European Soccer Preview 2009-2010: The Big Three
Everything Else By Devin Chanda on August 14, 2009 at 7:05 pmFootball talk dominates the headlines now (especially with Vick landing in Philly), but across the pond, the coming weekend brings about the dawn of the futbol season in England. Just last week, the top divisions in both France and Germany also kicked off, with the likes of those in Spain and other countries to follow suit as August winds down.
Besides battling for the championships in their respective leagues, clubs around Europe will also be vying to stay in the top four (or top three in Germany, France, and Russia, and top two in Turkey, Holland, Greece, Scotland, etc.) to qualify for Champions League football in 2010/11 to compete for continental supremacy (this year’s spots obviously have been decided). Here’s a club-by-club rundown of those most likely to nab those coveted CL spots from the three top leagues in Europe.
England (EPL)
*Awash with more Arab money cash than any other league in the world, the Premiership’s Big Four (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United) has now expanded into a wide-open Big Six, with Manchester City and Tottenham looking to deliver on their substantial investments.
1. Chelsea
2008/09 EPL Finish: 3rd
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
Bringing in a disciplinarian last season didn’t work out with all the big-name stars in their roster. With ex-AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti in to manage the egos instead of battle them this time around, look for him to coax the best out of the likes of primadonnas such as Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka.
2. Manchester United FC
2008/09 EPL Finish: 1st
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
Wayne Rooney simply can’t compensate for the loss of the best player in the world. But with pure wingers in Antonio Valencia and Nani, as well as Michael Owen and Dimitar Berbatov upfront, they’ll lack movement but retain the same fixed point system that gave them success with Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The difference between then and now will be the steel in midfield that Fletcher and Anderson will provide as compared to the failed Alan Smith-John O’Shea midfield experiment from a few years ago.
3. Arsenal FC
2008/09 EPL Finish: 4th
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
It’s been a long time coming but the youngsters will finally click. Ivorian defender Toure’s absence will be forgotten with a maturing Alexandre Song and Arsenal will finally have the firepower to make up for Henry’s departure from a few years ago, as long as Eduardo Andrei Arshavin—and supply line Cesc Fabregas—stay healthy.
4. Manchester City FC
2008/09 EPL Finish: 10th
2009/10 Champions League participants: No
The rise will be that swift. Chelsea proved money can be silverware and the additions of hard-workers in Kolo Toure, Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry will add industry to a team with finesse (Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor).
5. Liverpool FC
2008/09 EPL Finish: 2nd
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
The fall will be that swift. Once Ronaldo left Manchester, the title was Liverpool’s to lose. (As predicted) Xabi Alonso left and Javier Mascherano wants to head to Barca, breaking up the most complete, cohesive centre midfield this side of Barcelona’s triumvirate.
6. Tottenham Hotspur FC
2008/09 EPL Finish: 8th
2009/10 Champions League participants: No
Every year Spurs splashes out on talent, but they never seem to sign what they need: central defenders. In Ledley King and Jon Woodgate, they have England’s most talented defenders of this era, but also the treatment room’s busiest customers.
SPAIN (LA LIGA)
1. Real Madrid CF
2008/09 La Liga Finish: 2nd
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
No defense? None needed. Workhorses Esteban Granero, Lassana Diarra and the emerging Fernando Gago will be this edition of Madrid’s Fernando Hierro and Claude Makelele. The addition of Xabi Alonso will make this arguably the most well rounded midfield in the world. Don’t forget a front three of Kaka in the middle, with Benzema and Ronaldo swooping in from out wide. Scary.
2. FC Barcelona
2008/09 La Liga Finish: 1st
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
Simply put, Barca got shook from all the noise Madrid made. Ever the egoist, new striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic may seriously wreck the beautiful chemistry of a once-perfect front six. It couldn’t last forever.
3. Sevilla FC
2008/09 La Liga Finish: 3rd
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
Managing to hold onto Luis Fabiano yet again, they should hold up strong with Didier Zokora supplying the midfield spark they missed when Seydou Keita left for Barca.
4. Valencia CF
2008/09 La Liga Finish: 6th
2009/10 Champions League participants: No
Despite being flat broke, they managed to hold onto a strong core, including Spanish internationals David Villa and Silva. With the World Cup approaching, Manuel Fernandes will look to stake his claim in the Portuguese national team and solidify the role Costinha held down.
ITALY (SERIE A)
1. Internazionale
2008/09 Serie A Finish: 1st
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
The nerazzuri made out like bandits in giving up Zlatan Ibrahimovic in exchange for a shit ton of cash and Samuel Eto’o. With his speed, the African Player of The Year will destroy Italian defenses and Argentinean striker Diego Milito would help fill the void left by Zlatan even more so. And don’t think manager Jose Mourinho will let them lose their winning mentality.
2. Juventus FC
2008/09 Serie A Finish: 2nd
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
The race will be tight. With Pavel Nedved enjoying retirement, Brazilian Diego will step in to fill his boots. Compatriot Felipe Melo will complement, perhaps improving towering striker Amauri’s goal output. Giorgio Chiellini and Zdenek Grygera will add the steel in the back. Juve will win the title come 2010/11.
3. ACF Fiorentina
2008/09 Serie A Finish: 4th
2009/10 Champions League participants: Yes
Star striker Alberto Gilardino will continue to thrive under manager Cesare Prandelli, as he makes a push for a berth in the Italian national team. The same will motivate the graceful midfielder Ricardo Montolivo to steal ageing Andrea Pirlo’s spot in the World Cup roster.
4. AS Roma
2008/09 Serie A Finish: 6th
2009/10 Champions League participants: No
With the attacking talent in this squad, they should be top two, but the terry-cloth backline will once again be their downfall. They won’t have to worry about AC Milan at their heels—the Rossoneri won’t challenge Roma unless Alexandre Pato wins the Golden Boot.
Posted in Everything Else, GENERAL, LOOSIES, Sports, Videos — Tags: Chelsea SC, England (EPL), European Soccer, FC Barcelona, Futbol, Golden Boot, Internazionale, ITALY (SERIE A), Real Madrid, Sevilla FC, Soccer, SPAIN (LA LIGA)
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25 Comments
damn this blog is the best…
^
huh, major homie major !
Nice write-up, but I’m gonna have to throw a big DISAGREE on the Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter tabs.
Arsenal simply doesn’t have the depth or experience necessary to compensate for the loss of Adebayor and Kolo Toure. While Kolo is no longer the “invincible” he was when Arsenal went undefeated a few years ago, William Gallas and Johan Djourou just don’t cut it in the centre. Up top is a bit better with Van Persie, Arshavin, Bendtner and Eduardo, but VP is perpetually injured, and Bendtner is young and inconsisent.
Real Madrid’s “workhorses” Granero and Gago will only see the field if Lass Diarra or Xabi Alonso are injured. Those two will support Kaká as he pulls the strings behind Ronaldo, Benzema and Raul/Higuaín.
Despite my initial misgivings, I’m pretty sure Zlatan will slot in perfectly with his more esteemed Barcelona colleagues due to Pep’s no-nonsense outlook, Messi’s higher standing, and his desire to win some silverware on top of playing beautiful football.
And finally, my hated rivals Inter Milan (forza Juve per sempre): Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o are world class, but without some sort of creative talent behind them, they simply won’t be able to have the phenomenal goal output they’ve shown in the past. If Mourinho has his way and is able to bring in Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van Der Vaart or some other playmaker in that mold, then I’ll start to worry a bit more about the dirty Nerazzuri.
*Steps off soapbox*
Americans talking about football. FUCKSAKE so much shit on here it’s stinking.
no love for Atletico Madrid?
sure they can’t defend for shit but could at least finish 3rd or 4th with the likes of Forlan, Maxi Rodriguez and Kun Aguero leading the charge
oh dear, I ahve to say Liverpool in 5th is WAY off the mark. In England, Liverpool are actually joint favourites to win the title at the bookies right now, and they have only lost Alonso (Mascherano won’t leave) and have already brought in Glen Johnson of Portsmouth and Alberto Aquilani to strengthen.
If Man City are to break the top 4, the only team they can catch is Arsenal, who may play nice football, but ultimately just don’t have any decent cover whatsoever.
pleasant surprise with the football posts this year…
no lazio or napoli possibly making the traditional powers sweat?
i’m still not completely convinced of inter having success in champions league
how bout atl madrid…but they haven’t made any moves and who knows if aguero will still be around.
i love me some eto’o…i have feeling zlatan is gonna eff ish up @ barca
barca has got to be shook…was hoping villa would go there…i know they can make a few moves still…they need some bigger/stronger, enforcer type plyrs
and then the whole ribery saga is gettin on my nerves
Manchester United got shit on lock in England.
Arsenal will be lucky to make top 4 though.
Real Madrid will beat Barca to the title simply because they are stronger in depth than their rivals much like United and Chelsea compared to the rest of England.
It’s nice to see this on here but Devin’s predictions/analysis just made me face-palm. Several times…
Most of you people don’t know what you’re talking about.
I don’t follow all of the big leagues, just spain (which is where i live) and i can easily tell you that real madrid’s going to need a lot of work to, AT LEAST, reach barça’s level.
Even though the loss of Samuel Eto’o is going to minus some of the speed the striker line had, Ibrahimovic’s technical quality is just amazing, and if you add that to: Andres Iniesta (pure magic with the ball, you cannot just watch a clip of his on youtube, you need to watch a whole game to understand), Xavi (best midfielder on the world), Henry (he’s aging but he managed to retain some of his best football) and OF COURSE Messi (G.O.D.); Ibra will need some adaptation time, but once they connect, with the level of chemistry everybody else have on the team… I can’t even imagine the level of art these people are gona make.
Remember my words.
Loving the post…. Just for good measure…299 days til the World Cup in South Africa!
Excellent write-up! Keep em coming!
Liverpool will win the Premier League, Torres will do the bizness in front of the goal, yep, yep. :)
As for Manchester City, their immediate worry should be coming away from Blackburn Rovers today unscathed, it will be a baptism of fire, very physical game indeed.
It also goes without saying that Manchester United and the Premier League as a whole will miss the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, so it will be interesting to see how Sir Alex re-jigs the formula to win trophies this season.
Arsenal are very much the potential dark horses, I’m sure Wenger has been tinkering away with his game plan strategies, think they will suprise a few heads this time around.
Everton is another dark horse too, if they want to keep improving, they need to keep hold of Joleon Lescott, since Manchester City have been trying their best to pry him away.
I just feel like Ibra can be a hige hit or miss, akin to how Henry’s first season in Barca went. It’s not that he won’t be a success this season, but it’ll take some time to acclimate before he/the team begins to dominate.
On paper, Atletico’s ridiculous. But somehow, they just continue to fall short. Maybe if they held on to Torres…
Ibrahimovic = over rated
He probably wouldn’t last one season in the Premier League and would start sulking about how it is too fast and furious for him and they should slow it down to be more akin with his pace, boo hoo hoo.
F__king Sp*rs get a mention before Everton or Aston Villa??
Man City will face a challenge getting into the top 5, with the WC approaching along with the ACN (Africa Cup of Nations) They will find out what Wenger did that African players are going to be much more focused on playing well for the people in their home countries and club ball will fall a rather distant 2nd.
I have to believe that Arsenal will finally click into motion this year, but this years start is the hardest yet.
man u aint got shit on lock northerns no nothing! Arsenal are gunna take the league back to london
no love for France ? no love for Marseille ?
okay okay it’s not the same level but come on !
@1, keep dreaming, I’m no Man Utd fan, but I sure have enough sense to know that the North West is the heartbeat of soccer. Always has been, and always will be.
Think you should do yourself a favour and go eat some jellied eels and watch a Guy Richie movie. ;)
@Belve, unless Martin O’Neil can get the consistency problem solved, then Aston Villa will pretty much repeat last seasons feat. Hopefully though Villa and Everton can make a serious push for the 4th spot, should be pretty tight, from top to bottom though.
Chelsea v. Hull City live now on ESPN2
Hull City 1 – Chelsea Nil
http://www.epltalk.com/5-ways-to-watch-or-listen-to-chelsea-v-hull-city/10063
Liverpool FC for life.
Well Arsenal did the goddamn business on Everton last night.
Another player to watch out for in the Juve team is little Sebastian Giovinco. Amazing dribbler, very messi-esque
madrid over barcelona c’mon!!!