Season 20 Premiership Talk

[Zizou]

*Key – All categories like Top Earner, Key Player, etc are determined by FM.

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This is the 20th season for the Dynasty Liga Premiership League.

Season 20 Champions:

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Arsenal won a contentious season, running away with Season 19.5, finishing fifteen points adrift the other teams.

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Season 20 Teams:

ARSENAL (27/3)
Owner: Mark
Assistant Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Captain: Mikel Oyarzabal
Top Earner: Gareth Bale
Lowest Earner: Mathew Ryan
Key Player: Robert Lewandowski
Hot Prospect: Alexis Mac Allister
Zizou’s Key Player: Fede Valverde
Oldest Player: Mehdi Benatia, 33
Youngest Player:: Erling Haaland, 20
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 4th
Last Season Finish: 1st
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 8th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 15/1

Key Categories led: Strength, Concentration, Anticipation, Crossing

Zizou’s Thoughts: It is pretty easy to analyze why Arsenal seem to always be defending a title, they have been the most consistent team in DynastyLiga going back a decade and even further. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why either. Arsenal consistently find ways to adapt, year in and year out and go with a formation that seems to work, more often than not. Damn the torpedos, the Gunners always come to fight with what brung ‘em. Wingbacks. Midfielders. Strikers up the arse and all… Arsenal have won 3 of the last 6 seasons, trading with Borussia Dortmund and Inter throughout. This season, the gluttony at center-forward, as always, the imposing threat for other teams seeking to score enough goals to keep pace. Speed and strength at the consistent core of the Gunner juggernaut, the gauntlet has been thrown down for other teams coming off their Season 19.5 triumph.

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BORUSSIA DORTMUND (27/3)
Owner: Santiger Munez
Assistant Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Captain: Leonardo Bonucci
Top Earner: Leonardo Bonucci
Lowest Earner: Sékou Koïta
Key Player: Sadio Mané
Hot Prospect: Ezequiel Barco
Zizou’s Key Player: Roberto Firmino
Oldest Player: Giorgio Chiellini, 35
Youngest Player:: Andreas Skov Olsen, 20
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 7th
Last Season Finish: 5th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 6th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/1

Key Categories led: Flair

Zizou’s Thoughts: What a difference a year makes. Borussia Dortmund returned to a promise of teams of Dortmund past only to see a massive change in the off-season. Gabonese Goal hound Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was traded in a massive deal that brought Fabián Ruiz, the slightly lesser talented younger distant cousin of little-known Mexican-American defender Michael Ruiz, to Der BVB. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Roberto Firmino will have their hands full trying to make up for the absence of PEA as their central threat in attack. Elsewhere, Dortmund will look for Christian Pulisic to prove that he is an actual footballer and not an overhyped prima donna. The aging defense is a cause for concern as much of the burden defensively will be put on the shoulders of Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Nacho.

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BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH (27/3)
Owner: Roberdino
Assistant Manager: Vincenzo Montella
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Isco
Lowest Earner: Roger Ibañez
Key Player: David Alaba
Hot Prospect: Roger Ibañez
Zizou’s Key Player: Papu Gómez
Oldest Player: Dani Alves, 37
Youngest Player:: Roger Ibañez, 21
Average Age:: 29

Last Season Prediction: 12th
Last Season Finish: 13th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 13th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 20/1

Key Categories led: Jumping Reach

Zizou’s Thoughts: Gladbach will be looking to overcome a season of woes amidst Dynasty Liga in the pandemic. Edinson Cavani, not the motor of a season ago, struggled to find consistency and the U21 phenom Darwin Núñez could not equal his u21 success to provide them enough offense. This season’s load will again depend on Cavani and the steadying presence of renaissance man Papu Gómez. Consisting of a number of aging veterans, avoiding injuries and their ability to stay focused down the stretch will be key in determining how well Gladbach do against some of the heavyweights in the league.

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CELTIC (27/3)
Owner: James
Assistant Manager: Massimiliano Allegri
Captain: Harry Maguire
Top Earner: Thibaut Courtois
Lowest Earner: Fredrik André Björkan
Key Player: Thibaut Courtois
Hot Prospect: Facundo Pellistri
Zizou’s Key Player: Romelu Lukaku
Oldest Player: Chris Smalling, 30
Youngest Player::, Facundo Pellistri, 18
Average Age:: 24

Last Season Prediction: 14th
Last Season Finish: 6th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 9th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 15/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: It seems the only thing keeping James from winning a title with Celtic is the ability to stay for longer than the initial flirt. It hasn’t been for a lack of trying or without a team good enough to compete with the very best. But Celtic’s option to rely on the boots of Raheem Sterling and Romelu Lukaku still see them amongst the luckiest of teams in Dynasty Liga. It would be a manager’s dream to have that potent a threat in attack. The saavy addition of lumbering giant Harry Maguire late in the transfer window could prove pivotal in a season of hopes and dreams.

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CHELSEA (27/3)
Owner: ProPAIN
Assistant Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Captain: Thiago Silva
Top Earner: Antoine Griezmann
Lowest Earner: Ante Palaversa
Key Player: Kevin De Bruyne
Hot Prospect: Pietro Pellegri
Zizou’s Key Player: Eden Hazard
Oldest Player: Thiago Silva, 35
Youngest Player:: Pietro Pellegri, 19
Average Age:: 27

Last Season Prediction: 3rd
Last Season Finish: 9th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 3rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 10/1

Key Categories led: Teamwork, Leadership, Aggression, Bravery, Determination, Heading

Zizou’s Thoughts: ProPAIN cannot look to unwrite last season and will have to look to avoid repeating it. It was the gaffer that bore the brunt of the blame for the 9th placed finish as Allegri moved onto greener pastures. Incoming, the Italian branded Cigarette-loving and eyebrow raising Carlo Ancelotti, who will have a potent brand of attack at his disposal. Ancelotti will surely look to take advantage of the physical edge they will possess over most teams. But it is their quality of possession that will dictate their standing in this league of champions. Kevin De Bruyne, Frenkie de Jong, Douglas Costa and Marcus Rashford will look to provide service for Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suárez. No one should write off Chelsea returning to form from seasons past should they rediscover the appropriate balance of passing teamwork and lethal precision.

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INTERNAZIONALE (25/3)
Owner: Zizou
Assistant Manager: Diego Simeone
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Lionel Messi
Lowest Earner: Óscar Mingueza
Key Player: Lionel Messi
Hot Prospect: Óscar Mingueza
Zizou’s Key Player: Kylian Mbappé
Oldest Player: Manuel Neuer, 34
Youngest Player:: Óscar Mingueza, 21
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 5th
Last Season Finish: 2nd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 2nd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/2

Key Categories led: Corner Taking, Dribbling, Free Kick Abilities, Passing, Technique, Decision-Making, Agility, Balance

Zizou’s Thoughts: If history is any indication, Internazionale is due for another Championship run. Inter have made it just about every other year and Season 20 could be no different. Their final third play and their ability to hone in on a defensive tactic that works will be the difference for I Nerazzurri. Consistently one of the best crossing teams in the league, Inter will once again look to provide offense from the wings with wingback dynamo João Cancelo on the right, Lionel Messi with free reign and Kylian Mbappé on the left, a nightmare for teams on a good day.

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JUVENTUS (27/3)
Owner: Luigi
Assistant Manager: Antonio Conte
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Coutinho
Lowest Earner: Facundo Medina
Key Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Hot Prospect: Silas Wamangituka
Zizou’s Key Player: Neymar
Oldest Player: Cristiano Ronaldo, 35
Youngest Player:: Silas Wamangituka, 20
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 2nd
Last Season Finish: 4th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 1st
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2

Key Categories led: Acceleration, Pace, Stamina

Zizou’s Thoughts: The addition of Cristano Ronaldo will see last season’s fourth-placed team come into Season 20 with expectations of a potential first-ever Premiership trophy. Juve will come in with a bolstered attack and with one of the best midfields in the league with Joshua Kimmich, N’Golo Kanté and Nicolò Barella, as well as Toni Kroos and Naby Keïta. It would be easy to think that with all of the pressure on Luigi, it would be impossible to overcome. Luigi has consistently stuck with a game plan, often longer than many of his competitors. In what could be storybook season, Juve’s season hopes rely on the attack of Serge Gnabry, Neymar and Ronaldo doing enough to crown the Old Lady champions of Dynasty.

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LIVERPOOL (27/3)
Owner: Curtinho
Assistant Manager: Jürgen Klopp
Captain: Jordan Henderson
Top Earner: Karim Benzema
Lowest Earner: Diogo Leite
Key Player: Virgil van Dijk
Hot Prospect: Willem Geubbels
Zizou’s Key Player: Thiago
Oldest Player: James Milner, 34
Youngest Player:: Willem Geubbels, 18
Average Age:: 26

Last Season Prediction: 6th
Last Season Finish: 10th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 10th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 16/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes ringing in Merseyside. Karim Benzema, the new target man for the Reds, will look to carry the load for Liverpool with Donyell Malen returning to his u21 club following last season’s golden boot brilliance. Liverpool had not had a Golden Boot winner before despite the offensive prowess of Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo in seasons past. The player partnership of true Liverpool players are one of their strengths, as well as the leadership of Jürgen Klopp. Leadership exudes throughout this very professional locker room, as well, providing Curtinho the comforts of being able to rely on the club to lead itself through times of trouble.

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MANCHESTER UNITED (27/2)
Owner: JR
Assistant Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Captain: Rúben Dias
Top Earner: Oscar
Lowest Earner: Bruno Varela
Key Player: Casemiro
Hot Prospect: Ronald Araújo
Zizou’s Key Player: Lautaro Martinez
Oldest Player: Fernandinho, 35
Youngest Player:: Ronald Araújo, 21
Average Age:: 27

Last Season Prediction: 10th
Last Season Finish: 12th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 7th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 12/1

Key Categories led: Fitness, Finishing, Long Shots, Penalty-Taking

Zizou’s Thoughts: Manchester United followed a disappointing season with a few improvements on the wing and on defense. The goal threat at centre-forward remains strong but it will be their ability to keep goals against down that will determine the strength of their potential title challenge. Obviously, not being able to offer a more proven backup option in goal than Bruno Varela is worrisome. Their ability to incorporate Paul Pogba and Marcos Llorente into more goals will separate whether this season will be any different for United than recent seasons past.

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NAPOLI (27/3)
Owner: Gooner
Assistant Manager: Marco Rose
Captain: Kieran Tierney
Top Earner: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Lowest Earner: Álex Collado
Key Player: Wojciech Szczęsny
Hot Prospect: Dwight McNeil
Zizou’s Key Player: Nicolas Pépé
Oldest Player: Jamie Vardy, 33
Youngest Player:: Adil Aouchiche, 18
Average Age:: 24

Last Season Prediction: 9th
Last Season Finish: 8th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 12th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 18/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: Never shy to try and make improvements to his team, Gooner shipped goal-scoring menace Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in a deal that saw new captain Kieran Tierney join the ranks of the team from Naples. One of few teams to get younger this season, Napoli will see a vastly different than one of two seasons ago. The introduction of Aubameyang, Gonzalo Higuaín and Andreas Christensen will see areas of need strengthened while the goal will be guarded by defending supreme shot stopper, the Polish hammer Wojciech Szczęsny.

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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (27/3)
Owner: evilo
Assistant Manager: Mauricio Pocchetino
Captain: Harry Kane
Top Earner: Miralem Pjanić
Lowest Earner: Diogo Costa
Key Player: Harry Kane
Hot Prospect: Patson Daka
Zizou’s Key Player: Ousmane Dembélé
Oldest Player: Pepe, 37
Youngest Player:: Hicham Boudaoui, 20
Average Age:: 27

Last Season Prediction: 8th
Last Season Finish: 7th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 4th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: PSG were among the more active teams in the transfer window, making several swaps to upgrade teams throughout their pipeline. Gone are Benzema and Christensen. In are Patson Daka and Miralem Pjanić? As I said, some of their moves looked to strengthen teams in the pipeline other than PSG. But the team managed to avoid getting older due to several moves made to address overall team youth. Harry Kane’s goal-scoring ability will look to make the difference offensively while Der Spiderman Marc-André ter Stegen guards the goal behind Raphaël Varane, Presnel Kimpembe and Kalidou Koulibaly.

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STANDARD LIEGE (27/3)
Owner: Xerxes
Assistant Manager: Pep Guardiola
Captain: Radja Nainggolan
Top Earner: Thomas Müller
Lowest Earner: Timon Wellenreuther
Key Player: Mohamed Salah
Hot Prospect: Evan N’Dicka
Zizou’s Key Player: İlkay Gündoğan
Oldest Player: Radja Nainggolan, 32
Youngest Player:: João Félix, 20
Average Age:: 25

Last Season Prediction: 11th
Last Season Finish: 11th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 11th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 18/1

Key Categories led: Vision, Off-The-Ball

Zizou’s Thoughts: FM21 doesn’t see any improvement in Standard Liège that might lead you to believe they would improve much from last season. RSL finished where I imagined they would and FM21 would have you believe that this season will be no different. Where Standard will be looking to improve will be in front of goal. One of last season’s lowest producer of goals, Standard was better than most in front of goal. Figuring out the best attack without sacrificing their defensive prowess will be important for Standard going forward if they are to improve from the bottom half of the table.

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TOTTENHAM (27/3)
Owner: Kawai
Assistant Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Captain: Luka Modrić
Top Earner: Luka Modrić
Lowest Earner: Luca Pellegrini
Key Player: Jan Oblak
Hot Prospect: Luca Pellegrini
Zizou’s Key Player: Son Heung-min
Oldest Player: Samir Handanović, 36
Youngest Player:: Luca Pellegrini, 21
Average Age:: 28

Last Season Prediction: 13th
Last Season Finish: 14th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 5th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/1

Key Categories led: First Touch, Composure, Work Rate

Zizou’s Thoughts: They say there’s no such thing as a transition season at the top flight. I would beg to differ and introduce Tottenham Hotspur as a team in transition. On one hand, Kawai’s changes introduced some badly needed fresh blood into the team. On the other hand, they are on average, an old team with a ton of international representation but the majority of them have seen their better dayts behind them. Still, the team possesses strong players of strong character and great work rate and the ability to play quick football with precision. Last season’s last-placed finish should mean that there’s only one way to go and that’s up. Look for improvement from Spurs or at the very least, a team that’s not really shit, but not all that great either.

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VALENCIA (27/3)
Owner: xavi4life
Assistant Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Captain: Marquinhos
Top Earner: Alex Sandro
Lowest Earner: Claudinho
Key Player: Ederson
Hot Prospect: Renan Lodi
Zizou’s Key Player: Fabinho
Oldest Player: Alex Sandro, 29
Youngest Player:: Paulinho, 20
Average Age:: 25

Last Season Prediction: 1st
Last Season Finish: 3rd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 14th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 20/1

Zizou’s Thoughts: One of the more well-rounded clubs, Xavi4life has Valencia seeing the promise of something hopeful despite the woeful expectations of FM21. Last season’s third placed team possesses a strong attacking threat with a dream-pairing of two centre halves in Marquinhos and José María Giménez. Valencia is hopeful the new acquisition of Gerson, in what was mostly a quiet transfer window for the Valencia parent club, provides them with strong depth in the center of the midfield. The bevvy of options in attack give Valencia a number of combination of goal-scoring threats. The confidence of Xavi4life in his impulsivity will characterize their chances this season competing for their first-ever Premiership crown. It is hard to find them ever unprepared so Xavi’s ability to stay ahead of the curve in their performance will be the determining factor, as long as their long-term health, in showing us what team they will be this season.

Notes:
– Liverpool is the only team in Dynasty where the real-life captain also serves as captain in FM.

– Borussia Mönchengladbach have the most amount of players (28) with Championship-level eligibility.

– Lionel Messi (Internazionale) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Napoli) are the highest-rated players in the league.

Dani Alves (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Pepe (Paris Saint-Germain) are the oldest players in the league.

– The youngest player in the league is Adil Aouchiche, 18 (Napoli).

– Borussia Dortmund lead the league with the most internationally capped players, with 24.

– Lorenzo Insigne (Paris Saint-Germain), 5’4″ (1.63 m), is the shortest player in the league.

– Thibaut Courtois (Celtic) and Jannik Vestergaard (Borussia Mönchengladbach), 6’6″ (1.981 m), is the tallest players in the league.

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

– Borussia Mönchengladbach is the oldest team in the league.

– Celtic and Napoli are the youngest teams in the league.

– Internazionale has the highest Average Player Value and the highest Average Player Salary at $10.156 million.

– Borussia Dortmund is the most diverse team in the league, representing 23 nationalities. Manchester United and Valencia are the least diverse with 8 nationalities represented.

FM Predicted XI of the season:
GK: Neuer (Internazionale)
RB: Kimmich (Juventus)
CB: van Dijk (Liverpool)
CB: Ramos (Juventus)
LB: Alaba (Monchengladbach)
RM: B. Silva (Internazionale)
CM: De Bruyne (Chelsea)
CM: Kroos (Juventus)
LM: Neymar (Juventus)
ST: Ronaldo (Juventus)
ST: Messi (Internazionale)

FM Golden Boot Predictions:
01. Kane (PSG), 6-1
01. Lewandowski (Arsenal), 6-1
03. Ronaldo (Juve), 8-1
04. Mbappé (Inter), 17-2
05. Haaland (Arsenal), 11-1
06. Neymar (Juve), 13-1

Zizou’s Predicted Table:
01. Juventus
02. Arsenal
03. Paris Saint-Germain
04. Internazionale
05. Chelsea
06. Celtic
07. Valencia
08. Liverpool
09. Borussia Dortmund
10. Manchester United
11. Standard Liege
12. Napoli
13. Tottenham
14. Borussia Mönchengladbach

Zizou’s Predicted Golden Boot Winner: Erling Haaland

• This topic was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Zizou.

[evilo]

Thanks Z !
Great job as always !

[admin_dynasty]

Haaland winning the golden boot is going to be a tough task as he will start the season as the 3rd choice center forward.

[Xavi4life]

Brilliant as always!

[Zizou]

In what was undoubtedly the closest race in Liga history, it came down to the final match in which Chelsea, trailing Inter by a point, hosted the five-time Liga champions in a win-or-die scenario. Chelsea came out the victors, 3-2, in a memorable final thanks to an Antoine Griezmann free-kick goal in the 85th minute. ProPAIN achieves the rare league double with his first ever Dynasty Premiership title. ProPAIN is the first GM to hoist the Premiership title other than Mark or Zizou in eight seasons.

Message from the Chairman: Speaking personally, I don’t really think about what’s good for a league when I’m running a sim. The sim is going to do what it wants and I’ll be the one to record it. Barring mistakes made during the course of a sim where instructions are missed or followed incorrectly, the first sim is the one that’s used and we are literally at the mercy of computer components. So then why is it ever emotional? For ProPAIN, he’s been at this for years and he’s come close but never got to the top. Since Nick’s last title, it’s been Mark and I sharing the spoils, a reflection of the teams we’ve both constructed through years of work – prior to the joining of ProPAIN, evilo, Gooner, Xerxes & some of our other competitors. For me, even though I do always think “What’s good for the league?”, but hell… if the computer is deciding that I’m going to win because of the players I have and the tac they’re following, I’m certainly not going to ever take my foot off. That’s competition. That’s sports. And I’m taking my chances. That’s why I’m pleased to say that this time Inter was bested, in dramatic fashion, as the FM Gods would have it. And so be it. Congratulations to ProPAIN, a good lad, a ruthless competitor and a well-deserved Champion. Truly, to me… what’s GOOD for the league is that the FM isn’t stupid, that we can take the stats and the goals and the results at face value and think “Okay, yeah… that could happen.” The rest, all the little things in between, that’s what makes this league different than the real thing—different from even a video game. The finish of this match proved the appropriate climax for a crazy season. The result of which, you can argue is really good for the league. But next season, Inter will be giving it all they’ve got as they have in every competition they’ve entered. And if we are met by 13 others, then that truly will be what’s good for the league.

It came down to the wire for Borussia Dortmund, as well, as they were able to escape the cellar on the final match day, damning Valencia to the ocean floor. Lautaro Martinez’s double in the last match gave him the sole claim to the Golden Boot with a goal haul of 25, 2 ahead of PSG’s Harry Kane.

[Kawai]

Love when you share your insight bro. Congrats sent to PP! Chelsea are Champions!

[ProPAIN]

Thanks again Zizou! Class all around.

And thanks Kawai!

[Luigi]

Congrats PP and thanks to Zizou and everyone in this league. Disappointing season for me on all fronts but I guess it’s commensurate with the little effort I was able to put on the tacs and lineups.

[Author]

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