Page 34 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Leicester City

After just one year away, Leicester City are back in the Premier League.

The Foxes claimed top spot in the Championship to return to the English top-flight at the first time of asking. However, there’s been a lot of change at the King Power Stadium this summer.

What happened last season?

Under new manager Enzo Maresca, Leicester City got off to a flyer in the Championship, winning 13 of their opening 14 matches.

The Foxes then lost back-to-back games before going on a 10-match unbeaten run. At one stage, it felt like a matter of when and not if Maresca’s men would guarantee promotion.

Yet their form in 2024 made the final few months of the season a little more interesting. The Championship title should’ve been a formality for the Foxes but they needed two wins in their final three games to claim top spot over Ipswich by a single point.

And this was with the Tractor Boys drawing three of their final five games. Had they turned one of those into a win, the Leicester collapse would’ve been one for the history books.

Still, this shouldn’t take anything away from what was a positive campaign. Their 1.9 goals per 90 could only be bettered by Ipswich. They conceded the fewest number of goals on a per 90 basis (0.9). Leicester had the highest xG (85.8) and the second-lowest xG against (43.4).

Their 15 clean sheets had them ranked fourth for this metric while only Southampton could better their 62% possession in the Championship. The Foxes carved out the most chances (142) and averaged the second-highest number of passes per game (549).

And from an individual point of view, Jamie Vardy rolled back the years to finish as the club’s top scorer. The 37-year-old finished with 18 goals for the Foxes, his highest return since the 2019/20 campaign.

What has happened during the summer?

Well, Leicester lost their manager. Maresca opted to move to Stamford Bridge to try his hand as Chelsea boss. Steve Cooper, sacked by Nottingham Forest last season, was brought in to replace the Italian tactician.

The Foxes also lost Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Chelsea. He was one of the club’s key player last season, involving himself in 26 goals. His FotMob rating of 7.74 could not be better by anyone in the Leicester squad either. The midfielder also carved out 109 chances.

His loss will be felt.

The club have also parted ways with Kelechi Iheanacho. Though the forward never lived up to the early hype, he was still a consistent threat for the Foxes. The 27-year-old, now with Sevilla, had an Expected Goals per 90 average of 0.62 last term. Only Vardy (0.87) could surpass that figure.

Leicester have added to their squad too. Abdul Fatawu made his loan move into a permanent one. Michael Golding joined from Chelsea and could well get an opportunity in midfield this season. Caleb Okoli traded Atalanta for the King Power Stadium while Bobby De Cordova-Reid moved from Fulham on a free transfer.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Like with all of the other promoted clubs, their aim should be survival this season. Leicester have a number of game-changers but is their squad good enough to avoid a relegation battle? Does their squad possess enough of a goal threat to avoid the drop? At the time of writing this, the answer to both questions is probably no. Unless they’re active in the final few weeks of the window and they manage to bring in some quality players, this season could be a struggle for the Foxes.

Prediction: 19th

(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: Ipswich Town

After a 22-year absence, Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League.

By Sam McGuire

Kieran McKenna and his team will be hoping that their stay in the English top-flight isn’t a brief one. They have the makings of a team that will claim an upset or two this term.

What happened last season?

The Tractor Boys secured a second successive promotion with a second place finish in the Championship.

Ipswich played a nice brand of football under McKenna and recorded two goals per game, the highest of any team in the English second tier. They had the fourth highest Expected Goals total (75.1) while only Leeds United and Leicester City had a lower Expected Goals Against total. Their defensive resilience no doubt contributed to them keeping 15 clean sheets.

In a nutshell, they were good in attack and strong in defence. The perfect storm for promotion. They also had 53% possession in the Championship and completed over 390 passes per 90.

It was very much a team effort but there were two standout performers for Ipswich. Firstly, no player in the English second tier could better Leif Davis’ return of 18 assists. The left-back was an outstanding creator for McKenna last season. He also claimed a 7.54 FotMob rating.

Conor Chaplin also impressed. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder finished the campaign with 21 goal involvements, split 13:8 in favour of goals. If he can get close to these numbers for Ipswich this season, they’ll stand a very good chance of staying up.

*Conor Chaplin shot map, EFL Championship 2023/24*

What has happened during the summer?

Ipswich have managed to keep together the promotion-winning team. They’ve also gone about improving certain areas of the team.

Omari Hutchinson returned on a permanent basis having caught the eye at Portman Road last term. The versatile attacker signed from Chelsea having scored 10 goals for Ipswich last season.

Liam Delap joined from Manchester City. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan with Hull City and scored against Ipswich. It was one of the eight times he found the back of the net for the Tigers.

McKenna has also bolstered his defence.

The highly-rated Jacob Greaves arrived from Hull City in a deal believed to be worth £15million while the Tractor Boys also Ben Johnson after he was released by West Ham United.

Arijanet Muric, who starred for Burnley towards the end of the season, swapped Turf Moor for Portman Road. He’s expected to start the campaign as the first-choice shot-stopper.

What they should be aiming for next season?

First and foremost, their aim will be survival. Ipswich don’t want to head straight back to the Championship after just one season in the top flight. If and when survival is secured, just aim for the highest possible finish. It will be a hard slog though.

Prediction: 18th

(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: Brace yourselves for the return of the EFL Championship

The Championship is often billed as one of the most exciting leagues in world football, and it’s easy to see why. A serious amount of young talent, high-level coaches desperate to ply their trade in the Premier League, and a play-off system which gives sides who are sometimes 25 points behind the champions a chance to gain promotion to the top flight.

By Matt Smith

With the 2024/2025 Championship season just hours away, the excitement is building across England with competitive football arriving back on our screens and thousands of fans preparing to take their place on the terraces once again. Experienced managers, rising stars, and sleeping giants, we’re set for another thrilling campaign.

Can the relegated sides bounce back?

Last season, two out of three of the sides who were previously relegated from the Premier League managed to bounce back at the first time of asking. Leicester City and Southampton, two squads packed with players who are more than capable of competing in the Premier League. This time around, we have Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United.

After suffering relegation to the second tier, Burnley and Sheffield United have seen plenty of upheaval throughout the club. Burnley have lost Vincent Kompany, a manager who guided them to a phenomenal 2022/2023 title-winning season, while Sheffield United have lost the likes of Cameron Archer, Oli McBurnie, and Jayden Bogle.

It’s been a relatively quiet window for Luton, who have managed to keep hold of the likes of Alfie Doughty, Elijah Adebayo, and Teden Mengi, at least so far. It’s never going to be straightforward for the aforementioned trio of clubs due to the quality in and amongst the Championship this coming season, but they will all be putting their hat in the ring for a promotion charge.

Two of the sides, Luton and Burnley, will go head-to-head on Monday night.

Promotion experience could be key

The 46-game season that Championship clubs are forced to endure can be a gruelling experience, often playing twice a week for the majority of the campaign. Having that know-how in the squad, and perhaps more important, among the coaching staff, can often be crucial in gaining promotion to the top flight. Leeds, Sheffield United, and Burnley will be many fans’ favourites to finish in the top two, and all three have managers who have been there and done it.

Norwich won the Championship twice under Daniel Farke, who is now preparing for his second season in charge of Leeds. Earlier this summer, Burnley opted to appoint Scott Parker, who helped guide both Fulham and Bournemouth to promotion in his previous roles. Chris Wilder, who returned to Sheffield United in 2023, will go down in history at Bramall Lane after he steered the club back to the Premier League for the first time in 12 years back in 2019.

It’s easy to see why the Championship trio are sticking by or bringing in these kind of managers ahead of the new campaign. Although Parker may have struggled in management over the last few years, Farke failed to take his side up last term, and Wilder was in charge when the Blades were relegated last season, their experience and achievements in this league speak for themselves.

Players to watch

As a Championship club, it’s always a difficult task keeping hold of young talent, with Premier League sides regularly circling to poach the standout stars from the second tier. We’ve seen the likes of Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Jarrod Bowen, Ollie Watkins, and João Pedro, to name a few, signed from the Championship before going on to flourish in the Premier League.

Mateo Joseph could be one to watch this season for Leeds. At 20 years old, the young forward hasn’t made a major impact at Elland Road just yet, but with Patrick Bamford struggling with injuries and consistency of late, it could be his time to step up. The youngster has impressed during pre-season, and this could be the campaign where he makes the step up. A technically gifted striker, Joseph could develop into a key player for the Whites.

Another exciting prospect is Tom Fellows. After recently signing a new deal with West Bromwich Albion, the tricky winger featured regularly for the Black Country outfit last season, but mostly from the bench. As Michael Johnston returns to Celtic after his loan spell, it could be time for 21-year-old Fellows to step up and make himself a hero. The Solihull-born youngster will be hoping to make his mark this upcoming campaign.

The final player, who needs no introduction, Jobe Bellingham. Although undoubtedly keen not to be compared to his superstar brother, could this be the season he writes his name in the headlines just like Jude with Birmingham?

Sleeping giants aplenty

The 2024/2025 Championship season is riddled with sides that many of the adult generation of football fans will often associate with being in the Premier League, or at least being in with a shout every season. Two clubs who fall into that category are Portsmouth and Derby County, who will both be competing in the second tier this term after coming up from League One.

Their hefty fanbases coupled with their history in the English pyramid make them two of the sleeping giants in the Football League, and they’re certainly not alone. Leeds, Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday are just a few of the sides who we’ve seen ply their trade in the Premier League on the regular but have fallen on hard times in recent years. Could we see one of the sleeping giants return to the promised land?

The 2024/2025 Championship season kicks off on Friday night with a double-header as Preston host Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers take on Derby as the curtain raises on a new campaign for a league that the English footballing pyramid can be proud of.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2024

Fermin Lopez is using the Paris Olympics to press his case for a starting role at Barcelona

Fermín López has received widespread plaudits for his superb performances with Spain at the 2024 Olympics. Although that should come as little surprise.

By Luke Bissett

The attacking midfielder’s breakthrough into the Barcelona first team has been far from conventional. A product of the club’s famed academy, La Masia, Fermín was unable to secure a place in Barcelona’s B team and sent on loan to Linares in the third tier of Spanish football for the 2022-23 season.

It was during this loan spell that Fermín excelled, amassing 40 appearances across all competitions for Linares. The 21-year-old became one of the best players in the Primera Federacion and finished as the side’s top scorer with an impressive 12 league goals.

Upon his return to Barca last summer, Fermín was asked to join first team training as Xavi was still without several key players at the start of pre-season. And after just one week of training alongside the first team, the Barca coach handed the midfielder a shock inclusion in the squad for their tour to the United States.

The midfielder went on to make a huge impression, introducing himself with a terrific strike during a 3-0 friendly win over Real Madrid. As a result, Fermín’s superb performances during the tour earned him a place in the first team squad for 2023-24 and a contract extension until 2027. Barca, and Fermín, haven’t looked back since.

The Spaniard was a revelation for Xavi’s side last season, enjoying a mightily impressive breakout campaign. Indeed, the academy graduate offered the Catalonian’s a completely different dimension, proving to be an extremely valuable profile to have within the squad.

The midfielder is a constant goal threat, something of which Barca have severely lacked from deeper areas in recent years. In fact, only talisman Robert Lewandowski (26) netted more goals across all competitions for the side than him last term (11). This was despite Fermín making just 19 starts for the Blaugrana over the course of the campaign.

The 21-year-old was used in both an advanced midfield role and on the left of the front-three under Xavi last season – providing a real attacking edge to the side with his relentless forward running. Fermín is an extremely direct operator and is constantly looking to progress the ball into the final third. The attacking midfielder was undoubtedly one of Barca’s standout performers across 2023-24 and was deservedly rewarded with an inclusion in Spain’s squads for EURO 2024 and this summer’s Paris Olympics.

Despite being limited to just a 28-minute cameo during La Roja’s European Championships success, Fermín has been entrusted with a vital role during the Olympics. The Spaniard has scored four goals, with only Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi netting more (eight). And the importance of those strikes can not be understated.

*Leading average FotMob ratings, Paris Olympics*

The midfielder netted a brace in their 3-0 quarter-final victory over Japan, before spearheading his side to a 2-1 comeback win over Morocco in the semi-finals with a goal and assist. In fact, Fermín has averaged the fourth highest FotMob rating in the competition (7.89).

The 21-year-old is uber-effective in the final third, be it through fashioning opportunities for himself or acting as creator. He has developed a real knack for crashing into the box via perfectly timed runs to pounce on second balls. Indeed, his instinctive nature offers his side a real attacking presence and accumulated the eighth highest non-penalty xG per 90 in LaLiga last season (0.47). Fermin’s ball-striking is also something to be marvelled at, which has been evidenced in the goal reel that he has already assembled during his short career. This is aided by the fact that he does not shy away from getting shots off – he averaged the third most shots on target per 90 in LaLiga last season (1.5).

Fermín especially excels in tight spaces, while his ability to receive the ball under pressure provides an impressive outlet. When deployed as a No.10 or out wide, the 21-year-old always seeks to drift into the half-spaces and pockets between the lines to avoid being marked. This poses a nuisance to the opposition as they are unsure whether to track his runs or remain in their structure and leave him unmarked.

The Spaniard is particularly proficient on the ball, utilising his close control to ride challenges and surge forward. In fact, Fermín thrives in one-on-one duels, boasting the third highest dribble success rate among Barcelona players to have attempted 50+ dribbles last season (56.4%). The 21-year-old’s proactiveness is a real feature of his game, as he is fearless when driving forward to wreak havoc upon opposition back-lines.

New Barca manager Hansi Flick will also be relishing the opportunity to work with the 21-year old. Fermín provided the Blaugrana with some much-needed energy out of possession last season, while he displayed a real desire out of possession to regain the ball. And it’s a skillset that will be greatly suited to Flick’s high-pressing philosophy.

*Potential Barcelona starting XI made with the new line-up* *builder on fotmob.com*

This begs the question as to why Barcelona are set to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo for a reported £60million, when they already boast an abundance of attacking midfielders within their ranks. One potential solution could be that Olmo is deployed on the left-wing, with Fermín then operating in the No.10 role that he has thrived in during the Olympics.

Yet before sights turn firmly to Barca’s campaign, Fermín is set to star in the Olympics Gold Medal match against France on Friday evening. And Spain will be looking to go one better than the Silver Medal they earned at Tokyo 2020, while the last time that they won the competition was in Barcelona 1992.

From Barcelona B outcast to potential Olympic Gold medallist in little over two years, who would dare put a cap on what heights Fermín López could reach.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Everton

Everton will be eager to have a boring season this season after the highs and lows of the last few years.

By Sam McGuire

Sean Dyche is settled, they’ve been active in the market and they’ve kept hold of key players, for now at least. It could well be a much-needed straightforward campaign for the Toffees.

What happened last season?

Relegation appeared to be a genuine threat for Everton at multiple stages of the season last time out. They suffered points deductions on two occasions and struggled for form at various stages. Their cause wasn’t helped by injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin while summer signings struggled to find their feet.

In the end, though, the Toffees achieved a 15th placed finish.

This was quite astonishing when you consider they didn’t win any of their opening five matches and their first points deduction undone all of their hard work. It was initially a 10-point deduction, though it was eventually cut to six. But when points are at a premium, every single one counts.

A strong December, in which they recorded four wins on the bounce, and a decent end of the season, with five wins from their final eight, was enough to guarantee a comfortable finish. Fortunately for them, a number of teams just weren’t to Premier League level. It meant you only needed 27 points to stay in the top flight last season.

Everton’s Premier League survival was tied to their defensive efforts. The Blues kept 13 clean sheets, the second joint-most along with Manchester City. In attack, things weren’t great, but they didn’t have to be because of how solid the rearguard was.

Abdoulaye Doucouré and Calvert-Lewin finished as joint-top scorers with seven goals each while Dwight McNeil was the chief creator for the Toffees, raking up six assists.

What has happened during the summer?

At the time of writing this, Everton have managed to keep hold of Jarrad Branthwaite. The centre-back was of interest to Manchester United but the Red Devils had their bid rejected and moved on to Leny Yoro.

The Toffees did lose a key play in Amadou Onana, who moved to Aston Villa, but the £50million they banked for the Belgian is good business. They also sold Ben Godfrey to Atalanta while Lewis Dobbin joined Aston Villa.

And Everton have strengthened. Jake O’Brien has been signed from Lyon to provide the centre-back department with real depth. Iliman Ndiaye has returned to the Premier League after a disappointing stint with boyhood club Marseille and the Merseyside club signed Villa youngster Tim Iroegbunam. Jesper Lindstrøm has arrived on loan to bolster the attacking ranks at Goodison Park.

What they should be aiming for next season?

The safety of mid-table. The Blues need a drama-free season. Instead of looking to not lose certain games, purely because they need points on the board, they can look to play football and win matches.

Dyche can develop players and fans can enjoy the Everton experience for one final year at Goodison.

Prediction: 14th

(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

Preview: City and United meet in the Community Shield

After a summer full of international football, the 2024/25 season is already set to get underway in England. As is tradition, the Community Shield will start proceedings by pitting Premier League winners Manchester City against FA Cup holders Manchester United.

By Neel Shelat

New Names, Same Issues For United?

Despite their FA Cup triumph, Manchester United had a big decision to make in the summer regarding head coach Erik ten Hag. An eighth-placed finish in the league and some of the worst underlying defensive numbers not just in England but across Europe’s top five leagues were big causes for concern, but the new management brought in by INEOS’ takeover decided to stick with the Dutchman and bring him reinforcements in the transfer window.

The signing of Leny Yoro as well as the various other names they have been linked to suggest that United are attempting a defensive renovation, but their performances and results in recent friendlies have seemingly reinforced the idea that the problems go beyond personnel and down to a tactical level.

The injury issues that plagued the Red Devils last season have not gone away either, as Yoro had to undergo surgery very soon after joining, Rasmus Højlund and Tyrell Malacia are out for the foreseeable future, while Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf are both doubtful for this match.

*Manchester Derby results, 2023/24 season*

Stability Promises Success For City

On the other side of Manchester, City have enjoyed an incredibly peaceful window. The only signing they have made has been Sávio from sister club Troyes, so their expenditure this summer is by far the lowest since the Abu Dhabi-led takeover. They are yet to announce any major departures either, although that may soon change with Julián Álvarez reportedly set to join Atlético Madrid. Even then, their squad will be almost identical to the one that won the Premier League last season.

The most important transfer news for City this season will be about Pep Guardiola’s contract, which expires next summer. Regardless of whether or not he stays further, they look primed for success in 2024/25 at least.

Can Ortega Stake A Claim To A Starting Spot?

There was a good deal of speculation around Ederson and a potential move to Saudi Arabia this summer, but it looks like he will be staying for now. The Brazilian goalkeeper’s fitness is a doubt for this game, so Stefan Ortega might get a chance to continue making his case to become City’s number one. He might not have the same long passing range, but he is about as comfortable with the ball at his feet and potentially a more composed shot-stopper.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from top flight game from England live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace will be hoping their end of season form can be carried over into the new campaign.

By Sam McGuire

Oliver Glasner’s men racked up stunning win after stunning win to end the season and confidence will be high heading into the new campaign.

What happened last season?

The Eagles looked to be in real danger around New Year. Their 3-1 win over Brentford on December 30th was just their fifth win of the campaign at that stage, and that was gameweek 20.

Crystal Palace made the brave decision to sack Roy Hodgson, a manager famed for steadying the ship. To the surprise of many, they hired Oliver Glasner. He won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2022/23 campaign.

He had positive ideas but attempting to bed them in during the season, when Palace needed wins, seemed risky. But the decision to hire the Austrian manager paid off. He guided the Eagles to what initially appeared to be an unlikely 10th place finish after a remarkable end to the season.

Everything seemed to fall into place around matchday 32. They finished the season with six wins from seven. This run included impressive wins over Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

These weren’t just smash-and-grab victories that sides sometimes manage against the European hopefuls. These were confident and dominant showings.

Glasner had his team defending well and he found a way to unlock his forward line. During those final seven games, Palace conceded four goals and scored 21.

In the end, Jean-Philippe Mateta ended with 16 goals and this included a final day hat-trick over Aston Villa. Eberechi Eze (11) and Michael Olise (10) both finished with double digits in the Premier League.

What has happened during the summer?

So far, they have managed to keep hold of Eze despite interest from Liverpool and Spurs. If they’re able to retain his services, he could be a lot of fun to watch in this Glasner team, especially with a full pre-season under the new manager.

They have also fended off reported interest in Adam Wharton.

They did, however, lose Olise to Bayern Munich. The French forward rejected a return to Chelsea in favour of a switch to the Bundesliga.

This is a big loss but Ismaïla Sarr, returning to the Premier League after a stint with Marseille in Ligue 1, could be a surprise package for the Eagles. The club have also brought in Chadi Riad from Real Betis.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Palace, with the squad they have and a manager as tactically switched on as Glasner, should be nowhere near a relegation battle next season. If they’re able to add a bit more quality during the transfer window, a top-half finish isn’t an outlandish shout, especially if they can replicate the end-of-season form from last year. They have the players for it. Do they have the consistency?

Prediction: 11th

(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: Chelsea

Chelsea, under a new manager yet again, will be looking to gatecrash the European spots this season after another summer of heavy spending. Is it going to be a case of too much, too soon or is this the season it finally clicks for them?

By Sam McGuire

What happened last season?

A bit of everything.

Chelsea struggled initially under Mauricio Pochettino, winning just one of their opening six matches. At the halfway point of the season, the Blues had just seven wins to their name in the Premier League. For context here, they had eight losses after matchday 19.

Respectable draws with Arsenal (2-2) and Manchester City (4-4) were false dawns.

But then things started to fall into place. They finished the season with just one defeat in 15 and this run included nine wins. They put together a five match winning streak to end the campaign.

This form allowed them to claim a sixth-place finish and earned themselves a Europa Conference League spot. Impressively, they finished just five points off of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Had they been able to get their act together a little sooner, a Champions League place would’ve been a genuine target.

Chelsea also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Carabao Cup.

Despite the narrative, it wasn’t a bad season at all for the Blues. Obviously, people expect success given the money pumped into this project but, for a campaign under a new manager with a number of players to bed in, they did quite well.

The star was, of course, Cole Palmer. He was a revelation following his move from Manchester City, netting 22 goals in the Premier League and chipping in with 11 assists. His 33 goal involvements in the Premier League could not be bettered by anyone.

Nico Jackson also finished the season under the radar with 14 goals.

What has happened during the summer?

Same old, really.

Chelsea have hired a new manager, pinching Enzo Maresca from Leicester City after he guided the Foxes to promotion.

The Blues have also been fairly active in the transfer market, reuniting Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with his former boss while also bringing in Filip Jörgensen, Omari Kellyman, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Marc Guiu and Tosin Adarabioyo.

To fund this spending, Chelsea have cashed in on Ian Maatsen and Omari Hutchinson while Conor Gallagher, the stand-in captain last season, has joined

Atlético Madrid according to reports. Expect to see more movement at Stamford Bridge before the transfer window comes to a close.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Had Pochettino remained, a top four push would’ve been very much on the agenda for the Blues this season. But with Maresca now at the helm and looking to put his stamp on things, who really knows how long things will take to settle down? He could hit the ground running as Graham Potter did, or he might struggle for a while, like his predecessor before things take shape.

They could finish anywhere between 5th and 10th, it really does depend on how well players adapt to yet another new manager and how quickly he can get his points across. It is a guessing game at this stage.

Prediction: 10th

(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: Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton will start the campaign under a new manager following the departure of Roberto De Zerbi in the summer.

By Sam McGuire

The 2023/24 campaign was a bit of a reality check for the Seagulls after a dream 2022/23 season. How they react to this will tell you all you need to know about the mentality of those at the Amex.

What happened last season?

At surface level, an 11th place finish isn’t anything to be ashamed of, especially when you consider Brighton were playing in the Europa League too. Juggling mid-week matches with Premier League football requires experience and a deep squad.

This was a learning curve for the Seagulls.

It was always going to be a struggle for Brighton to hit the heights of the previous campaign when they claimed a sixth-place finish and booked their European adventure. They lost Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo in the summer with the pair moving to Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.

A combination of summer signings not really settling in and injuries to key players limited what the Seagulls could do. So there are reasons for their underperformance, but these cannot be used as an excuse when you examine the situation a little more closely.

They started the season well with five wins from six and it appeared as though they were set to challenge for a top-six finish yet again. Some even had them down as a top-four contender.

The wheels quickly came off though and they went on to win just seven of their next 32 games. Yes, you read that right.

Brighton managed just seven wins across 32 games and picked up just 33 points in those matches. Without that early-season form, they may have been relegation contenders. Those opening five wins really did give them a much needed platform.

Whereas other summer signings struggled for De Zerbi, the arrival of João Pedro for a club-record fee worked out well. He ended as the club’s top scorer in the Premier League with nine. He’ll be hoping to build on that this season as the main man in attack for the Seagulls.

What has happened during the summer?

De Zerbi departed and despite being linked with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, he ended up at Marseille. He was replaced by Fabian Hürzeler. The 31-year-old impressed with St Pauli in the second tier of German football and he seemingly fits the bill for Brighton. It is a brave, forward-thinking appointment.

*St. Pauli conceded the least xG in the 2.Bundesliga 2023/24 season*

They have been busy in the transfer market too, bringing in Malick Junior Yalcouyé, Ibrahim Osman, Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer. It is too early to say whether or not this has been a successful summer but first impressions are these are very much perfect signings for the Seagulls and if they settle in, they’re going to be back on track.

Brighton have lost the influential Pascal Groß this summer to Borussia Dortmund. The 33-year-old will be a huge loss to Hürzeler. He finished with 10 assists last term, had the most goal involvements for the club (14) and finished with the highest FotMob average rating (7.47). He carved out 103 chances in the Premier League. For context, Pedro was second on this list with 38.

Ensuring he’s not missed as a creator or as an influential part of the squad will be key to their success.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Brighton need a positive showing. Another mid-table finish should be on the cards but expect them to be much more of a threat going forward. Expect them to be more consistent, fun to watch, and difficult to break down. They need to get out of the habit of losing. If all of that is achieved, it’ll be a success for Hürzeler. Anything more should be seen as a bonus.

Prediction: 10th

(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

Roma are looking to become an attacking force under De Rossi

Roma have made a profound impact in the transfer market this summer.

By Graham Ruthven

Freed from the shackles of the José Mourinho era, the Stadio Olimpico outfit have focused primarily on reshaping their attack, adding Artem Dovbyk and Matías Soulé to Daniele De Rossi’s frontline. The Giallorossi’s attacking revamp could be transformational.

Other new signings have been made. Midfielder Enzo Le Fée has arrived from Rennes with full back Angeliño secured from RB Leipzig on a permanent basis after a loan spell last season. However, it’s the capture of Dovbyk and Soule that has the rest of Serie A sitting up and taking note.

Dovbyk was last season’s Pichici winner in LaLiga. He scored more goals than any other player in the division as Girona sensationally finished third and even threatened to mount a title challenge. Atlético Madrid were reportedly close to landing Dovbyk before Roma swooped for the Ukrainian international in a €38.5m transfer.

*Artem Dovbyk shot map in LaLiga 2023/24*

Soulé registered 11 goals and three assists in Serie A last season, showcasing his potential on loan at Frosinone from Juventus. The 21-year-old is a skilled dribbler and ranks highly in ball-carrying, progressive passes, and several attacking metrics that suggest the young Argentinean is destined for the top.

There is uncertainty over Paulo Dybala’s future at Roma as he enters the final year of his contract, but the Giallorossi boast one of the strongest frontlines in Serie A with the 30-year-old still in their team. Factor in Lorenzo Pellegrini and Roma should be able to hold their own against any of their domestic rivals this season, certainly in an attacking sense.

*Roma XI built with the new line-up* *builder on fotmob.com*

Under American businessman and film producer Dan Friedkin, Roma have been ambitious in recent years. They hired Mourinho and backed him by spending big in the transfer market. Tammy Abraham, Rui Patrício Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Paredes, Renato Sanches and Dybala all arrived at the Stadio Olimpico during this time as Friedkin got out the cheque book.

Roma’s ambitions extend off the pitch. They have made inroads into the American market. The capital club recently unveiled plans for a new stadium which would have a capacity of 65,000 and could cost as much as €1 billion to build. Friedkin wants Roma to become one of Serie A’s biggest and most successful clubs and this summer’s transfer business feeds into that vision.

“Without Dan Friedkin the deal for Dovbyk would have been difficult,” said De Rossi, highlighting the role of Roma’s owner in getting transfers done. “Dovbyk is a huge prospect who needs to find his footing in his new team, but he will definitely make it. All the new signings strongly wanted to come to Roma, even giving up important teams in the process.”

De Rossi did a lot to unleash the attacking potential of the team he inherited after replacing Mourinho midway through last season. While Roma had grown stale under the Portuguese, De Rossi injected energy and intensity to their play. The former midfielder’s first month in charge saw Roma score 18 goals in just five league games, but they ultimately faded towards the end of the campaign.

With Dovbyk and Soulé through the door, though, De Rossi now has more to work with and there is still time for Roma to strengthen further. The Giallorossi have been linked with Federico Chiesa who is reportedly open to a move to the Stadio Olimpico. AC Milan want Tammy Abraham and could send Alexis Saelemaekers and Noah Okafor in the opposite direction.

Inter Milan ran away with the Scudetto last season, but Serie A is the least predictable of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues. It has produced four different champions in the last five years, giving Roma hope that they could make their presence felt at the top of the table should they make the right moves this summer.

Defending champions Inter are expected to be strong again, but AC Milan and Juventus have both made new managerial appointments with no guarantee of success. Bologna have lost Thiago Motta and several key players while Napoli are entering a new era under Antonio Conte. Nobody knows how Serie A will shake out this season and that could benefit Roma who established a foundation under De Rossi last term.

De Rossi has been handed a three-year contract to give him time to mould Roma in his own image with Florent Ghisolfi hired from Nice to be the new sporting director at the Stadio Olimpico. While De Rossi has still to prove his ability at the elite level of management, he is part of a project that could turn Roma into a formidable force. Dovbyk and Soulé are too.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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