
before the deadline, to make things dull.
Surprise Package – Caen .
I liked them before the Marseille match, and I think Andy Delort will break out
this year.
Bottom – Um, hmm. No clue. My Ligue 1 expertise is minimal
at best. Troyes ?
2. European Predictions:
Champions League QF’s – Chelsea, Barcelona ,
Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid , FC
Bayern, Juventus, PSG, FC Porto.
Champions League SF’s – Barcelona ,
Atletico Madrid , FC Bayern, PSG
Champions League Final and winner – FC Bayern vs PSG. My
biggest upset. PSG.
Europa League SF’s – Fenerbahce, Borussia Dortmund,
Tottenham Hotspur, Sevilla.
Europa League Final and winner – Tottenham vs Sevilla, and
Sevilla win another.
3. European Team of the Year:
- GK – Michael Neuer (FC Bayern)
- Defenders
– Thiago Silva (PSG), Mahdi Benatia (FC Bayern), Adil Rami (Sevilla),
Diego Godin (Atletico
- Midfielders
– Iniesta (
- Forwards
– Messi (
4. Favorite Team of the Year:
- GK –
David De Gea (
- Defenders – Serge Aurier (PSG), Thiago Silva (PSG) David Luiz (PSG, Ha, yeah right...) Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Seamus Coleman (Everton)
- Midfielders
–
- Forwards – Cristiano Ronaldo (My Bedroom), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon/Arsenal).
5. Best/Worst signing
- Best: Sami Khedira (Juventus), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Douglas Costa (FC Bayern), Memphis (Manchester United), Jordy Clasie (Southampton), Kevin Trapp (PSG), Mario Mandzukic (Juventus), Max Kruse (VFL Wolfsburg), Luciano Vietto (Atletico Madrid), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United) and painfully Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City most likely, but ideally FC Bayern).
- Worst:
Danilo (Real Madrid), Simone Zaza (Juventus), Karim Rekik (Marseille -he’s
terrible), Max Gradel (
6. Top 5 Future Stars
1. Gabigol.
(Santos , and really is Gabriel
Barbosa) I only get to see the highlights on ESPN FC, but there’s no doubt he’s
the real deal. Many compare him to Neymar, but he’s got more maturity about
him. I think we have the next Sergio Aguero on our hands.
2. Dennis
Praet (Anderlecht ). I’ve been obsessed about his talent
for years. He’d be the perfect player to replicate everything Paul Scholes ever
did for Manchester United, but for whatever reason, he has yet to leave Anderlecht .
3. Youri
Tielemans (Anderlecht ). Another one of the ridiculous
amount of superstars that Anderlecht keeps sending
through. I’m a little nervous; his game translates similar to Cesc Fabregas,
and I could see Chelsea snapping
him up in a few years’ time.
4. Hakan
Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen ).
Loved him in Champions league last year with Bayer. Can play any of the front 3
midfield positions, and now thanks to Fox Sports, I’ll get to see him every
week. Eventually ends up at FC Bayern, I would imagine.
5. Calum
Chambers (Arsenal). I’m only nervous, because I think he’s being used
incorrectly. There once was a time when I thought that Luke Shaw was going to
be the brightest English talent. It now should belong to Chambers, as long as
Wenger and co. don’t screw it up.
7. Five Up and Coming clubs
1. Sevilla.
They’ve been great since the end of last season, but I think everyone really
gets to see how deep and talented this team really is. While they probably
won’t contend for the La Liga title, they could very well win the Europa League
or even qualify to the Champions League knockout rounds, and/or the Copa del
Rey (Spanish Cup)
2. Crystal
Palace Stoke City Southampton ,
I love, love, love what Alan Pardew is doing at Crystal
Palace Europe .
Too bad they’ll all be plucked away in twelve months time.
3. VFL Wolfsburg .
Granted, this has a lot to do with everyone staying, but they could be in for a
special season this year. They have 15 very talented players, and the chemistry
is pretty remarkable considering the newness of their success. A title could be
in the balance if no further changes are made.
4.
Fiorentina ACF. They aren’t really coming as they’ve been successful for a
little while now. By successful, I mean a top 7 Serie A club. This is the year
I think they push to become a Champions League squad. They have the experience
(Joaquin, Valero), and they have some exciting attacking talent (Khouma
Babacar, Ante Rebic). If the defense holds, I think Champions League beckons.
5. Anderlecht .
Seriously. I only got to see them twice last season, as they don’t get on
television very often. But the kids can play (As Arsenal and Dortmund
can attest to – they earned a draw off of both clubs and beat Galatasaray). I
jest, but they have about 6 teenagers in their line-up. Granted, they will get
picked apart by the vultures of Europe , but if you get
Europa League matches on Fox Sports 1&2, give this team a try.
8. Five Matches to watch if you’re new to the sport.
I
understand that the United States
sports media actually cares about soccer a little bit, and now all five of the
big leagues are aired live over here in the states. Pretty impressive,
considering where we were when I came home from Germany
(1 league live). Now that everything is essentially watchable, here are some
derbies you new fans should check out...
1. El
Classico – Real Madrid vs Barcelona .
Why wouldn’t I mention it? While the theatrics are a bit much, when there is
football, it’s awesome.
2. Newcastle
vs Sunderland . Just watch the people in the crowd. It’s
absolutely crazy.
3. PSG vs
Marseille. Another one where the passion tends to spill over into the crowd.
The fans from Marseille really don’t like anything that comes from Paris .
I understand it, and the games are usually fantastic as well.
4.
Manchester United vs Liverpool . Still alive and well.
The one I truly get up for.
5. AC Milan
vs Inter Milan . Not what it was
five years ago, but it’s a bunch of buddies that for 90 minutes have to hate
each other. It’s still amazing to me how many players switch between these two
sides though.
9. Five Things for the more experienced fan to consider.
1. Let’s
end the Messi vs Ronaldo debate once and for all. Who is truly the best of our
generation?
2. Why
can’t the rest of Europe negotiate TV the way England
does? The mid-table is getting better and better and all four English sides
could go far in Champions League.
3. Who’s
going to win the 2016 European Championships? While Germany
looks the front runner, does Portugal
finally shine during Ronaldo’s last run for a major trophy? Is France
the next golden generation with all of their young talent? Do we watch out for Belgium ?
4. Thoughts
on the transfer window? More and more managers want to see it end on July 31st,
similar to our sports’ principles. Teams can go to pre-season prepared and
knowing that nothing will change significantly.
5. Every
year since I’ve followed the sport there has been a big surprise. Whether it be
in the Champions League finals with FC Porto (2004), Liverpool (2005), Atletico
(2014), Dortmund (2012), or in domestic cups and league results, something
exciting and unexpected seems to happen. Who’s going to make the magic this
season? (I hope its Martin Ødegaard and Enzo Fernandez with their expected new stardom
with Real Madrid.)
No comments:
Post a Comment