#mufc scouts decided against signing Bruno Fernandes this summer as he gives the ball away too much in possession. The club had concerns over his decision-making on the ball #mulive [mail]
1. Arsenal
2. City
3. United
4. Chelsea
5. Liverpool
6. Brentford
I don't usually make predictions like this because there are so many spinning plates (such as Chelsea moving to a well-drilled back 4 which would make them title contenders), but with the info we have to date, this is what I see:
Brentford have a top squad with a good manager and no European football.
Liverpool lack balance and depth but have enough goals to come out on top in their basketball games.
Chelsea must revert to a well-drilled back 4 otherwise the margins will be too tight from game to game. Also still need to solve the cultural issues at the club which cannot happen over night. Need one of Lavia + James to stay fit at all times with Enzo gone, too.
United have two players for every position with truly elite quality in attack, but they are weak in central defence and are not quite on the tactical level of a team like Arsenal.
City have maintained the level of last season with Enzo Fernández and Ndiaye's late additions. Enzo replaces Bernardo, Anderson replaces Rodri, and Ndiaye provides necessary squad depth in wide + central areas. If Maresca is truly elite, he will compete for the title this season. No excuses. Yes the club have to replace all-time greats (Pep, Bernardo, and Rodri), but they have bought the best #8 and the best #6 in the market to do that with another €200m on top of that. The ball drops with Enzo Maresca - time to see what he is truly made of.
Arsenal need Arteta to make up for the lack of game-changing signings in attack to increase the margins. Konsa reduces the risk of Saliba's injury being detrimental. The midfield is a level above what it was last season with Lewis-Skelly consistently involved in there alongside the signing of Bruno Guimarães. Arteta has to find internal solutions to improve the attacking dynamics, most of which can be solved by not playing Ødegaard in the #10 or by evolving his game and making him stay high. Rogers would have been perfect to replace him, but here we are… still, though, Arsenal have been there and done it before. We know what they are. We know Arteta is firmly elite. Not the case with the new-look City + Maresca who may have a lot of potential but there are more question marks around them than there are Arsenal…
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El único equipo del mundo que puede parar a este súper PSG es el Real Madrid una tarde/noche de Abril, con la primavera recién entrada, lluvia en la capital de España, con 3 titulares mínimo lesionados, Courtois parando 17 tiros a puerta, el Bernabéu en ese mood que solo está una vez al año y las puertas del manicomio totalmente abiertas. Y eso lo sabe hasta el más antimadridista.
@PrimeeIceman Alonso— Bayern Pep mixed with Mourinho verticality and Ancelotti man-management.
Fits the cycle perfectly: possession control plus directness and player freedom. The Leverkusen invincibles were the purest version of that hybrid.