Tagged: Bleacher Report

Is Jorge Sampaoli the Man to Replace Luis Enrique at Barcelona? | Bleacher Report

Is Jorge Sampaoli the Man to Replace Luis Enrique at Barcelona? | Bleacher Report

It’s probably a bit too early to be thinking about this but it’s definitely intriguing. You could see Enrique moving on or taking a break after this season and if he does there aren’t many options that come to mind right away.  Possibly Unai Emery or Paco Jemez. If Sampaoli continues to get Sevilla to perform as they have so far he wouldn’t be an easy target at all though.

 

Euro 2016: the complete guide to every squad and every player in France | Football | The Guardian

Euro 2016: the complete guide to every squad and every player in France | Football | The Guardian

Huge Euro 2016 preview here. Some really good articles. Looking forward to a good tournament. Copa America has been decent so far.

Might be the last post for a while.

Euro 2016 players more important for country than club

Alessandro Florenzi’s Versatility Could Be Vital to Italy’s Euro 2016 Campaign

Euro 2016 offers plenty for Hazard, Gotze, Ibrahimovic, Rooney to prove

Plucky Albania aren’t a side to be underestimated at Euro 2016

Leroy Sane, Dele Alli, Kingsley Coman and Joao Mario the Euro ones to watch

France to win Euro 2016, Belgium among flops, Griezmann top scorer

France’s Euro security measures complicated by flooding, transit strikes

Is Marcus Rashford England’s Brightest Young Prospect Since Wayne Rooney? | Bleacher Report

Is Marcus Rashford England’s Brightest Young Prospect Since Wayne Rooney? | Bleacher Report

I feel like all the Marcus Rashford loving is making me like Rashford even less. We all know he’s impressed since bursting unto the scene. Will all this extra attention help? I get everyone says he has the composure, and that does look true, but why not just let the boy play? Only time will tell if anything comes of it. I want to see a full season at United before anything else.

Copa America Centenario Top 25 Players as ranked by ESPN FC – ESPN FC

Copa America Centenario Top 25 Players as ranked by ESPN FC – ESPN FC

The Copa America Centenario starts tomorrow, June 3rd, and as we can see there’s plenty to talk about. We’ll do another similar big post before the Euros begin on June 10th even though there’s plenty of stuff already out there.

We’ll just touch on the articles below but they’re all worth a read. The fact that this is a centennial celebration tournament that occurs a year after the “real thing” does seem to take some glamour away from it but it’s still big.

I doubt Klinsmann will do much experimenting in this tournament, beyond trying the players he feel can make a difference if needed such as Nagbe and Pulisic. The US need a good performance in this tournament. It’s crazy to think that Rodriguez would need this tournament to alter what’s been a really bad season but that’s where he is. It’s also strange that this really could be Messi’s best shot at an international trophy. (I’m assuming Chile will still be the Confederations Cup representative regardless of who wins because they won the “real thing”.) We can hold out hope for 2018 but it’s tough to see Argentina repeating their 2014 feat in Russia. Brazil are trying to be low-key about things but this is big for Dunga. He may not be in the seat for the Olympics of Brazil fall flat. I wouldn’t mind that to be honest.

Looking forward to a great tournament.

What Can the US National Team Realistically Hope to Achieve at the Copa America?

Copa America Centenario Is Perfect Test for Jurgen Klinsmann’s Master Plan

Why 2016 Will Be the Year Lionel Messi Strikes Gold with Argentina

Can James Rodriguez Rejuvenate Himself and Inspire Colombia at the Copa America?

Dunga Must Find Perfect Balance to Restore Faith in Brazil Ahead of Copa America

Dunga and New-Look Brazil Side Ready for Centenary Copa America

What Denis Suarez Brings to Barcelona and Why They Should Keep Him, Not Sell on | Bleacher Report

What Denis Suarez Brings to Barcelona and Why They Should Keep Him, Not Sell on | Bleacher Report

Keeping him would definitely be the easiest and most sensible option but who knows what the decision-makers at Barcelona will do. Sucks for Villarreal though.

Fatih Terim Draws on History to Build Turkey’s Euro 2016 Master Plan | Bleacher Report

Fatih Terim Draws on History to Build Turkey’s Euro 2016 Master Plan | Bleacher Report

Nice read here. I liked that Turkey team from the 2002 World Cup and I think this side could do something similar. Good to see them back in a major tournament.

Why Selling Aubameyang at Any Price Would Stifle Borussia Dortmund in 2016/17 | Bleacher Report

Why Selling Aubameyang at Any Price Would Stifle Borussia Dortmund in 2016/17 | Bleacher Report

Seems pretty obvious. There aren’t many top-notch strikers around. Aubameyang has proved himself in the last two seasons. If Dortmund were to lose him, along with Hummels and whoever else they may lose, it would be an incredibly bad summer for them.

Every Euro 2016 Team’s Biggest Weakness or Worry Heading into the Finals | Bleacher Report

Every Euro 2016 Team’s Biggest Weakness or Worry Heading into the Finals | Bleacher Report

Good piece here on the Euro 2016 teams. Spot on with all the arguments presented. All the teams re being finalized today so we’ll see what happens. The article below gives  compelling argument for both Rashford and Sturridge to be included. Maybe that’s what will happen. I can understand the author’s argument that Spain still finding its way stylistically since the World Cup but that’s been the case for all of qualifying. I think they’ll be okay.

Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge each deserving of England spot

Spain Show Depth vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, but Euro 2016 Preparations Look Messy

Weekly Arsenal Chatter

The first Weekly chatter that looks more into the summer and onwards than the disappointing season that just ended. Well. Mostly. The amount of Granit Xhaka articles about shows just how happy fans are at a big signing. I feel like the rest of the summer we’ll see articles about this player and that but no other move will happen until Wenger signs a young striker and says he’ll solve our problems up front. We shall see.

Granit Xhaka a boost but Wenger must remain busy in transfer market

Do we think he will though?

Arsenal will miss Tomas Rosicky after a decade of loyal service to the club

I always liked Rosicky going back to his Borussia Dortmund days. Definitely wish he could have provided more on the pitch.

Why Arsenal Should Keep Hold of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain This Summer

You kept a hold of Theo Walcott for 10 years so you may as well do the same with the Ox.

6 changes Wenger has to make (if he stays at Arsenal)

First things first. He’s staying. There’s an infinite contract sitting somewhere on Stan Kroenke’s desk they just haven’t figured out how to tell the whole world yet. Of the changes, three have already been mentioned multiple times. Injuries, buying well in the transfer market and defining the team’s style. The other three are unlikely to happen or don’t really help the club in the hear and now. Arsenal can’t regain its edge with Wenger in charge because he’s lost the ability to motivate and the team isn’t full of strong personalities. Youth is still a big part of the club and I would be surprised if Jeff Renee-Adeilade plays some as well as those mentioned. Lastly, the British project is off track for a reason. The players haven’t fully convinced or have injury issues or both. It’s up to them to fix that.

Breaking Down What Granit Xhaka Will Bring to Arsenal

Useful bit of info for the uninitiated I guess.

Granit Xhaka will give Arsenal a selection headache in central midfield

Nope. None at all. I’d like Xhaka and Ramsey to start. Ramsey can get back to his preferred position and bring some much-needed goals from midfield especially if we stick with Giroud. Elneny and Coquelin backups with Cazorla there as well. Wilshere mainly backs up Ozil and then the wings might need a new player or two assuming two or more of Walcott, Ox, Joel Campbell, and possibly Gnabry, leave.

Granit Xhaka: a born leader who will finally bring some grit to Arsenal

Okay. Okay. We get it. He’s good.

Scouting Report on Arsenal Transfer Target Kalidou Koulibaly

Here”s our first get your hopes up target. Except because he’s not a big name not many fans will know about him.