Faith begins when reason ends. You get to the outer limits of your rational tether and then you take that big leap. It’s not necessarily a bad thing: Belief is central to sports. History is filled with stories of those who believed in themselves, thereby achieving great things. There’s also a rich trove of “outside-the-box” thinkers who are rewarded when they defy conventional wisdom and mainstream opinion to do things differently, whether in terms of tactical innovation or recruitment approach.
Then…
It’s back! After a summer of international soccer, Gab Marcotti returns with his weekly column reflecting on the big talking points. It’s the first edition of Monday Musings for the 2019-20 season.
For all the talk of financial might, this summer’s transfer window saw the Premier League’s collective net spend fall by more than 25 percent.
Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shared the Golden Boot with Liverpool’s Mohamad Salah and Sadio Mane, but did he deserve all of his 22 Premier League goals? 
VAR’s been used for years across several leagues and tournaments, including the 2019 Copa America. But it will take time for referees in the Premier League to get used to it.
In an age of metrics and audience engagement, some see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the lowest of low-hanging fruit. They are box office talents because they generally turn the incredible into routine. Most of us understand and appreciate them. Perhaps not equally, but with a massive underlying respect for what they do in the football-sphere, and they rightly generate more conversation than just about anybody in sport.
Sometimes things take a 180-degree turn. Up becomes down. White is now black. Thor turns out to be Loki. Your certainties end up being replaced by what you thought was heresy.
Rocco Commisso believes in the resurgence of Serie A and as the new owner of Fiorentina, he’s ready to dive in.