Season 22 Premiership Talk & Predictions Thread

This is the 22nd season for the Dynasty Liga Premiership League.

Season 21 Champions:

In a season where for the second year running, the title wasn’t decided until the final day of the season, FC Bayern were crowd Premiership Champions, giving long-time GM james his first Premiership title.

Season 22 Teams:

AJAX (27/2)
Owner: Xerxes
Assistant Manager: Pep Guardiola
Captain: Thomas Müller
Top Earner: Mohamed Salah
Lowest Earner: Myron Boadu
Key Player: Mohamed Salah
Hot Prospect: Myron Boadu
Zizou’s Key Player: Dušan Vlahović
Oldest Player: Thomas Müller, 32
Youngest Player:: Myron Boadu, 21
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 12th
Last Season Finish: 11th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 10th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 14/1

Key Categories led: Aggression, Stamina

Zizou’s Thoughts: Dušan Vlahović’s introduction to the Premiership went pretty well for GM Xerxes. Although you could argue that one might’ve expected more than the 15 goals scored, good enough for fifth in the Golden Boot race considering his importance to the team and the role he’s been assigned. Expectations will only increase in his second season as Ajax will be hoping to improve upon their 11th place finish last season, down from 5th the prior season. DV’s goal output will go a long way in determining their chances at returning to the top half of the table in a completely crowded field. But it won’t be solely up to him to do the heavy lifting as talismen Mohamed Salah and Thomas Müller will also look to figure in the goal charts. Promotions of Mohammed Kudus and Martin Terrier, as well as the acquisition of Ridle Baku should help to re-inforce some depth for Ajax with Jan Oblak returning to mind the goal for the Dutch giants. The workman-like approach in the center of midfield with players like Marcelo Brozovic, Maximilian Arnold and İlkay Gündoğan expected to help carry the load should give Xerxes some confidence heading the season. The returning Alexis Saelemaekers, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Nabil Fekir should provide plenty of spark as the main playmakers in the side and will look to make or break Ajax’s aim this season.

ARSENAL (27/3)
Owner: Gooner
Assistant Manager: Marco Rose
Captain: James Ward-Prowse
Top Earner: Sergio Ramos
Lowest Earner: Strahinja Eraković
Key Player: Kieran Tierney
Hot Prospect: Liel Abada
Zizou’s Key Player: Martin Ødegaard
Oldest Player: Sergio Ramos, 36
Youngest Player: Juan Larios, 18
Average Age:: 24

Last Season Prediction: 14th
Last Season Finish: 5th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 14th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 20-1

Key Categories led: None

Zizou’s Thoughts: No returning GM was as busy in the trade market as Gooner and you can argue that Arsenal was one of the sacrificial lambs by Proxy. That’s not to say that Arsenal necessarily lost valuable pieces. They held on to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Sergio Ramos and the call-up of Gabriel Martinelli is one that’s expected to provide Arsenal with some punch on the left side. But in all of Gooner’s activity, the bulk of the movement took place on Gooner’s other teams, largely leaving much of Arsenal in-tact while not addressing the lack of depth apparent in several positions. Meanwhile, newly-acquired keeper Edouard Mendy will replace Wojciech Szczęsny in goal, an improvement today surely. They’ll be forced to go without Emile Smith-Rowe, Jamie Vardy, Amir Rrahmani and Tomáš Souček, who all played a hand in Arsenal’s contributed effort to race back towards the top of the table. But with the significant quality drop-off after the first XI in the lineup, Arsenal will have to contend with some heavy-hitters standing in the way. With that said, there is much in the way of developing prospects including young up-and-comers like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Lois Openda, Juan Larios and recently-signed Strahinja Eraković, who will in time no doubt offer real contributions for Gooner’s Senior clubs in the long-term. But ultimately, their ability to help Arsenal will be judged by their ability to help the Senior team. It will be no doubt a real test for them to help contribute in this important upcoming season where managed expectations are as always a fallacy for Arsenal and their fans.

AZ ALKMAAR (27/3)
Owner: Zooka7
Assistant Manager: Will Still
Captain: David Alaba
Top Earner: David Alaba
Lowest Earner: Koki Saito
Key Player: David Alaba
Hot Prospect: Noah Sadiki
Zizou’s Key Player: Victor Osimhen
Oldest Player: Chris Smalling, 32
Youngest Player:: Noah Sadiki, 17
Average Age:: 24

Last Season Prediction: 13th
Last Season Finish: 10th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 7th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/1

Key Categories led: Tackling

Zizou’s Thoughts: Despite being picked to win the last two Premiership campaigns, Luigi’s Juventus fell short each time and the new man in charge saw fit to completely re-make the club from top to bottom. Juventus was moved to AZ Alkmaar and heading into this season, no team has made as many changes as AZ and new GM in the hotseat Zooka7. While I’m sure Luigi might’ve felt like Don Corleone looking down at his boy Sonny and muttering, “Look at how they massacred my boy”, seeing the team he carefully and diligently built be completely re-shaped with a demolition-style renovation, everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves. Everyone starts somewhere and for the majority of Dynastyliga GMs, that means that the first season is usually the toughest. That learning curve is steep and the waters are infested with sharks. And before you could blink, the league was turned upside down in a league-wide shake-up from the moves being made in particular by Z7. The demolition started quickly. Z7 moved Neymar, Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane – three of Football Manager’s keenest players. Antonio Rüdiger and Nicolò Barella were also shipped off to cap-off a firesale of Chelsea proportions. The first thing Z7 did in building was to make the club MUCH younger, the youngest in the league beside Arsenal. In the process of recruiting, Z7 identified Victor Osimhen as his main target at Centre Forward, bringing the Nigerian Super Eagle to AFAS Stadion. Arguably, the biggest moves for AZ came in the form of the shock acquisitions of midfielder dynamos Jude Bellingham and Moises Caicedo. Almost nothing else AZ will do this season will benefit the club as much as those two trades. It didn’t stop there. Looking to reshape the defense, Z7 appeared to be skeptical of holding onto Achraf Hakimi before ultimately and wisely deciding to keep him. The reinforcements continued to come with the likes of David Alaba, William Saliba, Amir Rrahmani and Ferland Mendy joining the fray. The changes certainly meant an upgrade in the side’s overall toughness, but ultimately the changes created a large gap between the first team and the depth reserve players behind them. With much of the offensive burden being placed on Osimhen’s shoulders, he will be looking for help from returning players like Jamal Musiala and the newly-signed Daichi Kamada and newly-acquired Ademola Lookman to provide the service in AZ’s all-important maiden campaign.

FC BARCELONA (26/3)
Owner: BLAUGRANA
Assistant Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Captain: Sergio Busquets
Top Earner: Neymar
Lowest Earner: Alan Varela
Key Player: Erling Haaland
Hot Prospect: Martin Baturina
Zizou’s Key Player: Ousmane Dembele
Oldest Player: Sergio Busquets, 34
Youngest Player:: Arnau Martínez, 19
Average Age:: 24

Last Season Prediction: 8th
Last Season Finish: 3rd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 4th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/1

Key Categories led: Positioning

Zizou’s Thoughts: FC Barcelona might’ve had higher hopes than fourth but a fourth-placed finish in GM Blaugrana’s first season at the helm is certainly a proud accomplishment. Despite inheriting arguably the best team any owner has had the privilege of joining with, BG’s changes last season paled in comparison to the changes coming into this season. During the off-season, BG spent no time in acquiring big money players in Neymar and Pedri to star in the Camp Nou. The revolution at Barça continued as the club’s profile became much younger with long-term investments made in the acquisitions of Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz and the potentially trade-of-the-year that brought Nicolò Barella and a flush cash injection of 31 million to FC Barcelona (and its’ affiliates). BG spent much (almost all) of the money continuing to redesign the club (and its’ affiliates), but it’s in the returning Frenkie de Jong, Ousmane Dembele, Jules Koundé, and Golden Boot King Erling Haaland where Barça’s hopes and dreams will live and die. Despite all of the excitement around the Camp Nou, there is a concern in regards to their depth, in comparison to other teams. Much of the bottom half of their roster are filled with young and promising reserve players who likely will not be expected to see much game time this season. But whether through development of their own young players and/or the asset management of the crafty second-year GM, I believe that before long, FCB will have the depth to rival any GM currently in the league. And that should send fear rippling through the minds of Dynasty’s 13 other GMs who will have to keep pace.

FC BAYERN (27/3)
Owner: James
Assistant Manager: Julian Nagelsmann
Captain: Romelu Lukaku
Top Earner: Raphaël Varane
Lowest Earner: Kamil Grabara
Key Player: Alisson
Hot Prospect: Brennan Johnson
Zizou’s Key Player: Phil Foden
Oldest Player: Toni Kroos, 32
Youngest Player:: Luke Thomas, 21
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 9th
Last Season Finish: 1st
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 5th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 12/1

Key Categories led: None

Zizou’s Thoughts: In a year that once again went down to the wire, long-time GM James walked away with the Premiership title, besting challenges from Juventus, FC Barcelona, Internazionale and Valencia. Not one to rest on his laurels, James responded to the historic title win in the off-season, making several adjustments in a busier window than would’ve been expected for a defending Champion and adding some veteran talent overall but not neglecting their commitment to youth with a few of their top U21 players in reserve roles and training with the first team. Ben White was amongst one of few players that made the way for the exits while the majority of the regular side returned. Otávio joined from Valencia, Marc Guehi was acquired from Arsenal, Toni Kroos joined from AZ and Min-Jae Kim was promoted from Sunderland to highlight a busy window. Bench players White, Kelechi Iheanacho and Kepa Arrizabalaga were sacrificed while a shock move for Alisson Becker made for one of the strangest acquisitions in recent memory, giving Bayern two excellent starting goalkeepers on the same team. Surely, both can’t remain with the team long-term, can they? But perhaps that’s a bit of 5D chess on James’ part as you have to be one or two steps ahead at all times to remain on pace with your contemporaries. For James’ incredible success with FC Bayern, one can say he and his team earned it and earned it the hard way in a long time coming and with much of the same core team returning and much of the same formula in-place, they will certainly be destined to be in the mix, defending their crown to the end once again.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND (27/3)
Owner: Santiger Munez
Assistant Manager: Lionel Scaloni
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
Top Earner: Robert Lewandowski
Lowest Earner: Ricardo Horta
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Hot Prospect: Pierre Kalulu
Zizou’s Key Player: Pedro Porro
Oldest Player: Keylor Navas, 35
Youngest Player:: Pierre Kalulu, 22
Average Age:: 28

Last Season Prediction: 6th
Last Season Finish: 14th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 6th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 12/1

Key Categories led: Teamwork, Anticipation, Off The Ball

Zizou’s Thoughts: After finishing 5th in Season 19, Borussia Dortmund followed up with seasons of 13th and 14th placed finishes, enough to make longtime GM Santiger Munez say ‘Enough’. Looking to reverse their recent fortunes, Santi was heavily involved in trade talks and was instrumental in aggressively pursuing high-profile free agents. Santi sought experience and proven players, acquiring Harry Maguire, Javi Galan, Tomáš Souček and Christian Eriksen via trade, slightly increasing the overall age of the club. But it wasn’t until their trades for Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling and Polish superstar Robert Lewandowski, who will take the team Captain’s armband from Marco Reus, that the rest of the league stood up and took notice of the looming threat being built in Dortmund. A key promotion for Sven Botman as well as the recruitment signing of Ricardo Horta also help provide Santi’s side with two new potential starters for Dortmund. Something to note: there is a harmony, a rhythm, a certain je ne sais quoi with this team. Their anticipation of eachother and their teamwork will have to be most effective for Dortmund to stay in the top half of the table, as they’re expected and predicted to do. And overall, for Santi and his Der BVB, consistency will be the truest test of them all and may make-or-break their challenge.

CHELSEA (27/3)
Owner: ProPAIN
Assistant Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Captain: Matthijs de Ligt
Top Earner: Eden Hazard
Lowest Earner: Jota
Key Player: Kevin de Bruyne
Hot Prospect: Trevoh Chalobah
Zizou’s Key Player: Rafael Leão
Oldest Player: Eden Hazard, 31
Youngest Player:: Eduaro Camavinga, 19
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 7th
Last Season Finish: 8th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 3rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 10/1

Key Categories led: Strength, Finishing

Zizou’s Thoughts: Despite a relatively quiet and low-key off-season for GM ProPAIN, Chelsea remain a strong candidate to restate their claim to the throne of Premiership supremacy. In a transfer window that largely saw the majority of PP’s business handled through their promoted and demoted players, Chelsea added Stefan de Vrij through trade to stabilize that backline with the departure of Mats Hummels. With the promotion of arguably their best goalkeeper Mike Maignan, ProPAIN saw time to move Edouard Mendy and replace Maignan in the lower club with Wojciech Szczęsny proving a great example of strong asset and roster management overall. Chelsea will benefit from the promotions of Iñaki Williams, Eduardo Camavinga, Rafael Leão and Sandro Tonali, all of whom expected to play a big role in Chelsea’s season. The responsibility for goalscoring will be left to Leao and Antoine Griezmann but don’t be surprised to see additional contributions from some of Chelsea’s other excellent attacking options in Riyad Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Kai Havertz and I. Williams. The Season 20 Champions have a bit of a chip on their shoulder after an uncharacteristic 8th-placed finish have The Blues re-inspired and with renewed vigor, looking to write a new chapter in Dynastyliga history.

INTERNAZIONALE (27/3)
Owner: Zizou
Assistant Manager: Diego Simeone
Captain: Lionel Messi
Top Earner: Kylien Mbappé
Lowest Earner: Daniel Maldini
Key Player: Kylian Mbappé
Hot Prospect: Daniel Maldini
Zizou’s Key Player: Lionel Messi
Oldest Player: Manuel Neuer, 36
Youngest Player:: Daniel Maldini, 20
Average Age:: 27

Last Season Prediction: 2nd
Last Season Finish: 2nd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 1st
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2

Key Categories led: Decisions, First Touch, Passing, Acceleration, Agility, Balance, Concentration, Determination, Dribbling, Free Kick Taking, Long Shots, Penalties, Technique

Zizou’s Thoughts: And for the third season in a row, I Nerazzurri fell short in their attempt to reclaim the Premiership title that has alluded them since Season 19. Having been bested by Mark’s Arsenal in Season 19.5 and fallen short on the final day to Chelsea in the climactic Season 20 finale, Inter went into the final round two points back of James’ FC Bayern in second and ultimately remained there for a third year in a row, settling for table runners-up. The response from GM Zizou was a cool, calm and measured, opting to stay with the core of his team rather than make any wholesale changes. Opting also to loan Patrick Wimmer, their only free-agent signing, for more playing time, Zizou handled the nearly all other roster adjustments internally. With the promotions of Nathan Aké, Ukrainian fireball Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ukrainian workhorse Ruslan Malinovskyi, Georgian superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as well as Rúben Neves and Ismaël Bennacer, the “moves” made by Zizou appeared as Chess-like lateral moves than an attempt to overcommit. So, where can it go wrong? Where has it gone wrong before? Consistency for Inter will be the recipe for success. Possessing an impressive array of talent top-to-bottom, Inter are favored by Football Manager and the prognosticators to win their sixth Premiership title. Ultimately, because of the heavier than hell expectations and because of the wealth in attack with last season’s Assists King Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé once again leading the charge for I Nerazzurri, the season has a clear sense of purpose in being Championship-or-Bust for the five-time Champions.

LIVERPOOL (27/3)
Owner: LITN
Assistant Manager: Jürgen Klopp
Captain:Virgil van Dijk
Top Earner: Karim Benzema
Lowest Earner: Maarten Paes
Key Player: Karim Benzema
Hot Prospect: David Raum
Zizou’s Key Player: Thiago Alcântara
Oldest Player: Thiago Silva, 37
Youngest Player:: Ederson, 23
Average Age:: 29

Last Season Prediction: 9th
Last Season Finish: 12th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 11th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 16/1

Key Categories led: Leadership, Fitness, Composure, Marking

Zizou’s Thoughts: While many changes are certainly underway with second-year GM LITN’s other clubs, Liverpool’s modifications over the off-season were minor especially in comparison and will take longer still to come to fruition. With an abundance of leadership, LITN is choosing to let his veterans do the majority of the talking. With an emphasis on veterans, Liverpool sought to add Mats Hummels, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, David Raum, Renato Sanches and Wilfried Ndidi to the side. Despite that, there are no weaknesses throughout the club top to bottom with the exception of their age and the potential of their breaking down over the course of the season. However the case, LITN has opted not to make any free agent pickups preferring a more patient approach to player development. So, who are ultimately the returning faces that will determine Liverpool’s odds at breaking the top half of the table? Karim Benzema, Memphis Depay and Virgil van Dijk will lead The Reds at opposite ends while Thiago Alcântara completes the sandwich in the middle of the park. The fundamentals for Liverpool seem as clear as any. What’s not as clear are the looks they’re going to present. Liverpool and LITN has been very secretive about how they intend to line up so it’s anyone’s guess as to which side will start the season. In what could be his final season, the elder statesman Thiago Silva was vocal about seeing a run happening for Liverpool with the aim to improve upon their first season finish of 12th in the table.

MANCHESTER UNITED (27/2)
Owner: JR
Assistant Manager: Erik ten Hag
Captain: César Azpilicueta
Top Earner: Rúben Dias
Lowest Earner: Leandro Barreiro
Key Player: Rúben Dias
Hot Prospect: Tyler Adams
Zizou’s Key Player: Marcus Rashford
Oldest Player: Ángel Di María, 34
Youngest Player:: Rodrygo, 21
Average Age:: 27

Last Season Prediction: 5th
Last Season Finish: 9th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 8th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/1

Key Categories led: Bravery

Zizou’s Thoughts: Times are tough these days for the once glorious Manchester United. Expectations aren’t what they used to be. And certainly, the players aren’t either. After Season 20’s third-place finish, a return to form of sorts, United were unable to repeat their run and settled for a underwhelming ninth last season. The changes for United appeared minor at first glance. Philippe Coutinho and Ferran Torres joined the Red Devils via trade while the majority of their other business was handled via the liga elevator. Alfonso Pedraza, Lucas Paquetá, Diogo Dalot and José Sá, new to the side, were promoted in place of Dani Ceballos, Mauro Icardi, Luis Alberto and Jadon Sancho, demoted to the club’s second Senior side due to roster limits. Undoubtedly, the goalscoring will be up to the returning Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Rashford with both men aiming to help restore United’s former glory in a bid to secure the Premiership crown for the first time for JR. All but one of JR’s final starters last season are still with the club, proving that JR is opting to go with a similar look and only making minor tweaks to the team. And while some of their best veteran players like Ángel Di María, Jorginho or Rafa Silva are either past their peak, the new younger players in support like Tyler Adams, Torres and Leandro Barreiro certainly provide some hope moving into next season and beyond.

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (26/3)
Owner: evilo
Assistant Manager: Thomas Tuchel
Captain: Joshua Kimmich
Top Earner: Sadio Mané
Lowest Earner: Elia Caprile
Key Player: Harry Kane
Hot Prospect: Elia Caprile
Zizou’s Key Player: N’Golo Kante
Oldest Player: Kyle Walker, 32
Youngest Player:: Elia Caprile, 20
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 3rd
Last Season Finish: 6th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 2nd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 17/2

Key Categories led: Work Rate, Pace, Flair, Vision

Zizou’s Thoughts: Looking to not only rock the league but turn it on its head, GM evilo launched his largest bid yet to win the Premiership title for the first time. Masterfully trading up and acquiring Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, Sadio Mané, N’Golo Kante, John Stones, Jose Gaya, Serge Gnabry and Ángel Correa in a single window proved that evilo’s desire to win had reached Al Davis levels. This after PSG finished sixth in the table last season, falling well short of its target. With the changes, only five of PSG’s final starters are returning this season. Not just through trade, evilo also went to work promoting Aurélien Tchouaméni, Christopher Nkunku and Dayot Upamecano with all three expected to play crucial roles for PSG in their pursuit of a league title. Despite the skill, the club ranks among the lowest in the league in physical strength, however their rangy pace, and overall vision and off-the-ball movement will cause havoc for most teams on any given day. It’s definite to say that this is among evilo’s best shots yet at achieving his first title of any kind in Dynastyliga and you’d have to think there’s a half to decent chance that evilo can eye a possible treble or quadruple not being out of the question with the depth of quality in the teams that he’s assembled. Considering what he inherited, that alone deserves a tip of the cap and should prove as inspiration to the first-year and still relatively new GMs especially in what kind of difference a few seasons can make.

TOTTENHAM (27/2)
Owner: Kawai
Assistant Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Captain: Luka Modrić
Top Earner: Luka Modrić
Lowest Earner: Kristoffer Klaesson
Key Player: Luka Modrić
Hot Prospect: Kevin Schade
Zizou’s Key Player: Jack Grealish
Oldest Player: Luka Modrić, 36
Youngest Player:: Kevin Schade, 20
Average Age:: 27

Last Season Prediction: 4th
Last Season Finish: 13th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 9th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 14/1

Key Categories led: Corners, Crossing

Zizou’s Thoughts: Last year’s oldest team in the league Tottenham Hotspur injected some badly needed youth to the club, upgrading overall in several positions beyond this season. In what has to be seen as a major step back, Tottenham followed up a seventh-placed finish with a thirteenth-placed finish last season, raising alarms all across North London. As a result, GM Kawai was quick off the mark, making several changes in an attempt to revitalize a stumbling Hotspur team. Kawai was quick to make changes, shipping out Granit Xhaka, John Stones and Anthony Martial and bringing in Dejan Kulusevski and Jack Grealish in a major injection of quality on the flanks. Outside of trade activity, the call-ups of Aleksandar Mitrović, Conor Gallagher and Miguel Almirón should prove substantial for Tottenham with those players providing a much needed spark that was missing all last season. With exceptionality high work rate in several key players, the club is built to reflect their talisman Luka Modrić, still one of the best midfielders in Football Manager. This is his team and he’s the only one currently on the squad capable of leading it. With that said, it’s an awfully big risk to trust the future of the club to a 36-year old who will undoubtedly look to play a major part in the grand scheme of things.

VALENCIA (26/3)
Owner: xavi4life
Assistant Manager: Xavi Hernández
Captain: Ronald Araujo
Top Earner: Ederson
Lowest Earner: Luis Henrique
Key Player: Fabinho
Hot Prospect: Luis Henrique
Zizou’s Key Player: Gabriel Jesus
Oldest Player: Sebastián Coates, 31
Youngest Player:: Lázaro, 20
Average Age:: 25

Last Season Prediction: 10th
Last Season Finish: 4th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 12th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 16/1

Key Categories led: None

Zizou’s Thoughts: When you ask GM xavi4life what he wants, he would tell you point blank to win the only league he’s yet to win, the Dynastyliga Premiership title. Having gotten close before with recent fourth and third-placed finishes, Valencia once again hope to prove they are capable of the challenge and capable of coming out on top. Despite few modifications via the trade route, X4L did acquire David Neres and traded away Ángel Correa, Fabinho and Luiz Felipe to rival clubs. Most notably, X4L’s biggest reason for optimism are in changes within. Enzo Fernández and Rodrigo Bentancur, both promoted to the top Senior club, join a gluttonous group of midfielders the likes of Bruno Guimarães, Matheus Nunes and Douglas Luiz. With Ederson in goal and X4L’s often masterful tactics combining with the real strength of the team being on defense, Marquinhos and Ronald Araújo leading the way, Valencia will very likely not concede many goals and with the health of the midfield, their transition play will cause teams all sorts of problems regardless of the opponent. Even without Fabinho, this team is a threat on set pieces especially corners and ranks in the top third in finishing league-wide. With a limited scouting and recruitment methodology, X4L continues to awe with his ability to compete at the highest of levels despite what some might call a hinderance. For X4L, it’s been an identity capturing for the soul of South America and celebrating four championships altogether in pursuit of a fifth.

BSC YOUNG BOYS (27/3)
Owner: Ramer
Assistant Manager: Jesse Marsch
Captain: Antonio Rüdiger
Top Earner: Cristiano Ronaldo
Lowest Earner: Salvatore Sirigu
Key Player: Federico Valverde
Hot Prospect: Roger Ibañez
Zizou’s Key Player: Federico Valverde
Oldest Player: Cristiano Ronaldo, 37
Youngest Player:: Roger Ibañez, 23
Average Age:: 28

Last Season Prediction: 10th
Last Season Finish: 7th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 13th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 16/1

Key Categories led: Jumping Reach, Heading

Zizou’s Thoughts: The most exciting time for a GM especially a new GM taking over is what to do with the club and how to build it before essentially doing so. Every move is important and at the Premiership level, tenfold. A trade can set you back further than you were before. A trade can make the difference between a league title and fifth place. The wherewithal ultimately to pull the trigger is what separates those who are brave and risky enough to do it and those who are not. In moving Pedri, David Alaba and Darwin Núñez, first-year GM Ramer took arguably the biggest swing he possibly could have in his first transfer window in charge. Not that these moves were for naught. Ramer did well for himself in acquiring Federico Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger, Diogo Jota, Cristiano Ronaldo, Patrik Schick, Saúl Ñíguez and Nicolás Tagliafico to help galvanize the excited Young Boys supporters. The experience of the newly-introduced players will be key for the rookie GM, however the club does display weaknesses in agility, stamina and work rate, the sign of an aging club so Ramer will need to carefully navigate through the fixture list to avoid overwhelming his club with injuries, which could doom YB’s maiden voyage before it even starts. However, strengths certainly from some of their returning players in Luis Díaz, Piotr Zielinski and Roger Ibañez should prove vital for the club seeking to write it’s first chapter of Dynastyliga history.

Notes:
– BSC Young Boys have the most amount of players (24) with Championship-level eligibility.

– Kylian Mbappé (Internazionale) is the highest-rated player in the league.

– Thiago Silva (Liverpool) is the oldest player in the league.

– Noah Sadiki (AZ) is the the youngest player in the league.

– Borussia Dortmund and Internazionale lead the league with the most internationally capped players, with 23.

– Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain), 5’5″ (1.63 m), is the shortest player in the league.

– Thibaut Courtois (Paris Saint-Germain), 6’7” (2.00 m), is the tallest player in the league.

– Harry Maguire (Borussia Dortmund) is the heaviest player in the league at 220 lbs (99.79kg).

– Liverpool is the oldest team in the league.

– Arsenal is the youngest team in the league.

– PSG has the highest Average Player Transfer Value of any team in the league.

– Internazionale has the highest Average Player Salary of any team in the league.

– FC Bayern is the most diverse team in the league, representing 28 nationalities.

FM Golden Boot Predictions:
01. Lewandowski (Dortmund), 7-2
02. Haaland (Barcelona), 4-1
03. Mbappé (Inter), 9-2
04. Salah (Ajax), 11-2
05. Benzema (Liverpool), 10-1
06. Kane (PSG), 16-1

FM Golden Ball Predictions:
01. Salah (Ajax), 6-1
02. Mbappé (Inter), 17-2
03. De Bruyne (Chelsea), 9-1
04. Haaland (Barcelona), 10-1
05. Lewandowski (Dortmund), 10-1
06. Benzema (Liverpool), 12-1

FM Young Player Award Predictions:
01. Haaland (Barcelona), 11-2
02. Vinícius (Bayern), 15-2
03. Saka (Arsenal), 9-1
04. Pedri (Barcelona), 11-1
05. Kvaratskhelia (Inter), 12-1
06. Musiala (AZ), 13-1

FM Predicted XI of the season:
GK: Courtois (PSG)
RB: Kimmich (PSG)
CB: Van Dijk (Liverpool)
CB: Dias (Manchester United)
LB: Cancelo (Inter)
RM: B. Silva (Inter)
CM: De Bruyne (Chelsea)
CM: Modrić (Spurs)
LM: Neymar (Barcelona)
ST: Mbappé (Inter)
ST: Lewandowski (Dortmund)

Zizou’s Predicted Table:
01. Internazionale
02. Paris Saint-Germain
03. FC Barcelona
04. Chelsea
05. Valencia
06. FC Bayern
07. Borussia Dortmund
08. AZ
09. Arsenal
10. Manchester United
11. Liverpool
12. Tottenham Hotspur
13. Ajax
14. BSC Young Boys

Zizou’s Predicted Golden Boot Winner: Erling Haaland