All posts by z3u9t.icu

Over what has been a tumultuous season thus far for West Bromwich Albion, few have actually improved their standing in the game with the recent form of the club.

Before Tuesday night’s win, the Baggies had won one of their last 12 Championship games, and despite gaining three points most recently, still sit three points adrift in 23rd.

Relegation form such as this for a club that was in the Premier League just over a season ago was unthinkable, and for Steve Bruce his position became untenable.

Carlos Corberan will now enter looking to see what players he can rely on to get them safe, first and foremost, before dreams of a return to the top flight can become possible.

Few names spring to mind, but one that has held his own during the tough times is 23-year-old Dara O’Shea.

At a time when experience is often favoured over youth, he has proved that he boasts a maturity far beyond his years.

It even led Bruce to label him a “future captain” with a “bright future” at the club.

The qualities that have helped him to stand out this season have been outlined in his average SofaScore rating of 7.06, bettered only by John Swift, who has upheld the majority of the creative burden for the side.

The Republic of Ireland international has played every minute of their league campaign this season, which makes the fact that he is averaging 3.2 clearances, 2.1 interceptions and 1.1 tackles per game even more impressive.

O’Shea has been a defensive stalwart at a time when the club was in desperate need of any shining light.

His exploits at such a dark time have likely led to his sharp increase in value, which has gone from just £810k in October 2020 to £3.6m in October 2022: a mammoth 344% increase in just two years.

West Brom certainly struck gold with this academy graduate who has quickly become a mainstay at the club.

With the new manager now in place, any success he gains in the future will likely be built off the solid foundations that the youngster brings.

Julen Lopetegui was confirmed as Wolves’ new manager last week and it seems as if one of the first big decisions the Spaniard will make will be on the future of Fabio Silva.

The Athletic have reported that, despite Silva joining Anderlecht on a season-long loan in the summer transfer window, the Old Gold will explore the possibility of bringing him back in January as they look to ease their goalscoring woes.

The 20-year-old striker has struggled immensely since joining Wolves from Porto in a deal worth £35.6m, a transfer that broke the Midlands club’s record at the time, with just four goals and six assists to his name in 62 appearances for the club.

Despite the Old Gold scoring just 38 times in the Premier League under Bruno Lage last season, the Portuguese manager thought it wise to loan out Silva to Belgium, with subsequent injuries to Raul Jimenez and Sasa Kalajdzic leaving them extremely low on options in attack.

Diego Costa’s time at the club so far has proven to be a disaster and Wolves have managed the fewest goals in the Premier League with just eight, which has left them in 19th position in the league.

Silva, meanwhile, has enjoyed his time at Anderlecht thus far, with nine goals and three assists in 26 appearances, so Robin Veldman is perhaps unlikely to want to let him go in January, meaning that Wolves could be forced to pay a fee for their own player, emphasising just how poor a decision it was by Lage to let him leave.

Even though he struggled in front of goal, Silva was still a decent option for the Midlands club to have, emphasised by Conor Coady’s praise for the young forward last season.

He said: “We know what he brings us. He’s a young lad who is working every single day. He’s been fantastic since he came in. He works so, so hard to improve and get better, and you see that now.”

Although Raul Jimenez should hopefully be available to Lopetegui when he takes charge after the World Cup, it would not be a surprise to see Silva return to Molineux, as the Old Gold need all the help they can get if they want to avoid relegation this season.

If Wolves are forced to pay Anderlecht a fee, it will only highlight Lage’s shocking decision further, as his poor choices have left the Old Gold in a very precarious situation.

That said, they may well have to if they are to unleash him in the New Year, a call that simply has to be made if they continue their dry patch in the opposition penalty area. Recalling Silva is a simple option, particularly as he now looks bang in form.

Sunderland have a talented crop of young players in and around the first-team set up this season and the future is looking bright at the Stadium of Light.

The likes of Daniel Neil, Edouard Michut, Jewison Bennette, Anthony Patterson, and Jack Clarke are all up-and-coming players who will be hoping to fulfil their potential in the years to come.

However, the Black Cats have not always had the best of luck with promising young gems. One player who left before he could make his mark in the first team was wing-back Bali Mumba and that is a shame, in hindsight, as he would be perfect for Tony Mowbray in 2022.

During the 2018/19 campaign, then-manager Jack Ross played the academy product in four League One matches and named him in the starting line-up twice after seemingly being impressed by his displays in the youth side.

The Scottish boss was the first head coach to hand the dynamo a league start, as he had only played three minutes of Championship action prior to that season.

However, Phil Parkinson then arrived in the dugout to replace Ross and did not hand the youngster a single appearance in the first team during the 2019/20 campaign, which led to the gem’s exit from Wearside.

He was sold to Championship side Norwich City for a reported fee of £350k, as he entered the final year of his contract at the Stadium of Light, in the summer of 2020.

Mumba won the second division title with the Canaries and made one appearance in the Premier League the following campaign before being loaned out to Peterborough, where he played 13 times.

The full-back, who journalist Josh Bunting dubbed “magnificent” was then sent out on loan to Plymouth Argyle in League One this season and he has been in terrific form for the club so far, averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.01 across 17 appearances.

For reference, that is a higher rating than current full-back/wing-backs Lynden Gooch (6.77), Dennis Cirkin (6.76), Trai Hume (6.73), and Niall Huggins (6.70) managed in the third tier for the Black Cats last season.

Mumba has racked up three goals and seven assists in his 17 league outings for Plymouth as he has caught the eye whilst playing as a left wing-back, although he is also capable of playing on either flank in a back four or five, and can play in central midfield.

Therefore, the 21-year-old, who has been described as a “baller” by Yannick Bolasie, would be brilliant for Mowbray in the current Championship season.

The Sunderland head coach has switched between a four and five-back formation throughout the campaign and Mumba’s versatility, along with the outstanding quality he has shown ahead of the current options in those areas, make him a perfect fit for a dynamic tactical set-up.

What could have been…

Everton and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Torino central midfielder Sasa Lukic in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: World Cup star

Lukic is in the Serbia squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and could feature against Brazil tonight.

The 26-year-old has 32 senior caps for his country, scoring two goals and making a further two assists (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Everton interest

As per Italian news outlet Torino Granata, it is ‘highly probable’ that Lukic leaves Torino in January, with the Goodison Park outfit holding an ‘interest’ in him.

However, they will face competition from fellow Premier League rivals Leeds United for his signature, and Lukic will evaluate his future after the World Cup.

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The Verdict: Prioritise other areas

Having signed central midfielders Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and James Garner in the summer, the Merseyside club need to prioritise strengthening in other areas of the pitch before bringing in another one in Lukic.

They are the joint-second lowest scorers in the top flight, and so they should be looking to sign another forward first of all.

Lukic is a tidy player, having ranked in the 80th percentile for all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion over the past year, and sharing a similar playing style to the likes of Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz and Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur, he could be well-suited to the Premier League.

However, the Toffees should look at other positions in January first before bringing him in.

Transfer expert Dean Jones has shared that Newcastle United have been ‘offered’ the chance to sign Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram.

The Lowdown: World Cup appearance

Thuram made his first appearance, albeit a very brief one, for France at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as he came on as a late substitute for Olivier Giroud in their 4-1 win over Australia in their opening group game.

He plays his trade for Gladbach in Germany, but his current deal runs out in the summer, meaning that the Bundesliga side risk him leaving as a free agent.

The Latest: Newcastle ‘offered’ Thuram

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones has shared that the St. James’ Park outfit have been ‘offered’ the chance to sign Thuram in the January transfer window for a cut-price:

“Thuram has been offered to Newcastle for the next window. He’s somebody that they are willing to consider. They see that he holds good value at the price that’s been put to them.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

If the opportunity arises to sign a player of Thuram’s quality for a cut-price, then the North East club must take it.

Lauded as ‘world class‘ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, he ranks in the top 5% for non-penalty xG, top 8% for dribbles completed and top 10% for shots and interceptions of all strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year (FBRef).

Thuram managed an impressive 13 goals and four assists in his opening 17 matches for Gladbach in all competitions in the first part of the season (Transfermarkt), averaging a goal contribution a game.

The 25-year-old shares a playing style similar to club-record signing Alexander Isak, and with Callum Wilson an option up top as well, the Magpies would have a set of striking options that could fire them into the UEFA Champions League for next term.

West Ham United have seen a wealth of talent head to the World Cup from east London, with Declan Rice and Nayef Aguerd already shining for their respective nations.

However, with Lucas Paqueta, it threw up a very different challenge for the former Lyon midfielder.

In a Brazil side inundated with stars, it remained to be seen whether he could hold his own despite a somewhat disappointing start to life at the London Stadium.

Having played 14 times for the Hammers now, the 25-year-old is yet to score and only has three assists to his name.

With his club-record £51m price tag attached to him, it makes his return somewhat disappointing.

However, what will have pleased fans and Hammers boss David Moyes, was how well he took to the challenge of international football on Thursday night.

Starting beside Casemiro, the creative midfielder was handed a more conservative role by Tite, preferred to the likes of Fabinho, Fred and Bruno Guimaraes.

Challenged to be the “joker in the pack” by journalist and South American expert Tim Vickery, he impressed in his deeper position.

Although it was a hardly spectacular performance, he did shine with a workmanlike display that was integral to his side’s victory, earning his 7.2 SofaScore rating.

Having touched the ball 52 times, it was clear the 25-year-old was trying to make things happen, even if it did lead to a detrimental 73% pass accuracy.

With his quality, he likely was handed the job of trying the extraordinary, whilst his midfield partner just kept things simple. This resulted in his one key pass.

However, it was his defensive work that saw him truly shine.

Boasting four tackles and two clearances, he was everywhere on the pitch. These battles in the centre of the field culminated in the six duels he won out of seven (85% success rate).

Although he once again did not find his creative spark, against Serbia it was not needed.

He sat behind one of the best front fours in world football and screened the back four to perfection.

Should he add a bit more quality when he is asked to try eccentric things, Paqueta could quickly become one of Brazil’s most important players.

Moyes will then be hoping that can be translated back into his domestic football upon his return.

Manchester United will be on red alert after hearing that one of their top offensive targets hailed the Premier League as the premium division in European football, amid heated interest in his services. 

What’s the word?

In comments cited by The Independent after Canada crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage, LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David lauded the “best league in the world”, suggesting that he would like to play in England someday.

When asked about the interest in his services, the 22-year-old said: “I am aware of nothing (interest in him).

“When I am at the World Cup I am just focused on trying to enjoy the World Cup and enjoying the moment, and what happens after I do not know, we will have to see.

“The Premier League is the best league in the world and I think every player would want to play there someday.”

With United reportedly interested in the player since last season, a move could certainly be revisited in the coming weeks, as the anticipation before the January transfer window increases, magnified by the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

And with reports from France reaffirming the club’s stance in recent weeks, there truly could soon be a new centre-forward in Manchester ready to take the division by storm. 

Solskjaer 2.0

With United’s offensive edge looking oiled and refined, David could enter the fold and have an instant impact at Old Trafford, with his sharpshooting prowess and slick movement going in tandem with the style that the support at this esteemed club demands. 

But with the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last month, the club are in need of firepower up front, with Marcus Rashford’s eight strikes this term doubling anyone else in Ten Hag’s squad.

Solskjaer might not have enjoyed the most fruitful spell as United manager – averaging a mere 1.79 points per game during his tenure as the Red Devils’ permanent boss – but he was certainly a resounding success as a player of the club, netting 126 goals and serving 50 assists in 366 appearances and winning a plethora of major honours, including the Champions League.

Like the Norwegian, David is a “predator in the box” – as heralded by football writer Austin Ditlhobolo – and would flourish with the likes of creative maestros such as Bruno Fernandes behind him.

The “beast” – as dubbed by Gregg Evans – would certainly be capable of providing a devastating impact within Ten Hag’s team, with his goal record simply sublime.

With 41 goals and eight assists across 111 appearances in total for Lille, and a remarkable 22 in 37 for his national side, the “silent assassin” is well on the way to becoming a lethal presence at the forefront of the game.

And with nine goals and three assists in 15 appearances for Lille this season, David is proving that he is improving with the turn of each season. 

As per FBref, he ranks within the top 10% for pass completion of forwards in Europe’s big five leagues over the past year, an indication that he can contribute effectively in the offensive manoeuvres, which would serve Ten Hag and his free-flowing philosophy well.

With his club asking for £43m, he will not come cheap, but should Man Utd snap him up, he could slowly be integrated into the fold and prosper as an offensive demon for years to come, taking a page out of Solskjaer’s book and taking the league by storm.

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Lille star and Arsenal target Jonathan David, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs transfer planning?

The Lilywhites find themselves chasing Champions League qualification for a second-successive campaign but manager Antonio Conte may need to be backed again in the transfer market to make this a reality.

Currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table, Spurs’ form before the 2022 World Cup endured a patchy spot, with the north Londoners losing three of their final five league matches.

In that time, they conceded 11 goals, potentially highlighting some vulnerability and the need to strengthen their ranks further.

Conte also has just Harry Kane as his natural senior striking option, but a recent claim has suggested that Spurs may want to change that.

The Latest: Spurs eye David move…

Italian sources state that Conte’s side hold a real interest in signing Canada international David amid his impressive season in Ligue 1.

This information comes from Calciomercato, who report that Tottenham are ‘very interested’ in signing the 22-year-old – but they’re not alone.

Arch rivals Arsenal are also hot on his trail and it is believed that a ‘heated north London derby could arise’ for David’s signature.

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The Verdict: Make the move?

In terms of back up for Kane, the French top flight forward possesses undeniable quality.

He’s bagged a quite brilliant nine goals and three assists in just 15 league starts this season, backing Iain Hume’s verdict that he is a ‘world class’ player.

However, with the presence of Arsenal, a potential auction could arise for David’s signature and any inflated price demands could thwart Conte’s attempts to bring him to N17.

This may well be one to keep an eye on heading into January.

Leeds United handing Pascal Struijk a new contract is a ‘no-brainer’ of a decision, according to Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson.

The Lowdown: New deal completed?

The Whites centre-back has now entered the final 18 months of his deal at Elland Road, and this season has found himself playing the majority of games at left-back due to the injuries to Stuart Dallas and Junior Firpo.

The Premier League side are looking to sign a new left-back in the winter market, initially leaving question marks surrounding the 23-year-old’s future, but recent reports have claimed that he’s actually already been handed fresh terms, despite no official confirmation from the club.

The Latest: Robinson reacts

Reacting to the news of an apparent agreement in a chat with MOT Leeds News, former shot-stopper Robinson insisted that Struijk is right to be rewarded with a new contract, but feared that his game time could be limited should a signing be made in January:

“He’s had to play because they don’t have another left-back. I think when another left-back is signed, it’ll be interesting to see where he plays.

“Leeds are most secure at centre-half which means he lacks opportunities there and you can’t see him playing in the midfield instead of Tyler Adams in the holding role.

“I know he’s playing every week now and he’s probably enjoying his run in the side. But it’s where he plays when they do eventually sign a left-back, which has been needed for a very long time. It’ll be interesting.

“It’s a no-brainer for Leeds to sign him on a new contract because he can play at the back, at left-back and in the midfield.

“His versatility is fantastic for a manager.

“But from a player’s point of view, I just wonder where he fits in when and if they sign a new left-back.”

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The Verdict: Fully deserved

Struijk has been dubbed a ‘monster’ by Argentinian football writer Daniel Fraiz-Martinez, and after a start to this campaign that fully justifies that praise, Leeds extending his stay would be nothing less than he deserves.

The Belgian currently averages 3.2 tackles and two clearances per league game – second only to Tyler Adams amongst the regulars – alongside having a goal and assist to his name, highlighting the significant impact he has at both ends of the pitch (WhoScored). All in all, he actually ranks as the club’s best performing player this term.

Jesse Marsch will face a selection headache when he has a fully fit squad available to him, but the 6 foot 2 colossus is surely a player that has to be involved one way or another.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has backed Sunderland in their reported pursuit of Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Registered interest

As per Football Insider, ‘sources’ have revealed that the Stadium of Light outfit have ‘registered their interest’ in a potential deal for Archer in January.

The striker has been limited to just 51 minutes of first-team football at Villa Park so far this season, and so could seek a move away in order to get more game time.

The Latest: ‘No-brainer’

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson has claimed that Archer would be a ‘great signing’ for the Wearside club, and that a dela in January for him is an ‘absolute no-brainer’:

“Archer has proven he can do it in the Championship.

“He would be great signing for them. He is a different profile of a striker to what Tony Mowbray has currently got. I could see that one happening.

“Look at where Sunderland are. Archer is more than capable of scoring goals at that level. If they can attract him it would be an absolute no-brainer. I really think he would do well there.

“It would be a good move for the player as well. Sunderland are a massive club with a great stadium and great support. There is potential for him to grow there as the club does. It is a move that would make sense.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Tony Mowbray’s side are in need of sufficient cover for both Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms, who have each suffered from injury problems this term, with the former being out since seven games with a toe injury between September and October.

When he was on loan at Preston North End last campaign, 21-year-old Archer managed an impressive seven goals and one assist in 20 matches in the Championship (Transfermarkt), showing that he can play at that level despite his relatively young age.

Nonetheless, the Englishman would surely relish getting more game time at the Black Cats, and so this is a deal that could work out for all parties.