The moment Antoine Griezmann released his La Decision, you would have probably been thinking this video would be the most defining moment in the French superstars career. After aiding his club to an impressive Europa League crown last season, it was thought that Griezmann would leave the Wanda Metropolitano on a high, joining the high calibre ranks of Lionel Messi and co that summer.

If there was any promotional videos/clips that would have had – not only Atletico Madrid fans – but the whole nation and the world on the edge of their seats and sweating then Griezmann’s promotional video comes at first place. His reasons for staying, you really can’t go against. To bring a new feeling of ambition, poise and drive to Atletico’s cause. Becoming the important and vital cog in a machine aiming to challenge the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona for the La Liga title and the rest of Europe for the Champions League gong. Or even on a more personal level challenging the likes of Messi and Ronaldo for personal honours.

 

 

Well, almost a year on… it seems Antoine Griezmann may currently be regretting that big decision he so much desired to advertise. On current evidence, Atletico’s demise over the last few weeks has been pretty damning. After conjuring up a comfortable lead over Juventus after their 2-0 triumph at the Wanda Metropolitano, Simeone’s warriors went to Turin knowing that  another one their trademark sturdy, rigid and astute performances will have taken them to the Quarter-finals and the knowledge of keeping their arch-nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo quiet will have been all the more sweeter. But it wasn’t to be. Cristiano Ronaldo ran riot and encapsulated the gulf in class Antoine Griezmann would personally have to reach if he aims to be considered to be worthy to sit at the same table as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.

 

A crushing defeat at the hands of Ronaldo and co to knock them out of the Champions League and to make matters worse, they succumbed to a surprise 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, all but ending their fading La Liga title hopes. Griezmann’s season is theoretically over. And now various reports are emerging that Barcelona may be back in for a player they were really hoping to secure last summer. The question is, will they be willing to stress themselves again over a potential deal after Griezmann turn them down in the first instance? On the other hand, the Catalan giants will certainly be on the search for a replacement for the great Luis Suarez and maybe, just maybe Antoine Griezmann could be that man. However, sources close to Griezmann say that there has been no concrete interest from Barcelona over a summer move. The one problem is, while they are on a lookout for a striker, Luka Jovic of Eintracht Frankfurt has rapidly emerged as their top target which will tarnish any ambitions Griezmann had if he ever desired to turn heads to the Camp Nou.

Nonetheless, the French forward is stuck in a predicament. Does he leave the club he has performed so admirably for or will he really search for pastures new this summer? Especially with the release of his Netflix documentary, ‘Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend’. At this moment in time – to many fans – he won’t be considered one, justifying that tag to himself may even seem all the more difficult for him as he reaches the peak of his career. Again, the big question is, does he need to leave Atletico Madrid in search of becoming a great? Is the club holding him back? These are questions Griezmann will surely be asking himself as the season draws to a close. How that resonates with the fans is entirely another matter, you would have forgiven them for being overly excited, overwhelmed and shocked at Antoine Griezmann’s La Decision, shocked at the sight that a top 10 player in World football chose to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano than move across the country to the Camp Nou. It was yet another example of Atletico’s efforts to chip away at the top two: Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Lets not forget, it has been another good season for the Frenchman, statistically –  reaching the 20-goal mark yet again for both club and country – but this was supposed to be the season that Atletico Madrid would be challenging on all fronts including the Champions League but those lofty ambitions have faded away within a matter of weeks, and Griezmann as well as the whole club, will be evaluating what went wrong come the end of the season. You wouldn’t back against both parties declaring a clean slate this summer. After throwing away a two goal lead against Juventus, and slipping well away from Barcelona in the La Liga title race, it could be that this current Madrid team now disbands. A team that has been built on togetherness and solidity in every area, yet Diego Godin and Lucas Hernandez are both set to leave this summer which could have Griezmann seriously considering his future.

Robbie Dunne – a sports journalist in Madrid covering La Liga – told Bleacher Report:

“Godin is one of Griezmann’s closest allies in the squad and the one who stopped the Atleti fans from booing him during the whole debacle last season. He was so important in convincing him to stay. 

Lucas Hernandez is on his way to Bayern Munich, which is another French player gone out of the squad. Thomas Lemar hasn’t settled, and his future is up in the air after Griezmann pushed for that signing.”

Dunne also interestingly added:

“Also, fans are probably thinking if they are going to rebuild, why not cash in on a player who is getting €20 million a year and spread those wages around a little. If the question over his future keeps popping up at every bump in the road, then why not eliminate the speculation by just getting rid while his value is still high.” 

That may be easier said than done. It will be very difficult for the Atletico fans to forget all that Griezmann has done for them since his famous move from Real Sociedad in 2014. However, what’s so intriguing is that the fact that Griezmann has never won a Spanish league or a domestic cup with the club, the only major trophy he will have to show for his efforts is last years Europa League triumph. Sure, Griezmann had the beauty of lifting the World Cup last summer ending the season on a remarkable note but it is at club level where he may feel he deserves more accolades, whether he will fulfil those ambitions at Atletico Madrid remains to be seen.

There is no denying Griezmann’s brilliance and he has once again shown those abilities this season especially between December and February where he just couldn’t stop scoring, but its after that period where fans will really start to question his commitment to the cause going through a six game goalless run including the ties against Juventus in the Champions League. All season Atletico have lacked a reliable no.9 alongside Griezmann, and maybe that’s taken its toll on the Frenchman physically and mentally.

Former Chelsea powerhouse Diego Costa has been unbelievably inconsistent since his return to the club, becoming a shadow of his former beastly self at Chelsea. Also, Simeone’s plunge in signing Alvaro Morata doesn’t look to have worked out either with the Spaniard struggling to finally make a name for himself. Griezmann has more or less been Atleti’s main goal threat this term, a worrying fact that is further evident by their goal tally in La Liga with only 39 goals scored from 28 games – 34 less than leaders Barcelona. A damning statistic and one not truly representing a team aiming to cause panic towards Barcelona in the hunt for the La Liga title.

When Griezmann put pen to paper on that new deal last summer – a deal lasting till 2023 – there was hope that the Frenchman would lead the club into a new project one that would take the club to that next level. However, the way things have taken a turn as this season draws to a close not only creates an uncertain future for certain players in the club but also in the future of their prized asset Antoine Griezmann.

If the French superstar is to prove himself to the world and become the player he has always been primed to be then a move from Atletico may just be what he needs. If a move to Barcelona isn’t on the table, then where could he be heading next? Manchester United? How Ole Gunner Solskjaer would love to utilise Griezmann’s prowess in a team well decorated to counter-attack sitting alongside his close friend Paul Pogba. A tantalising prospect. What about Bayern Munich? The German giants are in need of some fresh blood in attack and with the Golden oldies of Ribery and Arjen Robben moving on, the potential signing of Griezmann could be appealing to the club as a whole. Could a surprise move to Paris Saint-Germain be on the cards? Though, we can all agree Griezmann wouldn’t fulfil his ambitions over in France. The French league is hardly the platform to exert yourself when it comes to challenging for individual honours. You may have to ask Neymar and Kylian Mbappe sooner rather than later.

What we do know is that Griezmann’s future is hanging in the balance, it may be yet another summer of ‘La Decision’. Don’t be surprised to see another televised advertisement.

Last week saw Real Madrid’s three year reign as European champions come to an end as they were soundly and emphatically beaten at the hands of a technically gifted Ajax side 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu – their fourth consecutive defeat at their own stadium.

Almost three years since their dominance over Europe began by beating fellow Spaniards and close rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2016 Milan final, they have been finally knocked off the top of Europe after three titles in a row. Since his appointment in October, Santiago Solari – a former Madrid player himself – has overseen two of Real Madrid’s Champions League home defeats, with this defeat coming after they were outclassed by CSKA Moscow in December by a 3-0 scoreline.

To put it plainly, Real Madrid are in a real mess so much so that there have been various widespread reports on Solari’s future with some claiming he may be sacked in the next few days and to be replaced by former manager and Jose Mourinho – who himself was relieved of his duties at Manchester United in December. 12 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and having been knocked out in the Copa Del Rey by Barcelona few days prior to the defeat by Ajax, you could almost admit that Real Madrid’s season is over with nothing left to play for, the end of the season cannot come fast enough for the whole club. After so much success being centred around the figure of Cristiano Ronaldo who left for Juventus last summer, the club simply have not been able to cope with his absence and also Zinedine Zidane who felt his time was up after leading Real Madrid to three unprecedented Champions League trophies and the La Liga title in 2017.

Part of the blame will be placed on Florentino Perez for his poor decisions in regards to the appointments of both Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari who have both failed to change the clubs fortunes. Not only in that department has Perez failed to make an immediate impact on but also trying to secure an adequate replacement for the departing Cristiano Ronaldo. Youngster Vinicius Junior has been a revelation since his move from Brazil but it is too much to ask for a player of his age to carry Real Madrid back to where they belong and this summer will be huge for Real Madrid in terms of managerial changes and player recruitment, just who can take the club back to where they belong?

Jose Mourinho? Mauricio Pochettino? These are questions that will almost certainly be thrown around during this summer for Real Madrid. However, there will be players they will be scouring over to take them back to where they belong, challenging for European honours and domestically too.

Here are five players that could potentially take Real Madrid back to greatness once again:

Matthijs de Ligt, (Ajax)

If there is one lesson Real Madrid learned from their disappointing defeat to Ajax is that Matthijs de Ligt is a player they should move heaven and earth to recruit come this summer. De Ligt was head and shoulders above everyone in the defensive department last week, showing his world class potential and even showing Real Madrid’s defenders the true art of defending at such a tender age of 19. Raphael Varane, Nacho and Sergio Ramos certainly need to be upgraded on current form and their is no better defender to transform Madrid’s shaky defence than De Ligt. The only problem for Real Madrid, is that their El Clasico rivals Barcelona along with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Liverpool are all hot on the tails of the Dutch defender.

A wonderful young player. Technically gifted, well rounded and well built to withstand any competition in world football and that has been shown on many occasions in Ajax’s impressive run in the Champions League this season. His abilities on the ball is highly valued and a real asset in Erik Ten Hag’s philosophy at the Amsterdam. Wherever he ends up in the near future, his next club is going to have a world class talent on their hands.

 

Alex Grimaldo, (Benfica)

With Madrid’s current debacle, there are various uncertain futures at the club right now. Players such as Isco and Gareth Bale who are key figures are both considering leaving to seek pastures new. Another player who is reported to be looking elsewhere is left-back Marcelo. The Brazilian has been a wonderful servant and has become part of its decorated history but it is believed he wants to join with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Whether that is the case, it remains to be seen. Real Madrid may have found themselves an understudy in Sergio Reguilon who has impressed massively since he came into the scene this year. However, there are still some doubts on whether he can be Marcelo’s heir with the games against Barcelona and Ajax fully solidifying the stance that the young left is regularly susceptible to the odd mistake though he is still young at 22.

If Real Madrid are on the look out for a new left-back, then they should scour no further than Benfica’s brilliant Alex Grimaldo. A player who has been hot on the tails of Europe’s top clubs for a number of years now. Providing he finally moves on this summer, the Santiago Bernabeu just may be the place for him to continue his fine development. There is no doubting that Grimaldo can become one of the best left-backs in European football if not the world and his record this season has proven his abilities; 6 goals and 5 assists from defence is a mean feat. Benfica have a real knack of developing real talents and it has been reported on numerous occasions that Grimaldo is the best of the lot.

 

Ruben Neves, (Wolves)

For me personally, if Ruben Neves is to leave Wolves in the near future, I would love to see him stay in the Premier League and move to one of the top clubs here. However, his ball playing abilities and the levels of tenaciousness in which he approaches every single game is something both Barcelona and Real Madrid would be drooling over. A wonderful talent.

This season has shown remarkably how Real Madrid’s midfield is in real decline. Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro just haven’t been as destructive and in sync as they were for the last two or three seasons and Real Madrid will be looking to rejuvenate the midfield area over this summer and the signing of Ruben Neves would make soo much sense. No disrespect to Casemiro, the Brazilian has become a stellar feature in Real Madrid’s midfield over the last few years but his dominance has waned a few bit, also he isn’t blessed with the same ball playing skills as Neves does. Ruben Neves can perform a lot of roles in contrast to Casemiro. Not only has been deployed as a domineering No.6 but he can also playing as a marauding box-to-box No.8 and if any man is smart in the Santiago Bernabeu, they would look no further than Ruben Neves to transform their midfield. How the Real Madrid faithful will also love experiencing his ferocious shots from outside the box. A sight that can get fans off seats again.

 

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, (Lazio)

A few who have watched Serie A this season will disagree with the selection of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on this list due to his inconsistent form for Lazio this season. With only four goals and two assists from midfield this season in 22 games – for a midfielder of his incredible abilities, you can deem those numbers a poor return. However, there is no doubting that when on song, Milinkovic-Savic is a real fine player to watch. Bullish on the ball and in the air, a brilliant first touch and his real knack of scoring absolute scorchers. Real Madrid would be extremely silly not to consider the Serbian maestro to boost their qualities in midfield. Certainly, Milinkovic-Savic hasn’t shown what he is truly capable of on a consistent basis so far this season but imagine what he could do when in the bright lights of the Santiago Bernabeu, it would present a real and worthy opportunity for him to finally cement his position as one of the finest young midfielders in Europe.

 

Kylian Mbappe, (Paris Saint-Germain)

Only God knows what could have gone on in Kylian Mbappe’s mind as Marcus Rashford smacked home the decisive spot-kick that sent Paris Saint-Germain packing on a night where they were expected to cruise through to the quarter-finals but instead they failed yet again, to set the Champions League alight. Mbappe was the sole reason for Paris Saint-Germain’s cruise control exploits at Old Trafford a weeks ago after his two well taken goals and for his team to disappoint yet again when it mattered most, he must have been thinking what he has got to do to get himself on the headlines in the Champions League. Maybe, just maybe Paris Saint-Germain isn’t the club to help him fulfil his lofty ambitions of becoming one of the finest players ever to grace the game.

Despite Real Madrid’s problems this season, there is no better place for Kylian Mbappe to become the great players he is aspiring for than at the grandest stage of them all – the Santiago Bernabeu. Not only, will it be a lift off for him personally but for the whole club and the Real Madrid faithful most importantly. You know how the recruitment of one player can lift the mood around the whole club and the signing of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid may just be what Real Madrid need to stamp their authority not only in Europe but on the domestic front once again. Imagine a Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe, El Clasico every season, a game in which the whole world would be dying to see. If Kylian Mbappe is to truly have his grasp on the Ballon d’or as his abilities so far have promised then the Parc des Princes really isn’t the place for him to write his name in lights.

 

Mauro Icardi, (Inter Milan)

Take nothing away from Karim Benzema, he has been a terrific servant to the club and a player who has always given his all when called upon but Real Madrid have been in need of a more potent and threatening number 9 for a few years now and despite his troublesome nature, Real Madrid can afford to take a punt on Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi.

Say what you want about the Argentine, he is without his critics in relation to his off the field issues but on the field is where it matters most and you’d have to wonder where Inter Milan would be if weren’t for his predatory instincts in and around the penalty area. Recently shun from the club after his refusal to play again after he was stripped of the captaincy and replaced with Handanovic, you could argue that Icardi hasn’t really covered himself in much glory but who’s to say he won’t be humbled by a potential move to the grandest stage?

Real Madrid are in need of someone with his goal-scoring exploits.

 

The Portuguese Primera Liga title race is looking very intriguing as another exciting season of Portuguese football draws to a close. With only a solitary point separating both Portuguese giants FC Porto and Benfica with Porto leading the way with 3 games to go, the close season will be exciting to watch especially with the talents and hot prospects on show for both clubs, but there is a particular player who is taking all the headlines and has become a revelation since his inclusion from the academy, taking the whole world by storm with his exuberant and stylish performances… step forward Benfica’s teenage maestro Joao Felix.

On numerous occasions this season has the Portuguese starlets had scouts drooling over his performances. Eyes are all drawn to Benfica’s no.79 – a small 19-year-old, with braces on his teeth and fuzzy haircut combed out to the left. As soon as he sets his foot on the ball, you would know why clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all scouring for his signature.

Although, some of those top clubs may be put off by his soaring release clause of a deal worth anything around the figure of £105m. However, its a figure that will be an investment into the future of not only the player but the club because this boy is something special. Despite being just 19, he has managed to restore the joy back into the Estadio da Luz and place Benfica amongst the top the Primera Liga once again.

There’s something special about Joao Felix – and his fans clearly know it.

Deep down, they know they will have to savour him while they can. Joao Felix won’t be around to wet the apetites of the Benfica faithful, lighting up the whole stadium for much longer. It was that night against Boavista that was a true reflection of what Felix is destined to for years to come – on the world stage that is. The wonderkid was directly involved in three goals during their rampant 5-1 victory. After the victory, Portuguese newspaper A Bola headlined the next morning “Served by a Genius”. Record meanwhile referred to him as the “new golden boy” and “a hurricane”.

Certainly, we’ve got to be cautious of labelling youngsters like Joao Felix and placing unnecessary pressure on his shoulders but the whole nation may be forgiven for thinking so highly of the player. There is no doubt it, Joao Felix may just justify the hype. Some in Portugal are already arguing that the 19-year-old may be even more developed than Cristiano Ronaldo was in his early days at Sporting Lisbon. Ronaldo himself has watched Felix on a few occasions and he may even be thinking that he will be leaving the national team with a bright future in their hands.

So what might his future employers expect if they are able to prize him away from Benfica?

 

 

Well, there are various opinions as to what position Joao Felix actually fits perfectly in, some would argue – reflecting on his style of play – that he is the perfect no.10. However, that isn’t the case for his club side. Since Benfica coach Bruno Lage took over in early January, Felix has been deployed just behind the striker – almost like a second striker and he has made that position his own since his promotion to the first team. The Portuguese wonderkid has notched an incredible 11 goals and laid on 4 assists from that role.

Felix is devastating when driving and running towards defenders, which means he has the ability to play anywhere across the front line. The forward holds vast skill sets that certain players his age would kill for. Trickery, speed on the ball, eye for a telling pass and also the added icing on the cake, his finishing capabilities are so rare for a player who only just started first team football this current campaign.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDS28Q5lMw

 

Since becoming the youngest Benfica goalscorer in a Lisbon derby after only being on the pitch half-an-hour, Felix has already lived up to the hype that surrounded him since his days in the youth ranks. It’s no surprise that Felix has already drawn much comparisons to Brazilian legend Kaka in the way they move effortlessly across the attacking third and attempting the most audacious of passes in order to create, not only that but his fantastic finishing abilities is almost reminiscent of Kaka’s glory days at AC Milan. Under Bruno Lage, Felix has been utilised sparingly, as the second striker in a 4-4-2 formation behind Haris Seferovic or on the left of a 4-3-3 as an inside-forward – both roles have been executed to perfection so far this season.

Having been released by FC Porto because of his slight frame – how they will be regretting that decision – Benfica have been attempting a whole host of avenues to keep the youngster in shape and in tip-top condition. After such an impressive breakthrough season, the question Felix may be have to answer this summer is whether he will be ready to make the step up to a top club or does he ride it out another season in the Primera Liga to continue his rapid development. Whatever happens, Joao Felix is certainly a player to watch for the coming year.

A true talent Portugal have on their hands.

 

Everton manager Marco Silva and his side endured yet another defeat at the hands of Watford at Vicarage Road last weekend condemning them to their fourth defeat in a row and their third defeat in a row in the Premier League – their first time since January 2018.

A game in which Everton produced very little throughout the whole 90 minutes which also saw defender Kurt Zouma red carded at the end of the game picking up two yellow cards for confronting the referee. After such a spirited display against champions Manchester City – despite their 2-0 defeat – Marco Silva hoped his side will build on their small improvements against his former side Watford but all those hopes diminished as Watford dominated from start to finish with Everton misfiring in all departments.

Upon Marco Silva’s arrival in the summer, much was made of Everton’s potential rise up the Premier League after their dour end to the season last year under Sam Allardyce. Despite the former England coach steadying a rocky ship at Goodison Park after Ronald Koeman’s sacking in 2017, there was always a feeling around the club that change was needed. Allardyce’s management style, philosophy and ways of playing – deemed unattractive and not fitting in line with Everton’s lofty ambitions under owner Farhad Moshiri.

Moshiri’s aspirations, commitment and dedication to the Everton cause is not in question. Lavishing funds for Marco Silva to spend in the transfer market plus talks of potential £500m new stadium already under way, forcing his own “commitment of equity” to fund the new project. His stake increased in December and he is already planning for more increase from 68.6% to 77.2% no later than this summer. However, his decisions lately have been perceived as ‘lacking football knowledge’, lacking direction and massively flawed. Earlier this week, he had reiterated his stance on Marco Silva’s position claiming that the club needs to ‘hold their nerve’ in this difficult time. As past history suggests – this is not one of his character traits.

Marco Silva is Moshiri’s fourth manager under his tenure – a club that has been renowned for its stability and faith when David Moyes and Bill Kenwright were in partnership. Roberto Martinez – although not his own appointment – was sacked as the Spaniard’s tenure hit the rocks after such a promising 5th placed finish the season before. Ronald Koeman was then appointed – sighted as a major coup and a step forward for the club, enjoying a brilliant and fruitful first season finishing seventh. The present Dutch manager was then sacked nine games into his second season with the club in the relegation places.

After various failed attempts to prize Marco Silva from Watford, Moshiri appointed Sam Allardyce – as uncanny and desperate as it was, the former England coach was certainly seen as a last resort however, it was perpetually seen as a club lacking in ambition. Moshiri had promised a bright future upon his arrival at the club but the appointment of Allardyce was a true sign of desperation and a man no longer having the clubs best interests at heart.

Marco Silva finally arrived in June last year with his former club Watford wanting Everton punished for their persistent touting of the Portuguese coach while under contract at the Hornets. Silva’s sacking – a decision which was well in the works – was seen by many as a result of his head and heart turning towards Goodison Park. Watford – at face value in this point in time – seem to have made the right call providing the toxic nature the Portuguese coach brought after Everton’s call. Never did he rule out moving clubs but also unresponsive to questions regarding his future at Vicarage Road hinting at the fact that a move to Everton would have been too good to turn down.

Upon his arrival last summer, there was much anticipation, vibrancy and excitement after what he had brought to his previous clubs Watford and Hull. Along with him, came highly respected Director of Football Marcel Brands from Dutch high-flyers PSV Eindhoven. A potential match made in heaven which will have brought a lot of cause for optimism not just on the pitch but off it as well.

However, 5 months in and things are looking bleak for Everton on all fronts with the club caught in a landslide in the Premier League. Silva’s side have only picked up 12 points from 13 games, and even to put matters worse they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship minnows Millwall. Had they gone on to win, you wouldn’t have backed against Everton to go on and cause a stir in the latter stages of the competition.

So can Marco Silva arrest Everton’s current slide?

On previous evidence, there must be some doubts regarding Silva’s abilities to turn things around. His career so far in England have been defined by bright starts before steep declines both at Hull and Watford and this current stint at Goodison Park seems like its heading in the same direction. At Hull, he accumulated 17 points from his first 11 games but only four from the next seven which led to relegation to the Championship. He won 21 points from his first 13 games at Vicarage Road then only 5 from his next 11 games which leads to the question what led to these drop in results? The same is happening this season with Everton looking a shadow of the side they really good be.

After a promising summer of recruitment, securing the services of Richarlison from Watford for £50million – albeit controversially. Highly-rated Colombian centre back Yerry Mina arrived from Barcelona for £28million along with left-back Lucas Digne for £19million and Andre Gomes who joined the club on loan. You can’t say that Silva wasn’t backed by the clubs board. These are players who are primed for much more especially Richarlison, a player Silva previously managed at Watford last season. You can add in the signings of Brazilian winger Bernard on a free from Shakhtar Donetsk and Kurt Zouma from Chelsea which will have surely had a number of managers drooling at the sight of such quality additions.

However, much of these signings have flattered to deceive at best. Richarlison despite his unerring abilities and potential seems like he is entering that second season slump he endured last season at Vicarage Road. 10 goals in 25 Premier League games is pretty impressive but you always feel the Brazillian could do more. Having been deployed in a number of positions lately really haven’t helped his cause either. How about Andre Gomes? The Spaniard has looked assured and composed in spells but has a tendency to vanish into thin air when it really matters most – the reason Barcelona lost faith in the midfielder so soon after his arrival from Valencia. When he is good, Gomes is really good however, that hasn’t been the case so far during this loan spell. He’s not the only one, Bernard has flattered to deceive too, only performing to his irresistible abilities in spurts. What must Marco Silva do for these players to really turn on the style? He invested heavily in his defence with the signings of Digne, Mina and Zouma however that hasn’t worked either with Everton shipping goals for fun of late conceding 8 goals in 6 league games since the start of the year.

Marco Silva must show he has the capacity to plug holes in his defence, again a factor which he has struggled with since his bow in the English top division and one must correct if he is to survive. The defeat to Wolves a mere reflection of the improvements Silva must make to his leaky defence with Wolves’ attacking efforts dissecting and taking apart their defence constantly at will. Even when things were rosy earlier this season, Everton still looked susceptible and Silva has shown no signs of solving a puzzle that has repeatedly plagued him. All three goals against Millwall in that FA Cup defeat were all from set-pieces, and Raul Jimenez’ goal against Wolves and Aymeric Laporte’s header in the defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City. 12 goals Everton have conceded from set-plays – the most in the division.

Can we say Silva is solely to blame? Certainly not. The Portuguese coach along with Brands walked into a club in disarray in terms of its structure and transfer policy. Silva’s appointment was supposed to be that precious drop in the ocean but at this point in time, his recruitment and strategies seem to be aligning with the club’s current failures. Right now, the club might just be the shining example of how not to operate in the transfer window with some big spending deals that have failed to deliver. Examples being the huge contract handed to striker Sandro Ramirez, bought from Spanish club Malaga in 2017 for a fee of £5m. Though the former Spanish under-21 player has become expendable drifting on loan from Sevilla and Real Sociedad in a matter of months. Former Ajax midfielder Davy Klaassen – a player promised for so much – was signed for a huge fee of £25m when he was clearly not fit to carry the flag at Goodison before being shun out to German club Werder Bremen at a £12m loss only a year later. What was even more bizarre about the Klaassen capture was the senseless nature of the signings of three players for the same ‘number 10’ position in Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson – bought for £45m. Such acquisitions took a massive hit on the wage which as a result has led to Brands doing all he can to drastically trim the squad. Wayne Rooney has since left to DC United while the likes of Yannick Bolasie went on loan to Aston Villa then Anderlecht and the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott are all at the point of pondering their futures at the club.

England number one, Jordan Pickford, a £30m purchase from Sunderland has been an isolated success but you feel the club is still in disarray with a host of bad additions to the squad. The club have generated a fair bit of cash from the sales of Romelu Lukaku, John Stones and Ross Barkley without finding adequate replacements and much of that cash has been squandered. The signing of Cenk Tosun from Besiktas has been a failure, with the striker failing to impress many when called upon. The lack of fire power up front has led to Silva utilising Richarlison as the main front man on numerous occasions this season but those plans seem to have been halted due to the Brazilian’s inconsistencies. Certainly Silva has struggled to get performances and results out of these players who at face values have such individual qualities, but that’s just it…individual qualities.

The question is, whether Silva still possesses the managerial qualities to maximise the potential of these players. Players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman, Jordan Pickford, Jonjo Kenny and future Everton captain to be Tom Davies are all the future of the club and maybe starting from grassroots may be just the way to go for Marco Silva, that’s if he is still at the club come the end of the season.

These next few months will be vital for Marco Silva and his men but also whether the Portuguese coach has the managerial capabilities and nous to turn Everton’s fortunes around not only on the pitch but off it too. Recent history suggests he may struggle, and there are currently no reason for optimism right now around the club but its time for Silva to dig deep and find new ways in which Everton can build upon. Rather than being a monument for underacheivment, there are certainly components within this side that can catapult the club to being a monument for steady progression.

These next few months of the season will prove pivotal.

 

 

It was raining goals in the South Coast on Wednesday evening as Bournemouth trounced Chelsea with an emphatic 4-0 victory, producing an impressive second-half display. Striker Josh King notched two goals as Eddie Howe’s side ran rings round Chelsea’s hapless defence.

Chelsea dominated the first half at the Vitality, but collapsed to their heaviest Premier League defeat in 23 years after the break as Bournemouth registered their first home win against Chelsea since 1988. It was another night to forget for Maurizio Sarri’s Blues as they were made to look average on a night where they needed to re-affirm their position in the top 4 after Arsenal’s win over Cardiff and Manchester United dropping points at home to Burnley.

It is now the third away game in a role that Chelsea have failed to find the net and their attacking ploy will be a major worry for Maurizio Sarri with Gonzalo Higuain, Eden Hazard and Pedro all failing to conjure up any threat to Bournemouth’s much improved back-line. Huge credit must go to Eddie Howe on the tweaks and improvements to Bournemouth’s game. No longer are they trying to control the game – leaving gaps within defence and midfield in the process – but Howe has now implemented changes such as Bournemouth now becoming more dangerous on the counter and that was perfectly highlighted against Chelsea.

There were many instances during the match where Chelsea struggled to break through the defence, with much of their passing being played in front of the Bournemouth rearguard, attempting to play through with intricate passing and movement but to no avail – a testament to the way Eddie Howe has adapted his game plan. Josh King, Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fraser and wonderkid – Bournemouth’s breakthrough star this season – David Brooks tore Chelsea’s defence to pieces with their constant movement and pace, it was a joy to watch.

The Welsh international was the one to watch on Wednesday as he put in yet another assured, confident and stylish performance. After the game, Eddie Howe heaped praise on the youngster who was also tasked with man-marking Jorginho:

“It was something we looked at an planned and David did a brilliant job beyond his years with his diligence, and then he showed his class at the other end as well so I’m pleased for him.” 

It was a plan that worked to perfection as Jorginho was given the run around by the midfielder. Brooks has had to come up the hard way after being released by Manchester City as a teenager. Now at 21 years of age, he has been a revelation propelling himself as one of the breakout stars of the season.

“Devastation” was how the Welsh youngster described his emotions after being rejected by Manchester City at youth level, aged 17. He had enjoyed a progressive 10 years at the club only to find that they were not going to offer him a professional contract which threw his future in doubt. Four years on, however, he is not just playing at the level he has always strived for – but really excelling at it too.

David Brooks has taken in the demands of the Premier League like a duck to water so far after his summer move from Sheffield United for a fee of £11.5m, adapting seamlessly to the rigours of the competition. Brooks has established himself a vital figure within Eddie Howe’s fluid system at the Vitality so much so that he has started all but two of Bournemouth’s 24 Premier League games. His brilliant and vibrant displays coming off the right-flank in a fluid 4-4-2 formation has reaped many rewards for the club and also for him personally, tallying six league goals and 4 assists in 22 appearances. Brooks has earned himself a reputation as one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League this year making him a shoe-in contender for the Young Player of the Year Accolade at the end of the season.

It makes you wonder what would have been had Manchester City offered him that pro contract back when he was 17, finding himself struggling to break into the first team due to all the talent at their disposal. However, it was Sheffield United that decided to give him the chance he deserved and he has never looked back. In the last few months, Brooks has come up against the likes of Manchester City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea to name a few – games where youngsters freeze, failing to make any impact but that hasn’t fazed Brooks at all, in fact, it has propelled him to that next level. There were times when all of this seemed unimaginable. With all his talent and technical abilities, Brooks was considered too short by some of the clubs he trialled at.

Even Sheffield United had their reservations.

Nick Cox, Sheffield United’s academy manager at the time told Sky Sports: 

“He had some obvious qualities that wouldn’t look too different from what you see in him now. Great awareness, good technique, good decision-making, composure on the ball. Those were the things that sprang out straight away. The questions we had were around his physicality. He was two or three years behind in terms of his physical development. His shirt was hanging off him, his shorts were below his knees. Looked like a little boy.”

Despite all of those reservations, Sheffield United decided to take a punt on him anyway, taking on the remainder of his two-year scholarship he had signed with Manchester City. That decision taken by the club was Brook’s breakthrough during a time where he doubted he would get another opportunity.

Cox who is now academy operations manager at Manchester United added:

“David made a brave decision to come to a football club which looked very, vey different to Manchester City. It is a humble, industrial, hard-working, no-nonsense, no frills football club. It offers brilliant development but is a heart-on-sleeve kind of place to be. He always showed a determination to be the best player he could.”

Brooks even had to endure short term loan spells at Halifax where he had his first taste of men’s football in 2015 in the National League. The circumstances at the club didn’t help – the clubs poor form would eventually cost the job of coach Neil Aspin – but with one goal in five appearances, he was sent back to Sheffield United. He was on the verge of being farmed out to Chesterfield at the end of the 2016/17 season, but his impressive displays for England at the Toulon Tournament changed their decision, he would then go on to pledge his allegiance to Wales but when he returned to Sheffield United that summer, it was clear to the club that he was ready to make a name for himself.

David Brooks impressed right from the get-go during the 2017/18 Championship season but it wasn’t until the Steel City derby at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday in September 2017 where he gained the recognition he deserved. Gaining a few wandering eyes from clubs such as Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United but having seen his pathway to stardom blocked by City, he decided to shun those big clubs in favour of Bournemouth and that will probably be the biggest decision in his bright career. Having had his technical abilities nurtured and honed as a boy in City’s academy and at Sheffield United, David Brooks is now showing the benefits of his steady and astute footballing education.

As we saw against Chelsea, there is endless amounts of flair and assurance to his game; when in possession of the ball, his ability to find pockets of space in between midfield and attack – there is also that hunger and intensity. What’s even more impressive of Brooks is his ability to weave his way past defenders and the way he took his goal on Wednesday was a real joy to watch, a gentle reminder of his qualities all stemming from his constant movement and composure. Taking the vital touch of the ball to take it in his stride past David Luiz and carefully and coolly slotting the ball past the Chelsea goalkeeper. A touch of class from a player who has deserved every bit of the plaudits that has come his way so far.

Eddie Howe and Bournemouth have a real bright prospect on their hands. With much of the season still to come, David Brooks will have the opportunity to turn a few more heads as he goes seeking stardom. Potential Premier League Young Player of the Year? You’d be mad to bank against it.

 

It says much for Manchester United wonderkid Marcus Rashford that there are those at the club that mention his name in the same breath as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, and rightly so. The England international’s prolific form in front of goal continued against Brighton on Saturday so much so that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer couldn’t help but heap more praise on the youngster saying declaring that Rashford is “playing the best football in his career” and “can be absolutely top class” after watching him score his fifth goal in six games since the Norwegian took over the reigns before Christmas.

There are various moments that herald a young players career which catapult them from a budding talent to an established superstar. What tends to differentiate the greats from the rest is that these events are fairly frequent and set at double speed. Marcus Rashford is admirably among those select few.

In the last month alone, Marcus Rashford has consistently and forcibly underlined his unbelievable talents, not least with the manner in which he clinically netted United’s winner over Tottenham at Wembley and his superbly taken goal against Brighton last weekend. We were always aware of Rashford’s abilities under Jose Mourinho but it can be argued that he wasn’t given the opportunity and the freedom to express himself. Most of the time under the Portuguese coach, the youngster would find himself starting a few games and then dropped – albeit surprisingly – for another few games.

Since Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s appointment as caretaker manager before Christmas however, Marcus Rashford has started in six of his seven games, and introduced him from the bench in the FA Cup against Reading. While there has been the lingering perception that Marcus Rashford has been underused this term you only have to check the stats in comparison to other young stars in the world of football and find that Marcus Rashford has been utilised heavily over the past few seasons, it even got to a point last season where Mourinho had to justify that fact when criticism – something he was very accustomed to – came his way for his sparing use of the striker. Marcus Rashford, this term hasn’t missed a single game since September’s Carabao cup defeat to Frank Lampard’s Derby at Old Trafford. God knows what might’ve been had Rashford been involved – a tie that signalled the completion of his three match ban following his red card against Burnley earlier that month.

In truth, the United speedster has been involved in the first team picture since photo-bombing it in February 2016 – being brought to the side after injury trouble had kept Van Gaal’s side without a first team attacker in the Europa League tie against Danish outfit FC Midtjylland. It has been 35 rapid months since Rashford broke into the scene scoring four goals in two starts in the Europa League tie and famously against Arsenal at Old Trafford in a 3-2 victory.

Ever since then, we have experienced the rapid rise, and unspeakable growth of Marcus Rashford not just physically, but its his understanding of the game and his ability to find the back of the net. The 21-year-old today stands on the cusp of making his 150th United appearance; a landmark he has reached younger and much faster than any one of United’s superstars in its rich history. Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, you name them.

What’s mightily impressive about Marcus Rashford is that he is improving all the time, his maturity and stature steadily growing with each passing game. Not only that, but its that consuming fire in his belly to try new things whether its getting past his man, shooting from weird angles or attempting a kind of pass that former United player and legend Paul Scholes would be proud of. Another Reds legend, Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville reflected on Rashford’s ability after the victory over Newcastle:

“The spring in the counter-attack is there and Rashford playing up top is fantastic – I love him to bits. He’s played nearly 150 games at the age of 21 and his potential is enormous. It’s actually now stepping up beyond potential to where he will be a top class player.” 

Indeed, Marcus Rashford is well on his way to being referred to as a world class player, which begs the question can we only refer to him as a player with enormous potential? However, the England youngster has got to carry on this rich vein of form on the European and World stage before he can be considered in that world class bracket.

Neville also added:

“This kid is going to devastate teams. Rashford gives them something different and he is a fantastic player. He is on the right trajectory to become something really special for Manchester United.”

Under Ole Gunner Solskjaer, Rashford has found a new lease of life. The Norwegian coach’s tactical acumen as freed up the forward and has give him the license to fully express and flaunt his tremendous abilities, to be devastating on those trademark quick-fire, rapid counter attacks. His cool and composed finish against Tottenham at Wembley is a perfect example of the way Solskjaer has got his team playing. A quick and lethal striker with pacey wingers who also hold the ability to quickly and sharply get by their markers – that’s the Manchester United way.

The revival at the club under Solskjaer is not only down to the upturn in form from Paul Pogba but it is Solskjaer’s belief in Rashford and his bravery to make him is number one striker at the expense of Romelu Lukaku. Rashford has already learned valuable lessons under seasoned and reputable managers like Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, but the appointment of Solskjaer has been the springboard for his performance levels. The Norwegian has made no secret for his admiration for the wonderkid, while quickly insisting on passing on many of his understanding and tricks when it comes to his positioning in the penalty area and his finishing – tips that will only elevate Marcus Rashford even more.

While his goals may have garnered much of the praise and headlines, it is his pace, fearlessness, unpredictability and tenacity that has been just as impressive and have made up the cornerstone of his game. Certainly there is still much for Rashford to learn and a few tricks to pick up and also what needs to follow, in every case is his consistency and functionality. You could argue those have been steadily growing within Rashford’s game, and now that his talents are in the hands of a United coach – a vital component himself in that famous United 1999 treble winning side – the Wythenshawe-born forward is now privy to a higher education of what being a United player means and the ethos of such a famous club built with such a rich history – an education of the greatest relevance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaKV2dgUdf4

 

The signs so far will stand Marcus Rashford in good stead for the future, not only for himself but for the club as a whole. It took only three minutes of Solskjaer’s reign for Rashford to stake his claim, thundering a vicious, stunning free-kick against Cardiff in December, then following up that performance with an impressive all round showing against Huddersfield on Boxing day and then audaciously making fun out of Bournemouth’s sorry defence a few days later where his quick feet and trickery led to a sublime assist for Paul Pogba to open the scoring in front of the United faithful. After that, a clinical and predatory finish to put United out of sight. Rashford’s brilliance has shone through time and time again since the beginning of Christmas – even when it matters most too. His winner against Tottenham now means he has scored in victories over all of the big six over the past few seasons – picking up the knack of finding the net on the big occasions.

You’d be mad to argue that Marcus Rashford does not have it within himself to become a Manchester United icon – providing he stays at Old Trafford for the rest of his career. Given his achievements at such a young age, it is hard not to cast a wondering eye on the talents of Rashford. If he carries on in this sort of form and freedom then the future really does look remarkably bright. Solskjaer’s appointment may be short-term but for Rashford, the instruction and advice he is gathering now will only do him the world of good for years to come.