Serie A and La Liga Preview

Serie A Title Race

Inter Milan

Inter are looking for their 5th successive Seria A title this season and few would bet against them. Normally, the loss of a world-class centre forward like Zlatan Ibrahimovic would shatter a club but in return Inter have signed Europe’s top striker last season in Samuel Eto’o.

Possibly the best deal in history, Inter recieved £45 million plus Eto’o for Ibrahimovic. Given that Ibrahimovic is only a year younger and is not neccessarily a better striker, Inter must have snapped Barcelona’s hands off to secure the deal.

With possibly the most talented manager in the world in Jose Mourinho, Inter will feel they have the fire power to win the league and will also be desperate to give a great showing in the Champions League. Inter’s main aim will be to win in Europe and owner Massimo Moratti has repeatedly reminded everyone of this for a few years now.

Inter’s strength will be the depth of their squad, the likes of :

Vieira, Suazo, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Quaresma, Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Materazzi, Chivu, Militio, Mancini, Muntari, Maicon, Cesar, Toldo, Motta and Eto’o, will strike fear into any opponents next season. Not many clubs can boast 18 such well known established players in their squads, if any.

Inter need to deliver this season especially in Europe because although they have won 4 Scudettos in a row, the black and blue have always struggled in the massive European games.

Prediction 1st

A.C. Milan

The underachievers of recent years have lost their talismanic manager Carlo Ancelotti to Chelsea. Having appointed the inexperienced Brazilian club legend Leonardo as the new boss, Milan have taken a risk but maybe one they feel they have to take.

It will take a monumental effort to unsurp Inter and selling Kaka has all but ended any real hopes that they may do so. Kaka was sold for £56 million and whilst the money will be great for the club, the loss of the player could be detrimental to their title chances, Kaka’s apparent replacement Klaas Jan Huntelaar is not a player in the similar mould. Huntelaar will score goals but does not have the same ability to drive teams forward and win matches that Kaka was so adored for.

An aging squad last season has just got a year older, Milan seem in decline and owner Silvio Berlusconi has conceded that the club cannot compete financially will the biggest clubs in Europe anymore.

Prediction 4th

Roma and Juventus should be stronger this year and should fight it out for 2nd and 3rd places.

La Liga Title Race

Real Madrid for thoughts on Real in the new season please visit this link on an article written last week https://sportsportsport.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/madrid-the-real-deal/

Barcelona

The most beautiful football team in the world have signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer. The forward is a welcome addition to the squad and his nonchelant style should suit the free flowing creative football of the Nou Camp.

The loss of Eto’o however may be bigger than expected. To sell a 35 goal a season player is always a risk, no matter who you bring in. Whilst Mourinho has procliamed ‘Ibra’ to be the best player in the world, there are a few who prefer Eto’o and actually feel he is the better forward.

Regardless of this Barcelona still have a squad capable of winning the league. Guardiola has kept his squad together and the likes of Henry, Xavi, Iniesta and of course wonderkid Messi should help Barca secure another title. Real will take time to gel their squad and so will need a season or two before they can become world beaters.

Prediction Barcelona 1st, Real Madrid 2nd

Atletico Madrid have done very well to hold onto Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero and as such should take 3rd place. The other team to have done well to hold their squad together is Valencia, with Silva and Villa still there they should finish 4th.

Premier League Preview: Arsenal-Blackburn

Arsenal

Arsenal football club have been one of Europe’s best for some time now. This is greatly thanks to Arsene Wenger who has really established his policy of bringing through the world’s best youth talent. Wenger also has the great managerial gift of being able to get the best out of under-performing players, remember Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira were nothing more than averagely good players at their previous clubs.

However, a worrying trend is beginning to emerge. Arsenal are starting to sell off their best players leading many to believe they are becoming a selling club. This all started with the sale of Henry and Vieira, admittedly when they were believed to be declining players. More worrying though is the recent sale of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, again two players who have prospered greatly under Wenger, to their main rivals for the fourth Champions League place Manchester City. There is a feeling aroung the Emirates that this may come back to haunt them in later weeks.

Arsenal have not really strengthened in the off season, the £10 million signing of relative unknown Thomas Vermaelen is hardly likely to have inspired the fans but Wenger has been known to do well in the transfer market so only time will tell.

Two major pluses, however, are the return of Tomas Rosicky and the first full season for Andrei Arshavin. Both of these players are world class and whilst they are injury prone if they can be kept fit Arsenal could challenge for honours this season. After holding onto Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal with their great youth system are still well placed to make a challenge. Defensively, though, they are still weaker than the rest of the top four and this could ultimately prove to be their downfall. Arsene really needs a solid centre-back in before the end of September.

Prediction: 4th

Aston Villa

Martin O’Neill will always play down Villa’s chances. He seems content to settle for European qualification, which given Villa’s budget is still an achievement. However, a part of every Villa fan would love to see them playing Champions League football and for a while last season it looked as if they would. If not for a major downturn in results after Christmas O’Neill’s men could have been playing Europe’s finest.

It certainly looks tougher for Villa this year, with Manchester City spending millions to try and claim that elusive Champions League place you have to wonder where Villa will fit into the mix.

A thin squad at the best of times it is probably a little disappointing to the fans to see more more exits this summer than arrivals. The loss of Martin Laursen is huge, Gareth Barry likewise and Zat Knight not pleasing.

Stewart Downing and Fabian Delph will have huge holes to fill but could prove good signings in time. However, their youth factor has to cast a shadow of doubt over whether they can be stand out performers this season.

Another team that really needs some central defensive cover before the end of September, which is not easy to come by in the modern day over-inflated market.

Villa will still probably be one of the best of the also rans.

Prediction: 7th

Birmingham City

Newly promoted Birmingham have made a habit of flip-flopping between the Championship and the Premier League. Whilst this season looks like it will be a struggle Birmingham have spent a bit of cash and will hope that they have invested enough to stay up. After watching the heroics of Hull and Stoke last season they know that anything is possible.

With many players coming in Birmingham seem to be going from strength to strength, although one of the key factors of their season will be how expensive £9.2 million striker Christian Benitez performs on unknown European soil. Relative unknowns Roger Johnson and Scott Dann will have to step up a gear to play in the Premier League but Barry Ferguson could be a wise acquisition at only £1.25 million. Lee Bowyer on a free is worth a gamble and the experienced midfielder could help his new side side to survival. That said it looks like a tough season ahead which may well end in failure.

Prediction: 18th

Blackburn

Blessed with one of the best low-budget mangers in the league in Sam Allardyce, Blackburn escaped almost certain relegation. When Allardyce took over Blackburn last season they were in dire straits but the ‘grinder’ big Sam got the team playing again and they survived comfortably in the end.

There is no real reason to expect anything else this season. The loss of Roque Santa Cruz is a huge blow but many Blackburn fans would argue that he was not really playing for the team last season anyway. The want-away striker making it clear he did not want to stay. Somewhat more surprising is the sale of Matt Derbyshire, the young talented English forward had impressed in his limited appearances for the first team often popping up with vital goals.

A few usual low-key signings will probably turn out to be good enough. It will be interesting to see how highly rated Gael Givet and Nikola Kalinic perform in the Premier League. Though it is hard to see anything other than relatively easy safety for Blackburn this season.

Prediction: 14th