Speaking to Sporting Post, former Everton and Chelsea winger Pat Nevin has named the right replacement for Harry Kane if his move to Bayern Munich does materialise. He’s also given his view on Chelsea and Everton for the upcoming season - touting Neymar as the possible player that could give Pochettino’s side that world class quality.
Q: What is your score prediction for the match between Chelsea and Liverpool?
PN: I think that Liverpool are favorites for the game against Chelsea, purely because of what happened at the end of last season. However, Chelsea are at home. I might have a slight bit of blueness in my blood, but I hope Chelsea can lift themselves for this one. I hope they are able to sneak a draw.
That would be a good result for Chelsea to start off with, particularly with so many new players coming in. I’ll go with a draw, of either 1-1 or maybe even 2-2.
Jackson has made a decent start without a doubt. He fits the bill so perfectly for Chelsea.
Q: What are your thoughts on Chelsea signing Robert Sanchez from Brighton?
PN: I previously said that between Mendy and Kepa, I would go for Kepa, and it turns out the club felt the same. Mendy has gone now, which they got money for so they reinvested it. They wanted to sign a keeper who can play out the back, which Kepa can to some degree.
However, I still think that Sanchez is a step-up from him with the ball at his feet. Sanchez is big, tall and has played at the highest level in England. He played for a team where they play out from the back, and he ticks every single box. However, the shirt is still with Kepa, and Kepa will have to make a mistake for Sanchez to come in. Kepa’s mistakes have been limited and particularly last season, there were other players making more mistakes than Kepa. It will be a tight one, but I trust Pochettino will pick the best man for the day.
With no European football though, the one who isn’t playing is hardly going to get a sniff. Often, you can give the number 2 the European games. It will be a real battle between the two of them. I think Pochettino will give Kepa the shirt until he loses it.
Q: Nicholas Jackson had a great pre-season. How big of a role could he play for Chelsea this season?
PN: Nicholas Jackson had a really good pre-season, but I always urge fans not to read too much into the pre-season. I cannot remember one result I had in the pre-season throughout my whole career. It’s just about getting fit and impressing the manager.
Jackson has made a decent start without a doubt. He fits the bill so perfectly for Chelsea. He’s tall and a good striker, which is what is needed right now. With Lukaku still on the way out, he is needed. He’s still young, and has not played too much throughout his career. It will therefore be a big ask for him to come to Chelsea at the top level and perform, but that’s how Chelsea work. They’ve signed quite a few of these young, up and coming players. It’s very data driven, with the way they get these players in, and the analysis says they will be very good players in two or three years time.
They’ll keep on signing these young players, and if you look at the age of the squad, the players they are bringing in are incredible. They have a plan, but Chelsea fans are just worried about whether it is a good plan.
The answer to that will come with how good Jackson, Mudryk and Nkunku end up being. Those three will be big players for Chelsea this season, although I think it is a big blow that Nkunku is now injured.
Chelsea needed to get sorted out at Centre-back, and they seem to be pretty much sorted there.
Q: What are your thoughts on how the Chelsea squad is shaping up?
PN: Chelsea needed to get sorted out at Centre-back, and they seem to be pretty much sorted there. Once again though, they have signed players who are not massively known, even to those of us who watch international football and European football.
We don’t know these players in depth, and that is an extraordinary thing to say in the Premier League. It's one of the most incredible Premier League squads I have ever seen in my life, because we just don’t know how good they will be. Towards the end of last season, some of them did start to come good and look much better.
Q: Should Chelsea sign Neymar?
PN: It's a question as to whether Chelsea can afford Neymar. Financial Fair Play is a big cloud over the club at the moment, and while they have brought good money in, it may be a difficult deal to do. Personality wise, Neymar is not the hardest working in the world, so everyone will have to adapt to play with him. If you sign Neymar, then also where does Mudryk go?
However, Chelsea are a club that wants to be big worldwide, and Neymar will certainly help Chelsea become bigger worldwide. What he will be able to do in Brazil and South America is incredible. Personally, I think it will impact youth development over the next two or three years. If you bring in Neymar, it could have a big impact on this.
The choice should ultimately be with Pochettino though, who has worked with the player before and will know if he has the right character for Chelsea. If Pochettino wants him, then I will be happy with him, but only for a short period.
Q: Are there any names who you think Chelsea should target before the transfer window shuts?
PN: Chelsea really need midfielders and someone to go next to Enzo Fernandez. Enzo has done a really good job so far at Chelsea, but I do think he has been carrying too heavy a load. He needs someone next to him, which is why they were going for Caicedo. Someone I really like is Tyler Adams at Leeds United. He’ll be cheaper, and when he is at his best, he is a dog in the middle of the park. That is a great thing for that sort of player. I always thought when watching him at Leeds that he was playing for a team that he was better than. He would give others the chance to go forward, even though he did not create too much himself.
There is also Lavia, who they could look at, but that depends if they keep Gallagher.
Q: How important will it be for Reece James to stay fit this season? Does he remind you of any former players?
PN: Steve Clarke used to fly forward, and Ivanovic also had the same power and physique as Reece James. Like Ivanovic, if you try to tackle him, you just bounce off him because he is so comfortable on the ball. He also puts some crosses in that Beckham would have been proud of. James puts all of these together. He’s similar to a bunch of old players stuck together.
If James can stay fit, he will certainly become a Chelsea club legend. He can play at right-Centre back and right back. I think he will eventually end up in midfield and he will be great there. If he keeps getting injured, he won’t have to run up the whole line like at full-back if he was in midfield.
He’s so important to Chelsea. When they have him, alongside Chilwell as well, they look good. The problem is, they haven't had them playing together enough over the last couple of years. With Azpilicueta gone now, they’ve brought in Gusto as cover there, and he is a player who should play. Chelsea know that James won’t play every game, so it’s just about managing him and making sure that if the injuries come back, he’s given enough time to rest and recover again.
Q: Who should be the next Chelsea captain?
PN: At the moment, it looks quite obvious that the captain should be Thiago Silva. However, in time I think it will be Enzo Fernandez.
They could go for Enzo now, but that would cause unrest in the dressing room, as Silva would be left disappointed. They should be able to work together as captain and vice-captain.
Enzo is showing already in his personality that he has leadership skills. I think he needs someone beside him to help him out in games, but he is a player who wants to take games by the scruff of the neck, and never, ever hides.
He wants to be the powerhouse of the team, and you can tell his personality is one of leadership. He was shouting at players to get in position who were way more senior than him. I would go with Enzo Ferndandez as captain for the future, and Silva as captain for now.
I am not too confident going into Everton’s season. I don’t want to be anti-Everton, but I have not met one Everton fan yet who is hopeful going into the new season.
I fear for Everton this season
Q: How are you feeling going into Everton’s new season?
PN: I am not too confident going into Everton’s season. I don’t want to be anti-Everton, but I have not met one Everton fan yet who is hopeful going into the new season. Ashley Young was a fine player back in the day, and while he will do a job every now and then, he will not keep Everton in the Premier League. They just don’t have enough at the moment, and it will be difficult for them to do anything else because of Financial Fair Play.
The new stadium looks amazing, but it would not look good in the Championship. They have to stay up this season. Even though Sean Dyche will make them organized and hard to beat, it will be a battle, unless something is changed within the squad.
I have to say I fear for this season, and they will be in the relegation mix if they don’t add names.
Q: What is your score prediction for the match between Everton and Fulham?
PN: I was at the game against Fulham at Goodison Park last season, and I’m still haunted by it. I remember thinking that day that Everton would go down, and were finished. They were so bad, even when they needed to win. They made Fulham look like Real Madrid.
What was really bad, was in the stands, the fans had given up as well. They are usually angry up there and passionate, but they were just shrugging their shoulders and admitting that they were awful. I had never seen that before at Everton, in all my years playing there and when watching. It was scary when that happened.
It will be up to the Everton players and the manager to show that they are now different. I have a feeling they will do it against Fulham. I also think Fulham will have a harder time this year. Everton will come out for this one, and even though it will be a tough season, they might sneak this one.
I think Everton will win 1-0, and the goal will come from a set piece. It will be three points on the road to getting what they need to stay up.
Q: Are there any positions that Everton still need to sign before the window shuts?
PN: Since Richarlison has gone, they have not really recovered in the forward area. They rely on Dominic Clavert-Lewin in that position who is never fit enough. He is a good player who scores goals, but he just does not play enough games. They need to strengthen there and get a center-forward.
It’s difficult to find a player who can come in, hit the ground running and score goals though. Someone like Mitrovic would have been good for a period of time, however they won’t be able to afford him.
They need to be cleverer, and look in different markets. Maybe they should start looking at the South American and Asian markets, as there is some quality there that if you look strong enough and hard enough, you could find something.
They also need depth as the lack of it in the squad at the moment is quite frightening. Two or three injuries and they will be gone. Dyche may have to use his knowledge of various leagues, including the Championship to get quality that will be able to help him for a year or two.
Scotland: Celtic could slip up this year
Q: With Rangers losing and Celtic winning on the opening day, what can this tell us about the season ahead?
PN: It’s probably too early for the opening day to tell us anything about the season ahead. I was at the Celtic game, and while Celtic were good, Ross County were the better team for parts of the game. They had so many chances but Celtic had the quality upfront, which ultimately shone through. When Kyogo scored, it looked like business as usual.
Last season, Celtic hardly dropped points until they won the league, but I think this year we may see some more slip-ups. Rangers though won’t be able to afford any slip-ups now, because they have had their defeat with the new group of players. Kilmarnock was a tough place for them to go with the plastic pitch, which may have surprised some of their players.
Q: How will Brendan Rogers get on at Celtic this season?
PN: What is hard for Brendan Rogers, is if they do not win the treble, some Celtic fans will view him as a failure, because of what happened with Ange beforehand. It’s a tough ask, but that will be the expectation.
They lost a good player in Jota, and Celtic fans were concerned as they lost a big player who turned up in big games. However, I would not worry anymore as what I saw from Yang, showed me that he will be completely fine. He looks like a good player, who Celtic and football fans will love. He may not be at Mitoma’s level at Brighton, but Celtic fans should not worry as he will do well.
If Kyogo left, it would break Celtic hearts. He just signed a new deal which is good, however if the Premier League comes calling, it will be hard to turn down. The obvious place for him to go there would be Spurs.
Celtic’s Kyogo could replace Harry Kane if he leaves Tottenham
Q: Could you see Kyogo making a move to the Premier League? If so, to who?
PN: If Kyogo left, it would break Celtic hearts. He just signed a new deal which is good, however if the Premier League comes calling, it will be hard to turn down.
The obvious place for him to go there would be Spurs. If Harry Kane goes, they will need someone who can link up play and is a natural goalscorer. Ange would have worked with him before, so he will know all about him.
Kyogo is not the same level as Kane, and he is slighter than him. Kane is world class, while Kyogo would still have to show that in a top league. If you give Kyogo the chance to score goals though, he will score and Ange will know that. I would like to keep seeing him in Scotland but I would not be shocked if he went to Spurs.
Q: David Turnbull scored two for Celtic in their opening match. How important will he be for Celtic this season?
PN: Turnbull will be a big player not just for Celtic, but for Scotland as well.
Turnbull has everything you want in an attacking midfielder. He may not always be flashy, but for someone that deep in midfield, he keeps getting into good positions, like Lampard did. It’s a skill that is so underrated. He is a player who will keep doing it. It used to be Bryan Robson and more recently Steven Gerrard. He reminds me of them, and I hope he can do that at International level, as we rely so much on McGinn for goals in that area.
Q: What is your score prediction for the match between Celtic and Aberdeen?
PN: I think it will be a close game. Celtic conceded two against Ross County at home, so the defense is not right yet. Carter-Vickers and Nawrocki are not quite working together well yet. Therefore, I could see Aberdeen scoring, but I think Celtic will score more than.
I think 2-1 to Celtic.
Q: Are there any young Scottish players you think Steve Clarke will be looking at for the Scotland national team?
PN: For the first time, the Scottish national team has really good depth in the squad. To break in, you therefore have to be really special. Aaron Hickey is a good player, and he is someone who will be good enough for a top 4 club.
To get there though for Scotland, he would have to get past the likes of Tierney and Robertson.
Ben Doak and Calvin Ramsey may be looked at by Steve Clarke. It doesn't matter who they play for, as long as they learn the game. What Clarke has put together is phenomenal, and Scotland have a great chance going into the next tournament.
Q: Scott McTominay has been linked with a move away from Man United. Who do you think he should move to?
PN: Any club in England should look to grab McTominay. Man United are not getting the best out of him, and he is a fantastic player.
Q: Who do you think will win the Golden Boot in the SPFL?
PN: If Kyogo stays, it will certainly be him. He does not stop moving and doing the right thing, both on and off the ball.
Man City will win the EPL
Q: Who do you think will win the Premier League title?
PN: Man City will win it. Arsenal are improving but I think it will be a close one again.
Q: How do you think Newcastle will get on this season?
PN: I’m very confident in Newcastle and Eddie Howe has helped them. They managed to get good money as well for players like Saint-Maximin who were now longer good enough and were miles away from being fit enough. They’ve done a great job.
They will finish in the top 4 again, with Man City and Arsenal. It’s a toss of a coin after that between Man United and Liverpool, but Newcastle are comfortable and will get there again.
I’m excited to watch Newcastle this season and all of their games.
Højlund and Haaland comparison’s are unfair
Q: Can Erik ten Hag take Man United to the next level?
PN: I really like what Man United are doing. Onana is a good signing and I like Hojlund. However, I’m desperate for the comparisons to Haaland to stop, as they are grossly unfair. Just because he is Blonde, European and plays for a Manchester team, does not mean he can be compared to one of the best players of this generation.
If he does well, they will have a good chance for top 4, although they are still far away from Man City.
Liverpool are current close favourites in the soccer betting world to beat Chelsea in their EPL opener this weekend.
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