Welcome to the first installment of '10 Thoughts On This Week In Football' where I will be writing - ah - every week, my 10 thoughts on this week in football. Did I say that already? Well I am. 10 Thoughts. 10 whole, complete thoughts. Or maybe 9. Sometimes 8. Do I actually have to think?
1) Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid manager makes a lot of sense
The 2nd most famous eyebrow in world sport('s entertainment) will be finally be taking the body attached to it to Real Madrid, the club that Carlo turned down while still manager at AC Milan. Carlo is a perfect remedy for the poisonous storm cloud that was Jose' Mourinho's Spanish tenure, and will do the sporting equivalent of holding Iker Casillas in his bosom, stroking his hair and tell him everything is alright. Or he might actually do that. Who knows what Mou did inside that dressing room.
Anyway, Ancelotti's personable style, 'family' approach to dressing room protocol and attacking brand of football is just what the top brass at Madrid really need after sitting uncomfortably next to Sandro Rosell at El Clasico's while Pepe roamed around the pitch like a horror villain looking for legs to break.
An interesting side note to the Ancelotti hiring will be what happens with Kaka'. Ancelotti famously got the best out of the Brazilian during his time in Italy, and it will be intriguing to see if Carlo will keep his one-time protege' around to see if he can squeeze any remaining magic out of Ricky's knees.
2) Juventus are closing in on Carlos Tevez
After the posters, the armbands, the trips to Argentina, the golf and the "RIP Fergie" t-shirt it appears that Carlos Tevez's entertaining stay in the blue half of Manchester is actually coming to an end, about 18 months since I last wrote that sentence.
However, despite what Mediaset will have you believe (what - Silvio Berlusconi's personal TV station, not trustworthy?) it is Turin, not Milano that will play host to the manic, moody and occasionally majestic Carlos Tevez.
His work ethic on the pitch and versatility will give Juventus a much needed addition of quality up front, and his ability to play in a front two allow for a very exciting Llorente-Tevez duo. Conte will have a job on his hands dealing with Carlito off the pitch, but the former Siena boss's hardline disciplined approach should at least keep the little man in line for about a season or so. After that, we'll see how it goes.
There is an inherent risk with a player like Tevez, but for around €10m to get a player of his stature and skill is a bargain, and a change of scenery could bring the best out of the striker.
3) No folks - Edinson Cavani will actually cost you €63m.
Not even €60m plus the promise to wash this off.
Not €30m plus Torres, €40m plus Ramires, or €58m with a cute pout. €63m. That's it. Aurelio De Laurentiis has set a price he'd be prepared to let his Uruguayan star for because, bottom line: he doesn't really want to sell him. Shocking, really. A club doesn't want to sell it's best players. Crazy.
We're not even into the transfer window yet and clubs have been reportedly piling in the offers of ranging value but the Neopolitan stance has remained firm - he goes on our terms, not yours.
My bet is that if it gets to August and Cavani is still strutting around Naples then someone will actually tag on and cough up the extra money - probably Real Madrid afterthey get their €25m for Gonzalo Higuain. Until then - can we get a price check on number 7? €63m.
4) Pep Guardiola is going to make Bayern Munich better, or he's going to have an aneurysm trying.
We're not sure how, but we're sure that somehow Pep Guardiola is going to turn treble winning, dominating Bayern Munich into a better side. Why? Because he works so goddamn hard. Friends of Pep have brought back whispers of the former Barca coach's "obsession" with learning German so he can deliver his opening press conference in Bavara unaided by translators. Management speak of his politeness, his willingness to learn of the Bavarian culture, history and methods. He has had a friend compile 'detailed' reports on the U-17's and U-19's in the Bayern academies and the stories of his tactical discipline are legendary.
Even by him being there Bayern are more likeable - you want Pep to succeed with them because he tries so hard. Bayern may not be as successful the first season Pep is in charge, but I'd bet a large amount of money that I don't have that he makes them better, be it this year, next year or the year after. He's going to do it(Although they do have Mario Goetze this time, which might help).
5) Brendan Rodgers is using all of his FIFA experience to build a winning side at Liverpool
We've all done it. You set up a new career mode on FIFA, you go on "buy players", you set the maximum age at 23 and you buy some 17 year old kid with a long name that has 90 acceleration and in three years you've turned him into Cristiano Ronaldo, winning the Premier League on a budget thanks to virtual growth and fixed potential curves on video games.
Brendan Rodgers has taken that theory and transposed onto the real world. Rumors are swirling that the Anfield side have approached Shakhtar Donetsk for their midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who was part of Donetsk's attractive young side that surprised Chelsea and Juventus in their Champions League group.
These stories come after the news that 'Pool have finalized a deal for £7m Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas, who scored 12 goals in 35 games for a Celta side that avoided the drop in La Liga last season and will draw comparisons with Swansea steal Michu, who propelled the Welsh side from Premier League new-boys to Carling Cup winners in 12 months.
By not going in-house and looking for British buys and paying a small fortune for very average players like Kenny Daglish did while in charge of Liverpool, Rodgers has brought in a collection of low risk, high upside players. It worked with Philippe Coutinho, the Brazilian wonderkid who was cast aside at Inter is now Liverpool's #10 - it could work with the new batch of signings the Irishman will look to bring in.
We've all tried it. Good for Rodgers for risking it for real.
6) Neymar is actually pretty good.
It'll take him a few years to be accepted by the UK press, but for the rest of the world Neymar is starting to prove his credentials on a stage that can't be derisively snorted at by football traditionalists.
His performances so far at the Confederations Cup have been truly spectacular - his sublime flick to free himself and set up Jo against Mexico will be one of those Youtube moments that pop up on Twitter accounts and Sulia links for months to come and his free kick against Italy was another emphatic point proven against those who doubted his talent on a bigger stage(including me).
Of course, time will tell as to whether he will turn the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly atop of world football into a triumvirate, but for now - Neymar is proving that he is the feet as well as the face of Brazilian football.
7) Balotelli is injured, and Italy are screwed.
The Milan forward took a plane back to Italy after a quad injury that made him "feel like a loser" going home. Fortunately for you, Mario - the rest of the tea will probably be losers in two days time.
Barring a miracle, Spain will most likely overcome the injury ravaged Italians who also maybe without Riccardo Montolivo and "optimistic" about Andrea Pirlo's fitness. Depending on a half fit 34 year old and trying to score against a side who has only conceded one goal all tournament without your best striker? Sorry guys. Probably not going to work out. But never fear. ALBERTO GILARDINO will play. ALBERTO GILARDINO WILL SCORE ALL THE GOALS.
8) Napoli and Fiorentina are going to be really good next year, with or without their stars.
In fact, that would make it even more interesting. Napoli have brought in Dries Mertens who alongside Azzurrini starlet Lorenzo Insigne will form quite the wide duo and are closing in on Maxime Gonalons(apparently) while Fiorentina are negotiating with Bayern Munich about Mario Gomez who will add to a side that already has Italy's most fun midfield and a fit Giuseppe Rossi.
Imagine what these guys would do if someone gave them even more money to buy great players with?
In addition to some pretty good looking squads, both teams are led by tactically astute coaches - Rafa Benitez should finally bring the balance that had been missing from Napoli's football under Walter Mazzarri while Vincenzo Montella's potential is limitless with an even better squad than the one he took to 4th last season. Milan, in particular should be looking over their shoulder with more than a passing feeling of worry while Inter should be looking up, wondering what life would be like if they had any idea what to do in a transfer window.
9) Silvio Berlusconi got arrested again.
What's new? Oh, right - this time he got a jail sentence? Er, what's new?
Via BBC:
Silvio Berlusconi's trials
- Convicted and sentenced to seven years in jail for paying for sex with underage prostitute, and abusing his power. Free pending the outcome of appeals process.
- Convicted and sentenced to a year in jail for arranging leak of police wiretap. Also free pending appeals.
- Accused of tax fraud over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films:Convicted in October 2012; Sentence upheld by appeals court in May
- Two other corruption cases involving tax evasion and bribery of a British lawyer: Expired under statute of limitations
It will be intriguing to see how long the left-wing celebrations go on for in the peninsula before they realize that Berlusconi will still be sitting in his Ancora mansion, organising parties and worming his way back into politics. But again, what's new?
10) Isco at Madrid, Higuain at Arsenal.
Best part about transfer season - badly photo-shopped shirts by over-eager fans.
While not a direct swap, as both players in question play different positions, and didn't swap teams - they may pass each other on the way through the doors of the Bernabeau.
Isco's signing at Madrid is only a matter of time, and the Spaniard will offer another rotational option behind Benzema or another striker alongside Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria, Modric etc making the world's most talented team that little bit more frightening. I expect Madrid to fill Higuain's gap in the team with a signing too, although it would be nice to see Alvaro Morata be more involved to form a more Spanish Real.
Higuain will give Arsenal something they have looked for every single transfer window since the purchase of Jose Antonio Reyes in 2005. A proven, still-young forward that will be an upgrade on Giroud(who is underrated, but still doesn't possess the cold-hearted finishing of Higuain) and finally be a reference point in the revolving door up front for Arsenal. Higuain gets regular games, a fan base that appreciates him at a club that his crying out for a signing of his calibre for some time. Good moves all round, although you'd think Arsenal will have to target a few defensive signings eventually, right?
