The Summer Queen

By Papageorgiou Alexis
Its been a busy, busy summer, transfer wise, rumor wise and otherwise, as a
staggering , 2.947.910 billion euro!, were splattered across Europe, by giants and
normal people, in effort to dominate or simply increase ones fighting chance in the
grass field.
However, for better or worse, not every penny was spent wisely by our beloved
football teams and at the same time certain individuals are lighting candles praying
for their good fortune to never end, others are hanging by a thread, still falling from
one or simply looking for a new thread.
Now, Im not suggesting that there is a perfect approach in the transfer market.
There is always risk, the x factor, but here lies the difference between the gamblers
ability, to identify a winning hand from a set of cards that will bleed you dry.
Off course with cards what you see is what you get. With people sometimes what
you see and pay, is exactly the opposite of what you get. The x-factor, what you
dont know, what lies underneath the surface. The players character, the
compatibility of the two parties that are to be wed in holy matrimony, adjustment to
new environment, girlfriend or even boyfriend issues excuses that never seem to
run out when someone simply cant wait to jump off the ship.
Results are results, and its a way to measure success as the summer window fades,
and January seems a million miles away, for the transfer losers.
Well, since winning and losing is up to interpretation, what follows is a mere
photograph of my thoughts on the matter.
Bayern Munich is my choice for 30 million reasons and then some...
Douglas Costa is bringing the pain (2 goals / 11 assists), and in the Bayern camp
people cant stop smirking by the newest addition to their world class squad.
Scouted, approached and signed under the radar of almost all other superpowers, a
testament to Bayerns success in the transfer market. Douglas was a king on
the pitch said Guardiola after their last CL game, a 5-0 demolition of 45 straight
games unbeaten Dinamo Zagreb, but the crown for me goes to the manager for a
shrewd business in the transfer market. 30 million is a joke for the 24 year old Brazil
international left footed winger, who seems like a kid doing everything in its power
to hold onto an unexpected Christmas gift. Lucescu must be constantly on a crylaugh dilemma.
Kingsley Coman. Bayern also managed to secure the services of the exciting
20year old attacker, on a 2 year deal, that will cost them 7 million euro, with the
possibility to make the move permanent at any time until April 30 th 2017, by paying

Juventus an additional 21 million euros. Its easy for any new player to feel at
home here immediately. Bayern is a family, stated Coman, who managed
while carrying the sign One for the future to provide 4 assists and score twice,
advertising publicly his nose for goal. Another good deal for the Bundesliga giants,
in case the youngster continues to walk in the same path. With Robbery pitched,
he will constantly get chances to impress Guardiola and the fans, lifting at the same
time, his name on the team sheet.
Arturo Vidal needs no introduction after his last year heroics, domestically and on
a national level. Along with Pirlo and Pogba, the three musketeers were brilliant as
Juventus unexpectedly for many, rightfully reached the final of the CL, losing only
from a raging Barcelona. Weeks later, a flawless performance at home ground saw
Vidal lift the Copa America cup, Chiles only win in the competitions 99 year history.
Vidal bag three goals and made the team of the tournament, second only to
teammate forward Vargas and Peruvian striker Guerrero who tapped in four. At 28,
all-round midfielder Arturo is at his peak, and could become essential to Bayerns
European journey, since the domestic one looks over before it even began. His knee
injuries, the only fear factor of the 37 million euro acquisition.
In the middle of the park, Bayern also managed to secure the services of 20year old
versatile CM Joshua Kimmich, the future of Germany midfield, if Guardiolas
prophecy skills are Pythia like, regarding the wonderkid. The criticized 8.5 million
transfer (conducted in January, but he just hit camp), could well be the steal of the
summer in disguise. The competition for places is high, but with Xabi Alonso nearing
the end of his career and the Bundesliga proving to be a walk in the park for this
Bayern, the agile German will get serious minutes. Very good first touch of the ball,
quick turning skills and acceleration were attributes best suited for an attacker, but
football is progressing like a Hitchcock movie, and his vision & tackling ability, along
with a self-confidence level rarely seen in a 20year old, may well be the materials
needed to build the modern version of a midfielder.
Dont expect Sven Ulreich and Ivan Lucic to succeed the best sweeper keeper in
the world any time soon, but to say they have a learning chance with the master
goalie in touching distance, is an understatement.
Replacing the old blood with an average age of arrivals at 22.3, improves the team
future wise, now, and its the best way to do it.
A question mark exists though over the Allianz arena, regarding 20year old Danish
midfielder Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and his Bayern future. A starlet who was supposed
to be a part of the squad last year, when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said Hes our
player and hes staying. He didnt, and Augsburg end up harvesting the fruits of
his labor, with a not be ignored assistance in the Europa qualification. After
preseason clashes, I personally expected Hojbjerg to stay put, but I was soon proven
wrong when Guardiola loaned him once more, this time to Schalke. Even time works

against this kid, as this summer, Kimmich was added to the Thiago, Vidal, Rode,
Xavi & Javi company, all ahead of him in the pecking order. Never the less, his
hunger seems to be growing stronger and thats always a vital sign for youngsters

I look forward to this new task until end of the season Hojbjerg said to
fcbayern.de. I want to get some match practice and continue to
recommend myself as a player for FC Bayern. Thats what I want to create
in Schalke.
Sporting director Matthias Summer statement on the loan was neither hot nor cold.
We still have very high hopes for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and see his future
in Munich. But in order to progress, he needs match practice and he
should now get it at Schalke.
Well, he is not getting any at the moment (57 minutes divided in 3 subs), and
Bayern should really look into this and take correcting measures in my opinion.
Schalke is a team full of talent on its own, and I presume that Andre Breitenreiter
will always choose Goretzka over Hojbjerg, since he is also talented and on top of
that, he took 3.25 million from the teams wallet to buy him.
Bayerns gold medal in the summer transfer race, goes hand in hand with the
blistering performances shown by Guardiolas men on the pitch. Record, after
record, after record this side, individually and collectively is cruising through
serious and other kind, any king of opposition, with scary ease.
24 is the number of the beast, at least at the time being.
Easy-peasy perfect 24 points from 8 games in the Bundesliga, to equal their own
treble winning 2012-2013 record at the same point of the campaign. This time with
a +24 goal difference, 28 scored, also a new Bundesliga record.
20 of the 28, came in the Allianz arena, equaling another record they shared with
Borussia Monchengladbach since the 76/77 season.
The seven point advantage at this stage, is guess what another record.
Individually, I was lucky to watch the 9 minute Lewandowski magic vs Wolfsburg,
live, even though I was forced to watch 2 of the 5 goals for the first time on replay,
due to match - twitter conflict of interest.
The Polish striker is simply scintillating, deadly as a great white, and you can almost
sense his opponents fear. Dortmund, his previous club, is the reds latest scalp,
demanded with a 5-1 demolition during the Der Klassiker, which ended the
campaign for many pundits. Lewa added 2 more to his collection, now running wild
with 9 goals in 3 games, record in the Bundesliga history. Just watch the 3 rd goal and

wonder if Roman Burki, the Dortmund GK, would have done the same mistake
against a different striker, or even the same guy in the past.
His 12 goals in 8 games equal the legend Gerd Muller and Kolns Christian Muller,
while in the meantime, he killed Scotlands dream of reaching the Euro 2016, with
another brace. His 12 goals in the Euro qualifiers surpass the goals scored by 29 of
the participating countries.
If his brother in arms, Thomas Muller scores (Yes, there is something strange going
on in Germany concerning last name Muller & football success), then with
mathematical accuracy of 100%, Bayern wins. At least this is the result in the last
42 games Raumdeuter has scored, which is another Bundesliga record.
And if the sun doesnt suddenly rise from the west, Bayern will raise a 4 th German
Championship in a row this year, which will be another record.
This is the team to watch so far, and everyone looks to be pitching in. The whole
bunch works hard, firstly for the team and then individually, a rare dexterity in the
21st century football, mastered only by champions. Theyre fighting tooth and claw
to achieve their goals, summarized in 2 sentences produced by their vice-captain,
Manuel Neuer.
Just this week I spoke with Muller about our exit against Barcelona last
year, so something remains in our minds. The Treble would obviously be
the ultimate for us.