The new season begins across Europe over the coming weeks with the continent's leading five leagues promising the usual glamour and excitement.
Here, we take a look at the season ahead in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Holland.
SPAIN
It takes a special coach to escape the sack at Real Madrid after failing to win either La Liga or the Champions League.
But in 'The Special One' Jose Mourinho, the Spanish giants saw enough to believe he can eventually topple Barcelona.
Despite Barca still winning the title at a canter, Madrid made more of a fist of challenging their bitter rivals than in previous seasons and a memorable four-match series late in the campaign was closely fought.
Madrid's strengthening has been low key with Jose Maria Callejon, Fabio Coentrao, Hamit Altintop and Nuri Sahin coming in.
Barca's marquee signing of Alexis Sanchez is an appetizing one but they have failed so far to bring in bodies to increase their strength in depth.
In the 'best of the rest' category, the usual suspects of Valencia, Villarreal and Sevilla are joined by ambitious Malaga following the Andalucian outfit's recruitment drive.
Joaquin, Jeremy Toulalan, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Sergio Sanchez are among the stellar names brought in so far and after being backed so heavily, Manuel Pellegrini will at least be expected to make a push for the top four.
At the bottom, Real Betis should have enough about them to stay up after promotion while Granada and Rayo Vallecano will surely struggle. Previous years have shown, however, that such minnows cannot be written off before a ball is kicked.
ITALY
Italian football remains in a transitional period - the old names are there but the quality is not.
The likes of champions AC Milan, rivals Inter Milan and fallen giants Juventus are left fighting for the scraps left by their English, Spanish and even Brazilian counterparts in the transfer market.
Milan have failed to really strengthen aside from bringing in centre-half Philippe Mexes on a free from Roma, but neither have they been seriously weakened, with Andrea Pirlo their only major loss, to Juventus.
Inter have also been relatively low key, but Juve are at least trying to make a fight of it.
The Turin side has brought in Pirlo, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Alessandro Matri and Arturo Vidal, while also securing Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe long-term.
But if Napoli holds on to the big names who helped them to third last season they can push the traditional big names even further this time around.
Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani are all Champions League quality but must reproduce last year's form on both fronts this year.
At the bottom, traditional yo-yo clubs Atalanta and Siena, fresh from promotion, must scrap it out with fellow newcomers Novara plus the likes of Cesena and Lecce.
GERMANY
The world's best-value league swings into action on August 5 as the Bundesliga season gets under way with champions Borussia Dortmund squaring off with Hamburg in something of a glamour tie.
Jurgen Klopp's men captured the imagination by claiming the trophy last season with a pleasing blend of creative expression and earnest efficiency.
The fact they duelled with Bayer Leverkusen for the crown rather than more traditional powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Stuttgart or Wolfsburg added to the enjoyment for German football fans.
They face a stiff task to retain their crown, particularly following the departure of Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin, but the squad remains largely intact and their rivals have not significantly strengthened.
Leverkusen have lost coach Jupp Heynckes as well as stellar utility man Arturo Vidal to Juventus, while fallen giants Bayern have not pulled up any trees in the transfer market.
In Heynckes, though, the Bavarians have a canny coach and will surely make a decent fist of a title push.
Hamburg is the dark horses after a busy summer of transfer activity under new sporting director Frank Arnesen.
FRANCE
Ligue 1 may not compare with the likes of England, Spain and Italy for quality, but it is rarely predictable these days.
After Lyon's decade of dominance the landscape has changed in France with Bordeaux, Marseille and Lille grabbing the initiative and enlivening Le Championnat by sharing the last three league titles.
Last season's feel-good story was undoubtedly Lille's sudden ascension to the top table, winning the title at a canter in the end.
Few expect Rudi Garcia's side to retain the crown, but equally nobody can say with any authority who will take it from them.
The champions have lost key men over the summer as the vultures circled to take key creator Yohan Cabaye, forward Gervinho and defender Adil Rami.
However, Dmitri Payet's arrival from St Etienne is shrewd business, Benoit Pedretti is an experienced campaigner and the retention of Rio Mavuba, Eden Hazard and last season's top marksman Moussa Sow could be crucial.
Marseille have been relatively low key with Alou Diarra their marquee signing, while Bordeaux, under Francis Gillot and without anchor Diarra, may struggle to crack the top three once more.
Lyon will be an unknown quantity under new boss Remi Garde having opted against making big-name signings, but all eyes will be on notorious under-achievers Paris St Germain after they were bought out by the Qatar Investment Authority.
Kevin Gameiro's signing is an interesting one and he is joined by various new faces. Whether they gel properly and finally bring the title back to the capital remains to be seen.
New faces Dijon, Evian and Ajaccio will surely struggle, as will Nice - who have lost key men - and plucky but under-qualified Brest.
HOLLAND
The Eredivisie rarely fails to deliver drama and excitement, even if the standard cannot live up to the other 'big five' leagues.
Aristocrats Ajax reclaimed the title last term under Frank de Boer after struggling for six barren years. It was their 30th and they will be expected to add to that again this season.
Twente's Theo Janssen is an exciting signing as Ajax gamble on his undoubted ability but highly questionable temperament.
Old rivals PSV Eindhoven will be there or thereabouts to ensure the Amsterdammers do not have it all their own way.
They have not pulled up any trees in the personnel department, but have gone about their business quietly with some sensible, under-stated signings. However, winger Balazs Dzsudzsak's defection to Russia's Anzhi Makhachkala was a real blow.
After Steve McClaren won Twente the title in 2010, Michel Preud'homme did well to secure second place and the KNVB Cup last season, but he has also moved on and replacement Co Adriaanse must utilize his wealth of experience to keep them at the top table.
Utrecht have been decimated by transfer outgoings and might find themselves embroiled in the relegation scrap, while Excelsior's time might finally run out.
No comments:
Post a Comment