Tag Futebol

Journalist Samuel Luckhurst was critical of Christian Eriksen in Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat away to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Lowdown: United beaten at Arsenal

Erik ten Hag’s side faced one of their biggest matches of the season so far, making the trip to the table-topping Gunners and looking to keep their title hopes alive.

Marcus Rashford’s stunning strike gave United the lead but Eddie Nketiah swiftly equalised with a header in what was a hugely entertaining first half.

Bukayo Saka nudged Arsenal in front after the interval before Lisandro Martinez levelled it again. Just as the two teams looked set to share the spoils, Nketiah struck again from close range late on to seal victory for the Gunners, the goal given after a VAR check.

The Latest: Eriksen criticised for goal

Taking to Twitter, Luckhurst was critical of Eriksen for his involvement in Saka’s goal.

The Manchester Evening news journalist tweeted:

“Eriksen needs to do better there and arguable De Gea could have been better set for it. Takes a step to his left a split-second before Saka hits that and it’s costly.”

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The Verdict: Slight drop-off?

Eriksen has been a brilliant signing for United since arriving last summer  – Michael Carrick has called him ‘fantastic’ – but it’s fair to say that today wasn’t his strongest performance in a Red Devils shirt, even aside from the moment that Luckhurst referenced.

According to Sofascore, the Dane had just a 71% pass completion rate against Arsenal, also failing to play a single key pass and losing the ball 18 times during a frenetic contest in north London.

Eriksen remains a key player without question – he is United’s joint-eight highest-rated performer this term as per Sofascore – but it is easy to forget that he will turn 31 next month and that midfield battles can pass him by physically, especially against such a relentless Gunners team.

Ten Hag could be wise to rotate him a little more during the second half of the season, having started him in every Premier League game since mid-October, in order to prevent him dropping off as the campaign goes on.

Journalist Matthew Renton has given his verdict on Newcastle United’s links to Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.

The Lowdown: Magpies admirers of McTominay

Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope tweeted that Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are ‘admirers’ of the Scotland international, but the Red Devils want to keep the player in Manchester.

McTominay has featured in 12 league matches this season and 20 times across all competitions. The 26-year-old has spent his entire career at Man United, having been on their books as a youth academy player.

The Latest: Renton doesn’t want McTominay anywhere near NUFC

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Renton reacted to the McTominay links and urged Newcastle to ‘not spend a penny’ on the midfielder.

He stated: “Someone I hope we do not spend a penny on is Manchester United’s Scott McTominay – that’s the shocking link I’m talking about.

“What’s the point in getting McTominay? He’s exactly the same type of player as Sean Longstaff. There’s no progressive passing, there’s no forward passing, everything’s sideways, everything’s yellow card, there’s not much footballing talent, there.

“I’m not a fan of this one at all. I would not want to see McTominay in black and white.”

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The Verdict: Newcastle should set their sights higher than McTominay

Newcastle United should look elsewhere if they are looking to bring in a new midfielder, as it’s clear that the Scotsman isn’t even a regular starter for Man United.

McTominay has only started six of his 12 league appearances so far this season and has averaged 54 minutes per game.

The Magpies are aiming to finish in a Champions League position and currently sit third in the Premier League with two points separating them from fifth place.

If Newcastle are to improve their midfield, they should set their sights on a player who is a regular at their club, and ideally, someone currently competing in European football.

Howe has a number of midfielders at his disposal including Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff, so only a significant improvement to the middle of the park will likely be worth investing in during the transfer window, making McTominay a slight risk, in our view.

Liverpool have been consistently linked with a move for Enzo Fernandez and now a reliable source has given an update on the club’s stance on their swoop for the player in 2023.

What’s the latest?

According to CBS reporter Ben Jacobs, Liverpool will not make a move for the Argentina and Benfica star during the January transfer window.

Jacobs wrote in a thread of tweets:

“Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid are fans of Fernandez, too. #NUFC also one to watch. But all clubs are trying to understand Fernandez’s ambitions and work out whether rivals will genuinely move in January.

“#LFC and Real would only consider a summer swoop and Fernandez could end up intertwined in the Jude Bellingham chase.”

It’s bad news for Klopp

There is no doubt that strengthening the personnel in the centre of the pitch is something that needs to be the top priority at Anfield, so it’s bad news for Jurgen Klopp that it is looking unlikely that Liverpool will move for Fernandez in the upcoming window.

As Jacobs has claimed, the 21-year-old is attracting attention from some of the biggest clubs in European football and Liverpool’s casual approach to snapping him up could be costly in their pursuit of the player.

Fernandez – who has a release clause of €120m (£105m) – is one of the hottest young prospects in football something that was only elevated by his displays for Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar over the last month.

The Benfica dynamo won the Young Player of the Tournament award for his contributions to his national team’s World Cup victory and it comes as no surprise when you consider his strengths compared to his positional peers.

Fernandez – who was dubbed “class” by Yussif Alhassan Chibsah – currently ranks in the top 10% in the ‘next eight competitions’ for shots on goal, assists, shot-creating actions, passes attempted and progressive passes.

Injuries to the engine room has seen the likes of Harvey Elliott garner more game time than expected, with young academy hopefuls Ben Doak, Bobby Clark and Stefan Bajcetic also earning Premier League minutes in recent outings.

With that being said, the signing of Fernandez is an opportunity too good to miss for the Reds and if the powers at Anfield don’t act fast they could lose the talented player to a Premier League rival next month.

Tony Mowbray will have some big decisions to make at Sunderland in the January transfer window, and the manager should consider getting rid of Leon Dajaku.

The German winger initially joined the Black Cats on loan from Union Berlin when they were in League One last season and impressed with his performances, registering four goals and four assists in 22 appearances to help the Wearsiders achieve promotion back to the Championship.

A clause in his loan contract which involved Sunderland earning promotion was activated, and he joined on a permanent basis in the summer, with it seemingly likely that he would continue to be a regular under Alex Neil in the second tier.

However, he has made just two starts so far this term and has been ousted by Amad Diallo on the wing. Also, Mowbray has preferred a four-at-the-back formation in recent months, which has limited Dajaku’s chances even further, as he featured as a wing-back on a number of occasions last season.

Kevin Phillips spoke to Football Insider last term about the importance of Lee Johnson getting the best out of the young winger, praising his performances in a Sunderland shirt.

The ex-Mackems marksman said of Dajaku: “They know he has a lot of talent. It is just about nurturing him and trying to get the best out of him because he is a young kid. Lee Johnson and his staff have been very patient with him.

“They knew he wasn’t fully fit when he came. It looks now as if they’re bearing fruit from that now. Lee Johnson, the coaching staff and the physio deserve huge credit for getting him fit and firing.”

Unfortunately, Dajaku is yet to showcase his obvious ability in the Championship, as he has rather struggled with the step-up in quality to the second tier so far.

Across his eight appearances in this division, the German has averaged a shocking 6.03 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which ranks him as the worst player in Mowbray’s squad to have made at least one start this season.

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While he is only 21, and it would perhaps be ruthless to get rid of him so early into his time as a permanent Sunderland player, you only have to look at the performances of fellow youngsters Diallo, Jack Clarke, Aji Alese and Ellis Simms – four of Sunderland’s top five players this season as per WhoScored – to see that Dajaku simply isn’t good enough at this point.

Therefore, Mowbray should look to get rid of him in January, rather than the German wasting his career and potential on the bench at the Stadium of Light.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could be set to lose winger Adama Traore in the January transfer window…

What’s the news?

According to 90min, there are several teams who are interested in signing Traore during the transfer window, with Tottenham Hotspur retaining a keen interest in the forward, although they don’t want to pay a big transfer fee next month considering the winger is out of contract in the summer.

Leeds United also keeping an eye on the 26-year-old while there are several European clubs who could tie the Wolves player down on a pre-contract agreement next month.

90min also claim that Inter Milan and Napoli both have a strong interest in Traore, while a return to Spain, this time with Atletico Madrid, could be on the cards.

Lopetegui must bin Traore

Julen Lopetegui will surely be looking to assert his own stamp on the Wolves squad, and this might mean a few outgoings in January.

Traore hasn’t exactly set the Molineux alight this season, scoring just two goals in 14 appearances, while failing to add that extra bit of creativity that this Wolves side desperately need.

He has created just one big chance in the league this season, while also succeeding with just 44% of his dribble attempts, clearly showing that he has been fairly ineffective on the right wing and it might be best for all parties if he moves on.

His spell at the Old Gold has been extremely underwhelming in its entirety, registering just 31 goal contributions from 168 matches and, having arrived from Middlesbrough with a point to prove, the £55k-per-week player hasn’t lived up to the hype.

Journalist Liam Keen described Traore as someone who “makes mistakes” following the club’s victory over Nottingham Forest earlier in the season and if Lopetegui harbours any ambitions of retaining Wolves’ Premier League status, moving him on would be an excellent start.

The eight-cap brute ranks a lowly 13th in the squad with an average Sofascore rating of 6.68/10 this season and if the 56-year-old can somehow secure a fee for the player in January, then selling him is a no-brainer and the money could be reinvested in the squad.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to potentially replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Ibrox…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, Ross Wilson has made Michael Beale his number one target to take over from the Dutch head coach if the club decide to part ways with their current boss.

The report claims that van Bronckhorst is ‘clinging’ on to his job in Glasgow and the board could make a change in the dugout during the World Cup break.

It is stated that Wilson and Beale have a good relationship during the latter’s time as a coach at Ibrox during Steven Gerrard’s time in charge of the club, with the Gers sporting director now lining the manager up for a return to Scotland.

Get Ibrox rocking

Rangers could get the stadium rocking by appointing the 42-year-old to replace van Bronckhorst during the break.

This, unprecedented, tournament during the winter affords the club the chance for a mini pre-season and any new manager coming in would have time to get their ideas across to the team.

Therefore, the current Queens Park Rangers chief would not have to hit the ground running as he would have a number of training sessions, and friendlies, to get the side playing how he wants them to, instead of being thrown straight into Premiership action.

This means that he could get the Light Blues firing in time for their clash with Hibernian on the 15th of December, but he could also get the crowd firing due to his pre-existing relationship with the club.

Gerrard previously hailed the coach as an “expert” and praised his work with the Gers, saying: “What I’ll never do is try to do someone else’s job when they are better than me at doing it. A lot of people won’t have a clue what Michael Beale does on the training pitch, but what he does is really quite special.

“I haven’t had the luxury of retiring early from the game or not being a player, in terms of having that pitch time to really become a coach for the past 20 years like a Brendan Rodgers, a Mourinho or a Michael Beale.”

This shows how important he was to the 2020/21 title-winning side and supporters should appreciate him for his efforts in that phenomenal campaign, which is why they could be excited to see him return to the club.

The fans should also be buzzing with the idea of Beale replacing van Bronckhorst as he has shown that he has the managerial skills to improve a team. QPR finished 11th in the Championship last season and he has taken them to seventh so far this term, after arriving in the summer, which shows that he can elevate a squad.

Therefore, Wilson could get Ibrox rocking by bringing the English boss in during this World Cup break, due to his ability as a manager and coach and his pre-existing relationship with the Light Blues.

Tottenham Hotspur bounced back from their recent north London derby defeat with a narrow victory away at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening, with talisman Harry Kane getting the game’s only goal in what was an entertaining encounter at the Amex.

The England skipper had produced an instinctive header to turn home Heung-min Son’s whipped cross, with that lethal pairing yet again combining to good effect, having broken the Premier League record last season for most goal combinations in the competition’s history – ahead of Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

That stunning Lilywhites duo were again the key figures in that triumph over the Seagulls, although there was another individual who also proved their worth in that clash, with summer signing Yves Bissouma having made his mark on what was just his second top-flight start of the season so far.

The Mali international – who had signed on a £25m deal from Brighton in the recent window – has been forced to bide his time under Antonio Conte to date, although showcased his talent in what was an encouraging performance in a midfield three against his former side.

The absence of Dejan Kulusevski due to injury had seen the title-winning coach deploy a 3-5-2 formation for the meeting with Roberto De Zerbi’s men, with Bissouma lining up alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojberg.

The 26-year-old made a “big difference” to the side – in the words of journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke  – as he helped to bolster the centre of the park, notably winning two of his three ground duels and recording one tackle and one interception in that 70-minute outing.

As journalist Dan Kilpatrick noted in his post-match player ratings piece for the Evening Standard, Bissouma proved an effective presence at the base of the midfield, having ‘offered Bentancur and Hojbjerg a platform to push on’, before being withdrawn in place of fellow new addition, Richarlison late on.

Having that ability to deploy a different system to what’s become Tottenham’s typical 3-4-3 approach could well be vital for Conte, with the former Inter Milan boss having used that tactic to good effect during his title-winning stint at San Siro.

The £31.5m-rated machine offers a real ball-winning presence in that deeper role having notably recorded the second most tackles in the top flight during the 2020/21 campaign, while he also ranks in the top 10% for interceptions made among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues.

While the former Lille man had looked somewhat ‘rusty’ at times at the weekend – in the words of Football.London’s Alasdair Gold – that is perhaps to be expected due to his lack of game time, with a more regular role in the coming weeks likely to allow his talents to truly shine.

Everton have had their fair share of injury problems over the last 12 months but are comfortably competing in the Premier League this season after their relegation struggles, with a reliable source now gifting supporters more good news.

What’s the latest?

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Nathan Patterson could return to action sooner than expected after sustaining an ankle injury whilst on international duty with Scotland this month.

Phillips told GIVEMESPORT:

“I did speak to my source on his injury, and there’s some positivity that he might be back sooner than six weeks, more sort of four to five weeks.

“So, we’ll have to see the full impact of that one and how quickly he recovers, but it’s not all doom and gloom, there’s a bit more positivity that he might come back sooner than first expected.”

It’s a boost for Lampard

There is no doubt the news that the young Toffees right-back could return sooner rather than later will be a big boost for Frank Lampard, as Patterson has been a standout performer in the team since taking over the role from Seamus Coleman.

The 20-year-old Scotsman has made the position his own despite having big boots to fill in replacing the club captain, and over his first seven Premier League outings has proved that he is now a key player to the team.

Patterson has created one big chance, making 1.3 interceptions, four tackles, 2.7 clearances and has won six duels per game, proving that he is a dominant presence on the right side of the pitch and his inclusion has contributed to Everton’s improved performances over the season so far.

For comparison, no player in the Goodison ranks has made more successful tackles a game this term with Amadou Onana next up, although a considerably way behind on 2.6.

The £15k-per-week talented youngster’s influence has not gone unnoticed either as Danny Murphy lavished praise on Patterson during an analysis of his performance against Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby:

“This young lad, Nathan Patterson, seems to have the lot. He is only 20, he came in January, physically, he is very, very good.

“He’s got this desire to get forward and have an impact on the game, which I think is great. His defensive work is good, you can see the strength to keep the ball under pressure.

“He is a diamond, they really have got themselves a good player in the market. He is a terrific young player.”

With that being said, the return of Patterson will be warmly welcomed by both the manager and supporters when he does recover from his injury as he is already shaping up to be a huge future prospect for Everton and has come at the perfect time as Coleman nears the end of his career.