As we begin another rumor filled week there are tons of stories flying around in the media.
Higuain left Real to go to Napoli. I hope he does well.
Arsenal are being cheeky with a 40,000,001 pound bid. They could be dangerous if they get him.
Still hoopla about Rooney leaving but nothing has really happened. I suspect its more of a mind game by Mourinho.
Moyes is already fallen for it and the season hasn't started yet. That's my manager. United want Fabregas, but he has a buyback clause with Arsenal. It could get interesting if he decides to leave. He won't play since Neymar is there now. Fabio Coentrao is linked with Chelsea. A good buy for some competition at left back.
My blog is about football and the great team of Chelsea F.C. I do love football, which Americans think is called soccer. Though I am said to be born in Texas, I believe that I was born in the wrong country. But that is beside the fact..I shall talk about any and everything under the sun concerning football. Comments are welcomed both good and bad.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Champions League Outlook for 2014
As many of you know I have a cherish and beloved team. But I will try to be as detached from my Chelsea as much as possible.
Let us start of with Bayern Munich, the most recent winners of the Champions League...
Already they have made two signings. Thiago and Goetze. Great additions to an already great squad. Where they may lack is up front. Mandzukic did great in the Bundesliga but was quiet in the CL. Pizzaro scored and Gomez scored, but not with a consistent fervor. Maybe it was the lack of opportunities but I highly doubt that. Bayern's greatest attribute is their defensive ability along with the quickness in attack from their midfield. Forwards is where they lack. The new manager in Pep Guardiola will be a test of his managerial prowess, or lack thereof. Bayern rolled over any opposition and their toughest game was against their Bundesliga rivals in Dortmund. I think that Bayern could do the impossible and win it again, but it will not be easy.
Dortmund...
A young and strong team. Very quick very accurate. The epitome of blitzkrieg(lightning war). Good, not great, defense, excellent midfield and one of, if not the best striker at the moment. Yes, they have sold two of their most sought after players in recent years(Kagawa and Goetze) but I can almost promise you that Dortmund's youth system is second to none. This year and the years to come will show the class that they have found and will continue to foster. This is a strong dark horse and my pick to upset some good teams. Dortmund were my pick early in the CL season to win it all. I even called the score to be 2-1 in the final. I was flipped on the score sheet but I did have the team and score correct back in November.
Chelsea...
Jose is back. So far from the preseason I see a younger squad with a hunger. But as with Dortmund two years ago, they didn't have the experience to play in Europe. There is experience though in this young squad. Many of the players who lifted the trophy two years ago...against all odds...are still here. And the ones who are entering into the squad now have that belief and I'm sure are being told of how much work needs to be put in. It will be interesting to watch my team. Another dark horse to watch out for.
United...
David Moyes is the new manager. He has been in CL once before very early on with Everton and since has slid down and down. If RvP stays healthy it could be a great season in CL for him in his inaugural season with United, but if he doesn't then you have to wonder; Where will the goals come from? But he has a double challenge. EPL and CL. United will want to win both or at least one or at least finish high. With one striker and another looking to leave it doesn't look good.
Arsenal...
Is this another year where we hear the familiar, "There's always next year." I think so. Health issues always seem to plague this team at the most inopportune moments. And it seems to be because they are so young and fragile. I don't see it happening. Playing pretty is nice and all but when you can't play with "ganas"(heart, soul, balls, fuerte) then you can't win the tough games.
City...
No. They will progress but not very far. Probably done in by a Spanish or German team. Great manager, but a double task for him as well. I just don't see it.
Real Madrid...
New manager. The eyebrow. Carlo Ancelotti. A system change I assume is in the works. It will be rocky and he may be sacked if he is blown away in the first El Classico. They are a strong team but quarter finals is as far as I see them progressing.
Barcelona...
Neymar and Messi. Basically, the same player. Still no striker. Not a very smart manager. Players are getting older and still no defense. A weak show in CL will see Villanova sacked.
PSG...
Ibra and Cavani. They have the guns to walk in and just take the trophy, but will those guns be loaded and able to fire? Will Ibrahimovic be hungry? Or will it be lop sided with Cavani trying to do too much and Ibra being lazy. It depends. I'm 50/50 with this team. Another quarter final flop?? Or challengers to the title? Time will tell.
Monaco...
Money, money, money! There is a saying that money can't buy you happiness. If happiness is getting all of your chess pieces in gold, then yes, Monaco is happy. Will they win? I don't think so. If you can't play chess, then what good is it to have gold chess pieces? My problem with this team is the attitude of playing together. With all that money, pride will have to be set aside and they will need to be UN-selfish. I don't see that happening. Hulk had a hard time in Zenit St. Petersburg last year and Falcao chased money same as Hulk did. I just don't see it happening.
Let us start of with Bayern Munich, the most recent winners of the Champions League...
Already they have made two signings. Thiago and Goetze. Great additions to an already great squad. Where they may lack is up front. Mandzukic did great in the Bundesliga but was quiet in the CL. Pizzaro scored and Gomez scored, but not with a consistent fervor. Maybe it was the lack of opportunities but I highly doubt that. Bayern's greatest attribute is their defensive ability along with the quickness in attack from their midfield. Forwards is where they lack. The new manager in Pep Guardiola will be a test of his managerial prowess, or lack thereof. Bayern rolled over any opposition and their toughest game was against their Bundesliga rivals in Dortmund. I think that Bayern could do the impossible and win it again, but it will not be easy.
Dortmund...
A young and strong team. Very quick very accurate. The epitome of blitzkrieg(lightning war). Good, not great, defense, excellent midfield and one of, if not the best striker at the moment. Yes, they have sold two of their most sought after players in recent years(Kagawa and Goetze) but I can almost promise you that Dortmund's youth system is second to none. This year and the years to come will show the class that they have found and will continue to foster. This is a strong dark horse and my pick to upset some good teams. Dortmund were my pick early in the CL season to win it all. I even called the score to be 2-1 in the final. I was flipped on the score sheet but I did have the team and score correct back in November.
Chelsea...
Jose is back. So far from the preseason I see a younger squad with a hunger. But as with Dortmund two years ago, they didn't have the experience to play in Europe. There is experience though in this young squad. Many of the players who lifted the trophy two years ago...against all odds...are still here. And the ones who are entering into the squad now have that belief and I'm sure are being told of how much work needs to be put in. It will be interesting to watch my team. Another dark horse to watch out for.
United...
David Moyes is the new manager. He has been in CL once before very early on with Everton and since has slid down and down. If RvP stays healthy it could be a great season in CL for him in his inaugural season with United, but if he doesn't then you have to wonder; Where will the goals come from? But he has a double challenge. EPL and CL. United will want to win both or at least one or at least finish high. With one striker and another looking to leave it doesn't look good.
Arsenal...
Is this another year where we hear the familiar, "There's always next year." I think so. Health issues always seem to plague this team at the most inopportune moments. And it seems to be because they are so young and fragile. I don't see it happening. Playing pretty is nice and all but when you can't play with "ganas"(heart, soul, balls, fuerte) then you can't win the tough games.
City...
No. They will progress but not very far. Probably done in by a Spanish or German team. Great manager, but a double task for him as well. I just don't see it.
Real Madrid...
New manager. The eyebrow. Carlo Ancelotti. A system change I assume is in the works. It will be rocky and he may be sacked if he is blown away in the first El Classico. They are a strong team but quarter finals is as far as I see them progressing.
Barcelona...
Neymar and Messi. Basically, the same player. Still no striker. Not a very smart manager. Players are getting older and still no defense. A weak show in CL will see Villanova sacked.
PSG...
Ibra and Cavani. They have the guns to walk in and just take the trophy, but will those guns be loaded and able to fire? Will Ibrahimovic be hungry? Or will it be lop sided with Cavani trying to do too much and Ibra being lazy. It depends. I'm 50/50 with this team. Another quarter final flop?? Or challengers to the title? Time will tell.
Monaco...
Money, money, money! There is a saying that money can't buy you happiness. If happiness is getting all of your chess pieces in gold, then yes, Monaco is happy. Will they win? I don't think so. If you can't play chess, then what good is it to have gold chess pieces? My problem with this team is the attitude of playing together. With all that money, pride will have to be set aside and they will need to be UN-selfish. I don't see that happening. Hulk had a hard time in Zenit St. Petersburg last year and Falcao chased money same as Hulk did. I just don't see it happening.