Features News and Analysis

11Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features

2022/23 Ligue 1 Team of the Season

The 2022/23 Ligue 1 season is officially in the books with PSG holding on as champions, though Lens made it close in the end. And if you ask people in the know, such as Reims' manager Will Still, they'll tell you that Lens was actually the best team in the league. Certainly, they were the most impressive, consistent, and pleasurable to watch. So it's no surprise then that Lens and another exciting Ligue 1 side, Rennes, were the only ones with multiple representatives in this 2022/23 Ligue 1 Team of the Season. Reims were also an exciting team to watch, but many of their stars - such as Yehvann Diouf, Folarin Balogun, and Junya Ito - just missed out. Let's address the big surprise here first. PSG not having anyone involved. Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappé all had exceptio...

10 possible summer 2023 transfer targets for Atlético Madrid

9Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

10 possible summer 2023 transfer targets for Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid turned around their 2022/23 season after a rough start that led to some (unwisely) questioning the future of legendary manager Diego Simeone. In the end, led by clear LaLiga Player of the Season frontrunner Antoine Griezmann, Atléti played brilliant football on both ends of the pitch and nearly came in second over rivals Real Madrid. The goal for next season will be to push for the title and to go further in the Champions League. In order to do that, Atlético Madrid could look to sign one of these ten transfer targets in the summer 2023 window. Celta Vigo LB Javi Galán: One of the most underrated players in LaLiga, Javi Galán was the star of the Huesca team from the 2020/21 season, and he has been even better for Celta Vigo. Galán is one of the best all-action wide...

5 possible summer 2023 transfer targets for Everton

8Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features

5 possible summer 2023 transfer targets for Everton

Everton had to fight for their lives in the 2022/23 Premier League season, barely escaping relegation in what proved to be an unpredictable battle to the last Matchday. The Toffees are one of the league's most storied sides, so they are not used to watching their standards slip this badly over the last couple of seasons. Without star man Richarlison, whose first season with Tottenham did not exactly go swimmingly either, Everton were very much lacking in the necessary quality in the attacking third. But despite strong seasons from players like Amadou Onana in the midfield, it is clear that the Toffees have serious issues in their squad just about everywhere. So here are five possible transfer targets for Everton in the summer 2023 window, as they look to climb back up the Premier Lea...

8Jun

By Cody AcevedaNo Comments

Features

What Lionel Messi to Inter Miami means for MLS

After months of speculation, Lionel Messi will not be going to Saudi Arabia or returning to Barcelona. Instead, Lionel Messi will be joining Inter Miami. Inter Miami is owned by former Manchester United superstar David Beckham and local Miami billionaire Jorge Mas. The South Florida club is currently without a manager and sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Messi to Inter Miami obviously stands a big chance of changing Miami’s place in the standings, but his impact on the league as a whole will be much greater. Pelé and David Beckham are the only two stars whose arrival fundamentally changed soccer in North America. Pelé’s barnstorming Cosmos set attendance records throughout the country, many of which still haven’t been broken. Beckham joining the LA Galaxy ushered in a n...

Lessons Real Madrid need to learn from the 2022/23 season

5Jun

By Javier MartinezNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Lessons Real Madrid need to learn from the 2022/23 season

Rating Real Madrid's 2022/23 season a failure would be extremely harsh taking into consideration that the team reached the semifinals of the Champions League, won the Copa del Rey title with comebacks against Villarreal and Atlético de Madrid, and demolished Barcelona at the Camp Nou by a 0-4 scoreline. However, the season can't also be considered a success not because they didn't win the Champions League or La Liga, but because of the manner they lost both competitions.In the Champions League semifinal, they were thrashed 4-0 (5-1 on aggregate) by Manchester City where they were completely outplayed and could have lost by much more if not for Courtois coming up with big saves. Meanwhile, not only did they lose La Liga to Barcelona, but it almost seemed as if they gave up on it midseason a...

Ranking the 10 best midfielders available for transfer in summer 2023

5Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features

Ranking the 10 best midfielders available for transfer in summer 2023

With only the Conference League and Champions League finals set to be played, the 2022/23 season is winding down to a close and the focus is starting to turn to the 2022/23 transfer market. For the most part, strikers get most of the love on the transfer rumor mill, because goals are at a premium. However, midfielders are becoming increasingly coveted, as Real Madrid's recent big-money moves for Aurélien Tchouaméni and Jude Bellingham have shown us. So here are the best midfielders expected to be available on the summer 2023 transfer market. 10. Leon Goretzka, Bayern München: While Leon Goretzka did not have his best season in 2022/23, it wasn't long ago when he was one of the very best players in the Bundesliga, even before joining Bayern München. He helped carry Schalke to secon...

Final 2022/23 Serie A Team of the Season

5Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features

Final 2022/23 Serie A Team of the Season

Although Verona and Spezia still have one last match to decide who stays and who goes, the 2022/23 Serie A season officially concluded on Sunday with Roma sealing a Europa League spot over Juventus - thanks to the superstar they signed from the Bianconeri for free, Paulo Dybala. La Joya undoubtedly has a place in the final 2022/23 Serie A Team of the Season, which is unsurprisingly dominated by Napoli stars. But there may be some picks that surprise you in this all-star XI. GK Ivan Provedel, Lazio: Alex Meret also had a fantastic season in goal for the Partenopei. At the same time, the likes of Wladimiro Falcone were excellent for sides that survived a relegation threat. Yet Ivan Provedel has to be recognized as the best goalkeeper in Serie A. For years, he helped Spezia stay afloat,...

4Jun

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Final 2022/23 LaLiga Team of the Season

Now that the 2022/23 LaLiga season has officially come to a close with all the European places decided and the teams heading to the Segunda aware of their fate, it's time to take a look back at the season that was by naming a final Team of the Season. As expected, champions Barcelona dominate this XI, having sewn up the title quite some time ago with their 2-1 head-to-head win over eternal rivals Real Madrid. But not everything is about the "Big 3" as several underrated standouts made the team, including one star from now-relegated side Espanyol. GK Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona: Thibaut Courtois would have been the pick in any other season, and Elche's Édgar Badía was also exceptional despite his club's horrible season. But it would be disingenuous to pick against Marc-André t...

Barcelona vs. Wolfsburg player ratings for the 2023 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final

3Jun

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features

Barcelona vs. Wolfsburg player ratings for the 2023 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final

What an incredible game. Barcelona Femení and Wolfsburg Frauen were undoubtedly the two best teams of the 2022/23 UEFA Women's Champions League, and they unsurprisingly delivered an all-time classic in the Final. Despite going down 2-0 early to Wolfsburg, Barcelona quickly rallied the troops with a rapid-fire brace from Patri Guijarro to start the second half. They then found the third goal after a frenetic spell of play inside the penalty box. Here are the player ratings from Barcelona's 3-2 win over Wolfsburg, as they, once again, confirmed that they are the best - and the most entertaining - team on the entire planet. And I mean, the entire planet. Barcelona Player Ratings GK Sandra Paños, 6.0 - Could do absolutely nothing about Ewa Pajor's brilliant opener. The ball was struck ...

How José Luis Mendilibar turned Sevilla into Europa League champions

2Jun

By Javier MartinezNo Comments

Features

How José Luis Mendilibar turned Sevilla into Europa League champions

Sevilla's transformation under José Luis Mendilibar has been remarkable and is something that not even the biggest Sevilla supporter could have seen coming. Before José Luis Mendilibar came to Sevilla, the team were near the relegation zone and in serious jeopardy of being dropped. The Nervionenses began the campaign with Julen Lopetegui, who had previously qualified Sevilla for the last three Champions League editions. Despite his prior doings, a poor start and rumblings from both the supporters and members of the club's board would see him be sacked and replaced by Jorge Sampaoli; who had previously managed Sevilla in the 2016/2017 season. It was originally thought that the side could only improve under Sampaoli's guidance since the team had more than enough quality to be aspiring ...