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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…

It’s nearly time for Barcelona’s second game of the Champions League group stage.

The Catalans will welcome Inter Milan at the Camp Nou and the key to overcoming them just might lie in the middle of the park.

On the chalkboard

It hasn’t really been a dream start for Barcelona in Europe this season.

Their opening clash against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park ended in a goalless draw but the Catalans surely wanted to claim more than just a point for their efforts.

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Still, that was only the first game and seeing how Inter Milan also drew their game with Slavia Prague, Group F is very much open.

This particular clash, however, is huge for both teams and if Barca want to pick up all three points, Sergio Busquets will have to outshine Marcelo Brozovic.

Midfield generals

Busquets is very much the linchpin of Barcelona’s midfield.

In many ways, the experienced Spaniard is the Catalans’ general and everything starts and ends with him in the middle of the park. But Brozovic certainly looks like Busquets’ direct counterpart in Inter’s camp.

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

The Croat is heavily involved in everything that’s happening on the pitch and most of it flows directly through him.

Just this season, in the six games he’s played in Serie A, Brozovic has registered a 91.5% passing accuracy with a total of 83.8 passes per game. This becomes even more impressive when we compare it to Busquets’ 90.6% passing accuracy and 76.8 passes per game.

Barcelona are very much known for their passing game, which only emphasises Brozovic’s importance to his team since he managed to edge out Busquets in both aforementioned categories.

But the Croat falls short only slightly in key passes as he tallied 1.2 as opposed to his rival’s 1.4 per game.

Both players are pretty active going the other way as well, often dominating the defensive phases of the game. Busquets registered 2.6 tackles and one interception per game in La Liga while Brozovic averaged 3.2 tackles and 1.8 interceptions under his belt in Serie A.

By all standards, this is looking likely to be an impressive battle of two highly skilled players – Barcelona’s midfield general vs Inter Milan’s engine.

The winner of this battle just might tip the scales in his team’s favour.

Would you take Jose Mourinho back at Manchester United?

It’s been nine months since the Portuguese tactician was relieved of his duties at Old Trafford, and while United experienced a momentary surge of form as the cloud of his now understandable misery lifted, they’ve somewhat faltered in recent months.

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Former Cardiff City and Molde manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ed Woodward’s designated replacement for serial winner Mourinho, is now a man under pressure, having guided his side to their worst start to a season in 30 years. United’s defeat to Steve Bruce’s Newcastle side on Sunday only compiled the misery.

With Liverpool on the horizon, and the Red Devils’ teamsheet looking no more appealing than it has in the previous five games, it could be a case of déjà vu for the Old Trafford faithful as the pressure of relieving their 1999 Champions League hero becomes too much.

It’s all hypothetical of course, but would you take Mourinho back at United? ESPN pundits have discussed (between 0:00 and 2:35) …

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Since joining Kilmarnock on a season-long loan deal back in the summer, Niko Hämäläinen has thrived.

The QPR left-back – who can also play in the centre of defence as per his Transfermarkt page – has impressed over in Scotland after seven appearances for Killie.

Hämäläinen, 22, has played every minute in his seven appearances for the Scottish side this term, including all 120 minutes of their Scottish Cup win over Hibernian.

Specifically, the 1-cap Finland international has played his part in what has been a solid backline.

Kilmarnock have kept five clean sheets in the six Scottish Premiership games in which Hämäläinen has started, and he has also proven that he can be of importance at the other end of the pitch.

Hämäläinen grabbed the assist for the only goal of the game in Killie’s 1-0 win over Hearts on October 5th, showcasing his end product with a pinpoint cross onto the head of Chris Burke.

Following his performance in the 2-0 league win over Hibernian on September 14th, Hämäläinen was named in the SPFL Team of the Week for his fine contributions.

If Mark Warburton has been keeping an eye on Hämäläinen’s progress – which we hope he has – then one thing must spring to the former Brentford manager’s mind.

Hämäläinen can deputise for Ryan Manning upon his return to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Manning, who has been in excellent form for the R’s this term – has played both as a left-back and as a left wing-back for QPR this term, and to some effect.

The 23-year-old has grabbed three assists so far in the Championship this season, just one set-up off the summit of the assist rankings – four assists is the highest in the league so far.

While it would be far-fetched to say that Manning’s place could be under threat by Hämäläinen’s form, there is no reason to suggest that the 22-year-old’s impact on loan at Kilmarnock wouldn’t see him handed a place as the Irishman’s deputy upon his return – if he keeps his good form up, that is.

Behind Manning, there aren’t too many backup options, a point reinforced by the fact that the left-back has played every minute of the R’s Championship campaign so far, as well as the full 90 in both of their Carabao Cup matches.

If Hämäläinen keeps his form up, he could be the perfect deputy for Manning.

Charlton secured a mightily impressive 3-0 victory over Derby on Saturday as Lee Bower’s men put in what was arguably their most convincing performance since Lyle Taylor got injured.

The forward had bagged five goals in six matches before having to sit on the sidelines and since then the Addicks had won just once in their last five outings before their victory on Saturday.

They were back in form against the Rams and one of their stand out performers was former Leyton Orient man Macauley Bonne.

Fans raved about the striker during and after the match as one supporter claimed he was a packet of blonde hair eye away from being Taylor.

A further individual labelled him a baller while the 23-year-old was also described as a special find.

Bonne signed for Charlton after starring in the National League last term, a division he scored 23 goals in throughout the 2018/19 campaign.

He’s started to really find his feet in the Championship and now has three goals in his last four outings.

Here’s what fans have been saying about him on Twitter.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Liverpool fans were desperate so sign Kai Havertz after his first international goal last week, and the numbers suggest he may well be the heir to Roberto Firmino’s throne.

After Reds fans begged to sign the Bayer Leverkusen ace last week (with one even anointing him “Bobby 2.0”), the Bundesliga club’s manager, Peter Bosz, has admitted they may not be able to hang onto their 20 year-old starlet.

Citing interest from Liverpool and Manchester United, The Mirror report Bosz’s comments to Sport Bild: “Of course I would like to keep him, just as I would have liked to keep Julian Brandt, for example. Kai is only 20 and still has room for improvement. I can help him there.

“But it is like this, at the end the player himself must feel when he is ready for the next step. Nobody can decide that for him.”

And if that “next step” is indeed becoming the long-term replacement for Liverpool’s mercurial number nine, the statistics show he could be the perfect candidate.

A big part of Firmino’s game is of course his pressing and harassment of the opposition, and Havertz is more than holding his own in that department.

Per WhoScored, the Germany international is averaging more tackles and interceptions per match this season, while they both register just shy of a foul per game.

Firmino holds the advantage when it comes to beating players with the ball, averaging a rather impressive 2.5 dribbles per game, while also beating his heir apparent in shots with 3 each match.

However, Havertz actually boasts more key passes per game, suggesting he could have a similar creative influence to Firmino, helping the wingers in Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 system to thrive.

While Havertz only has two top-flight goals so far this campaign – one less than Firmino’s three – he did rack up 17 strikes in the Bundesliga last term, so he is more than capable of scoring the goals to be Liverpool’s man in the middle.

And while the 20 year-old is currently more of a number ten than a ‘false nine’, playing the large majority of his games for Leverkusen as an attacking midfielder, Firmino was the exact same in Germany.

He played no less than 66 games for Hoffenheim as a number ten, and only an estimated 35 as a second striker, and it wasn’t until Klopp worked his magic that we got the well-rounded superstar we see today.

If Klopp is looking for another versatile, hard-working, creative number ten who can become a goalscoring ‘false nine’ under his tutelage, Havertz may well be just the man.

Tony Cottee has posted a throwback on Twitter sharing an emotional image that a lot of West Ham fans can relate with.

The photo shows him at Upton Park in May 2016 on the last occasion he visited the famous old ground, alongside a caption in which he describes it as an “emotional day”.

Fans have responded in a typical fashion, and are equally as sad as the former striker that they no longer get to watch their side play at the Boleyn Ground, with one stating that the club should have never left.

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The former England international will have particularly strong memories of Upton Park, having made his professional debut there in a 3-0 win over Tottenham, with the 17-year-old Cottee scoring their second goal.

He went on to play there for a combined eight years in two spells in east London, scoring 142 goals in the process.

As a result, it is likely some fans miss him as much as the old ground, but what is for certain is they all share a wish that they could visit the Boleyn one more time.

The manner in which Scott McTominay’s emergence as a Premier League midfielder of note has been widely perceived – particularly beyond the more appreciative confines of Old Trafford – can be viewed as unfair given that it is too closely linked to the circumstances that led to his promotion into the Manchester United first team.

The imposing Scotland international was given his first top flight start against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2016/17 season and began to pick up regular game-time thereafter. But this breakthrough from the United ranks coincided with Jose Mourinho’s turbulent decline of both himself and his club, so the sums were just too easy to make even if two and two added up to five.

Here’s what most of us thought: Mourinho had fallen out with Paul Pogba so had turned to a lesser talented young disciple he could carve into his own ultra-cautious image; Mourinho resented the accusation that he never played kids so McTominay fit the bill there; McTominay was, in the great scheme of things, bang average.

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Since the Portuguese coach scowled off into the night the midfielder has established himself ever more as a regular fixture in United’s starting XI but as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s revolution imploded the perception that McTominay – valued at £18m by Transfermarkt – is somehow symbolic of that malaise has not gone away. In fact it has only intensified.

A series of terrific displays throughout September saw the player given the club’s Player of the Month award. The news was received by a Manchester United blogger thusly: ‘If McTominay is your best player, your team isn’t very good’.

In short, the lad can’t win. In short, he seems forever destined to be regarded as a place-filler in a time of crisis.

Mourinho back at United!? One fan re-evaluates his Old Trafford legacy in the video below…

This frankly is not just unfair but wrong. In the opening two games of this campaign he covered more ground than any other player in red while implanting an authority in the centre-circle that has been sorely missing in recent times.

He has started all eight league games and often been the best player by a country mile, enjoying a transformation that borders on the startling. Prior to Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford, the statistics revealed that he had doubled his tackles from last season while completing six times the number of successful dribbles.

At the end of September he smashed home a stunning opener against Arsenal while elsewhere in this crucial encounter he was the standout performer: dominant, winning 13 of his duels, and regularly stationed advanced of Pogba seeking to make things happen.

While Fred flounders, and Pogba toils only when the mood suits, and Matic remains as immobile as an armchair, it is McTominay who is taking the fight to the opposition. Does that make him the best of a bad bunch? No, he deserves better than that damned, faint praise.

Regardless of his club’s struggles he is becoming one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

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…

Everton’s Djibril Sidibe has been tipped to feature in Marco Silva’s starting XI by The Athletic’s Greg O’Keefe.

What did he say?

The Frenchman joined Everton this summer on a season-long loan from Monaco. He has since struggled to nail down a consistent spot at right-back, playing just 211 minutes in the Premier League so far. Sidibe has, however, played in two out of the three League Cup fixtures.

Plus, with Seamus Coleman playing 90 minutes against Watford on Tuesday, perhaps it shows Sidibe has become the main right-back in the league.

When asked by a fan if Sidibe will return to the XI, O’Keefe replied, per The Athletic: “Sidibe should be back in and I suspect he will be. Seamus had a really difficult first half against Watford.”

Time is up for Coleman

The Irishman has been a regular for Everton in the right-back slot for a number of years, but his form this season has been questionable throughout. The Frenchman is only on loan but Marco Silva should look to include him throughout the season to assess his credentials ahead of a potential permanent deal.

Coleman was sent off for club and country within 10 days of each other in October, and that’s done nothing to aid his reputation.

The 31-year-old has, in fact, made the same amount of fouls per game as he has tackles in the Premier League this season. As shown on WhoScored, Coleman has averaged 0.9 fouls per game and 0.9 tackles per match.

On the other hand, Sidibe has averaged 3.3 tackles each game and 1.3 dribbles per match going forward.

Indeed it could now be time for the Monaco loanee to take the spot as Everton’s main right-back.

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…

Speaking on BT Sport, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes delivered a ringing endorsement of Mason Greenwood’s potential after his goal-scoring display against Partizan Belgrade.

What did he say?

The 18-year-old impressed in the Europa League clash on Thursday night, capping off a fine performance with a well-taken goal in the Red Devils’ eventual 3-0 victory.

And, after seeing his display, Scholes waxed lyrical over the teenager, comparing him to former United marksman Robin van Persie, and also suggesting he would become a better goal-scorer than teammate Marcus Rashford.

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He said (as quoted by The Evening Standard): “I think they (Greenwood and Van Persie) both have that stylish way about them with that left foot. It’s almost like a bit of Velcro at times. They’re both great finishers, everything seems so smooth. We talk about United not having number nines, but he could be a number nine because of that sheer composure that he has in front of goal.

“He just calms himself down, takes a touch. We saw Marcus in the first half, where he should have taken a touch and he didn’t, we saw Mason take that touch and it made the big difference. I think Mason will be a better goalscorer than Marcus.”

Sky is the limit

After impressing on the club’s pre-season tour in the summer – he scored against both Inter and Leeds – much would have been expected of Greenwood coming into the season. And though Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn’t exactly gifted him with plenty of opportunities (he has played just 112 minutes of Premier League football), when it has come, he has invariably taken it with both hands.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

The academy product scored in both games he started against FC Astana and Rochdale respectively earlier in the season, and once again showed on Thursday night that he has a certain calmness to his game. It is that ability to stay ice-cold and finish under pressure that understandably led to Scholes suggesting he has a big advantage over Rashford. And whilst the latter has transitioned to the left-hand side, Greenwood could go from playing on the right-wing as he did against Partizan, to a more central role in the future.

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…

Leeds United have been struggling for goals this season, and that’s at least partly down to their lack of firepower in the midfield this term.

After 15 matches last campaign, United’s midfielders had contributed to 15 of their 26 goals with Mateusz Klich scoring five of those. However, the goals have dried up this term as Leeds have scored just 19 goals all season, nevermind just from their midfield.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if those problems will be fixed anytime soon as one of their most important goalscoring midfielders from last term seems to have lost faith in his own abilities.

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What’s been said then?

The midfielder spoke in a Q&A session on Thursday evening, and he mentioned how hard it would be for him to match his goal tally from last term.

“It’s going to be difficult to repeat that… I was surprised… but I’m trying my best & to play like last season. The only thing I’m missing is goals because I play a very similar game. I try to cooperate with the front 3.”

Goals may not come

It seems as if Klich thinks his high goal tally from last season was a bit of a fluke, but if he has that attitude when he steps onto the pitch he won’t find the back of the net like he used to.

The Pole scored a number of his ten goals from outside the box last term, which even led to the supporters creating a song about it.

If the 29-year-old doesn’t believe that he can repeat those feats then he’ll either stop taking these shots from range or he’ll hesitate just that split second too long and he’ll be closed down.

His confidence seems to be somewhat thin on the ground and his lack of prowess in front of goal was never more evident than when he missed a penalty against Derby.

Klich needs to change his attitude towards finding the net, or else it might not come for him as it did last season.

Perhaps all it’ll take will be one goal. Either way, he admits reaching the same heights will be difficult.