The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

Only a few changes they have it pretty much right. There's a clear La Liga love in though so I also have a non La Liga side thrown in.   WINNING TEAM Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA/Juventus) Defenders: Dani Alves (BRA/Juventus/Paris Saint-Germain), Leonardo Bonucci (ITA/Juventus/AC Milan), Sergio Ramos (ESP/Real Madrid), Marcelo (BRA/Real Madrid) Midfielders: Andres Iniesta (ESP/Barcelona), Toni Kroos (GER/Real Madrid), Luka Modric (CRO/Real Madrid) Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona), Neymar (BRA/FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain) MY TEAM  Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA/Juventus) Defenders: Dani Alves (BRA/Juventus/Paris Saint-Germain), Leonardo Bonucci (ITA/Juventus/AC Milan), Sergio Ramos (ESP/Real Madrid), Marcelo (BRA/Real Madrid) Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (FRA / Chelsea) Isco (SPA/Real Madrid), Luka Modric (CRO/Real Madrid) Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (ARG/Barc...

The debate of he's a world class striker rumbles on across Europe. What makes a world class striker? Winning titles, doing it for your country? Dragging your team single handed through a tournament? There's many factors that all play a role. I have made a list of the top 4 strikers  /  forwards across the top 5 leagues in Europe. Some rouge wingers might slip in but picking just 4 is head enough. Ranking them World Class - WC. Knocking on the door of world class - KOD. Quality Player - QP. And last in Harry Redknapp style Top Top Player - TTP. England Harry Kane - KOD Sergio Aguero - KOD Romelu Lukaku - QP Alexis Sanchez - KOD Spain Lionel Messi - WC Cristiano Ronaldo - WC Antoine Griezmann - KOD Gareth Bale - KOD France Radamel Falcao - KOD Edinson Cavani - QP Kylian M'Bappe - QP Neymar - KOD Italy Paulo Dybala - KOD Dries Mertens - QP Mauro Icardi - TTP Gonzalo Higuain - QP Germany Robert Lewandowski - KOD...

Some NFL picks and a very early Super Bowl prediction: AFC EAST - New England Patriots AFC SOUTH - Houston Texans AFC NORTH - Pittsburgh Steelers AFC WEST - Oakland Raiders  NFC SOUTH - Atlanta Falcons  NFC EAST - NY Giants NFC WEST - Arizona Cardinals  NFC NORTH - Green Bay Packers SUPERBOWL WINNERS - Pittsburgh Steelers 

1. Manchester United Well if ever there was a manager who gets it right in the second season its Jose. Now he did land United 2 cups and Champions League football which was the aim last season. The league form was pretty dire and must improve should improve and I think will improve. I pick them just to pip City as they actually have some players who will defend. It’s looking like United will be very physical and most of the squad is around 6ft tall. They will bully their way to the league title it might be glamorous all the time, but they will. Key Man – Romelu Lukaku filling Zlatan’s big boots now, we know he can do it in the Premier League. However against the big teams does he go missing? We will see this season, the Belgian will also be tested in the Champions League.  2. Manchester City Pep went out and spent over £100m on full backs, yes just full backs. Going forward City are the best in the league Sterling, Sane, De Bruyne, Jesus. I mean Aguero might not even be h...

In what's known as the toughest league of the world to get out of, the Championship this season is looking like a real battle, to just survive never mind winning it. Here's my preview on what will once again be a bumpy ride of a season, The 46 game slog-fest starts on Friday night when Nottingham Forest face Millwall & Derby travel to newly relegated Sunderland. So who will live up to the pre season hype? Who will flatter to deceive? And who will be the shock team of the season? Middlesbrough have spent big, splashing out £9m on Martin Braithwaite from Toulose & Britt Assombalonga £15m from Forest. Gary Monk is in as new manager,  surprising he left Leeds, but it's a unstable situation there. At The Riverside Boro' look the best bet to go straight back up at the first time of asking. Sunderland who also went down look like there in a bit of a mess and things could get even worse. There better players have all jumped ship. The big earners who have done nothing ...

What's the latest? Here we go.... Neymar on his way to PSG? a deal that is just mega money as PSG look to trigger his release clause. But is he really going off to Paris? He wants a Ballon D'or its a Brazil thing. You can't win it when your not the best player at in your team so maybe. However FIFA don't give the award for PSG players. We shall wait and see on that one. Virgil Van Dijk is on 'Van Strike' as he has been training on his own and wants out. What does training on his own mean? Kicking a ball against at wall at Southampton's training ground? No players talking to him? Naby Keita looks like he will be staying at RB Leipzig as Liverpool have had 3 bids rejected. He did nearly cripple a team mate in training this week. West Ham finally landed some players, the signing of Javier Hernandez 'Chicharito' is a good bit of business a proven scorer and for so cheap in today's market. Over at Man City Pep got rid of all his full backs this su...

Here's the latest from the past week. Kyle Walker is now the most expensive defender in football as he sets off to Man City. Now to me Spurs always make good business for the books. Berbatov, Modric, Bale etc Levy is no fool. But if Tottenham really want to challenge again making themselves weaker & City stronger may not be the best way of going about things. 'Sanchez Saga Latest' : He's making comments about playing 'Champions League' football, he may have to force a move out the club himself if he really wants to go. Bayern have said their no interested. At West Ham it looks like Joe Hart will be their marquee signing after passing his medical. For me he is done and West Ham may come to regret this move.  Chelsea's hunt for a new forward may bring the to the door of Sergio Aguero . You would think no way City would sell to a rival and a player who has done so much for them. It would be really REALLY annoying if they land him. Man United mak...