Author: Joe Soriano

Even Guti is banging the drum for Real Madrid’s easiest defensive upgrade
10Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Even Guti is banging the drum for Real Madrid’s easiest defensive upgrade

Real Madrid pitched a shutout on Saturday morning in La Liga, blanketing an Osasuna attack that once put up four on league leaders Barcelona this season to bounce back from 4-0 and 3-1 defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan, respectively. But Osasuna isn't the greatest barometer for Real's ability to stop the attacks that could actually ruin their title chances in La Liga and the Champions League, and, if anything, things are about to get worse for Real Madrid. For the second straight season, Eder Militao has gone down with a torn ACL, taking, by far, Real's best defender out of the equation. And Real were still without a key center back in David Alaba, still recovering from his own season-ending injury from last December. That leaves Antonio Rudiger as the lone senior center back in t...
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Barcelona are ready to play spoilers to Real Madrid for a target Los Blancos need much more
9Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona are ready to play spoilers to Real Madrid for a target Los Blancos need much more

Barcelona have been getting the better of Real Madrid lately, with the most glaring example being another 4-0 El Clasico drubbing in which Los Blancos looked completely out of sorts in the second half. With the way Barcelona are playing right now in all competitions, the Blaugrana are clear favorites in La Liga, and after Eder Militao's season-ending injury, the Merengue back line looks like a disaster. Real Madrid will have to regroup in the winter window and finally bring in some established center back talents in order to avoid this La Liga title race becoming a lopsided one in Barca's favor. New manager Hansi Flick has the Blaugrana rolling, but judging by the latest ambitious transfer rumors, Flick and Co. aren't going to sit idly by and let Real Madrid get back on top. Ac...
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Manchester United are battling to sign the world’s two best up-and-coming strikers
9Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Manchester United are battling to sign the world’s two best up-and-coming strikers

Manchester United have signed a talented young striker from Serie A in each of the past two summer transfer windows, first inking the high-upside Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta and then nabbing well-rounded Bologna breakout star Joshua Zirkzee after the Rossoblu's shock Champions League qualification. Hojlund has flashed his world-class potential in Manchester United colors, showing the athleticism and dribbling ability that made him a menace under Gian Piero Gasperini before quickly bolting for the bright lights of the Premier League. It's still too early for Zirkzee, but the former Bayern Munich prospect is already making some Manchester United supporters have buyer's remorse, with the Dutchman predictably struggling in Erik ten Hag's lethargic attack without players to combine with ...
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Barcelona are dropping one of their dream transfer targets now
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona are dropping one of their dream transfer targets now

Barcelona president Joan Laporta had one aim when he took his old job back, and that was to get the Blaugrana back on top in European football after their standard had slipped to an embarrassing and entirely unacceptable level. Now in 2024/25, Barcelona look almost recognizable to the club that was first kept afloat by Lionel Messi and then later mired in losses during the 2021/22 season after he had left for Paris. Barcelona are fresh off demolitions of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid - two European powers who consistently had their number over the past five years - and they are by far the favorites to win the Spanish league. Hansi Flick has turned Barcelona back to its status as appointment television, as with the elite attacking trident of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, brea...
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Liverpool get some sneaky good news on their best attacking transfer target
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Liverpool get some sneaky good news on their best attacking transfer target

Liverpool have the best player in the Premier League and one of the best forwards in world football in Mohamed Salah, and left winger Luis Diaz has quickly rejoined him as a world-class attacker after the appointment of Arne Slot. With Cody Gakpo adding legitimately world-class play up front, too, Liverpool have three wide forwards who can score goals, create chances, and win entire games on their own when they are at their best. But Liverpool are still uncertain about the man in the middle. They have two quality options in Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, and if you combined their strengths, you'd end up with the best striker on the planet. Alone, Nunez and Jota have flaws. Jota is a great finisher who lacks in one-on-ones, while Nunez is a maven at creating chances for himself but c...
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There’s no excuse for Arsenal to pass on Viktor Gyokeres now
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

There’s no excuse for Arsenal to pass on Viktor Gyokeres now

Everyone knew Arsenal needed to sign a new striker last summer in order to finally get over the championship hump in the Premier League, but apparently the Gunners themselves were the only ones who didn't get the memo. And now without a reliable goal-scorer through the middle to support Bukayo Saka's Premier League Player of the Season-caliber efforts, Arsenal have slipped even further in the title race despite a season-ending injury to Manchester City's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. Instead, Liverpool have stepped up to fill the void, while Arsenal watch as Kai Havertz regresses to the mean after a fool's gold hot streak of goals. Erling Haaland's record-breaking scoring exploits have long been the difference between Man City and Arsenal in the title race, and yet Arsenal remained compl...
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John Obi Mikel’s uniquely brilliant reason for why Chelsea need another striker
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

John Obi Mikel’s uniquely brilliant reason for why Chelsea need another striker

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has fared better in his second season at the club, going from a lost soul in his first Premier League season to a man who is legitimately one of the better No. 9's in the Premiership. Jackson, thus far, has scored 6 goals with 3 assists in 10 Premier League appearances, putting him on pace for well over 30 total goal contributions over the course of the 2024/25 season. Since Christopher Nkunku profiles better as a second striker or attacking midfielder, Jackson is the only true No. 9 at Stamford Bridge, and while he has been performing well for a resurgent Chelsea side who are definitely in the mix for Champions League football again, many supporters would still like to see Todd Boehly bring in another striker. As Viktor Gyokeres gains more momentum...
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Transfer Rumors: Liverpool, Manchester United fight for a Barcelona star they can’t have
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga, Premier League

Transfer Rumors: Liverpool, Manchester United fight for a Barcelona star they can’t have

Barcelona have been the big story in world football this season, blasting opponent after opponent with such ruthless efficiency in a manner that we have not seen for a long time. Hansi Flick has turned his squad into an unstoppable machine, recently tormenting European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to the tune of a combined 8-1 scoreline. Although much of the focus around Barcelona centers on the attacking triumvirate of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha that is undoubtedly the world's best, there are so many other gems worth praising. Flick has done an exceptional job of believing in his young players, and he has been richly rewarded in immediate solutions who will only improve over the course of the next decade. Young defensive midfielder Marc Casado...
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Tottenham finally showing elite ambition with interest in one of Europe’s best midfielders
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Tottenham finally showing elite ambition with interest in one of Europe’s best midfielders

Tottenham have unearthed two of the Premier League's best breakout midfielders of the season, with Dejan Kulusevski surprisingly thriving in an innovative role concocted by Ange Postecoglou as a ball-carrying midfielder. The former Juventus right winger has become an incredible No. 8, playing more as a Mezzala in the Premier League than he ever did in Italy while at three different historic clubs. Alongside him, Pape Sarr is emerging as a top young midfielder, having just bossed top-four rivals Aston Villa in a 4-1 drubbing of Unai Emery's men. Sarr was the best player on the pitch, making top stars Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans look almost amateurish in comparison. Tottenham, though, are still one top midfielder away from having a truly great trio in the Premier League, and ba...
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The infuriating reason why Arsenal didn’t sign Benjamin Sesko
8Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

The infuriating reason why Arsenal didn’t sign Benjamin Sesko

Arsenal knew going into the summer 2024 transfer window that their biggest need, by far, was at the No. 9 position. For years, Arsenal have struggled to find a consistent goal-scoring striker ever since the abrupt decline of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Gabriel Jesus has been a great all-around forward, and Kai Havertz offers similar benefits as a center forward. But neither can reliably put away their chances, and juxtaposed with Manchester City's record-breaking striker Erling Haaland, the difference becomes decisive in a tight Premier League title race Arsenal fans had faith that their club would address this most pressing need, but, instead, they waffled, with their only attacking signing being the addition of declining Premier League veteran Raheem Sterling. RB Leipzig star Ben...
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