The FA Cup lost its magic long ago, but this Manchester City XI has shown the competition such a minimal amount of respect it will have the purists of the English game in tatters.Guus Hiddink has a good FA Cup record to keep up, whilst Manuel Pellegrini will hope that his makeshift XI can still put out some sort of halfway respectable performance..
Here is the XI in question. First of all, who even are some of these guys?
Naming such an unheard of XI could, oddly, bring back the magic of the cup. Would this City side beating this (see below) Chelsea side be some sort of crazy giant killing? City’s outcasts and kids beat the Champions on their own dirt? What sort of menace is this?
But just imagine if Chelsea’s season takes yet another turn for the worse… could the Blues reach a lower ebb? Could Chelsea be any more of a laughing stock?
The FA Cup is dying, dying a slow, painful, capitalist death at the hands of Premier League TV money. Even the richest can’t be fussed with the FA’s dreadful scheduling and are effectively throwing the oldest cup of them all.
Manchester City have managed to make a team of kids and their dads, for this.
Whilst some of the league’s newly promoted sides have shone and outreached expectations, the Baggies have somewhat limped towards the finish line in another campaign some of their fans are brandishing as ‘just a little underwhelming’.
There aren’t many fans, managers or players that dislike the club and they always seem to get along okay – usually ploughing along until the end of the season in an attempt to simply avoid relegation.
But whilst remaining in the Premier League is key for a side like West Brom, one must wonder whether this is as lofty as their ambitions will ever get. The Leicester City story this season has been utterly inspirational and really does prove that anyone can do it with hard work, team spirit and a thoroughly solid squad. At the start of the season it wouldn’t have been silly to have suggested that the Midlanders and Foxes would have finished in similar parts of the table come the end of the campaign.
Obviously, if everyone thought Leicester were going to win the league, it would have been far less exciting, but once upon a time it was as far-fetched an idea as you could possibly come up with. So with two sides sitting at complete opposite ends of the Premier League spectrum, what can West Brom do to avoid becoming another ‘nothing’ Premier League team?
Investment has to be up there. We’ve seen the impact the multi-billion pound television deal has had on the game and with that, West Brom were able to bring in players like Saloman Rondon – who cost in the region of £15million. But they can’t stop there and sit on that. With this summer comes another chance to recruit solidly and build upon a side that hasn’t won since the beginning of March.
Scouting needs to remain an important part of Tony Pulis’ network. We’ve seen some of the best signings of the season come from lower league/less established clubs, and, sorry to go back to them, Leicester City are the example. The work done by N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez has played a big part in their seemingly imminent title glory, and there’s even an argument to add January signing Demarai Gray to their list of stunning signings. Whilst he hasn’t been a standout player he’s had a big part to play coming towards the end of the season, and it is these signings that have set the Foxes apart.
Of course, the most important thing next season is for the Baggies to stay up, but to do it in such a way that shows they deserve their place in this league. Yes, they have their ‘boing-boing’ reputation, but I’m sure West Brom fans would love to see a top eight finish with a squad that has fought week-in, week-out.
Tony Pulis was brought into do a job, but it’s been questioned whether that is simply enough anymore. I think the Leicester story will prove the ‘minnows’ in the league can compete, but that only puts pressure on their players and management here on in.
Arsenal finished second! What an achievement! Well, not really. The fans still aren’t too happy and their greatest accolade from 2015/16 was finishing above Tottenham, so they really didn’t do that much in the end. Arsene Wenger faced furious fans with A4 pieces of paper, some echoey booing and, worst of all, had to watch his team fail to win the title again.
It could, as every summer could, be a massive off-season for the Gunners. Wenger needs his players to stay fit, for a start, and they are well aware that investment is crucial with several of the other big Premier League clubs looking to revamp their squad. Luckily, there is a ready-made scouting exercise in France, EURO 2016.
Arsene Wenger will surely have his eyes peeled, looking for the next star to leap out at him, but any tournament star will come at a premium.
We’ve got a little shortlist for ya, Arsenal fans…
William Carvalho
Tipped by many to a world star in the future, Carvalho has come off the back of another impressive season with Sporting Lisbon and is likely to feature heavily for Portugal at the EUROs this summer.
His national team may not be in their all-time strongest state, but he could well make quite a mark on the tournament if they manage to make it to the latter stages.
Isco
Still in and out of the Real Madrid team, Isco is part of an immensely talented Spanish squad.
It is not yet known whether he will be one of the players cut from the preliminary squad, but the former Malaga midfielder would slot perfectly into the Arsenal side as a wide playmaker. Drifting in from the right, he could be a real threat with his mesmeric dribbling and eye for a pass.
Leroy Sane
Possibly one of the fastest players who will be in France this summer, Schalke’s Sane is the real deal.
The winger can play on either flank and would already be an upgrade on either of Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He has been a goal threat throughout this season and, although he may not appear much for Germany, he is a player that Arsenal fans should certainly keep an eye on in the future.
[ad_pod id=’arsenal-players’ align=’center’]
Angelo Ogbonna
Signing a player from West Ham might not seem like the most dramatic addition to the Arsenal squad, however, Angelo Ogbonna is quicker than Per Mertesacker, more sensible than Gabriel and could be an ideal partner for Laurent Koscielny.
The Italian could struggle for minutes with the embarrassment for riches Conte has in the position, but he’s a player that has proven his ability in the Premier League and could be a brilliant left-field signing.
[ad_pod id=’arsenal-players’ align=’center’]
Granit Xhaka
A hard-tackling, pinpoint passing deep-lying playmaker, Xhaka is everything that Arsenal need.
The Swiss international is only 23 and would be the perfect option for Wenger this summer. There is a possibility that the Gunners will move for the Borussia Monchengladbach man before the start of the EUROs, but he will certainly be key for the Switzerland side this summer.
This season has seen a shift of power in north London.
For so many years Arsenal have had the bragging rights over their neighbours Tottenham but it looks as though that is all about to change.
In a season that has seen the Gunners flatter to deceive once again, top of the Premier League at the start of 2016 before falling apart in another meltdown, Spurs look set to put the final nail in their bitter rival’s 2015/16 coffin, as they are on course to finally finish above the side from the Emirates.
The men from White Hart Lane have come on leaps and bounds this year under Mauricio Pochettino and were the only team for a long period that looked like they could stop Leicester City’s surge to this year’s title. That did not come to pass, but there’s a big air of optimism over at N17 ahead of next year, which is far more than can be said at Arsenal.
But why has this come about? How are Tottenham now better than Arsenal? FootballFanCast takes a look…
World Class Striker
Harry Kane has proven himself to be the real deal this season. After notching 21 goals last campaign the Spurs frontman has extinguished any thoughts that he would be a one hit wonder with another 25 this year.
He’s quickly becoming the complete forward, he can head, use either foot, score inside and outside the box and as this year’s top scorer in the league, he has highlighted his truly world class ability.
He’ll be leading the line for England at Euro 2016 and it’s testament to his talent that he’s made that position his own. Now compare this to Arsenal’s main forward – Olivier Giroud.
Make no mistake, Giroud is a decent player on his day but is he world class? No chance. Giroud has 12 goals to his name this year and with players around him like Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, he should be scoring a lot more.
Arsene Wenger needs a world class forward still and the mind boggles as to why he hasn’t got one yet.
World Class Manager
Football – Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 8/8/15Tottenham manager Mauricio PochettinoAction Images via Reuters / Darren StaplesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Mauricio Pochettino’s stock has risen incredibly this year.
When he joined Spurs in 2014 he’d taken over a club still trying to replace Gareth Bale, with a clutch of signings that never looked like they were going to gel. The turnaround has been amazing.
Spurs have been moulded into one of the league’s most cohesive units and they follow the Argentine’s instructions with aplomb. You cannot overestimate the job ‘Poch’ has done at Spurs in just two years and the future looks bright for the Lilywhites.
Arsene Wenger, on the other hand, looks out of touch. Ten years ago Wenger was easily one of the best managers around, he was celebrating a decade as the Gunners boss in which he had seen league and cup doubles, a run to the Champions League final and, of course, the Invincibles season.
The Frenchman’s style of play was a breath of fresh air in the Premier League as his swashbuckling Arsenal sides were one of the most formidable in the country, but since then it looks like he’s run out of ideas.
Football, and the way to play it, changes all the time and while the most successful managers adapt to continue at the top level, Wenger seems stuck in his ways. He’s lost that aura about him, an aura that seems to be growing around Pochettino instead.
Improving young players
Spurs have the youngest average aged squad in the league. This can only mean the team are going to improve over the years and equally, given their lofty standings this season, Tottenham’s youngsters are clearly a hugely talented bunch.
Harry Kane and Dele Alli at 22 and 20-years-old respectively have at least another 10 years at the highest level, which Spurs fans will hope is with their team. Then when you consider the fact key players like Christian Eriksen, Eric Dier and Danny Rose are all under 25 and have had their best seasons to date, Tottenham are going only one way; up.
Arsenal have also got a batch of promising young players but they seem to have stalled in their development. Jack Wilshere, although plagued by injuries, hasn’t helped himself with off field misdemeanours. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t shown that great form from when he first signed and Aaron Ramsey seems to have lost his way slightly to0.
Arsenal have got good young players but seem to lack any intensity compared to their Spurs counter parts at the moment, but where the blame lies for this is up for debate.
Case for the defence
Spurs have the best goal difference in the league and that is largely thanks to their defence.
Spurs have conceded fewer goals than anyone else this season and have a back four that all know what they’re doing. Danny Rose has become England’s finest left-back and Kyle Walker’s defensive attributes have also improved.
Meanwhile, the centre-back pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen has been hugely influential in Tottenham’s rise – and in Alderweireld Spurs arguably have the best centre half in the Premier League right now.
Finally, Hugo Lloris is one of the world’s best goalkeepers, and would walk into pretty much any side in the world.
Arsenal’s defence is by no means dreadful, but it lacks the organisation of Spurs’. 17 clean sheets, the most in the league this year, shows how good a signing Petr Cech has been but it’s the four in front of the Czech that have let him down.
Hector Bellerin has had a good season and Laurent Koscielny looks great at times, but there’s always a mistake in Arsenal’s back four if you put them under pressure. West Ham showed a few weeks ago that they’re still not great with aerial threats and you look at that back four and think, who’s the organiser? Who’s the one that gets the rest of the back four in position?
There isn’t an obvious answer and that’s what has let Arsenal down.
Fan Harmony
The amount of discord flying about at the Emirates between fans is clearly hampering the team’s performance. Wenger seems to be facing more and more protests as the weeks go by and the division between his accusers and disciples is only getting bigger and bigger.
It’s a rather toxic atmosphere at Arsenal and until that gets resolved, results on the pitch are going to remain as they have been recently, uninspiring.
Things at White Hart Lane could not be more different. You’d be hard pressed to find a Spurs fan unhappy with the way the team has carried on this season, nor would you find a Pochettino detractor.
Everyone at Spurs seems to be pulling the same way and the fans have played a big part in Spurs’ title push this year.
Recently it’s been quite easy to notice two trends involving the theme of the Premier League which could be very important in the upcoming season.
The Decline of Possession Football
Firstly, the supposed decline of possession based (tiki-taka) football which dominated the sport with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona epitomising it’s success. In it’s place has come a resurgence of counter-attacking football with organised defence in depth when a team loses the ball. This was well represented by Leicester City last season in their amazing title win, in which they averaged 42.3% possession.
There have been other examples, such as Atletico Madrid in Spain (49%) as well as Italy (45%), Iceland (36%) and Portugal (52%) in the Euros. This suggests that more teams in the Premier League will move towards this choice of play which suits the teams that are used to playing in this style already, and endangers those that dare to continue to play possession based football.
Liverpool’s Confidence
The other trend that it’s been easy to notice is the quiet confidence coming from the Liverpool camp with the supporters seemingly buying in to this.
Pre-season is usually filled with supporters being confident about their team’s chances, which is usually erased a few weeks or months into the season, but there seems to be something different this time round.
Relevance of the Two Factors
The combination of these two factors could have a major influence on the upcoming Premier League season. Liverpool have managed to go under the radar due to the amount of managerial changes at the big teams in the summer so far, but Klopp has had enough time to mould the team to his liking which could spell bad news for the other teams.
Klopp’s unique take on counter attacking football is an exciting form of it, and this could push Liverpool to success due to teams in the Premier League being unsure to handle it especially the teams that focus on keeping possession.
In Klopp’s own words, he compared Arsene Wenger possession style of football to “an orchestra” whereas his style is like “heavy metal”.
An example of this is Liverpool’s first half demolition of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last season, which was as exciting as it was surprising. Now that he has been able to sign players suited to his philosophy, this kind of performance may become common in the upcoming season.
Managerial Changes
The amount of managerial changes suits Liverpool because it will take a while for the managers to form the team they want, even if they are world class managers such as Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola.
This means that if Liverpool are consistent throughout the season then they could easily get in the Champions League places and maybe even win the league.
European Football, or the Lack of
Chelsea and Everton are the only other major teams aside from Liverpool which don’t have European football next season, and this is going to be pivotal around Christmas when the fixtures become congested although it probably wouldn’t be wise to discount the smaller teams in the league after Leicester’s heroics last season.
Signings
Klopp has made some promising signings so far in this transfer window with a nice balance between spending big, and finding cheap bargains.
His signing of Sadio Mane for £34million was a statement of intent as well as a smart investment due to his prior experience in the Premier League with Southampton.
The signings of Marko Grujic, Loris Karius and Joel Matip for under £10 million are smart and improve the spine of the team as well as introducing energy to the squad.
Youth
There are also youth players, which Klopp has a good record of bringing into the first team – some of which we saw last season.
The amount of time he has spent with Liverpool as well as pre-season matches means that he should have a good understanding of the youngsters which will hopefully translate to some of them getting into the first team.
Silverware
Last season saw Liverpool get to two finals, both of which they lost. However, this was a promising start for Klopp seen as the team wasn’t his own yet, and was still the team he inherited from Brendan Rogers.
This suggests that Klopp should have more success which probably means silverware of some kind because he’s had more time to get his players to understand his philosophy, and bring in the players he wants.
Pre-Season
Pre-season is never a good indicator for the season ahead so this is more of a sidenote than anything else, but Marko Grujic has performed well so far, and Danny Ings had a match winning display against Tranmere, which is positive news going in to the season.
Summary
To sum up, Klopp and Liverpool are in a great position to take the Premier League by storm next season, so don’t be surprised if they’re challenging strongly for the title in the upcoming season as well as possibly winning one of the domestic cups.
Hopefully we’ll see more of the exciting Gegenpressing that Klopp is trying to instil next season.
This article was submitted via our Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and give yourself the chance of winning monthly cash prizes…
Ladies and gentlemen, the glorious occasion we all wait for every year is a mere three weeks away. The yellow tie is ready, the exhausted reporters are ready and the teenagers adorned with half-inflated blow-up dolls are ready too.
That’s right, transfer deadline day is near, which can only mean a flurry of unnecessarily late activity as clubs battle to sign players in eight minutes, despite having eight weeks to accomplish the same result.
While Anthony Martial was the only blockbuster deal on last season’s deadline day, 2016’s version could be set for record breaking excitement, especially as the Premier League is at its most competitive since its inception 25 years ago.
Here are five players that you may be watching through blacked-out car windows and ducking into helicopters, as the deadline day spectacle once again unfolds.
Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal
So clear is the evidence that Arsenal need another striker in their squad, even Arsene Wenger cannot bury his head in the sand and insist otherwise.
However, expect the Gunners to start their campaign without a forward addition as the wily French manager holds out until almost every fan at the Emirates has complained of a lack of fire power or of the sluggish pace of Olivier Giroud.
Jonas Hector to Liverpool
Despite some impressive additions to the Liverpool squad so far this summer, there is still a glaring lack of talent at left-back, especially with Alberto Moreno’s incomparably inconsistent form in recent times.
Jonas Hetcor seems like the ideal player to fill this void but Liverpool may need to move out some of their unwanted baggage first before funding a deal for one of the best left backs in Europe right now.
Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea
With Everton reportedly keen on recruiting Wilfried Bony from Manchester City and Chelsea’s third choice striker Bertrand Traore heading to Ajax, a return to Stamford Bridge now seems like a legitimate possibility for Romelu Lukaku.
However, Everton will want to cash-in substantially on their star player and it may take numerous weeks of deliberation between the clubs before a last minute deal can be reached.
Marouane Fellaini to Sunderland
With David Moyes already raiding his former club this transfer window after signing Donald Love and Paddy McNair from Manchester United, the new Sunderland boss will likely make an approach for a man who he worked with at Old Trafford and Everton – Marouane Fellaini
The tricky part of any deal which would see the Belgian move to the Stadium of Light would be his desire to leave United. However, it is likely that Mourinho will use Fellaini sparingly during the upcoming season, so first team football may lure the 28 year old to Wearside.
Juan Mata to Everton
Reports have surfaced this week suggesting that Juan Mata is keen to leave Manchester United after being told that he will not feature regularly in Mourinho’s new look side at Old Trafford.
With Everton looking to strengthen under Ronald Koeman and with significant money to spend, the 28-year old could well be wearing blue again come September.
Tottenham have had a steady start to the season this year.
On the opening day, they drew away at Everton before following that up with their only victory so far at home to Crystal Palace with a late goal from Victor Wanyama.
Finally, before the international break, they got another point from the other Merseyside club Liverpool at White Hart Lane to leave them with five points going into this weekend.
The performances so far haven’t been what we came to be accustomed to last year with Spurs. As they challenged for the title they were one of the most exciting sides to watch attacking with exuberance but also being defensively sound.
This season, however, they haven’t looked quite at it. It’s early days of course but could it be time for Mauricio Pochettino to shake things up a little with the way Spurs play? FootballFanCast takes a look.
Spurs have gone with the same tactical blueprint that served them well last year. Pochettino likes to have two holding midfielders who are essentially destroyers with the three midfielders in front the ones who make the chances for the one up top – usually Harry Kane.
It was Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele that were the two holders for most of the season and they generated a formidable partnership, adding an extra wall in front of an already resolute Spurs back-line. It may have appeared negative, but it allowed Kyle Walker and Danny Rose to fly forward and give the team pace out wide and as we saw for most of last season it was a system that worked.
Now, though, there are suggestions Spurs have been found out slightly.
Of course, they have missed Mousa Dembele in the centre – many sides would – but even so in that second holding role he is being limited, as has Victor Wanyama, his replacement. Last year it worked because teams weren’t sure how to play against Tottenham but now they know exactly what to expect. Spurs have become slightly predictable.
You know that Rose and Walker are going to be outlets. You also know Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen are going to want to come inside and play. Stop these two factors from happening you’ve gone some way to stopping the whole Spurs machine. Throw into the bargain that two of their three central midfielders can’t get into the more advanced action now to help out, Spurs aren’t winning the midfield battle as much as they did last year.
It only needs a slight change in honesty but it could be a key one, and Pochettino’s dealings in the transfer window – two of them in particular – suggest he’s got such a change in mind.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Spurs go with one holding player from now on. They now have Moussa Sissoko who is as mobile as Mousa Dembele so it would make sense to play them both. If Sissoko produces the goods he can on a regular basis Spurs suddenly have a more advanced base on which to implement Pochettino’s press.
It’s time to switch that midfield three around. Instead of Dier and Dembele holding with Dele Alli the more advanced Spurs might be looking at Dier as the solitary pivot – the role he plays for England – with Dembele and Sissoko more advanced and with more license to maraud forward – what they are best at.
Inverting that midfield triangle gives Spurs a much more attacking outlook and that ultimately is what they need right now. Three goals in three games so far isn’t a good enough return for a team wanting Champions League qualification at the very least this season and with their current system they surely won’t improve that with teams now happy to sit in and defend against them.
That shouldn’t be the end of it, though. Spurs still need more pace out wide. Against Liverpool, they saw what a quick winger can do with Sadio Mane one of the standout performers but it looks as though they’ve acted with that in mind. Georges-Kevin N’koudou might not have the Premier League pedigree yet but he has the hallmarks of what Spurs needed. He plays down the wing and is quick as well as fitting the Spurs profile of being young.
Whether Pochettino throws him in straight away remains to be seen but he should be given a chance soon because he could be key in helping evolve the Spurs side.
Tottenham have the foundations for a good team but if they don’t switch it up a bit, no matter how slight, they’ll continue to be found out by teams and eventually get left behind.
Arsenal are on a scintillating run of form having won their last six Premier League matches and stand undefeated in 11 games since losing on the opening day of the season, with a number of the players within their squad playing tremendous football.
Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott have all been formidable thus far and dominated in Tuesday night’s 6-0 thrashing of Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad, with the trio each continuing their fine runs of form in the high-scoring affair.
Following the result, former Gunners defender Martin Keown wrote in his column for The Daily Mail that he believes the form of the leading trio can be attributed to the continued absence of Olivier Giroud, who has been struggling with injury problems in recent weeks:
“I think Theo has suffered for some time because Arsenal haven’t had a centre forward who can make runs in behind the defence,”
“Olivier Giroud certainly has his merits, but the build-up play is slow when he plays up front. He’s not going to beat a man like Sanchez does, so the wide men have to run from deep to get around the opposition.”
“It’s hard work and is also less likely to pay dividends than having your centre forward running in behind to stretch the play. The way they are playing this season gives Theo little time to think and forces him to play with instinct. With Sanchez and Ozil both bombing forward around him, it allows him to join in and do what he does best.”
“It’s like he’s flicked a switch in his head this season – he’s not going to be patient anymore and allow Wenger to bring him in and out of the team. Now he is making his mark.”
Keown’s comments are supported by the Gunners’ form this season. Giroud was uninspiring in one of his few appearances as he earned a red card off the bench in the draw with Paris Saint-Germain and it’s long seemed like the French international does not fit into Arsenal’s tactics.
Summer signing Lucas Perez looks to be a better option for Wenger’s set-up as the Spaniard can also play out wide, and his Champions League debut on Tuesday evening was positive – the former Deportivo La Coruna forward laid two assists on a plate for Ozil to take home the match ball.
West Ham United are seriously struggling in this season’s Premier League.
But thanks to a 1-0 away win over Crystal Palace last weekend, things are looking a little better in East London. Ye even now, it’s clear more needs to be done if the team are going to pull away from the relegation zone.
And one thing Slaven Bilic must do when it comes to the January transfer window is strengthen his side as much as he possibly can.
His side have been way under par on far too many occasions this campaign and the chance to add players to his squad could be seriously invaluable for Bilic.
And one source of real quality that is often left untapped is the Championship. We’ve seen some absolutely fantastic players emerge from the second division in recent years, including Hammers duo Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio, and there are an abundance of still lurking.
And we think West Ham would be wise to tap into this market to try and improve their squad, so here’s FIVE Championship starlets they should look at ahead of the January transfer window…
Alan Judge
Brentford midfielder Alan Judge suffered a leg-break back in April but that hasn’t stopped the 27-year-old being the talk of Griffin Park this season.
He was absolutely fantastic during the last campaign, scoring 14 goals, and he’s been missed this year, despite the Bees enjoying a brilliant start to this campaign as well.
West Ham’s wingers haven’t been great this season and Judge could be a fantastic option, if you’re prepared to think outside the box a little.
Beram Kayal
Former Celtic man Beram Kayal is currently with Brighton and Hove Albion and his importance in their ranks cannot be over-emphasised in the slightest.
He’s an extremely busy central midfielder and this is one of the areas where the Iron have been struggling most this campaign.
Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate haven’t been cutting the mustard at all and Kayal could be be worthwhile reinforcement.
Tom Cairney
Midfielder Tom Cairney has been absolutely fantastic for Fulham since joining the club from Blackburn last summer.
He featured over 44 times for the Cottagers last season, scoring eight goals in the progress. He’s a real box-to-box midfielder and a little like Kayal, we think he’d be a solid addition to a West Ham midfield which just hasn’t worked this season.
He’s one of Fulham’s most prized assets though and it might be difficult to prize him away from Craven Cottage.
If you would have asked me to describe Everton’s Yannick Bolasie last year, I would have told you that he is the sort of player that will give you cracking end of year ‘Showboat’ compilation on Soccer AM, but is about as useful in the final third as a chocolate teapot most weekends.
The DR Congo international was the sort of player you’d watch just to see him make some of the Premier League’s best full-backs look like Alberto Moreno on a bad day, then do his best to replicate Jesus Navas on a normal day in terms of delivery.
Total flattery to deceive is – or at least was – the best way to describe him.
This season, however, we are starting to see a new side to the former Crystal Palace winger, as it appears his huge £25m move to Merseyside over the summer has placed enough of a weight on his shoulders to force him to deliver in areas he previously couldn’t.
Four assists this season means Bolasie has already surpassed his total for last season, and while he has only found the net once, the tricky forward is looking as big a threat as he ever has done in front of goal.
A major part of Everton’s renewed success this campaign, manager Ronald Koeman will be hoping that his form only continues as the Toffee’s aim for Europe come the end of the season.
We at FootballFanCast have done some digging around and found out these TEN things you may not know about Everton’s man of the moment…
Jamie Vardy who?
Bolasie has, perhaps, even a more absurd footballing background than Leicester City’s Vardy, having started in non-league with Hillingdon Borough, before moving to the Maltese (yes, you heard right, Maltese) top flight. One season with Floriana was enough to earn him a move back to England with Plymouth Argyle and the rest is history.
DR Congo > England
The now DR Congo international had the chance to represent both France and England at international level through birth and heritage. He chose the African nation, however – England could do with someone as enigmatic and unpredictable as he out on the wings?
MC Bolasie
An advocate of grime music, having grown up in the London borough of Brent, Bolasie once squared off against New York Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips in the long-running series ‘Lord of the Mics’.
Olympic Hero
2016 Rio Olympics – Athletics – Victory Ceremony – Men’s 4 x 100m Relay Victory Ceremony – Olympic Stadium – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 20/08/2016. Gold medalist Usain Bolt (JAM) of Jamaica celebrates. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. Picture Supplied by Action Images
Apparently, Bolasie just somehow happens to know Olympic 100m champion and sporting legend Usain Bolt. Even more bizarrely, him and his mates invited the Jamaican down to London for a quick kick about. “He is alright to be fair!”, Bolasie said about Bolt before claiming he “had him in a race”. I’d have to see it to believe it.
BFFL
Britain Football Soccer – Everton v West Ham United – Premier League – Goodison Park – 30/10/16Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their first goal with Yannick BolasieAction Images via Reuters / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your acco
The partnership between Bolasie and Everton’s talismanic striker Romelu Lukaku has been a huge part of the club’s success so far this season. And no wonder the pair seem to get on like a house on fire (ironically), as they are neighbour’s in Bowden, a small village to the south of Manchester.
French Idol
Football – Stock – 05/06 – 7/5/06Arsenal’s Thierry Henry Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienTony O’Brien
Being born and France and raised in London, it makes perfect sense that the winger’s idol is none other than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. The DR Congo international was lucky enough to meet the Highbury icon himself recently as Henry was in Merseyside ahead of his appearance on Friday Night Football.
Footballing Family
Football – Stock Season 00/01Mandatory Credit : Action Images / Darren WalshLomana Tresor Lua Lua – Newcastle United
Not only is Bolasie’s younger brother a professional footballer, having played for Borehamwood FC among others, he is also cousin to both Lomana and Kazenga LuaLua, both who have represented DR Congo at international level also. Trevor Kandol, formerly of Bournemouth is also his cousin.
Hard Work Pays Off
A martyr for the cause, the former Plymouth Argyle winger attributes his success to his strict training regime and personal trainer Rayan Wilson who he claims turned him from ‘beanpole to beast’. Nutrition, sleep and psychology all play into his master plan for which he keeps a weekly ‘points system’ to then compare to his performance at the weekend. Dedication.
Carpentry Called
Before his aforementioned move to Malta to pursue his footballing dream, Bolasie almost jacked the whole idea in to become a carpenter alongside his at the time girlfriend’s the time father. That may have been a riskier move than actually following his ambition as professional footballer, so we think he made the smart decision.
Like a…
Bolasie described himself as a ‘puzzle’ during his time at Crystal Palace and thanks former manager Alan Pardew for finally ‘piecing him together’. Awwwwwwwww, isn’t that sweet?