Messi, Sanchez,
Neymar, Pedro, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabrigas, Tello.
Let’s kick
start by looking the Catalan giants, who boast a very impressive line-up of
attacking players, as listed above. Messi alone could give FC Barcelona the
right to claim the best attacking line up in the world, and with the recent
addition of Brazilian wonder kid Neymar, the backup of Sanchez and Pedro, and
the Spanish midfield trio, they certainly look impressive on paper.
However, I
do have a slight issues with this collection of attacking players, which is
they are all very similar players; there is no versatility in the attacking
options available. Messi, Sanchez, Neymar, Pedro, and loosely Tello all offer
very similar characteristics; i.e. small, quick, dribbling, run at the
defenders sort of player. With the quality of the players themselves, this
probably is not even a problem, but their lack of options should be taken into
consideration.
2. Real Madrid
Ronaldo,
Bale, Isco, Di Maria, Benzema, Alonso, Modric, Morata.
Big
spending Real Madrid did some interesting business over the summer; with the well-publicised
capture of Ronaldo like Welsh player Gareth Bale and exciting Spanish youngster
Isco. However, I believe they made a huge mistake to let Ozil leave and keep,
what appears, to be Di Maria. The Argentine is a quality player, but too
similar to Isco and Bale, and Ozil is frankly a top 5 world player. But that
really doesn’t hinder this team’s attacking options.
Cristiano
Ronaldo is a goal scoring machine; but it will be interesting to see if he reacts well to the arrival of Gareth
Bale. If they can flourish, I think they will be unstoppable, but its and if. I
need not to tell you Alonso’s or Benzema’s credentials, quality players the
pair of them, and Modric is slowly but surely becoming the player Madrid bought
twelve months ago. Isco could fulfill the Ozil shaped whole, but it will be
interesting to see how much time he is allowed on the pitch. Backing these up
is Morata, the exciting Spanish talent who looks to have a great future ahead
of him.
3. Chelsea
Lampard,
Torres, Mata, Oscar, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Hazard, Ba, Willian, Eto’o.
Chelsea,
another team who signed plenty of attacking talent over the summer, look very
strong going forward, and have quality in depth. Taking away age defying Frank
Lampard in midfield, Chelsea boast any combination of Mata, Oscar, Schurrle, De
Bruyne, Hazard and Willian. I don’t care which way you slice it, that’s impressive,
but what will be more impressive, is to see how Jose Mourinho will keep all of
them happy.
There was
talk of Mata being let go, but I know that many Chelsea fans are happy for that
not to come true, he has been such an integral part of the Blues for a few
years now. De Bruyne has already impressed this season, showing an eye for a
killer pass and it seems the sky is the limit for Hazard. With Brazilian
youngster Oscar ever improving it will be more interesting to see whether
Willian can justify transfer hijack to get his services.
Nasri,
Negredo, Dzeko, Navas, Aguero, Silva, Fernadinho, Jovetic, Toure.
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| New Manchester City player from Shaktar Donesky, Fernadinho |
Pellegrini
bought a variety of attacking talent to the Etihad Stadium, with Negredo,
Navas, Jovetic and the box to box midfielder Fernadinho adding to an already
notable selection in the offensive line. Having four to quality strikers in
Negredo, Dzeko, Aguero and Jovetic; the Citizens should certainly find the back
of the net this season, but will they all get a fair share of playing time?
Navas
brings speed to the wings, with a good final ball; I am sure he will be in among
the assists all season, while Nasri could always find the form that got him the
move to the blue side of Manchester in the first place. David Silva is a world
class talent and will again show his worth, if he remains fit all season.
Ribery,
Robben, Shaqiri, Gotze, Muller, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Madzukic, Thiago.
The only
team from Germany I believe have the strength in depth to be considered the
best attacking collection in Europe; Bayern Munich won the German League with
comfortable ease, and then won the Champions League with similar ease last
season. But that was not enough; they not only went and hired the hugely
successful former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, but added the best player in
their closest rivals in the Bundesliga; Mario Gotze, and Spanish wonder kid;
Thiago.
In my
humble opinion, Bayern Munich is probably the best team in the world, at the
moment, and they could well have the best attack as well. Ribery and Robben are
two very talent and successful wingers and Schweinsteiger is the crowning jewel
in the German midfield. Kroos and Thiago are very exciting young midfielders
with great ability and huge potential, and Madzukic and Muller offer quality up
top.
Tevez,
LLorente, Giovinco, Isla, Pirlo, Asamoah, Vidal, Pogba
I don’t
think that Juve have the best attack in Europe, but I think they have enough
top class attacking players that they deserve a mention. Tevez’s ability is
well documented and with his experience and winning attitude, he could lead
this Italian line to special things.
Giovinco
has bags of pace and compliments it by knowing where the net is, while Vidal,
Asamoah and Isla are very good players always improving. If the right service
is given to Llorente, then he will nod in the goals all day, and with the sheer
god like ability of Pirlo, they have a formidable ball playing midfield. Paul
Pogba, the former Manchester United youngster is also showing huge potential in
the middle of the park and could become the soul of the Italian giants.
7. Ac Milan
Robinho, Matri, Pazzini, Poli, Kaka, Emanuelson, Balotelli, Niang, El Shaarawy
Again, not
the best attack, but worth of a mention, AC Milan boast an attacking front line of Italian youngsters Balotelli
and El Shaarawy, who complement each other very well, with Balotelli’s
powerful, but precise type of play, and El Shaarawy’s speedy direct attitude.
Robinho and Kaka may have seen better days, but they still possess great
ability and class that AC Milan want to utilise and much as possible. Poli is
slowly but surely showing why he will become central to future Italian
midfields and the rest of the attackers are not world class, but offer top
quality back up.
8. Paris Saint-Germain
Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Menez, Lucas, Pastore, Lavezzi, Veratti
PSG decided
that having one of the top 5 strikers in the world was not enough, so they
added another. Ibrahimovic and Cavani are definitely special talents, and will
hope to get great service from a fast and skilful midfield. Lucas and Lavezzi
are hugely quick players with plenty of tricks between them, while Pastore can
dribble his way out of most situations and knows how to find a key pass. Menez
and Veratti are both very good players that fill in a variety of attacking
roles when needed.
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