The chances of Pep Guardiola selecting the same starting XI in consecutive Premier League fixtures this season fall somewhere between slim and none.
The former Barcelona boss is notorious for his tactical tweaks anyway, but he also has a vast and varied Manchester City squad at his disposal following a summer of lavish spending in the transfer market.
That suggests the Spaniard will continue his mantra of selecting specific players and systems for specific games and opponents, even if it means leaving incredibly talented players on the bench or dropping them altogether.
However, many were surprised to see Leroy Sane start from the bench last weekend in the 2-0 win over Brighton and he eventually proved to be one of the more important components in getting the Citizens over the line at the AMEX Stadium.
Although he didn’t directly impact the scoreline, the 21-year-old German international clearly had an effect on the match after coming on for Danilo at left wing-back, City scoring both of their goals within ten minutes of Sane replacing the summer signing.
So, City fans, should Sane be in the starting line-up when Everton travel to the Etihad Stadium this evening? Let us know by voting below…
Amid an age in which the Premier League’s top clubs spend unimaginable fortunes on nurturing and developing academy players, the Football League has arguably produced English football’s biggest success stories in recent years.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli, who acclimatised to the top flight with incredible ease after being plucked from League One’s MK Dons, remains the most obvious instance, but there are other examples too, not least including Leicester City title-winner Jamie Vardy and a £50million defender in John Stones. In fact, excluding loans, eight members of England’s Euro 2016 squad began their careers in the Football League or lower.
A decade prior when the Three Lions travelled to the 2006 World Cup, that number was just three – David James, Jermain Jenas and Theo Walcott, none of whom actually kicked a ball in Germany. Likewise, England’s Euro squad last summer even included two former non-league players, the previously mentioned Vardy and centre-back Chris Smalling.
As promising young talent at the Premier League’s biggest clubs are given everything they could ever want – fancy cars, super-star wages and all the trimmings – those who’ve had to fight their way to the top of the game, clawing themselves upwards from the depths of English football with dogged performance after dogged performance, are having an equal if not bigger impact on the national team and the top tier.
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Whilst academy products are being sanitised and mollycoddled, often lacking the passion and intensity which defines English football, players like Vardy and Alli have taken the aggression and determination needed to survive in the often-attritional, 46-game Football League and transformed it into unique strengths.
Whether there should be that level of mobility in the English game or whether the sudden influx of Football League players within the national team is simply an indictment on how spectacularly top clubs are failing to bring academy talent through to senior level remains a separate debate. But at this moment in time, it’s clear that the Championship, League One and League Two and divisions yonder have a lot to offer Premier League clubs, provided you know where to look.
Yet, in the transfer market, it’s the Football League that is being left behind by the unprecedented level of finance available to Premier League clubs. Not so much economically; although some of the Football League’s fallen giants are struggling to balance the books, we saw Everton spend a record sum on a League One player, £11million signing Ademola Lookman, in January, while Middlesbrough and Wolves alone have spent nearly £65million between them already this summer. Although he division’s overall spend is just 15% of the top flight so far this summer, the money is slowly but surely trickling down.
The real concern, however, is the level of talent moving the other way – a path that has seemed to dry up in recent years. The number of players signed from Football League clubs (excluding those relegated from the Premier League the season previous) dropped from 31 throughout the 2014/15 season to just 13 last season. Likewise, the number signed with no Premier League experience reduced by almost 75% in that time, and despite an initial rise the year prior, just one Football League player joined a top six club last season – Arsenal defender Rob Holding.
So far this summer, meanwhile, it’s been mixed news for Football League players looking to make their way to the top flight. There have been almost as many players signed from the Football League as the whole of last season, with three weeks of the summer transfer window still to go, and more players signed with no prior Premier League experience. Considering January has proved almost as popular as the summer in acquiring Football League talent in recent years – curiously, John Stones and Dele Alli were both signed mid-season (although the latter was loaned back until the summer) – we should see last term’s numbers eclipsed by the end of the season.
But the overriding concern is how far up the league these players are now travelling. We’re yet to see a single Football League player move to a top six club this summer and the average league position they’re moving to (based on final standings the season previous) has dropped from 13th in 2015/16 to 17th this summer. In fact, Connor Mahoney’s switch to Bournemouth represents the only transfer involving a top-half club thus far, whilst five of the ten have signed for clubs just promoted from the Championship.
Of course, there is still nearly half of the summer and the whole of January to go, but business thus far suggests the incredible rises of Vardy, Stones and Alli from varying sections of the lower tiers haven’t inspired the Premier League’s top clubs to take a chance on Football League talent. And the incredible irony amid a summer in which the Premier League has already surpassed the £1billion mark spending around 80% on foreign players, the largest fee ever paid for a Championship player (excluding those just relegated), is the £13.5million Red Bull Leipzig paid for Oliver Burke last summer. A modest amount compared to what Manchester United have spent on Victor Lindelof, for example.
The Football League is overflowing with cheap, promising talents prepared to run themselves into the ground to make it to the top. But rather than giving them the opportunities they so desperately crave, the Premier League continues to be obsessed with foreign talent that no longer provides the value-for-money it once guaranteed.
With Nathaniel Clyne sidelined for the next few months, Jurgen Klopp has two understudies to choose from for the right-back role when Liverpool travel to Manchester City on Saturday for the weekend’s opening Premier League clash.
In the England international’s absence, Trent Alexander-Arnold has filled the No.2 void on the most-part this term, most notably scoring a superb free-kick against Hoffenheim in Champions League qualifying. The prodigious teenager is available for selection again after suffering a slight injury of his own.
But Joe Gomez has excelled during Liverpool’s last two Premier League outings, helping them to two clean sheets over Crystal Palace and Arsenal, and represents the more defensive option, measuring in at 6 foot 2 and widely viewed as a future centre-back.
That could be of huge significance when the Reds take on City at the Etihad Stadium, considering how attack-oriented Pep Guardiola sets up his sides. But, Liverpool fans, who would you start on the right of defence? Let us know by voting below…
Dedryck Boyata has a been a missing man for Celtic at the start of the 2017/18 season. After suffering a knee ligament injury in a friendly against Slavia Prague two and a half months ago, his absence has highlighted a key deficiency in the depth of Brendan Rodgers’ squad. However, he’s set to feature heavily in the weeks and months to come, after the Hoops boss confirmed this week he is again available for selection.
That return couldn’t be coming at a better time.
The next couple of weeks are pivotal in shaping the club’s broad ambitions at the start of any given season into something more tangible. Matches in three competitions against Dundee, Rangers and Anderlecht all follow one after the other, with positives results expected from each encounter. The pressure that Rodgers thrives on is here and there are no second chances.
Why is Boyata so important?
While their season is very much going to plan so far, drubbing to cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain aside, the side’s defence has come under severe scrutiny from pundits and fans with the Celtic manager having to rely on makeshift selections in the centre of his defensive line.
Domestic football has taken care of itself, as it often does for the reigning Scottish champions, but in Europe there have been ropey moments that must be ironed out if the team are to finish third in their UEFA Champions League group and secure European football after Christmas.
Getting Dedryck Boyata game time ahead of next week’s trip to Belgium is absolutely crucial in that regard, importance of the matches against Dundee and Rangers aside. Going into the Anderlecht tie with Rodgers’ preferred deputy Nir Bitton in defence could be a disaster, as it was away to Astana when the Hoops suffered something of a scare in qualifying, conceding four goals.
It’s true that Boyata has had his own ups and downs in terms of defensive form, but last season saw him make great strides in his Celtic career, finding the kind of consistency under Rodgers that rapidly made him something of a fan favourite in the latter half of their treble winning exploits.
He offers strength and pace that rivals any defender in Scotland and while he has suffered the odd lapse of concentration in Celtic colours, he does show a defensive commitment beyond anything else the Hoops can muster outside of Erik Sviatchenko.
The fact he is a goal threat doesn’t go unnoticed either. The Belgian has scored 10 goals from set-pieces in just 64 appearances, which isn’t a bad return for a defender whatsoever.
A lot to prove
Despite his strengths and immediate importance to Brendan Rodgers’ team as a whole, on a personal level, Boyata still actually has a lot to prove as a Celtic player. His injury problems have in many ways defined his two-year spell at the club so far.
Rather shockingly, the Belgian international has only managed to play in 22 of Celtic’s last 78 matches in all competitions, less than a third of the Hoops’ schedule over the last 18 months or so.
For a position that requires consistency and partnerships to be formed, it’s rather poor. Although obviously not his fault, he does need to show the Celtic support he can put together a solid season of starts before truly being considered as a player Rodgers can rely on.
That injury record also brings into focus how his return to the team should be handled. The sensible argument would be that there should be no rush bringing him back into the starting eleven due to a risk of an injury flare up or another problem manifesting due to lack of game time.
However, Celtic don’t have that luxury right now. They need their best defenders back in the team and amassing minutes on the pitch. That’s exactly why Boyata should start the trip to Dundee on Wednesday night in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final.
With all due respect to Dundee, there are tougher tests ahead at Ibrox and in Europe ahead and Rodgers needs to know if Boyata is up to speed enough to replace the likes of the aforementioned Bitton.
A fit Boyata has a big role to play in this Celtic team and if the club are to achieve their lofty ambitions this season they need a settled defence with players natural in the position.
After admitting on French radio that he wants to play in the Premier League at some point in his career and that he was a fan of Liverpool as a youngster, speculation has been mounting in the press regarding the future of Paris Saint Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
The 22-year-old was discussing PSG’s fantastic start to the season on a French radio station on Wednesday night. When asked to discuss his future, the young midfielder admitted;
“I think I would like to experience something else (outside Ligue 1), there are a lot of very good championships, it’s also very rewarding to go elsewhere. I would love to play in the Premier League, not necessarily one club in particular, even though I was very fond of Liverpool when I was young.”
These comments have seemed to ignite much excitement amongst Liverpool supporters who, judging by their reaction on Twitter, would love to see the Frenchman, who is valued at £16.2million by Transfermarkt, join their club…
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton is confident that Leeds United will pick up just their second win in five games when they face Reading at Elland Road on Saturday.
Thomas Christiansen’s side had a stellar start to the season, going on a seven-match unbeaten run in the Championship and sitting at the top of the table.
However, defeats to Millwall, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday have forced the Whites down to fifth in the standings.
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The club are only four points adrift of the top spot, so are by no means out of the race for promotion, but the recent results may have given the manager food for thought.
Prutton believes that the return of Liam Cooper will be a big boost to the defence, particularly as Pontus Jansson is suffering with an injury.
Cooper was forced to miss the 3-0 defeat to the Owls due to a red card that he picked up during the loss to Cardiff in the previous match.
In his Sky Sports predictions, Prutton has backed Leeds to come away with a victory.
“It looked at one stage like Leeds could storm it this season, but such is the nature of the division that they quickly got dragged back in. Thomas Christiansen will have issues to address after that thumping defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, but having Liam Cooper back from suspension in defence will help a lot.”
As reported by Marca, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is the latest player being tracked by La Liga giants Real Madrid.
What’s the story?
Having been reported to have chased the likes of Manchester United’s David De Gea in the past, it’s clear the Spanish giants see their goalkeeping position as one of high priority. With the prestige and resources available to them, they also have the ability to attracted the biggest and best goalkeepers around to La Liga.
Worrying for Chelsea fans then that they’re interested in Courtois. That’s according to Marca who say that he could stall on a new contract while he waits on a potential offer from the illustrious club.
His deal runs out in 2019 and with Real Madrid looking to the future, they could make their move, according to the report.
Rated at £36m by Transfermarkt, he’s well within the reach of high-spending Madrid.
Too important to let go
Chelsea must do everything in their power to prevent the Belgian shot-stopper from leaving Stamford Bridge. He is undoubtedly one of the top goalkeepers in the world and after close 118 appearances for the Blues, hasn’t even reached his peak.
In that time he’s kept 43 clean sheets, a fantastic record, and a contribution which could be near irreplaceable given today’s testing and inflated market.
Ultimately it could be up to the player himself if he wants to leave, but with less than two years left on his contract, retaining him is something which should be a massive priority for Antonio Conte and the Chelsea hierarchy.
West Ham United lost their fifth Premier League game of the season on Friday night – suffering a 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The result left the Hammers down in 17th position in the table, only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference following a poor start to the campaign.
The London club have also shipped 17 goals in their nine Premier League matches, which is another indiction of their problems in a defensive area.
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After the Brighton match, West Ham centre-back Jose Fonte apologised to the club’s supporters, and insisted that the team would bounce back when they travelled to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.
The West Ham fans are simply not interested in cheap talk, however, with many claiming that Fonte, who is rated at £6.3m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has been poor since arriving at the club from Southampton.
As the pressure continues to build on head coach Slaven Bilic, the West Ham supporters have shown their anger on social media once again.
According to Don Balon, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is considering allowing David de Gea to leave the club at the end of the season in a swap deal for Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane.
With Mourinho such a big fan of Varane, it is thought that the Portuguese would swallow losing De Gea if he could sign the France international.
The United fans, however, are simply not interested in anything that has to do with their number one leaving the club.
De Gea turned 27 on Tuesday, and with United’s official Twitter account posting a tribute to the Spaniard, the club’s supporters were out in force to hail their hero.
De Gea, who is valued at £36m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the world over the last couple of seasons, and it would be a major blow for the Red Devils if Real Madrid finally managed to poach him in next summer’s transfer window.
It seems inevitable that the Spaniard will eventually return to Madrid, but it is not something that the United supporters want to think about at this moment in time.
According to Transfer Market Web, Lyon star Nabil Fekir is closing in on a move to Arsenal during the January transfer window.
What’s the Story?
Despite serious interest from Atletico Madrid and Juventus, reports in Italy are claiming that Nabil Fekir is interested in a move to Arsenal, and the club are also keen to make a move, especially if Alexis Sanchez and/or Mesut Ozil decide against signing new contracts.
The 24-year-old is reportedly keen to enter discussions with Arsene Wenger over a move to North London in the January transfer window, as the Gunners look to ensure they reclaim a place in the top four.
How good has Fekir been this season?
In short, fantastic. Fekir has been one of the best players in Ligue 1 this season, outside of Paris Saint Germain’s squad anyway.
The 24-year-old, who is valued at £16million by Transfermarkt, has scored 13 goals in 17 games in all competitions for Lyon.
In a truly breakout season, Fekir has also been given his first cap for France and is on course to make the national team for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
Would Fekir be a good signing for Arsenal?
Arsenal are certainly stocked with talented attacking midfielders. Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Alex Iwobi and Jack Wilshere can all occupy the same area of the field.
If the Gunners were to move for Nabil Fekir, there would definitely need to be a serious clear out of some of their current midfield talents.