Catching My Breath

Soccer Chatterbox
Aug 28, 2017 · 4 min read

Phew! It’s been a hell of a football summer. So much on display and I don’t really know where to start from. To be honest, after a brief lull, I was dying for some action. When I finally got the action, it really blew me away…and I’m not the only one that felt that way.

Transfer Season kicked off in June and all hell has been breaking loose ever since. Speculation broke out about every good player out there. Social media was churning out story after story…to the point I started to think I was a target for AC Milan (lol). Sanchez, James Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Verrati, Van Dijk (You could add more names…I’m tired) were making the news every day. They were always telling someone that they want to move on (it’s like fans are the only ones actually listening to them…boardroom folks don’t understand that English). Then, everything went really fast. Bayern played smart and got James, Man United dragged Lukaku out of Everton with Rooney moving the other way, Daniel Alves snitched Guardiola and joined PSG, and Man City and AC Milan started blowing money fast. Finally, just when you thought it could not get ANY more dramatic, PSG pulled off the most ridiculous: Getting Neymar to think he’ll win the Ballon D’or by playing in France (smh…Really?). The price-tag still puzzles me but I won’t get into the financials since I own Zero part of it. From a Nigerian point of view, it was great to see Iheanacho move to Leicester City. He’s a talented kid and Man City rate him very highly (considering that his buy-back clause is about 50m).

Let’s talk international football for a bit. This summer saw us witness the Under-20 World Cup and the Euro Under-21 Championship (to state a few). A few other senior clashes took place as well but they were nothing to talk about. I’m still thinking about the Nigerian boys who helped England win the ‘small’ World Cup (Solanke, Ojo, Onomah, Fikayo, Ademola) and how important it is that they make the Nigerian squads in the future. Add the likes of Aina (who’s joined finally), Iorfa, and Tammy Abraham and you have a fairly good chance…of beating South Africa (lol…at least).

Then the football starts. It kicked off in style at the Emirates with Arsenal and Leicester treating us to a goal fest (and bad defending). Spanish Super Cup was underway with Real Madrid showing real muscle against Barcelona. Marc Asensio is a star to watch this season for Real. He’s building a steady reputation as a man for the spectacular. The loss of Neymar is huge for Barca and it will be interesting to see how they’ll cope. Juventus didn’t have the same luck as Real Madrid though; losing to Lazio in the Italian Super Cup. But I think the resurgence of the Milan Clubs will make things really interesting this Serie A season. Man United scored 10 goals in the opening 2 games and look like title winners already. Chelsea lost and bounced back really well. Neymar has started really well in Ligue 1 and Monaco have a lot to do this season, having sold half their squad.

Looking closer to home, it’s been a standard title jostle between Plateau United and MFM FC. Watching both clubs go at it this season has been fun. First of all, it must have been a surprise to have both of them in the running in the 1st place (I expected more from Enyimba and Kano Pillars this year but I guess most of their players are focused on taking their careers to Europe). The guys from Plateau and MFM are not at that level yet so I think that has contributed to how good they have been this year. Until recently, it looked like a two-horse race. Mathematically, it’s about three. But we all know that Plateau United will win it in the end so let’s start writing their names down in the history books. Rangers pulled off a 2015/2016 Chelsea and Remo Stars never looked like they belonged in the NPFL.

As we head into the international break, the 1st stop is the end of the Transfer Window; which is this Friday. I expect more huge deals to be done. Coutinho may still leave, Mbappe is still being targeted, and Sanchez and Chamberlain could still leave Arsenal. Spurs have finally kick-started their transfer drive so it should go down to the wire. Champions’ League will happen this year…without Arsenal. Europa League will happen this year…with Arsenal. This will be so fun to watch. The lull (which is the international break) comes at a time when we all take a break and prepare for the rest of what should be another gripping football season.

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Soccer Chatterbox

Cool, Calm, and Collected…until he starts about soccer

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