Every summer, Premier League clubs spend £80m–£100m chasing the next superstar forward. Every season, the league humbles them. But Hugo Ekitiké has been the exception. Ten goals, instant adaptation, and a playing style that personifies Liverpool's identity. Here is why he’s worked when so many other big-money signings have stalled.
Casemiro's been one of the best players in each of Carrick's matches in charge. In fact, he's been almost too good. Sunday's match against Fulham exposed exactly what United will miss when he departs, and why he might be someone they simply can't afford to lose, even if they must. At home to Fulham, Casemiro dominated the midfield, and put his stamp on both of the opening goals - scoring one and assisting the next. His absence in the dying moments of the game served only as a warning sign against Fulham, as Carrick's red-hot start to the season continued. But if this is how they play without him, the Red Devils better hope he's fit until the end of May.
There are exits that feel like endings, and endings that feel like reckonings. Casemiro’s Instagram announcement this week — confirming he’ll leave Manchester United at the end of the season — is both. It's the departure of their most experienced leader, and at the same time, a clear willingness from United to move on past the era of plugging any gap with star power. While this might be a smart financial decision, it's also a decision they have to get absolutely spot on. Casemiro is just about irreplaceable. Nevertheless, I attempt to find his replacement. Here are the candidates to replace Casemiro, and why this won't be easy for the Red Devils.
Manchester City have won eight of the past twelve Premier League titles. They've been the dominating force in the league, and the drivers behind many modern tactical innovations. But they are no longer an unstoppable force. With some questionable decisions in the transfer market, this golden era at City has essentially evaporated. They now find themselves seven points adrift, with looming question marks over what's next for many of their once invincible stars. Here is why Manchester City's dominance in the Premier League might finally be over, once and for all.
To football clubs, £100 million might no longer seem like an insane amount of money. They seem to have money to spare. But it never works. And herein lies the reason why clubs like Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth will always have better transfer strategies. Think of how many proven Premier League players you could sign for that total sum of £100-125 million. Think of how many young players you could convince to join for that total fee. This is the problem with the spending of big clubs, and why most big transfers fail.
It might be wrong to credit this tactical approach to Pep Guardiola. After all, the origin story to the 'fullback' is because the defender was fully back. However, in operating with a centre-back that steps up into midfield, Guardiola also created a construction within his team that regularly positioned centre-backs out wide. From then on, this approach has only become more popular. It's been the top tactical trend of 2023, and often one that's allowed the best teams in the world to thrive.
Wyscout has become the go-to place for video analysis, scouting & recruitment, and all of the analysis needs for pro clubs and analysts like myself! In this video, I'm going to teach you exactly how I use the platform for my analyses and the work I do for clubs.
In 2022, I established my 'Role Continuity Evaluation System', on the basis that players should be assessed by the metrics and traits important to their specific role on the pitch. Through this understanding, players are then classified into what is now 20 different roles, and assessed accordingly to see how they stack up to other players fulfilling the same player type. Here is an explanation of my scouting & analysis system and how I use the system to compare central midfielders.
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