Darmeni Premier League: Season VIII Preview
Starting XI Code: (C)=Captain, (K)=Key Player, (Nation)=Foreign Player, (N)=National Team Player, (##)=Age
*Regarding Age of Foreing players: I'm simply going by what I have in my notes. For instance, Edgardo Mendoza, Forward for Scott City FC is definately not 24. If it's wrong, please let me know, or blame fluid time, whatever.Augusta Logo KitsLocation: Augusta, Augusta
Stadium:
Military Academy Stadium (28,500)Manager: Michael Bilbrey
Starting XI: Watterson (20), Hikari (Northern Sunrise Islands, N, 22), Bacic (Mytannion, N, 21), Broggs (Boring Paradise, 32), Galbo (Boring Paradise, 20) , Hammam (21), Sikora (Mytannion, 17), Kross (Mytannion, 17), Crawford (Northern Sunrise Islands, N, 20), Eduardo (Northern Sunrise Islands, 25), Ayers (C, K, 18)
Last Season: 2nd
Prediction: Will have a very strong case for finishing top of the table, but will ultimately fall short to the powerhouse that is SCFC. 2nd.
Bloomer Football Club Logo KitsLocation: Bloomer, North Bloomer
Stadium:
Darmen National Rugby Stadium (46,000)Manager: Flamur Dibra
Starting XI: Minton (17), Daniels (23), Gonclaves (15), Jaber (15), Roy (C, 37), Cole (Mantwenic, N, 23), Guedes (15), Sol (16), Domene (38), Bradley (28), Altidore (27)
Last Season: 11th
Prediction: With the loss of Esterhazy, the international from Stachland, Bloomer FC has no hope. Bloomer did sign Marcus Cole from Mantwenic, but he's a young and untested midfielder, nothing like Estehazy. With its mix of old and young players, its only reliable source of good football comes from Bradley and Altidore up front. And with two fifteen year old defenders, it's quite amazing that Bloomer finished as high as they did last season. 15th.
Brady City Crunch Logo KitsLocation: Brady City, Brady
Stadium:
Brady City Stadium (30,000)Manager: Tyler Githliani
Starting XI: Müller (Antoletia, N, 24), Alexandre (Antoletia, N, 27), Locklear (18), Meekins (25), Talis (19), Borislow (19), Sala (Antoletia, N, 28), Esquire (C, K, Taeshan, 27), Batista (20), Vinson (25), Bradley (26)
Last Season: 3rd
Prediction: Esquire is heading into the second to last year on his contract, but is still scoring a ton of goals. With the three Antoletian Internationals signing three year extensions, the Crunch look like they'll be competitive at the top for the next couple of seasons at least. 3rd.
Brham United Logo KitsLocation: Brham, Brham
Stadium:
Brham Stadium (54,000)Manager: Edson Gomez
Starting XI: Weckström (Saugeais, 34), Lalas (C, 39), Rowe (24), James (28), Kreis (29), N. Agudelo (39), J. Agudelo (27), Henry (27), Zakuani (N, K, 23), Hooper (N, 23), Wen (20)
Last Season: 14th
Prediction: Brham was close to being involved in the relegation battle (what battle?) last season, and didn't do much in the off season to make their team any stronger. 16th.
Chippewa Falls Strykers Logo KitsLocation: Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Falls
Stadium:
Golden Bowl (32,000)Manager: Samuel Erickson
Starting XI: Siesman (N, 22), Santos (21), Garza (N, 22), Findley (N, 22), Sanderrson (21), Geruard (20), Tome (K, 19), Aikmar (20), La Rock (34), Autitore (N, 22), Pele (C, N, 25)
Last Season: 6th
Prediction: An extremely young Starting XI, average age of 22.5 years, has somehow been able to keep the Strykers in the top half of the table. But with no international talent on the roster, the Strykers just don't have enough to make a push for their first Premier League title. 7th.
Darmen City Football Club Logo KitsLocation: Darmen City, Darmen
Stadium:
Tyger Stadium (39,000)Manager: Schellas Adu
Starting XI: Ream (27), Ferreira (30), Mendoza (30), Perkins (27), Ayami (Andossa Se Mitrin Vega, K, 25), Pele (41), Keller (30), Whymark (24), DeMerit (25), Adu (36), Chaves (C, 30)
Last Season: 10th
Prediction: Another mid-table finish is in store for the boys from Darmen City. 9th.
Darmen City United Logo KitsLocation: Darmen City, Darmen
Stadium:
Peari Stadium (40,000)Manager: Jonathan Montgomery (Mangolana)
Starting XI: Jenaro (19), Edward (16), Legu (13), Williams (16), Michelangelo (C, 45), Studebaker (K, 21), Edwards (33), Tarcisio (13), Westley (21), Presecan (16), Porteas (25)
Last Season: 9th
Prediction: Still no International talent can be seen in the starting XI, and with an extremely young defense, and a 45 year old captain, its diffiult to tell where United will end up. 12th.
Eau Claire Aris Football Club Logo KitsLocation: Eau Claire, Eau Claire
Stadium:
Aris Field (29,126)Manager: Gearóid Drees
Starting XI: Osborne (C, N, 29), Rydzik (N, 25), Goodwin (N, 23), Vue (N, 27), Henslin (33), Magallon (28), Gumz (25), Jeorge (25), Detering (29), Brown (27), Baker (K, 33)
Last Season: 4th
Prediction: Aris FC lost their Manager, Mikael Gibbons, and his three sons, Aaron, Abraham, and Jake, to a vote buying scandal. A whole new lineup awaits Aris fans, but overall, the team is just as good as it was before. 4th.
Eau Claire United Logo KitsLocation: Eau Claire, Eau Claire
Stadium:
Lyons Stadium (27,157)Manager: Sir Tony Bordelli
Starting XI: Sumon (N, 22), Trump (35), Sheen (C, 33), Giles (Camwood, 34), Harris (35), Turko (N, K, 22), Guteirez (21), Lyons (N, 22), Bay (29), Gregio (N, 22), Ambrosio (21)
Last Season: 8th
Prediction: A much more experience squad awaits the tutoring of Sir Bordelli. Gregio and Turko look poised to have a big year. 5th.
Forden Logo KitsLocation: Tempala, Tempala
Stadium:
Queens Stadium (86,000)Manager: Ryan Ruiz
Starting XI: Brock (21), Sikula (N, 22), Stong (34), Wheeler (32), Yount (33), Miller (37), Judkins (C, 32), Brown (28), Macalé (Capivara Group, 32), Olson (23), Dittman (N, K, 22)
Last Season: 17th
Prediction: A possible battle to stay out of relegation could be ahead for Forden. The team is quite old in defense, and the midfield isn't much younger. Some promising young talent up front. 17th.
Guard Football Club Logo KitsLocation: Wilson, Chesham
Stadium:
Guard Field (26,000)Manager: Gurutz Zabala
Starting XI: Ferreira (25), Luna (22), Donaldson (25), Alam (24), Erin (24), Nabil (24), Espianoza (19), Fuller (Mangolana, C, 21), Riley (19), Marjama (25), Shiznikov (K, 26)
Last Season: 15th
Prediction: Sporting pretty much the same lineup as last year, the young players show some good promise, but haven't been able to put anything special together just yet. It's coming though. 14th.
Juggzy Football Club Logo KitsLocation: Rodell, Tilden
Stadium:
Rodell Stadium (15,500)Manager: IIario Padovan
Starting XI: Porsche (K, 18), Abana (33), Banister (34), Jerome (23), Geiger (30), Baart (C, 34), Orman (30), Dunn (25), Holt (32), Hummel (19), Caulfield (17)
Last Season: Champions, League Championship
Prediction: Up you go, down you go. 18th.
Menomonie United Logo KitsLocation: Menomonie, Menomonie
Stadium:
Menomonie Stadium (29,000)Manager: Mard der Sleter
Starting XI: Bowe (31), Lee (35), Sinapati (N, 23), Victor (28), Ramirez (N, 23), Salapu (N, K, 23), Molesi (N, 22), Whale (C, 31), Grevsthan (N, 22), Solofa (31), Gomez (30)
Last Season: 7th
Prediction: der Sleter has set a goal for his team to qualify for the Globe Cup. But with such a young team, it's hard to see them getting there. 6th.
Olympique Chuckio Logo KitsLocation: Chuckio, Chuckio
Stadium:
Olympic Stadium (28,000)Manager: Giovanni Hendriks
Starting XI: Nicolai (27), Jansens (27), Leone (33), Niftrik (C, 35), Rais (28), Laar (33), Brodeur (K, 28), Langbroek (22), Carracci (29), Carbone (18), Buggenum (29)
Last Season: 3rd, League Championship
Prediction: Fans of Olympique really want their team to remain in the Premier League, and they also want to see Chuckio FC promoted so that the Chuckio Derby can finally be established. It's not going to happen. 19th.
Rogerton Whitecaps Logo KitsLocation: Rogerton, Rogerton
Stadium:
Kalenda Stadium (45,000)Manager: Rudy Jaramillo
Starting XI: Schreier (N, C, 24), Flemer (N, 22), Muller (33), LaMothe (28), Massey (30), Putz (32), Myers (37), Davis (28), Wagoner (33), Tincher (27), Baker (Camwood, N, 21)
Last Season: 5th
Prediction: With a 5th place finish behind them, the Whitecaps are about to return to Earth, where the reality that Tor Tong Lee no longer players for them will hit them like a rock. 8th.
Scott City Beat Logo KitsLocation: Scott City, Federal District
Stadium:
Borg El Beat (86,000)Manager: Phillipe Yeltis
Starting XI: Hedjuk (Mangolana, C, 32), Chevrolet (19), Bradley (24), Ali (21), Sykes (23), Hasan (24), Myers (21), Ockley (21), Ó Tadhgáin (K, 23), Bocanegra (31), Pernambucano (26)
Last Season: 12th
Prediction: A relegation battle is ahead for the Beat. 20th.
Scott City Football Club Logo KitsLocation: Scott City, Federal District
Stadium:
Thomas Stadium (76,000)Manager: Tony Montgomery
Starting XI: Leiva (Sargossa, N, 35), Adan (N, 26), Nguyen (N, 28), Parra (Sargossa, N, 31), Preston (C, 31), Cormio (N, 24), Lee (N, K, 25), Nena (Mangolana, 20), Faulkner (N, 28), Young (Erathore, 20), Mendoza (Western Cuba, 24)
Last Season: 1st.
Prediction: Blah, blah, blah. They're the dream team for a reason. 1st.
Scott City University Club Logo KitsLocation: Scott City, Federal District
Stadium: Bronco Stadium (110,000)
Manager: Daividh Randal
Starting XI: Ó Séaghdha (C, 35), Lalas (24), Lowe (17), Rowntree (27), Aitken (25), Koziol (25), Quigley (K, 32), Hudnall (27), Elliot (32), Avery (27), Noel (20)
Last Season: 2nd, League Championship
Prediction: UC has what it takes to stay up. 13th.
Sterling City Stars Logo KitsLocation: Sterling City, Sterling
Stadium:
Sterling Stadium (75,000)Manager: Bob Johnson
Starting XI: Riggins (23), Dempsey (23), Francis (31), Bailey (Boring Paradise, 24), Michael (22), Haybi (Boring Paradise, 29), Spencer (28), Woolridge (30), Nolan (K, 35), Santana (20), Niehues (C, 37)
Last Season: 16th
Prediction: The Stars signed two players from Boring Paradise, who are both key defensive players. Bench is extremely young with 9 of the 11 substitutes teenagers, including three 12 year olds. 11th.
Tilden Mutiny Logo KitsLocation: Tilden, Tilden
Stadium:
El Mutiny Stadium (25,000)Manager: Aleksandr Baghdassarian
Starting XI: Frye (C, 26), Elton (16), Dominique (19), Wynn (24), Filipo (19), Wright (18), Myers (21), Maurizio (16), Klemens (K, 24), Wilson (18), Ahearne (18)
Last Season: 13th
Prediction: It's difficult to see such a young team do so well, but the Mutiny don't seem to follow the status quo. 10th.
Derby Previews
Darmen City DerbyCurrent Teams: Darmen City FC and Darmen City United
Past Teams: Darmen City AC
Prediction: If the pattern continues, this is United's year to win. The teams from Darmen City finished 9th and 10th in the Premier League last season, and both games in that seasons Derby were very close. It could go either way.
Eau Claire DerbyCurrent Teams: Eau Caire Aris FC and Eau Claire United
Past Teams: NA
Prediction: In a matchup dominated by Eau Claire Aris FC, it's hard to even think about picking United to win. But with Aris FC losing their Manager and three key players to a vote buying scandal, the playing field seems to be a bit more level than it was last season. Both games should finish quite close, with United having the upper hand.
Scott City Derby (Also known as the Capital Derby)Current Teams: Scott City Beat, Scott City FC, and Scott City UC
Past Teams: NA
Prediction: You would think that Scott City FC would have dominated the Capital Derby from the start, but that simply has just not happened. The Beat have upset their cross town rivals several times to claim the Capital Derby Trophy, but will be fighting to stay out of relegation this season after the loss of several key players. Scott City University Club is making their first appearence in the Derby, which means that six matches in total will have to be played by the three teams to decide the Derby winner. With the competition that long, Scott City FC clearly has the upper hand.
Tilden County DerbyCurrent Teams: Juggzy FC and Tilden Mutiny
Past Team: First Season Contested
Past Winners: First Season Contested
Prediction: Tilden Mutiny have more experience at top level football, but Juggzy FC are not a team which can be taken lightly. Mutiny have the upper hand, but it will extremely close.