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Can you Memphis Depay with his lion showing

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The year was 2013, and a 21-year old little-known Egyptian had managed his first claim to fame. Some months before that night in London, he’d been found by the President and Sporting Director of a Swiss club at the time.

President Bernhard Heusler and Sporting Director Georg Hitz had hosted the Egypt U23-team in a friendly match. It was in preparation for the Egyptians’ 2012 London Olympics outing. While they played an entire nation, that was just by the way. Their eyes were on one player, and they needed to see him play. What they saw was mind-blowing and erased every form of doubt they had about his ability to impress them. The Egyptian attacker joined Basel the following month and has never looked back ever since.

In 2013, Basel were visitors to Stamford Bridge and were far from bookmakers’ favourites to carry the day. It was Jose Mourinho’s first Champions League game in his second coming to Chelsea, and Salah made it as bitter as possible. After grabbing Basel’s equaliser and performing excellently in London, he scored the Swiss side’s only goal in their second-leg victory against the Blues. They’d stunned the world and Salah was the proponent of their miracle. Before that moment, the Egyptian had struggled to cope with the rigours of European football after moving from local side Al Mokawloon. He faced challenges in getting to grips with the demands of a more advanced and faster style of football, but it was everything his strength pointed to, speed. His pace soon became the difference. After that big night against Chelsea at the St-Jakob Park, Salah made a declaration, typical of the desires of kings.

“I'm very proud to have scored two goals against Chelsea. I want to play for one of the best teams in the world. My favourites are Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea,” - Mohamed Salah
The club where he’d shine like a million stars was not amongst his preferred choices but Life happened to Salah, in pleasant ways.

BONUS: Where does Salah Rank Among Liverpools Great’s

That winner against Chelsea showed where Salah was as a person. He has never been one who revels in accolades. He always has his eyes to the sky but his feet firmly planted on the ground.

“I remember that winner against Chelsea. We tried to congratulate him in the locker room but he would not accept it. He said that he'd had seven shots and the first six had gone into the stands. He only attempted the seventh because he'd been shown such trust by his coach, colleagues, and everyone at the club. It was a great thing to say." - Bernhard Heusler, former Basel Chairman

Salah made a move to Chelsea, as the Londoners were impressed with what they saw. He had stung them, not once, but twice, and two counts for a thing. His Chelsea move wasn’t however altogether successful, as he failed to convince Mourinho. The environment he got at Basel was nowhere to be found in London. The weight of expectations were enormous, and Salah buckled underneath, scoring just two times in nineteen games. A loan move to Fiorentina would improve his confidence and output and AS Roma had seen enough to try their hands on him. In two seasons at Roma, he had 56 goal contributions in 83 games.

Jurgen Klopp was finding the perfect blocks to complete his squares in Anfield and his idea of football, which places great emphasis on pace and speed of attack. After rigorous searching, scouting, and planning, Sallah fit in seamlessly.

Liverpool went all out on Salah. They paid the most they had ever paid for a player and Salah made the big move. On his second coming to England, failure wasn’t an option. He’d grown in confidence, skill set, and experience, and everything was put to work in Merseyside.

The 2017/18 season saw Liverpool move for Salah and it announced the gradual becoming of the big force the Reds have turned in the last few years. The Egyptian didn’t take long to get in the mix as he scored 32 times and assisted 10 in 36 league games. In all competitions, he scored 44 goals in his debut season for the Reds. The most by a Liverpool debutant and the most by a Liverpool player in one season in the Premier League era. What’s a better way to announce yourself to the world?

Combining with fellow African, Sadio Mane and Brazilian, Roberto Firmino, Salah has become an important part of arguably the strongest attacking unit in club football today.

In 2018, he helped propel the Pharaohs beyond their Red Sea of World Cup failures, as they qualified for their first outing at the Mundial in almost three decades. A sapped Salah didn’t do much in Russia but rewrote a new period for his darling country.

Against Brentford, he continued his beastly and mercurial rise to greatness as he became the fastest Liverpool player ever to reach 100 league goals and also became Liverpool’s 10th best scorer in history moving ahead of San Raybould. Salah’s firepower is second to none, and his ability to smell blood and sniff out chances is rated amongst the best ever. Of all his 100 goals for Liverpool in the English elite division, 94 of them have come inside the box and just 6 came from outside it. He’s a player whose preference for processes rather than opportunism is well established and one who has risen with aplomb, winning the African Player of the Year award twice and also getting nominations as one of the best players in the world.

For a player of Salah’s roots and career trajectory, these achievements are by no means an ordinary feat. It’s his fifth season with Liverpool and he has achieved virtually everything in Merseyside, including helping to end three decades of an absence of the Premier League title in the Reds’ illustrious shelf and also winning the Champions League.

His achievements speak volumes about his graceful period and at 29, he still has the world as his oyster shells, ready to be conquered all over again, like the King he is.

SOURCE

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

Favicon:
I believe so, scoring 100 goals and being consistent season in and out over the years qualifies him as an icon

Indeed. And he has more years to prove his excellence!

cc: lalasticlala

Following a fruitful spell at AS Roma between 2015 and 2017, one preceded by appearances at El Mokawloon, Basel, Chelsea and Fiorentina, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah moved to Liverpool, scoring on his debut appearance, setting the pace for an unforgettable legacy at the club.

Born in Basyoun, Egypt, Salah has not just grown to become one of the greatest players to put on the red jerseys of the club but has set the bar so high for any other Egyptian who would ever feature for the club. Little wonder he’s often hailed ‘The Egyptian King’.

But, with over 130 goals in all competitions since his joining, where does the Egyptian wing wizard, Salah, stand on the roll call of Liverpool’s greatest players of all time?

Liverpool’s Greatness Roll-Call
1. Steven Gerrard (1998 – 2015)
Considered the club’s greatest ever, only a few men can boast of almost achieving the legacy Steven Gerrard forged at Liverpool. Almost.

In a career spanning 17-years, Gerrard gave Liverpool fans momentous moments in the European Cup with his unforgettable half-volley against Olympiacos, and a barely believable last-minute equaliser in the FA Cup final against West Ham United in 2006.

A year before that, it was his header that kick-started the Miracle in Istanbul that saw Liverpool lift the Champions League. Although the Premier League title eluded Gerrard’s boisterous trophy cabinet with the Reds, his ability to both feature in Liverpool’s all-time top five for both appearances and goals – the only Liverpool player to achieve such – leaves his legacy as one, unmatched.

2. Kenny Dalglish (1977 – 1990)
A first stint at Anfield as a player saw Kenny Dalglish score a whopping 172 goals in 515 appearances for the club. A goal record that placed him seventh on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list. But it was not just Dalglish’s scoring prowess that made him stand out at the club, it was also his ability to replace departing club legend Kevin Keegan.

Coming into the team as a 26-year-old in 1977, Dalglish lived up to expectations, crowning his first season by topping the club’s goalscoring charts and netting the winner in a European Cup final. A start to an eventually illustrious time at the club which boasted of six English league championships, the FA Cup, four League Cups, five FA Charity Shields, three European Cups and one European Super Cup.

‘King Kenny’ would return for a second and third spell at Anfield in 1985 and 2011, but this time, as a manager.

3. Ian Rush (1980 – 1987, 1988 – 1996)
A classic number nine putting on the shirt number ‘9’. That’s what Ian Rush was, for Liverpool. Over sixteen years at Liverpool, the Welshman scored at a record 346 goals in 660 appearances, making him the most lethal player to ever feature for the club.

Rush’s predatory instincts were one of Liverpool’s most important assets to their English and European dominance in the 1980s. Loved at Anfield, feared at every opposition ground, Rush ensured he made the 1983-84 season his finest, scoring a remarkable 47-goal haul. 1996 would be the year Liverpool would bid farewell to Rush following his agreement to join Juventus.

4. Robbie Fowler (1993–2001, 2006–2007)
Robbie Fowler in his childhood days was that Everton supporter who loathed Ian Rush’s achievements with Liverpool. Upon leaving the Reds in 2007, Fowler stood sixth on the club’s list of all-time scorers.

Nicknamed ‘God’ by the Anfield crowd due to his finishing, Fowler’s finest moment as a Red came against Arsenal on 28 August 1994 when he scored three goals in the space of 4 minutes and 33 seconds – the fastest hat-trick in Liverpool’s history till date.

5. MOHAMED SALAH (2017 – PRESENT)
Arriving at Anfield in 2017, ‘The Egyptian King’, Salah, announced himself to Liverpudlians by claiming Premier League’s Golden Boot after an impressive tally of 32 goals, and breaking the record for a 38-game season. He would go on to win the same award the following season, but this time, with lesser goals, sharing it with Pierre Aubameyang and teammate Sadio Mané.

Despite spending just 4 years at the club so far, Salah already holds Liverpool’s records for most goals in a debut season, most goals in a season by a Liverpool player in the Premier League era, most continental goals in a season, most games scored in a single campaign, and most goals in a season by a Liverpool player in the Premier League.

6. Luis Suarez (2011 – 2014)
Following the January 2011 transfer window which saw the “Torres to Chelsea” deal create a void in Liverpool’s attack, Luis Suarez became the all-important replacement. He became an instant hit at Anfield despite spending just three years at the club. Before his departure to Barcelona in 2014, Suarez became the first Liverpool player to score thirty goals in a season in the Premier League era since Fernando Torres did in 2007/08.

7. Jamie Carragher (1997 – 2013)
Only behind Ian Callaghan by 120 games, Jamie Carragher finished his football career as Liverpool’s second-longest ever serving player, having featured 737 times in all competitions for the club. His spell spanning 17 seasons meant Carragher would lead his side to two FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, one UEFA Cup, and two Super Cups.

8. Kevin Keegan (1971 – 1977)
“A player of exceptional potential” is what Kevin Keegan was often described as. His six-year spell at the club saw him score 100 goals while featuring in 323 games across all competitions. Often the man who would steal the headlines on the big occasions, Keegan’s contributions to the club saw them lift the League Championship (3), the FA Cup (1), the European Cup (1), and the UEFA Cup (2). Little wonder he was named the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1976.

9. Billy Liddell (1939 – 1961)
According to Liverpudlians of a particular generation, Billy Liddell would remain the greatest-ever player to pull on a red jersey. Although Liddell could only boast of one trophy in his playing career at Anfield, his 228 goals in over 500 games for the club was enough to ensure his fame could spread far beyond the boundaries of Merseyside.

10. Graeme Souness (1978 – 1984)
A true midfield maestro is what Graeme Souness was at Anfield. In a career spanning 6-years, Souness captained the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s. The 1983/84 season which would be Souness’ last at Anfield, would see Liverpool win the league title for the third year in a row, and Souness come second in the PFA’s Player of the Year voting.

Outside The Top 10
11. John Barnes

12. Ian Callaghan

13. Xabi Alonso

14. Fernando Torres

15. Phil Neal

16. Pepe Reina

17. Sami Hyypia

18. Michael Owen

19. Ray Clemence

20. Steve McManaman

SOURCE
lalasticlala

As Brazil and Argentina filed out in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers fixture for the CONMEBOL, there was enough drama to go round. The game came to an abrupt end when officials of the Brazilian Health Ministry came into the field to stop the game, as they claimed four Argentine players who play in the Premier League- Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, and Emiliano Buendia had all lied about their travel history to gain access to Brazil. It was an embarrassing sight for football and the confederation, but it was just one of many dramas to come as the African Cup of Nations approaches.

Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Manchester City’s Ederson Moraes have also been ruled out of their weekend Premier League games because Brazil will play on Friday. That’s enough frustration to go around the league, but the news is that it’s just the South American version of the issues, January 2022 will herald the African angle.

The 2021 African Cup of Nations, to be held in Cameroon will see many Premier League clubs miss out on some of their most important players. The potentially worst-hit clubs may be Arsenal, Liverpool, and Watford, with at least three players expected to represent their countries in January. They are aware these players are leaving but the drama and bickering will soon unfold as soon as the year turns the corner. Patriotic players will be at loggerheads with their hard-balling clubs while some others will ditch their countries for club stability. A lot is expected to happen and below are the players and clubs expected to be affected;

Arsenal
The Gunners started the Premuer League season like a house being razed, losing to newly-promoted Brentford, Chelsea, and Man City in their first three games. Now a butt of hourly jokes, and social media memes as well as the butt of the table, Arsenal are expected to start the climb and build some momentum having played some of their most difficult games. With nine goals conceded in three games, and no goal celebrated in 270 minutes of Premier League football, they are expected to soon start a better and stronger run, but there is January and the risk of the African hunt for national honours.

Skipper Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is struggling for form and consistency but is still one of Arsenal’s more dependable players. He may be away for up to three weeks in January if Gabon go far in the AFCON.

Ghanaian star, Thomas Partey is one of the Black Stars’ best players and will be one of their biggest presence in Cameroon. Sadly for Arsenal, they look inexistent without him in the middle of the park as the physical presence and desire to take risks goes missing when he’s not available. As Partey features for the Black Stars, it’s hoped but not expected that Arsenal don’t suffer bright scars.

The duo of Mohammed El Neny and Nicolas Pepe complete the African quartet at Arsenal. Both players mean different things to Mikel Arteta. While El Neny isn’t expected to be sorely missed, as he is a fringe player and can easily be replaced, Pepe is one of Arsenal’s attacking options. Although he’s yet to live up to his price tag, he’s seen as one that should play a key role for the Gunners if they’ll muster anything of note.

Aston Villa
Zimbabwean star midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba is the man to check when the Warriors take on the rest of Africa in Cameroon. Nakamba, a warrior himself on the pitch has become one of Villa’s mainstays with his energetic and rugged presence in the midfield. He will be needed in Cameroon as much as he’s wanted in Villa in January.

Nakamba won’t be alone on the plane to Cameroon, as his club teammate Bertrand Traore is also expected to star for the Stallions. The Burkina Faso attacker won’t be as terribly missed by Villa, as he plays a bit-part role on most occasions and is hardly a starter.

Like Nakamba, Villa will miss Trezeguet sorely. The man named after the former French international is expected to play a pivotal part in the Pharaohs’ AFCON quest. A great lieutenant in Dean Smith’s army, Trezeguet’s services will be needed by his fatherland in January and a battle may ensue between club and country.

Brentford
The Bees enjoyed a sweet opener to their Premier League adventure as they stung Arsenal in the first game of the season. Nigeria’s Frank Onyeka, although not a regular with the national team is expected to make it to Cameroon. His performances with Brentford so far have been impressive and isn’t getting over the fence with Nigerian handlers. How easily Brentford takes that is what nobody knows yet.

Brighton
Mali are going into this AFCON with lots of expectations and a desire to better their semifinal outing in 2002 and 2013. Important to that drive is Yves Bissouma, the brilliant Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder. Graham Potter must be planning on the way to mound his midfield in Bissouma’s absence as he will be sorely missed, yet is a key asset to his country.

Burnley
New Burnley signing, Maxwell Cornet is one of the new stars of Ivorian football and will look forward to playing more part for his country after switching allegiance from France. Although considered a very good acquisition at Turf Moor, Burnley can manage without him in January. He’s however expected to play a key role in their attack in the coming weeks and how quickly he adapts to life in the Premier League will determine what becomes of his January fate. Will he be missed or not? Time will tell. Sean Dyche never hides his feelings.

Chelsea
Edouard Mendy has become one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe since he moved to Chelsea from Rennes. Brought in to provide competition for the then misfiring huge signing, Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Senegalese has come in and made the Chelsea goal his own. He won the award for the Best Goalkeeper in Europe some weeks ago and will hope not to lose his place to Kepa when he’s gone on international duty. Thomas Tuchel may also bicker about losing his superlative goalkeeper in January. Sadly, Senegal will also go far, all things being equal. There will be stories to tell there.

Crystal Palace
Cheikh Kouyate, Jordan Ayew, Wilfred Zaha, and Jeffrey Schlupp will all be out in January as they head to their countries for AFCON duties. Kouyate’s Senegal, Ayew and Schlupp’s Ghana, and Zaha’s Ivory Coast are all some of the continent’s strongest sides and will go far if they play to their greatest abilities. Patrick Vieira will definitely frown at the timing of the competition but will have little to say. He was born in Dakar, Senegal.

Everton
Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi has started the season brightly under Rafael Benitez but that wand has been seen for so many years. It hardly lasts a while. Where the former Arsenal man hardly shows a lack of presence is with the Super Eagles. One of Gernot Rohr’s most trusted creative channels, Iwobi is expected to join Nigeria for the AFCON but his Ivorian teammate, Jean-Phillipe Gbamin may not get the nod as he still struggles to bounce back from his fitness issues.

Leicester
The Foxes will hope to have some bite when the AFCON comes knocking as they will be without enforcer Wilfred Ndidi, striker Kelechi Iheanacho, utility Daniel Amartey, and fringe player Nampalys Mendy. All four players are expected to represent Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal at the African Cup of Nations. I doubt Brendan will find it easy to roger this!

Liverpool
Like Leicester, Liverpool may also lose the quartet of Joel Matip, Naby Keita, and most especially, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah. Two of the Reds’ finest attackers will be gone for three weeks and it is an unimaginable realization for Jurgen Klopp. Matip who has had a topsy-turvy time with Cameroon may also go missing from the Liverpool fold in January while Naby Keita, still smarting from the coup experience in Guinea will hope to be back home soon to fly the flag.

Manchester City
Champions Manchester City can afford whatever they desire and have never relied on a single player for the goods. They may not flinch when Riyad Mahrez goes to Cameroon to try and nick the AFCON again. While Pep Guardiola may complain, the reality isn’t as devastating.

Manchester United
Manchester United’s duo of Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo will hardly be missed by the Red Devils. Bailly is fourth on the pecking order in the Man Utd Center-half position as he’s behind Rafael Varane, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelof. Diallo, on his part, would have achieved a great feat if he gets the nod with the Elephants. He’s competing against more experienced and more highly rated players in the Ivorian national team, unlike his club and international teammate.

Southampton
The Saints have a Black Star and an Eagle and will have their eyes glued to the sky in January as Ghana’s Mohammed Salisu and Mali’s Djenepo Moussa make it to their national sides for the 2021 African Cup of Nations. Ralph Hassenhuttl will be left miffed and frustrated at losing two of his best legs but will cope or at least they should!

Watford
William Troost-Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo, Ismaila Sarr, Bonaventure Dennis, and Adam Masina may all be out of Watford’s Premier League quest in January. Vice-captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Troost-Ekong has a sure ticket to Cameroon, and Etebo is one of the mainstays of the team. Sarr is one of Senegal’s most prized assets, and Masina is sure to depart with Morocco to Cameroon. Dennis’ fate is highly dependent on how his form plays out before January. If he continues with his current streak, he will be in contention for the plane to Yaoundé, if Rohr chooses to be flexible. An argument will definitely ensue between Watford and the Nigeria Football Federation. Wait for it!

Wolves
Willy Bolly has formed an interesting partnership with Bailly since he joined the Ivorian national team and that team is capable of doing something interesting in Cameroon. Wolves won’t be happy to see it happen and will want an early edit for their man. It’s going to be a difficult one, and the war of words is expected to ensue soon.

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SOURCE

lubs in England seem to be producing a truckload of talented English football youngsters and producing narratives around some of these youngsters. Ayoola Kelechi and Rilwan Balogun share their opinions on three young English players making the news for different reasons.

1. English football youngster, Mason Greenwood, is good enough to lead Manchester United’s attack for years to come
Ayoola’s View:

FACT. Left foot, right foot, Greenwood’s got it. At only 19, it’s rare to see a forward being so efficient and the Manchester United man is truly a rare talent. Despite having an underwhelming start to the 20/21 season Greenwood still showed that given enough time, he could develop into a monster of a player.

If he continues to develop at the pace he is currently going, and he is expected to, he will be at the forefront of United’s attack for years to come. The fact that he can play out wide or as a very mobile center forward means that he can complement most forwards that United sign. Whether Ronaldo, Cavani, or Haaland while still being a potent source of goals.

Rilwan’s View:

FACT. Mason Greenwood, the English youngster currently, has all it takes to rule the world, and of course, lead the line at Manchester United. What he may seem to lack is enough patience to wait for his time. He’s loved by the club and even the national team has helped to protect his future.

Greenwood, when played, has shown a great deal of ability and I don’t have a doubt that his firepower is rare in the world of football today. He is considered the future at Old Trafford and that’s in no way an erroneous judgment. Where the concern is how much he’s prepared to wait, considering recent developments. He’s good enough for it, I’m sure, but when you have a Cristiano Ronaldo signed in a team that’s always looked like home to you, you start to consider a journey.

2. Arsenal will regret losing English football youngster, Eddie Nketiah
Ayoola’s View:

FICTION: It’s unlikely that they will. The English youngster, Eddie Nketiah was an exceptional player in Arsenal’s youth teams but at the senior level, he had to compete with Aubameyang and Lacazette and did so while being limited to game time in the domestic cups where Arsenal fielded weakened teams. Because Nketiah is an old-fashioned striker who relies on service he could not show how good he can be while relying on somewhat subpar services. It was almost impossible to see the best of Nketiah and even when he went to Leeds on loan, his best chance to get in the first team was hampered by injuries. To be honest, we haven’t seen enough of Nketiah at the senior level to suggest that Arsenal would greatly miss his absence.

Rilwan’s View:

FICTION. Eddie Nketiah showed great promise at the U-23s and that’s why he made it quickly to the senior team. He’s however struggled for place and position since he teamed up with the seniors and that’s not surprising. Nketiah needs a safer developmental pattern and a growth phase that doesn’t come with the delivery of performance every week.

At Arsenal, he’s thrust to the challenge far too early and that’s surprising. He struggled to fix a place at Leeds United and had to be taken back by the Gunners. I, however, think both parties should part ways now, as it’s clear Arsenal won’t be the place for him to earn that development he desires.

Arsenal definitely won’t regret moving him on and if that £10m interest from the Eagles is true, Arsenal should smile to the bank and let Nketiah fly.

[b]3. English football youngster, Reece James’, emergence means that Wan Bissaka will never get his England chance
[/b]Ayoola’s View:

England went to the Euros with three right-backs. Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, and Reece James. They were willing to take a fourth before the injury to Trent Alexander Arnold. That’s four options at right-back and not once was Wan Bissaka considered. Not even as a replacement for Trent.

It’s somewhat unfortunate for the Manchester United man, but it appears as though Southgate prefers fullbacks who can make a significant impact on the offensive side of the game which is the particular weak point of Aaron Wan Bissaka’s game.

With Chelsea’s starlet James the latest in a line of offensive right-backs coming out of England, and a supremely talented one at that, it’s hard to see a place for Wan Bissaka in England’s immediate future.

Rilwan’s View:

Aaron Wan Bissaka’s best chance to make the Three Lions was last season. I think he had a stellar season at one of England’s biggest teams and it’s not common to see a Manchester United regular snubbed in the mix of things.

That he missed out on the squad to the Euros shows how packed that part of the team is and Reece James is one of those special players stopping Wan Bissaka. He may have to wait a little longer to get his chance, but it doesn’t appear like Gareth Southgate finds him an interesting choice to make.

If he craves international football very badly, I think DR Congo will accept him with thanks.

So, do you agree with Ayo and Rilwan? Share your thoughts below

SOURCE

cc: Lalasticlala

paulolee:

nobody is scared of him...bruno just dey cap wetin dm no send am

Lol. Baba dey excited

Bossman25:
Sorry Bro. But you don't know how to analyse.
Barca will win it fair and square. Not even a contest.
Athletico will lose games against Barca, Bilbao, sevilla, Real Betis,
If you need to win the league you must beat
1. Barcelona
2. Bilbao
3. Sevilla
4. Villarreal
5. Real Betis

It's like levante will beat this athletico team self.

Lmao. Okay. I'll tag you to my post detailing why Athletico will win.

chiiraq802:
As long as Barca will equally not win it. I'm okay with it.
#HalaMadrid.

Lol. From the look of things, Athletico will most likely defend the LaLiga

In the 85th minute against Levante, Vinicius Junior jinxed past Pablo Martinez and flicked a delicate chip beyond Aitor Fernandez. There were wild screams of celebration from the Madrid players as you would expect from any 85th winner. Except, this wasn’t a winner, it was an equalizer and it summed up all the things that will stop Real Madrid from winning the La Liga.

Real Madrid have won two La Liga titles in the last 9 seasons. A shocking record for a club of their standing. On both occasions, they have played to very obvious strengths while reasonably shielding their obvious weaknesses. Heading into the 21/22 season they may not be able to do either.

In the historic double season of 2016/2017 under Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid scored an insane 93 points and even though they conceded 41 goals (more than Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal), also scored a jaw-dropping 106 goals with four players (Cristiano Ronaldo – 25, Alvaro Morata – 15, Karim Benzema – 11, and Isco – 10) reaching double digits for goals in La Liga alone.

Their mission that season was clear. Outscore the opponents no matter how many they get past you in the process. They managed only 10 cleansheets that season. Fewer than Leganes (who finished 17th), Alaves, and Espanyol. At the other end of the pitch, they compensated for this by scoring in every single La Liga game that season. They were so potent in front of goal that they scored three or more goals on 20 occasions. Their forwards were their biggest strength and they maximized their output to win the league.

Of the four players that scored in double digits, only Benzema and Isco are left. While Benzema has become more of a goal threat, Isco has almost disappeared from the Madrid scene after failed attempts to leave the club, is a peripheral character who has contributed only 11 goals in 108 appearances after 10 in 30 in the 16/17 season.

They have struggled for goals since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and despite Benzema hitting 21, 21, and 23 goals in the post-Cristiano era, only Sergio Ramos has joined him on double digits for goals in a single La Liga season in a chronic lack of a supporting cast in Real Madrid’s front line despite signing Luka Jovic, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Mariano Diaz, Brahim Diaz, and Eden Hazard.

Despite the obvious lack of attacking talent and the goals drying up (from an average of 100+ to 63, 70, and 67 in the seasons after), Real Madrid still won La Liga in the 19/20 season. Again under Zidane, but with a completely different philosophy.

They relied on defending so well, that their lack of consistent goal scorers did not matter at all. They kept 19 cleansheets as the duo of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane marshaled Madrid to the fewest goals conceded in La Liga. They stifled out opponents especially in the title run-in where they kept six cleansheets in the last ten games of the season. Winning nine of the 10 as they edged Barcelona to the title.

During the 21/22 Transfer window, Madrid were happy to sacrifice both Ramos (and his enormous wages) and Varane (for who they got €40m from Manchester United) on the altar of their enormous bid for Kylian Mbappe because at least if they did not have the secret power of elite defending like in 19/20, they would be able to rely on a potent attacking threat that could potentially get them back to 16/17 levels of goal scoring.

It was a brilliant plan that somehow failed to account for a club having the financial might to say no to Real Madrid and €200m and it was a plan that ultimately failed because a club did in fact have the financial might to say no to Real Madrid and €200m.

In addition to the aesthetic and commercial pull of Mbappe, Real also failed to land their plan A for a playing philosophy even though they had already sacrificed their plan B.

They currently sit top of La Liga on goal difference but looking at the game against Levante, it’s tough to see them staying there for long. How many times will Vinicius score a brace to save them from defeat in the entire season when he hasn’t crossed the five-goal mark in the league in his previous three seasons at the club? How often will they be able to concede three goals and still come out with some of the spoils? Enough times to stitch together a La Liga win? Unlikely.

SOURCE

Cc: Lalasticlala Mynd44

Success is relative in football, it’s usually measured against the size of a club and it’s past achievements, for a team like Crystal Palace now led by Patrick Vieira, a mid-table finish and something like a quarter-final finish in the FA cup would be considered a success, with the players in the team at the moment.

Crystal Palace announcing Patrick Vieira as their new head coach definitely came as a shock to a lot of premier league fans, although he had an impeccable record as a premier league player winning all the trophies available in England, he has not been able to transfer that excellence to his new career as a manager, the French man has taken over from Roy Hudson who was one of the most experienced managers in the premier league and gave Palace an unspectacular but steady few years in the Premier League.

The former Gunners captain was the last to lift the premier league title for the North London club and was a serial winner with both Arsenal and the French national side. He has since left operations at the heart of midfield for the touchline and is now charged with leading Crystal Palace for the 2021/2022 season.

He started his managerial career at Manchester City with the developmental and u19 teams managing the likes of Angelino, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Brahim Diaz. He managed the Cityzen youth for three seasons, before moving up to the MLS to manage New York City FC another subsidiary of the City football group. He led them to consecutively higher positions in the MLS, finishing 4th in his first season and 2nd in his final season before the move to Europe.

The French manager arrived in France to manage OGC Nice and much was expected from him because he was inheriting a squad known for their attacking prowess and while he started well, his 30-month spell at the club would be remembered for a capitulation in his second season that saw Nice lose five games consecutively including to bottom of the table Dijon. During his time with Nice, he had to deal with the exits of key players like Jean-Michel Seri, Alassane Plea, and Malang Sarr and also had to manage the puzzle that is Mario Balotelli but when they lost to 2-3 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League securing a group stage exit, there were no excuses and Vieira got the ax.

Now the pressure is on Patrick Vieira to be successful in the premier league as a manager or as successful as a Crystal Palace manager can be at least. Last season the Eagles finished in 14th position avoiding the drop zone for the most part of the season. This season the London club faces a totally different test with most of their senior players being out of contract. Vieira is faced with the challenge of succeeding at Palace and getting his managerial career back on track.

Patrick Vieira finished 11th for Nice in Ligue 1 and that was considered a poor season considering the caliber of players he had to work with and things will not be any easier in the premier league with all the teams trying to strengthen their squads before the end of the transfer window while Palace have lost a number of first-team players from the 20/21 season.

Crystal Palace had a relatively quiet purchasing window and although there were rumors of PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa joining the club before the window closes, it is unlikely Palace will be able to complete the deal. They were however able to bring in talented youngsters like Michael Olise from Reading, Marc Guehi, and Conor Gallagher (on loan) from Chelsea and the more experienced heads of Will Hughes from Watford and Joachim Anderson (who was impressive last season on loan to Fulham) from Lyon.

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