Eddie Howe will miss Newcastle's Premier League clash against Manchester United on Sunday after being admitted to hospital.
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Manchester City’s midfield is arguably becoming a bit of a problem. With Rodri’s injury, the options Pep Guardiola has in the pivot is a select few players, with some having to drop deeper to help get by in the Spaniard’s absence.
The likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are the players who Guardiola has mainly had to rely on in the pivot. Although he has also experienced injury issues, Kevin De Bruyne has been played deeper at times, and Bernardo Silva is another player deployed in a deeper-lying role.
There is no doubt that City need to add to their depth in the middle of the park, and have been linked with a move for one new midfielder.
Man City's midfield target
The player in question here is Bayern Munich and Germany international midfielder Joshua Kimmich. The 29-year-old is out of contract at the Bundesliga giants in the summer, and it is not clear if he will sign a new deal.
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This could open the door for Man City. According to a report from Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Germany, there is believed to be ‘concrete interest’ in the experienced midfielder from the Citizens, who could try and tempt him to the Etihad Stadium.
However, they are not the only side interested in signing Kimmich upon the expiration of his contract. Fellow Premier League side Liverpool have been linked but are ‘not currently pursuing him actively’, and La Liga outfit Barcelona are also in the mix. It remains to be seen if he will leave the club or simply sign a new deal.
Why Kimmich would be a good signing for Man City
There is no doubt the quality that Kimmich has, and he could certainly improve the City midfield. Described as a “world-class” player by football statistician Statman Dave, the German has featured 28 times across all competitions this term for Bayern, with one goal and seven assists to his name.
His goal was some strike, a thumping long-range effort against RB Leipzig in a fantastic 5-1 victory for Bayern. He also grabbed an assist that day, and was the Bayern skipper, too. It was a brilliant day at the office for Kimmich.
The German could be an excellent replacement for Kovacic in the middle of the park for City. The Croatian star has been disappointing at times this season in Rodri’s absence, despite playing 24 times and scoring four goals.
One of the most frustrating performances from the former Chelsea star this season came in the Champions League in the 4-2 loss away to Paris Saint-Germain.
Kovacic received a dismal 4/10 rating from Simon Bajkowski, Manchester City writer for the Manchester Evening News. The journalist explained that “it felt like he was one touch away from disaster” on too many occasions.
Of course, for a club aiming to win the biggest trophies every season, that is far from ideal for the middle of their midfield. Thus, signing someone with the quality of Kimmich might be an ideal move for Guardiola. Indeed, the statistical comparison via FBref between the pair is quite stark.
The Bayern star is a passing master, and averages 11.2 progressive passes and 13.2 final third passes per game this season.
In comparison, Kovacic averages 6.32 progressive passes and 8.03 progressive passes each game. Kimmich is also brilliant off the ball, averaging 6.5 ball recoveries compared to the Croatian’s 4.47 each game.
Progressive passes
11.2
6.32
Passes into final third
13.2
8.03
Key passes
2.56
1.58
Shot-creating actions
4.89
3.10
Ball recoveries
6.50
4.47
There is no doubt that the iconic German would be a huge upgrade on Kovacic in the midfield for City. Not only would Guardiola’s side be adding a creative machine to his side, but someone who works hard off the ball and can also slot in at right-back.
If the CItizens can get the German on a free at the end of the season, it could be the dream move and the perfect long-term partner for Rodri.
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MatériaMais Notícias
Desempenho e resultados ruins em campo, questionamentos sobre o departamento de futebol e decisões do Conselho Deliberativo: este pacote elevou o tom das críticas ao Flamengo e, desde terça-feira, torcedores protestaram contra a diretoria na Sede da Gávea e no Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, com xingamentos direcionados ao presidente Rodolfo Landim e ao VP de futebol Marcos Braz. Diante deste cenário, a cúpula preferiu ficar em silêncio em Volta Redonda.
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Procurados pela imprensa após o jogo contra o Altos, Rodolfo Landim e Marcos Braz não se manifestaram. Na última semana, com a polêmica passagem de Jorge Jesus pelo Rio de Janeiro, Braz afirmou que falaria após a entrevista do técnico ao canal SporTV ir ao ar – como aconteceu na segunda-feira -, mas o dirigente não atendeu os jornalistas presentes. A pressão sobre a diretoria não é apenas pela “sombra do Mister” e a dificuldade do time evoluir sob o comando de Paulo Sousa, mas também pelas decisões do Conselho Deliberativo.
Na Gávea, a aprovação da limitação do Sócio Off-Rio e as rejeições das emendas que permitiriam votações híbridas nos conselhos e proibiria acúmulo de cargo no clube de quem for candidato em eleições parlamentares foram vitórias da situação, que votou quase em unanimidade nas propostas. Marcos Braz, por exemplo, já é vereador no Rio de Janeiro e, assim, está apto a candidatar-se para a Alerj ou Congresso – possibilidade que o dirigente não confirma.
Grupos políticos, candidatos à presidências no último pleito e um ex-presidente criticaram as decisões do Conselho Deliberativo. Fora do colégio eleitoral, as críticas “furaram” a bolha das redes sociais.
Além das faixas e xingamentos a membros da diretoria já citados, o vice-presidente de Embaixadas e Consulados, Maurício Gomes Mattos, tem sido pressionado pelos torcedores de fora do Rio de Janeiro.Nesta quinta, a Embaixada de Balneário Camboriú se posicionou contra a emenda, e outras estudam seguir o caminho.
LANDIM EM MOMENTO DE MAIOR PRESSÃO
O histórico time montado em 2019 – primeiro ano da gestão -, os títulos brasileiros e a reconquista da América após 38 anos logo colocaram Rodolfo Landim entre os grandes residentes do Flamengo.
Membro do grupo que assumiu o clube em 2012 e rachou em 2015, com a reeleição de Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, o atual mandatário vive, talvez, o momento de maior questionamento e pressão externa, mas não dá sinais de que irá ceder.
Tendo Bruno Spindel e Marcos Braz como nomes fortes do futebol, Rodolfo Landim não cogita trocar o comando técnico do Flamengo neste momento. As declarações de Jorge Jesus, de que gostaria de voltar ao Flamengo, não mudaram o cenário, e a direção aposta no sucesso da reformulação que está sendo tocada por Paulo Sousa.
As críticas ao departamento – que acabam atingindo Rodolfo Landim – também são a respeito do departamento médico do clube. Mas, na última reunião do Conselho Deliberativo, o presidente fez defesa ao trabalho realizado no Ninho do Urubu e prometeu “documento detalhado” aos conselheiros.
Até o momento atual, as críticas mais duras direcionadas a Landim eram por fatores “extra-campo”: a condução do clube no caso do Incêndio do Ninho do Urubu, o posicionamento a favor do retorno das atividades em meio à pandemia do coronavírus ou a “proximidade com Brasília” e com o presidente Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
Fortes nas redes sociais, as críticas poucas vezes haviam chegado “com força” nas arquibancadas como no Estádio Raulino de Oliveira.
Inclusive, Rodolfo Landim foi indicado para presidir o Conselho de Administração da Petrobras pelo Ministério de Minas e Energia. O rubro-negro afirmou que “era viável” conciliar os cargos e negou que a indicação tenha sido devido à proximidade com Jair Bolsonaro, e sim ao seu currículo e trabalho desenvolvido em 26 anos na empresa.
Em abril, contudo, Rodolfo Landim publicou carta afirmando que não iria mais assumir cargo na Petrobras, devido a necessidade de um “compromisso de um grau ainda maior de dedicação e foco” ao clube.
Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign an “absolute monster” in a swap deal, with the player believed to be keen on the move, according to a report.
Man United are now pushing to bring in a new striker this month, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen now on their list of targets, and there has recently been a positive update on their pursuit of the Nigerian, as he is said to be determined to move to Old Trafford.
FC Porto’s Samu Omorodion is also under consideration, having sent scouts to watch the striker in action against Boavista, and he is likely to have caught the eye, netting twice in a 4-0 victory to help continue his side’s title charge.
Just a few days ago, it emerged that United could look to make a move for Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic this month, with journalist Enrico Camelio explaining that a deal could be possible, should Joshua Zirkzee be sent in the opposite direction.
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Now, the Red Devils have been handed the opportunity to make that deal a reality, with TEAMtalk reporting that Juventus have now made an official cash-plus-player offer.
There are signs that a deal could have a good chance of coming to fruition, too, as both players have given the green light to moving, with Zirkzee struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League since arriving from Bologna in the summer.
TEAMtalk relay a previous valuation of the Juventus striker from CaughtOffside, which suggests he could be worth €65m (£54m), with United required to pay a fee to bring the combined value of their player and the money to a suitable amount.
Members of the Italian media have lauded the Serbian as an “absolute monster”, and for good reason, given that his record in front of goal in the Serie A is very impressive, with his most prolific season coming in 2020-21 for Fiorentina, netting 21 times.
|
Statistic (per 90) |
Joshua Zirkzee |
Dusan Vlahovic |
|
Non-penalty goals |
0.26 |
0.61 |
|
Assists |
0.17 |
0.12 |
|
Shot-creating actions |
3.26 |
2.27 |
|
Successful take-ons |
1.55 |
0.44 |
As shown, the Juventus star has a better eye for goal than the Dutchman, scoring more than double the number of non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, but his all-round game isn’t as strong.
As such, if Ruben Amorim wants a proven goalscorer, who does not offer much else to the team, it is worth considering Juventus’ proposal of a swap deal, but Zirkzee is likely to help the team in different ways. Osimhen should be United’s priority target, given that his all-round game is a lot better than Vlahovic’s, while also averaging more non-penalty goals over the past year.
Although Zirkzee has failed to deliver so far, it seems a little premature to let him leave this winter, especially considering Vlahovic is not the best striker United are currently linked with, meaning there is no pressing need to accept a swap deal.
يرى نيلو فينجادا المدير الفني لاتحاد الكرة والزمالك السابق، أن مشاركة الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية، بمثابة شيء مشرف لمصر وإفريقيا، معلقاً على رحيل محمد عبد المنعم، كما تحدث عن مباراة الأهلي وبورتو في مونديال الأندية.
وقال نيلو فينجادا في تصريحات عبر قناة “الأهلي”: “أنا متأكد أن الأهلي ومشاركته الأولى في كأس العالم للأندية، ستكون خير تمثيل لمصر وخير تمثيل لإفريقيا”.
وتابع: “لأكون صادقًا، حينما وصلت القاهرة كمدير فني للزمالك لأول مرة، كان معي فريق من المدربين الشباب البرتغاليين، وكان لدي أصدقاء مصريين عرفوني الكثير عن الكرة المصرية، وبعد ذلك في 2019 كنت المدير الفني لاتحاد الكرة قبل السفر إلى السعودية”.
طالع أيضاً.. بعد إصابته.. الزمالك يكشف لـ بطولات موقف محمد صبحي من مباراة بيراميدز
وأوضح: “في 2003 مع نادي الزمالك، كانت تجربة رائعة بالنسبة لي، كان موسمًا رائعًا والزمالك فاز بالدوري وكانت المرة الوحيدة التي فاز بها الفريق بالبطولة بدون أي هزيمة، وكانت المرة الوحيدة التي فزت فيها على النادي الأهلي، فترة الدوري كانت رائعة”.
وأفاد: “أتذكر وهذا هو الأهم، كم الاحترام الذي كنت أناله من جماهير النادي الأهلي في الشارع، رغم أنني كنت المدير الفني للفريق الخصم، ولكن كل الجهاز الفني الخاص بي نال الاحترام الكافي ونُقدر هذا كثيرًا وهذا ما جعلنا نحب كرة القدم في مصر”.
وأشاد: “مانويل جوزيه عمل للمستقبل، وكانت لديه رؤية رائعة للنادي الأهلي، وعمل مع الفريق سنوات عديدة وفاز بالعديد من البطولات وشرف الكرة المصرية، أنا أتابع الكرة المصرية والموسم الحالي أفضل من الماضي، لكن الشكل الحالي لم يكن بالجودة المطلوبة، يُمكن أن يكون هذا الشكل أثر على الأداء، طوال هذه الأيام ننتظر فرق تهبط من 10 فرق فقط، وأعتقد أن هذا ليس عادلًا”.
هل افتقدت فرصة تدريب الأهلي؟ أجاب: “بالطبع حينما نتحدث عن الأهلي، أنا آسف جدًا أنني فوت هذه الفرصة، النادي الأهلي إضافة لأي سيرة ذاتية، أنا قدمت لنادي الزمالك، وهو كان أكبر الأندية في مصر في هذا الوقت، وكان يمتلك جيلا رائعا من اللاعبين واستقرار”.
وواصل: “كنت أود أن أدرب النادي الأهلي، ولكن لكي أكون صادقًا، كان عندي موقف بسبب ظروف عائلتي ومرض والدتي، ولم أستطع أن آتي في هذه الفترة، كانت عندي ظروف عائلية، كان يجب علي أن أبقى مع عائلتي، ولكن هذا ليس سببًا لرفض هذه الفرصة في الحقيقة، حينما فكرت فكانت لا توجد مشكلة في الجانب المادي، لكن لم نصل لاتفاق بسبب بعض الأشياء الصغيرة، ولكن لو تكرر هذا الأمر بكل هذه الملابسات سأوافق فورًا على تدريب الأهلي”.
وأكمل: “لأن هذا كان سببًا صغيرًا من جانبي أن أعتذر بسببه، المال لم يكن مبررًا، بالطبع المشروع الخاص بالأهلي كان حلمًا لأي مدرب يدرب الأهلي، أن تكون بطل لدوري الأبطال مرات عديدة، فبالطبع أنا فوت الفرصة على نفسي، كنت ولا زلت أكن الاحترام لكل المنتمين للنادي الأهلي، أستطيع أن أقول بالطبع 100% فوت فرصة تدريب الأهلي وضيعتها على نفسي، هذا لم يكن شيئًا جيدًا مني”.
وأردف: “بالنسبة لمباراة الأهلي وبورتو في كأس العالم، ستكون منافسة كبيرة وصعبة، وبالميراس أنهى موسمًا ليس الأفضل، لكن أؤمن بوجود الدوافع عند كل الأندية، خاصة وأن هذه النسخة تقام لأول مرة، الأهلي في بداية هذا الموسم لم يكن أفضل شيء، وربما يؤثر ذلك، ربما خسارة دوري الأبطال كانت خيبة أمل للجماهير واللاعبين، لكن مؤخرًا الأهلي يقدم أداء جيدًا والمنافسة صعبة مع بيراميدز، لكن الآن الأهلي غير المدرب وحقق نتائج جيدة وحقق الفوز في آخر 3 مباريات”.
واستطرد: “أستطيع أن اقول أن النادي الأهلي هو الأفضل بالنسبة لي في تاريخ إفريقيا، وبالتالي خسارة الأهلي لبعض البطولات أعتقد أن هذا ليس كافيًا أن يثني الفريق عن حصاد البطولات الأخرى، لديهم لاعبين بجودة عالية، الشناوي من أفضل الحراس في العالم، ولديهم لاعبين رائعين، إمام عاشور قد أدى بشكل رائع مع الزمالك، وأظهر قدرات رائعة في الأهلي، وأيضًا أفشة من اللاعبين المحببين لدي، وبن شرقي حل هجومي للأهلي، ووسام أبو علي، لديكم فريق متكامل في الأهلي، وأنا مؤمن أن الفريق سيخرج من هذا الموقف ويتحسن”.
واختتم: “محمد عبد المنعم خروجه من الأهلي كان خسارة، هو من أحسن قلوب الدفاع في إفريقيا، هو من نوعية اللاعبين النادر تعويضهم إذا خسرتهم، هو قائد في الدفاع، لكن الأهلي ليس عنده نقاط ضعف كثيرة، وأنا أراهن على الاستقرار والدعم والإعداد الرائع للفريق، خصوصًا القدرة على التعافي وعودة اللاعبين المصابين، ربما الدعم الجيد من الجماهير والإدارة يجعل الفريق جاهزًا لتقديم نجاحات”.
The allrounder felt Pakistan may have been better served trying to squeeze the scoring rather than chase wickets on a slow pitch
Danyal Rasool24-Jul-2022
Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets on day one•AFP/Getty Images
Taking six wickets on the first day of a Test after losing the toss and bowling on a slow pitch might not be the worst day’s work. But with Sri Lanka having pushed past 300, scoring at 3.66 runs per over across the day, Pakistan were pushed onto the back foot by the time stumps were called in Galle on the first day of the second Test.Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Nawaz, who picked up two wickets on the day, indicated Pakistan might have got things strategically wrong by choosing to press ahead in search for wickets as opposed to trying to restrict the runs.”I think we let them score a little bit too much,” Nawaz said. “The pitch isn’t like the first Test; it wasn’t turning and the pitch was slow. I think we would have been better served by squeezing the score rather than attacking. Because the pitch was very slow and the wickets weren’t coming as easily, you needed to work especially hard for them. So if we’d restricted their score, perhaps the wickets would have come easier.”For much of the day, it was the home batters that dictated the tempo of the play, scoring at over four runs per over in the first and last sessions. In the morning, Sri Lanka’s positive intent was laid crystal clear in the way Oshada Fernando played, scoring 50 off 70 balls including three sixes off the spinners. In the final session, even when Naseem Shah threatened to burst through the lower order with a late new-ball wicket, Pakistan went searching, and Niroshan Dickwella’s unbeaten 43-ball 42 kept the scoring rate sprightly.Nawaz singled out Oshada for praise, but it wasn’t as if Pakistan had no chances. Late in the second and third sessions, two straightforward catches were put down, reprieving Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella respectively. Pakistan captain Babar Azam was responsible for shelling both chances, leaving Nawaz to rue what might have been.”In cricket, anyone can drop catches,” Nawaz said. “It’s very rare that it happens to Babar, but if those catches had been taken then we might have been able to restrict them to a lower score. Oshada attacked the spinners in the morning and the scoring happened quickly, and then when Chandimal and Mathews struck up a partnership, that was very effective for them.”I think it could still be a spinner’s game, because I expect the pitch behaviour to change on the third and fourth day. In the second innings, the spinners will be more effective.”
Sunderland have now reached an agreement to sign a new midfielder for Regis Le Bris as they look to bolster their hopes of promotion back to the Premier League in the second half of the campaign.
Sunderland flying high in the Championship
With 18 games left of the Championship campaign, Sunderland sit just three points off the summit of England’s second tier despite currently being fourth.
The Black Cats have scored the third most goals in the competition to date, but face a tough second half of the campaign as they head away to fellow promotion hopefuls Burnley and Leeds United.
Burnley (Away)
Derby County (Away)
Plymouth Argyle (Home)
Middlesbrough (Away)
Watford (Home)
The likes of Chris Rigg, Anthony Patterson and Jude Bellingham have all grabbed attention so far for their prodigious talent amid links with clubs across Europe, but the club are keen to add more strength to their ranks as they underline their ambition to secure a return to the Premier League for the first time since the 206/2017 season.
To that end, they are expected to be busy in the January window despite Regis Le Bris outlining how difficult it was to recruit in the winter transfer window.
“It’s not easy to find the right pieces of the jigsaw,” he told the media. “It’s very important to find the right players rather than just focus on recruiting now. We have to be very accurate”
Now, it seems that Sunderland have managed to do just that, in a move that has developed incredibly quickly.
Sunderland reach agreement over astonishing loan move
That comes as multiple outlets now report that Sunderland have reached an agreement to reunite Roma midfielder Enzo Le Fee with Le Bris for the remainder of the campaign.
The Frenchman starred in Ligue 1 before earning a £20m move to Roma over the most recent summer transfer window. However, things have not worked out for him in the Eternal City and he has seen just 319 minutes of Serie A action, starting just twice under a succession of managers at the Stadio Olimpico.
He had been strongly linked with a move away, and Sunderland appear to have won that race after intense speculation, with the player on his way to Wearside for a Thursday medical.
Now, he is set to rejoin Le Bris in a shock move, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that the Black Cats have agreed an initial loan move for the midfielder, who still has almost five years left to run on his £69,000 a week deal in Rome.
Better yet for the Black Cats, it is added that his wages will be fully covered by Roma, who are clearly just keen to see the back of him already, saving around £1.7m for the Wearside outfit over the next six months.
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There is an option to buy the 24-year-old set at between €23m and €24m (£20m), and should he help Sunderland get promoted back to the top flight come the end of the campaign that option will become an obligation to buy the France U23 international.
For their part, Sunderland are believed to have pulled off a coup here with his arrival, with Football Expert Zach Lowry claiming that Le Bris has secured an “absolute gem” for the northeast outfit, especially if they are able to return him to his pre-Roma form. Can he be the man to help secure promotion for the Black Cats?
A new report has claimed that a “brilliant” Everton player has been offered to a Champions League-playing club, with his time at Goodison Park potentially nearing its conclusion.
Everton thump Spurs in stunning first half at Goodison
The Blues secured one of their most impressive victories of the season on Sunday afternoon, winning 3-2 at home to Tottenham in the Premier League. In truth, the scoreline was kind to the visitors, with David Moyes’ side cruising into a 3-0 lead by half-time.
This was such an important result for Everton, who have once again been dragged into a relegation scrap, and the hope is that it acts as a catalyst for them to kick on in the coming months. New signings could also be a massive boost in that respect, and the Merseysiders continue to be linked with additions.
One report has stated that the Blues are set to hold talks with Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell over a loan move to Goodison in the January transfer window, having found his playing time at Stamford Bridge extremely limited this season. Armando Broja’s possible exit this month could free up the loan spot for them to bring the England international in.
Another Chelsea player, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, has also been backed to seal a switch to the club this month, as he also looks for a new challenge, having failed to be a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans this season. The 26-year-old could add much-needed guile in midfield.
"Brilliant" Everton player offered to huge club
According to a fresh update from Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Everton striker Beto has been offered to European giants AC Milan by his agents, with the report quite cynically suggesting the player and his representatives’ attempts to leave have become “child-like”.
The 26-year-old has been continually linked with a move away from the club this month, and now the Italian side need to weigh up whether they want to sign him or not. As it stands, they are not overly keen, with Torino still the front-runners.
Wherever the £50,000-a-week Beto heads this month, it makes sense for his time at Everton to reach a natural conclusion, having never fully convinced the masses since joining from Udinese in the summer of 2023.
The striker has only scored eight goals in 53 appearances for the Blues, but that’s not to say he’s been all bad, with Theo Walcott hailing him after a late equaliser at home to Fulham earlier this season.
“Beto was just a bit of a different player for Bassey and Diop to deal with. He was putting himself in the right areas and causing Fulham’s backline a different problem. He picked up some good positions and there was some relief for him when he did get his goal. It was brilliant to see.”
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Everton’s 8/10 star was everywhere against Spurs in emphatic first win for Moyes
ByConnor Holden Jan 19, 2025
Beto has never fully been up to speed with the pace of the Premier League, though, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin getting back to scoring ways against Spurs, the hope is that he can kick on and once again be a key attacking figure for Everton. An upgrade on the departing forward also needs to come in this month, however, in order to keep squad depth good in that area.
Ramsay has convinced his players to follow a strict directive, a "collective" resulting in an unprecedented start to 2025
Minnesota United are off to the best start in franchise history through seven matches. They sit third in the Western Conference, level on points with San Diego FC, and are also level with the expansion side and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the race for the MLS Supporters' Shield.
They are averaging the least amount of possession per-game across all 30 MLS teams to begin 2025 – and by a considerable margin. They're excelling without the ball, playing a game that is focused on moments, timing and what MNUFC manager Eric Ramsay calls "the collective."
"Our job as a group of coaches, my job as a head coach is to squeeze every drop of quality that we can from this group and push the buttons that need to be pushed in order to be competitive," Ramsay told GOAL in an exclusive interview. "I think if you look at what we do as a group, you can guarantee every week there's a level of organization, a level of discipline, a level of pragmatism, and we can cause the opposition a threat in multiple ways."
With a 4-1-2 (WLD) record, the Loons are flying higher than they ever have to start a campaign. Yet they've done so in an unorthodox manner. MNUFC are, as Ramsay describes, "pragmatic." And through a sense of "desperation" they've found identity in 2025.
The Loons sport a 3-5-2 formation, excel in transition and are the most cohesive team in all of MLS in terms of keeping, managing and maintaining their shape. Within seconds, they can threaten – even after going minutes without the ball at their feet. Ramsay has instilled a level of discipline within the team that has them aligned in every area of the pitch, a squad that understands the focus is on all 11 in a core collective.
"We've got a very level-headed group," Ramsay said. "No one's getting ahead of ourselves here. We know what buttons we need to push to continue to be competitive. But I would say in each of the seven games so far we have been really competitive, and we're here in this position on merit, and certainly by the degree of deservedness. And there's no signs of us letting up in that sense."
Led by a striker pairing of Canada international and former MLS SuperDraft pick Tani Oluwaseyi, and Designated Player and former Serie A forward Kelvin Yeboah, Minnesota have become one of the league's most difficult teams to play against in 2025.
And much of it is due to the unorthodox methods of Ramsay, who previously worked as an assistant coach at Manchester United under the likes of of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik Ten Hag. The UK native signed on as Minnesota coach in the early stages of the 2024 season as the youngest manager in league history at 32, and now, is making an impression in the early stages of 2025.
Though he has experience on the touchline, alongside some of the biggest names in world soccer, Ramsay is adamant that he's his own coach; the imprint he's made on Minnesota is who he is as a manager, and who he strives to be as he leads the Western Conference side into the 2025 campaign.
"I wanted to be my own man so that I could solve problems and adapt from within," Ramsay said. "I think that this period of a year or so, now with this group, is a really good example of that. I feel like I've really grown as a coach as a consequence of taking that mentality by which I really only look within, and I look at the strengths of the players. I look at what every individual is capable of doing at their very best. And I try and work out a way that suits those players."
The tactical identity of the Loons is a fascinating combination of playing without possession, capitalizing on set-piece opportunities and ensuring that – despite limited opportunity on the ball – each chance in the final-third is meant to be maximized.
Whether or not it remains to be a sustainable option throughout the season is still to be determined – Ramsay acknowledges that – but right now, the Loons are doing exactly what is being asked of them by their head coach. And they're flourishing.
GOAL sat down with Ramsay to get an inside look into how the Loons are finding success and how his unconventional tactical methods have led the team to the best start in franchise history.
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Dating back to August 2024, MNUFC have lost just three regular season matches in 16 games. To start the 2025 season, they have just one loss, an opening day defeat on the road to reigning Western Conference champions LAFC. In all seven matches this season they have been out-possessed, out-passed and recorded fewer touches than their opposition.
Minnesota had four wins and two draws in those six.
"We're not doing anything that's particularly novel. We're doing something very, very well, and we're executing really well in that sense," Ramsay said of the Loons' use of his 3-5-2 formation.
The Loons have averaged just 36.2 percent of the ball, and are averaging just 452 touches and 229 passes completed per game. Across the league, clubs are averaging 615 touches per game, and 414 passes completed. The Loons trail every category in that regard, but yet are still finding efficient ways to succeed.
"There is no sense in the slightest of us ever leaving the pitch feeling like we have failed in some grand philosophical sense, because we haven't had more than 40 percent of the ball – because we just are not setting out to do that," Ramsay said. "That is very built into the way we think about how this team should play in order to be competitive. When you look at us at our best from an attacking perspective, when you look at some of the goals that we've scored this year, we are very capable of playing a very precise, intricate game with the ball.
"It's just that the way in which our players are, the relentlessness that they want to attack with, I want to feed that, as opposed to try and constrain that."
The Loons have been a consistent threat in the final-third, despite lacking long spells of possession. MNUFC have been consistent in the way they attack each lane, utilizing all areas of the ground – though an emphasis in wide areas has emerged. They've gone forward 238 times into their oppositions half of the pitch, while their wingbacks – Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Joseph Rosales – have helped lead forward motion into the final-third, stretching the game.
With three central defenders, two wingbacks, three central midfielders and a striker tandem, Ramsay has developed a shape that retains itself regardless of positioning. Against Real Salt Lake on Matchday 6 – which resulted in a 2-0 victory for the Loons – that became apparent. Compare how Minnesota's XI were shaped on the pitch in possession (above), versus when they were off the ball (above).
"We're not one of those teams for which it suits to have long spells of really patient possession," Ramsay said. "Because I think if you look everywhere, across our best players, our most effective players, they’re players that want to attack the goal, if you look at Bongi [Hlongwane], Joseph Rosales, our two forwards, Robin Lod, Joaquin Pereyra – they're all very goal-oriented players – and I want to feed that and make that a strength of ours, as opposed to trying to constrain it, and have us become far less effective than we could be.
"We trade off on the amount of the ball we have for a couple of reasons, but because we attack so quickly, because we play for transition moments so purposefully, we tend to look relatively similar when we break to the way in which we look when we defend."
AdvertisementImagnThe collective
Perhaps the most unexpected contributor in the system has been Hlongwane. The South Africa international has been one of Minnesota's best attackers and most exciting players since joining the league in 2022, and in the 2023 Leagues Cup, only trailed Messi in goals scored.
This campaign, though, has seen him adapt and change into a new role as a wingback – a position that Ramsay believes will only make him a "better" footballer as his career progresses.
"We sort of see him playing in what I would describe as sort of a hybrid role on that side – we want him to attack as a winger and often defend as a fullback," Ramsay said. "I hope that's made him a more complete player, and obviously I hope he's someone who's got aspirations to go and play at a really, really high level of the game, and maybe moving to one of the top three or four leagues in the world. I feel like if he looks back at the last year's worth of work, that will really help him in the sense of physically, he's in a really good place."
On the right side of the pitch, Hlongwane has covered 45.45 miles in 627 matches played, which is approximately 6.5 miles per game, starting each game this season. He's recorded just one assist during that span, and although his attacking output might be down, the Loons have been thrilled with his willingness to learn, adapt and progress for the sake of the team. However, it hasn't come without difficulty.
"It's been a lot for me," Hlongwane told GOAL after their victory over NYCFC at Yankee Stadium last weekend. "I've been trying to push myself, even though it's kind of hard for me, but as long as I'm helping the team to move forward… then, yeah, it's not about me, it's about the team. So it's not bad, but at the same time it is because it's not my natural position – but if the coach wants me to play there, then I'm going to do it."
The winger has been key to the success of Ramsay's system, providing width, speed, and physicality on the right flank – while allowing the 24-year-old to own that side of the pitch.
Imagn'Desperate' success
Without Hlongwane lining up in the attack, the Loons needed to re-work their identity – and the implementation of Ramsay's two-striker system has more than made up for the South African's absence. However, it's a rare sight to see that tactical choice made in modern soccer – whereas 10-15 years ago, it was common practice to see two forwards.
Ramsay, however, is a believer that with this player pool available, it's the best solution, though it doesn't come without challenges.
"What we've done so far this season has been based upon almost the desperation to find a way of getting Tani [Oluwaseyi] and Kelvin [Yeboah] to play as a pair," he said. "It was something I really wanted to try and make work last year, but I didn't feel like we had the time, the space, the sort of absence of the real pressure of that business end of the season in order to do so. Whereas I feel now like we've got to a really good point with those guys."
Oluwaseyi and Yeboah have scored nine of the 11 goals to start the campaign. The duo have excelled in the final-third, creating what Ramsay describes "unpredictable" attacking. At times, Minnesota's manager is unsure of how successful they will be in the attack, and what each striker will do to carry the other while creating opportunities. However, that's also what makes them a difficult pair to handle.
"It's hard playing with two forwards. It's hard to make work," Ramsay said. "And there's a reason that you would look across the MLS, and you would look across the top leagues in Europe, and you wouldn't see many teams play with two out-and-out No. 9s. There are a lot of kinks that you have to iron out.
"There are a lot of things that you have to work out in order to make you successful – and it's going to happen in one of two ways. A team is going to play with a variation of 4-4-2 – are they going to play in the way in which we play? A variation of three at the back and then [there is] probably one or two different things that you could do underneath that."
Underneath Oluwaseyi and Yeboah, the Loons don't have a proper defensive midfielder or a traditional attacking midfielder. Rather, they have a wide midfielder in Joaquin Pereyra, who has excelled of late in transition, an MLS midfield veteran in Wil Trapp and the club's all-time leading scorer, Robin Lod – a traditional No. 8 who excels in the attack.
The group has come together, paired with both wingbacks and their striker duo to create 11 "clear cut chances" – tied for the most in MLS with the Philadelphia Union. The Loons have also scored exactly 11 goals – a testament to how clinical they've been in moments in which opportunity has presented itself.
With that, however, the Loons have also established a negative xG efficiency of -5.09 – though there is indication that they will positively regress – ultimately meaning they're capitalizing in the moments when they need too. But there's also room for improvement.
"Our battle over the course of this season will be to make sure that we have enough of the ball at certain points in the game, that we don't constantly take counter-attacking opportunities that aren't necessarily there, and [ensure] we have enough passes within our our attacking transition phase in order to get our wing backs where we want to get them," Ramsay said. "I'm very comfortable with where we are in terms of the thought process that sits behind the way we play at the momen. It's just that we need to continue to evolve to make sure that we find that really nice balance."
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Strike quick, strike fast
In a 2-1 road victory over NYCFC, MNUFC managed just 33.5 percent possession, were outshot 22-16 and out-passed 677 to 254. Yet, for anyone watching the match, it was clear that Minnesota were in control of the game through the first 45 minutes, and then large portions of the second half.
It was the clearest showing yet that Ramsay's system is working, and that even if the numbers on the statsheet are not in their favor, the Loons can find a clear path to victory. In the match, it took them less than 90 seconds to open the scoring with a lightning quick counter-attack.
"We're not an unexciting team to watch, for a team that defends in the way that we defend, and has 30-35 percent of the ball, because we can turn defense into attack in five seconds and find ourselves in really good positions really quickly," Ramsay said.
From an attacking perspective, Minnesota has found success with the counter-attack and in transitional play – and Ramsay is leaning into that. The goal against NYCFC was just the latest example.
"I think what you'll see from us at our best is probably on the ball, lots of close, short connections, lots of ways of progressing through the pitch," he said. "But we're doing it quickly, and we're doing it with a really high rhythm."
Wolverhampton Wanderers thought they had made their second signing of the window over the weekend, as it appeared Manu Silva was on his way to Molineux.
Unfortunately for Vitor Pereira, Benfica hijacked the move, meaning he will have to turn elsewhere for a new signing.
There could also be activity the other way, as clubs are circling a few current players in the squad.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is one who seems to be attracting the most interest, as a current Premier League side are showing plenty of interest in the defender.
Wolves could sell Rayan Ait-Nouri
According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have shifted their focus to Ait-Nouri after missing out on Nuno Mendes.
The Old Trafford side are now making the Wolves star a priority and the report states that the Old Gold could accept a bid of around €55-60m (£45m-£52m) to let him leave the Midlands.
The Red Devils could also try and bring the price down by offering either Tyrell Malacia or Luke Shaw as part of the deal, although it remains to be seen whether Wolves would consider such a deal.
If so, securing the services of Shaw, someone who has plenty of experience in the Premier League, could be a wise move indeed.
Why Luke Shaw would be a wonderful Ait-Nouri replacement
The main concern regarding Shaw is his injury record. Since making the move to Man United from Southampton in 2014, the defender has missed a staggering 324 matches for the Old Trafford side due to a succession of injury issues.
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This means the left-back has played 278 times for the club, a figure which would have been far higher had he remained fit.
Pereira should only bring him to the Midlands if Shaw can stay fit and healthy. If so, then the Englishman could be a solid addition to the team.
The defender shone for Erik ten Hag during 2022/23, especially in the Premier League. Shaw recorded an average pass success rate of 86%, along with creating seven big chances, averaging 1.1 key passes and succeeding with 45% of his dribble attempts throughout the season.
Ten Hag even lauded the player with plenty of praise midway through the campaign, saying that the English full-back was “fabulous and impressive.”
2023/24
15
0
1
2022/23
47
1
6
2021/22
27
0
5
2020/21
47
1
6
2019/20
33
1
3
2018/19
40
1
5
2017/18
19
0
0
2016/17
19
0
1
2015/16
8
0
1
2014/15
20
0
1
The £150k-per-week star can certainly offer plenty to Wolves if he can stay 100% fit, making him a more than capable replacement for Ait-Nouri.
Still only 28, it feels as though Shaw has been around forever. He still has plenty in the tank and perhaps joining a club such as Wolves could be the catalyst for him going on to enjoy his football again.
Ait-Nouri will leave sooner rather than later. The question is, will it be this month?
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