Ruud van Nistelrooy made some tactical changes suitable for Ruben AmorimCredit: Getty
16
Advertisement
Rasmus Hojlund had a combative new roleCredit: Getty
16
While Enzo Marseca made a baffling tactical changeCredit: Getty
And a cagey first half between the team’s of the old Malaga team-mate’s, Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after Rasmus Hojlund was brought down in the area by Robert Sanchez.
However, moments later Moises Caicedo sensationally volleyed home an equaliser, which ended up being decisive.
Maresca’s Chelsea are far from the finished product, while United have Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim coming in to take charge from November 11.
Advertisement
But what did Sunday’s Old Trafford clash show for two two sides going forward? SunSport’s tactics guru Dean Scoggins broke down all the tactics and tricks in the latest episode of Tactics Exposed…
1. Ruud new set up is practice for new boss… but playing out still a big issue
Van Nistelrooy has clearly been doing his homework on Amorim’s Sporting side.
On paper, United lined up in a 4-2-3-1 or even 4-4-2 shape at times, but realistically what they did was move to 3-4-3 in possession, and that is Amorim’s formation.
16
Advertisement
Man Utd started out in a 4-2-3-1
16
But in possession they moved to a 3-4-3
So Van Nistelrooy, maybe in a little audition to say, ‘I know what you’re going to do, Ruben’.
So Dalot, who has been the wingback or the fullback or even inverting as a fullback a lot of times for United, he effectively played as a right centre-back in the first half.
He barely got forward, barely crossed the halfway line, took a couple of throws, got forward for a couple of corners. But that was about it.
Manchester United vs Chelsea: Player Ratings Breakdown (2)
And in a defensive set-up, when they turned the ball over, it was Dalot playing as the right centre-back.
Matthijs De Ligt was the centre-back and Lisandro Martinez was on the left side. So there was a clear three there straight away.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui was on the left and Alejandro Garnacho came in on that right-hand side and played as a nominal wingback in a 3-4-3, which we saw four or five times in the first half.
Van Nistelrooy was quite brave and Garnacho played on that right-hand side, which meant that Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are then the two playing off of Hojlund.
Dalot effectively played as a third centre-back
I found it quite encouraging for United that after months and years of Ten Hag and not seeing anything, that in a week, Van Nistelrooy was able to implement something that will start off the Amorim era.
He said at the start of the game, almost with a grin, ‘I haven’t spoken to Amorim, there’s been no contact.’
I don’t believe him because it really, really was like, ‘Here you go, mate, I want to be your No 2.’
Advertisement
2. Midfield two starting to address the ‘donut’ in midfield
This game also saw United playing with a solid two in midfield in Casmeiro and Manuel Ugarte.
Previously United seemed to be playing with a donut in their midfield that left acres of space, like in the Liverpool and Tottenham games, where they are caught pressing upfield but the defence are not committed enough to come forward leaving this big open hole in the middle.
It must have huge part of training in the week for United because we’ve seen before the Chelsea box midfield.
So with the inversion of the fullback, they have four players in there.
Advertisement
And what it meant was Casemiro and Ugarte had a really, really big job to do. And Ugarte, we’ve only seen him play well in fits and starts so far.
But I thought there was a little bit where he showed for the first time what they’ve bought.
He was combative and gave away lots of fouls. We’re going to expect to see more and more of that.
But Casemiro and him in the absence of Kobbie Mainoo played as a two. A proper two. They weren’t ahead of each other, behind each other most of the time.
Advertisement
Man Utd played with a solid two-man midfield
Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte were in there to close United’s donut midfield
You’d see them either side of the centre circle. You saw them screening in front of the back four, back three at times. Getting up, up to support, but as a two.
And it’s so important, especially against teams like Chelsea. And it was clearly drilled, showing how that 3-4-3 Amorim formation might look when they play a two-man midfield.
They will play a two in there. And, you know, at times the guys up front and the number 10s will come back in to support them.
And other times a fullback or a wingback will move infield to help them. But it will be a two. And this was the first pointer to that.
Fernandes gets a lot of criticism at times where he does other people’s jobs for them. I don’t think we can criticise United over the last few weeks for not running.
Advertisement
They are running. They’re just a bit erratic. And this was much more organised.
Fernandes, communication-wise, worked very hard with that midfield to make sure they were working as a unit.
They didn’t get overrun by a very impressive Chelsea midfield. You know, Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer and then whoever was inverting and they didn’t get overrun.
So there was an improvement there. Definitely.
Advertisement
3. United still struggle playing out from the back
16
But United had problem’s playing out from the back
16
Dalot would often invert but never got on the ball
However, United struggled to find a consistent method of playing out against Chelsea.
It will be a style they seek to play under Amorim.
Advertisement
He uses the two midfield players and the two centre-backs to bounce passes in and out to the goalkeeper.
And then he expects the goalkeeper or one of the two centre-backs to then find the number tens. It’s direct.
Was there an improvement yesterday? No, absolutely not. But there was an improvement in their positions.
They did this interesting thing where De Ligt went to the right and Dalot came inside to come and receive the ball, but they didn’t pass it to him. So they’re confused in what they’re trying to do.
Advertisement
Dalot had more success getting on the ball out wide
Gary Neville correctly mentioned on commentary that playing out should be second nature, they should be doing it without thinking.
If I’m getting pressed from the left, I’m going into midfield and he’s going to bounce it right. They should be drilling it time and time again on the training ground. And they’re just not showing it.
Andre Onana is good with his feet and they will get better with it under Amorim, but it was confusing against Chelsea.
Onana nearly gifted it to Nicolas Jackson when they nicked it was a Chelsea trap.
But in the picture you can see that De Ligt was not close enough to Onana to be passed to. Everybody’s got a role in there. It’s not very complicated.
Advertisement
It’s just like if you’re playing a move through midfield, it’s patterns of play. You know, and we practice it all the way through youth levels. Teams will practice it right from the way everyone will do it.
16
Chelsea’s pressing traps against a confused United build-up almost saw them score
That’s where Leny Yoro can come in. We’ve not seen him yet. And he will be the right centre-back instead of Dalot in that setup, I think. Then De Ligt in the middle so that will make a difference.
Mazraoui, I thought, had a really good game yesterday. Clearly, he could be either one of the two wingbacks.
Advertisement
We might see more involvement from Harry Maguire, and hopefully they get Luke Shaw back fit as well, because he can do this. We’ve seen him do it in an England shirt.
So there are players there who can do it. But for me, it’s drilling it. It’s gaining confidence in doing it time and time again, repetition. And then it will happen.
4. All action Hojlund – but with more in the box he could be golden
Hojlund proved to be a thorn in Chelsea’s side
Hojlund proved his worth as a target man by winning fouls and duels but needs to have more touches in the area
Everyone has been talking about Viktor Gyokeres in the last week despite Man Utd not having the money to spend.
But Hojlund, who they have already spent a lot of money on, showed some really good signs playing as a proper No 9 as they went direct into him.
He wasn’t drifting into channels which is almost an excuse not to have the ball into feet, he’s had a week with Van Nistelrooy and he’s playing combatively.
Advertisement
I’m a big advocate for selfless runners, but the No10’s are the runners in this formation, meaning he has to be the target and he was.
He didn’t have enough touches in the box, but he did win a penalty after his only touch in there, showing they have to get him in the box.
Hojlund drew fouls in the centre of the field, he got them out when they were under a bit of pressure because he won a free kick and he had a good ding-dong with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana.
For the penalty incident, he actually goes head-to-head with Caicedo outside of the area and then sells Chelsea with a lovely little peel-off run over the back.
Advertisement
And if he’s going to contact people in front of the goal and then go round the back for another touch, he’s got a bit about him.
16
His movement before the penalty saw him peel off of Moises Caicedo
16
Hojlund then won a penalty after his only touch in the area
I think we’re going to see a lot more from Hojlund under Amorim, given there are certainly similarities between him and Gyokeres in stature and pace.
Advertisement
Man Utd aren’t giving him enough chances to score, but that might change with Amorim.
However, we saw in the game that it is a system that doesn’t suit Rashford.
It worked better with Fernandes but the creativity comes from the two players off the frontman, I think Hojlund has a place there, but for me Rashford was terrible against Chelsea.
It wasn’t down to a lack of effort, but rather confusion over the system and where they wanted him to play.
Advertisement
He doesn’t want the ball to feet or on the turn, he wants it in behind so I do feel a bit sorry for him from that perspective.
But there was a moment in the second half where Marc Cucurella peeled off the back of him who was the left back inverting.
It’s his man, and Rashford starts to sprint and then lets him go, a bit like Dalot in the Tottenham game, and he was very lucky that Chelsea didn’t score from that incident.
16
Advertisement
Playing as one of the two No10’s did not suit Marcus Rashford, though he was poor defensively
16
He was lucky Marc Cucurella did not score after letting the Chelsea star run away from him
A couple of times he chased back quite hard in the first half. But that was really because he’d given the ball away in the first place going the other way. He looks confused. He’s 27 years old now.
He’s not the not the superstar kid anymore. He should be one of the leaders at Man United. And I feel he’s in real danger of being the sacrifice.
I mean, I’ve seen more movement from a lamp post in a storm, to be honest.
Advertisement
Given his salary you could see Man Utd selling him, but he’s a Man Utd boy and Amorim is very tactically flexible. He will play a 3-4-3, but it will be flexible.
So against teams who play with a higher line, you know, there is a role for Rashford.
But does he want and is he going to be willing to be a bit part player and not a starter in that 11? As it stands at the moment, he’s nowhere near it.
5. Enzo Maresca’s baffling Cole Palmer decision
16
Advertisement
Chelsea lined up with two right-backs in the team
16
Reece James often inverted from left-back
We were very impressed by the way that Chelsea have started and setting up and the tactical changes Maresca has made against the likes of Liverpool.
We previously showed a heat map of Palmer and where he’s getting all his joy, and that’s inside right, a bit narrower as a No 10 this year than he was under Pochettino, which was more from the right hand side.
And then yesterday, it was as if Marseca thought ‘I know, I’ll move Palmer into a different position.’
Advertisement
Palmer is probably best player in the Premier League at the moment And Maresca started with Malo Gusto as the right back and Reece James as the left back, which meant that he inverted.
Gusto and James played more of the time as part of the back three when they were in possession.
Gusto has been playing as a left-back at times as well and they’ve moved it the other way. But Palmer should be the one who’s the right sided No 10.
16
Advertisement
The rest of the back line shifted over for build-up
16
When Gusto inverted Cole Palmer was pushed out of his most effective position
And what was happening was that’s where Gusto was playing and Palmer was the inside left 10.
And he a few times got into this position on his left foot where De Ligt did very well as a defender to sort of push him wide and block off his shot.
But you know full well from the other side, it would have been a little feint and a ball and then a bend for the back post. And it just stifled him a little bit and they changed it in the second half.
Advertisement
You know, they brought Cucurella on, took Gusto off, and switched it back to where it should have been.
And the game became a bit erratic and a bit confused with United’s formation going a bit all over the place in the second half as well.
It was a bit un-Palmer-like and it’s early days to be saying that, but we’ve come to expect such high standards and he was a little bit anonymous.
For me, the golden rule, just play your best player where your best player should be playing.
Advertisement
So if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Chelsea player ratings vs Man Utd
CHELSEA came from a goal down to rescue a point at Old Trafford.
Robert Sanchez brought down Rasmus Hojlund with 20 minutes remaining and Bruno Fernandes rolled in what looked to be a decisive spot kick.
But Chelsea hit back swiftly as Moises Caicedo’s sweet strike flew into the bottom corner.
Advertisement
Here is how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield saw the performances of the Chelsea players in the 1-1 draw…
Robert Sanchez – 3 Made a few really good saves in the first half, and was much improved after a poor performance last time out against Newcastle.
That was until he gave away a reckless penalty on Rasmus Hojlund, which was easily dispatched by Bruno Fernandes.
His mistakes are starting to cost Chelsea time after time.
Advertisement
Malo Gusto – 2 Got in good positions in the first half, but was often wasteful when he got there.
Was booked for a late challenge on Manuel Ugarte, before being hooked for Cucurella at half-time after an awful overall showing.
Wesley Fofana – 6 A strong performance at the back was marred only by the Frenchman letting Rasmus Hojlund escape him before winning a penalty for his side.
Showed brilliant recovery pace throughout the game, and made some crucial challenges too.
Advertisement
Levi Colwill – 6 That was a strong defensive showing from the Chelsea number 6.
For a player with a passing range as impressive as his is, it would’ve been nice to see him use it more as Chelsea looked for a goal.
Reece James – 5 Improved this week, but still showed signs of rustiness as he gave the ball away in dangerous positions a few times.
More effective on the right side in Malo Gusto’s position, and more comfortable there as expected with Marc Cucurella on the left.
Advertisement
Another 90 minutes in the tank is fantastic news for Chelsea fans.
Moises Caicedo – 9 Scored a certain contender for goal of the month with a sensational volley from the edge of the box to level the scoring for his side.
Effective in breaking up play for the Blues once more, and showed why he is worthy of the £100m price tag Chelsea paid for him.
Romeo Lavia – 8 Another impressive midfield performance from the Belgian, who shows prowess beyond his years on and off the ball.
Advertisement
Seems the perfect pivot partner for Moises Caicedo, and people need to start talking about how Manchester City let him go for peanuts.
Noni Madueke – 6 Unfortunate to hit the post in the 13th minute with a header following a corner.
Worked hard defensively throughout the game too, but was unable to really put his creative abilities to the test.
Cole Palmer – 7 In the first half, his signature ‘Palmer touch’ got the away supporters off their feet, and he was Chelsea’s most creative outlet on the day.
Advertisement
Unable to add another goal or assist to his impressive tally this season, but still had a solid showing.
Pedro Neto – 5 Showed flashes of brilliance on the left-hand side, and came close with a shot across goal in the second half.
Was moved to the right-hand side in the second half, but it was much of the same from there.
Nicolas Jackson – 5 Pretty invisible up front for Chelsea today.
Advertisement
Worked hard and tracked back well when required to, but fans were left confused as to why Christopher Nkunku was left on the bench.
In fairness to him, could’ve had an assist if Enzo Fernandez could finish his dinner.
Subs Marc Cucurella (for Gusto, 46 mins) – 5 A solid showing on the left-hand side. Chelsea look a better team with him in the 11.
Mykhailo Mudryk (for Madueke, 70 mins) – 4 Tried to light things up on the left hand side, but his spark wasn’t enough to win the game for his side.
Advertisement
Enzo Fernandez (for Lavia, 70 mins) – 2 Missed an absolute sitter which would have won his team the game after coming on. Looks very short on confidence.
MARTIN BLACKBURN gives his verdict on the Red Devils against Chelsea
Advertisement
Andre Onana – 5 Will be disappointed not to keep out Caicedo’s equaliser.
Almost put Casemiro in trouble with sloppy early pass too
Noussair Mazraoui – 6 Key interception to prevent Neto getting in on goal late on and tried to support Garnacho where possible
Matthijs de Ligt – 6 Good early block to deny Palmer.
Advertisement
Late slip under pressure from Jackson almost proved costly.
Lisandro Martinez – 6 Lucky not to concede a pen with clumsy challenge on Colwill and lucky to escape a red for x-rated late tackle on Palmer.
Diogo Dalot – 6 Poor tackle on Pedro Neto earned a deserved booking and had a real battle with his international team-mate.
Casemiro – 7 Made a difference with super ball to Hojlund in lead up to pen – but could he have got more distance on clearing header that was despatched by Moises Caicedo.
Advertisement
Manuel Ugarte – 6 Rugby tackle on Palmer but Uruguayan showed signs he is starting to settle in after big money summer move.
Alejandro Garnacho – 6 Always a threat but wasted some great chances.
Shot straight at Sanchez and shanked another effort after great work by Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes – 8 Created United’s best two chances for Rashford and Garnacho and then kept his cool to score from the spot.
Advertisement
Marcus Rashford – 6 Hit the angle with volley on stroke of half-time and saw another shot saved by Sanchez.
Better from the England man.
Rasmus Hojlund – 6 Did not touch the ball in the Chelsea box first half but when he finally did he won the penalty.
Subs Amad Diallo (73′ for Rashford) A couple of nice touches but not much impact.
Advertisement
Joshua Zirkzee (’84 for Hojlund) A couple of nice touches but not much impact.
Victor Lindelof (’84 for Ugarte) Thrown on to keep things tight and did that.
A filmmaker from London is bridging the gap between cinema and boxing. Award-winning film director and producer Anthony Vander launches SPAR
Vander, an accomplished director and producer whose debut feature Sweetboy premiered at the American Black Film Festival back in 2014, co-produced the pilot episode of Spar, following the short film version in 2020.
Spar stars Nicola Roffe (Fast Girls) alongside Edwin De La Renta (Pretty Red Dress, Bharat), Andre Fyffe (Casualty), and 2023 BAFTA nominee Jordan Pitt. The episode is written by Vander and Kate Napoli, and is produced by actor Mavin Rasheed (Professor T, The Power).
Vander cited director Rapman as one of his inspirations whilst creating Spar.
Advertisement
“He (Rapman) has a fresh approach to storytelling as well as strong representation in all his creations. It’s incredibly inspiring and the blueprint for success. I went out and made Spar because I had to create my own yes, plus no one in the UK has ever done a boxing show like this before.
After its premiere Spar will tour in boxing gyms in the London area. Vander highlighted the importance of raising awareness for grassroots boxing.
“We want to spotlight boxing gyms up and down the country. A lot of gyms are struggling due to lack of support. It’s more than a sport. Boxing emphasises discipline, self-control and community. If things remain the same, a generation of community could be lost.”
Vander is seeking out investors to push the vision of Spar even further. “With Spar, we have a franchise that is for boxing. I like to think of it as The Bear meets Cobra Kai. We welcome co-productions and investors.”
Valtteri Bottas will leave Sauber after the 2024 Formula 1 season but is understood to already be close to signing back with Mercedes as its reserve driver from next year.
In what has been an awful year for Sauber – still 2024’s only point-less team – Bottas’s place beyond the deal he struck when leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2021 season, when Sauber was branded as Alfa Romeo, was threatened as plans for Audi’s 2026 arrival accelerated.
First, Sauber hired Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg in a deal covering the 2025 season ahead of the Audi rebrand for the following year, with Bottas’s team-mate Zhou Guanyu not in contention to keep the sole remaining racing seat with the team.
Sauber then entered a turbulent period of management change, with previous bosses – former CEO Andrea Seidl and chairman Oliver Hoffmann – axed and ex-Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto hired as chief operating and chief technical officer. Red Bull sporting director Johnathan Wheatley also joined to be Sauber team principal from 2025.
Advertisement
In Brazil last weekend Bottas said doing a new deal with Sauber was still “what I’m pushing for with Mattia”.
But over the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend Motorsport.com reported that Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto has agreed a deal to race for the Swiss team for next year after it missed out on signing Williams-bound Carlos Sainz, its long-held target.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44
Photo by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Images
“A situation like this is never easy for anyone,” Bottas said. “But after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together were not met.
Advertisement
“These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments. I’m grateful for the joint experiences as well as the trust and support I’ve felt every step of the way.
“Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”
Mattia Binotto, COO & CTO, Sauber Motorsport AG: “We extend our deepest gratitude to Valtteri for the past three years together. He has been the embodiment of professionalism, using his vast experience to support the team’s growth. Valtteri’s dedication and approach have been invaluable during a pivotal time in our history, and the memories of these years will stay with us for a long time. In considering our driver line-up for the coming seasons, Valtteri was unquestionably a key candidate. With his fighting spirit, he frequently pushed the car beyond its performance limits. However, a decision had to be made. After open and constructive discussions, we mutually concluded that final conditions could not be met so we agreed that it is time to part ways. Valtteri will always have an open door here in Hinwil.”
Sauber’s decision means Bottas’s current F1 racing career will likely be capped at 10 wins from 246 races, come the end of the current campaign in Abu Dhabi next month.
Advertisement
But he could yet see more action with his former team, after saying returning to what he called the “Mercedes family” at Interlagos was “for sure one option and I would consider it”.
Motorsport.com understands that discussions between Mercedes and Bottas have been going on for several weeks, with the squad set to field a team made up of drivers it has supported all the way to F1 – George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli – in 2025.
Although the path back to the full-time racing driver from a reserve role is difficult, F1 has had a surge in super-sub appearances in recent years.
This was turbocharged by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Hulkenberg, in particular, gaining a series of unexpected appearances for what is now Aston Martin after leaving Renault at 2019’s end.
Advertisement
Injury replacements have been required elsewhere and this year Williams axed Logan Sargeant well before the end of the current campaign, although opted to replace him with its junior driver, Franco Colapinto.
But Hulkenberg’s story is one particularly relevant to Bottas, as it was his regular place in the F1 paddock as Aston’s reserve that helped him stay in regular contact with then Haas team principal Guenther Steiner and eventually to a deal to rejoin the grid as a full-time racer with the American squad in 2023.
It is not currently known when any deal for Bottas to return to Mercedes might be announced, but Sauber is predicted to be confirming the deal for Bortoleto – currently a McLaren junior – this week.
REFS’ chief Howard Webb has conceded the penalty decision that sealed Erik ten Hag’s fate at Manchester United WAS wrong.
When United played at West Ham on October 27, VAR Michael Oliver recommended that match referee David Coote go to the monitor after Hammers’ Danny Ings went down in the box following an 87th-minute skirmish with Matthijs de Ligt.
2
Howard Webb has admitted penalty should not have been given for the challenge on IngsCredit: Rex
2
Advertisement
The decision contributed to Ten Hag’s sackingCredit: Getty
West Ham were not appealing for a penalty but to the disbelief of De Ligt and his team-mates, Coote reversed his decision and pointed to the spot.
Jarrod Bowen smashed home the penalty, sending United plunging to their fourth Prem defeat of the season and Ten Hag was sacked the next morning.
Now it has emerged that PGMOL chief Webb accepted Oliver should not have intervened and urged Coote to overturn his decision.
And the Prem’s Key Match Incident panel — made up of former players, managers and referees — are also believed to have determined the final decision was an error and the initial call should have stood.
Advertisement
The revelation will add fuel to Ten Hag’s fire after he was left furious by the crucial incident, suggesting it was the second shocker his side had suffered this season.
Ten Hag also referred to Bruno Fernandes’ red card during the 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham in September — which was overturned by the FA on appeal — as a critical call that wrongly went against his United team.
However, Ten Hag did not mention Lisandro Martinez’s two-footed tackle in the goalless draw at Crystal Palace the previous weekend.
Many experts suggested that the defender should have been dismissed rather than merely booked.
Even so, Webb’s admission, which is expected to be made public in a week during the next edition of the monthly Mic’d Up refereeingreview show, will only serve to justify Ten Hag’s feeling that he was the victim of poor calls which ultimately cost him his job.
Particularly after the Premier League claimed sufficient contact was made on Ings.
‘Ruben Amorim feels like Erik ten Hag all over again – Man Utd missed out on the perfect coach who’s done it already’ says Paul Scholes
A statement after the match said: “The referee did not award a penalty to West Ham for a challenge by De Ligt on Ings.
Advertisement
“The VAR deemed there was sufficient contact on Ings’ lower leg and recommended an on-field review.
“The referee overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.”
A thrilling Week 9 of the NFL season is in the books, and several stars showed out! Now, it’s time for FOX Sports lead NFL analyst Tom Brady to name his latest 3 Stars of The Week.
At the end of each week throughout the regular season, Brady will choose three players whose performances stood out to him the most. This week includes a familiar star running back still turning heads in new colors, and an under-the-radar AFC North pass-rusher. Brady also selects his power rankings of the Top 5 teams in the NFL every week and chooses one player from each game he broadcasts this season as his LFG Player of the Game. Here’s his latest 3 Stars of The Week:
Advertisement
Tom Brady’s 3 Stars of Week 9: Saquon Barkley, Trey Hendrickson, Lamar Jackson | DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
Check out how Brady’s 3 Stars of Week 9 performed, with the GOAT’s full analysis below!
Week 9 stats: 159 yards on 27 attempts (5.9 yards per carry), one rushing touchdown, three catches, 40 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown — andonereverse hurdle(1!) — in 28-23 win over Jacksonville Jaguars
Brady’s thoughts: “Wow! He is having a career year in Philly right now. I’m sure everyone saw that ridiculous reverse hurdle. Are you kidding me!?!? Saquon went for 199 yards from scrimmage. He had another 100-yard rush game. I’m excited to see what moves he’s got going against the Cowboys [on] Sunday — I’ll be watching that one closely.”
Week 9 stats: Four sacks, seven QB hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble in 41-24 win over Las Vegas Raiders
Brady’s thoughts: “He had a career day going against the Raiders on Sunday. He had four sacks! He sacked me a few times and I didn’t like it at all. But he was pressuring the QB all day. Trey leads the league with 11 sacks in nine games. What a year he’s having.
Advertisement
“He’s got a huge game Thursday night against the Ravens. Lamar [Jackson], watch out, man. You better know where No. 91 is lined up on every snap.”
Week 9 stats: 84.2% completion rate, 280 pass yards, three touchdown passes, no interceptions, 158.3 (perfect) passer rating in 41-10 win over Denver Broncos
Brady’s thoughts: “Speaking of Lamar, he makes another appearance as one of my stars of the week. He had 280 yards passing, three tuddies, a perfect quarterback rating against a really good Broncos defense.
“Lamar is making a case for that second straight MVP. That performance makes it 20 touchdowns and two picks on the year. Let’s see if he can keep it rolling against the Bengals on Thursday.”
Kuhn’s second goal was not quite as brilliant on an individual level.
Instead, he was in the right place at the right time to convert from a few yards out following a fine team move.
“More and more, Kuhn is reminding me of Jota,” said BBC Sport Scotland chief sports writer Tom English. “The way he moves, his influence in games, his ability to score goals in volumes but scoring great goals as well.
“He’s become an absolutely essential player in this team. You couldn’t tire watching that [first goal]. He just cushions it in from a mile out – if you can do such a thing.”
Advertisement
That second goal meant Kuhn became the first Celtic player to score two goals in the first half of a Champions League – or European Cup – match since Roy Aitken in October 1979, against Partizani Tirana.
It might not be the most eye-catching statistic from Celtic’s statement win, but it shows the rarity of what Kuhn has achieved – and the kind of form he is in.
Another former Celtic winger, Aiden McGeady, summed it up on the Scottish Football Podcast, saying: “I think the outstanding player in Scottish football this season has been Nicolas Kuhn. Every time he’s on the pitch, he impacts the game.”
It may be a little early to christen him ‘Saint Nick’, but if he keeps up these performances, Celtic fans might not see him after December.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login