Page 18 – The Pulse of Football

Feb

2025

The fight for survival in the Championship sees sides take to the transfer market

With time running out and dice in hand, football clubs across the land have closed their eyes, given a shake, a throw and hoped Lady Luck is on their side. The transfer window casino has shut its doors and it’s high stakes at the bottom of The Championship.

By Sanny Rudravajhala

Survival brings so much hope. Stay up and a tilt at cracking into the top-flight always remains. Fail, and you’ll be taking on Premier League youngsters in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. So, where are we at with 16 games remaining?

Sinking Swans

I’m going to start with the side I’m most worried about. They aren’t even in the bottom three, but alarm bells are sounding at Swansea City. The form table has them bottom but the issues are much deeper for Luke Williams’ side. They’ve taken an incredible gamble in selling Matt Grimes, their ever-present captain and best performer (FotMob average rating: 7.21), to Coventry City and replacing him with Forest loanee Lewis O’Brien.

Grimes had started their last 88 Championship games, and when Frank Lampard is describing him as a ‘leader in the dressing room already’, you’ve got to seriously question what, if any, strategy is in place in south Wales.

Swansea are the poster child for the backlash at possession football for possession’s sake. They rank second behind Leeds with 61% of the ball, but what are they doing with it? It’s nowhere near the box, when you look at the data. They may be 17^th but only Preston, Plymouth and Oxford have had fewer touches inside their opponent’s area, something fundamental for scoring! Their points return at home is equal-third worst in the Championship too. That reads even more painfully when Coventry left there with all three points, off the back of Swansea’s 5-1 capitulation at Norwich. They’ve run aground down by the River Tawe and, for whatever reason, the captain has abandoned ship.

Muslić looking good in Argyle

With his perfect beard, hair and poise in a puffer, Miron Muslić will certainly look better in the 2026 Plymouth Argyle calendar than Wayne Rooney has as Mr January for 2025. On the pitch it looks like we’re seeing a better team too. They showed resilience in their late draw at Sunderland and followed that up at a raucous Home Park in their turnaround against West Brom.

Muslić hasn’t been afraid to throw in his new signings too. Tymoteusz Puchacz has impressed out wide in his five games and the imposing Nikola Katić did well to deal with whatever Albion threw at him on debut. Stealing the show was Ryan Hardie with his double off the bench. By far his best performance this season, Argyle need their No. 9 to keep firing for any chance of escaping the drop.

Norway to go for Derby and Luton

It’s a sorry state for both Derby and Luton, occupying the final relegation spots.

For Derby, bringing in defender Matthew Clarke from Middlesborough is great business and he was impressive at the start of the season. Having lost his place, he’s come to a club he knows well from loan spells and has a chance to strike up a pairing with new Norwegian defender, Sondre Klingen Langås. I know absolutely nothing about him but with a FotMob score of 7.0, he was at least performing well for Viking in the 2024 season. Another from Viking, arriving to these shores, is Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. The striker has opened his account already in their defeat to Cardiff but like Plymouth, Derby have taken a big risk with unknown entities in the Championship.

As for Luton, Matt Bloomfield was an interesting choice to replace the unfortunate Rob Edwards. A year ago, Bloomfield was fighting for his job but such has been Wycombe’s turnaround, concurrent with Luton’s demise, he’s now in the Bedfordshire hotseat. Results are yet to improve but his transfer movements might just do the trick.

FotMob’s roots are in Norway and I don’t know if that’s why, like Derby, they’ve also got their own import from the Eliteserien with forward Lasse Nordås. The 194cm tower from Tromso gives them another option but when it comes to Norwegians, Bloomfield had one man at the top of his shopping list. At just 22-years-old Thelo Aasgaard has seen it all in his short career. I myself saw him break into a Wigan team coming out of financial crisis and his loyalty to the Latics has earned them a decent transfer fee, whilst giving him enough time to develop into Wigan’s star performer, under the tutelage of Shaun Maloney.

*Aasgaard shot map while with Wigan, League One 2024/25*

Aasgaard can score all sorts of goals. He is good in the air and with both feet and his 95^th minute winner, a free kick against Stevenage in what was his penultimate goal in a Wigan shirt, was a thing of beauty.

In Josh Bowler and Isaiah Jones, Bloomfield has also found two experienced EFL players with points to prove. That reminds me of the side Rob Edwards took to promotion. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Luton have underperformed in all areas.

The best of the worst: Hull, Pompey and Cardiff

Out of Hull City’s signings, I hope they make the most of Louie Barry, who has lit up League Two and League One on loan at Stockport from Aston Villa. There’s a reason he became the first ever English player in Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy. He’s a special talent with an eye for the spectacular and I’m expecting magic moments whilst he’s moored in Humberside.

Will Portsmouth stop torturing midfielder Marlon Pack by playing him in central defence? The Pompey captain has been horribly exposed, especially with John Mousinho’s insistence on a high line and pressing from the front. Too often they’ve been turned around, and Pack has been the one caught out. Robert Atkinson on loan from Bristol City is looking the part and adding 20-year old Hayden Matthews should, I hope, allow Pack to get out from the back.

I should end by mentioning the next worst side, Cardiff City, fresh off a 7-0 hiding from Leeds. Callum Robinson’s outstanding season is the only reason Omer Riza’s side aren’t further down the table. His double against rivals Swansea means he’ll never be short of offers for a pint in retirement and with 11 goals from an xG of 6, it’s clear the 30-year-old will magic up more moments before season’s end.

*Robinson shot map, Championship 2024/25*

Deadline Day is done and for the sides at the bottom, it’s time to see whether their gambles in the transfer market pay off. Will the dice read double six or snake eyes? We’ll soon find out.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the EFL Championship on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Preview: Van Nistelrooy takes Leicester to Man United for FA Cup clash

Manchester United host Leicester City on Friday night under the lights in the FA Cup fifth round at Old Trafford. Ruud van Nistelrooy will be returning to his former club as manager, while Rúben Amorim will be looking to start steering his side back in the right direction.

By Matt Smith

The two sides met earlier in the season in the Premier League and EFL Cup. Van Nistelrooy was, coincidentally, in charge of United for both ties as he stepped in as interim before Amorim arrived. United won both meetings between the two teams this term.

Luke Shaw has ‘small issue’

In his press conference before the FA Cup tie, Amorim confirmed that Luke Shaw had a ‘small issue’, adding that United would have to be careful with the English left-back.

Lisandro Martínez is going to be out for an extended period after picking up a nasty knee injury, while Mason Mount and Jonny Evans remain sidelined.

Time for Amad to step up once again

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United this season, providing 16 goals and assists combined in all competitions. The 22-year-old, however, is going through a tricky run of form, and Amorim will be desperate to see him step up once again.

Amad has failed to provide a goal contribution in his last five games in all competitions, previously finding the back of the net against Southampton in January, a game where he struck three times. If United are going to turn things around and build some momentum, Amad will need to step up once again.

Young stars make Leicester squad

Van Nistelrooy confirmed that academy stars Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans, who are 15 and 16 years old respectively, will be on the bench at Old Trafford on Friday. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the two young talents, especially if they are given minutes against United.

The Leicester boss added that there are two or three players with light injuries, but he didn’t go into detail.

Time to unleash Buonanotte

Facundo Buonanotte signed on loan from Brighton at the beginning of the season and made an impressive impact at Leicester. The Argentinian forward has provided eight goals and assists combined in all competitions, but he’s struggled for minutes of late.

*Leicester City goals + assists, Premier League 2024/25*

The 20-year-old has failed to start in the last four games for the Foxes, playing zero minutes against Everton last time out. Only Jamie Vardy has more goals and assists combined for Leicester this season, so it could be time for Van Nistelrooy to unleash him once again.

Prediction

Leicester have visited Old Trafford twice this season already, conceding eight goals and losing both games. The Foxes are in a tricky run of form, so it’s difficult to see past a United victory in this one, especially with Amorim’s side playing at home.

We’re going for a 3-1 win for the Red Devils on Friday evening.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the FA Cup with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

The weekend’s big match: What the Madrid Derby means to the city and the title race

Madrid is a city of grandeur. From the boulevards of Gran Vía to the bustling barrios of Malasaña, its heartbeat is both refined and raw. Nowhere is this duality more evident than in the city’s most famous football clubs.

By David Skilling

Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are not just clubs; they are cultural institutions, each representing a distinct identity within the Spanish capital. And when the Derbi Madrileño arrives, the city stands at a crossroads: elegance versus grit, royalty versus rebellion, empire versus resistance.

This weekend, the stakes are higher than ever. Atlético Madrid trails their cross-city rivals by just a single point in a very tight title race. With LaLiga’s balance of power delicately poised, the outcome of this clash will shape not only the season but also the narrative of football in Madrid for months to come.

To understand why this game matters beyond three points, you need to grasp the cultural weight it carries. The rivalry between the two clubs dates back to the early twentieth century when Madrid Foot-Ball Club (later Real Madrid) asserted itself as the capital’s dominant force.

Through mergers and acquisitions, Madrid FC absorbed many smaller clubs and signed the best players from the clubs it couldn’t absorb, leaving only a handful that could compete. The main exception was Athletic Club Madrid (now Atlético Madrid), which maintained its best players with financial aid from its parent club, Athletic Club Bilbao.

As Real Madrid continued to grow in stature, the contrast between the two clubs became more pronounced. Real Madrid, with its royal patronage, symbolized power and establishment success. Atlético, on the other hand, became a bastion for those who opposed Madrid’s supremacy. Many fans of defunct clubs, whose teams had been swallowed up by Real, found refuge in Atlético, creating a deep-seated animosity that persists to this day.

Real Madrid is an institution of dominance, success, and historical prestige. The club’s ties to the Spanish monarchy (hence the Real prefix) and its standing as the team that has asserted the most dominance in European and world football cement its reputation as a global powerhouse. To support Real Madrid is to embrace a legacy of expectation: winning is not a goal; it is an obligation.

Atlético Madrid, on the other hand, has always been the club of resilience. Traditionally associated with working-class supporters, Atléti’s identity is rooted in defiance. Where Real Madrid embodies polished brilliance, Atlético revels in its sufridores – a term for their suffering, unbreakable fans. Their triumphs feel earned through blood, sweat, and Simeone-infused grit. In an era of football gentrification, Atlético has managed to maintain its street-level soul, even as its global stature has risen.

The Madrid Derby has not always been a tight contest. For some periods in the modern era, Atlético played the role of the little brother, enduring extended rough patches like the early 90s through to 2013. The tide, however, has shifted.

Since Diego Simeone’s arrival in 2011, Atlético have carved out their place at the top table, with a much higher win and draw percentage against their rivals. They’ve finished in the top three every season bar one since 2012, lifting two LaLiga titles and consistently challenging Europe’s elite. Their Copa del Rey victory at the Bernabéu in 2013 – a win sealed on enemy territory – remains a defining moment, proving that Atlético were no longer just the little brother.

*2012/13 Copa Del Rey Final, played at the Bernabéu*

Beyond historical sentiment, this weekend’s clash is about the here and now. The title race in LaLiga is close, with a single point being the difference, and Barcelona lurking in the shadows, just three points behind Atlético and four points behind Real Madrid.

Real Madrid’s recent form has been strong, apart from a setback against Espanyol in the last game, which they lost 1-0. However, their grip on the league is anything but firm. For Carlo Ancelotti’s side, a win on Saturday would strengthen their control and deal a psychological blow to their domestic competitors.

Atlético Madrid, however, are having a strong season, with one less loss on their record than Los Blancos, and they’re a team that feeds off of big occasions like these. Simeone relishes the big stage, and nothing would satisfy Atlético fans more than chipping away at Real Madrid’s ego and leaping past them in the title charge.

This derby isn’t just about Madrid; it’s about the soul of Spanish football. A Real Madrid victory reinforces the natural order, a kingdom led by an untouchable dynasty. An Atlético win signals a continued shift in power and a statement to the world that they’re not to be underestimated. The result will ripple beyond Spain, shaping the narrative of LaLiga’s competitiveness in a season where the world is watching closely.

*The league’s second top scorers vs. the meanest defence*

For the fans, this match transcends football. It is a chance for the city’s divided residents to express themselves on the grandest stage. The white of Real Madrid against the red and white of Atlético is more than just a colour contrast; it is a clash of ideologies, histories, and ways of living. It’s also a reminder to the world that Madrid is a city with two elite football clubs and that Spanish football is far greater than just the battle of El Clásico.

For those who live and breathe the Derbi Madrileño, the pain or euphoria will linger long after the final whistle. And in a season where fine margins could determine the champion, this is more than just another football match – it’s a battle for legacy and pride.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest’s bargain creator

It is easy to go under the radar as a Nottingham Forest player this season.

By Sam McGuire

Chris Wood, with his 17 Premier League goals this term, is casting a fairly large shadow at the City Ground. Morgan Gibbs-White, rumoured to be a transfer target for Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United over recent weeks, has been pulling the strings for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side too.

Murillo, who recently signed a new contract extension with the club, has caught the eye this term and was even earmarked by some as a potential Virgil van Dijk replacement at Anfield. Matz Sels, a one-time Newcastle United shot-stopper, has been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League this term.

So, lots of standout performers. As a result, some are going a little under the radar.

One such player is Anthony Elanga.

When the versatile winger joined Nottingham Forest for £15million in the summer of 2023, a lot of people thought Manchester United were the winners in that particular transfer.

Elanga had three goals and three assists for the Red Devils across 39 Premier League outings. He struggled to cement his place in the starting XI despite United being incredibly inconsistent at the time.

Getting £15million for him was viewed as a good piece of business.

Looking back now, not so much.

Elanga has been a revelation this term for Forest. It is all the more impressive when you consider just how remarkable Espírito Santo and his players have been. With 14 games left to play, Nottingham Forest are third in the table, three points behind second-placed Arsenal and nine off the top, albeit having played a game more. They are six clear of fifth-placed Manchester City and have given themselves a strong chance of claiming Champions League football.

Who had that on their bingo card at the start of the season?

Elanga has played his part in this campaign. Last weekend, he forced his way into the FotMob Team of the Week for his showing against Brighton. The 22-year-old claimed a hat-trick of assists in the historic 7-0 win. His FotMob rating of 9.5 could only be bettered by one player in the Premier League. It just so happens that the one player was his teammate, Wood, for his three-goal showing against the Seagulls.

Brighton had no answer to Elanga. Deployed in a two-man attack with Wood, the former Red Devil was popping up all over the pitch and causing havoc in the final third. He created the most chances in the match (three), had the highest Expected Assists tally (0.99) and only Wood could better his xG Involvement haul of 1.21.

The Sweden international has threatened this sort of devastating performance all season, if truth be told.

He’s chipped in with assists against Liverpool and Newcastle United. He’s scored against Aston Villa, Spurs and Brentford. Elanga has been responsible for 28% of the goals scored by Forest this term. He’s been extremely influential in their attacking play. And the 19-cap international has seemingly found his form at the ideal time too, having chipped in with six assists in his last seven outings for Forest.

Nottingham Forest’s decision to reject a reported £50million bid for him in the summer is now looking like an inspired decision. According to multiple outlets, Newcastle wanted the versatile attacker and stumped up what would’ve been a club-record sale for Forest. Some clubs would’ve jumped at the chance to make a quick £35million profit on a player they’ve had for 12 months.

Had they cashed in on him, the likelihood is that Forest wouldn’t find themselves six points clear of the Magpies in the race for a place in the Champions League.

The East Midlands club deserve credit on two counts. Firstly, for believing in Elanga enough to sanction a £15million deal when others felt it was an overpayment. And then for rejecting a mega offer for a player, believing he would be worth more to them in their team. The gamble appears to have paid off. If Forest get European football, it’ll be more beneficial to them than the transfer fee they would’ve banked last summer.

*Elanga’s passing numbers, Premier League 2024/25*

And clearly, the belief in him has given him a confidence he’d previously been lacking. It’s why his numbers have scaled. For example, he’s on 11 goal involvements in just 1,463 minutes this season. Last term, he finished with 14 goal involvements in almost 2,500 minutes.

Only Mohamed Salah (13), Bukayo Saka (10) and Antonee Robinson (10) have more assists than Elanga (eight) in the English top-flight. He’s an elite chance-creator. His Expected Assists per 90 average has risen from 0.15 last term to 0.21 this time around. He’s more of a creative threat now and this can only be a positive for Forest. He’s created more chances this term (33) than he managed last season (32).

Wood and Gibbs-White are the poster boys for this historic Forest season but, really, it should all be about Elanga. A bargain buy who is now delivering on his early promise.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Pau Cubarsi: Thriving with Barca despite Flick’s high risk tactics

Barcelona’s defence might be vulnerable, but Pau Cubarsí is doing his best to hold things together as one of the best young defenders in the world.

By Graham Ruthven

Lamine Yamal stands out every time Barcelona play. Even as the Catalans ground out an unconvincing 1-0 win over Alavés on Sunday, the 17-year-old produced an outrageous dribble that saw him pass no fewer than seven opponents in a manner that was evocative of the moments Lionel Messi frequently produced in blaugrana.

Less eye-catching, however, is Pau Cubarsí. That, of course, is a byproduct of the teenager’s role as a centre-back, but Cubarsí should similarly be in the conversion around the best young players in the world even if he can’t dribble past seven opponents at a time. He might already be one of the best defenders around.

Cubarsí’s job in Hansi Flick’s system isn’t an easy one. The German coach likes to position his backline high up the pitch. Extremely high. This means there is frequently half the pitch behind Cubarsí for the 18-year-old to protect. Against some of the most dangerous forward lines in LaLiga and Europe, this has been a challenge.

It’s a challenge, however, that Cubarsí has embraced. Indeed, the teenager’s recovery instincts have been sharpened by Flick’s approach with Iñigo Martínez partnering Cubarsí more than any other player this season. Between the two of them, Barca have a strong enough defensive foundation to impose their game.

“Tactically, we train the defensive line but above all it is a matter of communication, that the four of us communicate and that we work well together. If one goes out, the others follow the line,” said Cubarsí when asked to explain the work that goes into making such a high defensive line work at the elite level.

“When I see it from the outside I think ‘ugh, a ball behind our backs could hurt us’, but on the pitch you trust the line and your teammates. If we all work together, they’ll be offside. It’s not the same if the ball is played by a center-back, who is farther away, as opposed to a midfielder. We also pay attention to whether the ball is under pressure or not. If there’s pressure, it’s easier to push up because it’s harder to play it behind us.”

A lesser player would have crumbled under the pressure of holding things together at the back for a club of Barcelona’s size and stature. Cubarsí, however, has grown with the weight of responsibility. Some have even talked about the 18-year-old as a future Barcelona captain. He is seen as a worthy successor to the likes of Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol.

This season, Cubarsí is averaging 81 completed passes per 90 minutes in LaLiga. Of the Barca players who have started more than 10 games, only Martínez ranks above the 18-year-old, illustrating how the Catalans have the passing range to play out on either side with Martínez usually the left-sided centre back and Cubarsí on the right.

*Curbasí’s passing numbers per 90, LaLiga 2024/25*

Unlike Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí wasn’t included in the Spain squad that won Euro 2024. Nonetheless, the 18-year-old is a big part of the national team’s future, starting Spain’s last UEFA Nations League match – a 3-2 win over Switzerland. Barring injury, Cubarsí will surely be included in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.

At club level, though, Cubarsí has plenty to achieve as part of a Barca team that is finally moving on from the Messi era. The conveyer belt out of La Masia is rolling again with Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casadó, Gavi, Pedri and Fermín López all key figures having come through the Catalan club’s famed youth academy.

Across Europe, clubs are spending fortunes to find the centre back of the future. Manchester United paid £52m for Leny Yoro. Wesley Fofana cost Chelsea £70m. Joško Gvardiol came with a price tag of £75m for Manchester City (before Pep Guardiola converted the Croatian to a marauding left back).

That Barcelona can produce someone of Cubarsí’s talent in-house is such an advantage and it’s only through years of financial mismanagement that the club has turned back to La Masia. Homegrown players like Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal and co. are getting Barca out of the hole they dug for themselves.

Ultimately, Flick’s approach may be too reckless for Barca to win LaLiga or the Champions League this season. Barcelona might not be able to outscore every opponent they face with the system too extreme in its emphasis on the attack. If Barca can find the right balance, though, Cubarsí could be just as important to them as Lamine Yamal. Even without the dribbles.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Barcelona game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Preview: Valencia face daunting Barca test in the Copa Del Rey quarterfinals

Two of Spanish football’s most historic clubs clash in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, with Carlos Corberán hoping and praying his side can do a little better than the last time they faced Hansi Flick’s Barca.

By Alex Roberts

It’s been less than two weeks since Barcelona beat Valencia 7-1 but, if anything, Valencia were lucky it was only that. They had absolutely no answer to Barca’s ruthless attacking efficiency, although they managed to bounce back with a much-needed win over Celta Vigo in the game after.

Barca, on the other hand, seem to have navigated their way through a real rocky patch of form, winning seven of their last nine games across all competitions, easing any pressure on their German manager.

His head is already in Liverpool

Giorgi Mamardashvili hasn’t exactly set the world alight since his move to Anfield and subsequent loan back to Valencia, he was arguably the worst player on the pitch the last time these two sides met, and that’s saying something.

His LaLiga save percentage is well below what it was last season, 57.5% percent compared to 72.5. Yes, Valencia as a side have been poor, but Mamardashvili isn’t bailing his side out like he used to.

He didn’t have much to do in the win over Celta, but when he was called up, he stood on business, ending his game having made one save, six recoveries, and a decent 36% long ball accuracy rate.

*Mamardashvili’s player radar has taken a hit this season*

Lamine YaMessi

Lamina Yamal is an anomaly and he’s only getting better, breaking Lionel Messi‘s record for most dribbles attempted (21) and completed (11) in a single game in LaLiga for Barcelona in their 1-0 win over Deportivo Alavés.

He was just about the only player that didn’t score in Barca’s 7-1 win over Valencia last month, but he still had a major impact, providng the assist for Frenkie de Jong’s third minute opener.

Barca’s continued reliance in the 17-year-old is fully justified, let’s just hope he avoids the fate of some many La Masia graduates in recent years, we’re looking at you Ansu Fati.

A less than ideal injury

Sitting in the relegation zone, few players have managed to impress for Valencia as much as Javier Guerra has and after going off injured in the win over Celta, he’s a major doubt for the visit from Barca.

He bagged what turned out to be the winner in the 68^th minute before going off 12 minutes later, helping his side reach the dizzying heights of 19^th, just four points from behind Espanyol, who beat Real Madrid 1-0, in 17^th.

There are plenty of league games to go, but a decent Copa de Rey run would give the fans something to celebrate that isn’t just survival. That would be a hell of a lot harder to accomplish if Guerra isn’t on the field.

Ready for round two

Fermín López didn’t feature in the 1-0 win over Deportivo Alavés, instead Barcelona kept him at the training ground in some sort of Dragon Ball Z healing tank, ready to unleash him on Valencia like Goku on Frieza.

Nerdy references aside, López was incredible in the 7-1 win, scoring a brace and providing two assists in what was easily his best performance since breaking into the first team last season. His face will be the last thing Valencia fans want to see on Thursday.

Prediction

It’s hard to imagine it been any worse for Valencia this time around, but we still reckon they’ll get beaten fairly comprehensively. We’re going to go with 4-1 to Barca.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Copa Del Rey with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Preview: Spurs go to Liverpool looking to protect a one goal advantage

Spurs have a one goal lead from the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, but will that be anything like enough against the Premier League leaders?

By Ian King

Form since the first leg

Spurs managed a workmanlike win at Brentford last weekend on top of an eventual Europa League win against Elfsborg, so they have a little more spring in their step than they did a couple of weeks ago. But that may not be enough to slow the giant, red steamroller that is slowly moving towards them.

Liverpool lost at PSV in their final Champions League match, but they did finish atop the 36-team Megagroup. They’re unbeaten in the Premier League since the 14th September. They’re six points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand, though that game in hand is against David Moyes’ White-Hot Everton, and anything could happen there.

Anfield is not a happy hunting ground for Spurs

When Spurs won 2-1 at Anfield on the 25th August 1993, it was the first time they’d done so since the 16th March 1912; a month and a day before the Titanic sank. They’ve beaten them three times there since; somewhat dramatically with a late winning goal from Jürgen Klinsmann in an FA Cup quarter-final in 1995, a 3-1 win in the League Cup Fourth Round in 1998, and in the Premier League in 2011. The last player to score a goal for a winning Spurs team at Anfield was Luka Modrić. It’s not a great record.

Key players

Mo Salah feels like an obvious choice for Liverpool, but they need goals and he remains an extremely ready source of them. The issue of his new contract remains one of the biggest question marks hanging over the second half of an otherwise outstanding season for Liverpool. Throughout his career, he’s only scored more against one opposition side – Manchester United – than he has in games against Spurs. Tottenham may need a big performance from their defence. Ben Davies and Archie Gray seem set to have a busy night.

Team News

It was not ideal news for Ange Postecoglou to find that Mickey van de Ven had lasted precisely one half against Elfsborg before twanging something again and is going to be absent for this match, despite having already been rested for the Brentford match, and that Radu Drăgușin is now out for the rest of the season. Liverpool are now back to pretty much full strength, with Joe Gomez now their only absentee.

Prediction

It might be considered typical Spurs fatalism to suggest that the odds are stacked against them, but good omens really are thin on the ground when it comes to away games against Liverpool, whether we’re talking about going 81 years without winning at THIS VERY STADIUM, or anything relating to what’s happened at either club this season. Spurs are 14th in the Premier League and it’s difficult to argue that they don’t warrant that position. They won the first leg 1-0, but that’s an exception rather than the rule for this fixture, both historically and contemporaneously. 4-1 to Liverpool doesn’t sound unrealistic.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Carabao Cup with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Mikey Moore: Determined to make the most of his chances at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur’s injury crisis has hit them hard, but it has also given a generational talent an opportunity to make his mark on the first team.

By Graham Ruthven

It got to the point where Ange Postecoglou had no choice but to call on Tottenham Hotspur’s youth. With no fewer than 15 first team figures unavailable for the crunch Europa League fixture against Elfsborg, Spurs had simply run out of players. The club’s youngsters, however, saved the day, none more so than Mikey Moore.

Moore scored the third goal in a 3-0 win that sent Tottenham through the last 16, tenaciously dribbling to the edge of the box before angling a low shot back across goal and into the far corner of the net. Three days later, the 17-year-old started the 2-0 away win over Brentford. Moore has clearly made an impression on Postecoglou.

Spurs supporters have been aware of Moore’s potential for some time. He was the standout performer for the Tottenham youth side that won the U17 and U18 Premier League Cup. He was playing, and impressing, in the UEFA Youth League at the age of just 15. When Moore turned 17, Spurs wasted no time in tying him to a three-year contract.

Anyone who has watched Moore at youth or senior level will understand why there is so much hype around him. He is a winger with a unique profile who can dribble at pace and create in the final third. While Postecoglou has deployed him on either wing, Moore roams into the middle and even into deeper areas of the pitch to pick up the ball.

*Moore’s player traits, based on a very small sample size to date (top flight minutes)*

His first touch is instant. He’s comfortable in tight spaces. His composure on the ball also allows him to play his part in possession sequences. He’s a different sort of winger to the likes of Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson who are primarily in the team to provide verticality and get in behind opposition defences.

James Maddison has publicly compared Moore to Neymar in the way they both play the game with flair. Postecoglou also once fielded a question in a press conference that draw parallels between Moore and Lamine Yamal, another generational winger who has made his mark on the elite level recently.

Of course, these lofty comparisons might be overblown considering Moore has played just 182 minutes in the Premier League this season, but this highlights the esteem he is held in. Tottenham believe they have a special talent on their hands and his emergence has been the silver lining of their recent troubles.

“There is no point denying it,” said Postecoglou when asked about Moore’s potential and the role he could play for Spurs in the years to come. “I love the way Mikey is taking it all in his stride, he works hard every day. He wants to develop, he understands that this is a journey. It’s very easy for a young guy like him, who has just turned 17, to feel like he has somehow made it, but you never get that sense.

“It’s exciting. You have got such a young player, who wants that responsibility to make an impact, rather than just sometimes with young players they are a bit worried about making mistakes. He is developing well. We have to be really careful about how we use him, and when we use him, that is the key for us, particularly in these early stages.”

Postecoglou looks like being the perfect mentor for Moore in his formative years. The Australian will instil work ethic in the teenager whose attacking instincts will be sharpened by being exposed to the high-risk, high-speed nature of Ange-ball. Moore is being moulded in the image of his manager.

Moore’s game time could be limited for the rest of the season. Son is still ahead of him in the pecking order while Johnson is expected to be fit again in the coming weeks. What’s more, Mathys Tel has arrived on loan from Bayern Munich and will be yet more competition for Moore in the wide areas.

The 45 minutes Moore played against Brentford on Sunday also exposed the refinements he must make to become a true difference-maker at the top level. Indeed, the 17-year-old was naive with some of his positioning and decision-making with Postecoglou making the call to hook him at half time in favour of Lucas Bergvall.

Nonetheless, Moore is at the vanguard of Tottenham’s next homegrown generation which includes Damola Ajayi and Dane Scarlett, both of whom also found the back of the net in the aforementioned Europa League win over Elfsborg. If Spurs are building for the future, Moore is surely a big part of that vision.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Feb

2025

Don’t forget about Oscar

Neymar this, Neymar that. We get it. His return to Santos is a big deal for Brazilian football and the sport as a whole, but he’s not the only member of that generation to return home this year – Oscar is back at São Paulo.

By Alex Roberts

The attacking midfielder has had one of the weirdest journeys in professional football. Leaving his boyhood club back in 2010, having made 12 appearances but failing to score a goal, for Brazilian rivals Internacional.

Oscar impressed the powers that be at São Paulo as a youngster, but he only made a single start during his first spell at the club, which, unfortunately, turned out to be quite ill-fated.

It was the second leg in the first round of the Copa Sudamericana, and it was thoroughly unremarkable, expect for the fact it went to penalties. Both Oscar and Juninho (not that one) had their spot kicks saved by Vinicius (again, not that one) in the Athletico Paranaense goal, ultimately eliminating his side.

He left São Paulo under frustrating circumstances. His agent at the time claimed his contract was null and void after the club failed to pay him what he was supposedly owed. Internacional scooped him up as a free agent, but that wasn’t the end of it.

São Paulo continued to claim Oscar belonged to them, and launched several appeals, preventing him from playing for Internacional in some crucial Copa Libertadores games. An agreement was eventually reached in 2012, and São Paulo were awarded €6 million.

His first season was hampered by several injury issues, but his immense talent was obvious. Oscar ended his time there with 19 goals and five assists in 70 appearances across all competitions. A tally that caught the attention of Europe’s elite.

Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea were fresh off the back of winning the ‘Miracle in Munich’, their first ever Champions League title. Wanting to build from that, they made a point of trying to sign some of the world’s best young talent. They’d already signed Eden Hazard; Oscar was up next.

The Brazilian made his debut in Chelsea’s first Premier League game of the season, replacing Hazard in a 2-0 win over Wigan. He had little impact, but when he made his first start, he well and truly announced himself.

‘Twas a cold Champions League night at the Bridge as the West London club welcomed Juventus for their first game of the 2012-13 campaign. Oscar played alongside Hazard and Fernando Torres in a front three, but he didn’t need either of them.

Oscar opened the scoring in the 31^st minute after his strike took a heavy deflection catching Gianluigi Buffon out, but it didn’t matter, because two minutes later, he would score Chelsea’s second-best goal since the turn of the millennium. Please Look up Didier Drogba’s vs Bolton if you want to see THE best.

Ashley Cole received the ball from Frank Lampard, he laid it off to Oscar who then turned Andrea Pirlo inside out before curling the ball into the top right corner. Of course, his hard work was undone when Juve scored twice to end the game 2-2.

That goal against Juve was the only real highlight of Oscar’s Chelsea career. He went on to win a Premier League, Europa League, and a League Cup, but as is so often the case at Chelsea, managerial changes and new tactical systems set him back.

Eventually, he was deemed surplus to requirements. He doubtless thought a number of European elites would come calling again, and maybe they did, but when push came to shove, the only real option he had was Shanghai SIPG, now known as Shanghai Port.

The Chinese Super League was Saudi Arabia before Saudi Arabia decided to launch their Premier League project. They lured a number of mostly aging stars to the league with promise of high wages and a project that ultimately never came to fruition. At just 25-years-old, Oscar’s move was by far the highest profile.

He would reportedly earn £400,000 a week in Shanghai. It’s the type of money that would set future generations up for centuries. We can discuss the morality of it all but is it worse than taking money from Roman Abramovich or some American venture capitalist?

Anyway, Oscar was a big fish in a small pond in China. When all the other superstars left, he remained, ending his time at Shanghai with three Super League titles, one Super Cup, one Cup, and a shed load of money.

China quite some distance from Brazil, and after eight years, Oscar was getting home sick. “I love Shanghai, but it’s just too far away from home for us,” he said. “We can’t stay here forever. My mum is getting older, my sisters are having babies. We want to be closer to home.”

Finally, on Christmas day 2024, his return to where it all began was confirmed, Oscar would be a São Paulo player once again. He’s a hell of a lot older, but also a hell of a lot wiser and he could be the guy to lead them to their first piece of major silverware since 2012.

Oscar made his second São Paulo debut in their game against rivals Corinthians, with fellow former wonderkid Lucas Moura on the opposite wing. Then, in the 56^th minute, after 15 years away, he finally got his first goal for his boyhood club, helping them to a 3-1 win.

He may not have had the career many had expected, but that doesn’t matter. Oscar is back at São Paulo, and all feels right once again.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Brazil’s main national league and São Paulo’s state tournament on FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2025

Preview: Madrid face Leganes in Copa Del Rey quarterfinal

Real Madrid face a critical stretch in their season with Carlo Ancelotti’s team up against Leganés in the last eight of the Copa del Rey.

By Graham Ruthven

Real response required

Few saw Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat to Espanyol coming. Los Blancos had been on a five-match winning streak in all competitions and looked to have built momentum ahead of a trip to Barcelona to face a relegation-threatened opponent.

Against Espanyol, though, all the problems that troubled Madrid in the early part of the season emerged once again. They lacked creativity and failed to break down a low defensive block, leaving too much space for their opponents to counter into on the break.

Not for the first time this season, Carlo Ancelotti is facing criticism for his set-up of the team with many pointing out that the frontline of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham destabilises the rest of the side.

Leganés, on the other hand, have recently demonstrated their ability to upset the odds, beating Atlético Madrid and taking points off Athletic Club last month.

Under Borja Jiménez, Los Pepineros (the Cucumbers!) have become difficult to break down, conceding just two goals in their last three games, which could make them a tricky opponent for Real Madrid in the same way Espanyol were.

Key players

Goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović has been a standout performer for Leganés this season, recently keeping clean sheets against Atleti and Athletic. However, Real Madrid’s forward line will present the Serbian with his toughest test of the campaign to date.

Juan Cruz could pose the biggest goal threat for the hosts from his position as a left wing back. Out of possession, the 24-year-old is expected to sit back in a back five, but he has the freedom to get forward when there is the opportunity.

Ancelotti could make changes to his team after the defeat to Espanyol with many fans calling for Brahim Díaz to start. The Spanish international gives Real Madrid cohesion and work rate on the right side.

Vinícius and Rodrygo will almost certainly feature at some point, though. If they are firing on cylinders, as they had been before the weekend, Leganés will be blown away.

Team news

Enrique Francesca remains out for Leganes after suffering an ACL injury in November while Seydouba Cisse will also miss Wednesday’s meeting with the Spanish champions after picking up a hamstring strain against Rayo Vallecano last week.

Sergio González was shown a straight red card in the defeat to Rayo, but his suspension only applies to league games and so the centre back will be available.

Antonio Rüdiger’s injury will rule him out of action for the next three weeks. This means the German defender will miss this Copa del Rey quarter-final as well as the Madrid Derby and two Champions League matches against Manchester City. His absence couldn’t have come at a worse time for Los Blancos.

Éder Militão is still sidelined through injury while David Alaba has yet to play a full 90-minute match since his own return from injury last month. This could see Raul Asencio start in central defence against Leganés.

Andriy Lunin is expected to start in goal having started Real Madrid’s last two matches in the Copa del Rey. But Ancelotti has confirmed that Mbappé and Bellingham will be missing due to slight knocks picked up over the weekend.

Prediction

Leganés will look to continue their recent strong run of results against Spain’s biggest sides but should be undone by Madrid’s superior firepower on the day, just. We’re saying 1-0 to Real Madrid.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Copa Del Rey with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.