Who is currently the best midfielder, Caicedo or Rice?

Save the date November 30th.That is the day the question on, “Who is the best midfielder in the Premier League, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo or Declan Rice?” could be answered. I know Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham supporters will have their own views but after researching over a hundred football insider specialists my results show that […]

Save the date November 30th.That is the day the question on, “Who is the best midfielder in the Premier League, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo or Declan Rice?” could be answered.

I know Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham supporters will have their own views but after researching over a hundred football insider specialists my results show that these are the two players most clubs fear facing. City’s Rodri was the only other serious contender.

It is true that Caicedo plays No 8 and therefore usually operates a little behind the advanced midfield play of Declan Rice but both players joined their current clubs for over £100million each and the debate is on as to which made the wisest choice.

Chelsea’s win over Tottenham last weekend saw Caicedo go strong into every tackle and he was all over the pitch with exceptional energy. The Ecuadorian won Man of the Match.

His goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is a huge fan and claims Caicedo is the “best in the world” in his position. He claimed, “He is a beast and every 50-50 challenge he faces he always wins… if he goes for goal he is always accurate.”

Rice, it is argued, is the complete midfielder because not only does he defend but he takes goal scoring opportunities and he has one more goal assist than Caicedo this season but it must be taken into account that he also takes most of Arsenal’s set pieces and we have seen him score some spectacular goals.

Caicedo’s tackling ranks him 11th highest whereas Rice is down in 59th place. Caicedo’s tackle win rate is 14th highest and Rice comes in at 17th.

So who is the best? November 30th could answer that question.

 

Is it time for Salah to leave Liverpool?

I have talked a lot recently about Mo Salah but when one of the best strikers in the world is going through a rough patch of form I think you will agree that we have to ask questions.

Liverpool supporters certainly need to put on a brave face at the moment. I am sure things will turn around because this is a great club with great people but I can tell you that behind the closed doors of Anfield many players and training staff have been questioning themselves over their Premier League performances. This week’s excellent 1-0 win over Real Madrid has hopefully calmed their self-doubts and fears.

I totally agree with Wayne Rooney when he commented that, after signing contract extensions Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah have not shown the body language of past seasons when they were world class in their positions. Van Dijk consistently held his defence together and Salah could be relied upon to score in almost every game.

 

Casemiro to say goodbye

At the moment Manchester United do not intend to renew Casemiro’s contract next summer. One of my most admired players over the last ten years, Casemiro has enjoyed a stellar career at Real Madrid and now at United. I am hearing from inside Old Trafford that he will leave at the end of the season. The 33-year-old Brazilian has done well under Amorim’s playing system and is starting regularly and Amorim constantly tells his players to study and copy the experienced midfielder but all good things come to an end and the club want younger talent to take the team forward which means Casemiro will leave to possibly go somewhere else but I know he does not plan to retire at the moment.

 

Isak’s problems are of his own making

Alexander Isak’s career at Liverpool has not gone according to plan. In fact it is fair to say the Swede has made little impact since joining from Newcastle.

Insiders around Anfield and over at Newcastle put the blame on Isak, claiming his problems are self-inflicted.

He handled his transfer very badly and is now paying the price. He went on strike at St James Park and didn’t train with the Magpies, he went to Real Sociedad in Spain and used their facilities hoping to keep fit which would not have been anywhere near as effective as working with Newcastle’s trainers.

He did not play in any pre-season matches during the period when he was trying to force his exit from Newcastle.

He achieved his ambition prior to deadline day and joined Liverpool for a staggering

£130million. Since then his form and fitness have been very poor. He sustained a groin problem at half time when Liverpool beat Eintracht Frankfurt and he never scored. All summer he lacked proper first team training but it was his own decision. Newcastle left the door open for him but he ignored them. He is probably a month behind other Premier League players and he has also performed poorly for his native Sweden.

Isak never believed he would be in this position and the Liverpool fans are losing patience with him.

You can imagine a very hostile reception when Liverpool meet Newcastle at St James Park, if he is good enough to be selected that is.

 

Woltemade is not made for Howe’s away game strategy

One of the worst things a player can encounter during their career is being subbed at half time. It is embarrassing, demoralizing and upsetting. Sometimes, due to an injury elsewhere on the field a change of tactics forces the coach to reorganize but otherwise being replaced early on reflects a player’s performance during the first half.

It happened to Nick Woltemade at half time when Newcastle played West Ham last weekend.

The German has been playing okay, but many are asking if he is an out-and-out striker?

Newcastle have struggled on the road this season scoring only two goals in five away matches.

 

Sunderland vs Arsenal

Mikel Arteta revealed earlier in the week that Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke and

Kai Havertz are pushing him to start them in this match. The coach would not reveal his intentions which could give Sunderland an advantage but Arsenal fans would be delighted to see their captain back and Kai Havertz playing behind his forwards. Madueke’s problem will always be that he is in contention with Arsenal’s favourite son Bukayo Saka.

A frightening statistic for Sunderland is Arsenal’s record of winning their last 24 from 25 games against promoted teams!

Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal faithful are convinced that this is the season the Gunner’s will win the title for the first time since 2003/4. Most of my colleagues think the result will be Sunderland 0 Arsenal 2 but Regis Le Bris’s team are full of confidence and believe their forward line could really test Arsenal’s reliable defence and will be spurred on by ex-Gunner Granit Xhaka who was one of the best buys for Sunderland during the summer.