Soccer is a tough game, full of shocks and surprises. There are last-minute goals, giant killings and shock transfers. However, one of soccer’s most frustrating aspects is the merry-go-round sacking of managers. Soccer clubs seem to cycle through managers at breakneck speed. The days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger managing their respective clubs for decades are dead. Managers are no longer given time to prove themselves, and coaches cannot endear themselves to fans. Soccer clubs move in circles, hiring and firing managers as if they come at a dime a dozen. There is no loyalty in soccer anymore, and it makes me worry for the game and for the lessons that the game is demonstrating to our wider society.

The current plight of Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis summarizes the convoluted world of management. Pulis is a manager of great merit. He has managed a multitude of notable clubs including Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace. Pulis acted like a miracle worker at all three clubs, keeping them in the Premier League despite the odds being stacked against him. Throughout his almost thirty year managerial career, Pulis has proven to be a brilliant and dependable coach. However, there is talk that he is about to be sacked by his current club Middlesbrough. Boro are bottom of the Championship form table.

Middlesbrough’s recent span of poor results has seen them slip outside of the playoff places, with just a handful of games remaining in the season. While there is no doubt that Pulis’ team are in danger of missing out on promotion, they still have a brilliant chance to get into the playoffs. All fans know that one win can spark a remarkable turnaround in results. So why when a team is going through a sticky patch in the heat of a pressurized promotion push, do fans and the media call for a manager’s head? Middlesbrough may not get promoted under Pulis, but at least his experience gives them a chance; that is more than most can say for the hastily appointed manager that would surely replace him. Why would you ever want to part with someone like Pulis especially at this stage of the campaign?

I question why soccer clubs see the reason to blame managers for every tiny detail that goes wrong. After all, the average soccer club employs hundreds of members of staff, including at least thirty players. A manager cannot control the actions of his club, the on-field decisions of his players or the sometimes idiotic things they do off the field. Soccer managers are tasked with impressively sized jobs but are given very little time to get used to them And when they go wrong, they are given a minuscule opportunity to troubleshoot. I am not suggesting that soccer managers should never be relieved of their duties; of course, there are instances where clubs need to change their manager. However, I am saying that clubs tend to blame managers for defeats, and not give them enough chances to prove their worth.

Firing a manager is the easiest option. A club experiences a poor run of results, they sack the manager, hire another one and the problems magically go away. That is until they don’t. As the same issues rear their ugly heads a couple of months down the line and another manager loses his job, why don’t clubs search for a collective identity that they want to follow and employ a manager to work towards building that over a set number of years? Why don’t clubs realize that the best coach in the world could work with a group of players, but they could still lose? Why do fans blame the manager above all else? I question why we as fans blame anyone at all. I wish we could come to together in our respective fan bases and support our clubs through thick and thin, knowing that is ultimately how we achieve success.

Managers want success for their clubs probably more than the fans do, so why don’t we trust them and stick by them? I want to think that someday we may show loyalty to the staff at our sports teams as we would a friend who is in trouble. It never helps anyone to criticize or decide to replace them in their hour of need; it only works if we are loyal and stick together. That’s a lesson all of us should learn — one that is vital for the future success of soccer and our wider society.

In spite of how this season may end, the 2018/19 campaign has been a good one for Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. Lampard and Gerrard have both taken brave steps into big management jobs, and both of them have been relatively successful. Nobody can argue that the two English giants have acquitted themselves remarkably and shown managerial talent. Additionally, it would be hard to bet against both men having big careers in management.

As a player, Frank Lampard enjoyed a storied career. He started his career at West Ham United, but soon transferred to Chelsea. Lampard played at Chelsea for 13 seasons, in over 600 games and became the club’s record goalscorer. Lampard played 106 matches for the England, and rounded off his career by starring in comparatively short stints at Manchester City and New York City FC.

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard played over 700 games for Liverpool over an astonishing 16 season spell. Gerrard also played 114 times for England and captained his national team in 38 matches. Gerrard rounded off his career with a two-season stint at LA Galaxy.

At Derby, Lampard has blended the youthful talents of Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Jayden Bogle with the experience of Curtis Davies, Scott Carson and Ashley Cole. Lampard’s well-balanced team is valiantly fighting for a playoff place in the nip and tuck division that is the Championship. Despite a slip in form in recent weeks, the Rams still look well placed to fight for promotion.

Meanwhile, Gerrard has continued the revival of Rangers. The Gers are second in the league and are firmly inside the Europa League qualification places. Rangers have enjoyed long runs in the domestic cup competitions and in the Europa League where they punched above their weight to earn some good results. They even challenged for the league title for a time, though it now looks like their Old Firm rivals Celtic will lift the trophy. Perhaps the highlight of Gerrard’s tenure has been the blistering form of Alfredo Morelos; no doubt the 38-year-old has inspired the Colombian striker.

As managers, Lampard and Gerrard’s first season results are so impressive in my mind because few quality players have become good top-level managers in recent times. Gary Neville’s poor stint at Valencia and Tony Adams ill-fated stint at Granada are two examples that show how defective British greats have been as managers recently. When Lampard and Gerrard were appointed in their respective roles, excitement was marred by some fear that inept managerial careers would damage another couple of soccer legends.

More than anything though, I like how Lampard and Gerrard conduct themselves. Both men have class when class is needed and passion when passion is required. I love the fact that neither men carry an ego, and they don’t rely on their resumes to buy them special favors or treatment. They are thoroughly entertaining young managers and good examples for fans and sportsman alike. From this year’s results, it can be said that both men will have long managerial careers. I certainly hope they do; it would be brilliant for the British game and for the players who dream of emulating them.

Both Lampard and Gerrard have backed up playing success with promising starts to their management tenures. It will be interesting to see how their careers develop in the coming years. I hope that we will see the two men square off in a Premier League match one day. In the meantime, it is enjoyable to watch a pair of soccer icons perform well as managers; it certainly is a departure from the norm.

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a 21-year-old attacking talent who is impressing fans with sterling performances and memorable goals. But how good could he become?

Calvert-Lewin moved to Goodison Park from Sheffield United in the summer of 2016, and has since made over 80 appearances for Everton. Calvert-Lewin has steadily made more appearances for Everton each season. He made 11 Premier League appearances in 2016/17, 32 Premier League appearances in 2017/18 and 26 so far this season.

When it comes to scoring goals, he’s steadily improving his goal tally by scoring one in 2016/17, four in 2017/18 and five in this season’s Premier League campaign so far. Though he is also improving year-on-year beyond the statistics, he seems to be growing prowess, gaining muscle and becoming a bigger name player.

Calvert-Lewin’s impressive Premier League performances won him a place in England’s 2017 U20 World Cup squad. He starred for England as they won the tournament. He continued his international form last year, and followed England first team stars Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford in winning the U21 Player of the Year honors.

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After scoring for Everton on Tuesday in their win against Cardiff, Everton captain Phil Jagielka highly praised Calvert-Lewin and described his talents. Jagielka told journalists: “Dom deserved his goal, I told him that – he had an important role for us on his own up front against two big, strong defenders and when he came back to defend set pieces he got his head on a few things… I was delighted he got on the scoresheet.”

Jagielka’s comments speak of Calvert-Lewin’s attacking talents and his sheer level of strength. Jagielka highlighted the prowess of the young man and showed the level of his physical presence. However, Calvert-Lewin is much more than a brute force center forward; he has a brilliant technique and good running power. He possesses the speed and running ability of a young Theo Walcott and the physical strength of Wayne Rooney. He is well built, and athletic, but also slender and agile, a perfect blend of two Everton stars.

The Sheffield born forward is forging quite an international pedigree and is undoubtedly on Gareth Southgate’s radar. If Southgate selects Calvert-Lewin, he will bring a blend of youthful exuberance and tactical nous to the England fold. He will also carry an ever-expanding lot of experience with him and a talent that could challenge the likes of Raheem Sterling for their positions in the starting 11.

Calvert-Lewin will undoubtedly get an international opportunity sooner or later. And when he does, I am sure he will grab it with both hands. Calvert-Lewin is a player who is full of potential and is shining in a decent Premier League team. He is standing on the legacy of English Everton greats from years gone by and steadily living up to expectation. Only time will tell if Calvert-Lewin can continue to build on his Everton form and translate his English youth team class to the senior ranks. But, if Calvert-Lewin does reach his potential, he could be one of the greatest English players of his generation.

Liverpool are in the thick of a thrilling title race that could see them win their first Premier League title, so what will it take for them to become champions of England?

Liverpool need Manchester City to slip up

While it’s easier said than done, Liverpool will need Manchester City to slip up. There is no doubt that Liverpool have a quality squad stacked full of stars, but Manchester City have a better one with greater depth. Liverpool may have a potent front three in Salah, Firmino and Mane but City have at least six players of similar or better quality. City have much more strength in depth than Liverpool do, and can cover for any injuries and crises that may occur. Whereas Jurgen Klopp desperately requires his players to remain injury free, and any loss to his side would hugely handicap his team.

Additionally, many of City’s players are serial winners with trophy-winning resumes, but few of Liverpool’s players have won a serious trophy. City have developed a winning culture, and have recruited players with ambition and pedigree. On the other hand, James Milner is Liverpool’s sole Premier League winning player. Sport can often transcend statistics, history and form but in this case, those factors will be difficult to disregard. The odds are firmly in favor of Manchester City, and it is hard to see the Premier League trophy anywhere else than in their hands at the end of the season.

Liverpool need their stars to stay on form

If Liverpool are to win the Premier League this season, they will need a slice of good fortune. Not only will they need Manchester City to inexplicably slip-up, but they themselves will need to keep their players fit and in form. They must protect Salah, Mane and Firmino from injury and they must keep Virgil van Dijk suspension free. Those four men are the mainstays of the Liverpool side, and without them Liverpool will struggle to win a simple game. In order to keep their stars healthy and free from suspension, it may be good for Liverpool to drop out from the UEFA Champions League. Manchester City have their attention divided; they are in the Champions League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup and are fighting for the Premier League; thus if Liverpool focus solely on the Premier League it could massively aid them. Liverpool will be playing far fewer games than their rival and will have more time to prepare and recover from those games. As Liverpool have a smaller squad of less quality than City, it is evident that playing fewer games will level the playing field and increase the chances that they will have a fit and healthy squad.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Liverpool games on US TV and streaming

I am not convinced that Liverpool can claim the title, but if they do it may begin a new age for the club. A title win could transform the confidence of the players and catapult the team back towards the heights of yesteryear. A Premier League win would establish Jurgen Klopp as a Premier League legend and would place his players in the history books. More than anything it could affirm Liverpool’s revival and set them at the height of the British game for years to come.

Players and supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers are enjoying their first season back in the Premier League. Wolves are currently seventh in the Premier League table with a total of 39 points from 26 games. They have won 11, drawn 6 and lost 9 matches, scoring 34 and conceding 33 goals in the process. However, the quality of their performance has transcended mere statistics. What is the secret to their success? What if anything can other clubs learn from Wolves?

After falling out of the Premier League in 2012, Wolves slipped further down the English pyramid and found themselves in League One by the middle of 2013. Wolves were promoted straight back to the Championship in the 2013/14 season. Subsequent seasons of mediocrity and mid-table stability followed. However, in 2016 things began to change at Molineux as Guo Guangchang and his Chinese conglomerate Fosun International took ownership of the club. The new ownership has helped the club repurchase ambition and positivity, something that was aided by significant investments in the playing squad.

What is the secret to their success?

The super-agent Jorge Mendes has hugely aided Wolves since the Fosun takeover. Mendes, who represents world footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, has helped Wolves to acquire quality players at bargain prices. Jota, Ruben Neves, and Joao Moutinho are among some players that Mendes has helped bring to the West Midlands. They are international players with excellent pedigree, experience and a potential to improve. There is no doubt that Wolves’ association with Mendes helped them gain promotion, and that he is still aiding them now.

While there is no doubt that the surge of quality additions has transformed the Wolves squad, the presence of other more humble players like Matt Doherty, Conor Coady and Ryan Bennett has been equally vital. These four men arrived at Molineux in more modest circumstances. Bennett came from Norwich. Coady transferred from Huddersfield, and Doherty was promoted from the youth academy. However, each of them has complemented their internationally touted colleagues, and they have all been key to the success of their side. They have added grit and work rate to their team and have blended beautifully with their often more talented teammates. It is a credit to the club that they have managed to improve less lauded players and use them to complement their more costly players.

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The man responsible for mixing improved lower league gems with international stars is Nuno Espirito Santo. Nuno, a Champions League winning goalkeeper with Porto in 2004, was appointed Wolves manager on May 31, 2017. He guided the West Midlands club to the title in his first full season. His passion, outlandish statements and pure non-stop energy seemed to typify the exhilarating way that his team played last year. Nuno’s Wolves side blitzed the Championship, and he made things look simple. Few could handle the expectations of the owners, Mendes and the fanbase like Nuno. He is a big personality who carried huge expectations on his shoulders last season and has delivered above and beyond anything asked of him. I am not sure anyone could have managed so well at Wolves. He is a strength in Wolves armor and an open secret behind their success.

What if anything can other clubs learn from Wolves success?

Other clubs can quickly determine that investment wins games, and having a super agent on speed dial makes it easy to recruit quality players. They can also learn that the savvy mix of international stars and lower league starlets make a more than decent team. However, they can also learn that ambition and foresight will take a club far. As for what more Wolves competitors can learn from them, they will have to watch and see what they do next.

It’s February. Leicester City have played 25 Premier League games, and their fans are once again calling for the sacking of their manager. Leicester are 11th in the Premier League, ten points above the relegation zone and eighteen points from the first Champions League position. Leicester has one win, one draw and three losses in their last five Premier League fixtures. The East Midlands club last won on January 1, but despite their victory drought, they must keep faith in their manager.

Claude Puel has an illustrious resume, and lists a Ligue 1 title as a manager and two Ligue 1 titles as a player among his achievements. Puel has had successful stints as manager of Monaco, Lille, Lyon, and Nice. The 57-year-old Frenchman even guided Southampton to the League Cup Final, and an excellent 8th place Premier League finish in his first and only season there. Southampton has flirted with relegation ever since Puel was discharged from his duties in 2017, proof perhaps of his managerial talent. Besides results alone, Puel is known to be good with young players. A youthful Eden Hazard profited from his skills while at Lille.

Far from sacking Puel, Leicester should publicly back their man. Despite poor results of late, Puel recruited well in January and has built a solid team that will only improve with Youri Tielemans joining the side. Leicester are a strong team and have never looked in danger of being relegated under Puel. Of course, Puel’s Leicester has never threatened to break into European football either, but mid-table security should be enough for a club like Leicester. I know full well that Leicester fans expect more because they won the Premier League in the 2016/17 season, but that triumph was named a miracle for a reason. Besides, immediately following their title-winning season, Leicester slid down the league and looked dangerously close to relegation under both Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare, but Claude Puel expertly addressed the slide.

Showing loyalty to any manager is a positive thing, but keeping faith in Claude Puel could be a masterstroke for Leicester. During his time at the King Power Stadium, Puel has developed players like Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray into Premier League stars; and Chilwell and Maguire have enjoyed appearances for the English national team. Who knows what wonders the Frenchman could do with Leicester’s youngsters if he is given more time?

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In the 2017/18 season, Leicester finished in 9th place, fourteen points above the relegation zone and eighteen points from the Champions League places. Burnley was one team that finished above Leicester, but they are fighting hard against relegation this term. Would Leicester fans prefer to yo-yo between Europa League slots and relegation places, or to stay steady and consistent in mid-table?

Puel’s style may not be the most beautiful or exhilarating, but it is wonderfully consistent. Puel will always guarantee a mid-table finish at worst, and he will bring serious financial stability to whatever club where he is the manager. Leicester fans may want or even expect better than a mid-table finish, but in the grand scheme of things, such a finish year-in year-out would surely be brilliant for everyone and anyone concerned with Leicester.

Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata completed an 18-month loan deal to Atletico Madrid this week. The 26-year-old Spanish striker has linked back up with his boyhood club, in a move that could well re-energize his career and give him the spark he needs to return to good form.

It’s no secret that Morata has struggled at Chelsea. He arrived at the club before the 2017-2018 season, just a few months after Chelsea had been crowned as Premier League champions. Huge amounts of pressure were instantly heaped on the young forward as fans expected him to fill the void of the then-exiled striker Diego Costa seamlessly. Costa was Chelsea’s star man, a showman, a maverick and a lethal goalscorer; he possessed talent and personality in abundance. Costa was a figure that all Chelsea fans loved, and many rival supporters loathed, merely because he was such enormous talent and a significant influence on his team.

The gap left by Costa was sizable and Morata struggled to fill the void. The tall Spaniard notched 15 goals in all competitions in his debut season, a respectable return but not one that was acceptable for a Chelsea striker. Costa had scored 22 goals for Chelsea in the 2016/17 title-winning campaign, seven more than his replacement did a year later. Meanwhile, Chelsea suffered without Costa’s movement and work rate; somehow Morata didn’t seem to possess his physicality or prowess.

SEE MORE: Schedule of LaLiga games on US TV and streaming

Pressure only mounted further onto Morata’s shoulders following Chelsea’s poor run during their Premier League campaign and the advancement of media speculation surrounding Costa’s surprising Chelsea exit. Many pundits and journalists began to speculate that there was infighting within the Chelsea camp and that the manager had lost the faith of his players. Though there was never a suggestion that Morata was a troublemaker in the dressing room, fans and pundits encircled and hounded him, demanding that he play better for his manager. In hindsight, it is easy to see how a player could falter in such negative surroundings. Though Morata has scored goals in the last 18 months for Chelsea, he has often looked dejected and low on confidence, understandably so.

However, I find it tough to criticize Morata. After all, he is a player that has worn the white shirt of Real Madrid and starred for Juventus. Morata is a player of exceptional ability who has scored big goals for club and country. He scored three goals for Spain during 2016’s edition of the European Championship, and was a standout player and goal scorer for Juventus in their Champions League final loss to Barcelona in 2015. Morata stands at 6.2 feet tall and is a powerful runner and can both hold the ball and head the ball adeptly. Thus, though Morata has struggled at Chelsea, I am convinced he is still among the world’s best strikers.

Only Morata can showcase his talent, something he can do during his fresh start at Atletico Madrid. The move to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium sees Morata move back to his boyhood club, his native country and the city where he grew up. He also has the opportunity to move away from many of his doubters in England and forge or grow his reputation in Spain.

Most crucially though, Morata will link up with Diego Costa at Atletico, a player who will aid and teach Morata in action and word. Though Costa’s form has been patchy this year too, Morata will no doubt learn from his elder and will hopefully improve his game.

Whatever happens in the immediate future, Morata has earned a new start away from Chelsea. Hopefully, with time, the aid of home comforts and a sizable boost in game time, Morata will return to his best form and perhaps even star for Chelsea in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur is full of flair, pace and thrills. But despite their promising play and consistent record, they have been unable to place any new silverware in their cabinet. The most significant reason for this is their lack of strength in depth. It seems Tottenham are solely reliant on Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane, and have few options besides them. Thus many have begun to state that without reinforcements, Tottenham will never progress into a serious challenger for big titles.

Tottenham is bruised at this moment, having been knocked out of two cup competitions in fewer than seven days. The semi-final EFL Cup defeat to Chelsea must have been particularly hard to take given that they were leading the two-legged affair on aggregate after the first game. Semi-final defeat is a familiar feeling for Tottenham; it was their third semi-final reverse in the last three seasons. Another deja vu for Tottenham fans is that of feeling weak and under strength on the big occasions. The two emotions are connected because every season Tottenham’s most prominent stars seem to go missing when they need them most. Top scorer and captain Harry Kane once again sustained an unfortunately severe injury, and meanwhile, Son has missed large swathes of this campaign due to his national team commitments.

Tottenham have talent beyond Kane and Son in Moura, Eriksen and Alli but without the South Korean and his English captain, Eriksen and company have few suitable outlets. Tottenham does have Fernando Llorente as cover for Kane, and the likes of Erik Lamela as cover for Son, but neither player is as gifted as their first choice counterpart, and neither player does as much for the team either. Kane and Son provide goals and assists. They’re the first line of defense with clever variations and movements that keep opposing defenses on high alert. Their impact goes far beyond mere goals. Their presence on the field provides a sizable mental and morale boost that is difficult to overstate.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Tottenham games on US TV and streaming

I don’t believe that Tottenham’s rivals have the same issue either. Manchester City has Gabriel Jesus to replace Sergio Aguero and Chelsea has Loftus-Cheek, Pedro and Willian to replace Hazard. Meanwhile Manchester United has Sanchez to replace Rashford and Arsenal has Lacazette to replace Aubamenyang. Most of Tottenham’s rivals have top quality reinforcements to back up their famed stars. Even the relatively small Liverpool squad has replacements for Salah, Mane and Firmino in the likes of Sturridge and Lallana.

The struggle for Tottenham is that they do not have the level of funds that their rival’s possess. Their monetary problems have only worsened thanks to their upcoming move to a new stadium. But if Tottenham is ever to win the Premier League and or begin to build a collection of trophies, they have to spend money and provide alternatives to their main outlets in Kane and Son.

Tottenham, of course, do win without their star men, and they do keep on a steady course, but their fans desire more than mere top-four finishes. Tottenham needs big game players who can replace Son and Kane when they are unavailable and can realistically challenge them for a first-team place when they are available to play. They also need players who will revel on the largest stage, in Premier League matches against their top four rivals and in the latter stages of cup competitions.

Tottenham desperately needs reinforcements to support Kane and Son. Kane and Son desperately need help in propping up their club’s hopes and dreams. It will be up to the board to see whether they can find some capital to purchase high caliber reinforcements.

Photo credit: James Boyes

Although few neutral fans of football knew the name of Callum Hudson-Odoi a few months ago, the 18-year-old Englishman is the January transfer window’s hottest property.

Despite only making a handful of appearances for Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi’s reputation has soared as his club have reportedly turned down many bids from Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Hudson-Odoi has added further intrigue to the saga after reportedly turning down a new contract at Chelsea. In turning down the £85,000 a week deal, Hudson-Odoi has kept all his options open and has perhaps signaled his intent to leave Chelsea. Though any international move can be unsettling and challenging for a teenager, a move to Bayern Munich could transform and shape Hudson-Odoi’s career. Moreover, in my opinion, a move to Bayern Munich is precisely what a talented starlet like Hudson-Odoi needs to kick-start their career.

There are many reasons why Hudson-Odoi should move to Germany. Though perhaps the most crucial reason Hudson-Odoi should move to Bayern is based on the experiences and exploits of Reiss Nelson and Jadon Sancho in Germany. Nelson is a 19-year-old English forward who is currently on loan from Arsenal to German club Hoffenheim. The young attacker has scored six goals in the Bundesliga to date and has also played Champions League football for his loan club. Meanwhile, fans of his parent club Arsenal, the media and some pundits have earmarked the player as a future Premier League star. However, Nelson was a widely unknown entity before his move to Hoffenheim, and one would argue that without his move abroad he wouldn’t have received the acclaim that he is getting now and the expectation that will be placed on him in the future.

Bigger and more heralded though is another British teenager, Jadon Sancho. Sancho has shone for Borussia Dortmund since his move to the German club in 2017. Sancho has played regularly for his new club in the Bundesliga and Champions League, and has been a critical player in Dortmund’s title push this term.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Chelsea games on US TV and streaming

Meanwhile, Sancho’s consistent form has earned him three England caps, something that is quite sparkling for a player who has only played two years of professional football. Sancho would have never even got close to the English first team had he still been at Manchester City, and one may argue that he may have still been playing youth team football had he stayed in England. Nelson and Sancho are fantastic examples of how German football can revolutionize a career, as is Christian Pulisic who will properly join Hudson-Odoi’s club Chelsea in the summer.

Though some such as Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane have broken through into English first teams, the opportunities for young players are generally few and far between at the upper echelons of the Premier League. Hudson-Odoi should question the playing time he may get at Chelsea, and he should ask whether he could be Bayern Munich’s version of Jadon Sancho.

Hudson-Odoi should also take note of the global fame of Bayern Munich’s youth development program, and ask how Bayern Munich will improve him. Bayern Munich developed a good majority of Germany’s famed modern players. Think of Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller, Phillip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. All four men are World Cup, Bundesliga, and Champions League winners. Hudson-Odoi must question whether Bayern Munich can catapult him to the same level as the aforementioned men. Surely any move to Bayern Munich is a worthwhile one based on their record of developing players alone, not to mention their status as one of world football’s greatest clubs.

Though staying at Chelsea may seem sensible for an 18-year-old young player, a move to Germany and Bayern Munich could transform the career and life of the possible future star of the game.

Soccer academies across the European continent are brimming with talent, full of potential future stars of the football world. Many fans will be able to identify the academies of AFC Ajax, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona for their efforts in turning local talent into superstars.

But do club-trained players improve a team’s chances of winning big?

The CIES Football Observatory conducted a study to show the usage of academy players in first-team squads between the years of 2009 and 2017. The study showed that 57.7% of players fielded by Barcelona in their 2012 LaLiga triumph were trained in their academy, the most for any European team who won their domestic league between 2009 and 2017. Other notable teams who won their domestic league with a high percentage of club-grown talent in their playing squads are AFC Ajax, who won the Eredivisie in 2010 with a squad made up of 55.2% of club-trained players, and Malmo FF who won Sweden’s Allsvenskan in 2014 fielding a squad comprising of 50% of club-trained players.

Meanwhile, the study also reported the success of some European teams who opted against fielding club-trained players in their first team. For example, Olympiacos FC won the Greek Superleague in 2011 with a squad comprising 0% of club-trained talent. FC Porto won the Primeira Liga with just 3.8% of club-trained talent in their team, and Juventus won Serie A in 2015 with a mere 4% of the player’s in their squad being from their academy.

When reviewing the numbers, it’s clear to see that some of Europe’s biggest clubs have found success by using club-grown players and some of Europe’s biggest clubs have found success by ignoring club-grown players.

There isn’t one clear path for clubs. Having an in-house academy is an expensive proposition given the amount of investment and patience needed, as well as all of the expenses in hiring a pool of coaching and support staff to run the organization smoothly. At the same time, forgoing an academy program and spending big in the transfer market could be even more expensive depending on the success of a club’s scouting program.

Creating a winning academy can be worthwhile for the long-term health and reputation of a football club. AFC Ajax is proof of that. Ajax won the 2010 Eredivisie with a squad brimming with youth team graduates. Among them were Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweirweld, and Christian Eriksen; all of whom have gone onto play successfully in the Premier League and the World Cup. Ajax hasn’t won a Champions League title since the 1994-95 season but many in football still think of them as a superpower in the modern era because of their overwhelming ability to breed world-class footballers.

Reputation aside, a thriving youth academy can be economically beneficial for a football club. Jan Vertonghen moved from Ajax to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012 for a fee reportedly around £12 Million, a healthy figure for a club to receive for an academy graduate. Meanwhile, AS Monaco perhaps received the largest financial gain from their academy, selling in-house prodigy Kylian Mbappe to PSG for a fee reportedly over £150 million. Though keeping players can also be effective for a club’s bank balance, Barcelona achieved cost-effective success by keeping academy graduates like Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi in a team that won multiple domestic and European trophies, proving that keeping faith in club trained talent can pay long-term dividends.

Disregarding the finances, it is also important to note that fans love it when club-trained players become stars of their team, taking great pleasure in their success on the pitch and boasting the prowess of their academy and its staff. Tottenham’s Harry Kane is an excellent example of this, so too is Manchester United’s club grown “Class of 92.”

Though it is often easier to win by buying players and custom building a squad through the power of a checkbook, a successful academy can do wonders for a football club’s reputation, morale and, occasionally, its chances to win Europe’s biggest prizes.

Manchester City’s sparkling performance against Manchester United on November 11 won them plaudits from all corners of the footballing community. In the wake of City’s resounding 3-1 victory, some fans suggested that they could win an unprecedented tally of four trophies this season meanwhile others have additionally suggested that Pep Guardiola’s side are the best team to grace the English Premier League. But, what do the statistics suggest about Manchester City’s quality and how do they compare to Manchester United’s famous treble-winning side of 1998/99?

What do the statistics say?

Statistically, it is difficult to pinpoint any weaknesses in Manchester City’s setup. The 2018/19 season has seen them score a mesmeric league-high haul of 36 goals in 12 Premier League matches. They also top the clean sheet ranking, and are only second to Chelsea in the passes-made category. Manchester City players dominate the individual statistical rankings too. Good examples of this include Sergio Aguero’s number one rank on the top goal scorers chart, and the inclusion of Benjamin Mendy, Raheem Sterling and Aguero at the top of the assist ranking.

Manchester City’s impressive early season statistics and form almost directly mirror the start that they enjoyed in last year’s Premier League title-winning campaign. The club lost just twice in the Premier League last term, scoring the most goals, taking the most shots and achieving a goal difference of +79. City’s statistical superiority and easy-to-watch artistry have seen City labelled as favorites to lift the Premier League trophy. Manchester City possess tantalizing quality and no doubt have the ability to defend their domestic crown, but to be called the Premier League’s greatest ever team, they will need to dominate beyond that competition. For Manchester City, that means emulating or even bettering the achievements of Manchester United’s team of 1998/1999.

Are Manchester City capable of bettering Manchester United’s 1998/1999 achievements?

Manchester United played 63 matches in the 1998/1999 season in all competitions as they won the UEFA Champions League, Premier League and the FA Cup. Manchester United had an admirable record during their 63 games, winning 36, drawing 22 and losing just five. During the season, United used 29 players, with goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel appearing the most amount of times and with Dwight Yorke leading the scoring chart.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Manchester City games on US TV and streaming

Manchester United’s exploits are, of course, a difficult feat to replicate but they of all teams are perhaps best positioned to do so. After all, their manager Pep Guardiola has won three trophies in one season at both Bayern Munich and Barcelona. Moreover, Manchester City has a wealth of talent in their squad, including an elite bunch of 26 players that include World Cup stars like Kevin De Bruyne and young starlets like Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Aymeric Laporte and Phil Foden, and we already know how statistically strong Manchester City are.

It will not be smooth sailing for Manchester City to win the treble, and Guardiola’s high tempo style could risk injuries to key players like Aguero, Silva, and Ederson that would derail any possible treble or quadruple challenge. But if any team can win the treble or the quadruple, Manchester City can.

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As MLS enters the final stages of the season, it’s exciting to look toward the future of some of the league’s key stars. However, there remains a strong possibility that two stars in particular could be leaving the league. But what will their absence mean for the league?

Miguel Almiron

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Atlanta United’s 24-year-old attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron has had a successful spell in MLS. The Paraguayan has scored 21 goals and assisted 28 goals in 62 MLS appearance for his franchise, and his impressive play has been noticed by some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Arsenal is reportedly looking at Almiron as a replacement for Aaron Ramsey, who will exit the Gunners on a free transfer in 2019. In October, ESPN reported that Arsenal want to move for Almiron in January and they are willing to pay up to £15 million for him.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Another superstar that MLS is rumored to be losing is LA Galaxy’s 37-year-old striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The former Swedish national team captain has starred in MLS, scoring 22 goals in 27 league games for the LA Galaxy since joining in March of 2018. But the rumor mill has been churning with many newspapers around the world circulating reports of an attempt from AC Milan to sign the striker. Given that Zlatan only moved to LA recently and that he seems to be enjoying life in the US, perhaps a permanent move to his old club AC Milan is wishful thinking on the Serie A’s part especially when his age and capability to play in Europe after a very physical American season is taken into consideration? But we have gotten used to expecting the unexpected with Ibrahimovic, so anything could happen.

What does it mean for MLS?

Almiron and Ibrahimovic themselves would leave sizable gaps in their respective team’s lineups, but given the MLS’s youthful outlook and seemingly newfound ability to attract legends before they have lost their quality, they would surely soon be replaced by better and more expansive players.

Though it might sound crazy, the departure of young stars like Almiron from MLS is a good thing because by selling young stars, MLS demonstrates that they are a breeding ground for new talent and not just a retreat for aging stars. Through players like Almiron, the MLS’ youth and scouting system seem to be finally challenging the perception that the league is merely a retirement league or a peaceful sanctuary where the world’s greatest footballers go to end their careers.

SEE MORE: Schedule of MLS games on US TV and streaming

In March, MLS produced a series of statistics that further prove the point. MLS’ data shows that of 637 active MLS players, 234 players have been capped for their national team. More impressive than the number of international players in MLS is the fact that the average age of an MLS player is 25.36, a statistic that demonstrates how MLS is showcasing youth talent and is no longer solely reliant on the all-star old guard transferred from European club’s.

As strange as it seems, any European move for an older player like Ibrahimovic could also be a good thing for MLS’ reputation as it would show that he is still capable of playing to a world class standard and that he is playing in MLS for soccer reasons rather than just the money. Perhaps Milan’s interest even demonstrates that the young crop of MLS talent is playing alongside and against genuine world stars who are at least close to their prime and not just heroes of the game from yesteryear who have outlived their sell-by-date.

Jamie Vardy is a well-known figure in the game of soccer, having played internationally for England 26 times and forging somewhat of a goalscoring dynasty at his club side; Leicester City. The 31-year-old is by no means finished as a player, but the striker has taken steps to ensure his footballing legacy by establishing the V9 Academy for non-league footballers. Despite his current stardom, Vardy is a former part-time footballer who was lucky enough to be spotted by Fleetwood Town, a club that he subsequently joined and helped as they rose into the Professional football pyramid. Vardy started his V9 Academy in May 2016 hoping that non-league footballers could experience his journey and travel to the same dizzy heights that he has.

The V9 program promises 42 successful applicants the opportunity to attend a 5-day residential camp, at Manchester City’s Etihad Campus where they will have the chance to perform in front of scouts from football clubs across the United Kingdom and beyond. The 42 players are equally split into three teams of fourteen. Each team and player then receive coaching from elite individuals including former Queens Park Rangers manager Chris Ramsey and former Hibernian and St Mirren boss, Alan Stubbs.

The Academy received 1,500 applicants in its first year and was also the star of a fly on the wall documentary by Sky Sports. The V9 school is a made for television idea that seems perfect in principle. But is it a good idea for footballers? What of Vardy’s academy protégés? Where are they now and are any of them expected to rise to his level of play?

In V9’s two year tenure of existence, it has recognized and improved a good handful of players, including Mickel Miller a 22-year-old striker, who earned a move from England’s 7th tier to Scottish Premiership side Hamilton Academical with the help of Jamie Vardy’s V9 center. Since his employment by the ‘Accies’, Miller has shown how vital the V9 academy is for unearthing unrecognized talent, by scoring 6 goals in 10 matches.

Twenty-one-year-old defender Alex Penny is another success story, having gone through the program and advancing to EFL League One team, Peterborough United in the summer of 2017 before later joining Miller at Hamilton Academical at the beginning of 2018/19. Meanwhile, Danny Newton’s performances at V9 earned him a professional contract at League Two Stevenage in 2017.

Neither Miller nor Penny nor Newton have scaled the heights of the Premier League like their hero Vardy, but he has helped them earn Professional deals and make a living playing the game at more than decent standards. Moreover, Miller, Penny and Newton are all still young and have many years to reach the level of their mentor. But in the meantime, Vardy and V9 continue delving deep into the depths of semi-professional football, with no doubt the greatest achievement of this year coming courtesy of Forward Cody Cooke and Defender Josh Heaton who both earned contracts at Scotland’s St Mirren.

As each year goes by, the Vardy academy is growing and is beginning to take hold of football’s consciousness as a plausible option for young semi-professionals. Time will only tell how influential V9 can become but in the short term, it is certainly a pleasing acquisition for football and its players.