Author: Joe Soriano

One of Real Madrid’s dream RB transfer targets is about to be off the table
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

One of Real Madrid’s dream RB transfer targets is about to be off the table

Real Madrid have been thinking hard about finally making a push for a top right back on the transfer market next summer, as Dani Carvajal's season-ending injury has truly exposed a problem that has been lingering for a few years now. Backup Lucas Vazquez, despite being a right winger by trade, was largely good enough as Carvajal's backup, but now he's being entrusted as the starter for an extended period. Barcelona tore Vazquez to shreds in El Clasico last week, and it isn't the first time the Galician wide man has been left badly exposed defensively on the right flank. Real Madrid dream of signing Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, a generational talent and the only right back who can rival Carvajal as the world's best right now. Alexander-Arnold is on an expiring contract...
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Once again, a former flop proves he’s now Chelsea’s second-biggest asset after Cole Palmer
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Once again, a former flop proves he’s now Chelsea’s second-biggest asset after Cole Palmer

Chelsea didn't have their best stuff at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, but they were able to grind out a point with a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the first match of the post-Erik ten Hag era. The Blues suffered and surrendered a goal in the 70th minute of the match to Bruno Fernandes after Rasmus Hojlund won the spot kick, but they had a hero there to equalize less than five minutes later. So often, that hero is attacker Cole Palmer, who broke out in his first season at Stamford Bridge to become one the best players in the Premier League and the first footballer since Eden Hazard to be viewed as a future Ballon d'Or candidate. Except on this day, it wasn't Palmer who stood out as the goal-scoring hero and the star of the game for Chelsea, but rather that honor goes to...
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Manchester United’s secret best player of the season stars again
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Manchester United’s secret best player of the season stars again

Manchester United vs. Chelsea was tabbed as the biggest game to watch in European football this weekend, but it ended up being a putrid game of football for the neutral fan. In the end, as pundit and Man United legend Paul Scholes quipped, it ended up being a deserved 1-1 draw for two high-priced sides whose quality on the pitch pales in comparison to the finances it took to assemble both squads. Manchester United can be pleased to get a point off a team contending for the Champions League, as they are shifting gears to welcoming a new manager on Nov. 11 with Ruben Amorim set to take over after a disastrous start to the season orchestrated by now former manager Erik ten Hag. Despite the dismal performances from Man United, who sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table, th...
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The Tottenham star who keeps proving us all wrong
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

The Tottenham star who keeps proving us all wrong

Tottenham made a statement to the entire Premier League on Sunday afternoon that they are coming for a top-four spot, as Ange Postecoglou's men made one of the most impressive sides of the 2024/25 Champions League look like a youth team. Spurs dominated Aston Villa 4-1, and the difference in class among both entire starting lineups in this one was staggering, even as Villa were tabbed as favorites coming into the match. No player made a bigger difference for Tottenham than Dominic Solanke, as the experienced Premier League striker scored twice to help Spurs pull away from Unai Emery's men. It was another hard-working and well-rounded performance from Solanke, who was signed by Tottenham this past summer precisely because he is willing to work for the team defensively through press...
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Barcelona Player Ratings from 3-1 win over Espanyol as Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal shine
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Barcelona Player Ratings from 3-1 win over Espanyol as Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal shine

Barcelona took care of business on Sunday afternoon at the Camp Nou, disposing of derby rivals Espanyol 3-1 in a match that was far more exciting in the first half than in the second. Here are the player ratings as the best team in La Liga extended their lead over Real Madrid at the top with another hard-fought win over their local rivals. GK Inaki Pena, 6.5: An assured performance in goal. Didn't have much to do in this one but was good when sweeping to protect the high line and made a couple of nifty saves. He could do nothing about Espanyol's goal. LB Alejandro Balde, 5.0: Credit for the "assist" with an easy, tapped pass to Dani Olmo in the middle of the pitch. Otherwise a nondescript game for the starting left back, who hasn't looked like the player he was in the 2022/23 seas...
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The obvious reason why Real Madrid are the favorites to sign Florian Wirtz
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

The obvious reason why Real Madrid are the favorites to sign Florian Wirtz

Real Madrid already have three fine players capable of starring in the No. 10 role in Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Brahim Diaz. All showed their qualities last season, with Jude posting the best season of any player in La Liga with 19 goals from the midfield. Yet that hasn't stopped Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz from being linked frequently to Real Madrid, as the Merengue club continue to show a commitment for going after the world's very best players under the leadership of Florentino Perez. There is quietly concern that with so many mouths to feed in the attack and an unbalanced squad defensively, Perez's vision for the Galacticos 2.0 is doomed to fail just as badly as it did the first time around. Nevertheless, Real Madrid are players in the Wirtz sweepstakes, jo...
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Let’s give credit to Tottenham’s unsung hero in 4-1 blowout win over Aston Villa
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

Let’s give credit to Tottenham’s unsung hero in 4-1 blowout win over Aston Villa

Tottenham were the story of the weekend in the Premier League, blowing out Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday in a matchup between two sides competing for the same goal, a top-four place in the league. After missing out on the Conference League and Champions League to Villa in the last two seasons, Spurs' three-goal margin victory over Unai Emery's side felt that much sweeter. Son Heung-min nabbed another assist to his name, James Maddison scored off the bench to quiet a few doubters, and striker Dominic Solanke shined brightly again with a brace. But there is one underrated player on Tottenham who deserves a little love from the mainstream for his industrious efforts in a vital midfield performance to send Spurs to victory. Pape Sarr is a crucial player for Tottenham as maybe the only ...
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Transfer Rumors: Vinicius Jr. open to Saudi’s outrageous plan to sign him from Real Madrid
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
LaLiga

Transfer Rumors: Vinicius Jr. open to Saudi’s outrageous plan to sign him from Real Madrid

Real Madrid left winger Vinicius Junior is the news after a bizarre Ballon d'Or snub in which a player who didn't even win the Player of the Season in his league (his teammate did) and lost the Champions League in direct competition to Vini Jr. won the once-prestigious award despite having numbers similar to Declan Rice. Rodri's Ballon d'Or victory has been met with scorn but also defenses of the decision that largely focus on debasing Vini Jr.'s character - even though he literally won the Socrates Award in 2023 for his humanitarian efforts to help those in need financially and combat racism - rather than praising Rodri in any material way. Regardless of the lunacy perpetuated by the likes of Rebecca Lowe and others, Vinicius Jr. has also been embroiled in another story that is even...
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West Ham closer to canning Julen Lopetegui and have a risky replacement in mind
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

West Ham closer to canning Julen Lopetegui and have a risky replacement in mind

David Moyes achieved a great deal at West Ham and, at times, had the Hammers playing beautiful football, so it wasn't necessarily a universally popular move when the club decided to move on from the Premier League veteran at the end of the 2023/24 season. West Ham, in truth, were horrible in the second half of the campaign, so you can understand why many fans grew impatient with the combination of poor results and putrid play on the pitch. Unfortunately for West Ham, they are probably regretting the decision, and even if firing Moyes at the time was the right choice, it's clear that they replaced him with the wrong guy. Julen Lopetegui has taken West Ham several steps back so far in 2024/25, and the Hammers have become completely unwatchable despite having a talented squad after a...
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It sounds like Arsenal will give the wrong guy a big contract extension
3Nov By Joe SorianoNo Comments
Premier League

It sounds like Arsenal will give the wrong guy a big contract extension

Arsenal have serious questions to answer about their candidacy as Premier League title contenders in 2024/25 after a listless defeat to Newcastle, and while they can legitimately point to key injuries as a reason for their recent slide, the reality is that every club that wants to be a champion needs to overcome injuries. Defending champions Manchester City have suffered even worse injuries this season, including an ACL tear to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri that was supposed to give Arsenal a key leg up in the title race. Instead, they are falling behind Liverpool, who took advantage of slips from Arsenal and Manchester City this weekend with a comeback victory over Brighton, 2-1. Although Arsenal should be reeling from their defeat to Newcastle, manager Mikel Arteta was busy praising ...
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