⚽ The FTBL Index

Stefan Bajcetic   The Liverpool vs Everton match on February 13, 2023 was a crucial game for both teams. Liverpool was looking to revive their faint hopes of a finish in the Champions League places, while Everton sought to climb out of the relegation zone and build up some much-needed momentum under new manager Sean Dyche. The game was filled with high stakes and tensions, but Liverpool emerged as the clear winner, with a 2–0 victory. One of the standout players of the match was 18-year-old Stefan Bajčetić, who was making his first start in a high-stakes fixture such as the Merseyside derby. Despite initial doubts about the teenager’s physicality, Bajčetić put in a commanding performance, showing no fear and snapping into his tackles early on. Throughout the game, he won the ball back numerous times and put Liverpool on the attack, all without committing a foul. Bajčetić’s display was a clear indication of how badly Liverpool missed high volume ball-winners in their midfield, and h...

Stefan Bajčetić   Liverpool’s season has been marked by inconsistency and underperformance, leading many fans and experts to question what has gone wrong for the reigning Premier League champions. One factor that has come under scrutiny is the team’s midfield, which has been criticized for its lack of high-volume ball-winners. The solution to Liverpool’s struggles this season can be found in the midfield, and that bringing in a player like Bajcetic, who has been impressive as an 18-year-old, could provide the missing piece for the team. A midfield revamp, with Bajcetic playing alongside Fabinho, with Henderson in the same midfield should ensure a sense of security. These are the type of midfield profiles that would provide the necessary balance for the team’s more vertical style of play. The proposed midfield would particularly suit Gakpo, who would be able to play in a hybrid role and drift in between the lines, which is crucial for the team’s approach. The importance of Bajcetic’...

  The recent meeting between Barça’s sports area and the agent of Portuguese midfielder Rúben Neves, Jorge Mendes, has created a buzz in the football world. Mendes had promised to give priority to Barça in a potential transfer for Neves, however, the Blaugrana club’s doubts about the player’s ability to make a difference in their midfield has led to the club considering other options. Neves has been a standout player in the Premier League and his potential move to Camp Nou was seen as a good market opportunity for Barça. The club was looking to reinforce their midfield, especially in light of the possibility of Sergio Busquets leaving the club. However, the coaching staff does not view Neves as a game-changer and would prefer to invest their resources in other profiles. Barça’s doubts about Neves have opened up the possibility for other top-level clubs in the Premier League, such as United, Liverpool, and Newcastle, to make bids for the Portuguese midfielder. With the coaching staf...

  AC Milan took on Torino in an intense Serie A match, with the final score ending in a narrow 1–0 victory for Milan. The match was closely contested with both teams putting in a strong effort to secure the win, but it was Milan who ultimately came out on top. Pierre Kalulu played 90 minutes at right back for Milan and made 83% of his 43 accurate passes. He also won 6 ground duels, 4 of which were aerial duels, and made 3 tackles. Kalulu was rated 7.7 for his performance in the match. Alexis Saelemaekers played 89 minutes in the midfield for Milan, making 91% of his 31 accurate passes and winning 12 out of 17 duels. Saelemaekers was rated 7.5 for his performance. Malick Thiaw played 90 minutes as a center-back for Milan, making 65% of his 43 accurate passes and winning 8 ground duels, 3 of which were aerial duels. Thiaw made 4 tackles and was rated 7.4 for his performance. Brahim Díaz played 79 minutes as a forward. He made 89% of his 24 accurate passes and won 9 out of 15 duels. D...

  A recent FIFA report has shed light on the extent of Premier League domination in the transfer market. The report, titled “International Transfer Snapshot,” reveals that clubs spent a record-breaking £1.29 billion during the January transfer window. English clubs accounted for a staggering £742 million of this total, which represents 57.3% of the global spending. The previous record for January spending by English clubs was £412 million, making this year’s figure a significant increase of 150% compared to January 2022. The Premier League’s dominance in the transfer market was further solidified by the fact that Chelsea alone spent more than all of the clubs in Serie A, LaLiga, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga combined. Chelsea, under American owner Todd Boehly, was the driving force behind the January spending spree. The club spent a record £323 million on new arrivals, including the £107 million signing of Argentine star Enzo Fernandez from Benfica, which was a British transfer recor...

FC Barcelona is facing a busy summer with several players whose futures remain uncertain. According to The Athletic, there is a feeling within the club that Franck Kessié will never be a crucial player for Barcelona. Kessé’s departure would provide some financial relief. Barcelona will attempt to sell Jordi Alba, as they did last summer. Alba has been playing in a backup role since the arrival of Balde, and his salary of 20m, including arrears, is the second-highest on the team after Sergio Busquets. Eric García’s contract with Barcelona is set to expire in 2026. García is not considered to be an important part of head coach Xavi’s plan, although he does have a great deal of potential. It is not expected that García will leave the club this summer.

  According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea Football Club have reached a full verbal agreement with veteran center-back Thiago Silva on a new contract, set to run until June 2024. The 38-year-old Brazilian has been a key player in the club’s backline, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the current season. New Chelsea manager Graham Potter is said to have been impressed with Silva’s attitude and he is seen as a perfect role model as the club aims to build a team for the future. Despite being a regular in a Chelsea defense that has faced its share of challenges this season, Silva has consistently performed and has been a stabilizing presence. Chelsea’s recent signing of Benoit Badiashile has added depth to the backline, and with the return of injured players such as Wesley Fofana, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell on the horizon, the club’s defense is looking stronger than ever. Silva is reportedly enjoying life in London since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germ...

  Leo Messi dribbles against Marseille  PSG’s Champions League hopes were dealt a blow with news that star player, Leo Messi, is a doubt for the first leg of the round of 16 against Bayern Munich. The Argentine suffered a small hamstring strain in the French Cup match against Marseille, and according to L’Équipe, he will not travel with the team to Monaco this Saturday as he rests in preparation for next Tuesday’s critical match. Messi’s injury comes at a time when PSG is already facing several challenges, with star striker, Kylian Mbappé, also injured and not expected to be in full form for the game. Furthermore, Neymar, who suffered an ankle injury during the World Cup in Qatar, is still not at 100% and has not been performing at his best for PSG. Despite these setbacks, PSG remains optimistic about its chances against Bayern Munich, with the team focusing on maximizing its chances for success. The match will be a momentous occasion for the Parisian club, and fans will be ea...

The world of soccer is filled with talented players who grace the field with their skills, but for some, the challenge of finding the back of the net seems to be an ongoing struggle. In this article, we take a closer look at the top 10 players who are currently underperforming in front of goal this season, and the reasons behind their poor finishing. It is important to note that we have excluded penalties from this analysis. For a less fun list of players who are wildly outstripping their expected goals (xG) numbers, we refer you to another article. Starting off our list at number 10 is Diego Costa of Wolves. Expected to score 2.0 goals this season, the striker has yet to find the back of the net, despite taking 8 shots in a 4–0 defeat against Leicester City. Costa has also accumulated more red cards than goals since his return to the Premier League, making his future in the top flight uncertain. At number 9, we have Matheus Nunes of Wolves, who shares the same expected goals of 2.0, b...

Cuti Romero Pressing Erling Haaland Spurs’ victory over City is nothing new, but this time around the outcome felt different. While in the past, Spurs would often ride their luck against City, this time the win was comfortable and somewhat dominant, particularly when it came to ball possession. The win was backed up by the expected goals metric, and fans are now asking what exactly Spurs did tactically to make City look so toothless, and what’s going wrong with City lately. City had most of the ball, so the focus is on what they did in possession, and how Spurs effectively nullified them. City built up with their usual back three, but there was a slight difference in that Lewis would come off the left-hand side instead of the right back, moving alongside Rodri, with Silva and Alvarez in front. Typically, Spurs would sit off City during the build-up phase, but this time they were brave and looked to press whenever it was to their advantage. This was thanks to their front three who were ...

  Matias Messi and Leo Messi watching a match at the Camp Nou The brother of Leo Messi, Matías, spoke on Twitch about Leo’s possible return to Barcelona. In the Twitch channel of Messi’s nephew (Labajada10), Matías Messi spoke about the possible return of Leo Messi to Barcelona. And his statements could not have been more explosive. When asked in the chat if Messi would return to FC Barcelona, his former home, Messi’s brother responded with a personal anecdote revealing his opinion on the matter and making several headlines: “I have a clipping from SPORT, from Barcelona, that says ‘Messi should return to Barcelona’ and I subtitled ‘hahahha we’re not going back to Barcelona’ and if we do return, we’re going to do a good cleaning, among other things, we’ll get rid of Joan Laporta, an ungrateful one”. A clear statement of intentions about what could be the future of the footballer. “People should have gone out on a march to get Laporta to leave and keep Messi,” he hurriedly said on th...

  Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, is rumoured to be contemplating the acquisition of Manchester United Football Club. According to sources, he appraises the club at a value that falls short of the £6 billion asking price proffered by the Glazer family. Additionally, there may be a need for UEFA to modify its regulations, as the Emir already holds ownership of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club. The Glazer family initiated the sale of Manchester United in November 2022, and the Raine Group, known for its role in the sale of Chelsea Football Club, has been appointed as the exclusive financial advisor. The expected sale price for the 20-time champions of England is £6 billion. In contrast, the Emir views £4.5 billion as a more realistic sum. As per UEFA regulations, clubs with common ownership are prohibited from competing against each other in its tournaments. Therefore, if the Emi...

  Alexis Sanchez scored the penalty vs. PSG Marseille, France - After an 11-year drought, Marseille finally triumphed over their Parisian rivals, Paris Saint-Germain, in a heated cup match at the iconic Vélodrome stadium. In front of a boisterous crowd, Alexis Sánchez and Malinovsky secured the 2-1 victory for Marseille, sending PSG packing from the round of 16. The first half was an intense battle, with both sides leaving everything on the field. Marseille came out strong, putting pressure on PSG from the start. This pressure eventually led to a penalty, which Sánchez converted to give Marseille the early lead. Despite being overpowered in the first half, PSG fought back, with Sergio Ramos equalizing just before halftime with a well-placed header off a corner kick from Neymar. The second half saw Marseille continuing their dominant play, with Malinovsky scoring a beautiful goal to give his team the 2-1 lead. PSG tried to mount a comeback, but they were unable to find the back of t...