Galatasary a force in Europe and Turkey again?

Galatasary is a team that has faded in recent years. A poor season seen them just qualify for the Europa League and not win any silverware. Their manager resigned and they needed a new manager and new signings to rejuvenate the team once more. Then came Frank Rijkaard.

He announced he wanted to play a 4-3-3 formation like his did in Spain with Barcelona. He wanted Gala to play attacking football once more. He signed Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Leo Frano on a free transfer as his contract at the club expired. Then, he signed Kader Keita off Lyon. Keita is a versatile winger which, can play on the left or the right wing. He can also play up front aswell and is the attacking minded player Rijkaard wanted. Today he signed Elano from Manchester City. The Brazillian International cost him 8 million pounds. He is an attacking midfielder that usually play on the right of the midfield and is specialized in free kicks and penalties.

With talent in the form of Arda Turan and Harry Kewell it will be hard for Rijkaard to build a team. I can see him buying better defenders soon as his midfield seems complete. Maybe one more forward aswell.

Franco

Balta Zan Cetin Ucar

Turan Kewell Elano

Keita Baros Nonda

Maybe Ozcan will replace Nonda as he played well on loan for Gaziantepspor last season. Netting 17 goals in 31 games.

With this team they may progress in Europe too. What do you guys think?

Buying youth talent?

Recently AC Milan President and Italian Prime Minister, Berlusconi announced that Milan wouldn't buy the final product of a player due to it costing alot of money and would instead buy youth talent. The new AC Milan manager Leonardo disagreed with this view and said Milan needed to buy experience or they wouldn't achieve their goals.

FC Porto has proven youth talent can come with great rewards. However, Serie A is a much stronger league then the Portuguese Premier League and Inter, Juve, Roma, Genoa and Fiorentina will rip apart a team made out of young promising stars. Arsenal of the English Premier League decided to invest in youth instead of experience and they have not won a trophy in four years. Instead they develop youth talent and see it taken away from them. For example, Hleb to Barcelona, Adebayor to Manchester City and Flamini to AC Milan. When Arsenal chose experience over youth they had a formidable team that went fifty games unbeaten over the 2003/2004 season. However, they did have youth.

So, a perfect balance of youth and experience is needed. This season many teams have decided to nip abroad to Argentina, Brazil and Eastern Europe to purchase players due to the prices of Western Europe being damaged due to Manchester City and Real Madrid's crazy spending sprees.

Bourussia Dortmund have bought Lucas Barrios off Colo Colo of Chile for 4 million euros. He scored 37 goals in 38 games last season. And if he could reproduce this form he could make Dortmund go one better then their last season's seventh and go sixth and qualify for Europe. He is replacing Dortmund's regular goalscorer, Frei who left for his first club FC Basel. Dortmund want him to recreate his form he had for Col Colo in Germany so, they can qualify for Europe and maybe challenge for the Bundesliga.

Villarreal bought Nilmar off Internacial of Brazil for 11 million euors. Nilmar had a stint in Europe already for Lyon. He scored a hatrick on his debut but, couldn't score any more for the rest of his time there. So, they sold him to Internacional. Due to his form there he got called into the Brazil squad and was also, in the Confedarations Cup Squad.

Barcelona have already located Thierry Henry's replacement. The 20 year old Brazillian from Palmerias, Keirrison for 14 million euros. They have loaned him out on a one year deal to Benfica where he can gain experience.

Napoli have acquired Erwin Hoffer from SK Rapid Wien for 5.5 million euros. He scored 27 goals in 34 games last season for SK Rapid Wien. He will have to compete with Quagrellia, Lavezzi (who may be on the way out), Pia, Denis and Zalayeta for a starting place. He should beat Pia, Denis and Zalayeta easily but, trying to beat Lavezzi and Quagrellia will be hard.

Palermo pulled off the coup of the summer transfer window though. They bought Pastore off Huracan. Pastore nearly guided Hurucan to the Argentinean championship. A dramatic last day loss saw Velez win the title. Palermo have high hopes for Pastore and the President and coach Walter Zenga believe they can qualify for the Champions League and challenge for the Scudetto.

Real Madrid have called back Negredo and Granero. These two remind me of Raul and Guti. I can see them becoming the new symbols that represent Real Madrid. Negredo scored 18 goals last season for Almeria and 13 goals the season before that for Almeria.

Hamburger SV have bought Marcus Berg after he shown what he is capable of at the Under 21 European Championship. He scored 7 goals and became the all time top scorer for Under 12 European Championship history. He also, had a prolific record at FC Gronigen. Hamburger also, recruited the Eredivise best youth player Elia off FC Twente.

Staying with Twente Marko Arnauotivic looks set to leave for Inter Milan.

In the past players have been bought young. Like Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid to Liverpool for 20 million pounds. Yes it was alot but, now his value has doubled and probably tripled with the current transfer market. Also, Juventus bought Ibrahimovic off Ajax for pennies compared to what Barceona bought him for.

I will be keeping an eye out for Nilmar and Barrios. Mainly Nilmar. Which youth talent are you interested in who has been signed?

How to make the perfect Real Madrid team?

So many talented players. With Hunterlaar, Van Der Vaart and Heinze all shown the exit door by Pelligrini what will be his starting XI. My thoughts are :

Casillias

Marcelo Pepe Raul Abilol Sergio Ramos

Robben Sneidjer Kaka Ronaldo

Benzema Higuain

or

Casillias

Marcelo Pepe Raul Abilol Sergio Ramos

Gago Lass Diarra

Robben Kaka Ronaldo

Benzema

They have bought back Negredo and Granero though. Granero has taken Van Der Vaart's shirt number and Nergredo has been a prolific striker for Almeria in the past two seasons. Will they loan Negredo back out. Most likely. Seeing as Raul, Higuain and Benzema are all ahead of him starting as a striker in the first team. And will Granero be loaned back out? He has to compete with Gago, Lass Diarra, Sneidjer, Diarra, Robben, Kaka and Ronaldo. Garay whohas come back on loan for Racing Santander will be there in the mix too. So, if Pepe or Raul Abilol go off form he can jump into the team. Real seem to be on the basis of singing Liverpool right back Arbeloa. So, he will compete with Ramos for the right back position. However, he can play left back too. There is also, Miguel Torres but, I doubt he will be a threat to any defensive position and should be sold soon.

My favourite XI would have to be tho :

Casillias

Marcelo Pepe Ramos

Robben Sneidjer Kaka Ronaldo

Negredo Benzema Higuain

Everybody at Real Madrid especially, the fans stress the importance of Real winning but, winning beautifully. This team would in my opinion. Real's weak point last season was their defence so, I can foresee many disagreeing with this team and formation already. However, if you keep the ball and continuously attack you will not have to al;ways defend like Real did alot of last season. Sneidjer, Kaka and Robben all know how to keep the ball. Marcelo and Ramos can run down the wings aswell. Negredo is a tall, goal poacher and Benzema and Higuain are natural goalscorers too.

What would your starting XI be for Real Madrid? All I know if Pelligrini doesn't win the LaLiga or Champion's League this season he will be sacked.

Barcelona : Crazy or Genius?

So, let me get this right. Eto'o plus 43.5 million euros and Hleb on a season long loan for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. keeping in mind he will be out for three weeks with a broken left hand. So, he 'll be back in late August. Its a huge risk for Barcelona for a player that has dazzled against weaker teams but, when it comes to the big stage crumbles and does not look world class. Compared to Eto'o who does the complete opposite. The fee is basically saying Ibrahimovic is as just as good as Cristiano Ronaldo which, I have to disagree with. Some may think so, but in my opinion he is nowhere near. Ibrahimovic scored 29 goals in all competitions last season. 25 in Serie A. Eto'o scored over 30 for Barcelona last season. Eto'o is one year older aswell.

Inter manager, Jose Mourinhio has said that he feels Eto'o is not one euro less then Ibrahimovic. It is obviously good business for Inter. And with over 40 million euros to spend. They can buy another one or two world class players to strengthen their team and make them hunt for a fourth consecutive Serie A title. Hleb will help Inter aswell. after Quaresma and Mancini failed on the wing where he may not. Plus, it may get his career back on track after, a disappointing season at Barcelona. Inter has been linked with Cassano but, I cannot see them buying him. With Eto'o and Milito up front. They have two strikers which, can score 30 goals each a season. Their team next season should be :

Julio Ceaser

Santon Chivu Lucio Maicon

Motta Cambiasso

Hleb Stankovic

Milito Eto'o

Subs : Zanetti, Muntair, Wuaresma etc

Some may disagree with leaving out Zanetti and Cordoba but, space is limited.

If Ibrahimovic doesn't score at least 20 for Barcelona next season they shall be in trouble. Real Madrid have recruited the likes of Kaka and Ronaldo to the Bernabeu and those players can change games around in a heart beat.

What is your opinion on the deal?

Rejuvenating Juventus

With Inter Milan running away with the Scudetto for three whole seasons. Juventus and AC Milan has been left in the dust. At the end of the season they sacked Claudio Ranieri and bought in Ciro Ferrira. This season Juventus fans wanted to see new signings. Nedved retiring from football opened the way for a playmaker to replace him in the team. Juve has been strongly linked with Werder Bremen playmaker Diego for the past two years and they finally agreed a deal to bring him to Juve costing them 24.5 million euros. They then strengthened their midfield further by buying another Brazilian. This time it was Felipe Melo off Serie A rivals Fiorentina for 20.5 million euros plus Marco Machionni going to Fiorentina. Bringing back Fabio Cannavaro off Real Madrid would bolster thier defence. Juve has been linked in brining Barcelona defender Martin Cacereso a season long loan from Barcelona. And has been linked to Lavezzi and Pandev. Two strikers which, would help them score more. With Ibrahimovic leaving Inter this week for Barcelona; a player many believe is the only reason Inter has won the Scudetto for three seasons in a row and AC Milan failing to buy anybody significant this season. Juventus will feel that the Scudetto is theirs for the taking this season. Their team will probably look like this :

Buffon

Molinaro Chilleni Cannavaro Grygera

Tiago Diego Felipe Melo Camronsei

Del Piero Amauri

Subs : Iaqunita, Marchision, Giovinco etc

Here is Diego at Werder:

If Diego plays well and as good as he played for Werder, Juve will have a genuine title shot. Him and Felipe Melo can control the midfield and Juve's possession. Plus, if he players well for Juve he will get back into the Brazil National team. With an aging Milan team and an Ibrahimovic-less Inter can Juve win the Scudetto?

Buy, Sell Profit = Win?

I am not a fan or supporter of FC Porto of Portugal however, I am an admirer of their transfer policy, the way they play and how the team has developed in Europe these past few years.

Furthermore, I was interested in their Summer departures and players incoming into their team. With losing their captain Lucho Oscar Gonzalez to Ligue 1 side Marseille for 18 million euros. This fee could rise to 24 million euros depending on Gonzalez's performances. This shows good business for FC Porto. They bought Gonzalez in 2005 for 4.6 million euros however, they only bought half of his rights. When he became captain on November, 2006 they bought the rest of his rights for 6.65 million euros. That is a potential 14 million euros profit. Two more Porto players left for Ligue 1. These were Lisandro Lopez; Porto's main goalscorer for the last few seasons and left back Aly Cissohko. Lyon bought Lopez for 24 million euors and that could rise to 28 million euros depending on his performance. Lopez was bought in to replace Karim Benzema who moved to Real Madrid. Porto gained a huge potential profit of 26.5 million euros as they bought Lopez for 2.5 million euros off Argentinean club, Racing Club.Cissohko moved to Lyon for 15 million euros. He was on the verge of moving to Milan for the same price but Milan pulled out of the deal due to bad dental problems which, could affect his spine in later years. Milan wanted him at a lower price but, Porto did not want to budge on him. Porto only bought him for 300,000 thousand euros so, this is a profit of 14.7 million. Altogether that is a profit 55.2 million euro profit.

You would expect Porto to replace these big names with big names. Wrong. They replace them with young talent. Usually coming from South America. To replace Lopez they bought Radamel Falcao off River Plate. To replace Gonzlez they bought Fernando Belluschi off Olympiacos for 5 million euros. Furthermore, they beat arch rivals Benfica to the singing of left back Alvaro Pereira to replace Aly Cissohko. New signing include Beto off Lexioes to compete with the inconsistent Helton, Orlando Sa off Braga, Valeri off Argentinean club Lanus and Sebastian Prediguer off Colon to fight Fernando for the defensive midfield starting place. The new team will look like this :

Beto

Pereira Rolando Bruno Alves Fucile

Fernando

Belluschi Meireles Rodriguez

Hulk Falcao

Subs : Helton, Valeri, Farias etc

Hulk's strength and Falcao's technical ability will be interesting and exciting to watch.

Falcao.

They go into the Champion's League group stage. How far do you think they will go in the Champion's League? I can see them winning their league again. Benfica may have acquired some good signings such, as Javier Saviola but, have acquired some bad ones such, as Weldon and Javi Garcia.