This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Former Arsenal player Paul Merson has said that he believes Liverpool colossus Virgil van Dijk should win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The Dutchman has had a sensational year for the Reds and has won multiple individual honours after helping guide his team to their sixth Champions League triumph in May.
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The 28-year-old started every Premier League game last season as he helped keep 21 clean sheets and his team only conceded 22 goals.
Merson spoke on Sky Sports’ The Debate (1:21) panel show and expressed how good van Dijk has been over the past year.
He said: “I think he should win it.
“I think he’s taken Liverpool to another level, in my opinion.
“Not single-handedly because other players have been around but if he wasn’t at the club, then I don’t think they [Liverpool] would be where they were.”
Like no other centre back
Merson is spot on when he refers to taking Liverpool to different levels. With his composure and the ability to make defending look so simple, he has raised the defensive bar to new gargantuan heights.
Van Dijk produced an incredible record which ran last season and ended during the Arsenal game during the current campaign. He set a 50-game benchmark where no player dribbled past him during that time, which was brought to an end by the Gunners’ forward Nicolas Pepe.
The Dutchman is not like other defenders in the modern football era as he continues to shine in the scrutiny of being the best defender in the world.
Watch the moment Adam Lallana broke United hearts at Old Trafford in the video below…
His manager certainly thinks so, after the Dutchman walked away with the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year gong, Klopp hailed him as the very best defender around.
Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho also heaped praise on him and said that it would be unfair to compare other centre backs to the devoted Dutchman.
Liverpool find themselves with one of their best squads in the Premier League era. Echoing the words of Merson, it would be a worrying prospect to discover how the Reds played without Van Dijk.
Loads of Tottenham Hotspur fans on Twitter have hailed Brighton and Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk following his display against them at the weekend, with many suggesting the north London outfit should sign the 27-year-old.
It was another dreadful defensive display by Spurs at the Amex Stadium just days after they conceded seven at home to Bayern Munich, which certainly left question marks over their defence.
Of course, the contracts of the centre-backs that started against the Seagulls – Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen – both expire in the summer, and as of yet there has been no progress in terms of either committing their futures to the club, although The Daily Mail report that talks are taking place with the latter.
What has gone wrong at Tottenham Hotspur? Spurs fan George Achillea attempts to make sense of it all in the video below…
That said, they are apprehensive about offering the 32-year-old more than an extra 12 months, and should Spurs lose the Belgian duo they will likely need to strengthen their defensive options.
It appears supporters were impressed with what they saw from Dunk as he marshalled Harry Kane well in a 3-0 victory, and if Tottenham did sign him he could very well proive to be a reaplacement for Vertonghen or Alderweireld if they do go.
While one labelled him as “a leader”, another said the centre-back “would be a great signing for us”.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Over the international break, Wolves have had to endure several transfer rumours linking some of their key players with a move away from the club in January.
The one that appears to be building the most traction is surrounding Willy Boly as a north London battle could be brewing off the pitch if reports are to be believed.
Arsenal were first linked with the 28-year-old by The Sun earlier last week, but since then, Tottenham Hotspur have entered the fray as reported by Football Insider.
This would be quite a monumental loss for Nuno Santo, considering how much of an impact the Frenchman has had at Molineux.
WhoScored currently rank the centre-back as the highest-rated member of the Wolves squad at 7.45, having picked up two Man of the Match accolades in his seven starts.
On the Chalkboard
His role amongst the side is only emphasised when looking at how the team has performed in his absence compared to when he has been in the starting line up.
During his one-game suspension, Wolves were trounced 5-2 by Chelsea but in their last three matches in all competitions, they have kept the same number of clean sheets and even defeated Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Although the whole team would feel the effect of his departure, none will be hurt more than club captain Conor Coady.
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The 26-year-old midfielder-turned-defender has a crucial role in the back three as he is the central and more advanced ball-playing centre-back.
Against the reigning Premier League champions for example, Coady took up a regular position that was almost alongside defensive midfielder Ruben Neves, as shown by WhoScored’s positional map below.
Coady is number 16 for Wolves.
As the former Liverpool man started life as a midfielder, Nuno trusts him further up the pitch – in his last two seasons, Coady has averaged a minimum passing success rate of 84.3%.
He’s also able to do this because he has the towering presence of Boly behind him.
That Chelsea game is also a further reminder of the effect that any departure could have as the captain set a poor example with a shocking performance.
Perhaps it was because he didn’t have his usually trust-worthy sidekick beside him.
In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, John Hartson has claimed that the signing of Kieran Tierney is an “absolute snip” for Arsenal.
The Scotland international was a target for Unai Emery and co for much of the summer, with the Gunners having two bids rejected by the Bhoys earlier on in the transfer window. However, the north London outfit finally got their man on transfer deadline day, parting with a Scottish-record fee of £25m to acquire his services.
So far, the 22-year-old is yet to play for his new team as he continues to recover from an injury suffered in June. But when he is available, Hartson believes he will prove to be a fantastic addition to the side, especially considering the price they paid.
“Arsenal have got a snip. Listen if Wan Bissaka cost Manchester United £50m at £25m they’ve got an absolute snip,” he said.
“Arsenal have a fantastic player on their hands.”
The 44-year-old also spoke highly of his versatility and fitness.
“Tierney can play left back, left centre-back and, if Arsenal want to play with a 3, then he provides that option too.
“He has great fitness levels and gets up and down the pitch with ease. For £25m Arsenal have a fantastic player on their hands.”
Indeed, Tierney comes with a glowing reputation from north of the border. It says a lot that Celtic fought so hard to hold on to one of their most prized assets, and his performances for his former club, where he won the famed treble-treble, speak for themselves.
As Hartson mentions, he is a player who he is able to play in several positions across the backline, making him an ideal fit for a manager in Emery who regularly rotates between three and four at the back systems.
Whilst Wan-Bissaka also has a promising future ahead of him, he has only enjoyed one full season of senior football and is yet to be capped by England despite much talk about his potential.
Therefore, for half the price of the 20-year-old, Arsenal may well have secured themselves an absolute bargain at a snip of his true market value.
In today’s Tottenham Hotspur roundup, we take a look at what news has been doing the rounds for the Lilywhites. Mauricio Pochettino insists his side need time to rebuild, Tim Sherwood goes in on his former side, and the Argentine has told Daniel Levy to sell five senior players.
Pochettino insists his squad is ‘unsettled’
Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain – August 17, 2019 Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino gives instructions to Moussa Sissoko and Danny Rose during a break in play Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or sing
“When you have an unsettled squad always it’s difficult and you lose time, then you need time to recover the time you lose. That’s where we are. Maybe our performances are good but you need this extra, which is mental, connection. It’s energy to be all together, not to have different agendas in the squad.
“We are in a period where it’s a bit tough for us, but we keep working to find a solution. When this type of thing happens it’s about staying clear and fresh and calm. We’re trying to find solutions and we only need time.”
Verdict: As Pochettino has now been at Spurs for five years he is approaching a time where he needs to win a trophy. After just a few weeks into the season, the Lilywhites have now already fallen short of one trophy after an embarrassing defeat at Colchester in the League Cup – who are 10th in League Two, 70 places below them.
Not just does the result in midweek leave the Argentine red-faced, he now must think how he closes the gap on Liverpool who are already 10 points above Spurs, and after losing a two-goal lead to Olympiacos in Europe, he also cannot afford to lose the Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich next week, which in itself is a major task.
Indeed, Pochettino’s squad does look unsettled, but he is the manager and it is his job to glue them together. As much as he may try and push the blame off them, questions have to be asked about his start to the season, also.
Sherwood believes 3 top players will leave
Soccer Football – Carabao Cup – Third Round – Colchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – JobServe Community Stadium, Colchester, Britain – September 24, 2019 Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen reacts after losing the penalty shootout REUTERS/David Klein EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publicati
Report: Former Tottenham manager Sherwood suggests the future looks quite bleak for his old side. He told The Debate (as cited by the Express): He certainly knows three of them are not [staying],” he said.
“By the looks of it, Christian Eriksen, [Toby] Alderweirld and [Jan] Vertonghen are going for nothing, which will hurt the club. It’s not good [for the dressing room]. But that’s the situation they now find themselves in.
“If they [three players mentioned] want a move to a bigger club, they’re going to have to perform and perform well. The onus is on them to perform now, and they’re all professionals.”I know Jan and I know Christian, and they’re good lads, you don’t have to worry about them, they’ll get their heads down and perform for the team.“But the team knows, and Mauricio knows, that they’re not going to be around next year, and maybe he’s looking at the long-term. But he should be looking at the short-term.”Verdict: Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen are all out of contract in the summer, with no reports as of now on a renewal for either of them.It is worrying times for Spurs, with Vertonghen the clubs most experienced outfield player on 289 appearances, whilst Christian Eriksen has been one of the league’s top performers scoring eight goals and assisting 12 last year, just as Aldeweireld averaged a 6.84 performance rating in the 34 Premier League games he played.Truthfully, in today’s market, Tottenham may struggle to replace someone of Eriksen’s ability without splashing the cash. And, going in for two defenders to build a partnership like the Belgian’s have over the years, may cost in excess of 100m.Pochettino insists Levy to sell five playersReport: The ex-Southampton manager has told the chairman Levy to sell Eriksen, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama, after the calamitous defeat to Colchester in midweek, reports Football Insider.Verdict: As alluded to earlier, Pochettino insists the squad is “unsetteld” and if this is the case, perhaps it’s time to sell. It does seem, as Sherwood said, that Eriksen, Alderweireld and Vertongehn will be departing on a free, however, to let other players go as well could be a bad decision.Wanyama may not be missed as he played just 13 times in the league last season. Although, Spurs may also lose Giovani Lo Celso, who is only on loan, which could create more of a gap within the team.Right now, if there is anything that Spurs lack, it’s squad depth. Harry Kane is the only recognised striker, the Belgian’s at the back with Davinson Sanchez are the only out-and-out centre-backs, whilst the sole alternative to Danny Rose is Ben Davies.So, selling players, especially in today’s expensive market, could be a bad idea without a replacement. Pochettino should consider keeping certain names and should most definitely not let them go on a free.
Confidence and momentum are absolutely integral to the success of centre-forwards at any level of the game.
What’s the word?
Charlie Wyke’s dismal run of form in recent weeks is a typical example of how the life of a striker can be unforgiving and confidence-sapping.
The 26-year-old forward has scored just one goal for Sunderland this season, and his struggle to find the net continued on Saturday against Bristol Rovers.
Wyke was brought on as a second-half substitute and he had chances to add to his tally for the season, but he let three big chances go begging.
Jack Ross, though, did not seem overly concerned by his failure to find the net and he praised the goal-shy striker for his intelligent positioning, as per Sunderland Echo.
“I was really pleased with him when he came on.
“I know people will say that’s easy [to say] because we won the game.
“But I was. His all-round performance when he came on, he got himself into three really good positions, his movement was good.
“He’ll score and I’m desperate for him to score.”
Confidence-boosting goal could stimulate turnaround
As Ross has alluded to, the fact the Black Cats recorded a 2-0 victory made it easier for him to take such a patient stance with Wyke, but the striker’s ability to manufacture opportunities during a rough patch is a sign of promise for the future.
Ultimately, the run Wyke is on is bound to frustrate Sunderland supporters, but a single goal could be all that he needs to stimulate a major turnaround.
While the former Carlisle hitman continues to find himself in the right positions, both Ross and the supporters should keep believing that he will eventually rediscover his clinical instinct.
One of Manchester United’s flag-bearers for the current youth revolution Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to implement, Scott McTominay has really established himself as a key member of the first-team squad at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a break-through year under Jose Mourinho in the 2017/2018 campaign, registering 27 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Under Solskjaer, things have been no different, with McTominay playing in every single one of United’s opening four Premier League games this season.
The midfielder has already made ten appearances at international level for Scotland, but his last outing for the side on Friday night certainly won’t go down as one of the better ones.
Steve Clarke’s men slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Russia, and Scotland fans took to Twitter to criticise McTominay’s role in the game.
Many supporters questioned how the 22-year-old had managed to “hoodwink” everyone into becoming a starter for both United and Scotland.
Some fans even compared McTominay and ex-Red Devil Darren Fletcher, and insisted the former shares a similar quality of not really offering anything.
Check out some of the reaction of Scotland fans below:
Crystal Palace are looking to make Jean-Philippe Mateta’s move permanent.
That’s according to journalist Tom Barclay, and, as to be expected, a number of Eagles fans have been reacting to the news on social media.
Palace brought Mateta in 12 months ago from Mainz on an 18-month loan which included an option to buy. [BBC]
The 24-year-old has scored against rivals Brighton and Millwall during his time at the club and has featured regularly under Patrick Vieira in recent months.
And it now seems as if he has done enough to make a Selhurst Park stay permanent, with Barclay stating he has won Vieira over in recent months.
The journalist added that a deal is not done yet, but a full-time transfer appears to be on the cards for the Frenchman.
Palace fans react
This is what these Eagles supporters had to say in reply to Barclay’s post, with one ‘buzzing’ for the forward and another labelling it as ‘incredible’.
“Good. Goals against Millwall and Brighton. I’m a fan forever.”
Credit: @HunterCPFC
“Buzzing for the man, Vieira clearly rated him above Benteke and at 24 years old we could get him on the cheap”
Credit: @ReeceJMT
“YESSSSSS”
Credit: @EvilSashPioneer
“Would be incredible if he goes on to be a big player for us”
Credit: @SWPalace
“YESSSSS”
Credit: @MattCPFC
“Get in”
Credit: @Rpcpfc
In other news: ‘Onto the next one, sorry Donny pal’ – Many Palace fans react as Romano shares ‘bonkers’ update.
Everton have had one of the most impactful January transfer windows in the Premier League this month, making five signings and sacking Rafa Benitez, to replace him with Frank Lampard in a clear effort to improve and give the club the turn-around in their season that they desperately need.
It has been a season of nightmares for Toffees fans, with the side currently just four points off the relegation zone and Lampard’s first few Premier League games in charge will surely determine if Everton find themselves in a battle again the drop or whether they can turn the tide, pulling away from the bottom of the table with a run of winning form over the next few games.
One area that has been a major concern for the Merseyside club is their defence, albeit adding two new defenders to their squad in January.
The central defensive positions have been the focus of poor performances, with Yerry Mina only just returning from a long injury spell, the side has relied on Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey, who have been unable to stop the side from leaking goals with 35 conceded so far and only three clean sheets kept, with only Newcastle United recording less this season.
Holgate in particular has proven time and time again that he is incapable of offering performances that can be positively impactful in the team, and Lampard should be looking to axe the £64k-per-week dud from starting line ups if he wants to improve the defence in the remainder of the season.
From a red card in a dangerous challenge on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after just ten minutes on the pitch against Tottenham earlier this season to numerous poor performances that have left the centre back as the worst rated defender in the entire Everton squad this season according to SofaScore.
Lampard masterclass
With that being said, the new Everton boss could drop his first masterclass at Goodison Park by axing Holgate who was criticised for being “lethargic” by Everton journalist, David Prentice, and could form a dynamic defensive duo in Mina and Godfrey instead, with Godfrey offering more positive attributes in his position.
According to Squawka, the 24-year-old has made more tackles, more blocks, won 33 more ground duels and produced over twice as many clearances for the Toffees this season compared to Holgate, so it seems like he would be the best option for building a reliable partnership with Mina over the remaining months of the season.
Lampard will lead his updated Everton side out for the first time in their FA Cup clash against Brentford this weekend, and it will be interesting to see if he includes any of the new signings in his starting lineup and where he will make changes in the previous line-ups we have seen struggling under Benitez.
Either way, it is unlikely to include Holgate, someone let the former manager down on a regular basis.
In other news: Rafa Benitez struck gold with Demarai Gray
An exciting Newcastle United transfer update has emerged, regarding the club’s interest in Benfica’s Darwin Nunez…
What’s the talk?
Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves has claimed that the Magpies are keen on the 22-year-old forward, whilst they are also on the lookout for players with experience.
He Tweeted: “On second striker – #nufc rate Ekitike but nowhere near at the price they’ve been quoted. Some interest in Darwin Nunez as well but Benfica reluctant to sell. There’s a feeling amongst key members of the ownership that Premier League experience will be key in survival battle.”
Excitement
This update from Graves will surely excite Newcastle fans for multiple reasons. Firstly, it shows that they realise they need players who know how to perform in the English top-flight to get them out of the hole they are in.
The Magpies are 19th in the Premier League table and could be facing relegation unless they are able to turn things around quickly and pick up points to drag themselves out of the bottom three. This means that they need to sign players who can come in and hit the ground running.
Whilst it is possible for any new addition to do that, those who are already accustomed to performing in England’s top division will be able to instantly get going with no issues as they won’t need to adapt to the league. Whereas, someone coming in from a foreign division with no prior experience in the country may need time to find their feet and this could cost Newcastle points in the short-term.
However, there is a balance to be had and the claim that the club are keen on Darwin Nunez will surely excite the Toon Army irrespective of his lack of history in England. He has scored a whopping 13 goals in 14 league matches for Benfica in the Primeira Liga, showing that he can score on a consistent basis for the Portuguese giants.
The attacker has also scored three goals in two Champions League starts this season. This highlights his knack for finding the back of the net at the top level and suggests that he’d have a good chance of being a success for Newcastle, whilst he also has room to develop at the age of 22 and could be a signing for now and for the future.
Therefore, Newcastle could strike a balance between bringing in players with prior Premier League experience and finding talent from abroad with the potential to explode for Eddie Howe’s team in the coming months and years.
AND in other news, Imagine him & Wood: Romano drops big NUFC transfer claim that’ll infuriate Hammond…