Page 35 – The Pulse of Football

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Brentford

Brentford will be hoping to get back to normal this term after a disappointing 2023/24 campaign.

The Bees had made a habit of improving year after year in the English top-flight. And they’ll want to put what happened last season behind them.

What happened last season?

Thomas Frank could only guide his side to a 16th-place finish. They finished 20 points worse off than the 2022/23 season.

At one stage, it appeared as though they could genuinely find themselves in a relegation battle but they ended the season in a positive way to secure their place in the Premier League for a fourth successive term.

The table didn’t tell the whole story though when it came to Brentford. Frank’s side had a lot of bad luck, both on and off the pitch, and their performances warranted a much higher finish.

Their underlying numbers had them finishing mid-table. In fact, they had an Expected Points tally of 52, a haul that had them 10th in the Premier League. They finished 13 points worse off while Manchester United, for example, finished 15 points better off.

It goes to show how a season without luck can cause chaos whereas if everything goes your way, results can paper over cracks.

Brentford were without key players for large periods of the season. Ivan Toney was suspended, and Yoane Wissa missed games, as did Bryan Mbuemo, though the latter did manage to finish as the top scorer for the club with six. This could go some way to explaining exactly why the Bees underperformed their Expected Goals numbers. They didn’t have a reliable goal threat.

They struggled in defence too, shipping in 65 goals despite giving up chances with 56.7 Expected Goals Against. A combination of poor goalkeeping and poor finishing hurt the Bees.

Brentford had a horrible December, losing seven of eight matches. This form was across a four-month period though. Between November and February, the Bees lost 12 of 15 games.

Frank’s side took 13 points from their final nine matches to make the end of the season a little more comfortable.

What has happened during the summer?

Not much as of yet.

The Bees did act quickly to bring in a reliable goal threat in Igor Thiago. However, he’s ruled out to the end of the year after sustaining a knee injury in pre-season. This puts added pressure on the club to keep hold of Toney. The forward is into the final year of his deal with Brentford and he’s reportedly a target for a number of clubs.

The arrival of Thiago was supposed to offset the loss of Toney but if he does depart, and Brentford don’t bring in cover for the newly signed striker, another relegation battle could well be on the cards.

*Igor Thiago shot map, Belgian Pro League 2023/24*

David Raya made his loan move to Arsenal a permanent one but that was expected and the Bees aren’t likely going to bring in a new shot-stopper after signing Mark Flekken last summer.

What they should be aiming for next season?

They’ll want mid-table security after the stress of last season. They had been in a position to potentially attack a European place but not now. There are still question marks over Flekken after such a huge underperformance last season while the attack is a bit of an unknown right now with Toney’s future up in the air and Thiago out for the foreseeable future.

Frank will want a boring, comfortable season this time around. If they’re fortunate with injuries, they might get it. They are owed some good luck.

Prediction: 12th

(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 does pre-season tell us about Chelsea?

In the beginning, there was a justifiable explanation for it all. The Chelsea team that started what ended up being a 2-2 draw with Wrexham in their first pre-season tour match was not the one that would be starting the Premier League season. Nothing like it, in fact.

By Ian King

The problem is that things haven’t improved very much since. And when that’s put into the broader context of the way in which the club has been run over the last couple of years, it starts to feel somewhat as though the problems that marred so much of last season at Stamford Bridge could be set to return again this time around.

They followed up the Wrexham match with a 4-1 defeat by Celtic, with their only goal coming from a Christopher Nkunku penalty kick in the 89th minute. Again, it was an understrength team, and they had 23 shots to Celtic’s 14. But that, again, is an issue. The porousness of their defence was ruthlessly exploited on the break by their opponents.

Next came Club América, and a comfortable 3-0 win with any nerves settled by scoring from an early penalty. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made his debut in midfield as the presumed replacement for the Atlético Madrid-bound Conor Gallagher. This, it rather felt, was somewhat more like what this pre-season tour was supposed to feel like.

Then came Manchester City. Neither team were that close to full strength, but an Erling Haaland hat-trick sealed a 4-2 win for City while raising further questions about the Chelsea defence’s organisation levels. Things improved an iota against Real Madrid last night. They were two down inside twenty minutes before the European champions won 2-1 in North Carolina. Again, it’s a fool’s errand to read too much into pre-season friendly results, but there hasn’t been much positive to be taken from this tour.

Tensions are compounded by the fact that Enzo Maresca was a somewhat surprising appointment as the new manager. None of this is to say that he will be a bad one. After all, the next generation of managers has to come from somewhere. Why shouldn’t it be Leicester? And it can hardly be said that he’s just some bloke they pulled off the street, when his position before last was as one of the assistants to Pep Guardiola.

But he’s not a Big Name. He’s not the sort of heavyweight appointment to which Chelsea supporters have become accustomed. And while that doesn’t necessarily mean that he will fail at Stamford Bridge, it may reduce the amount of wiggle room he has should he start to look like an experiment that’s going wrong.

And should this happen, the owners of the club will only have themselves to blame should supporters start to turn upon them again. Mauricio Pochettino was evidently turning a corner with a dysfunctional and lop-sided squad throughout the final weeks of last season. That squad required work, and it was starting to bear fruit throughout the closing weeks.

The official reason given for his departure in May was “by mutual consent”, but that’s what they all say. It’s become clear since he left that Pochettino walked rather than being pushed in any way. He has been quoted as having called the club a “basket case” and, this doesn’t instil much confidence in the belief that those running the club will have the chops to make the right decisions, under pressure, should they need to.

The Enzo Fernández situation appears to have been cleared up to the satisfaction of all within the club. Indeed, it has even been confirmed that Fernández has not been fined further after making a charitable donation himself. It seems unlikely that rival fans will care too much for that this season, but football has little time for such sentiment. Setting aside any other considerations about that for a moment, his full involvement in the team is essential for Chelsea, and he returned as captain against Club América.

It’s all about the ifs and buts. The raw materials are there. A lot of money has been spent on very talented young footballers at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of years, and that always gives them the capability of getting them onto the sort of trajectory which saw them win five straight games to finish sixth in the Premier League season when they hadn’t shown much indication of finishing that high over much of the previous 33.

But it’s a tangled web, and it requires careful unpicking. Regardless of how much–if anything–you read into pre-season tour results, there can be little questioning that those results look pretty dismal in the cold light of day. Enzo Maresca has a chance because Chelsea managers always have a chance. Money talks. And while he may not be a Big Name, he comes with obvious pedigree.

Will Chelsea hit the ground running? Because patience seems to be in short supply these days, and nowhere is this more likely to manifest itself than at a former Champion of Europe fallen on slightly fallow times, especially after a couple of years of a managerial policy which has at times looked more than a little like names being pulled out of a top hat by a blindfolded hedge fund manager.

Should he not do so, a wearying pattern will begin, making the team less confident and spiralling them into a tailspin until the owners lose their nerve and the whole cycle begins again. It’s hardly as though you can say that this hasn’t happened before. And then what? Another short-to-medium term fix is brought in to impose his philosophy to a squad of players who have heard this all before, several times over. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Will Enzo Maresca be able to break that cycle? Well, there’s an excellent chance of finding out the prognosis on that when Chelsea entertain Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Welcome to Premier League management, Signor Maresca. The heat is on.

(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: AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth were justified in their decision to part ways with Gary O’Neil and appoint Andoni Iraola. At the time, it was a decision that was met with disbelief but the Cherries had a fairly comfortable 2023/24 season after a difficult start to life under the Spanish tactician.

By Sam McGuire

So how will they cope with the increased pressure this time around?

What happened last season?

Iraola guided his time to a 12th place finish in what was a confident and assured debut campaign as a Premier League manager.

Bournemouth ended the season just four points off of ninth-placed West Ham United having racked up nine more points than they managed during the 2022/23 campaign.

Their form could best be described as patchy, though. They had to wait 10 games for their first win of the season. This then kicked off a run of seven wins across their next nine before a winless streak of seven. They ended this by going on a five match unbeaten run. The Cherries eventually ended the season with three successive defeats.

And what was their 2023/24 campaign in a nutshell. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. But that was to be expected in what was a transitional season under a new manager looking to put his stamp on things.

The former Rayo Vallecano boss managed to get the best out of Dominic Solanke and this might’ve been his most impressive achievement of the season. Yes, more impressive than guiding Bournemouth to a respectable Premier League football playing a brand of football that caught the eye.

Prior to last season, Solanke had always been a star Championship striker but someone who struggled in the English top flight, netting just nine goals across two full seasons with the Cherries. This wasn’t the case last term though. He was very much a Premier League striker, netting 19 goals. The key behind this was the team’s ability to consistently create for their No. 9. He finished the campaign with an Expected Goals haul of 19.6, a figure that points to Bournemouth’s success in the final third and Iraola’s style of play being a success.

*Bournemouth top scorers, EPL 2023/24 season*

What has happened during the summer?

Bournemouth lost their Sporting Director to Liverpool with Tiago Pinto coming in to replace the departed Richard Hughes. The Cherries haven’t been up to much in the transfer window really. Luis Sinisterra and Enes Ünal signed on permanent deals while the highly-rated Dean Huijsen was brought in from Juventus, much to the surprise of a lot of people.

They have, however, managed to keep their squad together. Lloyd Kelly is the only senior player to leave the club, joining Newcastle United on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Iraola will no doubt want a little more consistency from his team. A mid-table finish will be the aim for the Cherries. They aren’t yet in a position to push for a top-eight finish but they shouldn’t be anywhere near the relegation battle next term, especially in year two of the Iraola project.

Prediction: 13th

(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

Analysis: Silverware-laden summer heralds Spain’s dominant dynasty

Spain have enjoyed an incredible summer on the footballing front, winning almost every possible title across all levels and age groups. Given the manner and sheer number of their victories, this could well go down as the year that marked the beginning of another dominant spell for La Roja.

By Neel Shelat

Between EURO 2024, the Women’s Under-19 Euros, the Men’s Under-19 Euros, the Women’s Under-17 Euros and now both the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments, Spain are on course to win it all this summer. Go back just one more year, and their collection of fresh silverware extends to the Women’s World Cup, and both the Men’s and Women’s Nations Leagues in what has been an incredible period of unprecedented success across all levels for La Roja.

Besides the fact that they have done it, how they have done it suggests that Spain will not stop winning titles anytime soon. In fact, we could well be witnessing the start of the most dominant dynasty international football has ever seen. So, it is well worth taking a look at how Spain have managed to reach such a position.

A Wealth of Talent

Quite simply, the way to win lots of international titles for a nation is to produce lots of talented players. Having a big population is a good start and Spain are not doing too badly in that respect as they are approaching 50 million, but the key lies in having great academies to develop young talent. That is what sets Spain apart from their competitors.

La Masia, of course, is among the world’s very best and most prestigious youth academies. Year after year, some of the world’s most promising male and female footballers graduate into the senior Barcelona sides. Of course, most of them are Spanish, so they also play for the country’s youth teams as they climb up the ranks before potentially going on to get senior call-ups. La Masia’s status also enables Barcelona to sign the best Spanish youth talents from elsewhere and mould them into the very best in the world, as has recently happened in the cases of Pedri and Vicky López.

Not to be outdone, Barcelona’s old rivals Real Madrid have a pretty good academy too. La Fábrica might not have produced the most elite of elite talent in recent years, but it has a pretty good and consistent track record too. The next generation looks quite promising as well, as Real Madrid sent five players each to the title-winning squads of the Men’s and Women’s Under-19 Euros this summer.

Even beyond the big two, great academies can be found all over the country. Athletic Club’s Basque-only player policy has compelled them to develop a top-class cantera, which produced one of the breakout talents of EURO 2024 in Nico Williams as well as Women’s Under-19 Euros player of the tournament Daniela Agote. Their neighbours Real Sociedad have a fantastic track record of developing young talents themselves too, with their own Mikel Oyarzabal proving to be the match-winner in the Euro final.

We have not even mentioned the likes of Valencia, Villarreal, and Atlético Madrid, but the point should be clear enough already: there is no shortage of places for young players to develop in Spain.

Trust in Youth

Producing promising youngsters is one thing, but it counts for little at the highest level unless their transition to senior football is properly managed. Spain have done very well in that respect, of late, with their Euro triumph this summer epitomising their trust in youth.

Right from the off, Luis de la Fuente started with two teenagers on the wings as then-16-year-old Lamine Yamal joined Nico Williams on either side of the striker. La Roja struggled with attacking impetus at the last World Cup, but their new wing pairing instantly solved that problem with their dynamic attacking and ended the tournament with eight goal involvements between them.

A similar story set Spain on the path to World Cup success last summer. Teenage forward Salma Paralluelo was entrusted to go off the bench with the scores level in both the quarter-final and semi-final, and she scored game-changing goals in both matches to take her side to the final.

Indeed, Spain have never shied away from placing big responsibilities on the shoulders of their best young starlets in recent years, with the likes of Pedri and Gavi as further examples of that. The men’s team, though – particularly in the case of the former Las Palmas midfielder – have been guilty of overworking them at too young an age (with assistance from partners-in-crime Barcelona). Pedri was a key starter for them at the Euros in 2021 and then got sent to Japan for the Olympics, almost immediately after which the new club season got underway. Sure enough, he has suffered from recurring hamstring injuries thereafter and is yet to complete a full season of fitness since.

Spain would do well to avoid repeating that mistake with their freshest starlets, and the fact that none of their young Euro starters are at the Olympics is a positive sign. As long as their youngsters’ game time is managed sensibly, La Roja will surely continue to have one of the best teams in the world for years to come.

A Consistent Tactical Identity

A big reason why Spain have been able to integrate their best young talents into their senior teams so seamlessly is their consistent tactical identity across all levels. Regardless of whether it is the under-17s, under-19s, under-21s or senior side, La Roja employ a very distinct brand of possession-based football in a 4-3-3 formation.

Player roles remain very similar in that framework – ball-playing centre-backs, deep ball-playing full-backs, a tempo-setting number six, two attack-minded number eights who must be comfortable with the ball in tight spaces, wide wingers who like to dribble and a line-leading striker who can link up with their teammates – so it is very easy to lift and shift almost anyone across teams. By the time a player gets to senior football, they know their roles and responsibilities inside out and therefore require very little time to settle in.

It should be said, though, that the role of the head coach remains important even if the template is effectively preset. The difference between Luis Enrqiue’s Spain and Luis de la Fuente’s Spain should underscore that, so the only thing La Roja need to ensure is that they get their coaching appointments right.

Spain are blessed with an abundance of talent, world-class talent production factories and a good framework for such players to progress into senior football, so they look set to dominate the international stage for years to come.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game at the Olympics live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2024

Season Preview: Aston Villa

Aston Villa were one of the surprise packages of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign after claiming a Champions League place.

By Sam McGuire

They’ll have lost the element of surprise this time around, clubs will see them as the real deal, but they’re still going to be a contender for another top-four finish after making a number of impressive signings this summer.

What happened last season?

The Villans built on their strong finish to the 2022/23 campaign, a season in which Unai Emery took them from potential relegation battlers to a seventh-placed finish and a Europa Conference League spot.

Emery’s side got off to a disastrous start losing 5-1 to Newcastle United on the opening day. They did, however, win five of the next six in the English top-flight.

Villa were consistent for large parts of the season but a patch either side of New Year ended an unlikely title challenge while a horrid run of form towards the end of the campaign made it an interesting final few weeks. They won just three of their final 10 matches and went on a winless four-game streak to end the season. Still, they did enough to secure fourth place, finishing two points clear of Spurs.

The former Villarreal tactician got his side firing. They notched 76 goals, the sixth most in the league while having the joint-seventh best defensive record having conceded 61 goals. They were also one of only five teams to finish the season with 20 or more wins in the Premier League.

Their position in the league was heavily influenced by the form of Ollie Watkins. The England international finished with an average FotMob rating of 7.4 having scored 19 goals and claiming 13 assists. In fact, no player in the Premier League could better his assists haul while Cole Palmer (33) was the only player to finish with more goal contributions than the Villa No. 11 (32).

He was very much the main man for Villa and the hope is that he will continue to be this season.

What has happened during the summer?

Quite a lot. Villa Park has been a hive of activity.

Moussa Diaby, after just one season with the club, has left to join Al-Ittihad. The former Bayer Leverkusen forward involved himself in 14 goals last season and he’s going to be a miss for Villa.

So is Douglas Luiz. The influential midfielder, who scored nine goals, assisted on five occasions and finished the campaign with an average rating of 7.28, joined Juventus.

In the blink of an eye, Villa have lost 28 goals from their starting XI.

And despite being extremely busy in the transfer market, they haven’t really brought in goalscorers.

Amadou Onana arrived from Everton to replace Luiz in midfield, Ian Maatsen signed from Chelsea and will likely compete for the left-back spot. Jaden Philogene, Cameron Archer and Ross Barkley returned to the club while Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea joined from Juventus.

*Jaden Philogene possession stats with Hull City, EFL Championship 2023/24 season*

There’s a lot of talent there, but are there any goals? That will be the big question heading into this campaign.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Villa should be looking to battle it out for a Europa League spot this season. It will be hard to build on last season’s exploits, especially with what has gone on this summer.

Juggling Champions League football with bedding in a host of new names might see them struggle in what could be a transitional season. There’s still enough quality within the squad to mount a European challenge under a tactician as good as Unai Emery.

Prediction: 8th

(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: Arsenal

Arsenal head into the 2024/25 Premier League season as one of the favourites for the title.

By Sam McGuire

The Gunners, once again, lost out to Manchester City last term but with more reinforcements reportedly on the way, Mikel Arteta could well end Arsenal’s two-decade title drought.

What happened last season?

The Gunners racked up an impressive 89 points in the English top-flight, a haul that was enough to win Man City the title during the 2022/23 campaign. However, it wasn’t enough this time around and Arteta’s side lost out by two points. They, comfortably, had the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding just 29 times and keeping 18 clean sheets, while only the eventual champions (96) could better their return of 91 goals.

Following the turn of the year, Arsenal won 16 of their 18 matches. They dropped points to Manchester City in a 0-0 draw and lost 2-0 to Aston Villa. They were almost perfect in 2024 but still couldn’t topple Pep Guardiola’s relentless, all-conquering side.

Arteta’s men showed that they had the mental fortitude to go for the title. There was no late-season collapse. The blip in December, three defeats in five matches, probably cost them the league. But they will have learned from this experience.

*Arsenal top scorers in the Premier League 2023/24*

Bukayo Saka finished as the top scorer having found the back of the net on 16 occasions in all competitions. The Gunners had three players finish with double digits, with Kai Havertz (13) and Leandro Trossard (12) joining Saka.

The England international was the pick of the bunch for Arsenal having also racked up nine assists to finish with an average FotMob rating of 7.97. Only club captain Martin Ødegaard (10) could boast more assists.

What has happened during the summer?

David Raya arrived on a permanent basis from Brentford after impressing between the sticks last season while on loan. He kept Aaron Ramsdale on the bench and the decision to bring him to the club, after much debate, proved to be a masterstroke.

The in-demand Riccardo Calafiori signed for the Gunners after the Premier League club agreed a fee with Bologna. The Italian, who performed well as the Euros should bolster an already impervious backline while his versatility should provide Arteta with some options.

Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a midfielder. The name being mentioned right now is former Newcastle United man Mikel Merino. The 28-year-old impressed for Spain at Euro 2024 and should add some depth to the middle third area of the team.

An attacker is reportedly wanted, with Benjamin Šeško targeted earlier in the summer, but there’s nothing concrete on that front just yet. To offset some of these arrivals, Emile Smith Rowe has transferred to fellow London club Fulham after a bid in the region of £35million was accepted.

What they should be aiming for next season?

Another title challenge is the bare minimum, isn’t it? After years of investment and backing, Arteta will soon have to deliver. And while they might ultimately miss out to Manchester City, a 90-point season is probably the aim for the Gunners.

The approach should be to go for that and see where you end up.

Prediction: Second

(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

Nick Markanich: The Charleston striker is the latest name lighting up the USL Championship

With Major League Soccer on a month-long mid-season break, it’s time for another US soccer league, the USL Championship, to step into the spotlight.

By James Nalton

Anyone looking to become more familiar with the competition at this stage of the year will find a regular season finely poised as it reaches the final third of the campaign before the postseason playoffs in November.

A handful of teams in USL’s Eastern Conference have stood out this season, including Tampa Bay Rowdies and Louisville City, but another team on this side of the league has caught the eye this season thanks to the goalscoring exploits of a player who is attracting transfer interest from home and abroad.

As they went into their game against Indy XI this weekend, Charleston Battery sat second in the Eastern Conference having played a couple of games more than those around them, including their fourth-place opponents, as well as Louisville and Tampa Bay.

The goals of USL Championship top scorer Nick Markanich are a big reason Charleston are challenging at the top of the table this year, and his performances have attracted interest from Europe as well as MLS.

“It’s a goal of mine, I was told about it, and it excited me,” Markanich told the Howlers Podcast of a potential move to Europe.

“It’s something I’m interested in, so we’ll see what happens.”

The 24-year-old has 19 goals from 21 starts in the league this season, which makes him the top-scoring player in US domestic pro soccer this year.

The fact he plays from the right wing and not as an out-and-out striker makes this all the more impressive, and this, along with his all-round play on and off the ball, is what will attract transfer interest.

“Nick is incredible in the air, not just in attack but also when we are pressed; he often wins those first contacts,” Charleston head coach Ben Pirmann said of his player in an interview with Transfermarkt.

“He is a very good defender and presser of the ball and runs a tremendous amount.

“He is not your natural one-v-one Arjen Robben-type player. Instead, if I would compare him to anyone, it would be Antoine Griezmann, who is also left-footed and more of a second striker or no.10 than a winger.”

Markanich has seven goals in his last six games, though failed to find the net in a 4-2 defeat to the Rowdies last week which put a slight dent in Charleston’s challenge at the top.

But they are still very much in the mix, and it’s not solely down to Markanich’s goalscoring prowess.

Charleston’s position also owes itself to their defensive record. They are one of only two teams with a goal difference in the +20s (along with Louisville) and only Western Conference side Sacramento Republic have conceded fewer goals than Charleston’s 20.

The creativity of Aaron Molloy, both from set pieces and progressive open play passing, has been important, and the team will hope an injury he picked up in the Tampa Bay game will not keep him out for too long.

Molloy’s performances this season give him the highest average rating of the 2024 season so far, just ahead of Markanich.

The Irishman also tops the charts in USL for chances created (64), accurate passes per 90 minutes (64.6) and accurate long passes per 90 with 9.4. He has very much been the engine of this team in a creative, possession sense.

But at the end of all this, there needs to be a player firing in the goals, and Markanich has done so at an unprecedented level.

His 19 goals are already a club record for a season in the Championship era, but will now have his sights on Charleston’s all-time record of 27 goals in all competitions, held by Paul Conway since the 2001 season.

Though Markanich is widely expected to leave USL this season. Charleston will hope it is at the end of the year, after the playoffs, rather than in the summer.

Losing players in such a manner is not unexpected in USL. In fact, it has become one of the league’s modi operandi.

Western Conference side Orange County SC has been one of the leaders in this area, and has so far sold six players to Europe as well as former head coach Morten Karlsen, who joined Lyngby Boldklub in the Danish Superliga.

Orange County’s former president of soccer, Oliver Wyss, moved into a similar role with the league as a whole as its director of football signalling USL’s intent to help its teams work effectively in the domestic and global transfer markets.

Charleston themselves sold winger Fidel Barajas to Real Salt Lake ahead of the 2024 season, before Barajas was then sold by RSL to Mexican side Chivas in June. Charleston will continue to benefit from the add-ons included in their deal to sell him to RSL, and from the 20% of any future sale clause RSL included in the deal to sell him to Chivas.

This is all part of the USL plan, but that does not mean the focus is solely on selling. It is also on player development and improvement of the league as a whole. Interest in USL players is a byproduct of this.

Charleston, and other teams, will want to make sure they get the most from these players while they are at the club in order to help them progress, and they are certainly getting a useful return from Markanich as they look to challenge in the league as the season enters its final third, and in November’s playoffs.

(Cover Image from Charleston Battery courtesy of the USL)

You can follow every match from the USL Championship live with FotMob — featuring deep stats and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Aug

2024

Transfer(s) of the Week: Como’s Blockbuster Window

Over the course of the summer transfer window, we will take a close look at some of the biggest and best business with our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. In this edition, we will focus on one of the busiest clubs in the window so far.

By Neel Shelat

Having won their first promotion to Serie A in over two decades and returned to the top flight for the first time since their bankruptcy issues, Como are already making waves. No longer restricted by finances with the backing of the richest club owners in Italy, they have been the most active club in the summer transfer window not just in Serie A but across all of Europe’s big five leagues. With 11 signings announced already, they have overhauled nearly half of their squad, and in all likelihood, the majority of Cesc Fàbregas’ first-choice XI.

The fresh faces in Como’s squad include all sorts of players at various stages in their careers filling almost every position on the pitch. Let us briefly run through the lot of them.

Goalkeepers

Como have added a couple of experienced goalkeepers to their ranks after selling last season’s first-choice starter Adrian Šemper to Pisa. His replacement will likely be Emil Audero, a man with six full seasons’ worth of Serie A experience under his belt. He spent the first five of those as Sampdoria’s chief shot-stopper, before joining champions Inter on loan last season as a backup option.

At 27 years old, Audero is in the peak of his career and should want to be a number one. Sampdoria have pocketed a handy €6 million transfer fee in this deal, so it makes sense for all involved.

Como have also signed 41-year-old Pepe Reina on a free transfer after the end of his contract at Villarreal. The former Liverpool keeper will most likely be a backup option, but his experience should prove valuable for his peers to learn from.

Defenders

The highest transfer fee Como have paid in this window so far has brought them a defender, namely Alberto Dossena, who cost €8 million from Cagliari. That should be money well spent as the 25-year-old centre-back is battle-hardened having risen through the tiers in Italian football to reach Serie A last season.

Although his side conceded as many as 68 goals, Dossena gave a good account of himself as a very strong defender, winning nearly 65% of his duels at an average of 7.76 per 90. He also served as a handy long passer and posed a noteworthy attacking threat from set-pieces.

Como’s biggest signing, though, has to be that of Raphaël Varane. Joining from Manchester United on a free transfer after a so-so season littered with injury issues, he will hope to stay fully fit and lead his new side’s defence throughout the Serie A season. At 31 years old, he should be able to stay at a top-five league level for a few more years in theory at least.

I Lariani have also added an experienced left back to their squad in Alberto Moreno, who has also left Villarreal on a free transfer. He started about half of his side’s matches in LaLiga last season, still showing some attacking threat with his overlapping runs. At 32 years old, he could yet have a couple of good seasons in Serie A.

Como may well not be done with their defensive signings, as they are being strongly linked with FC København’s Kevin Diks. The 27-year-old Dutchman is capable of playing anywhere across the back line, so he would be a great addition to any squad.

Midfielders

Como have also spent a good deal of money in midfield, paying Fortuna Düsseldorf €8 million to sign Yannik Engelhardt. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder established himself as a solid figure at the base of midfield for the 2. Bundesliga promotion hopefuls, winning nearly 6 duels per 90 to go with 2.7 tackles and interceptions.

Supporting him should be Luca Mazzitelli, who has joined on loan with an obligation to buy from Frosinone. He did a good job as a box-to-box midfielder in Serie A last season, so Como will hope to see more of the same for years to come.

At the end of his loan from Austria Wien, Como exercised their option to buy Matthias Braunöder. The 22-year-old midfielder joined this January and played almost 900 minutes in Serie B, showing promising signs with his passing. For €1.5 million, he could well turn out to be a good signing.

Another youngster joining Como’s ranks for 2024/25 will be Peter Kováčik, who is also 22 years old. They struck a deal to sign him in February but let him complete the season with Slovak side Železiarne Podbrezová. He notched up 6 goals and 10 assists in the league last season from the right of midfield or as a wing-back, so it will be interesting to see how he fits into Fàbregas’ side.

Forwards

Arguably the most interesting signing Como have made this summer has been Ali Jasim. The 20-year-old winger joins straight from the Iraq Stars League, which he lit up last season on loan at Al Quwa Al Jawiya from Al Kahrabaa. The jump from domestic football in Iraq to Serie A is a massive one, but Jasim’s performances as a lively winger in the AFC Champions League as well as for his senior and under-23 national teams suggest that there is good reason to be excited about this move.

Finally, a much more experienced arrival in attack was Andrea Belotti. The 30-year-old Italian forward with the famous Rooster nickname has a great deal of Serie A experience under his belt and works hard as a target striker, but he has struggled for goals in recent seasons. Como will want to see that change in 2024/25.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jul

2024

Transfer of the Week: Manchester United’s defensive renovation

Over the course of the summer transfer window, we will take a close look at some of the biggest and best business with our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. This time, we will take a look at Manchester United’s bid to improve their defence.

By Neel Shelat

Although there was a good deal of optimism going into it, the 2023/24 season turned out to be another disappointment for Manchester United. They finished as low as 8th in the Premier League and were sent packing from their UEFA Champions League group, so it was only their FA Cup victory that somewhat salvaged the season and likely saved Erik ten Hag’s job.

As David Moyes famously once said, Manchester United must improve in a number of areas. Among them is defending, as they conceded more shots than every team in Europe’s top five leagues bar Sheffield United and were the fifth-worst side in the Premier League by xG conceded.

Of course, many of their problems stemmed from tactical issues so a lot can be fixed on the training ground rather than the transfer window. Nevertheless, the Red Devils have not been shy of spending big on new signings and look set to make a few more in the defensive department, so let us take a closer look at what they have been up to.

Leny Yoro (€62M)

The biggest signing of the transfer window so far as far as transfer fees are concerned was Manchester United’s move to bring in Leny Yoro.

Eyebrows were raised at the transfer fee of €62 million as Yoro only had a year left on his contract at Lille, but the level of competition for his signature enabled the French club to hold out for a big fee as Manchester United ultimately outbid Real Madrid.

The young centre-back made his senior debut at just 16 years old and was promoted to the first team soon enough. He was only 17 at the start of the 2023/24 campaign but established himself as a regular starter at the heart of his side’s back line, going on to play over 2,600 Ligue 1 minutes.

The fact that Yoro did not look out of place for a European-level club at such a young age says everything about his quality and potential. While many of his peers struggle with the physicality of senior football, he looked comfortable in the most demanding position on the pitch in that respect.

Raw defensive stats have to be carefully handled as they reveal less about a player’s quality and more about their tendencies, but even they clearly highlight the French teenager’s brilliance. His low tackling and duelling volume should not be a cause for concern as that is a result of his preference to stay in the back line and not step out and commit to too many challenges, but his win rates are the most important metrics and they look very good indeed.

Yoro is a fantastic prospect on the ball as well. He is a very secure passer as he averaged over 58 passes per 90 at a completion rate of 92.2% last season, and he also enjoys carrying the ball forward when given the space and opportunity. Undoubtedly, he has all the tools needed to quickly evolve into a world-class ball-playing centre-back.

Of course, the 18-year-old defender also has room to improve defensively, as he can get beaten one-on-one in awkward positions at times. His tall frame and long strides mean that he has the aerial strength and pace to become a great recovery defender for a possession-dominant team, so a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs was always only a matter of time.

With all of that being said, it is important to be mindful of Yoro’s young age and the fact that his game time and development still needs to be carefully managed even if he seems destined to be one of the world’s best defenders in a few years. Manchester United’s track record with injuries and game-time management under Ten Hag has not been great to say the least, so that could be the only cause for concern around this move. However, some things can not be legislated for, such as Yoro’s injury setback suffered during a pre-season tour game against Arsenal in the United States.

Other Targets

Ideally, Yoro should be seen as one for the future and a rotation option in the present rather than an immediate first-choice starter. In that case, Manchester United would need to sign at least one more centre-back to replace the departed Raphaël Varane.

Indeed, they have been linked with a couple of central defenders, most notably Matthijs de Ligt. Given how long he has been around, it is easy to forget that he is still only 24 years old. His CV at such a young age is mightily impressive, and he definitely still has all the makings of a top-class centre-back even if he might not have fully lived up to his potential yet.

With previous experience working under Ten Hag during his most successful coaching spell and an ability to play on either side, De Ligt would surely be a sensible signing for the right price around €50 million, which is what Bayern Munich are said to be asking for.

Manchester United have also been linked with Jarrad Branthwaite for quite a while, and that move may soon develop as Everton have signed a potential replacement in Jake O’Brien. At 22 years old, he too is an exciting young prospect and is proven in the Premier League having impressed at the heart of Everton’s defence last season.

Of course, the stylistic switch a move to Old Trafford would demand would be a big one, but Branthwaite has proven himself as a polished ball player during his loan spell at PSV Eindhoven. Obviously, he had a lot more defending to do at Goodison Park, and he did his duties quite well by looking strong on the ground and in the air.

The young Englishman is also capable of playing on the left or right, though he prefers the former due to his left-footedness. That means he would have to compete with Lisandro Martínez for a starting spot, although he might be given an open run to the XI if the Argentine international’s injury issues flare up again. The only question United have to answer before making this signing, then, is whether Branthwaite is worth the €80 million plus Everton are said to be holding out for.

Manchester United are also looking to make some more signings in a couple of other defensive positions, including right back. De Ligt’s Bayern Munich teammate Noussair Mazraoui looks likeliest to be signed at the moment, and he would be a significant upgrade on Aaron Wan-Bissaka in terms of ball-playing at least. His versatility and ability to play on the left would also make him a useful back-up for Luke Shaw, who has also struggled with injury issues.

The more important position is defensive midfield, where Casemiro’s form and fitness left United lacking a great ball-winning midfielder. Manuel Ugarte is being targeted to solve that issue, although his build-up weaknesses that have been exposed at Paris Saint-Germain may create a different problem, if he is signed to be a regular starter.

Clearly, Manchester United have a lot of work to do and will not find a magical fix for their defensive issues from last season. They look on course to make a couple of good signings but will have to spend some big money, and even so it seems unlikely that it will be all smooth sailing for them in 2024/25.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jul

2024

FotMob Profile: Fabian Hurzeler could be Brighton’s new saviour

Roberto De Zerbi’s resignation from Brighton prior to their final game of last season against Manchester United was unexpected, but the decision could work well for both parties.

By Ross Kilvington

The Italian took charge following Graham Potter’s departure in September 2022, leading the Seagulls to a stunning sixth place finish, qualifying for the Europa League in the process.

It was hardly surprising that after this excellent start, clubs such as Bayern Munich and Man United were keen on securing his services.

The 2023/24 campaign saw Brighton drop five places, finishing 11^th, while they registered 14 fewer points than the season prior.

Call it second season syndrome, call it affected by persistent rumours linking him with a move away, but De Zerbi’s magic had clearly worn off. As such, a new manager had to be found.

It didn’t take long. Fabian Hürzeler was appointed on a three-year deal midway through June. The German becomes the youngest ever permanent manager in Premier League history aged just 31.

But why Hürzeler? what makes a 31-year-old with just 18 months of full time management behind him the ideal choice for a club with plenty to prove in the upcoming season?

Fabian Hürzeler’s journey into management

The American-born coach has been hailed as the ‘next Julian Nagelsmann’ which isn’t a shock considering how alike their respective journeys into top level management have been.

Like the current Germany coach, Hürzeler was a promising player during the early stages of his career, and like Nagelsmann, the new Brighton manager retired early to focus on a career on the touchline.

His retirement was voluntary, unlike the former Bayern Munich coach, who suffered a career ending injury.

The 31-year-old played in the same Bayern reserve side as Emre Can and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, yet failed to progress out of this level, slipping down to the fourth and fifth tiers in the German football pyramid.

A taste for the managerial aspect started during the 2016/17 campaign as he was the inspiration behind Pipinsried’s promotion to the fourth tier as a player-manager.

Retirement came in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2020, when he was appointed as one of Timo Schultz’s assistant coaches at St. Pauli, that the opportunity arrived to contribute within a professional club environment.

Being an assistant clearly wasn’t the end goal, yet Hürzeler’s step into the managerial breach came much quicker than anticipated.

In December 2022, after winning just four games out of 17, St. Pauli sacked Schultz and promoted Hürzeler to the top job, something which proved to be one of the best decisions the club have made in their recent history.

How Fabian Hürzeler guided St. Pauli back to the Bundesliga

The German won the first ten matches in charge of the club, steering them away from the relegation places and to within six points of promotion to the top tier.

Their form petered out in the end, finishing in fifth spot, but the building blocks had been put in place ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The last time St. Pauli played a match in the Bundesliga was 2011, a run that Hürzeler was keen on ending in his first full season of club management.

The 31-year-old deployed a fluid 3-4-3 formation when his team had the ball, utilising the abilities of forwards Johannes Eggestein and Oladapo Afolayan, who scored nine goals each in the second tier.

The shining light was Marcel Hartel, who netted 17 times for the club throughout the season from the heart of the midfield, adding a further 12 assists, proving to be a major threat due to his bursting runs forward into the final third.

Indeed, the midfielder ranked first among the squad for goals (0.52) and xG per 90 (0.4) while also creating the most chances (94), further evidence of his attacking qualities.

St. Pauli registered the most shots on goal during their league title winning season, although it was the shoring up of the defensive area which was the real reason behind their promotion.

Without the ball, Hürzeler’s side moved to a 5-2-3 formation, meaning they conceded just 36 goals in 34 matches. This balance of effective attacking output supplemented by a well drilled defensive unit meant the club were deserving winners of the second tier title, securing a spot in the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years.

Hürzeler was perhaps a surprise replacement for De Zerbi. Tony Bloom has enjoyed plenty of success with his last few managerial appointments. Will the German be the man to take the Seagulls to the next level?

Can Fabian Hürzeler lead Brighton back into Europe next season?

The former St. Pauli manager is certainly inheriting a talented squad. Bart Verbruggen impressed at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands while midfielders Billy Gilmour, Carlos Baleba and Mats Wieffer all have the tactical attributes to shine under the tutelage of the 31-year-old.

Evan Ferguson and João Pedro scored 26 goals between them last season and the new manager will be able to count upon the likes of Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra to contribute effectively in the final third, registering 18 goal contributions in the Premier League alone throughout 2023/24.

Despite this plethora of youthful attacking talent, Brighton were just the 12^th best attacking side in the top flight last term (and ninth in terms of xG), showing there are plenty signs for improvement.

It won’t be easy but securing a top eight finish should be the goal for Hürzeler, especially as it would solidify his growing reputation in the game.

The pressure of the job meant things got stale for De Zerbi towards the end of his spell in charge of Brighton. Hürzeler will certainly bring a more youthful approach to things considering he is seven years younger than Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, the second youngest coach in the league.

If the gamble pays off, Brighton could turn into one of the most exciting sides to watch in England next season. Watch this space.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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