Shop
The Roma Question: Which summer signing will have the greatest impact?
@JamesHorncastle: “Given Di Francesco has worked with Defrel and Pellegrini before, I think it’s natural to expect them to have the biggest impact. Generally I like the depth and experience Monchi has added. I think he has addressed where Roma were short last year. Gonalons is a steal. The one that intrigues me most though is Cengiz. No one saw that coming and, as with Karsdorp, it feels like while people aren’t talking about him now, they will be very soon.”
@RomaThings: “Kolarov. After Emerson’s unfortunate injury and Mario Rui's departure, the team was in dire need of a quality left-back to fill that hole in the squad. Kolarov offers that and more. He brings experience and strong personality. He is accustomed to Rome and Serie A. It is not a surprise he looked comfortable and performed well in all the friendlies he featured in. I expect a big season from him.”
@BrenCDT: “While I'm extremely excited about Cengiz Under and Lorenzo Pellegrini's respective futures, I think Aleskandar Kolarov will have the most immediate impact. Kolarov should instantly slot into the left-back spot, providing solid defence, leadership and pin-point crossing, and even after Emerson Palmieri returns, he just gives Di Francesco so many options at the back. Just a great move by Monchi all around.”
The Serie A Question: How does Milan's major investment in the summer transfer window change the Serie A landscape?
@JamesHorncastle: “I think Roma, along with Juventus, have helped modernise the league. But in terms of regaining its international standing, Serie A definitely needs both Milan clubs to be competitive again in Italy and abroad. What Milan were doing was the big story in European football this summer, at least until the Neymar transfer. They transcended Italy and I think there’s a lot of goodwill towards them. People want to see the Milan and Inter of old. Personally though I find it great that Roma and Napoli have evolved so much while both Milan clubs have been in the wilderness.”
@RomaThings: “Unfortunately the gap between Serie A and the top league in Europe is still massive, especially on an economical level. Without solid investment in infrastructure, I am (just like Pallotta and UEFA) very skeptical about the ability of Milan’s owners to sustain this level of spending long term. However, I believe that competitiveness breads quality. It seems the gap between Juve and the rest of the top teams in Serie A is getting narrower and that's definitely a good start.”
@BrenCDT: “Milan's summer has been awfully impressive, no doubt about that, but I wouldn't automatically hand them the Scudetto; completely erasing and starting over again might be a bit much to go from worst to first, so to speak. However, in the broader sense, their revival, Inter and Roma's ascendency and Juve's deep run in last season's Champions League does bode well for the health and vitality of the league as a whole.”
The General Football Question: Which club, if any, can stop Real Madrid in the Champions League?
@JamesHorncastle: “It's hard to look beyond Real Madrid now they have broken the spell of retaining the trophy in the Champions League era. Breathtaking ability aside, their strength in depth is chilling and the team has only gotten younger this summer. As if their Galacticos weren't already enough, Madrid's succession planning has been so much better than rivals Barcelona. A year on from Marco Asensio's break-out season at the Bernabeu, prepare yourselves for Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos. Highly rated Canteranos like Jesus Vallejo, Marcos Llorente and Borja Mayoral have also been brought back and if they weren't already, Real now look set to dominate the continent like no team since Milan in the late 80s, early 90s.”
@RomaThings: “The current Real Madrid is a side that will be remembered among the legendary squads in European football history. And they seem to be just starting to peak. It will take a mixture of extraordinary effort and good luck to beat them this year. I don't see any side coming close but if I have to name one it is Bayern. I am also interested to see what PSG, with the addition of Neymar and another year under Emery, can do in Europe.”
@BrenCDT: “That's a tough one. Real Madrid already looks set to bowl over everyone this year; they just have so much transcendent talent, top to bottom, it's difficult to imagine anyone overcoming them. Having said that, Neymar's move to PSG should give the Parisiens as good a chance as anyone; he adds a previously unseen wrinkle to an already loaded team.”
Imperium Partners
Centurion Partners
