New Season, New Thread. Real look poised to make a triple Dutch swoop with Drethe, Robben and Scneijder all set for Madrid. Barca are in the Far East. Alvez and Kanoute may both be out of Sevilla come the season opener. Villareal have bought well. Athletico have had their usual 20 in 20 out summer campaign, but with Reyes, Garcia and Simao should mount a serious CL challenger at last.
Originally posted by FULofHAM: I don't think they'll win any of the major trophies this year.
Explain...
I predict that Real Madrid will win the league again and I believe the champions league will be won by a more defence minded team like Liverpool or AC Milan again.
Firstly, Milan are not a defence-minded side iun the slightest, so the last 2 CL's have been won by an attacking side. Secondly, after buying Abidal, Milito and Henry Barca will be stronger than last year, when they finished level on points with Real and in any other league in Europe would've been champions.
Originally posted by zeds: Firstly, Milan are not a defence-minded side iun the slightest, so the last 2 CL's have been won by an attacking side. Secondly, after buying Abidal, Milito and Henry Barca will be stronger than last year, when they finished level on points with Real and in any other league in Europe would've been champions.
Fair enough on the AC Milan point. I'm no expert on European football, I admit that. But I can still make a prediction and I think it will be AC Milan or Liverpool's year again.
As for your second point, you make it sound like Madrid are not strengthening their squad also. Madrid will win it IMO.
I see where you're coming from on the defensive team to win the CL but in truth of the 4 semi finalists last year, 2 were attacking Milan and Man utd and 2 were defensive Chelsea and Liverpool so I wouldn't necessarily say that defensive teams have the edge as you seem to imply. Madrid have bought 2 good defenders Pepe and Metzelder. Not replaced the very influential Roberto Carlos as yet, and bought Barca reject Saviola. They then got desperate and paid way over the odds for Sneijder, a player who was available for around £10m a year or 2 ago. They'll now probably pay too much money for Robben and possibly even Drenthe when they really only need one of them. All this to compensate for the failure to get Kaka. On top of all this they're going to change their whole playing philosophy after Capello's departure. I think it will be too much to expect them to hit the ground running as they'll need to. Valencia have managed to keep Villa ans Silva and will probably fight Barca for the title.
Inter reject a move by Valencia to sign Adriano and the reason Valencia are trying for him after they signed Zigic is because a rumour is going around that Real Madrid are going to table a £40m bid for David Villa
You make some fair points Scorps. But I think Real winning La Liga was a bit of a red herring as they were woeful for large chunks of the season, so I feel a lot of work still needs to be done. If Robben and Drenthe come in what will happen to Robinho? Also with Sneijder coming in what of Guti, Emerson, Diarra and Gago. Henry is ageing but as you say Dos Santos isn't far off, there's also a quality young Serb in the academy, his name escapes me. Abidal and Toure are 2 young recruits...
Shame what's happening at Sevilla with Alvez and Kanoute unhappy. Villa and RVN would form a great partnership but did he (Villa) not sign a new contract 2 months ago? Valencia are being linked with VAn der Vart. Also can't believe nobody in Spain or elsewhere in Europe went in for Bremen's Diego.
Alves has been left out of Sevilla's European squad, so you would assume a transfer is imminent, Chelsea are the only team ive heard have bid so far, am sure more will join in.
Cassano is about to join Sampdoria on a season long loan, but is still a Madrid player.
Sevilla claimed the Spanish Super Cup with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Real Madrid as Fredi Kanoute helped himself to a hat-trick.
Winning 1-0 from the first leg Sevilla got off to the best possible start when Renato fired them in front on 17 minutes.
Real new boy Royston Drenthe drew the home side level on 24 minutes with his first goal for the club.
Renato restored Sevilla's lead with his second of the contest just before the half hour mark and Fredi Kanoute made it 3-1 from the penalty on 37 minutes.
Fabio Cannavaro reduced the arrears for Real by finding the net right on the stroke of half-time.
Sergio Ramos levelled matters on the night on 78 minutes to set up a dramatic finale.
However, Kanoute made sure of the win for Sevilla with their fourth goal of the game eight minutes from time.
Pepe was sent off for Real in the closing stages and Kanoute completed his treble to secure Sevilla's success.
Milan have confirmed that they have agreed a deal with Real Madrid for Emerson, just days after giving up on the deal.
The Italian giants had grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress over talks and announced they had pulled out of the deal.
However, they have now confirmed they have landed one of their top transfer targets after they agreed terms with Real on the transfer which will be worth around 5 million euros (£3.3million) to the Spanish champions.
Emerson is now due in Italy in the next 24 hours where he will sign a two-year deal at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Originally posted by Scorpion: Yeah they are it starts at 7pm on sat with Real M v Atlético M
Nah, I meant they didn't show the Spanish Super Cup, I saw the goals on RMTV anyway. Great hit from Drenthe. What I found interesting was Schuster after the game said the defence played well and he weren't worried (despite conceding 5 goals at home), guess its good that he knows why he in the job
Can't believe Chelsea were foolish enough to take Beletti off Barca's hands What does that mean for Alvez, RM???
