So top 5 according to a football site and in order from 1 to 5. English premier Italian Serie A German Bundesliga Spanish La liga French ligue 1 The Turkish super league on this site is rated 18th. I’d like to see him stay top 3 but it’s just as important that he is a starter not warming the bench
So top 5 according to a football site and in order from 1 to 5. English premier Italian Serie A German Bundesliga Spanish La liga French ligue 1 The Turkish super league on this site is rated 18th. I’d like to see him stay top 3 but it’s just as important that he is a starter not warming the bench
I might be missing something here but that website you're referring to must just be personal opinion.
It would still represent a very strong destination for Libby, especially if he can get picked up by a club fighting in said European competitions. And just personally, even though there's a difference in quality between the strength in leagues, I'd take him in Turkey over relegation scraps like he's been fighting the past couple of seasons.
I can’t be assed trying to find it but I do recall a few years ago from a reputable source an outline of the top paying leagues to players in terms of $.
Turkey was number 6 - after the big 5 leagues and remarkably close to France.
The special one wouldn’t be coaching there unless it was special!,
It hurts to say but Empoli didn't di enough to stay up. A good start, then absolutely nothing until the last 3-4 games of the season. It was a tough battle and they could have scraped by. Lecce, who ultimately stayed up, beat a Lazio side trying hard to fight for a place in Europe, away from home no less. Empoli lost 2-1 in a six pointer, at home.
Interesting to see where Libby ends up. He's still contracted, so Empoli might be keen to get some cash and rebuild using their very good academy.
So top 5 according to a football site and in order from 1 to 5. English premier Italian Serie A German Bundesliga Spanish La liga French ligue 1 The Turkish super league on this site is rated 18th. I’d like to see him stay top 3 but it’s just as important that he is a starter not warming the bench
I might be missing something here but that website you're referring to must just be personal opinion.
It would still represent a very strong destination for Libby, especially if he can get picked up by a club fighting in said European competitions. And just personally, even though there's a difference in quality between the strength in leagues, I'd take him in Turkey over relegation scraps like he's been fighting the past couple of seasons.
Site I was looking at was “opta power rankings” top 20 leagues in the world. It’s always interesting to see what sites have which leagues in what ranking IMG_8207.jpeg314.98 KB IMG_8208.jpeg280.09 KB
If the Sheffield links persist, I honestly don't think that would be a bad move. I know its second tier, but the championship is still an incredibly strong league and Sheffield is a huge club with constant ambitions to get back in the prem. The money by all accounts sounds better than low-table serie a, and a good season in the championship would absolutely put him in the shop window for the prem
Yes if not a top 5 league I'd selfishly like to see him in The Championship. A comp that's bit easier to follow for an Anglophile, clubs that we know a bit about, and still yes a very decent level.
Who knows there could be a cluster of AWs around The Championship next season. Might be where Forest loan out Bindon & Stamenic.
Rumours UK clubs are looking at Bell. Same Kees Sims (but that's likely as a backup GK you'd think). Some clubs at that level will be looking at McCowatt.
If Paulsen doesn't go to Hibs, he could end up in the English 2nd tier. Who knows Surman could be there by the January window next year. And of course Henry Gray is signed to Ipswich.
If the Sheffield links persist, I honestly don't think that would be a bad move. I know its second tier, but the championship is still an incredibly strong league and Sheffield is a huge club with constant ambitions to get back in the prem. The money by all accounts sounds better than low-table serie a, and a good season in the championship would absolutely put him in the shop window for the prem
I forgot about the Championship links. 😅
Needless to say that would also be a proper good move.
Roma would be great on paper. In practice he’d not get much playing time. Sheffield probably a better option.
You cant just pick and choose which laws to follow. Sure Id like to tape a baseball game without the express written consent of major league baseball, but thats just not the way it works.-Hank Hill
Roma would be great on paper. In practice he’d not get much playing time. Sheffield probably a better option.
I wouldn't be so sure. Gasperini is rumoured to be taking over as Roma manager, and his 3-4-2-1 is literally perfect for Libby - it's the formation he's played a lot at Empoli, and he's versatile enough to play all three left sided roles in that system at Serie A level. Plus they'll be playing Europa League again, so they'll be needing depth.
Roma would be great on paper. In practice he’d not get much playing time. Sheffield probably a better option.
You’d hope that at 24 he still backs his ability to step up, rather than thinking he’s peaked. With that in mind and given the games he’s got under his belt it would be crazy not to take an offer from a top-tier club if that’s on the table imo. Plenty of time to seek out a club where he’d get more game time in 2-3 years if it doesn’t work out. For now he surely goes as big as possible.
I think to be fair to Woodsy it’s clear from this season, and the striking options at Man Red, Chelsea and Arsenal that he definitely has had the class to play for a top 5 club.
But Roma would be great for Libby! Needs a coach to develop his play to be a real ‘multi-class’ left side player.
And I think he should stay in Italy. I know, sunk costs etc, but he’s got some language and cultural feel now. And Sheffield or Rome? Sheffield or Tuscany? Obviously Sheffield for me, but I’m hella common.
Well... Rome blows Sheffield and Empoli out of the water doesn't it. Could be arguably the biggest transfer for a Kiwi player of all time
I’d have to agree, only similarly big moves off the top of my head would be Nelsen to Spurs and Sarpreet to Bayern (but less as it was for the 21s).
Reid to West Ham and Wood to Newcastle not as big for me.
Surely Roma would be the biggest club a kiwi international has played for?
Bayern defo bigger than Roma, at the time and now. Remember Sarpreet had two Bundesliga games for them, with one start
Very true. However, if he signs and plays say 10+ games in a season, I think Libby would have trumped Singh...
Gasperini very very close to signing apparently which would be great. We have been starved of decent coaches (or rather, coaches who want to play good football) and if Sir Claudio Ranieri hadn't worked his magic, we'd be out of Europe this year. I'd love for Libby to join Roma, but he'd have lots of competition. Jose Angelino is the best LB we've had in a long long time. I'm not sure Libby would be the best fit. I think he could do better with a team like Torino, Cagliari, Parma etc. I'll keep my ear to the ground
Roma and Torino were mentioned by various Italian media in recent weeks too
Never know what’s legit and what’s not but one way or another it’s pretty much guaranteed that Libby Cacace won’t be playing for Empoli in Serie B next season#FlyingKiwishttps://t.co/wM86eb9C83
We're discussing him in the 2025 off season transfers thread. Teams so far mentioned in conjunction with Libby: Roma, Torino, Cagliari, Pisa, Cremonese (both newly promoted sides), plus Nice (Ligue Un).
#Cagliari, a #Bonato è stato offerto un altro ruolo, ma difficilmente accetterà considerando che, per il ruolo di ds, è sempre vicino #Angelozzi. Confermato intanto il nome di #Cacace in assenza del rinnovo di #Augello. Sul terzino ci sono anche Cremonese, Pisa, altri due club di…
would be silly to not seriously consider a wrexham offer,
If his end goal is to play in the EPL, signing for a Championship club like Wrexham or Sheffield U (earlier rumours) makes some sense.
Maybe he feels his Serie A ambitions have been met. He's never likely to play for a top 6 club (Champions League qualification) like his boyhood dream choice Napoli. Maybe what he'd like to do before it's too late, is try play in the EPL??
would be silly to not seriously consider a wrexham offer,
If his end goal is to play in the EPL, signing for a Championship club like Wrexham or Sheffield U (earlier rumours) makes some sense.
Maybe he feels his Serie A ambitions have been met. He's never likely to play for a top 6 club (Champions League qualification) like his boyhood dream choice Napoli. Maybe what he'd like to do before it's too late, is try play in the EPL??
Do you think he’s stopped developing? I feel like it’s entirely possible the right boss could unlock a whole new level. For example, it seems to me he’s constantly in the thick of it. Why isn’t he scoring or assisting more? In fact this season was his best I think? But also a patchy return.
I remember at the Nix when he’d go past players half a dozen at a time and I’ve seen him do similar a couple of times in Serie A.
I’m still very much hopeful he becomes a top 6 club player.
The past 12 months he's developed a lot, for sure. I think last season he fully arrived as a decent and versatile Serie A player. He's not even 25 yet, still 2-3 years before he even enters his prime - nothing should be written off for his career just yet, he could absolutely end up turning out for a top 6 Serie A club.
Maybe. Just the talk I read on here that if he went to Roma (who were rumoured to be interested) he’d likely just sit on the pine due to the quality of the players (plural) ahead of him.
Agree he’s had easily his best Serie A season, and should now go to a stronger team in Italy than Empoli.
Maybe. Just the talk I read on here that if he went to Roma (who were rumoured to be interested) he’d likely just sit on the pine due to the quality of the players (plural) ahead of him.
Agree he’s had easily his best Serie A season, and should now go to a stronger team in Italy than Empoli.
That’s just top 6 football. Apart from a very few select players, everything else depends on the coach, ownership and fans aligning with you…luck, injuries etc etc Look at Garnacho. Or the Woodsman. Both lit up for one coach in one system, but struggled in a different role. I don’t think- though correct me- that Libby is a reliable metronomic player to build around. He’s someone who is going to make something happen. He’s a dynamic attacking player, who likes dribbling. I think that’s handy and often something top clubs are looking for- a player who might give them an edge or be difficult to contain.
He’s not like Woodsy. The man has an obvious position and craft. Libby has a range of talents, which could be utilized in a variety of ways. He needs someone to see him and think of how to use him.
And sure- at a big club you might not start much your first year. Grealish. Doku. Not bad players.
