Danny, Halil Altintop and Ruslan Rotan? Where did they get the money to sign them? Danny surely is on a decent amount. Skoda will likely score 20+ goals easily with them behind him.
China, specifically an oil and gas conglomerate called CEFC, they went on a spending spree of Czech assets like 18 months ago and that included a controlling stake of Slavia Prague. They also made some decent money selling Pavlenka, Barak and Luftner this season, but mostly the new ownership has money. I think overall it's good for the league to see the arms race between the top club bring in more foreign players instead of just hoarding the top domestic players, adds to the depth and gives young players more competition to take on.
It's definitely a good start. I'd like to see us signing players who aren't 35+ years old though. Danny I believe is 32 which is okay. Make our domestic league better will only help our national team.
Yeah, while the Slavia signings have got the most attention because they announced three big names at once, I think the best and most ambitious foreign player in purchase was from Sparta: http://www.sparta.cz/en/news/sparta-sign-tal-ben-haim-575.shtml.
Haim is a major uncertainty. He hasn't played outside of Israel, but I think it is a good gamble. I am in prague in september so I might try to catch a Sparta match.
Decent first leg results to start Champion's League qualification for Slavia and Plzen. Slavia 1 - BATE 0 - won at home, but disappointing they couldn't build a bigger lead as they controlled the match. FCSB 2 - Plzen 2 - Good result to get 2 away goals It would be great to have at least one team in Champions League group stage and another 3+ in Europa league.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40750293 Would probably be a cool novelty if not for the fact that particular club has 2 players with a history of drink driving. Europa League results from Thursday: Mlada Boleslav 2 - Skenderbeu Korce 1: not great, but would still predict they will make it through to the playoff round Red Star Belgrade 2 - Sparta Prague 0: a bit unlucky to be down 2, but in general Sparta really needs some players to get fully match fit or else they are done.
Slavia are through to the playoff despite losing the 2nd leg 2-1, they went through on the away goal. Plzen are down 1 currently in the first half, still plenty of time and they have 2 away goals to work with.
Plzen completely fell apart after briefly taking the aggregate advantage. Look certain to settle for the Europa League playoff. Likely would have had a tough draw for the league route anyway, but if they advanced it would have guaranteed 3 teams made it to at least the group stage of Europa League.
Do we have any czech clubs in the champs league? I'm in Prague for a few days next month. I'll probably go watch a Sparta or Slavia match.
Slavia is still alive, they are unseeded for the playoff but in the champion's route that is less an issue. Draw is on Friday, would say that they have a solid chance against all possible opponents, though they don't have any walkover options. Provided we don't completely tank in Europe as a league this year I believe that next year our champion should qualify direct to group stage.
Sparta have looked dreadful through the start of the season, they have the pieces to turn it around in the league but they look way less than the sum of their parts. Mlada Boleslav on the other hand have looked quite solid, and are in good position to make the playoff for Europa League. It would be very odd if we wound up with 3 teams in European competitions with Sparta and Plzen absent (though Plzen still have a chance at Europa League).
At the time they were ahead 3-1 and controlling the match, disastrous 2nd half and ultimately lost on penalties. Rought week for Czech sides to be honest. Slavia plays APOEL in the Champions League playoff. Not a bad draw for them honestly. Plzen have AEK Larnaca to complete the Czech-Cypriot showdown, that should be quite winnable though nothing is guaranteed. Zlin are already in the Europa League Group Stage
http://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/0...-smallest-club-that-once-aimed-for-greatness/ 8/14/2017 Chmel Blšany: Europe’s smallest club that once aimed for greatness
While it's still way too early to crown a season winner, Plzen have shattered any prior record for start to a season having won their first 12 matches. They are already 11 points clear of 2nd place Slavia, whom they play this weekend.
And Plzen have now won there first 13 matches, and 13 points clear of the new 2nd place team Sigma Olomouc. Remarkable start to the season for them, but also a complete disappointment for the big Prague teams who are currently 3rd and 5th so far. Still more than half the season to play of course.
Plzen still perfect, and at this point it's very hard to see them being caught. There are rumors of a potential mid-season transfer for Michal Krmencik, which would take away their top goal scorer. Sounds like the English Championship is his most likely destination, which is probably a good level for him.
Yea my favorite club Aston Villa are apparently in for him. We play a style that needs a big target forward, and we have a good chance at least getting top 6. Krmencik would at least suit Villa's playing style, and with our two strikers out for a long period, Krmencik would get a chance.
Krmencik just signed a new deal with Plzen. Very disappointing if you ask me. He apparently had interest in a better league by two teams that have a decent chance at getting promoted to the premier league. He could have challenged himself, but he will continue in Czech. I guess he is happy being behind Schick in the pecking order.
I doubt the new deal would deter serious interest in Krmencik, but it probably will raise the price tag (which had been significantly lower than what Plzen would get from Champions League if they finish out the season). He also may be seeing it if he can continue form through the year have better offers in the summer. As it is I think he may be on pace for the league goal record or near it. Apparently, Swansea are interested in Slavia's right-back Jan Boril. A bit surprising, I've always found him rather average (but then again Swansea aren't exactly in top form, to put it diplomatically).
Swansea are going down, but still a move to a championship club wouldn't be bad for him. Krmencik would be smart to take an offer from a club if it comes. A lot of times players will try to wait for a potential better offer even though they have a good offer in front of them.
Plzen advanced to the final 16 of Europa League with a 3-1 agg win over Partizan Belgrade. They are also still unbeaten domestically and 14 points clear of 2nd place in the league.
Plzen will play Sporting Lisbon in the 16, not the worst draw of the options, but definitely underdogs to advance.