Zach's Thoughts

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Group A:

1. Real Madrid
2. PSG
3.  Shaktar dontesk
4.  Malamo

Since Madrid didn’t win the league or UCL they weren’t seeded which brought up that Madrid would have a formidable oppenet in the group stage. That happened to be the French champions, PSG. A team with a big new signing in Angel Di Maria. Against his former team of Real Madrid. The  two will by far dominate this group.  but for who wins it will come down to who wins their home games against each other. But I fancy Madrid in this one based on the pure talent Madrid have on their team. Shaktar will also prove a steady challenge but they have lost key players such as Douglas costa. This will by far be one of the groups to watch espiccaly with PSG vs RMA

 

 

Group B

1. Wolfsburg
2. Man United
3. Moskva
4. PSV

 

This will be a interesting group to watch due to how most of the teams are about equal in talent. Of course with Man U being the massive club it is but hasent been firing on all cylandires. Lots of eyes will be on Depay vs PSV against his former club. One of the more interesting new clubs in the UCL will be Wolfsburg, I do think if Wolfsburg can keep hold of some of their key attacking players they will be able to see out this group. But Moskva will be keen to try and move on but lack of defensive qualitys won’t hold up against the likes of Wolfsburg and Man U. One exciting team from Dutch which just let go of their key superstar is PSV but I do think PSV have the least amount of talent from the other 3 so I see them finishing 4 but it will be very narrow. This will also be a group to watch.

 

Group C

1. Atletico
2. benfica
3. Galatasray
4. Astana

 

I think Atletico are a very exciting side espiccaly with some new exciting strikers they have signed. It will take them some time to start getting the offense to start working but their is so much talent in that side you have to expect them to come out on top. Another exciting side to see are the Portuguese champions with a very sound defense and steady offense. I do expect them to at least get out of the group stage. Of course we have the bittery disappointing in Europe side Galatasray. Which are always expected to do something special but always fall up short. They have had some great striking signings including Lucas Podolski. They do at least have more talent then Astana so I expect them to fall down to Europa league.

 

Group D For Death

1. Juventus
2. Man City
3. Sevilla
4. Bourrusia Monch

I do expect the runners up to the champions league to win the group but only by a max of 2 or 3 points. Because of course their main competition will be inform and title favorites Manchester City. Which might steal this group but I think juventus are the still the favorites. The hardest dessison for me was to put Sevilla in 3rd and let them go down to Europa league. I do feel that they could steal group with some new striker signings. One team I believe will finish dead last is Bourrusia Monch they have looked schambolic in defense and in the bundesliga. With other such amazing teams all I see is them finishing dead last unless they can change something. This is definitely the group of death and best to watch.

Group E

1. Barcalona
2. Roma
3. Leverkusen
4. BATE

 

 

Of course 9/10 of the times barca is always going to be champions of a group. Especially with coming  straight off a Treble from last year. This was a great draw for them individually with little challenges in Roma and Leverkusen. It is fair to point out how they have been struggling as of late vs Bilbao and most of the preseason. But once they get a fully fit squad I can only see them finishing out on top of this group easily. Finishing 2nd for me is Roma based on some of the terrific signing they have made such as Salah, Dezko, and Sczezny. They look like a very exciting team to watch. I think Leverkusen will just miss out because of the lack of quality they have compared to Barca and Roma. Of course we have BATE finishing last due to some obvious reasons. This will be a group that will be dominated mostly by Barca. One of the not as interesting groups in my opinion.

 

 

Group F 

1. Bayern
2. Arsenal
3. Olympiakos
4. Dinamo Zagreb

 

 

The Game everyone will have their eyes on will of course be Bayern vs arsenal which will for sure be a cracking game. But I personally can not see arsenal beating Bayern to the top on this one Bayern have made a great signing in Douglas Costa and they look to be one of the sides to go all the way this year. While arsenal have a rather lackluster start to the season. Olympiakos have no where near the amount of talent of  Bayern and arsenal have so I put them in 3rd. I feel kinda bad for Dynamo Zagreb because ill see them doing is getting crushed by the bigger opposition. Will be a cracking group to watch with arsenal and Bayern playing

 

 

Group G

1. Chelsea
2. Porto
3. Dynamo Kyiv
4. Tel-Aviv

 

 

Chelsea by far have mountains more quality then the other teams in this group despite not having the best start to their season this year. Can’t see anything but a dominate chelsea in the group stage. Porto were a very exciting team last year and they will look to do it again the champions league. But I don’t personally think the current squad can over take the likes of chelsea. Dynamo kyiv are a lot of peoples dark horses due to the fact that they made the UEL final but i don’t see them as better teams to chelsea and porto for obvious reasons. And of course everyones fairy tail club from Israel but honestly they don’t have the squad to even get close to 3rd position would be a shame if they finished with 0 points but that seems to be one for the book keepers to favorite. One of the more less interesting groups due to the fact chelsea and porto are miles ahead the other two.

 

 

Group H

1. Valencia
2. Lyon
3. Zenit
4. Gent

 

 

By far the hardest group for me to predict is group H due to most of the teams are about the same skill level quality wise. Of course with the exception of Gent. I do feel Valencia have a very strong side this year and will win the group very narrowly with Lyon and Zenit. With Zenit just missing out due to the fact they have yet to truly convince me in Europe. I think they are  by far one of the best Russian teams but when it comes to Europe they always fall short and end up disappointing me. Finishing  2nd for me is Lyon due to the fact they have been able to hold on to future star Laccazatte who recently extended his contract. I think they will narrowly beat Zenit by one point. They are looking to finally make a big impact on Europe which they have failed to do in recent years. Of course Gent will finish last for me due to the quality of the other teams compared to them. This will be a group to keep a eye for me, it will be interesting to see who makes it out alive.

 

 

This is set up to be one cracking Champions league this year. Can’t wait for the top clubs around Europe to face each other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Monday we were given what was supposed to be a high scoring and entertaining affair. Instead we were givin a game of two halfs. One where chech pulled off world class saves and another where arsenal played 90% of the game in liverpools half.

The first half started off with couthino hitting the bar with a great lay back from Christian benteke. Who looked very livaly the entire match. This happening so early in the game it would seem that we were destined to have goals. Now It’s fair to point out that arsenal played the entire  game with the two back up center backs. Callum chambers espiccaly looked nervous and gave the ball away at key moments in the game with all that said they did keep a clean sheet.

The next big event was the goal of Arron Ramsey which was incorrectly called offside after the replays were shown. This came against the run of play of course with Liverpool playing rather well. This goal did come from a out of position Ramsey which still brings up the question of who sits when everyone is fit for arsenal because Ramesy is thought to do better more centrally in the pitch.

The next two events were some of the best saves of the season so far from Peter cech one was a  sublime save from Phillip Coutinho the other was a save on benteke from 6 yards out. You can pick out which was the better save yourself.

The second half was a complete and utter stereotypical performance from arsenal lots of possession and not lots of chances. This is not to say that they didn’t have any chances. Alexis came close and so did giroud but you would expect more chances with the amount of possession they had.

The Aftermath:

Ill start with the better side on the night in my opinion, Liverpool. They have now gone 3 games unbeaten and 3 clean sheets. This is much more improved then last season where Liverpool had a schambolic defense. Mignolet and skertial seem to be in impeccable form which kept arsenal out for the entire night.

Arsenal seem to have more pressing problems because in the second half they looked “toothless” in possession with giroud just not being enough. But with benzema almost certainly not coming they need to find another world class striker or they won’t win the league. Arsenals defense looked terrible being bailed out several times by peter cech but it’s not exactly fair to judge them off one performance with both of the back up center backs. The more pressing matter is arsenal needing another striker if they want to challenge.

All in all arsenal had the more pressing matters. But both teams need to improve if they want to reach their goals. Perhaps they can show if they have overcome these problems this weekend vs their own respectable opponents.

A game which was destined for entertainment. Did give us that but not in a goal scoring fassion but rather a real look into the problems for both teams.

Predictions
1:Arsenal-despite the loss a new signing like benzema will make them unstoppable.
2: Man United- A Great transfer window for the Reds surely LVG has settled in.
3: Man city- very impressed with city on the weekend they have a very deep squad which is essential for the EPL
4:Chelsea – The champions seem to have lost a certain edge but quality of players will get them into the top 4
5:Liverpool- Can’t depend on Coutinho to bail them out great signings but not enough for a top 4 finish.
6: Spurs- lack of a good transfer window will leave them with the same problems as last year.
7:Southampton- This team still has lots of quality even though they lost some key players I.E Clyne, schniderlin. Will make Europa league.
8: NewCastile- They have tons of quality that is overlooked they have enough to finish the top half of the table.
9: Stoke- This is finishing 9th 3 years in a row. Terrific transfer window for stoke. They have signed players from Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona.
10: Swansea- I could see them finishing much higher but they couldn’t beat a 10 man Chelsea and struggle in defense.
11: Crystal palace- Great signing of Yohan Cabaye but lack of quality in other areas of the pitch won’t get them far.
12: Aston villa- Lost all their key players I.E Delph and beneteke. But they will have a much better finishing then last year.
13 West Ham-disappointing in the Europa league. fairly lucky against arsenal. But a middle place finish is in place for them.
14: Everton- They tied watford on the weekend they rely all on quality from players not much team work.
15: West brom- Great signing of ricki lambert but they suffer from the same problems as every year.
16: WatFord- newly promoted team have lots of talent could see them staying up.
17: Leicester City- Going to barely survive this year. They should have not sacked their old manager but I think they will survive.
18: Sunderland- They got destroyed by Leicester they rely on two players. Don’t see them staying up.
19: Norwich city- Not lots of quality to survive in the EPL see them going straight back down.
20: Bournemouth- everybody’s fairytale club but they aren’t very rich and you can’t see them staying up with the lack of quality. I’m sure everyone will be rooting for them.

Manchester United will win the FA cup