Page 139 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2024

Can De Rossi provide the tactical identity that Roma were missing under Mourinho?

A sense of positivity returned to the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, as Roma picked up a 2-1 win over Verona. While the victory was a rather nervous one by the end, it was the Giallorossi’s first win since the end of December and while the recent weeks were full of tricky games, Daniele de Rossi’s return to the club proved to be a sweet one.

By Kaustubh Pandey

José Mourinho’s sacking last week divided opinion among the fans and De Rossi’s arrival was followed by a criticism of the Italian’s managerial CV. De Rossi was previously part of Roberto Mancini’s Italy coaching department, but his last stint as manager had seen him get sacked by then-Serie A side SPAL just months after being hired, leaving the side 18th in the league and without any tactical identity. It is ironic that the lack of a tactical identity was one of the reasons why Mourinho lost his job.

Having said that, there did seem to be an identity when Roma took to the pitch at the Olimpico. While one game is an incredibly low sample size to make any judgments about De Rossi, there were some early signs that the former midfielder’s approach will be focused on control.

Roma had 62 percent of possession in the game, which is well above the season average of 53.6 percent under Mourinho, who certainly prefers a more pragmatic approach. They’ve had more possession than that in games against Udinese and Sassuolo, perhaps suggesting that De Rossi might prefer an approach where he has higher control of possession.

It wasn’t the just amount of possession that spoke volumes, as De Rossi told DAZN after the game about what he wants to focus on in training:

“I believe you should control the ball and therefore dominate the game, it is one of the first things we worked on. However, if we do it quickly to get away from the opposition press, then it has meaning.

“However, if we keep possession slowly, then we don’t put the game to bed, we put ourselves to bed and fall asleep. We become too predictable, the opponents are well-prepared and know how to get through those situations if we don’t move the ball quickly.”

In a way, the shift to a 4-3-2-1 shape aided the move towards a more controlled approach and the expectation is that this could become a pattern. De Rossi’s side played with one full-back creating a back-three in build-up with the other one advancing high and wide.

The second half was a much more nervous one than the first one, but the day was about getting the job done and starting well, as banners about Mourinho were unfurled inside the Olimpico days after the sacking of the Portuguese was condemned by other banners found across the city. As the game wore on, Roma fans serenaded De Rossi with chants that hark back to his glorious career as a club icon, showing that they will not take much time to endear themselves to the new manager.

After all, it didn’t take too long for them to endear themselves to Mourinho at all. A special connection was forged with the Portuguese within weeks, as the fans backed Mourinho in everything. From a playing style which firmly helped Roma establish themselves as the underdog to launching a tirade against officiating, they seemed to be in it together, until almost the very end.

Winning the Conference League was one step towards forging that strong bond and while the Europa League final loss was disastrous, the aftermath increased the connection between Mourinho and Roma’s frenetic fan base further. Reports have stated that the Friedkins, the club’s owners, weren’t happy with Mourinho’s constant attacks against officials, and his behaviour after the loss to Sevilla, but the fans were fully behind their manager. After a point though, the attacks became predictable and everyone could see them coming and it reached a point where things simply turned stale.

It is true that Mourinho’s stint at Roma did escalate the club’s global status to new heights. Mourinho’s very association with the club made the Giallorossi seem like a big deal and so did their progress in Europe. And it is no surprise that some fans may still have an issue with the sacking. But one look at the league standings across the last two seasons suggests that things were far from perfect.

Consecutive 6th-placed finishes mean that Paulo Fonseca’s side of 2019/20 finished higher than Mourinho’s outfit. And under Fonseca, Roma reached a Europa League semi-final despite a raft of injuries, and were knocked out by Manchester United in 2021. Under previous coach, Eusebio di Francesco, they even reached a Champions League semi-final while finishing inside the top four once. In that sense, a case can be made of the fact that Mourinho’s trophy win at Roma was a bit of a superficial exercise, as league form was always inconsistent.

Injuries were an issue too, especially this season. New signings Houssem Aouar and Renato Sanches never quite made an impact and Chris Smalling’s absence was an issue. The side constantly faced injury problems in the backline. Having said that, Mourinho’s side never really displayed a tactical identity even when players were fit and that was true till the very end. There was a heavy reliance on Paulo Dybala’s creativity and in his absence, attacking impetus was always limited.

Tammy Abraham’s injury has also played an indirect role. As the Englishman was more than just a goalscorer and provided a more all-round presence than Romelu Lukaku. Abraham did miss chances and was one of the reasons why the club could never perform as per their xG over the last two seasons, but he was also a dynamic creator and a better fit to operate with Dybala.

That isn’t to say that Lukaku has been disappointing. It is just that the Belgian is a different player compared to Abraham, with the Englishman offering more on and off the ball. And his injury has impacted the attacking dynamism, thereby encapsulating how fitness issues did hamper Mourinho’s time Athletic the helm. At the same time, the Portuguese could never implement an identity – something that even Fonseca did previously, and with limited spending.

And a new tactical identity is what De Rossi should be keen to impose on the side. Mourinho’s stint did yield silverware and a never-seen-before connection between the manager and fans, but it didn’t leave behind an identity that De Rossi can rely on.

The Italian has high expectations to match and unfair comparisons will constantly be made to Mourinho. But Roma’s reality lies in the fact that it operates in Serie A, a league which isn’t as financially proficient as the Premier League. As a result, the club would have to rely on long-term building which is focused on a specific identity on and off the pitch and in recruitment. De Rossi’s task would be to hand the side something tangible that any future manager can use and evolve.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Serie A on FotMob, with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

How long can Gareth Southgate overlook James Ward-Prowse?

Over the course of the last few England squads, the name of James Ward-Prowse has been consistently missing.

By Jason Pettigrove

Gareth Southgate has tended to pick his squads on merit rather than name – Kalvin Phillips being one obvious exception to that rule – though hasn’t seen fit to find a spot for the former Southampton stalwart.

That’s despite the fact that the 29-year-old West Ham ace has been playing some of the best football of his career with the East London outfit.

It’s left many supporters and pundits scratching their heads at what the player has to do to even be considered as part of a future Southgate selection, let along knocking on the door for a place in the European Championship squad to go to Germany this summer.

Always known as a dead-ball specialist, many of the goals that have been scored by David Moyes’ side during the 2023/24 campaign have been created by Ward-Prowse.

Indeed, at this point of the season, he’s already delivered six assists, the same as Man City’s Phil Foden, who has recently played in the No. 10 role that Ward-Prowse might be expected to inhabit for the national team.

That’s also one more than Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison, who has also played in the role behind the striker in one of Southgate’s latest XIs.

Nine goals and assists puts him at 25th in the English top-flight, though that’s still one G/A better than Maddison and only two behind Foden who is placed 13th in that particular list.

Jordan Henderson is another to have been played in a central role, more so when Southgate has gone with a 4-3-3 formation, and he might’ve been considered a shoo-in for the Euros at the start of the season.

However, his brief, but awful time in Saudi Arabia has to have Southgate looking twice before deciding to allow one of his most trusted generals a seat on the plane.

No goals at all and only six shots in the half a season that he stayed in the country is a damning indictment of just how far off the pace Henderson has fallen, and it’s little wonder he can’t wait to get back to European shores.

He does at least have four assists to his name and his passing accuracy remains in the high eighties (86.1%), albeit in a vastly inferior league to that which he’s used to. Comparisons to Maddison (85.1%), Foden (88.1%) and Ward-Prowse (88.8%) are misleading as the latter trio are playing at a consistently higher level where speed of thought as much as accuracy has to be spot on.

Ball recoveries remain his forte, with 95 so far this season, significantly more than Maddison (23), slightly more than Foden (74) and, interestingly, one less than Ward-Prowse (96).

If we also look at chances created, a decent enough indicator of just how important a player is, then Ward-Prowse again doesn’t disgrace himself. His 36 compares favourably to Foden’s 42, Maddison’s 31 and Hendo’s 39.

Touches in the opposition box and getting in amongst it evidence a willingness to be involved at the sharp end, even if that might not necessarily be in the players remit.

Henderson’s 14 is way below Maddison’s 56 and Foden’s 107, and in this particular metric Ward-Prowse is also found wanting with 21.

There are other ways in which each player’s importance to Southgate could be measured of course, but the bottom line is what the manager is looking for from his central attacking midfielder.

For example, one of the questions Southgate has to ask himself is whether Henderson’s lack of output is enough to keep him at home on this occasion, or whether his leadership, desire and experience are all areas which enhance his tournament credentials.

Another might be whether Foden is better utilised in one of the wide positions rather than centrally?

To this point Jude Bellingham hasn’t been mentioned in this conversation because it’s abundantly clear that he’ll be one of the first names on the squad list, injuries notwithstanding.

The season he has had at Real Madrid so far has been nothing short of sensational.

Thirteen goals from 23 shots on target is, frankly, unbelievable. Though he could do better on the assists front (2), his strength and associative play when marauding forward has been a joy to watch.

Looking at the metrics that we’ve measured the other players by, Bellingham has a remarkable 89.7% pass accuracy but is surprisingly bottom of the chance creation list when compared to his contemporaries with just 27.

Eighty-four touches in the opposition box mean he’s second only to Foden in that category, whilst 73 ball recoveries is a more than acceptable tally.

From an all-round perspective, it’s impossible to argue against the Real Madrid man being the starter in that coveted position, however, Ward-Prowse can feel rightly aggrieved that he isn’t even in the conversation at this point.

Not a single call up in recent times, even if only to run the rule over him, and yet the stats would appear to support that he at least deserves the chance to impress Southgate in the lead up to the tournament.

Ultimately, the England coach will live or die by his decisions but he surely can’t ignore Ward-Prowse for too much longer.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every West Ham United game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

Udogie and Porro: The cornerstones of Postecoglou’s early success

Ange Postecoglou has had an impressive maiden season in the Premier League. Getting his Tottenham side adjusted to ‘Ange-ball’ whilst battling injuries and lifting the mood following the toxic end of the combustible Antonio Conte reign.

By Dharnish Iqbal

The two full-backs that have been crucial in spearheading Tottenham’s season are Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie.

Porro and Udogie have only missed six league games between them. The full-backs are a crucial cog in the Spurs machine.

They provide width by stretching opponent’s backlines or invert centrally to receive the ball in midfield.

If one is performing a certain task – for example, receiving the ball in midfield, the other can go into defence and be part of build-up or push up into attack giving Tottenham a numerical advantage and extra man to trouble defences.

It makes Spurs a dynamic attack with the full-backs’ roles being multi-functional. Udogie and Porro are full-backs, midfielders and attackers all at the same time.

It’s an extra headache for defences because of how tricky they are to mark. They have a license to roam, be it in attack or defence.

When Udogie or Porro drop into defence or midfield to receive the ball and help progress build-up, one of the attacking midfielders in James Maddison or Pepe Matar Sarr can hover into the space vacated near them as teams focus on man-marking Porro and Udogie.

Even when the full-backs are marked they’re effective because it frees up an advanced midfielder to receive the pass and become the out-ball. Whilst players are attracted to Porro and Udogie, someone like Bentancur or Skipp can pull wide or into the half-spaces to receive the ball in dangerous positions.

Tottenham’s system works as well as it does because it relies on the ability of the Portuguese and Italian to be in different positions throughout the game to be effective.

If a midfielder receives the ball from defence, for example, Bissouma, Udogie and Porro push up and join the attack, with one wide and one in the middle.

Similarly, the roles reverse and the full-backs are the ones to drop deep allowing the midfielders to overload defences and join the attack. Different players, occupy the same positions to create the same effect.

This is why it always feels as if Tottenham attack with so many players, as Porro and Udogie facilitate the attack and become part of it.

It is one thing to follow tactical instructions in a formation and another to flourish under them which is what both are doing.

The all-action style of Porro is typified in his player traits being in the 97% percentile rank for chances created and 99% of shot attempts.

In a day and age where full-backs are encouraged to bomb forward, it shows Porro creates 1.95 chances per 90 for his teammates and isn’t afraid to shoot himself. He has already registered 7 assists for the season, averaging 0.35 assists per 90.

Both have an xG of 0.10 per 90 in the 82% percentile and whilst Udogie may have fewer touches on average overall, he averages 3.28 touches in the opposition box per 90, highlighting his willingness to get forward.

Comparing the stats of the two is interesting. At first glance it seems Porro is commonly the one involved a little more on the attacking side, in terms of assisting, creating more chances and crossing more.

This has to do with the fact Udogie has been called upon in defensive duels versus tricky wingers like Bakayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen and Phil Foden. It’s no wonder his duels won statistic stands at over 6 duels won per game.

Spurs without the ball press teams high up the pitch this season and Udogie plays a key part in this when pressing the opposing full-back, winning the ball in the opposition’s final 3rd an average of 0.78 per game.

Neither was signed by the Australian manager and yet both have completely transformed themselves and Spurs this season. It’s refreshing considering the amount of time Antonio Conte spent in the media appealing for more signings to improve the side.

Regardless of the players available for the former Celtic manager, he won’t budge from his style.

As players have come in and out this season for Spurs, you could see the drop in performance as a result of not having everyone available.

Spurs have been without plenty of players this season, but they have rarely had to play without their dynamic duo. It’s a testament to Porro and Udogie’s importance that their ever presence has powered Spurs to within five points of top spot.

They may just be the most important players in this vibrant Spurs team.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Spurs game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

FIVE games to follow this weekend: Premier League, LaLiga, Supercoppa, and more

In this weekend preview we summarise the best five games to follow on your match feed. And make a couple of suggestions for matches that you may otherwise miss.

By Bill Biss

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League: AFC Bournemouth vs. Liverpool

This weekend marks the end of the Premier League’s staggered winter break, with the ten teams who didn’t feature in last week’s fixtures now playing over the course of the next three days. And on Sunday, leaders Liverpool face what, on paper, looks like a challenging trip to Bournemouth, where they face a side who have only lost one of their last nine games in all competitions.

However, Jürgen Klopp’s side have got the better of Andoni Iraola’s Cherries on two occasions already this season – once in the league (3-1 at Anfield), and again in the Carabao Cup back in November (2-1 at the Vitality).

The Reds are low on numbers, though, with international call-ups and injuries playing havoc with their busy schedule. They have the Carabao Cup semi-final, second leg, and then a game in the FA Cup to come in the next week so this might be a good time for Bournemouth to face them while they’re missing the likes of Mo Salah, the player currently leading the league in combined goals and assists.

For Bournemouth, former-Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke should be fit. He has six goals in his last five games and only Salah and Erling Haaland (both 14) have scored more than the 12 he’s bagged so far this season.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Premier League: Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace

Before that game though, the first top flight fixture in England comes at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime, when Arsenal take on fellow Londoners Crystal Palace.

The Gunners are in the midst of a well-publicised wobble. Having led the table as recently as the weekend before Christmas, they now sit fourth having lost their last three games, against West Ham and Fulham in the league, and Liverpool in the FA Cup. So Mikel Arteta will be looking for a response from his side against a Palace team that have won just one of their last 11 and who looked particularly low on confidence in losing an FA Cup replay at Everton during the week.

The Eagles did win their last league game – vs. Brentford – but that only relieved some of the pressure on under fire veteran manager Roy Hodgson.

Back in August, a Martin Ødegaard penalty was all that separated the two sides when they met at Selhurst Park, a repeat of which Arsenal fans might take right now.

🇮🇹 Supercoppa: Inter vs. Lazio

Following on from last weekend’s four-team version of the Spanish Supercopa, Saudi Arabia is now playing host to the Italian Supercoppa. Again, there’s a four-team format here, with last season’s league winners Napoli beating Fiorentina, the Coppa Italia runners-up, in the first semi-final on Thursday evening. They await the winners of Friday night’s clash between Inter (last season’s Coppa winners) and Lazio (league runners-up) in the final this coming Monday.

Current Serie A leaders Inter have lost just once in their last 20 competitive fixtures – December’s shock defeat to Bologna in this season’s Coppa Italia being the odd one out in that run. They recovered from that with a solid 2-0 win away, at Lazio, in their very next game, and despite the equally good form of Juventus, they remain two points clear at the top of the league standings.

Since that defeat to tonight’s opponents, Lazio have gone on a five game winning streak, their best run in what has been a patchy season for Maurizio Sarri’s side. They are back up to sixth as a result of that, though, and in to the final four of the Coppa Italia following a morale boasting victory over city rivals Roma.

🇪🇸 LaLiga: Real Madrid vs. Almería

It’s been a busy week or so for Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, with the winners of the aforementioned Supercopa now set to return to league action in Sunday’s meeting with bottom side Almería. Madrid went to extra-time in their semi-final against local rivals Atlético in the semi-finals of that tournament, then went on to trounce Clásico rivals Barcelona to lift the trophy last Sunday, following a Vinícius Júnior-inspired 4-1 victory.

They were, however, knocked down a peg or two, by Atlético Madrid, when they met again in the Copa Del Rey on Thursday. That game, again, went to extra-time, with Atlético exerting their revenge on their near-neighbours. We said they’ve been busy – two derbies that went the distance plus El Clásico, all in the space of eight days!

Meanwhile, back in LaLiga, Madrid slipped one point below leaders Girona as the surprise package could only manage a draw in the game they played while Madrid were in Saudi Arabia last weekend. That gives Los Blancos an advantage, especially with the prospect of Almería coming to town on Sunday, plus a game in hand to come.

Astonishingly, Almería, who finished 17th in their first season following promotion in 2023/23, have yet to win a single game after 20 rounds of the 2023/24 campaign. They have picked up six draws though – one of which being the 0-0 result for Girona last weekend, the game that ended up doing Madrid a favour. They also scored twice against Barcelona before eventually succumbing to a 3-2 defeat just before Christmas. So perhaps their luck is changing? But still, the prospect of a first win of the season coming at the Bernabéu would be a huge shock.

🇩🇪 Bundesliga: RB Leipzig vs. Bayer Leverkusen

As German top flight football returned last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen were under pressure. Xabi Alonso’s league leaders had gone unbeaten in the first half of the season, so they understandably had a target on their backs, and Bayern Munich had closed the gap between them to two points following a commanding display in their win over Hoffenheim on Friday night.

But Leverkusen responded. Just. They required a 94th minute winner from Exequiel Palacios, their unsung Argentine midfield hero, to come away from Augsburg with a hard-earned three points. That was the club’s 14th league win of the campaign and their fourth on the bounce in all competitions.

But there’s no time to rest though, with Leverkusen now preparing for Saturday’s trip to RB Leipzig, who have gone under the radar somewhat, but are currently sat fourth in the division. Leipzig may have lost some big names in recent transfer windows – Nkunku, Szoboszlai, and Gvardiol in the summer, and now Emil Forsberg and Timo Werner this month, but they’re still holding their own, with the likes of Xavi Simons and Loïs Openda leading the way. That said, they did lose their first game back, at home to Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday.

Plus two suggestions from a little deeper in your match feed…

🇫🇷 Coupe de France: Orleans vs. PSG

In this section, this week, we thought we’d highlight a couple of games in major cup competitions taking place over the weekend. In France, it’s the Coupe de France Round of 32, and that means there’s still a selection of lower league sides taking on the country’s biggest names. The action starts with Bergerac Périgord, one of six remaining fourth tier teams, against Lyon on Friday night. And in the headline slot on Saturday, PSG, and all their household names will make the short trip south from the capital, to third tier Orleans.

Orleans are currently one point clear of the relegation zone in their division but have had the luxury of facing a side from the eighth tier of French football and another team from their level so far during this cup run. They did also beat second tier Ajaccio though, who were plying their trade in the top flight until recently.

PSG were 9-0 winners over sixth tier US Revel in the previous round, a game in which Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick, and the side racked up 7.14 xG in total.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Cup: Celtic vs. Buckie Thistle

In Scotland, they’ve reached the fourth round of the main cup competition and SPFL leaders Celtic have been drawn at home to Buckie Thistle, a side based in the Highlands and who play outside of the country’s professional leagues. Indeed, Thistle currently sit fifth in the fifth tier Highland League and this game will be their first competitive game against a side of Celtic’s stature.

The two have met before in friendly games though, and there are strong links between them, with Buckie Thistle traditionally wearing green and white hoops due to one of their very early kits having been donated to them by Celtic. The Jags come in to the game unbeaten in six, a run that includes a 8-1 win over Forres Mechanics.

Celtic appear to be over their December wobble when they lost two league games back-to-back, and they’ve now won their last four, taking their lead in the league back to eight points.

If you want to follow any of the games mentioned above, click on the relevant link and tap the bell icon to receive all the key match updates.

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Cover Image from IMAGO

Jan

2024

Ligue 1 and the AFCON: How does the French top flight cope with the exodus of players?

With the Africa Cup of Nations in full flow, Ligue 1 clubs are preparing for a challenge that they face every two years: the long absence of key players.

The AFCON interferes with the normal flow of Ligue 1, and the delayed 2023 edition is no exception, with a whopping figure of 61 players retiring from their club engagements to represent their national teams. Such international call-ups will affect some teams critically, but others less so. Let’s take a look.

By Farah Ben Gamra

Impact on Ligue 1 dynamics

Hosted every two years, the AFCON can be said to have become a seasonal pebble in Ligue 1 clubs’ shoes. This edition, held in the Ivory Coast, has seen 61 players pack their bags to join their national team for a prolonged period.

Comparing those numbers to the 2022 edition, it can be seen that there is a small rise in the number of players absent for the AFCON, five more players to be precise. This escalation shows the increasing influence of international competitions over national leagues, particularly for Ligue 1.

The first major outcome of the winter exodus is an obvious change in how Ligue 1 operates during this important time. Teams that relied heavily on their international stars must readjust in response to their absence. The competitiveness of the league and pivotal games offering a high degree of suspense hang in the balance because key players leave temporarily.

Identifying the most affected teams

It is clear that not all Ligue 1 clubs are equally impacted after the departure of players for AFCON. But some clubs end up in the firing line, taking a severe blow after losing several important players.

In particular, Marseille and Lorient are the hardest hit, with seven players each. The likes of Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo), Azzedine Ounahi and Amine Harit (Morocco), or Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye (Senegal) for Marseille, and notably Alfred Gomis, Bamba Dieng (Senegal), Montassar Talbi (Tunisia) or Siriné Doucouré (Mali) for Lorient.

Montpellier and AS Monaco have lost five players; Nice and Stade de Reims, four.

In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain has only one player to mourn for: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco).

Title race and Relegation battle

The AFCON player exodus creates a ripple effect at the top of Ligue 1 and the bottom as well; both title contenders and teams fighting to avoid relegation are impacted.

For teams that compete with PSG’s dominance, like in the case of Nice or Monaco, losing key players is an even tougher challenge. The clubs that had a realistic opportunity to stop PSG’s cakewalk towards another Ligue 1 title are now forced to face an even more uncertain future, testing the replacement depth of squad members and their managerial workforce. Attention is now drawn to these challengers’ ability to keep up their pursuit of the leaders.

In the relegation fight, the impact is also heavy. Teams like bottom side Lorient have a difficult situation to deal with, with the lack of vital defenders (Montassar Talbi—Tunisia) and forward players (Siriné Doucouré—Mali) only making things worse. The remaining weeks of the tournament are crucial to these teams as they fight for the vital points that could save their top flight status.

Coping strategies: tactics, transfers, and youth integration

Ligue 1 teams respond to the challenges that AFCON presents by using a variety of strategies designed to reduce the effect of losing squad members. The coping strategies that have gained prominence are tactical shifts, strategic transfers, and youth integration.

For example, in light of the inevitable departures, Monaco already took some proactive steps in November, signing Kassoum Ouattara from Amiens before the tournament. Here are some other examples of the different strategies employed by Ligue 1 clubs:

AS Monaco: The principality club has rearranged its defence, with younger talents having a chance to emerge. In the absence of players such as Singo, Salisu, and Jakobs, that leaves a void in defence where Chrislain Matsima or newcomer Thilo Kehrer get more opportunities. Youngsters Kassoum Ouattara, Edan Diop, and Maghnes Akliouche are ready to come in, giving manager Adi Hütter a chance to cast his eyes over their potential.

Marseille: L’OM will undergo a defensive overhaul, with loan recruit Bamo Meïté taking up duties in defence, while Vitinha and Correa contribute to strengthening the offensive sector.

Nice: The INEOS-backed side are using rising talents to test their strength in midfield, with Alexis Claude-Maurice, and Reda Belahyane perhaps getting more first team opportunities. The absence of Boudaoui and Boga for AFCON is a chance for these players to become part of the team’s successful campaign.

Montpellier: The addition of Silvan Hefti allows them to make some changes to its defensive organisation. A defence that no longer has players such as Sacko, Kouyaté, and Sylla. In last Sunday’s afternoon game in Bretagne, two Montpellier Hérault Sport Club players made their Ligue 1 debuts; Swiss national Silvan Hefti and young Axel Gueguin, a homegrown winger.

While there is no doubt that AFCON attracts the public attention and prestige of African talent on an international scale, clubs from Ligue 1 however have to manage this truth with difficulties. The balancing act requires proactive recruitment, strategic adaptability, and squad depth optimisation to minimise their losses.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Ligue 1 game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

Premier League Preview: Matchday 21, part 2

The second round of Matchday 21 fixtures is now upon us. Yet again, these games are to be split across three days and all five are televised in the UK. Hopefully, the tiered matchdays won’t become the norm but I could get used to having every single game on TV. Here’s your review for the upcoming matches.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Can Arsenal get back on track?

We kick things off at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon with Arsenal looking to return to winning ways. The Gunners are without a win in over a month now and have lost three successive matches. Mikel Arteta’s men are level on points with fifth-placed Spurs and trail leaders Liverpool by five points despite sitting top of the table on Christmas Day.

Arsenal host Crystal Palace in what, on paper at least, appears to be a formality for the Gunners. Roy Hodgson is under pressure following a terrible run of form which has seen them win two of their last 10, losing on five occasions. However, they did claim a draw against Manchester City while also causing Liverpool problems in an eventual 2-1 defeat.

They do have the ability to cause Arsenal some issues and they will want to take advantage of the current situation. The hosts are lacking confidence and haven’t, despite their best efforts, been able to convert the chances they have carved out. Arteta’s side have just two goals across their last four outings and they have conceded two in each of their last three games.

This might not seem like a big one for the title hopefuls on Saturday, but it would well set the tone for the remainder of the season.

Another six-pointer?

At first glance, Nottingham Forest against Brentford doesn’t scream big game, does it? It is 15th versus 16th in the Premier League. Look a little closer and you’ll realise Forest are just four points clear of the relegation zone while the Bees have just a three-point safety net. A win here for either side gives them breathing space. A win for one of these teams would lift them into 14th position if Palace fail to pick up any points against Arsenal.

Forest have won their last two in the English top-flight and are putting up a fight under Nuno Espírito Santo. Brentford are in freefall. Thomas Frank’s side have lost five on the bounce and seven of their last eight.

The return of Ivan Toney could be the spark they need to get their season back on track though. The prolific forward is available once again following his eight-month suspension and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him named in the starting XI. It would be a bold move, but Brentford need that right now. They have just four goals in their last five matches. In fact, they have scored more than one goal in just one of their previous eight Premier League games.

Toney could prove to be the difference-maker and the match-winner, just as he was last season on countless occasions.

The Blades and The Hammers

Bottom of the table Sheffield United host West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. A win for the Blades won’t outright lift them off the bottom of the table but it would see them move to level on points with Burnley and to within four points of Luton Town.

By comparison, victory for David Moyes’ men would see them cut the gap to fifth place to just three points.

West Ham had been in good form prior to their shock FA Cup defeat to Bristol City in mid-week. The Hammers went into that game having won four and drawn two of their last seven. Their only defeat during that run was the Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool at Anfield. They had actually won nine of their previous 14 games across all competitions before the 1-0 defeat at Ashton Gate. They will be hopeful that it was nothing more than a blip rather than a sign of things to come.

The Hammers have issues in attack with Lucas Paquetá and Michail Antonio both ruled out while Mohammed Kudus is away at AFCON. If there is ever a time to play them, it would be now. Sheffield United are due a win too after positive performances against Aston Villa and Luton. The Blades will need to turn those performances into points if they are to avoid the drop.

Do Liverpool have the depth?

Liverpool make the trip to Bournemouth for the late kick-off on Sunday. The Reds will remain top of the Premier League table, regardless of the scoreline, but know anything other than a win gives Manchester City the chance to displace them at the summit when they play their game in hand.

Jürgen Klopp has an impressive record against the Cherries. He’s won nine of the previous 10 clashes against them and the Reds are two for two against Andoni Iraola’s side this term.

However, the Premier League leaders are down to the bare bones now. Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo are away on international duty while Thiago, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Joel Matip and Stefan Bajčetić are all ruled out. With the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to be played in mid-week, Klopp might be forced into making changes to keep certain individuals fit for that. It isn’t something you want to be doing against one of the form teams in the Premier League.

Since Matchday 10, the Cherries have played nine games (two fewer than most) but have picked up 19 points. Only Manchester City, West Ham, Aston Villa and Liverpool have won more during this period and all have played more games than Iraola’s men.

In Dominic Solanke, they also possess one of the form strikers in the league and he will be a threat against his former side.

Monday night football

Brighton host Wolves on Monday night to round off the action. This is a game that could have a big impact on how the Premier League looks. A win for the Seagulls would see them potentially climb to sixth whereas all three points for Wolves would see Gary O’Neil’s side move level on points with their hosts. Who would’ve had that on their bingo card at the start of the season?

Both sides head into this game unbeaten in three but it is Wolves who are the form team having won three on the spin. Roberto De Zerbi’s side, meanwhile, have won just one of their last five.

It could be a fascinating match-up between the sides and a fitting way to round off what has been a unique Matchday across the English top-flight.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jan

2024

Transfer of the Week: Lyon’s Belgian business

Over the course of the January transfer window, we will take a closer look at the best of the week’s business with our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. This time, we will focus on Lyon’s double signing of Gift Orban and Malick Fofana from Gent.

By Neel Shelat

Lyon have not had a great first half of the season, to put it mildly. Les Gones spent a good deal of time at the very bottom of the standings as they were the last team to register a Ligue 1 win this term. Even since then, they have only managed to climb up to 16th place as we enter the second half of the season.

A real relegation battle seems in store for OL, but regardless of how that ends, they look well on course to register their worst top-flight finish in at least three decades.

Clearly, things need some shaking up at the Groupama Stadium. Of course, they have already changed head coaches as Pierre Sage has taken over from Fabio Grosso, who himself was a mid-season replacement for Laurent Blanc. Their form has improved under Sage, but they could certainly do with a bit of help in the transfer window to strengthen their squad.

With that in mind, it becomes easy to understand why Lyon have already spent more in this winter transfer window than they have in any of the last three summers. A massive chunk of that money has gone to Gent, who have received a total of around €29 million for parting with Gift Orban and Malick Fofana in two separate deals.

Gift Orban (€12M)

Orban definitely is the more well-known of the two players, having put up some eye-catching goal-scoring numbers at Stabæk in Norway before moving to Gent, for whom he has barely slowed down.

The Nigerian striker proceeded to tear up the league right after landing in Belgium, scoring 15 goals in just the second half of the 2022/23 campaign. His tally was built on some serious xG overperformance, which can partly be put down to his incredibly clinical finishing thanks to his top-class ball-striking ability on his right foot, but the variance/luck factor must also be considered.

He is already starting to feel the effect of that this season, returning with just 3 goals in 17 league appearances so far. The 21-year-old forward does have 9 goals in 10 UEFA Europa Conference League matches, though, including the fastest-ever hat-trick in the competition’s history.

All things considered, is it realistic to expect Orban to get back to scoring a goal a game in France? Absolutely not. However, his underlying shooting metrics suggest that he should be able to average a goal every two games with all else being equal, which is not a bad return at all.

Adding a player of Orban’s potential is an important move for Lyon because they desperately need some more goal-threat in their squad. Besides 32-year-old forward Alexandre Lacazette, the only Lyon player to score multiple Ligue 1 goals this season is centre-back Jake O’Brien!

A fee of €12m seems fair enough given Orban’s overall track record so far. It is also a very handy profit for Gent as they signed him for around a quarter of that just one year ago, so all parties should surely be pleased with this deal.

Malick Fofana (€17M)

Even before the Orban transfer was in the works, Lyon had completed one signing from Gent. Malick Fofana moved for a reported transfer fee of €17m, making him the most expensive Ligue 1 signing of the window.

The Belgian youngster is not quite so well known as he has only started senior matches regularly this season. In the first half of the campaign, he has made the left wing-back spot in Gent’s 3-4-1-2 formation his own, returning with 8 goal involvements in all competitions.

The teenager spent most of his youth career as a winger, which explains quite a bit about his playing style. He got a lot of attacking freedom in Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s system, which he used to showcase his direct running and dribbling threat down the wing. What Lyon will be particularly interested in is his creativity – through crosses and cut-backs as well as angled through balls.

Their players have also struggled in this respect so far this term. No one but Rayan Cherki has registered more than one league assist, with the young Frenchman only managing three himself.

One of the reasons behind that is the glaring lack of a proper left winger in their squad. The only player of that description they had in the first half of the season was Chelsea loanee Diego Moreira, but he has not looked up to the mark having failed to register a goal or assist in any competition.

Fofana, on the other hand, has proven himself in what is a strong Belgian Pro League as well as the UECL, so he should be expected to come in and become a regular starter on the left of Lyon’s attack immediately. Make no mistake, €17m does seem a bit excessive for a player who still is quite a raw talent, but Lyon’s desperate situation perhaps warrants such spending on a one-off basis.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Jan

2024

Phil Neville and the Canadian Invasion at Portland Timbers

Phil Neville has a point to prove. Maybe not to himself – self-confidence has never been an issue for the former England defender – but certainly to Major League Soccer fans, including the Portland Timbers supporters who protested against the club’s appointment of the 46-year-old. Neville has no shortage of critics to win over.

By Graham Ruthven

Much of the criticism around Portland’s appointment focused on Neville’s past statements about women on social media. “[Neville] has a history of sexist public statements that run counter to our ethos as a club, city and supporters’ group,” the Timbers Army said in a statement. There was, however, a footballing side to the argument too.

In his last two managerial jobs, Neville’s teams have dramatically improved after his departure. England won the 2022 Women’s Euros after Neville’s exit the year before while Inter Miami won the inaugural Leagues Cup and made a run to the US Open Cup final in the months following the 46-year-old’s sacking. A trend has emerged.

Neville might point to various factors – like Inter Miami’s signing of Lionel Messi after his exit – to explain this pattern, but there isn’t much evidence to suggest he can improve a team. This is an issue for the Portland Timbers who are at the start of a rebuild after an extremely difficult 2023 season which saw them miss out on the play-offs.

To start this rebuild, Neville has turned to Canada, a country he has some footballing knowledge of after working as the national team assistant manager for five months. Canadian international Zac McGraw was already in the Portland squad Neville inherited, but he has added two more players from the Great White North.

Kamal Miller has arrived from Inter Miami. The 26-year-old certainly wasn’t the biggest name at DRV PNK Stadium last season, but he became a defensive leader for Tata Martino’s team after the arrival of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Neville wants Miller to become a similar figure for the Timbers.

Goalkeeper James Pantemis has joined from CF Montreal, although he will likely be a depth option behind Maxime Crépeau who has also made his way to Providence Park. Crépeau is widely considered Canada’s best goalkeeper and his signing is the biggest off-season statement made by Portland so far.

Not many expected Crépeau to be on the market, but Los Angeles FC’s surprise signing of Hugo Lloris made the Canadian shot-stopper available and the Timbers acted quickly. This, coupled with the signing of centre-back Miller, could give Portland a sound defensive foundation for the 2024 season.

It makes sense that Neville has prioritised the backline since arriving at Providence Park. The Timbers’ vulnerable defence was the biggest reason they failed to make the play-offs last season and so the club has sought to address that over the off-season. If they can stay fit, Crépeau and Miller will make a difference.

Gio Savarese was in charge at Providence Park for five years. The Venezuelan achieved success as Portland Timbers manager, but last season represented the end of a cycle. The Timbers needed a new direction and while Neville’s appointment did little to suggest the new direction would be a better one, the transfer market activity has raised hopes.

There’s still more work to be done. Sebastian Blanco and Jaroslaw Niezgoda left Providence Park at the end of last season, leaving the Timbers somewhat short of quality in the attacking third. Bryan Acosta’s departure has also taken a big chunk of salary off the books, meaning there should be room in the wage bill for a new Designated Player (possibly two presuming Crépeau isn’t a DP).

On and off the pitch, the Portland Timbers are facing a crossroads in their recent history. Speculation continues to swirl around the ownership of the club with the Portland Thorns recently sold off. For the time being, though Merritt Paulson continues to keep hold of the Timbers despite widespread fan opposition.

Neville will start the 2024 campaign with a lot of baggage from his past experiences weighing him down. However, it is one of those past experiences with the Canadian national team that has pointed the Portland Timbers in a new direction. Canada has three MLS teams and in the Timbers they now have an honorary fourth.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Timbers game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

A title defence in tatters: What’s gone wrong for Napoli

The 2022/23 Serie A season was perfect for the football romantics as Napoli won the Scudetto for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. Their abject downfall this season has attracted just as much attention, with a repeat of that title win now seemingly a far-fetched dream.

By Kaustubh Pandey

If there’s a word that encapsulates Napoli’s struggles this season, it is probably ‘chaos’. The contrast from the success of last season is incredibly stark, as the Partenopei lie eighth in the table and have already crashed out of the Coppa Italia. As they prepare for the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia, a feeling of pessimism lingers around the club despite the recent 2-1 win over local rivals Salernitana as they had to rely on a late Amir Rrahmani goal to seal all three points against Serie A’s rock bottom side.

It isn’t just the lack of results that is the problem, the season has seen a fair amount of drama and controversy unfold off the field and all of that has contributed to the frustration at the club. Even though the South Coast club seem set to make at least three signings this month, it remains to be seen whether they can turn things around in what’s left of the 2023/24 campaign.

With that in mind, we explore the reasons why Napoli are not matching the heights of last season.

A numerical fall-off

Last season, Napoli conceded an xG of only 32.1, which was the best tally in the league and that is less than one goal per 90.

A comparison to this season would suggest that things have fallen off significantly in the backline and the reasons for that are both personnel and tactics related, with the club having failed to replicate Luciano Spalletti’s approach, under the two managers subsequently employed to replace him; Rudi Garcia and Walter Mazzarri.

They are ninth in the xG conceded charts, having already given up an xG of 21.8 when only a half of the season has been played. They have conceded a goal every 90 minutes, which is a fair reflection of how far things have come for the champions.

Even in attack, things seem worse off. Much worse off. The team that relied on fluid movements across the final third has become one which seems scared or, if anything, happy to bask in last season’s achievement.

They have gone from scoring at a rate of two goals per game to scoring 1.5 goals per game this season, which is a major drop off. That brings us onto the co-related reasons for the numerical downfall.

Failure to replace key personnel

Last season, a part of Napoli’s success was credited to their excellent recruitment after losing the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koulibaly and Fabián Ruiz during the previous off-season.

Historically known as a club that recruits well, Napoli had Cristiano Guintoli for many years to make sure that the departure of players wasn’t keenly felt. In the summer, Guintoli headed to rivals Juventus, following the path that Gonzalo Higuaín took many years ago. In came former Spezia technical director Mauro Meluso, who had never operated at the highest level of the sport.

This was followed by Luciano Spalletti’s acrimonious exit, with the reasons ranging from the fact that he and CEO Aurelio de Laurentiis were not seeing eye-to-eye to a lack of commitment shown in the transfer window to upgrade the squad. Losing Spalletti wasn’t the problem, but bringing in Rudi Garcia was. The Frenchman’s hasty return to Italy came after a disappointing spell at Al Nassr and amidst clear signs of his declining stock. His appointment came despite the Partenopei’s links with the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique.

The story of exits didn’t end there, as Kim Min-Jae departed for Bayern Munich and with the club struggling to land a top class replacement, Red Bull Bragantino’s Natan was signed for €10m in what has proved to be a very underwhelming move. To be fair to him, due to injuries, he has often played left-back, which has had a knock-on effect on how star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia operates further up the field.

Moves for Jesper Lindstrom and Jens Cajuste haven’t led to a concrete improvement either.

Injuries

Apart from a drop in his numbers, there has been a change in the way Kvaratskhelia has been deployed, and that is partly because of injuries. The regular presence of Mathías Olivera and Mário Rui last season made sure that the Georgian was never caught out in 2v1 situations but injuries to the duo have made sure that the winger is often nullified by the opposition.

Victor Osimhen himself has picked up injuries this season, derailing his rapid rise to the top. Natan himself is currently injured, with backup defender Juan Jesus’ issues also having impacted the club’s overall defensive composition.

Managerial instability and lack of quality

Eyebrows were raised when Garcia was appointed from almost out of nowhere. For De Laurentiis, it was a cheap move and there was the lingering guarantee of the Frenchman having the Serie A know-how.

But that appeared to have deserted Garcia during his time in charge. His odd substitutions saw Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia publicly express anger at decisions when they were replaced, suggesting that not everything was right. Matteo Politano, who has been a standout performer, also expressed annoyance at his substitution later. It was clear that Garcia was not commanding the respect of the players, who weren’t at their best at all while being held back by a system that sought to seek more control than Spalletti’s previous approach.

De Laurentiis failed in moves for Antonio Conte and Igor Tudor, and the replacement for Garcia was another man whose career graph has long been on the decline – Mazzarri. The Italian did manage Napoli ten years ago in what was a memorable period for the club, but his most recent posting had seen him fail at Cagliari.

There was also a tactical disconnect. De Laurentiis was keen on hiring a manager who used a 4-3-3 system, but Mazzarri is known for a structured 3-5-2 shape, thereby rendering the choice to be incredibly strange.

The Osimhen controversies

The season has never been short of controversy, essentially shifting everyone’s focus to off-field activities.

Back in September, the club’s own social media account posted a video mocking Osimhen and it even carried racist undertones. It soon went viral, leading to the Nigerian’s agent Roberto Calenda condemning it publicly. This came amidst talk of a new deal and amidst the controversy, there was talk that this might impact the relationship between the two parties.

The club did apologise but it left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouths, considering how the season was already starting to pan out. More recently, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s agent Mamuka Jugeli spoke to a Georgian journalist, stating that Osimhen will join a Saudi Arabian club in the summer, for the money, even though he had eventually signed a new deal with Napoli.

The striker, the very next day, took aim. In an Instagram story, he said: “Dear Mamuka Jugeli, you are a piece of filth and a disgrace. I’m embarrassed at your sense of reasoning. Dumbf—! Keep my name out of your mouth!”

Osimhen’s agent Calenda also released a statement, lambasting Jugeli’s comments in what became a mini-media feud involving the club’s two star players, thus becoming the perfect encapsulation of the problems at the Maradona, in eyes of the watching public.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Napoli and Serie A game on FotMob, with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

Jordan Henderson returns from Saudi Arabia with a damaged reputation

As Jordan Henderson turns his back on his game-changing move to Saudi Arabia after just six months, it is only right to ask whether it was worth the damage it caused.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

In football, the understanding of optics has always been hugely important when it comes to transfers. More often than not, a new manager’s ‘in-tray’ includes reshaping a squad with their own signings; at times, clubs appear to bring in new faces simply to appease baying supporters. Former Manchester United executive Richard Arnold was once reported to have gleefully told shareholders that the recent loan signing of Odion Ighalo – the former Watford striker who arrived on a short-term deal from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua – was “the top trend worldwide on Twitter.”

Those optics can work in the opposite way, with players and even managers seeing certain clubs as off-limits due to their previous ties to fierce rivals; a boyhood Sunderland player, for example, would be warded off a move to Newcastle.

Optics have played a significant part in the elongated saga surrounding former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has now terminated a controversial stay with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq after just six months, to join Ajax on a permanent deal.

Though his 12-year stay on Merseyside was not without its setbacks, and there remained doubters among the club’s support to the very end, Henderson was widely revered at Liverpool having led the club through its most successful era in the living memory of many. His trademark shuffle saw him lift the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup during a storied spell under Jürgen Klopp.

But it was also widely acknowledged that his time as a regular starter was drawing to a close. Klopp told his captain as much during a meeting after a dismal 2022-23 campaign, with his game time to be reduced as new midfielders were brought in. Henderson was slated for the James Milner role, it would seem, but he only trained alongside new £60 million stud Dominik Szoboszlai once before deciding to head to Saudi Arabia.

That is, the country whose many human rights issues have attracted widespread scrutiny and criticism amid the revamp of its footballing setup, with the fact that homosexuality is illegal in the gulf state a major sticking point when it came to Henderson’s decision to join Al-Ettifaq, given he had long been a vocal advocate of the LGBTQ+ community in his role as Liverpool captain.

The optics were all wrong, and all but seemingly Henderson could see that. Joining Al-Ettifaq on a three-year deal worth a reported £300,000-a-week, he insisted in an interview with The Athletic, was not motivated by the tax-free riches on offer, but the opportunity to “achieve something special and build a club and build the league” under the tutelage of a former team-mate in Steven Gerrard. Henderson insisted that he “didn’t know anything” about his new club’s marketing team noticeably greying out the rainbow armband he often wore at Liverpool in a series of images upon his unveiling. “If that disrespects their religion, then that’s not right either,” was his conclusion.

In short, Henderson was viewed as sacrificing his morals, and the image built up over more than a decade with Liverpool and England, to follow the swathes of high-profile players in chasing the eye-watering contracts on offer in Saudi Arabia. Though many players – such as Ruben Neves, who left Wolves at 26 to join Al Hilal – have admitted it was the driving factor, his own verdict was that appeal of “building the league” came up “before money was even mentioned.”

Except it hasn’t worked out that way. If we’re talking optics, it would be remiss to not note that, for all the hype around the Saudi Pro League throughout a busy-spending summer, few will be aware that their games are even being broadcast in the UK. The rights were not taken up by Sky Sports, TNT Sport or Amazon, and certainly not terrestrial broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV or Channel 4. Instead, games are available to watch live on streaming service DAZN. The even fewer who will tune in to watch the likes of Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq may be staggered by the standard of football and in-person attendances at many fixtures in the Saudi top flight.

Henderson, if reports were to be believed, certainly was, with the fact he has at times played in front of crowds of fewer than 1,000 – with Al-Ettifaq’s 35,000-seater stadium boasting an average attendance of just 7,854 this season – cited as one of the reasons for his exit. So, too, was a struggle to adjust to the climate, though some would argue that this should have come into any research conducted when deciding to move continents.

Importantly, when it comes to the optics around Henderson agreeing to terminate his three-year contract at Al-Ettifaq after just six months, are claims that his desire to remain an important part of the England squad at the Euros, and a commitment to his young family, who have not settled in the Middle East.

Joining Ajax has been depicted in some quarters as a financial sacrifice from Henderson, more than anything – and it should be noted that the Premier League, or even a return to Sunderland in the Championship, is effectively off-limits until 2025, as returning to work in the UK would require paying back millions earned tax-free in Saudi Arabia. But there is a disappointment, from those who were long attached to the captain who lifted more different trophies for Liverpool than any other, that the move to Amsterdam comes after such a damaging side-quest.

If, at 33, Henderson had accepted Klopp’s reshuffle of the hierarchy and moved directly to Ajax, the optics would almost certainly have been a bold move to a respected European league for a player whose entire career had been spent in England. He would have been granted a rapturous farewell at Anfield, as a hero who helped bring silverware back to Liverpool.

Now, it is simply a marriage of convenience, his initial 18-month contract in Amsterdam appearing designed to allow those tax-free earnings to be time-barred before the next move can be calculated. Even for Ajax themselves – who won just one of their first eight games in the Eredivisie this season and now sit 23 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven in fifth – the signing appears more of a PR move than one that will truly reinvigorate their campaign.

Of course, it should be maintained that Henderson owes us nothing. He is, effectively, just another human being who accepted a high-paid job under questionable circumstances, before deciding it wasn’t really for him and changing his mind.

But as he plays out at least a year-and-a-half of the few he has left at the top level of football, he will surely regret how things played out.

(Images from IMAGO)

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