LEAGUE CYCLE XXI PREVIEW (Year 1009) Twenty full seasons have come and gone since the CosumarLigan system revolutionized domestic soccer. The 20th anniversary season produced all-time highs in attendance, TV ratings and quality, and now it is time to look ahead to the start of a new era. The 21st season is soon to begin!
256 clubs compete across five tiers and in the annual King's Cup (which celebrated its own 10th anniversary last season). The top three tiers (Harlighet Ligan, Sekundar Ligan, Tredje Ligan) are the smallest and most prestigious, with two large Conferences comprising the fourth tier, and several regional divisions comprising the fifth tier. The implementation of this “CosumarLigan” contemporary pyramid structure 21 years ago, along with increasing investment and youth development, has resulted in highly visible growth for the Harlighet Ligan year after year. The first twenty seasons weren’t all highs. There were many restructurings and financial crises along the way...but the Cosumarite game has now reached an unprecedented peak of stability, size, quality and importance. Here's to the past 20 seasons and the 20 more to come!
Now, without further ado, let’s get to what you’re here for. A preview of where each team stands ahead of the 21st Harlighet Ligan season. Enjoy!
Overview of Past Winners:I: OAS Royal FC
II: OAS Royal FC (2)
III: Mallox
IV: Mallox (2)
V: OAS Royal FC (3)
VI: Mallox (3)
VII: OAS Royal FC (4)
VIII: Ramusok United
IX: Klyde
X: Real Azuris
XI: Real Azuris (2)
XII: Cassandra City
XIII: Mallox (4)
XIV: Ramusok United (2)
XV: Cassandra City (2)
XVI: Real Azuris (3)
XVII: Real Azuris (4)
XVIII: Real Azuris (5)
XIX: Cassandra City (3)
XX: Real Azuris (6)
XXI: __________ ???
6 - Real Azuris
4 – OAS Royal FC
4 – Mallox
3 - Cassandra City
2 – Ramusok United
1 – Klyde
REAL AZURIS
Azuris, South Klyde Fief
Nickname: Breakers Founded: 962
Ground: Massemord Stadium (42,243)
Manager: Lujendra Mescalin (63)
Transfers In: Phioricus Jernigan (Soldarian FC free), Hakki Ojala (Rastaka Grey Jays free), Bryger Tidesson (Real Azuris II promoted)
Transfers Out: Robert Sieuwerd (retired), Diandra Belgrave (retired), Georgia Kite (retired)
Starting XI (4-3-3): Ozuna (25) -
Lindberg (27),
Grier (27),
Milani (33),
Chisenhall (24) -
Söderquist (22),
Lachance (33),
Sybill (27) -
Fraser (32
C),
Arrowsword (19),
Bowditch (27)
Key Reserves: Coppellian (CB/32), Adebayo-Akanni (RB/23), Hardwick (DM/33), Ojala (MF/18), Jernigan (LW/35), Tidesson (RW/16), Zigfield (ST/27)
Kit Details: The new home kit offers a redesign of the iconic tidal wave that has long swept over the top of the shirt. Last year, they also debuted a slick
new away kit that sports a wave-themed sash. Azuris also occasionally surprise with a bold alternate color scheme:
rainbow. The high-tech fabric gives off the appearance of misty rainbow light, like you'd see shimmering by a waterfall.
Preview: Last season was a masterful tour de force. There was consistent form, almost twice as many goals scored as allowed, and the
beautiful sight of several players ascending to new heights. The club captured its fourth championship in five years – and second Domestic Double in that span – to engrave its name in stone as the undisputed dynasty of the 1000s. Despite the Harlighet Ligan becoming increasingly competitive,
Lujendra Mescalin has managed to actually
tighten Real’s grip on the ruling scepter. But, that only means the other 17 clubs will now try even harder to pry it from their grip. With minimal changes to the side, it will require a massive feat of mental toughness for them to fend off both the redoubled efforts of rivals and their own complacency to stay atop the hill. But if any side in the Harlighet Ligan can do it, it’s this one. They’re well accustomed to defending titles – and had several individuals playing truly inspired football last season. Versatile and ever-brilliant attacking threat
Sean Fraser seamlessly transitioned into more of a playmaking role. In doing so, he meshed in new ways with fellow stars
Andrew Arrowsword and
Ronan Bowditch, who benefited with 15 and 21 goals apiece (both career highs). Bowditch took home his first MVP and Golden Boot honors as a result. With his confidence soaring, the Brenecian looked a threat to score every time he got the ball out on the right. But what made the 1008 Azuris squad so special was that the play was equally inspired everywhere on the pitch. Homegrown midfielder
Stig Söderquist became a star with his clean tackles and sharp passes, Pasargan international
Viviano Milani instantly brought a rare aura of pure quality to the interior defense, and
August Ozuna was so good in goal that he cemented himself as Audioslavia’s #1 for the forseeable future.
Sandra Sybill supplied crucial vision to the midfield,
Mortimer Chisenhall (who just signed a long-term extension) was immaculate defending the right wing, etc. Everyone on this team played their part admirably. The performance of these players marked the beginning of a new era for Real Azuris, but also the end of another as Georgia Kite, Diandra Belgrave and Robert Sieuwerd all decided to make way and walk off into the sunset with their trophies. Mescalin, in turn, has freshened up the bench with younger legs like highly-rated Anglatian
Hakki Ojala (the Grier connection paying dividends) and academy standout
Bryger Tidesson – either of whom could be the next big thing. Real Azuris, like many teams in the league, have great players. But they’re also a great
team and have the not-to-be-understated advantage of the best manager. Very difficult to envision them outside the top three. They also have the depth to sustain a UICA run. Who knows what could happen there…
Last Season: Champions (19-9-6).
Prediction: 2nd.
EASTWEALD
Yambridge, Gellano Fief
Nickname: Elves Founded: 704
Ground: Old Weldenskirgen (43,209)
Manager: Monica Brightwater (49)
Transfers In: Penumbra Amokachi (Mâ Âlâmëómë), Eva Velasquez (Myana free), Nigel Ebenazher (Myana free), Astrid Palmqvist (Eastweald II promoted)
Transfers Out: Bogwa (Carnival Samba $10m), Tremain Williams (Gaillard free)
Starting XI (4-4-2): Hernandez (28) -
Pawlukiewicz (29),
Jefferson (28),
Soderlund (28),
Sorenson (27) -
Velasquez (22),
Mordini (24),
de Marisco (30
C),
Klinsmann (33) -
[MRT] Quesadillas (29),
Amokachi (26)
Key Reserves: Brankussen (GK/24), Black (CB/31), Lael (LB/32), Palmqvist (RB/19), Aguero (LM/31), Delklind (MF/31), Kortuufa (ST/26), Ebenazher (ST/32)
Kit Details: Eastweald is famous for their triangle-textured shirt, which they wear
in green at home and in yellow (pictured right) on the road, always with the same color of shorts and inverse color socks. They occasionally wear a shiny all dark-gold throwback kit.
Preview: “Second-place Eastweald” has become a universal meme. As Cosumarite media have constantly reminded Elves fans
all offseason, their club has finished 2nd in four of the last six seasons. And two straight. 1008’s shortcoming didn’t hurt quite as much as 1007’s spectacular final-matchday heartbreak because Real Azuris were so dominant from the beginning, but that golden Harlighet Ligan trophy remains painfully absent from the trophy cabinet. Champions’ Cup football is great and all, but the supporters at Old Weldenskirgen won’t be truly satisfied until that elusive Harlighet Ligan trophy is finally paraded around their historic stadium.
Monica Brightwater and the club leadership, frustrated by six years on the cusp, made it their mission to land a world-class attacking player over the transfer window. Someone who could individually shift the balance of power in the league. The result exceeded all expectations. Brightwater managed to lure countrywoman
Penumbra Amokachi, the superstar Nephara striker, from Mâ Âlâmëómë with the enticing challenge of breaking Eastweald’s title curse and the Harlighet Ligan’s Champions’ Cup curse. Yep, Amokachi is coming to Cosumar. Are you excited? You should be. She’s the biggest foreigner to make the move to our corner of Northeastern AO since maybe Tolgus Tregajorran – except that Amokachi is still smack in the middle of her prime. Fans across Cosumar can’t wait to see what she can bring to the table when paired with former ANL stalwart
Dan Quesadillas, who scored 20 goals last season himself. Eastweald had to sell pocket-sized terror Bogwa, a fan-favorite, to fund it, but judging by the celebrations that spontaneously erupted in Yambridge after Amokachi’s signing was announced, people are more than okay with it. Merely adding one of the best strikers in the Multiverse isn’t
all Eastweald did to strengthen the squad for a long-awaited title. Young Llamanean international
Eva Velasquez will add something that has been glaringly absent in recent years: pace and an extra dash of trickery on the wing.
Nigel Ebenazher, the former Stoneshore striker turned top scorer in Chromatika, quietly returns to the league as a potentially invaluable depth piece. Homegrown
Mina Mordini, who has proven herself a midfielder of real quality alongside
Jo de Marisco, has also been signed to a long-term contract extension despite overtures from Cassandra City. The petite de Marisco, though, is the focal point of Eastweald’s expressive tiki-taka style of play. With quick feet and a mind always two steps ahead, the former MVP is Eastweald’s creative engine. Once she develops an understanding of how Amokachi likes to make her runs, De Marisco has the technical ability to put the ball on the end of them. That should be a devastating combination. With savvy veteran winger
Rook Klinsmann also crashing in for timely goals and right back
Michael Sorenson marauding forward to combine with him, Eastweald can shred defenses in a multitude of ways. They also boast one of the league’s most sturdy center backs in Valladares star
Jefferson - who more than compensates for the slightly more error-prone
Aleksi Soderlund - as well as the Vanquishers’ #2 goalkeeper (
Esteban Hernandez) and last season’s Best XI left back (
Kelkath Pawlukiewicz). Eastweald are deeper, more talented, and more aesthetically attractive on the pitch than ever. The main threat to Real Azuris’ continued hegemony. Hell, they might even be favorites.
Last Season: 2nd (15-11-8).
Prediction: Champions.
OAS ROYAL FC
Ramusok, Ramusok Fief
Nickname: Whites or
Royals Founded: 982
Ground: The Royal Palace (54,000)
Manager: Constantine Champali (49)
Transfers In: Juquinho (Brinemouth $5m), Thomas Di Sansev (AFC Monmouth $1m), Demi Duvernay (OAS Royal II promoted)
Transfers Out: Nicola Pecoraro (Charleston Athletic $3m), Ellie Hanger (Emerald City Harmony loan), Peter Wiggin (San Marco Storm free)
Starting XI (4-4-2): Boakye-Yiadom (27) -
Arntz (31),
Sigurdsson (29),
Fosse (23),
Kontiola (30
C) -
Rocket (28),
Bregoo (25),
Gawain (33),
Schuiling (21) -
Tathtauré (Elf),
Juquinho (31)
Key Reserves: Duvernay (DF/19), Di Sansev (RB/16), Paysinger (RM/36), Mbubu (ST/23), Montag (ST/35)
Kit Details: Sleek all-white unis (shirt pictured right, with white shorts and socks) whenever possible. They also have a grey/white/turquoise secondary kit that pops up occasionally. This
shirt, grey socks, and white shorts with a turquoise strip like on the shoulder.
Preview: OAS Royal went from a single goal away from relegation in 1007 to a few goals away from a Champions’ Cup place in 1008. The largest season-to-season jump in Harlighet Ligan history! A number of factors contributed to the massive rebound.
Constantine Champali arrived, made some subtle but astute tactical adjustments, and restored the belief in the dressing room with his confidence. Just as everyone suspected, he was born to manage at higher levels. Quebec and club legend
Jannick Kontiola stepped up and embraced more leadership duties (including the captaincy) following the 1007 debacle, making Champali’s job easier. His composed two-way play at right back was paramount on the pitch too.
Alex Rocket won Most Improved Player with his resplendent play on the left wing. Alex has always torched defenders with his pace, but last season the end product came on a near-weekly basis as well and he contributed a lot of underappreciated defensive work. The insertion of fresh legs and new ideas into central midfield in the form of
Rowan Gawain is believed to have helped Guayabalense dynamo
Leonidas Bregoo recapture his form after a slumping 1007. Add in the continued excellence of Valanora striker
Galasgoldas Tathtauré (with 35 goals in two seasons in Ramusok, he was the lone bright spot in 1007) and some much better luck and fewer injuries, and it’s no surprise that Royal returned to their customary place near the top of the table. Now that that nightmarish 1007 season is squarely behind them as an aberration, King James’ club can move forward with renewed ambition. The symbol of that ambition is
Juquinho. For only $5 million, the flashy Apoxian with over 150 career goals and a Nepharim Iron Boot was a bit of a steal. He has a lot left in the tank at 31 years old. Juquinho is what Champali was missing most last year – a dynamic striker of similar quality to Tathtauré for his 4-4-2. No slight to
Oskar Montag and
Pascal Mbubu (valuable depth strikers, both) or the now-released former captain Peter Wiggin, but none of them quite offered the
presence that was needed. Opposing defenses constantly keyed in on Tathtauré with no other truly dangerous scoring threat up top. Pairing Tathtauré’s elegant finishing with Juquinho’s world-class movement to play off of should allow the Royal attack to fulfill its full potential. Cosumarite goalkeepers will dread the sight of Juquinho charging towards their goals with Tathtauré in tandem. With the slippery Rocket and
Joost Schuilling pumping balls in from wide areas and Gawain and Bregoo carving through the middle, there should be plenty of chances to go around between Tathtauré and Juquinho. Ramusok bookmakers are already taking bets for which of the two will score more goals! Yep, this team will be fun to watch. If there’s an Achilles heel, it’s the thinness at the back. With
Ellie Hanger going to Super-Llamaland on loan and the beloved
Nicola Pecoraro returning to Osarius to close out his career after nine years at OAS, they might be screwed if the vital
Christopher Fosse or
Eithan Sigurdsson is sidelined for any significant length of time. Big things are expected of million-dollar Mercedini youth star
Thomas Di Sansev and academy product
Demi Duvernay in the future, but they’re not ready to start regularly at this level yet. If Champali can keep a clean bill of health, however, Royal should make the UICA without too much trouble and
could impose themselves on the title conversation.
Last Season: 3rd (15-11-8).
Prediction: 3rd.
FC KALDUKOSIC
Kaldukosic, Kaldukosic Fief
Nickname: Victors Founded: 756
Ground: Leviathan Arena (99,000)
Manager: Corey Simmons Jr. (49)
Transfers In: Arne Ulvstrom (Nomad Brotherhood $1.2m), Mine Flaksenhaar (FC Kaldukosic II promoted)
Transfers Out: Dean Harold McSaunders (retired), Chris Hodges (retired)
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Koron (29) -
Witek (30),
Litchmoor (28),
Lunds (33
C),
Pakkanen (20) -
Richard (28),
Cunningham (31) -
Perkins (30),
Wadimu (29),
Simmons III (23) -
Stabb (26)
Key Reserves: Davi (CB/29), Banner (RB/30), Meratyn (LW/26), Ulvstrom (CF/29)
Kit Details: At home, they wear
a dark green shirt with unique white columns that curve towards the right shoulder, a luxurious yellow collar, white shorts and dark green socks with thin yellow circles at the top. Their secondary kit features a crisp white shirt (pictured right) with dark green shorts.
Preview: People in Kaldukosic just want the season to start already. The offseason was a tiring one. There were the emotional retirement announcements from captain midfield anchor Dean Harold McSaunders and then long-tenured forward Chris Hodges. There were the drawn-out and emotionally draining transfer sagas involving wingers
Bennett Perkins and
Aspen Meratyn, repeatedly linked with the Sunrisian league and AC Holmenkollen respectively. To top it all off, the Simmons family, which has become synonymous with the club, was involved in a car crash while vacationing in Vilita. As soon as the news broke, rumors swirled about injuries or fatalities to FC Kal manager
Corey Simmons Jr. and prized attacker
Corey Simmons III, his son. Perkins and Meratyn both ended up staying, and both the elder and younger Simmons survived the scare relatively unscathed (aside from a broken wrist and rib for the gaffer), but everyone with any investment in the club is just ready to focus on the actual
soccer again. Speaking of the soccer, FC Kaldukosic’s brand of it mainly revolves around getting the ball up to
Kevin Stabb in any way possible. They can do so prettily against sides of lesser or similar quality, but they’re also quite content to engage in rudimentary hoofball if needed. With three straight seasons of 20+ goals, Stabb is a proven force in this league. He commands the box with his work rate, dominant aerial ability and impeccable timing. He’s got a few tricks up his sleeve with the ball on the ground too. You could almost say the Sunrisian World Cup forward has single-handedly powered FC Kaldukosic to UICA status, since their run of consecutive Globe Cups coincides with his breakthrough into the starting line-up. But that wouldn’t be fair to the amazing job Simmons Jr. has done building this squad up over the last five years. With his own son’s showmanship and flair at the top of the pile, FC Kal is more than just Stabb.
Georgina Wadimu has benefited from a stroke-of-genius move from the wing to a playmaking role in the hole, utilizing her natural vision and awareness to function as the quarterback of the Victors’ attack, moving the ball around to Perkins, Simmons III and Stabb. She’s found a new best position and led the team in assists last season. Holding midfielders
Cervante Richard and
Carmelo Cunningham and fullbacks
Valeri Witek and
Ville Pakkanen are all tall, physical and hardworking defense-first players with only basic technical skill. But they allow the front four to focus their energies on going forward.
Jakob Lunds needs no introduction at center back and is the heart and soul of this team with McSaunders gone. He and
Brian Litchmoor are burly brick walls in interior defense. You can’t best them physically, but they sometimes struggle to keep up with pacier attackers. Fortunately, Cenian international
Ael Koron has been a beast for Kaldukosic in goal, sweeping up most of the mess that gets through. This team is not as complete as a Real Azuris or Eastweald, but they should be potent enough to hold their own in the UICA zone. Just don’t let Simmons drive himself anywhere anymore.
Last Season: 4th (14-10-10).
Prediction: 6th.
AC HOLMENKOLLEN
Holmenkollen, Ramusok Fief
Nickname: Cedars Founded: 971
Ground: Cedar Road (21,000)
Manager: Alf Durand (67)
Transfers In: Gunnar Brickwalk (North Laithland $2m), Lois Weaver (Petersburg free), Thelonious Grandstaber (Holmenkollen U18s, promoted)
Transfers Out: Taddeo Loredan (Creed United $6m), Mezei Orbán (retired)
Starting XI (4-4-2): Kearney (28) -
Luna (31),
Na'Nockeby (27),
Rathskeller (22),
McCallum (23) -
Acock (25),
Brickwalk (32),
Nwapa (28),
Valerikssen (31
C) -
Riprov (20),
Bordeau-Desjardins (28)
Key Reserves: Grandstaber (LB/17), Mattox (CM/30), Weaver (CAM/32), Nyle (ST/19), Akerman (CF/34)
Kit Details: Whenever possible, they wear their beloved pale blue shirt with a red zag (pictured), with solid white shorts and red socks. In the event of color clash, they wear a
white shirt blue shorts and red socks.
Preview: Holmenkollen gonna Holmenkollen. The Cedars were down in 12th with eight matches to play, but saved a blazing run of form for the very end of last season. It put them in position to then, with a win on the final day, sneak into the final UICA spot ahead of clubs with ten times the budget (like local rivals Ramusok United). How DO they keep doing this? Through all the coaching changes and young talents sold off, this humble club from suburban Ramusok continues to overachieve and frustrate the big boys with their inexplicable hot streaks. For the second year in a row and third time in club history, Globe Cup fixtures are on the docket again. They didn't make much UICA noise last season, with Semar manager
Martin Adnansen opting to focus their limited depth on the league. But Adnansen has departed to take the Molsbik Arkjet job back in his home country and Holmenkollen have tabbed...
Alf Durand as their new boss. He was most recently the Assistant Manager of the Valanora national team and has championship and UICA experience with Ramusok United. Durand, a proud and ambitious manager, has hinted at a new approach that could see the Cedars prioritize the Globe Cup and rotate their squad a little more, as well as implement a system that emphasizes more high pressing with their athletic and relatively young front six. It will be interesting to see if Durand can make this work and advance in the Globe Cup while somehow consolidating Holmenkollen's newfound place in the top five going forward. He has his work cut out for him.
Taddeo Loredan has finally moved on from his boyhood club, off to prove himself in Nephara. In Loredan, Holmenkollen lose arguably the best Cosumarite defender in the Harlighet Ligan and a revered leader who has been captain since he was just 23 years old. Replacement
Sigrun Rathskeller looks the part and impressed in limited opportunities last season, but it's scary to see unknown commodities penciled in as bona-fide starters. Similarly, the retirement of Pasarga midfielder
Mezei Orbán leaves a void of technical ability and chance-creation out on the left that unknown
Alana Acock seems unlikely to adequately fill. But Holmenkollen have a proven history of playing young, inexperienced kids and molding them into quality Harlighet Ligan players. Key starters like goalkeeper
Lilly Kearney, fullback
Juniper McCallum and Cosumar U21 striker
Lili Riprov are all prior examples of that. Not to mention Loredan himself. Rathskeller and Acock might be the latest feathers in the cap of Holmenkollen's coaches. As long as they play with the chip-on-shoulder energy and never-give-up attitude expected at Cedar Road, the supporters will embrace them win or lose. Besides, it's not as if Durand's squad is
devoid of proven quality. A share of the Loredan money was used to bring in
Gunnar Brickwalk from North Laithland. The strong, barrel-chested Semar's job will simply be to shadow partner
Funanya Nwapa and do all the nitty-gritty midfield work so that the Osarian playmaker can focus on her visionary passing without tiring out. Both have experienced counterparts for their roles on the bench in Nova Anglicana international
Brock Mattox and new arrival
Lois Weaver. On paper, Holmenkollen should be taking a step back this year, and their predicted finish reflects that (albeit harshly). But this side always seems to defy intuition. With Alf Durand guiding the way and more depth than they've ever had at Cedar Road, Holmenkollen might just surprise some people. Again.
Last Season: 5th (13-9-12).
Prediction: 13th.
SAMAJ FC
Samaj, Culmarland Fief
Nickname: Hunters Founded: 906
Ground: Stadion Jägare (32,000)
Manager: Luis Varezzi (59)
Transfers In: Kerwin Maston (Na’Malsille Mariners $1.05m), Skal Phillips (Janford City Youth free), Vega Zeale-Riddick (Samaj U18s, promoted)
Transfers Out: Serdjan Aleksovic (Jaalbeck Nafit $1.95m), Isadora Xenophon (retired)
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Maston (22) -
Cartensen (28),
Ârbo (30),
Kristiansen (29),
Marmor-Lavie (24) -
del Fuego (33),
Valfar (29
C) -
Del Arro (23),
Columbine (25),
Sigurjónsdóttir (21) -
Rowe (31)
Key Reserves: Dalmshelf (RB/31), Phillips (DM/21), Giraun (RW/31), Zeale-Riddick (ST/18)
Kit Details: Their home kit (pictured right) features their iconic diagonal-split shirt and
burnt-orange shorts. Their away kit this year is solid of the shade of dark yellow found on the collar to the right, with burnt-orange lettering.
Preview: Luis Varezzi has built a side out on the western plains that’s young and actually…legitimately good. As the likes of
Lucien Marmor-Lavie,
Rachel Del Arro,
Darrius Columbine and
Fjóla Sigurjónsdóttir have grown up together and evolved from obscure teenage prospects into sparkling talents and internationals, Samaj have gone from Sekundar Ligan to 14th to 8th to 6th. Where will this progression take the Hunters next? If 6th wasn’t their ceiling, the only place left to go is into the UICA zone for the first time in club history. Could it happen? Well, it’d be a mild surprise, but it’s possible. That attacking midfield trident of Del Arro-Columbine-Sigurjónsdóttir is the definite strength of the team. They’re bristling with energy and fresh ideas, and their chemistry and mutual unselfishness is an absolute joy to watch. There’s a decent spine to support them.
Valfar is one of the most terrifying midfield enforcers ever to destroy ankles in the Harlighet Ligan.
Mikke Kristiansen and
Bion Ârbo are experienced albeit unextrordinary starters at this level. Eshani international
Hugo Cartensen, however, was an unsung hero last season and many feel he should’ve been selected to the Best XI at left back. He’s a bit more conservative than his counterpart on the right, Marmor-Lavie. She might just be the paciest fullback in Cosumar. She
flies. So does new 22-year-old goalkeeper
Kerwin Maston – in a different way. He has something like a 50-inch vertical leap (!). He’s replacing a popular figure in Serdjan Aleksovic, who was drawn to an intriguing opportunity to make a big difference in Gadirya. But Maston more than proved his ability last year for relegated Na’Malsille behind a non-existent back line. Spearheading the traditional 4-2-3-1 is
Ross Rowe, an above-average Harlighet Ligan striker who doesn’t do anything spectacular but finishes the chances you would expect him to – 16 of them last season, to be precise. However, the whispers going around Samaj (ok, more like feverish chatter) indicate that it’s only a matter of time before he is supplanted by 18-year-old
Vega Zeale-Riddick. The tall, lean homegrown striker was mentored by club icon Isadora Xenophon before she retired a couple months ago and is being touted as Samaj’s best young striker since Sur Arora himself. Don’t expect Zeale-Riddick to win the Golden Boot or anything this season, but look for her to start to dip her toe in the Harlighet Ligan waters. Regardless, Samaj should be fine this season. They’re a firmly top-half side now. They might concede a few too many goals to crack the top five, but they can get up and play with anybody.
Last Season: 6th (12-10-12).
Prediction: 8th.
WEST GUNDAR FC
Ruminov, Gundar Fief
Nickname: Rugged Men Founded: 924
Ground: New Harmonia Stadium (36,000)
Manager: Wyverly Ludlow (33)
Transfers In: Charlie Alotic (AFC Langtree $6m), Florent Marcssen (FC Nuholm player trade), Agafon Tohopka (FC Minebnya Siqornat free), Santiago Curiales (Gundar Fief University)
Transfers Out: Demba Cisse (FC Nuholm $6m + player), Sergio Vilar (retired), Jon Swaim (retired)
Starting XI (4-4-2 Dmnd): Kooistra (30) -
Pertwee (31
C),
Söder (30),
Haddad (27),
Simonsen (30) -
Altimimy (30),
de Wit (32),
Hallen (31),
Marcssen (26) -
Valgard (21),
Lubiflor (28)
Key Reserves: Tohopka (LB/21), Curiales (CB/21), Robitaille (RM/18), Millhouse (CAM/23), Alotic (ST/23)
Kit Details: Their home whites are pictured right. Their olive-green
away kit features black accents and state-of-the-art geometric texturing from Meski.
Preview: Last season, the Rugged Men & Women had the sixth-best attack, the seventh-best defense, and finished seventh overall. Sounds about right. They are a good side, but not a great one. Local hero
Mursill Lubiflor is the one to keep your eye on - she's a fireball of energy and a masterful poacher up top. Young counterpart
Romikk Valgard is a superb athlete whose finer skills seem to improve each week. The midfield and defense are full of experienced, capable workers well-drilled by
Wyverly Ludlow to operate efficiently as units, but few of them stand out individually. Upper-midtable is likely this team's ceiling for now, but the fact that WGFC has stabilized in that vicinity is something everyone in western Gundar should be proud of considering they were considered one of the stereotypical "yo-yo clubs" as recently as four or five years ago. In keeping with the area's agricultural heritage, WGFC has long bet on battlers over technicians. That's still mostly the case with exceedingly physical specimens like
Sebastian de Wit and
Gustaf Söder setting the tone, but the first exception came three years ago with the massive signing of Semarland #10
Demba Cisse. To use him properly, Cisse forced the Rugged Men to approach something closer to "attractive" soccer, and this grudging evolution helped the club ascend to the atmospheric (for them) heights of 6th and 7ths. Now, the iconic Semar and his immaculate through-balls are moving on, but even in his departure Cisse is helping WGFC. Hometown club FC Nuholm were willing to pay a hefty price for him: $6 million in
addition to a younger playmaker of similar quality in
Florent Marcssen. With the complimentary Marcssen expected to fill the Cisse hole nicely, they redirected that $6m towards splurging on a young talent for the future: highly-rated striker
Charlie Alotic. The Mercedini international should immediately provide competition for minutes for Lubiflor and Valgard and allow Ludlow to rotate a little more than last season, when Valgard in particular looked worn down late on. You can really see the future of WGFC starting to crystallize now. Aging players Cisse, Sergio Vilar (now on the coaching staff) and Jon Swaim have all been cleared out and replaced by the likes of Alotic, local collegiate standout
Santiago Curiales and some other intriguing young talents on the bench. Despite appearing a little too dependent on their 30+ year-olds at first glance, the sun is shining bright on the future in West Gundar. Don't bet the farm on 7th again, but they look like they're in the Harlighet Ligan for the long haul.
Last Season: 7th (12-10-11).
Prediction: 10th.
RAMUSOK UNITED
Ramusok, Ramusok Fief
Nickname: Blues Founded: 751
Ground: Fire River Arena (80,000)
Manager: Gareth Bournemouth (63)
Transfers In: Garnet Langerak (Anomalies free)
Transfers Out: None
Starting XI (4-4-2 Dmnd): Shaw (30) -
Kang (29),
Langerak (29),
Flanningan (31),
Cooper (20) -
Jonassen (28),
Mulcair (33),
Silvén (26),
Geirsson (31
C) -
Théberge (30),
Culbreth (24)
Key Reserves: Hattingh (DF/21), Alcocer (CB/32), Gjallskald (DF/35), Wells (CM/21), Barnsley (LM/34), Xodó (ST/28), Bérdoon (ST/21)
Kit Details: At home, they wear a blue shirt (pictured right) with solid white shorts and blue socks. On the road, they wear
this silver shirt, with solid blue shorts and striped silver/blue socks.
Preview: If
Gareth Bournemouth's seat was uncomfortably warm last season…it’s scorching hot now. It hurts to say this, but United is at risk of losing its perception as a title or even UICA contender. One can't help but feel the brand has lost a bit of its luster lately. The talent, wages, infrastructure, attractive market and high-profile manager are all there, but the results just... aren't. Not at the moment. Their last great season, 2nd place four years ago, feels like forever ago. They've finished behind AC-fucking-Holmenkollen both of the last two seasons.
Ramusok United. Supporters will tell you that should
never happen. Bournemouth will get one more chance because of the success early in his tenure and how much United have invested in him, but make no mistake - it's now do or die for the universally-respected Nepharim. After last season, it was clear what he needed to improve. The attacking players he brought in like
Lyyli Silvén and
Antonio Mulcair finally all clicked and produced more goals than any other team in the league. They were lethal going forward. But, of course, as soon as he got
that all patched up and shiny, a leak sprung up in the back. The Blues suddenly started leaking an alarming number of goals last season. Only two Harlighet Ligan teams conceded more. Even with superstar internationals
Robin Geirsson and
Curtis Théberge returning to form after mediocre 1007s, United's lethality going forward could not cancel out the defensive woes enough to qualify for the UICA. So what has Bournemouth done to rectify things? Ramusok United's transfer window was headlined by
Garnet Langerak. The former AFC Treason defender is exactly the type Bournemouth likes. Besides being Nepharim, she's experienced, composed and level-headed, and will likely relegate
Robbie Alcocer to the bench after a poor season exacerbated by temperament issues. In addition to the new Flanningan-Langerak center back partnership, Bournemouth signed prized young right back
Tug Cooper to a new contract, banking on the 20-year-old to continue developing, and issued a verbal warning to
Seon Jin Kang, the beloved longtime left back who underperformed last season.
Atticus Hattingh is chomping at the bit for starters' minutes behind him. Will these moves be enough to whip into shape a back line that shipped two goals per game? Will United then be able to maintain their impressive scoring rate from last season? Could this be
Elena Culbreth's final season at United after putting herself in the shop window with 15 goals last season? What color will deep-lying playmaker
Kira Jonassen dye her hair this season? These are the questions that hang over eastern Ramusok as 1009 dawns.
Last Season: 8th (12-10-12).
Prediction: 4th.
CASSANDRA CITY
Cassandra, Cresscalus Fief
Nickname: Reds Founded: 882
Ground: The Amphitheatre (60,000)
Manager: Arturo Mancini (53)
Transfers In: Aakif Guerin (Pontifucia Academy free), Charles Dyer Vry (Cassandra City II promotion)
Transfers Out: Kurtis Samarqand (Zakhoro Aces loan)
Starting XI (4-3-3): Metz (27) -
Grimswald (28),
Wing (28),
Campbell (33),
Boag (27) -
Serafino (22),
Cole (25),
Bardsen (28) -
Zelaya (25),
Tortuu (30
C),
Goulding (26)
Key Reserves: Iziduko (GK/25), Seppänen (LB/35), Misty (CB/24), Guerin (LM/18), Na'Tule (MF/31), Dyer Vry (ST/18), Brandybok (ST/30)
Kit Details: At home, Cassandra wear their customary all-red (right). Away, they wear a half-and-half red & white
shirt with black shorts and, distinctively, one red and one white sock (inverted from shirt).
Preview: Similar situation as their rivals Ramusok United above. Big club, championship aspirations, coming off a disappointing campaign. Only the mood isn't quite as dire up north because City won the Harlighet Ligan the year before last, after all. Their title defense never really got off the ground last season, as they settled in the heart of midtable for pretty much the entire season. The Reds can't use their electric run from the Champions' Cup to the Globe Cup Quarterfinals as an excuse for their uninspiring domestic play either, because Eastweald still challenged for the league title despite advancing just as far. The defending wasn't as good as it was in 1007, but it was never catastrophically bad like Ramusok United experienced at times, and the spectacular saves of
Calogero Metz helped cover up a lot of the blemishes. The three-pronged strike force underwhelmed a little bit, with
Marcos Zelaya and
Jol Tortuu battling injuries and shaky form in front of goal. The signing of
Jason Goulding was a big success, however. He had a stellar season with 17 goals and pulled some of Tortuu and Zelaya's weight. So, in the end, there is no easy scapegoat to blame for Cassandra City's mediocre season. It was more a case of
everybody taking small steps back. Even the pass completion % of infamously consistent midfield general
Kwame Cole dipped a bit. When you add up all those small steps back, it results in one big collective slide down the table. Such is life in a competition of the Harlighet Ligan's parity. The line between "success" and "failure" can be extremely thin. A point or two here and there can be the difference between UICA status and bottom half. As such, it might've been wise on the part of
Arturo Mancini that he didn't overreact to last season's finish and rock the boat with a bunch of offseason moves. He'll return the same starting eleven, confident that he can win with them again. Cassandra City play a high-energy 4-3-3 that saw them tie for the Harlighet Ligan lead in shots (despite only scoring the seventh-most goals). It relies upon the tireless work rate of the likes of
Bellerophon Serafino in midfield to shield the back line, win possession and shuttle it forward to the front three. There, the exciting Zelaya provides width while the broad-shouldered
Jol Tortuu offers hold-up play in the middle. Goulding starts from the right but basically drifts wherever he feels like based on the activity of Tortuu and countryman Zelaya, with whom he has already struck up a strong connection on and off the pitch. Locals are also high on newly-signed Eastfield Lodge prospect
Aakif Guerin, who could allow Mancini to start resting the overworked Serafino a bit, and teenage striker
Charles Dyer Vry fresh from the academy. This could be a bounce-back year for the Reds. How much so? Anyone's guess. In Mancini Cassandra trusts.
Last Season: 9th (13-7-14).
Prediction: 7th.
See the next post (coming soon) for the second half of the Harlighet Ligan team previews! It will include overviews for the lower four tiers as well.