Page 80 – The Pulse of Football

Feb

2024

Analysis: Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal in three-way Women’s Super League title race

The English WSL title race was blown open this weekend. Manchester City moved level on points with leaders Chelsea, while Arsenal closed the gap behind them to three points to give us a three-way title race as we approach the home stretch of the season.

By Neel Shelat

With a crucial hard-fought win at Kingsmeadow last weekend, Manchester City erased Chelsea’s advantage at the top of the WSL table both in terms of points as well as goal difference. Behind them, Arsenal scored a big win over Manchester United in front of a league-record crowd at the Emirates Stadium to stay in contention for top honours at the end of the season, leaving us with a very tasty-looking top three going into the international break.

Although Chelsea have won the last four league titles, the WSL tends to deliver a close title race. They have been pushed hard by Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United respectively in the last three seasons, but this time, they have multiple challengers to contend with.

Naturally, all three teams will back themselves to get the job done in the last eight games of the season, so let us assess each of their chances individually.

Chelsea

The defending champions appeared to be the favourites for most of the first half of what will be Emma Hayes’ last season at the club, but they suffered a big setback in the winter. Star striker Sam Kerr was ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL injury, leaving the Blues without the woman who was their top scorer in each of the last two seasons.

They did sign Colombian international Mayra Ramírez towards the end of the transfer window, but their attack has spluttered at times in recent weeks. They needed a couple of contentious penalty calls to beat Everton in late January, only just scored a late winner against Championship side Crystal Palace in their last FA Cup tie, and then got shut out against Manchester City.

A part of the problem, perhaps, is the Blues’ lack of consistent goal threat beyond Lauren James. The young English forward has been fantastic this season with 12 goals to her name, but she has not created much as a consequence.

Young Agnes Beever-Jones might have five goals to her name, but none of them have been game-state-changing strikes. Chelsea will hope to see her step up and deliver more meaningfully in crunch situations, but the primary onus of leading the attack will obviously fall on Ramírez.

The Blues have the highest possession average in the league, the most touches in the opposition box and by far the most big chances created, so what they are experiencing right now should only be a minor blip rather than a long-term concern.

Defensively, Chelsea are pretty good but not quite at their best. They can be susceptible to counter-attacks or even build-up attacks at times, but a record of six clean sheets in 14 league matches is not to be sniffed at.

Emma Hayes’ side are still in control of their own destiny but have some tough tests coming up in the form of two derbies against their major London rivals as well as a final day trip to face Manchester United. The Blues will also have to balance their Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup campaigns alongside their title charge, so the depth of their squad is sure to be tested in the second half of the season.

Manchester City

After missing out on continental football altogether at the end of last season, many wondered if Gareth Taylor was the right person to continue leading the team forward. Back-to-back league defeats in November did not strengthen his case at all, but since then, the team seemingly flicked a switch and found a whole new level. They are currently on an 11-match winning streak in all competitions, so momentum certainly is on their side in this title race.

Their recent success has been built on an incredibly solid defensive record. The aforementioned winning run includes seven clean sheets, including each of their last five matches. Unlike Chelsea, they do not tend to decimate teams, but have consistently managed to grind out results.

With just eight goals conceded all season, City have by far the best defensive record in the league. While their great teamwork in defending from the front to the back deserve credit, 19-year-old goalkeeper Khiara Keating has been a real difference-maker. In what is her first season with regular senior action, she has established herself as the best shot-stopper in England.

Despite her best efforts, though, the young Englishwoman cannot claim to be the key player in this Manchester City side. That title has to go to Khadija Shaw, who is arguably the most important player to her team in the entire league. Her qualities as a complete centre-forward make her a central hub that gets City’s attack going in every way imaginable.

With a league-high 14 goals and 3 assists to her name, our ratings model considers Shaw the best player by far in the WSL this season. As long as they keep her fit and firing up front and keep things tight at the back, Manchester City will be a real force to reckon with in this title race.

Arsenal

In a way, Arsenal are lucky to still be in the hunt as the top two have held each other up in their meetings. No team who have lost more than two WSL matches have ever gone on to lift the title, but the Gunners had already suffered three league defeats before the turn of the year.

Indeed, Jonas Eidevall’s side have not looked fully refined at either end of the pitch. They do have a good cohort of diverse attacking profiles, who can link-up well and threaten by both creating and scoring, but lack a prolific goal-getter like Lauren James or Khadija Shaw.

Out of possession, the Gunners have been the best pressers in the WSL with the most high turnovers to their name, but they have frustratingly struggled to keep shut-outs. Just three clean sheets in the season so far places them level with Everton and Aston Villa in that respect, so they really need to shore things up at the back if they are to stay in the hunt for the title in April and May.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the WSL, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

When fit, is Pep Guardiola right to overlook Jack Grealish?

When you mention Jack Grealish to anyone with a passing interest in football, the usual platitudes will be trotted out. ‘Big calves,’ ‘pretty boy,’ ‘a maverick,’ ’bit of a jack the lad.’

None of those fairly disparaging comments pay heed to just how dedicated a footballer he is, and why him making it to the very top of the English game would come as no surprise to those around him.

By Jason Pettigrove

It’s easy to forget just how influential he was whilst at Aston Villa, and why Pep Guardiola was tempted to spend £100m of Man City’s money to take him to the Etihad Stadium.

Grealish signed for the Citizens on August 5, 2021, and less than two years later could lay claim to being one of the Treble winners.

Not some bit part player either, but one for whom Guardiola depended in that special season that seems to come around once in a blue moon – no pun intended.

That Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering Man United side were the last team to do the treble of FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League way back in 1999, tells you just how difficult it is to do, even if the layman would now contend that ‘football is boring and the same clubs always win.’

That’s not true of course, though it’s the perception of many.

Perhaps it’s the relentless nature of the Pep Guardiola juggernaut once it gets going. His Barcelona and Bayern sides before City all had it in them to go on epic winning runs which almost always resulted in a trophy.

At City, the Catalan might well have the best players at his disposal, but he still has to mould them into a team, which isn’t always easy.

In any event, it’s up to the opposition to work out ways and means to beat Guardiola and his men at their own game. After all, it’s just 11 vs 11 right?

If Guardiola perhaps has one fault it is that his quest for footballing perfection knows no bounds. He is famously forensic in the manner in which he works, and whilst that has served him well to this point, it’s still a largely unachievable aim.

What that way of working does achieve, however, is keeping every player in the squad on their toes and fighting for their places. Every single week.

When you consider the calibre of his playing staff, that’s man management at its finest. One can’t help but doff one’s cap in Pep’s direction.

Although the smallest drop off in percentage terms for a particular action wouldn’t necessarily trouble most managers, for Pep it’s a cardinal sin. Moreover, he has both the ability and the nous to be able to interchange players at will.

Jack Grealish is only just learning that.

Though he’s spent time out of the City side before now, it’s not felt like it does at this stage. Since the end of the 2022/23 campaign, he’s only played the full 90 minutes in nine games across all competitions this season, discounting the Club World Cup.

When you consider some of those games have been against Everton, Luton, Young Boys (x2) and Sheffield United, you can see a pattern emerging, with respect.

Do the stats support Pep Guardiola in this particular situation though?

In the 703 minutes that he’s played so far in 2023/24, less than eight full matches in total, Grealish has managed only three goals and one assist. Five shots on target is a pretty appalling return from the 28-year-old too.

His passing accuracy of 86.1% is still reasonable enough, and 60 touches in the opposition box indicates a player that likes to get in amongst it rather than hideaway and wait for the ball to come to him.

Being dispossessed on 18 occasions will surely count against him, but 29 ball recoveries goes some way to neutralising that statistic.

When all is said and done, has Pep Guardiola made the right choices by bringing in Jérémy Doku and Phil Foden in his stead?

At 21 years of age Doku has markedly less experience than his contemporary, but has been played for over 200 minutes more (975 in total). Injuries can and do play a part but there’s little doubt he has been preferred to Grealish in many games this season.

He only has two goals to his name but has assisted on five occasions already, and his passing accuracy of 84.1% is only just shy of Grealish.

Although he has been dispossessed 20 times, his 53 ball recoveries is much better than the England international, as is his 135 touches in the opposition box – more than double his number 10.

Phil Foden has played significantly more minutes than the aforementioned pair (1,863), so one might expect his figures to reflect that.

Indeed, eight goals and seven assists with an 88.6% passing accuracy is a fine return.

Being dispossessed 26 times is surprisingly the worst of the trio, but 86 ball recoveries is by far the best. His 121 touches in the opposition box isn’t as good as you might expect for the amount of time he’s had on the pitch, but still would get him the nod over Grealish.

In summary, depending on what formation Pep Guardiola wishes to play, Jack Grealish can’t really have too many complaints.

He needs to get back to his pre-treble form if he wants to play a bigger role in the team – his most recent injury notwithstanding.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2024

Marcus Thuram: The versitile bargain buy driving Inter forward on all fronts

In an age of huge transfer fees, Serie A giants Inter Milan continue to rely on loan signings and canny transfers to push their ambition when it comes to winning trophies due to reported financial issues. With the Nerazzurri now looking to add Porto striker Mehdi Taremi and Napoli midfielder Piotr Zieliński to their ranks on free deals in time for next season, we take a look at how their latest such acquisition, winger Marcus Thuram, has done since moving to San Siro last July.

By Nathan Evans

Since a young child, Marcus Thuram has been in the spotlight. That was partly due to his footballing ability at a young age, but mostly because of his famous World Cup winning father, Lillian Thuram, who many recognise as one of the greatest modern-day defenders.

Unlike his dad though, Marcus has always been a more attacking player, operating mostly on the left wing but throughout his career, the French international has adapted his playing style to become more of an out-and-out striker in recent seasons. Part of Sochuax’s academy to begin with, spells with the club’s first team and then Guingamp, where he impressed, then saw him move across the border to Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany for a reported fee of €12 million.

It was with Gladbach where Thuram began to make his name on a wider scale. Across 134 competitive appearances for the Foals, the now 26-year-old netted 44 goals and recorded 29 assists. But with the German outfit beginning to struggle, Thuram decided to let his contract run out and in July 2023, Inter Milan were the team who managed to grab his signature, fighting off a plethora of interested clubs across Europe’s top five leagues (including rivals AC Milan).

Gladbach’s loss has been Inter’s massive gain ever since his free transfer move, as Thuram has hit the ground running at San Siro and has been a key part of Simone Inzaghi’s squad, who look set for Serie A glory this campaign.

In terms of direct output, last Saturday’s clash against Salernitana, a match in which Inter comfortably won 4-0, saw Thuram net his tenth goal of the Serie A campaign. His assured finish not only opened the scoring as his side took another significant step towards recapturing the Scudetto, but that strike also leaves him as the competition’s fourth top scorer behind only strike partner Lautaro Martínez (20), Juve’s Dušan Vlahović (13) and Milan’s Olivier Giroud (12). On top of that, he’s also delivered seven assists in the league so far, the third-most in the Italian top-flight as he looks to announce himself as one of Europe’s top all-round forwards before this campaign ends.

As mentioned before, despite starting out as a winger in his fledgling career, Thuram’s overall footballing intelligence has aided his move into a more central striker role with Inter. His movement both on and off the ball, perhaps due to his previous experience out wide sets him apart in Serie A, as his ability to roam causes defender’s headaches throughout matches and helps to give both himself, and his strike partner more room to thrive on the pitch. It also means that the 26-year-old is comfortable both playing with the ball into his feet or with making darting runs in behind the defence when appropriate. That’s especially brought the best out of Martínez, with the Argentina excelling this season with his level of finishing and as recently as early February he spoke to the press about his teammate saying; “Thuram is an incredible striker, he is so complete and works really hard, even in training. We are very happy to have him in the squad, he is an important player for our club.”

Couple that impactful movement and all-round tenacity to want to effect play whenever possible, with his fantastic control of the ball and the fact that he stands at around 6″3′, and it’s easy to see why the former Gladbach star is thriving at his new club.

We should also highlight the huge improvement in Thuram’s overall finishing. His return of 44 strikes in 134 appearances at his former club was impressive, but his quality and range of finishing has come on leaps and bounds during his short time with the Nerazzurri. Granted, all ten of his league goals have still come from inside the penalty area this term, but with seven coming courtesy of his right foot, two with his left and one with his head, he remains a constant threat for the Serie A champions by having the ability to bury his chances in a number of different ways.

Arguably, his best goal to date came on his Milan derby back in September as it showcased exactly what he’s about overall. Sprinting through the middle of the pitch on the counter-attack, Thuram was pushed wide by the pass before he sized up his defender, shifted the ball to his right, then smashed a shot right into the far top corner beyond the hapless goalkeeper.

But it must be highlighted that there’s plenty of other areas where Thuram has thrived so far at Inter. He isn’t averse at chipping in defensively, something which has delighted manager Inzaghi. In fact, of all strikers in Serie A this term, he ranks in the top 10% for most duels won (115) and ball recoveries made (43), whilst his large and powerful frame has also seen him win 47 aerial battles – an aspect of his game which has helped him to flourish both offensively and defensively in that regard. There’s also his impressive dribbling output this campaign, completing 26 successful take-ons with a success rate of 72.2%, one of the stronger figures in the competition and something that has helped him win three penalties to date, as well as help his side to relieve defensive pressure by progressing up the field in possession.

Simply put, alongside his stunning attacking output in terms of goals and assists this campaign, it’s his insatiable hard-working approach that has helped Marcus Thuram endear himself to the Inter faithful so quickly, yet his success in Milan so far also begs the question as to why more high-profile European clubs didn’t try their hardest to sign the French international last summer.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2024

Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 25

The Matchday 25 FotMob Team of the Week is dominated by Brighton players after their 5-0 win over Sheffield United on Sunday. But who joins the four players from the Seagulls in the XI and why?

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Goalkeeper: Caoimhin Kelleher

Another start for Kelleher between the sticks for Liverpool and another impressive showing in the absence of Alisson Becker. The Brazilian was ruled out last-minute with a hamstring issue and the 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international was drafted into Jürgen Klopp’s starting XI. He was unfortunate to concede a goal in the 4-1 win over Brentford, pulling off a remarkable save before Ivan Toney scored the rebound. It was one of five saves he made on the day.

Right-Back: Malo Gusto

Malo Gusto had quite the task on Saturday evening as Chelsea took on Manchester City. The right-back was up against Jérémy Doku. He didn’t just do a job against the Belgian winger, he controlled that flank admirably well. Gusto was composed in possession, finding a teammate 86% of the time, while also carving out two chances. However, it was defensively that he really caught the eye. The former Lyon youngster attempted eight tackles and made seven ball recoveries. He was involved in 14 duels and was dribbled past on just one occasion.

Centre-Back: Paul van Hecke

The Brighton centre-back bossed things for Roberto De Zerbi’s side in the 5-0 win over Sheffield United. The 23-year-old attempted 143 passes and was successful with 96%. He also created three chances while being accurate with 100% of his long passes. The Dutchman won 100% of his tackles and involved himself in 13 duels to complete a commanding performance.

Centre-Back: Lewis Dunk

Dunk makes the FotMob Team of the Week alongside his centre-back partner. The Brighton skipper claimed an assist in the game while also completing 95% of his 164 attempted passes. The 32-year-old also created two chances, recovered the ball eight times and was successful in 100% of his aerial duels on his way to an 8.6 rating.

Left-Back: Andrew Robertson

Robertson was making just his second start following a long-term stint on the sidelines but you wouldn’t have known watching the game. Though he was fortunate not to give away a penalty, he was influential going forward. The 29-year-old finished the game with a pass success rate of 88% while also creating two chances for the Reds. He completed all his dribbles, won 75% of his tackles and 83% of his duels to round off a solid outing at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Midfield: Simon Adingra

Adingra returned to the Brighton XI following his African Cup of Nations success with Ivory Coast. He was clearly still riding the high of that, putting in an incredible performance for the Seagulls in the 5-0 win. The 22-year-old had six shots in total and scored two goals on his way to an 8.9 FotMob rating.

Midfield: Pascal Gross

Back in midfield, having also featured in the TOTW as a right-back and a left-back this season, Gross ran the show for Brighton. The 32-year-old claimed an assist but also carved out eight chances for teammates in the 5-0 victory against Sheffield United. He also completed 97% of the 119 passes he attempted while playing 11 passes into the final third. Gross was the creative hub for the Seagulls.

Midfield: João Gomes

Gomes was the unlikely match-winner for Wolves as they defeated Spurs 2-1. The Brazilian midfielder scored with his only two shots of the game. Defensively, he was at his combative best, attempting six tackles, five ball recoveries and 16 duels on his way to an 8.9 FotMob rating.

Attack: Bukayo Saka

Saka has found his groove over recent weeks. Following another double, this time in the 5-0 win over Burnley, the Arsenal forward has five goals in his last three appearances. The 22-year-old is due a hat-trick and would’ve likely netted one on Saturday had Mikel Arteta not replaced him with 20 minutes left to play. The explosive winger is hitting form at the ideal time for the Gunners in the title race.

Attack: Rasmus Højlund

Rasmus Højlund just cannot stop scoring. The Manchester United forward was the match-winner against Luton on Sunday, scoring twice in a 2-1 win. He showed great composure for his first goal to capitalise on a defensive mistake and then showed his poacher instincts by diverting Alejandro Garnacho’s effort goalwards just moments later for his second. It is the sixth successive game in which the 21-year-old has found the back of the net.

Attack: Ollie Watkins

After two games without a goal, Watkins rediscovered his goalscoring touch in Aston Villa’s 2-1 win over Fulham. It was a victory which lifted them back into the top four. Watkins had a total of five shots for the Villans and created one chance as Unai Emery’s side returned to winning ways. It was a quintessential Watkins performance against the Cottagers with the Villa No.11 barely involved but when he was, something would happen.

(Images 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.

Feb

2024

St. Louis City look well placed to handle second season syndrome

St. Louis City broke records last season. By winning their first five matches, they enjoyed the strongest start of any expansion team in Major League Soccer history. They kept going too, ultimately finishing top of the Western Conference. Bradley Carnell’s team fell at the first hurdle in the play-offs, but the bar has been set exceptionally high for their second year in the league.

By Graham Ruthven

The way St. Louis City have taken to MLS, though, it would be foolish to bet against them surpassing their own standard this season. There is a clear vision at CityPark which has allowed Carnell and sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel to build a team – and a culture – that could sustain the club for years to come.

While some expansion teams have focused on attracting big names, St. Louis City have adopted a broader approach to squad construction. They signed players who could play the sort of high-energy, high-intensity football envisaged by Pfannenstiel whose background in the Bundesliga has given St. Louis City a German flavour.

Former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki enjoyed an excellent 2023 season while former Nürnberg midfielder Eduard Löwen was also a valuable contributor. Then there was former Hoffenheim attacker João Klauss who became St. Louis City’s main threat in attack, reaching double figures in his debut MLS season. There are five players with Bundesliga backgrounds in the squad at CityPark.

Scandinavia is another market favoured by St. Louis City with Tomas Totland and Nikolas Dyhr signed to operate in the full back positions ahead of the 2024 season. Good scouting and recruitment has been central to the club’s success and will have to remain so if St. Louis City are to stay competitive against big-budget teams like Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC.

Nicholas Gioacchini’s exit to Como in Serie B has opened up a spot in St. Louis City’s attack. There is also a vacant Designated Player place in the squad and so it’s possible another starting-level forward could be added before the start of the new season or in the summer transfer window when more options might be available.

Off the pitch, St. Louis City have arguably made an even bigger impact than they have on it. Football has been played in the Missouri city since the 19th century. Many consider St. Louis to be the cradle of the sport in the USA. It was something of an anomaly that the city had to wait so long to enter MLS.

CityPark is one of the loudest stadiums in MLS. St. Louis City sold out every home match they played last season and tickets will be just as hard to come by in 2024. “The moment I stepped out I had goosebumps,” said Löwen, recalling the atmosphere for the club’s home opener last year “You could tell the whole city was waiting for this moment for so long.”

There will be pitfalls for St. Louis City to avoid in their sophomore season. Last year, they had the element of surprise. Opponents didn’t know what to expect from the expansion team and that was clear in the way St. Louis City started their 2023 campaign, winning nine of their first 14 fixtures.

Qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions Cup was an achievement that warranted celebrating, but it will clog up St. Louis City’s schedule this year, certainly in the early part of the season – see how continental duties badly disrupted the Seattle Sounders in 2022 when they won just two of their opening eight MLS fixtures despite winning the CONCACAF Champions League.

Last season’s underlying numbers, however, suggest St. Louis City can achieve even more in 2024. They under-performed their Expected Goal Difference (XGD) by 7.5 goals – only the Colorado Rapids under-performed their XGD by more. If Carnell’s team can sharpen up in front of goal, they could be even more dangerous.

Competition in MLS will be stiff this season. Inter Miami have assembled the most talented squad in league history while the Columbus Crew are expected to be competitive again after winning MLS Cup. The foundations at St. Louis City, however, are as strong as any other team’s in the division. Their expansion season success might only be the start of something special.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Feb

2024

Dante and Todibo: The master and apprentice behind Ligue 1’s Best Defence

Dante, OGC Nice’s 40-year-old Brazilian centre-back, finally got a break when his side from the French Riviera faced Lyon last Friday night. Even if that decision was not entirely on his own terms.

Nice lost both their previous match, against Monaco, and their captain Dante to a red card, and then, in his absence through suspension, lost to Lyon too. But despite that, there’s plenty to be excited about along the south of France.

By Johnny Keeley

Even taking into account those two defeats, Nice can boast Ligue 1’s best defence, with the Brazilian captaining the side, and playing alongside prized summer transfer window prospect Jean-Clair Todibo.

The duo have kept out the least amount of goals in the league, creating one of the most dynamic and interesting centre-back partnerships in world football at the moment.

Dante at 40-years-old, and Todibo at 24-years-old are both at very different stages in their career but both have been instrumental to keeping Nice dreaming of Champions League football next season at the Allianz Riviera.

When Dante was Todibo’s age, he’d just won the Belgian First Division for the second time ahead of a move to the Bundesliga with Borussia Mönchengladbach. This summer, Todibo seems primed to make the leap to one of Europe’s elite clubs, and for good reason.

According to FotMob, Todibo is in the 92nd percentile of Ligue 1 centre-backs with 125 ball recoveries, 97th percentile in touches with 1,696, and 96th percentile in successful passes with 1,325. These aren’t just boring side-to-side passes either, with 69 accurate long balls putting him in the 90th percentile of Ligue 1 centre-backs as well.

The former Barcelona player has all the makings of an elite modern centre-back who is both comfortable on the ball, and in defense.

Next to him at the heart of Nice’s backline is Dante.

The three-time Bundesliga champion and UEFA Champions League winner (with Bayern Munich) has won more in his career than most footballers could dream of. Now in his eighth season with Nice, after joining from Wolfsburg at the age of 32, this season could end up being his best at the club he now played more games for than any other in his long career.

Amazingly, according to FotMob, Dante is in the 100th percentile of Ligue 1 centre-backs when it comes to ball recoveries with 154, touches with 2,074, and successful passes with 1,680. Who doesn’t play their best football aged 40!?

Even after being sent off against Monaco, Dante still holds the joint-highest FotMob rating on the team, sharing the top spot with flying left-back Melvin Bard. As “Les Aiglons” race against their rivals for one of Ligue 1’s precious Champions League spots behind PSG, the club and their players are letting it be known, that is the goal.

Dante and Todibo aren’t the only players stepping up in the Nice backline. Goalkeeper Marcin Bułka has also been instrumental in helping Nice keep 13 clean sheets. The young Polish shot stopper is ahead of Premier League champion Kasper Schmeichel for the starting spot between the sticks, and made his senior international debut for his national team back in Autumn.

As mentioned, young left-back Melvin Bard has also showcased his talents on the Mediterranean coast, vying with Dante for top spot in Nice’s FotMob ratings with 7.36, with Todibo just .3 points behind them. The Frenchman excels at flying up the left flank and providing an electric attacking option for Francesco Farioli’s side.

Farioli certainly deserves a mention as well. The Italian worked under Roberto De Zerbi at Sassuolo before earning his first managerial job in Turkey at Fatih Karagümrük, and then Alanyaspor, who he helped finish 5th during the 2021-22 Süper Lig season. His work in helping organize the defense is certainly admired down south.

While on the pitch, Nice certainly have been making a name for themselves, off the pitch, supporters of Manchester United may also have taken notice of the Club for other reasons.

Nice is owned by INEOS, and INEOS, along with CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe, just recently purchased 25% of the Red Devils. Get Football News France reports that the French Club have zero concerns over potentially becoming an affiliate, and are keen to keep their own identity. These connections found between European Club’s owned by the same owners seem to be increasingly common in the modern game, such as the links between Manchester City and Girona or Red Bull Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.

For Nice, the attention stays at Nice, as it should. There are European places to be won, and a win against Clermont Foot next Saturday would be a fantastic rebound after their back-to-back defeats.

As for Dante, it’s well known that there are a dizzying amount of locations along the French Riviera for one to relax. There’s no doubt however, that Nice’s captain will be rearing to get back on the pitch following his suspension, ready to get his season that’s making everyone in Nice feel young again, back underway.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from Ligue 1 on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

Premier League Review: Matchday 25

There’s nothing predictable about this Premier League campaign. The potential is there for this to be one of the best title races of recent memory with three teams vying for the crown and the pressure is mounting. Matchday 25 did not disappoint. Here’s your round-up.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

A first for Jürgen Klopp

Liverpool won at the Gtech Community Stadium for the first time but it came at a cost.

The Reds romped to a 4-1 win over Brentford to maintain their lead at the top of the table but their injury crisis depended. Curtis Jones hobbled off, Diogo Jota was stretchered off and Darwin Núñez was substituted at half-time. The Premier League leaders are now down to the bare bones ahead of a busy end to the season.

However, the returning Mohamed Salah, brought on to replace the injured Jota just days after resuming full training following a hamstring issue, found his groove quick enough to inspire Klopp’s men to a big win at what was viewed by many as a potential banana skin for the 2019/20 champions. He scored and assisted, as did fellow substitute Cody Gakpo, as Liverpool made it two wins from two following the loss to Arsenal.

Arsenal march on

The Gunners are in ominous form.

Mikel Arteta’s side followed up the 6-0 thrashing of West Ham United last weekend with a 5-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. Arsenal have now scored 21 goals in their last five Premier League outings, conceding just twice in the process, to ramp up the pressure on leaders Liverpool.

Burnley had caused both Manchester City and Liverpool problems in recent matches but simply could not cope with Arteta’s men. The hosts didn’t land a single effort on goal and could only carve out chances worth 0.31 Expected Goals in front of a home crowd. By comparison, Arsenal had seven shots on target and finished with an xG total of 2.36.

For the second successive week, Bukayo Saka netted twice in a single match. He’s now on 12 for the campaign, just four behind Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. Everything is clicking at the right time for the Gunners.

Spurs stunned

Tottenham relinquished their grasp on fourth this weekend following a shock home loss to Wolves. Ange Postecoglou had been in decent enough form heading into this game, taking seven points from the last nine on offer to capitalise on Aston Villa’s blip.

However, all of their hard work was undone on Saturday as they fell to a 2-1 loss to Wolves. They now find themselves two points behind the Villans and just three points clear of sixth-placed Manchester United.

Spurs were able to name a fairly strong XI and despite dominating the ball (71% possession) they weren’t able to do much with it. The visitors had a higher Expected Goals haul, more shots on target and more big chances. João Gomes was the unlikely hero, scoring twice for Gary O’Neil’s side. Perhaps surprisingly, Wolves are now just three points off of seventh-placed Brighton.

Dropped points at the Etihad

Manchester City always seem to go on a remarkable winning run after the turn of the year and it had appeared as though this season wouldn’t be any different. Heading into their Saturday night game against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola’s side had won six on the spin in the Premier League.

The expectation was that City would continue winning and when they finally played their game in hand, they would leapfrog those above them into top spot. Now that isn’t possible. The 1-1 draw with Chelsea means the reigning champions are four points off leaders Liverpool.

City huffed and puffed at the Etihad but just couldn’t find a way to win the game. At one stage, it appeared as though they might not even claim a point after Raheem Sterling had put the visitors ahead. A late Rodri strike levelled things up but that was as good as it got for the hosts, despite their dominance. Guardiola’s men had 31 shots, 71% of the ball and finished with an xG of 2.69. On another day, they probably win. On another day, Erling Haaland doesn’t forget his shooting boots. They could well rue the dropped points here.

United win again

Manchester United are getting a lot of good luck right now. They’re scoring last-minute winners, bounces of the ball are falling their way and opposing players aren’t as ruthless in the penalty area. It has been the perfect storm for the Red Devils and it has allowed them to climb the table. They are now just five points off of a Champions League spot following the 2-1 win over Luton.

At one stage, it appeared as though it was going to be a walk in the park for Erik Ten Hag’s men. Rasmus Højlund continued his fine form in front of goal, scoring twice inside the opening seven minutes, but United allowed the hosts back into the game.

Carlton Morris halved the deficit and after that, it was a fairly even game. Luton, somehow, had more of the ball and finished with more shots. Rob Edwards and his players probably deserved something from the game, but the visitors were able to hold on for a vital three points.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Feb

2024

Premier League Preview: Matchday 25

The table is looking tight. Liverpool head into Matchday 25 sitting at the top of the pile in the Premier League. However, there are no guarantees that they will still lead the way on Saturday evening. Here’s your preview.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

A first for Liverpool?

Believe it or not, Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool side are winless at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Reds picked up a 3-3 draw in their first outing there and then lost 3-1 to Brentford last season. A win on Saturday afternoon ensures they remain in first place in the Premier League. A draw or a loss could see them finish the weekend in third. The margins are fine.

The Reds should be confident heading into this game. They have the third-best away record in the English top-flight this term having taken 22 points from 12 matches.

Ivan Toney’s return to the team has seen an upturn in form. The Bees were on a five-game losing streak but have now won two of their last four since the No. 17 was brought back into the team. He’s netted three goals in these four appearances. He always seems to cause Liverpool problems and he’ll be up for this game against the team he supported growing up.

Momentum matters for Arsenal

Arsenal have bounced back after a rough spell towards the end of December. The Gunners have won four on the spin in the Premier League, scoring 16 goals, and are now right back in the title race.

Mikel Arteta’s men have the second-best away record in the Premier League this term with 23 points from 12 games. They also have the most clean sheets in the English top tier. Everything appears to be clicking for them at the right time.

They travel to Turf Moor on Saturday to face an out of form Burnley. Vincent Kompany’s side are without a win or a clean sheet in seven games. Interestingly, though, the Clarets have caused some problems for Manchester City and Liverpool in recent outings. They lost both but racked up an Expected Goals haul of 1.44 against the reigning champions and 1.33 against the league leaders. They can be a threat. And Arsenal will need to be wary of this on Saturday.

Manchester City march on

Manchester City have found their groove. It was inevitable. It wasn’t a case of if it happens but when. Pep Guardiola’s side top the form table having taken 15 points from 15. They are unbeaten at home this term with eight wins and three draws from their 11 outings at the Etihad. They’ve found the back of the net 29 times in these games while conceding just 10 goals.

They host an inconsistent Chelsea side on Saturday evening. Depending on how results go elsewhere, City could end the day as the Premier League leaders.

City, perhaps not surprisingly, have an impressive record against Chelsea. They are unbeaten in seven against the Blues.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have been patchy this term but they are sixth in the form table with nine points from their past five Premier League matches. They have also been awarded the most penalties this season. The Blues do have the quality to cause an upset on Saturday evening. Do they have the confidence though?

A Red Devils revival

Manchester United have been up to their old tricks in recent weeks and winning games in the final moments of matches. Erik ten Hag and his team travel to Luton on Sunday looking to make it four wins on the spin in the Premier League. It would keep their dreams of a top-four finish alive too.

United are fifth in the form table having taken 10 points from a possible 15. They also rank fifth when looking at away games this season with 19 points from 12 games. The Red Devils are currently on a four-match unbeaten run away from Old Trafford.

Luton had been on a good run, scoring four goals in back-to-back matches against Brighton and Newcastle United. Rob Edwards’ side had managed to climb out of the relegation zone and a home game against bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United last weekend presented them with an opportunity to increase the separation between themselves and those in the bottom three. A shock defeat, however, has made life difficult for the Hatters.

Their home form isn’t great either – they rank 18th for points won in front of home fans this season. A loss here could see them finish the weekend back in the relegation zone.

The Eagles in a sticky situation

The final game of the weekend sees Everton host Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

A win for the Toffees could see them escape the drop zone. The Toffees are winless in seven and their last win in the Premier League was two months ago. Sean Dyche’s men are averaging just one point per game at home this season and are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the English top flight, averaging just 1.1 goals per 90. They are, however, unbeaten against Palace in their last six outings.

And Roy Hodgson’s side head to Goodison Park in terrible form. Palace haven’t kept a clean sheet in five matches and are currently winless in seven away games. The Eagles are averaging one point per game away from home, and they’ll come in to game under a cloud following reports that they were set to sack Hodgson during the week, until the veteran coach was taken ill at Thursday’s training session.

If there’s a winner in this game, it could be monumental for their season.

(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.

Feb

2024

Bodo/Glimt: The Norwegian upstarts enjoying themselves in Europe

After years of extolling the values of both Norwegian football and the European Conference League via our social media channels, we thought it high time that FotMob combined the two.

So here we are in Amsterdam, on a grey Thursday night in February, following Eliteserien champions Bodø/Glimt as they visit the Johan Cruyff Arena, home to Ajax Amsterdam, and one of Europe’s footballing Meccas.

By Bill Biss

This isn’t Glimt’s first continental adventure — the side hailing from North Norway have travelled to, and surprised, a number of big name sides over recent seasons. Playing an exciting brand of fluid, attacking football under revolutionary coach, Kjetil Knutsen, this is becoming something of a habit.

Glimt first made headlines when they went to Milan in 2020, scored twice at the San Siro, but narrowly lost in a Europa League qualifier. Then, they demolished José Mourinho’s Roma, beating them 6-1 at home in the group stage of the 2021/22 Europa Conference League, before drawing away in the Italian capital. In fact, they made it all the way to the quarter-finals that year, beating Celtic and AZ Alkmaar, and then Roma again in the first leg when they were paired together for a second time in the last eight. They eventually came undone as José got his revenge at the Olimpico. Last season, a memorable Europa League campaign saw Glimt visit Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven.

And by virtue of their third Norwegian title in four years, they’re now at it again. Progressing to this clash with Ajax in the play-off round for the Conference League knockout stages having finished second in their group.

How did this happen? Bodø/Glimt are not traditionally one of the Eliteserien’s most recognisable clubs, with the likes of Molde and Rosenborg more widely known out side of the Nordic countries. But under Knutsen, who joined in 2018, they have been completely transformed. The players, the club, the relatively small town of Bodø in the Arctic Circle, have all bought in to his methods. Famously, these include employing a former-fighter pilot turned sports psychologist to help the side focus on the quality of performance over mere results. But, of course, the results have come. And the spoils have been plentiful — the club’s only previous honours include a Cup won in 1975, and again in 1993. Then nothing else until 2020 when Knutsen’s side smashed the points record, the goals scored record, and the margin of victory record to lift their first ever league title.

Typically, the club’s biggest names have caught the attention of clubs overseas, and many have left — most recently, tricky wide forward Amahl Pellegrino transferred to MLS side San Jose Earthquakes for an undisclosed but rumoured to be hefty fee, and former-striker Victor Boniface is lighting up the Bundesliga with leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Knutsen, though, has stayed. And successfully re-built his side in the same style, each season, with finances buoyed further by their exploits in UEFA competition.

In fact, the club have welcomed back a number of star names who previously lit up the Eliteserien, earned a move abroad, but struggled to find their feet elsewhere. Jens Petter Hauge is back, on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, having initially left to join Milan in 2020. Captain Patrick Berg — who we interviewed back in 2021 — has had a spell with Lens in Ligue 1 in the intervening years, but is back, to lead his team out when we watched Thursday’s game in Amsterdam.

Despite success on the pitch now being commonplace, it’s still a journey that’s been magical for the club’s fanbase. So much so, one fanatical supporter we met outside, travelling to the game as one of three brothers, implored us to “bet your house on Bodø/Glimt winning tonight.”

And you know what, we very nearly did. With new signing Jordan Henderson controlling the middle of the park, Ajax did start the game in attacking fashion but as shot after shot went sailing over the Glimt goal, something changed. Perhaps having gauged their opponents fragile confidence — after all, this is perhaps the worst season Ajax have had in recent times — Glimt began to break forward. And they looked the more dangerous side, despite the fact they haven’t played a competitive game since December.

Roving midfielder Albert Grønbæk was Glimt’s main protagonist, and it was him who gave the away side the lead in the 16th minute, finishing off a flowing team move so typical of Knutsen’s patterns of play. The fans around us in the away section were buoyant. And the beer stand was doing a roaring trade at half-time.

Grønbæk — who is destined to be the next record breaking transfer to leave the Eliteserien — doubled down in the second half, scoring from another quick breakaway, and sending our new friends dressed head-to-toe in yellow in to raptures.

But it wasn’t to last. And we were grateful that we kept our hands in our pockets, and our mortgage was safe, when VAR intervened to upgrade a yellow card to a red card for Glimt’s Odin Bjørtuft as Ajax were awarded a penalty in second-half injury time. Branco van den Boomen tucked that away, and Ajax found a leveller, in the 97th minute to complete an unlikely looking comeback.

On this evidence, though, Bodø/Glimt will travel back north (all the way north) confident that they can complete the job on home soil. And should they be triumphant in the return leg, there won’t be many sides relishing a trip to the Arctic Circle in the Round of 16.

You can follow every game in the Europe Conference League on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Images from FotMob

Feb

2024

No Salah? No problem as Liverpool’s free-scoring attackers step up

There were real concerns that Liverpool would struggle to create and convert goals when Mo Salah left for the Africa Cup of Nations, but his fellow attackers made light work of filling in.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

After stepping up a gear in the first half of the campaign, Salah’s departure to join Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations was considered a major blow for Liverpool.

Could Jürgen Klopp’s side really cope without a player who had scored 18 goals and assisted another nine in his first 27 games, averaging a goal contribution every 76 minutes across all competitions?

Egypt, for what it’s worth, struggled to cope with and without him, drawing their first two games of the tournament before a hamstring injury kept the captain out of the final group game (a third 2-2 draw) and the eventual exit on penalties to Cape Verde in the last 16.

Salah’s early return to Merseyside from the Ivory Coast, to undergo treatment at Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre, stoked the flames among a shocking number of high-profile detractors in his home country – including, it seems, new manager Hossam Hassan, who declared before Rui Vitória’s sacking and his appointment that “a hamstring injury does not require extensive facilities in Liverpool.”

The plan had been to report back for Egypt duty if fit enough for the latter stages, but after an early knockout, the 31-year-old has now made a timely return to training for Liverpool.

Only now, the narrative has changed, with Klopp and the players welcoming their No. 11 back as an obvious boost, but not one who will be desperately shoehorned back into the side.

That comes with his supporting cast, led by the trio of Darwin Núñez, Diogo Jota and Luis Díaz, stepping up in Salah’s absence.

Since his final appearance before the tournament – the 4-2 victory over Newcastle on New Year’s Day – Liverpool have scored 22 goals in eight games, averaging 2.75 per game and only conceding nine.

They have won once with a four-goal margin (4-0 vs. Bournemouth), twice with a three-goal margin (5-2 vs. Norwich and 4-1 vs. Chelsea) and twice with a two-goal margin (2-0 vs. Arsenal and 3-1 vs. Burnley). Their only loss in that time was the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League, which came after a calamity at the back, rather than an issue at the front.

For those 22 goals, Liverpool saw 10 different players find the back of the net, along with two scored by Arsenal defenders Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Magalhaes. Jota (five), Nunez (four) and Diaz (four) were the most frequent contributors, but Curtis Jones also netted twice along with goals from Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai.

Bradley (four), Núñez (three), Díaz (two), Jota (two), Trent Alexander-Arnold (two) and Harvey Elliott (two) all set up more than one, with further assists for Gakpo, Jones, Szoboszlai, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and James McConnell.

In total, 14 different players contributed with either a goal or assist in Salah’s absence. Beyond the breakaway success of academy right-back Bradley, who had a hand in five goals, the standout contributors were Núñez (seven), Jota (seven) and Díaz (six).

Though the sample size is clearer much smaller, it is encouraging to see that Liverpool have scored at a higher rate (2.75 goals per game) in the eight games since Salah left for AFCON than in the 29 games before (2.4). In those 29 games, the Egyptian was responsible for 38.6 percent of all of Liverpool’s goals, but without him the spread has been more even, with Núñez and Jota both involved in 31.8 percent, Díaz responsible for 27.3 percent, Bradley 22.7 percent and Jones 13.6 percent.

While Salah scored and assisted the highest proportion of his side’s goals of any player in the Premier League in the first half of the season (48.7 percent), that has now dropped in the first five games of 2024. Including the win over Newcastle on January 1, no Liverpool player has contributed more than Jota’s 43.8 percent, with Núñez (31.3%), Bradley (25%) and Díaz (25%) all heavily involved, too.

That is not to say that Liverpool can now plan for life without Salah. Despite missing a month-and-a-half of football so far, he still has the most goals and assists combined of any player in this season’s Premier League – 22, with Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins both on 21.

Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Harry Kane (29) and Kylian Mbappe (24) have more, while there is still no player who has created more big chances than the Egyptian, whose 17 tops that of Leroy Sané (15), Alexander-Arnold (13) and Kieran Trippier (13).

But rather than return as Liverpool’s saviour, Salah’s long-awaited recovery comes at a time when he can be eased back into the side; the most prolific goalscorer of Klopp’s reign at Anfield complementing a group of in-form forwards.

Eventually, a first-choice trio of Salah, Jota and Núñez can be expected settle on the teamsheet, but AFCON and injury has shown Klopp can afford to get by without his No. 11 – and that is exactly how it should be as he prepares to hand Liverpool 2.0 over to his successor.

(Images from IMAGO)

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