EPL Pre-Gameweek 3 Review: Rashford's Playing Position, Klopp's View on the Saudi League's Transfer Window, Plus Commentary

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EPL Gameweek 3 is just about to really kick off today and we felt that it was important to break down some of the most interesting on and off-pitch stories ahead of the action. Twende Kazi! (Swahili for Let’s get to Work!)

Rashford’s On-Pitch Playing Position: Is Erik ten Hag Missing Mourinho’s Point?

Former Manchester United manager, “the special one” Jose Mourinho, had previously made remarks that Rashford is a far stronger player in the left forward position than he is as a central striker. Mourinho, in his infinite wisdom, about 4 years ago was very clear in his mind that for Rashford:

"The point are his qualities and for me he is potentially a very good player. He is a very good player in some models of play, he is a very good player in some positions. As a target man, as a No.9, I don't think he has this 30 goals that a top striker has. But he's a very good player.

"For me, he can't get better as a No.9. For me he can get better and better and better playing the way they did today. Playing from the left side, playing with another one as the target man but for him to be the target man in matches w[h]ere United is dominant and playing against defensive teams, low blocks, I think it's difficult for him."

via Manchester Evening News.

Mourinho’s insight then is now what we’re seeing in Man United, as Rashford has struggled in the past two matches as the ‘target man’ or the central striker.

Who’d Do Better as the Man United Point Man?

Erik ten Hag, despite being a good manager, may be missing the point with Rashford and, in my view, should instead bring Rashford back to the left flank and put Anthony Martial as the target man.

Martial has proven time and again that he can do the point man job and I think it’s only right to end Rashford’s misery and put him where he shines best.

Man United’s goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, had this to say on who he thinks is the best finisher for the club:

“For me it would probably be Anthony Martial: he can bend it, he can whip it, he can go with power, he can lift it over you. He’s got that composure, that sort of calmness in front of goal that makes it difficult for a goalkeeper.

[As a keeper] you very often want people to take a shot early or to force them into something but with Anthony it’s very difficult to affect him, so when he’s through on goal it usually ends up in the net.”

Read on Tom Heaton’s perfect player for Man United.

Not Yet Debut

An alternate option for United, apart from Martial, is new signing Rasmus Højlund. Hojlund is yet to fully recover from a back injury, however, but the Danish player is already taking part in squad training. Erik ten Hag stipulates that Hojlund will make his debut for Man Utd soon.

Jurgen Klopp’s View on the Saudi League’s Transfer Window Ending 20 Days after the Premier League’s

Another story we felt warranted inclusion in our pre-GW 3 review was Jurgen Klopp’s recent comments regarding the Saudi ‘Pro’ League’s transfer window ending 20 days after the EPL’s. Klopp, who’s as good a tactician as anyone, felt that there was a need to level the playing field to ensure uniformity and equality (or equity) when it comes to the time allotted to clubs to make transfers.

As you may be aware, the Saudi League has been scooping up all the best players around the world, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. having been signed by Saudi League clubs. The league, as it appears, has more time and far more monetary muscle to scoop up any fantastically good player that is available.

What we deduce from Klopp’s comments is that indeed, it may be unfair that after the EPL and other Western Leagues have been mandated to close their transfer windows, the Saudi League will have nearly three weeks to pick up players that, by then, the other leagues cannot sign and who may have become free agents or stranded after the European/Western transfer window closes.

Klopp - Stop Sniffing Around My Players!

Klopp expressed discontent in that the Saudi League was causing him discomfort with them sniffing around his players, with recent interest in Mo Salah expressed by Al Ittihad. As per reporting, Liverpool is increasingly under a lot of pressure from the Saudi League to let Salah transfer there, with Klopp reiterating that Salah is “100% committed”.

Not Helpful

Klopp termed the situation as “not helpful” and that “FIFA must find a solution for that.” Klopp is probably at his wit’s end, with two of Liverpool’s players already having been transferred to the Saudi ‘Pro’ League. The league, it appears, is cannibalizing soccer like it did golf; with the LIV Golf situation where players were paid to take part in alternative leagues, causing a lot of problems with the PGA Tour.

Read more on Klopp’s Saudi League concerns in The Guardian.

Watch Klopp’s interview below courtesy of Sky Sports.

Predicted Man United Starting XI for GW 3

As per The Evening Standard, they anticipate that Man United’s starting XI for the upcoming gameweek is as follows.

Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez; Dalot Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

The injuries troubling United are for the players: Mount, Mainoo, Amad, Malacia, Shaw, and Hojlund.

Mount will be out due to a hamstring injury with Shaw also missing out due to injury. ES also expresses doubt that Heaton and Maguire will be included in the squad.

Read more on this story in the Evening Standard.

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