This could be one hell of a strange season. From start to finish there's going to be midweek games. Matches are going to be crammed into such a tight timeframe, it's unreal and likely to lead to a massiv accumulation of stress/impact injuries. Considering there's Euro 2020 pencilled in for next summer followed by the World Cup next winter, players are going to be flogged to the bone.
Personally, I can see Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd providing more of a challenge than last season. I hear what you're saying regarding Laporte, he is the fulcrum of City's defence. Take him out of the equation and City have a glass jaw exposed ready and waiting for a good tonking. Ake? WTF and for that amount of cash as well. But then it's the premium one has to play if you're one of the elite clubs and it's widely known that they need defensive cover.
As for Liverpool and their defenders, apart from VVD, I have faith in Robertson from a defending point of view. Gomez, Matip - due damn injury prone. Preferably I'd like them to get another central defender with good organisational and leadership qualities who can stay fit for the majority of the season. Additonally, a bit of attacking cover to take the strain of the front three wouldn't go amiss. How I wish Liverpool would've shelved out for Haaland last season. Wish they would also stop fucking about and sign up Alacantra, he offers so much and brings another dimension to that midfield.
Regarding Everton, where do you start? Apart from Gomes and some of the players brought up from the youth ranks, some serious engineering needs to be carried out, especially as you still have that fuckwit Walcott in the ranks. If things remain quiet on the transfer front due to Moshiri being tight for a change, I can envisage Carlo walking away. May not exactly be a bad thing as it could bring big Duncan back into the hot seat.
What is going to be interesting, is Leeds or more specifically Bielsa. El loco is something else, and I was joking with my brother that he might use his connections to bring Messi to Elland Road.
See, with the champions league because it was all so crammed into such a tight schedule, I didn't even realise it was going on until the final, which I watched. Mmmm.. Bayern deserved to win but, I wasn't too impressed really? From a neutral view, just didn't excite me much. So I hope the season ahead isn't too much of a headache, it seems like it may possibly be similar to a season in the championship, with all the extra midweek games, though if more episodes of match of the day are shown as a result, no complaints really. I try and keep up as much as possible.
Preferably I'd like them to get another central defender with good organisational and leadership qualities who can stay fit for the majority of the season.
See this is specifically what I meant when I was mentioning defence, I think I probably misspoke when I mentioned defence, I meant specifically, central defence. Liverpool in the full back positions, not a problem at all. I just feel like aside from Van Djik in that position, I wouldn't feel too secure, much how City wouldn't feel incredibly secure without Laporte (though I think Laporte, nowhere near the quality of Virgil). Haaland would've been a great signing though, I think Dortmund was probably the right choice for him, would you have seen him as displacing Firmino? I think from his perspective, it was more a transfer to a big club who would actually give him the playing time he needed. Rather than sporadic appearances.
Everton wise, oh man, where do I start.........
Near enough every single position aside from Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin, need a first team signing, or at least the patience for a youth player/young singing to come in and develop over the course of a few seasons,, It's going to take at least, 2-3 seasons before I feel positive about our chances, by that time, Ancelotti, is essentially a year away from the end of his contract. This man should've been Everton boss when we had the money to spend, We're doing one of the successful coaches in Europe a disservice if we don't do exactly what he thinks needs to be done.
Leeds are going to surprise a few people I think, I didn't put them down as my surprise package as, I dunno, while the gulf in class of Championship to lower end premier league, doesn't seem to be as, daunting as it once was, I think BIesla could struggle? I look forward to seeing what happens with Leeds though.