As we know, every major league as well as the Champions League is on hiatus until further notice.
Thus, as I have no new material, so will this blog until the matches return.
See you then.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 105: Juve's Late Bloomer
Not every player emerges onto the scene with a bang. Some take their time to truly blossom and only have the best season of their career at a relatively late age. One such player added another standout performance to his breakout season; it was also one that came in a high-stakes rivalry match.
In the latest edition of the Derby d'Italia which saw Juventus and Inter Milan fighting for not only bragging rights but also a crucial victory which would aid their respective Serie A title chances, Juve emerged victorious by a 2-0 scoreline. Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala scored the goals which gave the Bianconeri the win.
Ramsey had probably his best match since his off-season move to Juve from Arsenal. The Welshman not only scored the first goal but also assisted on Dybala's and was lively and active throughout the match. His performance in midfield served as the catalyst for Juve's victory which took them back to the top of Serie A. The Turin club now lead Lazio by one point.
Many had previously expected Ramsey to have a breakout season in the 2016-17 season on the heels of a series of excellent performances for Wales in their underdog run to the semifinals of Euro 2016. After leading the tournament in assists, Ramsey was named as part of the team of the tournament. However, his play for his country did not continue into the club football season; thus, he did not make the leap which many expected of him. Although he proved to be a solid contributor for Arsenal from that point until his departure in 2019, he never even came close to his level of play during Euro 2016 while playing for the Gunners.
Ramsey's departure for Juve was notable for the fact that it was a free transfer; that said, Juve were also required to pay additional costs totaling €3.7 million. In hindsight, it was a laughably low price for a player of Ramsey's level. Just to rub it in for Arsenal, Ramsey is in the midst of the best season of his career at age 29. He is now playing at his highest level since his Euro 2016 run with Wales.
One important reason why Ramsey has been able to reach the level which he has this season is the team which surrounds him. Ramsey has never had the privilege of playing with this many players on the same team who are either true superstar-level players or close to that status. Certainly, one would find it much easier to play alongside the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Miralem Pjanić, Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo than it would be to play with Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Matteo Guendouzi.
Of course, simply playing with better teammates is not the only reason for Ramsey's improvement this season. His tackling and positioning on offense have noticeably improved when compared to last season, and he also seems more comfortable with the ball than he has in a long time. When combined with his already excellent off-ball movement, it can be seen why Ramsey has been such a weapon for Juve this season.
The system in which Ramsey plays at Juve also suits his style of play. Ramsey is perfectly at home within the system created by head coach Maurizio Sarri. Sarri's tactics which prioritize a high press and a quick pace of play have allowed Ramsey to play farther forward than he did at Arsenal, thus allowing him more space to operate within the final third of the pitch where he is able to do the most damage. Ramsey's strngstre are being better utilized by Sarri than they ever had been by former Arsenal head coaches Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery.
Not many players have the best season of their career at the age of 29. However, a confluence of different factors have allowed Ramsey to truly flourish at Juve and have a breakout season at this stage of his career. If Juventus are to make a successful push for the Serie A title, the Champions League title, or perhaps even both, they will need their late-blooming Welshman to continue delivering for them as he has throughout the season thus far.
In the latest edition of the Derby d'Italia which saw Juventus and Inter Milan fighting for not only bragging rights but also a crucial victory which would aid their respective Serie A title chances, Juve emerged victorious by a 2-0 scoreline. Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala scored the goals which gave the Bianconeri the win.
Ramsey had probably his best match since his off-season move to Juve from Arsenal. The Welshman not only scored the first goal but also assisted on Dybala's and was lively and active throughout the match. His performance in midfield served as the catalyst for Juve's victory which took them back to the top of Serie A. The Turin club now lead Lazio by one point.
Many had previously expected Ramsey to have a breakout season in the 2016-17 season on the heels of a series of excellent performances for Wales in their underdog run to the semifinals of Euro 2016. After leading the tournament in assists, Ramsey was named as part of the team of the tournament. However, his play for his country did not continue into the club football season; thus, he did not make the leap which many expected of him. Although he proved to be a solid contributor for Arsenal from that point until his departure in 2019, he never even came close to his level of play during Euro 2016 while playing for the Gunners.
Ramsey's departure for Juve was notable for the fact that it was a free transfer; that said, Juve were also required to pay additional costs totaling €3.7 million. In hindsight, it was a laughably low price for a player of Ramsey's level. Just to rub it in for Arsenal, Ramsey is in the midst of the best season of his career at age 29. He is now playing at his highest level since his Euro 2016 run with Wales.
One important reason why Ramsey has been able to reach the level which he has this season is the team which surrounds him. Ramsey has never had the privilege of playing with this many players on the same team who are either true superstar-level players or close to that status. Certainly, one would find it much easier to play alongside the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Miralem Pjanić, Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo than it would be to play with Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Matteo Guendouzi.
Of course, simply playing with better teammates is not the only reason for Ramsey's improvement this season. His tackling and positioning on offense have noticeably improved when compared to last season, and he also seems more comfortable with the ball than he has in a long time. When combined with his already excellent off-ball movement, it can be seen why Ramsey has been such a weapon for Juve this season.
The system in which Ramsey plays at Juve also suits his style of play. Ramsey is perfectly at home within the system created by head coach Maurizio Sarri. Sarri's tactics which prioritize a high press and a quick pace of play have allowed Ramsey to play farther forward than he did at Arsenal, thus allowing him more space to operate within the final third of the pitch where he is able to do the most damage. Ramsey's strngstre are being better utilized by Sarri than they ever had been by former Arsenal head coaches Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery.
Not many players have the best season of their career at the age of 29. However, a confluence of different factors have allowed Ramsey to truly flourish at Juve and have a breakout season at this stage of his career. If Juventus are to make a successful push for the Serie A title, the Champions League title, or perhaps even both, they will need their late-blooming Welshman to continue delivering for them as he has throughout the season thus far.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 104: Here Comes Father Time
El Clásico is a truly incomparable rivalry - the most iconic in world football. Ordinarily, one would expect each edition of this clash to be a hotly-contested affair. However, the latest El Clásico was not so.
Real Madrid had absolutely no problems in defeating arch-rivals Barcelona, winning 2-0. Vinícius Júnior and Mariano scored the goals for the new La Liga leaders as they gained the advantage in their quest to deny their Catalan adversaries their third consecutive league title.
It's not often that one would say this, but the bulk of the blame for Barça's loss has to fall on the shoulders of none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend had a dismal performance at the Santiago Bernabéu. He had no answer at all for Real's defensive duo of Raphaël Varane and Sergio Ramos who were his direct opponents. Messi even picked up a yellow card for a completely unnecessary hard tackle on Casemiro.
Messi has been nowhere near his usual level of play since the turn of the year. His touch has become less sure, his shooting accuracy has declined, he has become more prone to turning the ball over, and he has generally not been playing with the same fluidity and crispness which we have come to expect from him. Although Messi has scored 19 goals and handed out 12 assists thus far this season, these impressive statistics somewhat mask the drop-off in his overall level of play.
The impact of this drop in form has been severe. Barcelona have surrendered first place in La Liga to Real, been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, and face the prospect of being knocked out in the Champions League's round of 16 after a first-leg 1-1 draw against Napoli. Had Messi been playing up to his usual standards, it is not only possible but highly likely that Barça would not find themselves in their current situation.
Some might assume that this is just a temporary slump and that before long, Messi will bounce back and return to his usual otherworldly self. However, consider the following: Messi is now 32 years old and has over 900 matches' worth of mileage for club and country amassed over his career. As they say, Father Time is undefeated; in this case, it could very well be that Father Time is coming for Messi. This recent slump might be the first sign of a terminal decline.
If one takes a closer look at the vast majority of footballers, both those who are all-time greats and those who are not, the start of their age-related decline usually depends on their position. Goalkeepers and defenders are usually able to keep going for the longest. On the other hand, wingers and centre-forwards often begin their decline in their early 30s - the age group in which Messi is right now. His decline may seem imperceptible at the moment because of the extreme height from which he is falling, but do not be surprised if one or two years from now, many are wondering just what happened to him.
This is no knock on Messi or on his incredible career. I consider him to be the second-greatest player of all time, only behind his compatriot Diego Maradona. The statistics, accolades, and achievements speak for themselves. Apart from winning the World Cup, there is virtually nothing which he hasn't done. However, at some point, age catches up to every player. As has been mentioned, players in more offensive positions age more rapidly than those in more defensive positions. Thus, should we really be all that surprised if we are now seeing the beginning of the end of a legendary career?
At this point, Barça must now start preparing for the future. During the upcoming off-season, they ought to spend what they can to sign younger players who will have the toughest of acts to follow.
It's understandable that many fans would be in denial about this. Nobody, especially fans of the Blaugrana, wants to see one of the five best players who ever lived begin his decline as the years begin to take their toll. However, it has to happen at some point and the signs seem to be pointing towards that point being now.
Real Madrid had absolutely no problems in defeating arch-rivals Barcelona, winning 2-0. Vinícius Júnior and Mariano scored the goals for the new La Liga leaders as they gained the advantage in their quest to deny their Catalan adversaries their third consecutive league title.
It's not often that one would say this, but the bulk of the blame for Barça's loss has to fall on the shoulders of none other than Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend had a dismal performance at the Santiago Bernabéu. He had no answer at all for Real's defensive duo of Raphaël Varane and Sergio Ramos who were his direct opponents. Messi even picked up a yellow card for a completely unnecessary hard tackle on Casemiro.
Messi has been nowhere near his usual level of play since the turn of the year. His touch has become less sure, his shooting accuracy has declined, he has become more prone to turning the ball over, and he has generally not been playing with the same fluidity and crispness which we have come to expect from him. Although Messi has scored 19 goals and handed out 12 assists thus far this season, these impressive statistics somewhat mask the drop-off in his overall level of play.
The impact of this drop in form has been severe. Barcelona have surrendered first place in La Liga to Real, been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, and face the prospect of being knocked out in the Champions League's round of 16 after a first-leg 1-1 draw against Napoli. Had Messi been playing up to his usual standards, it is not only possible but highly likely that Barça would not find themselves in their current situation.
Some might assume that this is just a temporary slump and that before long, Messi will bounce back and return to his usual otherworldly self. However, consider the following: Messi is now 32 years old and has over 900 matches' worth of mileage for club and country amassed over his career. As they say, Father Time is undefeated; in this case, it could very well be that Father Time is coming for Messi. This recent slump might be the first sign of a terminal decline.
If one takes a closer look at the vast majority of footballers, both those who are all-time greats and those who are not, the start of their age-related decline usually depends on their position. Goalkeepers and defenders are usually able to keep going for the longest. On the other hand, wingers and centre-forwards often begin their decline in their early 30s - the age group in which Messi is right now. His decline may seem imperceptible at the moment because of the extreme height from which he is falling, but do not be surprised if one or two years from now, many are wondering just what happened to him.
This is no knock on Messi or on his incredible career. I consider him to be the second-greatest player of all time, only behind his compatriot Diego Maradona. The statistics, accolades, and achievements speak for themselves. Apart from winning the World Cup, there is virtually nothing which he hasn't done. However, at some point, age catches up to every player. As has been mentioned, players in more offensive positions age more rapidly than those in more defensive positions. Thus, should we really be all that surprised if we are now seeing the beginning of the end of a legendary career?
At this point, Barça must now start preparing for the future. During the upcoming off-season, they ought to spend what they can to sign younger players who will have the toughest of acts to follow.
It's understandable that many fans would be in denial about this. Nobody, especially fans of the Blaugrana, wants to see one of the five best players who ever lived begin his decline as the years begin to take their toll. However, it has to happen at some point and the signs seem to be pointing towards that point being now.
Friday, February 21, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 103: Moving Backwards
Heading into this season, expectations of Tottenham Hotspur were high. After all, the club had just come off a run to the Champions League final and had just added two more seemingly important pieces to their roster in Tanguy Ndombele and Ryan Sessegnon. Although I as well as many others consider Tottenham to have overpaid for both, the two signings were nevertheless expected to bolster the North London club's attempt to win their first Champions League title ever or at the very least their first domestic league title since 1961.
However, to say that this season has not gone according to plan for Tottenham would be an understatement. In the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie against RB Leipzig, Tottenham succumbed to a 1-0 loss which has left them facing a possible early exit from the tournament. Timo Werner's penalty scored in the 58th minute ensured that the Saxony club will begin the second leg in Germany with a one-goal advantage.
This season has been one of underachievement for Tottenham. They are currently seventh in the Premier League and are on pace to finish the current league campaign with 54 points. This would represent their worst league season since the 2008-09 season. Tottenham have also been knocked out of both domestic cups and, as has been mentioned, are likely to be eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16. Not even the replacement of Mauricio Pochettino with José Mourinho as the club's head coach was able to cause them to start moving in the right direction. The mid-season departure of Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan certainly did not help, either.
One clear problem which has plagued Tottenham throughout this season has been their over-reliance on Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. The duo have been far and away the club's best players this season. They have combined for just under 48% of all of Tottenham's goals scored this season. Son in particular deserves much credit not only for his performance this season, but also for the fact that he has made "the leap" from being just a solid complementary piece to a genuine superstar-level player and clearly the best player from Asia today. However, the fact that these two players shoulder such a burden causes the team to suffer acutely if one or both of them were to be injured or have a poor game. For that matter, Kane is currently suffering from a hamstring injury; he is only expected to return in April. The negative effect on the team's performance has been apparent; Tottenham have definitely struggled in the absence of their star centre-forward.
Tottenham have also fared poorly in the transfer market. In the previous off-season, they spent a total of £90 million to sign Ndombele, Sessegnon, and Jack Clarke. This has clearly proven to be excessive and ill-advised - none have lived up to their price tags. Sessegnon has been particularly disappointing. The losses of Kieran Trippier to Atlético Madrid and subsequently Eriksen to Inter in the mid-season transfer window have also hampered the squad's depth and quality. That being said, however, Tottenham did make an underrated pickup by signing Steven Bergwijn from Ajax. The Amsterdam-born winger is off to a strong start for his new club.
The expectations imposed by last season's run to the Champions League final may also have played a role in Tottenham's struggles this season. This is a team which had never before experienced such expectations and the accompanying pressure. Thus, it should not come as much of a surprise that they have crumbled under the pressure all season long. Several Tottenham players have obviously declined this season with the likes of Harry Winks, Davinson Sánchez, and Moussa Sissoko among them.
Tottenham's poor season could very well cause them to enter a worst-case scenario in the coming off-season. They face the prospect of losing Kane, Son, or perhaps both to better clubs which will be perennial domestic league and Champions League contenders. Should one or both leave, it could be a long time before Tottenham are ever considered a top club ever again. Just like their London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, Tottenham are a club at risk of becoming irrelevant.
However, to say that this season has not gone according to plan for Tottenham would be an understatement. In the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie against RB Leipzig, Tottenham succumbed to a 1-0 loss which has left them facing a possible early exit from the tournament. Timo Werner's penalty scored in the 58th minute ensured that the Saxony club will begin the second leg in Germany with a one-goal advantage.
This season has been one of underachievement for Tottenham. They are currently seventh in the Premier League and are on pace to finish the current league campaign with 54 points. This would represent their worst league season since the 2008-09 season. Tottenham have also been knocked out of both domestic cups and, as has been mentioned, are likely to be eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16. Not even the replacement of Mauricio Pochettino with José Mourinho as the club's head coach was able to cause them to start moving in the right direction. The mid-season departure of Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan certainly did not help, either.
One clear problem which has plagued Tottenham throughout this season has been their over-reliance on Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. The duo have been far and away the club's best players this season. They have combined for just under 48% of all of Tottenham's goals scored this season. Son in particular deserves much credit not only for his performance this season, but also for the fact that he has made "the leap" from being just a solid complementary piece to a genuine superstar-level player and clearly the best player from Asia today. However, the fact that these two players shoulder such a burden causes the team to suffer acutely if one or both of them were to be injured or have a poor game. For that matter, Kane is currently suffering from a hamstring injury; he is only expected to return in April. The negative effect on the team's performance has been apparent; Tottenham have definitely struggled in the absence of their star centre-forward.
Tottenham have also fared poorly in the transfer market. In the previous off-season, they spent a total of £90 million to sign Ndombele, Sessegnon, and Jack Clarke. This has clearly proven to be excessive and ill-advised - none have lived up to their price tags. Sessegnon has been particularly disappointing. The losses of Kieran Trippier to Atlético Madrid and subsequently Eriksen to Inter in the mid-season transfer window have also hampered the squad's depth and quality. That being said, however, Tottenham did make an underrated pickup by signing Steven Bergwijn from Ajax. The Amsterdam-born winger is off to a strong start for his new club.
The expectations imposed by last season's run to the Champions League final may also have played a role in Tottenham's struggles this season. This is a team which had never before experienced such expectations and the accompanying pressure. Thus, it should not come as much of a surprise that they have crumbled under the pressure all season long. Several Tottenham players have obviously declined this season with the likes of Harry Winks, Davinson Sánchez, and Moussa Sissoko among them.
Tottenham's poor season could very well cause them to enter a worst-case scenario in the coming off-season. They face the prospect of losing Kane, Son, or perhaps both to better clubs which will be perennial domestic league and Champions League contenders. Should one or both leave, it could be a long time before Tottenham are ever considered a top club ever again. Just like their London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, Tottenham are a club at risk of becoming irrelevant.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 102: Down to the Wire
This season's enthralling Serie A title race has taken yet another twist.
Lazio edged Inter Milan 2-1 in a crucial top-of-the-table encounter at the Stadio Olimpico allowed the Biancocelesti to overtake the Milan club in the league standings, moving up to second place. Ciro Immobile's penalty equalized for Lazio after Ashley Young had opened the scoring for the Nerazzurri just before halftime. Sergej Milinković-Savić later netted the winning goal for Lazio who are now just one point behind league leaders Juventus.
Serie A's title race this season has been truly enthralling. Juventus, Lazio, and Inter are only separated by three points after 24 matchdays. What makes this title race even more compelling is the fact that Juve have won the league every season since 2011-12. Therefore, this season provides not one, but two golden opportunities for both Lazio and Inter. Lazio have not won Serie A since the 1999-2000 season while Inter have not done so since their historic treble-winning campaign in the 2009-10 season. Thus, both these clubs not only have the opportunity to snap Juve's streak of eight consecutive Scudetti; they also would break their own title droughts by doing so.
It is interesting to note that of these three teams, only Inter made any significant moves during the recently-concluded January transfer window. Although Juventus did bring Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski for €35 million to the club, the Bianconeri immediately loaned him to Parma for the rest of the season. Juve also loaned Emre Can to Borussia Dortmund after the German midfielder lost his place in the starting 11. Lazio did not make any signings of note; neither did they lose any notable players. Inter, on the other hand, made several noteworthy changes to their squad. They signed English veteran Young from Manchester United as well as Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen from Tottenham. Inter also became the latest club to pick up frequently-loaned Chelsea winger Victor Moses on a temporary basis. Regarding departures, Inter sold Gabriel Barbosa to Flamengo and loaned Valentino Lazaro to Newcastle; although both had come to Inter as intriguing prospects, neither had quite managed to pan out at the San Siro. Barbosa had been particularly disappointing when one considers how much hype he had generated at the time of his signing for Inter.
As the final title run-in approaches, one can clearly see that each club has its advantages and disadvantages. Juve have the most star power which can be seen in players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini, and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Juve probably have the most difficult set of matches remaining; they still have to play against Inter, Lazio, and Roma as well as a derby match against Torino. Juve are also the only one of the three title contenders to be playing in the Champions League; thus, they will have to be the most careful with squad management.
Lazio are the only club of the three in the league title race to be no longer involved in European competition. This therefore puts them in a position allowing them to devote all of their attention to the league. However, they have by far the least experience with high-pressure title situations such as this. Thus, it would not come as a major surprise if the Roman club ended up wilting under the pressure, leaving them without their first league title in 20 years.
Inter's main advantage is that they have the best head coach of all three teams in Antonio Conte. The winner of four major league titles and three domestic cups, Conte is arguably the best tactician among all coaches in world football today. They also have probably the easiest title run-in among the title contenders. Nevertheless, although Inter made their intent to win the league evident through their many signings, there is also a possibility that these many new signings will fail to gel and derail their league title bid, their ongoing Europa League campaign, or perhaps even both.
Serie A title races with three contending teams are rare in Serie A; this is only the second time it has happened since the 2001-02 season. Regardless of whether it turns out to be the multiple-time reigning champions, the new faces, or the revived powerhouse under new coaching, whoever comes out on top will have won one of the most hard-earned Scudetti ever.
Lazio edged Inter Milan 2-1 in a crucial top-of-the-table encounter at the Stadio Olimpico allowed the Biancocelesti to overtake the Milan club in the league standings, moving up to second place. Ciro Immobile's penalty equalized for Lazio after Ashley Young had opened the scoring for the Nerazzurri just before halftime. Sergej Milinković-Savić later netted the winning goal for Lazio who are now just one point behind league leaders Juventus.
Serie A's title race this season has been truly enthralling. Juventus, Lazio, and Inter are only separated by three points after 24 matchdays. What makes this title race even more compelling is the fact that Juve have won the league every season since 2011-12. Therefore, this season provides not one, but two golden opportunities for both Lazio and Inter. Lazio have not won Serie A since the 1999-2000 season while Inter have not done so since their historic treble-winning campaign in the 2009-10 season. Thus, both these clubs not only have the opportunity to snap Juve's streak of eight consecutive Scudetti; they also would break their own title droughts by doing so.
It is interesting to note that of these three teams, only Inter made any significant moves during the recently-concluded January transfer window. Although Juventus did bring Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski for €35 million to the club, the Bianconeri immediately loaned him to Parma for the rest of the season. Juve also loaned Emre Can to Borussia Dortmund after the German midfielder lost his place in the starting 11. Lazio did not make any signings of note; neither did they lose any notable players. Inter, on the other hand, made several noteworthy changes to their squad. They signed English veteran Young from Manchester United as well as Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen from Tottenham. Inter also became the latest club to pick up frequently-loaned Chelsea winger Victor Moses on a temporary basis. Regarding departures, Inter sold Gabriel Barbosa to Flamengo and loaned Valentino Lazaro to Newcastle; although both had come to Inter as intriguing prospects, neither had quite managed to pan out at the San Siro. Barbosa had been particularly disappointing when one considers how much hype he had generated at the time of his signing for Inter.
As the final title run-in approaches, one can clearly see that each club has its advantages and disadvantages. Juve have the most star power which can be seen in players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini, and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Juve probably have the most difficult set of matches remaining; they still have to play against Inter, Lazio, and Roma as well as a derby match against Torino. Juve are also the only one of the three title contenders to be playing in the Champions League; thus, they will have to be the most careful with squad management.
Lazio are the only club of the three in the league title race to be no longer involved in European competition. This therefore puts them in a position allowing them to devote all of their attention to the league. However, they have by far the least experience with high-pressure title situations such as this. Thus, it would not come as a major surprise if the Roman club ended up wilting under the pressure, leaving them without their first league title in 20 years.
Inter's main advantage is that they have the best head coach of all three teams in Antonio Conte. The winner of four major league titles and three domestic cups, Conte is arguably the best tactician among all coaches in world football today. They also have probably the easiest title run-in among the title contenders. Nevertheless, although Inter made their intent to win the league evident through their many signings, there is also a possibility that these many new signings will fail to gel and derail their league title bid, their ongoing Europa League campaign, or perhaps even both.
Serie A title races with three contending teams are rare in Serie A; this is only the second time it has happened since the 2001-02 season. Regardless of whether it turns out to be the multiple-time reigning champions, the new faces, or the revived powerhouse under new coaching, whoever comes out on top will have won one of the most hard-earned Scudetti ever.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 101: The Next Great French Defender
Over the years, there have been some truly great defenders to come out of France. Players such as Manuel Amoros, Laurent Blanc, Bixente Lizarazu, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Patrice Evra, and Raphaël Varane come to mind.
Before too long, another player might soon add his name to this legendary list. This player is in the midst of a breakout season for RB Leipzig, and his latest performance might very well have been his most impressive yet.
This player is Dayot Upamecano.
The Bundesliga match between Bayern Munich and Leipzig had been much-anticipated because it was a clash between the first- and second-placed teams in the league. It ended in a 0-0 draw - a fact that reflected extremely well on Leipzig's defense. This is because from an offensive standpoint, Bayern were firmly in control throughout. The Bavarians had 70% of the possession, completed almost two-and-a-half times more passes than did Die Bullen, and had 11 corners to Leipzig's three. Bayern's offensive line containing the likes of Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and of course, Robert Lewandowski were active throughout; however, a gutty, gritty performance by Leipzig's defense successfully neutralized the threat Bayern's offense posed.
Of Leipzig's three defenders, Upamecano was clearly the most impressive. The Frenchman was absolutely dominant at centre-back as he completely shut down Bayern's attacks time and again. The highlights of Upamecano's performance included a perfectly-timed block to prevent what would have been a Lewandowski goal as well as another spectacular block to deny Alphonso Davies from scoring. Although Upamecano did pick up a yellow card, this was also a good play because his foul on Thomas Müller also prevented a possible Bayern goal after Lewandowski headed the ball in the German winger's direction in a dangerous area of the pitch.
Over the past two seasons, Leipzig's defense has been truly impressive, especially when one considers that in 2017-18, the club from Saxony conceded 53 goals and ranked joint-14th in the league in this statistic. Last season, however, Leipzig turned it around impressively by allowing the fewest goals of any team in the Bundesliga. This season, they have continued this trend by conceding just 25 goals thus far. A key reason for this upward trend has been the impressive performance of Upamecano. The player from Normandy has turned into the fulcrum of Leipzig's defense; the team's overall defensive performance has improved in tandem with his own emergence as one of the best young centre-backs in the Bundesliga. His rapid improvement has also been reflected in the transfer market; although a number of clubs have been considering making a bid to lure him away from the Red Bull Arena, his ever-increasing transfer price has thus far ensured that no transfer has yet taken place.
On the international front, it is borderline criminal that Upamecano has never been capped by France. However, at just 21 years old, Upamecano has plenty of time to burnish his international credentials. It will surely not be long before Upamecano makes his Les Bleus debut; he might even be selected as part of the France squad for the upcoming 2020 European Championships. Circumstances permitting, he will likely have a long and fruitful international career to accompany what will probably be an equally impressive club career.
Upamecano has clearly established himself as one of the rising stars of world football. If Leipzig are to make a deep run in this season's Champions League, win the Bundesliga title, or perhaps even both, Upamecano will have undoubtedly played a major role in the club's success. However, it remains to be seen if Upamecano's long-term future will continue to be at Leipzig or instead be somewhere else. It is certainly possible that in the coming off-season, Upamecano inks a deal with a more "glamorous" club, especially if he puts in some impressive performances for France during Euro 2020.
In any case, it appears that the potential of the player whom I believe to be the next great French defender is almost limitless. There is a reason that clubs such as Barcelona and Bayern have been in pursuit of Upamecano even as his transfer value has understandably ballooned to close to €60 million. Regardless of where Upamecano ends up, however, it seems that an impressive career is in store for this talented, exciting young defender.
Before too long, another player might soon add his name to this legendary list. This player is in the midst of a breakout season for RB Leipzig, and his latest performance might very well have been his most impressive yet.
This player is Dayot Upamecano.
The Bundesliga match between Bayern Munich and Leipzig had been much-anticipated because it was a clash between the first- and second-placed teams in the league. It ended in a 0-0 draw - a fact that reflected extremely well on Leipzig's defense. This is because from an offensive standpoint, Bayern were firmly in control throughout. The Bavarians had 70% of the possession, completed almost two-and-a-half times more passes than did Die Bullen, and had 11 corners to Leipzig's three. Bayern's offensive line containing the likes of Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and of course, Robert Lewandowski were active throughout; however, a gutty, gritty performance by Leipzig's defense successfully neutralized the threat Bayern's offense posed.
Of Leipzig's three defenders, Upamecano was clearly the most impressive. The Frenchman was absolutely dominant at centre-back as he completely shut down Bayern's attacks time and again. The highlights of Upamecano's performance included a perfectly-timed block to prevent what would have been a Lewandowski goal as well as another spectacular block to deny Alphonso Davies from scoring. Although Upamecano did pick up a yellow card, this was also a good play because his foul on Thomas Müller also prevented a possible Bayern goal after Lewandowski headed the ball in the German winger's direction in a dangerous area of the pitch.
Over the past two seasons, Leipzig's defense has been truly impressive, especially when one considers that in 2017-18, the club from Saxony conceded 53 goals and ranked joint-14th in the league in this statistic. Last season, however, Leipzig turned it around impressively by allowing the fewest goals of any team in the Bundesliga. This season, they have continued this trend by conceding just 25 goals thus far. A key reason for this upward trend has been the impressive performance of Upamecano. The player from Normandy has turned into the fulcrum of Leipzig's defense; the team's overall defensive performance has improved in tandem with his own emergence as one of the best young centre-backs in the Bundesliga. His rapid improvement has also been reflected in the transfer market; although a number of clubs have been considering making a bid to lure him away from the Red Bull Arena, his ever-increasing transfer price has thus far ensured that no transfer has yet taken place.
On the international front, it is borderline criminal that Upamecano has never been capped by France. However, at just 21 years old, Upamecano has plenty of time to burnish his international credentials. It will surely not be long before Upamecano makes his Les Bleus debut; he might even be selected as part of the France squad for the upcoming 2020 European Championships. Circumstances permitting, he will likely have a long and fruitful international career to accompany what will probably be an equally impressive club career.
Upamecano has clearly established himself as one of the rising stars of world football. If Leipzig are to make a deep run in this season's Champions League, win the Bundesliga title, or perhaps even both, Upamecano will have undoubtedly played a major role in the club's success. However, it remains to be seen if Upamecano's long-term future will continue to be at Leipzig or instead be somewhere else. It is certainly possible that in the coming off-season, Upamecano inks a deal with a more "glamorous" club, especially if he puts in some impressive performances for France during Euro 2020.
In any case, it appears that the potential of the player whom I believe to be the next great French defender is almost limitless. There is a reason that clubs such as Barcelona and Bayern have been in pursuit of Upamecano even as his transfer value has understandably ballooned to close to €60 million. Regardless of where Upamecano ends up, however, it seems that an impressive career is in store for this talented, exciting young defender.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
The Weekly Take, Issue 100: 100 Posts, 100 Takes
This being my 100th post, I decided to do something a little different. I will post 100 football-related opinions of which some might be controversial and some might be completely wrong to some of you. Nevertheless, I stick firmly by all of them and will be willing to hear any counterarguments.
So, without further ado:
1) Most underrated player ever: Andrés Iniesta
2) Most overrated player ever: Steven Gerrard
3) Most overrated team ever (international): Brazil 1982
4) Most overrated team ever (club): Arsenal 2004
5) Most important match ever played: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool, 2003
6) Greatest tactical performance of all time: Inter Milan 3-2 (aggregate) Barcelona, 2010
7) Greatest league title race ever: 2000-01 Bundesliga
8) Best World Cup: 1998
9) Worst World Cup: 2002
10) Most underrated World Cup run (team): Turkey 2002
11) Most underrated World Cup run (individual): Diego Maradona 1990
12) Greatest Champions League season: 2011-12
13) Greatest Champions League match ever: Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan, 2005
14) Most important moment in football history: Neymar signs for PSG, 2017
15) Greatest single-match performance ever (individual): Rivaldo vs Valencia, 2001
16) Greatest single-match performance ever (team): Germany 7-1 Brazil, 2014
17) Most significant tactical innovation: Catenaccio
18) Greatest quote: "Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win." - Gary Lineker
19) Rule that needs to be changed: Last man fouls should be a penalty AND a red card even if the foul took place outside the penalty area
20) Most disrespected position: Defensive midfielder
21) Most overrated position: Centre-forward
22) Best era: 1997-2004
23) Worst era: 1975-1980
24) Most overrated coach: Arsène Wenger
25) Most underrated coach: Helenio Herrera
26) Best signing ever: N'Golo Kanté to Leicester, 2015
27) Worst signing ever: Fernando Torres to Chelsea, 2011
28) Worst refereeing decision ever: Francesco Totti's bogus second yellow card vs South Korea, 2002
29) Greatest free kick taker ever: Shunsuke Nakamura
30) Biggest "what if": What if the Hungarian Revolution never happens and the 1950s Hungary team stays together
31) Most overlooked yet impactful transfer: Diego Forlán to Villarreal, 2004
32) Most over-romanticized (not necessarily overrated) player ever: Juan Román Riquelme
33) Most undeserved tournament victory: Barcelona, 2008-09 Champions League
34) Best duel: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Zlatan Ibrahimović (Portugal vs Sweden, 2013)
35) Greatest goal ever scored: Diego Maradona vs England, 1986
36) Greatest rivalry match (club): Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid, 2014
37) Greatest rivalry match (international): Italy 3-2 West Germany, 1982
38) Biggest one-hit wonder (club): Steaua Bucharest 1986
39) Biggest one-hit wonder (international): Greece 2004
40) Weakest transfer move of all time: Luís Figo to Real Madrid, 2000
41) Most surprising individual season ever: Luca Toni, 2014-15
42) Most disappointing individual season ever: Denílson, 1999-2000
43) Most overrated status: "One-club man"
44) The fate of the universe is on the line, who do I want taking the last shot?: Cristiano Ronaldo
45) Best Women's World Cup match ever: Japan 2-2 United States, 2011
46) Best stadium: Maracanã
47) Best backline ever: AC Milan 1990
48) Best central midfield ever: Barcelona 2011
49) Best wing pairing ever: Bayern Munich 2013
50) Best frontline ever: Real Madrid 1960
51) The next legendary player is: Christian Pulisic
52) The next legendary coach is: Julian Nagelsmann
53) The host of the 2030 World Cup should be: Netherlands/Belgium as joint hosts
54) Something which I would like to see added: A FIFA Hall of Fame
55) Best stadium atmosphere: Signal Iduna Park (okay, maybe I'm a little biased :P)
56) Early pick to win Euro 2020: Netherlands
57) Early pick to win World Cup 2022: England
58) Best position for captains: Central midfield
59) Worst position for captains: Winger
60) Player who should move to a better team: Richarlison
61) Greatest domestic league ever by decade: 1990s Serie A
62) Most overrated tournament: FA Cup
63) Luckiest player ever: Dani Alves
64) Unluckiest player ever: Jari Litmanen
65) Tournament which should be revamped: Confederations Cup
66) Greatest World Cup upset: West Germany 3-2 Hungary, 1954
67) Greatest Champions League upset: Deportivo de La Coruña 5-4 (aggregate) AC Milan, 2004
68) Most undeserving Ballon d'Or winner: Allan Simonsen, 1977
69) Most underrated season by a club: Inter Milan, 2009-10
70) Opinion on VAR: Generally positive but can still be improved
71) Most overrated current player: Karim Benzema
72) Most underrated current player: Trent Alexander-Arnold
73) Most overrated current coach: Claudio Ranieri
74) Most underrated current coach: Maurizio Sarri
75) Rule that needs to be introduced: NBA/NFL-style team-wide salary cap, replacing the current Financial Fair Play rules
76) My Mount Rushmore of coaches: Herrera, Michels, Mourinho, Ancelotti
77) Most impressive league title victory: Atlético Madrid, 2013-14 La Liga
78) Most impressive Champions League victory: Inter Milan, 2009-10
79) How I would improve the Nations League: Disconnect it from Euro qualifying
80) Greatest club team of all time: Real Madrid 2014-18
81) Greatest international team of all time: West Germany 1970-76
82) Greatest player rivalry: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi
83) Greatest coach rivalry: José Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola
84) Biggest fan misconception: A club's history is directly linked to its current status
85) Best derby: Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray
86) Most overrated domestic league by decade: 2010s Premier League
87) Most unbreakable record: Dino Zoff wins World Cup as captain at the age of 40
88) Biggest "one-season wonder": Riyad Mahrez
89) Next multiple-time winner of the European Golden Shoe: Kylian Mbappé
90) Biggest headcase: Hatem ben Arfa
91) Biggest dumpster fire of a team (international): France 2010
92) Biggest dumpster fire of a team (club): AC Milan 2015
93) Most overhyped signing ever: Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, 2013
94) Most overlooked all-time great team: AC Milan 2003-07
95) Most ill-advised stadium-related decision: Tottenham vacates Wembley
96) Most overrated football move: Rabona
97) Current player who ought to have a statue when he retires even though most would not expect one for him: Giorgio Chiellini
98) Next €100 million player: Lautaro Martínez
99) Next big-money transfer dud: Adama Traoré
100) My all-time XI: 4-2-3-1 formation; Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Ramos, Maldini, Gattuso, Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona, Cruyff, Messi. Coached by Mourinho.
So, without further ado:
1) Most underrated player ever: Andrés Iniesta
2) Most overrated player ever: Steven Gerrard
3) Most overrated team ever (international): Brazil 1982
4) Most overrated team ever (club): Arsenal 2004
5) Most important match ever played: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool, 2003
6) Greatest tactical performance of all time: Inter Milan 3-2 (aggregate) Barcelona, 2010
7) Greatest league title race ever: 2000-01 Bundesliga
8) Best World Cup: 1998
9) Worst World Cup: 2002
10) Most underrated World Cup run (team): Turkey 2002
11) Most underrated World Cup run (individual): Diego Maradona 1990
12) Greatest Champions League season: 2011-12
13) Greatest Champions League match ever: Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan, 2005
14) Most important moment in football history: Neymar signs for PSG, 2017
15) Greatest single-match performance ever (individual): Rivaldo vs Valencia, 2001
16) Greatest single-match performance ever (team): Germany 7-1 Brazil, 2014
17) Most significant tactical innovation: Catenaccio
18) Greatest quote: "Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win." - Gary Lineker
19) Rule that needs to be changed: Last man fouls should be a penalty AND a red card even if the foul took place outside the penalty area
20) Most disrespected position: Defensive midfielder
21) Most overrated position: Centre-forward
22) Best era: 1997-2004
23) Worst era: 1975-1980
24) Most overrated coach: Arsène Wenger
25) Most underrated coach: Helenio Herrera
26) Best signing ever: N'Golo Kanté to Leicester, 2015
27) Worst signing ever: Fernando Torres to Chelsea, 2011
28) Worst refereeing decision ever: Francesco Totti's bogus second yellow card vs South Korea, 2002
29) Greatest free kick taker ever: Shunsuke Nakamura
30) Biggest "what if": What if the Hungarian Revolution never happens and the 1950s Hungary team stays together
31) Most overlooked yet impactful transfer: Diego Forlán to Villarreal, 2004
32) Most over-romanticized (not necessarily overrated) player ever: Juan Román Riquelme
33) Most undeserved tournament victory: Barcelona, 2008-09 Champions League
34) Best duel: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Zlatan Ibrahimović (Portugal vs Sweden, 2013)
35) Greatest goal ever scored: Diego Maradona vs England, 1986
36) Greatest rivalry match (club): Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid, 2014
37) Greatest rivalry match (international): Italy 3-2 West Germany, 1982
38) Biggest one-hit wonder (club): Steaua Bucharest 1986
39) Biggest one-hit wonder (international): Greece 2004
40) Weakest transfer move of all time: Luís Figo to Real Madrid, 2000
41) Most surprising individual season ever: Luca Toni, 2014-15
42) Most disappointing individual season ever: Denílson, 1999-2000
43) Most overrated status: "One-club man"
44) The fate of the universe is on the line, who do I want taking the last shot?: Cristiano Ronaldo
45) Best Women's World Cup match ever: Japan 2-2 United States, 2011
46) Best stadium: Maracanã
47) Best backline ever: AC Milan 1990
48) Best central midfield ever: Barcelona 2011
49) Best wing pairing ever: Bayern Munich 2013
50) Best frontline ever: Real Madrid 1960
51) The next legendary player is: Christian Pulisic
52) The next legendary coach is: Julian Nagelsmann
53) The host of the 2030 World Cup should be: Netherlands/Belgium as joint hosts
54) Something which I would like to see added: A FIFA Hall of Fame
55) Best stadium atmosphere: Signal Iduna Park (okay, maybe I'm a little biased :P)
56) Early pick to win Euro 2020: Netherlands
57) Early pick to win World Cup 2022: England
58) Best position for captains: Central midfield
59) Worst position for captains: Winger
60) Player who should move to a better team: Richarlison
61) Greatest domestic league ever by decade: 1990s Serie A
62) Most overrated tournament: FA Cup
63) Luckiest player ever: Dani Alves
64) Unluckiest player ever: Jari Litmanen
65) Tournament which should be revamped: Confederations Cup
66) Greatest World Cup upset: West Germany 3-2 Hungary, 1954
67) Greatest Champions League upset: Deportivo de La Coruña 5-4 (aggregate) AC Milan, 2004
68) Most undeserving Ballon d'Or winner: Allan Simonsen, 1977
69) Most underrated season by a club: Inter Milan, 2009-10
70) Opinion on VAR: Generally positive but can still be improved
71) Most overrated current player: Karim Benzema
72) Most underrated current player: Trent Alexander-Arnold
73) Most overrated current coach: Claudio Ranieri
74) Most underrated current coach: Maurizio Sarri
75) Rule that needs to be introduced: NBA/NFL-style team-wide salary cap, replacing the current Financial Fair Play rules
76) My Mount Rushmore of coaches: Herrera, Michels, Mourinho, Ancelotti
77) Most impressive league title victory: Atlético Madrid, 2013-14 La Liga
78) Most impressive Champions League victory: Inter Milan, 2009-10
79) How I would improve the Nations League: Disconnect it from Euro qualifying
80) Greatest club team of all time: Real Madrid 2014-18
81) Greatest international team of all time: West Germany 1970-76
82) Greatest player rivalry: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi
83) Greatest coach rivalry: José Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola
84) Biggest fan misconception: A club's history is directly linked to its current status
85) Best derby: Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray
86) Most overrated domestic league by decade: 2010s Premier League
87) Most unbreakable record: Dino Zoff wins World Cup as captain at the age of 40
88) Biggest "one-season wonder": Riyad Mahrez
89) Next multiple-time winner of the European Golden Shoe: Kylian Mbappé
90) Biggest headcase: Hatem ben Arfa
91) Biggest dumpster fire of a team (international): France 2010
92) Biggest dumpster fire of a team (club): AC Milan 2015
93) Most overhyped signing ever: Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, 2013
94) Most overlooked all-time great team: AC Milan 2003-07
95) Most ill-advised stadium-related decision: Tottenham vacates Wembley
96) Most overrated football move: Rabona
97) Current player who ought to have a statue when he retires even though most would not expect one for him: Giorgio Chiellini
98) Next €100 million player: Lautaro Martínez
99) Next big-money transfer dud: Adama Traoré
100) My all-time XI: 4-2-3-1 formation; Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Ramos, Maldini, Gattuso, Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona, Cruyff, Messi. Coached by Mourinho.
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