Monthly Archives: September 2017

29th September 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
Going into their intriguing contest with AC Milan on the weekend, Sampdoria manager, Marco Giampaolo, spoke of how his team would need to produce their best to defeat Vincenzo Montella's expensively assembled squad.

Having done his due diligence and in his words "hammered" his team with video analysis of how to combat the Rossoneri, Giampaolo was absolutely delighted that his team put in such a fantastic performance to dismantle their highly fancied opposition 2-0.

So pleased was the Swiss manager, in fact, that he even described the victory as the finest from his time at the helm of the Blucerchiati. "This was the best performance since I've been here," he gleamed after the game. "The match was excellent from every point of view.

"I'm pleased for everybody, the players, the club and our fans. Can we compete against the big clubs? There's still time and I'm looking for even more improvements. We were consistent throughout

27th September 2017. By Ryan Baldi.
What should have been a landmark moment in his career, a commendable leap of faith to join a foreign giant with the promise of regular Champions League football, ended up tuning into a nightmare for Ciro Immobile.

The Italian international striker, fresh of a Capocannoniere season with Torino, at 24, was one of the hottest properties in Europe in the summer of 2014. With an €18 million bid, Borussia Dortmund snared the promising striker, taking him to the Bundesliga and Signal Iduna Park, where he was to replace Robert Lewandowski, the prolific Polish striker who'd joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer.

Filling Lewandowski's boots was always going to be tough for Immobile, and the pressure of expectation, the move to a new league in a foreign country, all amounted to a serious weight on the young forward's shoulders.

25th September 2017. by Edward Stratmann.
With injuries meaning Danny Welbeck had been restricted to just 15 Premier League starts for Arsenal in the last two seasons, it was brilliant to see him begin the 2017/2018 campaign fully fit and firing.

Actually being able to enjoy a preseason has undoubtedly been hugely beneficial for him, something he duly noted after his impressive brace vs. Bournemouth. "The past two years I didn't have a preseason and that made it a bit difficult for me,'' he explained.

"I'm pleased to have a preseason. With some of the games that we've played at the start of the season it's not gone too well, but I'm pleased to be on the score sheet and long may it continue."

Arsene Wenger then made a point of praising the determined English international in the aftermath of the aforementioned win over the Cherries, asserting: "He gets stronger and stronger. Let's not forget that he was out for a long time. He's a team player, Danny Welbeck,

22nd September 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
Replacing Benjamin Mendy, who became the world's most expensive defender when he joined Manchester City for €56 million, was never going to be easy for AS Monaco. But in the form of young Brazilian fullback, Jorge, they've done so rather seamlessly, as the 21-year-old has stepped up and filled the void with aplomb.

Joining in January from Flamengo for €8.5m, the diminutive left back had to bide his time during the second half of the season behind Mendy, having to be content with just 90 minutes of playing time. Since Mendy's summer departure, however, the once capped Brazil international has grasped his opportunities with both hands, as he's enjoyed a superb start to the new term. His most recent outing for the Monegasques' vs. Strasbourg provided yet another glowing testament to his quality.

Recent Performances for Monaco

20th September 2017. By Ryan Baldi.
Denis Suárez is a confident and ambitious young man. He returned to Barcelona last summer having left the Catalan giants' B team in 2014 first on loan to Sevilla, then permanently to Villarreal in search of regular first-team football.

A full international with Spain, the young midfielder impressed with the Yellow Submarine, convincing Barça to exercise their buyback option on the player, re-signing him for just €3.5million. Suárez didn't go back to the Camp Nou to merely make up the numbers, however; he returned because he believed he could fight his way into the starting XI and stay there.

"I left always having the idea of returning," Suárez said upon being unveiled as a Barcelona player for the second time.

"I am fulfilling a dream -- to play for the best team in the world, which is Barça. I will give everything for this team. I want to thank the president, the board, and Robert [Fernández, the club's sporting director],

18th September 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
When AS Roma announced the signing of Rick Karsdorp from Feyenoord in a deal worth an initial €14 million, excitement had to be tempered due to the knee injury he was suffering.

After initially damaging his knee on international duty for Holland back in April, an ailment he played through by using injections at the back end of last season, Roma's medical team discovered he'd require arthroscopic surgery on a small lesion on his anterior meniscus to clear up the problem and alleviate Karsdorp from any future pain.

While the operation in July was a success, the Dutchman's rehabilitation ensured he'd be on the sidelines for a decent amount of time. It was hoped he'd be available for Roma's season opener in August against Atalanta. However, it quickly became apparent he'd need a little longer to recover.

Rick Karsdrop

15th September 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
Going into their third Bundesliga match of the season at the weekend, Mainz 05 were in dire need of some points.

Having suffered consecutive 1-0 losses in their opening two fixtures against newly promoted Hannover 96 and VfB Stuttgart, games that would've been earmarked as excellent opportunities to gain points, facing Bayer Leverkusen meant there was a distinct possibility Mainz could suffer three consecutive losses to start the campaign.

Being unable to score in their two early defeats only compounded their issues, but in truth they'd still played some encouraging football, with bad luck in regards to the VAR system not helping their cause either. Ahead of the Leverkusen clash, sporting director Rouven Schroder willed his side to improve and lift the mini malaise. "We want more grit and we have to go for it a bit more. We really have to improve in these areas in the next few weeks, but we can't allow a doomsday mood to

13th September 2017. By Ryan Baldi.
There's no doubt about it: Paris Saint-Germain's record-shattering recruitment drive was the story of the summer transfer window. The Ligue 1 giants forked out a staggering €222 million to snatch Brazilian superstar Neymar from Barcelona, and agreed a loan deal for Monaco's Kylian Mbappé, which will see the Parisians part with €180 million to sign the teenage dynamo next year.

It's an exciting time to be a PSG fan, as the club spare no expense in equipping themselves for a first ever Champions League triumph their ultimate goal as well as readying to wrestle the French top-flight title back from their Monegasque rivals.

But amid all the hysteria and disbelieving eye rubbing, spare a thought for Julian Draxler. The German winger arrived at the Parc des Princes just eight months ago a €35 million January signing from Wolfsburg and impressed greatly in his half-season with the club, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances.

The

11th Septemer 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
At 29, and still at the peak of his powers, Javier Hernandez felt the time was right to return to the Premier League. After a five year stint at Manchester United which yielded 59 goals in 157 matches, and subsequent successful spells at Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, Chicharito jumped at the chance to join West Ham United.

"I am very happy to join West Ham United," he explained to the club's website. "For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world and when the opportunity came, I was desperate to sign for this club.

"It was not a difficult decision. West Ham is an historic club, and very ambitious -- this summer you can see with the players signed that they are looking to have a very good season. I've had three fantastic years playing in Spain and Germany, but England was really the

8th September 2017. By Edward Stratmann.
Ending last season in an unsatisfactory 15th place, having sacked both Gus Poyet and Victor Sanchez, while losing 19 and only winning 10 of their 38 La Liga matches, Real Betis knew drastic change was needed ahead of the 2017/2018 campaign. And plenty of change has been accordingly made, as the club's new direction is taking on a very exciting form.

Bringing in former Las Palmas manager, Quique Setien, was indeed a fine place to start, for he sets his team up to play a hugely exciting and entertaining brand of football using his positional play methodology. Then came the arrivals and departures with the club shipping out 20 players and signing 10, in order to rejuvenate the squad and refresh it for Setien's demands.

Highlighted by the captures of Victor Camarasa, Ryad Boudebouz, Cristian Tello, Javi Garcia, Sergio León, Andres Guardado, Joel Campbell and Antonio Barragan, expectations are high that the new look Betis side