Tag: Kevin De Bruyne

Bernardo Silva: Manchester City’s Master Craftsman

Bernardo Silva: Manchester City’s Master Craftsman

Classy. Elegant. Unique. Intelligent. Unerring. Unplayable, you name it. There is simply not enough superlatives out there to describe the immeasurable class, craft and qualities of Manchester City’s Portuguese maestro Bernardo Silva.

After yet another stunning individual display against Aston Villa, his boss Pep Guardiola went that step further and called his midfield lieutenant “the best” after his sumptuous strike sunk a rejuvenated Villa at Villa Park on gameweek 14.

Sure, recent Ballon d’or winner and former student of Guardiola, Lionel Messi and arguably the Premier League’s most consistent performer currently in Mohammed Salah – who controversially finished seventh on the Ballon d’or list – will have plenty reservations about Guardiola’s comments on Silva, but the way the 27-year-old is playing right now, you’d be forgiven for being in agreement with Guardiola’s brave comments.

“He is the best,” Guardiola said. “He was the best two or three seasons ago. He was the best then too. He has a special ability to do whatever he wants with the ball. Against a good goalkeeper it was an incredible finish.

You have to go back to when we won with 98 points, review the videos, you will see the same player like this right now.“

Indeed, that 2018/19 season in which Manchester City raced to the league title with an astonishing record of 98 points was arguably Silva’s best year in a City shirt. The Portuguese magician recorded an impressive 7 goals and 7 assists in 36 appearances in which he was awarded with the club’s player of the year gong, and that was the year in which Guardiola also possessed the legendary David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne both fully fit and firing.

Now, it feels much different. With much more responsibility, expectation and more leadership Bernardo Silva is responding with such remarkable grace and efficiency, and that’s why Guardiola admitted not along ago that he is simply ‘undroppable’, he is always one of the first names on the team-sheet.

But, its a year City needs him now more than ever, with David Silva taking on pastures new in Sociedad and Kevin De Bruyne struggling to get off the injury table, the onus is on Bernardo Silva to drag City to that next level, and that he is doing to such consummate aplomb.

Against Villa, Silva was at his sparkling best, proving the decisive factor and capped off a brilliant display with a goal truly representing his phenomenal and unique qualities, rounding off a silky City counter-attack.

It was a counter which simply cut Aston Villa to shreds, and it all started from their own penalty area with Mahrez pressured by two Villa players still managing to thread a sneaky ball to Fernandinho who found Gabriel Jesus making a dart beyond Tyrone Mings towards the right wing, behind Targett, and playing the perfect ball: 40 yards, expertly into his countrymen’s path.

With one look up to screen his surroundings, the Brazilian striker perfectly lofted an outstanding weighted cross for Bernardo Silva who would have been forgiven in taking a touch and then striking the ball, but that’s not the confidence and sheer class he’s playing at, instead he took it first time. A quite simply mesmerising hit which Emiliano Martínez could do nothing about.

This is a footballer oozing such peerless quality, spellbinding skill and technique, a first touch to simply melt over and phenomenal dribbling that even Ballon d’or winner Lionel Messi would certainly hand over his prestigious award for.

Like the 2018/19 campaign, Bernardo Silva is simply at the top of his game right now, and there’s no reason why he can’t surpass his tally from that season. He’s so far recorded 8 G/A (7 goals, 1 assist) in the Premier League so far with still around four months of the season to go.

Image via Sky Sports

However, goal contributions stats simply does not do his performances any justice. If you want to read well into how good and crafty Bernardo Silva is performing, you need to dive much deeper and the stats shown above is only half the story. He’s first at City for goals scored (5), dribbles attempted (38), distances covered (148.2), and second for interceptions (7) and duels won (63), so not only is he thriving in the attacking phases of play but in his defensive actions and that’s both in his counter-pressing in the attacking third and also in the middle-third.

To put it simply, Bernardo Silva is the complete footballer putting in complete performances each and every single game for Manchester City this season. Remember, Kevin De Bruyne is still out injured – guess you forgot about him didn’t you – but really City don’t need him, because Bernardo Silva is currently pulling the Belgian’s strings in every sense of the word.

Per90 so far this season, the Portuguese magician averages 1.29 key passes, 3.15 final third passes, 1.53 passes into the penalty area and 2.82 progressive passes. Though, its in his dribbling and ball-carrying abilities that City gain so much from. For progressive carries in which he ranks in the 99th percentile of players in Europe’s top five leagues, he averages 10.01 carries per 90 (carries that moves the ball towards the opponents goal at least 5yrds, or carries into the penalty area).

The way Silva weaves past his opponents with such unerring technique, dazzling ball control and such swift deceptive movement is a wonderful sight to behold. The former Monaco man certainly isn’t the most pacey of players but the class at which he caresses the ball with such nimble footwork and awesome body movement means he really doesn’t need pace to his beat his marker.

He is amazing at working and weaving his way out of tight areas and spots showing that £100m man Jack Grealish really isn’t the best dribbler at the Etihad.

Silva has so far this season completed 2.10 dribbles per 90 with a success rate of 61.9% – astonishing. What’s all the more impressive of Silva’s game is his swiss-army knife versatility. Guardiola can play him anywhere in midfield or attack, and he’ll conjure up the decisive moments each game. Play him in a false-nine, left-wing, right-wing, a roaming no.8 and he’ll still perform to his utmost best.

Bernardo Silva’s season heatmap

The Portuguese never stops running, never gives in and its shown in the amount of distances he puts in and on the heatmap above. Again, according to the stats, he is indeed the league’s hardest worker.

via Sky Sports

He has the numbers to back that claim up. Among regular Premier League players this season, Silva has covered more ground per 90 minutes than anyone else in the competition. He is averaging almost 12 kilometres per game, a perfect picture of perpetual motion.

Another remarkable stat is that only City’s holding midfield player Rodri has won back possession of the ball for the champions more times than Silva has this season in both the middle and final third of the pitch.

A uniquely gifted footballer, so meticulous and methodical in the way he weaves about in various areas on the pitch, with purpose, panache and a tactical understanding that Guardiola deems “the best”. It’s why he is undroppable, even if City play twice in three days.

The goal at Villa is the perfect example of how vital he is to City, making sure he is in the right place at the right time to score the decisive goals, he bamboozled at Old Trafford against rivals Manchester United, got the decisive assist against Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad in the UEFA Champions League where he completed 100% of his 47 passes. He wowed against Everton on the same turf, put in a phenomenal full-throttle display against Liverpool in the 2-2 draw at Anfield, against Brighton at the Amex and so on an so forth. There is simply no stopping this man.

It’s amazing to think last season could well have been his last in a Manchester City shirt, with the Portuguese star reportedly stating his displeasure at a lack of game time, but Guardiola has heeded his doubts, placed his faith in him again, especially in the absence of key man Kevin De Bruyne and Silva is repaying that faith. It’s a credit to him in laying aside his complaints and sticking to his guns because he may have a huge say in this season’s captivating three-horse race for the Premier League title.

Silva shown through once again as Manchester City ran out a comfortable 3-1 over Watford at Vicarage Road. The Portuguese was yet again the star of the show, whose two brilliantly taken goals on the day took him to seven in the Premier League for the season — equaling his best season total in a Manchester City shirt.

The Portugal international’s six goals in his last eight league games has been a better return than his previous 61 games for Guardiola, and while his goalscoring looks to be running a bit hot when compared with his xG, you only have to look at some of his finishing to find that he is indeed playing at arguably his best levels yet as a Manchester City player.

While the 27-year-old is clearly on a hot streak with 0.52 goals per 90 this season, it is intriguing to see that his underlying attacking numbers are actually back on the level he was at during the 2019-20 season.

While Manchester City reclaimed their league title from Liverpool last campaign, Silva saw a drop in his attacking output on a personal level. So far this season, he is superseding those numbers and is currently head and shoulders above everybody else in the team.

Certainly, City’s best piece of business last summer was convincing Bernardo Silva to remain at the Etihad, you’ve got to wonder what might have been had the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona had the money to spend. Silva would have surely been an asset to any of the Spanish giants.

For now though, he remains City’s master craftsman, their chief creating officer. Doesn’t Pep Guardiola know it?

James Maddison has rediscovered his mojo – can he finally maintain it?

James Maddison has rediscovered his mojo – can he finally maintain it?

There’s simply no doubt about it, on James Maddison’s day he is arguably one of the most gifted attacking midfielders on the continent let alone England.

Seasoned creators like Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Hakan Çalhanoğlu to name a few of Europe’s most prestigious final third magicians; these players’ lofty elite levels aren’t too high for Maddison to reach when is on song.

In fact, there are periods in each passing season where Maddison is actually on-par with those names, grabbing the iniative in matches, and becoming Leicester City’s main creative hub when they are in desperate need of goals.

But that’s just it, they are only ‘periods’. There’s too many instances where we don’t see the real James Maddison at all. When Leicester have their backs against the wall at crucial points in the season, the midfielder is nowhere to be found, clutching at straws, and that’s what separates him from Europe’s elite creators.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

These are players who don’t only perform in spells or periods during a season, but who provide the missing ingredients and much needed inspiration on a consistent basis when their clubs need it most.

It’s no wonder why Gareth Southgate is justified in out-casting Maddison from his England setup – due his worrying consistency levels.

James Maddison is capable of reaching those incredible levels, and that’s where he must take his game to next if he is to be considered amongst those elite creators in Europe.

Last season has got to be considered his most productive yet, recording 11 goals and 9 assists in all competitions – 8 goals and 5 assists in the Premier League – but the challenge was to build on that. As successful as Leicester’s campaign was last year, it was a challenge for not only Maddison to build on those performances, but for the whole team too.

So far this season, it just hasn’t clicked for Brendan Rodgers and his men. Many expected them to be where West Ham currently are in fourth or fifth spot, a few points off the so-called ‘title challengers’, instead 13 games, in and the club currently sit in 10th place, fortunately just five points off the Champions League spots.

It was supposed to be the year Leicester took that one step further after their tremendous FA Cup success in May, the year they banked on actually breaking into the top four and finally achieving a Champions League spot after just missing out the previous two campaigns, but so far they’ve given themselves a mountain to climb.

After three league games without a win, a win over former boss Claudio Ranieri and his Watford side was paramount, and there are no prizes for guessing who stepped up when the club needed him most. Nope, it wasn’t Jamie Vardy who returned to goalscoring form, but another one of Brendan Rodgers’ go-to men; James Maddison.

A goal and two assists Maddison recorded as Leicester City triumphed 4-2 at the King Power. Just a few days earlier, the former Norwich City man hit the same goal involvements in the Europa League as the Foxes eased to a 3-1 win over Legia Warsaw.

Maddison’s return to form has been welcome and timely for the club, Brendan Rodgers and Jamie Vardy even – but most of all, for Maddison on a personal level. The 25-year-old has found his swagger and spark at just the right time for Leicester as Youri Tielemans’ absence with injury has left Rodgers without a reliable ball-player and creative outlet in the middle of the park.

Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumaré are solid enforcers in front of the back four, but you could argue neither of them possess the ability to dissect stout defences with that telling pass. James Maddison is of course Leicester’s most decisive outlet when performing those cutting edge final third passes.

It’s been a frustrating start to the campaign for Maddison, especially when his England counterparts Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount were firing on all cylinders for club and country. A campaign that has almost mirrored Leicester City’s own inconsistent displays, becoming symbiotic. It’s clear that when Maddison is a his masterful best, the whole team follows suit.

The thing is, Maddison hasn’t been at his best often enough.

The key for Maddison is to be a workhorse and a show pony. When he has been below his best, as shown in a couple instances so far this season, games have passed him by. He has been the passenger instead of the driving force Rodgers knows that he can be.

Life has dramatically changed off the field following the birth of his first child and he’s also had to contend with the unsettling nature of the speculation linking him to Arsenal. It’s understandable, but those are the kind of off-field situations that footballers have to navigate their way through, especially the elite level performers, and Maddison is no different.

After his performance against Legia Warsaw, the midfielder was asked if he had a point to prove. Maddison had started only five of the previous 13 games in which he had been included in the squad, suggesting Rodgers felt Maddison did need to prove that he had what it takes — to show that he wasn’t above being left out of the side, that his talent needed to be backed up with consistent displays. It has been a gentle kick up the backside.

However, during an important week in Leicester’s season, it finally looks as if Maddison taken heed of Rodgers’ demands and is back to his mercurial best.

“I think we always have a point to prove every single day,” Rodgers says. “For him, it was about looking at his game. He knows this is a level where you are always looking to prove yourself, always. He can never be calm with that. You always have to be intense. You have to work and when you are not working so well you have to keep focused and working hard.

“I think you can see, and not just in James, the confidence is returning. The level of the game, the movement is back and we look a real threat. But also working hard.”

What has been evidently clear of James Maddison under Brendan Rodgers, is his influence and decisiveness in much of Leicester’s attacking play. A conductor and an orchestrator in such a well-rounded unit. Whether playing in the most advanced position of a midfield three, or as a more deep-lying playmaker, or tucked in off the left-wing or in his more natural role directly behind Jamie Vardy, he is the man to set and maintain the tempo of their attacking moves.

When Maddison is in the mood, he is indeed unstoppable and that was perfectly proved against Watford. The 25-year-old provided his team with the ingredients to overcome a difficult task. Firstly, taking his goal expertly, but it wasn’t just down to him putting the ball in the back of the net, it was the unique nous and anticipation to run beyond Jamie Vardy and capitalize on any potential mistakes and that’s exactly what he did.

It’s the role of an attacking midfielder to roam beyond the striker and score goals as well as create them, and Maddison has excelled at that trait over the past year, something Rodgers instructed him to do more to get goals and assists, but unfortunately not doing it consistently enough.

The assist for Jamie Vardy’s first goal was absolutely delicious, a delicately weighted chip into the Vardy’s path on the angle, and the veteran striker put the gloss over a superb pass that only few players in the Premier League could replicate.

James Maddison’s heat-map against Watford

His heatmap above above may not seem the most productive, however, it shows the areas on the pitch in which he proved very decisive in Leicester’s attacking play, within that left half-space, an area where he can effectively roam inside and produce his dazzling creative abilities. Maddison is evidently on the ball less – only recording 53 touches against Watford – but when he is in possession of it, he is devastatingly effective, completing 100% of his dribbles, performing 3 accurate crosses – including another assist for Jamie Vardy’s second from a corner – seven chances created and 5 key passes.

If Leicester are to improve on their inconsistencies so far this season, James Maddison will once again prove central to their hopes. Getting Youri Tielemans back fit and firing can only aid their cause too.

Nevertheless, James Maddison is capable of the extraordinary, whether its the eye of the needle pass, the sumptuous first touch and the ability to locate areas in the final third in order to hurt the opposition, that’s what his game is built on.

It is now 7 goals + assists now in his last five starts in all competitions for Leicester City. The swagger and spark in his game has certainly returned, but in order for Maddison to reach those lofty heights, it needs to be combined with tenacity, a ruthless edge and a consistency that is so far unreachable in his game.

The 25-year-old is an elusive creative weapon for Brendan Rodgers, but maybe the reason Leicester haven’t taken that next level is because Maddison hasn’t yet expressed his extraordinary abilities over a prolonged period of time throughout a campaign. At such a crucial stage in Leicester City’s season, it certainly isn’t too late for him to start performing consistently right now.

The ball is in his court.

Emile Smith-Rowe: The come of age baller with the Midas touch

Emile Smith-Rowe: The come of age baller with the Midas touch

Finally, we are seeing Emile Smith-Rowe given the opportunity his tremendous and unique abilities demanded, and he, his club and manager are duly reaping the rewards.

Mikel Arteta has got be given credit for providing him the platform, moulding and fine-tuning the youngster’s game, allowing him the freedom and room to express himself.

Smith-Rowe’s game over during the calendar year has massively improved, not only in his goal output – which we’ll come too soon – but his intelligence and understanding of where to be, where to operate effectively within the final third as Arsenal’s main source of creativity has come on leaps and bounds.

ESR is now almost the complete attacking midfield package, with more maturing and refining to come which in actual fact is quite frightening.

If you can remember during last summer when many were calling for Mikel Arteta to recruit an elite-level number-10, one who can provide Arsenal with the invention and imagination in the final third.

They went on and bought Martin Ødegaard permanently after his successful loan spell at the Emirates last season, with Emile Smith-Rowe was attracting much interest elsewhere as Aston Villa placed a £25million pound bid for his services.

You’ve got to wonder what might have been had Arsenal decided to sell the youngster, but they dared not to, and Smith-Rowe is showing the Arsenal fanbase that he is indeed the man to drive Arteta’s ever-improving squad to the next level. The 21-year-old has been so good that Ødegaard can barely get an opportunity in the Arsenal XI.

10 games unbeaten in all competitions now for Arsenal after their recent Premier League win over Watford before the November international break, and it was ESR’s moment of brilliance – albeit controversially – that broke the deadlock and rewarded them their third win a row, and third win in their last 5 games in the top-flight.

This sumptuous and uniquely gifted performer has arguably been the mastermind behind Arsenal’s recent renaissance. With his sweeping finish against Watford at the Emirates Stadium, ESR bagged his fifth goal in eight appearances, matching and beating his total for the whole of last season, just only couple months into the current campaign.

It was only right Gareth Southgate called him up to the England squad as a result, despite only getting in because of injuries to Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and James Ward-Prowse. However, Smith-Rowe’s form has been damn-near impossible to ignore. This is a player on top of his game and his goal contributions so far this campaign only tell half the story.

The academy graduate was challenged to contribute more goals by Mikel Arteta during his breakthrough campaign, a season where he hardly got a look in because of Martin Ødegaard’s increasing influence in Arsenal’s attack. But now, a few months on and Arsenal are a much better unit, a more free-flowing and exciting attacking side with Smith-Rowe at the heart of it, and that is a testament to the 21 year-old’s stunning development in such a short space of time.

Four goals and two assists in the Premier League so far, giving him the highest combined G+A total amongst the Arsenal camp so far this season, a tremendous stat for him to chew on. Smith-Rowe has been instrumental, embracing the responsibility of taking on the coveted no.10 shirt after signing a new contract in July.

Together with Bukayo Saka, Kieran Tierney, new impressive recruits Ben White and Aaron Ramsdale, he has come to symbolize and represent this exciting and progressive chapter that Mikel Arteta is overseeing at the Emirates.

Smith-Rowe’s development which has accelerated this term is a result of all his hard work, application, maturity and meticulous attention to detail when working on his own game behind the scenes.

The regularly acclaimed “Croydon De Bruyne” has superbly grown into one of the most accomplished attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

Against Watford, the 21-year-old recorded 43 touches, finished with a pass success rate of 96%, delivered six crosses, made three ball recoveries, and registered two shots. His goal also meant that he is now one of four Arsenal players to have scored in three straight PL games before their 22nd birthday, after former players Nicolas Anelka, Jose Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fabregas – not a bad list to be amongst.

Towards the end of last season, Emile Smith-Rowe sat down with management and the people close to him to see how he can further enhance his game in the final third. It was highlighted that others in his position, such as Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes, typically average between two to three shots per 90 minutes.

Smith-Rowe, by contrast, was only recording 0.8 shots per 90. However, there has been an intentional and concerted effort to change those numbers. He has heavily focused on his ability to get into the opposition box more, attempting to develop a better understanding of when to shoot rather than pass, and that was highlighted in his goal against Watford.

His improvement in those areas has been nothing short excellent. In 11 appearances so far in the Premier League, ESR has already taken more shots than he did in 20 outings last season. Crucially, they have come from much better positions, giving a greater chance of finding the back of the net. That is not down to luck, its down to Smith-Rowe’s willingness to learn, to improve and his determination to execute his attempts.

With the help of Arteta and his staff, Smith-Rowe has improved the timing of his runs and developed a knack of ghosting into the opposition box untracked by defenders.

Those unique qualities are highlighted in his recent goals against Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, all of which were dispatched fist time from the centre of the 18-yard-box as seen in the image above. Much of this, is a result of the increasing freedom and room to express himself that has been handed to Smith-Rowe, and he is repaying that faith with fantastic aplomb.

Last season, he averaged 0.12 goals, 0.81 shots, 0.37 shots on target, 2.86 touches in the opposition box and 0.62 dribbles per 90 minutes.

This season those numbers have dramatically increased, he’s averaging 0.33 goals, 1.5 shots, 1.0 shots on target, 3.13 touches in the opposition box and 1.8 dribbles per 90 minutes. ESR is more well-rounded in his approach, much more meticulous and composed as well as becoming so devastatingly effective, seasoned creators like Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne would be mightily impressed.

Also, his influence around the final third is shining through also, and hopefully providing he stays fit and healthy for much of this campaign, these numbers will only increase even further. Per 90 minutes, he is averaging 1.41 key passes, 1.92 final third passes and 1.41 passes into the opposition box. To cap it off, Smith-Rowe averages 2.73 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, already an improvement of his 2.69 average for the whole of last campaign.

If that doesn’t highlight his improvement in the final third, then what will?

The youngster may be seeing less of the ball this season, his touches per 90 dropping from 57.9 last season to 49.2 in the new campaign, but he is certainly doing more with it. There is an increased emphasis on his effectiveness on games. Where once he was more inclined to simply pass the ball to a teammate, now he’s more brave and courageous in carrying the ball forward and driving his team up the pitch.

Seriously, it is a phenomenal sight to behold.

Smith-Rowe’s dribbling numbers have rapidly increased even more than his shots on goal. He is averaging 2.1 successful take-ons per90 minutes which is nearly four times higher than it was last season and puts him at a similar level to dribble-kings Grealish, Mohamed Salah and Raheem Sterling. He records the 7th best progressive carries per 90 (7.27) and is also improving on his carries into the final third with an average of 3.33 compared to 1.81 last season.

It’s these sort of numbers that show Emile Smith-Rowe is getting better as a footballer and performer. Every time he gets the ball in those dangerous areas, Arsenal fans immediately rise up to their feet. The Emirates’ new number 10 is a showstopper, arguably the main event of an impressively growing unit under Arteta.

What’s scary is, ESR can only get better which means Arsenal will only get better and that spells good news for the Gunners faithful despite their struggles in the first few weeks of the season. The 21-year-old is influential in every phase of his game, even in his defending. He averages 3.84 successful pressures per90, meaning he is contributing to Arsenal’s pressing game with such efficient and effective energy. He doesn’t shy away from the doing the dirty work from the front, 1.62 tackles + interceptions to show for his efforts.

Smith-Rowe’s recent progress is down to a number of factors but he has certainly benefitted from an uninterrupted pre-season – a luxury he did not have in preparation for the previous two campaigns. He’s always been dedicated in terms of his approach and application but in recent months he has reaped the rewards of paying closer attention to his nutrition in order to become the complete athlete.

You can see that in his performances on the pitch, his concentration, his energy, game-intelligence and influence when Arsenal need him most. It’s no wonder why he’s received such stark praise from his manager and pundits alike. Smith-Rowe is certainly amongst the most promising young performers in the country and these past few months have proved just that.

He is indeed the come-of-age young baller with the Midas touch.

Rampant Zaha finally ready to lead new dawn at Crystal Palace

Rampant Zaha finally ready to lead new dawn at Crystal Palace

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but in Wilfried Zaha’s case after Saturday’s mauling of 10-man Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park, the old saying may well be much further from the truth.

To put it simply, the Ivorian forward was unstoppable as Nuno Espirito Santo and his Spurs side felt the full force of Zaha who completely tormented new signing Emerson Royal and their much depleted back-line.

Patrick Vieira could not have asked for a better way to record his first win as Crystal Palace boss, in such a manner against his old fierce rivals from his own playing days.

A renewed, reinvigorated Zaha, a clinical double from new signing Odsonne Edouard and a promising cameo from Palace’s other exciting new summer addition Michael Olise means Crystal Palace are a club progressively on its way to much clearer waters in the Barclays Premier League.

The concerns and doubts that had understandably arisen over their creativity and clinical edge in the final third from their first few games under Vieira were completely blown away in an enthralling second-half performance in their 3-0 win over Tottenham who came into the game unbeaten and two points clear at the top of the early Premier League table.

On the eve of their London-derby fixture against West Ham before the international break, Palace faced much criticism for their lack of incision and cutting edge in creating chances following their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, their 0-0 draw at home against newcomers Brentford and their very premature Carabao cup exit against Watford at Vicarage Road losing 1-0.

However, fast forward a couple weeks and Vieira’s men have now scored 5 goals in two games. You wait a long time for a South London bus, and soon after you get a variety of them arriving in quick succession.

Against their London rivals West Ham and Tottenham that famous comical theme reigned supreme. Much of that will of course be placed on the brilliant Connor Gallagher who hit two superb strikes against West Ham and continued his soaring emergence against Spurs, or the clinical edge of their exciting new addition Odsonne Edouard or of course Palace’s new found confidence under Vieira, however, it was down to their old dog and reliable talisman Wilfried Zaha who looks more hungrier than ever.

Japhet Tanganga’s red card for two silly bookings in quick succession early in a then-goalless second half certainly allowed Palace the opportunity to exploit the space vacated by the young defender, but the question was whether Palace would be clinical enough to actually take advantage, an opportunity they regularly failed to exploit under Roy Hodgson in the past.

However, those former concerning traits were put to bed in an instant and Wilfried Zaha’s faultless performance proved the catalyst for Palace’s Saturday lunchtime success.

It will be Edouard’s two ruthless finishes that steal the limelight and not since James Vaughan’s impressive hat-trick on his own Palace debut over a decade ago this week has the Palace faithful been entertained by a fine display of finishing by a striker tasting first appearance in Palace colours, but the usual sight of Zaha racing down the left-flank at full speed remains worth the admission fee alone.

Certainly fans are used to such a sight, they are expectant of it – especially on a more consistent basis – because of the Ivorian’s immeasurable abilities but with this current crop of players under Vieira’s tutelage, Odsonne Edouard, Connor Gallagher and Michael Olise (remember the superfluous Ebere Eze is still to return from injury), Zaha may finally possess the tools to become a prominent Premier League player alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah, Jack Grealish and so on and so forth.

For too long, Zaha has wowed only for a moment to then fade back into obscurity, seeming disinterested, lacking motivation and failing to live up to his in-house hype.

For the opening three league matches of the season, Zaha had been in that all too similar zone which in the past had been Palace’s own undoing. When Zaha doesn’t perform, the whole team follows suit and suffers as a result.

But now, things have changed, he may not have to do things on his own. Finally, he holds wealth of talents alongside him to entertain, capture the imagination of the Palace faithful and to most importantly link up expertly with.

Against Tottenham, we saw just that. Looking and feeling confident, enjoying linking up with the likes of Connor Gallagher and Edouard when he came on, buoyed by the perceived injustice and the energy of the crowd putting in a match-defining performance.

Finally, Palace have a squad potentially capable of matching Zaha’s abilities and ambitions.

In full flight, Wilfried Zaha is electrifying, bordering on unplayable even for the most accomplished full-backs as Emerson Royal found out on his Tottenham debut.

Also keeping his cool to not react too aggressively to Japhet Tanganga and risk a red card himself, before the Spurs defender then walked for a second booking after a lunging challenge on Jordan Ayew soon afterwards, was to Zaha’s credit.

This is a new and improved footballer, a mature but rampant and electrifying one.

For so long, there has been little in Palace’s side to take the pressure off Zaha, and even in the early stages of this season, it was unclear whether anyone other than on-loan midfielder Gallagher could offer playing on the same wavelength. But credit must go to the recruitment team at Selhurst Park and Patrick Vieira for identifying the issue and quickly addressing it.

As we saw in Edouard’s first of his two goals, Zaha providing the assist and a much more capable player confidently taking on the pass to clinically find the back of the net. This is what Zaha has desired all long, for the club to sign players who can complement his game. Odsonne Edouard is a footballer who fits the mould, someone who could assist Zaha and vice-versa.

Let’s take a mention Palace’s new and exciting attacking crop of players again: Connor Gallagher, Michael Olise, Ebere Eze, Odsonne Edouard and Jordan Ayew. This is Wilfried Zaha’s Selhurst Park dream, to play with the best footballing talents, and the Ivorian international can finally now lead the club into an exciting new era.

How Jack Grealish could fit in at Manchester City

How Jack Grealish could fit in at Manchester City

Manchester City have completed the signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m in the biggest deal in English football history.

The 25-year-old midfielder joins on a six-year deal after the Premier League champions activated the £100m release clause in his Villa contract on Friday.

The transfer fee also breaks the previous record in English football held by Paul Pogba when he re-joined Manchester United for £93.25m from Juventus in 2016.

It’s a deal which also makes Jack Grealish the most expensive British footballer in football history, surpassing Gareth Bale when he joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 for £85million.

The deal marks a stunning statement of intent from Pep Guardiola and Manchester City as the Premier League champions embark on retaining their crown next season.

Jack Grealish has proved one of the most creative players in the Premier League since Aston Villa’s promotion three years ago, whether through his passing, his unerring dribbling with the ball, and his sheer will and bravery to take opponents on, its no surprise Pep Guardiola feels he is the right man to refresh his star-studded squad.

The Aston Villa faithful will of course, be gutted and disheartened at this move, after all Grealish has achieved with the club, not least his remarkable gifts and talents that have rescued them out of various difficult situations since his emergence in the first team.

Grealish has indeed become an iconic figure at his boyhood club, but certainly now feels the move to Manchester City, one of the best clubs in Europe and the best in England is one he cannot turn down, especially the lure of playing in Europe’s most prestigious competitions, the UEFA Champions League.

Also, playing under one of football’s most decorated coaches ever in Pep Guardiola is an opportunity many footballers right now would certainly kill for.

At 25 years of age, its an opportunity that doesn’t come around too often, so you’d almost forgive Grealish for making such a huge career decision.

While Aston Villa lick their wounds at the sight of Grealish’s departure, Manchester City and Guardiola will be licking their lips at the sight of possessing one of the best creators in the country and one of the most talented players this great nation has had to offer.

Now, Guardiola will be contemplating with both joy and anguish at how Grealish will fit in at such a talented and world class squad. How do you fit in both Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish in the same XI? How will Guardiola look to improve Jack Grealish? What qualities will Grealish bring, and how will it complement Guardiola’s style?

First and foremost, the 25-year-old will add more of a cutting edge to Manchester City’s play. Guardiola’s side scored 83 goals last season, the most of any team in the division, and possessing someone of Grealish’s ilk will only increase that figure even further.

They do say in a title winning team, that adding more quality to it and improving the following year means even more greatness and sustained success, than just sticking with the same batch of players. The whole squad becomes hungrier, competitive and more vibrant and Guardiola is doing just that with the capture of Jack Grealish.

Aston Villa’s great loss, is Manchester City’s great gain.

Without Jack Grealish last year, Villa only won three of the 12 games he sat out injured. He is a player of great reward, incision, precision, dynamism, cutting thrust and a skill set that proves so unique and masterful in comparison to his fellow English counterparts.

Grealish’s talent is obvious.

In terms of total chances created, chances created from open play and assists, Grealish is right in the midst of the Premier League’s most devastating creators.

Grealish created 70 chances from open play last season, second only to Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (77). He also formed 81 opportunities following ball carries in the last two Premier League seasons as shown above. This is all from just 26 Premier League games last year, even. 6 goals and 10 assists from 26 games is mightily impressive.

3.42 key passes, 3.46 final third passes, 6.91 progressive passes, 6.18 shot-creating actions (the two offensive actions leading directly to a shot, through passes, dribbles or drawing fouls) and 12.6 progressive carries per 90minutes all highlight how effective and influential Jack Grealish was to the Aston Villa cause.

All of those stats may increase at Manchester City, which poses such a scary thought for City’s rivals this coming season.

Many of the chances Grealish creates come after he’s dribbled with the ball, and he led the Premier League standings for 2020/21 in that particular field. Only Harry Kane, Hueng-Min Son and Bruno Fernandes had more assists following a carry and only Son, Marcus Rashford and Harvey Barnes scored more following a carry.

Grealish played far fewer minutes than any of those players, apart from Harvey Barnes, which only goes to show how dangerous Grealish is and just how much he runs with the ball. Progressive carries usually occur in the opposition half, are greater than five metres and move the ball at least five metres towards the opposition’s goal.

Grealish is absolutely devastating at performing such roles. Only three players – Adama Traore, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Pablo Hernandez – completed more per 90 than Grealish last season, but none of them were as devastating and as decisive with their carries as Grealish was.

Last season, Grealish carried the ball into the opposition penalty area a staggering 80 times, 3.29 times per 90mins. 18 more than Raheem Sterling, 32 more than Riyad Mahrez and 48 more than Bernardo Silva, already highlighting how much he offers more than Manchester City’s current options. Again, all of these staggering statistics despite Grealish only playing 26 games. He also ranks third in terms of passes into the box per 90 (2.96), behind his future teammate Kevin De Bruyne (3.56).

Grealish compared to City attackers (2020/21)GrealishSterlingFodenMahrezSilvaDe Bruyne
Games played263128272625
Goals6109926
Assists10756612
Chances created813936442780
Dribbles completed656638454148
Fouls won1104134301831
Provided by BBC Sport

Interestingly, Manchester City were the team who performed the most carries into the penalty area last season with 68, more than second-placed Chelsea. When City players get into the box, they are expected to make things happen, effect the game and Grealish, Foden, Sterling, Silva and Mahrez are all in the top 10 for passes attempted and completed inside the opposition’s penalty area last season.

The ability to carry the ball at long distances, evade pressure, beat opponents at will as well as drawing so many fouls is a trait that appeals so much to Guardiola and the City faithful. Manchester City will be getting a player who will vastly improve their football next season. However, there is a caveat to Grealish’s game that Guardiola may look to alter.

As journalist Miguel Delaney so correctly points out, Grealish is allowed so much freedom and warranty at Villa, in that his game is expressed individually, being able to perform so many actions on his own which drives his team and gets them out of difficult situations. That won’t be the case at City, Guardiola calls on a more structured approach to his attacking play, its all about the collective rather than the individual, and that’s something Grealish will have to adapt to.

He may not be able to just get the ball and dribble all he likes – as he did at Villa – he’ll be asked to keep up the tempo in City’s passing, with breaking opposition lines and carving out opportunities in the penalty area. It will certainly be interesting to see how Guardiola may adapt to Grealish’s style or teaching the Villa talisman to adapt and adhere to his own.

Grealish will need to release the ball quicker than he does, and to be more attentive when working with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. A major part of City’s superb approach was their ability to slow the game down with their subtle, intricate and decisive passing only to then speed it up at particular moments, taking advantages of spaces when they open up.

Defenders will be drawn to Grealish like he was at Villa, which means him winning free-kicks across the park could frustrate City’s build-up, with opposition teams reverting quickly back into a defensive shape. What’s so devastating about Grealish is his huge decisiveness once dribbling with the ball, which means City will only benefit, but they’d benefit even greater if he works on his game releasing the ball much more efficiently and more sooner.

The question on everybody’s lips will certainly be where Jack Grealish could line-up next season. Sources close to Guardiola say that Grealish could be deployed as a creative no.8 alongside Kevin De Bruyne in their customary and fluid 4-3-3 shape. With Raheem Sterling regularly deployed on the left, Grealish’s regular spot will be occupied, but there’s always a chance for rotation and flexibility.

Grealish in more central areas, as we’ve seen before is of course a devastating sight to behold. As soon as he picks up the ball, its incredibly difficult to get him off it – unless fouling him. At City, he may well be given more space to roam, with opposition midfielders occupied with Kevin De Bruyne’s ability to dissect opposition defences at will. If this is the case, Guardiola will be capable of breaching the most combative of defences from not just one area in the half-space, but two.

Both Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne are both destructive in those areas which gives the opposition much more danger than they bargained for.

Of course, Grealish could also expected to be deployed on the left side of City’s attack, his most common position, although with Sterling and Foden already on that side (and given the left-footed Foden finished last campaign on that flank) it is a very competitive area of the pitch for City.

The prospect of a Grealish and Foden partnership will be mouthwatering for any Manchester City fan, and there’s certainly been flashes of the pair when the two are on duty for England. Their superb ability to combine through delicious first touch passes and swift interchanging of movement could really aid City in cutting through opponent’s steep defences.

They would have no problems switching roles temporarily too.

How about Grealish and Sterling together? Southgate has tried that partnership with ruthless aplomb before, if you need any evidence just ask the Czech Republic.

If City don’t get in Harry Kane this summer, and Guardiola opts for a false nine setup, then Grealish could be unleashed in midfield alongside Gundogan with Kevin De Bruyne coming off the front-line. Why not Grealish operating in those false-nine areas too?

The imperious quality at Guardiola’s disposal leaves a lot of room for rotation and flexibility certainly, which means Jack Grealish will be thrust into a much more competitive and much testing dynamic than at Aston Villa.

Some will argue that the grass isn’t always greener, but its a move and challenge that Grealish will relish and be excited by. It will be incredibly intriguing how Guardiola mixes and meshes his various attacking options, especially if they do manage to get in both Jack Grealish and Harry Kane this summer.

Jack Grealish’s move certainly raises as much questions as answers as to how City could line-up next season and how his game could complement the team’s and vice-versa. It’s an exciting headache for Pep Guardiola to have. However, what’s certain is that Jack Grealish will improve City considerably, and on a more personal measure, Grealish’s game may well be taken to a whole new level under Guardiola’s tutelage.

This is a call to Manchester City’s Premier League rivals (not just the red half of Manchester)… be very afraid.

How City could line-up next season with both Kane and Grealish

A complete and charismatic operator: Emiliano Buendia will propel Aston Villa’s game to a whole new level

A complete and charismatic operator: Emiliano Buendia will propel Aston Villa’s game to a whole new level

For a second successive summer Aston Villa are smashing their transfer record for a player who has taken the Championship by storm. Many will argue spending £30-odd-million pound especially for a club of Villa’s standing, a huge financial risk, considering the current climate the UK is in during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, in the case of Norwich’s brilliant Argentine chief-creator Emiliano Buendia, that amount has got to be considered as an astute piece of business.

Buendia’s £33million arrival from Championship title winners Norwich, signing a five-year-deal with the fee potentially arising to £38 million depending on various add-ons breaks the record set by Ollie Watkins’ capture from Brentford last summer.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of one of the UK’s most devastating and lethal creators. Yes, we’ve constantly marveled at the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden over the past year but mark these words; Buendia is on the same level playing field.

As controversial as it may sound, if you’ve watched the Argentinian magician over the past couple seasons, you’d be mad not to agree with such a statement.

Emiliano Buendia will be back where he belongs next season, playing Premier League football, but not in the colours of Norwich. A big-money move was always on the horizon for him after three remarkable consecutive campaigns in English football, and the new Argentine international has somewhat formed a growing reputation as one of the country’s most complete attacking midfielders.

Despite Arsenal’s interest, Villa reportedly was the move the forward wanted and the West Midlands club will be awfully glad they’ve managed to capture Buendia under the noses of Arsenal and as early as they have done, providing him with the ample opportunity to acclimatize to his new surroundings and contribute to a full pre-season with his new club.

Next season, Aston Villa will be a force to be reckoned with. The signing of Emiliano Buendia has almost guaranteed that, but more importantly Villa have addressed a souring need in their squad – attempting to ease the creative burden on Jack Grealish. With both players in Dean Smith’s weaponry, the former Brentford manager will be drooling at the sight of his potentially formidable attack next season.

Aston Villa have massively progressed since their survival from relegation at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, and their 11th placed finished at the end of the current campaign is a significant representation of the giant strides Dean Smith and his side have made in such a short space of time. Recording one of the best defences in the league, only just conceding 46 goals, its in attack where Dean Smith felt he needed more quality.

The capture of Ollie Watkins from Brentford was a huge success, scoring 14 Premier League goals and also the signing of Bertrand Traore proved a much-needed boost to the whole squad. Still, during Jack Grealish’s considerable stint on the sidelines from February to mid-May significantly affected Aston Villa’s ability to score goals and create chances.

Ross Barkley was supposed to be the answer, after starting so well for the club, his campaign tailed off after injury. Villa heavily relied on the likes of John McGinn, Bertrand Traore and Anwar El Ghazi to link up with Ollie Watkins as well as calling on academy product Jacob Ramsey. Because of that Villa’s Premier League form suffered, only winning three games out of 12 since Jack Grealish’s shin injury against Brighton in February.

The club needed extra quality in the final third, and they have only gone and addressed that issue superbly. The signing of Emiliano Buendia may just be Villa’s best piece of business over the past decade. The 24-year-old was one of the Premier League’s most supreme performers in the final third during his maiden English top-flight campaign, recording 7 assists, and creating 70 clear-cut chances, the third best that campaign creating one more than his future teammate Jack Grealish.

This campaign, Emiliano Buendia has only furthered his education in England all the more impressively. One again, standing out as one of the best attacking midfielders in the country, despite playing in the second division. The midfielder recorded an extraordinary 15 goals, and 16 assists from 39 appearances helping Norwich to another direct promotion to the Premier League.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QriCTLFXx9I

Those numbers alone tell its own story, that Emiliano Buendia will indeed take Aston Villa’s game to a whole new level during the 2021/22 Premier League campaign. Certainly, in terms of his influence in the final third, Buendia is up there with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Mason Mount.

Buendia is finally where he belongs again, playing top-level football and he is certainly here to stay.

So what will Buendia bring to Dean Smith’s progressive Villa team? You only need to put it in simple terms.

Emiliano Buendia will bring a whole lot of fine-tuning to Aston Villa’s attack, a ruthless edge and a charismatic presence in the final third that the club so dearly lacks in Jack Grealish’s absence. Buendia is a player of substance, a player built for when the going gets tough, but one who on so many occasions, holds the propensity to consistently drag his team out of trouble.

The Argentinian midfielder is an intelligent player, a mastermind in the final third. Capable of the extraordinary, whether its an eye-of-the-needle pass, a silky trick, a clever run off the ball or a sumptuous link-up play with his striker, Buendia constantly proved the key jigsaw in Norwich’s attacking puzzle. Drifting in off the right-hand side, everything went through him. Whenever Norwich needed the inspiration he provided it. 15 goals and 16 assists last season is simply outstanding, statistics both Kevin De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes would be proud of.

Creativity, vision, technique, hunger, drive, determination and a real eye for goal. Buendia has what it takes to be a top-tier Premier League player. However, the 24-year-old cannot simply be plainly defined by his efforts in the final third but his work off the ball is just as impressive and a feature that Aston Villa will be highly thankful for.

Emi Buendia is a pressing machine, a player who’s energy, tenacity and doggedness out of possession is incredibly infectious. When he starts off the press, everyone else follows. That’s what Villa lacked on occasion last season, the whole team did not press as a unit. At times, Watkins will be the player starting off but left to do it by himself.

Dean Smith will have certainly identified that weakness, hence the swift capture of one of the best defensive attacking midfielders in the country. Buendia averaged an astonishing 2.5 tackles per90 minutes, considerably more than any of Aston Villa’s attackers.

He also recorded 186 interceptions, much of them coming in the attacking half. He is a real warrior out of possession, like a kid fighting to retrieve its toy. As soon as the team loses it high-up the pitch, Buendia will be the first to try and win it back. It’s an underappreciated trait in his game, but one many will seldom enjoy once he puts on that Villa shirt next season.

Aston Villa will be extremely excited about the prospect of watching both Emiliano Buendia and Jack Grealish in the same team. Though, its a conundrum Dean Smith will have to work out if he is to get the best of his attacking weapons. Ollie Watkins will be incredibly joyous at the sight of Buendia behind him, and is almost guaranteed to get as many goals as he has done this past year.

Villa do view Buendia as their number 10 in their customary 4-2-3-1, but that does not mean there won’t be any flexibility within their attacking play. Bertrand Traore, Jack Grealish and Buendia will be constantly interchanging positions, providing a supreme mixture of pace, power, creativity and vision when creating chances, and they will create bags of them, that’s a guarantee.

How Aston Villa may line-up next season.

With Villa’s squad already stacked up with options in the wide areas in Bertrand Traore, Jack Grealish, Trezeguet and Anwar El Ghazi, there does appear to be an opportunity for Buendia to seamlessly slot in and fill those areas as shown above. Buendia is incredible in those areas, which means Villa be creating a hatful of chances each game.

Though, it is worth bearing in mind that Buendia has barely featured in such a role for Daniel Farke during his three years at Carrow Road. Rather his strength with Norwich lied on the right-hand-side in Farke’s 4-2-3-1, with Max Aarons athleticism and incredible knack of roaming up and down that right flank allowing Buendia the freedom and opportunity create havoc in the half-spaces, creating opportunities, linking up with Pukki as well as forming chances of his own.

His chance creation map above shows that he wasn’t your average right-winger, he did not hug the touchline and cross from the wide areas but instead fulfilled the role of a wide attacking player given the freedom to roam inside and operate centrally. It emphasis how diverse his creation of chances is with much of them coming in the central areas after driving in front of the right-hand side.

The Argentinian took his game to a whole new level last season, improving his goal-scoring return with a career high 14 non-penalty goals in the league going a long way to him earning the Championship player of the season gong – a year after Ollie Watkins won it himself. Five of those goals came from outside the penalty area, and that’s a feature Villa will strongly welcome. But it will be the scoring chances that Buendia forms that will be what Dean Smith will be relying on massively, especially if Jack Grealish is absent.

Buendia plays many dangerous passes, his expected assist per 90 minutes (0.36) truly shows his propensity to create chances out of nothing.

Dean Smith will be expecting that ability, coupled with other talents around him, to indeed provide Aston Villa with a more well-rounded, devastating and potent mix. There is so much for Villa fans to be optimistic about next season, and the charismatic presence of Emiliano Buendia only heightens that profound and lofty optimism and hope around Villa Park.