England’s Starting Eleven Against Serbia

With Gareth Southgate announcing his final 26-man squad, we’re just seven days away from England’s first game of the Euros campaign against Serbia. Germany awaits the Three Lions, but who should be in Southgate’s starting eleven against Serbia in their opening fixture…..

Goalkeeper – Jordan Pickford
Pickford has been consistent ever since he took the number one jersey for England back in 2018. Although Ramsdale and Henderson are good and capable goalkeepers, Pickford is arguably one of the easier selections for Southgate.

Right-Back – Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold possesses huge ability with his range of passing and vision and this can’t be underestimated. However his defensive ability has always had a question mark next to it. He’s been chosen as a midfielder in the squad, but this could be an opportunity for Southgate to play him in his more natural position, against a side we’re bound to dominate in terms of possession. Also with Luke Shaw not fit and Kieran Tripper not in the greatest form, the full-back area are positions where England are lacking in depth.

Centre-Back – John Stones
With Harry Maguire left out of the squad this is where England could have real worries, and John Stones needs to be fit for the entirety if England are going to win this tournament. The concern is that Stones for Manchester City this season, has featured more as a holding midfielder rather than playing as a centre-back. But there is no question he will be first choice in that role.

Centre-Back – Joe Gomez
Although Marc Guéhi looks favourite to partner Stones in Germany, I fear this stage could provide a problem for the Crystal Palace defender. A talented player and only still 23, he may be slightly out of his depth at this point of his career. What Joe Gomez brings is that experience and having played for Liverpool in the Champions League, this environment and pressure won’t phase him. The argument could be that he’s played more as a full-back than in the middle of the back four. Lewis Dunk could also be given the starting jersey as there is thought that he will be able to match Serbia’s biggest threat in Alexander Mitrovic, with his strength and aerial ability being his stronger attributes along with Dunk’s.

Left-Back – Kyle Walker
Performing in all big competitions and one of the best full-backs in Europe, Kyle Walker is a certainty to start. The small fear could be that he would be playing on the left rather than the right, but there’s no doubt he would be able to cope, especially in the group games.

Midfield – Declan Rice
One of the best in the world in the six role, Declan Rice will be a starter for Southgate. Having had another superb domestic season and showing that he’s not phased playing at a big six club and being involved in a title race, he’ll be critical in England’s journey to the finals.

Midfield – Jude Bellingham
One of the best young players in the world, Jude Bellingham can emulate what Gazza did in Italia 90, becoming England’s most influential player. Having just won the Champions League with Madrid, there’s every chance he could raise his stock even higher if possible.

Midfield – Phil Foden
PFA player of the year and City’s best player in their title winning campaign, Phil Foden has the opportunity and confidence now to demonstrate his attributes in an England shirt. The question with Foden over the years have been where does he fit in, but with England leaving individuals such as Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips at home, Southgate’s hand may be forced to play Foden in the middle of the park. An area where England fans have always wanted him to play, the risk is that Rice will have to cover a lot of ground behind if both Foden and Bellingham play further up the pitch, which they do for their clubs.

Wide-Forward – Bukayo Saka
Always consistent in an England shirt, Bukayo Saka will be sure to start for England in a front three. Which side would be the question, as he’s always played on the right but with no natural left forward in the squad apart from Anthony Gordon, it may be he plays there to accommodate another young superstar.

Wide-Forward – Cole Palmer
Gordon has had a fantastic season for Newcastle, arguably his best season in the Premier League, but there’s no getting away from Cole Palmer’s impact at Chelsea since joining last summer. Scoring 22 league goals in his first season at the club, he’s a talented individual with an incredible eye for goal. The ex Manchester City lad deserves a starting place alongside Saka.

Centre-Forward – Harry Kane
Harry Kane, aka Skipper, is England’s most important asset in front of goal. He will be sure to start every game and hopefully can lead the team to glory. Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney provide healthy competition, but there’s little chance of Kane not starting every fixture, unless England have the luxury of resting players in the final group stage game.

Matt Ritchie Departs But Will Always Be Welcome Back On Tyneside

Matt Ritchie will leave Newcastle United this summer but will always be welcome back to the North East. Signed from Bournemouth back in 2016, he’s been a consistent performer who left nothing on the pitch.

Signed by Rafa Benitez, Ritchie was an integral part of the side that was promoted from the Championship in 2017. Benitez assembled an honest group of players that season who possessed the ability to get the club back into the Premier League, and Ritchie proved to play a vital role with his twelve league goals that season and overall competitive play. £12 Million was seen as a big fee for the player then, but that season alone dividends was rewarded with Premier League status regained, with Ritchie also winning the North-East FWA player of the year award in 2017.

Newcastle achieved a very respectable 10th placed finish in the top tier after their return. Benitez maintained full faith in Ritchie with him starting thirty two league games, despite the arrival of wingers Jacob Murphy and Kennedy. Although he only scored three goals that season, they were big goals. The most notable being his first of the season against Manchester United in a 1-0 victory which got St. James’ Park shaking. His other two goals were against Southampton and Arsenal, again two big wins on home soil which led Newcastle to that crucial 40+ point tally and finish mid-table.

Once again Ritchie was a consistent figure in the starting eleven, with only Martin Dubraka making more league appearences during the 18/19 season. Again only contributing three goals that season, his two league goals were critical. His first a penalty in a 2-1 victory against league champions Manchester City, and his second against his former club Bournemouth, a superbly taken volley in the last minute at the Vitality stadium. Newcastle once again secured a mid-table finish with Ritchie proving to be a reliable asset.

After Benitez left, Ritchie’s form was never quite the same, and his first season under Steve Bruce was injury hit after damaging his ankle and was side-lined for two months. The covid hit season was one of normality for Newcastle in regards to their league position, once again finishing middle of the pack. Ritchie’s most memorable moment that season was performing his usual celebration by kicking the corner flag with ecstasy after Isac Hayden’s last minute goal against Chelsea in a 1-0 victory. However on this occasion, a member of the crowd was on the receiving end of this with the flag hitting him in an area where it would hurt for all men. The good news was that it was Ritchie who was the culprit, so was let off the hook swiftly.

As Bruce’s era went on Ritchie was continuing his new role as left wing-back which Benitez first made him adopt. However with the arrivals of Danny Rose on loan in Bruce’s first season, and Jamal Lewis on a permanent in his second, it was evident Ritchie’s position was under threat. It was also clear that both player and manager did not see eye-to-eye, with Ritchie labelling Bruce a coward after the manager accused the player of not passing on tactical information when he was substituted on in a 1-1 draw against Wolves in 2021. There were also rumours both Ritchie and skipper Jamal Lascelles were unhappy with the lacklustre approach Bruce had to training and made this clear to the coaching staff.

October 2021 the bright light shone on St. James’ Park as the new owners arrived and Bruce was relieved of his duties. In came Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall who worked with Ritchie at Bournemouth for three years. A strong relationship was already there, however it was clear the wing-back’s time on the field would remain limited with the arrival of Matt Targett and Dan Burn that winter window in 2022. Ritchie was seen as a valuable member of squad and played his part in domestic cup competitions since. Used as a sub more frequently towards the latter stages of the games, he would come on with energy and be as vocal as ever.

When both Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall were signed there was consensus amongst the fans Ritchie would leave in the summer, with former club Bournemouth strongly linked. Howe however had other plans and wanted him to stay and remain part of the leadership group. His last goal for the club was a romantic one, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against former club Bournemouth, his first goal since 2020.

Having recently passed his lorry-driving test, you never know what his next stop could be. What would be a shame is if the 34 year-old was to hang up his boots, as there would be a few Championship clubs that could do with a leader of his manner in their changing rooms.

Premier League Team Of The Season 23/24

After another exciting Premier League season came to an end last weekend, it’s now that time to choose the team of the year……

Formation: 3-2-4-1

Goalkeeper – Jordan Pickford (Everton)
There were some strong performances from the keepers this season, but this one was quite straight forward for me. Guglielmo Vicario has had a strong first season with Spurs since arriving in North London, along with David Raya at Arsenal who responded well to early question marks and criticism. Alisson and Ederson have always been the top two and arguably are still the top two best keepers in Europe, but didn’t quite impact their team’s league positions. Jordan Pickford proved himself throughout the season with some fine performances and showed real consistency which has always been questioned when playing domestic football. This season he’s looked far more confident and assured when on the ball and his decision making much better. A goalkeeper will always get more praise when playing for a team in the bottom half of the table, as for obvious reasons their goals will come under more pressure from the better sides. But it was Pickford’s steadiness and improved consistency that has given him the number one shirt.

Defenders – William Saliba (Arsenal) / Gabriel (Arsenal) / Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
You could argue that with the Premier League recoding it’s highest ever goal tally, it’s the attacking players who deserve the most credit. However, there were some very good displays from the defensive lines this season. With Arsenal having the best defensive record in the league, both William Saliba and Gabriel make the starting eleven. So consistent in their performances, they were pivotal during Arsenal’s title contending campaign. It’s harsh to leave out Manuel Akanji, Jarrad Branthwaite and Pau Torres who have all been superb for their clubs, but Virgil Van Dijk played a key role in keeping Liverpool in the hunt for the title and looked back to his best this season.

Midfield (Holding) – Rodri (Manchester City) / Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Again quite a straight forward decision, but Douglas Luiz, Yves Bissouma, Adam Wharton and Bruno Guimaraes do deserve a shout out for their performances this season. Declan Rice has arguably been the signing of the season. Coming in for a big price he’s played both the six and eight role, and played both so confidently. A real enforcer in the middle of the park, he’s given Arsenal that extra bit of quality in the team. Rodri once again shows why he’s considered the best holding midfielder in the world. So consistent again this season and demonstrates a throwback being a box-to-box midfielder who also chips in with vitals goals.

Midfield (Front Four) – Cole Palmer (Chelsea) / Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) / Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) / Phil Foden (Manchester City)
There were some standout performances in both the middle and wide positions of the park this season, but the four chosen made such an impact it was tricky to overlook them. Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Ross Barkley, Leon Bailey and Anthony Gordon all provided cases to make the team, but just fell short. Cole Palmer has been a sensation since arriving to West London from Manchester City. Second behind Erling Haaland scoring 22 goals in the league, he was the shining light in Chelsea’s roller coaster season. Kevin De Bruyne didn’t feature early on in the season due to injury, but his role on his return was nothing short of brilliant as he drove Manchester City to the title. 10 Assists in only 18 appearences emphasised the importance of the Belgian. Martin Odegaard has been identified as Arsenal’s very own Kevin De Bruyne, but it’s not just his creative play that’s been pivotal in the new look Arsenal. Since taking the captain’s armband he’s been superb and leads through his work rate and natural ability on the ball. He again had another fantastic season for The Gunners. Player of the season Phil Foden would be in every Premier League team of the season. 19 goals and looking like he could be England’s most important figure going into the Euro’s, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane involved in that debate also. Acknowledged by writers and peers, he’s been the standout in the league and amazingly has won his fourth Premier League title at the age of 23.

Striker – Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
There could be some eyebrows raised with this one as Erling Haaland was the top goal scorer with 27 goals, but Alexander Isak was third and is looking like he could be on the forward’s in Europe at this time. Being Newcastle’s main man through the middle this season, the Swede showed class with his finishing and ability to travel with the ball, having a bigger impact with his all round play than the Norwegian did. Oliver Watkins had a great season for Villa also, but it’s Isak who gets the nod and has already been linked with moves to the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona this Summer.

Could Dominic Solanke Be The Next Number Nine On Tyneside

With Callum Wilson suffering another season on the side-lines only starting eight league games and appearing ten times as substitute, it looks as if the number nine position could be a priority for Newcastle United this summer. Newcastle reportedly made an inquiry for Dominic Solanke back in January but Bournemouth were not open to discuss any offers at the time. Eddie Howe has always spoken highly of Bournemouth’s number nine, and with the two having worked together during his time on the South Coast, this could be a beneficial move for both player and coach.

Wilson has been a phenomenal servant for Newcastle since arriving back in 2020. Scoring 47 goals in all competitions and proving vital during Newcastle’s quest to stay in the league during his first few years at the club. Since the takeover and Howe’s appointment, he has shown he can also perform in a side competing at the top end of the table, scoring critical goals as Newcastle secured Champions League football last season.

Although singing a one year extension back in September, there was strong interest from Europe in Wilson in January, with Atletico Madrid looking favourites at the time to secure the services of the England international. There were also reports suggesting Wilson was keen on the move to the Spanish capital, so there could be every chance that opportunity rises again come the summer.

What has been a hurdle for Wilson is his capability to stay fit for consistent periods of the season. With Newcastle’s ambitions changing as they consistently look to acheive European football and compete in the latter stages of the domestic cup competitions, the club will need a forward player who will guarantee availability. With Alexander Isak being Newcastle’s main man at this time, there has been an element of reliability on his shoulders. The Swede has been instrumental this season for Newcastle and rumours have already circulated that he’s the number one target for title contenders Arsenal. So it’s not just imperative to strengthen the front line and support Newcastle’s top goal scorer this season, but to provide insurance in that position if Isak was to leave the North-East.

What Solanke can provide is not just goals but the ability to press which is a key element of Howe’s tactics. Doing this at Bournemouth under Head Coach Andoni Iraola has allowed him to adapt his game and become a top centre-forward. Being 26 and at that prime age of his career, his agile approach and hold up play can assist the likes of Isak, Gordon, Barnes and Almiron who will work off the target man. Scoring 18 goals so far this season, he’s also knocking on Gareth Southgate’s door to be on that plane to Germany this summer. There’s no doubt he could fill the void if Wilson was to leave this summer, and with him being a proven player in the league, there would be no fears of settling in.

The issue for Newcastle will be the fee Bournemouth would want for their main man. Despite recent changes to FFP (Financial Fair Play) and PSR (Profit & Sustainability Rules), Newcastle will still need to act diligently in the transfer market. Solanke’s price tag will be high and Bournemouth will have every right to demand a big fee, especially in the current environment in which players are being transferred for.

As Solanke looks to continue his form going into the last two games against Brentford and Chelsea, his ambition to play in Europe could be a reality as Newcastle could look to secure his services come June when the window opens.

Will David Moyes Ever Gain The Respect From The West Ham Faithful

“I love Europe David Moyes, not Premier League David Moyes”. This was a quote from a West Ham season ticket holder I spoke to when I asked his thoughts on David Moyes’ position at West Ham. Moyes has been with West Ham now for just over five years since taking over from Manuel Pellegrini back in December 2019, and has received plaudits from his fellow professionals and segments of the media, but yet to gain any recognition from the the majority of supporters.

The relationship first started back in November 2017, when Moyes took the position of caretaker manager replacing West Ham legend Slaven Bilic after a disappointing start to the season. Moyes secured a mid-table finish for West Ham that season, but it was a turbulent campaign with fans far from happy with owners David Sullivan and the late David Gold, demonstrating real anger from the terraces. At one stage this resulted in a fan invasion on the pitch during West Ham’s loss to Burnley at the London Stadium, with then captain Mark Noble having to force one fan off with physical force. Although there was not huge enthusiasm when Moyes was appointed, a large group of supporters were placing the blame on the board rather than the dugout.

When the former Everton and Manchester United manager returned, again the excitement wasn’t filtering through. That season he came in West Ham ended in 16th, another poor finish at the home of the Olympics. However with this being the season COVID hit, it was never going to be easy for any football club in the football leagues. Many fans were still placing the blame on the board as well as the lack of intimidating impact their stadium offers when away teams come to play. Moyes was still just seen as someone who could potentially steady the ship before a bigger name was to be announced.

With the board showing no panic or intent to remove the Scot from his position, he returned the faith with a 6th place finish in his first full season. Being clever in the transfer window purchasing players such as Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal, as well as developing young talent such as Declan Rice, the faithful seemed more content now and they looked a very strong outfit. What may have helped the morale of the side during the season was the fixtures being played behind closed doors, no groans or moans from the stands.

When the fans returned to the London Stadium in August 2021 after a year away, they saw another strong West Ham side performing well and securing a 7th placed finish. Happy days in East London with Moyes looking like the David Moyes during his time at Everton, rather than the David Moyes at Manchester United and Sunderland.

The 22/23 season was the year all West Ham fans from every generation will remember, winning their first major trophy since 1980 when they lifted the FA Cup. The Europa League Conference was a journey all Hammers fans will never forget and the scenes in Prague were a phenomenal sight with blowing bubbles being sung throughout the evening. Beating Serie A side Fiorentina 2-1 with a Jarrod Bowen 90th minute winner securing the silverware, this was seen as Moyes’ greatest achievement during his time as a manager, and one of the best night’s in West Ham’s history.

So the question is, how can there still be a negative approach to Moyes after respectable finishes in the league and winning a piece of silverware which every club looks to acheive. “The West Ham Way” seems to be a view every West Ham fan has, no matter what age or experiences they’ve had as a Hammers fan. Last season West Ham accomplished an incredible achievement winning a European trophy, but finished 14th which still raised concerns from the stands. Playing good football is now expected from the majority of all fans at all top tier clubs, and the “The West Ham Way” seems to be a non-negotiable. However when you successfully add to the trophy cabinet, there was assumption you could play any approach with any style.

Currently sitting 7th in the league and currently competing in the last sixteen in the Europa League, there is still discontent amongst the fans. If West Ham do once again acheive European football under Moyes and perform respectfully in the Europa League, with Xavi Alonso’s Bayern Leverkusen next up, it may be suitable for all parties involved to go there separate ways finishing on a high.

Michael Emenalo The Obvious Choice To Take The Vacant Seat At Newcastle

With the Sporting Director’s role being just as integral as the Head Coach’s in these modern times, it’s imperative Newcastle United make the right choice when recruiting their next key decision maker. Michael Emenalo supposedly was the right man at the wrong time for Newcastle back when the owners acquired the football club back in October 2021. Reports suggested that Emenalo was approached before the departing Dan Ashworth was, although Mehrdad Ghodoussi (co-owner) has stated that this in fact wasn’t the case.

With Ashworth now on gardening leave duty and playing the waiting game before taking on his new role at Manchester United, Newcastle now have the challenge of replacing him. There were strong reports that Richard Hughes, Technical Director at Bournemouth, was the man to be lined up, given his previous connections with Eddie Howe. However it was announced he will be joining Liverpool at the end of this season alongside the returning Michael Edwards as they plan life after Jurgen Klopp.

Other names have been mentioned such as Deco, who is currently in the hot seat at Barcelona. Paul Mitchell was another who sits in the role at Monaco, but Emenalo seems the most logical. Currently holding the role as Sports Director of the Saudi Pro League, the former Nigerian international will have full understanding of what the ownership wants and expects from his position. His CV is one to be admired also as he was a fundamental figure in Chelsea’s success during the period they won their first Champions League, two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Europa League. Working with manager’s such as Rafa Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Gus Hiddink and Antonio Conte, his ability to work with strong characters is apparent. So working with someone like Howe would surely be a dream for Emenalo…..

You could argue what is the most impressive part of his resume are the transfers he was involved in during his time at Chelsea. Overseeing the scouting and transfer dealings of key players including Kevin De Bruyne, Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard. Recruitment has become more significant with the introduction of FFP, and getting the best value for your money is key as Newcastle look to try and solidify themselves as a new club of the ‘Big 7’.

This appointment will have to made before the Summer Transfer Window and there is hope that the new Sporting Director will be walking into a club that will be playing some form of European football next season.

Adidas Pushing Nostalgia As The New Predator Elite Boots Hit The Shelves

Adidas have released their new line of predator boots and they are a thing of beauty! The Adidas Predator 24 has been launched with the throwback of the tongue included. They have released 3 models of the elite boot – Elite Tongue, Elite Laceless and the Elite with just laces. Catering to all preferences, this boot is looking to appeal to all predator lovers.

They’ve looked to collaborate the designs of the original Predator boot (released in 1994), the Predator Accelerator boot (released in 1998) and arguably the most popular and renowned boot, the Predator Mania boot (released in 2002). Those born in the 80’s and 90’s will only have positive memories of these great pieces of footwear. It wasn’t just great marketing that gained the interest of thousands of football lovers, it was the icons who wore the legendary boots, such as David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Raul, Alessandro del Piero etc. The first name mentioned being the icon who started the real trend in England…..

David Beckham started wearing predator boots in 1996 after signing with Adidas. Ever since then he’s been the poster boy in the UK for these boots and was a driver for young lads like myself who were desperate to receive a pair. He even made the statement of wearing a pair of white accelerator boots during a period where only black boots were acceptable, although the late great Alan Ball will argue he pioneered this back in 1971, even though he initially refused to wear the white cleats Hummel designed. Beckham though however did start a following and growing up I remember only seeing boys in my age groups wearing these boots, trying to cross a ball like the former England captain whilst wearing the Mania versions. Doing everything you could to try and connect the ball with that incredibly designed grip which was rumoured to give the ball that extra curl.

Jude Bellingham was the first player spotted wearing the Predator 24 (Elite Tongue) boots when training for Real Madrid. He looks to be now the poster boy for this particular edition of the adidas boot, and he could be the next trend setter like Beckham was all those years ago.

Blue Cards Could Add To More Disruption To The Beautiful Game

News broke on the 11th February that IFAB (The International Football Association Board) are looking to introduce blue cards and trial the new rule and approach. Blue cards are set to be branded to players who are guilty of dissent or cynical fouls, with the yellow card not sees as enough of a punishment for their actions. The result of this will be the player going to the sin bin, with two leading to a dismissal like two yellow cards would. The player who receives the card will have to sit out for 10 minutes, using the same measure that is ruled in Rugby Union.

Alarm bells were raised as soon as I saw the announcement, and as a fan who raised in the era of simple and straight forward rules, the game we all love is starting to get silly now. When VAR was introduced I was immediately concerned, and fast forward four years I’m still not convinced by the processes and the impact it has. Introducing blue cards feels like another step to far and like VAR it’s going to cause further disruption. It feels like over the last 10 years the governing bodies are looking to do everything they can to try and ”fix” this sport that was never broken.

When goal-line technology was introduced to the Premier League in 2013, there was immediate consensus that this was a brilliant idea and great technology. Hawk-eye works incredibly well in both Tennis and Football when it comes to distinguishing what is over or on the line. The problem with blue cards, it falls under that subjective view, like VAR does. There doesn’t seem to be a need for this and I can already seeing this causing more issues which could lead to more heated moments in the dugout and online hate.

However, there seems to be pushback on the plans already, with Spurs boss Ange Prostecoglu having strong words on the proposal: “Adding another one. What is that going to do? The remedy is already there. “If it’s not being enforced to the level people are satisfied, do that. That’s the change. One team being down to 10 men for 10 minutes, you know what that is going to do to our game? It’s going to destroy it.”You’ll have one team sitting there trying to waste time for 10 minutes waiting for someone to come back on. Every other game is trying to speed up and declutter, all we are trying to do is go the other way for some bizarre reason.”

I do fear this has legs, as this could be used in both men’s and women’s FA Cup campaigns next year. There is hope however that if there is significant objection to the proposal like there was with the European Super League back in 2021, the blue card will not be implemented into the leagues and football can continue to be the most popular and watched sport globally.

Lewis Miley Will Be The One That Won’t Get Away (The Mag Article)

Newcastle United have agreed a new long-term contract with young midfielder Lewis Miley, as Eddie Howe looks to ensure he keeps a core of local talent in his squad for the foreseeable. This is fantastic news for the club as they have now secured the services of a very talented player who has achieved his dream alongside Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson. Local lads who have become integral in Howe’s on field plans during his time in the dugout.

Miley looks to have all the attributes to be a top drawer midfielder. The 17 year old possesses similar traits to a player who Newcastle didn’t capture at a young age whilst he was playing at Wallsend Boys Club – Mr Michael Carrick. The England international was a brilliant box-to-box midfielder who was smooth and calculated on the ball. Winning domestic and European trophies with Manchester United, and a player who was brought in to replace then skipper Roy Keane, Paul Scholes labelled Carrick as one of the best midfielders he’s played with. Miley uses the ball like Carrick used to, playing through the lines and looking so calm even when pressed in his own half. Having the ability to drop deep and collect the ball, but also play higher up and and playing just as comfortable in the opposition half. The young man is on course to be a great no. 8 like the former Manchester United and Spurs midfielder.

Although Miley was drafted into the first eleven due to Newcastle’s injury woes and Sandro Tonai’s lengthy ban, he’s taken the challenge on and not looked back. Making 11 senior appearences this season in the Premier League and three Champions League appearences, Miley has started his education right playing under a fantastic coach and playing alongside gifted and capable individuals. Scoring his first senior goal against Fulham back in December, he’s looking more and more confident as the games go on.

Newcastle have been guilty of letting their own move on to pastures new, the likes of Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne and even Peter Beardsley before he returned to the club. You could even throw in Andy Carroll who Newcastle moved on during arguably his best period in his career. What is great news for the fans is that the new ownership is investing in the infrastructure, with Newcastle’s academy being one of their priorities. If Newcastle keep developing young players from the region and give them opportunities like Howe has done with Miley, the club could have that desired blend of local and overseas talent playing together on the pitch.

Evan Ferguson To Play Big Role But For Which of ‘The Big Six’

Brighton & Hove Albion have another top player in their ranks, and there is no question young Evan Ferguson has the ability to go right to the top. The young man from Bettystown, on the coast of Ireland, has already illustrated his ability in front of goal and possesses those traits of an old fashioned no.9, a role that has seemed to fade as the modern game progresses.

The main question surrounding Evan at this time is where he will be in the near future. Brighton over the last few years have always developed talent and sold them for a significant profit, and Paul Barber (Brighton’s CEO) has already conceded it seems that Evan will be sold in the future.

There have been numerous reports that Chelsea would be interested in acquiring the 19 year old, and with Brighton having sold Marc Cucurella, Moisés Caicedo and Robert Sánchez to the West London side for big fees, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if both would agree a deal given their transfer history. However there always seems to be uncertainty in the Chelsea dugout, and although Mauricio Pochettino would offer brilliant guidance to Evan, there is no guarantee that the relationship would be a long one given Chelsea’s football model.

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs have also been linked with the Striker, but the club that seems the most obvious destination would be Manchester United. United’s transfer policy has changed a number of times ever since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the dugout, but they were always renowned for bringing in the best young British talent. Going as far back as encouraging the likes of George Best and the late great Sir Bobby Charlton to come to Manchester. As well as trying to sign both Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne during their peak. They of course were successful in bringing in Wayne Rooney, who went on to become the club’s all time leading goal scorer to this day. What could be the resistance to the club approaching both Brighton and Evan, is Rasmus Højlund, who arrived only just last Summer for a big fee and also seen as the future. The young Dane who looks a promising player and looks to posses the tenacity necessary to play for United, has struggled domestically with goals. Although bringing in Ferguson could be a risk as you have two young strikers yet to hit their goal scoring heights, it could prove to be a an incredible investment as Manchester United look to re-build under the newly reformed leadership group.

There is of course the possibility that the Irishman follows the same journey method as Jude Bellingham, and joining one of Europe’s elite clubs. Although with interest from ‘The Big 6’ brewing every transfer window that opens, it seems Evan’s next chapter will be in England. What looks to be a certainty is that Evan Ferguson will go right to the very top, and with the right mentoring and faith to produce, there is no reason he couldn’t be one of the best strikers the Premier League has seen.