IT’S A NEW SEASON

  

“It’s a New Season and we still breathing.” – Aubrey Drake Graham 

After a summer of the Euros and the Olympics, club football is back and I believe we’re all raring to go.

Last season was a good one generally especially if you factor in the COVID 19 pandemic which prevented fans from being in stadiums. Fans are back so trust that it’s going to be an even better season.

The season is already underway in Ligue 1. Word is that the GOAT has arrived in the farmers league. Personally, it’s a good move for the Ligue 1. I’ve never been a fan of the Farmers league talk so with an increased following, folks would get to see good football on display. On Paper, a PSG dominance is expected. I mean a Messi, Neymar and Mbappe combination is arguably the best frontline in football but a lot is expected from the chasing pack. Current champions Lille, Marseille, Rennes, Monaco, Stade Reims and Lyon should give a good fight this year. The end to the Ligue1 last season was thrilling. I’m hoping for more of the same this year.

 

The Premier League is back this weekend and with the happenings in the transfer window, we’re in for one hell of a season. Champions Manchester City signed Jack Grealish for a British record of £100m and are looking to sign Harry Kane before the window ends. With Sergio Aguero the only major transfer out at this point, there’s no doubt that City are serious favourites to retain the title. They sign Kane and it could be game over before the season starts proper but then again it’s football. We’ve seen a lot happen for anyone to jump to conclusions.

 

Manchester United finished second last year going trophyless yet again (De Gea and Ole have blood on their hands). They’ve strengthened by signing Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. Top signings. Sancho was expected and Varane, sorry Champions League Varane looks like the perfect compliment for Captain Maguire. A defensive midfielder is still lacking but there’s a lot of optimism for Ole’s tricky reds ahead of the new season.

UCL and Super cup winners Chelsea haven’t been left out in the spending spree. With their shortcomings in attack last season, step forward Timo Werner, the Blues have signed Belgian Striker Romelu Lukaku for big money (£98m). He’s a proper gunman so expect him to bag goals. Would it be enough to propel Chelsea to a league title?  We’ll have to wait and see.

Liverpool had a poor season by their standard and have been quiet in the window but with colossal defender Virgil Van Djik back from injury, expect Liverpool to be a lot tighter at the back. Defensive injuries were their Achilles heel last year.

Arsenal, oh Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has signed players, Ben White, Albert Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and are looking to sign a goalkeeper with Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale in the mix. Question marks surround some of these deals, the pursuit for Ramsdale’s especially but you have to let my Spanish man cook. With no European football, Arsenal could challenge for a top 4 spot if they get their act together.

 

The club to keep an eye on for me this season has to be Leicester City. They’ve arguably had the best transfer window in England strengthening an already solid squad with the likes of Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare, Ryan Bertrand and Jannik Vestergaard who is a very decent signing after Wesley Fofana’s injury.

 

Serie A is one league that promises not to be straightforward. Champions Inter Milan are looking like a depleted side having lost manager Antonio Conte, Achraf Hakimi and Serie A Player of the season, Romelu Lukaku while the chasing pack, the likes of Atalanta, Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan have hardly strengthened. On a managerial note though, there has been a lot of transfers with Massimiliano Allegri returning to Juventus and The Special One, Jose Mourinho returning to Italy with Roma. It looks like the league this season is open and whatever team that takes the initiative wins the league. I’m backing Napoli.

 

It’s a new dawn for Barcelona with the exit of Lionel Messi but like the popular saying goes ‘soldier go, soldier come, barracks remains’.  I’m not sure how the Barcelona barracks would be looking like currently but they have to move on. Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero are important signings and Memphis especially has shown from pre-season and in his time at Lyon that he could be that guy when the need arises. It would be interesting to see how Barcelona shape up. Champions Atletico Madrid have strengthened with Rodrigo De Paul, a massive signing for Los Rojiblancos. Real Madrid have lost both Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos but have Carlo Ancelotti back as manager. On paper, Atletico have all it takes to retain the league but never count out Los Blancos and the Blaugrana.

 

 

The German Bundesliga, barring the unexpected looks like it would be straightforward for Bayern Munich who appointed former Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann as manager. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig would look to pose a threat to Bayern’s dominance but we would see if they fall short or not.

There’s a lot to look out for this season and as usual, a lot of banter to go round. Agendas and Propagandas are already in motion. What more can I say, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!