Podcast Breaking the Backline 2 Sun 1614 (2)

The hosts of "Breaking the Backline" discuss the top five soccer signings of the 2023-2024 season. They each share their individual lists, with Jude Bellingham being a unanimous choice for the number one signing. They debate the rankings of the other players, with Declan Rice and Harry Kane being strong contenders. Overall, they agree that Bellingham is the standout signing of the season. What's up, ladies and gentlemen, on today's episode of Breaking the Backline, we'll be discussing the top five signings of the 2023-2024 soccer season, along with who we think will win the 2024 Euros. As usual, I'm your host, Mauro Armenio, joined with... Martin Lopich, Calum Kokinos, and Matthew Vieira. Okay, let's jump in to segment one. For this segment, what we have done is we have all created a list of the top five signings that we individually think have been the best. So we've just written it down on a piece of paper. We're going to go from five to one individually first, and then at the end, we are going to create a final list on something that we all agree with on who the top five signings are. So for this, I'm going to start off who I think my top five signings are, and then we're going to go in order, and everybody's going to say their piece. So I will start. So number five, I have McAllister from Brighton to Liverpool. I think he's been a world-class player for them. Number four, I have Harry Kane from Tottenham to Bayern, leads the league in goals, tearing up the league. Then we have, at number three, James Madison from Leicester to Tottenham. He's putting Tottenham in a way better place than they were last year. Number two is Declan Rice from West Ham to Arsenal, arguably made Arsenal's midfield one of the best in the world, easily number two. And number one, we have Jude Bellingham from Dortmund to Real Madrid. He is simply having a Ballon d'Or season, and I think he's number one for sure. My list is number five, Alexis McAllister from Brighton to Liverpool. I think that I agree that he has been incredible for Liverpool this year. Number four, I have James Madison from Leicester to Tottenham. He has changed Tottenham completely, made them a much better team than they were last year. At number three, I have Lionel Messi from PSG to Inter Miami. I think the media buzz he has created about the MLS and Inter Miami and soccer in general in the United States has made his transfer well worth it. Number two, I have Harry Kane from Tottenham to Bayern Munich. His goal pace in the Bundesliga is simply insane, and he has made Bayern a much better team. And number one, I have Jude Bellingham, who is simply having a Ballon d'Or season after coming in from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, and he is probably the best player in the world right now. All right, my list is a little bit different. Start from five, Sascha Bowie, so Galatasaray's right back, who moved to Bayern. Just strengthened the squad a little bit, and just a cheap price for a great player. And number four, I have England's Declan Rice, who went to Arsenal. Again, just makes the midfield a lot better, and just holds it down a lot more than what they had before. Number three, I have Christian Pulisic, who has been an absolute amazing player for Milan. Just reformed his career. Number two, I have Viktor Girokaris, who proved himself to be a great striker in the championship last year, and to move to sporting and score 30-plus goals is just, it's amazing. And of course, number one, just like everyone else, Jude Bellingham is up there having an amazing season, breakout season with Dortmund was great, and now just absolutely rolling the competition in the Ballon d'Or race. Now for my top five, number five is Cole Palmer, who made his move to Chelsea from City. I think he's improving Chelsea, they would be, I think, way down without him. Number four, James Madison, Leicester to Tottenham, he's unreal, went healthy. Number three is Kane, Harry Kane, Tottenham to Bayern, still scoring goals, banging goals, Leicester and centre. Number two, Declan Rice, West Ham to Arsenal, again, the midfield is unreal with him there, he just completes it. And number one, like everyone here, Jude Bellingham, because he's just unstoppable, there's just so many words you can describe him with. So I think we can all agree that Jude Bellingham is our number one transfer of the summer. But two to five is a debate. So who wants to give their reasoning for why they have their player at number two? I could start. I think Declan Rice has to be everybody's number two. I think the move from West Ham to Arsenal, playing in the Champions League, first time they reached the quarterfinals in over 10 years, then you got what he's done in the Premier League, again, Arsenal in the title race, and with him, Odegaard in the midfield, I think it's a dynamic duo, and I really think he's proven to be one of the best midfielders not only in the Premier League, but the world, and I think he's easily the number two signing of the season. I get why you say that, but just let me bring up one counter-argument to that. Right now, Harry Kane is scoring at a pace that hasn't been seen since Lewandowski in the Bundesliga, and he is going to outpace any of Lewandowski's best seasons at Bayern Munich. What he has done in the Bundesliga this year is nothing short of incredible. I get how good Rice has been for Arsenal, but I don't know if you can argue against the amount of goals Harry Kane has scored. I understand that Kane has a lot of goals, but if you watch Arsenal, who would not even be in the title race if it wasn't for Declan Rice, he has to be in that race. I get it, Harry Kane is a top scorer, he's a brilliant soccer player, striker, he's probably one of the best right now, but again, his team, it's already good. Declan Rice made the team even better. Wasn't Arsenal top two in the Premier League last year, if they're still in the same spot they were without him? Yeah, but I think he just adds a level that Arsenal didn't have before, and a level that