Warriors and Virtuosos
Warriors and Virtuosos
In this column we pay tribute to the greats of the modern game, putting rising stars and unsung heroes in the floodlights!
a weekly column by Kenneth Woolsternhome
Shout out to Didi from Chicago, the world’s greatest Chelsea fan!
Nicolas Jackson scored in Chelsea’s 4/1 loss to City last Sunday. The week before he scored a hat-trick against a 9-man Spurs. He has scored 9 goals in 12 matches in all competitions.
At 22 the Senegalese striker is known for his tireless work rate. racking data shows he ranks top among all players for sprints. Jackson has made more off-the-ball runs than any other Premier League player this season.
Jackson was born in Djibonker in the Senegal. Another of the young African Lions https://keepfootballbeautiful.com/hear-the-roar-of-africa/. He began playing for local side ASC Tilene before joining Casa Sports in 2018. He was named man of the match in a 1–1 Senegal Ligue 1 draw against AS Pauline in November 2018.
Then he played two seasons with Villarreal including half a season on loan to Miranda’s making his professional debut as a second half substitute in a 0–0 home draw against Mallorca. Back at Villarreal he made his first team, La Liga debut in October 2021, coming on late in a 2–0 home win over Real Betis.
[Why do so many Spanish team names contain ‘Real’? Think Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Real Vallecano. Because’Real’ means ‘Royal’ and the Spanish venerate their (constitutional) monarchy. For some less attractive Spanish attributes see https://keepfootballbeautiful.com/why-spanish-football-ignores-all-the-rules/]
Jackson scored his first goal in the top tier on 13 August 2022, netting the opener in a 3–0 away success over Real Valladolid.
In January 2023, Villarreal agreed a £22.5 million deal with AFC Bournemouth only for the deal to fall through at the last minute when he failed a fitness test with a pulled hamstring.
On 30 June 2023, Jackson signed an eight-year deal with Chelsea (who were going in for those long-term contracts in order to manipulate the FFP rules) for a fee reported to be £32 million. Chelsea ‘got a £40m discount’ in the deal due to a transfer clause, the Villarreal CEO suggested at the time. Chelsea may have acquired Nicolas Jackson for under half his true value.
On 13 August, he made his debut for Chelsea in a 1–1 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League. He scored his first Chelsea goal on 25 August 2023 against newly promoted Luton Town.
Jackson had to withdraw from the Senegal squad during the international break to undergo a minor operation on his wrist.
Against Arsenal last Tuesday he came on as a substitute in the 66th minute and made little impact. Chelsea played great football for 77 minutes going two goals up. Then Robert Sanchez, first choice goalkeeper acquired from Brighton, blundered horribly. His lazy pass was intercepted by Declan Rice who returned it with interest from 25 yards! In the 85th minute Trossard poked home the equalizer with his right foot following a deep cross from the right.
Jackson will start tomorrow’s game at St James’s Park. That match should be a feast of football, a great follow up to the early game between Liverpool and City. Jackson has been criticized for missing clean cut chances but his confidence will be high following that hat trick at Spurs. Bring it on, Nicolas!
Save that quote! Quote that save! Andre Onana
First of all hats off to Harry Maguire! He has certainly been ’harried’ both elsewhere and here. But he silenced all his critics with the only goal at Old Trafford Wednesday night! What a header! See it in this bootleg clip. https://youtu.be/dcl7AWgS86k
And what a game. Copenhagen really came to play and only Onana (and the woodwork) kept United in it! See these highlights for our Spanish-speaking followers. !ver este!. https://youtu.be/XvtsLpGn_b0?si=gvrzswHDvYllXakJ
But wait!
After a high boot from McTominay Copenhagen are awarded a penalty. It’s the 97th minute and United are hanging by a thread. Diving to his left Onana makes a stupendous save! Who wants to be a goalkeeper at a moment like that. Only the sound of heart! See the save here! https://youtu.be/GFWjwbEu19EY
Then he doubles down on boldness with what may prove to be the quote of the season! Wow! What maturity! In these days of walking on eggshells. When political correctness is like a rash. What a way to back up your team mate!
“People cannot choose what I should be offended by. I know exactly what Garnacho meant: power & strength,” he wrote on Instagram. “This matter should go no further”
Well that, my friend, is speaking truth to power! That is the Final Word!
So who is this Andre Onana? A Cameroonian 27 year old with five seasons at Ajax after being schooled in the youth academy at Barcelona. At Inter he won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana before being acquired by United in July for £43.8 million.
But who is Andre Onana? He’s the Lion of the Cameroons. Lion-hearted Andre Onana!
Money Talks – Declan Rice Walks the Talk
Presented by soccer2000.com
No one is saying Declan Rice cost too much any more, says Matt, the Arsenal fan at soccer2000 in Downers Grove, IL.
Born in 1999, and bred at West Ham from age 14, Rice moved to Arsenal for a round £100 million with £5 million add ons. Rice had made 245 appearances for the Hammers, making his varsity debut in 2017 and his final game for the club saw him lift West Ham’s first trophy in 43 years after they won the Europa Conference League final.
Moving to Arsenal, Rice, 24, said ‘ I believe in what Arteta is building here!’
The England midfield is looking good with Rice, James Madison (both in the Jordan Henderson mould) plus the incomparable Jude Bellingham. Wish we had Jack Harrison, born in Stoke-on-Trent and playing like James Milner with more vision. Also I would bring Trent A-A on with 30 minutes to go for overlaps and set pieces. Then there’s Conor Gallagher and Phil Foden. Some great midfielders – anyone want to add goals and become the next Wayne Rooney? Upfront left Rashford, right Saka and center Kane. The big worry is defense. Trippier, Stones and Shaw are good but how many own goals before Southgate consigns Maguire to the trash heap of history?
Yesterday’s 1-0 win over Australia was uninspiring. But it was very much an experimental eleven. The defense was solid but the midfield lacked creativity and Johnstone had to be at his best in goal.
But returning to Rice – he is clearly excited about his prospects at Arsenal.
‘With Mikel and how he works, the squad, how young everyone is, the energy around the club and also the challenge of getting Arsenal back to where they belong, that means a lot to me.’ That must be music to the Gooners’ ears! Could Rice, skillful and determined, be the spark that ignites a new era of greatness at the Emirates?
Wor Miggy – Headless Chicken or Tactical Mastermind?
His most endearing quality is his lovability! Like Haaland he is clearly enjoying every single minute and the Toon Army is bound to appreciate that level of boyish enthusiasm. (In Haaland’s BBC interview that other enthusiast says ‘I’m a simple man. When I find something that I like doing, I just keep doing it’. Before he thrilled St.James Park Almiron made a stop at MLS’ own Atlanta United where he scored 21 goals in 62 appearances.
Born in Paraguay he began his career at Cerritos Porteno before transferring to Lanus with whom he won the Argentine Primera Division. Signing for Atlanta for $8 million he was named to the MLS Best XI in both seasons he played there. He helped Atlanta to win the MLS Cup in 2018. He signed up with Newcastle for $21 million, a club record and highest fee paid for an MLS player. How many other great Paraguayans can you name? The best would include Jose Luis Chilavert (a wonderful goalie); Roque Santa Cruz (record goal scorer with 100 caps for the national team); and Paulo da Silva (well traveled central defender who also played in Italy, Argentina, England (Sumderland) and Spain).
But let’s get back to Almiron. Joining Newcastle 31 January 2019 he made his debut against Wolves 11 February. Struggling to make an impact initially owing to his lightweight physique an April 2019 hamstring ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Again in 2019/2020, wreaking havoc on the right wing and shooting freely he just couldn’t find the back of the net till 21 December, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win over Palace – a first goal after the best part of a year at Newcastle! On 6 February 2021 he scored twice in the 3-2 win over Southampton running 11.29 km in the process. Last season he scored freely – 11 tallies in the Premier League – some spectacular goals – mazy runs and athletic finishes! He was rewarded on 24 February 2023 with a lucrative 3 1/2 year contract. Newcastle have struggled so far. Wonder if they can fight off Chelsea and City for the duration?! Or does Europe or Saudi beckon Almiron? I don’t think so. He seems to be such a levelheaded 29 year old and beside the (even beleaguered) Eddie Howe and of course Bruno Guimaraes perhaps the most popular man on Tyneside!
