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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Graeme Souness believes that Tottenham Hotspur have made an excellent decision following their hire of Jose Mourinho as manager, per Sky Sports.

What’s he said?

Mauricio Pochettino was sacked on Tuesday evening after a run of form that left the club 14th in the Premier League table, 11 points off the top four.

Mourinho was hired on Wednesday morning and has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in north London.

And Souness believes that the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager is a “perfect fit” at the club.

He said: “I think it was common sense [for Levy to sack Pochettino] and it was common sense again to go for the guy they have gone for.

“Mauricio Pochettino had appeared to be a man who didn’t want to be at Spurs, which I find very strange.

“Jose Mourinho is a perfect fit for them.

“Spurs are genuinely a big football club and they need someone who can turn what is perceived to be attacking attractive football into a slightly more pragmatic approach that will put some silverware in the boardroom.

“He has won trophies wherever he’s been and I would expect him to do the same at Spurs.

“Deep inside, he is an angry and frustrated man with the way it turned out for him at United, so I think Spurs will reap the benefit of that.

“Will they win the league this year? No. But they will be far more difficult to play against.”

Pedigree but not temperament

Mourinho has won trophies at every single club he has managed but Souness is missing one key aspect: he has left clubs under a cloud.

Think of his first exit from Chelsea or his departure from Manchester United.

At both clubs he left a fractured dressing room after very public fallouts with key figures. At United, he clashed with Paul Pogba; at Chelsea, it ended up being a significant chunk of his squad.

It remains to be seen how he will deal with Daniel Levy, a chairman who has repeatedly opted against splashing the cash.

Spurs, after all, became the first club in Premier League history to go through an entire summer without a single signing.

He is an excellent manager and he does have a pedigree, but the temperament has to be called into question.

Mourinho won’t be the “perfect fit” Souness thinks he is, if he stays true to his recent form.

According to The Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a £50m swoop for Lyon attacker Memphis Depay, who has impressed since leaving Manchester United in 2017.

The Netherlands international only managed seven goals in 53 games for United, which is hardly a great return for a player in the final third of the field.

Since moving to Lyon, though, the 25-year-old has registered 50 goals in 130 appearances, in addition to contributing an impressive 42 assists.

This season, the Dutchman has 11 goals in 14 matches in all competitions, including seven in 10 outings in France’s top flight.

According to The Mirror, Spurs are weighing up a £50m bid for Depay, but it would be fair to say that the club’s fans are not interested in a deal.

Indeed, a number of the supporters have taken to social media to express their views on the transfer claim, and not too many are in favour of the attacker arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Newcastle have picked up their form over the last few matches but there are two worrying aspects of the team which could disrupt their current run.

On the chalkboard

Steve Bruce has come in and done an effective job so far, even his predecessor Rafa Bentiez has admitted to that, and while the organisation of the team is a particualr highlight, there are concerns in both attack and defence.

The Magpies’ goal difference reflects that, with just 11 goals scored in 12 games a consequence of the lack of creativity from individuals in the squad, with Allan Saint-Maximin the only saving grace in that department.

He has produced 11 chances from open play this season, the most of any Newcastle player despite playing less than the likes of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton, who have not impressed on the creativity front.

Winning the ball back is the other area of concern for Newcastle, as they fall behind many of their Premier League rivals in terms of tackles and interceptions made.

Such a weakness is unsustainable and until it improves they will likely continue their inconsistent results under Bruce, who should be looking for a solution to the problem over the international break.

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Improvement needed

While Newcastle have struggled on the goal front this season, there has at least been signs of improvement from the front-three, and in Saint-Maximin they have a player who is in-form and has the confidence to be a real threat for his team.

Defensively, though, the lack of a ball-winner could trouble the Magpies, particularly away from home or against possession-based teams.

Isaac Hayden has been one of Newcastle’s better players in that area, with 26 tackles and 16 interceptions this term, so it is noticeable that his sending off against Leicester led to a 5-0 defeat, Bruce’s biggest loss by quite some way.

Another who has impressed is Fabian Schar, who has a combined total of 44 tackles and interceptions, which leaves him a little short of the numbers racked up by the players below, as per @TheOther14.,

With the Switzerland international still sidelined through injury, though, Bruce should be more focused than usual on improving his team’s statistics in stopping danger from the opposition.

If he fails to do so his side are likely to begin conceding more, as they can only rely on the likes of Jamaal Lascelles to clear and block so many shots, and Saint-Maximin can only make so many chances at the other end to bail the team out.

In fact, recent wins against West Ham and Bournemouth have been due to goals scored from set-pieces, another method which can’t guarantee long-term success, leaving Bruce with a lot to think about.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

The world is currently at Rodrygo Goes’ feet.

The 18-year-old Real Madrid prodigy bagged his first Champions League hat-trick against Galatasaray and it would be far too easy to succumb to all of these sensations that are following his every step.

However, in a post-game interview with Movistar (via Marca), Rodrygo showed that he is already mature enough to handle the pressure.

What did he say?

We often see young prodigies rise and fly too close to the sun only to get burned and hit the gutters relatively quickly.

And the demands of modern football dictate players get to their best quickly and remain there even at such a young age. Rodrygo’s sudden rise is definitely impressive but now comes the more difficult part – handling it properly.

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But Real Madrid’s faithful can rest easy for now because it seems the 18-year-old is well aware of things moving a bit too fast or rather, faster than he expected at the very beginning of his career at the Spanish capital.

Here’s what he told Movistar after his hat-trick against Galatasaray:

“I’m happy and it’s a very happy night. But I have to stay calm and be relaxed. Everything is going much quicker than what I expected when I arrived [at Real Madrid]. But I’m trying to stay calm and continue working day by day.”

The right mentality

At first glance, this might seem like a generic thing to say.

He bagged a hat-trick and of course the spotlight is his for the time being, but just the fact he recognised his rise is moving at an extraordinary pace that’s not necessarily “normal” for a kid his age is a huge blessing for Real Madrid.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

They really have a big talent on their hands but often that alone is not enough.

But Rodrygo himself has to keep his feet firmly on the ground if he wants to become a big star of the future.

The media will undoubtedly put him on a pedestal and hail him the new legend in making, that much is practically unavoidable after such a glorious display in the Champions League, but that’s exactly what can often destroy young prodigies before they even start moving up and beyond.

Luckily, it seems that the 18-year-old Brazilian is well aware of the hype train that is coming his way and he’s ready to take things nice and slow.

Let’s hope he can stay true to his words, for both his and Real Madrid’s sake.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Phil Parkinson suffered his second loss as Sunderland boss against Shrewsbury on Saturday but he is confident that his style can produce a winning formula.

What did he say?

A big issue for Sunderland under Jack Ross was their inability to score goals. Last season, that resulted in too many draws which meant they had to settle for a play-off place, but it appears that it is an issue that has stuck with the squad since his departure.

The Black Cats drew a blank in Parkinson’s two defeats, which meant that Tuesday’s thumping of Tranmere likely came as a welcome relief for fans, many of whom enjoyed the attacking display of Duncan Watmore in particular.

That is the style Parkinson is looking to implement at the Stadium of Light, and suggested that dominant performances like the one on Saturday would lead to points for his side more often than not.

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Speaking in his post-match press conference, as reported by SAFC.com, he said: “We have totally dominated the game and the one attempt from them has resulted in a goal.

“In terms of the way we wanted to set out I couldn’t have asked for anymore but as everyone knows it’s all about sticking the ball in the back of the net.

“We have completely dominated the game – if we keep playing like that then we are going to win a hell of a lot of games at this level.”

Change in approach?

Parkinson’s success in taking Bolton up shows he knows how to manage a big club playing at a lower level than they are typically accustomed to, but his comments indicate he will alter his methods.

That could be a worry, as it creates a risk that his new strategy may be less effective. However, it may be a necessary one.

His promotion-winning Wanderers team scored only 68 goals in 2016/17, 12 less than the Black Cats managed last year, and therefore his achievements there were built on a solid defensive foundation, as his side conceded only 36.

As a result, his desire to move towards a style with more attacking intent and dominance of the match is of a significant contrast to his tried-and-tested method, though he may feel he has quality attacking players at his disposal.

One of those could be Will Grigg, who has 101 League One goals in his career, and if Parkinson can instil that clinical edge into his players, and Grigg in particular, then Sunderland should be able to gather some consistency.

It will be interesting to see if the manager continues to set his team out in a similar fashion, as if the Black Cats’ midfield imposes itself onto the opposition they should be a handful, as the display against Tranmere suggested.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Sheyi Ojo joined Rangers on a season-long loan in the summer and Football Insider report that the Scottish club are interested in making the move permanent.

What’s the story?

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard appears to be a big admirer of the Reds winger having signed him on loan for the second season running.

He is 22 years of age now but has only made 13 appearances for Liverpool, and therefore looks unlikely to break into Jurgen Klopp’s first-team plans, which means the club could look to offload him.

Watch a Liverpool fan discover the internet and get a nasty surprise in the video below…

Ojo has scored five goals and assisted four in 17 games for the Glasgow outfit this term, including a brilliant strike to earn his side a 1-0 vicotry over Feyenoord in the Europa League group stage.

As a result, he has been an important player for the former Liverpool captain, so could replicate the path of Ryan Kent by making the permanent switch from Anfield to Ibrox.

Time to part ways

Liverpool have not had much success in recent years in terms of academy players breaking into the first-team, but it has proved a fruitful avenue of income, with a few joining other big clubs.

Kent is an example of that, as is Jordon Ibe, and with Ojo some way below the standard set by Sadio Mane or even Xherdan Shaqiri, it is unlikely he will be of any use to the Anfield outfit.

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With that in mind, Klopp will likely give a green light for his sale, and may have given his admission already with the club said to be open to offers.

With players such as Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones coming through there is no shortage of young talent at the club, and by selling Ojo it provides them with a clearer pathway to the first-team, so the importance of their development could lead Liverpool to accept an offer from Rangers.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Napoli’s start to the season is likely to cause some worry for Liverpool and that is mainly due to the attacking prowess they have displayed so far.

Not only do Carlo Ancelotti’s side keep hold of the ball, with an average of 57% possession in Serie A, but they use it to great effect, allowing the likes of Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne to wreak havoc in and around the final third.

From their three Serie A games, that duo have a combined total of five goals and three assists, so it is some task to keep them quiet, and it is almost certain to be a big test of Joel Matip.

The Cameroon international has performed well this season, and his displays appear to have earned him a permanent place alongside Virgil van Dijk, which looked in doubt after Joe Gomez started the first Premier League game against Norwich.

Matip will likely start once again on Tuesday, although there could be a temptation for Jurgen Klopp to rest some players with Chelsea coming up, and with Napoli operating a 4-3-3 formation it is likely Mertens will choose the 28-year-old to exploit, rather than van Dijk.

Mertens has made a name for himself in recent years as a prolific goalscorer, but the fact he has been dispossessed, on average, less than once a match, could also create problems for Matip, whose average of 4.8 aerial duels won per game suggest he’s better suited to a contest in the air.

According to WhoScored, the centre-back has averaged four clearances per game in the Premier League. That shows he is improving, as he achieved 3.5 per league match last year, and that makes him better suited to teams like Napoli and high calibre opponents such as Mertens.

The Belgian fits the poacher mould. He doesn’t offer too much in terms of building attacks – he has averaged 21 passes per game in the league – but comes alive in the final third.

Mertens has the ability to finish difficult chances whilst 1.7 key passes per game displays his ability to create for his teammates, and Matip can’t afford him the time to pick out Insigne or Jose Callejon, as he is often accurate.

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It won’t be plain sailing for the 32-year-old, either. In 26 starts last season Matip helped the Reds keep 12 clean sheets and he will look to hassle and harry Mertens at every opportunity, whether he is on the ball or before he gets a chance to receive a pass, as evidenced by his tackling and interception statistics.

Importantly, he uses his physical attributes to his advantage without penalising the opponent. He has only made, on average, 0.8 fouls per game, and such a record is invaluable against a team like Napoli, as players like Mertens and Fernando Llorente are capable of scoring from set-pieces, either directly or indirectly.

If Matip succeeds in keeping Mertens quiet it will go a long way in Liverpool keeping a clean sheet, and if they manage that they should be able to nick a win due to their attacking quality.

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Joao Moutinho turned 33 on Sunday, and as expected, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ official Twitter account was on hand with a birthday message.

The midfielder, who joined Wolves from Monaco in the summer of 2018, has made 54 appearances for his English club in all competitions.

The Portugal international will see his current deal expire at the end of the season, though, and there are no signs of a fresh contract for the moment.

In response to Wolves’ official post, a number of the fans called for their club to sort out an extension for Moutinho as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, others simply took the chance to lavish praise on the experienced professional – some calling him the best player to ever play for the club.

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It will certainly be interesting to see what happens with the midfielder’s future as he is very much a key player at Molineux.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

James Forrest is a target for Zenit St. Petersburg, as the Russians prepare a £12m bid for the winger, according to The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

Zenit are looking to bring Forrest to Russia for a £12m fee and a staggering £70,000 per-week deal for the player.

Per the report, those at Parkhead won’t welcome any bid for such an important player in the wake of losing another star man, with Kieran Tierney heading to Arsenal.

With Forrest stating how he happy he is at Celtic Park and having a contract until 2022, it’s unlikely that this deal will go ahead. Yet, given the money already splashed by the Russian side this summer, it would be no surprise if they at least try to test Celtic’s resolve with a bid.

Irreplaceable

Forrest has already shown his importance to the side the season, scoring a pivotal leveller against CFR Cluj in the Champions League qualifiers and the killer strike in Celtic’s topsy-turvy 5-2 win against Motherwell last weekend.

And this is no purple patch. The 28-year-old has been a key player for the Celts and was their player of the season last term, an incredible achievement when you consider the competition around him.

Not only has he developed into a match-winner in the past few years, but he’s been a manager’s dream too.

He’s shown he’s not afraid to sacrifice himself as a right-wing back if Neil Lennon looks to play three in defence. The boss has opted to use Forrest in this role a few times this season, and he’s done well each time.

The reason he’s had to play out of position is to help Lennon ease in new arrivals. Hatem Abd Elhamed has just begun to establish himself in the side, but for the opening few games of the season, Forrest was the only player trusted on the right-hand side.

Now though, he can help ease the Israeli into the side and revert back to his more dangerous role as an out-and-out winger.

In a period of great change this summer, keeping hold of the likes of Forrest and Callum McGregor is so important to a club on the cusp of history.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Everton were on the verge of signing Fikayo Tomori before Chelsea pulled out of the deal late on, Football Insider has revealed.

What’s the word?

The Toffees last season enjoyed the luxury of having Kurt Zouma on loan from Chelsea, and had hoped to replace him with another Blues centre-back this summer, and did agree on a loan move.

Tomori was willing to make the switch to Goodison Park before Arsenal’s approach for David Luiz scuppered the deal, with the London club unwilling to allow too many defenders to leave Stamford Bridge.

Everton had been looking to add another defender to their ranks for much of the summer, with Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo also on the radar, but it was the Chelsea man who seemed to be in pole position to join.

A failure to finalise the switch means the club is left with just three senior centre-backs to choose from, and whilst Michael Keane and Yerry Mina have started the season well, Marco Silva may well be taking a risk by solely relying on the relatively inexperienced Mason Holgate as a back-up option.

Lack of planning

Although it was an unexpected blow to miss out on the 21-year-old so late on, the Toffees had all summer to prepare transfer targets and make their move for them, so it is a sign of poor organisation that they were unable to complete a deal for a defender before the deadline.

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Tomori gained many plaudits for his performances on loan at Derby last season and the Everton hierarchy would have been well aware of him heading into pre-season, so could have arranged a deal with Chelsea early in the summer.

They were able to complete seven deals in total and it is unforgivable that they have lost out on a player who could have proved very useful because of their delayed action.

The club has to learn from this incident moving forward and ensure Silva is able to strengthen in all the areas he wants to, otherwise they could suffer on the pitch.

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