Page 4 – The Pulse of Football

Apr

2024

Nestory Irankunda: Australia’s Bayern-bound starlet

After lighting up the A-League for three seasons, teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda is set to become the first Australian player to join German giants Bayern Munich when he completes his pre-agreed move in July. It is still unclear whether the young forward will stay with the Rekordmeister at the start of the 2024/25 season, or go out on loan somewhere, but one thing is certain: he is the brightest young talent the A-League has ever developed.

By Neel Shelat

Nestory Irankunda’s story is quite remarkable so far. Born in a Tanzanian refugee camp to Burundian parents, his family moved to Australia when he was just three months old. As a young boy, he trained with a couple of small local clubs before being signed by National Premier Leagues side Adelaide Croatia Raiders at the age of 12.

It was while he was playing for the Raiders’ youth teams that Irankunda was spotted by scouts of the local A-League club, Adelaide United, who signed him in 2021. They soon realised the inconceivable potential the young attacker had as he excelled for the reserve team in the NPL, and Carl Veart decided to give Irankunda his senior debut that same season before he had even turned 16!

Breakthrough Seasons

Adelaide United and Veart deserve a lot of credit for the way in which they have managed Irankunda’s development. In his first two seasons at the club, the youngster made 30 A-League appearances altogether and returned with 8 goals and 2 assists, but only played under 700 minutes altogether as he was brought on from the bench each time.

Clearly the club was very careful to manage his playing time so as to not overstretch his physical capacities, which were very much under development at the time and still are, to some extent. At the same time, he was given a lot of responsibility in a crucial impact substitute role which he more than fulfilled, changing many a game with his exceptional quality and producing more attacking output off the bench than anyone else in the league in 2022/23.

Besides his development as a player, Adelaide United also had to manage his development as a person off the pitch. In the early days of the 2022/23 season, Irankunda was internally disciplined by the club for “failing to meet team expectations” but clearly went on to bounce back very well.

Veart deserves the plaudits for his management in this respect too. He has made a name for himself as one of the A-League’s best young talent developers with other youngsters such as Luka Jovanović, Jonny Yull and Giuseppe Bovalina also breaking through under his watch this season.

2023/24: The Explosion

The star of the show for Adelaide United this season, though, has undoubtedly been Irankunda as he has now become a regular starter.

His player radar concisely conveys what sort of a player he is – an absolute box office all-action winger. He can operate off the left but has certainly favoured the right in his time at Adelaide United, though he also tends to switch wings within games, on occasion, to keep the opposition full-backs on their toes.

The 18-year-old forward possesses the devastating combination of the energy and pace of an exuberant teenager as well as top-class technical ability and composure when it comes to decision-making on the pitch. He can either run past opposition defenders off the ball to get on the end of through passes or use his vast array of skills to bamboozle them before quickly changing direction and disappearing in a flash. That should explain his incredibly high dribbling numbers (per 90) and involvement in the box this season.

Once he gets even a sniff of goal, Irankunda is a killer. His ball-striking technique and power are second to none in the A-League, especially with his right foot, but also his left if needs be. Peppering shots at goal from all over the place is generally discouraged but Adelaide United have to make an exception with Irankunda because he can genuinely score from anywhere.

At the same time, he also knows when to look for teammates in better positions, which is why he has a high Expected Assists tally despite low passing involvement overall.

Despite shining in the A-League this season, Irankunda will still be a pretty raw talent when he moves over to Europe. His form has been patchy at times, even in Australia, so things will certainly not get any easier for him in the world’s strongest leagues.

Over the years, the A-League has produced many an exciting young talent of whom a fair few have gone on to Europe, but none of them have managed to establish themselves at a club at the most elite level. Of course, no one has made the jump to a club as big as Bayern Munich, or with so much hype surrounding them.

Irankunda seems to have the world at his feet as he leaves the A-League, but he has a long way to go and a lot of work to do before he can fulfil his potential. Bayern will have to be just as careful in managing his development as Adelaide United have been if Irankunda is really going to be one of their stars of tomorrow.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can track Nestory‘s upcoming games with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

How Inter won the Serie A: Consistency, adaptability, and Beppe Marotta

Inter sealed their 20th Serie A title on Monday and with that, earned the much-sought after second star. While the title win is down to Simone Inzaghi’s tactical nous and innovation, so much of it is also down to how the club is run despite their obvious limitations.

By Kaustubh Pandey

It was quite fitting that goals from Marcus Thuram and Francesco Acerbi helped Inter beat Milan on Monday, before the game descended in to chaotic. Those two players, after all, are perfect examples of how Inter operate in the transfer market under the famed Beppe Marotta, especially when Inter aren’t always in the best financial situation.

Thuram had, strikingly enough, rejected Milan to join Inter on a free transfer in the summer. That rejection for the Rossoneri came out of the blue as at one point, the France international seemed on his way to the other side of the corridor at San Siro. But with Inter losing both Romelu Lukaku and Edin Džeko, they swooped in just in the nick of time and sealed a deal that Marotta is no stranger to at all. He is an expert at finding bargains in the market and at roping in free transfers at the right time, as he has done with Piotr Zieliński and Mehdi Taremi.

Thuram has been one of the best signings in Europe and has contributed to 19 league goals. More than goals, he has boosted how Inzaghi’s side operate in the final third, using his ability to run into the channels and hold the ball up when needed to compliment the team’s possession-heavy setup.

Acerbi, just like Thuram, is perfectly suited for what Inzaghi has been building. The system relies on the wide centre-backs often pushing up and covering wide spaces and Acerbi – just like Alessandro Bastoni, does that successfully. Inzaghi knew all of his qualities from their time together at Lazio, where they won the Coppa Italia. The Italian joined on an initial loan deal and the move was later made permanent for a fee of €3.5 million.

The cases of these two are only the tip of the iceberg which goes much deeper. From back to front, Inter have built a squad that barely features a player who was signed for a massive fee. Hakan Çalhanoğlu, who was signed for free after his deal expired at Milan, has turned into one of the best midfielders in Europe. Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s stock seemed to be at an all-time low after the end of his spell at Roma, but he has been reinvigorated under Inzaghi after also joining on a free.

Then there’s Matteo Darmian, who had joined Parma after his spell at Manchester United had petered out. His stock seemed even lower than that of Mkhitaryan but Inter knew what they were doing and after an initial loan stint, he joined permanently for £1.8 million. The ex-United man has been one of Inter’s most reliable players over the years, showing a keen understanding of how a back three works and also showing the versatility to play two different positions at the back.

It isn’t to say that Inter haven’t spent money on players – they have. But so much of it is about selling well and using that money to fill gaps in their squad. Reports have falsely suggested that there is a ‘financial crisis’ at Inter but the truth has always been that they operate on a rather stable sell-to-buy model.

The Zhang family, Inter’s Chinese owners, found themselves in a difficult financial position during the COVID crisis. They weren’t just losing money from their e-commerce business (the club itself was losing money), but the Chinese government was stamping down on major business as well. That era had seen Inter shell out money on not just Nicolo Barella but also on Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku. While they had won the Scudetto under Antonio Conte, the impact of COVID meant that they had to part with these major assets and Conte left too.

In the 2022/23 season, they posted losses of €85 million and this came after losses of €140 million and €245 million in the previous two years. Amidst this troubling financial situation, owner Steven Zhang took an emergency loan of €275 million in 2021 from American fund Oaktree to shore up the finances of the Nerazzurri. This meant that while the club weren’t in a crisis, they had to sell players to buy more players and have to pay off the loan (with interest) to Oaktree by next month.

If the Zhang family cannot pay off that loan, the club would be transferred to the hands of Oaktree. If not that, Zhang would have to find a new financer who can pay off the Oaktree loan or he would have to find a buyer for the entire club altogether. This is the backdrop that Inter have operated in for about three years now and while the reality is harsh, it isn’t as if they haven’t spent prominent amounts on players.

Barella was signed permanently for a fee upto €50m after an initial loan deal. Davide Frattesi was signed on an initial loan deal with the obligation to buy for only €28m. When Milan Škriniar left the club on a free transfer to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, Inter had their tails up. But Benjamin Pavard was roped in for about €32 million from Bayern Munich. Perhaps, it is the case of Škriniar that best typifies how Inter operate.

André Onana had joined Inter on a free transfer in 2022 and was then sold to Manchester United for a total fee of €55 million. The amount collected from the sale wasn’t just used to sign the excellent Yann Sommer for €6 million, but Pavard was also signed late in the window from that fund. Similarly, funds from Marcelo Brozović’s sale to Al Nassr were potentially allocated towards bringing Frattesi in and that sell-to-buy scheme is still very much in the green as Frattesi is yet to be signed permanently.

As there was no major sale in the summer of 2022, Inter didn’t spend any significant fees on anyone during that transfer window. Only Robin Gosens joined in January and the rest of the summer moves were either loans or free transfers, which is right up Marotta’s street. While having a very strong spine in place, Inter still managed to finish inside the top four and reached the Champions League final. Through effective sales and exits, Inter used the funds in hand perfectly to fix holes in their squad and stepped up a gear.

With both Alexis Sánchez and Marko Arnautović having failed to impress in their limited gametime, Inter have already sealed a deal for Taremi. Through that, they seem to have a much more solid set of strikers – Thuram, Lautaro Martínez and Taremi. All three of them cost a total of €22.7 million, which is effectively what Martínez cost on his own. But with the reliable tactical setup in place, his value has perhaps quadrupled.

When it comes to tactical setups, the higher-ups at Inter were incredibly astute. When Conte left, the Nerazzurri fanbase faced a period of doom and gloom. After all, it was the first time since the José Mourinho era that Inter had won the Scudetto. Inzaghi’s CV and profile was on the up at Lazio and interestingly enough, his setup and formation wasn’t too different from that of Conte’s. Both use a 3-5-2 formation and while their approaches are slightly different, the similarity in formation meant that a drastic change in player profiles wasn’t required.

As a result, the players Inter had already were suited perfectly to what Inzaghi wanted. All they wanted to add was depth and more quality, especially when a player was leaving. A case can be made of the fact that Inter players are more system-reliant than before, meaning that Inzaghi’s possession-based setup has made them better. Conte’s system, on the other hand, relies on experienced individuals whose values aren’t always on the up. Inter’s insistence on consistency in identity has reaped rewards.

A player like Alessandro Bastoni has benefited exceptionally from that and so has Barella. The midfielder is arguably one of the best in the world right now and consistent usage in a similar system has made sure of that. Barella is now synonymous with covering a lot of distance on the right, carrying the ball forward, creating chances and scoring vital goals.

Contrast that to a player like Weston McKennie at Juventus and one can spot the difference. The American has suffered from playing under different managers with different playing styles, forcing him to play in multiple different roles.

There is a lesson to be learnt from Inter. There are certainly limitations they operate in and they lost a manager of Conte’s ilk when they were struggling financially. But they adhered to a consistency in tactical identity and operated within that, as Marotta’s exceptional understanding of the transfer market made sure that they ride out any problems. They are, in essence, a step ahead of the rest in Serie A, and perhaps their peers elsewhere in the big 5 leagues.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Serie A game on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

Georges Mikautadze: On a mission to save Metz before Georgia’s debut at the Euros

In every season when a team is fighting to avoid relegation, they need a story to survive. Sometimes it’s a battle against the odds, sometimes a late awakening of one of those “too big to go down” clubs. And sometimes it’s a hero from within, one player who rises above the difficulties of the season, the quality of his teammates or even the perceived limits of his own abilities, and produces game after game which wins points and saves a team’s season. In Ligue 1, at Metz, that player might just be Georges Mikautadze.

By Karl Matchett

If you’re not yet familiar with him, it’s time to get up to speed. The French-born Georgian is an aggressive, technically gifted, and ferocious forward, already a hero of sorts with the Metz fans but back in 2024 for a second dance at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Still only 23 years old, he has already made his mark here once and earned a big-money move; the fact that hasn’t yet paid off might just say more about his parent club than anything he has particularly done wrong. More on that shortly, though.

For now, Mikautadze is a man in form and on the verge of rewriting the season entirely for his club. Metz were looking dead in the water only a few short weeks ago; between 26 November and 3 March they didn’t win a single game, sat level on points with bottom club Clermont Foot and only above them by virtue of a couple of goals, while averaging considerably fewer than a goal per game scored.

Enter the Georgian international.

Loaned back in January, he scored his first goal back in the side on 23 February – and since then has been on a one-man mission to keep his team in the top flight. Following that strike against Lyon, another followed – and an assist – to beat Nantes, ending Metz’s two-and-a-half month winless streak. Fast forward to the present day and it’s four wins in the last seven for Metz, with Mikautadze scoring five in those victories and tallying eight goals and one assist in his last ten. Metz are now 15th, one point above the relegation play-off place and only two points down on Nantes above them. That’s thanks to last weekend’s vital 1-0 win over Le Havre, a win that saw Metz leapfrog their opponents, with Mikautadze’s left foot responsible for providing the goal.

Keep looking ahead to the near future and regardless of Metz’s ultimate fortunes, there’s a strong possibility of Mikautadze announcing himself on an even grander stage: Georgia’s circuitous route to Euro 2024 means he’ll be part of the summer tournament, lining up with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and co. under head coach Willy Sagnol. He already has nine senior goals in 24 caps and given the form he’s heading into summer in, the odds are on him adding to that against Portugal, Czech Republic or Turkey.

How he fares there, as much as in the final weeks of Ligue 1, may determine his next move. Metz do have an option to sign him back in summer for considerably less than they sold him for in August – to Ajax. The bizarre part of it is, Mikautadze was hardly given a look-in with the Eredivisie side, despite them splashing out on him and then going on to suffer one of their worst campaigns ever, certainly in the first half of the season. They offloaded him without a thought and he has since shown why they wanted him in the first place; it seems unlikely he’ll return for a second bite at the Amsterdam Arena. Metz, then, could sign him and immediately sell him on, or else use his talents to spearhead another season in Ligue 1, should they survive.

Mikautadze’s talents are highlighted in the fact he’s slightly outperforming his xG for the season in Ligue 1, 10 strikes in total to 7.72 xG, as well as in the fact he ranks higher than 96% of top-flight forwards in France for successful dribbles per 90 minutes. He’s not shy of the work required in a team at the bottom either: 3.16 recoveries per 90, 16 times winning possession in the final third – ranking him better than 88% of forwards in France on a per 90 basis – and 100% of his tackles won. OK, the last is pure embellishment, given he’s only made two tackles. But the point remains: he’s an on-and off-the-ball all-rounder, still learning his game but making up for lack of nous with an excess of intent.

He’s by no means perfect or the finished article yet, but Mikautadze has the energy, the raw tools and the speed of footwork to really make a mark at the top end of the game in the seasons to come. For now though, for this season, he’s turning mission impossible into simply his mission. In a huge game this weekend at the bottom against Le Havre, he can help Metz take another big step towards salvation.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game in Ligue 1 with xG, deep stats, and players ratings, on FotMob this season. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

Quiz: Do you know your Merseyside Derby Day history?

With help from our friends at FC Quiz, let’s get prepped for the latest instalment of one of English football’s greatest rivalries: Everton vs. Liverpool.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can play more football quizzes like this one by downloading fcQuiz.

Apr

2024

The Super Williams Bros

The past few weeks have been like no other for Athletic Club. After a forty-year wait, and six consecutive cup final defeats, the Basque side claimed their first major trophy since 1984 when defeating Mallorca on penalties in the Copa del Rey final this month.

By Luke Bissett

The success has sparked jubilant celebrations throughout Bilbao, including the iconic river parade on the gabarra. Ernesto Valverde’s side have attracted plaudits far and wide, but perhaps none more so than the club’s dynamic attacking duo, brothers Iñaki and Nico Williams. The pair are the fulcrum of Athletic’s attack, contributing 35 goals + assists between them this season.

With Nico on the left and Iñaki on the right, the Lions boast one of the most potent forward lines in the Spanish top-flight. In fact, the club’s 52 LaLiga goals this term is their highest at this stage of the campaign across the last 10 seasons (55 in 2013-14). And the Williams brothers have undoubtedly played a crucial part in Athletic’s prolific upturn, posing formidable threats on either flank within Valverde’s 4-2-3-1 set-up.

Iñaki, 29, has been the attacking lynchpin of the side for several years, but often struggled for consistency when typically playing as a striker in previous seasons. However, a shift to the right wing has propelled him to new heights. The Ghana international has notched 11 goals and five assists across all competitions this season – only managing more goal involvements in one of his previous seven campaigns with the Basque side (19 in 2018-19).

Iñaki’s switch out wide has given the attacker a new lease of life. It enables him to pose a constant threat running towards the opposition box, as opposed to having to play with his back to goal as a lone central forward figure. The 29-year-old’s role in the side emphasises his greatest attribute, which is undoubtedly stretching opposition back-lines. He has received the third most progressive passes in the league this season (174), with his explosiveness proving to be a constant menace for LaLiga’s full backs.

Though despite operating in a wider berth, that is not to say the Ghanaian’s threat on goal has dwindled in any shape or form. In fact, he has the third most touches in the opposition box in LaLiga across 2023-24. Iñaki offers an imposing presence in attack and has continued to flourish under Valverde. No player has attempted more shots than in the Spanish top-flight this term (81 – the same as Robert Lewandowski), while he has also had the most shots on target in the division (38).

Athletic are renowned for being one of the most aggressive pressing sides in LaLiga – recording the most high turnovers in the division this season (323). They have turned eight of those high turnovers into goals, which is also more than any other side in the top-flight. And Iñaki is certainly at the forefront of the Lions’ vigorous high press. Only Lucas Ocampos (29) and Jude Bellingham (27) have won possession in the final third on more occasions than the Ghanaian’s 25 in 2023-24. This defensive discipline has come with maturity as Iñaki develops into one of the leaders within Athletic’s side, and there is little doubt this has coincided with the emergence of his younger brother Nico.

Nico, 21, may just be the most exciting player in the Spanish top-flight. The Spain international possesses the ability to lift crowds off their seats, driving forwards with the ball and leaving opposition defenders in his wake. Only Girona’s Sávio (91) has completed more dribbles than Nico in LaLiga this season (72). Athletic pose one of the most high-paced attacking outfits across Europe, with Nico’s electric surges capable of transitioning defence into attack in an instance.

The 21-year-old is enjoying a superb season at San Mamés, boasting three goals and eight assists in LaLiga. Indeed, only Álex Baena has provided more assists in the division (nine). Nico has established himself as one of the brightest attackers in Spain and is reportedly attracting interest from several elite European clubs. The forward has added a new dimension to Valverde’s side, as they are able to strain opponents on opposite flanks. But while Iñaki may be more comfortable in vast areas of space, Nico is equally capable of operating in tight spaces with his impressive technique.

The Spanish international has become a vital component for the Lions – generating a host of chances for his teammates. Nico ranks fifth in LaLiga for Expected Assists (6.4), while he has also completed the fifth most crosses in the competition this season (43). Both Williams brothers have forged an excellent relationship with Athletic talisman Gorka Guruzeta. The striker’s intelligent runs perfectly compliment the duo’s skillsets and has aided the Basque club in becoming one of the most electrifying attacks across Europe. Nico has tallied four assists for Guruzeta in LaLiga this term, the most for one player from another in the division.

The 21-year-old forward also adopted the role of provider during Athletic’s historic Copa del Rey triumph this month, playing a deft pass to set up Oihan Sancet’s equalising goal. And the Lions are not content with just their cup victory this season. Valverde’s charges are firmly in the hunt for a Champions League spot, trailing Atlético Madrid in fourth by just three points.

The Basque side travel to the capital this Saturday evening to visit Atlético in what is set to be a tremendous tussle in the fight for a Champions League berth. And with the Williams brothers spearheading the side’s attack, you’d be a brave man to bet against Athletic qualifying for the competition for the first time in a decade.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every LaLiga game in the run-in live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

Analysis: How Wilfried Nancy has brought unprecedented success to the Columbus Crew

2023 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew are building on their success early on this year with a historic run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. With a win over Tigres on penalties in the quarter-final, they not only sealed a debut appearance in the final four for themselves but also remained as the last MLS team standing in this year’s edition of the competition.

By Neel Shelat

The mastermind behind all this is Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, who became the first black head coach to win an MLS Cup title. He was appointed by the Columbus Crew at the end of the 2022 season when they failed to make the playoffs, and his tactical acumen made an instant impact that has transformed the Black and Gold into one of North America’s most tactically advanced teams.

Having lifted the MLS Cup just a few months ago, started the new season on the front foot and put together this historic CONCACAF Champions Cup run, the Crew are arguably enjoying the most successful period in their history. So, this is high time to take a closer look at how Nancy has got them here.

World Class Possession-Play

The standout attribute of the Columbus Crew under Nancy has to be their possession-play, which is quite clearly the most refined in Major League Soccer. Indeed, they could easily stake a claim to being the best in-possession team in all of CONCACAF, and watching them does not feel too different from watching some of the best teams in the world, from a stylistic standpoint at least.

So, what exactly do the Crew do? For one, they like to keep a lot of the ball. They had the highest possession average in MLS last season, which is quite a feat in a league that is renowned for always having very open, end-to-end and transitional games.

In general, they like to use a variation of the 3-4-2-1 formation. The five players that form the central base structure – the three centre-backs and two midfielders – are key to everything Nancy wants his side to do with the ball.

The Crew utilise their high possession average to conduct a lot of deep circulation among these five players in the base structure, who are all excellent ball-players with great technical quality and composure under pressure.

Darlington Nagbe is a particularly exceptional player in this respect. He can boast of the highest pass completion rate in all of MLS this season at a whopping 96.3%, and recently, he was named the best midfielder for ball retention under high pressure in the entirety of the world of men’s football, ahead of the likes of Rodri and Toni Kroos.

Thanks in no small part to his incredible composure and security on the ball, the Crew are able to adopt a multi-layered approach to their build-up play in possession. Their initial intention is to circulate the ball around the back and bait their opponents into pressing with passes to the midfielders that might appear a touch risky. Most of the time, though, Nagbe and Aidan Morris are both able to shake off or entirely evade the pressure, quickly circulating the ball to a free player in the base structure who then has time to look for a free attacker.

This approach is quite similar to what Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton & Hove Albion have been doing in the English Premier League, but the Seagulls have dropped off lately as opponents have discovered that their game plan can be dismantled by simply not pressing their build-up. The Crew, however, have no such weakness as they are also able to unlock compact blocks.

In such situations, their wide centre-backs assume a very important responsibility. One of them will often push up out wide or adopt a narrow position close to the midfield duo, intending to overload a certain area of the pitch in either case. Then, with quick, concise and secure passing, the Crew get the ball to the overloaded area and ultimately aim to find the free player, who can again look for an attacker to pass to.

In either case, the out-ball is often to someone on the wing, be it the high wing-backs or inside forwards who peel off wide to offer a passing option. It should be no surprise, then, that about three-quarters of the Crew’s attacks have originated on the wings this term.

However, as far as translating promising positions into goals that show up on the scoresheet is concerned, one man in the middle is the key player by some way. Colombian striker Cucho Hernández has scored about a third of his team’s goals in all competitions this term, and last season, none of his teammates reached even half of his goal tally in MLS!

Room for Improvement

There are a lot of reasons to be positive and optimistic for Columbus Crew fans right now, but a deeper dive into some of their stats also highlights some causes for concern.

The biggest issue is the team’s defensive record, which placed them in the worse half of MLS teams last year. They conceded 46 goals in 34 regular season matches, and then their record only worsened in the playoffs.

Nancy’s side kept just two clean sheets in six playoff games, conceding nine goals in the process. They quite simply succeeded by outscoring their opponents in matches such as the 4-2 win over Atlanta United and a 3-2 victory in the Eastern Conference final against FC Cincinnati.

This, coupled with a heavy reliance on one goal-getter, is not the most sustainable approach to knockout football, which is why it was a bit of a surprise to see the Columbus Crew lift the MLS Cup last season even though their quality is undeniable. Over the winter, though, Nancy and his coaching staff seem to have recognised this issue and worked on it.

With a more disciplined defensive block out of possession and an even heavier emphasis on ball retention, the Crew have pulled their average down to just one goal conceded per game in the early days of the MLS season. In the Champions Cup, this figure is even better.

As the Columbus Crew prepare to take on Monterrey in the Champions Cup semi-final, first leg on Wednesday with the potential of a final against Club América or Pachuca, they will back themselves to create more history by lifting their first-ever continental title. Of course, the matches against these top-class Mexican sides will be far from easy, but close to a year-and-a-half in to Nancy’s tenure, they seem better placed than ever to go the distance.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Columbus Crew game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

Scotland’s Midfield Future: Three young talents to look out for

The key to Scotland’s successful Euro 2024 qualification campaign was arguably the strength of their midfield.

By Ross Kilvington

The lack of a proper out-and-out striker didn’t deter Steve Clarke as Scotland won five, drew two and lost just one of their eight fixtures in Group A, which included a famous victory over Spain at Hampden.

Scott McTominay was the hero that evening, scoring two superb goals as Clarke and his charges never looked back. A stunning late comeback win over Norway a few months later saw Kenny McLean score the winner with minutes to go, while Callum McGregor, Stuart Armstrong and John McGinn all managed to get on the scoresheet in the remaining ties.

Despite Lewis Ferguson suffering an injury which will keep him out of the tournament, Scotland will have the presence of Billy Gilmour, Ryan Christie and if fit, Ryan Jack, in Germany for their second successive appearance at the European Championships.

There is no doubt this is the strongest midfield contingent the nation has seen since the glory days of the 70s and 80s (when glory days consisted of actually qualifying for the World Cup).

Aside from Gilmour and Ferguson, the rest of the players mentioned are aged 27 or over, indicating a need for some fresh blood sooner rather than later.

Thankfully, Clarke won’t have to look very far, with three young sensations currently shining in the Premiership for their respective clubs this season.

Connor Barron – Aberdeen

The 21-year-old has already played 70 times for Aberdeen since making his debut two seasons ago, but it looks as though he could be on the move this summer.

The Dons wont even get a fee for one of their most promising talents as his contract expires in a few months, with plenty of clubs showing interest.

Barron could follow in Ferguson’s footsteps as Serie A sides Sassuolo and Cagliari are amongst those clubs rumoured to be tracking the midfielder.

The youngster tends to operate in the heart of the midfield, bursting forward from deep on a regular basis which has culminated in three goal contributions this season.

The Dons starlet has created 19 big chances in the top flight throughout 2023/24 while showcasing his defensive abilities too, winning 1.68 tackles and 54.3% of his duels per 90, ranking him in the top 25% when compared to his positional peers.

Capped 11 times by the Scotland U21s, it surely wont be long before Clarke rewards him with a senior call up.

David Watson – Kilmarnock

Watson is another youngster who is making waves for their club this season, in this instance, Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire side look set to register their highest top flight finish since 2019 under the shrewd management of Derek McInnes.

The 19-year-old offers plenty of energy from midfield, which was on display during man of the match performances against Rangers and Celtic in the opening weeks of the current campaign, defeating both teams within 15 days.

Five goals and three assists across all competitions so far during his breakthrough season has seen the youngster outscore many of his more established teammates, yet it looks as though Watson is just getting started.

The teenager ranks in the top 8% when compared to his positional peers for goals scored this term, while the quality of these efforts makes him a real standout.

He scored a last minute winner against Aberdeen, courtesy of a fine turn and volley before netting a sublime volley against St Johnstone, proving the youngster doesn’t do things in half measures.

Watson has featured eight times for the Scotland U19 side, scoring his first international goal against Italy recently. The Killie starlet demonstrated his strength to fend off an opposition player before creating enough space to curl a lovely effort into the Italian goal.

If he wasn’t on Clarke’s radar at the start of the season, he most certainly will be now. A big move could arrive in the next year or two if he maintains his current form.

Lennon Miller – Motherwell

Miller is the youngest of the trio, not turning 18 until the start of next season, although this clearly isn’t holding him back.

The 17-year-old has already featured three times for the Scotland U19s, incidentally, playing alongside Watson during the 3-1 defeat to Italy last month.

Whereas Barron excels at the defensive side of game and Watson is clearly fond of a goal or two as he makes regular bursts forward into the final third, Miller is already excelling at both aspects, ensuring he is already developing into solid well rounded player.

It is no wonder both Rangers and Celtic have reportedly shown interest in the teenager since he made his Motherwell debut last season, with the current campaign already yielding 27 appearances for the Steelmen.

Remarkably, Miller has won 120 duels this season, ranking him in the top 25% when compared to his peers and it shows a player who is strong enough to emerge as the victor in the vast majority of his one-on-one battles.

Combine this with winning 1.46 tackles and a 88.9% dribble success rate per 90 is yet further evidence of his multifaceted skillset, which sets him apart from other midfielders of the same age.

Of course, playing regularly in the top flight has allowed Miller to continue developing at the correct pace, something which may not have occurred had he moved to a team where opportunities are limited.

These three midfielders have not only enjoyed plenty of exposure in the starting XI of their current teams – enabling them to improve at a rapid rate – but also impressed in the national team setup, whether that is at U21 or U19 level.

Clarke has shown before that loyalty prevails when choosing his Scotland squad, but this golden era for the nation won’t last forever.

The goal should be making it to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time and with a midfield packed with quality, there is no reason as to why it can’t happen.

Make no bones about it however, the current midfielders on offer may only last another qualifying campaign, which could give Clarke the licence to promote a few youngsters in to the senior fold.

Who better to lead the next generation than Barron, Watson, and Miller.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the top four Scottish divisions on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

Premier League Preview: Midweek Shenanigans

A midweek round of fixtures this week and the top three are all in action. Remarkably, any one of those three sides could finish the Matchday in top spot while these games could also have repercussions on the relegation battle as well as the race for European football next term. Here’s your midweek preview.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

An opportunity for the Gunners

Arsenal brought a three game winless streak to an end on Saturday when they beat Wolves 2-0 to move back to the top of the Premier League table. Victory at the Emirates on Tuesday against Chelsea would see them open up a four point gap over Manchester City, though the reigning champions would have two games in hand. Mikel Arteta’s men could heap pressure onto Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of their Thursday night fixture with Brighton.

They’re all big games at this stage of the season but this is a massive one.

Prior to defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final, Chelsea hadn’t lost a game since the extra-time defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final back in February.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men had put together an unbeaten run of eight games and this included wins over Newcastle United, Manchester United, and an empathetic 6-0 victory against Everton.

However, it did also include draws with Sheffield United and Burnley, so consistency still remains an issue for the Blues but they have the ability to cause issues for their hosts.

The Merseyside Derby

Just like Arsenal, Liverpool have the opportunity to extend their advantage over Manchester City to four points with a win on Wednesday. The Reds travel across Stanley Park to take on neighbours Everton with the Blues still looking to guarantee Premier League survival.

Jürgen Klopp’s side returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Sunday when they claimed a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. The German tactician heavily rotated for the trip to the capital, starting the likes of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai on the bench. The quartet should return to the starting XI on Wednesday.

Liverpool haven’t lost to Everton in their last five meetings, with four wins and a draw in that time, but the Goodison Park fixture has been a frustrating one for the Reds in the past. Anything but a win here could jeopardise their title hopes.

Everton lost heavily to Chelsea a little over a week ago but claimed an important win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. They’ll be somewhat confident of getting something against their misfiring neighbours on Wednesday.

The Eagles and the Magpies

Newcastle United are still hoping to claim a Europa Conference League spot. They have been in good form over recent weeks and they might’ve timed this last surge up the table to perfection.

They travel to Selhurst Park on Wednesday evening to take on Crystal Palace. Eddie Howe’s side have a good record against their hosts over recent seasons. The Magpies are unbeaten in six, winning three of these games. Newcastle are in freescoring form this season too, ranking fourth for goals scored per 90 (2.2).

A few weeks ago, this probably would’ve been viewed as a banker for those in black and white, but Palace have found some form of their own. They followed up a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield by dismantling West Ham United on Sunday. Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta all scored in the 5-2 win at Selhurst Park.

They could make it a run of three upsets on the bounce if Newcastle don’t have a proper plan to deal with the dangerous trio of players up front for the Eagles.

Inconsistently consistent, Manchester United

Manchester United have been erratic this season. One week they look like they’re just one or two signings away from being a serious team, the next week they look like they’re an overperforming mid-table team with one or two players keeping them relevant.

On Sunday in their FA Cup semi-final clash with Coventry, they let a 3-0 lead slip with just 20 minutes remaining. Had it not been for a VAR intervention, the Red Devils would’ve lost 4-3 with the last kick of the game in extra-time. United eventually booked their place in the final with a penalty shootout win.

Erik ten Hag’s side looked like the real deal against Liverpool a few weeks ago only to then need help from officials in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. They host bottom of the table Sheffield United on Wednesday and though it should be a routine win, with the Blades struggling to keep a clean sheet this season, you just don’t know what version of Manchester United you are going to witness.

It is because of this that this game should fall into the must not miss category, despite there not being much to play for.

Do Manchester City have it in them?

Manchester City claimed a place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Chelsea just days after losing to Real Madrid on penalties in the Champions League. However, this was supposed to be a performance to put to bed any doubts about this City team after their disappointing showing against the LaLiga leaders.

It didn’t though. In fact, there are now more questions than ever over Pep Guardiola’s Man City side after Chelsea carved out better chances than the reigning champions in defeat at Wembley.

There was no reaction from City and had it not been for a questionable refereeing decision, they might’ve even lost the tie.

They travel to Brighton on Thursday likely needing a win to stay within touching distance of the leaders, with both Liverpool and Arsenal playing earlier in the week.

If Guardiola’s players struggle to impress for a third successive match, people may start to doubt whether they have the mentality and the desire for this title race now. This could be pivotal in the grand scheme of things.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Apr

2024

The MLS Team of the Week: Matchday 10

Our MLS expert James Nalton picks five of the standout players from Matchday 10 in Major League Soccer, including his two North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of the Matchday votes.

By James Nalton

Inter Miami and LA Galaxy continue to throw caution to the wind, prioritising attack over defence, and continue to be rewarded for it, as both sit atop their respective conferences.

They are tied on 18 points at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings (the overall table combining both conferences) and boast some of the most entertaining attacking players in the league.

One of them makes the top two this week, but there were also some eye-catching displays elsewhere across the league in this tenth round of games.

The Top Two

9.4 FotMob rating: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami

Inter Miami have one of the worst defences in MLS. Only three teams in their Eastern Conference have conceded more so far this season. But when you have the most star-studded attack in the history of the league, those defensive frailties matter less.

Miami went 1-0 down early on against Nashville, and then almost 2-0 down as a Josh Bauer shot bounced on the line but not over it before Messi and Luis Suárez stepped up once again.

Messi saw a shot saved by Elliot Panicco but Suárez was following up and turned the ball back to his teammate who finished at the far post.

A Messi corner then set up Sergio Busquets to make it two and a first Messi penalty goal for Miami made it 3-1.

Drake Callender is playing his part in goal from Miami behind that leaky defence, but at the other end, this attack of Messi and Suárez could break MLS records in 2024.

9.4 FotMob rating: Cristian Arango – Real Salt Lake

Despite their heroics for Miami so far this season, neither Messi nor Suárez are top of the goalscoring charts at the start of 2024.

That status is currently held by Chicho Arango, who has played a big role in Real Salt Lake’s great start to the season. He scored twice and assisted another, for Diego Luna, in a 4-0 win at Chicago Fire which keeps RSL in the mix at the top of the Western Conference just behind the Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps.

Arango has been ably supported by 21-year-old Colombian winger Carlos Gómez who netted the other goal in the convincing win. Add in the fact that RSL have conceded the joint fewest goals in MLS, and things are looking good for the side from Utah.

Three more standout performers

9.1 FotMob rating: Santi Rodríguez – New York City FC

Following a disappointing start to the season, New York City have started to turn things around.

They have 2-0 wins in their last two games, played at their two different homes in the Bronx and Queens. Both featured impressive displays from attacking midfielder Santi Rodríguez.

This week’s performance, against DC United, saw the Argentine designated player register a goal and an assist in a Man of the Match display.

So often this season New York City’s standout performer has been goalkeeper Matt Freese, which gives an idea of the type of season they have had up to now, but attacking players stepping up is a promising sign for NYC and their head coach Nick Cushing.

9.1 FotMob rating: Robin Lod – Minnesota United

A goal from Tani Oluwaseyi in the first half lit this game up, as Minnesota ran out 3-0 winners away at Charlotte FC.

It was the 23-year-old Nigerian’s first MLS start, and he showed why he had been trusted by new head coach Eric Ramsay, finishing Lod’s cross with an outstanding half-volley.

Lod was part of everything good that Minnesota did. The cross for the opening goal was perfectly placed and perfectly weighted for Oluwaseyi to strike.

The Finnish attacking midfielder then added his team’s second following a nice team move, and assisted the third, via a corner for Hassani Dotson.

After some up-and-down results of late, this was a statement performance from the Loons and Lod was the standout player in it.

8.8 FotMob rating: Aidan Morris – Columbus Crew

The 22-year-old American has thrived under the coaching of Wilfried Nancy at Columbus Crew, and regularly puts in standout performances in midfield.

The Crew could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Portland Timbers this week, but Morris still impressed.

He finished the game having completed 78 out of 86 attempted passes for a pass success of 91%.

He made 106 actions in total during the game, including 14 passes into the final third, 10 defensive actions, and winning six out of six attempted tackles.

The assist for Steven Moreira’s wondergoal bumps up his rating, and he’ll be hoping to maintain this solid form going into the Concacaf Champions Cup semifianls against Monterrey this week.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2024

MLS: Five storylines from Matchday 10

Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy kept their places at the top of the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively with victories over the weekend, although the latter had to work harder for three points in an enthralling Cali Clásico against the San Jose Earthquakes. A total of 48 goals were scored over 14 fixtures with no shortage of drama and excitement across the division. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the weekend in MLS.

By Graham Ruthven, MLS Expert

Lionel Messi could still drag Inter Miami to glory this season

Inter Miami have problems. Those problems contributed to an early exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of Monterrey and it allowed Nashville to take an early lead in Saturday’s match at Chase Stadium. Tata Martino’s team are vulnerable from set pieces and against opponents that can get in behind with pace.

The Herons have Lionel Messi, though, and he could still drag them to glory this season. The 36-year-old registered two goals and an assist in the 3-1 comeback victory over Nashville and now has seven goals in his last six Inter Miami outings. Saturday’s win came at the cost of an injury to Diego Gómez who could be sidelined for a while, but Messi masks so much.

Chicho Arango is flying and has made himself an early MVP candidate

A brace against the Chicago Fire on Saturday lifted Chicho Arango to the top of the Golden Boot standings with the 29-year-old now firmly in the early-season MVP discussion. Arango has netted eight goals in just nine league appearances for Rea Salt Lake and was directly involved in all four goals scored at Soldier Field.

According to RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni, though, it’s Arango’s work rate and leadership that makes him so valuable. “It’s doing all the little stuff when we don’t have the ball,” he said about the Colombian. “That, for me, is instrumental in his level of engagement throughout the game.”

Sporting KC-St. Louis City rivalry continues to grow as one of MLS’s best

2023 saw 20 goals scored in just five meetings between Sporting KC and St. Louis City and Saturday’s match at Children’s Mercy Park suggested there will be more of the same produced between these two rivals in 2024. Indeed, the 3-3 draw highlighted how this rivalry is still growing as one of the best anywhere in MLS.

“It’s a derby and we get up for these moments,” said St. Louis head coach Bradley Carnell after watching his team fight back twice to claim a point. Sporting KC have now conceded nine goals in their last three home games and have dropped 14 points from winning positions this season. More chaos is guaranteed when these two sides meet again in July.

Chris Armas is slowly but surely turning the Colorado Rapids around

4-0 down at half time of the season opener, some fans had already written off the Colorado Rapids’ off-season rebuild. However, the outlook since that punishing defeat in Portland has improved greatly with Chris Armas’ team taking 10 points from their last four MLS matches. The former RBNY head coach and former Manchester United assistant is slowly but surely turning Colorado around.

It’s not just that the Rapids are now within three points of the top of the Western Conference – although that matters to a team that finished bottom of the West last season. It’s that they are playing with an identity and belief – and perhaps the most encouraging thing is there’s much more to come from the likes of Djordje Mihailović, Rafael Navarro and Cole Bassett.

Prince Owusu is stepping up in style for Toronto FC

The most viral moment of the weekend in MLS came in Saturday’s match between Toronto FC and the New England Revolution which was decided by an incredible piece of skill by Prince Owusu. The TFC attacker performed a backheel volley in the air to finish a Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty cross and secure three points for the hosts.

This was Owusu’s highlight reel moment of the season so far, but the Ghanian has stepped up when Toronto FC have needed him to. He has four goals in nine games (five of them starts) and has given John Herdman’s side the presence and cutting edge it needed in the centre-forward position.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.