HOW THE EMERGENCE OF AN EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE WOULD MURDER THE RICH EUROPEAN LEAGUE SYSTEMS

The concept of an European Super League sounds very Nice on paper. As a Football fan you get to see the Big Dogs in Europe square off against each other Every weekend. The thought of Seeing fixtures like Real Madrid Vs Manchester United, Barcelona Vs Juventus, PSG Vs Manchester City, Chelsea Vs Bayern Munich every weekend would be intriguing  not to mention the loads of Money it's gonna bring for the top clubs participant.


But indirectly, Isn't it Murdering the Football Tradition of Leagues in Europe?, From the Onset, Every league always have those shoking moment when the little clubs beats the bigger ones with a quite catchy margin.

European Super League if created would mark the death of the prestigious continental championship The UEFA Champions League. A super league featuring all the cream of European Football would relegate the Champions League to a League Cup Status.

In France for example, Paris Saint Germain (P.S.G) reign supreme and dominant over the years. The French Ligue 1 would get less attention and ratings if PSG decides to leave and join the super league. Imagine teams like Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique du Marseille being the Super powers of French Football

In German Likewise, Bayern Munich extradition would create the path for a BVB resurgence. No surprise if this supposed development revives German Football from the one club "Bayern" Dominance it has had over the years. In fact, if Bayern gets into the super league, Bundesliga might become more competitive.

According to German investigative News tabloid "Der Speigel", there had been talks by big clubs in Europe to create the Super league with teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Internazionale, A.C Milan, Bayern, Juventus e.t.c would have a 20 years contract while other teams like Athletics Madrid would have 5 years with an option of renewal. If both Milan clubs and Juventus leaves to join the Super league, Serie A will lose close to or if not more than 50% of it's rating. Teams like A.S Roma and S.S.C Napoli would run riot and form a new era in Italian football.

Every year, the Spanish La Liga is lit up by the El-Clasico title race and the emergence of Athletico  Madrid in recent years as a third power in the Spanish Armada fleet. The result of removing this big 3 (Real Madrid, Barcelona & Athletico Madrid) would result in Valencia finishing first followed by sevilla, Villarreal, Athletic Club, Celta Vigo in that heirachy. That league promises Super Boredom.

Also, The premier league currently have 5 big boys (Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea & Manchester City).  As at 30 years ago, remove Chelsea and Man city and include Tottenham Hotspurs and Everton. The subtraction of the current big 5 would result to the premier league looking more like the Leicester City Fairy tale Season of 2015/2016. Anyone would be able to win it. But expectedly Tottenham & Everton should rise to the Challenge.

In Addition, Take wales for example, The league of wales is making no waves because welsh big clubs aren't even participants. Clubs like Cardiff city, Swansea, Wycombe, Newport county are all part of the English league System.

The Emergence of the Super league would result to other clubs becoming feeder teams to the big boys . supplying and developing players for them to come and scoop up.

The Major Advantage of the Super league is Football fans can get to view Block Buster Fixtures week in Week out.

THE RIVALRY : JOSE MOURINHO VS PEP GUARDIOLA

We take a look back from one of Football Biggest rivalries.

Jose Mourinho Vs Pep Guardiola, A Rivalry that lighted up the La Liga, The Champions League & Now the Premier League. Although, it is quite funny that Jose Mourinho Coached Pep Guardiola at Barcelona as an Assistant Manager. Here's all the stats from such great rivalry.

José Mourinho (The special one) and Pep Guardiola are part of the most successful manager and they are undoubtedly the two best manager there is in football now, and they have been battling it out since 2009.

Pep and José have met 22 times with the Catalan having the upper hand with 10 win and his Portuguese rival winning just 5 games and 7 games ended in a tie.

HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN:

GUARDIOLA'S BARCELONA VS MOURINHO'S INTER MILAN;

Four meetings: Guardiola wins: 2, Draws: 1, Mourinho wins: 1

The two managers met first in the champions league group stage of 2009. Their first game ended in a 0-0 draw at the San Siro stadium. The reverse feature saw the Spanish win 2-0 at the Nou kamp. "we're far from being Barca in terms of individual qualities and profile, as a team Barcelona are better than us, but if I had to play Barca tomorrow, I would already be ready, if you tell me Inter will face Barca in the semi-finals, I will accept it already" Mou said after the game.

Mourinho got his wish, Inter met Barca in the semi-finals of the champions league and this time Jose's Italian side triumphed over the Spanish side 3-1 at the San Siro in the first leg but in the second leg Pep's side won the game 1-0 but José side qualified on a 3-2 aggregate, José's Inter went on to win the champions league.

GUARDIOLA'S BARCELONA VS MOURINHO'S REAL MADRID;

Eleven meetings: Guardiola wins: 5, Draws: 4, Mourinho wins: 2

On 28 May 2010, it was confirmed that Mourinho would take over from Manuel Pellegrini at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
During the next two seasons, as the pair vied for domestic and European honours, their relationship turned ugly.

A thumping 5-0 win for Guardiola in Mourinho's first El Clasico handed the Spaniard a head-start. "I'm proud the whole world has seen how we play football," he said. The win over Real Madrid was Mourinho's heaviest defeat as a manager.

But it would be a run of four meetings in a little over two weeks from mid-April, as Barcelona and Real Madrid clashed in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League, which saw the pressure get to both men.

Their next meeting in the La Liga ended in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu that assured Barcelona of the league title.

But Cristiano Ronaldo clinched the Copa del Rey in extra-time four days later in a 1-0 win over Barca, ending Real's 18-year wait to lift the Spanish cup. After the game Guardiola criticize the officials by saying "the linesman must have had great eyesight to spot that Pedro was in an offside position" before scoring what would have been the opening goal.

"Up until now there was a very small group of coaches who didn't talk about referees and a larger group who did," said Mourinho ahead of the teams' Champions League semi-final first-leg. "Now, with Pep's comments, we have started a new era with a third group, featuring only one person, a man who criticises [the referee] when he makes good decisions. This is completely new to me."

 "As senor Mourinho has called me Pep, I'm going to call him Jose," he said in his pre-match press conference. "Tomorrow at 8.45pm we will face each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he's won. He's been winning off the pitch all season. Let them give him a Champions League for it so he can enjoy it and take it home. In the press room he is 'el p*** jefe' (the ******* boss) and the one who knows more than everyone else." Guardiola hit back at Mourinho.

The managers met again in the champions league semi-final but it was Guardiola's men who went on to win the first leg of the Champions League semi-final 2-0 at the Bernabeu with two late goals from Messi.

For the fifth game in a row (including Inter Milan) Mourinho had a player sent off against Guardiola side. Pepe was shown a red on 61 minutes and Mourinho himself was dismissed for protesting.

After the match, José launched an attack on Barcelona and the integrity of UEFA officials. "One day, I would like Josep Guardiola to win this competition properly," he said in a post-match conference.

He continued "If I tell UEFA what I really think and feel, my career would end now. Instead I will just ask a question to which I hope one day to get a response: Why? Why Ovrebo? Why Busacca? Why De Bleeckere? Why Stark?" he continued, naming the referee who officiated Chelsea's exit the previous season and the three referees to have taken charge of his most recent matches with Guardiola.

"Why? Because every semi-final the same things happen. We are talking about an absolutely fantastic football team, so why do they need that? Why? Why does a team as good as they are need something that is so obvious that everyone sees it?"

"I don't know if it is the UNICEF sponsorship or if it is because they are nice guys. I don't understand. They have power and we have no chance. All I can do is leave that question here in the air and hope that one day I will get the response. They have to get to the final, and they'll get there, full stop."

"Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach. But I have won two Champions Leagues and he has won only one Champions League - and that is one that would embarrass me. I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge. If he wins it this year, it will be with the scandal of the Bernabeu. Deep down, if they are good people, it cannot taste right for them. I hope one day Guardiola has the chance of winning a brilliant, clean championship with no scandal." José said.

With Mourinho serving a touchline ban the sides drew 1-1 at the Nou Camp, sealing Barcelona's passage to the final. "This has been one of the most beautiful nights I have ever lived," said Guardiola, whose team would go on to beat Manchester United at Wembley.

Their next meeting ended in a 2-2 draw in Barcelona.  Mourinho poked Tito Vilanova, Guardiola's assistant, in the eye during a brawls which followed a ferocious tackle from Marcelo on Cesc Fabregas.

The Real Madrid manager was also seen making gestures towards Messi and Alves in their next meeting, after the 3-2 defeat, he criticised the hosts' "ball boys." "Someone has to take action on the matter. Mourinho is destroying Spanish football," said a furious Gerard Pique, the Barcelona defender.

Mourinho, though, was ready for war. "I'm not going to say we're happy because we didn't win the Spanish Super Cup, that would be hypocritical of me. But we intended to play like men and not fall on the ground at the slightest touch. I have been taught to play like a man and not to fall first."

However, Guardiola would once again get the better of Mourinho in the first league clash of the season, pulling level with their rivals at the top of La Liga after bouncing back from the quickest-ever Clasico goal from Karim Benzema to win 3-1.

A little over a month later Barcelona were victorious again at the Bernabeu, taking a 2-1 Copa del Rey first-leg lead back to the Nou Camp.

Pep's Barcelona drew 2-2 with José's men in the Copa del Rey second-leg match where they booked a semi-final spot in the competition they'd go on to win.  

However, despite defeat to Barcelona in December, Real Madrid were proving an unstoppable force for all other comers in La Liga, winning 11 in a row after that Clasico loss. By the time they went to the Nou Camp in April, the title was in their hands - and Ronaldo hit the decisive strike in a 2-1 success against Barcelona to put Real seven points clear with four games remaining.

It was Barcelona's first home defeat in 55 games, Real's first Clasico win since 2008 and their first at the Nou Camp for five years. "We can't expect to always be up to the standard but it's a pity we faltered in the decisive moment," rued Guardiola. Mourinho declined to speak to the press.

Real went on to win all four remaining games to take the title for the first time in four years, finishing with a record 121 goals to their name and a nine-point advantage over Barcelona. As an illustration of how far clear Mourinho and Guardiola's men were of the rest, third-placed Valencia were 39 points off the season.

Red Bull's Football Empire: Case study of RB Leipzig & RB Salzburg

RB Salzburg (Red Bull Salzburg)*

*RB New York (Red Bull New York)*

*RB Brazil (Red Bull Brazil)*

*RB Leipzig ( Rassen ballsport Leipzig)*

Red Bull's C.E.O Dietrich Mateschitz is the Richest Football club Owner in the World worth around £21 Billion.

That sum might look so small but rembering that Chelsea's Roman Abrahimovich is worth just £8 Billion.... His clubs should quite be able to spend Big in Transfer Windows & Wages ...

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That's super wrong ❌❌

RB Leipzig & RB Salzburg are obviously the 2 most popular of the Red Bull Franchise but fact be that both actually started in 2009 & 2005 respectively.

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I know it's shocking, for a club to be among Europe Elites in less than 10 years of Creation
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So, How did Red Bull manage to build Very Good teams in Salzburg & Leipzig without spending big????

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Actually, The Red Bull Success Story in Europe Revolves around a Already planned out philosophy & A man named *Ralf Ragnick* who acted as Director of Sport for Red Bull's European Projects..

Ragnick highlighted Red Bull philosophy into 3K's namely - Kapital, Konzept & Kompetenz

RB's Philosophy was mostly based on Keeping consistency in the franchise by simply investing in Youth Development.

Forget it's Financial Backing, Red Bull clubs operate more like Academy Clubs by getting players for cheap & Developing them.

Example is the Talismanic German *Timo Werner (Pronounced as VVerner)*, *Werner* joined Leipzig in 2016 for €14 million and 2 and a half season later... He worth between €40-60 million.

Another example is Guinean *Naby Keita*, *Naby Keita* was scouted by RB Salzburg scouts and was picked up from French division 2 side *F.C Istres* in 2013 for €1.5 million.  After 2 seasons in Austria, Naby was transfered to fellow sister club *RB Leipzig* to help the German Club who had just been promoted to Germany's top flight league *Bundesliga* from 2nd division *Bundesliga 2*

After impressive debut Bundesliga Season for both Keita & Leipzig that saw them finish 2nd & Become the most hated club in Germany.

For a club that finished 2nd the season b4 in *Bundesliga 2* also finishing behind champions Bavarian giants *FC Bayern Munchen* in it's first ever season in *Bundesliga*.

*Naby keita* was Voted into the team of the season and after another year he was shipped to *LIverpool* for €60 Million.

It could also be said of *Naby's*  current team mate in Liverpool *Sadio Mane*. *Mane* Joined *RB Salzburg* in 2013 for €3 million and left after 2 years to *Southampton* in England for X3 of that price ...

Red bull consistency project was obvious when *Salzburg* beat *Celtic* in the Europa League 3-1. *Celtic* only goal scorer in that game *Eduoard* was signed for £9 million which made him more expensive than the entire *Salzburg's* squad. *Salzburg's* most expensive player that day was Israeli striker *Moanes Favour* who was just worth €1 million . The rest where from the Academy.

I write up here by simply saying *Red Bull's* project is going to hit Big in Europe in years too come.For the first time ever last season we saw the 2 *Red Bull* clubs in the Europa League quarter Finals. Although *Leipzig* was Knocked out but *Salzburg* progressed into the semi's and was knocked out by *Marseille*.

Still,  *Red bull* doesn't deviate from it's *3K* philosophy. It is gunning for Gold.
*Red Bull* has set up ah remarkable model for Clubs, Something worthy of emulatian.

Ed Woodward should be Blamed

Yesterday, I wrote an article on who is to be blamed for Manchester United poor run lately. Well Today, it was evident that it wasn’t the players, neither was it the Manager. The problem lies with the “mighthy” executive Ed woodward.

Manchester United were 2 goals down against Newcastle in just 10 minutes into the game. That is very embarrassing but where able to overturn the deficit and win the game in the late minute. What we learnt from that game was:
Mourinho loves his job.
Mourinho still have control over his dressing room
Pogba, martial, sanchez & mata were stellar
Nobody should leave in January
Ed woodward is a looser
Manchester United still has that fighting spirit.

We must commend Mourinho and the entire team including pogba, martial and sanchez for stepping up and working together as a team to still keep the fans hopes alive. I think no premier league club this season has overturned a 2 goal deficit to win 3-2. But Kudos to Manchester United and Jose Mourinho for keeping such hopes alive.
This might just be the turning point Manchester United Need to be back on their game. With this fighting spirit they showed they could go on to win something this season.

As for Ed, Maybe he should just resign. He obviously frustrated jose’s effort during the window by not getting him his preferred player. Come on Ed it’s your job to give the man what he wants. Now, Mourinho’s  job is a little bit more secure.

Manchester United: Who is too blame???

Manchester United are haven't won  in the past 4 games. Okay, that's quite embarrassing for the most Successful team in England's football history with 20 league tittles. But the real question is "Who is to blame for this poor form lately??. Is it José??, or Pogba?, or Ed Woodward??.

Flashback to Jose mourinho's recent press conference where he made it clear that he won't be getting fired but some players would be leaving by January. All hands point to Paul pogba who in recent weeks seems to have fall out with the manager. On José's part, the players want him fired. On the players part the managers tactics isn't working out. Now who is too take the blame??

Is it the players attitudes or José mourinho's tactics or Ed Woodward for not getting a defensive recruit during the summer. For you personally, Who would you Blame???

Matchday 5: who will win the league???

Week 5 of the premier league, Hazard hat trick, smalling scores, city cruises, Liverpool wins spurs, Arsenal, Bournemouth win and other actions of in matchday 5, It’s still very early to dictate the course of the most prestigious League in the World.

Sitting on top of the table with 15 points each, Liverpool and Chelsea look pretty challenging to win the league but not forgotten Man City who sits 3rd on the log and are still unbeaten like the remaining two. Arsenal & Manchester United both on 9 points each can not also be left aside. In the last 2 games, all premier league big boys have been showing signs of real title contenders. So I predict a very interesting season.

For now, it’s still very unclear who would emerge the champion in may but we do know that we are in for one of the best seasons ever.

Rashford's Red card: Was it fair or not?

On the 2nd of September there was a controversial officiating when Burnley’s Turf Moor hosted Manchester United and  referee Jonathan Moss sent Rashford back into the dressing room.
Marcus Rashford came on in the 61st minute of the game with United leading 2 nil up, but in the 71st minute Rashford was saw a straight red because he head butted  Phil Bardsley.

WATCH THE CLIP OF THE FOUL BELOW.

NOW THE BIG QUESTION IS IT WORTH THE RED?

Before Rashford head butting Bardsley, Bardsley had attempt to deliberately foul Rashford after the ball had gone our of play, this is what got Rashford angry.
But nevertheless it was a stupid and amateur move by Rashford to head butted Bardsley .
Our opinion is that Rashford shouldn’t have been sent off, he should have been yellow carded but since Moss decided that Rashford deserves to see the red card so should, Bardsley should have also seen a red card.

LUKA MODRIC CHANCES OF BREAKING THE MESSI-RONALDO DOMINANCE.

In Monaco, The UEFA announced the winners of it’s Annual awards. As expected, it was a Real Madrid dominated list (sought off) but the shocker of the day was the player of the year awards (POTY). Deservingly, Luka Modric was Awarded the Best Mid fielder for the year 2018 and the Croatian surprisingly won the Men’s Player of the Year ahead of former team mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Egyptian Mohammed Salah.

Luka Modric had a very fine season with both Real Madrid and Croatia. With the former, He was instrumental to Los Blancos conquest of Europe for a 3rd successive he season and won the world cup Golden Ball for taking his country into the World Cup Finals only to lose 4-2 to to France. Spectacularly, Modric beat Juventus man Cristiano Ronaldo to the trophy, The talismanic Portugese player that has been in the shortlist for the awards every year since 2011.

For the past 10 years, the world biggest prize for a football player has been dominated by 2 players. A Portugese and an Argentine namely Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi respectedly with both having 5 each. Luka Modric’s emergence as Europe POTY  has increased the stakes of a possibility that the golden era of dominance by the players from out of this world (Messi & Ronaldo) is at it’s climax.

Unless there is a repeat of the 2012 & 2013 season where the winner of the European POTY was different from the winners of the award given by FIFA. So for now, The Stakes are high for Luka Modric to win the FIFA the best Award. Unless if Ronaldo’s age comes into context & stands as a reason for him to clinch the award. It’s a fifty fifty chance between Cristiano Ronaldo & Luka Modric.

The black Panther!!!. 
                                                        13 facts about the Black Panther

1.  Real name, Eusébio da Silva Ferreira
2.  Eusebio was born on 25 January 1942 in Maputo, Mozambique.
3.  His parents were Laurindo António da Silva Ferreira, a black railroad worker from Malanje, Angola and Elisa Anissabeni, a black Mozambican woman.
4. His father, Laurindo António da Silva Ferreira, a white Angolan railroad worker, died from tetanus when Eusébio was still an 8-year-old kid.
5. At  15, Juventus of Italy, wanted to sign him  but his mother was not interested in the move'
6. A couple of years later, a Benfica representative visited and told Eusebio's mum that her son could have a bright future as a footballer, she did give her blessing to that 'marriage'
7. Eusébio was  called "The Black Panther" because of his speed and his "killer instinct"' (at his prime, it took him just 11 seconds to run 100 meters)
8. In his 15 years as a Benfica player, he won won 11 Championship titles, five Portuguese Cup trophies, of course the 1962 European Cup, and countless personal honors, with the Ballon d'Or in 1965
9. A year later  in England's World Cup finals in 1966, he led Portugal to the last four of the 1966 world cup  and finished the competition as the top scorer with 9 goals.  They fell to the hosts (England) in extra time.
10. At age 33, Eusebio put an end to his Benfica career. He kept on playing but mostly in north America playing football for five more years, mostly in North America. 
11. He played for; Sporting Lourenço Marques (1957-1960), Benfica (1960-1975), Rhode Island Oceaneers (1975), Boston Minutemen (1975), Monterrey (1975-1976), Beira-Mar (1976-1977), Toronto Metros-Croatia (1976), Las Vegas Quicksilver (1977), New Jersey Americans (1977-1978), União de Tomar (1977-1978), Buffalo Stallions (1979-1980).
12. In total, he scored 580 goals in 575 matches for club football and 41 goals in 64 matches for portugal.
13. Eusébio died in Lisbon in 2014, aged 71

JOSE MOURINHO’S 3RD SEASON SYNDROME

  
“No current manager in the league has won 3 league titles so you have to respect me”. Those were the words of Jose Mario Dos Santos Mourinho during the press conference in the wake of Manchester United 0-3 loss to Tottenham at Old Trafford.

Jose, Champions league winner with Internazionale in 2010

The Portugese Manager recorded his slowest start to a league campaign this season with Manchester United and his entire career started his Managerial carrier as an interpreter to sir Bobby Robson at Sporting C.P, F.C Porto & F.C Barcelona where he became assistant manager under louis Van Gaal. Mourinho’s first full time job was with SL Benfica where he spent less than a year in 2000. He move to U.D Leria in 2001 taking them to their highest ever league finish ever before moving back to Porto in 2002. In Porto, Jose won the league, the cup, the Champions league, The Europa League in just 2 year. In 2003, he joined London club Chelsea & won the league consecutively as well as the FA cup & League cup double. Jose left in 2007 amidst rift with club owner Roman Abramovich & Joined Internazionale in 2008 winning the serie A thrice, super coppa italiana, coppa italia & completing a treble before heading for Madrid in 2010. He won the super cup, copa del rey & the league in 2012, he left madrid back to Chelsea in 2013 & won the league in 2015. Joined Manchester United in 2016 winning the community shield, League Cup & the Europa League in his first season in charge.

Champions league winner with porto in 2004

Now, Jose Mourhino is in his 3^rd season as Manchester United boss & things don’t seem to be going well with him. Based on his history & Record, Jose Mourhino has never surpassed the 3 season mark as a manager, Jose normally have a bad spell In his 3^rd season at a  club. Take his first stinct at Chelsea for example, The Blues lost the league to Manchester United as well as went trophy less that entire season. Same thing also happened in  Real Madrid & his second stinct at Chelsea.

jose in SL Benfica in the year 2000

All this raises a question, “Can Jose Mourinho survive his 3^rd season syndrome and lead Manchester United to Glory this season???. The Question remains Rhetorical until the possible or impossible happens. Manchester United Fans can only hope it doesn’t go the other way round. But, as things currently stands. He is been affected with his syndrome & it possibly will affect his position as a Manager.