The Reale Arena Echo

[Freddie]

Sociedad continue winter transfer spree



Ahead of FFO 2 season two, Freddie Kaye's Real Sociedad have continued to make moves in the transfer window. In the last few days multiple players have signed on at the Reale Arena with several also leaving to new pastures.

Joining the club we have Guglielmo Vicario, Dominick Drexler, Harry Maguire, Karim Benzema and FFO auction buy Nathan Tella. All the signings arrive with a certain pedigree but much focus will be on Benzema and Tella.

Karim Benzema is a legend of the game and has scored goals for fun wherever he has played. His work rate and teamwork is second to none as well and despite closing in on retirement he looks set to lead the Sociedad line for the coming season.

"I'm delighted to have signed Karim. He really is a brilliant player" said new boss Freddie Kaye. "Some may question bringing in a player in the twilight of his career but you can't dispute his quality. He's world class and I'm confident he will provide the goal scoring threat upfront that we need to establish ourselves in the league this season. Last year we lacked experience and guile in the team as we had quite a young side, with Karim's experience it should be a big help".

Welcome to Spain Nathan

Nathan Tella was the club's FFO auction purchase. Kaye is not known for making a move in the FFO auction, instead preferring to make definite purchases so it was surprise to see the Scot make an auction bid. The club were rewarded however with the signing of Tella. The exciting English attacking midfielder will slot straight into the first team and many will be hoping he can provide the creativity that was missing from the centre of the park last season. The twenty four year is very versatile and can also operate upfront depending on what is required.

"Nathan is a classy player but also a hard worker who I'm very excited to have signed. He was chased by a few clubs but we identified him pretty early on as the player we were going to target and we made sure we made a solid bid. He can take a player on, play a defence cutting pass and also lead the line. He's a great transfer for us"

Finally the signings of Vicario, Drexler and Maguire also look to be astute deals made by the club. Vicario joins us from Burnley, Drexler from Schalke 04 and Maguire from Blackburn Rovers. Vicario and Maguire will be seen as first team starters immediately while the experienced Drexler may need to bide his time on the bench and take the opportunity when it arises.

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[Freddie]

Benzema ready to prove his class


This afternoons press conference.

A major signing for Real Sociedad in the winter transfer window, Karim Benzema spoke to the Reale Arena Echo this afternoon about his determination to help his new side and his hopes for the new EFL 1 season.

"Thanks for sitting down with us Karim and welcome to San Sebastian! How does it feel to be here?"

"It feels great to finally be here and I can't wait to get started with the team and get to know everyone. As soon as I heard Sociedad were interested in signing me I was keen to make the move. They're an exciting team that like to play attacking football and I want to be a part of their development."

"You've obviously got a lot of experience of playing at the top. What do you think you can bring to the side?"

"First of all I hope I can pass on what I've learnt during my career to the younger players in the squad and that my experience will be of benefit to them. Secondly, I've always been a hard worker and someone who puts my all into a game which is great because that's what Freddie (Kaye) wants from me. I've also shown during my career that I score goals and that's what I want to do here, score goals, help the team and work hard."

"What do you think of your new team mates?"

"They seem like a great bunch of guys. I obviously know Ibou (Konate) from international duty and he's helped to welcome me in but to be honest everyone has been brilliant. It's a hardworking squad that want to do their best for each other and the fans. I'm excited to see what we can do together."

"Finally, your prediction for the club for the new campaign?"

"The manager and the coaching staff have put across their vision for the new season and they want us to enjoy playing our football. We will want to attack every team we play and not give them time to think. We're the underdogs but we believe that title suits us. We're here to cause surprises and I think we can do well and catch a few teams out."

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[Freddie]

New Season, New Tactics



Ahead of the new EFL 1 season, we took the chance to look ahead to the new season and examine Real Sociedad's new line-up and the tactics which will likely be employed.

With several new faces in the squad it looks likely that Kaye will move away from the midfield diamond formation he utilised for the most part of last season. With five first team defenders now in the squad it is expected he will start to utilise a five three two formation. The Scot used this setup for the last few games of the previous campaign and found success with it that saw three victories and a draw collected in the last five games.

In-between the sticks look no further than new signing Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian joined us from Burnley in the window and brings

The three central defenders will be Harry Maguire, Ibou Konate and Cameron Carter-Vickers. While Josip Juranovic and Luke Ayling are expected to be given the task of running the flanks, providing attacking thrust and defensive solidity. The duo will be looking to get forward while on the attack to help create a five man forward line then while the team come under pressure they will tuck in to form a five man defence.

Further forward the midfield trio will be made up of Ibrahim Sangare, Nathan Tella and Mikel Merino. The three have different strengths which should compliment each other well. Ibrahim was a popular figure last season and will be the anchor that protects the backline and allows the wingbacks of Juranovic and Ayling the chance to move forward. Mikel Merino will be given the role of box-to-box midfielder due to his stamina and work rate while new signing Nathan Tella looks set to play in the hole just behind the strikers. His flair and creativity will be key to unlocking defences and providing ammunition for the strikers.

Finally upfront expect to see an exciting partnership in Karim Benzema and Diogo Jota. Benzema is expected to be used as more of a focal point with his ability to bring others into play and convert chances. Jota on other hand will move around the Frenchman and use his pace and movement to stretch the defence. The Portuguese international was in exceptional form last season, netting eighteen goals.

The bench is expect to be made of Mirko Pigliacelli, Adilson Malanda, Asier Illarramendi, Zarraga and Alexander Sorloth. Fans were delighted to see Illarramendi rejoin his boyhood club after a deal was arranged with FC Barcelona. The attacking midfielder should prove to be an excellent addition off the bench.


Welcome back Asier

Kaye is keen to let his side play attacking football coming into the new campaign. Seen as a fan of 'Gegenpressing' expect his team to relentlessly chase down the opposition. When the ball is won they will be direct in their play looking to achieve overloads in the wide areas through triangles created by the wing back, midfield and forwards. This then allows unmarked players space on the opposite side to drive into the box and latch onto any crosses and passes.

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[Freddie]

Reale Arena Echo EFL 1 Team Guide




Ahead of the new EFL 1 season, the Reale Arena has taken the chance to examine the teams that make up EFL1 and who Sociedad will face off against this season.

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AC Milan

The Italians have seen a major overhaul this winter with the arrival of new manager Jason Hopton. After creating a strong team at Bayer Leverkusen, Hopton has been given the reigns of the Rossoneri. AC have a talented squad with many strong players but much focus will be on the attacking partnership of Antoine Griezmann and Paulo Dybala. If Jason can extract the the best from this duo then expect his side to be a tough one to face this coming season. This will only be trickier for teams with the presence of football legend Lionel Messi who will be looking to finish his footballing career on a high.

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Atletico Madrid

The team no one will want to face is Simon Marsh's Atletico Madrid. The Spanish outfit are lethal on their day and boast the likes of Vinicius Junior, Lucas Paqueta and Kevin Mbabu. Marsh has made Atletico a formidable team and fans will be hoping they can really push on this year and make a strong claim for the EFL 1 crown.


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FC Barcelona

Graeme Edward's Barca finished seventh last season and fans will be hoping for an improvement this time round. This will be tricky however despite Edward's vast knowledge and experience. The Nou Camp club are a team still in rebuild after Graeme took on the difficult task of fixing the Catalans. The addition of David Raya however is a brilliant signing and the shot stopper will bring undoubted quality to the backline. Can Barca get back to being one of FFO's best?

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Bayer Leverkusen

The Germans delivered a solid 10th placed finish last season and new manager Chris Spero will be looking to build on that. Captain Angel Di Maria will be key to that effort. The Argentine midfielder is a special player who will be looking to drive his team on at every opportunity. The club have an ageing backline that will need to be addressed but with a smart manager in Spero at the helm the future could be promising for Leverkusen.

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FC Bayern Munich

Will this be the season Jon Bank's Bayern Munich show us all what they are made of? After two solid eighth place finishes, will this young talented squad make a push for the EFL 1 title? It might be a step too far this time round but expect the Germans to be top four contenders. A forward trio of Noni Madueke, Rasmus Hojlund and Benjamin Sesko has the potential to blow away teams.

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Borussia Dortmund

You never know what to make of Dortmund. Some folk claim they haven't reached their potential but on their day they can beat anyone. Niall Grimes has overseen two 17th place finishes which isn't great but he has brought in a a bunch of talented youngsters that should keep the Westfalenstadion in a good place for the future. Brazilian Reinier and Frenchman Georginio Rutter are two vital cogs in midfield and their form will be important.

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Celtic

A transfer miracle worker, Sam Bradwell has developed a quality side at Parkkhead. Brimming with talents including Mo Salah, Christopher Nkunku and Virgil Van Dijk - can they live up to their potential? Many will argue they should claim a top seven finish but their achilles heel may be their slight lack of quality of depth in defence.

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Inter Milan

The other side of Milan are managed by Garysean Wilson. Since the start of FFO 2 they have achieved a seventh and sixth place finish. The question is, can they push on? Led by Serge Gnabry upfront, the Italians have a good manager and have the potential to win the league but can they do that? It's a big season for Inter and their manager.

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Juventus

The Old Lady of Turin had an excellent season last time out with a third placed finish and with a young team they are only going to get better. With a large bank balance they also have the opportunity to bring in more talent if needed. The return of Mohamed Simakan looks a nice piece of business by boss Andy Banks. The central defender could go onto big things.

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Lazio

After a ninth placed finish last season, Lazio know that better is needed this time around. Lois Openda and Memphis Depay will be key to manager Keith Drummond's plans. The pace and creativity they both offer makes them tricky opposition for defenders. Of they can hit form Lazio will be hoping they can climb the league table this year.


*Next feature to include rest of teams.

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[Freddie]

Part 2



Marseille

Euan Neale's OM have a strong defence and attack but lack the same quality in midfield which may hold them back. Star striker Romelu Lukaku will always be able to cause opposition defences problems however so don't underestimate the French men. While they're not expected to light up the league they could cause some of the big teams a problem or two on their day.

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AS Monaco

Overachievers? Monaco may lack players of real star quality but their hard work, determination and tactical nous of John Read has seen them firmly establish themselves in EFL 1. Sitting right on the coast the Louis 11 stadium is a difficult place to go and presents an intimidating atmosphere. A cup run may be their best chance of silverware and either way they won't be defeated easily.

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Napoli

Naples is home to Chris Walter's Napoli. The Italian side have some handy players including Manuel Ugarte and Sadio Mane. Two midtable finishes is very respectable for Walter's team. The auction signing of Tommaso Baldanzi is sure to excite the fans. The tricky winger loves to take on defenders and is a real menace in the final third. Combined with the goalscoring threat of Mane, Napoli should be a team that racks up the goals this season.

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Paris Saint Germain

The Champions. It's difficult to look past any other team winning EFL 1 this year. With talent in every position, an experienced manager and a chunky bank balance, PSG should be too much for other teams. The threat of Erling Haaland upfront supported by Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia is one to behold. The question is can the Paris outfit win a treble?

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Rangers

The Gers are a solid midtable side with experience and youth which combines to make a consistent and steady team. Manager Aaron Burrows will be looking to build on last season's fourteenth position. Oliver Skipp and Adam Hlozek are the stand out players. Talented youngsters they could form the spine of the Ibrox team for many years to come.

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RB Leipzig

New manager Matt Buxton has a big challenge on his hands to avoid relegation this season. With probably the weakest on paper squad, Buxton will need to be tactically astute to outmatch other teams. The arrival of midfield general Palhinha should help as well as the signing of versatile defender Mathias Olivera from the FFO auction. Two excellent signings by Matt. One glaring weakness however is Miroslav Sarkic in between the posts. There are big questions as to whether the Montenegro international is of the standard for EFL 1

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Real Madrid

Fifth place last season will have been seen as a disappointment for the Galacticos but expect them to bounce back with a vengeance this season. Able to build out from the back with their high passing defensive line, the Spaniards can control games at will and when on best form are a force to be reckoned with. Serge Dest has taken the armband for this season. The American fullback is seen as one of the top defenders in the game with his strong defensive prowess and forward running. Talbot has built a quality team at the Bernabeu and they will be eager to improve on last season.

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AS Roma

Without doubt the noisiest team in the division but probably with the history to allow that. Derek Hughes has built Rome into a fortress and Roma into one of the best teams in the game but they are still to win EFL 1 since the start of FFO 2. Can they rectify that this season? With Kylian Mbappe upfront you would fancy their chances. The Italians are one of the big sides in the division but compared to their closest rivals have one of the older squads. Will transfer guru Hughes have one eye on the future this season and be looking to lower the age of his team? Or will he ignore that for now and go for the EFL 1 title? Or maybe a bit of both? Only time will tell.

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Sporting Lisbon

The return of ESMS legend Cheyenne Hollis has given hope to the Lisbon fans after a mess of a preseason which saw Anthony Harris leave his managerial post in disgrace. The Portuguese team have talented players but their main issue is their age with many over thirty and approaching retirement. It's a big task for the American but he will feel he is up to the task. What unfolds at Lisbon over the next while will be intriguing.

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[Freddie]

Maguire ready to rebuild reputation in Spain




After struggling for form in recent seasons, former Blackburn Rovers defender Harry Maguire has spoken of his determination to rebuild his once strong reputation in Spain with Real Sociedad.

It's a sunny day in San Sebastian and we've taken the chance to sit down with new signing Harry Maguire. The English defender joined the club in the winter transfer window in a player exchange deal that saw Iker Muniain move to Blackburn.

The thirty year old Englishman has struggled for form in recent seasons which eventually saw him leave the Premiership and move to EFL 1. Few can doubt his ability as a defender but his confidence has taken a large knock over the past couple of years. Many will be hoping new manager Freddie Kaye can guide Harry back to the top of his game and rebuild the confidence that saw him burst onto the scene many years ago.

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"Hi Harry, thanks for sitting down with us. How's it all been going since your move here?"

It's been a nice start for me. I've already felt very welcomed by the fans, the squad and the manager. It's very different to England but I've absolutely loved that. "

"You came under criticism for your form in England. Do you think that was fair and do you think you can get back to form here?"

"I wouldn't deny that I had few seasons where things just didn't go right. I kept working hard but just couldn't seem to get back to the level of form that I wanted. I think a move here is an excellent chance for me. I've had some really good discussions with the manager about his plans, how he wants me to lead the team and that he thinks I have the ability to be a key player here."

"How do you feel about the chance of playing in a back five?"

"Yeah good! I think I have the attributes to play in that role and I think Ibou (Konate), Cameron (Cameron-Vickers) and myself will work well together. I like to distribute the ball from the back with passes and playing in a back three will give me the opportunity to do that a bit easier. Ibou and Cameron are cracking lads and we've already hung out a fair bit so that can only be a good thing."

"Predictions for the season?

"The dream would be to finish in the top half of the season and that's what we will aim for. At the moment we're doing our best in training to create a solid system and learning how the gaffer wants us to play. If we can take that all onboard then there's no reason why we can't do well."

"Thanks Harry. All the best for the new season."

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[Freddie]

Erreala open preseason tournament with a bang

After being placed in Group F of the FFO Preseason Cup, Real Sociedad have won their first two games. Victories against Bristol City and Atletico Madrid have catapulted the 'white-blue' to top of the group and an early qualification for the knockout rounds.

The opening game saw Bristol City travel to San Sebastian looking to cause an upset. Their squad strengthened by the arrival of Dutch youngster Kenneth Taylor in the transfer window. The midfielder was a target for several clubs but chose his future to be in England.

Freddie Kaye's squad were in no mood to hand out favours however and got the first goal of the game within five minutes. Ibrahim Konate's driven shot gave David Bentley no hope in the City goal. Minutes later however it was level when Jordan Williams beat the offside trap and cheekily lobbed Vicario to equal the score.

Before halftime Nathan Tella showed good off the ball movement to land himself in a nice position. His finish was even better, curling the ball into the top corner.

After the interval the floodgates opened. Luke Ayling got on the end of a cross to head home before fan favourite Diogo Jota met Tella's cross to slide the ball home. That man Nathan Tella was pulling the strings for Sociedad and with sixty five minutes gone his thundering freekick almost took the netting off the posts, 5-1.


Tella celebrates after his goal

Mikel Merino also got in on the act before the full time whistle, finishing after a good team move. 6-1 to the hosts in their first match and an excellent performance too.

The visit of Atletico Madrid proved to be a much tougher game for Jota and co.

With minutes on the clock Simon Marsh's team went ahead. Vinicius Junior showing why he's one of the best players in the game with a neat finish. This didn't deter Sociedad however and new signing Karim Benzema got his first goal for the club after after a mistake by the Madrid keeper. 1-1.

In a tense game that could have swung either way, both teams went close but it took until after half time for one to go ahead. New signing Kolo Muani making the most of a Vicario mistake. The Italian dropped an in swinging cross and Muani was able to tap home.

With ten minutes remaining Sociedad equalised with a goal of real quality. Karim Benzema rifling home from forty yards straight into the top corner. Then five minutes later the comeback was complete when Konate played wing back Josip Juranovic through and he coolly slot home to make it 3-2 to the hosts.

Freddie Kaye gave his thoughts on the two games.

"Excellent performances in both games that I am happy with. There's still a lot of work to be done and improvments to be made but were clinical when we needed to be and played some good football. We need to maintain this sort of level for the next few games and especially when the season begins."

[Freddie]

Three games gone, six points gained

Three games into the new EFL 1 season, Sociedad find themselves eighth in the league table after victories against Bayern Munich and AS Monaco but a heavy defeat to Inter Milan has served as a heavy reminder of the class they face at this level.

Freddie Kaye's side welcomed Jon Banks' Bayern Munich to Spain for the opening game of the season. The German heavyweights arrived as the favourites but found themselves two-nil down within fifteen minutes thanks to goals from Nathan Tella and Luke Ayling. Their misery was further compounded straight after half time when Diogo Jota got his opening strike of the campaign to make it three-nil. Benjamin Sesko got one back for Banks' side but it was too little too late as the game finished three-one to Sociedad.

Full of optimism and enthusiasm Erreala travelled to Italy for their second league match to face Garysean Wilson's Inter Milan side and had barely left the changing room before they were one-nil down. Allan Saint-Maximin striking the ball home after cutting inside from the flank. More goals followed from Gnabry and Klostermann to make it three-nil before half time. The second half continued in the same vein as Inter went on to win six nil and remind Sociedad that they have a long way to go to make themselves a strong force in the competition.


Benzema puts his side 1-0 up against AS Monaco

Looking to bounce back Kaye's squad welcomed AS Monaco to San Sebastian this evening. Eager to make amends to the fans, Real started brightly and within five minutes were ahead. Karim Benzema neatly slotting the ball past Gollini in the Monaco goal after good build up play. The home side looked comfortable and eventually doubled their lead in the sixtieth minute. An unlikely candidate for goal of the week, Ibrahima Konate strode forward from defence to curl a sweet shot into the top corner and put his side two-nil ahead. Monaco did little to trouble Vicario in the Sociedad goal and the full-time whistle confirmed a win for Erreala.

A positive start to the season for Real Sociedad which see's them move into eighth position.