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Manchester United’s central midfield department has been one that has come into huge question over the last couple of months, with Ruben Amorim needing improvements in such an area.

The 40-year-old has often had to rotate the options to the heart of the side, with Bruno Fernandes often the man to start as a number eight on a regular basis.

The Portuguese international has mainly been joined by Casemiro in the two midfield roles in 2025/26, which has allowed the latter to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

However, at 33, the Brazilian is now entering the latter stages of his professional career, with the player set to leave at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract.

As a result, the hierarchy will desperately need to target added reinforcements in the midfield department, especially with the January transfer window now approaching.

Man Utd looking to sign mega-money midfielder

Over the last couple of days, United have been named as one of the sides interested in a deal to sign RB Leipzig star Assan Ouedraogo in the January window.

The German star has endured a phenomenal start to the 2025/26 campaign, featuring in 11 Bundesliga outings and already posting a total of six goal contributions in the process.

However, it’s been reported that Ole Werner’s side are extremely reluctant to offload the 19-year-old, who is seen as a player with huge potential to explode into an elite-level talent.

He’s not the only player currently in the Red Devils’ sights at present, with Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson still firmly in their sights ahead of the winter window.

According to journalist Andy Mitten, Amorim’s men “would love” to sign the 23-year-old midfielder who has been a shining light at the heart of the Reds side in 2025/26.

It’s also been reported that such a deal could rise to around the £100m mark, which would be a club record for United, passing the figure forked out for one player in 2016.

Why Anderson could be Man Utd's new Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba joined United in a staggering £89m deal back in the summer of 2016, with such a deal becoming the most expensive in the club’s long-standing history.

The Frenchman arrived for his second spell at Old Trafford, amassing over 225 appearances and often catching the eye with various impressive moments over his six-year period.

From long-range strikes to vital efforts in Manchester derbies, he truly did capture the hearts of the supporters – that’s despite concerns over his fitness and attitude at certain times.

However, there’s little denying he’s one of the most technically gifted players to operate in the deep-lying midfield roles, as seen by his tally of 86 goals and assists for the Red Devils.

Despite Bruno operating in such a role, there’s little denying the first team have lacked a technical player of Pogba’s quality, but that could be about to change with a move for Anderson.

Like Pogba, he would be a massively expensive addition, but his underlying stats from the 2025/26 campaign showcase his incredible technical ability with and without the ball.

The Englishman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has completed 8.3 progressive passes per 90, with 8.2 of his efforts being made into the final third.

Such numbers showcase his incredible ball-playing ability, with such talents allowing him to pick out numerous of the club’s £200m additions in attacking areas.

He’s also completed 1.5 key passes per 90 to date, with 1.3 of his passes being into the opposition’s 18-yard box, further highlighting his world-class talents in possession.

However, without the ball, Anderson has been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 2.8 tackles made and 7.2 duels won per 90 in the Premier League this campaign.

The aforementioned figures showcase why he would be the perfect box-to-box option for Amorim’s side, which could get the best out of Bruno once again in the near future.

£100m for a player in the modern market is slowly becoming an acceptable choice, as seen by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, who have all spent such a figure on players in years gone by.

However, if United are to do it, Anderson would be the perfect player to spend such an amount on, with the midfielder having the immediate quality to impress, whilst potentially improving tenfold in the years ahead.

Alongside Zirkzee: Man Utd's "waste of time" must not start again for Amorim

Ruben Amorim has a bold decision to make over the future of one Manchester United flop.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 25, 2025

Miller Gardner—the late 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner—died of carbon monoxide poisoning, Costa Rican authorities said Wednesday.

The announcement comes 13 days after Miller's death during a family vacation, which the Gardner family announced through the Yankees.

Per Russell Zuniga of Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency via the AP, Miller was tested for carboxyhemoglobin—an indicator of carbon monoxide's presence. He measured 64% saturation—well above the amount considered fatal.

Per the Gardner family, Miller was among several family members to fall ill while on vacation. The Gardners wrote that their son "loved football, baseball, golf, hunting, fishing, his family and his friends" in its announcement of his death through New York.

The Yankees held a moment of silence in Miller's honor before their opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27. Brett, his father, played for the team from 2008 to '21—winning the World Series in 2009.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational overhead kick on Sunday night in the Saudi Pro League as table-toppers Al-Nassr maintained their perfect start to the 2025-26 season with a ninth win from nine games. The 40-year-old rolled back the years with an eye-catching acrobatic effort in stoppage time and promptly set a challenge for fans on social media after the victory for his side at Al-Awwal Park.

• Ronaldo scores stunner for Al-Nassr

  The Portuguese superstar may well be very much in the twilight of his sensational career but showed once again on Sunday that he's still more than capable of producing magical moments that will live long in the memory. Goals from Joao Felix, Wesley and Sadio Mane had put Al-Nassr 3-1 up and cruising against Al-Khaleej, until Ronaldo stole all the headlines with a wonderful effort deep into stoppage time to seal another victory in fine style. The 40-year-old posted footage of his goal on social media after the match and set fans a challenge. "Best caption wins!" he wrote on X, inviting supporters to have their say on his latest spectacular effort.

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• 'Who's topping this?' – Fans react to CR7 stunner

  Fans were quick to react to Ronaldo's challenge by replying to his post.

  Supporter @Cunha__utd posted: "Cristiano Ronaldo doing this at the age of 40. There’s players at the peak of their game right now who could only dream of doing this. He’s the greatest to ever do it."

  And @ararsoabdull added: "Gravity? Never heard of her! At 40, you're rewriting physics books, @Cristiano. Caption: "Aging like fine wine… or should I say, fine goals. Who's topping this?"

  Elsewhere, @sandybabyonyii wrote: "Cristiano Ronaldo hit the rewind button on Father Time and ripped in a goal that would make every young baller question their life choices. Pure, vintage carnage."

  @ProjectKMbappe added: "When gravity said no, but greatness said yes" and @ Being_Cr7fan replied: "Years change, seasons change… but Ronaldo stays inevitable."

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  Ronaldo back with a bang after red card

  Ronaldo was back in action for Al-Nassr after seeing red over the international break during World Cup qualifying. The 40-year-old was sent off in Portugal's defeat to Ireland for an elbow on Dara O'Shea and was subsequently sent home by manager Roberto Martinez. Portugal went on to book their place at World Cup 2026 with a 9-1 victory over Armenia, achieved without their talismanic captain, with Ronaldo forced to sit out the game due to suspension. The sending off was Ronaldo's first at international level but means he could now miss Portugal's opening games of the finals in North America. Portugal have reportedly assembled an appeal to FIFA in a bid to cut a potential three-match ban down to one.

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell made a bold move during the summer transfer window when he swooped to sign Youssef Chermiti from his former club Everton.

The Light Blues paid £8m to sign the Portugal U21 international from the Premier League side, which is the highest fee they have paid for a player since the £12m move for Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Because of that transfer fee, Chermiti’s performances for Rangers his season have been under the spotlight, and he has failed to justify the huge outlay as of yet.

Pundit Michael Stewart described his finishing as “so poor” against Celtic in the League Cup semi-final earlier this month. Fellow pundit Ally McCoist also noted on TNT Sport that the striker is “showing nothing” to prove he was worth the fee paid for him.

Chermiti has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, per Sofascore, which may be why pundits like Stewart and McCoist have been harsh on him.

However, the former Premier League flop is not the only summer signing who has struggled at the top end of the pitch this season, as Bojan Miovski has failed to live up to expectations.

Why Danny Rohl should drop Bojan Miovski

Danny Rohl should ruthlessly ditch the summer signing from Girona from the starting line-up because he struggled once again in the 3-0 win over Dundee last weekend in the Scottish Premiership.

The Macedonia international was handed the chance to led the line at Dens Park, but was removed by the German head coach at half-time after a dismal first-half display, with zero shots and two out of nine duels won, per Sofascore.

Miovski was signed from Girona for a fee of up to £4.2m and arrived with a big reputation in Scotland, thanks to his form for Aberdeen in the past, as shown in the graphic below.

However, pundit Charlie Mulgrew recently noted that there is more pressure on him at Ibrox. The ex-Celtic defender said: “When you play for Aberdeen, you can get away with not scoring for three or four weeks. At Rangers, you don’t get six or seven games to find your feet. You’re in the spotlight and you need to hit the ground running, and that’s why there are question marks around him.”

Miovski, who was described as “non-existent” by one Rangers podcaster, has struggled to deal with the pressure of leading the line for the Gers, as shown by his form this season.

As you can see in the table above, the left-footed marksman has not offered much in the way of quality in front of goal or reliability out of possession in the Scottish Premiership or the Europa League.

Miovski should be in the prime years of his career at the age of 26, but his performances for the Scottish giants suggest that the opposite is true, as he has struggled badly in comparison to his previous form in the division, with just one league goal.

This is why Rohl should ditch him from the starting XI, and possibly even from the club in the January transfer window unless he can turn his form around in the next few weeks.

However, as aforementioned, Chermiti has also failed to impress since his £8m move from Everton, which is why the manager may need to get creative with his team selection.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Miovski from the starting line-up by unleashing Mikey Moore in a brand-new role as a centre-forward at Ibrox.

Why Rangers should play Mikey Moore as a striker

Rangers signed the England youth international on a season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer and he endured a difficult start to life at Ibrox.

The 18-year-old forward did not provide a goal or an assist in his first five outings in the Premiership, but he has registered a goal and an assist in his last four matches, per Sofascore, which shows that the youngster has been improving.

Moore started as a right-midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 against Dundee at Dens Park last weekend. However, it was by drifting into a central position that he created and scored his first goal of the season.

The teenage whiz looked far more comfortable playing quickly and directly in a central position through the build-up to this goal, which suggests that Rohl could get more out of him by playing the Spurs loanee in a new role.

In fact, his overall career statistics, for Spurs at first-team and academy level, indicate that he is more likely to deliver goals and assists when playing in a central position.

As you can see in the table above, Moore has scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 17 starts as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, whulst his numbers as a winger, on either flank, are not as impressive.

With this in mind, the English attacker could thrive if unleashed as the striker in the team ahead of Miovski and Chermiti, given his goal at Dens Park and his record for Spurs at youth level.

Danilo played as the number ten against Dundee, behind Miovski, and the Brazilian could interchange roles with Moore as a fluid front two in that 4-2-3-1 system, with both players capable of switching between striker and attacking midfield throughout matches.

That could cause problems for opposition defenders, who could get confused about who to step out to or who to mark, and create some interesting dynamics in the final third when Rangers are building attacks.

Rohl can unearth bigger talent than Gassama in £3.5m Rangers flop

Danny Rohl could unearth a bigger talent than Djeidi Gassama in this Rangers flop.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 15, 2025

Therefore, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Miovski from the starting line-up in order to unleash Moore in this new role, as it could be an exciting tactical change for the Light Blues.

Hall of Fame infielder Ryne Sandberg's prostate cancer has returned and spread, he announced Tuesday in a statement on Instagram.

"Unfortunately we recently learned the cancer has relapsed, and it has spread to other organs. This means that I’m back to more intensive treatment. We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family," Sandberg wrote.

Sandberg initially announced his prostate cancer diagnosis on Jan. 22—later announcing he was cancer-free in August. In that span, he was honored with a statue in Gallagher Way near Wrigley Field.

"Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere," Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "I know all Cubs fans join my family and me in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces this next round of treatments to defeat cancer."

Sandberg played 16 years in MLB—one with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and 15 with the Cubs from 1982 to '94 and 1996 to '97. With Chicago, he made 10 All-Star teams and won seven Silver Sluggers.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is pleased to 'put pressure' on their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a dominant win against Celta Vigo, featuring a strong yet explosive performance of Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick. However, Flick bemoans the "incredible" suspension of key Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who will miss the next fixture against Athletic Club after the international break.

• Barcelona's character shines in Balaidos victory

  Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, Flick's side demonstrated a potent attacking display as they ran out 4-2 winners to cut the gap on league leaders Madrid to three points. The match saw three goals from Lewandowski and one more from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta threatened with strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

  The win, which came with eight shots on target from 20 attempts, showcased Barcelona's attacking prowess, contrasting with Celta's four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona's control in the second period was evident, maintaining 63% possession and achieving 95% pass accuracy.

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  Flick's focus on continued pressure on Real Madrid

  Speaking after the match, Flick said: "Yes, of course, I'm happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half we were very good with the ball, and in the second half the team knew how to control the game.

  "In football, the previous match doesn't matter, you always have to look ahead to the next one, but it's good to put pressure on the team above us. The second half gives us confidence. I'm happy for the team."

  The Barcelona coach highlighted the strategic significance of the result, especially heading into the international break. "Pushing pressure on the opponent is good, we did it and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves and we applied the pressure well today." 

  This result positions Barcelona on 28 points, three behind Real Madrid's 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.

• Lewandowski's hat-trick sparks goalscoring resurgence

  The undeniable star of the evening was veteran striker Lewandowski, who netted a hat-trick to take his La Liga tally to seven goals. The Polish international, in his fifth start, demonstrated his enduring quality despite being 37 years old. Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski's form, avoiding speculation about his future beyond the current season.

  "It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. I can say that after his injury, I saw a different Robert, positive, confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals," Flick commented, acknowledging the striker's strong return to form. This performance is a significant boost for Barcelona's title aspirations, providing the cutting edge in attack they need to challenge Real Madrid.

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• De Jong suspension a blow for Barcelona

  While celebrating the victory, Flick voiced regret over the suspension of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman received two yellow cards during the match, resulting in a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and will now miss Barcelona's next league fixture against Athletic Club. De Jong's absence will be keenly felt, given his crucial role.

  "I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us," Flick noted. "He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game because he’s important for us, but we’ll have to manage it. When we return from the break, I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available. We’ll see."

  De Jong’s influence on possession and pass accuracy is considerable, and his ability to dictate the tempo of games is vital for Barcelona. His suspension comes at a challenging time, especially with the team striving to maintain pressure on the league leaders.

Newcastle United had midfield star Bruno Guimaraes to thank yet again on Saturday as the dependable Brazilian bailed his inconsistent Premier League team out once more.

Without the South American popping up with a last-ditch effort, the Magpies would have likely had to make do with a disappointing share of the points versus Fulham.

In the right place, at the right time, to sneak an effort home after a William Osula shot nearly caught Bernd Leno out, Guimaraes has only further cemented his reputation as a Newcastle “talisman” with his heroic moment, as Match of the Day pundit Michael Carrick glowingly labelled him when assessing the dramatic 2-1 win.

Away from the beloved Toon captain, though, it isn’t entirely rosy in the Newcastle midfield ranks at the moment, with Joelinton showing visible signs of rust.

Joelinton's decline at Newcastle

When looking over some of Newcastle’s recent, modern greats, Guimaraes’ fellow compatriot is surely right at the top of the list as one of the Toon’s most loved talents.

Indeed, the £40m battler has now tallied up a mammoth 232 games for Howe’s men, with 31 goals and 21 assists also coming his way, per Transfermarkt. Still, Newcastle won’t want to be bogged down by living in the past too much, with the number seven looking to be “nowhere near his best” so far this campaign, according to Magpies-based reporter Mark Douglas.

It has been a sad decline for the 29-year-old so far this campaign, with both Sandro Tonali and the aforementioned Guimaraes remaining at the very peak of their powers. In stark contrast, Joelinton doesn’t even have a single goal or assist next to his name so far this season in the Premier League, after collecting a weighty seven goal contributions last campaign.

Eddie Howe is clearly frustrated with his stalwart’s drop-off in form, having hooked Joelinton off at the half-time mark against Brighton and Hove Albion in the middle of October. Moreover, while Guimaraes stole the limelight versus Marco Silva’s men, his waning counterpart only managed to muster up one weak effort on Leno’s net.

He did win ten duels, in all fairness, but with Joelinton edging towards being 30 years of age next year, it could soon be an apt time for Newcastle to be on the hunt for some more midfield reinforcements, with the likes of Joe Willock, too, in reserve no longer cut out for the bright lights of the top-flight.

Rumours are circulating that Howe and Co. have their eye on one particular EFL star to boost their midfield options, as a dream Joelinton heir is potentially in the works.

Newcastle plot move for special star

Ross Wilson will view January as the perfect time to try and tie down some of the Toon’s best assets, as well, with talk now centring on the new Newcastle sporting director attempting to iron out an extended contract for Guimaraes.

Reports also suggest that Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney is on the agenda, with TBR Football recently revealing that the Premier League outfit is monitoring the tenacious Boro ace ahead of a potential January move, alongside top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Crystal Palace.

If Newcastle are searching for fresh blood to eventually replace Joelinton, they would strike gold in landing Hackney, with the “special” 23-year-old – as he was once labelled by analyst Ben Mattinson – very much capable of a fierce strike like the relentless Brazilian, as seen in this superb effort being rifled home last season.

With 111 Championship appearances now under his belt, and with two goals and two assists heading his way this season for Rob Edwards’ men, it really does feel as if Hackney might be the revamp Howe and Co. need centrally, so they don’t have to depend on a diminishing Joelinton as much.

Staring at the above table in great detail further shows off Hackney’s obvious similarities to those of Joelinton, with 5.3 ball recoveries averaged per Championship clash definitely backing up Edwards’ claims that his number seven is a talent with “loads of energy”.

At his Toon prime, that was what Joelinton was very much known for. Yet, he pales in comparison here right now, with only 3.9 ball recoveries averaged on his end in the league above.

Of course, it’s a risk to assume that Hackney will immediately be as forceful in the Premier League. But, it could be a gamble worth exploring, rather than holding out hope on Joelinton returning to his intimidating peak.

Newcastle star who's in “form of his life” is as undroppable as Guimaraes

This Newcastle United star has now made himself as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes after another fine display on Saturday.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 26, 2025

Manchester United will travel to Anfield on Sunday afternoon to take on one of their biggest rivals, Liverpool. It is the chance for Ruben Amorim’s side to finally win back-to-back games under the Portuguese boss for the first time, but it will be tough.

United’s record away to the Reds in the last decade or so has been abysmal. They haven’t won at Anfield since the end of the 2015/16 campaign. That day, Wayne Rooney’s strike was the only thing that separated the two sides.

The season before, Juan Mata’s heroics secured all three points for the Red Devils.

Looking back on ‘Juanfield’

One of the most iconic trips to Anfield in recent history for United was certainly the 2014/15 clash. The Red Devils were victorious thanks to Mata’s two goals, which led supporters to lovingly dub the game as ‘Juanfield’ after the Spanish midfielder.

It was a superb performance from the former United number eight. He gave his side the lead with a right-footed strike in the first half in front of the Kop, poking the ball past Simon Mignolet less than a quarter of an hour into the game.

His second goal will always be the one that stands out. Mata doubled United’s lead with a fantastic scissor kick, checking his run before executing the acrobatic effort to perfection.

His strike nestled into the bottom left corner to put the Red Devils 2-0 up. MUTV commentator Stewart Gardner said it was “one of the great United goals at Anfield.”

Despite Daniel Sturridge’s strike, which pulled a goal back for the home side, it was always going to be hard for Liverpool to get back into the game. Steven Gerrard was infamously sent off at the start of the second half, just 38 seconds after entering the fray.

It was a win that will live long in the memory for United, with Mata’s brilliance off the right-hand side the reason why they secured the victory. Amorim has a player of his own who could replace the heroics of ‘Juanfield’.

Amorim can unleash his own Juan Mata

Despite another poor start to the season, United do have attackers who can hurt the opposition.

Bruno Fernandes is always a threat, although he is playing in a pivot. Matheus Cunha scored at Anfield last season, and Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko are in fine goalscoring form.

However, the key man for United this weekend could be Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian star has shown great promise in his short Red Devils career so far, with two goals and one assist across eight games in all competitions, replicating Mata in operating off that right flank and cutting in onto his favoured left foot.

The 26-year-old has built up a strong reputation with fans and pundits alike. Former United academy player turned MUTV commentator Ben Thornley said last season that he is “unplayable” for a lot of defenders.

This could see him cause problems for Liverpool’s left-back, although it is unclear if that will be Milos Kerkez or Andy Robertson. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have also shown defensive frailties this season.

On top of that, Mbeumo knows what it takes to score past the Reds.

He did so as a Brentford player back in 2022/23, running in behind the Liverpool defence, latching a long pass ahead of Konate and slotting the ball past Allison.

It would be excellent for United if Mbeumo can replicate his performance that day.

The Cameroon star was imperious, creating two chances, making five ball recoveries and, of course, getting a late third goal in a 3-1 win.

A win at Anfield on Saturday would be huge for Amorim. Not only would it be back-to-back three points in the top flight, but a win at one of their biggest rivals for 10 years, which would be a huge achievement for the Portuguese boss.

How he would love Mbeumo to recreate the heroics of ‘Juanfield’ this weekend, and earn United a huge three points.

Forget Mainoo: Amorim has the next Pogba in "generational" Man Utd talent

Manchester United appear to have another elite-level star already within Ruben Amorim’s ranks.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 18, 2025

The New York Mets began Game 5 of the NLCS on Friday night with a big spark.

After getting out of a first-inning jam, the Mets put their first two batters on base. And after Mark Vientos flew out to left field, New York slugger Pete Alonso gave the sellout Citi Field crowd something to cheer about.

On the fourth pitch of his first at-bat, Alonso hammered an 84.5-mph slider 432 feet into the center-field seats for a three-run homer and an early 3–0 Mets lead. It was the longest home run hit by a Mets player in the playoffs since 2015.

Fox Sports, airing the game on FS1 on Friday night, showed the replay of the home run in a seldom-used overhead angle.

It looked pretty cool coming off the bat. MLB fans were impressed:

The Mets, who entered Game 5 trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers 3–1 in the best-of-seven series, held an 8–1 lead after three innings. If they hold on to win, New York would visit Dodger Stadium on Sunday to try to stave off elimination again in Game 6.

Mic'd Up: Shreeves discussed soccer in America, Premier League favorites, and who might win the Champions League

Geoff Shreeves, technically, got his start in America. His first proper job was in the early '90s, for CNN. He cut his teeth in an American place. And it only makes sense, then, that nearly 35 years later, he's back – albeit in a different capacity. Shreeves – the voice many recognize for his role in the EAFC video game series – is now an analyst for Morning Footy on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

And much has changed over the years. These days, he says, fans know the game.

"American soccer fans are so knowledgeable that actually, as an analyst or a pundit, you have to work doubly as hard because they know their stuff so well," he tells GOAL. 

Shreeves will be talking Premier League, Champions League, even lower league stuff. It's a good season to do so, too. The Premier League title race, for one, could be a classic, Shreeves says. 

"Look at the Premier League table right now," he said. "Look at Bournemouth, look at Sunderland. It's fantastic. I think we're in for a vintage Premier League this season. Last season, you have to admire what Arne Slot did at Liverpool. But they won it pretty much at a canter, and the bottom three were gone quite early. I said at the start of the season, I think we're seeing much greater competition at the top spot."

And that's just the Prem. Lower down, things could get even more interesting. Wrexham, after cruising to promotion last year, are going to have a far tougher go of things in the Championship.

"They wouldn't say it publicly, but the owners of Birmingham and Wrexham, if you offered them mid-table this season, at the start of season, they'd snatch your hand off," he said. "It's a massive leap."

Shreeves talked the changing role of soccer in America, Premier League title favorites, and who might win the Champions League in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of analysts, announcers and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad. 

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  ON THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

  GOAL: You'll be covering the Champions League quite a lot this year. Who do you like to win it?

  SHREEVES: Having been in Munich and seeing what PSG did last year, it was just astonishing. I don't think I've ever seen such a one-sided final. This is against a smart team, a wise team. They absolutely destroyed them. They decimated them, and ground them into the dirt. They haven't necessarily had the same flying start, but I don't think you can discount the holders, even if it is very difficult to retain the Champions League. You've also got to look at the top two teams in Spain.

  And then if you look at the English clubs, I like Arsenal. You've got genuine competition for places, real competition for places. I mean, it's embarrassing that I think it was, 5,000 Arsenal fans started a petition that they didn't want Noni Madueke. That was just nonsense. And the start he made when they were missing Saka? The other one is Masquera. I thought he had a cigar and carpet slippers. It was ridiculous, the way he was so composed.

  They've got competition all over the pitch, and that's before you start looking at the likes of the generational talent that is Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri. It's just staggering. You know, there's so much there. I think they can compete on all fronts. So I think they're well equipped to have a right good go.

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  ON ARSENAL'S TITLE HOPES

  GOAL: Does that make them title favorites?

  SHREEVES: Remember when Liverpool flew out the traps and they signed Wirtz? And there was the talk of getting Isak? And the amount of people who said "Let's not bother. Just give them the trophy." Arsenal started to falter a little bit, so it's all over. So no, I wouldn't say Arsenal win it. They've got a great chance. Would I say it's definitely going to happen? Not in a million years, because that's the beauty of the Premier League. Look at the Premier League table right now. Look at Bournemouth, look at Sunderland. It's fantastic.

  I think we're in for a vintage Premier League this season. Last season, you have to admire what Arne Slot did at Liverpool. But they won it pretty much at a canter, and the bottom three were gone quite early. I said at the start of the season, I think we're seeing much greater competition at the top spot, and I think we'll we'll have far more teams involved in the relegation scrap. At the moment that's looking fairly prescient. It's a rare example of me actually being right.

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  ON LIVERPOOL'S RECENT STRUGGLES

  GOAL: So what's going on with Liverpool then? They're doing a fair bit of losing at the moment.

  SHREEVES: Well, Isak didn't have a proper preseason, did he? He's not come in in the condition that you would hope or expect. He's a racehorse, he's a thoroughbred, he's a fantastic footballer. Wirtz, where he's playing – has he played in that specific position before? Then you've got the Salah conundrum, Kerkez looks like he's struggling. So the balance of the team has changed. There's no question that things have changed there. I'll never forget Arsene Wenger said to me once – I was badgering about whether he's going to sign a player – and he said "Geoff, never forget, it's possible to subtract by adding."

  And he's spot on. Now, I'm not saying Liverpool have gotten it wrong. They bought fantastic footballers, but you know, this is not like just putting players in and saying "There you go, get on with it." They have to find their feet. They have to find their way. So it's teething problems. But this, this Liverpool squad, is equally capable of going on a run and really challenging whoever sits at the top. People are saying "Yeah, it's Arsenal's." I would just remind people, they're saying the same thing about Liverpool less than six weeks ago.

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  ON WREXHAM'S REALITY CHECK

  GOAL: The fascination in the U.S. with Wrexham really can't be understated. But it seems like – not that the magic's over – but they're outsiders to get promoted. This seems like a mid-table season. Is the magic maybe a little bit over because of that?

  SHREEVES: I said exactly that at the start of the season. They wouldn't say it publicly, but the owners of Birmingham and Wrexham, if you offered them mid-table this season, at the start of season, they'd snatch your hand off. It's a massive leap. You've brought players up from League One. That's a huge jump to the Championship, a huge jump. And then it's like anything that goes up a division. It's difficult for coaches. 

  You've got a team, you've also got a successful unit, which is cohesive, is happy, and functions as a group of people. But the players that bring you up aren't necessarily the players to get you to the next stage, or indeed, to keep you in your newly promoted position. So it's almost like you've got to completely reassess everything, all over again. You've got to go again. Of course, it's possible.

  I never thought that either of them would romp it. Absolutely no chance. I'll try to recall from the start of the season. I think I said Wrexham, maybe, if they have the season of their lives – bear in mind what they've done – maybe a squeak off the playoff place. But that's about it.