Carragher poignantly tweeted a picture of a pint of Carlsberg and captioned the image: “If Carlsberg did weekends.”
We can’t say that we advocate Carragher’s choice of beer, but those four words were enough to capture the feeling of anyone and everyone who wakes up every Saturday wondering how many mere mortals Virgil van Dijk will embarrass that day.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
You just knew this was going to happen wasn’t it? Manchester United’s decision to get rid of Romelu Lukaku in the summer transfer window brought some consternation from a section of the Old Trafford faithful, and it was understandable to say the least. The Belgium international may have not had the greatest campaigns last season (he scored just 15 times across all competitions), but he remained a proven forward in the Premier League. To then not replace him, made it even more eyebrow-raising.
How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…
And now, the struggles of Marcus Rashford up top have only served to heighten the potential regret of letting Lukaku go. The England international has scored just three times in the league and only once from open play, while the latter has hit the ground running in Italian football with Inter. The graphic below simply shows the extent of United’s foolishness. It really is a case of look away now, Red Devils fans.
Leading the line for Antonio Conte’s men in Serie A, Lukaku has yet to disappoint his new employers. The Belgian has struck three times in just his first six league games for the club, and all of them have been trademark predatory finishes. His goal on his debut for the club was essentially a tap-in – the exact kind of goals United are desperately missing at the moment, and Solskjaer himself has urged his strikers to score more of.
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Perhaps most dishearteningly however for the Red Devils, is the stat that shows he has averaged one tackle per game in the league.
Doesn’t sound like much, but for a forward, and for what Lukaku produced in his two seasons with United, that is particularly impressive. The 26-year-old averaged just o.2 tackles and 0.3 tackles per game in consecutive Premier League campaigns, whilst Solskjaer has appeared to prefer an approach that focuses on pressing from the front – not the kind of style their former forward had made a name for.
But at Inter, and under the demanding gaze of the manic Conte, the Belgium international has bought into the off-the-ball work. He has hustled opposition defenders, used his sheer physical presence to win battles against centre-backs, and led the line with aplomb.
Forget the fact he has scored three goals, or that his shots and key passes per game have gone up from his United days. It’s his tackling numbers that really prove why Solskjaer passed judgement over Lukaku far too quickly. It seems it was never the case that the Belgian couldn’t press from the front, he just needed the right man to get it out of him.
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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.
When a man who came through the infamous La Masia academy for two years during his youth career arrived at Elland Road, there would have been a sense of excitement.
Perhaps there would also have been an expectation on Rafa Mujica’s shoulders too.
Reflecting upon things, a striker who scored ten times at senior level for Barcelona B may have just had Ryan Edmondson on his toes.
Leeds have a number of young promising attackers, not least in Edmondson himself but also Liam McCarron and Kun Temenuzkhov.
Competition for places in the U23s is fierce but it was perhaps strange that they brought in Mujica and then almost instantly loaned him out.
The 20-year-old was shipped out to the second division in Spain where so far, he’s played just two games for Extremadura UD.
During his loan spell he’s featured for only 30 minutes. Things haven’t gone according to plan for the Spaniard or his team who sit 21st in the Segunda Division without a win.
After six games they’ve scored just four goals and Mujica has rarely been seen. If he’s struggling to get into a poor side the future doesn’t particularly bode well for him ahead of the rest of the campaign.
Leeds stated when they signed the young striker that he’d go straight into the youth setup at Thorp Arch where he would develop his game.
That decision was eventually thrown out the window as he was sent to Spain to continue his progress. On the face of it, it was a decision that made sense, but it’s strange when you’ve only just signed the player.
At the age of 20, you need to be playing but considering Leeds was his first move abroad, time to settle in England should have been considered – especially if they see a future for him.
However, it does serve as good news for Edmondson.
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The teenager has appeared for the Leeds senior team in the past but may have feared for his future when both Mujica and McCarron walked through the door over the summer.
The former has more experience at senior level, playing 78 times as opposed to Edmondson’s two.
But the way things have played out, Edmondson should still feel as though he’s at the top of the pecking order in terms of the academy strikers coming through the ranks.
Mujica is so far struggling to make an impact and with his side doing so badly, confidence is unlikely to be too high.
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All summer long we have been waiting for Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane to fully arrive on the scene.
And so far, five games into the new 2019/20 La Liga season and with the Champions League opener behind us, it’s safe to say that we still haven’t seen them properly. Los Blancos have dropped points in two out of their five games in the Spanish domestic league and have suffered a rather embarrassing defeat in Europe, at the hands of the mighty Paris Saint-Germain.
By all accounts, the Real Madrid revolution has definitely been put on hold, at least for the time being.
But despite the early hiccups, it took Zidane just one game to once again plant the seed of hope into the Madridistas and wash away the outcries of a crisis that were brewing beneath their feet.
The Galacticos’ visit to Sevilla last weekend seemed to have been everything the doctor ordered and more as the merry little squad from the Spanish capital not only managed to avoid defeat at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan but they also snatched away all three points with a clean sheet on top of it.
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That victory was more than just your ordinary league win, one that Real Madrid would put into their books without breaking a sweat, just like back in the day when they were getting them for fun. Of course, nowadays, and especially this season, every point they tally feels well earned and definitely more important than ever.
And precisely for that reason, that Sevilla clash should definitely be Zidane’s blueprint, his guiding star for the upcoming fixtures that are bound to give Los Blancos a run for their money. First up is Osasuna, and while the newly-promoted side could look like someone Real Madrid can bully and take all the three points from rather easily, looks can definitely deceive.
We don’t have to look much farther than the Galacticos’ arch-rivals, Barcelona.
The Catalans visited Osasuna in Pamplona back on matchday three and after a real rollercoaster of a game, the two sides shared the spoils of war in a 2-2 draw. If anything, Real Madrid must not underestimate their Wednesday opposition. But that’s not the key thing Zidane has to take into that clash. It’s important, of course, but not key.
The key is in Real Madrid riding the Sevilla wave, sticking to their guns and doing what they now know works.
Whether it was a change in tactics, a different kind of pep talk before the game or simply the players finally coming as one and playing on the same page, understanding their coach’s instructions and applying them, something clicked in Andalusia.
For those 90 minutes, even though they were far from perfect, they looked like a team that wanted to win and more importantly, that knew how to.
In the past, this wouldn’t be a surprise. After all, if anyone knows how to win then that’s Real Madrid, right? And having won everything there is to win, it’s also not a surprise they’re experiencing a slight dip.
That game against Sevilla, though, showed that they are a disciplined team that work had in defence, attack with vigour and can stay consistent and focused throughout the whole game.
Interestingly enough, those are some of the exact things that they were struggling with at the very beginning of the campaign and even before that, in pre-season. But now we know they are working on it and they are improving, and it’s already showing in the results.
So the most important thing is to keep the momentum going and not tamper too much with a system that has given Zidane one of his big breakthroughs of the ongoing campaign.
It may not definitely be his perfect formula, considering there are still some players out of commission and some are only just returning to action, but it seems to be rather close to it.
Now he has to stick with it and polish it as much as he can. It all starts with Osasuna on Wednesday.
Let’s see how they do.
With the EFL discussing ending the current tv blackout of 3pm kick offs, I wonder how long it will take for the Premier League to also start looking at tv options and the constant fixture changes?
With the world at a standstill not long back, with lockdowns and restrictions to attending live games, the football world illustrated perfectly it was able to screen all games to keep us football fans happy and connected to our clubs.
I think there are those amongst us now, who would prefer to slow down, and watch some of the games at the more traditional Saturday 3pm instead of scrambling around for all the different kick off times. As Simon Jordan said in his TalkSport show , ‘Live is live’ and those who enjoy getting to the game, will still do exactly that. But for those that have responded to the slow down during the pandemic, surely it is time for sport to look again as to how people consume the game and how best to cater for it?
Fans of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday will no doubt be aware that, after 25 years presenting the show, Jeff Stelling is stepping down at the end of the season and he has partnered with Abbot Ale to introduce a new pint drinking concept to British pub culture.
Football is amongst the top ten activities we like to do, when not working – and with the UK being amongst the worst in Europe for long working hours, it does look like there is an appetite for having a re-think over work to life priorities.
Abbot Ale revealed that Brits expect to be able to slow down at the age of 43 – after living a ‘fast paced’ life for 25 years. They questioned 2000 people and almost half agreed the slower pace during lockdown was enjoyable.
That is why Abbot Ale is on a mission to get the nation to slow down and savour.
Jeff Stelling is set to spread the slow down message, explaining;
“As I get a little older, I am trying to slow down! Life is still so frantic but I want to enjoy pleasures like a dog walk, a round of golf or especially a good pint! I say cheers to those who have the option of slowing down that bit sooner than me!”
And after 25 years fronting Soccer Saturday, no one can disagree that Jeff deserves some time to slow down and chill.
TOP 10 ACTIVITIES BRITS DO – WHEN THEY SLOW DOWN:
And some work together very nicely don’t they? I like to walk to a pub, have a pint, a meal, watch the football, then walk home….!
Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left bemoaning some news that has emerged on Graeme Murty.
As per the official website of the Ibrox faithful, Murty, who is the Head of Elite Academy Development, will now be leaving the club after five years.
He has played a leading role in the development of the Academy players over the years, as the Light Blues noted his success in leading their development squad in the Scottish Premiership Reserve League and managing their first steps into the UEFA Youth League back in 2019.
Murty also stepped up to first-team responsibilities at the request of the Board, as he third-place finish in the SPFL in the 2017/18 season, and got them to the semi-finals of the SFA Cup before losing out 4-0 to Celtic.
These Gers bemoaned his departure as it was shared on Twitter, with one RFC supporter even going as far as to claim that they were ‘gutted’:
“Gutted to see him go as he stood up when we needed some one to. An absolute gent and wish him all the best. Once a Bear, always a Bear”
Credit: @j4ff41989
“Booooo, farewell Graeme, absolute legend”
Credit: @mrmajestic8
“I must be having a nightmare”
Credit: @Zaleski_
“Nooooo… the man who stepped up when asked, thank you for your service”
Credit: @andyleighton14
“That’s heart-breaking”
Credit: @jonesie_72
“Heartbroken”
Credit: @patersonty1690
In other news, find out what Academy news had Gers buzzing here!
Many Everton fans have been left reacting to some news that has emerged on Salomon Rondon.
As per Marca, the Goodison Park faithful are now trying to get their striker to stay amid a likely call-up to the Venezuela national team for the next international break.
If he ends up going to play for his country, he will miss a game in the Premier League on his return due to quarantine guidelines.
Rondon has not exactly hit the ground running at the Merseyside club so far however, as he is Whoscored’s match rating system.
As such, a lot of Toffees supporters have been particularly critical of his performances, and so would like him to go and play for his country if it means that he misses a match on his return.
These Blues gave some fairly harsh reactions to the news as it was shared on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he has ‘offered nothing’:
“I’ll pay for his flight”
Credit: @steefcGT4
“Let him go, let him have a 5 year holiday”
Credit: @JimMcCaffery6
“Let him go, he’s offered nothing. I’m not sure if he’s even had a shot for us since joining.”
Credit: @PatrickDrohan
“I’ll drive him to the airport!!!”
Credit: @Pcf4
“Get him gone!! Feel sorry for the Venezuelans”
Credit: @g4j4s4
“I’ll pay for him to go.”
Credit: @lewissefc
In other news, find out which U21 update has Evertonians fuming here!
Many Everton fans have been left buzzing as news emerged on Leighton Baines.
As per the club’s official website, under-18 boss Paul Tait has now confirmed that the 36-year-old is working as his assistant manager on a short-term basis. The retired left-back has stepped in for Phil Jevons, who left to join Sunderland as a first-team coach.
Baines was the Merseyside club’s professional development coach in September 2020, with his remit to work closely with young players in the first team in addition to the under-23 and under-18 squads, but he will now be working as Tait’s assistant.
Of course, to have a Toffees legend working on bringing the younger players through is an exciting prospect, and there is no doubt that Baines should flourish in his new role given his previous work with the club.
These Everton fans were buzzing as the news was shared on Twitter, with a couple of supporters describing Baines’ appointment as under-18 assistant manager as ‘great news’:
“That’s great news. This true legend deserves to be successful at Goodison and I hope this is the start of a great career off the pitch for him.”
Credit: @IanDavies1967
“LET’S GOOOO with the thirst pic”
Credit: @otrochris
“If he’s half as good a coach as he was a player he will be brilliant”
Credit: @ToffeMc
“Yeeeeees but I’m gonna need a testimonial for him soon.”
Credit: @DameGinger
“Been great with the U18s’ defence since he came in, last 4 games 3 wins and a draw, the lads listen to his every word, I’ve watched all the games and the improvement is tremendous.”
Credit: @johntierney40
“Great news, definitely has the voice and hard-working attitude to do well”
Credit: @EndEverton
In other news, this Rafael Benitez news has left many Evertonians buzzing
David Norris insists that Raphinha could leave Leeds United in the summer transfer window if the club continue to struggle.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have endured a difficult start to the campaign, only collecting their first Premier League win against Watford at Elland Road on Saturday.
Leeds were in the bottom three prior to that crucial three points, and they will be aiming to build on that success when they face fellow strugglers Southampton at St Mary’s after the international break.
Raphinha, even still, has enjoyed an excellent beginning to the campaign and has scored three goals in seven games.
He was linked with Liverpool in the summer transfer window and Norris could see him departing if Leeds continue to endure poor form in the Premier League.
Raphinha is currently valued at £27m by Transfermarkt but his contract runs until 2024, meaning Leeds may not be under pressure to sell.
He said: “Absolutely. I think if he continues the way he does and Leeds do struggle this season and they finish in that bottom half or even towards relegation, they’re going to find it difficult to keep him.”
Leeds United sealed their path into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory over Fulham on Tuesday night.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side had Illan Meslier to thank as the French goalkeeper denied Rodrigo Muniz in sudden death to send the Whites home happy.
But while Leeds may have booked their passage into the next round of the competition, one man who really let his manager down with a woeful display was Tyler Roberts.
One of a number of senior, or at least established first-team players, on the pitch as Bielsa went with a fairly strong starting line-up, the Welshman looked completely off the pace as he led the line.
As per Sofascore, he made just four successful passes in the time that he was on the pitch, while he only had 14 touches too – both of those actually being lower than goalkeeper Illan Meslier, and a real indication of how he struggled to get into the game.
The Welshman also lost 50% of his duels, including the only one he contested in the air, and it was no surprise that after just 55 minutes on the clock, he was subbed off by Bielsa for Adam Forshaw.
And, writing in his post-match player ratings for Leeds Live, Beren Cross gave him a five, saying: “Tried to ask questions of the Fulham defence, but only got the one opening he wanted. Was well charged down by Marek Rodak.”
It was a performance that raises yet more serious questions about whether he’s actually good enough to be competing for a Leeds team who want to re-establish themselves as a Premier League force, especially when you consider he’s now yet to score or assist in seven games this campaign.
Roberts hardly set the world alight at Elland Road last season too – he managed just one goal and provided two assists in 27 top-flight matches – despite the fact the 22-year-old seems to be a clear favourite of Bielsa’s (one run of form saw him start 12 consecutive games in the Premier League).
The Leeds boss himself said: “He has played many games in a row and has shown he has the resources to justify his starting position in the team. He has virtues that are very difficult to find in football at the moment. He has all the resources necessary to unbalance offensively and still has a lot to grow to make these attempts useful and efficient.”
Well, on Tuesday night, Roberts did nothing to prove why he’s a starting calibre player for Leeds, and why his time in the team might well be up.
Meanwhile, this Leeds star was Bielsa’s real hero vs Fulham…