2026
CSKA: A Taste of D1
In September, I wrote that CSKA was heading to D2 for the first time since Season 14, well before I took over. My goal was to stay up, and the stats indicated that CSKA was in the hunt for relegation. Fast forward to the end of the season and CSKA is being promoted to D1 for the first time ever!! We'll be odds-on favorites for relegation. There are a few cards we could play. Accept that we'll be underdogs in every game, trade in our impressive youth team, or see how we fare through the first third of the season and decide on what chips to play. I don't want to tear down our team for short-term benefits. But I also want to be more Sunderland than Luton Town. At the end of the day, we're still in a transition period with only 3 players above 90 (Carnesecchi, Maguire, Carreras) and were quite lucky to get to D1 so soon.
GK: We have starting GK Carnesecchi (90) entering his prime. Mycael may be our starting youth GK or he may leave - it depends on the deals we make and what room we have. Behind him is Miguel Gouveia, a top Portuguese GK prospect.
RB: Alexander Bah (88), the oft-injured Benfica starter is our starter after we jettisoned KWP. Primary backup is a rotation of two 85 youth players Alex Jimenez and Jon Martin, though neither may be a RB as his primary position. Okoduwa and Jean Mambuku are ones for the future.
CB: Harry Maguire (90) remains the starter with fan favorite Chris Richards (88), from nearby Alabama. Mamadou Sarr (87) and Jan-Carlo Simic (85) continue to progress nicely. We have a few players who can cover here: Jon Martin, Alvaro Carreras, and Lerma. There is a significant amount of young depth between Tyler Meiser, Freddie Simmonds, Baba Kourouma, and Ben Hawighorst, Ishe-Samuels Smith, and Ngana. This may be an area to trade youth for experience.
LB: Alvaro Carreras (90) seems to be the locked in Madrid starter, though it's one of many clubs in turmoil. Kiernan Tierney was also sold this season. Our primary backup is now Alex Jimenez (85).
DM: Jordan Henderson (89) continues to start alongside Pape Gueye (88). Lerma and Romeo Lavia (87) will be backups. This is an area that had a lot of turnover in the youth ranks. Gone are the Senegalese duo. We retain Ze Lucas, Bouabre, and Sekou Kone. We've also added Rafa Quintas, Pereira da Gama, Dierckx, and Samba. A lot of young players getting first-team minutes and likely a position that will entirely turnover in the first team in the coming seasons.
CM: Brazilian Matheus Pereira (88) has taken over for Ziyech. Kendry (85) is his primary backup though he is often spotted smoking hookah at the local square dancing bar. Memphis Depay was brought in to challenge in this spot as well. Many of the DM youth qualify here as do players like Odobert and Isaque.
AM: Iago Aspas (89) and Adingra (88) continue to be starters. Bertrand Traore is the main backup with Mastantuono. Odobert continues to wait for Traore and Aspas to falter. Irankunda, Cavan Sullivan, Isaque, and Ndala remain key youth players.
CF: Ciro Immobile (89) is the starter, though his downgrade is only a matter of time. Aspas and Memphis can fill in here as well. This position remains more potential than results with Danns, Konate, N'guessan, and Bro Hansen all fighting injury or youth.
Marketing: The lure of D1 should be enough to get the Texan crowd away from football and into futbol.
Likely starting lineup: Carnesecchi, Bah, Maguire, Richards, Carreras, Gueye, Henderson, Pereira, Aspas, Adingra, Immobile.
Youth lineup: Mycael, Martin, Sarr, Simic, Jimenez, Ze Lucas, Paez, Irankunda, Mastantuono, Odobert, Konate
Goal: Either stay up or avoid complete embarrassment
Season 26 Division 2 Stats and Facts Review
CSKA head the stats with a +13VA and automatic promotion.
Hard to take maybe to finish 1st in the league but 6th in the stats but that just highlights the great performances from over sides. CSKA were predicted to just about beat relegation but gained auto promotion in 3rd spot. Cruziero were always a play off team but they finished 2nd in the league and 2nd in the stats. Espanyol the near rivals of CSKA had a great +10 VA and head to the play offs Augsburg another playoff team had a great +12 VA with Udinese also in the playoffs 5th in the stats. Sporting did all they could and were the winners of the league but 6th in the stats.
In the relegation zone. Genoa in a bit of a rebuild but still -16 VA the big outlier only with Real Madrid who had -10VA and Man Utd on – 8 VA
The majority of relegated sides were correctly picked with only Augsburg escaping.
So A.I. or human eye. Again, no deep analysis here but the stand out spot for the A.I. was Man Utd. I predicted 4th the A.I. said 10th and they finished 12th. The A.I. spotted that their lack of depth would come back to bite them which it did.
| GK | DEF | MID | ATT | Top18 | Ave | ETOT | Pre | Fin | VA | PVA | |
| CSKA Moskva | 90.0 | 88.5 | 88.4 | 89.0 | 87.0 | 88.6 | 220.61 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 4.67 |
| Cruzeiro | 89.0 | 89.0 | 89.8 | 91.0 | 85.0 | 88.8 | 223.07 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3.00 |
| RCD Espanyol | 90.0 | 87.5 | 89.4 | 90.0 | 85.0 | 88.4 | 221.02 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 2.75 |
| Augsburg | 89.0 | 87.5 | 88.2 | 90.0 | 85.0 | 87.9 | 219.94 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 2.17 |
| Udinese Calcio | 89.0 | 89.5 | 88.8 | 89.0 | 87.0 | 88.7 | 221.61 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1.00 |
| Sporting CP | 89.0 | 91.5 | 91.4 | 92.0 | 88.0 | 90.4 | 227.36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Cologne | 89.0 | 88.8 | 86.8 | 92.0 | 82.0 | 87.7 | 220.76 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0.45 |
| Everton | 87.0 | 89.8 | 89.4 | 89.0 | 87.0 | 88.4 | 222.05 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0.33 |
| Atlético Madrid | 89.0 | 89.0 | 89.0 | 90.0 | 84.0 | 88.2 | 221.66 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0.30 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 90.0 | 88.0 | 88.8 | 88.0 | 86.0 | 88.2 | 219.76 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 0.18 |
| River Plate | 88.0 | 87.8 | 87.4 | 88.0 | 86.0 | 87.4 | 218.20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0.05 |
| Southampton | 88.0 | 88.5 | 89.0 | 88.0 | 85.0 | 87.7 | 219.96 | 17 | 19 | -2 | -0.05 |
| RSC Anderlecht | 89.0 | 88.5 | 89.6 | 91.0 | 86.0 | 88.8 | 222.63 | 10 | 13 | -3 | -0.15 |
| Leverkusen | 89.0 | 90.3 | 90.2 | 90.0 | 86.0 | 89.1 | 223.86 | 3 | 5 | -2 | -0.20 |
| SC Internacional | 91.0 | 89.3 | 90.0 | 90.0 | 87.0 | 89.5 | 223.26 | 5 | 8 | -3 | -0.25 |
| Standard Liège | 93.0 | 89.0 | 89.4 | 90.0 | 87.0 | 89.7 | 222.82 | 9 | 15 | -6 | -0.33 |
| SL Benfica | 90.0 | 89.0 | 89.4 | 91.0 | 85.0 | 88.9 | 222.87 | 8 | 14 | -6 | -0.36 |
| Real Madrid | 89.0 | 88.8 | 89.2 | 92.0 | 86.0 | 89.0 | 223.16 | 6 | 16 | -10 | -0.56 |
| Manchester United | 87.0 | 89.5 | 89.6 | 92.0 | 83.0 | 88.2 | 223.48 | 4 | 12 | -8 | -0.58 |
| Genoa CFC | 88.0 | 89.5 | 91.0 | 90.0 | 87.0 | 89.1 | 223.90 | 2 | 18 | -16 | -0.83 |
Season 26 Division 1 Stats and Facts review.
Who is better A.I. or the human eye.
Usual preamble: At the start of the season clubs were ranked according to the four main positions, average rating and top 18.
Then using a secret formula they were ranked, this produces a value added and positional value added which takes into account finishing position , after all a club that should have been 5th finishing 1st has done a lot better than one that should have been 19th finishing 15th and has beaten far harder opposition.
Porto finish top of the stats , predicted to come 5th they were deserved champs overcoming Leicester who also had +4 VA. A great performance pushed AC Milan to 3rd in the stats with a great +9VA
Sao Paulo must be pleased with their over performance as should Man City and Hamburg.
Dortmund suffered a spectacular fall from grace on -10 VA in 12th place when 2nd was predicted, Hellas maybe a little annoyed 2nd last in stats but still came 3r d especially as Arsenal on -7VA got relegated.
Without any deep analysis at this moment who won in D1 human eye or A.I.
Well the A.I. was worse at predicting 2nd place Leicester and 7th spot Sao Paulo , it did predict Stoke’s predicament better and Arsenal’s more lowly position. So it seems to be worse at predicting the higher placed teams but worse at predicting the lower place teams.
| GK | DEF | MID | ATT | Top18 | Ave | ETOT | Pre | Fin | VA | PVA | |
| FC Porto | 93.0 | 92.8 | 93.2 | 93.0 | 87.0 | 91.8 | 230.81 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5.00 |
| LEICESTER CITY | 91.0 | 92.0 | 93.2 | 94.0 | 85.0 | 91.0 | 230.38 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2.50 |
| AC Milan | 89.0 | 89.3 | 90.2 | 91.0 | 88.0 | 89.5 | 223.95 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 1.00 |
| São Paulo FC | 90.0 | 90.8 | 92.0 | 92.0 | 86.0 | 90.2 | 227.12 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0.71 |
| Levante UD | 91.0 | 91.8 | 93.2 | 91.0 | 85.0 | 90.4 | 228.23 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.50 |
| Manchester City | 93.0 | 90.0 | 90.2 | 92.0 | 86.0 | 90.2 | 225.44 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0.45 |
| Hamburg | 90.0 | 89.8 | 90.0 | 90.0 | 86.0 | 89.2 | 223.42 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0.27 |
| Barcelona | 92.0 | 91.3 | 93.0 | 96.0 | 84.0 | 91.3 | 230.92 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0.25 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 90.0 | 88.5 | 88.4 | 90.0 | 87.0 | 88.8 | 221.26 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 0.24 |
| Málaga CF | 89.0 | 89.0 | 89.2 | 90.0 | 86.0 | 88.6 | 222.06 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0.05 |
| Juventus | 95.0 | 91.8 | 92.0 | 93.0 | 89.0 | 92.2 | 229.53 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 0.00 |
| Bayern | 93.0 | 89.8 | 91.0 | 95.0 | 87.0 | 91.2 | 227.95 | 9 | 10 | -1 | 0.00 |
| H. Berlin | 92.0 | 89.3 | 90.8 | 94.0 | 87.0 | 90.6 | 226.62 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 0.00 |
| Stoke City | 90.0 | 90.0 | 90.8 | 90.0 | 87.0 | 89.6 | 224.34 | 16 | 18 | -2 | -0.06 |
| Aston Villa | 88.0 | 90.0 | 90.8 | 93.0 | 86.0 | 89.6 | 225.97 | 14 | 16 | -2 | -0.06 |
| Chelsea | 95.0 | 92.5 | 93.6 | 94.0 | 83.0 | 91.6 | 231.34 | 3 | 5 | -2 | -0.20 |
| Internazionale | 92.0 | 90.0 | 91.4 | 94.0 | 87.0 | 90.9 | 227.70 | 10 | 14 | -4 | -0.21 |
| Arsenal | 91.0 | 91.8 | 90.6 | 91.0 | 86.0 | 90.1 | 226.27 | 13 | 20 | -7 | -0.30 |
| Hellas Verona | 93.0 | 93.0 | 93.0 | 95.0 | 89.0 | 92.6 | 232.39 | 1 | 3 | -2 | -0.33 |
| Dortmund | 92.0 | 92.5 | 92.8 | 96.0 | 85.0 | 91.7 | 231.88 | 2 | 12 | -10 | -0.75 |
Manager’s Column: Building More Than a Season
As this season comes to a close, it’s a moment not just to look at results, but to reflect on what we’ve built together at Bayern. Trophies matter here — they always will — but just as important is how we compete, how we rotate, and how we prepare the future of this club.
This campaign was about control, depth, and direction.
The First Team: Setting the Standard
Our first team carried the responsibility of expectation, and they handled it with maturity and authority.
From the back, Jan Oblak gave us the security every manager wants. His consistency allowed us to play with confidence, knowing that decisive moments would be handled with calm. In front of him, Antonio Rüdiger embodied leadership — aggressive when needed, composed when it mattered most. Alongside him Vivian, Araújo and new addition Sessegnon provided balance, athleticism, and tactical discipline.
In midfield, our identity was clear. João Neves dictated tempo and structure, Amadou Onana brought intensity, defensive awareness and balance, and Takefusa Kubo gave us creativity between the lines. This trio allowed us to control matches without losing our edge.
And of course, at the top of the pitch, Robert Lewandowski once again reminded everyone why he remains one of the game’s elite forwards. His goals, movement, and professionalism set the benchmark for the entire squad. Supported by the pace and unpredictability of Doku and Antony, our attacking play stayed sharp throughout the season.
This group didn’t just win games — they set the standard for the entire club.
The Cup Team: Trusting the Squad
One of the proudest aspects of this season was how our cup team performed.
Rotation is only effective when trust exists, and this group justified that trust every time they stepped onto the pitch. Moise Kean led the line with strength and determination, while players like El Khannouss, Uzun, and Assane Diao brought energy and quality into crucial moments.
In midfield, Rovella and Jauregizar provided us with control and reliability, ensuring that our playing style remained consistent regardless of the personnel we had. Defensively, Aguerd anchored the back line with calm authority, complemented by Mouriño, Lewis-Skelly, and El Ouahdi.
Even during rotations, our mindset remained unchanged. We respected every competition.
The Youth Team: Preparing the Future
Behind the scenes, our youth team made real progress this season — and that may prove just as important as any result.
Young players such as Lewis-Skelly, Uzun, El Khannouss, and Diao showed that they are not just prospects, but future contributors. Others, including Harder, Coulibaly, and Mayulu, took important steps in their development through consistent minutes and responsibility.
The presence of senior leadership around this group — particularly João Neves — accelerated that process. Experience is the best teacher, and this season we ensured our young players learned in the right environment.
In the upcoming season, we will offer more opportunities to some of our highly regarded prospects, including Camarda, Ngumoha, Cocchi, Ruan Pablo, A. Ouazane, JJ Gabriel, Byfield, Ndukwe, Belinho, and many others.
Looking Ahead
As manager, my responsibility is not just to win today, but to protect tomorrow.
This season confirmed that Bayern are built correctly:
- A first team capable of playing at the highest level
- A cup team that maintains momentum and standards
- A youth structure that feeds the future
We finish this campaign proud, but not satisfied. The foundation is strong, the direction is clear, and the ambition remains unchanged.
Thank you to the players, staff, and supporters who made this season possible. We will rest briefly — and then we build again.
Mia san Mia.
