A Nations League Group B fixture probably wouldn’t be one to arouse too much interest and intrigue in the normal course of events, if we’re being totally honest, but it’s a fresh start all around as Republic of Ireland host England in B2 – and with plenty of talking points on either side before a ball is even kicked.
Lee Carsley is, of course, in the dugout for the Three Lions: temporarily chosen to oversee the post-Gareth Southgate era, he has mixed up the squad, called in some unestablished names and generally looks to be giving alternatives a first real chance to impress – all against the nation he represented as a player 40 times.
But it’s also a first game in charge for Heimir Hallgrímsson, selected to lead the Irish side after an extremely lengthy search, yet he starts his tenure without the players who might reasonably be labelled his first-choice goalkeeper, centre-back and potential playmaker, with Gavin Bazunu, Shane Duffy and Josh Cullen all out.
Ireland FIFA ranking history
As ever that will merely mean chances elsewhere and there’s a talented group of youthful attackers to choose from: Adam Idah, Troy Parrott, Evan Ferguson and Michael Obafemi are all 24 or under, yet each have a dozen to 25 caps already. There is a group to build around and towards, for the head coach who can find the balance of defensive resolve and attacking intent. Whether Hallgrimsson is that boss, we’ll now begin to see.
Even so, most eyes will remain on England. There are quite significant squad alterations considering they just reached another major tournament final: four uncapped players, a dozen with ten or fewer appearances at senior international level. The usual questions aimed at England will resurface regardless of starting line-up: how to improve the attacking style, who to pair in midfield, who the third attacker should be alongside Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.
England FIFA ranking history
One answer appears to already have been given, though. Kyle Walker’s absence, Reece James’ injuries and Kieran Trippier’s retirement means Trent Alexander-Arnold is not only a definite right-back option, but the likely starter at last. He’s been to three Champions League finals and has won everything the game has to offer, yet at 25 he’s only set to win his 30th cap. Will the interim manager show the next permanent boss that the Liverpool man deserves trust where Southgate lacked it? Ireland and Finland as opponents won’t be definitive, but that’s just one of the new beginnings the Euro 2024 runners-up will be looking at.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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With four games of the Championship season played, there is a slightly surprising name at the top of the table as we head into the international break.
Sunderland had an underwhelming 2023/24 season, finishing 16th and with the main talking point being what felt like the interminable pursuit of a new manager to replace the disastrous Michael Beale.
When a decision was finally reached, there was a feeling that it wasn’t the one that the club had actually wanted. Will Still had been commonly understood to be their main target, but he couldn’t be persuaded to leave Reims (before later heading to Lens), so they ended up going to Régis Le Bris instead. Le Bris was certainly an interesting choice. He continued the club’s French connection, arriving at the Stadium of Light from Lorient, where he’d spent the previous twelve years coaching the youth team, B team and eventually first teams, but Lorient had been relegated at the end of the previous season, which naturally raised questions for supporters of his next destination.
But now, with four games of the season played, Sunderland supporters have good reason to feel enthused. The team have started their season with four straight league wins, scoring ten goals and conceding just the one, putting them two points ahead of West Bromwich Albion at the top of the table. And those four wins have been mighty impressive. At home they’ve seen off Sheffield Wednesday with a very convincing 4-0 win and the freshly-relegated Burnley. Away from home, The Cardiff City Stadium and Fratton Park are never easy places to visit, but they came away from those matches with 2-0 and 3-1 wins.
In the summer transfer window, the big talking point was whether the club would be able to persuade Jack Clarke, their top scorer last season with 15 goals, to stay. The answer to that question turned out to be negative and Clarke went to Ipswich towards the end of August, but if anything this seems to have had a galvanising effect upon the rest of the squad. Certainly, the two games they’ve played since his departure have seen no drop-off in their impressive start to the season.
As such, the managerial travails that the club underwent last season are already starting to feel like a distant memory. The decision to sack Tony Mowbray in December 2023 with the club in 9th place in the Championship table was certainly a perplexing one. In a division in which a number of other clubs are steroid-pumped with Premier League parachute payment money, to what extent should it have been expected that the team should be pushing at the very top end of the table?
True enough, they’d finished the previous season in 6th place in the table, but with this having been their first season back in the Championship following a four-year exile in League One, it seems reasonable to suggest that just getting into the play-offs was a huge achievement in the first place and one that would be difficult to match. And on top of that, at the time of Mowbray’s sacking the team were just three points off sixth place in the table and a play-off spot.
If it was a gamble, it’s a gamble that failed. Michael Beale was Mowbray’s replacement, but three months later he was sacked after twelve games following the shortest managerial spell in the entire history of the club. The rot that had set in on the season, however, couldn’t be treated. Sunderland only won six league matches of the 27 that followed Mowbray’s sacking and they finished the season in a distinctly underwhelming 16th place in the table, while any hopes of reminding their extremely noisy neighbours Newcastle United that they still existed feel completely flat when, after having been drawn to play each other in the FA Cup Third Round, the Magpies coasted to a very comfortable 3-0 win at The Stadium of Light.
Mike Dodds took over the running of the club for the remainder of the season following Beale’s ignominious departure from the club, but there was little in the last three months of their season to suggest that he could be considered a permanent replacement. Will Still, the manager best known as the manager who Reims liked so much that they paid a €25,000 fine for every match that he was in charge while he completed his UEFA Pro Licence, was evidently the man that Sunderland wanted to replace him, but Still eventually walked away with what was reported as “concerns over investment and the make-up of staff”.
Ironically, after the long and ultimately fruitless pursuit of Still, it only took three weeks for them to alight on a replacement, and Le Bris certainly seems to have got his feet under the table at the Stadium of Light quickly. Romaine Mundle, who played alongside Jack Clarke in the academy at Spurs, certainly seems to be taking his chance. On the evening of Clarke’s departure for Ipswich he scored the winning goal against Burnley, and followed that up a week later by scoring their third goal at Portsmouth. It’s the sort of transition that will leave the club’s supporters with a warm glow as we head into this international break.
Of course, with a club the size of Sunderland there will always be expectations, and everybody–including by all reports Regis Le Bris himself–knows how toxic the Stadium of Light can turn when things start to turn sour. But it’s only six years since the club was plummeting from this very division, still in convulsions following years of mismanagement under former owner Ellis Short. Things didn’t improve much under his successors, and his successors’ successors have also tripped at points, as could be seen with the hasty decision to sack Tony Mowbray. But things are going well as of now, and what is the start of the season if not a time to dream of better? Sunderland supporters can be forgiven their daydreaming, following their team’s excellent start.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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The England international has been courted by a host of clubs ever since an impressive debut campaign in the Premier League back in 2021/22. The former Peterborough United striker found the back of the net on 12 occasions and registered five assists as the Bees claimed a 13th-place finish.
Reportedly a target for Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, Toney enhanced his reputation the following season, scoring 20 goals and contributing four assists across 33 appearances. Toney was believed to be viewed by Spurs as the ideal successor to Harry Kane if he was to depart, but having missed the end of the campaign after being suspended for betting offences, a move was put on hold.
He missed the first half of last season but still managed four goals and two assists in 1,449 minutes for Brentford in the English top-flight. He did enough to make it into Gareth Southgate’s England square for Euro 2024.
With just 12 months left on his deal, the Bees needed to cash in on the wantaway forward this summer. It was a surprise to see him still at the club when the new campaign kicked off. He missed out on the matchday squad. Yet the move to Al-Ahli still came as a surprise. The expectation was that he would remain in the Premier League but he’s now made the Saudi Pro-League his home. He’ll likely be paired in an attack containing Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez.
Last season, Brentford struggled without Toney. They finished 16th in the English top-flight and for periods of the campaign, it looked as though they’d be in a serious relegation battle. Thomas Frank’s side underperformed at both ends of the pitch, scoring fewer goals than they should have while conceding more than expected. In fact Expected Points had they 10th in the Premier League. That, alone, paints the picture of their campaign.
The general consensus was that the poor attacking display was tied to the absence of Toney. Being without the 28-year-old certainly didn’t help the Bees but it is also worth noting they had an a bit of an injury crisis. For example, Bryan Mbeumo, a player who started the season in fine form, missed over three months of the campaign with an injury. In total, Brentford suffered 29 injuries across 2023/24. It was severe enough for the club to launch an internal investigation into why they had such bad luck.
Speaking in April, Frank said: “Of course, it is serious — we have had too many injuries.
“We’re doing a big review into what kind of injuries we’ve had and how quickly they [injured players] have returned to be able to play. That’s what we look into across all the departments — the coaching staff, sports science, performance department and medical department. Everything is linked.”
Combined that with the fact Yoane Wissa, another key attacker, was away on international duty for a month and you start to see that while Toney’s absence didn’t help, it was one of many reasons why they underperformed rather than the main reason.
Brentford looked to futureproof their attack this summer with the signing of Igor Thiago. The centre-forward scored 18 in 34 for Club Brugge last season and his performances in Belgium convinced the Bees to part with a club-record £30million to bring him to England.
The new No. 9 suffered a meniscus injury in pre-season and probably won’t be seen again until 2025. The fear was that there would be a repeat of last season with Brentford having to avoid a relegation scrap.
Three games into the season, things are looking good for Frank’s side. They are currently sixth in the Premier League table and the attack, without Toney or Thiago, is impressing. Only Erling Haaland (seven) has more goals than Mbeumo (three) while Wissa is, once again, catching the eye. The 28-year-old has three goal involvements in three outings.
Brentford have a distinct style of play. They’re playing to the strengths of their attackers.
The Bees have averaged just 40% possession in their opening three matches, a figure which sees them rank 17th for this particular metric. Despite this, they rank fourth for Big Chances (11) and eighth for Expected Goals (4.9). They’re also eighth for Shots on Target per 90 (4.7). Frank has his team sitting deep and compact in an attempt to frustrate the opposition. This style also lures their opponents into pushing higher and leaving space for Wissa and Mbeumo to attack.
This strike force is perfect for counter-attacking football and Brentford, so far, are nailing it. There are no signs at all that Toney is being missed. And it is quite intriguing to see how the Bees will perform once Thiago returns from injury. They have a powerful, pacey attack with multiple goal threats. If they all remain fit, there’s every chance of a comfortable mid-table finish this season.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Just four games into the new Liga Portugal season, the Swedish striker has found the back of the net seven times for Sporting, registering one assist for good measure too. Not even Erling Haaland has notched as many goal contributions to start the 2024/25 campaign.
At a time when many of Europe’s biggest clubs are looking for an elite level centre forward, Gyökeres stands out. He has the technical and physical attributes to reach the top. The 26-year-old was playing in the Championship as recently as last year, but his upward trajectory has been a steep one. With every goal Gyökeres scores, his reputation grows.
The numbers speak for themselves. Gyökeres is leading Liga Portugal for shots on target per 90 (3.3) and Expected Goals (xG) over the first four games of the season (7.0), highlighting how his goalscoring exploits are no fluke. He has picked up where he left off last season when the Swede scored an incredible 29 goals in 33 league games.
Gyökeres has the qualities of a pure number nine. His movement in and around the opposition penalty box allows him to take up good goal-scoring positions with the 26-year-old mobile enough to run in behind and break away from markers with quick jinks. Gyökeres’ finishing might be the thing that catches the eye, but his positional intelligence is what facilitates this.
Liga Portugal shotmap, 2023/24 season
As a frontman, Gyökeres has the physicality and hold-up play to bring others into the game. This doesn’t come at the cost of his possession play, though, with the Swede ranking highly for various possession statistics – Gyökeres is in the 99th percentile for touches in the attacking third per 90 as well as progressive carries per 90.
Something that separates Gyökeres from many other conventional centre forwards is his playmaking ability. Last season saw the former Coventry City striker register 10 assists in Liga Portugal with Gyökeres also creating two big chances in four matches played so far this season. He can do it all.
Liga Portugal passing stats, 2023/24
At 26, Gyökeres isn’t the youngest top-level centre forward, but his meandering career path has allowed him to develop different areas of his game. In the EFL, the Swede had to handle the physicality of English lower league football. He played as one half of a front two at times and as a lone striker at others. Playing under Mark Robins at Coventry was particularly good for Gyökeres’ growth.
Gyökeres scored 21 league goals in his final season at Coventry, but few could have envisaged how his development would so dramatically accelerate in Portugal. The €20m paid to The Sky Blues for the striker now must be considered one of the best pieces of business conducted by any club in Europe in recent times.
Gyökeres season summary at Coventry City
Rúben Amorim has built around Gyokeres as his attacking kingpin with Pedro Gonçalves and Francisco Trincão deployed either side of the Swede to give him service. Gyökeres certainly isn’t Sporting’s only high-value asset – see Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio and Marcus Edwards – but he is the rarest of commodities. Centre forwards like him are hard to find.
Amorim himself was linked with Barcelona, Liverpool and West Ham over the summer and is destined to test himself in a ‘Big Five’ league at some point in the future. Whenever Amorim moves on and wherever he goes, he will surely push for Gyökeres to follow him such has been his importance to Sporting’s recent success.
“It will be difficult for Viktor to stay at Sporting if Rúben Amorim decides to leave the club,” said Gyökeres’ agent Hasan Cetinkaya. “We had eight proposals for Gyökeres last summer [when he left Coventry City] and he decided to join Sporting for Amorim.” The two figures’ futures could prove to be intertwined.
A buying club might have to stump up €100m to land Gyökeres. This is what Sporting have set his release clause at, leaving the Portuguese champions vulnerable to losing their top scorer. The way Gyökeres is going, €100m could represent a bargain given the prices being quoted for other strikers operating on a similar level.
“I’ve already said – we can’t control this,” said Amorim when asked about Gyökeres’ release clause. “If a player who had a big impact last season leaves, it would mean a lot of money coming in. This is part of the way Portuguese clubs keep their teams competitive. I’m not worried at all. We’ll see what happens. If they leave, it’s a sign that a lot of money is coming in.”
Arsenal are believed to be admirers of Gyökeres. The Gunners could use an orthodox centre forward in the mould of the 26-year-old to push them closer to the Premier League title. Gyökeres might not be Haaland, but he is the closest to the Manchester City striker Arsenal are likely to get their hands on.
Manchester United are another Premier League club that would be improved by signing Gyökeres. Rasmus Højlund has potential at the number nine spot, but he doesn’t have the finishing instincts nor the playmaking ability of the Sporting centre forward. Gyökeres would be an upgrade.
Liga Portugal shotmap, 2024/25 season
For the time being, though, Gyökeres must continue to deliver for his current club. Sporting CP qualified for this season’s Champions League by winning the Portuguese title, giving Gyökeres the opportunity to prove his worth among Europe’s elite. For Sweden, the 26-year-old could also make an impact in the UEFA Nations League and qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
At his current scoring rate, Gyökeres is on course for 59 league goals this season. That, of course, is unlikely to materialise, but his blistering start to the season has only drawn further attention to one of the most reliable goalscorers anywhere in European football. The Lisbon club might ultimately have to sell Gyökeres, but they’ll have many more goals to celebrate before that happens.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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International football is back after two months, and this time, there are quite a few familiar faces that will not be appearing for duty in the first FIFA window of the 2024/25 season. Today, we’re taking a look at the various legends who retired from international football over the summer.
The sole non-UEFA inclusion on the list, Argentina are the reigning world and South American champions and managed to claim a second-straight Copa América title this summer after edging Colombia 1-0 by the thinnest of margins. When Lionel Messi hobbled off injured, Ángel Di María stepped up and delivered to lead the Albiceleste past the finish line in his 145th and final appearance. It is no coincidence that Argentina lost three finals in a row when Di María was unfit and won three finals in a row when he was available – he will go down as one of the greatest big-game performers of this century.
Belgium
Whilst Di María was able to ride off into the sunset with the Copa América 2024, Jan Vertonghen suffered the misfortune of scoring an 85th-minute own goal in a UEFA Euro 2024 Round of 16 match vs. France, the sole goal of the match. It was an unbefitting end for the ex Tottenham defender, whose 157 appearances for Belgium put him 25 ahead of second-placed Axel Witsel. Having missed out on five straight major tournaments in the previous decade, Vertonghen ushered in a period of success for Les Diables Rouges that saw them finish third in the 2018 World Cup and reach the Euro quarterfinals twice, and he leaves a major void in central defence for Domenico Tedesco’s side.
Croatia
There has been a changing of the guard at the Croatian national team following their group stage exit at Euro 2024. Marcelo Brozović has called it quits after 99 appearances, whilst Domagoj Vida has hung up his boots with 105 caps. In contrast to Vida, whose last competitive appearance came in October, Brozović has been one of the first names on the team sheet and formed a stellar trio in midfield alongside Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić. Both players have proven indispensable in a golden generation that has seen the Vatreni finish second and third in each of the last two World Cups.
Denmark
Three years after their magical run to the semifinals, Denmark struggled to make their mark on Euro 2024, scoring just two goals and exiting in the Round of 16 vs. Germany. It has provoked a sea change with Kasper Hjulmand stepping down after four years at the helm, whilst Thomas Delaney and Simon Kjær have retired. Kjær has been a reliable servant at the back with 132 appearances, second only to Christian Eriksen (134), whilst Delaney has proven a tireless workhorse in the center of the pitch, amassing 81 appearances and competing in each of the Danes’ last four major tournaments.
France
It has been nothing short of a magical career for Olivier Giroud, who led Montpellier to their first and only Ligue 1 title before proceeding to claim three FA Cups with Arsenal and a Champions League with Chelsea as well as Milan’s first Scudetto in a decade. Giroud reached three major finals with France, and whilst he was unable to find the back of the net in their 2018 World Cup, he nevertheless played a vital role with his hold-up play and defensive output. No player has scored more goals (57) for France, whilst only Lilian Thuram (142) and Hugo Lloris (145) – his new teammate at LAFC – have suited up more times for Les Bleus than Giroud (137).
Germany
Out of Germany’s seven most-capped players of all time, three of them retired from international football this summer. Thomas Müller (3rd – 131), Manuel Neuer (5th – 124), and Toni Kroos (7th – 114) have called it quits following an epic chapter that saw them lead Germany to their first World Cup in 24 years, whilst captain İlkay Gündoğan has also retired after amassing 82 caps. With the exception of Müller, all three played started roles on home soil in the previous Euros, and each of them have left massive shoes to fill for their successors.
Netherlands
From winning four league titles with boyhood club Ajax, to returning and leading them to another three, to reaching the World Cup semifinals and playing under his father for the Netherlands, to guiding Girona to Champions League football, Daley Blind has done it all at 34 years of age. He has aged like fine wine and continued to exude calm and confidence as a versatile ball-playing defender, and he has walked away from international football after 105 caps (fifth overall) for the Oranje.
Poland
It is a new era for the Polish national team following the retirements of Wojciech Szczęsny and Kamil Grosicki. A hard-working winger who’s capable of creating magic at a moment’s notice, Grosicki has been a consistent fixture in the Polish national team with 94 appearances (10th). As for Szczęsny, he has not only filled Gianluigi Buffon’s shoes for Juventus, but he has also been a reliable pair of hands between the sticks for the Polish national team (84) and has proven an invincible fortress in high-stakes situations.
Portugal
Like Kroos and Szczęsny, Pepe hasn’t just retired from international football, but club football as well. The Brazil-born defender has solidified his status as a legendary defender for Real Madrid and Porto as well as a colossus at the back for the Portuguese national team, excelling in their 2016 Euros triumph. He has called it quits after 23 years in the game, and with 141 caps, only Cristiano Ronaldo (212) and João Moutinho (146) have played more times for Portugal.
Serbia
At 35 years of age, Dušan Tadić has been a source of inspiration and creativity for club and country. He has represented Serbia at the Olympics and two World Cups and continued to deliver at the attacking midfielder position, and after participating in his first-ever Euros, he has retired as the all-time appearance maker for Serbia (111).
Spain
It’s out with the old and in with the new at La Roja: whilst Nacho (29) and Joselu (13) have both retired from international football following a season that saw them win the Champions League and the Euros, Jesús Navas (56) has retired after a stellar career that saw him win two Euros and a World Cup, and become the oldest player to feature for Spain in a major tournament.
Switzerland
Last but not least, Switzerland have said goodbye to two legends of the game. Yann Sommer (94) has proven indispensable between the sticks since making his debut in 2008, whilst Xherdan Shaqiri leaves behind an array of mind-boggling goals and sensational performances in attack. Only Granit Xhaka (130) has racked up more caps than Shaqiri (125), and only three players have scored more goals than him (32).
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Arne Slot pulled a surprise in switching Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister’s roles as Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-0, proving Liverpool already have more than one solution in their ‘problem position’ of No. 6.
When the transfer window closed with Federico Chiesa the sole new arrival at Liverpool – along with a deal agreed to bring goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to Anfield in 2025 – there was an uproar among certain sections of the club’s support.
Liverpool went into the summer in agreement that a defensive midfielder and a wide forward were the priorities for new head coach Arne Slot, but only came away with one of those positions boxed off.
Spurned by Martin Zubimendi, who opted to continue playing to the backdrop of the San Sebastian mountains, those within their recruitment team resolved that there would be no panic buy – unlike perhaps a year previous when Wataru Endo was signed following failed deals for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
While Liverpool were clear in the distinction between ‘manager’ Jürgen Klopp leaving and ‘head coach’ Slot arriving, and therefore a shedding of non-footballing responsibilities, the decision not to pivot to an alternative target will have come with the latter’s blessing.
There was certainly no concern from Slot, who installed Ryan Gravenberch as his No. 6 upon returning to pre-season and retained his compatriot in the role for back-to-back 2-0 wins over Ipswich and Brentford.
When Erik ten Hag and Manchester United’s analysts will have pored over Liverpool’s new setup in preparation for their visit to Old Trafford, then, there will have been an expectation for the 22-year-old to remain the focus in that deep-lying role.
Only things were different in Manchester: the same midfield of Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were named on the teamsheet, but it was the Argentine deployed as the No. 6.
It brought a trio of excellent performances, with Gravenberch’s agility and running power key in breaking the lines and Mac Allister a tour de force both defensively and in progressive play in possession.
Only Virgil van Dijk (17) made more defensive actions than Mac Allister (10), who also recorded the most tackles won (5/6), the second-most recoveries (eight) and the third-most passes (42/49) of any Liverpool player.
The No. 10 contested more duels than any of his team-mates (14), and though he only won six of those, his tackle success rate (83%) showed how effective he was.
“Today you saw with [Ryan], Dominik and Macca, how much they were able to keep on running,” Slot told journalists in his post-match press conference.
“Because sometimes you’re late, but they just kept on running and arriving in the duel.”
Liverpool dominated the midfield battle, so much so that Ten Hag hauled Casemiro off at half-time for the inexperienced Toby Collyer, and it was the relentlessness of Mac Allister that played a bit part in that.
The Argentine’s front-footed approach led to the third goal of the afternoon for Mohamed Salah, catching Kobbie Mainoo in possession and driving forward in a move that saw the No. 11 sweep home for 3-0.
It is not a new role for Mac Allister, of course.
Having arrived from Brighton with an expectation that he would serve as one of Klopp’s two most advanced midfielders, he instead spent much of his first campaign in the holding role vacated by Fabinho.
That took time to get used to, but it refined his quality off the ball: no Liverpool player won more tackles per 90 minutes in last season’s Premier League than Mac Allister (1.9) and only Trent Alexander-Arnold (1.3) averaged more interceptions (1.2).
Mac Allister defensive stats, Premier League 2023/24
While Klopp used his No. 6s in the more traditional sense of a defensive midfielder – a blueprint laid out by Fabinho, who was nicknamed ‘The Lighthouse’ by assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders – the role has undoubtedly changed under Slot.
Slot scoffed at one reporter’s question on his use of a 4-2-3-1 in his unveiling press conference, but the roles of his three midfielders are at least closer to that basic structure.
That means a No. 6, a No. 8 and a No. 10, but with all three players fluid in their duties, and Liverpool’s buildup play is now centred around that unit.
There was a moment in the 3-0 victory at Old Trafford that summed it up, as Szoboszlai, Salah, Gravenberch and Alexander-Arnold replicated a training-ground rondo with Collyer and Marcus Rashford hopelessly chasing passes.
The ball was eventually played to Mac Allister in the centre and a chance opened up which almost led to a fourth goal – he was stationed deepest to provide the same stability, but he was as involved as the two midfielders marked as No. 8 and No. 10.
Ironically, there is a sense that the player Liverpool’s owners were willing to break their transfer record for, bidding £111 million for Caicedo before his move to Chelsea, would no longer suit the requirements for a No. 6 in Slot’s system.
Liverpool no longer have room for a destroyer in their engine room, and the Dutchman’s use of both Gravenberch and now Mac Allister has underlined that.
It does not mean a deep-lying midfielder is no longer a priority in future transfer windows, but these early signs do seem to vindicate the club’s stance that they would only sign an ideal player for the position, rather than a stopgap to appease fans and bulk out the squad.
Slot’s decision to flip Gravenberch and Mac Allister’s roles caught Manchester United by surprise, and it displayed that he has at least two options capable of performing the task in his new midfield setup.
While Gravenberch may be his de facto first choice in the role, don’t rule out seeing the likes of Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones or even Tyler Morton – a player coveted by Bayer Leverkusen in the final stages of the transfer window – fielded deepest at points this season.
A flexible Liverpool is an unpredictable Liverpool, and in only his third game in charge Slot made his first real tactical flex – that it paid off is a testament to not only the head coach, but also the irrepressible quality of Mac Allister.
(Images from IMAGO)
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Chants of “we’re going to win the league” rang out among a rapturous Aberdeen crowd in Dingwall after Kevin Nisbet scored a late winner against Ross County to secure a vital 1-0 victory.
After four wins from four games, the Dons are level with Celtic on points in the Premiership table, enjoying a stunning start to life under new manager Jimmy Thelin.
While certainly tongue in cheek this chant following the late winner over the Highland side comes just four months since Aberdeen finished the 2023/24 campaign in ninth position – their joint lowest top flight finish since 2012.
Peter Leven (twice), Barry Robson and Neil Warnock all led the club at some point last season, winning only 19 games combined. Something had to change, and fast.
The tried and trusted method of turning to those who knew Scottish football clearly hadn’t worked, as chairman Dave Cormack looked elsewhere for a manager who would be capable of returning the Dons to a top three finish in the Premiership, while potentially winning a cup or two.
Enter Thelin.
Making his mark in Sweden
The 46-year-old Swede worked his way from coaching the U17 side at J-Södra IF in 2009, before landing the role of first team manager five years later. Across the next three and a half years, Thelin would manage the club for 130 matches, leading them to the Allsvenskan via promotion in 2015.
While the club suffered relegation during their second season in the top flight, Thelin’s approach had made him an attractive proposition for other teams.
He was appointed manager of Elfsborg in January 2018, implementing an attacking 4-3-3 system which would become his staple.
Over the next six years, Elfsborg would finish outside the top six just twice – during his first two campaigns – while even finishing runners up in both 2020 and 2023.
Elfsborg league finishes under Thelin
This success in a league usually dominated by Malmö, or the Stockholm clubs, clearly piqued Cormack’s interest, leading to the club announcing Thelin as their new manager in April.
A gamble indeed, but one that looks as though it is already paying off.
A new era
Aberdeen scored just 48 league goals last season, relying heavily on Bojan Miovski, who scored 16 of them. If it wasn’t for the striker, the Dons would have likely ended up in the relegation playoffs.
Performing as well as he did in Scotland was bound to attract attention. The Old Firm were half-heartedly linked with the 24-year-old in January, yet the supporters knew he wouldn’t remain in the north east for long.
Indeed, when an offer of £6.8m was presented to Thelin by La Liga side Girona during the transfer window, it was clear he would be moving to Spain, finishing his time in Scotland with 44 goals in just 98 appearances.
Losing this sort of quality was a blow, but the Swede wasted no time in strengthening, signing a total of seven players to bulk out his first team squad.
The transfer window has clearly been a success, as the Dons have won nine games in a row – five in the League Cup and four in the Premiership – to begin 2024/25 with a perfect record.
Combining these new signings to the core group of players already at the club has evidently worked wonders, with the goals being spread around the squad so far.
Six players have scored two or more, with striker Ester Sokler leading the way with four goals after nine games.
Aberdeen’s League Cup group, 2024/25
Drawn in a League Cup group consisting of Airdrie, Dumbarton, East Kilbride and Queen of the South, 12 points from 12 was the goal and Thelin duly delivered. A late strike by Topi Keskinen gave the Dons a 1-0 win over Queens Park in the last 16. The performance was subpar, yet they dug in and secured the win over tricky opponents.
The Premiership is the priority, however, with Thelin’s charges enjoying a splendid start domestically. Four wins, eight goals scored and just two conceded is better than most supporters would have dreamed a few months ago.
What is most striking is how more dynamic they look, especially going forward. The Dons rank second in the league for possession won in the final third per game (4.5), while also ranking third for touches in the opposition box (98), expected goals (5.4) and big chances (11), behind only Rangers and Celtic.
Jamie McGrath has been at the centre of this newfound attacking confidence shown by the side. The Irishman has created 5.05 chances per game while registering 0.89 assists and winning possession in the final third 1.19 times per game.
The 27-year-old might be the standout, but the majority of the squad have thrived under the new regime, which could see Aberdeen return to the top three of the Premiership once again.
The Swedish tactician won’t be getting carried away, but if Aberdeen maintain this form over the coming weeks, don’t be surprised to see them challenging for second spot in the league, especially considering Rangers struggles so far this season.
Whisper it quietly, but it looks like Aberdeen are back.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Just four matches into the 2024/25 season, Barcelona are already four points clear at the top of the La Liga standings. Naturally, then, they also are the only team to have preserved a perfect record, so Hansi Flick and his coaching staff must be happy with how they have started off.
The first half of 2024 was anything but smooth sailing for Barcelona. A 4-1 loss to Real Madrid just two weeks after the turn of the year was a significant dent to their LaLiga title hopes from which they could not recover, they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey soon thereafter and finally had their Champions League dreams dashed by Paris Saint-Germain in April.
At the same time, there was a lot of flip-flopping going on in the background as far as head coach Xavi’s future was concerned. He first announced that he would leave at the end of the season following the Copa del Rey defeat, but an upturn in form and improved performances contributed to him backtracking on that decision despite the Champions League elimination. That was not all, though, as reported disagreements with club president Juan Laporta ultimately sealed his fate in May when he was effectively sacked at the end of the season.
Hansi Flick was consistently touted as a potential successor amid all this drama, so he was quickly hired as the next man for the job and given a two-year contract. However, Barcelona’s continued financial and management issues led many to believe that changing coaches wouldn’t change the club’s fortunes all that much.
LaLiga table, as it stands
Of course, it is still very early days so that could well prove to be true in the long run, but the initial indicators in Flick’s tenure have been positive for the Blaugrana.
Intense attacking football
As is their tradition, Barcelona aimed to keep lots of the ball under Xavi. They sought to control matches this way, but this often led to their possession becoming quite stale and devoid of any significant attacking threat. That has not at all been an issue for Flick’s side so far as they have shown consistent attacking intent in all four matches and been rewarded with heaps of chances and goals.
The big 7-0 win over a subpar Real Valladolid side last weekend naturally bumped their numbers up, but their performances against some of the league’s better defensive units, such as Athletic Club and Valencia, suggest that they should be able to maintain a high level of attacking output in the long run. With a clinical goalscorer like Robert Lewandowski and already elite ball-to-feet creator like Lamine Yamal in the side, they will always be very hard to stop when they click.
Flick’s job is to provide a platform for that, and he has clearly done well with his attacking setups so far. Lewandowski has unsurprisingly led the line but has received handy support from a narrow left winger (like Raphinha) who can attack the box alongside him or pose a threat in behind, diverting a bit of the opposition defence’s attention. The left back has freely overlapped to provide width on that flank, whereas Lamine Yamal has been allowed to stay wide on the right and been supported by underlaps to make the most of his dribbling threat. The final piece of the puzzle is someone like Dani Olmo – the perfect sort of midfielder to deploy in the central pockets of space opened up by these attackers’ movements.
Defensive question marks
The flip side to Barcelona’s relentless attacking approach is that their defensive weakness from Xavi’s tenure has persisted. Their lack of strong defensive midfielders does not help in this regard either, so opponents have continued to find some joy on the counter.
Barça have kept just one clean sheet so far and conceded first in two matches, so there already is cause for concern in this respect. Although they have been able to power past their opponents in each case so far, things could well go wrong on a bad day or against a particularly staunch defence. The trouble with Barcelona’s approach is that it has the potential to spiral into a vicious cycle – more intense attacking further weakens their at rest defence, potentially leading to goals conceded and an unfavourable game state which in turn necessitates yet more intense attacking, and so on and so forth.
Flick’s side are also yet to be tested by some of the best possession-based teams in the league, so we cannot say much about the effectiveness of their press or the solidity of their defensive block yet. Sides like Girona and Villarreal as well as Champions League opponents should give us a better indication in the next month or so.
Won’t somebody please think of the children?
The biggest concern for Barcelona remains their poor squad building. While it has not cost them anything in terms of results yet, its effects have already been felt.
From the very first day of his tenure as Barcelona head coach, Flick has had to rely on youngsters to an unreasonably high degree. Case in point: his starting XI for the season-opener at Valencia, which included as many as three 17-year-olds!
Lots can be said about how impressive it is that La Masia dependably continues to produce top-class talents who can seamlessly slot into one of the world’s best teams, but that does not change the fact that it is a terrible idea to rely on such youngsters for the entire duration of a 50+ game season. Barcelona have a terrible recent track record in managing young talents which the likes of Ansu Fati, Pedri, Gavi and Alejandro Balde can attest to, but lessons have not been learned.
Marc Bernal has already suffered a long-term injury, and the lack of depth across various positions unfortunately makes it quite likely that he will be joined on the sidelines by someone or the other sooner rather than later. With such a potentially fragile squad, the wheels could well come off Barcelona’s campaign when they begin to compete on multiple fronts.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Our Major League Soccer expert James Nalton picks the standout players from the latest round of games in MLS, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.
Suárez will get the credit for two goals in this 4-1 win in Chicago against the Fire, but the own goal from Tobias Salquist which opened the scoring was mostly down to him, too.
It showed the attacking awareness few players have ever matched and has made him one of the greatest No. 9s the game has seen.
He played a one-two with an initial blind pass around the corner to his current support act Diego Gómez, before receiving the return ball and causing the save that led to the own goal.
Suárez then made sure to get his name on the scoresheet, finishing well on two occasions for a brace.
Despite his age and knee issues, which might cause him to retire altogether at the end of 2024, the burst of speed remains in his head and can make his goals look easy.
Inter Miami have won eight games out of nine in Lionel Messi’s absence through international call-ups and injury, and if Miami win the Supporters’ Shield on this form, Suárez, not Messi, might be the league’s MVP.
9.1 FotMob rating: Luca Orellano, FC Cincinnati
Given their usual prowess in recent times it is difficult to believe FC Cincinnati had not won in MLS since that memorable 6-1 thrashing of Inter Miami in July.
Four defeats on the bounce followed that victory, including revenge for Miami that has seen them take the initiative at the top of the table.
It was important that Cincinnati bounced back and at least maintained pressure on a Miami team that now looks likely to win the Supporters’ Shield.
Orellano played a big part in bringing some belief back to the team in a 4-1 win against Montreal.
It was his cross that caused trouble for the Montreal defence and saw Kevin Kelsy open the scoring.
He then scored twice from free kicks, the first via a deflection from a set piece just outside the area, and then another from inside his own half having noticed Jonathan Sirois off his line. Needless to say, it was the round’s standout goal.
It was also the second time this season Orellano has scored from such a distance, and in the absence of the suspended reigning MVP Luciano Acosta, he was able to sprinkle the star quality when it was needed.
Three more standout performers
8.8 FotMob rating: Braian Ojeda, Real Salt Lake
Like Cincinnati, Real Salt Lake had gone four games without a win in MLS, but recorded a 2-0 win against New England to remain in the mix at the top of the Western Conference.
Having sold one star player, Andrés Gómez, to Rennes in the summer transfer window, and missing another, Chicho Arango, through injury, it was time for RSL to show they have strength in depth and a solid gameplan that can survive without their stars.
Ojeda’s performance was important, but his assist was fairly unusual. He got a flick on an incoming free-kick into the opposition area which, rather than being a deft touch, ricocheted all the way out to Philip Quinton on the other side of the area, who was in enough space to score.
Ojeda had more touches than any other player on the pitch, with 88, completed 86% of his passes, made three successful dribbles and won seven duels.
9.0 FotMob rating: Facundo Torres, Orlando City
Suárez wasn’t the only in-form Uruguayan this week as Facundo Torres scored twice in Orlando’s 3-0 win against Nashville.
His first goal saw him start the move and finish it, getting on the end of Dagur Dan Thórhallsson’s cross having fed him down the right wing. He then finished well at the far post to record a brace.
The goals meant Torres has now passed Nani’s record for goals and assists combined for Orlando City in MLS with 52 (per MLS whose definition of an assist is more favourable than other stats providers).
Torres was heavily involved in general play, drifting into the centre from the right wing, with 53 touches and a pass success of 36/40 (90%) to go with his two goals.
9.2 FotMob rating: Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Minnesota United
Minnesota United have struggled in the middle of this season after a promising start, but have now won two of their last three as they look to embark on a positive end to the 2024 campaign.
Hlongwane scored twice in this latest win – 2-1 against bottom-of-the-table side San Jose Earthquakes.
He finished emphatically to open the scoring before hanging around in the right place to turn in the winner amid a scramble in the six-yard box.
He now has nine goals for the season, bettering last season’s tally, and these recent victories mean Minnesota still have an outside chance of making the playoffs.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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When tasked with naming the players to appear for Leicester City during the club’s miraculous Premier League title-winning season, Andrej Kramarić might not be the first name that springs to mind.
The Foxes’ then-record signing made just two appearances from the bench in 2015-16 before departing for Hoffenheim in the January transfer window, though it is a move that he will have few regrets about. Kramarić struck five goals and four assists in the second half of the 2015-16 Bundesliga season, helping Hoffenheim avoid relegation against all odds under the now-Germany national team manager Julian Nagelsmann.
The Croatian international’s impressive form quickly prompted the German side to make his move permanent in the summer of 2016 – a decision that has proven to be mightily shrewd. With 136 goals for Hoffenheim in all competitions, Kramarić has gone on to become TSG’s all time top goalscorer. In fact, he has outscored second-placed Sejad Salihović (65) by more than double.
Kramarić player traits
Kramarić has established himself as one of the finest attackers in the Bundesliga, notching double figures for league strikes in all but one of his eight full seasons in Sinsheim. The 33-year old has netted 119 times in the Bundesliga – almost a quarter of all goals scored by Hoffenheim since his debut in January 2016 (23.7% – 119/503).
He is much more than just a penalty box poacher however, with his role completely evolving within the Hoffenheim side over the last two seasons. Kramarić has adopted the mantle of provider and goalscorer, operating in a more withdrawn role under manager Pellegrino Matarazzo. The Croatian is typically deployed as an attacking midfielder behind two strikers, giving him considerably more responsibility in possession.
Kramarić proactively looks to get involved in build-up play, dropping between the lines to provide a forward option. In this deeper role, TSG are then able to utilise his neat link-up play to progress the ball into the final third. In fact, since the start of last season, the 33-year-old has been involved in 146 open-play shot-ending sequences – the most of any Hoffenheim player.
One of Kramarić’s greatest assets is his ability to receive well under pressure before navigating out of tight spaces via quick bounce passes and combining with teammates. The 33-year-old’s new-found position also offers him far greater freedom to drift into wider areas and deceive defenders by dropping into tricky pockets of space.
Upon picking up these positions, the attacker then has an innate ability to deliver final balls into the box. Kramarić played more passes into the area than any other Hoffenheim player in the Bundesliga last season (145), while he created twice as many chances as any other teammate (78). He is undoubtedly the beating heart of Matarazzo’s attacking trident, with only Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka (12) providing more secondary assists than him since the start of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign (seven).
The Croatia international’s deeper role has also not seen his goal output wane, with the forward still possessing the final third capabilities of an elite striker. He often varies his runs and does not hesitate to dart in behind – picking his moments to go beyond the opposition’s defence. Kramarić has garnered a reputation as one of the most clinical forwards in the Bundesliga, with only Robert Lewandowski (204) managing more goals than him since his debut in the German top-flight (119).
His capacity to create space for himself in the 18-yard-box is what makes him such an awkward customer for defenders. The 33-year-old has a real knack for arriving into the box late and perfectly timing his runs to target cut-backs. It’s this intelligent movement that enables him to evade tracking and fashion numerous opportunities on goal. Kramarić has accumulated the highest xG (Expected Goals) of any Hoffenheim player in the Bundesliga since the start of last season (13.7).
Kramarić shooting stats, Bundesliga 2023/24
The attacker enjoyed a prolific end to last season, which has quickly followed him into the current campaign. Indeed, since the start of April, no player has been directly involved in more Bundesliga goals than Kramarić (16). This remarkable spell has also seen him become the first ever Hoffenheim player to have a hand in at least one goal in nine consecutive Bundesliga games (11 goals, five assists).
The marksman is now the highest scoring Croatian in Bundesliga history, while he has impressively netted against 26 different opponents in the German top-flight, with Greuther Fürth the only side to keep him out.
Kramarić shooting stats, Bundesliga 2024/25
Kramarić captured the headlines after a three-goal haul against Bayern Munich on the final day of last season, thus taking TSG into this season’s Europa League. And he appears to be showing no sign of slowing down. The 33-year-old netted a treble during Hoffenheim’s 3-2 opening day victory over Holsten Kiel. It marked Kramarić as just the third player in Bundesliga history, after Gerd Müller and Klaus Fischer, to score 3+ goals on the first matchday in two separate seasons.
Kramarić struck against Eintracht Frankfurt last time out to top the Bundesliga scoring charts heading into the international break, while his triumph on MD1 was the Croatian’s 100th victory in Germany’s top-tier.
After missing out on one fairytale, Andrej Kramarić has written himself a remarkable story indeed.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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