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We’re currently in the middle of an international break, However, one thing I wanted to talk about was what is transpiring in some of the other big European domestic leagues. We in this country are so ultra focused on the Premier League and British football in general that we forget about the other exciting footballing stories taking place elsewhere around the continent. So, with that said, sit back, relax as I go through some key sub-plots in Europe’s top five leagues. German Bundesliga   Ten matches in, Bayern are looking good to regain the title. They’ve established a five-point cushion over the nearest challengers, and it seems as though they’ve got their mojo back. The pressure is on Harry Kane to win the Bundesliga and prove he can win silverware. Leverkusen are struggling a bit in their title defence, nine points off top spot. They were never going to be able to sustain their levels from last year and so the drop off was expected. There’s still plenty of time left, but if that gap gets any larger, they can kiss their chances of going back-to-back goodbye.   European qualification could be close again, judging from the first third of the season. There are plenty of teams, the likes of Leipzig, Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt among others who will have a say in who will be dining at Europe’s top table. Special mention to Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush who is the topscorer in Germany with eleven goals and seven assists in the ten matches. If he’s able to keep up this run of form, sooner rather than later, the top clubs in Europe will come knocking. At the other end of the table, Bochum already looked down and out. They were able to escape via the relegation play-off in 2023/24, but this time around it’s likely they’ll face the drop. Spanish La Liga   Surprisingly, it’s Barcelona who are the current head hunchos in Spain. The front three of Raphinha, Lewandowski and Yamal have been electric. Hansi Flick has made a great start to life in Catalonia, but time will tell if they can maintain what they’re doing for the entire season. When Real signed Mbappé, we all thought they’d be unstoppable, but that has been far from the case. The balance in attack isn’t quite there yet, and the retirement on Toni Kross has had a big impact. Their defence is starting to crumble as well, with both Carvajal and Éder Militão done for the season. This could be a tough campaign for Los Blancos.   After qualifying for the Champions League last season, Girona are suffering that second-season dip, languishing in mid-table. Juggling their European commitments with the domestic ones is proving to be a challenge for them, not helped by them losing key players before a ball was kicked (Savinho, Dovbyk to name a couple). Osasuna are punching above their weight, lying in fifth place and being one of only two teams to be Barcelona in the league. Led by veteran forward Ante Budimir, they are proving to be the league’s surprise package. Granted it’s still early, but it’s good to see different teams fighting for Europe. Italian Serie A   It’s extremely tight at the summit of the Serie A, with the top six separated by only two points. You have Napoli leading the way, where Conte is yet again managing a top European team and Gli Azzurri going it without their Nigerian talisman Osimhen. Will it all end spectacularly? Who knows. Below them are Atalanta who have built upon their European success last season and have Mateo Retegui who has been a revelation in his debut campaign. After these two, you have Fiorentina, the reigning champions Inter and Lazio. All three are going well but each have shown signs of fragility early on. It will be interesting to see who will stay the course, and who will fall by the wayside.   The league’s most disappointing side has to be Roma. They signed Dovbyk from Girona, who I mentioned earlier, who was one La Liga’s best strikers last year. Combine that with the players already at the club, the likes of Dybala, Pellegrini and Cristante, there’s no excuse for them sitting in thirteenth. They recently hired Claudio Ranieri as their coach for the rest of the campaign, and his objective must be to get Roma in the mix for Europe. Quick mention on Como, coached by Cesc Fabregas. They were promoted last season and making a decent run of it in Serie A. Best of luck to them, they might just need it. French Ligue 1 As much as things change, they still stay the same. PSG once again are top of the tree, no surprise there. At least now, PSG are building a young team with promising French talent. Bradley Barcola has been their star man so far, and he knows can become their main man with Mbappé a thing of the past. They have a better identity about them, more togetherness, as they are no longer a team of individuals, but rather a collective unit. The league might not be as one-sided as it normally is, but PSG remain the team to beat.   In other news, Marseille are going strong, sitting in third place. They prized away Elye Wahi from rivals Lens, someone with bags of potential but the best signing they’ve made is Mason Greenwood. I’m not his biggest fan (for obvious reasons), but from a pure footballing POV, the French league seems to be his bread and butter. He’s got eight goals in eleven matches so far, showing the ability that people saw flashes of when he was in Manchester. Les Phocéens are in a good position to maybe even challenge for the league, which would be nice to see. This Week’s Hot Take   Writing this post made me think, what would the outcome be if there was a mini-tournament between the champions of the each of the top five European Leagues? It would almost be like a Continental Community Shield. Realistically, such a competition would never happen as players are already playing too many matches and plus, with the new format of the Champions League, we already see the best teams across Europe go at it. Just a thought though…

It’s official. Erik Ten Hag is no longer the manager of Manchester United football club. The signs were there that he wouldn’t last much longer, and the defeat against West Ham proved to be the final straw for the ownership. He should have gone in the summer to tell you the truth, but I guess after winning the FA Cup, INEOS wanted to give him some extra time to turn things around. Unfortunately for him, that time finally ran out. They say a cat has nine lives, and he lost all his. So, in this week’s post, I’ll run through the reasons why I think it went wrong for the Dutchman.   Lack of Footballing Identity   When Ten Hag was the Ajax coach, he was praised for his brave and adventurous playstyle. That Ajax team was enjoyable to watch. They were renowned for playing dynamic, attacking football with intricate passing in the midfield and overloads that would allow the fullbacks to be heavily involved in attack. If you were a fan of Ajax, you could easily identify how Ajax were trying to play. Fast forward to his time at United, and one of the biggest criticisms he faced was an unidentifiable playstyle.   I think what Ten Hag was trying to do was evident; replicate the Ajax way at United. The problem was, the playstyle he attempted to adopt didn’t suit the players at his disposal. Ten Hag’s desire to try and play such attacking football without having the necessary defensive cover meant United conceded a ridiculous number of chances. Teams would run through United at will. It’s all well and could having an ethos, but if you don’t have the players to bring that ethos to life, it won’t end well. The inability to adapt didn’t help his cause either. If plan A isn’t working, you need to be able to have some more tricks up your sleeve, and he didn’t have any. Poor Recruitment   Bad recruitment wasn’t just an Erik Ten Hag problem. It’s been an issue ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Still though, that doesn’t negate the fact that the transfer business that he’s overseen in the two years he was in charge has not been good, to put it lightly. There’s always that question as to how much control a manager has over the signings they make. A lot of the signings he made were HIS signings, and it’s clear that none of them have really got United back to where they need to be.   United spent a whopping £600m on signings during his time, and most of them were absolute stinkers. The transfer strategy was lazy; buying players he’s worked with in the past, rather than making better use of the scouts to find players better suited to play for United. I could go through every signing, but buying Antony and Casemiro for a combined £140m says it all. Truly baffling pieces of business. At the end of the day, he had the final say on the players that were being brought into the club, and too many times, the players brought in were not United players. Unable to Developing Players   Recruitment is an important part of football, but arguably more important is being able to develop and improve players. The best managers, the likes of Guardiola, Ferguson, Wenger, were all able to take their players to that next level. It’s all well and good being able to sign the players you want, but if a manager is not able to improve the footballers already at the club, what good are they? If you were to ask me, is there anyone at United that became a better player because of Ten Hag, I would struggle to name many.   I remember in a previous post, one of the things I said that Ten Hag needed to do this season was get Marcus Rashford close to the previous levels he was operating at. Aside from his first season in charge, the Englishman has looked a shadow of himself. Part of it is down to the player, but a top manager would be able to get more out of Rashford than he has. There are other players that I can think of that haven’t really improved in his time and in my mind, it was a big reason why he no longer has a job.   Not the Right Personality   Whilst this may not have necessarily lost him the job, one thing that I started to dislike about Ten Hag was his personality and the general way he presented himself. To be the manager of a big club, you need to have something about you, a bit of charisma and be a big presence. The more I think about it, the more I feel that Ten Hag’s personality was never realty the right fit. Towards the end of his tenure, the way he would handle press conferences and the media as a whole left me befuddled.   He should know that, as the United manager, you’re going to face the pressure from reports, and you need to be able to handle it in the right way. Too many times he didn’t. In a recent presser, he said that the 3-0 defeat against Spurs basically doesn’t count because Fernandes’ red card was overturned. What kind of nonsense is that! We were terrible BEFORE the sending off anyway. He constantly had to remind people he’s won two trophies in two years in the Northwest. That’s all good, but if anything, those trophies created a false façade of progress and an accurate picture of reality. This Week’s Hot Take   Ten Hag has left United in a worse place, footballing-wise, than before he joined. Think about it, look at the team and players that were United prior to his arrival. Obviously, there were issues with that team, but man for man, the quality of players was vastly superior to what it is now. I look at the team that I see today and it’s unrecognisable. A lot of that is down to Ten Hag. Whatever manager comes in next, they’ve got to perform another overhaul potentially to bring United back to their best.

For those that caught my last blog post, I started a series, where I rank the top five players in each position in the Premier League. The first entry in this mini-series looked at goalkeepers and it only seems right that we work our way from defence to attack. Therefore, it’s time I rank the centre backs in the league, arguably where the Premier League sets itself apart from the rest of Europe. Let’s get straight into it. #5: Manuel Akanji (City)   Believe it or not, I found it hardest to rank the fifth best centre back. There were several names in the mix, including Micky Van De Ven and John Stones. However, I decided on the Swiss international. City only paid £15m for his services back in 2022, and his arrival may go down as one of the shrewder pieces of business in recent memory.   He's versatile, able to play anywhere across the back line (and excel equally in each position). His athleticism is often slept on, and I can’t recall too many times where he’s been flat out beaten for pace or outmuscled. Sure, he might look a bit awkward on the ball at times, but he’s still comfortable with the ball at his feet. He’s one of City’s most reliable and dependable players, and he’s well worth his place in their squad. #4: Gabriel (Arsenal) It’s somewhat funny how the perception about Gabriel has changed since the Gunners became a title-challenging side. When he initially came to the league, he looked uncomfortable, and it seemed like the league was too good for him. Fast forward a couple years, and he’s part of the Premier League’s best centre-back pairing.   The Brazilian defender is strong, aggressive, and a great tackler. He's also deceptively quick and athletic, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations. Once more, whilst not necessarily part of his defending ability, he has become a cheat code for Arsenal at set pieces. At 26, he’s now at the peak of his powers and it seems clear that he is going to continue to operate at the levels he has been. #3: Rúben Dias (City)   I know amongst some of my friends, there’s this narrative that Dias isn’t really that good, the main argument being that if he was that good, he wouldn’t be rotated as much as he is by Pep. Whilst I understand the logic, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s a top three centre back in this league. In his debut season at the club (2020/21), you could make the argument that he was the primary reason City won the league.   Focusing more on the present, he is pretty much the all-round defender. He's strong, intelligent, and is a very good passer of the ball. It’s his reading of the game that impresses me the most about him, a skill that is not easy to master. He’s also one of the few top-class defenders I see that is willing to put their body on the line when needed. All in all, he’s a class defender that truly deserves all the personal and team accolades he has received during his time in England. #2: William Saliba (Arsenal)   If you ask most Arsenal fans, they’ll say Saliba is the best centre back in the league. That’s by no means a hot take, and even though he’s on the ascension, I don’t think he’s quite #1 just yet. To think that at first, he could barely get a game for Arsenal, being sent out on loan three times before he made his first appearance. And now, he’s regarded as one of the world’s best defenders. Truly astonishing.   His pace and athleticism make him a nightmare for opposing attackers. Just in general, he makes defending look so simple, so effortless. You never really see him panic, do you? He always looks so calm and composed. You can tell that attackers are hesitant to go up against him, as more times than not, he’ll have opposing attackers all figured out. As I mentioned earlier, his partnership with Gabriel is one of the driving factors behind Arsenal's emergence as title challengers. If he sticks around, Arsenal will be competing for the major honours. #1: Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)   Still my number one is big Virg. He may have lost a step or two, but that doesn’t take away from how outstanding a defender he is. The Dutchman has been THE dominant centre-back in the Premier League since his move to Liverpool in January 2018. He’s a mountain of a man and combine that with his exceptional reading of the game and ability to win aerial duels, makes him an attacker’s worst nightmare.   There was that stat where he went for an absurdly long period without being dribbled past by anyone. I double checked it, and he went 50 consecutive matches without an opponent dribbling past him. That’s absolutely nuts! Van Dijk is so good that he’s regularly talked about in the same vein as some of the best centre backs to play in the Premier League. The likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Vincent Kompany etc. There are a few signs that he might be on the slight decline, but in my view, he’s still got a couple of seasons at least before he’s knocked off top spot. This Week’s Hot Take   I said it in the introduction, but I believe that in terms of centre backs, the current class in the Premier League are the best about. That’s not to say that there are no outstanding defenders across Europe (La Liga and Serie A immediately spring to mind). But, I just look at the depth of the centre back position in England and I believe it is unmatched.

Whilst there isn’t too much exciting going on in the world of football at present, I’ve been thinking about how to spice up the blog a little bit. That’s why I’ve decided to kick off a mini-series. The concept is simple. I’ll go through the Premier League and rank the top 5 players in each position (in my opinion). The first position will be all about the goalkeepers, and over the course of the next few months, I’ll run through the other positions. Let’s begin. #5: Andre Onana (Manchester United)   At the number five ranking, we have United’s Andre Onana. I had a think about other keepers I could put here, maybe Nick Pope at Newcastle or Guglielmo Vicario at Spurs. But in the end, I think the Cameroonian just edges them out. It’s no secret I’m not his biggest fan. He can be erratic and his distribution with his feet leaves a little bit to be desired. However, he has slowly improved since he arrived at the club, looking a bit more like the player we saw at Inter.    His shot stopping ability is probably his biggest asset, and rightfully so. We’ve seen at times, specifically last season, where he has saved United from utter embarrassment. It must not help him that the average shots United faced per game in his first season was the second most behind relegated Sheffield United. He’s quite agile, and his reflexes are pretty good. As I said there are areas for improvement, but I think fifth is about right. #4: David Raya (Arsenal) We have another keeper here that I initially didn’t rate that highly, and that’s David Raya. When Arteta made the bold choice to replace Ramsdale with the Spaniard, I thought this was a big mistake. But I, along with many other naysayers, have been proven wrong. The Spaniard has fully established himself as Arsenal’s main man between the sticks, while his predecessor is now longer at the club.   He's a keeper who’s good with his feet. I know he had that gaffe last season in the North London derby, but that was an anomaly. He was specifically bought by the club to fit their style of play, and his passing ability is critical to the way Arsenal move in transition: slick, passing football from front to back. If you were to ask me 12-18 months ago if I thought Arsenal could win the league with Raya as their keeper, I would have said hell no. Fast forward to today, they have a real good chance, in part, because of him. #3: Emiliano Martinez (Villa)   Now we get to the good stuff. In third place we have Emi Martinez. It’s crazy to think that for eight years, he could barely get a game at Arsenal, and now, he’s a World Cup Winner and two-time Copa America champion. Funny on things can change isn’t it. I can go through the usual rigmarole about what makes him so good: his shot-stopping, the command he as in the penalty box. But for me, it’s more than that.   The word “aura” has become more common, not just in sport, but in everyday life. It’s a word that is rinsed so often, but so far, he’s the only one out of the keepers that I’ve mentioned that has a mystic about him, in my view. He is an imposing figure, and he has a way of getting into the heads of opposing attackers. You need evidence of this, just watch his save against Randal Kolo Muani in THAT World Cup final. He is a bit overrated, but he’s a top keeper. #2: Ederson (City)   At number two we have Ederson from City. The biggest complement I can pay to Ederson is that I genuinely believe that he could be an outfield player for a lower league side. Okay, that might not be true but talk about a keeper who’s good with his feet, he’s on another level. He’s never afraid to take the ball on in uncompromising positions, to the point where you don’t get nervous when he does it because it’s second nature.   We talked about Raya being a key component of how Arsenal play, this is even more the case for Ederson at City. He’s by far the best passer of the ball at the keeper position that I’ve seen in the league, emphasised by his four assists during his time in the Northwest. His range of passing as well is something we’re not accustomed to, able to fizz a 20 yarder into midfield, as well as drill a 70-yard ball in behind the opposing defence. A true pioneer in his position and one of the best in the league. #1: Allison (Liverpool)   I think we can all agree that the undisputed best keeper in the Premier League is Liverpool’s Allison. When Liverpool began their ascendency to perennial Premier League title challengers, one of the positions they needed to strengthen was goalkeeper. Since the Brazilian arrived in the summer of 2018, there’s been no one better. There was a period where he was in a bit of slump, but he’s overcome that and continued to be the great keeper that he is.   He's clearly the best shot-stopper in the league, and his cat-like reflexes are insane. In terms of modern keepers, in my view he’s the closest to the great Peter Schmeichel that we’ve seen in terms of his ability to save shots. He’s another keeper that makes attackers think twice when they are in on goal. There’s a reason why he’s viewed as the best one-on-one keeper arguably in the world. Him and Van Dijk were the missing pieces in Liverpool’s puzzle, and specifically with the Brazilian, they may not be where they are without him. This Week’s Hot Take   I think it’s harder to be a keeper now than it’s ever been before. 20 years ago, all keepers were expected to do is save shots and make 5 yard passes to their defenders. Now, they almost need to act like outfield players, able to distribute the ball at all angles. Not to mention, seems as though there’s even more scrutiny on keepers than before.

Last time, I talked about my early season 2024/25 Premier League predictions, where I took a crack at determining who will finish where in the league. This week’s post is the follow-on from two weeks ago, shifting the focus to the individual honours. The thing about predictions is they hinge on so much that it’s likely I’ll get most of these wrong come May. But who cares, that’s the fun of predictions isn’t it? Let’s see how far off I’ll be then! Player of the Season: Rodri   This was a tough one, If a City player is to win it, it’s between De Bruyne, Haaland and Rodri. The Norwegian striker has started the season like a house on fire, but I think Rodri will win this one. Over the last few years, he has established himself as the world’s best holding midfielder. But more so in the recent years he’s developed into the all-round midfielder. Some argue that City don’t need to defend that much given they control most of their matches. That doesn’t mean Rodri’s role is diminished in any way. Not only is he defensively so secure, but his passing is also impeccable, he can drive with the ball extremely well and he has this knack of scoring big goals for City. He deserves all the plaudits and he’d be my pick for this award. Young Player of the Season: Kobbie Mainoo   I’ve always said that people shouldn’t get carried away with young players and I continue to maintain that stance. With that said, I have been impressed with Mainoo. Since his first league start in November last year, he’s been one of the first names on the team sheet. He’s the type of midfielder that United need, someone not scared to receive the ball in tight areas and willing to take risks. He does need someone next to hm that can do a lot of the running. Hopefully with Manuel Ugarte joining, he’ll have that. He’s still so young so he’ll only get better, and physically he’ll continue to get stronger and fitter. Provided United have a better campaign than last time, he’ll contribute in a big way, and I can see him grabbing this one. Manager of the Season: Oliver Glasner   There’s no obvious choice for this one in my opinion. If Arsenal win the league, Arteta will probably win this prize. Maybe if Spurs qualify for the Champions League, maybe Ange Postecoglou is crowned MOTS. However, my pick is Oliver Glasner. Not many had heard of him before he arrived at Palace. But in the short time he’s been there, he’s made them a dangerous team to place against. Having only joined in February, he led Palace to a top-half finish. Only City, Arsenal and Chelsea have earned more points than Palace since the Austrian took charge, showcasing the impact that he’s already had. Now in his first full season, the smart money is on him improving Palace further. Palace’s starting XI is underrated, and maybe this year they can challenge for the European places. Top Scorer: Erling Haaland Until he leaves City, I’m going to keep picking Haaland to be the league’s top scorer. We’re running out of words to describe his goal-scoring greatness. Simply put, he’s inevitable. We see it time and time again that there are matches where he barely touches the ball, but with those minimal touches, he’ll score a couple of goals. He’s made another electrifying start to this year, scoring a ridiculous nine goals in four matches. Him not going to the Euros has been a blessing in disguise as unlike most of his colleagues, he had a full pre-season which allowed him to recovery and regain his sharpness. Julian Alvarez leaving now means he’s their only recognised striker, so Pep is less likely to rotate him or take him off early in matches. Barring disaster, expect Haaland to win a third golden boot in three years. Best Signing: Ilkay Gündoğan   City never really replaced Gündoğan when he left in the summer of 2023. They needed someone to replace some of Alvarez’s goals and play alongside Rodri more effectively than Kovacic. So, who did they sign? Ilkay Gündoğan, himself, on a free! The German could be a valuable source of goals from midfield. His versatility may also be pivotal, as he can play the false nine position in the event Haaland is unavailable. He is 33, so he’s getting on a little bit, but his influence, leadership & experience will be needed if City are to win five league titles in a row. He’s not going to need time to adjust to the Pep system either, so he should be able to hit the ground running right from the off. This move will go down as a real smart piece of business from the Citizens. Worst Signing: João Félix   Don’t get it twisted, João Félix is not a bad player. The main reason why I’ve chosen him is because he wasn’t needed. Despite the many players Chelsea signed in the summer, the two areas they needed to address were goalkeeper and striker. They addressed neither of these. Instead, they signed a bunch of wide forwards, Félix being one of them. This is his second spell in West London, as he spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan there. In that spell, he only mustered 4 goals in 16 games so it’s unlikely he’ll be the goalscorer they need. What makes the signing even worse is that Chelsea didn’t want him. They only signed him to ensure the Conor Gallagher deal to Atletico went through. I’m happy to be proven wrong, but I just don’t see this move working out for both parties. This Week’s Hot Take   The only pick I’m almost 100% confident is Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot winner. All the rest could be anyone’s guess. You’ve got to be a brave person to make any predictions when only a few games have been played. So much can change as the season progresses that, in truth, most of my picks are bound to be wrong. But as I mentioned in the introduction, I’m cool with that. That’s why their called predictions, but we as fans can only go off what we’ve seen already.

It’s that time again folks. As the first international break of the season is upon us, it provides the opportunity to assess how teams are shaping up at this early stage. Admittedly, teams have only played three games which doesn’t give much of an indication as to who will finish where, but we have seen glimpses of what to expect. Can anyone stop City? How will Slot do in his first year at Liverpool? Can the three promoted clubs stay up? All this and more will be addressed in this week’s post. Let’s get into it. Title Winners: City   Every time I think to question City, I remember who they are. They may not be as strong as in previous years, City remain the team to beat in England. The one word that is synonymous with them is inevitable. They are so relentless that it must be demoralising being in a title race know that they’re involved. They have gotten a bit weaker as mentioned but they have a group of around that is so good.   They’ve only made two major signings, but both could end up being steals. Savinho, the Brazilian winger, has arrived from Girona and he looked lively in the short cameo against Chelsea. Donning the #26, he could become City’s next Mahrez. Re-signing Gundogan on a free from Barcelona is a great signing as well. He might not be the same player, but the quality and experience he has will be important as the season progresses. It will be another close race, but City will have too much for the rest of the league. Top Four: Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle   Arsenal & Liverpool are making the top 3, no doubt about it. I like the signings Arsenal have made. They’ve added some more depth across the pitch. As much as they’ve made some good additions, it just won’t be enough to overhaul City. It’s early days, but Liverpool under Slot have played some nice football. Anyone that watches them can see the tweaks they’ve made since the Dutchman’s arrival. My only thing about them is I still feel against the City’s and Arsenal’s, their midfield balance could cause a few issues.   This last time could be any one of five teams. I’m sure I’ll change my mind later but for now I’m going for Newcastle. Them not having any European commitments will really work in their favour. Yes, they’ll want to do well in the domestic cup competitions, however ultimately, it’s the Champions League that matter most to Newcastle. The return of Sandro Tonali from his betting ban will help them massively, as we only saw glimpses of his ability last season. Fifth to Seventh: Spurs, Chelsea, United   I have Spurs just missing out on the top 4 but it could go either way. It’s clear how Ange Postecoglou wants his side to play, and we should this style develop in his second full season. There will be pressure on Dominic Solanke to hit the ground running following his high profile move. What will most likely be their undoing is their squad depth, as injuries to one or two starts could be trouble for them. Another season, another new manager at the helm for Chelsea. Once again, they’ve made a truckload of signings, yet they’ve failed to address their biggest weak points: goalkeeper and striker. They do have some promising talent and if they can gel, could be a threat for the top 4. Then there’s United. Despite changes in the front office, the same issues remain on the field. The balance of the team is still not right, and even with the new signings, it is going to take a lot to fix it. I really hope I’m wrong, but based on what I’ve seen so far, United have work to do. Best of the Rest: Villa   I got this widely wrong when I did my predictions last season, but I have a bit more confidence this time around. We saw it happen with Newcastle, but the added workload of playing Champions League football (especially with the new format) will affect their league form. They’ll have to use the full depths of their squad to remain competitive on both fronts, but I’m not sure if they have the players to do it.   The loss of Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby could also negatively impact their season. Specifically with the Brazilian, they were two of their key players in their surge to the promise land. The Brazilian has been replaced by Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior (both have left on loan since arriving), whilst Morgan Rodgers (a player I do like) could help fill the Diaby void. For them, this season is sort of a free hit, and I think they’ll drop off a little bit. Relegation: Everton, Ipswich, Southampton   This is going to be a long season for Southampton, plain and simple. They have that typical feel of a promoted team that will let goals in left, right and centre, and simultaneously not score enough. It was only one game, but in their match against Brentford, their defending was comical to say the least. They haven’t picked up a point yet and I just don’t see where they’re going to get enough wins and points to stay up.   I always like when teams that haven’t been in the league for a while get promoted and it’s good to see Ipswich back in the big time. In my opinion, they’ll be this year’s Luton. Going to Portman Road will be a tough place for most teams but their lack of Premier League experience will be their downfall. I’ve been saying Everton will go down for a while and I’m going to stand on this hill. They can narrowly avoid the drop so many times before they finally go through that trap door, and I think this could be the year. This Week’s Hot Take   Mikel Arteta and Arsenal must be under pressure to win the league this season. We know how good City are, but after challenging for two straight years, at what point do we ask the question is challenging as far as Arteta can take the Gunners? I’ve always said Liverpool managed to win at least one title during this period of City dominance, why can’t Arsenal do the same?

With the summer transfer window closing in just under a week’s time, clubs across Europe are strategizing what they need to add to their squads, as well as ponder the players that deem are surplus to requirements. We’ve already seen some high profile moves, and there could be a few more yet. So, for this week’s post, let’s go through some of the more interesting moves. Kylian Mbappé (PSG to Real Madrid)   The biggest move of the summer, Mbappé finally made his long-awaited move to Madrid. The reigning La Liga and Champions League winners were already a force to be reckoned with, and now they’ve added the world’s best player to their ranks. Their front three of Vini Jr, Rodrygo and the Frenchman is going to cause defenders nightmares. It will be interesting to see how they all link up together. Mbappé likes to play off the left, but at Madrid he will most likely be the focal point of the attack. However, the fluidity within the front line means that they’ll be plenty of rotation between the forwards. Pedro Neto (Wolves to Chelsea)   Once again, Chelsea have been active in the transfer market, signing 10 new players, with Neto being the standout. The Portuguese winger had his previous campaign at Wolves curtailed by injury, but his numbers were decent nonetheless and there’s no doubt he’s an exciting winger. His quickness and his one-on-one prowess are what makes him dangerous. The question is, where does he play? Chelsea have so many wide forwards that his starting spot isn’t guaranteed. He's the type of players that needs minutes under his belt, and the prospect of not starting regularly does question if the move will be the right one for him. Only time will tell. Micheal Olise (Crystal Palace to Bayern)   It was only a matter of time before Olise left Palace, but I didn’t see him moving to the Bundesliga giants. I always thought he’d end up staying in England. It’s a shrewd piece of business from Bayern at only £35m, and him being only 22, his best years are ahead of him. Last year, he started showing the consistency needed to match the undeniable talent he has. Playing for a far more attack-minded team, I think he's going to do well for his new club. The German media have been critical of Bayern’s transfer strategy over the last few years, but Olise’s move represent a big step in the right direction. Douglas Luiz (Villa to Juventus)   Villa needed to sell to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and the Brazilian was one of their most valuable assets. He was a vital player for them last season as Villa secured Champions League football, and his loss will be a miss. He has developed into an all-round footballer, doing everything that is required from a central midfielder. The middle of the park is an area where Juventus have some good young prospects but needed to be strengthened further. At 26, he’s at the peak of his powers and has all the tools to become a key player for the Bianconeri. Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth to Spurs)   This window, we’ve seen a shortage of top strikers on the market, but Spurs have managed to get their man. The price tag is a little steep (£55m and £10m in add-ons), but Spurs fans could hardly care. We saw a different Solanke last season, a real goal threat and someone who’s good at linking up play. However, we’ve only seen one really season from him, at a club where the pressure wasn’t as big. Will he guarantee 15+ goals for Spurs? Can he do it for a team that wants to win trophies and qualify for the Champions League? I guess we’ll get the answers to these questions come May. Julián Álvarez (City to Atlético)   The Argentine World Cup and Copa América winner has swapped Manchester for Madrid in what is seen as a surprising move. His £82m transfer represents massive profit for the Citizens and is the sort of money is hard to say no to. This is now his chance to be the main man, as he was always playing second fiddle to a certain Norwegian. His versatility will make him the ideal addition, as he’s comfortable playing as a lone striker, part of a front two or even just behind the striker. Atlético could end up being the perfect team for Álvarez to showcase how good he really is, and maybe prove a point to his former employers. João Neves (Benfica to PSG)   Not many will be aware of who João Neves is. Even myself, I haven’t watched too much of him. All I know is he is highly regarded in his native Portugal as one of the country’s brightest young stars. Him signing for PSG does make sense. The Parisians have made an active effort to stray away from signing superstars, and instead, they are looking to invest in young, up-and-coming talent. This signing is further evidence of that. He’s only 19, so he’s most likely very raw and by no means the finished product. PSG are slowly assembling a midfield in Neves, Zaire-Emery and Vitinha that could be the engine room for the next 5-10 years. Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern to United)   It’s no secret that one of the areas that needed strengthening is centre-back and they’ve tried to address this early. De Ligt was once regarded as one of the best young defenders whilst at Ajax, but his stock has taken a bit of hit during his time in Germany. He is still a good centre-back, he has a good reading of the game, and his athleticism goes a little under the radar. Ten Hag has coached him during his tenure as the Ajax manager, and the hope is he can produce a similar level of performances at United. I think the question mark is will he be able to solve United’s defensive issues single-handedly? That we’ll find out. This Week’s Hot Take We’ve seen quite a few big moves thus far, but I feel this window has under-delivered. Not that this is the best barometer to go by, but there hasn’t been a £100m+ player yet. That could change between now and the end of the month, but it’s unlikely. This could be done to PSR and FFP, which has meant there is more scrutiny on transfers. Overall, it’s been quite an underwhelming summer.

After some speculation, Erik Ten Hag remains as the Manchester United manager. Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS believe he’s done enough to stay in the position, and time will tell if this turns out to be the right decision. One thing I know is that this, his third season, is make or break for him. United must have a successful season and try get back to their former glories. So ahead of the season, I pinpoint what I want to see from the Red Devils over the next 10 months.   A Return To The Promise Land   United need to get back to the Champions League, plain and simple. I don’t like living off the past, but for a club the stature of United, playing in European’s premier club competition is imperative. Anything less is unacceptable. To his credit, Ten Hag has won two trophies in his two years (an FA Cup and League Cup), therefore I’m not that bothered if we don’t win a trophy this year. That’s not to say that trophies aren’t important. However, from a pure footballing perspective, the extra revenue & the increased ability to attract players due to playing Champions League football outweighs winning a “second-tier” trophy. Unless United win the league (which is next to impossible) or win the Europa League (slightly more likely), the focus should be on finishing in the top 4 (or 5). There is plenty of competition for those places, so it will by no means be a straightforward task. It’s go big or go home. Make Rashford Great Again   One of the biggest reasons for United’s poor 2023/2024 campaign was certain players not hitting the heights that we’ve seen before. No player epitomises that more than Marcus Rashford. He had a hugely successful 2022/2023, scoring 30 goals in all competitions. But then the season after, he looked completely devoid of confidence. Rashford has always struggled with inconsistency, however, when he’s cooking, he’s one of the best left wingers in the league. One of Ten Hag’s priorities should be getting the most out of the Englishman. Word from those inside Old Trafford is he looks fired up and ready to go for the new season. Let’s hope this is true. Not being picked for the EUROs was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed him to stay home, and have a full pre-season to focus on capturing the level that he’s shown in previous years. Rashford is United’s best attacker, and this could be his most pivotal year in the red of United. Define the United Way   Too many times I watched us last season and had no idea how Ten Hag wanted his team to play. It’s been an issue for a while, and it needs to be corrected this upcoming campaign. The hallmark of a great team is having a clear and defined tactical philosophy, one that gets the best out of the players available and that translates to winning football. What was apparent in the last two years is that Ten Hag wants to play this “total football” that he gained a reputation for at Ajax, which is heavily possession-based, without having the right players to do so. If it were me, I would have United play direct football, moving the ball from defence to attack as quick as possible, with a focus on wing play. This is what Sir Alex Ferguson was famed for, and we’ve seen some glimpses of this during Ten Hag’s spell, but not enough times. This will be United’s best pathway to success. Work Smarter In The Transfer Market   United have been busy in the transfer market over the last two years. So far, the only semi successful purchase has been Lisandro Martinez (despite his injury-ravaged second season). With the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) in place, now more than ever United need to do smart business and get signings in early. We’ve seen some evidence of this already as Joshua Zirkzee, the Dutch striker from Bologna, and Leny Yoro, the French defender from Lille, have already arrived. However, I’m questioning how smart these signings are. Zirkzee is another young, unproven attacker from Serie A, and now United have two junior number 9s of the same ilk. Yoro is only 18, and he could cost upwards of £60m despite only having a year left on his contract. I’m hopeful there is a strategy in place. United fans will need to trust that the club know what they’re doing and that future arrivals over the next 6 months are wise moves. Continue To Push The Youth   The shining light from last season for me was the emergence of some of the younger players in the squad. The prime example of this was Kobbie Mainoo. He came into that season being completely unknown to the wider masses, but he exploded onto the footballing scene, solidifying his place in the United starting XI. His approach to the game and his temperament for someone so young was something I hadn’t seen from a United youngster in a while. He wasn’t the only one to make an impact though. Alejandro Garnacho was probably United’s best winger, and in this upcoming season, the expectation should be for him to push on. One player I would love to see get more game time is Amad Diallo. He’s been at United since January 2021, but he’s never had a chance to show what he can do. United have always been a club that have given youngsters a chance, and Ten Hag should ensure they are key contributors this season. This Week’s Hot Take   If history is anything to go by, this could be the year it all goes pear-shaped for Erik Ten Hag. The two previous managers before the Dutchman, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær both acrimoniously left their post during their third full season in charge. Is the same fate set to be bestowed upon the former Ajax manager? Who knows. All I know is that this will be his most important season as the manager of Manchester United.

It’s official folks, Gareth Southgate is no longer the England manager. He had his critics (me included), but the players loved playing for him. Even though he couldn’t end England’s 58-year wait for a trophy, two finals, one semi-final and one quarter-final during his tenure shows his time was by no means a failure. The question now is, who will replace him? So, for this week’s post, let’s run through some of the leading candidates. Eddie Howe                                                                                              According to the bookies, the Newcastle coach is the favourite for the job. Newcastle’s transformation from battling survival to qualifying for the Champions League and mixing it with the big boys showcases his capabilities. Were he to become the next coach, he would be better equipped to get England playing more attractive football, something that was often criticised during the previous regime. The FA posted the official job description on their website, with some of the requirements including the need to win a major tournament, having experience in English football and possessing a track record of delivering results in the Premier League. He may not meet that first prerequisite, but he certainly ticks those last two. The main sticking point would be the compensation the FA would have to pay to lure him away from Tyneside. The ongoing changes at Newcastle may have him questioning his place, which could pave the way perfectly for him to become the new England manager. Graham Potter   Another leading candidate is Graham Potter. The former Chelsea manager has been out of work since in April 2023. His time in West London should not deter from his managerial success as no one would have succeeded under those circumstances. Look at his spell at Brighton instead, which is a far better reflection of how he can develop players, make a team fun to watch and create a footballing culture that is aligned from top to bottom. He has been linked with the job in the past and he’s made it public that the time is right for him to step back into management, if the right opportunity presents itself. Like Howe, he fits the criteria. For the FA, it would cost much less to get Potter given he’s not managing now. Would that make him the “safe” choice then? I don’t know about that. He would be under immense pressure, but if the support is there around him, he’d be a good choice. Lee Carsley   For context, Lee Carsley is the current England Under-21 coach who’s been in the role since 2021. The one thing he has that the other leading contenders don’t have is an international trophy, as he led the Under-21s to EUROs glory in 2023. Whilst he hasn’t had success (or experience) at the senior level, a trophy is a trophy no matter how you slice it. That said, appointing Carsley would represent the easy choice for the FA, and the one that would cause the most backlash. For all intents and purposes, he is a Southgate 2.0; someone who the FA are familiar with & has been part of the grassroots setup for a while. If England want to play more attacked-minded football, it wouldn’t make sense to choose Carsley. Now is not the time to England to place it safe. They need to win and win now. No disrespect to Carsley, he is not the guy to get England over the hump. Mauricio Pochettino   Looking for a coach that will play attacking football? Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Mauricio. The Argentine was acrimoniously sacked by, guess who, Chelsea, at the end of last season, despite finishing 6th when it looked for all the world that they wouldn’t make the European spots. His stock has taken a hit in recent times, but that Tottenham team he had was one of my favourite teams to watch, energetic, direct and fast-paced. This is exactly how England need to start playing. The FA have stated that the new manager does not need to be English, although it would be preferred. Aside from Chelsea, Poch has spoken glowingly about his time managing in England, and he’d be comfortable with the setup and coping with the media and fans. I’m someone that doesn’t think that a national team coach doesn’t have to be from that nation, and his appointment could welcome a departure from the norm. Honourable Mentions   Jurgen Klopp is a name that has been mentioned. He’d be a hugely choice and would relish the opportunity. After leaving Liverpool, he probably needs a break from management and so I can’t see this happening. Someone else linked to the job is  Frank Lampard . I’m not his biggest fan, but he would demand the respect from the players & his love for England may also be to his advantage. Unfortunately for him, I don’t think he has the credentials to do well in the position. A real wildcard for the job is Pep Guardiola . Imagine if he was able to guide England to international glory, that would be something. Question is, does international football interest him enough to leave City, and would he prefer to manage his beloved Spain over England? Other names I’ve seen rumoured are Ange Postecoglou , Thomas Tuchel and Michael Carrick . Tuchel would be a fascinating selection; the others though are unlikely to happen given they don’t fit the criteria the FA are after. This Week’s Hot Take   It doesn’t matter who the next England manager is, the thing that needs changing the most is the mindset in the England camp. For too long, England have been a team that has not been able to dominate the ball against the better teams. It’s not as if England’s midfield is limited. They have the players to play possession-based football. It’s a case of the right manager being able to turn England from a play from under team to one that plays on the front foot.

England are potentially 90 minutes away from lifting their first trophy since 1966. It will be a nervous evening for all those involved, but those players have a chance to etch their names into the history books. But before we get ahead ourselves, we should acknowledge those fallen comrades who have fallen by the wayside. So, before the final takes place, let me provide my picks for some of the key awards. Best Player: Fabian Ruiz   With Spain being the best team at these finals, I’ve gone for Fabian Ruiz as the EURO 2024 MVP. Some of his teammates may grab more of the headlines, but the PSG midfielder has put together a string of strong performances. Right from the first game against Croatia, he’s been the engine in the Spanish midfield. What has surprised me is how good he’s looked on the ball as well as his attacking prowess. Known for being slightly more defensive-minded, he has displayed that cutting edge in and around the box which is often missing when he plays for his club. The way Spain play, he’s been crucial to their press, regaining the ball high up field, enabling Spain to do what they do best: dominate. If Spain are to beat England on Sunday, best believe he will be a key reason why. Best Young Player: Lamine Yamal   This one is a slam dunk, the only right answer is Lamine Yamal. Not to toot my own horn, but I predicted he’d be the breakout star, and we can all agree I’ve been proven right. He’s been electrifying for Spain. The fact that he hasn’t even turned 17 yet and he’s doing what he’s doing in his first major international competition is nuts. He, alongside Neco Williams on Spain’s left wing, have wreaked havoc on full-backs. His four goal involvements in six matches demonstrates his impact. The goal against France in the semi-final was a thing of beauty, but something that no longer surprises us. These days, we as fans and the media are very quick to crown the next big thing. The biggest complement I can pay to Yamal is this. He’s not the next anybody, he’s the one and only Lamine Yamal. Surprise Team: The Netherlands   One could make the argument that Spain have surprised people as I doubt many thought they’d get to the final. Instead, I’ve opted for the Dutch. If it wasn’t for an Ollie Watkins last-minute winner, they could have been facing Spain in the final. Despite this, I think the Netherlands can be content making it to the semi-finals as their record at tournaments over the last twenty years or so has been wretched. They can look back at their time in Germany and be proud. Cody Gakpo has looked like the player Liverpool fans had been crying out for. Bart Verbruggen, the Brighton goalkeeper who’s only 21 had a solid tournament.  There are positive signs that they can remain competitive. Sure, they were in the easier half of the draw, but you can only beat what’s in front of you. Biggest Flops: Portugal   There was a part of me that wanted to say Italy, as whenever the reigning champions go out early, it’s usually considered a shock. However, them losing to Switzerland in the last sixteen was far from a surprise. The only other team that I think has underperformed is Portugal. With all the talent they have, their limp exit at the hands of France was a missed opportunity. Their unwavering persistence to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up was baffling when they had other attacking options to choose from. Roberto Martinez is used to under-delivering when blessed with a talented crop of players. We saw it when he was the Belgium manager, and it seems like a case of déjà vu with the Portuguese. With the level of expectation within the Portuguese ranks, they must be the biggest disappointment of EURO 2024. Best Game: Turkey vs Georgia   The football over the past month hasn’t been fantastic by any stretch. There have been a few games that stand out though. The Netherlands’ dramatic 3-2 victory over Austria, Spain’s thrilling win against Germany and even their semi-final triumph over France. But for me, the standout match was Turkey versus Georgia. It was a game filled with chaos, entertainment and goals. This was Georgia’s first ever match at an international tournament, and they came to play. We witnessed two contenders for best goal at these finals from Mert Müldür (Turkey’s right-back) & Arda Güler. Following a Georgia corner in the last minute of the match, Kerem Aktürkoğlu raced towards an open goal and sealed the win. Sometimes international football can be very cagey, but this match was the perfect demonstration of two teams playing with no fear, going head-to-head, punch for punch. Best Goal: Jude Bellingham vs Slovakia   If we consider both the goal itself and the circumstances, Jude’s overhead kick is the one. England had played an abysmal 90 minutes against the Sokoli and heading into the 95th minute, were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing elimination. Up steps Bellingham to say, allow me to reintroduce myself, and produce something out of nothing. He’s shown for Real he’s the main for the big occasion, and he delivered when his nation needed him most. The technique required to produce such a finish is of such a high level. What makes that moment even more special is that he wasn’t having the greatest tournament and then he goes and does that, crazy. If England go onto be crowned European champions, they’ll point to that moment as the stroke of genius (and a little bit of luck) they needed. This Week’s Hot Take   Watching the events in Germany has made me realise that the quality of international football has really dropped. There are few good international teams, on paper at least, but if you examine them closely, they don’t compare to the best teams of the last 10 to 15 years. It might be a bigger issue of the quality of football as a whole declining, who knows.

The group stages of Euro 2024 have come to an end, and we now which teams have made it to the last 16. Some of the groups produced entertaining matches, whilst others were a bit of a snoozefest. In most international tournaments, the fun starts when the knockout stages commence, so let’s hope that’s the case this time round. But for this week’s post, I’m going to discuss what happened in each of the six groups. Group A: Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Scotland   Germany and Switzerland qualified as the top two from this group. The surprise for me was the football Germany played. I didn’t consider them contenders beforehand but seeing the way they played; they must be up there. Switzerland were no slouches either and if it wasn’t for a last-minute German equaliser, they would have topped the group. One to watch for sure in the last 16. Hungary were my dark horses, but didn’t make it out of the group despite some gutsy performances. And then there’s Scotland. One point from nine makes for grim reading, but Scottish fans will point to the penalty against Hungary that should have been. Did their play over the three games warrant a knockout spot, no, so I don’t think the Scots should feel slighted. With their home fans as the 12th man, this could be `Germany’s year. Group B: Spain, Italy, Croatia, Albania   Despite this being the so-called “group of death”, Spain emerged with three wins from three to comfortably top the group. Similarly with Germany, the crispness and accuracy of their play should put other nations on notice. Not saying they’re the Spain of 2012, but I like what I’m seeing from the Spaniards. Italy as defending champions just made it through as well, and whilst they should never be counted out, their performances don’t inspire confidence do they. What about Croatia? They are always a team that under-promises and over-delivers, however, they did complete the opposite. That beating that they received in their opening game against Spain realty did a number on them, and they never really recovered from it. Whilst Albania were rock bottom of Group B, them getting to the Euros should be an achievement in itself. Group C: England, Denmark, Slovenia, Serbia   This was by far the dullest group of the lot. England were so unconvincing in all their matches. The only positive for them is that they topped the group, resulting in a favourable path to the final. They’ll need to play a lot better if they have hopes of winning the big one. They will be joined by Denmark and Slovenia got the job done at top their group and their half of the draw looks favourable. The fact that both neither team managed to win a single match yet still made it through epitomises why this group was so lacking in entertainment value. The only notable moment was Christian Eriksen scoring against Slovenia, a remarkable moment for him given what he experienced at the last Euros. I haven’t mentioned Serbia, and that’s probably for the best. Group D: France, Austria, Netherlands, Poland   Who had Austria being group winners of their Euros bingo card? I certainly didn’t. The highlight was that thrilling 3-2 against the Dutch. Let’s not underestimate that achievement given the other teams in their group. France found it hard to score in all their matches, and it felt like they were going through the motions. Now they find themselves in that killer half of the draw, but we know with France, when push comes to shove, they deliver. I saw what I expected from the Dutch in reality, flashes of brilliance but in general a lack of consistent quality. That loss against Austria really hurt them as it could have been them finishing first, instead of having to settle for third. The Poles finished bottom of Group D, which was probably expected. It’s just a shame that they didn’t make more noise, given it could be Lewandowski’s last Euros. Group E: Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, Ukraine   For the first time in the competition’s history, all four teams finished on four points, with Ukraine being the first team ever to not progress with this many points. Congratulations to Romania for coming out on top. Belgium were the strongest team on paper, but it’s looking more and more likely that their days as genuine title contenders at major tournaments are long gone. Aside from some KDB brilliance, Belgium looked so off the pace. Slovakia were considered outsiders to advance, doing exactly that, in so setting up a tie against England. They are a team that look well-organised and hard to break down. England be wary. As mentioned earlier, Ukraine will fill hard done by to not get out of the group. In the end, it was their lack of guile and creativity that cost them. Group F: Portugal, Türkiye, Georgia, Czechia   Ah, my favourite group. The matches were good & we saw a couple of goal of the tournament contenders in the Türkiye Georgia match. But the main reason I enjoyed this group was Georgia qualifying for the knockout stages. This was their first international tournament in their history, and they sealed their progress with a memorable 2-0 win against Portugal. Portugal had already got the job done so their defeat against the Georgians didn’t matter. Whilst I still think they’ll disappoint, they showed they have the quality to go all the way. Turkey impressed me, their young talent coupled with their experience showed in the group stages. That 3-1 win against Georgia was one of the games of the competition thus far.  They could be a tricky customer in the last 16. Czechia’s performances mean they should hold their heads high, despite the single point they obtained. This Week’s Hot Take   I’m not a fan of 16 out of the 24 teams making it to the knockouts. It causes some teams to play it safe, knowing that four points (sometimes three) is all you need. It leads to boring, pragmatic football, which no one wants. The solution is simple. Make the Euros at 32-team tournament with eight groups of four and the top two advancing. Or keep it at 16 teams and have the top two in each group make it to the last eight.

Euro 2024 is has kicked off as nations across the continent attempt to be crowned kings of Europe. There are so many interesting stories going into this tournament. Can England click when it matters most? Will Toni Kroos retire on a high? Italy to go back to back? With that in mind, I’ll offer my predictions, from the victors to the biggest flops and much more! Winners: France I’ve gone with the French for several reasons. They’ve got the best player on the planet in Kylian Mbappe. We’ve seen already what’s he’s done at international tournaments in the past, this man is made for the big occasions. As a team, they’ve got that pedigree, having reached the final in three of the last four international competitions they’ve competed in. If you look at their squad, it’s arguably the most well-rounded from defence to attack, without any glaring weaknesses. All of the above means that it’s hard to look past them. Provided all goes to plan, only England and Portugal should be able to stop them, and I just think those two will either be let down by their coach (in the case of England) or won’t be able to gel when it matters (as might happen with Portugal). Top Scorer: Harry Kane Fresh off his debut campaign at Bayern, I believe Kane will end the Euros as top scorer. He may not have the best record at tournaments but he’s the spearhead of England’s attack. I also think he’ll have a bit of a point to prove. Kane is undoubtedly one of the best strikers about, but his inability to win silverware, both at club and international level, must be weighing on him. In my lifetime, this is the best chance England have had to win a trophy and they’re expected to go far. Provided that is the case, I think Kane is a good bet to win the golden boot. There are other contenders who’ll be vying for this prize; Kylian Mbappe & Cristiano Ronaldo to name a couple. Ultimately though, I think these two will fall short and the Bayern forward will come out on top. Player of the Tournament: Antoine Griezmann France’s squad is star-studded, so much so that Griezmann doesn’t always get the appreciation he deserves. Sure, Mbappe is the star of the show, but Griezmann in some ways is the glue that links everything together superbly. His time at Barcelona tarnished his reputation a bit but since moving back to Atletico he's been a man reborn. He’ll most likely play as the most advanced in a midfield three for the French, meaning he’ll be very involved in the attacking play. Once more, he’s normally been a standout performer for his country, playing a pivotal role in France’s World Cup 2018 win and their run to the final four years. I’ve always been a fan of the little Frenchman and it’s very possible that we’ll look back at Euro 2024 as the Antoine Griezmann show. Breakout Star: Lamine Yamal Barcelona’s La Masia academy is famed for producing talented young players, and one of its most recent graduates could be the one to watch. This season for Barcelona, Yamal has emerged as a key member of the Catalonia team’s squad. He won’t even be 17 by the time Spain kick off their campaign, and he could become the youngest player ever to feature at a Euros competition. There’s a high chance as well that he’ll start for Spain in their first game, and if he performs well, it would be hard for him to lose that starting spot. At such a tender age, it’s rare to see that level of talent. Sure, he’s still very raw but we could see the makings of a true star in Germany. Surprise Team: Hungary Hungary should not be slept on as they have some fine players. Péter Gulácsi and Willi Orbán, both of whom ply the trade at RB Leipzig. Dominik Szoboszlai, their captain and talisman, who plays for Liverpool. They went unbeaten in their qualification campaign and haven’t lost a competitive game in nearly two years. Bear in mind during that time, they have beaten England twice, they’ve beaten Germany and avoided defeat against France. People may say, the last time at the Euros it didn’t go well for them, what makes this time different? Well, at Euro 2020, they were in a group with Germany, France and Portugal. There was no way they were making it out of that group. This time around, they’re a team that are extremely well coached and possess a togetherness and comradery that could surprise their opposition. Look out for the Magyarok. Biggest Disappointments: Portugal Portugal are one of the favourites to win it all and it’s felt like every major tournament they should do well, but this year’s edition could be more of the same. Ever since they triumphed at Euro 2016, they’ve never really been able to put it together when it matters most. Looking at their squad, it’s as good as they come. But for whatever reason, they can’t mesh well. Not to mention that they are managed by Roberto Martinez, who at international level, is most known for underachieving with Belgium’s Golden Generation. A lot of their hopes rest on Cristiano Ronaldo. At 39, this is surely his last major tournament. We saw his limited impact at the World Cup and this could bode badly for the Portuguese. This Week’s Hot Take I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not hyped for the Euros at all. It might be since, for the most part, I can never really get that invested into international football. For me, it’s always been inferior to club football and the pace of the international game makes it a harder watch. It also feels like the media isn’t really hyping the tournament that much either. I’m hoping once the football gets underway, I can get into it, but right now, there isn’t much excitement.