All posts by h716a5.icu

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The training ground is a place for team bonding as well as tactical planning, technical finessing and physical conditioning.

And for plenty of people bonding is synonymous with ridiculing.

That is a notion not wasted on West Ham United’s Ryan Fredericks, who has used his Instagram account to poke fun at Robert Snodgrass.

The creative playmaker has been lauded for his increase in physical fitness this season, and it seems that Fredericks used that particular narrative to poke fun at his teammate earlier today.

The 26-year-old full-back posted a video clip on his Instagram story of Snodgrass shadowboxing in the gym.

And Fredericks used the opportunity to make light of the Scot, suggesting that he never uses the gym facilities and spends more time eating than working on his fitness.

The 31-year-old’s performances this season certainly disprove Frederick’s tongue-in-cheek theory, and the Hammers faithful would be the first to emphasise how physically capable he has looked this season.

It’s all just a bit of fun for West Ham on the back of a brilliant 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, though, as spirits run high in the dressing room with the London derby victory still fresh in mind.

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The Sun have reported that Everton and Tottenham are locked in a transfer battle for the services of Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who has enjoyed an excellent season personally.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees are interested in signing the Argentinian midfielder after Lo Celso caught the eye on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this season – he has 16 goals and five assists to his name.

The 23-year-old has shown amazing versatility in playing a number of positions down the middle more than capably, starring at centre-midfield, attacking-midfield and even as a false nine – it is the former of those positions that he has played in the most, however.

Watch an Arsenal fan’s incredible rant about Phil Jagielka in the video below…

The Spanish side managed to secure Lo Celso’s signature for just £21.5m having taken up their option to buy agreement with PSG, and it is being reported that they may look to cash in and make an immediate profit – the aforementioned report from The Sun states that they could seek to double their money.

Perfect Gomes alternative, or better?

Portuguese international Andre Gomes has become a Goodison Park favourite this term since arriving on a season-long loan deal from Barcelona last summer.

The 25-year-old is a classy operator in the middle of the park and has been the perfect foil alongside the combative Idrissa Gueye in Marco Silva’s midfield.

However, Tottenham are interested in the former Valencia man, with Daniel Levy willing to sanction a £30m move for Gomes – the lure of Champions League football could leave Everton stranded in the race to sign him on a permanent basis.

If Spurs do secure Gomes from under Everton’s noses, then the Toffees have the perfect alternative in Lo Celso.

The Argentine is younger than Gomes, would command a similar fee, and seems to have more strings to his bow than the current Everton No.8 – he can score goals and get from box-to-box, and may even be a better option than Gomes.

Either way, there is a fantastic player up for grabs if Everton miss out on their loan hero.

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According to Paris United, via ChronicleLive, the agent of Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp has offered his client to Newcastle United.

Trapp has been with PSG since 2015, but has spent the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign on loan with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

It is not too much of a surprise that the 28-year-old is being linked with a summer exit.

However, reports of a potential switch to Newcastle are somewhat difficult to believe due to the presence of Martin Dubravka at the English club.

Indeed, the 30-year-old has just come off the back of a brilliant first full season with the Magpies.

The Newcastle fans have been on social media offering their views on a potential move for Trapp in this summer’s transfer window.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Whilst some are quite confused by the links with a new stopper, others are simply gushing over the prospect of seeing Trapp as a potential number two heading into the new campaign.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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When Bernardo Silva headed away at the Etihad Stadium, only for Andros Townsend to unleash a volley for the years into the top right corner, most surely thought they’d already seen a clear goal of the season winner as early as December – certainly, this left-footed rocket would take some beating.

This proved to be the case, with spectacular Yan Valery, Andreas Pereira and Fabian Schar strikes still not coming close, although one was voted better by Match of the Day’s panel – Vincent Kompany’s title-deciding howitzer against Leicester in the penultimate game of the term.

Of course, the new Anderlecht player-manager’s goal was crucial in the Cityzens’ title retention, although many will argue that this was nevertheless outweighed by the technique involved in the Eagles number 10’s strike.

Who is your club’s worst ever January signing? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked theirs in the video below and they didn’t disappoint…

Fortunately for the 27-year-old winger and the Selhurst Park faithful, there would be another opportunity to scoop a gong for his excellent effort and Carling have decided that he is the winner of their Premier League goal of the season award.

Here’s what Palace fans had to say about it on Twitter, with many mocking BBC pundits Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer for overlooking the 30-yard hit…

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Leeds United fans on Twitter have made it clear that they don’t want their club to make a move for Michael Frey this summer.

A Yorkshire Evening Post article written by Phil Hay claimed that the Yorkshire side are interested in the services of the Swiss forward.

The striker has been plying his trade in Turkey this season where he has been less than prolific. Frey has scored just three Super Lig goals this term, and form like that has raised a massive red flag amongst the fanbase.

Leeds do need reinforcements in the striker department this summer, but it’s hard to believe that the misfiring 24-year-old is the answer to their problems.

Despite being such a young age, a move to Leeds would see the attacker playing football in his fourth different country having already played in Switzerland, France and Turkey since the beginning of his career.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying about the potential signing…

Tottenham have entered the race for Newcastle ace Ayoze Perez this summer, following reports that Napoli are also interested.

We’re not exactly sure how this has happened, but there are now apparently two major European clubs chasing the signature of Newcastle United’s Ayoze Perez.

The 25-year-old has been a long-term target of Napoli’s sporting director Giuntoli who has been following his progress for the majority of the season, and his stock has surely risen following the strong end to his campaign which saw him claim 13 goals and 4 assists in total.

Surprisingly, reports also claim that Inter Milan have been probing for the last few months, as well as Tottenham and Arsenal, and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and Valencia. We’d take this news with a pinch of salt, though.

While interest has been inexplicably flying in from all angles, as it often does in the chaos of the transfer window, it is the Spurs link that might excite Newcastle fans the most – by virtue of the fact that it appears most logical.

According to Calcio Napoli sources, Mauricio Pochettino is in the market for a new forward to potentially replace Erik Lamela, who could choose to leave the club this summer after managing just over 900 minutes in the Premier League. And, believe it or not, Ayoze Perez – the brunt of much frustration from Newcastle fans this term – is touted as the answer.

It is said that the offer given to Newcastle is around £28million, which is just about £28million too much. This isn’t the first time Pochettino has made a move for the Spaniard, after apparently lodging interest three years ago that was responded with a harsh “no”. And we’re absolutely sure Spurs fans are hoping the same response will be given this time.

Quite how anyone believes Ayoze Perez is up to the required standard of a title-chasing side is beyond us. Indeed, the strong end to the season he enjoyed may have made him look like an alright player, but fans would do well remember just how utterly average he was before. It’s one thing turning it on when the club need him the most, it’s another thing being consistent throughout the season.

We simply do not believe he can hit the necessary levels at Spurs, unless he pulls off a miracle like Moussa Sissoko – of course, but when does lightning ever strike twice?

Spurs fans, would you be happy with signing Ayoze Perez? Is he the calibre of player you want to be looking at this summer? Let us know in the comments below…

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Alexandre Lacazette has been spotted in Barcelona, as reported by Sport.

What’s the word?

The French striker enjoyed a scintillating second season in north London, scoring 13 goals and providing ten assists in 35 Premier League appearances while winning Arsenal’s Player of the Season award.

Lacazette was linked with a move to Barcelona last month with Mundo Deportivo valuing him at up to €70m(£62.03m) and while the report from Sport has given no real update on the La Liga giants’ interest or how a potential deal could be structured, they do claim that the Arsenal star’s presence in the city has ‘created a lot of rumours about his future’.

Unai Emery faces a tough squad rebuild on limited funds after missing out on Champions League football due to a fifth-placed Premier League finish coupled with the failure to win the Europa League.

No room for sentimentality, time to sell

Best case scenario, Arsenal would keep Lacazette and use the dynamic striker as the cornerstone of an exciting new era. Unfortunately, the current situation is far from anyone’s best case scenario and Emery must yield to drastic measures in order to rebuild his mangled squad.

A club in Arsenal’s position can’t afford and can’t justify having two expensive assets in the same position and the club need to be ruthless about the situation. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also at the club, the Gunners must decide between the two centre-forwards and sell the other.

Projected to have a summer transfer budget of just £45m before sales, Arsenal could realistically more than double their transfer kitty by selling one of their strikers. A sad necessity, but a necessity all the same to fortify their weak squad.

Check out an Arsenal fan vow to “move to another planet” if Spurs win the UCL in the video below…

Selling one of the club’s only consistent performers is a tough decision and picking which striker to sell is even tougher. Lacazette is one year younger than his Gabonese partner and is also a better playmaker with the ball at his feet.

However, Aubameyang, for all his faults and at times profligate finishing, is the surer guarantee for goals. The Premier League’s golden boot winner has scored at a rate of 0.65 goals per game for Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, whereas Lacazette has only managed a to score at a rate 0.45 goals per game for Arsenal and Lyon.

With two top strikers an inefficient use of limited funds, Arsenal should say goodbye to their beloved French forward if Barcelona do come knocking, utilising the funds to reinforce the rest of the team while thrusting the goalscoring burden on Aubameyang.

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According to The Independent, Danny Rose would like to stay at Tottenham Hotspur and possibly sign a new contract with the Champions League finalists.

Rose ended the 2018-19 campaign having made 37 appearances for Spurs – contributing five assists for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The 28-year-old only has two years left to run on his current deal.

However, according to The Independent, Rose wants to pen a fresh contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss to Liverpool in Saturday night’s Champions League final at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Rose was one of his team’s better performers, though, with WhoScored awarding the 5 ft 8 defender the highest rating of any Tottenham player.

Should Spurs sell Kieran Trippier? Check out the for and against in the video below…

The England international has looked back to his best in recent months and it would be fair to say that the Spurs fans are desperate for him to stay at the club.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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With Manchester United in need of several new recruits during this summer’s transfer window, it seems that the midfield is one of the club’s top priorities over the next couple of months. Today’s transfer roundup brings you two stories regarding potential new arrivals and one United refusal to let go of a star player.

Rakitic approach made

According to Sport, Manchester United have made an approach for Barcelona’s Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic. The Red Devils see Rakitic as an important piece of the puzzle, but the player is happy at Barcelona and United would have to make a huge contract offer in order to entice the former Schalke 04 man.

United willing to meet Rodri release cause

United are also interested in Atletico Madrid’s Rodri according Mundo Deportivo. The Old Trafford outfit are willing to pay the player’s €70m (£62.29m) release clause, but they will be rivalled by Bayern, Manchester City and PSG for his signature. Mundo Deportivo add, however, that the financial terms of a contract will not dictate the midfielder’s future.

Pogba to stay at Old Trafford

Despite previous interest, United have told Real Madrid that are not interested in discussing a potential transfer for Paul Pogba according to AS. The Frenchman is one of United’s most valuable assets and the club are not willing to see him make a move this summer.

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As reported by Portuguese outlet A Bola, Rafael Camacho is refusing to sign a new contract and wants to leave Liverpool.

Camacho made his senior debut for the Reds last season, playing all 90 minutes at right-back against Wolves as Jurgen Klopp’s side were knocked out of the FA Cup.

12 days later, the Portuguese youngster came off the bench against Crystal Palace to make his Premier League debut at Anfield, but he didn’t seem all too happy about being played in defence as he revealed in an eye-opening Instagram post a few months after his debut.

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“I do not know whose idea it is, but I will prove that they are mistaken about my football. I’m not a right defender, I’m an attacker who scores goals. This is my DNA.”

These are the words of the teenager after he hit a stunning hat-trick for Liverpool’s Under-23 side against their Leicester City counterparts, and it is quite apparent that he sees himself as an attacker.

To be honest, this is a terrible attitude for a young footballer to have.

As they work for a chance to get into the first team, a young player should be willing to play literally anywhere for the side – even in goal.

Nobody knows this better than Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold. The right-back has just become a Champions League winner at the age of 20, and recorded more assists than any other defender in Europe with a whopping 16 to his name.

Interestingly, however, Alexander-Arnold wasn’t always a right-back but took the role under his wing in order to get into the first-team.

He told the BBC: “When I was younger I was always a defensive centre-mid player – someone who liked to get on the ball and make things happen.

“I am happy to play wherever the boss wants me. At the moment he sees me as a full-back and I am happy there. It is important to bring in different dimensions to the position.”

This is a prime example of the attitude a young footballer should have, and one that has launched the academy graduate amongst some of the best players in Europe in his adopted position.

Camacho should put his career as a footballer ahead of his personal preferences, and try to take a leaf out of Alexander-Arnold’s book in terms of attitude.