All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers head into their latest Premiership fixture full of confidence following a 6-0 victory last weekend.

Of course, that was against Ross County. Whereas this afternoon's clash is against Celtic, a club Rangers have defeated just once in normal time since Steven Gerrard departed in November 2021.

This is a dismal statistic and if Philippe Clement wishes to add the Premiership title to his list of achievements, he will have to get the better of the Parkhead side.

One person he must make sure doesn’t get time or space in the Gers penalty area is Kyogo Furuhashi.

Why Rangers must stop Kyogo

The Japanese striker has been a source of pain for the Light Blues since he moved to Glasgow in the summer of 2021.

In 14 matches against the Gers, the 29-year-old has scored seven goals, which included five in the league during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns.

Competition and date

Score

Premiership (03/09/2023)

1-0 Celtic

Premiership (30/12/2023)

2-1 Celtic

Premiership (07/04/2024)

3-3 draw

Premiership (11/05/2024)

2-1 Celtic

Scottish Cup final (25/05/2024)

1-0 Celtic

He hasn’t scored in his previous three games against Rangers, however, and Clement will be aiming that this extends into a fourth game this afternoon.

He has yet to score this season, meaning his confidence might not be as high entering the Old Firm as it usually is, but Clement will have to beware of his qualities, as he can score out of nothing.

Who will the Belgian manager partner John Souttar with in order to combat the threat that the striker poses?

Why Clement must unleash Robin Propper against Celtic

The centre-back was subbed off against St Johnstone a couple of weeks ago in the League Cup, missing the clash against Ross County in the process.

He will be fit to take to the pitch against Celtic, however, giving Clement a major boost in the process.

Clement was able to secure a deal for the defender for just £1.5m in August due to a clause in his contract, and he has played three times for the Gers already.

In his one Premiership match against Motherwell, the Dutchman averaged a 91% pass success rate, won 59% of his total duels and made two tackles during the clash, demonstrating his defensive abilities.

Clement hailed Propper upon his arrival at Rangers, saying: “As a defender he is powerful and has great attributes, which include the experience he has gained from his years playing in the Netherlands and the leadership qualities he has shown from being the captain of FC Twente.”

These attributes should stand him in good stead when he takes his place in the starting XI against the Parkhead side.

If the Gers are to take away all three points, they will have to be perfect across all areas of the pitch, which means the two centre-backs must shackle Kyogo during the match.

Propper could be the ideal person to nullify his threat, making sure he doesn’t get that extra yard of space to cause serious damage.

It will be a tall order, but if anyone can do it, the former Twente captain can.

Rangers have struck gold on Ibrox gem who's worth millions more than Cerny

Philippe Clement has signed a player who could be sold for a substantial profit in the future…

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 31, 2024

There is no escaping it: Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the season has been a disaster.

The North Londoners have picked up just four points from a possible 12 in the Premier League so far, and their 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal on Sunday has seen the pressure start to mount on Ange Postecoglou.

The current situation is a far cry from the one the team found themselves in this time last year, but they now have the chance to progress in a cup competition as Coventry City host them in the League Cup tonight.

It’s a must-win game for the trophy-starved Lilywhites, but following their abysmal display on the weekend and the level of opposition they’re set to face in the Sky Blues, Postecoglou can afford to make a few changes to his starting lineup, including giving one of his most exciting summer signings a first start in place of Pedro Porro.

Why Pedro Porro shouldn't start

So, one of the players that Postecoglou should consider dropping ahead of tonight’s clash is Porro, but not necessarily because of his performance in the North London Derby.

In fact, as football.london’s Spurs writer Alasdair Gold wrote, the Spaniard was ‘one of Tottenham’s better players’ on the day.

However, that was a low bar to cross, as despite losing the ball 16 times, misplacing four long balls, failing to complete his only dribble, losing five duels, and only delivering three of his nine crosses, he still got a 7/10 from the journalist.

That said, one of the main reasons the manager should consider dropping the former Sporting CP ace is to give him a chance to rest, as when fit, he’s one of the most integral players in the team.

For example, in just 37 appearances from the right-back position last season, the 25-year-old star scored four goals and provided seven assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 3.36 games.

Moreover, in resting Porro, Postecoglou has the chance to start one of his summer signings, who many believe is destined for a brilliant career right at the top of the game.

Why Archie Gray should start

Yes, Archie Gray is the summer signing who should come into the side in place of Porro and make his first start for the team.

Despite having just one full season of senior football under his belt, the 18-year-old gem joined Spurs from Leeds United in July this year for a whopping £30m. While that is an enormous sum of money, it’s an indication of just how highly rated the youngster is.

For example, months before the deal was even announced, respected analyst Ben Mattinson described the Durham-born gem as a “future £100m cm”, and while that may be his ultimate position, he actually spent most of last season playing on the right of a back four, where he should start tonight.

Right-Back

30

Central Midfield

10

Defensive Midfield

6

Attacking Midfield

3

In all, the “special” talent, as Mattinson dubbed him, made 52 appearances for the Peacocks last year, with 30 coming at right-back, ten in central midfield, six in defensive midfield, and even three in attacking midfield. This demonstrates that with the right coaching, he could be moulded into someone capable of thriving all over the pitch.

Moreover, he played in both legs of the Play-Off semi-final against Norwich City and the final against Southampton, showing that he’s ready to start in high-stakes matches, which can only bode well for his future development.

Ultimately, Porro will continue to be an important starter for Spurs this season, but he should make way for Gray to start his first game tonight, as while he’s still young, the talented Englishman could be a future superstar for the North Londoners.

Maddison & Romero axed, teen duo start: Predicted Spurs lineup vs Coventry

Postecoglou has to bounce back…

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 17, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers and manager Gary O’Neil are reportedly looking at signing an “excellent” free agent right now, according to one journalist.

Wolves suffer Yerson Mosquera injury blow

The Old Gold haven’t had the start to the new Premier League campaign that they would have wanted, failing to win any of their opening five top-flight fixtures. To rub salt into the wound, things went from bad to worse on Saturday during a 3-1 defeat to rivals Aston Villa after defender Yerson Mosquera was forced off through injury. The club has since confirmed that he is unlikely to play again this season.

Mosquera was a regular under O’Neil during the early stages of the campaign, playing every Premier League minute before going off against Villa, with Wolves’ head of high performance Phil Hayward claiming that it is unlikely Mosquera will play again in 24/25 as he requires surgery.

“Yerson has now had all of the various assessments and scans which unfortunately confirm injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). We will be visiting specialists in the coming days to finalise the plan for surgery; this will take place in the next two weeks. Timescales are difficult to state prior to surgery but it is highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”

Wolves’ injury list

Possible return date (Premier Injuries)

Boubacar Traore

December 26

Toti Gomes

September 29

Enso Gonzalez

No return date

Sasa Kalajdzic

No return date

Bastien Meupiyou

October 20

Yerson Mosquera

June 1

As a result, it looks as if Wolves could turn their attention to the free agent market to replace Mosquera, with one experienced defender being looked at.

Wolves eyeing free agent James Tomkins

According to HITC journalist Graeme Bailey, Wolves are considering a move to bring former West Ham and Crystal Palace centre-back James Tomkins to Molineux.

The 35-year-old is still without a club after leaving Selhurst Park in the summer, and being a right-footed centre-back could slot in to replace Mosquera in the squad over the coming months or possibly for the rest of the season.

Wolves are only able to bring in English-based free agents as there is no space left in O’Neil’s 25-man squad for any non-homegrown players, so Tomkins could be the man to arrive. An experienced defender, Tomkins is also an Olympian after representing Great Britain back in 2012. He came in for praise while at Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson, who called him “excellent” and a “senior figure” back in 2019.

“He’s been excellent. He was fantastic the other night in a tough game for us. He handled it brilliantly. We have been lucky to have Tomkins and Sakho as our centre backs. He is taking on the role as the senior figure.”

West Ham

243

11

Crystal Palace

136

10

It looks as if a cut-price and short-term move to Wolves for Tomkins could be one to look out for in the coming days and weeks, going off this transfer update from Bailey.

Arsenal are looking at signing a Real Madrid target for manager Mikel Arteta, with a member of their squad expected to leave in January.

Edu's rumoured transfer plans for Arsenal

The Premier League title hopefuls remain unbeaten in all competitions so far this campaign, partly highlighting the excellent job done by Edu Gaspar and his recruitment team over the last few windows.

£240k-per-week Arsenal ace out for "best part of four weeks" through injury

It could even be longer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 8, 2024

Edu and Arteta, who work in tandem on the club’s transfer policy, have transformed Unai Emery’s previous squad from serial underachievers to real contenders for silverware – and they’re unlucky not to have more trophies in the cabinet from these last few seasons.

Pep Guardiola’s Man City have set the bar very high for teams hoping to win the Premier League, and Arsenal’s tally of 89 points last term would’ve been enough to clinch title glory in many of the previous campaigns.

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Nottingham Forest (home)

November 23

Arteta has set a target of over 90 points for 2024/2025, according to some reports, with City’s loss of star player Rodri for the rest of this season potentially giving them a real chance of usurping the Sky Blues this time round.

In the background, Edu and his staff are working on plans to upgrade the squad, either in January or next summer. A lot of rumours have centered around a possible new striker, after Arsenal elected not to sign one in January.

Arsenal did attempt to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig and were linked with a host of other centre-forwards, but the Gunners ended up keeping their faith in makeshift centre-forward Kai Havertz.

Arteta is said to be keen on a partner for Havertz, though, amid doubts surrounding the suitability of Gabriel Jesus. Meanwhile, it is believed that Arsenal are interested in Como midfielder Nico Paz, and they have eyes on upgrading their central defensive options too.

Arsenal are looking at signing Vitor Reis

Despite the addition of Riccardo Calafiori in January, reports have linked Arsenal with Palmeiras star Vitor Reis.

The Brazilian’s deal includes an £83 million release clause, but it is believed Edu and co could strike a deal for much cheaper than that. According to The Boot Room, Arsenal are looking at signing Reis alongside Real Madrid, who are also believed to be very keen on the South American.

This comes as 24-year-old defender Jakub Kiwior is expected to leave in the winter window, so Reis could act as a direct replacement for the Poland international.

The Brazil Under-17 international has also been praised by Football Analyst Ben Mattinson for his bravery and leadership traits.

“Vitor Reis’ rise to global recognition from elite clubs is massively down to his impressive mentality. When watching him, you can see that bravery in every action,” wrote Mattinson on X.

“He has a commanding, confident presence that’s rare in such a young defender. Many early leadership traits have been shown already and when I first saw him play for Brazil’s U17’s, his leadership shone amongst his peers.”

A fresh transfer rumour has claimed that Rangers have their eye on a new attacking maestro with a “big future” in the game.

Rangers manager, injury & contract news

The Gers are in the middle of a hiatus from Scottish Premiership action, with the international break arguably not coming at a bad time for manager Philippe Clement, allowing him to reset during a period in which he is under a huge amount of pressure.

Rangers may have beaten St Johnstone 2-0 at Ibrox in their most recent assignment, but the 4-1 defeat at home to Lyon in the Europa League was a low point in the season, leaving many supporters wondering if a change in manager is needed moving forward. For now, the Belgian appears to be safe, though.

Away from the managerial situation, injuries aren’t helping matters this season, with the Scottish giants having to make do without a number of key figures at different points in the campaign. Rabbi Matondo falls into that bracket, but he has hinted that a return is on the cards after the internationals are done and dusted.

In terms of the contract situation at Ibrox currently, John Souttar is expected to extend his stay at the club in the near future, with Dujon Sterling already agreeing a new deal recently.

Rangers admire attacking star with "bright future"

According to a fresh claim from The Boot Room, Rangers “admire” Midtjylland winger Dario Osorio, joining a host of clubs in showing an interest in the 20-year-old.

The Chile international is also wanted by many Premier League teams, including Newcastle United, not to mention the Gers’ Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic.

Osorio is a big up-and-coming talent for Chile, so Rangers being in the mix to snap him up is hugely exciting, at a time when they could with some big-name addition to close the gap on Celtic.

The young winger is a player with a massive amount of potential, with Ricardo Gareca hailing his potential as a footballer, saying: “Osorio is a quiet boy but he can have a bright future. We have a lot of expectations for him because I don’t think he has a ceiling. It will depend a lot on him, how far he wants to go.”

Meanwhile, Chile legend Alexis Sanchez has claimed that Osorio has “a lot of personality”, which is high praise from an iconic figure in his homeland, and he could be worth as much as £10m, with Tottenham linked with him in the past.

After Sterling: Rangers should hand a pay rise to £22k-p/w star

The Light Blues attacking midfielder has enjoyed an impressive start to the season.

2 ByDan Emery Oct 9, 2024

It won’t be easy for Rangers to get their man, given that some Champions League-playing clubs are interested in him, but it could feel like a major coup if they managed to entice him to Ibrox down the line, promising him a role as a key player and allowing him to reach his vast potential as a footballer, making this possibly one to watch.

After West Ham United ruthlessly dispatched of Ipswich in a 4-1 win a week and a half ago, Julen Lopetegui must have been wishing the international break away.

At long last his Hammers side looked like the real deal. This is what was promised when the Spaniard entered the building over the summer but it hasn’t all gone according to plan.

Well, there’s certainly some positivity in the air now after that four goal salvo and they will be bullish about their chances heading into a game with Tottenham who recently slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Brighton having led the game at half-time.

So, how’s the break gone for those of a West Ham persuasion?

West Ham during the international break

The big news ahead of club action pausing was that there was no place for Jarrod Bowen in Lee Carsley’s England team.

The Irons winger was selected during Carsley’s first camp but was perhaps harshly excluded on this occasion. Still, with Thomas Tuchel set to arrive as the new Three Lions boss, Bowen will be hoping there’s a space for him in the setup come 2025.

Speaking of England, West Ham defender Dinos Mavropanos was part of the Greek team that incredibly defeated them at Wembley last week, a game in which he won five of his six duels.

Further afield, Lucas Paqueta did not feature in Brazil’s 4-0 win over Peru in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but he did start the 2-1 win over Chile, although was withdrawn at half time.

Minutes played

90

Touches

44

Accurate passes

30/34 (88%)

Long balls

3/4

Dribble attempts

1/1

Ground duels won

3/3

Aerial duels won

2/3

Tackles

2

Clearances

4

Michail Antonio went goalless for Steve McLaren’s Jamaica, as too did Mohammed Kudus whose poor season to date continued over in Africa.

Kudus' performances for Ghana

Missing captain and Arsenal star Thomas Partey, it was an incredibly poor break for not just Ghana but Kudus too.

In African Nations qualifying, they drew 0-0 with Sudan last week and then slumped to a 2-0 defeat on Tuesday night in what was a shocking performance by the Black Stars, as the Ghanaian national team are commonly known.

Unfortunately, Kudus hardly played his part, most notably in the reverse fixture this week. Handed a dismal 4/10 match rating by the national media, Pulse wrote the following words about his performance.

‘The captain of the side, Mohammed Kudus tried to lead by example by creating magic from the first whistle but that wasn’t enough to inspire the team.’

So, it wasn’t the most scathing of reviews but it’s easy to see why he was handed such a low rating when you look at the stats.

During the game, the former Ajax man lost the ball a whopping 20 times and, as Pulse said, failed to create many moments of magic having failed to register a key pass or dribble in the match. To make matters worse, he only completed 67% of his passes.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a wonderful debut campaign in east London, scoring 14 goals and registering six assists but he has been some way off his best in his second term.

To date, Kudus has only scored once – against Ipswich last time out – and supplied just a sole assist as well.

If West Ham are to recover from their current slump under Lopetegui they will need one of their main men firing. That begins against Spurs this weekend.

Lopetegui could already have his own Jhon Duran in West Ham machine

West Ham could already have their own Jhon Duran at the club.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 16, 2024

Everton’s strong run of recent form in the Premier League continued as they battled hard to draw 1-1 with Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday.

A second-half goal from former Toffees attacker Alex Iwobi looked to be the difference between the two sides before Beto scored a fantastic header in stoppage time to secure a point.

The result extended their unbeaten run to five games without a defeat in the top-flight for Sean Dyche’s side, who had also kept back-to-back clean sheets heading into the match.

Whilst Everton picked up a solid point in the end, there were a few poor performers on the pitch for the Toffees and Jack Harrison was one of them.

Jack Harrison's performance in numbers

The former Manchester City forward, who is on loan from Leeds United, struggled badly on the flank and did not do enough to justify his selection in the starting XI.

Dyche opted to select him on the right side of the attacking set-up and Harrison did not offer much in or out of possession throughout his 68 minutes on the pitch.

Minutes played

68

Pass accuracy

62%

Shots on target

0

Key passes

1

Dribbles completed

0/2

Duels won

1/6

As you can see in the table above, Harrison was incredibly lightweight off the ball, losing 83% of his duels, and offered very little at the top end of the pitch.

Zero shots on target, one key pass, and zero ‘big chances’ created illustrate his lack of impact in the final third for the Toffees, in a game that they lost by just one goal.

Harrison also only had 29 touches of the ball – fewer than his goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (48) – and this shows that the Englishman struggled to get involved in the match before he was substituted, way before Beto’s equaliser.

Why Jack Harrison must be dropped

Dyche must now finally ditch Harrison from the starting XI as the Leeds loanee continues to underperform and underwhelm on the pitch for Everton.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The left-footed dud has now started seven of his nine appearances in the Premier League this season and, yet, is still looking for his first goal involvement, with zero goals and assists.

His return of zero goals from 0.86 xG in nine outings highlights his lack of quality as a finisher as well as his lack of movement in the final third, as he has failed to generate many high-quality openings.

The winger has been slightly more unfortunate as a creator, with zero assists from two ‘big chances’ created, but has less than 1.0 Expected Assists – on 0.84.

Out of possession, Harrison has been a weak link for the Toffees. He has lost the majority of his duels on the ground and in the air, winning 46% of his ground battles and 40% of his aerial contests.

These statistics show that the 27-year-old lightweight is a liability for Everton in the final third, with his lack of impact on the ball, and out of possession with his weak play in duels, which is why Dyche must finally drop him from the team.

Everton wasted £29m on Moshiri flop who earned 7x more than Gordon

Everton wasted £29m on star who earned 7x more than Gordon.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 25, 2024

West Ham United chiefs are now considering a “magnificent” potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, as an update on the 58-year-old’s future in east London emerges in “the last few hours”.

West Ham's managerial candidates as Lopetegui faces sack

Lopetegui’s start to the campaign has resulted in waves of criticism hurled at the former Real Madrid boss, with critics urging David Sullivan to cut their losses on the tactician early doors.

What several senior West Ham stars are all thinking about Lopetegui now

The Spaniard is under pressure.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 6, 2024

Lopetegui’s situation at West Ham is becoming “volatile”, according to some reports, with journalist Tom Rennie calling branding the club a “complete mess” right now.

The Spaniard’s been seriously questioned for his approach to matches, and continued faith in under-performing stars like Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler, with reports also suggesting that West Ham are already weighing up successors.

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#12

02/11/2024

Nottingham Forest (A)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#11

27/10/2024

Man United (H)

Premier League

2-1 win

#10

19/10/2024

Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

#9

05/10/2024

Ipswich (H)

Premier League

4-1 win

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

Former FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao is being sounded out by West Ham ahead of a potential move, with the Portuguese boasting an excellent record from his time in the Primeira Liga, where he won plenty of honours, and is now a free agent.

Another heavily-linked candidate is former West Ham assistant coach Edin Terzic. The 42-year-old left his most recent post in charge of Borussia Dortmund, where he guided the Bundesliga side to an unlikely Champions League final against Real Madrid last season, and this has clearly impressed West Ham chiefs who have him under consideration.

Terzic is a candidate to replace Lopetegui at West Ham, as per Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, but he is by no means their only high-level option as Tim Steidten’s list grows longer by the day.

West Ham now considering Maurizio Sarri after Lopetegui sack update

According to Calciomercato Web, news of “Lopetegui’s dismissal” has come out “in the last few hours”, with West Ham’s head coach heading towards the exit door.

They expand on this, and while the outlet writes that Terzic is their top target, it is also explained that former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is on their radar as well.

West Ham are considering Sarri as an alternative to Terzic, who resigned from his most recent post as Lazio boss in March, is apparently on the lookout for a new club and actively seeking work.

The 65-year-old, famed for his brand of “Sarri-ball”, won the Europa League with Chelsea in 2018 and one Serie A title at Juventus – so he possesses experience at the elite level.

Sarri has also been called “extraordinary” on a tactical level by Arsenal midfielder Jorginho.

“Sarri is a magnificent coach, he’s extraordinary on a tactical level,” said the Italian in 2020.

“I struggled a little at the beginning, but now that I can speak English more fluently and communicate, it’s much easier.”

With the January transfer window now fast approaching, Glasgow Rangers are now being linked with a potential Ibrox free transfer in 2025.

Philippe Clement’s side have been struggling for goals this season, finding the net just 16 times in 11 Scottish Premiership games, which is almost half as many as league leaders Celtic have scored and eight less than second-placed Aberdeen.

Among those thought to be catching the eye of the Bhoys are Peterborough United forward Kwame Poku, who has been described as “unplayable” by Posh manager Darren Ferguson, as well as Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland.

Ryan Kent has also been linked with a return to Ibrox, having had his contract with Turkish side Fenerbahce terminated by mutual consent last month.

Rangers eyeing free Brownhill move in 2025

Not every player Rangers are keen on is a forward, however. According to TBR Football, the 55-time Scottish champions are also interested in signing Burnley captain Josh Brownhill.

The English midfielder, who is Burnley’s top scorer this season in the Championship with five goals, is in the final year of his contract at Turf Moor and free to start negotiating with new clubs in January.

Celtic are also interested in the 28-year-old too but TBR Football claims that they and Rangers will struggle to compete financially with the long list of other clubs also eyeing a move for the Burnley skipper.

The publication reports that West Ham United, Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion are all in contention to sign Brownhill, while clubs in Italy, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia are circling as well.

According to TBR Football, Serie A trio Torino, Fiorentina, and Lazio are all ready to offer Brownhill a contract, and the former Manchester United academy player is now “giving serious consideration to a fresh start outside of the UK.”

Brownhill shares update on Burnley future

Last month, Brownhill spoke about his Burnley future with BBC Radio Lancashire. Asked if he’d like to stay at Turf Moor, he said, as relayed by the Burnley Express: “Yeah of course. It’s one of them where my contract is coming to an end, is it in the club’s best interests to sort me out or is it mine?

“I’ve got a year left and I just want to keep focusing on performing very well, winning games and scoring goals.”

Despite initially claiming he wants to stay at Burnley, however, the midfielder, who joined the Clarets in a £9 million deal from Bristol City in 2020, went on to suggest that he could in fact leave the club come the end of the campaign.

“When it comes to the end of the year the decision has to be made. Is it the right thing for me to stay? Is it the right thing for the club to want me to stay? A lot can change in that time.

“While I’m playing well, enjoying my football and scoring goals I want to focus on that and see where it takes me until the end of the year.”

Everton take on Manchester United this weekend as they look to end their four-game winless run which stretches back to the middle of October.

The Toffees occupy 15th place in the Premier League table, just a couple of points off the drop zone, but they face a massive challenge at Old Trafford today.

Indeed, Ruben Amorim secured his first win in charge of United during the Europa League clash in midweek, and he will be keen to keep up the momentum.

One player who Everton must watch out for is Bruno Fernandes, who can cause all sorts of problems for their backline.

Why Bruno Fernandes will be a danger

Across 12 Premier League games this season, Fernandes has scored twice and registered three assists while creating eight big chances. Under Amorim, the Portuguese gem should be able to take his game to new heights, both domestically and in Europe.

Against Bodo/Glimt, the midfielder tended to drift to the left wing during the game, where he made one key pass, had five shots in total and took 95 touches. He may not have got on the scoresheet, but there was no denying how impressive his performance was.

The Everton defence will need to be at their very best to combat him this afternoon. If they can, the club could secure a positive result.

At the other end of the pitch, Sean Dyche might just have his own version of Fernandes in Dwight McNeil, who has operated as a number ten to great effect this season.

Everton's answer to Bruno Fernandes

Dyche decision to utilise McNeil as an attacking midfielder has been rewarded with some excellent performances, with the former Burnley man single-handedly keeping Everton above the drop zone.

Three goals and three assists have been registered in the top flight, while the Englishman has also created eight big chances and averaged 2.7 key passes per game, which is more than Fernandes, who averages 2.1 key passes each match.

Metric

Fernandes

McNeil

Goals

2

3

Assists

3

3

Key passes per game

2.1

2.7

Big chances created

8

8

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

1.6

Total shots per game

3.1

1.9

In terms of dribbles, McNeil also leads the way over the United sensation, averaging 1.6 dribbles per game to just 0.8 for Fernandes, signifying just how good he has been in the Premier League this season.

The £25k-per-week star is vital to how Everton play and Dyche must continue to unleash him just behind the main striker, especially with the destruction he can cause.

Journalist Joe Thomas previously hailed McNeil as “magic” in 2022 when Frank Lampard was in charge of the Merseyside outfit. Under Dyche, however, McNeil has taken his game to new heights this season.

Without him, the Toffees would certainly be lower than where they currently find themselves and if McNeil is on form against the Red Devils, Amorim’s first league match at Old Trafford might just be a difficult one to negotiate.

£80k-p/w Everton star could now leave for free in 2025 with Calvert-Lewin

Is it the right time to let him leave?

1 ByHenry Jackson Nov 30, 2024