All posts by z3u9t.icu

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…

Picture this. You’re a Premier League footballer. You haven’t played since early April having suffered a groin injury that required surgery. You lose your place in the team after a new face arrives in the summer.

But, you are then thrown in against the back-to-back Premier League champions, having not played a single minute of first-team football since your injury.

That is the story of Crystal Palace’s James Tomkins.

The former West Ham man – who cost the Eagles £10m back in 2016 – was handed his first Premier League start since the 1-0 win over Newcastle back in April when Manchester City came to Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side have scored 201 goals over the course of the last two league seasons before the current campaign – 106 in 2017/18, and 95 in 2018/19 – possessing a wealth of attacking talent such as Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.

In that respect, and given the circumstances, you couldn’t have complained too much if Tomkins delivered a stinker of a performance, but the 30-year-old fared quite well in his first taste of first-team action since April.

The Englishman made two tackles and two interceptions, while also making four clearances as Roy Hodgson’s side managed to keep the Citizens somewhat in check – conceding just twice to a side who put eight past Watford a few weeks ago, with both goals coming in the space of a few minutes.

Tomkins also completed 82.6% of his 23 passes against the champions, in what was a generally solid showing until he was substituted for Scott Dann in the 83rd minute – presumably to prevent a recurrence of his groin issue with the game already looking a tough one to overturn.

With Mamadou Sakho and Martin Kelly also injured, Hodgson had little choice but to throw Tomkins in at the deep end, and his performance against arguably one of Europe’s best sides deserves praise.

Phillips was clearly pleased about beating West Brom at Elland Road, but his Instagram post indicates that he was just as happy about the return of Ayling and Roberts.

You can understand why the midfielder is buzzing to see his teammates return, as Ayling was a key player for Leeds last term, starting 40 league games, and Roberts was fantastic when he moved into the number ten role after the departure of Samu Saiz.

Some Manchester United fans have taken to Twitter to slam Fred, after the midfielder put in a dismal performance against Newcastle.

The 11-cap Brazil international was making his first Premier League start of the season against the Magpies, and he really wasn’t very good at all – to say the least.

The 26-year-old picked up a yellow card in the 3rd minute, and went on to play the full 90 minutes somehow.

He recorded no key passes, had no shots on target and completed no dribbles, while there was one moment where Andreas Pereira gently passed the ball to him and Fred’s touch saw it run out of play.

Just by watching the game, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man looked lost, while also seeming scared to pass the ball forward – he was simply terrible against Steve Bruce’s side.

Let’s take a look at what the United fans on Twitter have been saying about the £47m man…

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When Leicester City signed Caglar Soyuncu from Freiburg the summer before last in a deal worth up to £19m barely a ripple was made. The 22-year-old was joining a club whose principle centre-backs were Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire and not many people expected the Turkish international to break that partnership up. This duly came to pass with Soyuncu making only six league appearances last term with a couple of EFL Cup games thrown in.

When Leicester City sold Harry Maguire in early August for a world record fee for a defender an awful lot of ripples were made, but returning to Soyuncu he was now even more off the grid. All the attention beyond the Maguire sale centred on who the Foxes would be bringing in to replace him with Burnley’s James Tarkowski mentioned many times in dispatches along with Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake.

Just one month into the new campaign and they’re talking about Soyuncu a lot now. And so far the reviews have been spectacular.

It all began on the opening day of the season when the floppy-fringed giant put in a formidable performance against Wolves at the King Power Stadium. So impressive was the display he reportedly received a standing ovation from his team-mates post-match and highly deserved it was too. Soyuncu made the second most successful passes and tackles of any Premier League defender that weekend as his unerring reading of danger and whole commitment kept the visitors almost single-handedly at bay at times.

Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

This commanding introduction was followed up by a further three imperious outings – that included a stoic draw at Stamford Bridge – but it is not merely the elite levels shown thus far that is rapidly making him one of the talking points of this Premier League year. With his aforementioned locks and muscular style that could be termed ‘swashbuckling’ if we’re feeling a touch whimsical, Soyuncu has already gained a cult status in the Midlands, so much so that Maguire’s name is a distant memory.

“You sense the supporters are really enjoying watching him play,” Brendan Rodgers said recently, of a role not traditionally regarded as entertaining. “He does a couple of wee maverick things that make you wonder sometimes.”

The defender’s unanticipated rise has also brought into the public domain an interesting insight into his transfer back in 2018 and the reasons behind it. In addition to being naturally attracted to an accomplished centre-back yet to hit his development ceiling the thinking at Leicester was that Soyuncu would prove an able replacement should Maguire depart for Old Trafford. To clarify: this was a decision taken in 2018, well over twelve months ago.

Check out the fan in the video below who thinks he could beat Joey Barton in a fight…

Following a season of adaptation to the demands and pace of English football the Foxes’ long-term thinking looks to now be paying off handsomely and all while saving themselves a fortune in the transfer market.

It is still too premature to be making any heightened claims about a player who is still learning and from that learning will come mistakes. But in ‘super’ Soyuncu there is enough pace, composure and bravery to take risks to know that Leicester’s future looks rock solid at the back.

[ad_pod ]Liverpool fans may be feeling a bit down after watching their team lose 2-0 to Napoli in their Champions League opener, but it’s not all doom and gloom.If any Reds supporter needs a little boost to their mood after their defeat on Tuesday, they should just read Jamie Carragher’s thoughts on the match.

The Anfield legend took a number of positives from the game at the Stadio San Paolo and shared his thoughts on Twitter.

To be fair, it’s hard to argue with Carragher on a number of his points. The game against Napoli this week should represent the hardest game in the group stages, as Liverpool have also been drawn alongside Red Bull Salzburg and Genk, and Adrian’s save was indeed incredible.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Perhaps it’s not as bad as it seems, and Liverpool fans will have had their nerves calmed a bit by Carragher’s tweet.

It remains to be seen how the Reds will get on in the Champions League for the rest of the campaign, but the Sky Sports pundit certainly believes that there were positives to take away from their first game.

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West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice reserved special praise for teammate Michail Antonio after his side’s 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool at the London Stadium on Monday night.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Irons went into the clash against Jurgen Klopp’s men having suffered three successive defeats against Bournemouth, AFC Wimbledon and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, and were looking to bounce back against their Merseyside opponents.

Despite falling behind early on to a Sadio Mane goal – which shouldn’t have counted given James Milner was clearly offside in the build-up – the hosts fought back well and Antonio got on the score-sheet following a clever free-kick routine, and they certainly had other chances to take all three points, including a headed effort by Rice.

Speaking to whufc.com post-match, the 20-year-old picked out his attacking teammate as one of the top performers on the night: “Mick was outstanding. Some of the stuff he was doing, like bringing down Lukasz’s goal kicks and switching the play… When Mick is confident, he is unplayable and you saw that and I’m delighted for him.”

How good was Antonio?

He was certainly very impressive, as he has been at various points during the current campaign.

The 28-year-old has featured in a number of different roles including at right-back, on the wing and as a centre-forward this term, and you certainly can never fault his work-rate and effort – and it was the same case on Monday.

Antonio held the ball up and used it well against tough opposition, and of course got the goal that meant that his side got the point they deserved.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

Vinicius Junior has so far had a mixed career at Real Madrid.

After arriving from Brazil in 2018, he seemed like the real deal. Back then, at just 18 years of age, Vinicius was already well established and with enough flair to warrant a transfer to a club of Real Madrid’s size.

He scored ten goals and assisted four for his former club and then went on to score three and assist 12 in 34 games for Los Blancos. But unfortunately, a serious injury halted his progress and he is yet to fully regain his momentum.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

But with the arrival of Eden Hazard, he might have to adapt to playing on the right as opposed to his natural left. In a recent interview with his national team, however, he confirmed that he has difficulties playing in an unknown role but also that he is slowly adapting to it.

Unfortunately, many Real Madrid fans didn’t really take kindly to his words despite the young forward’s willingness to try out a new position on the pitch.

They quickly took to Twitter to slam the 19-year-old after the interview. Some thought that he should be grateful to just be a part of such a big team while the others were harsher and demanded that he be sent back to Castilla or the bench.

You can see some of their replies in the tweets below…

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Gio van Bronckhorst’s Rangers side were left frustrated as they failed to pick up all three points on their return to Premiership action this month.

The Gers were held to a 1-1 draw by Aberdeen in their first match after the winter break, with Lewis Ferguson’s second-half penalty canceling out Ianis Hagi’s goal in the first half.

Forget Goldson

One player who struggled in the match was central defender Connor Goldson, who received a SofaScore rating of 6.6 for his performance. He only completed 59% of his attempted passes and lost 100% of his ground duels as he failed to impress.

Elsewhere in the Premiership on the same night, Ibrox-bound defender John Souttar caught the eye with an excellent showing for Hearts. Rangers have agreed a deal to sign the centre-back at the end of the season when his contract at his current club officially expires and he is continuing to show off his superb form.

It has been reported that the Gers would be interested in bringing him to Glasgow this month instead of waiting until the summer and this latest display, coupled with Goldson’s unimpressive one, highlights exactly why they need to do it.

Souttar was given a SofaScore rating of 7.6 for his display against St. Johnstone, with the colossus winning 70% of his duels and completing 84% of his passes. He also completed 100% of his two dribble attempts and made one block, one interception and two tackles – as per SofaScore.

This shows the level of quality he can provide at this level and these are the kind of performances he could bring to Rangers, potentially replacing Goldson.

Gers sporting director Ross Wilson hailed the beast upon the announcement of the deal to sign him on a pre-contract earlier this month, saying:

“We are really looking forward to John joining Rangers and continuing his development under Gio, our coaching and support staff.

“John is a full Scotland international and has so much potential ahead for the coming years. I have really enjoyed getting to know John across all of our conversations so far and I can see how excited he and his family are to be joining Rangers. We are equally excited to welcome John to Ibrox.”

The Glasgow giants are evidently keen to see him playing for the club next season and now need to do all they can to bring him in during the current window. Goldson’s contract is up at the end of the campaign and the Gers cannot afford to allow performances like the one against Aberdeen to become common-place as he begins to think about where he will be playing next term.

Therefore, Wilson must strike an instant deal to get Souttar playing for Rangers this month instead of waiting until the summer.

AND in other news, 7 duels won: “Brilliant” Rangers gem with 100% dribble success was Gvb’s shining light…

Wolves could sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha as a potential Ruben Neves replacement, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Palhinha impressing for Sporting

The 26-year-old has been an influential figure at the heart of Sporting’s midfield this season, with 16 Primeira Liga appearances to his name, not to mention three goals.

Palhinha has been linked with a move to Wolves in recent days, as Bruno Lage continues to eye up squad reinforcements moving forward.

It could be that the Portuguese is viewed as a long-term successor to compatriot Neves, who has been tipped to move to Arsenal at the end of the season.

The Latest: Journalist talks up move

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O’Rourke claimed that Palhinha could be the ideal man to come in and fill the possible void left by Neves this summer:

“In the summer, if Ruben Neves wants to leave, Palhinha might be a ready-made replacement.”

The Verdict: Ideal Neves replacement

The hope is that Neves stays put at Wolves for many years, given his quality, but there is always the risk that his head could be turned by a big move elsewhere.

Should that happen, Palhinha looks tailor-made to come in as a replacement, having been described as a ‘special player’ by Sporting manager Ruben Amorim.

The midfielder has enjoyed an 86.7% pass completion rate in the league this season, as well as averaging a hugely impressive 3.4 tackles.

In comparison, Neves has 82.6% passing and 2.2 challenges per game, showing that the Sporting star could even prove to be an upgrade if he transitions well into English football.

In other news, some Wolves fans have gushed over a key transfer update. Read more here.

Leeds United are at risk of suffering from the infamous second-season syndrome in the Premier League as they sit perilously in 15th place, just five points above the relegation zone.

Marcelo Bielsa has suffered from an injury crisis to several key stars for the bulk of the campaign so far and with multiple teams below them holding at least one game in hand, things are not looking good for the Yorkshiremen heading into 2022.

But for all of the negatives at Elland Road this term, there has been at least one shining light – Raphinha.

The Brazilian winger, who joined in a £17m deal from Stade Rennes in October 2020, has not only excelled but has also emerged as one of the club’s most integral players.

United have struggled for goals in the absence of Patrick Bamford, who has missed 12 of 13 league games since mid-September. Indeed, only five teams have scored fewer times than Bielsa’s side, two of which are in the drop zone.

However, Raphinha has stepped up to become the Whites’ leading scorer, finding the net eight times, which accounts for 44.4% of all of their goals scored this term in the top-flight.

An average of three shots per game sees him lead the squad as Bielsa’s most threatening player, whilst 2.4 dribbles and 1.8 key passes per outing – which also sees him rank first – suggests he’s doing more than just adding goals to the side. He’s the Argentine’s most creative option, too.

Raphinha’s form at Elland Road has seen him called up to the Brazil national side for the very first time, and he has since landed five caps, in which he’s delivered two goals and two assists. It’s been quite a year for the 5 foot 9 dynamo.

Those around him in the squad have regularly waxed lyrical about his ability, ranging from summer signing Daniel James dubbing him “a magician” to goalkeeper Illan Meslier describing him as an “unbelievable player” and “a storm.”

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Phil Hay recently emphasised his importance to Leeds.

“Phillips is the player whom Leeds miss most but, in an attacking sense, Raphinha is consistently head and shoulders above everyone. Even aside from his touch and his vision, he has the most incredible engine.”

After a stunning year in United colours, the Brazil international’s transfer value has now soared to an all-time high of £36m, as per Transfermarkt, meaning the Yorkshire giants have made a 111% return on their investment so far.

Therefore, it cannot be disputed, Leeds have struck gold and potentially a dream deal in signing Raphinha last year. Well done, Victor Orta. What a player he has been.

AND in other news, Bielsa can finally axe Leeds’ “absolute disaster” by signing “spectacular” 5 ft 9 gem…