Tag: AC Milan

Andy Brassell: What To Watch On Matchday One Of The New UEFA Champions League

September 17, 2024
Previews and Predictions

The newly-reformatted UEFA Champions League is here! Who better to guide you through the first matchday of a new era for European football’s biggest and brightest club competition than continental football expert ANDY BRASSELL, here to take you through the main focal points of the first week of action.

HUGE MATCH-UPS

There have been two main stages to the build-up to this year’s reformatted UEFA Champions League; pre-draw, in which many were confused by what the big, new, all-in-one league phase would look like, and post-draw, in which many of the original naysayers were now drooling with anticipation over some of the big fixtures.


And we have them from the get-go this week. AC Milan v Liverpool FC, Manchester City v Internazionale and AS Monaco v FC Barcelona are all outstanding matches with the potential to get this fresh era off to an absolute flier. With the UEFA Champions League restarting in bold fashion with fixtures over a three- day window rather than two, each one of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday has its huge, must-watch game.


Wednesday’s centrepiece between City and Inter is probably the ultimate pick, a rerun of the 2023 Final and one containing two of Europe’s best sides who have every right to believe in their chances of going deep into this season’s campaign. The Italian champions have a far better team now than the one that got to Istanbul in 2023; in fact they were improved last season too, and still managed to drop the ball against Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16. With City feeling a bit mugged-off by Real Madrid CF last season, both sides have scores to settle.

HANDBRAKE OFF

We were used to a degree of caution in the UEFA Champions League group stages as teams managed workload and resources and played it safe to ensure they finished in the top two. Maybe a best practice approach to this new megagroup will emerge at some point, but it is unlikely to do so this season, and it certainly won’t in the opening weeks.


Why? Quite simply there is no way of knowing yet how many points a team needs to make it into the top eight (and thus directly into the last 16) or, for those below-elite clubs with slightly lesser aims, into the top 24 to make it into the playoffs for the first knockout round.


It might be that, for instance, somewhere around the 16-point mark from the eight games gets top eight – and you bet your last pound/euro that the biggest clubs will do everything they can to get two midweek
matchdays of rest – while around nine should earn teams a playoff spot. For now, though, we just can’t know. And neither can the clubs.


So from Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid CF to Brest or Sturm Graz, the only option is to go for it. The biggest clubs can’t play conservatively with that tangible prize of a couple of games off lying ahead of them. The smaller clubs know a couple of good results will keep them in the mix for post-January involvement. So whether your aim is to top the class or to scrape a passmark, being aggressive and positive is probably the only way to do it, which has to be good news for the watching public.

NEW SIGNINGS WITH POINTS TO PROVE

Generally European clubs are counting the pennies more closely than in a long while but a few clubs have been determined to change their squads profoundly this summer, and have often traded furiously to that end. Juventus (who start against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday) are one giant who has used the summer to get rid of players as well as bring them in and present an exciting new squad for this return to the UEFA Champions League.


It is the biggest stage and for that reason the new boys will be keen to take their opportunities to show their new clubs that they did the right thing in signing them. Michael Olise’s European debut is hotly anticipated, having already conquered swathes of France fans on his first senior squad call-up earlier this month. FC Bayern Munich (who play Dinamo Zagreb) have a rich history of wide players and the Hammersmith-born man scored his first goal for the club in their 6-1 demolition of Holstein Kiel this weekend.


The summer’s biggest signing was Julián Alvarez, who arrived at Atlético looking a little jaded (hardly surprising given he played nearly 80 games in a last season for Manchester City and Argentina that lasted 11 months) but he has started to find an extra gear in recent weeks, scoring in a win against Chile for Argentina and then getting his first Atleti goal to seal a win against Valencia CF on Sunday night. Diego Simeone’s team host RB Leipzig and Alvarez may well be in the starting lineup.


Douglas Luiz is another overworked player who could do with finding some inspiration this week. The Brazilian made a first start for Juventus since joining from Aston Villa in the goalless draw at Empoli this weekend, and he received some criticism for his display. As with Alvarez, it is a little unfair after he arrived straight from a summer playing in the Copa América. Juve were prepared to push the boat out for him so he could give Kenan Yıldız, Teun Koopmeiners and Nico González the space to flex their creative muscles, so Douglas Luiz will be even more vital – arguably – in a UEFA Champions League context as the Serie A side look to return to the top table in style.

ICON OF THE MATCHWEEK: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid CF)

The brilliant Brazilian was on the scoresheet again at the weekend, netting the vital penalty opener at Real Sociedad in a hard-fought win. Much has been made of the relationship between Vini and Kylian Mbappé and how they might tactically fit; with them both being renowned for outstanding movement and having played significant parts of last season in a front two and as a central striker respectively, the flexibility they will give Carlo Ancelotti is significant.


This week, however, they land together in Real Madrid CF’s natural habitat, in the arena in which they will be judged ahead of all others. VfB Stuttgart, last season’s surprise Bundesliga runners-up, arrive at the Bernabéu and will prove a test.


Sebastian Hoeness’ team are not shy; they play attacking, possession-based football and this, combined with a habitually narrow midfield shape, should mean that Vini will find more space on the left flank than he would be likely to in your average La Liga game. VfB Stuttgart will come to spoil a Madrid party and, inadvertently, might give Vini and Mbappé the chance to party themselves.


CLOSED | GIVEAWAY! Win A Hernan Crespo Signed & Acrylic Cased Boot!

January 19, 2023
Giveaways & Competitions

It’s time for yet another amazing giveaway with yet another legendary name of world football! That’s right, it’s your chance to win a boot signed by Argentine football legend Hernan Crespo!

The prize up for grabs this week is an Icons.com Acrylic Cased Adidas boot signed by Crespo himself during a private signing session in Doha on December 2nd, 2022.

And, as ever, it could not be more simple to enter our giveaway. All you need to do to be in with a chance of taking home this superb piece of signed football memorabilia is to follow our official Instagram page and tag a friend in the comments!

TO ENTER VIA INSTAGRAM:

1) Tag a friend in the comments of our official giveaway post

AND

2) Follow Icons.com’s official Instagram account

The prize is a 1x Hernan Crespo Signed Black Adidas Boot In Acrylic Case (Icons.com SKU I1475AD), which comes complete with an official Icons.com Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The COA has photographic evidence of Crespo with the boot in question as well as providing the location at which the shirt was signed – so you can be sure this is the real deal!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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Shop from our full range of authentic Hernan Crespo signed items by visiting Icons.com today…

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We Predict… The 2022-23 Season

August 5, 2022
Previews and Predictions

Precious few feelings match the optimism that swells before the opening weekend of a new season. The possibilities for your team are endless and unbound, the hype surrounding your big summer signing reaches its intoxicating peak and with each empty league table sprawled out like a blank canvas you may even begin to dream of silverware.

That is, right up until your meathead of a centre-back gets sent off 15 minutes into the first half while your marquee signing breaks his foot and you end up losing the opening game 3-1.

But enough about Everton! For now, the season ahead is a mystery that has us all guessing what’s to come. And so, it’s time for our annual season predictions blog from the hard-working and devilishly handsome staff behind Icons.com who, year after year and season after season, gaze into their respective crystal balls, summon the power of Nostradamus and… get almost every single facet of these predictions utterly and hopelessly wrong.

Think you’ve got a more accurate vision of the 2022-23 campaign? You’re probably right! So why not send us your predictions for the season ahead on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. We dare you.

And, of course, be sure to check out our excellent range of signed memorabilia from Premier League stars past and present – available right now on Icons.com. So, on to our predictions…

Manchester City fans have high hopes for new striker Erling Haaland

Edward Freedman, Non-Executive Chairman

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY will retain their title with fresh blood and new ideas under Pep Guardiola.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Tottenham Hotspur  4th – Chelsea
Relegated: Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa
Golden Boot: Manchester City’s ERLING HAALAND arrives for just over £50million and will light up the Premier League with his considerable talent.

Serie A winners: AC MILAN
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA
Bundesliga winners: zzzzzzzz… BAYERN MUNICH… zzzzzzzz…

UEFA Champions League winners: I may be dreaming when I choose FC BARCELONA but that’s allowed, isn’t it?
UEFA Europa League winners: Mikel Arteta’s ARSENAL will win Europe’s second biggest prize.

Signing of the season: Liverpool FC’s capture of the dynamic young attacking midfielder FABIO CARVALHO looks shrewd.

Mark my words… Ten Hag, Nine Hag, Eight Hag, Seven Hag, Six Hag, Five Hag, Four Hag, Three Hag, Two Hag, One Hag… no Hag!

Liverpool FC fans’ favourite Mohamed Salah is primed for another Golden Boot campaign

Dan Jamieson, CEO

Premier League winners: LIVERPOOL FC will take the title back from Manchester City, I just know it.
2nd – Manchester City  3rd – Chelsea  4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Everton
Golden Boot: My man MOHAMED SALAH will equal Thierry Henry‘s record of four Premier League Golden Boots in 2022-23.

Serie A winners: AC MILAN, who I have big hopes for this year…
La Liga winners: Our friends at FC BARCELONA
Bundesliga winners: This will be BAYERN MUNICH once again (yawn!)

UEFA Champions League winners: Jurgen Klopp told me to book my hotel for the final in Istanbul so of course it will be LIVERPOOL FC.
UEFA Europa League winners: Jose Mourinho‘s AS ROMA will add to last season’s UEFA Conference League with this, his third UEL title.

Signing of the season: RAHEEM STERLING will do much better than Romelu Lukaku in Thomas Tuchel’s system.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… best Manchester City over the course of the season with continuity and cohesiveness our trump cards. I think City have gone backwards and Erling Haaland will clog up their smooth scoring engine.

Mark my words… Haaland will be a sub by Christmas when Pep realises his mistake. The Ten in Eric Ten Hag is the number of seasons Manchester United are going to need to properly rebuild.

FC Barcelona have been busy this summer with the notable capture of Robert Lewandowski

Ben Soley, Head of Sales

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY. It’s gutting, but I can’t look past them winning a third in a row and five of the last six based on their signings. Erling Haaland should tear it up while Kalvin Phillips provides great cover and Julian Alvarez will have a greater impact than expected. 
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Brentford
Golden Boot: With Liverpool FC scoring highly again this season, their penalty taker, MOHAMED SALAH, will surely be among the goals again, not to mention he will get a good rest while others are at the FIFA World Cup.

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE. The title move back across town to I Nerazzurri.
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA‘s somewhat chaotic spending spree will
pay off – in their domestic campaign at least.
Bundesliga winners: I don’t believe a Borussia Dortmund without Erling Haaland or RB Leipzig can compete with BAYERN MUNICH, who’ve added Sadio Mane.

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY will finally win the big one.
UEFA Europa League winners: AS ROMA. Jose Mourinho knows all about tournament football and will want to bring more trophies to Rome. they’ve also made strong signings in Zeki Celik, Paulo Dybala and Nemanja Matic. 

Signing of the season: Brentford have unearthed a gem of a left-back from Bologna in AARON HICKEY. The Scot is great going forward and with a killer set-piece in his arsenal £17million is a steal.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… focus on the Premier League after spreading thin last season to compete on four fronts. There will be silverware come the end of the season but it’s hard to put a finger on which kind!

Mark my words… Liverpool FC and Man City will be separated by a maximum of three points come the end of the season. Robert Lewandowski will hit the woodwork more than any player in La Liga. Aleksandar Mitrovic will score more times than he is carded.

Lionel Messi will hope Paris Saint-Germain can go further in the UEFA Champions League

Alistair Hunter, Senior Editor

Premier League winners: There’s no need to overthink this. MANCHESTER CITY will retain their title.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Southampton
Golden Boot: My theory is this. ERLING HAALAND was actually created in an underground lab on the City Campus, manufactured to one day score 50 goals in a Premier League season. They sent him to Norway as a boy to throw us off the scent.

Serie A winners: I think this will be a special one… I’m going with AS ROMA to upset the odds now Paulo Dybala is unleashed.
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA are selling the farm to win now so they better win now.
Bundesliga winners: Death, taxes, BAYERN MUNICH.

UEFA Champions League winners: If you read these predictions blogs every year you’ll know I’ve gone for PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN each year for the past five years. Giving up on Lionel Messi‘s side now feels dangerous.
UEFA Europa League winners: I was there as Rangers FC lost on penalties in last season’s final so it feels too soon to ask me this. For old time’s sake I’ll pick SEVILLA. Wait… Seville… oh god!

Signing of the season: No-one will want to admit (for some reason) that RAHEEM STERLING is a world class winger who adds a lot of quality to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.

My team, Rangers, will… battle relentlessly with Celtic and ultimately wrestle the Scottish title back by a solitary point in one of the most pulsating (and controversial) seasons in history. They will not – I repeat, not – enjoy the introduction of VAR north of the border.

Mark my words… either Manchester City or Liverpool will score 8+ goals in a Premier League game. The raucous atmosphere of an impassioned City Ground will vault Nottingham Forest into the top half.

Pep Guardiola’s City have their sights on yet more silverware in 2022-23

David Cox, Head of Operations

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY, because who else?!
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Arsenal
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Brentford
Golden Boot: Liverpool’s MOHAMED SALAH wins back-to-back Golden Boots.

Serie A winners: AS ROMA
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH

UEFA Champions League winners: The time has come for my MANCHESTER CITY to win their very first European crown, surely?
UEFA Europa League winners: ARSENAL

Signing of the season: GABRIEL JESUS is a great player who was never really given a starting role at City. If he starts regularly at Arsenal he’ll bang them in. 

My team, Manchester City, will… finally prove the doubters wrong and win the UEFA Champions League.

Mark my words… Again, Manchester United still won’t manage to break into the top four – I’d be surprised if they made the top six! 

The pressure’s on Eric Ten Hag at Manchester United – can he deliver at top four finish?

Jamie White, Digital Content Producer

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Manchester United
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Leeds United
Golden Boot: Liverpool’s MOHAMED SALAH is always up there and he isn;t going to the FIFA Word Cup so will have a nice break in the winter.

Serie A winners: JUVENTUS
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH because who else?!

UEFA Champions League winners: LIVERPOOL FC
UEFA Europa League winners: ARSENAL

Signing of the season: ERLING HAALAND looks set to be a monster player for Manchester City, who got an incredible deal for him. I do also believe Gabriel Jesus will do well at Arsenal.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… run City close but I can see a repeat of last season with the Reds missing out by a few points once again.

Mark my words… AFC Bournemouth will finish bottom and become the whipping boys of the season.

Jude Bellingham gives BVB hopes of busting Bayern’s decade-long dominance in Germany

Dan Rushton, Customer Support

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY – just about. I think City have a slight edge on Liverpool this season in terms of depth. It’s going to be close again but if Haaland adapts quickly and gels with his team-mates they’ll be the winners.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Arsenal (trust the process) 4th – Chelsea
Relegated: Southampton, Fulham and Leeds United
Golden Boot: HARRY KANE. I think Tottenham will have a go at it this year but I do still think the top four is going to be a big ask. If Kane stays fit I’m sure he’ll be scoring on a weekly basis. 

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE missed out on the title by two points last year. They’ll want to take it back!
La Liga winners: I just don’t think FC Barcelona will do it this year with the amount of new players they need to gel together. European champions REAL MADRID CF will be tough to dismantle.
Bundesliga winners: Both Bayern and BORUSSIA DORTMUND have lost some firepower which might bring other teams into the fray but I also think it’s about time Dortmund took their first title in just over 10 years. Jude Bellingham is in for a great season. 

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY are going to make a real go of it this year and I genuinely believe they can do it. I’m predicting a Liverpool v City final!
UEFA Europa League winners: I wanted to say Arsenal but I think their focus is going to be on the league and a top four finish. AS ROMA won’t take any prisoners this year.

Signing of the season: It’s between Haaland and GABRIEL JESUS but I will go for the latter. I think he’s going to absolutely smash it at Arsenal as he has already shown in pre-season. 

My team, Birmingham City, will… be rubbish again as per-usual. Blues will be dragged into their tenth consecutive relegation dogfight and probably survive by getting a point at Sheffield United on the last game of the season.

Mark my words… Nottingham Forest will spend most of the season on the fringes of a top six finish. 

Harry Kane will look to further cement his Premier League legacy in a FIFA World Cup year

Will Franklin, Sales Executive

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Southampton
Golden Boot: HARRY KANE is set for another big year of goals with the FIFA World Cup in between to boot.

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH

UEFA Champions League winners: LIVERPOOL FC
UEFA Europa League winners: AS ROMA

Signing of the season: Tottenham’s acquisition of Ivorian midfielder YVES BISSOUMA from Brighton & Hove Albion will prove an excellent purchase.

My team, Aston Villa, will… finish 7th. Leon Bailey and Diego Carlos will have great seasons (I hope). 

Mark my words… Cameron Archer will light up the Premier League.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea face an intriguing campaign both on and off the pitch

Dan Hunt, Accounts Assistant

Premier League winners: With the signing of Erling Haaland, MANCHESTER CITY will be clear winners of the title.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Arsenal 4th – Manchester United
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Fulham
Golden Boot: If fit, ERLING HAALAND will score 30 goals or more.

Serie A winners: JUVENTUS
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH, obviously!

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
UEFA Europa League winners: Perennial winners SEVILLA will drop out of the UEFA Champions League to win another UEL title.

Signing of the season: West Ham United finally have a striker who will score goals for the club in GIANLUCA SCAMACCA.

My team, West Ham United, will… finish in 5th place, just a few points shy of the top four and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Mark my words… Chelsea will start off very slowly and Thomas Tuchel will be the first manager sacked, shortly followed by Frank Lampard. Manchester City will have another 100+ point season.


We Predict… The 2017-18 Season

August 10, 2017
Previews and Predictions

So, here we are again. When Leicester City travel to Arsenal on Friday night to open the 2017-18 Premier League season, it’ll be the first of 380 league matches that stretch over ten months and determine the fates of twenty topflight clubs. Win roughly 25 of your 38 matches and you’ll be in with a shout of the title; avoid losing more than 20 times and you should, in theory, stay up. It’s as simple as that, right?

Well, not quite. This is, after all, one of the most unforgiving leagues in all of world football. It’s a division in which the title defence of the two previous champions ended in finishes of 10th and 12th respectively. Where a team with five UEFA Champions League winners amongst its ranks could only muster a measly 13th place in 2016-17. And where a side who finished some 32 points shy of last season’s champions have spent nearly £100million on new recruits over the summer.

This is indeed a brutal league. But that’s exactly why it attracts the biggest audiences, a number of the biggest stars and most certainly the biggest names in management. For the likes of Mourinho, Conte, Pochettino, Klopp, Wenger and Guardiola, this weekend’s action offers the potential first step towards the ultimate glory. But to whom the trophy will go is anyone’s guess.

Giving it our best shot, we, the staff and partners of Icons.com, are back again to answer (or at least attempt to answer) the burning questions on everyone’s minds ahead of the big kick-off. But don’t just take our word, get involved on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages by giving us your predictions for the season ahead. You can hardly do much worse.

And, of course, be sure to check out our fantastic range of signed items from Premier League stars past and present – available right now on Icons.com.

It’s make or break time for Pep Guardiola in Manchester

Edward Freedman, Chairman

Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Chelsea (2nd), Liverpool (3rd), Arsenal (4th)
Relegated: Huddersfield Town, Watford, Brighton & Hove Albion
Overachievers: Everton – The Toffees have spent big but have invested well this summer. Wayne Rooney‘s return brings valuable experience to a dressing room packed with new and exciting faces.
Underachievers: Arsenal – Last year I predicted that because the Gunners had spent nothing they would falter. This year, despite the purchase of Alexandre Lacazette, the same problems will persist. Wenger should have left years ago.
Golden Boot: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Signing of the season: Ederson (Manchester City) – The Brazilian youngster is an improvement on former keepers at the Etihad.

FA Cup winners: Chelsea
League Cup winners: Liverpool

UEFA Champions League winners: FC Barcelona
UEFA Europa League winners: AC Milan

Random prediction: Lionel Messi will become only the fifth player ever to have won five Pichichi trophies after he finishes the season as La Liga’s top scorer.

Dan Jamieson, CEO

Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Liverpool (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Manchester United (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: West Ham United – The Hammers have finally bought a striker with bags of Premier League experience.
Underachievers: Southampton – After years of gradual progress, decline will finally set in at St Mary’s.
Golden Boot: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Signing of the season: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – I always go for Liverpool‘s big money signing…

FA Cup winners: Chelsea
League Cup winners: Tottenham Hotspur

UEFA Champions League winners: Liverpool. Come on, we can all dream!
UEFA Europa League winners: Manchester United will retain the trophy after dropping out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stages.

Random prediction: Barcelona will improve despite the departure of Neymar Jr. They’ll wrestle the Spanish title back from Real Madrid.

Wayne Rooney has returned to Everton – could his experience bring success to Goodison?

Ben Soley, Sales and Marketing Manager

Premier League winners: Manchester United
Top four: Manchester City (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Tottenham Hotspur (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Chelsea – A paper thin squad coupled with the return of UEFA Champions League football should make life tough for the Blues but Eden Hazard will keep them winning.
Underachievers: Manchester City‘s backline – Pep’s back four will improve on last season but they’ll still leak plenty of goals.
Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Signing of the season: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) – The Serbian will make a big difference for United but if Liverpool can sign a central defender the title is in the bag.

FA Cup winners: Liverpool
League Cup winners: Liverpool

UEFA Champions League winners: Paris Saint-Germain – Neymar Jr will take the Parisians that one step further they need this year.
UEFA Europa League winners: Villarreal – Though Arsenal will surely walk it if only they try.

Random predictions: Dele Alli‘s rise to superstardom continues, earning him a big money move at the end of the season for, let’s say, £200million. From March onwards, a number of players will feign and/or elongate injuries in order to be fresh for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. One of Nathan Redmond or Tom Davies sneaks onto England‘s plane for Russia.

Alistair Hunter, Senior Editor

Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Manchester United (2nd), Arsenal (3rd), Chelsea (4th)
Relegated: Burnley, Huddersfield Town, Stoke City
Overachievers: Newcastle United – The Rafa Revolution rolls on. In fact, he even manages to take a handful of points from former employers Liverpool and Chelsea.
Underachievers: Stoke City – Mark Hughes wins the sack race feeling the absence of the brilliant Marko Arnautovic. The rest of the bottom half chews them up and spits them out.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Signing of the season: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) – Manchester City fans will thank their lucky stars for that buy-back clause as the exciting young forward links up with Jamie Vardy to devastating effect.

FA Cup winners: West Ham United – Slaven Bilic’s side overcome Championship opposition in the Final.
League Cup winners: Cambridge Unit- ah, no, we’re out already. Okay, let’s go with Manchester City.

UEFA Champions League winners: Real Madrid – No-one thought back-to-back titles could be done. Why can’t they make it three-in-a-row with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at the top of their game?
UEFA Europa League winners: Lyon – The French side weren’t too far off last season and this year the Final takes place in their own back yard.

Random prediction: A goalkeeper will get on the scoresheet at some stage this season. Liverpool sacrifice the topflight for a deep run in the UEFA Champions League as they reach the semi-finals. Cambridge United win automatic promotion from League Two.

Icons favourite Dele Alli: world football’s next £200million player?

Joe Turnbull, Editorial Intern

Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Liverpool (2nd), Tottenham Hotspur (3rd), Manchester United (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Stoke City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Newcastle United – Rafa Benitez is experienced at Premier League level. I wouldn’t bet against him taking the Toon into the top ten.
Underachievers: Chelsea – Friction between Antonio Conte and the board will be their downfall. New boy Alvaro Morata won’t click and injuries will deplete their squad, leaving the Stamford Bridge side languishing in sixth.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Signing of the season: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) – Though he cost a lot of money, the Belgian brings guaranteed goals. Lukaku is a fantastic player who will step up to the plate and may even give Jose a long run in the UEFA Champions League.

FA Cup winners: Liverpool
League Cup winners: Tottenham Hotspur

UEFA Champions League winner: Bayern Munich
UEFA Europa League winner: AC Milan – After the summer the Rossoneri have had, it’s difficult to see past them. The English clubs will represent themselves well.

Random prediction: Neymar Jr carries Paris Saint-Germain all the way to the Final but they come up just short to Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

Matt Sheppard, Editorial Intern

Premier League winners: Chelsea
Top four: Manchester City (2nd), Arsenal (3rd), Tottenham Hotspur (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Newcastle United – Rafa will finally get to show exactly why he decided to stick by the Toon Army following their relegation the season before last.
Underachievers: West Ham United – There’s lots of hype around the Hammers’ big-name signings but most of them will prove well past their sell-by date.
Golden Boot: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Signing of the season: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) – The Portuguese international will form a partnership with Kevin de Bruyne that turns into quite something.

FA Cup winners: Arsenal
League Cup winners: Manchester City

UEFA Champions League winner: Real Madrid
UEFA Europa League winner: AC Milan

Random prediction: Pep Guardiola will resign at the end of the season, following a failure to land the league or UEFA Champions League. Nathaniel Chalobah will be on that plane to Russia next year.

Italian giants AC Milan are well fancied for UEFA Europa League glory

Chris Jinks, A1 Sporting Memorabilia

Premier League winners: Arsenal
Top four: Chelsea (2nd), Manchester City (3rd), Liverpool (4th)
Relegated: Burnley, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town
Overachievers: Arsenal – Without the distraction of trying (and repeatedly hopelessly failing) to win the UEFA Champions League, the Gunners focus on domestic matters. Momentum stays with the team early in 2018 when they would usually falter.
Underachievers: Manchester United – Mourinho has made a number of big money signings but The Special One will be unable to get the team to gel. Without a trophy, Jose gets grumpier by the day.
Golden Boot: Alvaro Morata (Chelsea)
Signing of the season: Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) – In a time when we have £200million players, Wenger still finds a bargain in this free transfer.

FA Cup winners: Chelsea
League Cup winners: Tottenham Hotspur

UEFA Champions League winner: FC Barcelona
UEFA Europa League winner: Villarreal

Random prediction: Arsene Wenger will call it a day having finally won the league, bowing out on a high. (I’m going to keep predicting this each year until it’s true!)

Harm Jan Deuring, De Hand van Maradona

Premier League winners: Manchester City
Top four: Manchester United (2nd), Tottenham Hotspur (3rd), Arsenal (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Watford
Overachievers: Huddersfield Town – The Terriers do what many believe to be impossible: they avoid relegation.
Underachievers: Chelsea – Morata for Diego Costa is a mistake while Eden Hazard will be sorely missed during the opening weeks of the season. Liverpool will also struggle under the weight of their busy schedule.
Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United) and Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) share the honour.
Signing of the season: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United) – The Serbian is the missing link in Jose’s midfield. Tottenham‘s first signing of the season will be a close second – whoever it may be!

FA Cup winners: Arsenal
League Cup winners: Surprisingly, a side outside the top six!

UEFA Champions League winner: Real Madrid
UEFA Europa League winner: AS Monaco

Random prediction: Alexis Sanchez will stay at the Emirates but will have a disappointing season. No-one in the Manchester United squad will be banned for more games than Jose Mourinho himself.

Is this the year Arsene Wenger finally wins back the Premier League title?

Scott Hutchison, US Partner

Premier League winners: Manchester United
Top four: Manchester City (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), Arsenal (4th)
Relegated: Brighton & Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town, West Bromwich Albion
Overachievers: Crystal Palace – Frank de Boer guides the Eagles to a nice finish alongside the big boys.
Underachievers: Tottenham Hotspur – The Wembley hoodoo comes for Spurs again.
Golden Boot: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Signing of the season: Javier Hernandez (West Ham United) – The Mexican is an absolute steal for what he’ll do on the pitch and pure highway robbery for what he’ll do for the club in the North American market.

FA Cup winners: Manchester City
League Cup winners: Everton

UEFA Champions League winner: Chelsea
UEFA Europa League winner: Celtic

Random prediction: My prediction that Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic would move to the Premier League didn’t come true in 2016-17 but he will crush it in Germany this season, becoming one of the darlings of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. That move to England will be a superstar signing come the summer of 2018.

So, that’s what we think will go down during this season’s Premier League campaign. But what do you think? Send us your predictions by getting in touch via our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages!

For our full range of Premier League signed products check out icons.com now!


Why We Love Ronaldinho, The Smiley Samba Star

June 9, 2017
Why We Love

Let’s face it, everyone loves Ronaldinho.

The former Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona and AC Milan legend is one of our heroes here at Icons.com. The Brazilian embodied the samba style that defined a generation, while winning UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup winner’s medals with that trademark grin on his face and a song in his boots.

Because it wasn’t just his outrageous skill and unstoppable flair that made him great. Oh no. It was the way he played the game as if still on the rough streets of Porto Alegre, dribbling the ball past his dog Bombom or scoring 23 goals for his local youth team. He made seasoned defenders in the prime of their distinguished careers look like schoolchildren. He baffled goalkeepers.

So, to celebrate the launch of our brand new and exclusive range of Ronaldinho signed items, we’ve compiled a short list of what it is we love about him. Of course, there are innumerable reasons why football fans adore the man who for a period in the mid-noughties was the hero of every street footballer, but we’ll leave it to you to tell us what we’ve missed from our list…

He’s good at football in all its forms

Table football is a real thing and of course Ronaldinho is good at it.

He set up Leo Messi for the Argentine’s first ever goal

It shouldn’t have been legal for Barcelona to have these two on the same team.

He’s scored some pretty outrageous goals himself

The goal of a lifetime for most; just another standard, gravity-defying overhead kick for this man.

Some of them will stay with us forever

Even today’s stars struggle to re-create the Ronnie magic…

His control of the ball was absolute

This deserved more than simple applause, Frank. Come on.

No, seriously, footballs obeyed his every command

This is what Ronnie called ‘a warm up’.

He was pretty good from dead ball situations

Simply unstoppable.

But he still found joy in scoring the simplest of tap-ins

That poor, poor keeper.

He’s still got and will probably never lose it…

Hands up if you think a 37-year-old Ronnie could still do it for your team…

Shop from our full range of 100% authentic Ronaldinho signed items by visiting our dedicated R10 page…

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The Phenomenon Signs Again: Ronaldo Returns For Icons

February 26, 2016
Signing Sessions

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima

All the best footballers have nicknames. Lionel Messi is “The Flea”, Diego Maradona “The Golden Boy”, while Sergio “Kun” Aguero is named after a Japanese cartoon character. Then there’s Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima. He, rather aptly, is “The Phenomenon”. The three-time FIFA World Player of the Year was the star striker of a golden generation of Brazilian footballers who triumphed at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. And while those may have been the glory years for this outrageously talented number nine, wherever he went throughout his career – be it Internazionale or Real Madrid – Ronaldo just kept doing what he did best; scoring goals.

It’s exactly why the Brazilian has such a cult following even today, five years after his retirement from football. And because we at icons.com love bringing you products from the world’s greatest players, we made sure to get a wide range of fantastic items signed by The Phenomenon himself.

This, of course, is not the first time Icons have met with the now 39-year-old. We have, in fact, been working with Ronaldo for over thirteen years and since our last signing session, he’s been a busy man. A Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme and co-owner of North American Soccer League side Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Ronaldo still finds time to travel the world watching football and was only too happy to chat away about the game he loves.

All throughout our session the former Galactico striker was in a high spirits, laughing and joking with our team as he signed our selection of shirts, photos, boots and balls.

ronaldo-brazil-back-signed-shirt

Adding his signature to a number of items that serve to chronicle his outstanding career at the very top of the sport, Ronaldo seemed to be moved by our selection of photos, recalling great goals in FIFA World Cups, astonishing performances in the UEFA Champions League and remarkable personal honours from a career spanning eighteen years. In fact, he seemed to like a number of items so much that he asked our team if he could take a few away for himself.

Ronaldo-Signed-Nike-FootballICRNSB1-Ronaldo-Signed-Black-Nike-Tiempo-Boot

With a handful of goodies to remember another thoroughly enjoyable and successful signing session, Ronaldo bid us farewell and left to enjoy more of his his favourite city, Madrid, a place in which he spent five great years tearing up La Liga with his Galactico team-mates. That left our team with the all-important task of delivering the excellent variety of exciting products to icons.com for you to enjoy. With more coming over the next few days, keep an eye for our full range of Ronaldo signed products and take it from us; these are not-to-be-missed products from a true legend of football.

For our full range of Ronaldo signed products check out icons.com now!

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