Just a couple days away from the World Cup, the Top Bins Talk crew discusses potential breakout players and makes group predictions: each picking a player they believe will ‘stand out’ in Groups E-H. They then pick Golden Boy/Boot/Ball winners and an eventual champion. 

With the World Cup just days away, the Top Bins Talk crew discusses potential breakout players and makes group predictions: each picking a player they believe will ‘stand out’ in Groups A-D

The team picks out some of their favourite under-the-radar signings of the 2022 summer window from across Europe -- including Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani, Napoli's Kim Min-jae, and Burnley's Nathan Tella.

8:35 - João Palhinha and Andreas Pereira
15:40 - Kim Min-jae 
18:50 - Amine Gouiri
24:45 - Loïs Openda 
30:25 - Randal Kolo Muani
35:45 - Bella-Kotchap and Lavia
41:15 - Nathan Tella

The lads discuss "unexpected overperformers", or in other words, players that have surprised some with how well they have started the season. Tune in to hear plaudits for Aleksandar Mitrovic + Ivan Toney (11:27), Ademola Lookman (21:48), Fede Valverde (26:07), Roberto Firmino (33:28), Miguel Almiron (38:24), and Folarin Balogun (45:21).  

Brice, Max, and Phil chat about Napoli's superb start to the season (5:03), Lorient and Enzo Le Fée's unique midfield role (11:56), Alex Iwobi's resurgence (23:38), and the recent trend of central defenders at full-back (31:18). 

 

We are now just over six months away from the start of the 2022 World Cup, so in true Top Bins fashion, we had a look at players to watch from each of the 8 groups. Those primed for breakout tournaments, others excelling at club level and ready to explode on the international scene, and some just such interesting profiles we couldn't leave them out. Tune in to find out more about our selections!

We love to talk about our favourite players, or have discussions about who we believe is better. But what about ranking the importance of certain players? What does importance mean, how may that differ on a team-to-team basis, and who (for each of the current PL top six) is the most vital player in their side, and why? 

We discuss that, and more, on this episode of Top Bins Talk.

The tactical developments we've seen in football over recent years has been tremendous, but one specific role that seems to be getting left behind is that of the traditional winger. Think Giggs on the left, Beckham on the right, chalk on their boots and width provided. Although the fulfillments for such a role may be more 'complex' in today's game, why don't we see it more often?

Are we not maximising some wide players' qualities as they’ve been shoehorned onto their unnatural side becasue that’s the norm? What alternative solutions have teams made to replace the threat 'traditional wingers' provide? If a player has qualities more suited to playing on his strong side... then why not let him flourish in that role?

We discuss these questions, and more, on this week's episode of The Drawing Board.

After creating a shortlist of players deserving of moves to 'bigger' clubs, Max and Phil discuss suitable potential next destinations for each.

We're (for most teams, at least) at the halfway stage of the 2021-22 Premier League season. To celebrate, Max, Brice, and Phil create a team of the season so far, but excluding players from Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea.