Season 20 Championship Talk

This is the 15th season for the Dynasty Liga Championship League.

Season 14 Champions:

Parma did what some of us expected them to do, with a firebrand type of football, arranged in an English-styled 4-4-2. Football Manager had picked them to win, as did I, and they finished five points clear of their title rivals, Real Sociedad. Both teams come into this season newly-strengthened after a short transfer window. This season is expected to be as unpredictable as any and Parma will find that the Championship is harder to retain than it is to win it in the first place.

Season 15 Teams:

ATHLETIC CLUB (27/3)
Owner: ProPAIN
Assistant Manager: Hans Dieter Flick
Captain: Alessio Romagnoli
Top Earner: Talisca
Lowest Earner: Maximilian Mittelstädt
Key Player: Niklas Süle
Hot Prospect: Nico Williams
Zizou’s Key Player: Julian Brandt
Oldest Player: Alexis Sánchez, 31
Youngest Player: Federico Chiesa, 22
Average Age: 26

Last Season Prediction: 4th
Last Season Finish: 5th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 5th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/2

Key Categories led: Strength, Leadership, Balance, Long-Range Shooting, Penalty-Taking

Zizou’s Thoughts: Athletic Club find themselves with the ability to challenge Parma for the Championship crown. They possess a good balance of tall players who can play the aerial ball, skilled goal-scorers who can score from any range and exceptional tacklers in midfield and defense. The acquisition of Edouard Mendy give them three great options in net and they will need to be. Finishing last season with only a +2 goal difference was good enough for 5th but they will need to turn up the offense while not sacrificing defensive priorities in order to become a credible threat for Parma beyond on-paper.

HEERENVEEN (23/3)
Owner: Curtinho
Assistant Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini
Captain: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Top Earner: Sebastian Rudy
Lowest Earner: Justin Bijlow
Key Player: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Hot Prospect: Rick van Drongelen
Zizou’s Key Player: Divock Origi
Oldest Player: Sebastian Rudy, 30
Youngest Player: Rick van Drongelen, 21
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 8th
Last Season Finish: 12th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 10th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 17/2

Zizou’s Thoughts: Every year, it seems there’s a new-look club for Curtinho. This season, he returns to Heerenveen to try and bring home a first-ever Championship crown. Consistency will need to be the primary language spoken to give his club a chance to become a viable threat. Curt chose to keep his squad numbers low in an effort to focus his team towards more selective options in the lineup. Injuries will need to be avoided to prevent what could be a difficult season of growing pains but they are younger than they were last season and remain dangerous especially in set-pieces.

GRASSHOPPER (26/3)
Owner: Roberdino
Assistant Manager: Jorge Jesus
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Júnior Firpo
Lowest Earner: Sofiane Alakouch
Key Player: Igor Zubeldia
Hot Prospect: Ferro
Zizou’s Key Player: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Oldest Player: Diego Alves, 35
Youngest Player: Sofiane Alakouch, 22
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 7th
Last Season Finish: 14th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 14th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: Grasshopper, oh Grasshopper. You couldn’t do it again. The worst-to-first-to-worst nature of Grasshopper’s struggle encapsulates the difficulty of success in the Championship. To quote Sickboy from Trainspotting, “Well, at one point, you’ve got it. And then you lose it.” Is it considered a tragedy not to catch lightning in a bottle more than once? Whatever the case, Grasshopper’s case fell apart due to its league-worst -20 goal differential. Clearly, some new ideas are needed now as once before. In Season 19, Grasshopper’s luck lay with their tactics. They hit a gold mine that led to an incredible run of results but were unable to double their efforts if they are to retain as Champions. So what now? The introduction of Raúl De Tomas relives much of the burden of scoring goals from Loftus-Cheek and Breel Embolo. Karl Toko Ekambi’s goal-scoring prowess earned all of the pladuts for Grasshopper in their miracle season but he doesn’t look like the player of two years ago anymore. Time will tell which of these players will remain with Grasshopper in the next year or two as Grasshopper looks to infuse more youth into their side in what could be a make-or-break run for the titans of Zürich.

LEEDS UNITED (27/3)
Owner: Kawai
Assistant Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl
Captain: Granit Xhaka
Top Earner: André Gomes
Lowest Earner: Predrag Rajković
Key Player: Olivier Giroud
Hot Prospect: Allan Saint-Maximin
Zizou’s Key Player: Alex Telles
Oldest Player: Olivier Giroud, 33
Youngest Player:, Josip Brekalo, 22
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 10th
Last Season Finish: 13th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 12th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/1

Key Categories led: Pace, Free-Kick Taking

Zizou’s Thoughts: If nothing else, the lineup of Leeds United resembles as plucky a group as I’ve seen since the 2010 Aston Villa team. Unlikely that it finishes 6th as that team did but could you imagine? I’m sure Kawai can, if things go his way. But he will have to undo some of the bad juju the team has attracted since finishing second-to-last a season ago. They will be behind the 8-ball to secure a decent footing in the stronghold of the Championship. Leeds will have its work cut out for it in order to contend but it carries enough class to contend with any club in the league.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (27/3)
Owner: Santiger Munez
Assistant Manager: Sergio Conceicao
Captain: Kristoffer Ajer
Top Earner: Yerry Mina
Lowest Earner: Maximilian Wöber
Key Player: Weston McKennie
Hot Prospect: Sean Longstaff
Zizou’s Key Player: Julian Draxler
Oldest Player: Hector Herrera, 30
Youngest Player: Weston McKennie, 21
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 11th
Last Season Finish: 7th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 9th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 7/1

Key Categories led: Jumping Reach, Teamwork, Work Rate

Zizou’s Thoughts: New boss Sergio Conceicao will like the look of the locker room he has walked into. It will be up to him to encorporate new boy Weston McKennie into a lineup needing to restore the Magpies to their former glory. PLayer partnership is key amongst the team with several players familiar with one another. The skill of the goalkeepers provide the Tyne and Wear club with multiple options in goal. Their depth of hard working players with skill in abundance will try to make the difference for a team rich in tireless competitors.

PARMA (27/3)
Owner: Luigi
Assistant Manager: Didier Deschamps
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Paulinho
Lowest Earner: Edson Álvarez
Key Player: Charles Aránguiz
Hot Prospect: Dani Olmo
Zizou’s Key Player: Gerard Moreno
Oldest Player: Sami Khedira, 33
Youngest Player: Dani Olmo, 22
Average Age: 26

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

Key Categories led: Anticipation, Bravery, Concentration, Decision Making, Finishing, Heading, Tackling

Zizou’s Thoughts: All eyes on Parma to do what no team has done since River Plate in Season 7 and repeat as Champions. That Parma team ran a diamond 442, slightly different from the standard 442 that Parma rose to prominence with. A coach’s dream of a depth chart, Didier Deschamps will like the options he has at every position. Gerard Moreno is expected to carry the lion’s share of the work up front but behind him are dark horses capable of leading the line themselves in Patrik Schick and Andrea Belotti. Despite their dominant run last season, many of the lineup decisions are left to be decided and Luigi will need to find similar consistency if he is to pull off the rare back-to-back.

SALFORD CITY (27/3)
Owner: JR
Assistant Manager: Ryan Giggs
Captain: Maxi Gómez
Top Earner: Denis Suárez
Lowest Earner: Jean Pyerre
Key Player: Maxi Gómez
Hot Prospect: Scott McTominay
Zizou’s Key Player: Maxi Gómez
Oldest Player: Rafael Tolói, 29
Youngest Player: Jean Pyerre, 22
Average Age: 24

Last Season Prediction: 14th
Last Season Finish: 6th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 13th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/1

Key Categories led: First Touch, Determination, Crossing

Zizou’s Thoughts: One of the youngest clubs in the league will enter league play with something to prove and a coach’s dream of a goal poacher, the unquestionable #9 for Salford. Left back remains an obvious concern for the Ammies from Greater Manchester. Taking one pundit’s pre-season prognostication of them to finish last season dead last, Salford managed to pull off an impressive 6th-place finish. Their lineup has been infused with the recent acquisition of speed winger Gonçalo Guedes and the promotion of Nicolás González. Gaining Guedes may prove a shrewd move as he is a player you would think to be able to take advantage of Salford’s traditional wide play. The midfield presence of Wendel, Scott McTominay and Erick Pulgar will be key in improving their transitional play.

SHERIFF TIRASPOL (25/3)
Owner: Mark
Assistant Manager: Leonardo Jardim
Captain: Franck Kessié
Top Earner: Éder Militão
Lowest Earner: Jovane Cabral
Key Player: Franck Kessié
Hot Prospect: Jovane Cabral
Zizou’s Key Player:
Oldest Player: Mário Fernandes, 29
Youngest Player: Musa Barrow, 21
Average Age: 24

Last Season Prediction: 6th
Last Season Finish: 8th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 3rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 4/1

Key Categories led: Aggression

Zizou’s Thoughts: Once one of the more competitive owners in the league, Mark hasn’t won the Dynasty Liga Championship since Season 10. Last season’s finish in the bottom half of the table left many surprised but the new-look side has many believing in the Moldovan firehouse. Perhaps the most well-rounded team in the league with the most depth, Mark will need to find the best chemistry with gaffer Leonardo Jardim and the right selection of players.

SOCHAUX (27/3)
Owner: Xerxes
Assistant Manager: Andrea Pirlo
Captain: Abdou Diallo
Top Earner: Thomas Meunier
Lowest Earner: Adrian Semper
Key Player: Nikola Vlasic
Hot Prospect: Ebere Eze
Zizou’s Key Player: Wout Weghorst
Oldest Player: Benjamin Lecomte, 29
Youngest Player: Jacob Bruun Larsen, 21
Average Age: 24

Last Season Prediction: 12th
Last Season Finish: 9th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 11th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 17/2

Key Categories led: Jumping Reach, Off The Ball

Zizou’s Thoughts: Finishing is one of this team’s strong suits and they manage to do it so infrequently that it’s ashame to wonder what could’ve been for all of these seasons that Sochaux, Admira Wacker Modling and Standard Liegé have squandered for good defensive seasons. Nevertheless it is Sochaux, a new home, inwhich Xerxes will need to adapt to the most competitive league of the three. Possessing a very strong Starting XI, Sochaux are capable of a run as long as they find the net. It is as simple as that.

REAL SOCIEDAD (27/3)
Owner: evilo
Assistant Manager: Thomas Tuchel
Captain: Gianluigi Buffon
Top Earner: Ferland Mendy
Lowest Earner: Romain Faivre
Key Player: Corentin Tolisso
Hot Prospect: Romain Faivre
Zizou’s Key Player: Nabil Fekir
Oldest Player: Gianluigi Buffon, 42
Youngest Player: Victor Osimhen, 21
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 3rd
Last Season Finish: 2nd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 4th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/2

Key Categories led: Dribbling, Composure

Zizou’s Thoughts: If there’s any team ready for this to be their year, it is Real Sociedad. And I know that we’ve said that about Flamengo. But then they won. And I know we said that about Parma. But then they won. And I know we’ve said that about Chelsea. And I guess we’re still waiting for Chelsea. But Sociedad presents equally the same frustration amid seasons of promise that go awry. This year could be no different but not without a lack of trying. evilo, one of the league’s most active traders, made several moves to improve both in depth and in selection. Although razor thin at CB, their attacking prowess and the myriad of options they present in midfield make them THE dark horse of the league. A quick start will be pivotal for Sociedad as early spills have cost them before but this season, they are equally as much a contender as any year before.

SOUTHAMPTON (27/3)
Owner: Gooner
Assistant Manager: Mikel Arteta
Captain: James Ward-Prowse
Top Earner: Aaron Ramsey
Lowest Earner: Iani Hagi
Key Player: James Ward-Prowse
Hot Prospect: Ianis Hagi
Zizou’s Key Player: Alexandre Lacazettte
Oldest Player: Kasper Schmeichel, 33
Youngest Player: Ianis Hagi, 21
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 9th
Last Season Finish: 3rd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 6th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 5/1

Key Categories led: Acceleration

Zizou’s Thoughts: Gooner went to such extreme measures to transform his Championship club including relocating that there stands the chance that the possibilities are endless for them this season. Tyrone Mings will help to guide the defense while James Maddison will serve a pivotal role for Southampton’s midfield. Che Adams and Callum Wilson will back up Lacazette in goal for a strong Southampton side dreaming in their debut season. The elder statesman of the club, Kasper Schmeichel, will lead the team in net. One of the league’s most transfered players, James Ward-Prowse will hope to get his team off to a good start.

KV MECHELEN (27/3)
Owner: Zizou
Assistant Manager: Zinedine Zidane
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Benjamin Mendy
Lowest Earner: Tomás Belmonte
Key Player: Emre Can
Hot Prospect: Calvin Stengs
Zizou’s Key Player: Raúl Jiménez
Oldest Player: Łukasz Fabiański, 35
Youngest Player: Calvin Stengs, 21
Average Age: 24

Last Season Prediction: 2nd
Last Season Finish: 4th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 2nd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 7/2

Key Categories led: Stamina

Zizou’s Thoughts: This strong unit of young veterans and players showing glittering promise will continue to make Zizou’s club a strong contender this season. While last season’s club led the league in best fitness, this season’s club leads in stamina. The attacking stamina required to play for any of Zizou’s clubs is a high level, as are the expectations. Previously, the league’s dominant owner, Zizou has not won a Championship trophy since Season 11, having previously won or co-won 5 of a possible 7 trophies between Seasons 5 and 11. Łukasz Fabiański remains the only player having been with Zizou for the entirity of his time in Liga in what could be his final campaign in KV Mechelen’s maiden voyage.

THE NEW SAINTS (27/3)
Owner: james
Assistant Manager: Rafa Benitez
Captain: Aritz Elustondo
Top Earner: Adnan Januzaj
Lowest Earner: José Luis Rodríguez
Key Player: Adnan Januzaj
Hot Prospect: Victor Tsygankov
Zizou’s Key Player: Alexei Miranchuk
Oldest Player: Thiago Mendes, 28
Youngest Player: Lloyd Kelly, 21
Average Age: 23

Last Season Prediction: 12th
Last Season Finish: 11th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 8th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/2

Key Categories led: Marking, Stamina, Positioning

Zizou’s Thoughts: Consistently one of the league’s youngest outfits, The New Saints continue to pray to show the promise they’ve threatened with for periods at time in prior seasons. Deep in every position, TNS’s strengths will be out wide with wing play to get the ball in. Accompanying that with strong defending and decisive finishing will be their focus going into the season. More positions are up for grabs than there are locked positions but much of this season’s hopes will likely fall to Januzaj and Miranchuk. Strong defense will remain a pillar of TNS but offense will make the difference.

VITORIA SC (26/3)
Owner: xavi4life
Assistant Manager: Jorge Sampaoli
Captain: Nicolás Tagliafico
Top Earner: Giovani Lo Celso
Lowest Earner: Marcos Senesi
Key Player: Ángel Correa
Hot Prospect: Steven Alzate
Zizou’s Key Player: Leandro Paredes
Oldest Player: Fágner, 31
Youngest Player: Dodo, 21
Average Age: 25

Last Season Prediction: 5th
Last Season Finish: 10th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 7th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2

Key Categories led: Agility, Passing

Zizou’s Thoughts: This season is another reason to hope for a miracle season from Vitória. Xavi4life last won the Championship trophy when he split it with Zizou, back when you could do that in Season 5. This team is much better than that one, which is not controversial to say. It’s unmistakable to realize what Vitória’s strengths are when you look at midfield. I question the decision for Xavi4life to run with the Center-forwards he has in attack but I’ve been wrong before. And if there’s any owner capable, it’s certainly him. But he’ll have his work cut out for him guiding this club. It is much to his credit that FM ratings were the way they were to leave players like Ángel Correa, Rodrigo De Paul, Lucas Torreira and Leandro Paredes rated low enough to play and thrive in a league they are without question too good for. VSC’s defensive acumen will be what they can hang their hat on, as well, chartering course through another season in the high seas of the Championship.

Notes:

– The oldest player in the league is Gianluigi Buffon, 42 (Sociedad).

– Paulinho (Parma) is the top-earning player in the league.

– Leeds United lead the league with the most internationally capped players, with 17.

– The New Saints are the youngest team in the league.

– Leeds and KV Mechelen are tied with the most number of nationalities with 20. Vitória have the least with 8.

– Parma and Athletic Club are the oldest teams in the league.

– Athletic Club has the highest Average Player Value.

– Parma has the highest Average Player Salary at $5.138 million.

FM Predicted XI of the season:
GK: Buffon (Sociedad)
RB: Pereira (Parma)
CB: Süle (Athletic)
CB: Martinez (Parma)
LB: Mendy (Sociedad)
RM: A. Correa (Vitória)
CM: Kessié (Sheriff)
CM: Olmo (Parma)
LM: Chiesa (Athletic)
ST: Muriel (Athletic)
ST: Jota (Parma)

FM Golden Boot Predictions:
01. Moreno (Parma), 9-2
02. Jiménez (Mechelen), 5-1
03. Edouard (Sociedad), 6-1
04. Weghorst (Sochaux), 13-2
05. Gómez (Salford), 11-1
05. Volland (Sheriff), 11-1

Zizou’s Predicted Table:
01. Parma
02. Athletic Club
03. Real Sociedad
04. Vitória
05. KV Mechelen
06. Newcastle United
07. Salford
08. Heerenveen
09. Sheriff
10. Southampton
11. Leeds United
12. The New Saints
13. Grasshopper
14. Sochaux

Zizou’s Predicted Golden Boot Winner: Raul Jiménez