The return of Mats Hummels to Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park highlights the widening gap between those long regarded as Bundesliga elite and their Premier League counterparts. Television money and restrictive, although hardly egregious, ownership rules designed to ensure fans remain as such in the eyes of the clubs they support, and not assets from…
Bayern Munich face crucial summer of squad reconstruction
After rounding off a domestic double with a routine defeat of RB Leipzig Bayern Munich's dominance within Germany remains without question, as does the tangible lack of quality within the Bundesliga to mount a credible challenge to the Bavarian giant's hegemony. Being all-conquering does not necessarily equate to greatness, an epithet that could hardly be…
Slovenia: Government moves to bolster air traffic amid continuing uncertainty of Adria Airways’ future
There can surely be little coincidence that the Slovenian government will attempt to entice airlines to the country's Brnik-based Ljubljana hub by way of subsidies, a common practice of state-sponsored inducements to offset operational costs of forging new routes and not inconsiderable landing charges, whilst flag-carrier Adria Airways approaches its own day of reckoning where…
In terms of investment and forward planning Liverpool have become everything Bayern Munich are now not
There should be little surprise attached to Liverpool's nonchalant brushing aside of Bayern Munich. For several seasons now the Bavarian's have been on the wane; their ageing squad and inattention to adequately replacing departed stars and those soon to retire has been masked by a marked deterioration of quality in the Bundesliga. Putting six past…
Chelsea fail to convince as Tottenham surrender title challenge
Barely 72 hours after an honourable defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao (League) Cup Final at Wembley Chelsea might have been forgiven, although perhaps not by owner Roman Abramovich, for a less-energetic, nervier performance against London and top four rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. As it transpired, Sarri-ball lives to fight another day. Although a chance…
Real Madrid – Liverpool Champion League Final: a fitting sequel to Sliding Doors
The now managerless Real Madrid’s game-management guided the Los Blancos to a 13th European title, although their performance against a slightly unfortunately Liverpool could never be described as vintage. Starting with the same eleven from the corresponding 2017 final but with an obviously frustrated Gareth Bale, despite his telling intervention, cutting a brooding figure at…
English Premier League 2017/18 season snapshots: Liverpool
After a season that has yielded 90 goals from its much vaunted tripartite of attackers, it seems absurd to suggest that Liverpool require an out-and-out striker to compete at the very highest level, but I believe this is what is needed to propel the Reds, along with a top class central defender to partner Virgil…
Alpine Adventures, Soccer, Central Asian Autocracies & Secessionist Politics 