It is about time to start discussion for the 2012 - 2013 season. My perdiction based on my gut, with not a whole lot of thought. 1. FC Basel - yes they lost a lot, but they were so much better than the rest of the league last season. 2. YB - The team underachieved last season. I think they do better this one. 3. FC Luzern - The added matches from the Europa League (unless they crash out like they did a few years ago) might add some strain to the squad. 4. FC Sion - most of the team is back, they should do well. 5. Servette - I would love to see some more additions to the club, if not, they could be lower, and squad size plus Europa Cup could be a problem. 6. FC Zurich - they will be better this season. 7. FC Thun - Takes a step back this season. 8. GCZ - Escapes relegation again, I think Adil breaks out this year. 9. FCSG - They could be the suprise of the season. 10. LS - Why? Departure of key players and manager do not spell success.
Raiffeisen is now the title sponsor, so no longer the ASL, but the RSL. That is the same initials as the soccer team in Salt Lake City in the MLS. The schedule is out, http://www.football.ch/sfl/cm/Spielplan_RaiffeisenSuperLeague.pdf
My quick prediction 1. FC Basel - still the clear nr. 1. They lose quite a few points in the first half of the season due to concentration on the Champions League. They also will have a few players missing due to the Olympics and will have to integrate new players. 2. YB - They have underacheived serveral seasons now. The squad is almost as good as Basel's. Maybe it's a big too big. Too many unhappy players sitting on the bench or in the stadium. They need a coach which is giving them confidence. 3. FC Sion - without the lack of stability and continuity, i.e. with a calmer version on CC they could compete with Basel 4. FC Lucerne - they always start well in the season while the others lose points due to european matches. Good coach and quite stable environment. So, they could take the lead again in the first half of the season. 5. Servette - but far behind Lucerne... if they can't improve the squad they rather might fight against relegation next season, but I'm optimistic 6. FC Zurich - they lost too many players. Last season they looked as the main contenders but had a miserable season. Canepa is fed up and doesn't want to invest much this season 7. FC Thun - expect a good start in the season and then struggling towards the end of the season 8. FCSG - fans are not happy with the coach, but they get quite good results 9. GCZ - Cabanas, Smiljanic and Calla gone, but they didn't play much anyway. Now, the others can't hide behind them any more. Maybe that helps GC to move up. But I'm sceptic. 10. LS - the second half of the last season was surprisingly well. But I don't believe they can keep it up.
Some pre-season freandlies FT Zurich 3 - 2 Biel-Bienne FT SC Bruhl 1 - 7 St. Gallen FT Grasshoppers 1 - 3 Wil I know that nothing should be made from these results, but Wil defeating GCZ is a little surprise.
it's funny that Servette has to play 7 out of the first 9 matches at 1:45pm Basel has 0 matches at 1:45pm
I wonder if that was by choice, or were they assigned. I also noticed that Servette tended to play more sunday matches at home than saturdays last year. Of the 9 rounds, 3 are home and only one is a Saturday.
it was probably chosen/demanded so by Teleclub/Swisscom for the tv programming. having said that for them Servette seems to be the least attractive SL club.
Zurich [4 - 0] Aarau 17' [1 - 0] Gavranovic 38' [2 - 0] A.M. Chermiti 60' [3 - 0] Gavranovic 87' [4 - 0] J. Drmic
Upcoming friendlies: June 22 18:30 Kriens ? - ? Lucerne June 23 14:00 Basel ? - ? Steaua Bucuresti 16:00 St. Gallen ? - ? FC Wacker Tirol 18:00 Lausanne Sports ? - ? Sion June 24 15:00 Zurich ? - ? Wohlen
FT Kriens [0 - 6] Lucerne 12' [0 - 1] D. Lezcano 17' [0 - 2] D. Lezcano 35' [0 - 3] D. Gygax 64' [0 - 4] J. Pacar 67' [0 - 5] J. Hyka 74' [0 - 6] N. Siegrist
FT Basel [2 - 4] Steaua Bucuresti 14' [0 - 1] R.A. Rusescu 16' [0 - 2] Rocha 23' [1 - 2] Salah 49' [1 - 3] M. Costea 63' [1 - 4] S. Nikolic 83' [2 - 4] A. Frei (pen.) So begin life without Xhaka and Shaqiri. FT St. Gallen [3 - 1] FC Wacker Tirol 45' [0 - 1] Fernandes 53' [1 - 1] E. Scarione 58' [2 - 1] N. Abegglen 82' [3 - 1]
90% of women are not attracted to men who wear pink shirts. Ironically, 90% of men who wear pink shirts are not attracted to women! LL
FT Lausanne Sports [2 - 0] Sion4' [1 - 0] 34' [2 - 0] Sort of a surprise. Now if all of the Italian players join Sion, they could really challenge Basel.
there is a rumour about a 4th italian player at Sion after Gattuso who already joined, the rumours about Inzaghi and Del Piero: A. Nesta
Zurich 0 - 0 Wohlen Bit of a surprise here. Here are some that are upcoming: June 26 16:00 Lugano ? - ? Zurich 17:30 St. Gallen ? - ? Wil 18:30 Unterhaching ? - ? Basel June 28 15:00 Rapperswil ? - ? Zurich 15:30 1. FC Cologne ? - ? Bruhl
FT Lugano [0 - 4] Zurich 10' [0 - 1] Gavranovic 25' [0 - 2] A.M. Chermiti 75' [0 - 3] P. Henrique 80' [0 - 4] R. Koch St. Gallen [0 - 1] Wil 63' [0 - 1] Unterhaching [0 - 2] Basel 43' [0 - 1] 57' [0 - 2]
Servette destroyed by Donestk 0-4 but wins against Yverdon 5-0 with goals by Pizzinat, Karanovic, Grippo, Lang and Tréand. Eudis is training in Georgia with Dinamo Tiblissi. Young Boys Bern [3 - 0] Wil 60' [1 - 0] J. Ojala 63' [2 - 0] E. Mayuka 73' [3 - 0] M. Frey Zurich [4 - 0] Bellinzona 7' [1 - 0] Gavranovich 37' [2 - 0] B. Djimsiti 64' [3 - 0] Gavranovich (pen.) 66' [4 - 0] Gavranovich
Grasshoppers [6 - 2] Wohlen 17' [0 - 1] T. Weller 20' [1 - 1] S. Zuber 25' [1 - 2] N. Bijelic 47' [2 - 2] S. Zuber 53' [3 - 2] J. Paiva 62' [4 - 2] M. Lang 78' [5 - 2] J. Paiva 83' [6 - 2] M. Lang Auxerre [1 - 0] Lausanne Sports 46' [1 - 0] Haller