da bet7： Newcastle United will reportedly "make a move" for a manager who Pep Guardiola thinks is "excellent", should Eddie Howe become England's next boss.

Newcastle manager Howe linked with England job

da heads bet： Gareth Southgate has announced that he is leaving his role in charge of the Three Lions, with the FA now searching to find an ideal successor in the coming weeks and months. The 53-year-old enjoyed an impressive eight years in the role, so his replacement will be under pressure to impress from the off.

Howe has emerged as one of the favourites to take over from Southgate, even long before this week's confirmation, having enhanced his reputation as one of the best English managers of his generation during an excellent spell in charge of Newcastle. He guided the Magpies into the Champions League, and while last season was disappointing overall, he still has more than enough credit in the bank.

The likes of Graham Potter and Lee Carsley also appear to be very much in the mix to succeed Southgate, as well as more left-field and unlikely appointments such as Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho, but Howe could arguably be among the front-runners if he wasn't already.

As it is, the Newcastle manager appears to be happy at St James' Park currently, but the lure of taking the most high-profile job could still be looming over him. Should that happen, PIF will need to find a replacement, and it looks as though their priority option has been lined up.

Newcastle line up "excellent" Howe successor

According to a new update from The Mirror, Newcastle will "make a move" for Mauricio Pochettino as a replacement for Howe, should the latter leave for England. It is noted that he has "just lost his two biggest allies in the boardroom, Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi", which could arguably sway his thinking.

The Magpies boss is "believed to be torn between the chance of managing his country and staying at St. James’ Park", and Pochettino is described as the "No.1" target to come in.

Pochettino's stock has fallen a little in recent years, having been an extremely highly-rated manager during his Tottenham days, guiding them into the 2019 Champions League final, which they eventually lost to Liverpool.

The Argentine's time at Paris Saint-Germain wasn't exactly earth-shattering, even if he did still win one Ligue 1 title, and he left Chelsea by mutual consent after less than a year in charge at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino's managerial career

Matches

Points per game

Chelsea

51

1.78

Paris Saint-Germain

84

2.15

Tottenham

293

1.84

Southampton

60

1.45

Espanyol

161

1.22

Still, Guardiola has described him as "excellent", clearly thinking of him highly as a boss, and it would be unfair to judge his time at Chelsea too harshly, considering the number of managerial changes at Stamford Bridge in recent years.

Pochettino plays a good brand of attacking football, often adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation, and while keeping Howe should be the preferable outcome for Newcastle, he could be a strong option to come in if the current boss opted to take the England job.

da betobet： Rangers are reportedly keen on getting two key pieces of transfer business over the line in the remaining days of the transfer window, as they gear up to take on Dynamo Kyiv in a two-legged Champions League qualifier.

Superb summer at Rangers but Hearts draw frustrating

da dobrowin： The Gers have had a summer to remember in the transfer market, signing as many as nine new players and significantly strengthening the depth at Philippe Clement's proposal. The most recent of those was Robin Propper, who has arrived as an experienced addition to the defence, making 223 appearances in the Eredivisie during his career.

The signing of Propper is just the tip of the iceberg, however, with Mohamed Diomande joining on a permanent basis after spending last season on loan at Ibrox and Oscar Cortes staying on for another season from Lens.

Other transfer rumours continue to emerge as well, with Tyrese Campbell being eyed up as an exciting free agent, following his exit from Stoke City after six years at the club. Still only 24, the attacker registered 57 goal contributions in 164 appearances for the Potters.

Last Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Hearts was a disappointing way for Clement's men to begin their 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, however, as they immediately lost ground on rivals Celtic on the opening weekend. While great business has been done at Rangers, it further highlighted the need for even more quality, and it looks as though that could happen.

Clement wants two key signings at Rangers

According to a new claim from Football Insider, Clement wants to add two attacking players to his Rangers squad this summer, as the spending continues in the current transfer window. The report states that the Gers boss is after a "top-class striker and winger" before the end of the month, even though they have have already signed Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny for those positions.

This is encouraging to hear for Rangers fans, even though signing too many players can have the potential to upset the rhythm of the squad, almost giving Clement too many options.

A continued lack of firepower was clear to see at Hearts – they only had three shots on target and five in total – with Abdallah Sima not around after a strong loan spell at Ibrox last season, so it is only right that the Gers should focus on the two aforementioned positions.

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland arguably stands out as the perfect option for Rangers in the coming weeks, not only because of his ruthlessness, but also due to being a boyhood Gers supporter. He topped the Scottish Premiership scoring charts last season, finishing six goals clear of second-placed Matt O'Riley, and is so experienced that he shouldn't be daunted by playing for one of Britain's biggest clubs.

Related Rangers could sign £5m machine who is more clinical than Dessers

Philippe Clement must sign another striker before the end of the transfer window…

Posts ByRoss KilvingtonAug 6, 2024

If Clement managed to bring in Shankland and Campbell, with the latter more of a wide player, it could make a world of difference, ensuring they don't slip up in similar fashion as the season goes on.

da dobrowin： Chelsea have spent a couple of Premier League seasons embroiled in muddy mediocrity, but every dog has its day and Todd Boehly’s scattergun spending might just be shaping into something more streamlined.

da bet sport： Replacing Mauricio Pochettino with Enzo Maresca was a move that raised eyebrows, but the Blues now have a project manager who is inculcating a ball-playing style in the mould of his former master Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola, football’s tactical doyen, has seen his influence stretch into a host of corners across Europe, with Maresca his latest disciple to take the reins at a high-profile club with more than just shades of his playing style.

Maresca’s new imprint has seen divisive rumours surrounding Conor Gallagher’s future, with the England international seemingly the latest Cobham graduate to be shown the exit door.

Conor Gallagher's Chelsea future

It’s a convoluted situation. Gallagher has turned down a contract extension at Chelsea but remains open to extending his stay at Stamford Bridge.

The issue is that the 24-year-old, who started 37 top-flight matches last year, will be consigned to a squad role if he remains, something he is unwilling to agree to.

Gallagher’s strengths ostensibly do not align with the fluent design of Maresca’s set-up, and so, with one year left on his deal, Chelsea are searching for a solution.

Should the cogs all fall into place and Gallagher be shipped on, the west Londoners may well seek a replacement, and there might be no more suitable transfer target than Morgan Gibbs-White.

Why Morgan Gibbs-White could replace Conor Gallagher

Nottingham Forest signed Gibbs-White from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a figure rising to £42m in 2022, and he has established himself as one of the Tricky Trees’ most important players since his arrival.

There have been several outfits sniffing around for the Englishman, with Nuno Espirito Santo and his transfer team consequently listing their midfield talisman at £60m earlier in the window. Gibbs-White still has three years left on his deal, so completing a move this summer will come with its difficulties.

And indeed, according to transfer specialist Graeme Bailey – as reported earlier this week – Chelsea continue to show an interest in the £80k-per-week talent (alongside a host of rivals including Aston Villa and Newcastle United), though Forest are unwilling to sell their star man in the middle.

His ability to split opponents in two with incisive deliveries highlights the kind of strengths that have seemingly arrested Chelsea’s interest of late, and if Gallagher is sold to Atletico Madrid, there may well be a revised sense of optimism that the financial means to sign the player are within reach.

After all, despite Forest spending both of their two top-flight campaigns struggling against the threat of the drop zone, Gibbs-White has still posted 11 goals and 18 assists for his outfit, even being praised for his “sensational” performances by journalist Josh Bunting.

Premier League 23/24: Conor Gallagher vs Morgan Gibbs-White

Stats (*per game)

Gallagher

Gibbs-White

Matches (starts)

37 (37)

37 (35)

Goals

5

5

Assists

7

10

Pass completion

92%

77%

Big chances created

11

16

Key passes*

1.4

2.0

Ball recoveries*

6.0

5.1

Dribbles completed*

1.3

1.2

Total duels won*

5.7

5.3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, Gallagher is a more accomplished box-to-box midfielder, but he’s not as naturally creative, is not capable of unlocking backlines with the same kind of fizz and sharpness.

Gibbs-White – who “adds the chaos” according to data analyst Ben Mattinson – ranked among the top 13% of positional peers in the Premier League last season for passes into the final third and the top 14% for through balls per 90, as per FBref.

One analyst has also hailed him for being a “monster in transition”, which further corroborates the point that he has the requisite skillset for success under Maresca’s wing, with the Italian tactician dominating on the ball with Leicester City last season en route to winning the Championship, retaining 62% of possession on average.

The Foxes also completed 48 progressive passes per game last term, as opposed to 42 per match for Chelsea in the Premier League. This speaks of faster, more fluid play at Stamford Bridge this year, with Gibbs-White sure to flourish in the system.

There’s no denying Gallagher’s influence in Pochettino’s midfield last season, with his high-level athleticism and tenacious approach providing the kind of energy and optimism needed – the Argentinian manager even hailed him as “priceless”, though such wording seems to have been negated in hindsight.

But he was also found to lack a clinical touch in final phases, with a bit of technical quality lacking at crucial moments; Chelsea football writer Will Faulks said that he ‘is going to have to add that technical polish to his game’, and now that the managerial cogs have shifted, it seems he has been left behind.

Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo operate in deep-lying positions in the Chelsea engine room and complement each other with contrasting individual strengths. Gallagher, perhaps, is understandably being viewed as a utility option of sorts by the club’s new boss, who is shouldering the weight of responsibility to lift a fallen giant back to the limelight.

Gibbs-White would dovetail into the central triumvirate, more seamlessly, more successfully, with his ball-playing expertise serving as a conduit between the midfield base and the final third, enhancing and enriching ahead of a new era.

It’s tough, and Gallagher’s prospective departure will understandably rankle more than a few staunch Chelsea supporters, but if Maresca can’t promise him a regular starting berth, perhaps it could be a move that works out for all parties – especially if Gibbs-White makes his way down to the capital.

Related Chelsea have already struck gold on star who's worth way more than Chiesa

He could make the club a hefty profit in the coming weeks…

Posts ByEthan LambAug 3, 2024

da dobrowin： There are just a few days remaining before the summer transfer window slams shut, and as things stand, Tottenham Hotspur fans have a lot to be happy about.

da casino： Daniel Levy and Co have signed a plethora of talented players, from young prospects like Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Yang Min-Hyeok, who could go on to become superstars to first-team ready and Premier League-proven level raisers like Dominic Solanke.

However, the decision to extend Timo Werner's loan deal for another campaign still feels like a slight mistake, as while he wasn't dreadful last season, he was underwhelming and isn't going to help the club reach the next level this year.

Interestingly, the Lilywhites were linked with a player who'd be an ideal upgrade on the German earlier this month, who has been compared to Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

Werner's Spurs spell

In the January transfer window this year, Spurs needed to bring in some more attacking reinforcements, as following a rapid start to the season, they were starting to falter. So, Levy and Co turned to former Chelsea attacker Werner, who had fallen out of favour at RB Leipzig.

The club agreed to a six-month loan with an option to buy at £15m, hopeful that Postecoglou's aggressive style would help the 28-year-old regain the incredible goalscoring form that led to his initial transfer to Stamford Bridge in 2020.

However, instead of a game-changing attacker who scored for fun, the North Londoners ended up with a fairly useful winger who was as profligate as everyone remembered and ended up getting injured before the end of the campaign.

Now, it's important to stress that the 57-capped German was not terrible for the Lilywhites. In fact, his tally of two goals and three assists in 14 appearances was perfectly serviceable. But therein lies the problem: he's simply okay.

The Stuttgart-born ace has scored 15 goals or more only once in the last four seasons, and based on his displays last year, it doesn't look like he is going to this season either.

So, if he's not good enough to take the club forward, bringing him in for another season seems counterproductive, especially when the club was linked with someone far better already this summer, someone compared to Martinelli and Saka: Kingsley Coman.

How Coman compares to Martinelli and Saka

The player in question is Bayern Munich star Coman, who was touted for a move to N17 last week for a fee around £34m, or potentially even on a season-long loan.

The "complete" winger, as dubbed by former France U17 coach Patrick Gonfalone, is an incredible talent, and while last season wasn't his best campaign to date, he still racked up five goals and three assists, while the season prior saw him chalk up nine goals and seven assists.

With that said, most football fans are more than aware of how talented the former Paris Saint-Germain dynamo is, but where do these comparisons to Saka and Martinelli come from?

Well, aside from the positional similarities, which are plain to see, these specific comparisons stem from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this case they concluded that the Brazilian is the number one most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Bayern ace, while the Englishman is the seventh.

The easiest way to see these similarities for yourself is to examine their underlying numbers to see where they rank closely. For the former Ituano gem, it's in metrics such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, short passing accuracy, crosses and ball recoveries, all per 90.

Coman & Martinelli

Stats per 90

Coman

Martinelli

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.53

0.58

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.49

0.45

Shot Passing Accuracy

86.4%

86.5%

Crosses

4.84

4.87

Ball Recoveries

4.03

4.24

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

When it comes to the Gunners' number seven, he ranks closely in a number of other underlying statistics.

These include metrics such as expected assists, goals per shot and shot on target, blocks, dribblers tackled and touches in the attacking third, also all per 90.

Coman & Saka

Stats per 90

Coman

Saka

Expected Assists

0.31

0.32

Goals per Shot

0.09

0.10

Goals per Shot on Target

0.38

0.32

Blocks

1.21

1.33

Dribblers Tackled

0.73

0.80

Touches in the Attacking Third

41.4

40.4

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

Now, there are also similarities beyond the raw stats that the former Juventus gem shares with the two Arsenal stars, such as his goalscoring and creative abilities.

Ultimately, while Werner isn't a dreadful player, he's not good enough to help Tottenham progress this season, and while the fans don't like them, the fact Coman has been compared to Saka and Martinelli is just another reason why Levy and Co should look to bring him in before the window closes on Friday night.

Related Spurs could take Maddison to new heights with late move for £50m PL star

The incredible midfielder would perfectly balance Postecoglou’s team.

Posts ByJack Salveson HolmesAug 27, 2024

da betobet： Everton’s start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign has been nothing short of a disaster, with the club losing all three games.

da dobrowin： It looked for large parts as though Sean Dyche’s side were going to claim all three points against Bournemouth, but after conceding three goals in the space of ten minutes, the Toffees broke the record for the latest time of being two goals ahead but ended up losing.

The Toffees have only scored two league goals this season, conceding ten, with Dyche’s side having real issues at both ends of the pitch despite the investment during the summer transfer window.

Injuries to the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite and Idrissa Gueye have certainly affected the squad, with the hope that the pair can return after the international break to turn the club’s fortunes around.

However, the forward line is still in need of improvement, with two players potentially helping Dyche’s side after the current international break.

Everton's goalscoring woes

During the defeat to Bournemouth, Dominic Calvert-Lewin registered his first two goal contributions of the 2024/25 campaign, providing the assist for Michael Keane’s goal, whilst hitting the back of the net himself just seven minutes later.

There will be real hope that the Englishman can kickstart his season after his recent form, hopefully beating his tally of seven goals from the previous campaign – helping the club improve their measly tally of just 40 league goals from last season.

However, Dyche’s side could be aided in their attempts with the deadline-day addition of Armando Broja from Chelsea.

The Albanian arrived at Goodison Park late in the day on a season-long loan from Chelsea, but he may not be available for another few weeks after he picked up a foot injury that scuppered his potential move to newly promoted Ipswich Town.

The 22-year-old has scored eight goals in the Premier League during his career, potentially adding another focal point to Dyche’s attack for the remainder of the campaign.

However, despite the recent additions at the top end of the pitch, the club will be kicking themselves after allowing a top defensive talent to depart Merseyside a couple of years ago.

Antonee Robinson’s market value in 2024

Having joined the club as an 11-year-old, left-back Antonee Robinson came through Everton's academy with the United States international spending 11 years at Goodison Park.

After various temporary stints in the EFL, the defender made a permanent move to join Championship side Wigan Athletic for a fee in the region of £2m – a bargain when looking at what he’s gone on to achieve.

Antonee Robinson's stats for Fulham since joining in 2020

Statistics

Tally

Games played

154

Minutes played

12,797

Goals

3

Assists

14

Yellow cards

26

Red cards

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Robinson has since moved to Fulham, making over 150 appearances for the Cottagers, with his market value soaring as a result of his consistent performances in the Premier League.

The “dangerous” USA international, as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, is now valued at £40m, according to reports, with his value higher than the £30m fee that Everton would have to pay to snap up Broja permanently.

His huge increase in price after his departure from Goodison is an example of some of the poor business conducted by the hierarchy in recent years.

However, five years on from his departure, Dyche and Co would undoubtedly wish they had kept hold of the 27-year-old, with his ability no doubt massively improving what has looked to be a shaky backline.

Related Everton have hit the jackpot on "monster" who's worth more than Broja

The Chelsea forward has joined on loan with an option to buy for £30m…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 4, 2024

da 888casino： When the summer transfer window slammed down its shutters, the Liverpool fanbase cried in a chorus of disappointment. Arne Slot had made an impressive start to life, but surely some reinforcements were needed.

da spicy bet： Liverpool lost Joel Matip at the end of his contract in June. The veteran centre-back was Jurgen Klopp's first signing way back when, but he wasn't replaced, not even with captain Virgil van Dijk stepping into the final year of his deal.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi was pursued but the Real Sociedad star had a change of heart following promising indications, remained in his homeland, adding Anfield to a list of lucrative rejected suitors.

Wataru Endo still stands in the centre but looks likely to do so from the 75th minute onwards, for the most part. He played an industrious role last year, but Slot has found his anchor in Ryan Gravenberch.

Premier League: Wataru Endo vs Ryan Gravenberch

Stats (*per game)

Gravenberch (24/25)

Endo (24/25)

Matches (starts)

3 (3)

29 (20)

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Pass completion

89%

88%

Touches*

74

54.4

Tackles + interceptions*

3.4

2.4

Key passes*

0.00

0.6

Ball recoveries*

5.3

3.7

Dribbles*

1.0 (50%)

0.3 (67%)

Ground duels won*

5.4 (57%)

2.9 (41%)

All stats via Sofascore

Federico Chiesa was of course signed from Juventus to complete Liverpool's frontline, and while more was probably needed, Liverpool have a first-class squad and have proved as much through their early-season form. The real issue was and still is the lingering contractual conundrum.

Liverpool's contract situations

We've already mentioned Van Dijk, but all is still quiet on that front, and the same can be said for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who must resist the allure of Real Madrid if he is to continue his Gerrard-esque Reds career.

Mohamed Salah, however, has seen some movement. Things are starting to shift about, and the Egyptian king is about to be approached

And it's not just his prolific numbers. Salah has returned to action with a refreshed way about him, and it's reflected through his underlying metrics.

Mohamed Salah: Premier League Stats

Statistic (per game)

2023/24

2024/25

Shots

3.6

3.3

On target

1.8

2.0

Touches

45.9

50.7

Key passes

2.1

1.7

Dribbles

0.8

1.3

Total duels won

2.4

3.7

Stats via Sofascore

He's bouncing, restive, desperate to make his mark, fight for silverware and continue to climb the Premier League's all-time goalscoring list. Salah is tenth with 160 goals – Sergio Aguero is 24 goals ahead in fifth place.

A thoroughbred competitor, the 32-year-old might just pen that contract, with The Liverpool Echo even revealing that he is eager to renew his Anfield vows and stay put for another year or two.

After such an electrifying start to the season, it's pretty clear that Salah is set for success this year, firing in goals, deftly placing assists and carrying his team forward through his leadership and very presence.

He might be ageing but the £350k-per-week superstar is still one of Liverpool's most highly-valued players, from a financial standpoint. However, there are a select few who surpass him, and Dominik Szoboszlai is one of them.

Dominik Szoboszlai under Arne Slot

Szoboszlai joined Liverpool as part of Klopp's 2023 rebuild, leaving RB Leipzig after his £60m release clause was activated. The Hungary captain had been hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller following his time in Germany but endured a chequered debut campaign on Merseyside.

He wasn't bad by any stretch, but Szoboszlai fizzled out following a blistering start, an issue stemming from injuries and Liverpool's general nosedive toward the latter end of the campaign.

Szoboszlai's returned with gusto and renewed vigour, however, a veritable workhorse who makes things tick for his team, enabling the goalscoring success of forwards such as Salah.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 15% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90.

He's got quite the engine, with robust athleticism and many more midfield properties that suggest he could be set for a lasting career of prominence on English shores.

It's an exciting time ahead, with Slot shifting him from the middle of the field into a more favourable no. 10 role. During Liverpool's victorious trip to Old Trafford last weekend, the 23-year-old completed 90% of his balls and placed three key passes, but he also won three of his five contested ground duels, as per Sofascore, speaking of growing maturity and crispness in defensive phases.

Such gains are indeed reflected in his lofty market value.

Szoboszlai's market value in 2024/25

Every player goes through peaks and valleys during their career, and while fans had hoped for a bit more consistency from their £60m man last year, his raw quality was evident.

He's claimed two assists from his opening fixtures this year and looks on course to better his maiden year's tally, only posting seven goals and four assists across all competitions.

It's remarkable to consider how high he could soar, but according to Transfermarkt's player appraisal model, he currently has a market value of £63m.

Salah, meanwhile, is currently worth just £46m, though it's important to remember that he is within the final year of his contract. Lest we forget, the Saudi Pro League and all its opulence sniffed around one year ago and saw a jaw-dropping offer of £150m rejected for the forward, who was coveted to be the face of the Gulf country's revolutionised football scene.

For now, Szoboszlai enjoys a position as one of Liverpool's most valuable players – and rightly so, he's starting to prove his true worth under Slot's leadership, and might just enjoy a talismanic campaign in his more creative midfield role.

Related Gerrard 2.0: Liverpool's "fearless" teen is a bigger talent than Ngumoha

Arne Slot could welcome some elite youth talents in the coming years…

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 5, 2024

da cassino： Ahead of the visit of West Ham United, Fulham have been hit with frustrating injury news which has ruled one forward out for multiple games including the clash with the Hammers.

Fulham injury news

da wazamba： The Cottagers have shown glimpses of their quality so far this season, with their one victory over Leicester City arguably coming at an important time in between a narrow 1-0 loss against Manchester United and a frustrating draw against Ipswich Town. Marco Silva’s side are a difficult side to judge these days.

Related Fulham struck gold on "insane" star who's worth more than Smith Rowe

He is a key player under Marco Silva

Posts ByJoe NuttallAug 27, 2024

Avoiding relegation will still be their first goal, but it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Fulham are now in position to set their sights on causing a few shocks towards the Premier League’s top-half. Just last season, they found themselves sat in 13th and just two points shy of the top 10. A repeat of such an achievement or potentially more would undoubtedly receive rightful applause around Craven Cottage.

Fulham’s first task will be to get back to winning ways in a London derby against West Ham, which they’ll be forced to do without the attacking impetus of one player. As confirmed by Silva, Carlos Vinicius will now miss the West Ham game through injury and is also likely to miss Fulham’s Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End on Tuesday.

The forward should feel particularly frustrated about the Preston game, given that it represented a chance to make his first appearance of the season. Ruled out, however, the Brazilian must now wait for an opportunity to come his way in the Premier League.

"Decisive" Vinicius is at a crossroads

After failing to get his move away amid links to the likes of Red Bull Bragantino in the summer, Vinicius finds himself at a slight crossroads. Whilst Fulham are yet to find a like-for-like replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic over a year on from his departure to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Vinicius seems unlikely to emerge ahead of Raul Jimenez and particularly Rodrigo Muniz.

Making the former Tottenham Hotspur loanee a third-choice under Silva, he may be left with little choice but to pursue a January departure. Whether Silva would be keen to part ways with the forward is another argument in itself though, having praised Vinicius’ performance against Luton Town last season.

Silva said via West London Sports: “He made the impact that we needed in that moment on the pitch, not just because he scored – but of course scoring is always the most important thing for a striker.

“It was nice to see Carlos score. He deserved the chance to go in and it was nice to see him be decisive for us. The competition (with Raúl Jiménez) is also important to us.”

Of course, Muniz proves that form will earn a place in the current Fulham side, but whether Vinicius can finally find his goalscoring touch at Craven Cottage remains to be seen.

da bet vitoria： It’s a new season and a new European format, yet it was the same old Manchester United on Wednesday night, with the Red Devils slipping to a 1-1 draw at home to FC Twente on their first Europa League outing of the campaign.

da prosport bet： Having finished bottom of the group in a calamitous Champions League run in 2023/24, Erik ten Hag and co would have been looking to get going in a far more positive fashion this time around – although former Rangers man Sam Lammers, aided by first-half goalscorer Christian Eriksen, put paid to that following his clinical second-half strike.

The hosts had taken a deserved lead at Old Trafford following a thumping finish from a resurgent Eriksen on what was his fourth successive start, although there appeared to be a lack of impetus to want to go and kill the game off – a fact that was duly punished.

Having been held to a goalless draw away to Crystal Palace last weekend, United – who have missed the most ‘big chances’ in the Premier League this season – appear to be lacking that cutting edge in front of goal, with the 7-0 thrashing of League One side Barnsley perhaps representing something of an anomaly.

The 3-0 victory over a winless Southampton is the only other game this season in which Ten Hag’s men have scored more than once, with a solution needing to be found to get the attacking unit firing again, even if it comes at the expense of Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes' performance vs Twente

The star man of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Fernandes has so often been the shining light in recent times, having chalked up 149 goals and assists in just 241 games for the club to date.

Even with four assists to his name across all fronts this season, however, the 30-year-old hasn’t quite looked like his usual self, particularly over the past week or so, having even lost possession on 34 occasions during a grim outing at Selhurst Park.

In what was a largely controlled performance in south London, the former Sporting CP star was far more chaotic, seemingly working at odds with those around him.

The same was true again on Wednesday evening, as he provided just a solitary key pass from his 76 touches, while also completing just two of his five dribble attempts and losing the ball 19 times.

That latter metric can be somewhat misleading, as it merely illustrates his desire to create and make things happen for his side, although at present, nothing is seemingly working in his favour.

While Ten Hag would have to be a brave man to oust his captain in the coming weeks, it’s certainly worth considering a new approach which could allow the frontline to finally click into gear.

Man Utd's attacking solution

One of the key issues facing United is the lack of a reliable goalscorer to lead the line, with new man Joshua Zirkzee – who has missed four ‘big chances’ in the league – operating far more comfortably in his side self-styled, ‘9.5’ role.

As MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated following the midweek stalemate, the Dutchman offers ‘productive link-up play outside of the box without looking like scoring inside the box’, handing Ten Hag something of a dilemma over who to select.

With Rasmus Hojlund now available once again, the easy solution would be a straight swap of the Dane for Zirkzee, yet with the latter man having shown glimpses of his innate link-up play of late, it could be time for Ten Hag to try something new instead.

The solution staring the 54-year-old in the face could be to drop Zirkzee into more of a number ten role, with the 23-year-old operating in such a berth anyway, while the returning Hojlund can then slot in as the leading, orthodox number nine.

With the former Atalanta man having only just made his return from injury at Palace after limping off against Arsenal in pre-season, the United boss hasn’t been able to trial this duo as yet, although Fernandes’ limp form could provide the perfect opportunity.

With Zirkzee – who ranks in the top 16% among European forwards for progressive passes – acting as the link between midfield and attack, the Red Devils would then have a proper focal point in Hojlund to lead the line, with the 21-year-old more likely to stretch a backline as he is “lightning quick”, as per Owen Hargreaves.

Debut seasons of selected Man Utd strikers – all competitions

Player (season)

Games

Goals

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (1996/97)

46

19

Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001/02)

49

36

Louis Saha (2004/05)*

22

2

Wayne Rooney (2004/05)

43

17

Dimitar Berbatov (2008/09)

43

14

Javier Hernandez (2010/11)

45

20

Robin van Persie (2012/13)

48

30

Anthony Martial (2015/16)

49

17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2016/17)

46

28

Romelu Lukaku (2017/18)

51

27

Edinson Cavani (2020/21)

39

17

Rasmus Hojlund (2023/24)

43

16

Stats via Transfermarkt

*(Signed in Jan 2004 – Scored 7 in 14 games in 2003/04)

Operating with two, towering forwards in a frontline may be a relic of the past, but at a time when United – who only scored 57 league goals last season – are looking blunt in attack, a Hojlund-Zirkzee partnership may be the ideal way to sharpen things up.

That may represent bad news for Fernandes, but having relied so much on the Portuguese playmaker for so long, the Old Trafford side may now need to find a new way to win.

Related Lost the ball 19x: Ten Hag must drop 4/10 star who cost Man Utd vs Twente

He was worse than Christian Eriksen on Wednesday night…

Posts 1 ByJoe NuttallSep 26, 2024

da cassino online： Chelsea are in League Cup action for the first time in the 2024/25 campaign as they prepare to welcome League Two leaders Barrow to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Enzo Maresca’s side come into this clash off the back of successive wins in the Premier League over Bournemouth and West Ham United, scoring four goals and keeping two clean sheets.

da betway： The Italian head coach may target this competition as a trophy that can be won in his first season, after Mauricio Pochettino led the club to the final last term.

This particular clash, however, provides the manager with an opportunity to rotate his squad and offer minutes to some of the fringe players in the group.

Chelsea set to start rarely-seen flop

According to GIVEMESPORT, Mykhailo Mudryk will be given ‘one more’ chance to prove to Maresca that he has a future at Stamford Bridge in this game against Barrow on Tuesday night. The report claims that the Ukraine international will be handed an opportunity to shine from the start against lower league opposition and that it could be make or break for his career in London.

It states that the Blues ‘seriously’ considered cashing in on the former Shakhtar Donetsk forward during the summer transfer window, and that there is a chance that he could be moved on in January if he cannot establish himself as a regular fixture for the club in the Premier League.

This is why this match against Barrow is a potentially defining moment for the winger, because a poor display in this cup clash may end his chances of breaking into the first-team at league level. Chelsea reportedly splashed out a significant fee of £88.5m to sign the prospect from Ukraine at the start of 2023, and he has yet to live up to the hype.

Mykhailo Mudryk's Chelsea struggles

Despite earning more per week (£100k) than Nicolas Jackson (£60k) and Noni Madueke (£50k), Mudryk has produced little in the way of quality for the Blues. Jackson and Madueke have combined for seven goals and two assists in the Premier League so far this season, with the former having scored four goals in five games so far.

Meanwhile, the Ukraine international has appeared in just two of the club’s five matches, starting once, and failed to provide a goal or an assist in his 62 minutes on the pitch.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s Premier League career

Stats

22/23

23/24

24/25

Appearances

15

31

2

Starts

7

18

1

Goals

0

5

0

Big chances created

0

6

1

Assists

2

2

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Mudryk has failed to nail down a regular starting berth on the flank since his big-money move to Stamford Bridge at the start of 2023. The 23-year-old winger has not done enough to convince Maresca that he has a long-term future as a starter for Chelsea, so far, with his lack of quality in the final third, particularly in comparison to players like Jackson and Madueke – who earn far less per week in wages.

Tuesday’s clash with Barrow now looks like it could be make or break for his career with the club, as a poor performance could push him further down the pecking order ahead of the January window.

Related Chelsea star was slammed by Lampard last season, now he's undroppable

Chelsea star now undroppable after being torn into last season

Posts ByConnor HoldenSep 23, 2024

da brwin： Arsenal might have won heading into the October international break, but Mikel Arteta’s side didn’t make it easy for themselves against a spirited Southampton side who remain second-bottom in the Premier League table.

da bet7： Cameron Archer stunned the hosts before the hour mark by putting winless Southampton ahead, but Arsenal’s resolve rose swiftly to the fore as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli turned the tide.

There was one man in particular who deserved the plaudits above his peers. Bukayo Saka proved that he is very much a part of Europe’s elite players with another statement showing against the Saints.

Bukayo Saka's performance v Southampton

Saka’s goal and two assists have taken his seasonal tally up to ten goal contributions from as many matches, and his talismanic aura could hold sway as the Gunners look to chase down the Premier League title.

Bukayo Saka’s Performance v Southampton

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

90

Goals

1

Assists

2

Touches

72

Accurate passes

35/39 (90%)

Key passes

7

Dribbles (completed)

2 (0)

Tackles

1

Total duels (won)

13 (3)

Stats via Sofascore

It was an efficient display. Though, perhaps that is cutting it a little short: Saka produced a masterclass in playmaking to keep his side apace with Manchester City and just a single point behind first-placed Liverpool – with the Reds coming to the Emirates later this month.

The England international was the fulcrum of all that was good for the hosts, turning the game on its head and ensuring that his strikers were effectively served before turning to get his own name on the scoresheet to seal the victory.

It’s a good thing that the England international was in top form because not all of his peers were. Indeed, Gabriel Jesus flattered to deceive in north London, and must now be dropped.

Gabriel Jesus must now be dropped

Jesus has endured a tough start to the season, only playing 19 minutes of football across four cameos in the Premier League before Arteta handed him a role from the opening against Southampton. The centre-forward was hooked on the hour mark with the scores level, which says it all.

As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old mustered up only three wayward shots and completed nine passes. His 20 touches accentuated the marginal role that he played, with even shot-stopper David Raya taking more – 27 in total – despite the visitors having struggled for purchase in their attacking third, holding 41% of possession.

Football.london’s Kaya Kaynak was not impressed either. He branded Jesus with a 5/10 match rating after failing to play his part. Jesus was handed a glorious opportunity to stake his claim, and candidly, he did anything but.

He wrote: “Given the chance to impress up top and struggled to really grab it. Movement in the box did not trouble Southampton and didn’t manage an effort on target in the game. Looks a little low on confidence right now.”

With Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both starting the fixture on the bench, it’s clear that there are plenty of options to make Arsenal purr that do not call for Jesus’ starting presence.

It’s a harsh truth, but Arteta’s system simply isn’t at its zenith with the Brazilian at the spearhead, and with everything on the line this season, tough calls are needed.

Related Not just Mudryk: Arsenal wanted to sign £46m star but got Trossard instead

The Gunners made the right choice in January 2023.

Posts ByJack Salveson HolmesOct 4, 2024