Page 33 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Southampton

At the first time of asking, Southampton secured promotion back to the Premier League.

The Saints will be looking to solidify their place in the English top-flight and it will be interesting to see how manager Russell Martin gets on in the top tier of English football.

What happened last season?

It was no doubt an emotional rollercoaster for Southampton fans last season.

They started well, then couldn’t win a game of football before an unbelievable unbeaten run put them in contention to claim a top-two finish. A disappointing end to the campaign, however, meant they had to settle for a fourth-place finish.

The Saints won the play-offs though to book their place in the Premier League.

Southampton kicked off their campaign with three wins and one draw in their opening four matches. It had appeared as though the new manager had put his stamp on things. And then there was a mini-collapse. The Saints lost four on the bounce, conceding 12 goals and scoring just twice.

This could’ve derailed their campaign. It didn’t though.

Instead, they put together a 22-match unbeaten run and this catapulted them into play-off contention. They eventually finished nine points off of the automatic promotion places, but it could’ve been different had they not collapsed in their final 10 matches.

The collapse might be an exaggeration. But Southampton did fail to win six of their last 10 in the Championship, losing four and drawing two. This included a run of three defeats on the bounce against Leicester City, Cardiff City and Stoke City.

Despite this, it was still a hugely encouraging year for Martin and his players. They averaged 1.9 goals per 90, a figure only Ipswich Town could better, while ranking second for Expected Goals, first for passes per 90 (almost 600) and topped the possession charts with 66%. It was a clear sign that the players had adapted to the style of play brought in by the new manager.

Defensively, though, there’s work to be done. They conceded 1.4 goals per 90. For context, Leicester had the best defence in the league and allowed just 0.9 goals against per 90. The Saints kept just 12 clean sheets while Leeds topped the charts with 19.

Adam Armstong will be hoping to carry his good form into the Premier League. The forward scored 21 goals and assisted on 13 occasions. No Southampton player could beat him for goals or assists. His 34 goal involvements were considerably more than the player who ranked second for this metric Che Adams (20).

*Adam Armstrong shot map, Championship 2023/24*

What has happened during the summer?

Southampton have been busy preparing for life in the Premier League.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes impressed on loan last term and their deals have been turned into permanent moves. Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor joined on free transfers to add some experience to this squad.

The Saints brought in Ben Brereton Díaz from Villarreal following his loan stint with Sheffield United last term while highly-rated right-back Yukinari Sugawara joined from AZ.

Martin bolstered his defensive ranks by bringing in young centre-back duo Nathan Wood and Ronnie Edwards.

A few players left on a free transfer, the standout name being Che Adams.

What they should be aiming for next season?

First and foremost, Southampton are going to want to stay in the English top-flight. They might struggle though. Martin had his team dominating the ball in the Championship and that isn’t likely to be the case in the Premier League. How will they adapt to having to cede possession? How will their defence hold up against the big-hitters in the top tier? Is the squad good enough to compete? We’ll know within the first few weeks if Martin has had to alter his plans and we’ll be able to see the impact it has had on the team.

Prediction: 17th

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Nottingham Forest

For the third successive season, Nottingham Forest kick off their Premier League campaign with the sole objective of avoiding relegation.

By Sam McGuire

This time, however, they might not beat the drop.

What happened last season?

A bit of everything, really.

Forest sacked their manager and they were deducted points but, in the end, they did enough to retain their place in the English top-flight. Their haul of 32 points was the lowest tally of any surviving team in Premier League history.

We’ll start at the beginning.

Steve Cooper lasted until December before being dismissed as the Forest boss. He was replaced by former Wolves and Spurs manager Nuno Espírito Santo.

Under the Portuguese tactician, Forest won 22 points from their 21 matches and this was enough to avoid the drop. However, they did have to wait until the final day to guarantee their Premier League status.

This run included back-to-back wins over Newcastle United and Manchester United in late December, a three-match unbeaten run in March and then two wins in their final three outings. In the end, this flurry of positive results across Espírito Santo’s reign was enough.

*Forest goals in the Premier League, 2023/24*

If they want to avoid another season of struggle, there are key areas to improve. Firstly, Forest need to improve as a goal threat. They scored just 49 goals last season, making them the fourth-lowest scorers in the Premier League. They kept just four clean sheets all term and conceded, on average, 1.8 goals per game.

In summary, they didn’t score enough goals or keep enough clean sheets. A recipe for disaster.

They were heavily reliant on Chris Wood. The 32-year-old was responsible for almost 30% of the goals scored by Forest last term. In fact, he was the only player to finish with double digits. Morgan Gibbs-White chipped in with 10 assists and claimed a FotMob rating of 7.24, the highest amongst the players at the City Ground. If Espírito Santo wants to avoid a relegation battle, he’s going to have to find a way to get this team firing.

What has happened during the summer?

As ever, Forest have been fairly busy in the transfer market.

Elliott Anderson arrived from Newcastle United in a deal believed to be worth £35million. It was a significant outlay for a player with limited experience in the top flight. That deal probably falls into the risky category.

Nikola Milenković has been added to bolster the backline. The former Fiorentina man seems like a good fit for the physicality of the Premier League.

Jota Silva, a winger, arrived from Vitória Guimarães while Forest signed yet another goalkeeper in Carlos Miguel. He replaced the outgoing Odysseas Vlachodimos in the squad.

The club also lost Moussa Niakhate and Orel Mangala to Lyon, but they did recoup a combined £52million for the duo.

It is worth noting that this is Espírito Santo’s first pre-season in charge at the City Ground.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Survival. That is the aim. But it is going to be tricky. Yes, they have managed to keep hold of Gibbs-White and Murillo, two highly-sought-after players, but they haven’t really added to the squad and the forward line is still lacking goals. It looks like it will be an uphill struggle for Espírito Santo and his team.

Prediction: 20th

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Newcastle United

Newcastle United were brought back down to earth with a bump last season after the highs of 2022/23.

By Sam McGuire

However, they finished strongly and, without the distraction of Champions League football combined with a much better squad, Eddie Howe’s men could, once again, be one of the surprise packages of the season.

What happened last season?

The Magpies eventually claimed a seventh-place finish after a positive end to the campaign. At one point, a mid-table finish would’ve been viewed as a successful season.

Newcastle lost 10 of their opening 21 matches and there were even some suggestions that Howe could be dismissed. The credit in the bank he’d amassed by guiding the Toon Army into the Champions League had been used up.

He managed to turn it around though. The Magpies lost just four of their final 17 matches in the English top flight to finish the season with 60 points and 18 wins. They were just eight points off of fourth-placed Aston Villa, and after a terrible time mid-way through the campaign.

Newcastle’s decision to stick with Howe paid off. A seventh-placed finish and a quarter-final showing in both the domestic cups is a solid enough season.

The Magpies had decent underlying numbers too. Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool could surpass their 2.2 goals per 90. Their Expected Goals haul of 77.1 was the fourth highest in the Premier League while they ranked first for Big Chances (134).

*Big chances created, Premier League 2023/24*

Defensively, Howe needs to work on improving this team. They finished the season with an xG Conceded total of 62. This was higher than the likes of Bournemouth, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, and Everton.

Alexander Isak impressed yet again, notching 21 goals in the English top-flight while Bruno Guimarães was, yet again, the main man for the Magpies. He finished the season with a FotMob rating of 7.65. Anthony Gordon also had a positive campaign for the Magpies, finishing the season with double-digits in goals and assists.

What has happened during the summer?

For starters, Newcastle made Lewis Hall’s loan move into a permanent deal. Howe has been reunited with Lloyd Kelly after the versatile defender left Bournemouth on a free transfer. The Magpies added Odysseas Vlachodimos to their squad to bolster their goalkeeper options.

The big one is yet to happen though. According to reports, Marc Guéhi is wanted and the likelihood is he will end up at St James’ Park. The mooted fee is £60million and it would be a statement signing after the centre-back impressed for England at the Euros and was linked with Liverpool.

The club has to sell Elliott Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to balance the books. The sale of Minteh looks to be a risky one given how impressive he was for Feyenoord last season and how good he’s looked for Brighton in pre-season.

There’s also talk that Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimarães could yet still be on the move.

Liverpool, Gordon’s boyhood team, want the versatile attacker while reports suggest Manchester City want the Brazilian midfielder. If Newcastle manage to keep hold of both, that will be as much of a statement as the arrival of Guéhi.

What they should be aiming for next season?

The Magpies should be aiming for European qualification. A top four finish might be beyond them but if they end the transfer window strongly, why shouldn’t it be an aim? Rivals are potentially in transition. If Newcastle are able to be as strong offensively as they were last season while improving defensively, they’ll have a chance.

Prediction: 7th

(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.

Aug

2024

European Away Days with SK Brann

Representing our home town of Bergen, in Norway, SK Brann are currently playing in the qualifying rounds for this season’s Europa Conference League. And we’re tagging along for the ride!

By Bill Biss

There’s no time to rest in the early stages of any of UEFA’s three midweek club competitions. Qualifying rounds come thick and fast throughout July and August, and everyone’s in the rush to get to the all-important group stage draw, which usually falls at the end of the month.

And with SK Brann involved, and all three of their kits this season adorned by the FotMob logo on the back of the shirts, we were first in line for a road trip.

English football photographer, Danny Last, joined us for the second round qualifier away at Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands (some photos from which feature – here), before returning with us a week later to explore the glorious surroundings of Bergen, a city flanked by not one but seven mountains. It was also a chance for us to show off Brann Stadion at its finest, packed out for the second leg where Brann completed a 2-1 aggregate victory (more photos from which feature – here).

And not a drop of rain that the city is so famous for.

Then, last Thursday, it was off to Scotland for a trip to St. Mirren, situated in the town of Paisley and just a short train ride out of central Glasgow. Here we encountered much more familiar weather, and a proud club who, like us, were enjoying the rare treat of European football.

In fact, St. Mirren were playing in continental competition for the first time since the 1987/88 season. And that fact was not lost on the home supporters, who crashed their website such was the clamour for tickets to what was the first leg of the third round of qualifying. Win this tie, triumph in the final play-off round, and then and only then is a place in the group stages confirmed!

On arrival, we linked up with the rest of the Brann supporters in a bar tucked away down a side street heavily painted with St. Mirren murals.

Refreshments were sought, stories of long journeys were shared, the local weather was lambasted, and various Brann anthems loosened the vocal chords of all in attendance, before the Police arrived to escort us through the town centre and one stop along the rail network to St. Mirren’s SMISA Stadium.

There was not a hint of trouble throughout the day but after some liveliness at the home side’s opening league game, won so convincingly against Hibernian the previous weekend, the local constabulary were probably on their guard, and there were no grumbles from those of us experiencing a new town for the first time. For once, Google Maps was not required.

Our boys Brann did us proud during the game, creating more than enough chances to win the match across the 90 minutes. Kicking away from us in the first half the boys from Bergen were making all the noise as we had the home side on the back foot and keeping the North Bank ultras group quiet, but all to no avail, with no breakthrough made in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half continued in the same manner, with St. Mirren goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe and his defence standing firm, at least, until the 75th minute when finally Brann made their dominance tell.

Felix Horn Myhre followed up a blocked effort and rifled home a fantastic finish to send us, and those around us, into raptures! For about a minute there, it was bedlam, players rushing to the fans, the fans rushing to the players over a barrier or two – and a line of underpaid and slightly surprised looking stewards.

All we had to do now was keep things tight, see out the remaining quarter of the game, and then it was all back to Norway for this week’s second leg and a real chance of getting through to the next round.

But before we could get too carried away with making the rather complicated travel plans for that play-off, which will be against either Corvinul Hunedoara, of the Romanian second division, or Astana, of Kazakhstan, St. Mirren managed to turn the tide.

And boy did the home crowd get behind their side as they sought an equaliser. The North Bank was rocking and the other two sides of the ground followed suit. A goal felt inevitable but as always, it didn’t come until the lingering hope of seeing out the contest reached its peak, with substitute Toyosi Olusanya bundling the ball in to the back of the Brann net as the clock hit 90 minutes.

1-1 then, a tie evenly poised for the return leg in Bergen on Thursday. We’ll be there, of course, come rain or shine, for what could be another famous European night at the Stadion in FotMob’s home town.

For more images from Brann’s European adventure so far, check out this link to a thread from St. Mirren, or check out the links found elsewhere in this article.

(All images courtesy of Danny Last)

You can follow every game from the Europa Conference League on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Manchester United

Manchester United will be hoping to return to the top four this season after a truly disappointing 2023/24 campaign.

By Sam McGuire

The Red Devils have been active in the market and Erik Ten Hag has been backed. The Dutchman is going to have to get a tune out of this squad this time around.

What happened last season?

United ended the season on a high, beating neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final. But success at Wembley was not enough to paper over the cracks of what was a disappointing campaign.

Ten Hag’s men finished eighth in the Premier League and crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage. They lost 14 matches in the English top-flight and finished the season with a negative goal difference.

Their form throughout the campaign could best be described as patchy. For example, the Red Devils won just one in five during December but then racked up four wins on the bounce in February.

In their final 13 fixtures in the Premier League, United managed just four wins. A stronger end to the season would’ve potentially catapulted them into the top four with Villa claiming fourth spot having finished just eight points clear of the Red Devils.

Fine margins make a huge difference.

Rasmus Højlund enjoyed a decent debut campaign at Old Trafford following his move from Atalanta. The young striker finished as the club’s joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League with 10.

The main man for the Red Devils was, yet again, Bruno Fernandes. He netted 10 times and claimed the most assists (eight). He was far and away the most creative player for United, carving out 114 chances Next on the list was Alejandro Garnacho with 46.

What has happened during the summer?

United made positive moves in the market to bring in Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkee.

The Red Devils managed to see off reported interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid to sign Yoro from Lille. Unfortunately, the young French centre-back is set to miss the start of the season having had an operation on a broken metatarsal. But his arrival is a huge boost for Ten Hag and the project at Old Trafford.

Zirkee impressed while at Bologna and could act as the link between midfield and attack. His signing could be key in truly unlocking Højlund’s potential as the main goal threat for United.

United are expected to sign another centre-back, with Matthijs De Ligt currently in the building (as this article is published), and they’re in the market for a midfielder after pulling out of negotiations for Manuel Ugarte. This could be an era-defining window for the Red Devils. If they get it right, they’re well on their way under INEOS.

They did lose Raphaël Varane and Anthony Martial on free transfers while Mason Greenwood and Willy Kambwala were sold to raise funds for new arrivals.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Ten Hag is into his third year as manager of Man United now. A clear playing style is required and should, in all honesty, be the bare minimum. Having spent even more money this summer, a top four push should be on the agenda. It won’t be easy but the Red Devils can’t keep backing their manager without seeing a return in the shape of consistent performances and results.

Prediction: 6th

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Manchester City

Manchester City are looking to claim a fifth successive Premier League title.

By Sam McGuire

You wouldn’t bet against Pep Guardiola and his team doing it, would you? They know how to win. Remarkably, they know how to keep this team of winners wanting more.

What happened last season?

After winning the treble during the 2022/23 campaign, many doubted whether or not Man City would be able to go again last term. Their goal had been to lift the Champions League. Having achieved that, how do you get the players in the right mindset to go again?

They managed it though.

The Citizens posted yet another 90+ point season to claim their fourth Premier League title on the bounce. They finished two points clear of Arsenal having put together a 23-match unbeaten run from December onwards. This run included nine successive wins to see out the 2023/24 campaign.

City lost just three games in the English top-flight and scored a league-high 96 goals last term. The champions averaged 2.5 goals and conceded just 0.9 goals per game. Defensively, only Arsenal could boast a better record. Guardiola’s men also kept the joint-second most clean sheets (13).

What is interesting though is that they only ranked third for big chances created (124) and ranked second for Expected Goals (81.9). A huge overperformance in the final third fired them to the title. Does that seem very sustainable? Of course, having Erling Haaland no doubt helps in that department.

The No. 9 finished the top scorer in the league for a second successive season having netted 27 goals. He wasn’t the highest-rated Man City player though. That accolade belongs to Rodri with the Spain midfielder finishing the campaign with a FotMob rating of 8.12. This average was, in fact, the highest across the entire Premier League.

What has happened during the summer?

The Champions have reinforced their wide areas with the signing of Savinho from Troyes. The winger spent last season on loan in LaLiga with Girona, scoring nine goals, and impressed with his aggressiveness when in possession.

Pairing him with Jérémy Doku on the wings could be a lot of fun.

So far, he’s the only new face at the Eithad. Expect that to change though once the sale of Julián Álvarez is finally confirmed. The World Cup winner is heading to Atlético Madrid in a deal believed to be worth £80million. He’ll need to be replaced too. He’s the backup striker to Haaland and the Norway international does tend to miss a handful of matches every season. City will need to bring in adequate cover if they’re to mount another title charge.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Liam Delap, Sergio Gomez and Tommy Doyle have also been sold, with City bringing in over £50million in sales already. There was also talk that Ederson might depart. At the time of writing, he remains at the club but that could all change before the window closes. If he does depart, he’d likely have to be replaced. As good as Stefan Ortega is, it would be a gamble to head into the season with him as the No. 1.

What they should be aiming for next season?

As always with City, the Premier League title is their aim. A five-peat would be a remarkable achievement, especially if the champions don’t do much in the market. They would’ve been weakened, at least on paper, while Arsenal, their main rivals, have invested heavily. People will be backing the Gunners to finally lift the title and this might actually spur Guardiola and his players on.

To win the title when they aren’t pre-season favourites. They always find a way to win though, don’t they?

Prediction: 1st

(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.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Liverpool

For the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, Liverpool will start a season without Jürgen Klopp in the dugout.

By Sam McGuire

It could turn out to be a transitional campaign for the Reds but with a bit of luck, there’s every chance they’re challenging for the title.

What happened last season?

Few tipped the Reds for a title charge last season but for the majority of the campaign, they were in a three-way battle with Manchester City and Arsenal. Eventually, Klopp’s side ran out of steam having had to deal with injuries to key players.

Liverpool went from challenging for the quadruple to having to settle for a third-place finish, nine points off of champions Manchester City, and a Carabao Cup.

A humbling loss at the hands of eventual winners Atalanta ended their Europa League hopes while Manchester United knocked the Reds out of the FA Cup.

What really hurt Liverpool last season were the many, many draws. Klopp and his team lost just four times in the Premier League. For context, Arsenal lost on five occasions. However, the Gunners drew just five times, half as many as the Reds. In fact, only Brighton (12) drew more games than the 2019/20 Premier League champions.

Mohamed Salah, despite missing two months of football, finished as the club’s top scorer. He found the back of the net on 18 occasions and chipped in with 10 assists. He was the only Liverpool player to claim 20 or more goal involvements. It was no surprise to see him finish as the highest rated player for the Reds on FotMob with 7.64.

Goals weren’t a problem for the Reds last term. They averaged 2.3 goals per 90, a figure only Man City and Arsenal could better but they did struggle defensively, keeping eight fewer clean sheets than the Gunners.

If new manager Arne Slot can improve Liverpool in the defensive third, he possesses the squad to challenge for the title, it is as simple as that.

What has happened during the summer?

Not much if we’re being honest.

Slot was brought in to replace Klopp having impressed with Feyenoord. The Dutch tactician guided them to a second place finish last season having claimed the title during the 2022/23 campaign.

At the time of writing this, Liverpool are yet to delve into the transfer market and they have rejected bids for Sepp van den Berg and Fabio Carvalho. The club are still yet to convince Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk to sign new deals at Anfield, which is no doubt a huge concern.

New sporting director Richard Hughes did say August could be a busy month for the Reds though, so lets see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

What they should be aiming for next season?

This likely depends on what happens during the remainder of the transfer window. If the Reds keep hold of those into the final 12 months of their contracts and are able to add another No. 6 to their ranks, there’s no reason a title challenge can’t be on the cards this season despite their playing style being tweaked by Slot. The bare minimum has to be a top-four finish though, regardless of what business they might do in the transfer window.

Prediction: 3rd

(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.

Aug

2024

FotMob Reaction: City beat United to take the Community Shield on penalties

So Manchester City win the Community Shield and the world shrugs its shoulders.

By Ian King

These two rivals have had peculiar summers in their own way, City coming to terms with the possibility that this could be Pep Guardiola‘s last before a possible departure, United under new part-ownership but having returned to England at the end of a pre-season tour which saw Erik Ten Hag‘s team lose three of their five games. In the midsummer sunshine of a slightly lethargic Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, both managers will have emerged feeling slightly pleased but also with questions to answer ahead of everything starting to get considerably more real, next weekend.

In the end, it took a penalty shootout to separate the two teams, with Jonny Evans blasting his kick high over the goal to allow Manuel Akanji to slide in the winner. But at this point of the season, the result of a match like this isn’t the most important aspect of the afternoon. What matters is the performances of the two teams playing a match that was always going to be more competitive than any globe-trotting friendly would be. Playing at Wembley, with a piece of silverware on offer for the winners, offered the best opportunity yet to assess the progress, or lack thereof, that these two teams have yet summoned forth.

Of course, the circumstances weren’t quite ideal. August has been a meteorological curate’s egg of a month, and North West London was close and humid enough for the air to feel like a weighted blanket on this particular afternoon. And with this still being an extremely early point of the season and the European Championships having only ended four weeks ago, it would have been unreasonable to expect the players to be in the absolute peak of their condition. But for all this, it was a decent game with chances at both ends, although it packed most of its drama into its closing stages.

With eight minutes left to play Alejandro Garnacho cut inside and carried the ball to the edge of the City penalty area before shooting in to give United the lead. It looked like that was going to be enough, but modern football sure does seem to love a late goal and with two minutes to play Bernardo Silva headed in from a corner to bring the League champions level again. At least the FA weren’t daft enough to make us sit through what would surely have been an extremely soporific extra thirty minutes of football in order to separate the two teams. Instead they chose to cut straight the sugar rush of a penalty shootout.

First advantage in the shootout fell to United when André Onana saved City’s first penalty from Silva, a kick so poor that it felt somewhat as though he may have believed himself to have done everything he needed to do by scoring that late equaliser in the first place. United held that advantage until their third penalty was also saved. Jadon Sancho, whose late appearance from the substitutes bench marks the start of a return that can hardly be less successful than his first period at Old Trafford, will have to wait for another day to start penning the next chapter of his redemption arc.

So the kicks rumbled on until City won 7-6. In an era of supreme technical ability, the penalty shootout has become a rather unedifying spectacle, perfectly placed kicks against goalkeepers who look half-beaten before the kicks are even taken. But all of this is reckoning without Jonny Evans, who absolutely shanked the ball over the crossbar.

It was difficult to get too excited about any of this. Evans didn’t sink to his knees in despair at having blazed this decisive spot kick into the crowd. There are no recorded incidents of anyone ever having ‘despaired’ over anything that has ever happened during a Charity or Community Shield final. Not even Billy Bremner and Kevin Keegan, fifty years ago this very year. 78,000 turned out to watch, but not a single one of them will have had their season made or broken by this match.

The Community Shield exists in a weird vacuum; half pre-season friendly, half cup final, the one domestic match of the season that a majority would shrug their shoulders over were it to be moved to be played in Baltimore, Baghdad or Brisbane. Tens of thousands of people turned out because tens of thousands of people will turn out for the opening of an envelope if you dress it up in the colours of these two teams. Whether the occasion served as much more than being a money-spinner for the FA and a chance for the managers to check out their summer tweaks is somewhat debatable.

(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.

Aug

2024

What we’ve learned about Liverpool under Arne Slot – The Reds will be much different his season

When Liverpool originally announced their pre-season fixtures, there were only four matches scheduled – far fewer than the Reds typically would have had in recent times.

By Matt Ladson, ThisIsAnfield.com

So it was no surprise that new head coach Arne Slot has added in two more games since officially starting on Merseyside, with a behind-closed-doors game against Preston North End kicking off pre-season, followed by three games in the USA – against Real Betis, Arsenal and Man United.

Those three matches were all won, with six goals scored and just one conceded. We should never read too much into pre-season results, but the performances and style of play have given supporters reason for new optimism going into Slot’s first season at Anfield.

Slot’s side host not one but two LaLiga sides at Anfield on Sunday, with Sevilla and Las Palmas the opponents – the latter a late addition to the schedule that will also be behind closed doors.

Here’s what we’ve learned from Slot’s pre-season so far and how Liverpool are shaping up under their new head coach.

Arne Slot’s style is more Guardiola than Klopp

We’d heard prior to his arrival this summer that Slot was a disciple of Pep Guardiola’s, with the Dutchman once saying that the Spaniard’s teams give him the “ultimate joy in football” and that “there is no team in the world I would rather watch than Manchester City.”

He also added, in an interview last year: “I certainly don’t want to compare myself to Pep, but he is a control freak just like me.”

Pre-season has given us a lot of insight into the new coach’s methods and style of play, with an open training session in Pittsburgh providing plenty of early details and the three friendlies giving solid evidence of what we can expect.

Slot clearly wants more control of the play, less rushed, fewer counter attacks conceded.

“Every time you lose the ball, you lose an opportunity to score a goal,” he was heard telling his players in training. “Kill them with passes,” he shouted.

And he was right about the ‘control freak’ comment, too, it seems, being very hands-on in training sessions. He appears to be very much just as advertised; a head coach rather than a manager.

Slot’s training sessions have involved a lot of things we see a lot from Guardiola’s teams; overloads out wide followed by square passes across goal; third man runs from midfield; and up back and through patterns of play.

Liverpool are going to be much less heavy metal and far more meticulous.

Building out from the back – “that is our style”

Slot also, again like Guardiola, wants the team to build from the back – something that will likely lead to seem teething issues in the early days. “I think we gave away too many chances,” admitted Slot despite a 3-0 win over United in South Carolina.

“The style of play, with trying to build out from the back, that is our style,” Slot explained after the first friendly against Real Betis.

“To control the game, to not concede constant counter-attacks, that will hopefully be our style during the season.”

One of the criticisms of Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, especially in recent seasons, has been their lack of control and how open they have been to counter-attacks, quite often relying on the brilliance of Alisson to bail them out.

Expect Liverpool games to look far less open and basketball-like and more possession-heavy for the Reds. Patience is being practiced.

The midfield will be “the heart of the team”

We’ve heard a lot from players about the new style of play, including Harvey Elliott describing Slot’s style as elegant and typically Dutch ‘Total Football’.

But the most interesting insight arrived from a very open press conference Curtis Jones gave early on the American tour.

“The principles are the same, but I feel that now the centre-mids are going to be more the heart of the team,” he explained.

“We’re not in a rush to attack, we want to have the ball and break teams down. I feel in the past it was a rush to get the ball back and it was a little too direct, up and down, up and down.”

Those words echo those of Slot’s in relation to being open to counter attacks, and provide true insight into how the Dutchman wants his midfield to control the game.

Elliott and Szoboszlai should prosper

Jones added that he felt under Klopp “the centre-mids were always lads who were runners and more disciplined.”

This certainly rings true. Often under the former boss the likes of Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner were critiqued for their lack of contributions from midfield, but it truly does seem that they were simply following out instructions.

The new style will suit almost all the midfielders in the Reds’ squad, with Jones, Harvey Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai potentially the three biggest benefactors.

Elliott has shone in pre-season, he earned FotMob’s player of the match against Arsenal with an impressive 8.6 rating after creating four chances and assisting two goals. The 21-year-old has occupied the No.10 position, with Slot’s formation being more 4-2-3-1 than 4-3-3 like Klopp’s.

We also saw Szoboszlai connect nicely with Mo Salah for a goal against Betis, with the Hungarian saying: “Last year it didn’t happen so often so I just always let him know I’m always ready to [make] these runs. Hopefully you’re going to see me [do that] in the season a couple of times.”

“Style of play is different now, it’s more about in possession now,” said Elliott.

Wataru Endo isn’t an Arne Slot style of midfielder – but Zubimendi is!

However, there is one player who seemingly isn’t suited to the new midfield set-up, Japan international Wataru Endo, who was hooked at half time in the friendly against Betis after what was a very off-the-pace showing.

Since then, Slot utilised Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch as the starting holding midfielders against Arsenal and United.

Clearly, the No.6 position is the biggest requirement for the Reds this summer- just as it was last summer – with the pursuit of Martin Zubimendi ongoing at the time of writing.

Zubimendi ranks at 91.4% for successful passes on FotMob, but also offers impressive defensive stats, particularly in the air where his aerial duels won in LaLiga last season put him in at 90% ranking. His interceptions are even better at 96%, and recoveries at 91%.

Get the 25-year-old Spaniard, who seems a much better fit for Slot’s midfield than he would have been for a Klopp midfield, and Liverpool will certainly be looking very strong going into the new season.

(Images from IMAGO)

To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.

Aug

2024

FotMob Reaction: Emma Hayes leads the USWNT to gold

83 days is all it took Emma Hayes to re-establish the USA as the dominant force in women’s international soccer.

By Graham Ruthven

That was the time between the 47-year-old leaving Chelsea and leading the US women’s national team to Olympic gold on Saturday. In one sense, Hayes has already achieved what she was hired to do.

Of course, the Olympics isn’t the Women’s World Cup and 2027 is when the true measure of Hayes’ USWNT will be taken after failure in 2023 under Vlatko Andonovski. Nonetheless, Paris was the first test for his new generation of American stars under a new leader and they passed with flying colours – that colour in the end being gold.

Mallory Swanson netted the winning goal in the final against Brazil and many will remember the USWNT’s Olympics success for the attacking magic it produced. Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Swanson all sparkled, scoring all but two of the 12 goals notched by the USA over six matches in total.

The truth, however, is that the USA’s defence gave them the foundation to win gold. Australia and Germany were the only opponents to score against the eventual winners and those goals came in USA victories. Three clean sheets in three knockout games highlighted the strength of the American defence led by the outstanding Naomi Girma who Hayes calls “the best defender [she’s] ever seen.”

At their exhilarating best at the Paris Olympics, the USA were a force of nature. Germany bore the brunt of that in the group stage, losing 4-1 as the American attacking quality came to the fore. By the time the two teams faced each other again in the semi-finals, though, the dynamic had changed. The USA had become the ultimate tournament team.

Hayes faced questions throughout the tournament over her team selections. While other sides rotated to cope with the brutal schedule that saw teams play every three days, Hayes stuck with the same core group of players. Indeed, eight players started every single match for the USWNT as Hayes focused on building “connections,” as she put it.

Those connections ultimately carried the USA the distance. Tierna Davidson and Girma forged a rock-solid partnership in central defence. Emily Fox and Rodman were on the same wavelength on the right side. Then there was the aforementioned trio of Rodman, Smith and Swanson whose movement and cutting edge made them impossible to stop.

“It’s the greatest moment in my professional career,” said Hayes after the USA’s win over Brazil. The former Chelsea boss spoke about how quickly she has been embraced by the squad she inherited this summer and highlighted her inherent connection to the country she now leads. “I love America,” she added. “It made me.”

And Hayes has remade the USWNT as standard setters at the top of women’s international football. Under Andonovski, there was no structure. There was no identity. There was no vision. In less than three months, Hayes has brought all of those things with Olympic gold the first sight of what this new-look team could achieve over the coming years.

Further improvements will be required for the USA to win the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Lindsey Horan, for example, was guilty of sluggish play in possession at times during the Olympics. Hayes’ decision to drop Rose Lavelle for the more defensive-minded Korbin Albert for the final also hinted at uncertainty over the midfield balance.

As well as Crystal Dunn played in France this summer, she will will be 35 by the time of the next Women’s World Cup. Alyssa Naeher will be 39. Hayes has continued a generational transition that started under Andonovski, but that transition is not yet complete. The USA need some key players in key positions to emerge.

Talent, however, has never been a problem for a country with the best women’s football infrastructure in the world. By 2027, Jaedyn Shaw will surely have been better integrated into the national team. Alyssa Thompson will have more caps to her name and Mia Fishel will have continued her development.

The rest of women’s international football laid down a challenge to the USA at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The likes of England and Spain demonstrated how Europe has caught up with both teams expected to be contenders once again in 2027. In the past, the USA’s superior physicality was enough for them to dominate. That is no longer the case.

It was against this backdrop that Hayes was appointed by US Soccer. Her remit is a long-term one and will be judged over a number of years, not just one tournament. Despite this, nobody expected the USWNT to be this far along in their growth under Hayes. Imagine how good they could be after more than 83 days together.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every USWNT game on FotMob. Download the free app here.