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*Key – All categories like Top Earner, Key Player, etc are determined by FM.
This is the 16th season for the Dynasty Liga Championship League.
Season 15 Champions:
I am reminded of the famous words of Bill Pullman’s character from mega-giant action film Independence Day…
”HE DID IT! THE SON OF A BITCH DID IT!”
Proving all doubters wrong, Southampton outlasted challenges from Vitória, who led the majority of the season only to falter after the transfer window, as well as late-season surges from Real Sociedad and Sheriff Tiraspol. Gooner accomplished what few have in this league in arguably the most challenging competition because of the imposed cap. It will perhaps be the hardest title to try and hold and there are many challengers on the horizon. Anyone could win it. The Champions all going back to Season 8 are X4L, myself, Mark, (myself again), ProPAIN, Roberdino, Luigi and Gooner so it is definitely always up for grabs. I realize that is a double positive. And I meant it.
Season 16 Teams:
ATHLETIC CLUB (27/3)
Owner: ProPAIN
Assistant Manager: Hans Dieter Flick
Captain: Dani Carvajal
Top Earner: Iñaki Williams
Lowest Earner: Borna Sosa
Key Player: Mike Maignan
Zizou’s Key Player: Niklas Süle
Oldest Player: Idrissa Gueye, 31
Youngest Player: Jens Petter Hauge, 21
Average Age: 26Last Season Prediction: 2nd
Last Season Finish: 6th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 3rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 7/2Key Categories led: First Touch, Balance, Pace, Long Shots, Penalty Taking, Crossing
Zizou’s Thoughts: In what’s been so far the only league title that has alluded ProPAIN, Athletic Club find themselves with the ability to challenge once again for the Championship crown. But it will be far from easy despite the silly depth Athletic has built at every position. Losing Edouard Mendy to promotion seems as though it will not have any affect as ProPAIN has the option of several gifted goalkeepers in his place. Although it could be said that ProPAIN will have a harder time replacing Luis Muriel and Federico Chiesa, who were also promoted and played pivotal roles in last season’s version of Athletic. Goals won’t be hard to come by for Athletic but they’ll also need to maintain their impressive defensive prowess, being the league’s second stingiest team last season. The timing of goals scored and allowed will make all the difference.
FREIBURG (26/3)
Owner: BLAUGRANA
Assistant Manager: Leonardo Jardim
Captain: Ander Herrera
Top Earner: Trincão
Lowest Earner: André Horta
Key Player: Dani Olmo
Zizou’s Key Player: Alban Lafont
Oldest Player: Iago Aspas, 33
Youngest Player: Trincão, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 9th
Last Season Finish: 5th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 2nd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 7/2Key Categories led: Corner Takers, Vision
Zizou’s Thoughts: I for one was surprised not to see a massive overhaul of players right off the bat. Sure, first-time GM Blaugrana made several moves but having been along with him for the ride, it was eye-opening to see how long it took him to familiarize himself with all of his players and then make decisions on who to move and who to try and acquire. It had been a few seasons since Kawai had joined us but I was a little surprised because I felt this team was ripe for a complete makeover from tip to tails. However, in avoiding to do so, Blaugrana keep together a big chunk of the nucleus that has been Mark’s Sheriff sides for years, which had been dominant in the top half of the table nearly every season since the days of SNAFL. So what was changed? For one, attacking dynamo Dani Olmo was acquired and brought into the fold. Trincao and Iago Aspas also added to the additions made by BG for his Maiden Championship voyage.
GRASSHOPPER (27/3)
Owner: Roberdino
Assistant Manager: Jorge Jesus
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Alex Iwobi
Lowest Earner: David Carmo
Key Player: Wilmar Barrios
Zizou’s Key Player: Roger Ibañez
Oldest Player: Diego Alves, 36
Youngest Player: Davide Frattesi, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 13th
Last Season Finish: 10th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 13rd
Odds to win Championship (FM): 17/2Zizou’s Thoughts: Grasshopper was a time that lingered. It didn’t score the most goals and didn’t score the fewest. It didn’t concede the most goals and didn’t concede the fewest. But aside from that, no much can be said about it. And gone are the celebrations in Zürich with success having alluded Grasshopper for the past two seasons. Last season’s 10th place finish showed glimpses of what could have been but not consistent enough to prove decisive in Grasshopper’s challenge. And not much changed… the club was infused with badly needed new blood with Davide Frattesi and Florentino Luis. The recent real-life performances of Konrad Laimer and Emmanuel Dennis will also inspire hope as Roberdino looks to keep things steady in continuing to slowly rebuild.
HEERENVEEN (26/3)
Owner: Curtinho
Assistant Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Sebastian Rudy
Lowest Earner: Lautaro Morales
Key Player: Divock Origi
Zizou’s Key Player: Donyell Malen
Oldest Player: Sebastian Rudy, 31
Youngest Player: Lautaro Morales, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 8th
Last Season Finish: 13th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 11th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 8/1Zizou’s Thoughts: Teamwork and Communication are the lifeblood of any team. To have it is to have control. To command it is to wield a great power. Despite excelling at physical traits like agility or aggression or having excellent set piece takers, the only real weakness that FM sees in Heerenveen is one of teamwork and communication. When some baby birds are born blind, they follow the sound of their mother in order to find their way. Similarly, Heerenveen will be looking to and dependent on a voice. They’ll need the backup. Especially if potential Golden Boot favorites Donyell Malen and Divock Origi are to have any say.
LEEDS UNITED (27/2)
Owner: Kawai
Assistant Manager: Ralph Hasenhüttl
Captain: Rodrigo
Top Earner: Abdoulaye Doucoure
Lowest Earner: Ben Brereton Díaz
Key Player: Jordan Pickford
Zizou’s Key Player: Jarrod Bowen
Oldest Player: Rodrigo, 30
Youngest Player: Tyrick Mitchell, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 11th
Last Season Finish: 7th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 14th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 9/1Key Categories led: Stamina
Zizou’s Thoughts: The coup of Jarrod Bowen during the midseason transfer windows remains one of the most shrewd pieces of business in recent memory. For Kawai to take advantage of a player on the rise is one of the key strategies I’ve recommended GMs follow. It’s one thing to build with underage u21 players but it’s another to wholly supplement that flowing crop of young talent with late bloomers, as well. Bowen has settled nicely and beckons to be one of Leeds United’s most important assets this season. Along with wise recent acquisitions/promotions of Ayoze Pérez, Nikola Vlasic and Sebastiaan Bornauw, Leeds promises to be exciting to watch as a Hasenhüttl 433 Attack.
LENS (26/3)
Owner: evilo
Assistant Manager: Thomas Tuchel
Captain: Hugo Lloris
Top Earner: Malcom
Lowest Earner: Gautier Larsonneur
Key Player: Raphaël Guerreiro
Zizou’s Key Player: Dayot Upamecano
Oldest Player: Hugo Lloris, 34
Youngest Player: Jean-Clair Todibo, 21
Average Age: 24Last Season Prediction: 2nd
Last Season Finish: 6th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 4th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 5/1Key Categories led: Decision-Making, Passing, Acceleration, Agility, Dribbling, Free-Kick Taking, Technique
Zizou’s Thoughts: Forever reshaping, the transformative excellence with which evilo has turned what he inherited into what he’s been able to build is marvelous. Just speaking in terms of recent history, the off-season inclusions of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hugo Lloris give RC Lens as elite a Championship squad as any in the league. It’s frankly pretty awesome. There are no holes in the lineup. A lineup that was already very good last season got better, got younger and got faster. They are thus in a prime position to win their first ever league title. Evilo will be hoping some luck. He does everything else. He makes the necessary changes week after week and he’s an incredibly consistent submitter. I root for GMs like him to see success. And his achievement will be well-deserved and long earned if this year is the year. Whether it is or not will be determined by the FM Overlords.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (27/3)
Owner: Santiger Munez
Assistant Manager: Sergio Conceicao
Captain: –not yet selected–
Top Earner: Yerry Mina
Lowest Earner: Sékou Koïta
Key Player: Weston McKennie
Zizou’s Key Player: Pedro Porro
Oldest Player: Remo Freuler, 29
Youngest Player: Sékou Koïta,21
Average Age: 24Last Season Prediction: 6th
Last Season Finish: 14th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 9th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 13/2Key Categories led: Strength, Leadership, Off The Ball Movement, Teamwork, Workrate, Finishing
Zizou’s Thoughts: While their changes might’ve certainly gone under the radar, Newcastle’s youth movement was seen in the roster turnover from last season to this. With Matteo Gabbia, Joe Willock, Manor Solomon, Matheus Cunha and Pedro Porro, it’s easy to see where the upgrade in value went. And it’s easy to see that Santi’s strategy remains the long-game. In an ideal scenario, I think everyone would choose to always get younger especially in what’s still very much a developmental league. For Newcastle to be smart enough to offload some of its deadweight and replenish the cupboard with exciting youth promises to open the can on Newcastle’s possibilities. Such is life. C’est la vie.
PARMA (25/3)
Owner: Luigi
Assistant Manager: Didier Deschamps
Captain: Bryan Cristante
Top Earner: Timo Werner
Lowest Earner: Tyrell Malacia
Key Player: Gerard Moreno
Zizou’s Key Player: Robin Gosens
Oldest Player: Gabriel Paulista, 30
Youngest Player: Eljif Elmas, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 1st
Last Season Finish: 8th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 1st
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/4Key Categories led: Anticipation, Composure, Determination
Zizou’s Thoughts: If you set out looking through Parma’s lineup for any weaknesses, the search will be tiresome but only because you’ll realize that weaknesses are few and far between. Also managing to get younger this season, Parma added Eljif Elmas, Samuel Chukwueze and Edmond Tapsoba through promotion – a reflection of the genuine reason that this league was created, to allow players who are ‘in-between’ U21 and the elite of the Premiership, the opportunity to flourish. And while Parma was picked last year to repeat as Champions, the expectations will certainly not be far off this season with competition fierce for spots on the Starting XI, Luigi will be looking for something to prove.
SALFORD CITY (27/3)
Owner: JR
Assistant Manager: Ole Gunnar Solksjaer
Captain: Scott McTominay
Top Earner: Mariano
Lowest Earner: Bruno Méndez
Key Player: Oscar
Zizou’s Key Player: Nicolás González
Oldest Player: Rafael Toloi, 30
Youngest Player: Bruno Méndez, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 7th
Last Season Finish: 4th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 10th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 7/1Key Categories led: Teamwork, Aggression, Concentration, Positioning, Tackling, Marking
Zizou’s Thoughts: While not overly strong in size, Salford packs a punch. But while the status of one of their most offensively gifted players, Santi Mina, remains in question, Salford exists as a team in flux. After an impressive 4th place finish last season, JR sought to strengthen a few key positions, acquiring Yeray and promoting the versatile Tyler Adams. There’s also the question of who starts in goal with all three potential goalkeepers having an honest claim to the throne. JR’s first combination of his Starting XI will be something to keep an eye on with Ole Gunnar Solksjaer taking over for Ryan Giggs.
SOUTHAMPTON (27/3)
Owner: Gooner
Assistant Manager: Mikel Arteta
Captain: James Ward-Prowse
Top Earner: Thomas Partey
Lowest Earner: Ianis Hagi
Key Player: Thomas Partey
Zizou’s Key Player: James Ward-Prowse
Oldest Player: Kasper Schmeichel, 34
Youngest Player: Reiss Nelson, 21
Average Age: 26Last Season Prediction: 10th
Last Season Finish: 1st
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 7th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2Key Categories led: Flair
Zizou’s Thoughts: I mentioned last season that after the transformation that the Saints underwent that the possibilities for Gooner were endless. And boy do I hate being right sometimes. Transformed they were into Championship… Champions, giving Gooner his first title to celebrate. Making few changes, he rewarded all of his Southampton starters by keeping them around, albeit losing Tomas Soucek to promotion. Soucek played an important role last season in the heart of the midfield but Thomas Partey was brought in in his place to supplant the position. On the defensive side of things, Southampton strengthened by adding Gabriel, helping give Southampton an honest chance to repeat.
FC ST PAULI (27/3)
Owner: Zizou
Assistant Manager: Zinedine Zidane
Captain: William Carvalho
Top Earner: Nathan Aké
Lowest Earner: Christoph Baumgartner
Key Player: William Carvalho
Zizou’s Key Player: Richarlison
Oldest Player: Lukasz Fabianski, 36
Youngest Player: Riqui Puig, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 5th
Last Season Finish: 11th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 8th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 6/1Key Categories led: Heading
Zizou’s Thoughts: Last season was so disheartening. It was one of the worst league performances that I can remember any of my teams having. Sometimes and you recognize it when you play this game long enough, you feel forced into doing something and while you may not agree with being forced into it and while you may begrudgingly agree to do it, you only do so to help the team. Richarlison joining St. Pauli is that such move, attempting to strengthen the wing and give St. Pauli an unpredictably attacking flair. Adrien Rabiot, William Carvalho and Ismaël Bennacer will also look to strengthen a pourous midfield last season that was also one of the league’s worst offenses. Much is to change if fortunes are to reverse for the upcoming campaign. In what may prove to be his final campaign, goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański, who has been with me since I inherited him back in FM12, will get the nod in goal to start the season.
STANDARD LIEGE (27/3)
Owner: Xerxes
Assistant Manager: Peter Bosz
Captain: Moussa Niakhaté
Top Earner: Kerem Demirbay
Lowest Earner: Orel Mangala
Key Player: Florian Grillitsch
Zizou’s Key Player: Wout Weghorst
Oldest Player: Benjamin Lecomte, 30
Youngest Player: Zinho Vanheusden, 22
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 14th
Last Season Finish: 12th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 12th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 8/1Key Categories led: Jumping Reach
Zizou’s Thoughts: From Standard to Admira Wacker Modling to Sochaux and back again by Bilbao Baggins. Nevertheless it is Standard, a new home again, inwhich Xerxes will be hoping for the tide to swing back around in his favor. Seemingly providing Standard with very few weaknesses, it is in the complimentary of players often dictates the success of a team. How do you define success? Is it just hardware? Is it results at the end of the day? Or is getting the most out of your team and doing your best and letting that largely speak for itself? However you define it, Standard will be judged by what they do, how much they win, how often they score and how high they are on the table and that’s fact. We all face the same judgements and questions and decisions to make. And we all contemplate many of the same things. “What Starting XI works best?” is amongst the most maddening. Xerxes made it harder on himself in adding the likes of Tommaso Pobega, Mahmoud Dahoud and Amadou Haïdara to the middle of the park with very few changes otherwise.
SUNDERLAND (27/3)
Owner: james
Assistant Manager: Massimiliano Allegri
Captain: Péter Gulácsi
Top Earner: Benjamin White
Lowest Earner: Randal Kolo Muani
Key Player: Matteo Politano
Zizou’s Key Player: Harry Winks
Oldest Player: Péter Gulácsi, 31
Youngest Player: Perr Schuurs, 21
Average Age: 24Last Season Prediction: 12th
Last Season Finish: 9th
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 5th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 5/1Zizou’s Thoughts: After being one of the youngest teams in Championship last season, and also one of the youngst teams in Championship history, a year of further development will be what James hopes sparks a turnaround this season into the top half of the table. Péter Gulácsi, the elder statesman, will take command of the goal in a team that may, at times, look nearly identical to the one that finished last season. However, one of the things that james has going for him, in my opinion, is that he’s Dynasty’s tinkerman, always making an adjustment here or there to try and find an edge. Not far from this season’s favorites, james’ banked on the natural improvement of his players as being the major difference heading into this season. With expectations up, it’ll be seen whether that’ll mean good luck or bad luck for The Black Cats.
VITÓRIA SC (27/3)
Owner: xavi4life
Assistant Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Captain: Lucas Veríssimo
Top Earner: Emiliano Martínez
Lowest Earner: Samuel Lino
Key Player: Cuti Romero
Zizou’s Key Player: Emiliano Martínez
Oldest Player: Alex Sandro, 30
Youngest Player: Paulinho, 21
Average Age: 25Last Season Prediction: 4th
Last Season Finish: 3rd
This Season Predicted Finish (FM): 6th
Odds to win Championship (FM): 11/2Key Categories led: First Touch, Bravery
Zizou’s Thoughts: Where did it go wrong? For Vitória, who seemed to be coasting towards a potential Invincibles-type season, the promise land seemed inevitable when all of a sudden they broke down after the mid-season transfer break and could not win or even scrape a point together to save their title challenge. The pain that Xavi must have felt — the anger. We like to say that we don’t care and that it’s just a random stupid game but when it doesn’t go your way, it feels personal. You can’t help but feel angry because deep down, you want it to go your way and you feel that you’re owed. We all feel we should beat our opponents. When we don’t, we feel robbed. This is obvious. And sure, at home and when xG is telling you that your team is playing like AC Milan 2005, even moreso. But the ball still has to fall your way. The goals have to come your way. And you have to be lucky in making the right moves and using the right instructions. That’s just it. I warned Xavi against doing a lot to stir up the chemistry and perfect balance of his team at the mid-season transfer window. I warned against changes he made, including bringing on Sebastian Coates, who is well-rated in FM, to grab a starting spot. Just like that, the ball kindly stopped falling Vitória’s way. Xavi did what he could to stem the bleeding but it seemed no matter the idea, it worked like a tired voice trying to motivate a wall to move. Xavi admitted to feeling like he learned from his mistakes and who’s to doubt him. Sometimes, that’s all you can really do. That’s how you learn to win. And having twice won this competition, once sharing a team with yours truly, Xavi is not to be discounted. Heading into this season, he has tabbed Manuel Pellegrini to be the man to lead the charge once again. Pellegrini, an old school, yet softer approach to player management than that of the man he replaces, the brutal yet guns-out-buns-out philosophy of Jorge Sampaoli.
Notes:
– The oldest player in the league is Łukasz Fabiański, 36 (FC St. Pauli).
– At 6’7”, Sasa Kalajdzic (Freiburg) is the tallest player in the league. Timo Werner is the highest-earning player in the league.
– James Ward-Prowse serves as Captain for Southampton. Both of them.
– Iago Aspas (Freiburg), Pablo Sarabia (Athletic), Timo Werner (Parma), André Onana (Parma), Robin Gosens (Parma), Gerard Moreno (Parma), Niklas Süle (Athletic) & Mike Maignan (Athletic) are the highest-rated players in the league.
– FC St. Pauli lead the league with the most internationally capped players, with 14.
– Sunderland, Lens and Newcastle are the youngest teams in the league.
– Grasshoppers lead the league with the most number of nationalities represented with an amazing 21.
– Southampton and Athletic Club are the oldest teams in the league.
– Parma has the highest Average Player Value.
– Athletic Club has the highest Average Player Salary.
FM Predicted XI of the season:
GK: Maignan (Athletic)
RB: Süle (Athletic)
CB: Upamecano (Lens)
CB: Romero (Vitória)
LB: Gosens (Parma)
RM: Zinchenko (St. Pauli)
CM: Olmo (Freiburg)
CM: Keïta (Parma)
LM: Lemar (Lens)
ST: Aspas (Freiburg)
ST: Werner (Parma)FM Golden Boot Predictions:
01. Moreno (Parma), 3-1
02. Aspas (Freiburg), 7-2
03. Berardi (Parma), 12-1
04. Volland (Freiburg), 13-1
05. Politano (Sunderland), 16-1FM Golden Ball Predictions:
01. Upamecano (Lens), 7-1
02. Sarabia (Athletic), 9-1
02. Süle (Athletic), 9-1
02. Aspas (Freiburg), 9-1
02. Moreno (Parma), 9-1Zizou’s Predicted Table:
01. Lens
02. Parma
03. Vitória
04. Athletic Club
05. Southampton
06. Sunderland
07. Newcastle United
08. FC St. Pauli
09. Salford
10. Freiburg
11. Heerenveen
12. Grasshopper
13. Standard Liège
14. Leeds UnitedZizou’s Predicted Golden Boot Winner: Gerard Moreno
A more difficult title defense has fallen on the shoulders of the Saints of Southampton. With 12 of 26 rounds completed, Southampton trails a resilient Salford City by 3 points, sitting second on the table in Gooner’s first title defense. Not to be outdone, last season’s third placed finishers Vitória are determined challengers, 6 points off the lead. Last season’s Sociedad was 8th after 12 rounds. The inevitable runners up should give evilo a boost knowing Lens are sitting in a much better position than Sociedad were a season ago at this point. With a bottleneck occurring, separating 4th place to 8th by just 2 points, there is still too much to be decided to know that anything is certain. The league is, as always, up for grabs and will go down to the end. Salford’s Nicolas González is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot with 11 goals.
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