All posts by z3u9t.icu

With four draws and three defeats in their opening seven Premier League games of the season, it’s safe to say that Southampton have not had the best of starts, especially with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side also conceding 10 goals in that time.

In addition to this poor start to the season, the Saints were also struck with some bad news after Jack Stephens picked up a serious knee injury during the 0-0 draw against Manchester City which will see him ruled out of action for 12 weeks.

Taking all of this into account, along with the sale of Jannik Vestergaard to Premier League rivals Leicester City during the recent summer transfer window, it’s looking pretty bleak for the club from a defensive point of view.

However, we feel that the club have a good defensive option to call on for the time being or at some point in the future with 19-year-old centre-back Dynel Simeu.

Southampton signed the teenager back in July on a three-year contract from fellow Premier League club Chelsea.

Since then, Simeu – who was once described as a “monster” by journalist Neil Moxley during his time with the west Londoners’ youth team – has played 90 minutes in all of Southampton under-23s’ matches across all competitions, showing how important he has been for them in his short time there, even though they haven’t managed to win any of those games.

In the two appearances Simeu has made so far this season in the EFL Trophy, the defender – who is currently valued at £900k by Transfermarkt – has averaged two interceptions, 3.5 tackles and an impressive seven clearances per game, showing that he has plenty of defensive ability in him at such a young age.

In comparison with Vestergaard, the 29-year-old Dane racked up a not too dissimilar average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.7 tackles and four clearances per game throughout Southampton’s 2020/21 Premier League campaign.

Moving forward, if Simeu can continue playing regularly and improving for Southampton’s under-23 side, we see no reason why he couldn’t go on become a regular first team player for the Saints as an ideal long-term replacement for Vestergaard if given the chance.

In other news: Ralph must unleash “super-talented” Southampton ace v Leeds, he could be game-changing

Newcastle United are sure to be in the market to improve their squad in the summer as PIF look to take the team to the next level in the Premier League.

Instead of battling against relegation, the Saudi Arabian consortium will surely want to see the club competing further up the table.

To do this, they may need to invest in the team and one player who would be a sublime signing is Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He has been touted with a switch to St. James’ Park, with the Toffees valuing him at around £60m, and Newcastle can find their Andy Carroll 2.0 in a deal for the forward.

The England international has already impressed a Toon legend, with Alan Shearer hailing his “magnificent” aerial ability, and Brazilian attacker Richarlison claimed that he is a “nightmare” to play against.

Shearer said he’s superb in the air and this is certainly reflected in his stats. He has won 3.2 aerial battles or more per game in each Premier League season for the Toffees since the 2017/18 campaign. This includes 5.0 per match in 2019/20 and 4.5 or more per game in the last two terms in the top-flight for Everton.

Carroll has averaged 5.8 aerial battles won per game throughout his career, which suggests that Calvert-Lewin’s peak of 5.0 per match puts him in a similar bracket to the Geordie giant aerially. Both players are capable of being a target for their team to hit in the air and this is a useful quality to have as they can help to alleviate pressure on the side by winning headers to retain possession or force the defence back instead of allowing the opposition to push higher up.

The Magpies academy product has scored 54 goals in the Premier League, with 24 headers, 22 with his left foot and six with his right. Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, has 43 strikes in the competition, with 18 headers, 20 with his right foot and five with his left.

This shows that they are both similar types of strikers in terms of what they offer on and off the ball. Both of them equally excel at scoring with their head and their preferred foot, whilst they are also able to use their aerial strength to help their teams out in general play.

These statistics also prove that Calvert-Lewin knows how to score goals in the Premier League. He is a proven top-flight forward, just as the now-West Brom man was earlier in his career. Thus, Newcastle must bring him in to be their new English talisman at the top end of the pitch; Carroll 2.0 if you will.

AND in other news, Sold at £108k, now worth £10.8m: NUFC had howler on gem who proved Benitez “all wrong”…

West Brom could have done with improving their squad depth in the last transfer window, says Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield.

Valerien Ismael was able to make some good signings in the recent window, including midfielder Alex Mowatt, who has already made quite the impact at The Hawthorns after netting two goals in his first five appearances.

The Frenchman has also been able to keep hold of Sam Johnstone despite Premier League interest, so it has been a positive summer for the Baggies.

However, Hatfield does have some concerns over the size of their squad, though he thinks they could address that in the January transfer window.

“I think Albion are right in that top-two battle. The only thing you probably would’ve asked more for from the window was maybe a little bit more depth, but that’s something that they might address in January,” Hatfield told FFC.

“We’ll see come January how they’re holding up. If players are going down or struggling, then it may be one where they reinvest in January and try and get themselves over the line.”

As well as Mowatt, West Brom also brought in the likes of Adam Reach and Jordan Hugill, strengthening out wide and up front.

Perhaps squad depth is something Ismael does look at in January. But having just been relegated from the Premier League, the Baggies still have a strong team for the Championship, while retaining Johnstone’s services will also come as a huge boost.

Ralph Hasenhuttl appears to have been dealt an early-season injury blow at Southampton after it was confirmed that Stuart Armstrong had picked up a calf problem.

The Scotland international was absent for the Saints as they picked up an impressive 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, whilst he was also left on the bench in the opening day defeat against Everton.

BBC journalist Adam Blackmore provided an update on Armstrong’s whereabouts on Twitter ahead of the game at St Mary’s yesterday, confirming that the 29-year-old has picked up a minor calf injury.

Hopefully the winger won’t be sidelined for too long, as he was one of the most consistent performers in Hasenhuttl’s side last season.

The former Celtic ace made 32 appearances in the 2020/21 Premier League, in which he contributed four goals and five assists, averaging a solid 6.82 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This was enough to rank him as the top-scoring winger at Southampton, whilst he was also rated as the sixth-best overall performer for the south coast outfit, which emphasises just how important he is to the Saints.

Hasenhuttl is a huge fan of the 28-year-old, whose praises he sang in 2020, saying: “That is one of the reasons why we have been better because he is very hard-working and is now scoring by coming more often in the position to score.

“This was a fantastic turnaround and he’s also something of a role model for our transformation.”

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Therefore, Hasenhuttl and Saints fans alike will be gutted to hear that the versatile midfielder has picked up an injury and will be hoping that the 29-year-old is fit to make his return either against Newport County in the Carabao Cup in midweek or Newcastle United in the Premier League next weekend.

In other news… Southampton should reignite interest in “powerful” beast as transfer news emerges

When Jack Grealish departed Aston Villa over the summer, tears will have been streaming down the face of many supporters.

The dynamic playmaker was the poster boy of the Midlands, he was their academy gem, boyhood fan and club captain but he still departed Villa Park.

It was a difficult decision for Grealish to make but ultimately, money talks. As does the opportunity to win silverware, something he’ll have at Manchester City on a yearly basis.

He is already a star in Pep Guardiola’s team, scoring in the Champions League after a mega £100m move.

A major clause in his contract allowed the youngster to depart if that valuation was met and as a consequence, it’s set Villa up nicely from a financial point of view.

Christian Purslow’s plan was to use that money on several new players, identifying performers who each had a little piece of Grealish’s unique qualities.

Emiliano Buendia brought the supreme technical skills and creativity, Danny Ings the finishing ability and Leon Bailey the speed.

However, there is another player currently in their academy vying to become the certified next Grealish.

That happens to be Carney Chukwuemeka, a 17-year-old talent with the world at his feet.

The teenager has only played five times for Dean Smith’s first-team but it’s only a matter of time before he starts to make more waves at senior level.

Chukwuemeka is the definition of a wonderkid, someone who’s not only held in high esteem by coaches but also the club’s hierarchy.

Speaking about the talented midfielder in 2020, Purslow went as far as describing the youngster as the ‘best 16-year-old in the country’.

That’s incredibly high praise but it speaks volumes about the level of talent and potential he’s got in his locker.

Capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, the Villa academy starlet has a wonderful chance of making a name for himself in the Midlands.

He’s caught the eye of many pundits, including Paul Merson. His description and praise of Chukwuemeka was incredibly similar to how somebody assesses Grealish’s game.

Merson said: “He will be an absolute star. He glides across the pitch. He is a nice size. He gets on the ball. He looks for it and makes runs without the ball. I think Villa fans going away will definitely be talking about him.”

If there is one element of Grealish’s game that sticks out the most, it’s his ability to pick up the ball and elegantly flow across the pitch that makes him one of the most outstanding players in the English game.

The U23s manager Mark Delaney has also reserved special words for Chukwuemeka, commenting: “He’s a confident lad; will receive the ball anywhere on the pitch, under pressure and not under pressure. That’s what the manager likes; he comes into an environment and settles in quickly.”

With those assessments ringing fresh in your ears, it’s clear to see why he could be their next Grealish.

He is mesmeric with the ball at his feet and he also knows how to score goals, finding the net twice in three Premier League 2 outings this season.

Chukwuemeka is certainly one to watch out for.

AND in other news, Dean Smith could seal dream Villa midfield with “absolutely phenomenal” £75k-p/w beast…

Noel Whelan believes that reported Everton transfer target Marvelous Nakamba could help Rafael Benitez add more ‘energy and life’ to his midfield. 

The former Leeds striker discussed the potential transfer with Football Insider.

The lowdown

The Telegraph reported last week that Aston Villa’s Nakamba was a target for the Toffees. In order to sign him, Everton would apparently have to at the very least match the £11m fee Villa shelled out for the Zimabwean in 2019.

Nakamba played all 90 minutes for Dean Smith’s side on Saturday as they opened the campaign with a 3-2 defeat away to newly-promoted Watford. He won seven of his 16 ground duels, making two tackles and completing three dribbles (via SofaScore).

The signs are that Benitez wants to add another midfielder to his ranks in the remaining weeks of the window. A separate report last week suggested that preliminary talks had been held with Newcastle United over Sean Longstaff.

Benitez lined up with Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in the middle of the park for his first competitive fixture against Southampton on Saturday, while Fabian Delph and Tom Davies were among the substitutes.

The latest

Allan and Doucoure only arrived on Merseyside last summer but Whelan suspects that Benitez wants to put his own ‘stamp’ on the side.

So far in this transfer window, Everton have signed two wingers in Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend, along with a backup goalkeeper in Asmir Begovic.

Whelan told Football Insider: “Everton bought a couple of midfield players last season, very good ones at that, who bring energy.

“Maybe Rafa Benitez has seen something in the side that he feels they need to be successful and progress.”

He added: “We know every time a new manager comes in he always wants to bring in his own players. That’s his stamp on the team. This could be one player he’s looked at before and feels could bring some energy and life to that midfield.”

The verdict

Everton’s midfield looks to just fine as it is, for Allan and Doucoure complement each other quite well. The former is the principal destructive presence, while the latter brings the box-to-box dynamism.

Nakamba would be a somewhat uninspiring addition. He was afforded only nine Premier League starts last season, with Smith preferring Douglas Luiz and John McGinn in the Villa engine room, while his 6.52 seasonal WhoScored rating was far lower than both Allan (6.77) and Doucoure (6.78).

Ultimately, that suggests the Zimbabwe international wouldn’t discernibly strengthen Everton’s existing midfield options, so perhaps Benitez should seek to put his own “stamp” on the team in other ways.

In other news, another Everton midfield target has emerged.

Celtic have initiated talks regarding a deal to bring Cameron Carter-Vickers to Parkhead on a permanent basis.

What’s the talk?

According to recent reports (via The Celtic Bhoys), Ange Postecoglou’s side have started talks with Tottenham Hotspur about making the centre-back’s season-long loan switch a permanent move ahead of the January transfer window.

A previous report by the Daily Record revealed that Celtic have an option-to-buy clause in the 23-year-old’s temporary contract at Parkhead, with £10m reported as the figure that the Bhoys would need to shell out in order to sign the USA international permanently.

However, Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph then claimed in a post on Twitter that the Hoops’ clause to purchase Carter-Vickers is actually £6m.

“Great move”

Considering just how impressive Carter-Vickers has been since his arrival in Glasgow earlier this year, reports that Celtic have initiated talks to sign the defender on a permanent basis are sure to have left Hoops fans buzzing.

Indeed, over his 15 Premiership appearances so far this season, the £1.8m-rated centre-back has helped his side to keep seven clean sheets, scored two goals and provided his teammates with one assist. He has also averaged 1.4 interceptions, 0.7 tackles and 85.2 passes per match – the second-most of any player in the league for the latter – and won 71% of his duels.

These returns have seen the £20k-per-week loanee, who former Spurs team-mate Jan Vertonghen dubbed an “absolute beast”, average a tremendous SofaScore match rating of 7.45, ranking him as the fourth-best performer in the Scottish top flight.

As such, it would very much seem as if Postecoglou’s claim that Celtic’s signing of the defender was a “great move” by the club is bang on the money, while the addition of the 23-year-old on a permanent basis in January would undoubtedly be a very positive one for the future of the Bhoys based on how his loan spell has gone so far.

In other news: Postecoglou drops four-word injury update which will delight Celtic fans

As West Ham United manager David Moyes gears up for a crunch clash with Lyon in the Europa League tonight, it appears he is now been dealt a big blow.

The Lowdown: Hammers hunt for history…

Following their historic last 16 tie with Sevilla, which resulted in West Ham knocking out the competition’s most successful ever side, Moyes’ men now prepare for their quarter-final second leg clash with Lyon.

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Their first bout at the London Stadium ended 1-1 after Tanguy Ndombele’s equaliser cancelled out an opening goal courtesy of Jarrod Bowen, finely balancing the second leg in France tonight.

In terms of team news, Moyes has been potentially boosted by the absence of key Lyon stars, with goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and attacker Lucas Paqueta set to miss the crunch clash.

However, in a major blow, the Scotsman will now be without his mainstay defender Kurt Zouma – who joins Angelo Ogbonna on the sidelines.

The Latest: Irons confirm blow…

Indeed, as confirmed by the club, West Ham’s centre-back will miss tonight through injury alongside Ogbonna who’s still recovering from knee surgery.

“West Ham confirm that Kurt Zouma is ruled out for Thursday’s second leg vs Lyon,” relayed Jack Rosser of The Evening Standard.

“He’ll stay in London for further tests on his ankle.”

The Verdict: Major setback…

Without both Ogbonna and Zouma, the Irons may have to turn to a defensive partnership of Issa Diop and Craig Dawson, with Moyes even hinting at the possibility of using Rice in that role.

The former Chelsea star’s absence seems set to cause a major headache for West Ham with the player’s quality also undeniable.

According to WhoScored, no Hammers player has averaged a better rate of clearances per 90 in the Premier League than Zouma this term – backing just how solid and dependable he can be at the back.

French football correspondent Jonathan Johnson for CBS Sports heaped praise on the 27-year-old during his rise to becoming a star defender, branding Zouma a ‘sensational player’ with a ‘bright future’ for France (Twitter).

He was proven right going by his performances in the Premier League over these last few seasons and there is little denying he will be a big miss for West Ham and Moyes.

In other news: Sky Sports: West Ham now eyeing in-demand £21.6 million-rated star for Moyes, he’s set to move…find out more here.

With Ralf Rangnick’s appointment as Manchester United’s new interim manager confirmed, a new era has begun at the Theatre of Dreams, and it’s one that could alter several ingrained perceptions.

Former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves a huge amount of credit for the good work he oversaw during his two-and-a-half-year reign, but there’s no doubt that a change was needed.

The Norwegian’s tenure had become sour in the final months of his reign as things began to unfold at unprecedented speed.

His preference for allowing individuals the freedom to express themselves and showcase their talent without the constraints of a set system could only take United so far and ultimately became exposed.

And Solskjaer’s style and lack of specific instructions also left certain players vulnerable and susceptible to criticism from frustrated onlookers.

While creative talents such as Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood thrived, less technically gifted stars such as Fred often looked like square pegs in round holes.

At times, it was hard to pinpoint what sort of player the Brazil international actually was.

Not physically imposing enough to be a true box-to-box player, not defensively astute enough to be a sole No.6 and lacking the imagination and ability to be an attack-minded playmaker.

However, the 28-year-old appears to have a certain set of skills that should make him the ideal fit for Rangnick’s famous Gegenpressing system, making his once mocked £52m price tag look like a dream deal for United.

Rangnick’s high-intensity, counter-pressing system revolves around winning the ball back high up the pitch, taking a shot within ten seconds of regaining possession and always attacking vertically.

It requires a set of players capable of carrying out the extensive physical workload placed upon them, but with the footballing IQ to match.

“Our idea is clear, it’s very, very similar to my coaching friend Jurgen Klopp,” Rangnick told the Coaches’ Voice YouTube channel (as relayed by inews). “Our Red Bull football is heavy metal, rock and roll, it’s not a slow waltz. We hate square passes, back passes, just having the ball ourselves doesn’t make sense.”

And when assessing Fred’s underlying numbers, it’s clear that the South American – who was once described as “outstanding” by MUTV pundit Ben Thornley – could turn into Rangnick’s main man during their time together in the red half of Manchester.

As per FBref.com, no player with over 270 minutes of top-flight action has bettered his total of 26.2 successful pressures per 90 this season, while he also ranks second for tackles won (2.23) and fourth for progressive passes (4.36).

With a new set of principles introduced for players to be judged on, Rangnick’s arrival could see Fred’s position in this United side transformed over the coming months, transforming his status as the much-maligned scapegoat into an undroppable pillar for the ‘Godfather of German coaching’ to build around.

And, in other news…MUFC can get rocking again with “absolutely exceptional” £33m gem who Rangnick loves

Leeds United are interested in a deal to bring Valentin Castellanos to Elland Road in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Leeds Live, who state that, following reports back in February suggesting that Victor Orta is willing to pay around €12m (£10m) in order to seal the signing of the New York City FC centre-forward, the Whites could likely get a deal for Castellanos done this summer.

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The report goes on to profile the 23-year-old as an “all-round number nine in the shape of [Patrick] Bamford,” as well as suggesting that the Argentina U23 international’s signing would “fit the profile needed” for Leeds.

Imagine him & Gelhardt

Considering just how exciting a talent Castellanos is, the prospect of the centre-forward linking up with Leeds’ own attacking prodigy, Joe Gelhardt, will certainly be a mouthwatering one for the Elland Road faithful.

Indeed, over his 35 MLS appearances last season, the £10.8m-rated striker was in devastating form for NYCFC, scoring 22 goals, registering eight assists and creating eight big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 4.1 shots – the most of any player in the division – and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the 23-year-old who Ronnie Delia claimed “does everything right all the time” average a breathtaking SofaScore match rating of 7.28, ranking the Argentine as the 21st-best player in the MLS last term.

As such, while the 28-year-old Bamford is still undoubtedly Leeds’ first choice up top, with Castellanos being five years the England international’s junior, the NYCFC hitman could well prove to become the Whites’ next leader of their attacking line.

And, alongside 19-year-old Gelhardt – who journalist Beren Cross claimed “the hype around is just incredible” – in Jesse Marsch’s two-man attack, should Orta manage to get a deal over the line for Castellanos this summer, the sporting director could well have secured Leeds’ front two for the foreseeable future.

AND in other news: Huge boost: Beren Cross drops early Leeds United team news hint, it’s a game-changer