Jon Smith – CaughtOffside

Exclusive: Saudis happy enough but focus remains on 2034 World Cup

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:11:38 +0000

With the summer transfer window open for business, it won’t be a surprise to see the Saudi Pro League on the prowl for players once again.

Astronomical salaries being offered make it hard for any player and their families to turn down, though the league is still something of a fledgling enterprise which is only now beginning to gain traction locally.

TeamForm recognise that the Saudi Pro League is only the 68th best in the world at present, so in order to garner interest at home and aboard, there are necessary talks to be had.

Saudi Pro League focus is on next 10 years

Former super agent and Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, has held informal talks with some movers and shakers in the league, and he shared his thoughts with CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I didn’t have specific conversations when I met with Saudi Pro League representatives recently, I just had general conversations, but they have a long-term goal with their project, running into the World Cup in 2034,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“So, as far as they’re concerned, the conversations that we had were all about how we can promote the Saudi league outside of Saudi.

“Having said that, inside Saudi, when two of the top teams were playing each other, every coffee lounge and every restaurant had the game on. They weren’t featuring overseas games. They were featuring Saudi Pro League games and the crowd were really, really energised.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action in the Saudi Pro League

“So, something good is happening in Saudi football, and I think they’re happy that what they’re creating appears to be working locally. I think their big concern is ‘how do we get international acceptance’?

“That’s where they’re going to focus their attention.

“I think there’ll be a few more deals this summer but nothing sensational. They’re probably not going to buy the top six players in the world but in my view they’ll buy another two or three reasonably high-profile names. Then the focus is on what happens next. How can we promote what’s happening here abroad?”

More Stories / Latest News

Exclusive: Arsenal transfer target could move for €25-30m, two other clubs have had bids rejected so far

Jul 23 2024, 14:26

Liverpool looking to steal 6ft 5in player from Aston Villa

Jul 23 2024, 14:02

Returning Arsenal star praises key figure who was “very supportive” during lengthy injury

Jul 23 2024, 14:00

If they can execute their 10-year plan correctly, then acquiring some of the world’s best talents in Cristiano Ronaldo and others will all have been worthwhile.

Were everything to buckle under the weight of expectation, however, in much the same way as the Chinese Super League imploded, the Saudi Pro League could disappear into the ether as quickly as it came to the fore.

The post Exclusive: Saudis happy enough but focus remains on 2034 World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: Sensational transfer is obvious summer deal for Chelsea

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:56:35 +0000

With the summer transfer window already open for business, it remains to be seen just how busy Chelsea will be.

Ever since the Blues were taken over by Todd Boehly they’ve been one of the major players and payers in the marketplace, having broken the British transfer record twice over the past couple of summers.

The first time that they smashed the £100m barrier was to acquire Enzo Fernandez, and then a £115m bid was enough to secure Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Chelsea to sign Osimhen?

Despite seemingly having a bottomless pit of money to throw around, the club still haven’t arguably earned the success such an outlay perhaps deserved.

Former managers Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel might’ve have pointed to the churn of players as being a significant enough reason why Chelsea just can’t get themselves going.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the West Londoners will need to buy again this summer, though they might not be the only team heavily investing in the market.

Victor Osimhen to PSG?

“There are certain players that I think are going to move this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz being one,” former Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I can’t see much beyond Bayern as far as he’s concerned, because they need to do something big and he will be a great pleaser for the crowd in Munich.

“I’m also looking at Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, which is an obvious one to Chelsea, but, as we’ve talked about previously, the way it’s set up at the moment means that the Blues will have to sell before they can buy.

“Some of their best homegrown talent like Gallagher and Santos may have to be sold because of the financial implications, rather than the consequence of their positive talent. I think that’s a really strange situation that has to be addressed in how financial fair play is reconfigured.

“There will be a lot of money spent in this window but it’ll be quite late. I think everyone will be looking to see what everybody else is doing.

“Salah will probably end up in Saudi and Ivan Toney will leave Brentford now, but will he go to Arsenal? Will it be Spurs? Not quite sure, but something’s going to happen with him.”

The post Exclusive: Sensational transfer is obvious summer deal for Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Premier League creator’s surprise choice to win Euro 2024

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:44:03 +0000

Euro 2024 has been quite the spectacle so far, and now we’re getting down to the serious business.

The final eight teams will be getting ready to do battle at the end of the week in order to be in with a chance of making the semi-finals and then the final in mid July.

England are still in with a chance despite being woefully out of form to this point.

Spain or Germany to win Euro 2024 says Premier League co-creator

Often in cup competitions the notion that a ‘name is on the cup’ comes to the fore, and with the Three Lions having made it into the easier side of the draw despite playing poorly, there appears to be a feeling that Lady Luck might be with Gareth Southgate and Co.

If England are to get anywhere near their first major silverware since 1966, however, they will need to significantly up their game against Switzerland in their quarter-final.

Joshua Kimmich in action for Germany

Even if they were to be able to make it as far as the final, former super agent and Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, can’t see Southgate’s men bringing the trophy home.

“I can’t see beyond the Spain vs Germany game for the winners of Euro 2024,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I just think it’s going to be one of those two.

“I’d like England to be in the final but if it’s not to be, then Spain vs Germany is the final I’d like to have seen.”

Given the way in which the likes of Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal have played for Spain, as well as Niclas Fullkrug and Kai Havertz’s form for Germany, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to disagree with Smith’s sentiments.

The post Premier League creator’s surprise choice to win Euro 2024 appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: Southgate’s England coaching set-up is the big problem

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 10:30:56 +0000

So far in Euro 2024, England have been incredibly underwhelming in the system that Gareth Southgate and his coaches have devised for them.

Touted as one of the favourites for the tournament before it had kicked off, the Three Lions have been hanging on by their fingernails.

Under normal circumstances a quarter-final against Switzerland would hold no fears whatsoever, however, the Swiss have been playing above themselves in the tournament and, given England’s own form, will represent another tough challenge.

Southgate’s England need to up their game

In Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, Southgate has the Player of the Year in both the Premier League and La Liga at his disposal, as well as the Bundesliga’s top scorer, and yet England have looked a shadow of the team that they could be.

Former super agent and co-creator of the Premier League, Jon Smith, believes the problems derive from Gareth Southgate’s backroom team.

“I like Gareth Southgate a lot, and I used to work with him years ago. He’s a super human being and a great manager. Over the years you see the other great managers, but now it’s always a management team.,” he told CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“In days gone by, when I was working with people like Fergie, he wasn’t the greatest tactician, but he acknowledged that and hired the best tacticians, managing them from an overall capacity and in his case, very personally.

Gareth Southgate’s England aren’t playing anywhere close to their best

“I’m sadly of the view that the coaching set up around Gareth Southgate at the moment just isn’t right. It doesn’t play to the strengths of the players that he’s got.

“Look at the way the team played last week and the week before… and eight of those players are in teams that play a high press, very quick movement of the ball, inverted wingbacks on occasion, all the kind of modern jargon that you want to throw in there, but they play it well because they’re well coached.

“Gareth could do worse than just say, ‘play like you play at your team and let’s coordinate what you do in a collective,’ rather than ‘let’s play it safe here, keep it there.’

“Everything’s a bit old fashioned in this setup. It’s a bit 10 years ago, it’s showing and I’m fearful.

“I mean, I want England to win it, but I’m very fearful that coaching has moved on, and England haven’t in coaching terms. I’d like to see us use the wonderful players we’ve got in the ways that they’re used to being used.

“Gareth is a really good man manager, I’m just not quite sure what’s happening below him in the tactical management set-up.”

It’s hard to disagree with Smith’s point of view because the Three Lions certainly appear to have reverted to type in this tournament.

They are still in it, however, and with a favourable draw all the way to the final, if they can find some form, there’s still a chance they could go all the way.

The post Exclusive: Southgate’s England coaching set-up is the big problem appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: “Disastrous for Everton” – Former super agent hints at what’s next for Toffees

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:34:20 +0000

It’s a very trying time for Everton Football Club at the moment under the direction of Farhad Moshiri.

For some while now it has appeared that the 69-year-old British-Iranian businessman has wanted to get shot of the Toffees, but a proposed deal with 777 Partners has now collapsed.

What that means for the club and it’s owner nobody really knows, though it’s clearly not a good situation for the Merseyside outfit to find themselves in.

Not least because they will soon be moving into a new, start-of-the-art £500m stadium at Bramley-Moore dock.

Everton could be in trouble after 777 pull out

Despite a points deduction for breaches of Financial Fair Play, Sean Dyche managed to keep the first team up in the Premier League for another season at least, and that’s some bright news amidst the gloom.

The immediate and short term future for the club still looks murky, however.

“I think I said previously that if Everton went down, they would have to go into administration,” Jon Smith said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“If 777 pulled out, which has now happened, and there was nobody else, then the Russians would have to step up and keep the club alive during the process.

“There was a there was a rumour, and it is just rumour that 777 allegedly hadn’t loaned Everton money and that the Russians were allegedly continuing to fund the club.

“At the moment, the only obvious potential buyer that I see is John Textor, but he has to get rid of his 45% share in Crystal Palace.

“Now, I know he’s talking to the Premier League about becoming a silent partner, so he’ll have no voice and won’t be a part of the decision making process at Palace.

“His plea to the Premier League, therefore, will be on the basis that could he be allowed to have conversations with Everton? I think that he’s waiting for that as a response.

“It makes no sense for the very wealthy Russians behind Moshiri to let this go, because they’ll lose everything. They might as well keep it going and wait for a Textor or someone else – and there will be a someone else at some point.

“If the Russians can’t, for whatever reason – politically or otherwise – keep it together, then they will have to seek some sort of administrative support, which would be disastrous for Everton Football Club.”

It paints a said picture for a once great club, and one can only hope that John Textor or any other businessman/consortium can come in at the 11th hour and look to provide some sort of salvage package.

Regardless of whether than happens or not, Everton have the more immediate decision of whether to cash in on some of their superstars, knowing that it will severely weaken what Dyche will be aiming to do for next season.

If he decides to walk out as well, given it will be a case of two steps forward and one back and then the club really will find it hard to claw themselves back from the brink.

The post Exclusive: “Disastrous for Everton” – Former super agent hints at what’s next for Toffees appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Premier League co-creator says VAR will remain despite impending vote

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:13:39 +0000

The emergence of VAR in English football was always going to be contentious, and it’s absolutely right to say that it hasn’t yet proved to be a hit with supporters or clubs.

Unlike the video reviews in rugby, cricket or tennis, the process isn’t seen by fans in the stadiums, and we’ve had the unedifying sight of thousands of supporters losing their minds at what was believed to be an important goal then being chalked off up to five minutes later.

It’s no wonder that Wolverhampton Wanderers put forward a motion to have VAR scrapped, and the vote is expected to happen later this week.

After years of VAR being around, it still isn’t streamlined enough to be considered as fit for purpose, though there has always seemed to be the argument that it’s the people that are using the technology that are the problem and not the technology itself.

VAR to stay despite Premier League vote

Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, believes that despite pushback on the technology in certain quarters, it will remain and is likely to be updated.

“I don’t think VAR will be scrapped because I think there’s enough positive sentiment towards it,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I think the problem is all in the presentation, and the whole issue is the timeframe that it takes to make a decision.

“In the World Cup it was a lot faster, and that’s the system that should be followed. The officials absolutely need to present what is happening on screen in the grounds, so that the fans become part of it rather than just a waiting audience.

“They actually need to change it a bit where the lines that are drawn for the tightest decisions don’t determine whether the player is onside or offside.

“I like that expression ‘clear and obvious,’ which was the entire premise of VAR in the first place.”

It was believed that the technology used at the 2022 World Cup – Semi Automated Offside Technology – would come into effect in the Premier League from the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

That appears to be quicker and more accurate than what the officials working for Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) are currently using.

The use of the same may be the only thing that ensures that the vote proposed by Wolves is defeated.

There certainly seems to be an argument that going back to the way things were done pre-VAR, mistakes and all, is a more natural way of officiating a game, but with most other sports having a variation on the same theme in terms of VAR, football can’t really afford to be left behind.

The post Premier League co-creator says VAR will remain despite impending vote appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: Leicester could be hit by 15-point deduction before start of 2024/25 season

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 10:53:07 +0000

It’s not been five minutes since Enzo Maresca jumped ship at Leicester City, and they could be set to get some more bad news.

The Foxes were, at one stage in the 2023/24 season, runaway leaders of the Championship.

They were eventually reeled in and were even in danger of being overhauled in the face for promotion to the Premier League, though they managed to find some very late season form to get them over the line.

Maresca was key to that entire process, however, at the first chance he had to move on, he took it.

Leicester and Chelsea amongst teams to be fined for FFP breaches

Chelsea wouldn’t appear to be the healthiest of hunting grounds for managers looking to further their careers, but the Italian appears to be taking on the challenge with his eyes wide open.

If he’s not only able to get the team playing well but also tame the interference of club owner, Todd Boehly, Blues fans will surely take to him quickly.

He could be hamstrung in the transfer market, however, with former Premier League co-creator Jon Smith noting that Chelsea are likely to be punished for breaches in Financial Fair Play – something that his old club are also now being accused of.

“It looks like Leicester may possibly be hit with a 15-point deduction before the season starts, and things are certainly beginning to shape up that way,” Smith said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“What I’m hearing now may not happen, however, the news is coming from very good sources.

“Forest have breached Financial Fair Play again whilst Chelsea may have also done so, therefore we could also see both clubs facing more charges.

“Villa are another team to have breached FFP regulations and they too are facing punishment, whilst Man City’s 115 charges will be heard before Christmas.

“So I think it’s worth noting that, of course, you have to regulate in the game, but let’s not forget that it’s supporters who are the lifeblood of the game as well as the players.

“For both parties it’s all about what happens on the pitch, and that shouldn’t be determined sizeably by what happens off it.”

Very much a case of out of the frying pan into the fire it seems, with Maresca really putting himself in the firing line at the club.

It isn’t clear at this stage what sort of timeframe surrounds all of the clubs mentioned in terms of them being punished.

The last thing any would want is starting the campaign well behind their opponents, or surging ahead only to find that towards the end of the season they’re pegged right back.

The post Exclusive: Leicester could be hit by 15-point deduction before start of 2024/25 season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Real chance that West Ham will be sold” – Well connected super agent predicting changes in East London

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 10:36:10 +0000

In the end, the 2023/24 campaign was a bit of a damp squib for West Ham United, and coming so soon after the highs of the previous season, it was a real disappointment.

The East Londoners have often promised so much but almost always failed to hit the heights.

David Moyes bucked that trend during his tenure, culminating in the epic Europa Conference League title win in 2022/23.

The writing was on the wall for the Scot once his side were hammered 6-0 at home by Arsenal, and the Irons never really recovered after that home loss.

West Ham will be sold within three years

Julen Lopetegui was brought into the club, and in a move that’s significantly different from previous incumbents in his position, he will only be head coach rather than manager.

From now on, technical director, Tim Steidten, will take charge of transfers in a much more continental way of working, something that former super agent, Jon Smith, believes could be the pre-cursor to a sale of the club.

“West Ham, as was over the last couple of years, have got away with their way of working because they didn’t have an obvious striker but they did have a decent coach,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“Now it looks as if things will work slightly differently at the club with Tim Steidten driving transfers, and I think it’s a path that they have to tread to become a modern club.

“I’ve grown up with a lot of the people running our game and have had good relationships with most of them, and I’m fond of David Sullivan who has been very kind to me.

“I’ve watched him operate and he’s bloody good at what he does – but he’s in his 70s. He’s not ill at all, but he’s had medical issues and I just feel that he’s possibly setting the club up for the future.

“When you look around the corner, the David Gold shareholding that’s for sale… the price has gone up and up and up, and the obvious taker was originally Daniel Kretinsky but he’s gone and bought the Post Office now, so he’s obviously not going to buy West Ham at the same time.

“He’s still a major shareholder, however, so put all those computations together, and you get a club that needs to set itself up for a potential sale in the coming 36 months.

“So for me, the new way of working is an obvious step for West Ham to take. It’s modern, it’s cool, it’s doing the things that the likes of Man United are going to have to do in future and I think it’s a bold move, but a necessary one.

“I think there’s a real chance that West Ham will be sold in the next 36 months but it does depend, by the way, on who comes in and takes the Gold shareholding.

“There’s some big players in that mix, and I think when you see the outcome of that, whoever comes in may be the prelude to what happens next.”

Given the template at the club in terms of the reach it has amongst supporters, there’s no reason why, with the right investment, the club can’t, finally, start to regularly populate the upper echelons of the Premier League and be in the Champions League each season.

Though they have one of the most iconic grounds in the country, it’s clear that the London Stadium wasn’t built to hold football matches, so any prospective buyer might also be looking to relocate the club once more.

David Sullivan is likely to make a pretty penny from any sale, before driving off into the sunset too.

The post “Real chance that West Ham will be sold” – Well connected super agent predicting changes in East London appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: Maresca appointment “definitely a risky proposition” for Chelsea

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 10:22:03 +0000

The appointment of Enzo Maresca by Chelsea seemed an odd choice on the face of it.

Though the Italian had worked under Pep Guardiola at Man City, he had no top-flight managerial experience to speak of, unlike Mauricio Pochettino who agreed to depart Stamford Bridge by mutual consent.

Just when it appeared that the Argentinian was getting things together, he was gone.

Maresca is last chance saloon appointment for Chelsea

What that effectively means for the club is more upheaval in the transfer market as the new man decides which players he wants to sell and which he wants to keep, and the players having to get used to another way of working with a man that didn’t have the experience or kudos of the previous incumbent.

It’s a brave move, some might say stupid, and former super agent, Jon Smith, has noted that it is the Blues last throw of the dice.

“Hiring Enzo Maresca is a really brave decision you have to say from Paul Winstanley, who’s the sporting director at Chelsea, and it’s probably the last chance saloon,” he told CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I like Paul, he did a great job at Brighton and he has a highly intellectual footballing brain, but it is definitely a risky proposition.

“Having said all of that, the fashionable and loud voices all say that you need young, new, innovative coaches from the Pep school of how to do things in 2024 and that’s where he comes from.

“In terms of his managerial ability, he was a bit poor at Parma, Leicester fans don’t seem overly upset, which is a slight concern, but when you look at what’s happened at Brighton, and it’s where Paul came from, they pick people out that they’ve done their research on and they’ve worked.

“So, being bold and brave might not be the worst thing in the world… fingers crossed.”

That there really is a feeling that this is one appointment that cannot fail surely puts Maresca on the back foot before he’s even begun.

It’s generally accepted that when a new man in charge comes into a football club, he’s given time to bed down and get to grips with all aspects, but it doesn’t look like Maresca will be afforded that opportunity.

After all, Todd Boehly has had no problem with dispensing with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Pochettino because things didn’t work out quickly.

If Maresca doesn’t hit the ground running and get some serious points on the board before Christmas, who knows what will happen.

Maybe Winstanley’s choice may be considered a master stroke in time, but for the time being all fingers are being crossed.

The post Exclusive: Maresca appointment “definitely a risky proposition” for Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive: “The big question is…” – Jon Smith considers England squad surprises

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 10 May 2024 20:54:08 +0000

In a few short weeks time, England will kick off their European Championship in Germany with a Group C fixture against Serbia.

That doesn’t give Gareth Southgate much time within which to make a firm decision on who he wishes to take to the tournament, in the hope that they’ll help the Three Lions to go one better than last time.

There are certain players that will be the first on the team sheet, injuries permitting.

The likes of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are certainties to go along with a handful of other names.

Solanke could be England’s wild card at the Euros

However, as former super agent and co-creator of the Premier League, Jon Smith, has speculated, there’s still a chance for one or two players to make a case for inclusion.

“I like Dominic Solanke at Bournemouth, he’s just cracking on, and in the world of Gareth Southgate he might just get a shot,” he said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive column.

“I think Maddison will go to the Euros, I think Mainoo will go and I like the two boys at Palace, Eze and Guehi.

“The big question for me is whether Jordan Henderson goes.

“With some of the younger lads in there, they’ll need one of the stable heads to just calm everybody down in those really tense moments when we’re heading towards a semi-final penalty shootout!”

Dominic Solanke could be a surprise inclusion for England this summer

The choice of Solanke is a particularly interesting one.

At one point earlier in the season it was felt that Brentford’s Ivan Toney would be taking up a seat on the plane, however, he’s gone so far off the boil that it wouldn’t really be a surprise to see him left at home.

Were that precise scenario to occur, then it does open up the possibility of Solanke getting in at the 11th hour.

Whether he’s ‘international class’ would only be seen if he was thrust into the big time by Southgate, and he does the business.

His form in 2023/24 has been sensational, and if he could carry that onto the international stage, then England will have an unexpected ace up their sleeve.

Southgate has shown his bravery before and in general terms has been true to his original thinking that he would pick players based on form rather than reputation.

It will be interesting indeed to see who makes the final squad.

The post Exclusive: “The big question is…” – Jon Smith considers England squad surprises appeared first on CaughtOffside.