Europa League: Exciting but Irrelevant?

Today was the finals of this years Europa League with two Portuguese sides meeting in Dublin with Europe's supposed second biggest club prize on the line.  It is hard for me to comment on the match itself since I missed out on watching it but the reports I have read make it seem like it lacked the quality and excitement that would have made it into a bigger occasion.  The fact of the matter is that Porto and Braga are not among Europe's biggest clubs and despite both having strong histories and several quality players this game was never going to be close to any of the knock out round games of the Champions League in terms of quality.

To me the Europa League is a decent tournament but it lacks the quality and prestige of the Champions League since in its very nature it is filled with the teams that are not good enough for the latter stages of the Champions League.  The Barcelonas, Real Madrids, AC Milans, Chelseas, and Manchester Uniteds are not regulars in this tournament and as such the world's best players are not on display.  That being said if you are a smaller club, or a top club from a less prestigious league, then this might be your one shot and playing European football.  If you are a fan of a club like Porto this year or Fulham last year then of course you are going to be excited and enjoy watching your team go on such an impressive run.  But if you are a fan of a team like Liverpool or Manchester City you are not to upset when your team goes out since winning the Europa League is a lot of extra games and when you are in a top league it can be an unneeded distraction from domestic challenges which clubs often prioritize.   Having seen what trying to win this cup can do to a squad on FM which is only a game I can imagine the impact that it can have in real life as they midlevel clubs lack the depth that allow the top teams to compete on 3 or 4 different fronts.  But for the players who do go deep, and for managers, it gives them a real chance to increase their profile and possibly set up a move to a bigger club.  This years final was filled with a few names who certainly did their stock a lot of good.

The first person who has moved into the spotlight and is now considered as one of the faster rising names in the game is Porto's manager Andre Villas-Boas.  He seems to be set to follow in the shoes of another Portuguese manager who led Porto to glory in Europe and proved to be one of the best tacticians around despite his young age.  The other manager who I refer to is of course the so called Special one, Jose Mourinho who has travelled around Europe winning almost everything since his days at Porto where he won a Champions League.  It seems that like Jose, Villas-Boas is almost certain to move on at some point in the not to distant future as he has proven to have the tactical skills required to manage at the top levels and one of Europe's big clubs is sure to come knocking.  It may not be this year but it will certainly happen and the youngest manager to even win the Europa League will take on an even bigger challenge.


If Villas-Boas stays at Porto for another season he will almost certainly be without a few of the players who were key to this run to the final.  Having set the Europa League on fire with his record goals total of 17 Falcao will likely use that as a launching pad to move to a top club.  Many sources have speculated that he could be in for a move to the Premiership with the potential of Manchester City signing him but they are not going to be the only club hoping to get a deal done for the man who has scored almost a goal a game since joining Porto for the start of the 2009 season.  Falcao has also been linked to Real Madrid so it seems all but certain that he will on the move come the start of the transfer window.

Another name that is likely to be on the move is Hulk.  The Brazilian forward was also a key part of the clubs success and if the whole confusing story of how he came to play for Porto and what share of the player the club actually owns is ever sorted out he will likely be on the move again.  This time his transfer is likely to be a lot more straight forward with no third parties owning his rights.  The main team that is being linked with him is Manchester City who would like to add him to the squad in preparation for their champions league debut.  They wont be the only ones interested in him and it is sure to be a fairly big money transfer with several top clubs being interested.

Those three are the main names that I expect to move in the near future but I am sure that some top clubs are going to be taking a good long look at Porto's strong centre back Nicolas Otamendi.  He only joined Porto this season but his debut season was a good one and he has proven that he can compete at the top level.  Joao Moutinho, the 24 year old midfielder, who has proven his value first at Sporting and now at Porto could also be a target for some of the top teams.  He may lack the size and strength to play in England but I am confident that some teams will at least try and bring him out of Portugal.  


Porto may have won today's final 1-0 but unless they are stubborn in trying to hold on to their players this offseason the club could have a very different look next year.  On the bright side they can celebrate their win by cashing in on several million Euro's this summer.

Whose on the Move

With the summer transfer window approaching, it is time to take a look at some of the players who will be on the move at some point this off season. A number of highly rated youngsters appear to be on the move this summer with the possibility of other big money moves.

Eden Hazard

Its only a matter of time before the young Belgian star leaves France and Lille for a bigger club and league. Inter Milan and Arsenal are currently rumored to be interested in the 20 year old midfielder who scored 7 goals in 35 appearances this season. Lille are not a big enough club to be able to hold onto their starlet once the bigger clubs start making their advances but the club hopes that guaranteed first team appearances in the Champions League for the potential French champions next season will keep Hazard in the fold for at least one more season.

Alexis Sanchez

The fast Chilean winger has been in superb form for Italian side Udinese this season finding the net on 12 occasions which has made him one of the most desired players in Europe this summer. Manchester City have reportedly already opened talks with Udinese and a deal seems close to being complete. Manchester City’s cross town rivals, Manchester United have long had their eye on the Chilean international. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly had his eye on Sanchez since he was a youngster, even before his move to Italy. But with United likely to make a move for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, a move for Sanchez does not seem to be on the books. Interested in Sanchez has increased recently with Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti throwing his club’s name into the race by urging the club to sign the young winger. Chelsea has also been rumored in the winger and with this much interest in Sanchez it is unlikely Udinese will be able to hold on to him.

Erik Lamela

River Plate’s highly rated Argentine midfielder has long been the subject of transfer rumors starting when he was 12 years old when River rejected Barcelona’s 300,000 Euro offer for the too “young to be called a youngster” player. Lamela is no longer a child and now at 19 he is once again drawing the attention of European giants. Lamela has become a key player for River Plate in recent years and the club has reportedly sold the player to a group of business men for 14 million Euros, who will sell the player once more in June. Juventus seem favored to secure Lamela’s signature this summer, but the Argentine wonderkid will end up somewhere in Europe this summer.

Paulo Henrique (Ganso)

Ganso is a member of Brazil’s current crop of wonderkids and the Santos midfielder is the prize of a reported battle between the Milan sides. The future Brazilian star has said that he will be signing for either Inter or AC with a move for the 21 year old playmaker likely to take place this summer.

Neymar

Neymar is another member of Brazil’s budding youth system and is Ganso’s teammate at Santos. The flashy striker, who has been compared to Brazilian great Pele, is unlikely to stay in Brazil much longer. Chelsea tried to sign the youngster last summer, but Neymar rejected their offer in order to continue to grow in Brazil. He recently signed a new contract with Santos that contains a 45 million Euro release clause and it is unlikely that Santos will except anything less for their star.

Michel Bastos

Yet another Brazilian that could be on the move, but this one his already in Europe. Bastos, a winger at Olympique Lyonnais, is in the crosshairs of rebuilding Italian giant Juventus but it appears that negotiations between the two clubs of the player’s future have stalled. Bastos has said that he is looking for a new challenge away from Lyons but has ruled out England and Germany leaving a move to Spain or Italy as his options.

Other Transfers to Look Forward To

With Edwin Van de Sar retiring in a couple of weeks, Manchester United is need of a new starting keeper to replace the Dutchman. David De Gea, Athletico Madrids young keeper, is a name often brought up in discussions. Schalke’s Manuel Neuer was considered an option before completing a reported deal with Bayern Munich leaving names like Ajax’s Stekelenburg and Olympique Lyonnais’s Lloris on the list of possible replacements at Old Trafford.

Manchester United have also been reportedly working out a deal for Aston Villa’s English international Ashley Young. Young would add to an already fantastic group of wingers with Nani and Antonio Valencia.

Interest in Porto’s Brazilian striker Hulk is rumored to be high with the likes of Manchester City and AC Milan pursuing his signature. It is unlikely that Porto will allow their talisman to leave after recently signing him to a new contract.

Kaka is also rumored to be leaving Real Madrid with a number of clubs in England supposedly interested in the former Ballon D’or recipient. Kaka has recently stated his desire to remain at Real Madrid and reclaim a spot in the line up following comments made by his mother about them moving to London for next season.