Ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon, Pep Guardiola’s City side was unrecognisable away in Ukraine as they slumped to their first defeat of the season.

It was an unrecognisable City team, without pretty much all of their regular starters, but it was also an unrecognisable performance. It was perhaps the first time all season when it genuinely felt as though Guardiola’s Blues would not be able to dominate their opponents and nick at least a draw. This always felt like it was going to be their first defeat of the season.

And yet, it’s impossible to read too much into a night of experimentation on a meaningless dead rubber of an away trip to Eastern just days before their biggest game of the season so far. Clearly City’s focus was elsewhere.

And yet, there were positives. Phil Foden played 90 minutes and looked at ease at a high level. If it was a meaningless game for City, it certainly wasn’t for Shakhtar, and the young Englishman looked comfortable even playing at left wing-back: that will surely endear him to his manager.

The other main positive was the performance of Ilkay Gundogan. Last season, before his injury, he looked like he would be a great signing for the club, but even since his comeback this season, the partnership between David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne in the centre of midfield has meant there was no way back for the German international in the team. He remains a wonderful backup, however, and even on a limp night, he showed his class.

It was probably no surprise that City dominated the game, and with Gundogan and Yaya Toure in the centre of the pitch, it was obvious that they were going to have the lion’s share of the ball. Indeed, Gundogan managed 132 touches of the ball and attempted 110 passes, more than anyone else on the pitch.

But was probably was surprising was just what the German did with those touches. This season, City have averaged around 11 dribbles per game as a team. On Wednesday night, Gundogan completed six dribbles by himself. Well above his own season average of just 0.1 per game – though admittedly he hadn’t played many minutes before this midweek.

That’s encouraging for City, though. This season, Guardiola’s side have been passing teams to death, but in recent weeks they’ve looked less able to break down stubborn defences. A change in approach could be important, and having an option like Gundogan who plays in a different way to Silva and De Bruyne seems to suggest that they have that in the squad.

Even more encouraging, however was Gundogan’s all-round enthusiasm for the game.

Sure, City didn’t care, they have bigger things to worry about. But for Gundogan, it was a chance not just to catch the eye of his manager, but also to prove that he is back to something approaching full fitness. And as well as taking players on going forward, Gundogan also did a similar job going the other way, too.

He completed two tackles, but attempted seven. That gives him a success rate of just 29%, but the encouraging part is the fact that he had the fitness and the enthusiasm to put in such a performance in a weakened team on a night which didn’t matter at all.

With the derby to come on Sunday, City may well be able to call on Gundogan off the bench to change things if United’s deep defence causes the same problems as that of Huddersfield, Southampton or West Ham. But it will be the long stretch between Christmas and the end of the season when Gundogan could become a real weapon for City.

The Rangers fans in and around the Transfer Tavern cannot wait for the new season to get started once again but the noticeable difference this time is that Steven Gerrard has taken over the managerial hot-seat. 

Whether the England legend can transform his amazing playing days into a managerial career is as of yet unknown but Rangers fans can’t wait to find out. Having already completed an array of transfers this summer, the Englishman is best preparing his side to launch a title challenge to deadly rivals Celtic and a player our punters feel could have a significant part to play in that ambition is Robert Huth, who is valued at £2.2 million on Transfer Markt.

The big German centre-back was released by Leicester at the end of the season having been with the club for three years. He enjoyed his best season when the Foxes amazingly won the Premier League as Huth appeared in 35 of their 38 league games. He’s won the Premier League twice, with his first win coming at Chelsea.

Is this the best World Cup ever? Give us your thoughts

Skip forward to last season though and Huth only made 5 appearances after struggling with injury and generally just being left out of the match-day squad.

It seems as though Leicester have disregarded the hard work he put in for the club, something that should be recognised by Rangers and Steven Gerrard as he looks to strengthen his squad even further. At 33, Huth still has time and quality to bring to a team like Rangers and on a free transfer, it could be a win-win situation for all parties involved.

Do you agree… Let us know!

The Manchester United fans in and around the Transfer Tavern are happy with the early signings the team has made and now they await trophies to come back to Old Trafford over the course of the season. 

United have already been busy in the transfer market, spending over £70 million on two young talents in the form of Diogo Dalot and Fred. Our punters are certainly excited to see how both of those players can perform in England but their ultimate aim this summer is for their club to be re-united with Cristiano Ronaldo, a player valued at £90 million on Transfermarkt.

Ronaldo, as one of the world’s best players would be a wanted player by any club but having seen Juventus try their luck to sign him, Man United would be hopeful of having a chance at turning his head back towards Old Trafford.

Since leaving Man United in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals than games in La Liga, progressing into an even better player as his age continues. At the World Cup, although Portugal were knocked out, Ronaldo scored four goals in his four appearances, showing he is still more than capable of performing on the biggest stage of them all.

Man United have an array of attacking options, none though with the upmost quality the Portuguese hero possesses. They would surely do anything to get their hero back to the club and this summer it seems their best chance of doing so, with Real Madrid considering offers for the forward.

Thoughts… Let us know!

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Newcastle United are interested in signing Roma forward Gregoire Defrel in this summer’s transfer window.

It is not exactly breaking news that Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez wants to bring a new striker to the club ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

And the Magpies have been strongly linked with a move for West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon.

However, Defrel, who is valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, is now also seemingly on the club’s wishlist, with a potential loan deal in the offing.

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The 27-year-old managed 23 goals in 73 appearances for Sassuolo ahead of a move to Roma last summer.

The Frenchman really struggled during his first season at the Stadio Olimpico, however, scoring just once in 20 appearances in all competitions.

The Newcastle fans have been offering their views on the transfer speculation on social media, and it would be fair to say that the majority are against a deal taking place.

A selection of the latest Twitter reaction can be seen below:

According to a recent report from The Daily Mail, Newcastle United’s Dwight Gayle could be used as part of a deal to bring Salomon Rondon to St James’ Park. The Venezuela international has been repeatedly linked with a return to the Premier League after going down with West Brom last season, with his reported release clause, believed to be around £16.5 million, seeming to interest several parties.

And Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle are one side keen on the £11.7 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt), and a possible swap deal involving the forward and indeed 28-year-old Gayle would undoubtedly represent great business by the North East giants.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, while Gayle deserves credit for finishing last season with six goals from his 35 Premier League matches, it’s pretty evident that the former Crystal Palace forward is lacking in the sufficient quality and all round capabilities to lead the line for Benitez’s team.

While he is arguably the best finisher at St James’ Park, as evidenced through some of his goals last term, he simply isn’t as effective when up top on his own, while his tally of 21 goals in 99 Premier League games are hardly ground-breaking numbers – the Championship appears to be his level.

Whereas West Brom’s Rondon has proven himself to be a hugely adept striker at top-flight level since moving to the Hawthorns back in 2015, with the 28-year-old netting ten goals in his first season at the club, eight in the second, and then ten last term in their relegation campaign.

And to have scored at least seven goals in each of his three seasons in the Premier League suggests that the Venezuelan star has what it takes to affect things in the final third of the pitch, and while his goals-to-game ratio is slightly inferior to Gayle’s, he would bring a significant amount more to the Magpies’ forward ranks.

Rondon is very strong aerially and also does a great job of holding the ball up and linking the play – having players like Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie, both excellent delivers of the ball, can only be good news for the 28-year-old in his bid to score the goals necessary to take Newcastle forward.

Yes, Rondon may not be the most exciting of additions, but there’s no doubt he’d be a shrewd one, and in exchange for Gayle, who has never really proven to be a top-flight striker, it would represent a great bit of business by the North East heavyweights.

Newcastle fans… what do you think? Let us know!

According to reports from Mirror Football, Tottenham are set to lose Heung-min Son for the first four games of the new season as he takes part in the Asian Games.

Spurs are under no obligation to let him leave for international duty, but if South Korea win the tournament it will excuse the winger-forward from national service – so it could prove a bit of a masterstroke in the long run.

But how much will it affect the Lilywhites at the start of the campaign, not to mention Son’s career with the north London club? We look at the potential consequences – some positive, some negative – of the 26-year-old’s four-game absence…

Alli rekindles roaring form

Dele Alli always seems to be at his best for Spurs when peeling in from the left, but Mauricio Pochettino’s preference for Heung-min Son in that role last season – at least, after reverting back to 4-2-3-1 – saw the England international line up more centrally, one of the key causes behind what many perceived to be a worrying downturn in form from the young midfielder.

But Son’s absence opens up that opportunity once again and while Alli’s ultimate position obviously isn’t left attacking midfield, a return to the role could bring that level of roaring form out of him once again – for just long enough to really regain his confidence. And if the 22-year-old can start next term with a fine flurry of goals, he could end up carrying that potency throughout the rest of the campaign.

Moura gets his chance

Lucas Moura didn’t really get much of a chance after arriving in north London midway through last season, but he’s the strongest candidate to replace the speed Son’s absence will take out of the starting XI and Alli drifting over to the left will in turn open up a gap for the Brazil international on his favoured right-hand side.

And should the former PSG star bring the level of form we all know he’s capable of, that will suddenly make it his shirt to lose, as Son’s tasked with wrestling it back off Moura upon his return. Extra competition within the squad can do little harm, especially when it involves two talents like Son and Moura, but it will leave Son in something of a precarious position upon his return.

Tottenham lose Wembely wow factor

For all the talk of the Wembley move curtaining Tottenham’s season, only three Premier League clubs picked up more points than the Lilywhites at home last term while just one – champions Manchester City – lost fewer games at their own venue.

But a crucial part of that was Son’s stunning home form, which was responsible for nine of his twelve Premier League goals and five of his six assists. More than any other Spurs player, the South Korean seemed to embrace the vast space of the Wembley pitch.

But Tottenham now won’t have that luxury for their one game back at Wembley this season before returning to the newly built White Hart Lane, and although Fulham don’t exactly represent the most challenging of opposition its nonetheless a weapon proven to work at Wembley that’s being taken away from Pochettino’s armoury.

And considering how slow starts to the season have affected Tottenham’s last three campaigns, a draw or even a defeat to the Cottagers early on could prove to be incredibly costly come the end of May.

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Fulham have began life back in the Premier League by producing arguably the most surprising signing of the transfer window so far in Jean Michael Seri. 

The Ivorian midfielder was wanted last summer by Barcelona but has instead opted to join Fulham this season, a move applauded by all football fans in the shock the Cottagers have pulled off such an audacious move. Whether those surprise moves continue is unknown but in order to add further to their midfield quality, Fulham should seriously look at prizing Badou N’diaye away from Stoke City.

The 27-year-old only joined the Potters in January and despite doing all he personally could to try and avoid relegation, Stoke failed and will consequently play their football in the Championship next season. N’Diaye, unlike other Stoke players impressed in his short time with the club as he claimed two goals and 1 assist in his 13 Premier League starts.

From those games alone, a team like Fulham should be able to see his potential and realise that N’Diaye is a far better footballer than one who plays in the Championship and needs to be operating in midfield next to the likes of Jean Michael Seri and Tom Cairney.

The Premier League is sure to prove to Fulham that it’s a huge step up in quality and that top players are required should they wish to cement their stay after a four year absence. N’Diaye can operate in any part of midfield, providing an attack option with his powerful running, or as a defensive midfielder that doesn’t allow a single opponent to get near his goal.

The Senegalese international has an array of qualities, something that has to be picked up on by Fulham before it’s too late.

Thoughts… Let us know!

According to Mundo Deportivo, reported via Sky Sports, Manchester United have agreed personal terms with Barcelona’s Yerry Mina.

Despite this apparent breakthrough in the Mina deal, according to The Mirror, Toby Alderweireld’s heart remains set on a switch to Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho ought to be mindful of this and move to sign the Belgian ahead of Mina this summer.

Mina had an impressive World Cup, and caught the eye with the three goals he scored at the tournament, but the Colombian has been starved of game time since joining Barcelona. 

Last season, the 23-year-old managed only 6 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga giants. 

Those figures do not suggest a centre-back of Manchester United quality, especially when the Red Devils are in dire need of proven reinforcements, rather than being in a position to take speculative punts on young talents. 

Mourinho would be far better served by doing all it takes to bring Alderweireld to Old Trafford this summer instead.

The Breakdown

Like Mina, Alderweireld struggled for regular football last season. However, this was partially down to the injury issues that the Spurs man suffered during the course of the campaign.

Alderweireld is the kind of centre-back United desperately need though. They need an organiser and a leader, who can take responsibility for the entire defensive line and raise the game of those around him. That is exactly what the 29-year-old could do for this United side.

If this becomes a choice between one player or the other for Mourinho, then making Alderweireld his man could well see him still in a job come this time next year.

Nottingham Forest could do with bringing in another striker at some point this month, with the loan window still open despite the summer transfer window shutting. 

Aitor Karanka has already made a number of impressive signings this summer, but they could do with one more addition to set them up nicely. One player who has already shone in the Championship and has the potential to deliver once again is Tammy Abraham, who is currently valued at £9 million, and so perhaps Forest should consider strengthening in attacking areas.

The 20-year-old ripped Championship defences apart during his last spell in the division, when he hit 23 goals in 41 appearances as a teenager. And, the striker currently finds himself in an even better position to succeed in the Championship once again, as he has a year’s experience of playing regular Premier League football under his belt. There’s no doubt that the youngster will want to permanently feature in the top-flight at some point in his career, but it doesn’t like it will be possible this season at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, the forward is one of the hottest topics in English football and has the potential to even lead the line for England one day, but progression and experience will be key at his current age. Forest already have a number of forwards at their disposal, but the addition of Abraham would be one of their best pieces of business yet as he is a natural goalscorer and has previous experience at that level.

Forest have already drafted in a number of players and the summer transfer window has officially shut, but Karanka is still able to bring players to the City Ground in the form of a loan deal up until the 31st, so moving for a proven striker would definitely suit them in the long run.

Would Tammy Abraham be a shrewd signing for Nottingham Forest… Let us know!

Southampton versus Burnley always had the feeling of a low-scoring affair, but the goalless draw nonetheless created a feeling of underwhelm for the St. Mary’s faithful – ushering fears of a campaign similar to the last one, rather than the top six pushes of yesteryear.

The match did spark to life, however, with the introduction of two summer signings from the bench in the 56th minute. While Danny Ings provided an extra slice of cutting edge in front of goal, albeit not enough to actually break the deadlock, Mohamed Elyounoussi impressed in a cameo performance as well.

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In fact, the off-season arrival from FC Basel finished up with the joint-most created chances to his name of any Southampton player, tied with Ings on four, as a succession of corners met their targets but weren’t converted by team-mates waiting in the box.

And Elyounoussi almost scored himself, when a delicate pass from Ings allowed him a yard of space inside the box. But as the Norway international looked to cut inside, he found the imposing figure of James Tarkowski blocking his path.

Having included just two summer acquisitions in his starting XI, it’s clear Mark Hughes doesn’t want to rock the boat too much just yet and allow the new signings to truly bed into the side. But after such an uninspiring start to their first Premier League clash, until Ings and Elyounoussi injected some real excitement into it, the 24-year-old winger must surely start against Everton next weekend.

Do you agree, Southampton fans? Let us know by voting below…