Unveiling the Rising Stars: Moises Caicedo's Game-Changing Potential Surpasses Chelsea's Fee | Decoding the Art of Kaoru Mitoma's Dynamic Dribbling

Being present at Molineux on Saturday was truly a privilege, as I got to witness one of the most remarkable displays in the current Premier League season – the electrifying performance of Kaoru Mitoma. While Nelson Semedo successfully neutralized Alejandro Garnacho on Monday night, he was effortlessly outmaneuvered by Brighton's mesmerizing dribbler.

Even Craig Dawson proved no match for Mitoma's skill, as he effortlessly glided past him to score the breakthrough goal in his team's resounding 4-1 victory against Wolves. The composed finishing displayed by Mitoma indicates a promising development in his game that has the potential to elevate him to the pinnacle of his profession. However, it is his mesmerizing dribbling ability that ultimately enables him to achieve such outstanding success.

Many are now aware that this was the topic of his university thesis, but the crucial element lies in the specifics. Mitoma has since clarified his approach, which involves impeding his opponent's progress while maintaining his own unhindered stride pattern in order to swiftly surpass them.

It is a common observation that the top dribblers seem to possess a greater speed with the ball compared to without it. This undeniably applies to Mitoma as well, but he appears to possess a scientific understanding of this phenomenon that others may have grasped solely through intuition.

By maintaining a straight foot as he skillfully bypasses an opponent, he ensures that he stays in a sprinting stance. Opting to use the inside of his foot to control the ball would involve twisting his hips, thus hindering his ability to accelerate swiftly.

The impact is truly remarkable. The fact that Mitoma comprehends the reasoning behind his extraordinary skills adds an extra layer of awe-inspiring to his performance.

Brighton and Hove Albion

West Ham United

Saturday 26th August 5:00pm

Kick off 5:30pm

A 21-year-old Ecuadorian, eager to make a strong impression on his debut, lunges into a tackle and concedes a penalty. Earlier in the match, a 22-year-old player from Argentina, determined to take on the responsibility, sees his own spot-kick saved. Unfortunately, his quest for a Premier League goal still remains unfulfilled.

These are the basic facts surrounding the crucial moments in Chelsea's 3-1 defeat against West Ham. Two immensely talented players, far away from their home countries, striving to advance their careers. However, the staggering transfer fees they commanded, each exceeding £100m, add an important backdrop to the situation. There is a potential danger of them being perceived as prime examples of Chelsea's costly errors in judgment.

Outrageous prices have resulted in exaggerated expectations.

Moises Caicedo appears to be a solitary force in midfield, with the potential to be monumental. Additionally, he has already completed a full season with Brighton's first team. The exceptional Enzo Fernandez is a World Cup champion, yet he has already surpassed the number of games played for Chelsea compared to his time at Benfica.

Not long ago, their previous clubs acquired these players for a significantly lower fee. At that time, few predicted that they could seamlessly replace N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic, who are regarded as two of the most skilled midfielders of the past ten years. This situation is indicative of the overall changes occurring throughout the entire Chelsea team.

Mykhailo Mudryk, acquired for £88m, was deemed inexperienced, which is understandable considering he only had 19 league starts for Shakhtar Donetsk. Noni Madueke, a promising player, is also experiencing his first foray into a major European league.

Malo Gusto, a 20-year-old uncapped French full-back, has shown great potential and is believed to have a bright future. Despite only being in his second season of regular senior football, he was signed in January. As for Axel Disasi, he brings more experience but the £65m price tag still represents a significant step up for both players.

As Chelsea fruitlessly sought an equalizer in the last 15 minutes, Disasi stood out as one of the two players on Mauricio Pochettino's team, aged between 23 and 37. The other player was Raheem Sterling, who was the standout performer of the game.

Despite his previous struggles last season, Sterling, at 28 years old and with 82 England caps, is among the few Chelsea players expected to be at the height of his abilities. This should realistically influence our expectations. However, considering the other factors at play, it seems utterly improbable.

Big fees bring big expectations at Chelsea

When working for We, one of the things I truly enjoy is the level of access I have to managers. However, the nature of the Premier League season means that these interviews can occur during both difficult and successful times.

Visiting Unai Emery after Aston Villa's 5-1 loss to Newcastle, where they had lost two key players to anterior cruciate ligament injuries in just one week, did not give me much hope for a cheerful encounter. Nevertheless, it is during these challenging moments that the best individuals rise to the occasion.

Emery, the coach, emphasized the importance of maintaining composure. Following their recent loss, he dedicated time to reviewing footage of Everton's match against Fulham and collaborated with his analysts to thoroughly analyze the game, eventually sharing their findings with the team. Consequently, their efforts led to a resounding 4-0 victory at Villa Park.

Although Everton had a dismal performance, certain aspects of Villa's game were impressive. They strategically created opportunities for Lucas Digne on the left side, chose to take short corners considering the taller opposition, and effectively passed the ball to Moussa Diaby in the midfield.

Villa made some last-minute transfers during the week to support the team after the unfortunate injuries. However, Nicolo Zaniolo could only observe from the sidelines on Sunday. This win was not just a result of careful planning and flawless execution, but also maintaining composure in the face of adversity.

Emery's recovery powers at Villa

On occasion, the scheduling of an interview may not align due to various circumstances. In a conversation with Lukas Nmecha, the German international and former forward of Manchester City, earlier in the summer, he expressed great optimism regarding his goals for the upcoming season.

Nmecha detailed the challenges he faced during the previous year, including the heartbreaking setback of missing out on the World Cup due to an injury. He shared the dedicated effort he had invested since then to ensure his readiness for the new season – particularly in light of the anticipation surrounding Euro 2024, to be held in Germany next summer.

Unfortunately, Nmecha experienced a setback in his return match. He managed to secure the first goal in Wolfsburg's cup victory but had to leave the game due to a reoccurrence of his knee issue. As his team began their Bundesliga season, the talented striker was once again absent.

Bayern Munich

FC Augsburg

Sunday 27th August 4:30pm

Kick off 4:30pm

He had expressed his feelings about watching the boys play during all the training sessions, acknowledging the sense of detachment that it brought. Throughout this journey, maintaining a positive mindset was not always effortless. However, he believed that those struggles were in the past and looked forward to pushing himself further and reaching new heights in the upcoming year.

Looking back at those words now, it's difficult to comprehend that Nmecha is injured once again. While football presents lucrative opportunities, careers in this sport tend to be short-lived. However, at the age of 24, Nmecha still has time on his side. Let's hope he possesses the mental resilience to endure this setback and approach the situation with the conviction that the future holds something better for him.