Football tips: Arsenal vs Tottenham – Prediction and odds

arsenal vs tottenham prediction tips

arsenal vs tottenham prediction tips - win

Arsenal vs Tottenham - EPL Ramalan Tips 1 September 2019 - AFBSports Malaysia - Football Prediction Tips and News

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Manchester United vs Southampton

A surprising defeat against Sheffield United last Wednesday ended United’s unbeatable run of 13 matches. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side managed to get back from London with just a point from Arsenal last weekend. Therefore, the red Devils slipped to 2nd place, being three points behind Manchester City. Liverpool also managed to improve lately and, we should see an exciting title battle. The hosts now need to show the winning character, as the public thinks they got afraid of becoming the champions. Bruno Fernandes and the lads need to improve their finishing since four goals in the last five rounds are not enough for remaining on the top. United shouldn’t spill more points at Old Trafford, and they need to get back on the winning track.
Southampton entered a poor streak, as they lost three times in a row. They have been around the continental qualification for a long time, but the visitors slipped to the 11th spot. Everybody expected them to keep up the pace after a 1:0 win over Liverpool, but that didn’t happen. Danny Ings and the lads have some trouble in converting their chances into goals lately. The Saints scored only twice in the previous five Premier League rounds, and Ralph Hasenhuttl needs to urgently address that issue. It’s still not too late for Southampton to enter the battle for the Europa League spot as they are four points behind Tottenham. They have been pretty tight when playing away from home this season, as Southampton lost only twice on the road. However, they have also been involved in a lot of draws. The visitors need to put a disciplined performance and try to remain undefeated in this match.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

The hosts cannot allow themselves to lose points at Old Trafford if they want to keep challenging the title. We believe they will meet the expectations and get all three points from this match.

Goals Market Prediction

Head-to-head matches between these two sides have been very exciting and efficient lately. Bots teams were able to score in their last five encounters, and we don’t think this one will be much different.
Manchester United to win @ 1.55
BTTS Yes @ 1.70
Correct score 2:1 @ 9.00
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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An Overview of the Main Talking Points on this Sub

Thought it would be good to have everything in one place if people want to come back to it. I made this mostly for beginner's and for the quick links, I'm not sure how much use you will get out of it outside of this but shit does get lost on reddit pretty quick so I hope you find it helpful. It is on you to check the age of posts.
Final Update: 11/09 at 19:22 BST. Deadline: Saturday 12th at 11:00 BST. Good luck!
Important Info/Posts
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ARS: Leno/Martinez #1 / Leno/Martinez #2 || Tierney #1 / Tierney #2 || William Saliba || Maitland-Niles || How will Arsenal lineup atb? || Pepe #1 / Pepe #2 || Willian || Saka #1 / Saka #2 || Ceballos || Budget ARS Mid || Nketiah || Lacazette || Auba Analysis || Arsenal Front 3 || Auba vs. Salah || Auba as a mid #1 / Auba as a mid #2
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BHA: Brighton Defence || Lamptey || Ben White || Trossard || Connolly
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EVE: Everton Defenders || Digne || Branthwaite (4.0) || James Rodriguez || Siggy || Gordon || Allan the Enabler? || Richarlison || Calvert-Lewin #1 / Calvert-Lewin #2
FUL: Rodak || Harrison Reed || Anguissa || Josh Onamah || Kebano || Mitrovic #1 / Mitrovic #2
LEI: Pereira out Until October (GW 4/5) || Who Will Start atb for Leicester? || Justin || Thomas/Justin #1 || Thomas/Justin #2 || Benkovic || Maddison || Barnes #1 / Barnes #2 || Perez || Leicester Midfield || Vardy #1 / Vardy #2 / Vardy #3 || Iheanacho
LEE: Meslier vs. Casilla & Dallas vs. Ayling || Leeds starting backline || Dallas vs. Ayling || Ezgjan Alioski || Harrison || Rodrigo #1 / Rodrigo #2 / Rodrigo #3 || Leeds Opening Fixtures
LIV: Alexander-Arnold || Gomez #1 / Gomez #2 || Gomez vs. Matip || Curtis Jones || Salah || Salah vs. Mane at Start of Season || Henderson || Minamino || Keita #1 / Keita #2 || Firmino || Skip on Salah/Mane || Is TAA enough? || TAA & Robertson/VVD Double Up || Salah vs. Auba
MCI: Cancelo || Laporte || De Bruyne || Sterling || Feran Torres || Foden #1 / Foden #2 || Fernandinho || B. Silva || Aguero #1 / Aguero #2 || Should I avoid City players GW1?
MUN: De Gea/Henderson || Shaw || Brandon Williams || Rashford analysis (best MUN asset?) || Greenwood #1 / Greenwood #2 || Greenwood vs. Martial || Rashford vs. Fernandes #1 / Rashford vs. Fernandes #2 || Rashford vs. Fernandes vs. Greenwood vs. Martial
NEW: Dubravka out for 6-8 weeks || Best NEW defender for 2 weeks || Lewis || Lascelles #1 / Lascelles #2 || Ritchie || The ASM/FraseWilson conundrum || Saint-Maximin || Saint-Maximin & Gayle || Wilson
SHU: Ramsdale #1 / Ramsdale #2 || SHU starting backline || Egan || Berge || Sheffield United Assets
SOU: Forster || Romeu || Armstrong #1 / Armstrong #2 || Armstrong vs. Ward-Prowse #1 / Armstrong vs. Ward-Prowse #2 || Adams #1 / Adams #2 || 5 Key SOU Assets || There's value to be found at Saints
TOT: Lloris #1 / Lloris #2 || Spurs Defence || Dier || Doherty || Doherty Under Jose Tactics [Video] || Davies #1 / Davies #2 || Aurier || Sessegnon || Spurs Starting LB || Bergwijn || Alli || Son #1 / Son #2 / Son #3 || Kane #1 / Kane #2 / Kane #3 / Kane #4 || Son vs. Kane || Spurs Assets || Spurs being overlooked?
WBA: West Brom Defence || Matheus Pereira || Austin
WHU: Johnson (4.0) #1 / Johnson (4.0) #2 || Bowen || Soucek #1 / Soucek #2 || Noble || Noble vs. Soucek || WHU Opening Fixtures
WOL: Wolves Defence - Time to Wait and See? || Vinagre || Jonny Injury || Most nailed Wolves defender || Podence & Wolves Attackers || Jota || Wolves Triple Up?
Promoted Teams
Miscellaneous
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Southampton vs Liverpool

Southampton sits in ninth place, but the hosts are only three points behind the third-placed Tottenham Hotspur. However, the home side has been searching for a win since their 1:1 draw against Arsenal. In the last four rounds, the Saints have picked up only three points and declined to the middle of the table. Danny Ings and the lads failed to score three times in a row, but they conceded just one goal during that time, the one in the 1:0 defeat against Manchester City. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side plays pretty tight in the back, as they have one of the best defensive works in the league. However, Southampton celebrated just once in the last four games at St. Mary’s Stadium, and another tough challenge is ahead of them.
Liverpool still tops the table, but they are joint leaders with Manchester United. After the last-minute winner against the Spurs and an impressive 7:0 victory away to Crystal Palace, everybody believed the Reds could stabilize their form. However, West Brom took a point from Anfield, as Big Sam made a return to the Premiership. Another poor display came against Newcastle United in the game that ended in a goalless draw. Jurgen Klopp’s side booked only four wins in the past nine matches in all competitions. On the other hand, very few people saw Manchester United returning to the title race, and that’s putting a bit more pressure on the visitors. Liverpool struggles when playing away from home as Mo Salah and the lads got back home with all three points just twice this season. They need to get back on the winning track urgently and stop spilling points.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

It is going to be a tight clash since both sides have been dealing with goalscoring troubles in the past couple of games. The match can go easily in both ways, and we don’t think Southampton can lose by more than one goal.

Goals Market Prediction

If we remove the victory against Crystal Palace from the picture, Liverpool has been struggling in converting chances into goals at away grounds. Since Southampton is disciplined in the back, we don’t expect to see more than two goals in total.
Southampton AH +1 @ 1.75
Under 2.5 FT @ 2.20
Correct score 1:1 @ 9.50
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Leicester City vs Manchester United

Leicester fans have been on a real rollercoaster lately, as their team celebrated in three games while losing twice in the last five rounds. If a defeat against Everton was not too surprising, the one against Fulham at King Power Stadium certainly was. Brendan Rodgers’ side hasn’t been impressive at the home ground, as they won just three times in addition to four defeats. However, Jamie Vardy and the lads booked a vital victory away to Tottenham last weekend, which kept them in the 2nd spot. The hosts have been very good in the front, while their defense is one of the tightest in the league. They are four points behind Liverpool, and a victory would keep them in the race for a while.
Manchester United had a very slow start in the season, but their excellent run launched them right behind their upcoming rivals. Although they failed to secure a place in the Champions League eight finals, United fans still dream big as they are five points behind Liverpool, with one game in hand. After losing to Arsenal at Old Trafford, the Red Devils booked six victories and a draw against their local rivals Manchester City. They have been real comeback kings lately, as they were managing to pick up three points after trailing at some point in the game. Manchester United comfortably beat Leeds United last weekend after a goal-galore as the score on the board was 6:2. Scott McTominay and the lads also managed to get to the EFL Cup semis after celebrating at Goodison Park 2:0. The visitors have been perfect when playing away from home as they haven’t dropped a single point in six away games. Another victory from this one would see them getting closer to the top spot.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

A great battle is ahead of us, and we believe football fans should enjoy an exciting clash. Both sides are capable of winning, but since the hosts are insecure at home, and Manchester United is full of confidence, we believe they will get back home with another three points.

Goals Market Prediction

Although head to head matches between these two teams have been pretty tight lately, we don’t believe either side will keep the clean sheet in this one.
Manchester United to win @ 2.30
BTTS Yes @ 1.60
Correct score 1:2 @ 10.00
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur

Wolves sit in the middle of the table, however, they are only six points behind the top four. Nevertheless, lately, they haven’t enjoyed good form, as the hosts suffered three defeats in the last five rounds. Although Nuno Espirito Santo’s side celebrated against Arsenal and Chelsea, they lost to Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Burnley. Their current schedule has been pretty tough, and that trend continues with the match against another powerful opponent. The home side has been pretty good in the back, but Pedro Neto and the lads should have been more efficient as they scored only 14 times. Wolves need to pick up some points from this match since they will play away from home in the upcoming two rounds.
After sitting on the top of the table until recently, Tottenham Hotspur slipped down to the 6th spot after two consecutive defeats. First, they conceded a late goal away to Liverpool, although they deserved to win at least a point. It was their first defeat after 11 rounds in the Premier League that saw them dropping to 2nd place. The Spurs then suffered another loss against Leicester City last weekend, and Jose Mourinho’s side needs to get back on the winning track if they want to get back to the title race. Harry Kane and the lads celebrated just once in the last five rounds, but they could definitely have won more points. After four straight away victories, Tottenham’s winless streak when playing away from home extended to three games, and they will look forward to breaking it.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

It is going to be a tight clash in which both sides have the chance to remain undefeated. Therefore, we wouldn’t be surprised if this game ends in a draw.

Goals Market Prediction

When these two teams face each other, football fans can see many goals. Although the hosts have been playing pretty tight so far in the season, we expect to see goals in both nets, as it was the case in their last five clashes.
Draw @ 3.25
BTTS Yes @ 1.95
Correct score 1:1 @ 7.00
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

After the narrow 1:0 defeat in the hands of Everton in the season-opener, very few people believe Tottenham can be one of the title contenders. However, Jose Mourinho’s side tied nine games without suffering a defeat, and that run launched them to 1st place. The Spurs won four times in a row before a goalless draw against Chelsea last weekend. Harry Kane and the lads have been pretty convincing in front of the oppositions’ net, while their defense is the best in the league. Tottenham booked four straight victories at their ground, and they want to keep up where they left off against the fiercest rivals. The home side secured the place in the Europa League knockout stage thanks to a 3:3 draw in Linz against LASK on Thursday, and they can focus on one of the most important matches in this part of the campaign.
On the other hand, Arsenal is having another disappointing season. The fact that the Gunners sit on the 14th spot speaks enough, and although they are only four points behind the top five, their displays are pretty discouraging. After the narrow 1:0 victory at Old Trafford, Aston Villa trashed Mikel Arteta’s side at Emirates Stadium. Leeds United managed to resist at Elland Road, while Wolves were another team that took all three points at Arsenal’s ground. The perfect record in the Europa League is the only positive spot for the away fans, but still, their team didn’t have tough opponents in their group. Nicolas Pepe struggles to find his form, and he will be unavailable for this clash due to a suspension. Arsenal needs to start creating chances and converting them into goals if they want to challenge for the continental spots for the next season.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

Tottenham is in a much better momentum, and the Spurs are considered favorites in this clash. We believe they are going to win this match and continue the title race.

Goals Market Prediction

Head to head clashes between these two sides have been pretty efficient lately, and just once in the past five matches, one of the sides managed to keep the clean sheet. Despite Arsenal’s problems in front of the oppositions’ goal, we believe the nets won’t remain intact in this one.
Tottenham Hotspur to win @ 2.00
BTTS Yes @ 1.75
Correct score 2:1 @ 9.50
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

Tottenham is in a much better momentum, and the Spurs are considered favorites in this clash. We believe they are going to win this match and continue the title race.
Tottenham Hotspur to win @ 2.00
Head to head clashes between these two sides have been pretty efficient lately, and just once in the past five matches, one of the sides managed to keep the clean sheet. Despite Arsenal’s problems in front of the oppositions’ goal, we believe the nets won’t remain intact in this one.
BTTS Yes @ 1.75
Correct score 2:1 @ 9.50
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

Tottenham is in a much better momentum, and the Spurs are considered favorites in this clash. We believe they are going to win this match and continue the title race.
Tottenham Hotspur to win @ 2.00
Head to head clashes between these two sides have been pretty efficient lately, and just once in the past five matches, one of the sides managed to keep the clean sheet. Despite Arsenal’s problems in front of the oppositions’ goal, we believe the nets won’t remain intact in this one.
BTTS Yes @ 1.75
Correct score 2:1 @ 9.50
Read the full analysis here, and subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube channels!
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Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

Tottenham is in a much better momentum, and the Spurs are considered favorites in this clash. We believe they are going to win this match and continue the title race.
Tottenham Hotspur to win @ 2.00
Head to head clashes between these two sides have been pretty efficient lately, and just once in the past five matches, one of the sides managed to keep the clean sheet. Despite Arsenal’s problems in front of the oppositions’ goal, we believe the nets won’t remain intact in this one.
BTTS Yes @ 1.75
Correct score 2:1 @ 9.50
Read the full analysis here, and subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube channels!
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Everton vs Leeds United

Everton had an explosive start to the campaign, and after the first five rounds, they topped the table. However, after the draw in the Merseyside derby, the home side lost three times in a row. That made them slipping to 6th place, but they are only four points behind Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Carlo Ancelotti’s side is one of the most efficient teams in the league, but the Toffees haven’t managed to keep the clean sheet ten times in a row. The hosts got back on a winning track after a 3:2 victory away to Fulham last weekend. Dominic Calvert-Lewis picked up where he left off and scored a brace for valuable three points. This promising striker has already netted ten times this season.
Leeds United also enjoyed their comeback to the Premier League, but they haven’t been performing well lately. Only one win in the past five rounds saw them declining to the 14th spot, but the visitors are still safe, as they are seven points clear from the relegation zone. Marcelo Bielsa’s side snatched a well-deserved point against Arsenal at Elland Road last weekend. The away side also has trouble keeping their net intact, as they conceded 17 times so far. Patric Bamford continued with excellent performances, and he already scored seven goals in the campaign. Leeds United wants to remain in the top flight next season as well, and they want to stay undefeated in this one.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

Both sides booked the same number of points in the last five games and looking for an improvement. A very exciting clash is ahead of us, as both teams can pick up something from this game. However, the hosts are slight favorites, and we think they will grab the win.

Goals Market Prediction

Football fans had the chance to enjoy a lot of goals when one of these two teams features the game. Both sides are clinical in front of the oppositions’ goal, while they do not defend very well. Therefore, we expect to see goals in both nets.
Everton to win @ 1.95
BTTS Yes @ 1.55
Correct score 3:1 @ 17.00
Read the full analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Manchester United vs Arsenal

Manchester United sits in the disappointing 15th spot in the table, and the fans definitely cannot be satisfied with 7 points from five matches. Old Trafford is still waiting for the first victory, as the Red Devils picked up just a point from three occasions at their pitch. The 6:1 defeat against Tottenham is still fresh, but since then, the hosts improved their game. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side is undefeated in the last four games, and they missed the chance to win just once. It was in the previous round in the clash against Chelsea. United celebrated two vital wins in the Champions League, first against PSG at Parc des Princes, while the home side trashed RB Leipzig 5:0 at this venue. If they can replicate the Champions League form to the domestic competitions, Manchester United can improve their place in the table.
Similar to their opponents, Arsenal also failed to impress so far in the Premier League. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and the lads are two points ahead of their rivals, while they played one match more. The Gunners tied two defeats in the domestic campaign, and in both games, they failed to find the back of the net. On the other hand, the visitors have been successful in the Europa League so far, as they celebrated twice. They were better than Rapid Vienna in the opening round, while Arsenal booked an easy 3:0 win over Dundalk on Thursday. However, another tough challenge is ahead of them, and the away side needs to get back on the winning track.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

Manchester United has improved lately, and they expect this derby match with much higher confidence. They can transfer the Champions League momentum to this game and celebrate an important victory.

Goals Market Prediction

Head to head clashes between these two sides have always been very exciting. This one shouldn’t be much different, and we expect to see goals in both nets.
Manchester United to win @ 2.10
BTTS Yes @ 1.65
Correct score 2:1 @ 9.50
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Wolves vs Manchester city

Wolves were unlucky to stay without a ticket for Europa League last season as they lost in the closing match of the Premier League campaign and allowed Tottenham Hotspur to take their place. However, at that point, they still had the chance to participate in continental competitions once again, but Arsenal lifted the FA Cup trophy and ruined Wolves’ chances. The home side kicked-off a new campaign with a 2:0 away victory over Sheffield United. Two quick goals scored by Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss were enough for clinching all three points. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side played very well at the Molineux Stadium last season as they lost only four times at their ground. The hosts want to rechallenge the top seven spots, and we will see how they can perform against one of the title favorites.
This game is going to be the first one for Manchester City this season. The visitors had an extra week off due to their participation in the Champions League quarter-finals. However, the Citizens suffered a shocking 3:1 defeat against Lyon and missed the chance to challenge the most significant trophy in European football. Pep Guardiola’s side finished as the runner-up last time in the Premiership, and they were pretty far from the title battle. This time, they want to be more competitive, and Kevin de Bruyne and the lads want to have a good start of the campaign. Manchester City has been terrific in the final third last season as they managed to score 102 times in 38 rounds. If they can keep up the form, the visitors will be one of the leading contenders.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

Although Wolves are a pretty disciplined team, Manchester city is considered as a favorite in this match. We believe the visitors are going to meet the expectations and get back home with all three points.

Goals Market Prediction

Both sides have been quite efficient lately, and we expect them to keep up in the same fashion. Therefore, football fans should be able to enjoy at least three goals in total in this game.
Manchester City to win @ 1.50
Over 2.5 FT @ 1.75
Correct score 1:2 @ 9.00
Read the analysis here and share your opinion with us!
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Reasons Why I Still Play FM08 – The First Five Years (Year 1, Part 2)

Reasons Why I Still Play FM08 – The First Five Years (Year 1, Part 2)
WARNING: VERY LONG POST. READ AT YOUR OWN LEISURE.

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NB: This is part TWO of a TWO-part series. If you haven’t yet read part ONE, please click here.
Sunday 1st June 2008
The leagues are complete, the European competitions are decided, it’s time to see the damage done.
Premier League
We’ll start with the Premier League and, as expected, Man Utd held on to their strong advantage to retain the title, the top-scoring Reds finishing 1 goal and 6 points ahead of Arsenal. Liverpool and Man City claim the remaining Champions League places, whilst Portsmouth finished a point ahead of Everton to claim the first available UEFA Cup place.
Fulham would’ve needed a mathematical miracle to have survived relegation, and Middlesbrough were already related going into the final day so a draw with Wigan meant little to them, but Wigan were already safe thanks in part to what was essentially a relegation play-off match between Birmingham and Sunderland. A win for either team would see them survive but a draw would not be enough for Sunderland.
David Connolly stepped up and scored a highly contentious goal for Sunderland in a tightly contested game. Birmingham City couldn’t believe what they believed was an offside goal was allowed to stand and replays have since shown that they may have had every right to feel aggrieved about that goal. They did not, however, do enough to get back into the match and although an equaliser would’ve seen them survive, they could not muster one and now drop down into the Championship.
Kevin Doyle has the last laugh in his ongoing feud with Leroy, pipping him to the Golden Boot for Reading with 25 goals to Lita’s 24. Andy Johnson rounds off the top 3 with 23 goals for Everton. Cani’s 16 assists see him take the non-existent playmaker of the year award, 3 clear of John Carew. I shall forever call this the Playmaker Award now.
The league table is as follows:

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Overachievers: Man City, Derby County, West Ham
Underachievers: Tottenham, Chelsea, Bolton, Middlesbrough
West Ham seal European football through the Euro Vase, aka Intertoto Cup, by virtue of the fact that apparently neither Everton or Chelsea, nor Blackburn bothered to apply.
As we know, Portsmouth secured European football through 5th place but wait… Newcastle and Derby are also in Europe?!
This can only mean one thing…
FA Cup
Derby comfortably defeated Blackburn 3-1 at Wembley while Newcastle played out a dramatic 3-3 draw with Portsmouth. The game would be settled by penalties, with Portsmouth scoring their first 2 and Newcastle missing them both. Nerves got the better of the Pompey players as Newcastle scored their next 3 and Portsmouth missed all of them. Incredible scenes in the capital.

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Not to be outdone, Derby and Newcastle would contest a fierce final themselves. James Milner wins the header from the goalkeeper’s free kick to nod down to Barton who returns a through ball for Milner to slot home in the 22nd minute. However, Derby would hit back on the brink of half-time, in part thanks for a huge stroke of good fortune: David Jones’ free kick on the edge of the box taking a huge deflection off the wall to wrong-foot Shay Given.
Deadlocked at 90 minutes, the game moved into extra time. More free kick fortune for Derby as Ulrik Yttergård Jenssen’s freekick deflects off the wall as well and into the path of Daniel Fredheim Holm who lashed home high into the net. However with the clock pushing 122 minutes, Derby go on the attack instead of taking it the corner flag. They would be punished with a flowing Newcastle counterattack, Nicky Butt feeding Derek Boateng who flights a ball to the back post for an unmarked Claudio Caçapa to nod home a dramatic late equaliser.
The penalty shootout would be quick and painless. Derby’s players, mentally crushed from conceding such a late goal and dissolved of all confidence, missed all 3 of their penalties to concede the FA Cup to Newcastle United.

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Consolation for Derby is that, because Newcastle already secured European football through their League Cup victory, they will also be playing in Europe thanks to being FA Cup runners up. Incredible for a team that was predicted to be relegated this season.
Championship
Charlton return to the top division, hanging on to top spot despite losing to West Brom on a final day, as Sheffield United could only muster a draw at home to Southampton. Watford, West Brom, QPR and Southampton make up the playoff hopefuls whilst Hull, Sheffield Wednesday and Colchester all drop down into League One. All three relegated teams’ fates were sealed before the final day, so Hull’s 2-0 win at home to Ipswich was in vain.
Stoke and Crystal Palace played each other in a play-off decider, with Stoke knowing that any win would secure them 6th place. Palace needed a win against Stoke and a favour from title-chasing Sheffield United against Southampton to leapfrog both Stoke and Southampton into 6th. As such, Southampton needed to better Stoke’s result to secure the playoffs. As it transpired, Crystal Palace’s dramatic 90th minute winner away to Stoke was not enough as Southampton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.
Massive credit to Scunthorpe who were predicted to finish rock bottom this season and defied all expectations by finishing 9th, just 3 points off the playoffs. Unbelievable effort from QPR too, who flouted their 18th place prediction by finishing 5th in the playoff places.
Marlon King would finish top scorer for Watford with 30 goals, well clear of second place István Ferenczi, Kevin Kyle picking up the Playmaker Award with 14 assists.
Playoff Semi Finals – leg 1
QPR 1 – 1 West Brom
Southampton 2 – 0 Watford
Playoff Semi Finals – leg 2
West Brom 2 – 0 QPR << West Brom win 3-1 on aggregate
Watford 2 – 1 Southampton << Southampton win 3-2 on aggregate
Playoff Final
Southampton 1 – 2 West Brom
A cagey 2-1 win for West Brom as Chris Brunt scores a late winner from a set piece. Sherjill MacDonald may well have offside for the opener as Zoltan Gera played a lovely ball in to the near post and Southampton may well have a right to be upset with referee Lee Probert. If the build-up to the equaliser was scrappy, the finish certainly wasn’t: a ball lifted over the top by Jason Euell is despatched exquisitely on the volley by David McGoldrick. Chris Brunt would have the last laugh in this one, sticking a 20yard free kick into the top corner to send West Bromwich Albion back into the Premier League.

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Overachievers: QPR, Scunthorpe, Barnsley
Underachievers: Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Colchester United
League One
Business as expected for the top two as Nottingham Forest win the league and Swansea City seal automatic promotion. Yeovil needed favours on the final day to usurp Swansea but did themselves none in the process by drawing in what transpired to be a dead rubber against Bristol Rovers. Doncaster needed to better Carlisle’s result to go up but instead both teams lost, and Carlisle held onto 6th place. Brighton could’ve taken advantage of that slip but lost to champions Nottingham Forest, whilst Oldham could’ve shocked everybody but ultimately lost to Southend instead.
All four relegated teams were already down going into the final day: Northampton, Leeds, Tranmere and Leyton Orient.
Frazier Campbell of Wallsall and Marvin Williams of Yeovil would share the Golden Boot between them with 32 goals, 4 clear of veteran striker Tore André Flo. Brian Howard’s impressive displays for Yeovil meant he claimed the Playmaker Award with 20 assists.
Playoff Semi Finals – leg 1
Luton 2 – 1 Walsall
Carlisle 1 – 3 Yeovil
Playoff Semi Finals – leg 2
Walsall 0 – 0 Luton << Luton win 2-1 on aggregate
Yeovil 3 – 1 << Yeovil win 6-2 on aggregate
Playoff Final
Luton 4 – 1 Yeovil << Luton promoted after extra time
An open-ended affair with chances aplenty for both sides, Luton taking the lead inside the first 5 minutes, full-back Alan Goodall whipping a lovely ball into the near post for Sam Parkin to tuck away. Yeovil would be reduced to ten me early in the second half, Terrell Forbes hospital pass clearance met by the head of Luton’s Chris Hackett who nodded into the path of striker Drew Talbot. Talbot was unable to get his shot away clearly as Matthew Rose stuck out a leg to bring Talbot down and was sent off for a professional foul, drawing large protests from the Yeovil players.
Still, Yeovil pressed and five minutes later they’d find an unlikely equaliser. Brian Howard, standing over a free kick 30 yards out, goes for the audacious and gets a huge slice of luck as the free kick clatters off the wall, sends the keeper the wrong way and flies into the empty net.
Brave Yeovil would hold out the 90 minutes but unfortunately, Luton would make the extra man count in extra time, substitute Sol Davis starting the procession with a delightful free kick on the edge of the box. Tidy finishes from David Edwards and Willie Gibson rounded off a fine performance from Luton as they sealed their place in next season’s Championship.

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Overachievers: Walsall, Brighton, Cheltenham, Yeovil
Underachievers: Leeds, Tranmere, Millwall
Maybe slightly harsh to put Leeds in there with a 15-point deduction, but without it they would’ve finished 10th which is still way below expectations.
League Two
Impressive Bury romped to a surprise League Two victory, 5 points clear of Peterborough who in turn were 6 points clear of Chesterfield. On-loan youngster Chedwyn Evans’ 24 league goals complementing striker partner Andy Bishop’s 22 league goals to good effect.
MK Dons’ Jemal Johnson would score 4 goals in a 5-2 away thriller at Brentford to snatch the Golden Boot away from Morecambe’s Michael Twiss, who must’ve hoped his two goals against Barnet would’ve been enough, Johnson finishing the season on 25 goals. Kevin McBride of Darlington wins the Playmaker Award.
Grimsby could’ve been relegated on the last day had they, as they did, lost to Hereford but in the end it mattered not as Barnet and Mansfield, who only needed a win to try and survive, both suffered heavy defeats to drop out of the Football League.
Playoff Semi Final – leg 1
Shrewsbury 1 – 2 Darlington
Macclesfield 0 – 2 Morecambe
Playoff Semi Final – leg 2
Darlington 1 – 1 Shrewsbury << Darlington win 3-1 on aggregate
Morecambe 3 – 2 Macclesfield << Morecambe win 5-2 on aggregate
Playoff final
An incredible event as teams predicted to finish 12th and 21st met in the playoff final. Morecambe’s firepower really should’ve seen them through here, but it was Darlington who took an early lead through Gregg Blundell.
Darlington must’ve feared the worst when top scorer Pawel Abbott was taken off injured after the half-hour mark. It took Morecambe until the 79th minute to get off the mark through, Jamie Forrester providing the breakthrough. Smart thinking from goalkeeper Steven Drench sees Forrester run through a gap the size of Jupiter between the two centre backs to collect the long punt forward and slot home.
Darlington would somehow have the last laugh though, Tommy Wright slotting him neatly 3 minutes later for a famous win, taking Darlington up to League One

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Overachievers: Morecambe, Macclesfield, Accrington Stanley, Darlington, Bury
Underachievers: Bradford, Rotherham, Brentford, MK Dons, Rochdale, Grimsby, Barnet, Mansfield
Honestly, take your pick. Crazy season in League Two.
Non-League
Oxford won the Conference Premier, 9 points ahead of the playoff hopefuls. Rushden & Diamonds steamrollered Stevenage 4-0 in the final, who themselves had reached the final via a 90th minute winner against Crawley, who themselves had an excellent season after being predicted to finish 19th and instead finished 2nd, even with a 6-point deduction. Simeon Jackson wins top goal scorer with 33 league goals for Rushden & Diamonds.
Overachievers: Salisbury, Histon, Crawley, Rushden & Diamonds
Underachievers: Exeter, York, Torquay, Ebbsfleet, Kidderminster, Burton

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Southport win the Conference North and Boston United win the playoff final, beating Kettering on penalties. Alfreton, Hyde and Vauxhall are all relegated.
Lewes win the Conference South and Dorchester Town win the playoff final, beating Braintree on penalties. Havant & Waterlooville, Hayes & Yeading and Fisher Athletic are all relegated.
League round-up. We’ve already talked about the overachievers and underachievers, so let’s quickly compare the media predictions to the teams’ actual finishing positions. Should we castigate the media? Or should be laud and slate the teams who, for better or worse, defied expectations?
The final position is denoted to the right of the team, with the change from the prediction one over.

What do the media know, eh?
The game also has its own season summary for each league which pretty much covers everything I’ve already shared but for those interested, see below:

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UEFA Cup
It seems like forever ago since we saw European competition. I will skip ahead, so here are the First and Second Knockout Round results.
First Round

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Second Round

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Gritty performances throughout. For those of you wondering why FC Bayern are in the UEFA Cup it’s because they finished 4th in the Bundesliga in 06/07 behind champions VfB Stuttgart, 2nd place Schalke and 3rd place Werder Bremen. They entered at the UEFA Cup first round, essentially a final qualifying round. In-game, they defeated FC Twente 5-1 on aggregate to reach the group stage. They finished 3rd in their group, behind Fiorentina and Bolton.

Quarter Finals
All relatively straight forward in the Quarter Finals too, Bayern and Tottenham progress comfortably whilst Porto and Fiorentina had to do a bit of digging in to get the job done.
FC Bayern (6) 3 - 0 (1) Werder Bremen
Dinamo Kiev (2) 2 - 2 (4) Porto
Tottenham (5) 1 - 1 (2) Blackburn
Fiorentina (3) 0 - 0 (2) Girondins Bordeaux

Semi Finals
Bayern and Fiorentina met again in the Semi Finals to relive their group match (which was a 1-1 draw). The Semi Final would prove to be hotly contested again, Bayern stealing the victory in the 90th minute through Bastian Schweinsteiger, although replays show he may well have been offside. Luca Toni and Adrian Mutu were the other goal scorers.
The second leg lived up to the billing as well, Bayern taking the lead mid-way through the first half through Miroslav Klose’s smart run and finish. Mark van Bommel added an unlikely second on the night through a sublime freekick which left Fiorentina needing 4 goals to go through. Adrian Mutu led a one-man crusade with a brace in the 63rd and 69th minute respectively before substitute Massimo Gobbi’s tidy 73rd minute finish set up a nervy finale. However, La Viola couldn’t add to their tally and Bayern reached the final.
A tight contest in the other match was lifted with Steed Malbranque’s goal on the stroke of half-time, simply sumptuous freekick from the corner of the box, lifted over the wall and into the back of the net on the near side. Some fine work from José Bosingwa down the right-hand side allowed him to whip a cross into the far post for Raúl Meireles to head in an equaliser to ensure the spoils were shared going into the second leg.
Robbie Keane scored his 25th goal of the season here with a cool finish, showing that you don’t need to blast the ball to score, Tottenham now sitting pretty knowing that Porto needed to score twice to progress. A moment of madness, however, from Didier Zokora left them in a spot of bother. Zokora was shown a straight red card on the brink of half-time, his second of the season, after catching Malkhaz Asatiani with his elbow, referee Stuart Dougal showing no hesitation in sending the Ivorian off. However, Porto were unable to even pluck out an equaliser, let alone a winner and Tottenham progress.
FC Bayern (4) 2 - 3 (4) Fiorentina << FC Bayern advance on away goals
Porto (1) 0 - 1 (2) Tottenham

Final
Bayern were utterly ruthless in the final, showing no mercy to Tottenham in a 3-0 demolishing, all of the goals coming in the first half courtesy of Luca Toni and a brace from Miroslav Klose. The lack of defensive cover in the midfield really cost them and Kevin-Prince Boateng had his work cut out trying to fill-in in Zokora’s absence, indeed getting himself sent off in the 79th minute for a second bookable offence.

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Miroslav Klose’s two goals in the final means he takes home the Golden Boot with 12 goals, edging out RC Lens’ Aruna Dindane and team-mate Luca Toni by one goal. Riccardo Montolivo of Fiorentina picks up the Playmaker Award with 8 assists.
Champions League
Now, for what you’ve all been waiting for – the Champions League!
We left you with the Quarter Final line-ups:

Get ready for mayhem...
None of the teams would disappoint in this round either. Liverpool beating Real Madrid 2-1 away in the first leg only to almost throw it away with a 2-1 loss at home, thanks for Raúl’s 90th minute goal. Liverpool may well have been questioning just why the final whistle hadn’t already blown, but Jamie Carragher would be the extra time hero though, scoring a scrappy goal after a corner was failed to be cleared by Madrid.
Inter Milan’s first leg away goal helped them on their way to beating Man Utd over two legs, Adriano powering home from an indirect free kick opportunity. Paul Scholes would level the tie up when they met again in Italy, but former Arsenal man Patrick Vieira would seal the tie for Inter with a wonderful 30-yard screamer into the top corner.
A contender for match-of-the-competition as Arsenal overcame Barcelona in a 10-goal feast. Thierry Henry’s sub 5-minute brace against his former club, including one after just 18 seconds, was pegged back by Robin van Persie’s own brace and the Gunners would lead 3-2 at half-time thanks to “wonderkid” Nicklas Bendtner. Bendtner would be at it again shortly after half-time, thanks in part to even more craftsmanship from Francesc Fàbregas. A headed goal from William Gallas at a corner put Arsenal 5-2 up and looking comfortable but Barcelona went on the attack the corresponding kick off, Xavi Hernández sliding Ronaldinho in to make it 5-3, Jens Lehmann going walkabouts by all accounts.
Bendtner would complete has hattrick on 70 minutes though, slotting home after a neat turn in the corner of the box, sending Andrea Barzagli to another dimension. Barcelona would secure their 5th away goal though, Thierry Henry completing his own hat-trick after William Gallas failed to deal with a ball over the tip. Final score 6-4. And breathe.
The second leg was less entertaining, but Thierry Henry would put his former club to the sword again with two more goals and, despite Rafael Márquez being sent off for an astonishing elbow to Bakary Sagna’s face, Barcelona held out for the win on away goals. 2-0 on the night, 6-6 on aggregate. The most disgraceful part of the night was the players surrounding referee Thorsten Kinhöfer after the red card. Pundits are still perplexed as to what they were complaining about.
Finally onto Celtic, who produced the most breath-taking First Knockout Round ties against Valencia would continue to produce high entertainment value against PSV. Celtic held the advantage after a 1-1 draw in Eindhoven, but PSV would not go down without a fight. Rodrigo Palacio opened the scoring after Scott Brown needlessly lost the ball and some poor play from goalkeeper Artur Boruc, less than 45seconds into the match. Maciej Zurawski would dig his goalkeeper out of a hole 3 minutes later, beating Heurelho Gomes at his near post before Rodrigo hit back again on 8 minutes, capitalising on another poor error from Artur Boruc.
John de Jong would add to icing to a rich and wholesome cake, flicking the ball into the far corner of the net beyond Boruc’s reach and PSV looked comfortable leading 4-2 on aggregate, knowing Celtic now needed 3 goals to progress. PSV would lose key midfielder Edison Méndez to injury on 27 minutes but it would take until the second half for Celtic to take advantage, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink finishing off an attack before Maciej Zurawski would set up a frantic last 5 minutes after getting on the end of Lee Naylor’s inch-perfect cross. Celtic couldn’t produce one more moment of magic though and the tie would finish 4-4 on aggregate, PSV going through by virtue of away goals.
Real Madrid (3) 2 - 2 (4) Liverpool
Man Utd (1) 1 - 1 (2) Inter
Arsenal (6) 0 - 2 (6) Barcelona << Barcelona advance on away goals
PSV (4) 3 - 3 (4) Celtic << PSV advance on away goals

Semi Finals
Could the Semi Finals produce the same magic? Liverpool were paired up against Inter Milan and Barcelona were drawn against PSV.
Barcelona all but ended PSV hopes of an underdog victory, smashing them 4-0 in the first leg at home, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho both scoring braces, Ronaldinho’s both coming from penalties (and both when Henry was on a hat-trick so he can probably consider himself unlucky to be allowed to take one of them). With Edison Méndez still missing, Sebastián Battaglia was asked to step in but he was easily over-run by the Barcelona midfield.
PSV showed incredible fight immediately in the return fixture, going 2-0 up inside the first 7 minutes through Palacio’s lob and Ismael Aissati’s smart finish, but Barcelona soon calmed everything down, scoring 4 unanswered goals in return before half-time courtesy of Barzagli, two from Henry and a brilliant Ronaldinho free kick.. Gastón Fernández scored again late in the second half, but with the tie already done and dusted, it was more for pride than anything else. Barcelona win 4-3 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate.
Liverpool hosted Inter Milan at Anfield for the first leg of the other semi final and took a first half-lead through a stunning John Arne Riise free kick. Steven Gerrard forced Júlio César into an own goal after initially saving Ryan Babel’s long-range effort before Fernando Torres turned provider for Ryan Babel to breakaway and make it 3-0. Zlatan Ibrahimović gave Inter Milan some hope with a late away goal, pouncing on a rare error from Jamie Carragher in the 88th minute.
Liverpool were in good form going into the return leg, having battered fierce rivals Man Utd 4-0 at home at the weekend but it was Inter Milan who dominated this game for long periods, really putting the Liverpool team to the sword. Their dominance paid off in the 21st minute when Ibrahimović retrieved Maicon’s pinpoint pass and slotted into the bottom corner. Torres would ease the pressure on Liverpool with an equaliser at the start of the second half, his 20th goal of the season passed into the bottom corner; the keeper probably should’ve done better with it though. Inter claimed offside, but I’m not convinced.
Incensed, Inter went on the attack immediately, both literally and figuratively, injuring Torres before Ibrahimović fed Adriano who had the vision to pick out Esteban Cambiasso to restore Inter’s lead on the night. A great counterattack. Inter would make Liverpool pay once more for sloppy defending when Steve Finnan was beaten to the ball too easily by Adriano who cut it back for Maxwell to fire home. Pepe Reina will be disappointed when he looks back on that, as he really should be saving those kinds of shots. 3-1 on the night and unbelievably 4-4 on aggregate.
Extra time beckoned but Adriano was not interested in penalties, whipping a delightful ball around the corner for his strike partner David Suazo, clean through on goal to slot past a helpless Reina. Liverpool would go all out offensive from then until the final whistle but couldn’t muster one last goal to salvage the result and Inter go through to final, 4-1 on the night, 5-4 on aggregate.
Liverpool (4) 1 - 4 (5) Inter
Barcelona (8) 4 - 3 (3) PSV

Final
And so for the final. Inter Milan vs Barcelona. The world held high hopes after the last few rounds: they wanted goals.
They were not disappointed.

Strong.
Barcelona opened the scoring on 23 minutes, emerging “wonderkid” Lionel Messi slotting Samuel Eto’o through to score his 20th goal of the season. The lead wouldn’t last too long though, as Ibrahimović fed Suazo to equaliser on 31 minutes. Eto’o would restore the lead again soon after, Deco sliding a lovely pass through the defence for Eto’o to bury.
Controversy followed in the second half. Xavi loses the ball to Maxwell inside the Inter half who in turn goes on a mazy run towards goal exchanging passes with Cambiasso along the way. He is allegedly obstructed by Zambrotta outside the penalty arc, but replays show that it’s a blatant dive. To make matters worse, the referee inexplicably gives a penalty! Ibrahimović slots it without question. 2-2.
63 minutes and Puyol is needlessly dragged out of position to close down Stankovic who instead slips in Ibrahimović for his second of the game. Minutes later, a poor throw-in from Zambrotta gifts the ball to Ibrahimović to seal his hat-trick and put the game to bed, Inter holding out for a 4-2 win in the final against Barcelona!

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Despite the result, Ibrahimović would finish runner up to on 14 goals to Thierry Henry and Rodrigo Palacio in the Golden Boot race, the latter pair netting 15 goals a-piece. Andrés Iniesta would take home the Playmaker Award with 8 assists ahead of team-mate Ronaldinho’s 7. Despite an average rating of 7.83, Ronaldinho would also finish runner-up to Ibrahimović in the Champions League best player, with Henry rounding off the top 3.
Now, because does not save an accessible history of stats and results, they are essentially wiped as the season ends, so I decided to end each 4th game file on June 1st. The game resets around about the 24th or 25th but I wanted to stop the game after the season had finished and before any international competitions began.
But the year is 2008 so we all know what’s coming…

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This does mean I’m going to have to go into the game file for Year 2, but I’ll keep everything else a secret. Euro 2008 deserves to be inside the 07/08 season.
I do have all the results for the other international tournaments akin to this which make up the Confederations Cup competitors, so I will give a very brief oversight into those as well as they happen.
I’m not going to go into how each team qualified for the tournament unless you specifically ask about it in the comments. Let’s look at the groups, with the help of some expert MS Paint skills to display their current world rankings too.

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The most notable changes are that Denmark, England, Scotland and Finland all qualified for this edition and Spain, French, Russia and Poland, who all qualified in the real Euro 2008, miss out. Hosts Switzerland and Austria naturally have terrible ratings due to not playing many competitive internationals as they didn’t need to qualify for their own tournament. Group B looks tough, and the Scots may well fancy an upset in Group D.
Editors predictions: England. Not just because I’m biased, but because on paper they have the squad to do it. The Golden Generation may not have succeeded in real life, but this is stats-based fantasy. Football’s coming home! Failing that, and with France and Spain both missing, it’s anyone’s to take. I’m putting money on a Ronaldo-backed Portugal.
I will run through them Group by Group, even though it won’t strictly be in the order. All will be well again come the Knockout Rounds.
(editor note: a picture of all the groups is at the bottom. I had to cut back to 20 images)
Group A
Croatia and Sweden played out an entertaining 2-2 draw that didn’t get going until the last 30 minutes. Jurica Vranjes thought he’d snatched a late 87th minute for Croatia until Marcus Allbäck equalised 2 minutes later. Two early goals for Denmark were enough to see off Switzerland despite themselves pulling a goal back before half-time, a 2-1 finish.
The second round of fixtures produced even more drama, a Tranquillo Barnetta hat-trick for Switzerland helping to sink Sweden 4-3 in a back-and-forth game, Gelson Fernandes eventually settling the contest for the Swiss. An Eduardo-inspired Croatia took the game to Denmark and a late Nicklas Bendtner goal wasn’t enough to stop Croatia winning 3-1.
Any win for Croatia against Switzerland sends them through. A draw would also suffice. Switzerland need to win, although a draw would do if Sweden could beat Denmark. Any positive Denmark result paired with a Croatia win sees them progress, or even a win and a Croatia/Swiss draw. Sweden must beat Denmark and hope Croatia win. If the Swiss beat Croatia, they need to win and hope for a goal difference swing.
Drama all round as Sweden’s tournament hopes end with a 2-1 defeat to Denmark. Switzerland know they realistically need to win but can only muster a 2-2 draw with Croatia.
Denmark top the group, Croatia are runners up.

Group B
Czech Republic and Austria open the tournament with an entertaining 2-2 draw, Austria snatching a 90th minute equaliser through Steffen Hofmann after a mistake from Zdenek Grygera. Turkey and Portugal would step it up a notch by playing out a 3-2 game which, in truth, Portugal were always in control of. 3-0 up inside 21minutes, Turkey made a second half comeback but the 2nd goal in the 89th minute was too little, too late.
Goals from Deco and Tomas Rosicky in the first half ensured the spoils were shared in a game where the Czech Republic dominated Portugal for large portions of the game and will be disappointed to only draw 1-1. (editor note: the game seems to think Portugal completed 200% of their crosses in this match…) Turkey, on the other hand, turned their dominance into a 2-0 win over Austria.
Portugal need to beat Austria to secure top spot whereas Austria know they need a big win and some good fortune for a draw in the other game. Any winner of Turkey/Czech Republic will qualify, but a draw for Turkey should be enough, barring a miracle from Austria. It’s feasible that Portugal could still be knocked out, though very unlikely.
And as it happens, Portugal make light work of Austria, Maniche and Cristiano Ronaldo scoring first half goals to seal the tie 2-0 in an otherwise boring match. Czech Republic would be made to pay for not getting the winner against Portugal, being torn apart comprehensively by a relentless Turkey side with braces for both Nihat and Halil Altintop, 4-0 the final score line.
Portugal top the group, Turkey are runners up.

Group C
The last group to get going, but no lack of entertainment here, with Romania cruising to a 2-0 win against Greece. All of the drama came in the much-anticipated England/Germany match though and it met all expectations. Darren Bent’s headed opener was cancelled out by Miroslav Klose pouncing on Paul Robinson’s fumble, but Wayne Rooney would restore England’s lead halfway through the first half. Bayern’s Lukas Podolski pulled it level again before half-time before the teams seemed set to see out a 2-2 draw. However, deep into stoppage time at the end of 90 minutes, up steps David Beckham to do what David Beckham does best – dispatch freekicks into the top corner. 3-2. There was still time after the restart for Steven Gerrard to be shown a straight-red for hacking down Klose with two-feet.
Germany would take their revenge out on Greece in the next game, securing a 4-2 victory, whilst England would maintain their good form by persevering for a late 2-0 win against Romania.
England are already through and Greece cannot qualify so their final game is a dead rubber, other than Greece trying not to finish bottom and England trying to assure top spot. The winner of Germany/Romania will go through, but a draw will be enough for Germany by virtue of Goal Difference.
England consign Greece to 4th place in the group with a routine 2-0 win, goals from Wayne Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips enough to see them off. A cagey first-half in the Germany/Romania match became a much more open-ended affair after Daniel Niculae’s brilliant 47th minute opener, a sublime solo run culminating in a lobbed finish. Miroslav Klose fired back 10 minutes later with 2 goals in quick succession to swing the tie but Romania, not prepared to lie down, equalised again through Eric Bicfalvi. Romania would do the unthinkable though, Adrian Mutu bending a delightful goal into the corner to secure a 3-2 victory for Romania.
England top the group, Romania are runners up.

Group D
Italy kicked off the group against Finland with a nervy win, having gone 1-0 down to a 60th minute penalty from Ari Nyman. Filippo Inzaghi pulled it level in the 82nd minute before Antonin Cassano’s stoppage time winner stole all the points from Finland. Scotland were less keen to roll over though and will be disappointed to have thrown away a 3-1 lead at the 85th minute, Wesley Sneijder and Roy Makaay with late goals to snatch a 3-3 draw.
Holland vs Italy was billed as the one to watch in this group, and rightly so, both teams amassing almost 30 shots between them, but with both keepers in good form, the match would be tied 1-1, Riccardo Montolivo cancelled out Robin van Persie’s first half strike. Scotland have certainly found their shooting boots at this tournament after putting 4 past Finland, but they were made to work for the victory with the Finns taking the lead and later equalising through Mika Ääritalo’s brace. James McFadden’s strike would retake the lead before Barry Ferguson put the icing on the cake of a 4-2 win.
Scotland need any result against Italy to go through. A loss through, coupled with a likely Holland win overly Finland, would send them crashing out. Finland cannot progress. Holland must win to go through, as must Italy.
Holland do indeed get their win against Finland, dominating from start to finish, although the score line should really have been bigger than 2-1. Scotland’s hopes of sneaking out of the group were dealt an immediate blow as they went 1-0 down to Alessandro Del Piero’s header inside 45 seconds. Alberto Gilardino would double the lead in the 20th minute and although Kenny Miller pulled one back in the second half, they couldn’t find a second goal to escape the group. Final score 2-1 to Italy.
Italy top the group, Holland are runners up.
Summary
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Quarter Finals
Turkey – Denmark
Croatia – Portugal
England – Holland
Italy – Romania
No real humdingers here as all of the teams tightened up a lot.
Turkey did away with Denmark 2-0 in a game that the Danes will be disappointed to have not scored in. Nihat and an own goal from Per Krøldrup sealed the game.
Portugal were perhaps the better team in their tie against Croatia but still had to work hard to secure a 2-1 victory, Eduardo’s first half strike cancelled out by Maniche and Ronaldo in the second.
More late, late drama in this one as Frank Lampard scored a trademark goal, arriving from deep to sweep home a Wright-Phillips cross. England must’ve thought that’d be enough but Robin van Persie struck early into stoppage time to level the tie up 1-1. But cometh the 94th minute, cometh the man: Holland do not deal with a long clearance properly and Wright-Phillips skips past his man on the wing to lay the ball into the path of the onrushing Lampard who buries it high into the far corner. Holland complain to the linesman but really, they should be looking at themselves for some shoddy defending.
Romania will be disappointed they had to take Italy all the way to penalties to beat them, having been arguably the better team throughout. 1-1 at full time but a comfortable 4-2 shootout victory as their excellent tournament marches on, the only sour point being Stefan Radu’s 121st minute red card for a horrific tackle on Antonio Cassano.
Turkey 2-0 Denmark
Croatia 1-2 Portugal
England 2-1 Holland
Italy 1-1 Romania << Romania advance on penalties
Semi Finals
Turkey – Romania
Portugal – England
One thing guaranteed in this tournament now is that there will be an outsider in the final. Turkey left it late, but a brace from Nihat would prove enough to put Romania to the sword and end their dream run. Romania might look back and feel like they could’ve done better with both goals though.
Manchester United teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney did battle in this one, both getting their names on the scoresheet with clinical finishes. There would be nothing to settle the two sides until the very end: penalties. Hugo Viana, Nuno Valente, Jorge Andrade all scored whilst Gareth Barry, John Terry and Steven Gerrard did likewise. After Miguel fired home, Michael Carrick would see his penalty saved by goalkeeper Ricardo. However, some Paul Robinson heroics against Ricardo Carvalho gave Rio Ferdinand a chance to get back into the shootout. The pressure was too much though, and he slammed his penalty against the inside of the post to see Portugal through to the final, a final which Deco will miss with suspension after hacking Wright-Phillips down with two feet in 120th minute for an early bath.
Turkey 2-0 Romania
Portugal 1-1 England << Portugal advance on penalties
Final
No Third Place Playoff in the Euros, straight into the final where Turkey meet Portugal, looking for an upset. Nihat and Mehmet Aurélio’s persistence forced the breakthrough on 20 minutes but a smart short freekick routine 2 minutes later from Portugal saw Maniche hit a bending daisy cutter into the bottom corner to equalise. Into the second half and Mehmet Topuz played one of the balls of the tournament from deep, around the defence and into the path of Nihat who didn’t need to break stride to hit an unbelievable shot on the half-volley. Rumour has it that Nihat lost Ricardo Carvalho so well, he is still searching for Nihat to this day. Turkey would hold on to their 2-1 advantage until the final whistle to become unlikely European Champions 2008.

https://preview.redd.it/qx6ak4upsfd51.png?width=1423&format=png&auto=webp&s=52e9400ba3f2294178b459f89492370503ef814a
And so that concludes the first season back of Reasons Why I Still Play FM08, also unofficially called What Could Have Been.
This grew to be significantly longer than I expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, even if it did take me well over 15 hours to do so.
If anybody has any specific questions about any aspects of this particular game, please feel free to ask and I’ll do my best to answer them, whether it’s information about non-league clubs, club finances, world rankings, wonderkid regens etc.
I will also happily run through competitions like the African Cup of Nations and the Olympics, although competitions like the Asian Cup, Gold Cup, Copa América have yet to happen on this file.
I have at least 5 seasons worth of game files now, and seasons 2-5 are all structured the same in terms of save dates: September 1st, December 1st, March 1st and June 1st.
Congratulations if you got this far, I applaud your perseverance. I hope you enjoyed it. See you soon for Year 2.
~ dige
submitted by digestives27 to footballmanagergames [link] [comments]

FA WSL preview - West Ham United

Opening Fixtures
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham - 6th September 14:00 BST - Watch live for free on the FA Player*
West Ham vs Arsenal - 13th September 17:20 BST - Watch live on BT Sport (UK), or free on the FA Player* (International)
*May be geoblocked in some countries, depending on whether it has been picked up for TV coverage, most games will still be available – see this post for more information
 
Summary
West Ham finished in 8th last season, a little disappointing to end up a place below their debut season the year before. This has led to quite a significant change in the squad, with several players who didn't offer as much as had been hoped over the last two years being allowed to leave at the end of their contracts, some due to a lack of quality and others had consistently struggled with injuries. They've added good replacements and the squad looks capable of pushing on to challenge for a top half of the table finish, however last year they felt like a team that was less than the sum of its parts at times, so it's hard to predict whether they'll actually achieve improvement. Matt Beard will definitely have to get his team more oragnised defensively, last season they conceded the second most goals in the league and more goals off set pieces than any other side. Other sides throughout the league are looking stronger, but West Ham should definitely be aiming to move up the table this season.
 
Transfer Activity
In: Mackenzie Arnold (Brisbane Roar), Mayumi Pacheco (Reading), Katerina Svitkova (Slavia Praha), Hawa Cissokho (Soyaux), Nor Mustafa (Eskiltuna), Ruby Grant (Arsenal), Emily Van Egmond (Orlando Pride – loan), Mia Cruickshank (Reading), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash – loan)
Out: Katharina Banauch (retired), Anna Moorhouse (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Tessel Middag (ACF Fiorentina), Esme De Graaf (Leicester), Vyan Sampson, Ruesha Littlejohn (Leicester), Olivia Smith (London Bees), Julia Simic (AC Milan), Filippa Wallen (Apollon Limassol)
 
Squad Analysis
Line-up Prediction
 
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan played most of last season, but wasn't always in the starting line up, with neither of the rotating goalkeepers having the best year. It was only her first season in the league so I'm sure she will be aiming to improve on it and establish herself as the undisputed first choice. Mackenzie Arnold is a new signing that will provide a lot of competition for the starting spot, she's highly rated back home in Australia for whom she is a regular in the national team squad. She's also quite tall making it easier for her to clear crosses into the penalty area, which might help solve West Ham's issues defending set pieces.
 
Defenders: Gilly Flaherty captains the side, and has significant experience within this league having won league and cup titles with Chelsea and Arsenal previously. Strong and aggressive, but not the tallest or fastest defender around. Grace Fisk joined in January and was moved straight into the starting line-up for the last games before the season ended. Very highly thought of young player who captained England at youth level, and had a call up to the senior squad earlier in the year. Laura Vetterlein had an up and down first season last year. She looked impressive at centre back alongside Flaherty, but once moved to left back to cover injuries she struggled. Doesn't seem to be mobile enough to play that position but given the lack of depth there in the squad she may have to again if there's any injuries. Cecilie Kvamme gradually worked her way into the starting line-up last year, and overall looked like she belonged at this level. Has some pace and likes to get forward from full back. Hawa Cissoko arrives from struggling French side Soyaux. She has been capped internationally for France though, so should be a good signing. Very athletic, she can play anywhere across the defence but will likely be used at full back. Maz Pacheco didn't manage to secure a starting spot at Reading last year, rotating in and out of the side, she should be the first choice left back here though. Another former England youth international. Mia Cruickshank is another signing from Reading, she's only a teenager and has very little first team experience, so likely will be used sparingly this season.
 
Midfielders: Kenza Dali was last years big signing, and while she showed her quality at times, they'll be wanting more from her this season. A great passer of the ball, can also shoot from distance and take set pieces, hopefully the midfield reinforcements will help get more out of her. Katerina Svitkova has dominated the Czech league in recent years, scoring 188 goals in 177 games for Slavia Prague from the attacking midfield position. This will be a big step up so don't expect her to replicate those numbers, but she's shown her quality in the Champions League and international football too, so could turn out to be a great addition to the team. Emily van Egmond arrives on loan and brings with her loads of top level experience having played in America and Germany, as well as picking up 97 caps for Australia. Adds more of a physical presence to the midfield, she can play further forwards but I expect she will be used predominantly as a defensive midfielder here. Cho So-hyun is another very experienced international, she captains the South Korean national team. A tough tackling defensive midfielder, also brings good quality with the ball. Kate Longhurst has loads of experience of this league, she's played in every single WSL season, and won 2 league titles with Liverpool. Also very versatile, over those years she's been used at every position except left back and goalkeeper. Works hard and will bring huge commitment to the team wherever she is used. Ruby Grant arrives from Arsenal, she's a promising young player who may make some appearances from the bench or in cup games.
 
Forwards: Rachel Daly is a huge and somewhat unexpected signing for West Ham, she was linked to several of the top clubs so they did well to get her. Coming right off winning the MVP and Golden Boot awards in the shortened NWSL season in America, she'll be wanting to impress to nail down a regular starting place for England. Her best position is as a centre forward, but it's hard to predict where she'll play as she's so versatile, she may have joined on the basis that she'll play a certain agreed position to help her England chances. Adriana Leon is a skilful and pacey winger who loves to take on the opposition full back. Brings a lot of quality to West Ham's attack, and finished as top goalscorer with 5 last season, although she can at times be guilt of overplaying. Alisha Lehmann had a much quieter season last year compared to her debut season the year before. Very fast and capable of finishing chances, and still young enough to improve other areas of her game, hopefully we will see more from her this year. Leanne Kiernan another young, exciting, pacey winger who likes to get at the opposition full back. Has also been used as a centre forward at times, but this doesn't suit her at all, with the new arrivals she should be able to stick to playing out wide. Martha Thomas managed 4 goals in her debut season, which is better than it sounds considering she struggled with injuries. Tall and athletic, very capable of finishing with either foot or her head, I think she can be a big goalscorer in this league if her fitness issues are behind her. Nor Mustafa was brought in to provide cover at centre forward, but with Daly's arrival probably won't have any role in the side in the short term. She plays at youth level for Sweden, and may be a good long term prospect. Jacynta Galabadaraachchi is a young forward or attacking midfielder who has been tipped to reach the top of the game since she was in her early teens. You can see her quality when she has the ball at her feet, but she's yet to find a way to really affect games at this level yet. Wiktoria Kiszkiz is even younger at just 17, and was given her debut last season, She probably won't feature much this year but is a name worth remembering, she's been involved at youth level for both England and Poland, and the year before joining West Ham got a ridiculous 30 goals and 23 assists in 13 games for Arsenal's U16 youth side.
submitted by User4-8-15-16-23-42 to FAWSL [link] [comments]

FA Women's Super League preview - West Ham United

The FA Women's Super League begins on 5th September. This is one of a series of club previews organised at /FAWSL. The sub has just received a revamp and we are building a sub which would be a great space to discuss the FA WSL or the Women's Championship.
The league is going from strength to strength in recent seasons. It's a pretty competitive league and is becoming one of the best leagues in women's football.
So come on over to /FAWSL to follow and discuss the latest season of English women's football!
 
Opening Fixtures
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham - 6th September 14:00 BST - Watch live for free on the FA Player*
West Ham vs Arsenal - 13th September 17:20 BST - Watch live on BT Sport (UK), or free on the FA Player* (International)
*May be geoblocked in some countries, depending on whether it has been picked up for TV coverage, most games will still be available – see this post for more information
 
Summary
West Ham finished in 8th last season, a little disappointing to end up a place below their debut season the year before. This has led to quite a significant change in the squad, with several players who didn't offer as much as had been hoped over the last two years being allowed to leave at the end of their contracts, some due to a lack of quality and others had consistently struggled with injuries. They've added good replacements and the squad looks capable of pushing on to challenge for a top half of the table finish, however last year they felt like a team that was less than the sum of its parts at times, so it's hard to predict whether they'll actually achieve improvement. Matt Beard will definitely have to get his team more oragnised defensively, last season they conceded the second most goals in the league and more goals off set pieces than any other side. Other sides throughout the league are looking stronger, but West Ham should definitely be aiming to move up the table this season.
 
Transfer Activity
In: Mackenzie Arnold (Brisbane Roar), Mayumi Pacheco (Reading), Katerina Svitkova (Slavia Praha), Hawa Cissokho (Soyaux), Nor Mustafa (Eskiltuna), Ruby Grant (Arsenal), Emily Van Egmond (Orlando Pride – loan), Mia Cruickshank (Reading), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash – loan)
Out: Katharina Banauch (retired), Anna Moorhouse (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Tessel Middag (ACF Fiorentina), Esme De Graaf (Leicester), Vyan Sampson, Ruesha Littlejohn (Leicester), Olivia Smith (London Bees), Julia Simic (AC Milan), Filippa Wallen (Apollon Limassol)
 
Squad Analysis
Line-up Prediction
 
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan played most of last season, but wasn't always in the starting line up, with neither of the rotating goalkeepers having the best year. It was only her first season in the league so I'm sure she will be aiming to improve on it and establish herself as the undisputed first choice. Mackenzie Arnold is a new signing that will provide a lot of competition for the starting spot, she's highly rated back home in Australia for whom she is a regular in the national team squad. She's also quite tall making it easier for her to clear crosses into the penalty area, which might help solve West Ham's issues defending set pieces.
 
Defenders: Gilly Flaherty captains the side, and has significant experience within this league having won league and cup titles with Chelsea and Arsenal previously. Strong and aggressive, but not the tallest or fastest defender around. Grace Fisk joined in January and was moved straight into the starting line-up for the last games before the season ended. Very highly thought of young player who captained England at youth level, and had a call up to the senior squad earlier in the year. Laura Vetterlein had an up and down first season last year. She looked impressive at centre back alongside Flaherty, but once moved to left back to cover injuries she struggled. Doesn't seem to be mobile enough to play that position but given the lack of depth there in the squad she may have to again if there's any injuries. Cecilie Kvamme gradually worked her way into the starting line-up last year, and overall looked like she belonged at this level. Has some pace and likes to get forward from full back. Hawa Cissoko arrives from struggling French side Soyaux. She has been capped internationally for France though, so should be a good signing. Very athletic, she can play anywhere across the defence but will likely be used at full back. Maz Pacheco didn't manage to secure a starting spot at Reading last year, rotating in and out of the side, she should be the first choice left back here though. Another former England youth international. Mia Cruickshank is another signing from Reading, she's only a teenager and has very little first team experience, so likely will be used sparingly this season.
 
Midfielders: Kenza Dali was last years big signing, and while she showed her quality at times, they'll be wanting more from her this season. A great passer of the ball, can also shoot from distance and take set pieces, hopefully the midfield reinforcements will help get more out of her. Katerina Svitkova has dominated the Czech league in recent years, scoring 188 goals in 177 games for Slavia Prague from the attacking midfield position. This will be a big step up so don't expect her to replicate those numbers, but she's shown her quality in the Champions League and international football too, so could turn out to be a great addition to the team. Emily van Egmond arrives on loan and brings with her loads of top level experience having played in America and Germany, as well as picking up 97 caps for Australia. Adds more of a physical presence to the midfield, she can play further forwards but I expect she will be used predominantly as a defensive midfielder here. Cho So-hyun is another very experienced international, she captains the South Korean national team. A tough tackling defensive midfielder, also brings good quality with the ball. Kate Longhurst has loads of experience of this league, she's played in every single WSL season, and won 2 league titles with Liverpool. Also very versatile, over those years she's been used at every position except left back and goalkeeper. Works hard and will bring huge commitment to the team wherever she is used. Ruby Grant arrives from Arsenal, she's a promising young player who may make some appearances from the bench or in cup games.
 
Forwards: Rachel Daly is a huge and somewhat unexpected signing for West Ham, she was linked to several of the top clubs so they did well to get her. Coming right off winning the MVP and Golden Boot awards in the shortened NWSL season in America, she'll be wanting to impress to nail down a regular starting place for England. Her best position is as a centre forward, but it's hard to predict where she'll play as she's so versatile, she may have joined on the basis that she'll play a certain agreed position to help her England chances. Adriana Leon is a skilful and pacey winger who loves to take on the opposition full back. Brings a lot of quality to West Ham's attack, and finished as top goalscorer with 5 last season, although she can at times be guilt of overplaying. Alisha Lehmann had a much quieter season last year compared to her debut season the year before. Very fast and capable of finishing chances, and still young enough to improve other areas of her game, hopefully we will see more from her this year. Leanne Kiernan another young, exciting, pacey winger who likes to get at the opposition full back. Has also been used as a centre forward at times, but this doesn't suit her at all, with the new arrivals she should be able to stick to playing out wide. Martha Thomas managed 4 goals in her debut season, which is better than it sounds considering she struggled with injuries. Tall and athletic, very capable of finishing with either foot or her head, I think she can be a big goalscorer in this league if her fitness issues are behind her. Nor Mustafa was brought in to provide cover at centre forward, but with Daly's arrival probably won't have any role in the side in the short term. She plays at youth level for Sweden, and may be a good long term prospect. Jacynta Galabadaraachchi is a young forward or attacking midfielder who has been tipped to reach the top of the game since she was in her early teens. You can see her quality when she has the ball at her feet, but she's yet to find a way to really affect games at this level yet. Wiktoria Kiszkiz is even younger at just 17, and was given her debut last season, She probably won't feature much this year but is a name worth remembering, she's been involved at youth level for both England and Poland, and the year before joining West Ham got a ridiculous 30 goals and 23 assists in 13 games for Arsenal's U16 youth side.
submitted by User4-8-15-16-23-42 to soccer [link] [comments]

[OC] Juventus and "Sarriball": An Analysis of the Current Squad of Juventus, the Potential Transfer Acquisitions, and the Recently Appointed Maurizio Sarri

Introduction


Maurizio Sarri has returned to Serie A after just one year in the Premier League. He takes charge of Juventus, who relieved Massimiliano Allegri of his duties. Sarri has said some unsavory things about Juve during his time at Napoli, but he now finds himself leading the 8-time defending champions. He is notorious for his style of play, dubbed “Sarriball”. The biggest question now becomes how will Juventus adapt to his style of play? What players may need to leave, and who could be brought in to support Sarri’s style? That’s the focus of this analysis today, to assess just how “Sarriball” might work (or if changes should be made) for the reigning champions.

Tactical Styles and Adjustments



Sarri’s Tactics (Chelsea and Napoli)

It’s important to see what “Sarriball” is and how it’s worked before diving into any predictions. I would recommend watching these Tifo Football videos from his Chelsea and Napoli sides as a really good look into his tactical system. However, I can give a decent summary with both this depth chart and tactical analysis below.


https://preview.redd.it/dk7xb0zzk8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=2fd5efd197c492292cbe2d073ca3791baad9d78e


https://preview.redd.it/yi3ak1y1l8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=b4365a05b35a61fa9b1688378a641a80c181abb5

Sarri’s 4-3-3 features a midfield three of two central midfielders and a defensive midfielder. The left-sided central midfielder (one of Marek Hamsik, Piotr Zielinski, Ross Barkley, or Mateo Kovacic) usually operates more offensively than the right-sided one (Allan or N’golo Kanté), who operates from box-to-box. The defensive midfielder (Jorginho for both sides) looks to act as a bridge between the build-up play of defenders (Kalidou Koulibaly as the strongest example of this) and the midfield.

The goalkeeper needs to be strong on the ball and work with the central defenders in the build-up. The central defenders need to be particularly strong carrying the ball forward, making passes through the midfield, and provide an option for the defensive midfield. The fullbacks must provide options for the central midfielders and wingers and work in a triangle in the opponent’s half of the pitch. Generally, the left-sided winger will operate more as an inside forward who will look to cut inside and play off of the central striker (Lorenzo Insigne and Eden Hazard being perfectly suited for the offensive portion of this role). The right-sided winger drops off a bit more and plays a bit wider. This works the same for the fullbacks, as the left back tends to advance further forward than the right back (Emerson/Marcos Alonso get further forward than Azpilicueta).

The sole striker will need to drop off to support the midfield’s vertical build-up, but also be the focal point of getting shots off. Movement and awareness is an absolute requisite for this position. This is part of the reason that Chelsea struggled to adapt to Sarri’s style, given that their striker’s were poor in at least one of those area’s. While Dries Mertens’s speed, movement, build-up play, and generally good finishing made him an ideal candidate for the striker role, the same can’t be said for any of Chelsea’s strikers. Alvaro Morata’s poor movement in the attacking third and often times abysmal finishing saw him fall out of favor, Olivier Giroud’s slow pace meant that even his great build-up play and precise movement meant he couldn’t work well as a sole striker, and Gonzalo Higuain, who previously flourished under Sarri, lacked the clinical finishing that supplemented his movement. Sarri was sometimes even forced to use Hazard in the striker position. As you can see from this table, Chelsea’s strikers struggled to replicate Mertens’s form


I've talked previously about the lack of precision in Expected Goals and Assists, but here it shows Mertens's solid finishing and chance creation compared to the Chelsea Strikers.

One of the more damning stats is that even with more minutes than all of the Chelsea forwards, Mertens was caught offsides almost three times less (13) than the forwards listed (37). It shows just how unsuited Chelsea’s strikers were to Sarri’s system (or in Higuaín’s case, how much he has regressed).

The reason for Sarri’s struggles could also be down to the style of play between the two leagues. Many people criticized Sarri for his style of play, saying it could never work in the Premier League. They may not be wrong on that account, seeing as though there is in general style of play difference amongst the two leagues. This is highlighted by this article from Opta. Although it focuses on the Eredivisie, there are interesting insights for the two leagues we want to focus on. It shows how the Premier League defends more compactly within their own box and attacks more directly in the opponent’s half. This is compared with the Serie A which has lots of build-up play in the center (with a bigger focus on left-sided attacks vs. right-sided attacks) and a higher defensively line. Sarri’s style of build-up play perhaps wasn’t as effective against sides holding very deep, nor was his defensive high-line ideal against a more direct style of attack (Tifo has an entire video dedicated to this as well).

Allegri’s Tactics

It’s also important to take a look at how Juventus faired under Allegri, and the comparisons that can be made to Sarri’s style. The biggest difficulty with that is simply that Allegri doesn’t really favor a single system. He is renowned for changing styles between matches to foster rotation amongst his versatile players. This within itself will be difficult for Sarri at Juventus, to get them to focus on a single style. On the positive side, Allegri did seem to use a 4-3-3 some of the time. As a bonus, Juventus had more opportunities and shot more from the left side than from the right. Pretty similar to Sarri’s style. The biggest issue comes with defensive styles. Sarri favors high presses to either win the ball back quickly or force teams to clear the ball. Allegri’s Juventus do not press aggressively, looking more for interceptions at the right moment.

What needs to Change?

Obviously, the defensive style will need an overhaul. There is a silver lining for Sarri, in that Juventus usually finds themselves in the opponent’s half more often than Chelsea did last year. In fact, a defensive comparison shows that Juventus actually defended more actively than Chelsea did last year.


The difference in tackles and interceptions are notable for the type of pressing style, but the lower number of blocks showed how little Juventus were under pressure.

While this isn’t too reflective of the pressing styles, it does show that Sarri will have less to worry about in enforcing his defensive style. Having a more dominant team that can control possession more effectively should support any initial defensive shortcomings. Outside of that, getting the team to buy into one system may prove to be a challenge, even with the versatility at Sarri’s disposal. The biggest thing going for Sarri is that he is back in the Serie A, which will make his style of play more effective.

Individual Players


With the tactics and changes lined-up, let’s look at the players Juventus have and see where they could fit in the squad.

The Ronaldo Factor

Sarri has had world-class talent at his disposal (Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koulibaly, etc.), but at Juventus, he gets a shot at Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star is in the twilight of his career, but you couldn’t tell by looking at his stats or his physique. Having previously solely operating on the left wing, Ronaldo has been frequently deployed at the striker position. His aerial prowess and technical ability have translated solidly to a new league. The question now becomes, how will he perform under Sarri? Theoretically, Ronaldo should be a perfect fit for this system, given his incredible off-the-ball movement and willingness to drop deeper and receive the ball. He should be perfect to build off from if you are one of his wingers. The problem could be in the pressing style. While Ronaldo is again a great physical specimen, he is still aging, and may not respond as well to such an aggressive defensive style. He may need more frequent rest than he is accustomed to. Ronaldo could once again become an option on the left wing if Sarri elects to, given Ronaldo’s prowess there as well (and potential lack at the left wing position, as I will dive into later). Using him as an inside forward who is also a direct outlet could be an interesting choice for Sarri. Wherever he elects to play him, Sarri must utilize the aging Ronaldo accordingly to maximize his world-class ability.

No Jorginho? No Problem

Sarri is well known for his preference of Jorginho as his number six, with the Italian International transferring alongside Sarri to Chelsea. However, it is very unlikely that the Chelsea midfielder will elect to go to Juventus (and that’s not to say Chelsea would sell him cheaply either). However, there is not a need for concern. Miralem Pjanic represents an excellent emulator (perhaps even successor) of the Italian International. While the Bosnian is usually placed within a flat midfield three, he tends to play the furthest back, almost operating in the defensive midfield role. He has had two german midfield partners who have shouldered the defensive portion of the task (Emre Can last season, and Sami Khedira in seasons previous), and Blaise Matuidi also tends to play a defensive-minded role. This is shown in the statistics, where Jorginho blows Pjanic away in about every defensive category (even in per 90 stats, so the difference in minutes are accounted for). But still, there are incredible signs for the two in terms of the passing side of the role.


Again, xG Buildup is only there to be a bit more fair to Jorghino's involvement, but still shouldn't be taken as too precise.

Yes, both operated in different roles in different positions, so perhaps early comparisons are a bit short-sited. But the lack of passing depth from the aforementioned german midfielders makes Pjanic the best candidate for the job. Plus, his set-piece prowess should make his prospects look even better. I’d look for the Bosnian midfielder to be a mainstay in Sarri’s side.

Does Dybala Work?

Transfer rumors are always going to be deceptive and usually untrue. However, given that this post is a prediction for the future, some inferences are going to have to be made, even with all of the noise of the tabloids. One of the players rumored to leave is João Cancelo. There is a very high chance he will leave to Manchester City, so we’ll get to filling the right back role in short time. But what about Paulo Dybala? He’s been linked to a few teams, but why would Juventus want to sell their number 10, especially at such a prime age? Well, the first issue is the number 10. Not the jersey, but in a general sense he does not positionally seem to be suited to Sarri’s style.

If he were to be played as the right wing, there would be issues with him being predominantly left-footed. Dybala tends to cut inside and push higher up the pitch, which would be great if he were right-footed and played on the left wing. He also featured a lot at attacking mid, but that position simply doesn’t exist within Sarri’s system. The best he could do would be the most advanced of the three midfielders, on the left side.

Perhaps his best position would be as the central striker. He played there a few times last season, but almost always featured there during his first season at Juventus and his time at Palermo. He does have the qualities of a good Sarri striker, with quick movement and good technical ability to work with the wings. However, that would mean pushing Ronaldo to the left wing, which may not be in the team’s best interests. It’s a puzzling situation that may convince Juventus to potentially try him out in the market.

Filling Out the Rest

What about the rest of the squad? How will they work within Sarri’s system? Who will need to go and who will slot right in? Let’s go position by position and assess the rest of the squad.

- Goalkeeper will probably still be in the hands of Wojiech Szczesny, although Sarri may want to experiment between him and Mattia Perin in the early parts of the season. The biggest requisites for goalkeeper in Sarri’s system is comfortableness on the ball and distribution, so Sarri will look to see who could fit that bill the best.

- Center Backs are probably the most solidified with the current squad list. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci will most certainly reprise their roles. Both are incredibly comfortable on the ball, with Leonard Bonucci possessing ball-playing skills (and sometimes defensive lapses) reminiscent and probably exceeding David Luiz’s at Chelsea. Getting those two to work well with a sole holding midfielder will be crucial to getting both a solid defensive style and a solid build-up play. Danielle Rugani should fill in, though not particularly as soundly, should either of the two be unavailable.

- Right back becomes a bit of a question mark with the potential departure of João Cancelo. Even then, he may not have fit Sarri’s style of play best. Cancelo’s attack-mindedness may not have suited what Sarri wants in a more defensively focused right back, but he definitely was the best quality option. As it stands, Mattia De Sciglio, who has featured on both the right and left side of defense, will be first in line to take on the role. However, there may be a new candidate to take the role, who I will discuss later.

- Left back in theory belongs to Alex Sandro. Even though his performances last year were perhaps not up to his usual standard, he still possesses incredible quality at the left back position. In Sarri’s system, where he will look to be a wide outlet and be encouraged to move further up the pitch, he may find another level. De Sciglio could also be another option, rotating between left and right fullback.

- I’ve already discussed Pjanic as the best fitting holding midfielder, but Khedira and Can could still be options here if they can adapt to Sarri’s style of play.

- Central midfield is where we see an insane amount of depth and perhaps not enough standout quality. We’ll start with the more defensive right midfielder, and Blaise Matuidi seems like a solid candidate. He’s featured a lot in the Juventus side and is perhaps the most comparable to Kanté of the options. And before you point of the obviousnesses of a French center mid being similar to Kanté, let me at least talk about the qualities these players possess. Both are engines in the midfield who can operate box to box with decent holding of the ball. Both have some deficiencies in the attacking third but can still contribute. The biggest problem comes with Matuidi perhaps being unable to adapt to Sarri’s style of play. There are certainly some questions about his ability to work in the build-up, so he may indeed be sold. Rodrigo Bentacur could be a great option here, given his well-roundedness and versatility. He works well defensively, can carry the ball, and has great qualities in the final third as well. He’s still quite young, but could be the answer here, if he understands that he must be the more defensive minded of the two center mids. And I do have to bring up Sami Khedira and Emre Can again. Can could actually be great here as well, as he is defensively astute (perhaps more so than Bentacur) and still has enough quality to hold the ball. It’s the attacking part which could spell issues, as he lacks the quality in the final third. Same goes for Khedira, who was utilized even less than Can and is considerably older. Khedira being sold seems quite likely. Still, that’s four respectively options to fill one position.

- The left central midfielder is essentially whoever is decided amongst the other three midfielders who don’t make it. Remember, this is the more attack oriented of the two central midfielders, so Bentacur seems like a solid shout for the role if he isn’t decided for the right-sided spot. Dybala could be an answer if he is willing to learn the pressing system and track back enough. He would represent the best attacking option of the bunch. However, there is a new signing that could be the answer here as well (who I will discuss later, sorry to have so many cliffhangers).

- Left wing, as I mentioned before runs into some problems. Perhaps not as many problems as Hazard created defensively for Chelsea under Sarri’s system, but still enough to discuss. I’ve already mentioned how Ronaldo could work well, but may work better at striker. Douglas Costa leaps out as having solid potential. With a similar skill set and a similar physique to both Hazard and Insigne, Costa seems like an obvious choice. But again, he is primarily left-footed, opting more to cross than to cut inside. Sure, his ability to beat his man is similar, but Sarri’s insistence may see him lose out. He already didn’t feature as much under Allegri last season, so who knows what could happen with him. Early signs are positive for the Brazilian, but he’ll have to prove his place after a quiet season. Another potential option is Mario Mandzukic. While featuring more as a central striker under Allegri, he certainly has had experience as a left-midfielder in a Juventus side. He is notorious for his stamina and pressing ability, which would suit Sarri well. His aerial prowess would be an interesting exploit as well, getting on the end of more direct and vertical passing, which could be an interesting option that adds to the team’s versatility. However, it’s unclear whether he has the technical ability to operate in these tight spaces, and is getting up there in age. Left wing is another interesting position to be in (pun intended) that doesn’t have any standout answer.

- The right wing has great options, but could come down to transfers and a sense of preference. Dybala was mentioned earlier, and he would be the greatest quality here. But I’ve already talked about how he may not be best suited for the role. Two solid candidates could also have a say. Juan Cuadrado, who himself made a switch from Chelsea to Juve, has some solid credentials. Quick, skillful, and able to play out wide, he fits the bill for a Sarri right winger. As a bonus, he already is suited to play more defensively, featuring often as a right midfielder in a 4-4-2, or even times at right back (which I doubt he would play as under Sarri). Federico Bernardeschi also has a good look-in. Although he is left-footed, he still has a solid right foot and has all the qualities Sarri could look for, with the added set piece threat. Incidentally, both players made their mark through Fiorentina, so each has had similar styles impressed on each other. It could turn into another Willian/Pedro situation, where one plays for 60 minutes while the other gets the last 30. However, it could also be likely that if Dybala is chosen for the right wing role, that Cuadrado could leave the club.

- The striker position gets messy, and potentially changes what happens to the other positions. It’s crucial that Sarri gets his striker call right, as that is what hurt him the most at Chelsea. His decision at striker should really be his first call, with the other positions trickling down. Ronaldo seems the obvious call given the aforementioned reasons, but getting him to press the way Sarri wants will be interesting. Ronaldo has also usually featured as a striker with another striker, whether with Manduzkic or Dybala at Juve, Karim Benzema at Real Madrid, or with Gancolo Guedes and the young Joao Felix in the Portugal set-up. If Sarri believes shifting Ronaldo to the left is the right call, then maybe Dybala is the answer. He’ll have to go back to a similar role as when he first joined Juventus and be comfortable as a lone striker. Mario Manduzkic could also be the answer here. He played centrally for most of last year, and has the hold-up play and movement that Sarri will look for. However, at his age, Sarri will have to bet on him not regressing like Higuaín at Chelsea. There is of course a fourth option in the young Moise Kean. He stepped in when Ronaldo was injured and played extremely well. His movement and finishing could be enticing as well. However, he’s still quite young, and needs to become more polished in the build-up play before he should be considered for the starting role. I’d look to see him come off the bench whenever Juventus are in trouble.

New Signings


Bringing up the tabloids again, Juventus have been linked to a multitude of new signings to work in Sarri’s system. Let’s finally discuss these potential new players and see what they could bring to the table should they come to Juve.

Aaron Ramsey, 28, Arsenal (Confirmed Signing for Juventus)

There is one player we know for sure is coming. Aaron Ramsey will be leaving London for Turin this summer on a free transfer from Arsenal. Some critics has scoffed at his hefty wage bill, but I think Ramsey could prove vital for Sarri’s system. He featured a lot as an attacking midfielder last season under Unai Emery, but was deployed almost the same amount in the central midfield. Ramsey has incredible holding of the ball and ability to work with wingers in the build-up play. His willingness to push further out wide could help set up the passing triangles that Sarri is looking for with the left back and left wing. The biggest concern though is coming from the Premier League. We’ve already seen that things do not translate smoothly between Serie A and the Premier League, referring of course to Sarri’s style of play. If Ramsey can make that adjustment and make it fast, he could be vital to Sarri’s side.

Elseid Hysaj, 25, Napoli

The right back issue has had two possible solutions linked. We’ll start with the least likely, with Elseid Hysaj as a potential rumor. Sarri has of course worked with Hysaj before, so having someone who knows the system could prove vital. However, with Napoli's president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, being openly hostile with Juventus in the past and with his berating words of Sarri’s betrayal, Napoli will be unlikely to want to give up the Albanian right back.

Kieran Trippier, 28, Tottenham

The option that has been much maligned but the most linked has been Tottenham full back Kieran Trippier. Juventus may well be getting two players from North London sides. Trippier had come off the back of a stellar 2017/2018 Premier League season and one of the best World Cup performances in the English side. Last season, there was a drop-off in performance which saw Trippier’s quality to be doubted. Sarri has had an up close and personal look at Trippier at Chelsea, and may well remember the own goal Trippier scored for his side. However, this is just one moment in one match, no matter how embarrassing. The truth is, Juventus are going to need a fullback, and their options are frankly limited. Trippier is well known for his crossing ability, both from set pieces and from open play. Having him cross from deep into Ronaldo or Manduzkic almost sounds like cheating. The biggest concern of course is going to be the defensive adjustment. Trippier will not only have to adjust to a single system (as Mauricio Pochettino changed systems almost as frequently as Allegri did), but he will have to adjust to an entire new league with a completely different defensive makeup. Trippier has also looked the strongest in a 5-at-the back like he did for the English side, as he has struggled last season in a four at the back. It would certainly be a gamble to see if Trippier could adjust defensively to Sarri’s style. But the offensive contributions he could provide may just be what Sarri will need in his right back.

Matthijs De Ligt, 19, Ajax

If Juventus are to get their hands on perhaps the most coveted young center back in Europe, then their depth problem at center back is instantly resolved. Matthijs De Ligt has the makings to be not only one of the best center backs in Europe, but a perfect Sarri center back. He can deal with the aerial balls caused by the high press (he won almost four aerial duels a game last year). He had a freakish 90% pass accuracy in the Eredivisie last season. He’s an aerial threat from set pieces (Juventus fans won’t forget his header against them in the Champions League). He’s accustomed to both passing short and working with a defensive mid in Frenkie De Jong. He’s worked with another ball-playing center back in Daley Blind. He was played under a one system coach that used a 4-3-3 in Erik ten Hag (granted with a different midfield shape). He’s Ajax’s captain at 19. Everything seems in perfect order for someone like De Ligt to be an instant success in Sarri’s system. The only potential issue comes with the style of play between Eredivise and Serie A. Looking back at the style of play article by Opta, it becomes clear that possession is held mostly with the two center backs, rather than quicker, more vertical build up play through the midfield. While Ajax’s center back do play a bit more progressively (especially under ten Hag), it will still be a change in system. But again, De Ligt is still only 19 years old, and could be chosen over one of the Italian center backs if Sarri elects to do so. This could represent a massive investment in Juventus’s future.

Adrien Rabiot, 24, PSG (Available on Free Transfer)

Juventus have also been linked to three midfielders of top quality. Let’s start with the most likely in Adrien Rabiot. He’s available on a free transfer following his fallout with Paris Saint-Germain. While the French club may want to keep the midfielder, a transfer to Juventus has still been discussed as being quite possible. Rabiot possesses some interesting skill sets that could suit Sarri’s system. He’d most likely slot in the right central midfield position due to his quality in quick-passing and well-roundedness. However, he could also make a case for the holding midfielder position if he is able to learn the system. He also represents height and a bit of a physical prescience in the midfield, which is lacking in the side.

Paul Pogba, 26, Manchester United

Another option is Paul Pogba. He’s been linked with a move back to Juventus, given the rumors of him being unsettled at Manchester United. Pogba flourished under the Turin side, earning him a move back to the club who developed him. Pogba contains similar qualities to Rabiot, but has an incredible passing range and creativity within the final third, which would probably see him play in the left sided center midfield role. The biggest issue I could see would be the strictness of Sarri’s system. While Pogba would be able to play the highest up the pitch of the theee midfielders, he can tend to roam to fit the conditions of the game. It’s what makes him so unpredictable and decisive in matches, and the system may hinder that.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, 24, Lazio

A third option could be Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. He was tipped for a move to Juventus after an incredible 2017/2018 season, but had a poor World Cup. This season has seen a bit in the drop of form for the Serbian, which may have lowered his price. Again, another creative central midfielder who is a physical presence, but SMS may be the most accustomed to Serie A currently.

All three of the players I just talked about represent great quality in the central midfield, but that position is perhaps the lowest priority in terms of current depth. Barring a few transfers, there are solid options in the midfield. With Ramsey coming in as well, it just might not be worth it to splash the cash on these players, despite their immense quality. Rabiot coming on a free should help his cause though, and may see Matuidi or Khedira (or both) moved as a result.

Let’s look at a few left-field options, in terms of both transfer potential and fit within the side.

Jorginho, 27, Chelsea

Jorginho was always going to be brought up as soon as the news hit that Sarri was off to Juventus. He knows the system better than anyone else, and represents exactly what Sarri wants in his holding midfielder. The problem comes with the fact that Chelsea are about to be put under transfer embargo, and their options in the defensive midfield are limited. If Frank Lampard is to make the switch to Chelsea, it may be hard to see the Italian’s limited but quality skill set being utilized. He would come at an enormous price, and I already believe Pjanic can fill the role just as well.

Gonzalo Higuaín, 31, Juventus (On Loan to Chelsea)

I’ve mentioned Gonzalo Higuaín already, and he is set to return from loan. Sarri has already stated that he will accept the Argentinian should he decide to stay, but he will not be impressed with the striker’s return in the last half-season. It’s clear he has regressed quite a bit, and would certainly play second fiddle to Ronaldo or Dybala, depending on who Sarri wants up top. Whether or not he is ok with that is up to Higuaín, but I cannot see him returning to his blistering Napoli form. I wouldn’t be surprised if he elects to move elsewhere.

Kalidou Koulibaly, 28, Napoli

Kalidou Koulibaly is most certainly not going to move to Juventus, despite him potentially being an incredible fit within this side. De Laurentiis has already given a hands-off price for Koulibaly, and it’s unlikely that Juventus will go for him, no matter
how quality he is.

Projected Lineup


Given everything we have so far, what could Juventus’s team sheet look like on the first game week? Let’s take a look at a couple lineups that could happen given different circumstances. First, I have some predicted transfers going in and out of the club.

Projected Transfers

Transfers In

Ramsey
Trippier
Rabiot
De Ligt
One more signing perhaps not mentioned yet (SMS still as a possibility)

Transfers Out

Cancelo
Khedira
Matuidi
One of Manduzkic or Higuaín
One of Cuadrado or Dybala


The Current Depth Chart


https://preview.redd.it/xq6jhir6m8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=6aaa0b62c0855fd57812d6440635f34fad5b0993

Currently, Juventus have some decent options. They could definitely fill out a title-winning side, but there are concerns about the midfield depth being able to adjust to Sarri’s tactics, and if Cancelo is actually going to be with the team this year. Center back depth is also a concern, especially with the aging starters. Again, potential concerns that need to be addressed in the transfer window.

The Left Wing Ronaldo Squad

https://preview.redd.it/r7c2302am8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=c34622e1304492ccfca3091701ee08ea84ca97b8

If Ronaldo does end up on the left side, which could end up being a good position for him, I imagine Dybala will shift into the striker role. This allows Bernardeschi to step into the right wing role.

The Transfer Team


https://preview.redd.it/t22ono5em8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=0ef033ab493d7f52fb0957ae457789776e5c279b

Rabiot becomes an instant starter within the side, filling in well on the right side. Bentacur will still see plenty of time from the bench, as I imagine he will be one of the first subs on. De Ligt also sees himself slot into the team in my opinion, as he represents great quality that doesn’t need much time to adjust to the Sarri system. Sarri may want to keep Bonucci and Chiellini together at the start as their experience together will be important at the start of the season. But I think De Ligt could force his way into the side immediately. Trippier would be in the team as well, although De Sciglio will still see time early as Sarri will look to see who settles better. If SMS or Pogba is to come, then Ramsey may be shifted out of the starting eleven.

The Inversion


https://preview.redd.it/ikdw243im8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=f0bb02543090b74c61bc61dfcdaf186c41a76659

On paper, this seems like almost the exact same squad with Rabiot and Ramsey switched. But Sarri has said he will assess the players and then work on the tactics, not the other way around. In my opinion, he doesn’t have to go all that far to change his system to get the best out of his players. If he focuses attacks on the right side and pushes up the right side further than the left, he solves a lot of the positional and left-footed issues. Dybala is allowed to play higher and work inside on his left foot. Douglas Costa operates as a traditional winger and can cross on his left foot. Trippier is allowed to play higher up the pitch, maximizing his offensive output. Ramsey and Rabiot each play on their strong foot. The only potential loser would be Alex Sandro, who may not be able to play as high up as he would like. If Sarri does want to bring his style of play and play to the squad’s individual strengths, this may be an idea worth investigating. But remember, I’m just some guy on the internet making tactical predictions.

The Old Ways


https://preview.redd.it/ozno7v0lm8631.png?width=1366&format=png&auto=webp&s=85099f5cbc86bc41f4b47955256b659a29437740

Sarri hasn’t always played his 4-3-3. At Empoli, he would often play a 4-3-1-2, which would be in some players’ best interests. Ronaldo would work with a second striker like he’s done many times before, Dybala gets to play at the ten, and the midfield three remains mostly the same. This could be viable if Costa is transferred and both Higuaín and Manduzkic are kept. If Sarri wants to roll the dice, maybe he could employ this strategy. He’s not a man known for rotation or changing of style, but if he is willing to adapt, maybe he could go back to his roots.

Conclusion

Sarri will definitely have his hands full this summer in terms of decisions. He should be fine in terms of system, and should be thrilled at the quality and versatility of the players at his disposal. He will have to get to work on instilling a system into a team that was used to rotation and constant changes. He’ll also have to make sure he can get the team to press the way he wants. There are a lot of questions up front that Sarri has to get right immediately. His options in the midfield are impressive and he could even afford to sell off a few midfielders should Rabiot, SMS, or Pogba make their way to the Allianz. Pjanic will have to quickly understand his role, but Sarri should be excited about his potential to succeed Jorginho. The right back spot will need to be filled, and if the answer is Trippier, Sarri will need to help him rediscover his quality. The center back pairing of Chiellini and Bonucci should have no issue, and if De Ligt is on the way, perhaps he will be in line to replace one of them (Bonucci being the likelier candidate to be replaced).

There are a lot of question marks for Juventus, but the future looks promising. There’s one thing for certain, though: Sarri begins his reign at the Allianz, and it will be interesting to see how he may utilize his notorious system for Juventus.

If I missed anything or if you have better suggestions, let me know, as this is my first foray into a more tactical analysis.
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Brighton Hove Albion VS Newcastle United, home win

Brighton Hove Albion VS Newcastle United, home win
Match Time:7/21/2020 01:00 Tuesday(GMT+8)
English Premier League -- Brighton Hove Albion VS Newcastle United
Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips| Asian Handicap Odds|Line-ups& H2H Stats
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Brighton & Hove Albion can ensure their Premier League survival when they welcome an out-of-form Newcastle United side to the Amex Stadium on Monday evening. Brighton shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Southampton last time out, whereas Newcastle suffered their third defeat in succession against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
Match preview
Even though Brighton are still not mathematically safe with just two games left to play, the Seagulls are extremely unlikely to be at risk of dropping down to the Championship at this very late stage. As things stand, Graham Potter's men are six points above the dotted line after 36 matches, although 18th-placed Bournemouth could close the gap on the teams above them when the Cherries play Southampton on Sunday before Brighton take to the field a day later. West Ham United's 3-1 victory over Watford saw the Hammers leapfrog Brighton in the table as the Seagulls dropped down to 16th, but Brighton boast a far better goal difference than their fellow relegation rivals and a point against Newcastle would be enough to guarantee survival. Potter's men have welcomed Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool to the South Coast following the Premier League's resumption, so the clash with Newcastle easily represents Brighton's most winnable home fixture since the restart, although the Brighton faithful will not be forgetting their memorable 2-1 victory over Arsenal in a hurry. The Seagulls looked to be on course to secure another season in the Premier League when Neal Maupay put Brighton in front against Southampton, but Golden Boot hopeful Danny Ings netted a second-half equaliser for the Saints as the points were shared in Brighton's most recent outing.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will not be mounting a late charge for a top-half finish as Spurs put Steve Bruce's men to the sword on their own turf on Wednesday. Harry Kane hit the esteemed milestone of 200 club goals at St James' Park as Newcastle succumbed to a third defeat in a row - a disappointing end to the season considering their strong form upon the restart. Indeed, the Magpies recorded two wins and two draws from their first four games back, but Bruce soon witnessed his side be trounced by Manchester City, narrowly overcome by Watford and comfortably swept aside by Tottenham in the past few weeks. Newcastle were never likely to be dragged into a relegation dogfight - they have been assured of their Premier League safety for a while now - but Bruce will undoubtedly want to see his players make the long journey to the South Coast count for something on Monday evening. The Magpies will face the daunting task of a final-day fixture against champions Liverpool next Sunday, and while the Reds have not been their usual dominant selves recently, Magpies fans will be sure to strap in for a long afternoon against the crop of attacking stars inLiverpool's ranks. Newcastle have not beaten Brighton since the two clubs were plying their trade in the Championship, however, and the most recent meeting between the two sides ended in a drab 0-0 draw back in September.
Brighton Premier League form: DLWLLD
Newcastle United Premier League form: DWDLLL
Newcastle United form (all competitions): LWDLLL
Team News
Brighton may have to make do without Adam Webster for the penultimate round of fixtures, but Potter has expressed his optimism over the defender's chances of making the cut. Alireza Jahanbakhsh is also expected to shake off a hamstring complaint in time for Monday, but Steven Alzate and Jose Izquierdo both remain on the treatment table. Brighton will most likely revert to their traditional four-at-the-back system for gameweek 37, which is likely to see veteran striker Glenn Murray drop back down to the bench. As for Newcastle, Bruce is in a defensive crisis with the likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar, Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark all unavailable. Midfield duo Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff are both expected to remain out for the rest of the season, while the tricky Allan Saint-Maximin is a doubt with a calf problem. On a positive note, Newcastle will welcome Danny Rose back to the squad after he was ineligible to face parent club Spurs, and Bruce has confirmed that he has asked for permission to play 20-year-old Kelland Watts to help cope with Newcastle's hefty injury list.
Brighton possible starting lineup: Ryan; Lamptey, Dunk, Webster, Burn; Bissouma, Propper, Stephens; Mooy, Maupay, Trossard
Newcastle possible starting lineup: Dubravka; Yedlin, Fernandez, Watts, Rose; Ritchie, Shelvey, Bentaleb, Joelinton; Almiron; Gayle
Brighton Hove Albion VS Newcastle United
Prediction:Brighton Hove Albion 2-1 Newcastle United
https://preview.redd.it/xaaledz1syb51.jpg?width=600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1f11fd34e09b12d06c7e426d45bc2cd614b6690
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Arsenal VS Liverpool, support Liverpool

Arsenal VS Liverpool, support Liverpool
Match Time: 7/16/2020 03:15 Thursday(GMT+8)
English Premier League -- Arsenal VS Liverpool
Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips| Asian Handicap Odds|Line-ups& H2H Stats
-----------------------------------
Champions Liverpool continue their quest for more Premier League history when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. Jurgen Klopp's side suffered a setback in their pursuit of top-flight immortality at the weekend, while the Gunners will be looking to bounce back from their North London derby defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Match preview
Whatever happens in the final fortnight of the 2019-20 Premier League season, Liverpool's exploits will go down in history - they shattered numerous records and wrapped up the title two games faster than any other team has ever managed in the English top flight before. However, while the supporters would undoubtedly be content with 'only' ending their 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England, a tame end to the campaign would threaten to take some of the gloss off their remarkable achievements. It was not long ago - at least in terms of games played - that Liverpool were being touted as possible Invincibles and treble-winners and looked certain to break Manchester City's 100-point record, having picked up 26 wins and one draw from their opening 27 games. They have since won four, drawn two and lost two of their last eight top-flight outings, in addition to being knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup - by no means enough to ruin their campaign, but certainly a drop-off in their previously unheard-of form. Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Burnley means that Klopp's side must now win all three of their remaining games - against Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United - to break the points record, or take seven points from the nine available to equal it.
The champions are more than capable of doing exactly that, of course, but those three teams will be feeling a lot more optimistic about taking points off the Reds now than they were before lockdown. The Burnley draw brought an end to Liverpool's incredible winning run at Anfield as they dropped points at home in the league for the first time since January 2019, and their recent away form has actually been poor. Last week's 3-1 triumph at Brighton & Hove Albion ended a five-match winless and goalless streak on their travels across all competitions, during which time they conceded 10 goals without reply. Of course, these recent struggles also need to be kept in perspective; Liverpool have still amassed 10 points more than any other team away from home this season, and victory on Wednesday would see them break all-time club records for both most away wins and most wins overall in a single campaign. Klopp's side are now battling against those legends of the past for their place in the historical rankings of England's greatest ever teams, rather than any contemporary rivals this season, and while the manager has claimed that he is not interested in that, there would be a small sense of a missed opportunity if they fail to capitalise fully on such an incredible start.
More than one Arsenal side is in that same conversation of English football's best ever teams, but the current crop are a million miles away and the scale of the job facing Mikel Arteta was once again laid out for all to see during Sunday's derby with Spurs. There were positives for the Gunners as they dominated the game for long spells, but they gifted Spurs both goals and it remains impossible to rely on such a shaky defence. Arsenal have now thrown away a whopping 21 points from winning positions this season - a tally which, if added to their current points total, would leave them third in the table, only a point behind Manchester City and with Champions League football for next term already secured. As it is, the derby defeat saw them slip to ninth, level on points with Burnley and with the possibility of a top-four finish now beyond them. Instead, Arsenal's eyes must now be on qualifying for the Europa League again, although that could also prove problematic with seventh-placed Sheffield United four points ahead with only nine left to play for.
The derby defeat should not cast complete doom and gloom over the club, though, as they had been making noticeable progress under Arteta before that, winning four and drawing one of their previous five games. The Gunners can also boast an unbeaten home record in the Premier League this calendar year - a run which includes five wins and two draws, most recently being held by Champions League-chasing Leicester City. Wednesday's match will be Arsenal's penultimate of the season at the Emirates, with Aston Villa away to come before hosting Watford on the final day - two games which look kind on paper but will come against teams fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table. It has been a difficult run for Arsenal recently too, with four successive league games against teams currently above them in the Premier League table and an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City to come at the weekend. The FA Cup may be Arsenal's priority now given the damaging nature of the derby defeat on their league position, but Arteta has already shown during his time in charge that he will not accept a drop-off in any competition regardless of its importance between now and the end of the campaign.
Arsenal Premier League form: LWWWDL
Arsenal form (all competitions): WWWWDL
Liverpool Premier League form: DWLWWD
Liverpool form (all competitions): DWLWWD
Team News
Arsenal will once again be without suspended striker Eddie Nketiah for this match as he serves the second of his two-game ban following his red card against Leicester. Alexandre Lacazette made a statement in his absence with a thunderous opener in the derby, and he is likely to lead the line again with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in support. The match features a number of Golden Boot hopefuls, with Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane all looking to retain the award, having shared it in a three-way tie last season. Mesut Ozil remains a major doubt for the home side as he continues to struggle with a back injury, while Matteo Guendouzi is out of contention following a bust-up with Arteta. Gabriel Martinelli, Bernd Leno, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers are all expected to miss the remainder of the season for Arsenal, who have been hit badly by injuries since the restart. Liverpool will also be without two key players for the remainder of the campaign - captain Jordan Henderson missing out with a knee injury and Joel Matip sidelined due to a toe problem. Klopp is being cautious with the fitness of James Milner too, and the veteran midfielder is again expected to be absent for this one after missing out against Burnley entirely. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita are among the players who will be pushing for a recall to the starting XI, while Klopp must again decide whether to rotate one of his front three. All of them boast impressive records against the Gunners, with Salah scoring six goals in six meetings, Mane notching four times in seven games since joining Liverpool and Roberto Firmino scoring eight times in nine appearances - his best record against any opponent.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Martinez; Sokratis, Luiz, Holding; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney; Saka, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Head To Head
Arsenal have a torrid record in this fixture recently, failing to win any of the last 10 meetings across all competitions and nine in the Premier League stretching back to April 2015. They are often entertaining affairs too, with the most recent showdown ending 5-5 in the EFL Cup in October - Liverpool winning on penalties - and the last nine meetings producing 49 goals at an average of more than 5.4 per game. The reverse fixture in the Premier League saw Liverpool run out 3-1 winners in August, with Salah grabbing a brace.
Arsenal VS Liverpool
Prediction:Arsenal 2-3 Liverpool
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Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur Prediction & Preview 01/09 ...

This is Why ARSENAL will WIN vs Tottenham (Spurs) Our Premier League Predictions GW35 - Including: Arsenal vs Spurs (North London Derby), Sheffield United ... Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Prediction on Sunday, December 2, 2:05 pmCheck out our detailed betting tips on ChuckNoRisk.com:https://chucknori... For full Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur predictions, click here ️ https://footballpredictions.net/arsenal-v-tottenham-hotspur-predictions-betting-tips Visit t... This video is the Gameplay of Arsenal vs Tottenham Premier League Matchday 4 If you want to support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/pesme Suggested videos... Check out our tips on Arsenal - Tottenham by visiting http://www.007soccerpicks.com/english-premier-league-picks/arsenal-vs-tottenham-prediction-preview/ Prediction based on PS4 PRO Gameplay of PES 2019 for the English Premier League Gameweek 14, 2018/19 Season match between Arsenal & Tottenham Hotspur which w...

arsenal vs tottenham prediction tips

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