IranSportsPress.com: Two months on from different football leagues' kick-off, Nima Backy reviews the top 20 teams of this season. The ranking parameters include the coach`s philosophy, experience, club’s scouting, and the coach`s philosophy success to form a cohesive team squad. |
17. Tottenham
Tottenham is best described this season with speedy and creative players with above average technical skills, a good coach but vulnerable to counter. Gomes and Cudicini are two unstable goalkeepers. Gomes continues to make simple mistakes. Tottenham have a defence that can also attack. They are not afraid to keep the possession. They are particularly impressive in the left-back, Ekotto; The 25 year old offers an important role when the team attacks, but he needs to improve his defensive skills. In the middle it seems promising; King, Bassong, Dawsong and Woodgate. The right side is somewhat uncertain in terms of playing style of Tottenham. Tottenham need offensive full backs; Corluka is an option but there may be some limitations on how much his skills extend when the team attacks. The fear is that he is a new Heinze in a team that try to keep possession.
Palacios and Huddlestone complement each other very well. Palacios work higher up the pitch while Huddlestone stays somewhat deeper; both have accurate passing. On the right side Tottenham have fast paced Lennon. Lennon has grown a lot last year and is one of Britain's best wingers today. On the left, Modric stands for the entertainment. Modric and Ekotto work very well together. Upfront Defoe and Keane are usually started; Defoe fits perfectly into the game, but he and Keane do not complement each other well. It seems like a better idea to start Pavlyuchenko on the pitch. He is perhaps the best striker Tottenham has in front of goal and with this style of play Tottenham can capitalize a lot on a natural striker like him. Kranjcar have also been brought to the club; He will primarily fill the place of Modric until he is back, but he will be moved toward the center when Modric is back. It depends entirely how well Kranjcar fit together with Huddlestone. You just know it works very well with the Palacios and Huddlestone; although both are technically good players who work hard without the ball: Kranjcar is technically better but does not possess the same work ethic as the other two.
Profile: Modric
Will either fly ore never take off: Corluka
16. Lyon
Lyon is in transition stage at the moment. Some of the old stars such as Juninho, Keita, Grosso and Benzema, are replaced with new promising players. Players whom Pjanic expects to step up and hopefully replace Juninho. Bastos, who was a key player in Lille last season is also brought in. It is not clear whether he will play on the left back or the wing, but there is no secret that Bastos has a lot to offer offensively.
Lopez and Gomis are brought in to replace Benzema; both are far from Benzema’s level, but will create enough goals to help Lyon clinch the league title. Cissokho from Porto is also signed in defence; That was a very good signing for Lyon. Cissokho will reinforce the team significantly. Kolodziejczak is also promoted to the A-team. Not many playing time is expected of him but he is an exciting player.
Toulalan who earlier seemed to leave the club for Arsenal, has decided to stay in Lyon. This is particularly good news for the French club. In midfield, we also find another great player from last season Makoun. Makoun is one of the few good signings Lyon have made in the last season. He played great last season and is a very important player in Lyon’s title campaign this year. It will be interesting to see who will fill the space following the departure of the old stars. There are many candidates and it will be fun to monitor the "new" project in Lyon.
Profile: Toulalan
Wil either fly ore never take off: Pjanic
15. Sevilla
Sevilla, despite its underestimated assessment by analyst, they have a very good team. Good combination of young talents that is ready to step up to be international stars of tomorrow, good players on very high level with high experience and some talented young players that we will observe this season. C
an Sevilla win La Liga? They are not favourites and therefore they can have a chance to win this year. They have a team that is not as good as the favourites, but the team plays under no great pressure, and the players are cohesive and experienced enough. But one weakness is the goalkeeper who is 36 years old. Palop is a good keeper, but Sevilla should reinforce this section.
In defence you'll find Fazio , the player who can also can play in midfield. Fazio is a young strong center back and has a bright future ahead of him. Sevilla also have Dragutinović who can play in the middle and as left back position if there is need for it. He is 33 years old and brings valuable experience in the defence. Squaillaci has 16 caps for France, previous experience at Lyon and Monaco and plays safe with the ball. Escude can play at left back or as center back. He is a player who struggles somewhat in a physical game, but this year he is 30 and at top of his game. Fernando Navarro is a former Barcelona left-back, player who also was part of the team that won Euro 2008. Player who is solid when the team attacks and also during loss of possession. The former U-21 player Sergio Sanchez is also brought back. He is not anticipated to get much playing time in the middle, but maybe few games at right back. Konko can play both in midfield and the back. He is a hard worker, but lacks technical skills with the ball. Sevilla’s defence is missing some speed though. This can punish them especially against teams that are good at transitions.
At midfield, you have the tough Duscher and Zokora who will compete for the role as the defensive midfielder. Lolo is also brought back and can compete for this place. Renato is also a defensive midfielder who can play higher up the pitch. He is a player like Alonso, but far from that level. Otherwise, the players like flexible Romaric take care of the Offensive role. It is also interesting to see how much playing time the great talent accosta and Perotti get this year. On the left-sided fight stands between Adriano and Capel on the wing place. The final choice would likely be the strong dribbler, fast and not least young Capel will take the place. On the right side Jesus Navas is one of Spain's best dribblers. So the wings seems pretty solid. Upfront, there is a lot to choose from, the numbers speak for themselves: Negrado with 19 goals last season, Kanouté 18 goals, Luis Fabiano with only 8 goals and not least the flop Kone. Luis Fabiano will challenge Kanouté and Negrado as leading striker.
Profile: Diego Capel
Will either fly ore never take off: Negredo
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