Football Manics Magazine, Issue 1, August 2016

MAGAZINE

2016/17

Season Preview

!

Issue

Number 1

WENGER! CONTE! RANIERI! KLOPP! GUARDIOLA! MOURINHO! POCHETTINO!

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

The closest Premier League race of all time?

44

M AKE OR BREAK: PROM OTION CONTENDERS AND RELEGATION CANDIDATES IN THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE

EURO 2016: PORTUGAL TRIUM PHANT AS CAGEY FOOTBALL DOM INATES FORGETTABLE TOURNAM ENT

50 YEARS AND COUNTING: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET ENGLAND'S SLEEPING LIONS ROARING AGAIN?

Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Championship, League One, League Two Plus! Euro 2016, Copa America Centenario! Exclusive fan interviews! Competition - win a t-shirt!

Editor's Note

Credits

Editor in Chief: Giuseppe Labellarte

Web Development: Chris Buckley

Project Manager: Mark Cotton

Sales and Advertising: Chris Buckley

Writers: Shamoon Saeed, Sam Fuller, Mark Cotton, Chris Buckley, Giuseppe Labellarte

Designer: Chris Buckley

www footballmanics com

www.facebook.com/footballmanics

www twitter com/footballmanics

For mailing list and subscription enquiries please visit www.footballmanics.com

For advertising, sponsorship and marketing enquiries please contact Chris at webmaster@footballmanics com or Giuseppe at joe.jones@footballmanics.com

Published by Football Manics Media

Front cover designed by Chris Buckley

Please note: Football Manics Magazine is fully protected by copyright; no part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without the complete and expressed permission of the publisher The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy; however there can be no liability accepted by the publisher for errors or omission. Football Manics Magazine can under no circumstances be held responsible for any materials, matter or photographical copy submitted for publication or not within the magazine We cannot be held liable or responsible for any breaches of copyright from adverts, materials, photography or any other matter supplied by third parties

The views and opinions expressed within this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or indeed Football Manics Magazine or any featured parties.

Hello folks, My name?s Giuseppe Labellarte and it is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the first edition of Football Manics Magazine.

August is an exciting month in the world of football ? the greatest and most popular leagues in the world kick off in August, including La Liga, Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and of course the Premier League and Football League.

The publication of the first ever issue of Football Manics Magazine has been timed to coincide with what is the start of a new season of world-class club football, symbolising the arrival of something exciting, refreshing and entertaining.

In this groundbreaking issue we preview one of the most highly anticipated Premier League seasons in recent history, and also cover the Football League, Champions League, Europa League, and the international game

Football Manics does not just aim to be a publication ? it aims to be an all-encompassing football community, from the website and forum to its social media pages boasting thousands of followers

I would also like to thank Chris Buckley, Mark Cotton, Shamoon Saeed, Sam Fuller, and all the other people who made conception, production and publication of this magazine possible. You guys have been amazing!

We hope you enjoy the first edition of Football Manics Magazine and that you may be inspired to visit or even join thousands of other football fans at www.footballmanics.com, or on our social media pages at www facebook com/footballmanics and www.twitter.com/footballmanics. Please check them out and we hope you like what you see.

Giuseppe Labellarte (Joe Jones)

MAGAZINE CONTENTS

FOOTBALL.THEBEAUTIFULGAME.FROMFIRSTTHINGINTHEMORNINGTOLASTTHINGATNIGHT , WETHINKABOUTFOOTBALL.WATCHINGIT,LISTENINGTOIT,READINGABOUTIT,ANDPLAYINGIT , BOTHONTHEPITCHANDINVIRTUALREALITYWELOVEFOOTBALLWEAREFOOTBALLMANICS

- PREMIER LEAGUE 2016-17 SEASON PREVIEW

- (6-9) THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN -THE 2016-17 PREMIER LEAGUE CONTENDERS

- (10-11) A LONG SEASON AHEAD?THE 2016-17 PREMIER LEAGUE RELEGATION CONTENDERS

- (12) ONWARDSTOEUROPE OR MID-TABLE CONSOLIDATION? HOW THE REST OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE SHAPESUP

- FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2016-17 SEASON PREVIEW

- (13) MAKE OR BREAK: PROMOTION CONTENDERSAND RELEGATION CANDIDATESIN THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE

- (14-15) CHAMPIONSHIPTITLE CONTENDERS

- (16-17) CHAMPIONSHIPRELEGATION CANDIDATES

CHECKUSOUTAT

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FOOTBALLMANICS

ANDFOLLOWUSONFACEBOOK

WWW.TWITTER.COM/FOOTBALLMANICS

ORTWITTER(@FOOTBALLMANICS )

VISITOURWEBSITE : WWW.FOOTBALLMANICS.COM

- (18-19) LEAGUE ONE TITLE CONTENDERS

- (20-21) LEAGUE ONE RELEGATION

CANDIDATES

- (22-23) LEAGUE TWO TITLE CONTENDERS

- (24-25) LEAGUE TWO RELEGATION CANDIDATES

- (26) COMPETITION TIME -WIN WITH FOOTBALL MANICS!

- (27-31) THE LIFEBLOOD OF FOOTBALL: MEETING THE FANSOF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

- (32-36) CLASH OF THE TITANS: THE CHAMPIONSLEAGUE HEAVYWEIGHTS

- (37-39) EUROPA

LEAGUE: THE CONTENDERS LOOKING TO DETHRONE SEVILLA

FIRST EDITION

AUGUST 2016

WANTTOREACHA HUGEAUDIENCEOF FOOTBALLFANS? CONSIDER SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIESWITH FOOTBALLMANICS !

At Football Manics we are eager to work with and alongside companies who have a passion for football and are keen on being seen by fans of the beautiful game We have advertising and sponsorship opportunities on the website, on social media and in the magazine. To find out more, please contact advertising@ footballmanics com

WANTTOBEGINA CAREERASAFOOTBALL JOURNALIST?

At Football Manics we work with many aspiring writers whose articles have been read by thousands of people worldwide. If you want to take your first steps towards forging a career as a football writer or journalist, Football Manics can help you out! We have voluntary writing positions where we can give your articles exposure and even nurture you and give you feedback To find out more contact editor@ footballmanics com

CHILECELEBRATING THEIR COPA AMERICA VICTORY

INTERNATIONALROUND-UP

EURO2016-COPAAMERICACENTENARIO

- (40) EURO2016 REVIEW: BAD FOOTBALL, GREAT STORIES

- (41-43) EURO2016 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT

- (44-45) ENGLAND: THE HURT CONTINUES

- (46-47) COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO: TEARS, THRILLSAND CONTROVERSYASCHILE TRIUMPH AND AGRENTINA CRUMBLE

THEMAGNIFICENT SEVEN

THE2016-17 PREMIERLEAGUE TITLECONTENDERS

Th e daw n of a n ew Prem ier League season is alw ays an excit in g t im e, w it h f an s of t h e t radit ion al ? big? t eam s h opin g t h at t h ey w ill w in t h e t it le, t h e m iddle clubs h opin g f or a European f in ish alon gside a good cup run ,

and promoted teams eager to enjoy the ride and hopefully spring a surprise, and fans all across the board prepare for nine months of high-quality football and some thrilling matches and narratives.

This season, however, is by far the most highly anticipated in possibly the whole history of the Premier League, for a number of reasons First of all, the incumbent champions are Leicester City, a team who have spent most of their recent history in the second division, were in the third tier just a few years ago, and only survived relegation the previous season by the skin of their teeth. Put simply, it was one of the biggest shocks and underdog stories in sporting history, and it will be interesting to see how they follow it up this season, and that?s before we mention having given title hopes to every single team in the division ?if little Leicester can go all the way, why not Sunderland, or Burnley, or Hull City?

Secondly, 2015-16 proved a disastrous season for virtually all the typical title-contesting clubs, so they will be eager to make amends Chelsea?s first-half season collapse under Jose Mourinho was the first big shock of the season as they were on the brink of a relegation battle and,

even though Guus Hiddink rallied the club back to safety, a 10th-placed finish is frankly abysmal for a club of Chelsea?s stature.

Likewise Manchester United and Manchester City endured very poor seasons, which led to Louis van Gaal and Manuel Pellegrini being showed the door as the Red Devils limped to a fifth-placed finish and a stint in the Europa League, while the Citizens ended fourth and will have to contest a play-off for a place in the Champions League

In terms of the ?rest of the best?, Liverpool also began poorly under Brendan Rodgers, and although charismatic replacement Jurgen Klopp went on to lead the Reds to two cup finals, including one in Europe, their eighth-placed finish sees them suffer the same fate as Chelsea in terms of not having to make overseas flight arrangements next season Arsenal, a club that has slipped far behind the pace since their Invincibles season, is probably the happiest of the traditional big sides at the end of the campaign

as they finished second, but increasingly disillusioned Gunners fans know all too well that their late surge happened when Leicester were already assured of the title, and just a few months earlier, their last-ditch 2-1 win over the Foxes on Valentine?s Day edged them just two points behind Claudio Ranieri?s side before a typical final-third collapse.

And finally, we come to Tottenham Hotspur A team that pushed Leicester all the way at the home straight and were in with a real chance of winning the title thanks to one of the most talented teams in the club?s history, including the English spine of Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane, but which choked at the last by drawing against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea to gift Leicester the title, before insult was added to injury when Arsenal leapfrogged them into second place on the final matchday of the season

So, what has each club done in the off-season to get back up to scratch, or continue progressing, in their pursuit of the title?

Football Manics writer Shamoon Saeed has analysed each of the ?big seven? teams as the behind-the-scenes repairs take place.

Manchester United

The hype with Manchester United's signings has sent warning signs to the rest of the Premier League as the Red Devils already look ready to challenge for the title with Jose Mourinho, who was unveiled at the club?s new manager early on in the summer

His presence at the club has helped bring in the likes of young Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan and of course the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Old Trafford Even fans who do not support Man Utd will no doubt be awestruck with Zlatan finally coming to the Premier League, which is going to be very exciting to see and if he does bring success to the club with titles It's also got me excited to see Mourinho join Man Utd as it's very unusual to see

The Portuguese boss has already won the Community Shield and, at the time of writing, Paul Pogba was having a medical ahead of a move back to his former club for upwards of £100m.

When it comes to off-season headlines, the Red Devils have dominated, and it'll be interesting to see whether they will be able to conquer on the pitch too

Manchester City will also undergo many changes due to Pep Guardiola?s appointment The Spaniard looks to freshen the players by creating a sense of 'spirit' within the squad as he has done so in the past with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but let's not forget his tactical brilliance and qualities he will bring to the club.

Manchester City

Guardiola looks to forge a similar mentality to the Man City players and he has expressed he they will 'work their arses off' However, this may seem more interesting when we mention the curious case of Raheem Sterling -I think he can transform him into a world-class player

The new boss has had his say on Sterling and he said he was 'curious' and 'looks forward to working with him' whilst also stating that 'English players are expensive', which is absolutely true ?nobody can argue with that

So far, Man City have signed a glut of players including IIkay Gundogan, Nolito, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Marlos Moreno, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aaron Mooy, giving them even more quality as they bid to get back to title-winning ways, and I think it's fair to say that they will be a real force next season

Chelsea

Now, Chelsea were in a sticky situation when Jose Mourinho was sacked (again) ? his successor Guus Hiddink confirmed he would only be an interim manager until the end of the 2015-16 season. This ultimately led to the decision of making Italy head coach Antonio Conte the new Chelsea manager

During the latter stages of the season, Chelsea were heavily linked with Diego Simeone as the prime target However, the Argentine put this speculation to bed when he signed a new contract with Atletico Madrid after their Champions League final defeat

With the appointment of Conte, Chelsea fans can be very excited ? his enthusiasm, which Blues fans would have noticed at Euro 2016 with the Azzurri, is what the club needs. He is a manager with great tactics and is known to be a 'master tactician' as Guardiola said of the Italian during a press conference

Chelsea have made two signings at the time of writing ? one is promising Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi from Marseille, who is already being called 'the next Didier Drogba', for £33m, while the second is defensive midfielder N?Golo Kante from Leicester City, whose defensive stats last season were nothing short of astounding

For sure, Conte has a lot of work to do but fans are relying on him heavily to bring back a cool mentality to the Chelsea squad. His favoured 3-5-2 system may come to a surprise as that system is not very common in the Premier League I'm expecting them to thrive this season

Leicester City

At 5000/1 odds to win the Premier League title, which in bookmaking terms means that if you bet a pound, you lost a pound, Leicester City?s championship-winning story last season was undoubtedly the biggest shock in sporting history

Claudio Ranieri has experienced the best spell of his managerial career and has already made a few signings to strengthen the squad for their title defence in the shape of Luis Hernandez, Nampalys Mendy, Ahmed Musa and Ron-Robert Zieler, while star striker Jamie Vardy has signed a new deal I expect Leicester to do well enough this year and consolidate their position among the upper echelons of the league, though with the traditional big teams having pulled their fingers out and spent big bucks to recruit stellar managers and marquee players, a second title in a row would be nigh-on impossible But then again, wasn?t it supposed to be impossible for a little club like Leicester City to win the Premier League?

Out of the Big Seven clubs who could challenge for honours this season, Arsenal are the ones who have kept things the most fixed Arsene Wenger has been at the club?s helm since 1996 and there seems to be no indication that he is to leave any time soon

Arsenal

The club?s relative stasis has often displeased and even infuriated fans, many of whom feel the club is not going forward, and last season highlighted many of the problems that plagued them campaign after campaign ?a strong start derailed by injuries and a mid-season blip that sees them fall out of contention.

Arsenal ultimately managed to finish second, but that was only after the title was won by Leicester and Spurs crumbled mentally, and a season without silverware following two FA Cups on the spin will have done little to appease the supporters.

However, with Olivier Giroud having enjoyed a reasonably decent Euro 2016 campaign with France, Alexis Sanchez ?who won a second Copa America on the spin with Chile ?firing on all cylinders, and another big money signing in Switzerland international Granit Xhaka to go alongside a number of other genuine world class players like Petr Cech and Mesut Ozil, Arsenal are not to be discounted.

Tottenham Hotspur

There is no doubt that the current Tottenham Hotspur squad is one of the most talented that the club has ever had, and the English spine of Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane is great to see from a national perspective

Spurs were absolutely great to watch last season ? the 3-0 evisceration of Manchester United was something else ? and it was tragic that they not only lost out to Leicester but also slipped to third behind bitter rivals Arsenal

However, the camaraderie within the team is well documented, with many of the players appearing to be genuine friends, and at the time of writing there were no departures, while two acquisitions have been made in young Dutch striker Vincent Janssen and Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama

Often known as a team of false dawns that has lingered in the shadow of the Gunners, last season put them within reach of getting one over on their bitter neighbours, and despite falling at the final hurdle, could Mauricio Pochettino build his team ? in terms of recruitment, asset retaining, player improvement and psychological fortitude ?into the dominant team in North London ?and maybe even England?

Liverpool

It beggars belief that Liverpool have not won the English first division title in over quarter of a century ? a club that was by far the most dominant side in the country has had to sit and watch as bitter rivals Manchester United well and truly knocked them off their perch

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, however, seems to have that X factor to really revitalise the Liverpool squad and turn them into something we never expected His passion and greatness as a manager led the club to the League Cup final and also the Europa League final, although winning those proved a hurdle too far.

At the time of writing, the Merseysiders have made one big-money signing in Southampton striker Sadio Mane, transferred for £34m, as well as German league players Loris Karius, Ragnar Klavan and Joel Matip, which though unknown on these shores, they will be highly rated by Klopp.

The mercurial German has a stellar track record ? league championships, European final appearances ? much like that of Rafael Benitez, who remains one of Liverpool?s best-loved adopted sons, so will his spell be able to build on that of the man who delivered The Miracle of Instanbul and work his magic closer to home?

A LONG SEASON AHEAD? THE 2016- 17 PREM IER LEAGUE RELEGATION CONTENDERS

At the other end of the Premier League table, it?s not all glitz and glory as a handful of teams each season find themselves caught up in a relegation fight.

Clubs that have been established in the top flight for years could find themselves in real danger of slipping out of the big time, while promoted clubs are desperate for their stay in the division to be over after just one or two years

We all saw how painful it was for fans of Aston Villa and Newcastle United, two once proud clubs, to stumble out of the Premier League after years of mismanagement and poor recruitment, while Norwich City?s supporters were forced to slip back into the Championship and strengthen their reputation as a yo-yo club

Last season was miraculous in that a team that seemed destined for the drop in its first campaign back in the top flight, and surely doomed to relegation in its supposedly more difficult second season, bucked the trend by? winning the Premier League

If one of the below teams was to repeat that feat for a second consecutive year, it would be nothing short of remarkable, but given all the information presently at our disposal, we have to count these five teams as relegation contenders

Hull City are one of two teams to bounce back into the Premier League at the first attempt following relegation in 2014-15, thanks to Steve Bruce?s winning brand of management in adverse conditions

Hull City

However, the former Manchester United man shocked Tigers fans by resigning from the club in July amid reports of a fractious relationship with vice-chairman Ehab Allam, lack of investment, takeover talks on hold as chairman Dr Assem Allam recovers from illness, the departure of key midfielder Mohamed Diame and a decimated playing squad ? one week away from the start of the season

Managerless Hull need to regroup ? and quickly. A new manager apt at working in adverse conditions is a must, while a spate of skilled, motivated and willing signings is needed within the next few weeks if the club is to get the season off to anything resembling a respectable start.

Burnley

Like Hull City, Burnley only spent one season in the second tier before bouncing back, but unlike their fellow promotees, the Clarets are much healthier going into the new campaign.

Sean Dyche was retained after relegation in 2015and the club finished the season as champions, while their off-the-pitch situation is stable and their squad is mostly intact from the previous campaign, while recruitments have been made in the shape of Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Nick Pope, and Jamie Thomas from Charlton Athletic (the first two) and Bolton Wanderers respectively

I say ?mostly? because Joey Barton, Burnley?s star player last season, has left for Rangers, and he will undoubtedly leave a giant hole in midfield, which will need to be patched up swiftly and astutely. Nonetheless, it is expected to be little more than a mild blow for the Turf Moor side, and with the right signings, coaching and ability to right the wrongs of 2014-15, there is no reason why Dyche and his boys cannot survive in the top flight next season.

For all the latest Premier League news, features, results, analysis and discussion, visit www footballmanics com today

Middlesbrough

A passionately supported club with plenty of Premier League pedigree, many are eager to see Middlesbrough back in the top flight, and Spaniard Aitor Karanka has managed to pull off some of the most unexpected transfers of the summer

Alvaro Negredo is an experienced striker who scored nearly a goal every two games during a five-year spell at Sevilla, as well as boasting 10 goals in 21Spain appearances, while Victor Valdes is one of the most decorated goalkeepers of all time after 12 seasons with Barcelona in which he won six La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies, as well as a World Cup and a European Championship with La Roja. Believe it or not, both of these will be playing for Boro next season

Karanka has also signed the likes of Antonio Barragan, Bernardo Espinosa, Viktor Fischer and Marten de Roon, which all indicate that Boro will be a side with flair next season Will all the players gel in time under the mercurial Spaniard?Many cannot wait to see them in action and find out

Sunderland haven?t so much been treading water in the Premier League in the last few seasons as sinking to the bottom of the pool only to be pulled out moments before they drown

Sunderland

Dick Advocaat was the heroic lifeguard for the Black Cats in 2014-15 and such was the emotion around his successful stint at the Stadium of Light that he signed a new deal, but the following season he found things even more difficult, leaving Sam Allardyce to take the reins and bail the club out once again

Now that Big Sam has taken the England job, it?s a case of going back to the drawing board for Sunderland. Though David Moyes is a safe pair of hands, the club is without a single new signing to their name, while a spate of players ?including Emanuele Giaccherini, who enjoyed a great campaign with Italy at Euro 2016 ?have left the club

Will this finally be the season during which the Black Cats run out of their seemingly numerous lives? Much like Hull City, they Moyes to sign a glut of new players and mould them into a cohesive unit as quickly as possible, otherwise they may just not get themselves out of the water this time

Bournemouth

Many had Bournemouth down as certainties to be relegated last season by virtue of their lack of Premier League inexperience ?it was their first ever season in the top flight ?as well as a squad that remained Championship level at best Eddie Howe?s side, however, survived with a number of games of spare in the end

The oft-mentioned ?second season syndrome?, however, could begin for a club whose euphoria of being in the Premier League will have decreased since last season, whose tactics will have been sussed out by rival managers, and whose ground, which holds just under 11,500, simply cannot keep up with ticket demands, and thus profits.

The Cherries, however, have made a number of shrewd signings, including highly rated Liverpool youngster Jordon Ibe at a club record £15m, which is a clear signal of intent, and there is no denying that Howe is a top quality manager in charge of a tightly-knit squad

It?ll be a hard one to call as many things that should be in place ?manager, board, players ?for a club to be successful at Bournemouth are in fact there, but for how long can they keep punching above their weight?

ONW ARDS TO EUROPE OR M ID-TABLE CONSOLIDATION? H OW TH E REST OF TH E PREM IER LEAGUE SH APES UP

With seven teams hoping to challenge for the title and five hoping to merely survive in the division, it leaves eight teams who will likely be targeting a possible European berth, or potentially a good domestic cup run and a mid-table finish

Everton and West Ham are two teams who will fancy their chances of a top six finish The Toffees have seen British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri become majority stakeholder, thus allowing for more funds to potentially be made available to new manager Ronald Koeman, while the Hammers have finally completed their move to the Olympic Stadium, with the prospect of additional ticket revenue putting them in good stead to grow as a club

Southampton, Koeman?s old club, have endured another nightmare summer as yet more of their squad got picked apart, while another promising young manager has been lost to a Premier League competitor, but their shrewdness in the transfer market and managerial recruitment process seems to keep the club fighting above its weight Claude Puel is now at the helm ?will he follow on from the progress made by Mauricio Pochettino and Koeman?

Another club impressing in the division both on the pitch and off it is Stoke City, whose scouts and transfer chiefs continue to pull off amazing signings This summer the likes of Ramadan Sobhi, allegedly highly rated by Jose Mourinho, and Joe Allen, one of Wales?s standout players at Euro 2016, have penned deals at the Britannia Stadium, and surely it is only a matter of time before the Potters find themselves in Europe

Stoke?s signing of Allen appears to be Swansea City?s loss, the Welsh outfit feeling they have missed out on a key player with experience at the club However, the relatively modest signings of Leroy Fer, Mike van der Hoorn and Mike Birighitti were followed up by the recruitment of World Cup winner Fernando Llorente from Sevilla, giving the side a nudge from potential strugglers to top ten finishers in one fell swoop

Likewise West Bromwich Albion have not enjoyed a fruitful summer so far, and with striker Saido Berahino continuing to be the subject of a transfer saga, I cannot see them edging above 12th in the league, while Watford also may struggle to hold onto their star players Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney, which could set them back in surviving a second season in the top flight

That leaves just one team ? Crystal Palace, who have made a good fist of consolidating their position in the Premier League, and despite having a limited squad, the recruitment of England winger Andros Townsend could help give the team a boost, while Alan Pardew?s heroics in guiding the Eagles to the FA Cup final last season show both his credentials as a manager and his suitability for the club

MAKEORBREAK:PROMOTIONCONTENDERSAND RELEGATIONCANDIDATESINTHEENGLISH FOOTBALLLEAGUE

When it comes to sheer competitiveness and unpredictability, the English Football League has no comparison anywhere in the world

Three divisions of 24 clubs each mean that each team has to play a gargantuan 46 league games per season, and anyone can beat anyone in their division on their day ?it?s not uncommon to see a former Premier League giant being turned over by a team that was in non-league a few years prior.

Dead rubbers are also rare in the final stages of the English Football League season ?often the majority of teams will be competing for championship, promotion or play-off berths in the final matchday ?or indeed fighting for survival

And then comes the lottery of the play-offs which distils a whole season?s work into two or three games ?some may call it unfair if a team that slipped out of automatic promotion contention late on in the season loses to a side which crept into the play-offs on the final day, but it certainly makes it exciting for everyone else involved

In this piece, Football Manics looks at the teams expected to challenge for promotion in the Championship, League One and League Two, as well as the sides who may struggle to survive in their respective divisions.

For all the latest Football League Championship news, features, results, analysis and discussion, visit www.footballmanics.com today.

Newcastle United

Newly relegated Newcastle United are strong favourites to gain automatic promotion next season for a number of reasons. A squad full of Premier League quality players and an owner with deep pockets will certainly encourage the Magpies, as will their recent additions of Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle, who both bring Championship experience The club have also managed to keep hold of veteran manager Rafa Benitez, which will give them a huge boost in confidence for the season.

Newcastle certainly have a passionate and vocal fan base on their side, but the Championship is a very different league to the Premier League A drawn-out campaign of 46 matches tests players?fitness and physical condition, however a strong-willed Toon side look set for a fruitful season in the second division as they hope to make a swift return to the top

Aston Villa have used the same approach as Newcastle in their captures, with the recent additions of Aaron Tshibola from Reading and Tommy Elphick from Bournemouth as they look to give themselves some experience, having not played in the second tier since the 1987-88 campaign It is hard to believe that just a mere six years ago, the Villans were competing for a Champions League spot themselves

Aston Villa

A recent takeover funded by Dr Tony Xia has proved to be a silver lining for Villa after their poor performances last season, which saw them finish with a total of 17 points

His first signing could turn out to be the most important, as he convinced Champions League winner

Roberto Di Matteo to take over the reins at Villa Park, a manager who will offer a certain fluidity in his style of play

The club doesn?t have the same quality of firepower up front as Newcastle, however with a top signing in this sector, it would be reasonable to predict them as automatic promotion fighters.

Norwich City

Uncertainty awaits Norwich City for the season ahead, as they look to deal with the departure of Nathan Redmond, who recently made an £11m move to Southampton Manager Alex Neil will no doubt bring in the players needed to fill his gap, but nevertheless it is a face that will be missed at Carrow Road. Having only been promoted to the top tier in the 2014-15 season, it will be fresh in the minds of the Norwich players that they can indeed make a quick-fire return.

Norwich do have much experience in the Championship, and there could be a sign of things to come as they gained straight promotion back to the Premier League after their previous relegation to the second division. This fact might not have any effect at all on Norwich?s chances, however it does prove that promotion in the forthcoming season isn? t beyond them, which is why they shouldn? t be taken lightly.

Brighton

The thrilling three-horse-race in the Championship last season saw Brighton & Hove Albion cruelly miss out on automatic promotion, but their squad seem to get closer to promotion with each season that passes Manager Chris Hughton has given the side newfound hope in recent seasons and the belief that they can reach the Premier League, as they so nearly did last season

With only the additions of 19-year-old centre-back Ben Hall and Glenn Murray on loan, the Seagulls clearly fancy their chances with the squad that they already have under Chris Hughton

While there is still time in the transfer window, Brighton fans should expect a couple more new faces as they look to further prolong their status as promotion contenders, after reaching the play-off semi-finals frequently in the last few seasons.

Sheffield Wednesday

Wednesday were perhaps the unluckiest of the unlucky in the Championship last season after missing out on a Premier League spot due to a play-off final defeat Although it was widely unexpected that the club would get as far as they did in the first place, it was still a crushing defeat for them, but it is one that will give them valuable experience in playing in important matches this season

For those of you who watched the Championship play-offs, you will have seen the commitment and passion from manager Carlos Carvalhal. It is managers like these that have the sacred bond with their players that forms a formidable relationship in football, and this will be a hard bond to break down next season, which is why Wednesday have been included in this list

Derby County

It was another poor display from the Rams last season as they once again failed to show the quality that is needed to gain promotion. It seems a long time ago now that Derby broke the hard-to-forget record of being relegated with only 11points from 38 matches, but with a much changed, younger squad, Derby have come close in past seasons Reaching the play-offs in the 2013-14 season, as well as in the last campaign shows that their integrity to succeed is undeniable.

The club?s place on this list comes purely from their experience in the top end of the Championship, having finished in the top ten in the past 4 seasons Players like Chris Martin, who has been Derby?s top scorer in the league for three seasons running, will encourage the side, and could spur them on to promotion in the upcoming season

Queens Park Rangers

After finishing 12th in a bitterly disappointing campaign last season, QPR have already acted quickly in the transfer market, bringing a number of new faces to Loftus Road These signings have by no means been high-profile, but with the large budget that the Rangers boast, more signings will be expected

In recent seasons, the club have been very unpredictable both on and off the pitch, especially since their takeover, however a couple of seasons of stability might allow them to push forward

Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink offers a fresh approach in coaching styles, after retiring himself just 8 years ago, and his success at his previous club Burton Albion shows that he isn?t a manager to disregard due to a lack of experience

Although he couldn?t steer QPR to a respectable finish last season, quality will come with time as far as managers are concerned, which is why Hasselbaink could be a useful man next season.

NewcastleUnited2009-2010ChampionshipwinningSide

For all the latest Football League Championship news, features, results, analysis and discussion, visit www.footballmanics.com today.

(BurtonAlbioncelebratinglast seasonspromotion)

THERELEGATIONCANDIDATES

Burton Albion

Burton?s rise from humble beginnings to where they are now is a testament to how you establish a hard working team The Brewers were founded in 1950, making them the third youngest professional outlet with the Football League However, they are expected to fall back down to League One next season and here?s why

Currently, they?re lacking that extra quality which makes all the difference when adapting to life within the Championship and so far none of Nigel Clough's signing are players whom on paper seem to able of changing this

However, they do have a unity within their ranks and the belief that they can beat the expectations placed on them ? yet it looks like they will have a hard season, which may compare to Yeovil?s brief stint in the English second division a few years back

Burton will have to call on all the efforts of the squad that enabled them to push for promotion if they?re to survive the drop, whist making sure they do not concede many goals, as it?s unlikely they will have much goalscoring firepower.

Rotherham United

The Millers fought bravely against relegation last term ?under Neil Warnock they turned their fortunes round and, had they retained his services, there would be no questions regarding their Championship status

However, they taken on Alan Stubbs, who is unproven as a manager in English football, and lack leaders in the team, is vital for building on from a season when you were favourites for relegation.

Rotherham United desperately requires a Championship standard goalscorer, along with much needed creativity in midfield in order to survive the drop of the 2016-17 season

They?re proof of just how important chemistry is, yet with no real signing to note, they look certain to expect another difficult campaign.

Newly promoted Wigan will have much optimism within their camp ahead of the 2016-17 season, having enjoyed a successful return from League One and dismissing the odds that they may struggle to adapting to life within the Championship.

Wigan Athletic

They return to the Championship with a certain level of promise, much like Barnsley who have gone about making some shrewd signings

However the Latics will have to re-adapt to life within the second tier, which is proving itself to be a difficult league for newly promoted sides to survive.

Gary Caldwell will have them well prepared and organized, yet they will require further strength coming from signings, and it seems unlikely that they will avoid the bottom half of the table

Fulham

The Cottagers almost fell victim to relegation last term, suffering from money worries ? not much has changed since and although Fulham have several very promising youngsters coming through their ranks, they lack a squad able to rotate well

Scoring shouldn? t be the issue for the Cottagers ? their main concern will be injuries and a lack of defensive options suitable for keeping quality opposition players at bay.

Fulham are expected to flirt again with relegation, so their senior players and attacking options will be the expected catalysts for potential survival ? yet their downfall may come from the uncertainty around the club.

If they?re unable to progress during this upcoming season, there is no doubt that the once Premier League side may return back to where they came from

Nottingham Forest have fallen on difficult times ? they?re currently up for sale and have been dealt the blow of having to reduce their wages after being struck last season with a transfer embargo, which has seen many of their talented player depart the club, not to mention the reduction in capacity at the City Ground

Nottingham Forest

Defensively, they don? t look that strong ? especially when you look at their fringe players If injury hits, not only are they likely to struggle with conceding goals but scoring them is likely to be difficult too

With a lack of reinforcements ahead of the 2016-17 season, it seems almost certain that Forest will struggle to move away from the turmoil and difficulties that have been present to date and unless their takeover is completed, it is unlikely they will sign the quality required to push forward.

Millwall

Narrowly missing out on safety last season, Millwall are your typical yo-yo club but they are no pushovers when it comes to League One and will have the quality to mount a serious title challenge, as they bid to return back to the Championship

With a squad made up of physical players and lethal options on goal, the Lions will no doubt bounce back after a disappointing season in the second tier of English professional football.

After a season that Charlton fans will want to forget, the Addicks are eager to focus on the main matters in order to jump straight back up into the Championship

These will be one of the most well equipped teams for doing so, with many big earners for the division

Charlton Athletic

They won?t lack star quality, as they take on the teams that equally want to gain promotion during the 2016-17 season, but a lot depends on off-the-pitch matters too

MK DONS

Not only will MK Dons be looking to return to the Championship, where they bravely battled against relegation last year, but they will be looking forward to their first ever tie against AFCWimbledon after the demise of the original team.

The Dons have a quality packed squad, full of pace and power ? along with many upcoming players who all should enjoy life in League One terrorizing the opposition defence

Provided financial woes don? t continue for Bolton Wanderers, they should rival many of the teams aiming to secure a play-off space ? if not higher

Bolton Wanderers

They have a weakened squad due to their money worries, however with signings and the quality they do have, it should be enough to avoid becoming stuck as three of the seven teams have done prior to their relegated stint in the Championship (Coventry, Bradford and Sheffield United)

We publish the latest news from the game, both in England and abroad, as well as interesting features and analyses of all the big issues of the day

Personalised art by Ilinca M itchell Visit

The online football community for those who live football and love football.

Coventry City

After more than a few years plying their trade in a division way beneath their potential, Coventry City will have bright hopes for the 2016-17 season

They have gone about their business fairly quietly, yet they have a strong squad for the division that just needs a guiding hand in order to aid them in their quest for promotion back to the Championship.

Coventry will be looking to forget about campaigns where they ultimately failed to make the grade, and focus on the fresh, exciting optimism for the upcoming season ahead

After enjoying success in recent years, Bradford City will be looking to go one step further during this ever-progressing spell for the club

Bradford City

Narrowly missing out during the play-offs, where the Bantams found themselves to be favourites for promotion, they have been going about business in the best possible manner, often signing the best quality available around them, which makes them a very good League One side

Sheffield United

The Blades, who were in the Premier League just a decade ago, are tipped for promotion time and time again but have fallen short in recent years ?they?ve been in League One for five years now.

Fans are getting restless of punching below their weight, and so 2016-17 will be a make or break season With some big teams in the division, United need to keep their cool and make sure they can last the distance.

Really, the size of the club and the talent at their disposal means they should fear nobody in League One but themselves

MKDonsclinchedpromotiontothechampionshipin2014/15

For all the latest English League One news, features, results, analysis and discussion, visit www.footballmanics.com today.

AFC Wimbledon

THERELEGATIONCANDIDATES

After their fairytale upraise through the leagues since their After their fairytale upraise through the leagues since their foundation, Wimbledon find themselves preparing for a new dawn.

It would be easy to compare them to Stevenage and Yeovil, who had made the grade at League One level despite being written off each season ? the latter more so because Wimbledon have something extremely special about them which makes a potential promotion to the championship more interesting

However, I?m afraid the odds are not at all in their favour ? it will take teamwork, grit and determination just to survive relegation, given the phoenix club?s relatively small standing and infrastructure

Unfortunately the likelihood of the Dons?amazing climb up the table continuing seems vastly unlikely at this level, with a difficult year ahead of them.

(AFCWimbledonemergeunlikelypromotionwinnersafter defeatingPlymouthArgyle2-0)

Oldham Athletic

After former Oldham Athletic manager John Sheridan moved to League Two side Notts County, talks regarding why a manager would leave to join a side which sits lower in the league pyramid and which had struggled inevitably arose

It had people talking about various possibilities, but it?s quite well known that the Latics are struggling financially and it seems that new manager Steve Robinson has an uphill task on his hands

Their future as a League One club solely relies on how he can build and develop their style of play against the rougher opposition, whilst standing out against the teams of the same stature

Prior campaigns have seen Shrewsbury Town in around the mix, with the odd season seeing them establish themselves as a candidate for mid-table.

Shrewsbury Town

With the progress in which other clubs have made, along with the fallen greats that now will apply their trade at League One level, the Shrews are in the situation that only they can be used to and that is fighting off another season where low expectations perceive them.

Either they will prove the doubters wrong yet again, or they will struggle to adapt to the league around them and fall into dangerous waters

Bristol Rovers

After a tremendous 2015-16 season, Bristol Rovers will have to battle bravely with their first return to League One since 2010 on the back of double promotions, firstly from the National League and more recently League Two.

Despite their upward rise, there is a lot that they must get spot on if they are to bank on consolidation within the third division of English football

They will require their no fear attacking, careful and alert defending but more importantly they will need to continue as a team

Seasoned veterans after surviving the drop last campaign, Bury will be looking to either improve or secure a position close to where they did last term ? 14th is a very respectable position for them

However, prior years and, as history shows, the season after doing moderately well, comes with the tiring battle of trying to shake off relegation in subsequent campaigns

With a lack of firepower, Bury will find the 2016-17 season difficult, and it may well pan out how it did back in 2012-13, which resulted in relegation after finishing 14th the year before that.

It has been a crazy few years for Blackpool fans ?they have enjoyed the top flight but have almost exactly ended up emulating what happened to Portsmouth in terms of how they suddenly fell from grace

Blackpool

They do require additional strengthening, as they struggled to field players?prior seasons and ended up being forced into playing their youngsters

Yet several of those seem almost certain to shine when adapting to life in League Two

Their promotion hopes will require unity between club and supporters, with such an icy relationship between the two, there is much work required by Gary Bowyer.

Doncaster Rovers

Despite a difficult 2015-16 season for Doncaster Rovers, they look almost certain to put aside their relegation woes behind them, with a steady bid towards promotion from League Two looking likely

Darren Ferguson inherited problems taking over the club, but relegation still came as a surprise because of the quality found with their dressing room, and they have several players who should adapt well to life in the fourth tier of English football

Success will rely heavily on the veterans, players who know what the lower leagues are all about and, of course, how they continue to build ?yet they should handle the physical side of the division very well, which will naturally make it easier in their bid to return to League One

If the Donny fans can get behind Fergie Jr and the results come early, they should prove to be a side capable of remaining within the automatic promotion places.

Luton Town

The chemistry of the Luton Town squad should be more than enough to put aside a disappointing campaign for them last term, where they should have naturally been up there chasing promotion.

Their squad has several gems, which would quite successfully fit into a promotion candidate of the league above

However, injuries and a run of awkward fixtures saw them fail to pick up the points required, but things should be different this time around

Portsmouth are the sleeping giants of League Two, having consistently been promotion candidates for the past several seasons ? but they lack that final quality when it really matters

Portsmouth

Boasting a very strong squad for this level, with options in abundance for Paul Cook, they will need nerves of steel and the added fight to make sure they don? t suffer the same outcomes as previous campaigns

Fans should be prepared for decent football and some very respectable results as Pompey stamp their dominance and authority early on the new season ? and perhaps clinch that much-needed first promotion since their troubled years.

For all the latest English League Two news, features, results, analysis and discussion, visit www footballmanics com today

Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient are another side that could easily regain promotion under the right circumstances. However, much like others within this division, ownership troubles and the dismissal of prior managers has seen them fail to regain promotion to date

They boast a robust squad, full of ideal players and some of which are a cut above what is required for life in League Two.

They just need to gain the right momentum behind them, along with unity within their camp and the football should naturally come ?as Orient once earned the nickname of the lower-league Arsenal

The Magpies have suffered from instability caused by managerial sacking and mismanagement by their board after being relegated from League One in 2014-15.

Notts County

Their first season back in League Two after 5seasons had all the thrills and spills of a Hollywood blockbuster, which proved incredibly draining for all concerned However, now under the steady hands of John Sheridan, Notts have concluded steady business this pre-season, signing a spate of players which have experience in League One and higher League Two Meadow Lane should be a much happier fortress in the upcoming season, as Notts rebuild and attempt to push back to League One.

Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle are almost promotion contender veterans now, with the side successfully achieving play-off spaces in prior seasons and their free-flowing attacking football enabling them to become a firm favourite with the division?s fans.

This upcoming campaign has seen them release some of their key players prior season, yet they have been replaced with a steady flow of decent players for this level

Argyle will need to ensure they hold their nerves when it comes to the important part of the season, retaining consistency and their goal scoring capability is vital as the division features many sides able to beat each other on the day

Derek Adams has a wealth of experience, which is a certain bonus for their promotion hopes

Grimsby Town

THERELEGATIONCANDIDATES

Despite also being outside favourites to win back-to-back promotions, Grimsby Town may fall into the awkward scenario of struggling to cope with life back in the English Football League

They have an outstanding manager in Paul Hurst, who knows the lower leagues like the back of his hand

However, they do like an all-round squad and, without quality additions to their side, it seems likely that they may struggle to find their place back in the division.

(Grimsbytowncelebratingtheir returntothefootball leagueafter a6year absence)

Cheltenham Town

Much like many of the other relegation candidates, Cheltenham Town rely on being a team which give their all but are limited and ultimately lack that star quality which makes them anything more than an average League Two team

Kevin Watson has the difficult task of identifying and purchasing players, which can add the much-required flair to survive the drop

Their lack of options upfront, limited midfield creativity may just be the decider when it comes to who ends up occupying the bottom two relegation places

Gifted with energy and desire, Hartlepool United have a very promising squad on paper ?however they lack experience and natural leaders, and for this reason they are likely to struggle this season.

Hartlepool United

On the road and at home, they can be a difficult team to break down and when they are under the cosh, all it takes is for one of their creative midfielders to string a few passes before they are back in with a chance

The problem, however, is found within their defence and their inability to defend set pieces or fall on attacks that directly hit their back line

Yeovil Town

After enjoying life for so long in League One, which saw them surprise the division after gaining promotion to the Championship ? Yeovil Town have plummeted back down to League Two

Lack of investment on the pitch has seen them fail to properly reshape their squad, but off the pitch they seem to be going about business quite well

And if the club can make use of their academy plans, in order to nurture their young talent things may be different come the start of the 2016/17 season ? but right now things are looking a bit bleak in their hopes of surviving

Here we have your typical lower tier team, no thrills but pure graft, who make life difficult for other teams but don? t have that little bit extra to edge them higher up

Their lack of firepower, leaders and creativity are just a few reasons why they are being tipped for relegation from League Two Defensively they just aren? t capable of shutting out the stronger squads of the division, which may see them finally punished with relegation in their upcoming campaign

Get your features published by us, www footballmanics com/write-for-us/ apply to be a writer today!

GUESSTHEPIXELATEDPLAYERS

YOU?VEBEENREADINGABOUTTHE FOOTBALLTHATWILLBEPLAYED ACROSSTHECOUNTRYOVERTHE NEXTNINEMONTHS,BUTNOWIT?S YOURTIMETOGETINVOLVEDAND BEINWITHACHANCEOFWINNING PRIZESWITHFOOTBALLMANICS ! Towin, youneedto guessthenamesof the pixelatedplayersand answer all thefootball triviaquestions- enter on theemail below! media@footballmanics.com

WIN AT-SHIRT! @footballmanics

WHOARETHESETHREEEX-PLAYERS?

FOOTBALLMANICS PUBQUIZ

REMEMBERTOANSWERALL-THENE-MAILUSTHEANSWERS

EASY

- Whoisthemost cappedEnglandplayer of all time?

- Which wasthelast team to win theEnglish top flight beforeit becamethePremier League?

- WhoisthePremier League'stopscorer of all time?

- Who held the Premier League's record for most consecutivematchesscoredinbeforeJamieVardy?

MEDIUM

- Who is the only person to have scored in the Glasgow, MerseysideandManchester derbies?

- Name the four teams which have won the English topflight threetimesinarow

- Who is the only footballer to have played for England, EnglandB, EnglandCandEnglandUnder-21s?

HARD

- Which two world-famous football figures have namedtheir childrenafter themselvesandtheir wives?

- Who is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in all four tiers of professional football in England, FA Cup, LeagueCupandat international level?

- Who wasthefirst player to appear in theChampions League having been born after 25 November 1992, the date UEFA changed the format of its premier club competition fromEuropeanCuptoChampionsLeague?

THELIFEBLOODOFFOOTBALL:MEETING THEFANSOFTHEBEAUTIFULGAME

www.footballmanics.com/forums/

Without the billions of devoted fans all around the world, football would not be the global phenomenon it is today From neutrals who just enjoy the aesthetics of the game to loyal supports of teams, whether a world-famous giant or their local amateur outfit, football brings out passion across the globe like no other activity

At Football Manics we want to shine the spotlight onto you, the fans of the beautiful game, and find out all about your team, from their hopes and aspirations for the new season to interesting trivia that people may not know

In this article we have spoken to a fan of a team from each professional division in the English game.

Football Manics would like to thank Liam, Ian, David and Rodney for taking the time to answer our questions.

To feature in upcoming releases, be sure to follow us on Twitter at www twitter com/footbllmanics

We give all fans who feature a shout-out for helping us

For all the latest fan discussions from teams across the English football pyramid, across Europe and all around the world, visit our community forum at www footballmanics com today

Can you describe last season as a Chelsea fan in just a single sentence?

Last season was truly painful to watch and needs to be consigned to the dustbin of the club?s history, if not erased completely.

How can things improve for the 2016- 17 campaign?

Chelsea need to be better defensively and our big players, like Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic, need to forget about last season and perform to the level they?re capable of reaching

players you would like Chelsea to sign this summer?

The signings so far have been fantastic. N?Golo Kante, in my opinion, is the best midfielder in the league, and Michy Batshuayi looks like a good striker who can score goals off the bench However I feel we need a centre back - somebody like Leon ardo Bon ucci or John Stones would be my preference

From the current squad, who is your favourite player and why?

My favourite player is Eden Hazard, as he has the talent to get past any defender in the world, score wonderful goals, and get fans off their seats.

Aside from Chelsea, do you look out for any other clubs in the Premier League?

Nope, I don't look out for any other clubs in the league other than Chelsea!

Lastly, who is your favourite player from the past 15 years?

Does Antonio Conte arrive at Stamford Bridge with high expectations?

Conte arrives at Stamford Bridge with expectations of making the top four in his first season and being in contention for the title the year after that He is a very highly-rated young manager with plenty of credentials, so providing he adapts well to the English game, he should be good for the club

What have you made of the signings so far? Do you have further preference on what type of additional

How important is it for Chelsea to establish leaders on the pitch thisterm?

It is very important to establish leaders on the pitch and get the best out of our players, and with John Terry getting older, I feel someone like Hazard needs to be more of a leader next season

Where do you feel Chelsea may finish come the end of the 2016/17 season?

At the end of this season I feel that Chelsea will finish third. Not having European football will enable us to focus on the league, but the toxicity from last season may still linger, and Conte being new to the English game means he may need a bit of acclimatising

In the last fifteen years my favourite player would have to be Fran k Lam pard. The most iconic moment was when he became the all-time record goal scorer for Chelsea and him lifting the club?s first Champions League trophy with JT ?now that was special

How do you feel you did last season?

I feel we did incredibly well to stay in the Championship, and we owe our Championship status to one man alone ? Neil Warnock

When NW took over at the end of February, we were six points adrift of safety, but thanks to an 11-game unbeaten streak, we stayed up fairly comfortably.

What has the club done in the off - season?

Not as much as I'd have liked to be honest, we've let a dozen players leave and only brought four in, we're particularly light up front and also need cover at the back. Our midfield looks okay though

How are t h in gs beh in d t h e scen es (board, f in an ces et c)?

Healthy We were the only Championship club that didn't run on debt in both 14/15 AND 15/16 We live to our means but to our detriment we cannot compete with the majority of clubs in both the transfer fee and wage department.

What do you think of your new players?

Dunno yet. We've signed goalkeeper Lewis Price and midfielders Anthony Forde, Jake Forster-Caskey and Will Voulks, but I haven?t seen enough of them to really pass judgement

What about players that have left?

Personally I would have kept M at t Derbysh ire, Adam Collin and Frazer Rich ardson , but the others that have left are replaceable.

Who will be the danger man for you thisseason?

Winger Anthony Forde from Walsall, good reputation in League One, and apparently loads of clubs were after him

Tell us something interesting about the club that people might not know?

Our opening day opponents, Wolverhampton Wanderers, will be making their FOURTH league visit to the New York Stadium, more than any other club

What do you think of your manager?

Again I don?t. Alan St ubbs did well in the Scottish Championship with Hibernian and also won a historic Scottish Cup with them, but the move over to the English Championship is a massive step up, the jury is out on that one at present.

Where do you think you'll finish thisseason?

I'll go for 21st, one place above the dropzone and where we've finished the last two seasons. Hopefully it won?t be any lower!

Frazer Richardson

How do you feel you did last season?

We had a great chance of going up automatically but failed to cash in when Burton Albion slipped up in the run-in To miss out going up automatically by just one point was heartbreaking, especially as we had led the division several times. No complaints over the play- of f sem i f in al defeats to Barnsley though, who outplayed us in both games

to compete in the EFL Trophy

What do you think of your new players?

Very pleased with the likes of Erh un Ozt um er and Flo Cuvelier, and also the signings of Fran ck M oussa and Sim eon Jack son , who are fairly well known. There are a couple of youngsters on loans from West Ham and Southampton which should add a bit of youthful flair

Erhun Oztumer, who can open up defences and has already built up a great understanding with Cuvelier. Oz was well thought of by Peterborough, and is so exciting to watch Tell us something interesting about the club that people might not know?

It t ook 127 years f or t h e club t o f in ally m ak e Wem bley 18 m on t h s ago in t h e f in al of t h e JPT Although we lost 0-2 to Bristol City it was a wonderful day out for the fans to actually see their team there

What has the club done in the off- season?

Recruited 8 players so far Of the 9 who left of their choice and the 5 freed by the club A busy time for rookie manager Jon Whitney in this his first pre-season as a manager

How are things behind the scenes (board, finances etc)?

A lot of our fans acknowledge the good work our board put in to keep us afloat, but there is resentment from some towards the board for the constant 'undisclosed fee' when a player is sold for big money Plus there is resentment towards the club for voting Yes to allow Premier League academy teams

What about players that have left?

Losing striker Tom Bradshaw to Barnsley was a blow, as he scored plenty of goals following his arrival from Shrewsbury, as well as Romaine Sawyers, who was snapped up by former boss Dean Smith at Brentford.

What do you think of your manager?

He's a very positive and infectious guy in everything he does. He had a spell as caretaker boss before Sean O'Driscoll took over mid-season before taking over on a full time basis before the end of the season. Been at the club 13 years mainly as a physio. Popular choice by the fans

Who will be the danger man for you thisseason?

Where do you think you'll finish thisseason?

With such a revolving door of players in and out this summer I can't see us making such a push as last season so its 10th spot at best, There is such disappointment to have missed out on a golden chance of going up last season.

What are your hopes for the 2016/17 season, and how can Exeter improve on them from last season?

A push for the playoffs is the main aim as we have been nowhere near to them since our relegation a few years ago. An improvement in home form is vital if we are to achieve this ?8 wins from 23home games is not acceptable

There have been reports that Paul Tisdale hasn?t been able to hold onto some key players due to budget restraints ? is the loss of players such as Arron Davies and David Noble a big lossfor you?

Aaron Davies not so much but he is a good squad player who can play in a number of positions David Noble could turn out to be a big loss. He was outstanding in midfield last season, but injuries hampered him. Hopefully it's a decision we don't regret

How is the pre- season, squad and general feeling around the club shaping up ahead of the new campaign?

We've won both our friendlies so far and the signings we've made look promising. However, there?s still a feeling of negativity amongst some of our fans, but hopefully a good start to the season and an improvement in home form will change that.

Which player was Exeter City?s biggest hero last season and why?

David Noble A great footballer who, on his day, ran the show in midfield He also showed great passion, going up to the fans if we won and fist pumping and all that He will be missed

Do you have any youngsters stepping up into the first team?

We have a few The main one is Ollie Watkins, who can play anywhere up front I expect him to move on in January as he's attracted a lot of interest. Ethan Ampadu is another one Only 15 but he's already played for Wales at youth level and looks like a great young prospect.

What are Saturdays like for you as a football fan ? can you imagine life away from the club?

I always look forward to Saturdays despite the struggles ? when the good times come along it makes it all the sweeter I couldn't imagine life without it and will keep going no matter what

How has football changed over the years you have been supporting Exeter and what are your favourite memories?

Obviously the greater coverage on television, since I started supporting them in the early 1990s. Other than that not a

huge amount really

My best memories have come over the last few years. The two trips to Wembley, the back-to-back promotions, and getting to watch my team at grounds like Anfield, the Stadium of Light, Elland Road and Hillsborough - something I couldn't imagine when we were in non-league.

If you selected three teams you are looking to see play Exeter City during the 2016/17 season, which teamswould you select and why?

Obviously a cup run would be great Arsenal and Manchester City would be two picks as we've never played them in competitive football In the league, Crewe Alexandra. We haven't played them in the league in over 25 years and I?m looking forward to my trip to Gresty Road

Who has been the best footballer in your opinion ever to wear your club?s colours?

I'd say Scott Hiley, a right-back who went on to play in the Premier League for Man City, Southampton and Portsmouth He also nutmegged Cristiano Ronaldo when we played Manchester United at St James? Park in 2005 ? that?ll be one to tell the grandkids about!

CLASHOFTHETITANS:THECHAMPIONSLEAGUEHEAVYWEIGHTS

Football Manics looks into which sides pack a punch ahead of the 2016 contest

Credits: Shamoon Saeed and Joe Jones

When it comes to football of the highest quality, Europe is undoubtedly the place to be The vast majority of the greatest players in the world ply their trade in Europe, while the most famous and legendary club teams on the planet can also be found on the continent, from Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain to Manchester United and Liverpool in England

And when it comes to the absolute best of the best, the Champions League is the competition that seeks to determine which is the greatest club side in Europe ?and arguably, the world ?in any given year

Previously known as the European Cup, the continent?s premier club football competition underwent a revamp in 1993 to incorporate a group stage and leave even less to chance ? so if a team wins it, you know they?re the real deal

Put simply, it?s where all the best football players and teams in the world belong, and greatness beckons for those who get their hands on the illustrious trophy.

As this competition has generated a huge audience, it's brought famous triumphs, controversy, a unique atmosphere and a whole new view on football It has also created more appreciation for certain huge clubs from fans who support other teams ?no matter how grudging.

In this article, Football Manics writers Shamoon Saeed and Joe Jones look at some of the more illustrious sides that have qualified automatically for the competition and rate their chances of winning the famous cup

REAL MADRID

The current holders of the Champions League are way ahead of the competition when it comes to European glory ?Real Madrid have stated that it's 'their priority' to retain their title as Champions

Not content with winning La Decima in 2014, Los Blancos went on to win their 11th Champions League just two years later, putting them a massive four triumphs ahead of second-placed AC Milan, who have ?only? won it seven times.

As always, they already seem like they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2016-17 as they continue to fight on all fronts both in Spain and overseas

The ever-present Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the start of the season for Real due to the injury he sustained in the Euro 2016 final, which may potentially affect his side?s morale and cutting edge in the CL ?but he will probably only miss the group stages.

Nonetheless, the squad is very strong even without CR7, and it?s not like the resources are not there to simply snap up another Galactico or three if needs be?

Even though they will be expected to wrestle local dominance from bitter rivals Barcelona and continue to keep an increasingly impressive Atletico Madrid at bay, there is no reason why they cannot also maintain focus on the Champions League and make it three wins in four years

ATLETICO MADRID

Diego Simeone has worked wonders in recent years with Atletico Madrid, even breaking the El Clasico stranglehold by winning La Liga, but in the Champions League, the incredible achievement of making two finals in three years has been dampened by being on the losing side on both occasions ?against bitter rivals Real Madrid, no less However, the outlook for Los Colchoneros still looks very positive as the Argentine boss has committed his future to the club, while many admire his status across the globe as his mentality is deemed similar to that of Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho

This year the players will be very hungry for success as they just lost out on La Liga and this year?s Champions League, so they will want to make amends Psychologically, they will need to put the feelings and emotions they suffered in coming up short firmly to one side and view the new campaign as a blank slate.

Atleti are more than capable of beating any team on their day, as the team is full of quality and players no longer deem the club as a stepping stone to a Barca or Real like they used to be just a decade ago They?re shown not only that they can compete with the best of them, but also that they?re here to stay.

Atletico Madrid were overwhelmed with the support they received after the final, not only from their fans but from many around the world, and with the right player and staff retention, the tweaking of whatever weak points there may have been previously and perhaps a bit of good luck thrown in, they could potentially go all the way.

BARCELONA

With four Champions League trophies in the cabinet since 2006, it is safe to say that Barcelona are the dominant European football force of this era, with such players as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi assured of their places in the history books

Luis Enrique has been a great manager for the team but will definitely challenge after a disappointing Champions League campaign last term. However, he lifted the La Liga and Copa Del Rey in 2016, which soothed the pain of losing in the European quarter-finals to Atletico Madrid, arguably their bogey team

The Blaugrana squad has been boosted by the signing of Andre Gomes from Valencia who will definitely need to compete for a spot in the starting XI, otherwise his fate may lead to the bench just like James Rodriguez of Real Madrid

Despite their history in the competition, the club will want to win it as their credentials are much higher than most of the teams in the contest Their attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez is arguably the most unplayable in world football Will ?MSN? lead Barca to glory once again?

JUVENTUS

Juventus fell short against Barcelona back in 2015?s Champions League final in Berlin, losing 3-1against the legendary Catalonians, while a year later, a spectacular collapse against Bayern Munich in the second leg of their last-16 tie saw them forego a 4-2 aggregate lead to lose 6-4, and as a result, the Bianconeri are still looking for a first Champions League trophy since 1996

In the last few years, a number of quality players have left the club ?Arturo Vidal has moved to Bayern, Andrea Pirlo has jetted off to New York City FC, Alvaro Morata?s buyback clause was activated by former club Real Madrid and Paul Pogba?s switch back to Manchester United seems all but imminent at the time of writing

However, their recruitment this summer has been nothing short of astounding Gonzalo Higuain, one of the most in-form strikers in the world, has moved to Turin from Napoli Veteran Barcelona right-back Dani Alves has been snapped up on a free. Midfielder Miralem Pjanic, seen as a playmaker in the Pirlo mould, has been prised from Roma Young, free-scoring winger Marko Pjaca has joined from Dinamo Zagreb, centre-back Mehdi Benatia has proven his worth at Bayern Munich

Already Juve?s latest acquisitions, when combined with the players already on their books, make for fearsome reading Paulo Dybala playing alongside Higuain is a terrifying prospect for defences, Sami Khedira and Pjanic just behind them in midfield with Alex Sandro and Alves in support, Claudio Marchisio keeping guard as the water carrier, Benatia alongside Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, and the evergreen Gianluigi Buffon in between the sticks

On paper, the Old Lady has a team that could beat absolutely anyone. Will all the players gel, and will Massimilliano Allegri channel the form, talent and consistency which has seen them win five consecutive Scudettos into the Champions League?We shall wait and see.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Dortmund failed to progress to the Europa League final this year as Liverpool's memorable comeback saw Jurgen Klopp?s new side through to the showpiece event to face holders Sevilla However, BVB have qualified for the Champions League this time round after having an impressive season in the Bundesliga, coming second behind the giants of Bayern Munich

One main problem plaguing Dortmund is that, over the years, players have seen the club as a stepping stone towards bigger things ?and in the German top flight, this means Bayern, their supposed closest rivals

This year, Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has joined Manchester United, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has opted for Manchester City and, as predictably ?and depressingly ?as ever, German centre-back Mats Hummels has joined Bayern

To their credit, Dortmund have been able to replace outgoing squad players very well in recent years and always manage to stay competitive, but this year they?ve truly stepped up the game by signing the likes of centre-back Marc Bartra, winger Andre Schurrle and, most sensationally of all, persuading Mario Gotze to switch back to the Signal Iduna Park from the Allianz Arena after just two years.

Dortmund last won the Champions League in 1997 and suffered financial problems for the next decade or so before rebuilding and becoming a force in world football once again, reaching the final of the competition in 2013 before succumbing to ?you guessed it ? Bayern Munich.

Their revamped front line looks fresh and will no doubt cause problems for other teams without a doubt. The combination of Marco Reus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gotze and Schurrle will please Dortmund fans and they could go very far this year

Reus has been appointed as the new Dortmund skipper as Hummels has moved back to Bayern Will his loyalty be rewarded this year with a second Champions League in two decades for the legendary Black and Yellows?

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

If Tottenham Hotspur fans were told at the start of last season that they would have finished third, many would have taken it However, those supporters would be forgiven for feeling gutted when they were in with a shout of the Premier League title and slipping down to third come the final matchday ?with Arsenal leapfrogging them into second

Nonetheless, Spurs now have a season of Champions League football to look forward to, with arguably one of the best sets of players they have had in a long time playing in the lilywhite shirt and a squad camaraderie that is second to none in the league

Spurs are looking fresh for another season and have invested in striker Vincent Janssen to compete with Harry Kane up front, while Victor Wanyama has been recruited from Southampton ?quality rather than quantity seems to be the mantra for Mauricio Pochettino, who would be wary of affecting the teams harmony

Similarly to Leicester, this may be Tottenham?s only chance in the next few years to compete in the Champions League, as all the typical big guns seem to be intent on taking back the top four in its entirety

face are going to put them to the test ?but given that they reached the quarter-finals five years ago, it is nothing that they cannot be expected to overcome

ARSENAL

The 2006 final of the Champions League, when Arsenal were defeated by Barcelona, seems like centuries ago now for Gunners fans, with their team failing to get past the last 16 for the past six seasons Although qualifying every season for the competition and getting past the group stages is no easy feat, there is a sense that Arsenal could do so much more

In a way, Arsenal?s Champions League form mirrors their domestic form ?they achieve the bare minimum to be considered acceptable every season, but in itself causes a great deal of concern for supporters because of the sheer tedium of almost knowing that they won?t go further because of the same issues each season

Even last season?s second-placed finish in the league, though good on paper, was only achieved once the title had already been won by Leicester City and rivals Tottenham Hotspur lost their heads thereafter.

excited, and Bolton Wanderers defender and Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Takuma Asano, which has led to much scratching of heads.

The squad has lost a couple of key players in Mikel Arteta, who has left, and Denny Welbeck, who is injured, but it still looks strong with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla who are going to be vital in any success this year

The question is ?can Arsenal reach the quarterfinals or beyond in the Champions League this year, will it be another last-16 knockout, or is there the chance that the club may regress to a group exit ? and how would Gooners react if that was the case?

BAYERN MUNICH

Utterly dominant in the Bundesliga with four consecutive title triumphs and 13in the last 20 years, Bayern Munich?s Champions League exploits have not been so straightforward

Pochettino believes the team will go far as they have impressed in the Premier League but will that form translate to Europe?The game is different and the teams they

Keeping in the same vein is the club?s transfers ?Arsene Wenger has made three new signings in the close season: Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka, which has got Gooners

Two European cups in the last 15years may seem like a fair enough tally, but when you consider the nature of some of their defeats, such as the last-ditch defeat against Manchester United in 1999 and the penalty heartbreak in 2012 when Chelsea clinched the title in Bayern?s own backyard, you can understand the love-hate nature of the relationship between the Bavarian giants and Europe?s premier club competition.

This season, Bayern have added Mats Hummels to their already-solid defence and their back four is now a frightening prospect to breach, with Jerome Boateng partnering the new arrival at centre-back and the twin threat of David Alaba and Philipp Lahm at full-back. In addition, Renato Sanches has also put pen to paper in a deal at the Allianz Arena, which gives the side a young yet polished talent who appears to have all the necessary skills at his fingertips to become the finest player out of Portugal since Cristiano Ronaldo ?and he slots into a midfield which also features Xabi Alonso, Arturo Vidal and Thiago Alcantara

Newly appointed manager Carlo

Ancelotti has won the Champions League as a player and a manager, making him probably their best chance of achieving glory in this tournament The squad is made up of very good players that will need proper management for places in the starting XI, but this will not be a problem for Ancelotti as he is used to handling big dressing rooms

Unfortunately for Bayern, Pep Guardiola could not win the trophy with them but his spell at the club has given the team that competitive edge which will please Ancelotti going forward The players could win this year as they reached the semi-final last term Can Ancelotti's experience bring the trophy back to Munich?

PARISSAINT- GERMAIN

Looking at Paris Saint-Germain canter to their fourth title in a row this season just gone, it?s hard to believe that almost 20 years had elapsed between the first of the current sequence, in 2012-13, and their last one, in 1993-94

Since being bought out by Qatar

Sports Investments, however, the French capital side has built up a squad with the intention of winning the one piece of silverware that every club side in Europe covets for the first time in their history

PSG have lost their talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined Manchester United this summer, but just a look at the remainder of the team sheet is enough to make people gasp at the quality on offer ?Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore, David Luiz, Blaise Matuidi and Angel Di Maria, among others

Such is the talent in the PSG squad that every season in Ligue 1is now pretty much a foregone conclusion, but the Champions League has so far eluded them, with the quarter-final stage now their usual plateau.

This could be one of the reasons about the club?s new choice of manager ?Unai Emery has masterminded a frankly incredible sequence of three consecutive Europa League title wins with Sevilla, so if anyone can be said to have a pedigree in European tournament football, then Emery is the man.

PSG are definitely a club to watch in the Champions League this season ?their star-studded team is likely to focus on Europe potentially even more so than their domestic affairs ?although they could probably win the league with their second string, such is the quality at their disposal ?so it will be interesting to see whether they can breach that quarter-final glass ceiling

LEICESTER CITY

The 2016-17 edition of the Champions League will be the first time that Leicester City have qualified for the tournament The surprise

2015-16 Premier League champions were undoubtedly THE sport story of the year, if not of all time, but while last season is now a finished chapter proudly sitting in the annals of history, this year?s adventure is still unwritten

Claudio Ranieri and his charges have made fans and won hearts all across the world for proving that passion and teamwork could be more effective than a hefty chequebook in attaining glory, but the Leicester story will need careful thought and application to make sure they can enjoy a successful stint in the Champions League

The Foxes have been hit with a blow as midfield hero N'Golo Kante has left the club following his £32m move to Chelsea last week, and the Frenchman will be sorely missed as his contributions in the middle of the park were of truly stellar quality In addition, Riyad Mahrez is rumoured to also leave for Stamford Bridge, and losing two key players may prove a bridge too far

On the positive side, new signings Ahmed Musa and Kante's replacement Namplays Mendy seem impressive, while striker Jamie Vardy has signed a new contract and Danny Drinkwater, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and most of the other important players seem eager to remain at the club Leicester have shown that they can compete against the big clubs ?their 3-1victory over Manchester City at the Etihad is testament to this, while wins and draws against Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea also show that the Foxes can be a tough proposition ?but will the bright lights of the Nou Camp or the Allianz Arena cause them to panic in their maiden adventure among Europe?s big boys?

Europa League: Th e M ain Con t en ders

Many efforts have been made to improve the prestige of UEFA?s second-tier European club competition over the years, the latest of which saw the UEFA Cup turn into the Europa League since 2009, but despite the format being revamped and the inclusion of bigger teams thanks to the Champions League play-off round, it still suffers from somewhat of an inferiority complex

The tournament has still brought some surprises and a lot of entertainment, but it's understandable when you take into account certain quirks of the competition, such as the third-placed Champions League group teams ?falling? into the Europa League, and holders Sevilla winning the competition three years in a row but being ?promoted? to the Champions League in the process

Nonetheless, the vast majority of teams in the Europa League will want to give the competition a good go, and at the end of the day, a good cup run is still something that will give supporters great memories ?witness Middlesbrough?s exploits ten years ago, Fulham?s run in 2009-10, and Liverpool?s march to the final last season

In this piece, Football Manics writer Shamoon Saeed previews the teams that, at the time of writing, have already qualified for the Europa League, and look to be in with the greatest chance of winning the competition

Manchester United

The Red Devils endured another bittersweet campaign under former manager Louis van Gaal, winning the FA Cup but missing out on Champions League qualification

It proved the death knell for the Dutchman?s time at Old Trafford, the board then pulling out all the stops to stop the rot at the club in appointing serial winner Jose Mourinho and recruiting top players in the shape of Ivorian defender Eric Bailly, Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkitaryan, and of course the big Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

At the time of writing, French midfielder Paul Pogba was on the verge of becoming the world record transfer by switching from Juventus back to Man Utd, and with such a stellar ensemble within the Red Devils ranks, there is the serious possibility that the team will be in the running for any competition that Mourinho will put his mind to

This last bit is crucial ?will the Portuguese boss see the Europa League as a competition worth pursuing to its fullest, or would he prefer to get Man Utd back to Premier League-winning ways, with perhaps an FA Cup chucked into the mix, and forsake the so-called ?lesser? competitions?

Time will tell, but at this stage, United are by far one of the favourites to win the EL

Southampton

Southampton impressed in the 2015-16 Premier League season, finishing in sixth place. But what makes this more impressive is the fact they will enter next season?s UEFA Europa League at the group stages for the first time in their history

The main problem with the Saints is that, for all their brilliant players and managers over the last few years and the success that the club has had in the Premier League, the playing and coaching setups end up being gutted year on year as people leave St Mary?s for pastures new

This off-season has been no different, with forward Sadio Mane moving to Liverpool, strike partner Graziano Pelle heading to China, and midfielder Victor Wanyama switching to Tottenham Hotspur, while boss Ronald Koeman has switched to Everton

When you think of the sheer amount of quality players that have left the club in the last three or four seasons, it must pain fans to think just how far they would have gone had they managed to hang on to just a couple of them. Possibly even a stab at the Premier League title

Nevertheless, the Saints keep marching on, and new manager Claude Puel will oversee a squad strengthened by the signings of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Bayern Munich and Norwich City winger Nathan Redmond, who are just 20 and 22 years old respectively and are relatively modest at a combined £24 3m, as well as goalkeeper Alex McCarthy and OGC Nice midfielder Jeremy Pied

Can Southampton do yet another miracle rebuilding job and keep the squad competitive in the Premier League while giving the Europa League a good go?We?re excited to see how they do.

Fiorentina

Fiorentina went crashing out of the Europa League round of 32 against Spurs last season, where they lost 4-1on aggregate after both fixtures They seemed timid in their approach to progressing further into the competition, but hopefully this time they will not be on the losing side.

The team has had many players coming in and out, with German striker Mario Gomez, who spent last season on loan at Besiktas, saying he will 'not go back to Turkey' due to the political instability of the country

However, his future at the Stadio Artemio Franchi seems uncertain as he's reportedly been offered by the club in a swap-deal for Barcelona forward Cristian Tellos as the club is unable to pay his ?8m fee

The remainder of the squad is solid enough although, save for Argentina forward Mario Zarate, there is not much star quality. However, a fifth-placed finish in Serie A last season and a few good scalps in the International Champions Cup, including Chelsea and Barcelona, are testament to a good team ethic and tactical excellence, which will serve them well in the Europa League

AthleticBilbao

When you consider that Athletic Bilbao only use players from, or with links to, the Greater Basque region in Spain and France, it?s amazing how well they do domestically and in Europe compared to teams who can technically recruit any player in the world ? though the cantera policy is certainly what instils such passion to succeed in the players as well as making fans so devoted to their team

Last season, the Lions reached the quarter-finals, where they were unlucky to lose on penalties to eventual winners Sevilla, while in 2011-12, they reached the final.

This season, Bilbao are bolstered by Aymeric Laporte's contract extension as his future seemed unsecure in the last few months Rumours were abound about a big-money move to Manchester City as part of Pep Guardiola's wanted list

Laporte sustained a horrible injury to his right leg in a tackle whilst playing for France

Under-21s in a match against Scotland back in March, and his return date is still yet to be confirmed, which makes it even more worrying for fans and the club

He's a very reliable asset to the squad and without his presence during the opening stages of the EL it may reduce their chances of progressing massively as he is the pinnacle of the defence

Will their current players make a lasting impression worthwhile?Spanish striker Aritz Aduriz finished struck a total of 36 goals in all competitions last season ?his form will be important for Bilbao as the 35-year-old is still looking in good shape.

Inter Milan

Internazionale FC, to call them by their full name, have three Europa League titles to their name, but were last in the competition in the 2014-15season During that time, they reached the round of 16 and lost to Wolfsburg 5-2 on aggregate

The Nerazzurri finished fourth in Serie A in 2015-16 and have a squad more than capable of winning the Europa League. It has impressed their fans to see them back in the top 4 in Serie A as that has not been the case in recent seasons

Their young captain, Mauro Icardi, is a very proficient striker and only at the age of 23has established himself as a key player

Aside from Icardi, the squad looks promising and just recently signed Turkish left-back Caner Erkin who will surely strengthen the back along vice-captain Miranda.

Although it seems like next season?s Serie A is a foregone conclusion, Inter could very well give the Europa League a good go as their main chance of clinching major silverware

Sch alk e 04

Last term, German side Schalke 04 were knocked out of the round of 32 against Shakhtar Donetsk

As a side that normally competes in the Champions League, they look stronger than most opponents they will come across in this competition, although they tend to choke in big games

Some key players have left the team, and it is going to be important for the club to replace them, such as defender Joel Matip, who has been with the club for such a long time and

has recently become a Liverpool player, and German winger Leroy Sane, who is now with Manchester City.

However, they have carried off a significant coup in signing a young prospect who has been the talk of the scouts across Europe for a while now

Breel Embolo, a 19-year-old Switzerland international who was said to be on Manchester United?s radar, has signed a five-year deal at the Veltins-Arena, while Chelsea defender Baba Rahman has been snapped up on loan.

Spanish right-back Coke, sensational with Sevilla last year in the Europa League, was also signed by Schalke, but he suffered a serious knee ligament injury in his debut that will see him sidelined for several months

Nonetheless the likes of captain Benedikt Howedes, Franco di Santo and Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar will give the team an edge that should see them reach the latter stages of the competition and hopefully shake off their tags as nearly-men domestically and in Europe

Sevilla won their third Europa League trophy in a row last season with a 3-1victory over Liverpool in Basel

For all the latest fan discussionsfrom teamsacrossthe English football pyramid, acrossEurope and all around the world, visit our community forum at www.footballmanics.com today.

EURO2016:BAD FOOTBALL,GREAT STORIES

As tournaments go, Euro 2016 was not an exhilarating feast of football by any means It may very well go down in history as one of the poorest tournaments of recent years alongside the 1990 and 2010 World Cups

One of the main reasons for this is the tournament?s expansion to 24 teams, with people claiming it would dilute the quality of the games and lead to boring, defensive games as lesser-heralded teams would park the bus in a bid to get a result. And they were in fact correct, because the tournament ended up being lethargic and conservative right until the final whistle of the final game

With teams knowing that a single win would give them a great chance of finishing third and potentially sneaking through as one of the four best third-placed sides, the outcome was overly cautious, defensive football which was more about not losing that actually winning, which is what a tournament should

really be about Portugal, the tournament winners, epitomised this approach ? an average team led by a lone star player which flopped in the groups and would have been turfed out of the competition if its format was the straightforward ?top two through, bottom two home?, but were able to finish as one of the best four third-placed teams before facing relatively weak opposition in the shape of Croatia, Poland and Wales until the final, where they stifled France for two hours and nicked a goal to win the whole thing

On the other side of the coin, however, what Euro 2016 lacked in attractive football more than made up with fantastic stories.

Romance, drama and general storytelling are a big part of what makes football the beautiful game, and France certainly saw plenty of those

Here are some examples just to name a few:

Switzerland and Albania ? two teams whose players

have links to both countries ?playing each other in the group stages; Albania?s win over Romania that kept them in the hunt for a best third-placed berth; their subsequent hero?s welcome in Tirana after they were eliminated; Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Hungary sneaking into the knockout stages; Iceland?s dramatic run to the quarter-finals; and Wales?s momentous surge into the semi-finals

Fans of the above countries have witnessed sensational events and will have memories that will last them a lifetime, and at the end of the day, is that not a major point of football?

All in all it was a bittersweet, mixed bag of a tournament, with a below-average number of goals but an above-average number of memories, so it should not be deemed a failure, but I do believe that the group stages should return to do-or-die, so that all-round football can prosper.

Photo Caption

Photo Caption

EURO 2016 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT

by Sam Fuller

Many players have excelled on the big stage at Euro 2016, several of which surprised us all to say the least In this article, Football Manics writer Sam Fuller picks out the best of the best from the tournament and inducts them into the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament

Goalk eeper ? M an uel Neuer (GERM ANY)

The world?s best goalkeeper hasn?t disappointed at the Euros, keeping 4 clean sheets and stringing together an array of impressive performances. The German did not concede a single goal during the group stage, and then proved his quality by stringing together some stunning acrobatic stops against Slovakia in the Round of 16 Although Neuer did have to pick the ball out of his net 3 times in Germany?s last 2 games, it is hard to single out a poor performance from him at Euro 2016, which is why he has beaten the likes of Hugo Lloris and Gianluigi Buffon to this spot

Right-

Back ? Darijo Srna (CROATIA)

Coping with the loss of your father at any time is an extremely hard thing to go through, and when the Croatian captain was told of his loss after his first match in France, he didn?t let it get to him, proving to be an important figure in Croatia?s progression to the round of 16. The 34-year-old helped his side beat Turkey and Spain in the group stage, which saw the Croats finish top of Group D His defensive ability and attacking threat caught the eye of many spectators, and this is why he has pipped Chris Gunter and Alessandro Florenzi to the right-back position in this team

Cen t re- Back ? Leon ardo Bon ucci (ITALY)

Leonardo Bonucci has been an established centre-back in the heart of the Italian defence since his fantastic Euro 2012 campaign, and there was a repeat of this in the past month as he proved his worth in Antonio Conte?s unusual formation with 3at the back Making an average of 3.2 interceptions and 6 clearances per match, Bonucci has certainly made himself noticeable, which is why he has beaten fellow Italian Giorgio Chiellini to this spot in defence Cen t re- Back ? Pepe (PORTUGAL)

Prior to the start of the European Championship, the Portuguese defender was under much scrutiny for his theatrics in the Champions League final, but he has stepped up in France, and has played a huge part in them winning the tournament Pepe?s performance in the final was certainly eye-catching, and his pairing with Jose Fonte proved to be unbreakable. And while there is no doubt about his defensive ability, there is doubt about his on-pitch behaviour, but Pepe has shown no signs of cracking in the tournament,

and this is why he?s been picked ahead of Jerome Boateng in this side

Lef t - Back ? Jon as Hect or (GERM ANY)

Jonas Hector wasn?t a surprise inclusion in Germany?s 23-man squad after playing in all of their warm-up games before the start of the Euros, but his brimming form in the left-back position has surprised a few The Cologne left back played in all 6 of Die Mannschaft?s matches at Euro 2016, and he has proved a useful attacking threat, providing a passing accuracy of 90%, and an average of 2.5 through balls per game from the back His top form sees him beat Neil Taylor and Raphael Guerreiro to the left back position

Cen t ral M idf ield ? Aaron Ram sey (WALES)

The Welsh midfielder has definitely shown the quality that we didn?t see too much of last season, in a side that, unexpectedly, reached the semi-finals The 25year old has been The Dragons?star playmaker, racking up 4 assists and a goal in just 5matches, quite a feat for a midfielder Ramsey was dearly missed when suspended for the semi-final clash against

Portugal, but he will go down in the Wales history books for his superb form at the Euros, and that?s why he has beaten Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil to this midfield spot

Cen t ral M idf ield ? Ren at o San ch es (PORTUGAL)

Aged just 18 years and 326 days, Renato Sanches became the youngest ever player to represent his country in a European Championship final, but his relative inexperience in the senior game has had no effect on his form, as he has been instrumental in Portugal?s success. His strength and pace has highlighted his immense power as a box-to-box midfielder, and helped to justify his recent big money move to Bayern Munich Renato is a fantastic all-round player, which is why he?s fended off Frenchman N?Golo Kante to this position.

Cen t ral M idf ield ? Dim it ri Payet (FRANCE)

France?s saviour in their opening match against Romania didn?t let his form drop throughout the rest of their matches, adding a further 2 goals and 2 assists to his winner. He averaged 3shots per game, showing his desire to spur on his country from midfield, and attempted to unlock defences, averaging 3 5 key passes per match. Dimitri?s overwhelming form at West Ham last season ensured him a place in Les Bleus?23-man squad, but not even Didier Deschamps himself could have predicted the 29-year-old?s success, seeing him pip Luka Modric to the starting XI

Forw ard? Garet h Bale (WALES)

The most expensive player in the world hit the ground running from the off, netting a free kick inside the opening 10 minutes of Wales?clash against Slovakia. Bale then scored a goal in each of their next 2 matches, completing a fantastic group stage. His power and determination to succeed has inspired the players around him, culminating in an unimaginable campaign for the Welsh He averaged 4 3shots

per game, and his quality on the ball has allowed him to beat Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo

Forw ard? An t oin e Griezm an n (FRANCE)

What can be said that hasn?t already about Euro 2016?s golden boy?With 6 goals, 2 assists and 2 man of the match awards it has been a near-perfect campaign for him personally, and despite France?s failure in the final, Griezmann will be remembered for his jaw dropping performances. He individually won matches for France, with his last-minute winner against Albania and his double against the Republic of Ireland, and it could set him up for a big-money move in the summer There is no competition for him in this team of the tournament Forw ard ? Nan i (PORTUGAL)

Nani has been exceptional at the Euros, hitting the back of the net 3times, as well as providing an assist for Portugal, who have now made 2 finals in the last 4 European Championship finals. He combined pace and skill excellently, and scored important goals at important times to help Portugal lift the

trophy In a Portuguese side that didn?t win a match inside 90 minutes until the semi-final, Nani was one of the stand-out players, which puts him ahead of Ivan Perisic in this team

For all t h e lat est n ew s, f eat ures, result s, an alysis an d discussion about in t ern at ion al f oot ball, f rom f rien dlies t o World Cup an d Euro f in als, visit w w w f oot ballm an ics com t oday

ENGLAND: THE HURT CONTINUES

ANDSOTHEYEARSOFHURTFORENGLANDFANSOFFICIALLYTICKPASTTHEHALF-CENTURYMARK.NOW , NOBODYUNDERTHEAGEOFABOUT54WILLACTUALLYHAVEANYMEMORYOFTHETHREELIONSWINNINGA

MAJORINTERNATIONALTROPHY,ANDWORSEYET,NOBODYUNDERTHEAGEOF20WILLREMEMBERAN ENGLANDSIDEEVENMAKINGITASFARASTHESEMI-FINALS .

It?s the same old story, isn?t it?England cruise through the qualifiers, a couple of decent young players emerge, the hopes of the nation go up, and when it comes to crunch time, the team flops spectacularly.

This year the hopes were higher than ever, with a bunch of players that actually looked like they could go far, but the disappointment was all the greater when the team stumbled through what was supposed to be a straightforward group before suffering one of the most embarrassing defeats in its history ?a 2-1defeat to Iceland, a team with a population smaller than that of Luxembourg.

Albert Einstein famously said, ?Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results ? This is England in a nutshell Every two years, we?re expecting the same team, with its systemic problems and inflated sense of self-worth, to surprise us with a good run or maybe even a tournament win And every two years, it goes horribly wrong

Then that horrible word springs up again: Post-Mortem Every two years, the bloated body that is the England national team is wheeled into the mortuary for post-tournament analysis, then brought back to life only to repeat the process roughly 720 days later. England have died more times than Kenny from South Park, and here we find ourselves once again

England'sEuro2016adventurebegan witha1-1drawagainstRussiaplayed amongfanviolence.

Thingslookedontheupwhena last-gaspDanielSturridgegoalgave theThreeLionsa2-1winagainst Wales

RoyHodgson'stinkeringthenunsettled theteam,whocouldonlygetagoalless drawagainstSlovakia.

Let?s make it quick, shall we? There was no coherent set of tactics, with Roy Hodgson haphazardly selecting from 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1, and 4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield with all the abandon of a teenager on Football Manager, which left the players looking like they?d just been thrown into a team and told to play.

Hodgson also gambled and lost when it came to squad selection and set plays ? Raheem Sterling was not on form, yet he played against Iceland Harry Kane was taking corners when he clearly should have been on the end of them. Daniel Sturridge floundered on the right. Jack Wilshere was not match fit. Andros Townsend, one of only two natural wingers in his original squad, stayed at home ? and of course, that ill-advised decision to make six changes for the final group game against Slovakia.

There are normally a lot of factors at fault during the biennial dissection of England?s failed World Cup/Euro campaign, but it?s a little easier this time because the blame can clearly be pinned at Hodgson, and he did the nation a favour by resigning

So we have Sam Allardyce at the helm now. Big Sam certainly has Premier League pedigree, knows how to man-manage players, and is a lot more tactically astute than he is given credit for. Sure, he probably won?t turn England into a classy, polished outfit, but that phase is surely consigned to the dustbin of history by now. The Three Lions would be better off actually playing to their strengths ?physical, direct, fast, counter-attacking football

Euro 2016 was actually the perfect year for the above philosophy, as we saw with Leicester City, Iceland and Portugal all prosper with a conservative brand of football. Thing is, will the same ring true two years from now? England may have just missed the boat, but all we can do is wait and see what Allardyce can do.

COPA AM ERICA CENTENARIO: TEARS, TH RILLS AND CONTROVERSY AS CH ILE

TRIUM PH AND ARGENTINA CRUM BLE

It was a special edition created to celebrate the one hundred anniversary of the competition, thus the name ?Copa America Centenario?, but the final, as well as the outcome, proved to be a carbon copy of the one that took place a year earlier, as Chile overcame Argentina on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes to win the trophy for the second year running

One thing that changed, however, was the reaction of Lionel Messi, the Argentina talisman This had been the third final in three years that he, and his Albiceleste side, had lost. For all of his qualities, Argentina had simply not been able to edge over the line that separates glory from heartbreak, and to lose three finals in such a short space of time proved too much for the Barcelona forward, who called time on his international career after a very public display of tears that caused the whole football world to cry with him

Chile, however, were on cloud nine Long considered a decent team in South American football but not quite at the standard of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, La Roja can now stake their claim among the confederation?s heavyweights and have a good platform upon which to build as they prepare for the World Cup qualifiers.

Other teams that deserve a special mention include hosts the United States, who enjoyed a positive run to the semi-finals before being swept aside by a Messi-inspired Argentina side dripping with quality, while Venezuela and Peru, CONMEBOL underdogs, did well to reach the quarter-finals. A dishonourable mention has to go to Brazil, who really should have beaten Ecuador, while the blatant handball by Peru?s Raul Ruidiaz that knocked the Selecao out in the group stages does not hide the fact that Dunga?s charges were goalless after an hour against an inferior team

Uruguay also flopped in the group stages, losing their first two games against Mexico and Venezuela, while Costa Rica could not follow up their World Cup success two years ago with progress in the Centenario

On the whole the tournament proved an exciting, drama-laden, and at times erratic feast of football, and although Messi?s tears proved a sore point, you can?t help but wonder whether the balance of power is shifting in South America, with Chile establishing themselves as the continent?s powerhouses Whether they can take this form into the World Cup and excel at the world stage, however, remains to be seen

For all the latest news, features, results, analysis and discussion on world football, visit www.footballmanics.com today.

InPictures CopaAmericaFina l

ANGELDIMARIA

Created all kinds of trouble for the Chilean backline with his dribbling and pace. but lacked the finishing.

ALEXISSANCHEZ

Showed flashes of brilliance but was nowhere near his best, before being forced off because of injury

CHILESECURETHECOPATROPHY

After a nervous penalty shoot-out, Chile beat Argentina to claim the centenary title!