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Newcastle United are struggling to score this season, which is concerning, for Eddie Howe’s side have been regarded as one of the most exciting attacking units in the Premier League over the past several seasons.

Last season, despite their injury-hit misfortune, the Magpies still boasted some almighty firepower, creating the joint-second-highest number of big chances for their forwards.

Of course, Alexander Isak was at the top of his game too, which helped the frontline’s fluency and then some. The Sweden international scored 25 goals across 40 matches in all competitions.

Alexander Isak's Newcastle future

Isak has not started the current campaign with the same aplomb as last year, perhaps something of a by-product after speculation about his future and interest from some of the Premier League’s heaviest hitters.

With only two goals and one assist over eight fixtures, it’s clear that the 25-year-old has several gears yet untapped in 2024/25, but it’s also patent that his failure to provide Howe’s outfit with the same level of scoring threat has been detrimental to the early-season results.

According to Football Insider, Isak’s camp have delayed talks on a new contract with the St. James’ Park side amid concerns about the club’s direction, currently mired in 12th place at the quarter-point of the campaign.

This is a concern insofar as Isak might be tempted by a move away sooner rather than later, but he is still contracted until the end of the 2027/28 season and would require prospective suitors to pay through the nose to allow him to leave early.

Should that happen, however, it would be wise for Howe and co to come up with some contingency plans, identify a potential successor. Luckily, the perfect striker could move to Tyneside next year.

Newcastle eyeing new striker

This summer, there was plenty of noise around Jonathan David and his future with LOSC Lille. Despite internal acceptance that he would be on the move, David still plies his trade for the French Ligue 1 club.

The Chronicle Live have recently reported that Newcastle are still interested in the striker they had eyed in the summer, though they will have to pay a hefty agent fee and would do well to hit the top four in the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona all listed as rival suitors.

Out of contract at the end of the campaign and with no hint of a renewal, one lucky European outfit is going to hit the jackpot next summer, and Newcastle must ensure they are the prize winners.

The 24-year-old has found plenty of goalscoring success across the opening years of his career, but has spoken in the past of his desire to play in the Premier League and could do exactly that with a move to Newcastle.

Why Jonathan David could replace Isak

David’s ability to make incremental improvements to his game, season on season, has put him in conversations to join clubs like Newcastle.

His speed, technical ability and intelligence as the focal frontman present elements that make the perfect Premier League striker, having now spent several years sharpening his skills in France too.

Though a move failed to materialise, he’s hardly let that affect his displays on the field, swiftly reorienting himself following those dizzy months of uncertainty and posting 11 goals and two assists across 16 matches this season – including three in two Champions League games against the Madrid superpowers.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of centre-forwards across the whole of Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored per 90 and the top 4% for pass completion, further highlighting his ball-striking ability but also his link-up play.

That latter metric is particularly pertinent in considering his suitability under Howe’s Magpie wing, for Newcastle operate with slick and high-intensity attacking play, seeking patterns and control through fluid motions.

David was described as “one of the best strikers in the world” by reporter Tony Marinaro back in 2022, such has been the potency of his attacking performances.

Though the Premier League brings toughness of a different scale to many hopeful additions, the Canada international has proven his worth in the Champions League and on the international stage and offers the right kind of skillset.

In fact, with the 32-year-old Callum Wilson, who has been sidelined for the entirety of the campaign, out of contract next June, United should seriously consider launching a move for David regardless of Isak’s future, for the sharpshooting duo could work in tandem, or David Isak’s foil, rekindling that former brilliance that burst from the attacking line.

Ultimately, Newcastle’s hopes of signing such a player will hinge primarily on their powers of recovery after a middling start to the season.

But if Isak is sold, there would be room for a new number nine, and who better than David? He’s one of the finest goalscorers in the business, and available on a free at that.

Almiron upgrade: Newcastle may have already sold their own Semenyo

Newcastle already sold their own Semenyo in “special” talent.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 26, 2024

Details of Cole Palmer's contract at Chelsea have been revealed amid speculation it contains a release clause relating to the Champions League.

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• Palmer contracted to Chelsea until 2033
• Speculation about UCL exit clause in his deal
• Blues currently sixth in Premier League table

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer has cemented his status as Chelsea's talisman after joining the Blues from Manchester City in September 2023. The England star's sensational performances saw them lock him down to a new contract in August 2024 that means he is tied to the club until 2033.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There has been speculation that Palmer's contract includes a release clause that means the Blues could be forced to consider offers for him if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. Yet this is wide of the mark, according to reporter , as no Chelsea player has a clause allowing them to leave if the club fail to qualify for Europe's premier club competition. However, Palmer's deal is described as "incentive-driven" and contains incremental wage increases.

• TELL ME MORE

  Enzo Maresca's side are currently facing a real battle to qualify for next season's Champions League. Chelsea sit down in sixth place in the table but are just a point behind Manchester City in fourth spot. The Chelsea boss insisted at the start of the season that "nobody from the club asked me for the Champions League this year."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA

  Chelsea are on a poor run of form currently but will hope to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior insists the club ordered him not to attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony, as Rodri beat him to the top prize.

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• Rodri awarded Ballon d'Or
• Vinicius & Co. famously snubbed gala
• Madrid made decision to snub ceremony

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vinicius was snubbed at the Ballon d'Or ceremony, as Manchester City's Rodri won the top prize instead. Vinicius has now revealed that the decision not to attend the ceremony was not entirely his own; he claims he was ordered not to attend by the club.

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  Madrid and Vinicius' decision not to go sparked controversy, and the Brazil star was later supported by multiple team-mates and luminaries from around football, including Cristiano Ronaldo. He insists he has "never dreamed" of winning the Ballon d'Or, but hopes to add to his burgeoning trophy cabinet soon.

• WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID

  Vinicius told reporters: "I didn't feel betrayed [by not winning]. There are people who vote for what they believe. I have my thoughts, my team-mates too. I have never dreamed of winning the Ballon d'Or. Of course, when you're close to winning it you want to win it, but I'll have options to win other awards. I've already won two Champions Leagues and I'm here to win a lot more."

  Asked about not attending the ceremony, he added: "Always the club's [decision]. I do what the club tells me to do. They asked me to stay in Madrid and I did it calmly."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Madrid play Atletico Madrid in a huge derby in the Champions League on Tuesday. Vinicius will have to be at his best if they are to progress.

It’s no secret that Chelsea haven’t been afraid to splash the cash since the arrival of owner Todd Boehly back in May 2022 – spending over £1.2bn on new signings in the process.

The money spent has allowed for a complete overhaul of the first-team squad, handing boss Enzo Maresca all the tools to be a success during his debut season at the helm in West London.

Various big-money attackers have arrived at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of years, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto up there with the biggest fees spent on players during the American’s reign as owner.

The Ukrainian cost the club a whopping £88.5m, with Neto setting Boehly back around £54m after his surprise summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, neither have yet been able to reach the level of one star who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his own time as a player with the Blues.

Eden Hazard’s time at Chelsea

Belgian winger Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea back in the summer of 2012 as an unknown quantity to many, but quickly introduced himself to the Blues faithful, rapidly becoming a fan favourite.

He quickly caught the eye with his direct dribbling ability, breezing past many opposition players – with his eye for goal also notable during his seven years at the Bridge.

Hazard registered a total of 110 goals within his 352 appearances for the Blues, winning six major trophies during his time in England, which includes two separate Europa League triumphs in 2013 and 2019.

The one goal that could sum up his talent during his time with the Blues is his solo effort against London rivals Arsenal, picking the ball up just inside the opponent’s half before shrugging off multiple players before dinking the ‘keeper and slotting the ball home.

He would subsequently leave the club back in the summer of 2019, joining Real Madrid in a £150m deal – a move that would see his career rapidly decline with injuries plaguing his time in Spain.

However, it will never tarnish his legacy as a Chelsea player, undoubtedly going down as one of the very best players in their recent history – with no player more able to turn a game on its head like Hazard did.

Arguably, the club have struggled to replace him five years on from his departure, but they could be handed an opportunity to finally end their hunt in January with a move for one talent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The player who could be Chelsea’s next Hazard

According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have sent scouts to keep a close eye on Lyon winger Rayan Cherki over a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the French talent, with fellow Premier League side Newcastle United also firmly in the race for his signature.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 campaign, registering two goals and three assists in his first nine outings in all competitions.

Cherki has previously been compared to Hazard, with French football expert Jonathan Johnson previously saying:

Such a comparison may seem far-fetched, but when delving into his stats from the Europa League so far this season, it’s clear he possesses serious talent which could see the Blues land another version of the Belgian.

In his three European outings this season, he’s averaged a staggering nine progressive passes per 90, along with five successful take-ons – with both figures ranking him within the top 1% of players in the competition. Hazard was one of the finest dribblers in the Premier League so the comparison begins to make sense here.

The “world-class” Cherki, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also averaged 5.8 key passes and 2.5 through balls per 90, showcasing his ability to find teammates in attacking areas, potentially benefitting the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

Whilst it’s unknown how much any potential deal would set Maresca’s side back in January, it’s evident that he would be a superb addition that would bring added firepower in attacking areas.

His comparison to former fan-favourite Hazard would see him bring huge excitement to Stamford Bridge in the club’s hunt to return to a Champions League finish this season.

Boehly must permanently axe Chelsea flop who earns even more than Palmer

Chelsea need to sell a player who’s earning even more than Cole Palmer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 5, 2024

Already eyeing his first arrival at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim has reportedly told INEOS to sign a left-back upgrade on Luke Shaw in 2025, with Manchester United now set to hold internal talks.

Man Utd transfer news

There’s plenty of work to be done at Manchester United. Erik ten Hag joined an increasing list of names to have failed at Old Trafford since the Sir Alex Ferguson era, with the vintage United DNA rapidly becoming nothing more than a slogan. However, Amorim has the chance to finally stop that trend.

After his success at Sporting CP – even defeating Manchester City in his final home game – the young manager will be desperate to finally turn the Red Devils back towards success.

Amorim, like INEOS and sporting director Dan Ashworth, should be well aware of just how many reinforcements the current United side needs after the Ten Hag era saw transfer flops like Antony arrive – and the transfer rumours are seemingly already underway on that front.

Man Utd battling to sign "incredible" Amorim target; £67m release clause

He may cost a hefty fee…

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 17, 2024

According to CaughtOffside, Amorim has told INEOS to sign Alvaro Carreras in what would be an upgrade on the injury-prone Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. The left-back position has been an area of concern for some time at Old Trafford, with Diogo Dalot forced to fill in instead of playing his natural right-back role – but Carreras could quickly solve that problem.

Of course, the Red Devils could have saved themselves some money by simply keeping hold of the 21-year-old instead of sanctioning his permanent move to Benfica, but learning from their mistakes is key. With Manchester United set to hold internal talks over the left-back position and holding a buy-back clause for the 21-year-old, Carreras could be one of the first names mentioned.

"Exciting" Carreras can replace Luke Shaw

Once dubbed “one of Carrington’s most exciting talents” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, it’s still slightly baffling as to why Manchester United allowed Carreras to complete a permanent move away during the summer.

After all, Shaw’s injury problems are no secret; they’ve followed him for the majority of his career. At such a young age, Carreras should have always been lined up to replace the England international.

With the chance to make things right in 2025, the Red Devils have the opportunity to welcome Carreras back with open arms to replace Shaw once and for all at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, for the left-back himself, he should see a second spell as the chance to prove previous doubters wrong in the Premier League.

If the defender is truly among Amorim’s initial targets, INEOS may well be wise to hand the former Sporting boss the perfect welcome gift and rewrite their regretful decision last summer in the process.

The American defender played all 90 minutes, denying Ipswich a goal as Palace earned a crucial three points in Premier League action

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• Crystal Palace defeat Ipswich 1-0
• USMNT defender Chris Richards plays 90 minutes
• Center back helps record clean sheet

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Chris Richards helped lead Crystal Palace to an important three points in a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town in Premier League action on Saturday.

  The 24-year-old completed the most passes of the match, connecting on 37, six tackles, and won nine duels in an important defensive performance that led to a clean sheet and a huge win.

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  The lone goal on the day came off the boot of winger Ismaila Sarr, who chipped Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer from close range after playing a lovely one-two pass with Daichi Kamada on the edge of the box.

  Palace move up to 11th in the standings with the win, one point ahead of 12th place Brentford and seven points shy of European soccer next season.

  Fellow U.S. international Matt Turner went unused as the backup goalkeeper on the bench.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Since the start of the new year, Palace have lost just two matches and drawn just once across 12 matches in all competitions, recording nine wins during the span. Saturday marked their fourth-straight win.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RICHARDS?

  Palace next return to the pitch after the international break when they take on Fulham in the FA Cup on March 29. Richards, meanwhile, is expected to be a part of the USMNT roster for the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals during the break.

Manchester United are believed to be having internal talks over the signing of a “versatile” player who won a major European trophy last season.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils now have a new manager in place in Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese no doubt keen to bring in footballers who suit his style of play in the coming transfer windows.

One player who has been linked with a move to United is Ousmane Diomande, who Amorim worked with at Sporting CP, making him one of their most important individuals. The centre-back is still only 20 years of age, and he potentially has a huge future in the game.

Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez has also emerged as a hugely exciting option for the Red Devils, with the 27-year-old standing out as one of Europe’s most ruthless strikers in recent years. He has scored 135 goals in 297 appearances for Inter, as well as 32 in 70 caps for Argentina.

One Premier League player who has been linked with joining United is Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro, who has impressed for Spurs so far this season, proving to be a regular starter and providing both defensive resilience and attacking quality. Now, another individual has been mentioned as a target for the Red Devils.

Man United hold talks over signing "versatile" ace

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg on X, Manchester United are interested in signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson, holding internal talks about a potential move for him:

Ederson could be exactly what United are looking for at the base of the midfield, with the 25-year-old providing the legs that Casemiro can seemingly no longer offer, certainly in comparison to his peak years.

The Atalanta ace won the Europa League with his current club last season, helping them beat much-fancied Bayer Leverkusen in the final, and South American football expert Tim Vickery has said of him:

“24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues.”

For too long, United’s midfield has been far too easy to run through, with a lack of organisation and energy on show, but in Ederson, they would be signing a player who can make such a difference sitting in front of the defence, giving Amorim’s side a more solid look immediately.

Man Utd frontrunners in race to sign £67m ace ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea

He could solve their defensive problems.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 22, 2024

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.

This was a weekend that would have left most homegrown stars missing their old surroundings, however. There were some shock results and below-par performances across Europe's major leagues that could have a huge bearing on the race for silverware, with a certain England Under-21 international guilty of costing his team in a crucial game.

Every Monday this season, GOAL brings you the latest on British stars abroad, what they're getting up to, who is reaching the greatest heights and who needs to come home. Let's dive in…

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  Kane spot-kick saves Bayern

  Mainz's trip to the Allianz Arena was not supposed to be a happy one. Urs Fischer's side were sat rock bottom of the Bundesliga with only six points and one win to their name from 13 games before their clash with Bayern Munich, who, in stark contrast, had picked up 37 points from a possible 39 to top the table once again.

  For much of the first half, the match went according to script, with Bayern dominating and taking the lead on the half-hour mark through 17-year-old sensation Lennart Karl. But out of nowhere, Kacper Potulski headed in an equaliser just before the break, and Jae-sung Lee nodded the visitors in front in the 67th minute, leaving Bayern staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat.

  In the end, though, they were bailed out by the irrepressible Harry Kane. The England captain won a penalty with only three minutes of normal time remaining and stepped up to convert it in trademark fashion. Bayern pushed for a third thereafter, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw, which preserved their unbeaten league record in 2025-26, but was still a major shock, as Kane himself admitted.

  "We were in complete control for the first 44 minutes and had many chances to score. The sudden equaliser just before half-time changed the momentum. We came out of the break dominant again, but lacked the last touch," the 32-year-old told reporters. "They then scored a nice goal, and we had to fight back. Mainz fought hard and gave it their all; they did a good job. We've had a lot of games in a short period, but that's no excuse. Of course, we wanted to go into the winter break with two wins. A draw at home is disappointing, but we have to accept it and move on."

  There was, however, a notable consolation for Kane, who brought up his 50th goal for Bayern in 2025. That's the first time he has ever reached a half-century for his club in a calendar year, and new landmarks are getting harder to come by for a player who has broken records for fun since moving to Germany. Kane wasn't at his best against Mainz, but still made the difference when his team needed it most, and this will no doubt only be a hiccup for Vincent Kompany's all-conquering side.

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  Jude shines again for sloppy Real

  Dutch icon Ruud Gullit claimed Jude Bellingham is Real Madrid's best player and called the England midfielder a "victim" after Xabi Alonso's side went down 2-1 at home against Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. Bellingham certainly worked harder than any other Madrid player in that contest, and that was the case again during their latest La Liga outing against Alaves on Sunday.

  Madrid emerged 2-1 winners to ease the pressure on Alonso and stay within touch of Barcelona at the Liga summit, but it wasn't pretty. There were sloppy displays all over the pitch once again, with Toni Rudiger the man at fault for Alaves' surprise equaliser in the 68th minute. 

  Moments of individual quality from Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo got Madrid over the line, but it was Bellingham who led by example. His tireless efforts in the middle of the park prevented Los Blancos from capitulating against a determined opponent, with the 22-year-old posting six recoveries and eight duel wins over the 90 minutes.

  Speculation over Alonso's position will continue, but he is convinced that the dressing room is still behind him, as he told reporters after the final whistle: “We’re all in this together. We’re fighting through the good times and the not-so-good times. Today, with the conditions we had, the team competed very well.” And no one epitomised that fighting spirit more than Bellingham.

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  Rashford takes backseat to Raphinha

  Barcelona maintained their four-point lead over Real Madrid with a routine 2-0 victory over Osasuna at the renovated Camp Nou. Hansi Flick's side are purring again after an inconsistent start to the campaign, and it's no coincidence their upturn in form has coincided with Raphinha's return from injury.

  The Brazilian was the match-winner on Saturday with a second-half brace, and his first goal was particularly impressive. He rifled the ball into the corner from just outside the box after picking up a pass from Pedri, showing once again that he only needs a sight of the posts to make a devastating impact.

  The same cannot be said for Marcus Rashford at the moment, though. The Manchester United loanee failed to score for the fifth league game in a row, and was largely ineffective. He missed one big chance, lost possession 20 times and didn't post a single accurate cross before being replaced by Frenkie de Jong in the 74th minute.

  Rashford was always heavily involved in Barca's build-up play, but he does not yet match up to the likes of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal for quality. He's still too wasteful in the critical moments and needs to show more composure, as reflected by his underwhelming record of just six goals in 22 appearances for the club in all competitions to date.

  Still, the fact that he is still playing regularly for one of Europe's finest teams is a real feather in his cap. Rashford has earned the trust of Flick, who hailed the 28-year-old's "fantastic mentality" in the build-up to the game. He won't start as often now Raphinha is back, but Rashford has an important role to play in Barca's latest assault on three trophy fronts, and if he can improve his decision-making, he may yet earn the permanent move to Catalunya that he craves.

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  Dortmund drop points after Jobe red

  Jobe Bellingham just cannot catch a break. The former Sunderland ace has struggled to prove himself since his summer move to Dortmund, but played the full 90 minutes of their 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League last week, and impressed enough to retain his place in Niko Kovac's starting XI for a trip to Freiburg on Sunday.

  Dortmund could have closed the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern to seven points with a victory, and they looked on course for exactly that when Ramy Bensebaini opened the scoring in the 31st minute. But early in the second half, the momentum of the game switched.

  Gregor Kobel played a hospital pass into Bellingham instead of clearing his lines as Freiburg pressed hard to win back possession, and Philipp Treu nipped in ahead of the 20-year-old. Bellingham had no choice but stick out a leg and try to stop the Freiburg full-back, but didn't make contact with the ball and inadvertently tripped him just as it looked like he would race through one-vs-one with Kobel.

  The referee had little choice but to show Bellingham a red card for denying Freiburg a clear scoring opportunity. It was his first sending off in a Dortmund shirt and only the second of his career, which must have been very hard to take under the circumstances. Kobel, after all, was the one culpable, not Bellingham.

  Dortmund subsequently lost control of the game with only 10 men, and Freiburg eventually stole a point thanks to an acrobatic finish from Lucas Holer. Bellingham will now serve a minimum one-game suspension, meaning he will miss BVB's final league game of the year against Borussia Monchengladbach. 

  There will be no rap on the knuckles for the Birmingham City academy graduate behind the scenes, though. "It was a chain of events, it was avoidable. In that action, there are many things you can do better. Jobe tries to save it. Someone always ends up being involved – this time it was Jobe," Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said to the media.

  Kobel, meanwhile, had the good grace to accept the responsibility for the incident: "I have to see that better, I have to help Jobe there. I’m sorry for him. In the end I’m happy to take the blame, that’s okay."

Everton have struggled through the 2024/25 campaign and, having been dispatched by Manchester United to kickstart a spate of difficult December fixtures in the Premier League, wobble on the precipice.

Sean Dyche, in any case, teeters on the edge, his place in the manager’s seat looking less certain by the week. While the Toffees displayed signs of life in the opening half-hour against the Red Devils, it is perhaps for that reason that Everton need to enforce change.

There are flashes of something… more, and in order to realise that potential, the Toffees might be wise to pounce on one of the potential replacements that have already been sounded out.

Everton eyeing Dyche replacements

At the end of November, TEAMtalk revealed that Everton had compiled a shortlist of managers to replace Dyche, should results fail to upswing before the new year.

With The Friedkin Group set to purchase majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake in the Merseyside outfit, change is going to be afoot, and though former Premier League managers Graham Potter and Maurizio Sarri are shortlisted, Everton should turn their attention toward up-and-coming Edin Terzic.

The 42-year-old left the Signal Iduna Park dugout at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and, having once served as Slaven Bilic’s understudy at West Ham United, could bring fresh ideas back to the Premier League with an Everton side crying out for inspiration.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Why Edin Terzic would be the perfect fit

Terzic took Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season, and though the Yellow Wall performed admirably against Real Madrid, there’s a certain inevitability about Los Blancos, who weathered a storm and struck to lift a record-extending 15th trophy.

Dortmund’s Gio Reyna once gushed over the German’s “high-intensity” brand of football, with his principal 4-3-3 formation sure to open up a new layer of ball-playing success for the Toffees too, spreading out midfield parts to ensure sweeping coverage of the middle of the park.

Dyche’s Everton have claimed the paltriest possession average from any Premier League team this season, and though his counter-attacking style has had its benefits in the past, the dismal defensive display that was put in against Man United last weekend suggests that even his usual steely framework is splintering and teetering on collapse.

Everton need energising, and Terzic could be the perfect man for the job, perhaps even able to use some of his Dortmund links to bring in up-and-coming talent from the Bundesliga to commence his prospective reign.

Known for building strong player-coach connections with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, while also having worked under Jurgen Klopp in Dortmund’s youth teams, it seems like a no-brainer, for he would turn Everton toward a more modern and exciting brand of football.

Ultimately, Dyche will be afforded more time, but with West Ham seemingly eyeing up their former assistant as Julen Lopetegui continues to struggle in east London, the Blues might want to act swiftly to finally give rise to a promising future.

TFG must ditch Everton star who "looked about 90 years old" vs Man Utd

Sean Dyche’s Everton were thrashed at Old Trafford to compound their struggles.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 2, 2024

Criticism of USMNT's effort and "want to win" are largely off the mark, yet there remain a litany of tactical issues to be addressed

Welcome to the U.S. men's national team panic sphere, where this team is suddenly "in crisis." It's a tragic place for a soccer team to reside. It doesn't really anything. What it does do, though, is fuel the kind of nonsensical rhetoric so often found around this most puzzling of footballing entities.

On Thursday night, the U.S. lost 1-0 to Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals. It was a pretty bad one. Mauricio Pochettino got his tactics wrong. Panama defended very, very well. Throw in some poor goalkeeping from Matt Turner at the death, a couple of puzzling non-subtitutions, and it was the perfect storm – a picture-book international smash and grab from the Panamanian perspective.

The U.S., as a result, will not play for the opportunity to defend their Nations League crown. Instead, they will face Canada in a not-really-that-happy-to-be-here third-place match at 6 pm ET Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This, in the eyes of many, means the U.S. soccer world is ending. There have been cries for more "intensity" and "grit" and "passion."

There are references to the good old days, when mid-table Premier League players such as Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, plus a plucky bunch of MLS fillers and European exiles willed their way to a series of dramatic, heroic failures by simply shouting at each other and wanting it more.

And so the rhetoric rumbles on around the national team. These are common themes, this central idea that American ideals – a "pull yourselves up by your bootstraps" style of soccer – is needed to push this overtly European looking side to victory.

Even Pochettino said after the loss that the USMNT "need to find a way to compete better. I don't like to say that. We are the USA, but you can't win with your shirt. You cannot win because you play here or there. You need to show and you need to come here and be better and suffer and win duels and work hard."

But that continuous insistence on "fight" is a vast oversimplification of a far more complex problem. These are a lot of good footballers who really do want to win when they step on the pitch. The Panama fixture was far more indicative of a lacking player pool and poor tactical nous – weighed down by an expectation of excellence that is unrealistic to place on a series of talented yet flawed players.

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  The burdens of the past

  The United States has a puzzling history when it comes to its men's national soccer team. Like many nations, it has a series of signature moments. There was the famous 1-0 win over England at the 1950 World Cup, the "Dos a Cero" over Mexico 52 years later, Donovan's winner against Algeria, Tim Howard's 16 saves in defeat to Belgium.

  Soccer is relatively new in this country, its culture still brewing, but there are still touchpoints to be found.

  What it lacks, though, is a clear soccer identity. And that is the problem. There is no recognizable game-model to fall on, or signature style to harken back to. Spain keep the ball and pass you to sleep. Germany run and press. Brazil are more technically skilled. England – also quite good at losing in big moments – are stronger.

  But modern football requires a top-to-bottom set of principles as to how a team should play with the ball. Instead, the U.S. seems to run off platitudes. They are going to "fight harder" than you. They just "want it more." They have that "dog" in them. And, ironically, for some time, that was enough. The United States made a living in the early to mid 2000s off being the plucky underdog side that could dig in, win its tackles, defend the box, and hit on the break.

  For a generation of players, that was a calling card. Mix that intensity with a few talented individuals playing above the level of everyone else, and it worked a charm. Donovan, Dempsey, Howard, Michael Bradley – total Champions League appearances, 10 – were treated like national heroes. These guys became known for their fighting spirit, mostly because it was the way they could win.

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  Change, change, change

  The irony is, playing off emotion can only last for so long. It also relies heavily on the assumption that each wave of players thinks, acts and responds in the same way. But these are abstract qualities that don't exist in every footballer.

  The U.S. was, in some senses, lucky that a group of players with similar mentalities came through at the same time. There was a collegiality here that really counted for something. Still, look at the results, and there isn't much to fall back on. The actual material stuff in the trophy cabinet holds little value.

  The USMNT have won the Gold Cup – a competition that is increasingly a glorified set of summer friendlies between reserve teams – seven times. Elsewhere, they have slightly overperformed in the occasional World Cup, but always lost at the expected time (thus explaining the hunt for an elusive "signature win.") Tim Howard's performance against Belgium is remembered fondly in American circles, but came in a 2-1 loss to a vastly superior team.

  Expectations, we are told, should be different now. In this generation – and no, it is not "golden" – the U.S. has its most talented group of footballers ever. Position for position, on quality alone, they would likely beat any other era of American side.

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  A program revamp and the expectations

  The difference, now, is that there is pressure on a manager to get it all right. And the U.S. has tried and failed for some time. That famous loss to Trinidad and Tobago that ushered out the "dog" era came with a new face in the dugout and a litany of new names worked into the mix. But even that soon turned stale.

  The last 18 months of the Gregg Berhalter era felt like a sporting funeral procession. There was an understanding among many observers – often unspoken – that the former Columbus crew manager was not good enough to carry the U.S. through another World Cup cycle. He was considered, in some ciricles, fortunate to be in charge for Copa America.

  And he proved as such in 270 minutes at that tournament. The U.S., of course, went out in the groups, losing to – and here's the kicker – Panama, in one of the more underwhelming major tournament performances from a host nation in recent memory. Berhalter went unceremoniously, and there were very few who felt particularly bad about it.

  A new face had to come in. So arrived Mauricio Pochettino, experienced club manager, expected to play savior. The early signs were good. A win over – you guessed it – Panama opened his reign with promise.

  A comprehensive defeat in Mexico was cast aside and tagged down, fairly, to a litany of injury issues and player absences. Jamaica were handily done away with in November, before January camp was negotiated with the kind of sigh appropriate for a 10-day period in which nothing of consequence ever happens.

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  Panama and what went wrong

  The Nations League is a curious thing. For non-host nations, there are implications associated with seeding and World Cup qualification. For the USMNT, hosts of the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, it serves as more of a pin in an imaginary board, a date circled on a calendar.

  There is a vague importance to all of this, if only because there is a game to be played – and the USMNT had never lost in the tournament. This new generation had another shot to prove that it could shake off the burdens of the old.

  Pochettino himself stressed the importance of defending the Nations League title, both near and long-term.

  "I want to win the competition," he said earlier this week, "because that is going to help us to build our confidence and trust in the way that we are going to need. At the same time, we need to be intelligent, to try to discover the best players and to build a strong core of the team that has the possibility to fight for big things. That mentality is about now, winning."

  "The objective is the World Cup, and I think we are translating the idea that we need to compete in our best way and win the tournament because I think it's important for the future. In one year, we want to compete for the big trophy: the World Cup."

  And as a result, Pochettino, groovy, shouty, and all, sincerely tried here. There was a formation in place, with footballers assigned to play them. What looked like a five at the back on paper turned into something resembling a 4-2-3-1 in possession. Yunus Musah looked like a right back on the team sheet, but spent a good portion of the game playing as an extra center midfielder or floating in the high right half space. There were, to be sure, ideas.

  But Panama were good – very good. Like any shrewd opponent playing away from home, they set up to lose. Two banks of five parried away every U.S. attack with relative ease. They never really tried to keep the ball, and ensured that they didn't have it in areas where they could be pressed.

  They completed 320 passes to the USMNT's 645. And when Cecilio Waterman, a 33-year-old forward who plays his football for Coquimbo Unido of the Chilean League, was given his chance in the 94th minute, he buried it. This was counter-attacking football in all of its whimsy.