TFT Issue 164!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Viktoria Plzen vs Mlada Boleslav – Viktoria Plzen to win at evens.
Today’s featured game is the Czech Super Cup match between Viktoria Plzen and Mlada Boleslav. Interestingly enough, the final is being played in Plzen so Gambrinus Liga holders Viktoria Plzen are actually at home for this game.
So. An unexpected name at the top of the Czech footballing hierachy last season; you’d expect a lot of transfers pre-season, right? I would. However, it proved not to be the case with only a few players departing Viktoria Plzen. Star striker Jan Rezek moved on to Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus, rather curiously. Fairly new defender Ales Neuwirth moved to Mlada Boleslav on loan and that’s it, really. Rezek will be missed this season; of course he will. However, Viktoria Plzen’s strength always came from midfield rather than up front anyway so I still rate them highly here. The loan deal regarding Neuwirth is puzzling as it looks like Plzen are short in defence, at least from a depth perspective. However, that’s something we’ll see more of over time. For now, Viktoria Plzen look pretty damn impressive based on their dominant displays against Pyunik Yerevan of Armenia in the UEFA Champions League and subsequently face Norwegian giants Rosenborg BK next week in the next round. Will they rest players today? Possibly; they have the scope to do so with plenty of attacking talent in Kolar, Horvath, Petrzela, Jiracek, Duris, Bakos, and especially Fillo, who I expect to see more of this season following his mid-season transfer last season. Plzen are a very able and attack-minded side so they must be taken seriously today and this season in general.
Mlada Boleslav did half their job pre-season; they kept hold of one out of two important players. The one they kept was talented Czech Republic U21 striker Chramosta. However, the big loss they suffered was pacey attacker Mendy and he contributed a great deal to Mlada Boleslav with assists and even scoring goals. Mind you, I say “big loss” but nobody actually knows where he is, bizarrely enough. The last time anyone saw him was when he played for Leeds United on trial on the 19th July, apparently, so it’s fair to assume he won’t be playing here. This limits Mlada Boleslav’s attack considerably and they’ll need more than their convincing head-to-head record versus Viktoria Plzen for me to take them seriously here. Mlada Boleslav only look fairly competent away from home in the Czech Republic because their defence keeps it together and it will most likely be the same again next season. Indeed, with Neuwirth joining them on loan, their defence should be better than last year. However, I doubt we’ll see that today because Mlada Boleslav actually have some big defensive problems here. Part of the agreement on Neuwirth’s loan was that he wouldn’t play against his parent club so he’s ineligible for this game. Additionally, big Petr Johana and defensive regular Fabian are both injured here which leaves Mlada Boleslav very short at the back and against a dominant attacking side like Plzen, I fear for them here.
Much has been made of Plzen’s game with Rosenborg next week and the possibility of them resting players here but let’s not forget that Mlada Boleslav also play next week against AEK Larnaca in the UEFA Europa League so it’s swings and roundabouts here. Additionally, a lot has been made of Plzen’s struggle to beat Mlada Boleslav in recent times but no record lasts forever. Plzen are a better side than Mlada, for my money, and are a very dangerous attacking team. With Mlada missing so many defensive players and Plzen playing at home with a strong attacking side, the home win at evens really takes my fancy today.
Team news – Mlada Boleslav miss Johana, Fabian, and Neuwirth.
Verdict: Viktoria Plzen to win at evens.