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How foreign players adapt. The Premier League edition.

by Lawrence Juma
Bruno Fernandes.

The subject of how foreign players adapt to the premier league is back again. The renewed discussion on the issue is as a result of newly signed players being in the spotlight as they begin playing for their new clubs. Carlo Ancelotti has weighed in on the subject after Everton’s 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur. According to Ancelotti, the Colombian playmaker will face no issues adapting to English football. Furthermore, he believes that adapting to the Premier League is an exaggerated concept. “He has no problem to adapt to the Premier League because we are not playing a different sport,” Ancelotti explained. “It’s football, the pitch is the same everywhere,” added the manager. “But he has to adapt to his new team-mates and know their movements and his team-mates have to adapt to know his quality better,” He concluded.

James Rodriguez and Carlo Ancelotti on the sidelines against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images
James Rodriguez and Carlo Ancelotti on the sidelines against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images

Players and managers weigh in on how foreign players adapt.

Carlo Ancelotti is not the first to share his opinions about the issue. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had a different view. He admitted to finding it hard to get Manchester City to play his way as a result of the physical approach of their opponents. “In Germany, it was more physical, but not like here. Here it is all the teams, except maybe Chelsea because Antonio Conte is playing well and having them build-up, but the other teams are taller, stronger, physical, and you have to adapt and build from that,” Guardiola said.

Fernandhinho getting assessed by Pep Guardiola. Image: Getty Images
Fernandhinho getting assessed by Pep Guardiola. Image: Getty Images

Gonzalo Higuain also admitted to struggling to adapt to the Premier League. He shared his concerns with the then Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri. “He said to me that it’s difficult because the physical impact of the defenders here is strong,” said Sarri. Arsenal’s goalkeeper Bernard Leno, their midfielder Mesut Ozil and Liverpool’s Midfielder Fabinho have also shared similar opinions.

Gonzalo Higuain is challenged by Erik Lamela during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Image: Getty Images
Gonzalo Higuain is challenged by Erik Lamela during the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. Image: Getty Images

The Consensus.

It appears that Carlo Ancelotti is alone in his sentiments that foreign players adaption to the premier league and its physicality after joining their new clubs is an exaggeration. However, many instances back his claim. Players such as Bruno Fernandes, Alexis Sanchez, Diego Costa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and others have hit the ground running after joining the Premier League.

Bruno Fenandes with his June POTM award. Image: Getty Images
Bruno Fenandes with his June POTM award. Image: Getty Images.
England/Main Stories
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Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. Here is what to expect from his Everton rebuild.

by Lawrence Juma
Everton Manager Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti is sacked by Napoli.

On 10 December 2019, Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. A four-nil home victory against Genk in Napoli’s final group stage match of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season that ensured the club advanced to the round of 16 was not enough to save his job.

Former Napoli Manager Carlo Ancelotti. Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Former Napoli Manager Carlo Ancelotti. Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

11 days later, 21st December 2019, Ancelotti had secured a new job. Everton FC appointed him as their new manager on a four and a half year deal. In his first match, Everton won 1-0 against Burnley.

Carlo Ancelotti celebrating Everton's win against Burnley. Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images
Carlo Ancelotti celebrating Everton’s win against Burnley. Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images

Carlo Ancelotti being sacked by Napoli a welcome news for Everton.

Barely two months after his appointment, a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on 8th February 2020 meant only league leaders Liverpool had earned more points than Everton since the Toffees had picked up 17 points over that period. By the end of the season, they had won 30 points from 20 matches. As a result, they finished 12th on the Premier League table. Ancelotti averaged 1.58 points-per-game in that run. What does this mean? This means Everton would have picked up 60 points and finished 7th on the table if Ancelotti had led them across the entire season and maintained the points-per-game ratio. Just if!

The change in Everton’s fortunes traces to the switch to Ancelotti’s preferred 4-4-2 formation when off the ball. This formation transitions into a fluid 4-3-3 when they get control of the ball. Playing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison together upfront brought the best out of them. Great man-management I would say. The pair did not play together upfront before Napoli sacked Carlo Ancelotti. However, there were issues with his midfield options. Andre Gomes, Gylfi Sigurdsson, and Tom Davies were not athletic enough and lacked the intensity to keep pace with teams that deployed a three-person midfield. The toffees ranked 13th in the Premier League for passes into the final third in the 2019/20 season.

Everton striking duo Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Image: Getty Images
Everton striking duo Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Image: Getty Images

Present.

Ancelotti has overseen a revamp of Everton’s midfield in the 2020 summer transfer window. They have signed a midfield trio of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid. The Colombian international was signed for a fee reported to be £12m. Moreover, they signed Allan from Napoli for £21m, and Doucoure from Watford for £25m.

Allan brings to the team excellent ball-winning capabilities. He averaged 3.51 tackles and 1.12 interceptions per 90 minutes for Napoli in the Serie A in the 2019/20 season. Doucoure is a box-to-box midfielder. He can dribble, win the ball and create chances. He created 38 chances for Watford last season. Only Gerard Deulofeu created more (44).

Carlo Ancelotti summer signing from Napoli Allan in action against Tottenham. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Allan in action against Tottenham. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Carlo Ancelloti summer signing from Watford Doucoure in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images
Doucoure in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images

James Rodriguez is the final piece of the midfield puzzle. His most likely deployment area is behind the upfront striker pairing of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Alternatively, a 4-2-3-1 formation could be used. Richarlison plays on the wing. Rodriguez plays in the middle and one of Bernard, Theo Walcott, or Iwobi on the opposite flank. In this case, Calvert-Lewin plays up front. Moreover, Allan and Doucoure would play behind Rodriguez in this scenario.

James Rodriguez in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images
James Rodriguez in action against Tottenham. Image: Getty Images

See Also.

Match Day 1.

Carlo Ancelloti opted for a 4-3-3 formation against Tottenham. Dominic Calvert-Lewin played up front. Richarlison was deployed on the left flank and James Rodriguez on the right. The midfield trio was Allan in the centre with Andre Gomes and Doucoure on either side.

Carlo Ancelotti's Everton starting Line-up against Tottenham on Matchday 1. Credit: Everton Twitter
Everton Line-up against Tottenham on Matchday 1. Credit: Everton Twitter

Allan and Doucoure had the expected impacts on the game, as shown by the match statistics.

Allan vs Tottenham by the numbers. Credit: Everton Twitter
Allan vs Tottenham by the numbers. Credit: Everton Twitter
Doucoure vs Tottenham by the numbers. Credit: Everton Twitter
Doucoure vs Tottenham by the numbers. Credit: Everton Twitter

England/Premier League
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Manchester United eyes James Rodriguez to strengthen their midfield

by Quincy Charles
Manchester United eyes James Rodriguez to strengthen their midfield

According to reports, James Rodriguez has been linked with a move to Manchester United. Manchester United’s qualification to the Champions League has given them the confidence of making new bids to sign top players.

United are currently in search of a Bruno Fernandez back up as they do not expect him to be involved in every game. The Portuguese international has been of impact since he arrived at Old Trafford. His confidence and creativity have transformed the Manchester United team.

James Rodriguez is a potential signing for Manchester United. Reports indicate that United have been in contact with him. The Red devils consider Rodriguez a back up option for Fernandez.

Under Carlo Ancelotti in Real Madrid, Rodriguez performed well in his first season. Zidane’s arrival at Madrid saw him signed out on loan to Bayern Munich where he was at his best form. Despite his best performance in Germany, Bayern did not sign him permanently. He was on loan at Bayern for two years since 2017.

From reports, it will cost Manchester United around 25 million euros to sign Rodriguez. The Colombian international can play as a winger as well as an attacking midfielder.

Also Read

Jadon Sancho is still Manchester United’s primary target in this coming transfer window. The club is to spend not less than £100 million on him. Other players on United’s list include Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, Westham’s Declan Rice and Lille’s centre back Gabriel Magalhaes.

Photo Credit: Getty Images