All posts by n8rngtd.top

[ad_pod ]

Express & Star journalist Matt Wilson has had his say on the future of West Brom, issuing a huge concern after it was revealed per the same newspaper that Dwight Gayle wouldn’t be brought back to the club.

What’s the word?

With Gayle not returning due to financial reasons, Technical Director Luke Dowling faces a huge task on his hands this summer. Firstly he needs to get the appointment of a new manager right, and then he needs to get the recruitment spot on in terms of new playing staff too.

It was revealed this week in The Express & Star that the club could not afford to keep Gayle next season, such are the huge wages he’s on at Newcastle.

However, Wilson, who writes for the same publication, has issued massive concerns with where the club is heading under their current ownership, bemoaning the way Albion operate.

He wrote on The Express & Star website:

“Not signing him is symptomatic of an ownership model that appears to be gearing up for the first stage of a managed decline into mediocrity.

“It’s a damning indictment on the disparity between the Premier League and the Championship, but also a worrying forewarning of what’s to come under Guochuan Lai.”

West Brom must be worried

Wilson’s assessment of the situation is absolutely spot on; there should be huge worries for West Brom. The plan was never to stay in the division but they’re now left languishing in the Championship without the possibility of bringing back the player who could fire them to promotion.

Gayle’s 24 goals in Albion colours were massive in the club’s charge to the play-offs but without him there will be a real worry.

Besides the two strikers, there was a lack of quality in the squad. On paper, Aston Villa’s was far greater and that’s primarily down to the money their owners pumped into the club.

On the other hand, West Brom’s Guochuan Lai fails to provide much investment. The fact he doesn’t even attend games doesn’t help proceedings either.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

If the Baggies aren’t careful then as Wilson says, they could be on a one-way train to mediocrity. Birmingham and Blackburn to name a few have had problems rebuilding after relegation and that will now be Albion’s worst fear.

They can’t afford to let that happen.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left delighted with the news that Jan Vertonghen, Harry Kane and Davinson Sanchez have all taken part in first-team training this week.

Spurs, of course, are preparing for the Champions League final on June 1, when they will take on Liverpool in Madrid.

Kane has been a long-term absentee, having sustained ligament damage in the first leg of the quarter-final clash with Manchester City.

Vertonghen, meanwhile, played through an ankle injury in the second leg of the semi-final against Ajax as Spurs completed a scarcely believable comeback to win 3-2 in Amsterdam.

Sanchez has been working through a thigh injury and was not included in the squad to face Ajax or Everton in Spurs’ final Premier League game of the season.

And fans are delighted that the trio are back ahead of perhaps the biggest game in the club’s history.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

[ad_pod ]

Romelu Lukaku is keen on a move to Inter Milan, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

What’s the word?

The Manchester United striker has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford after an inconsistent season that saw him score 12 goals in 32 Premier League appearances.

Initially signed for £75m in the summer of 2017, the Belgian enjoyed a promising first season under Jose Mourinho scoring 27 goals in all competitions.

The goals have started to dry up this season and United are reportedly prepared to part ways for €70m (£61.73m).

Mistake in the making

United’s lack of patience with Lukaku is more than understandable. After paying the mammoth fee to prize the forward away from Everton, the United faithful were expecting a finished product, which Lukaku is not. Blessed with blistering pace and an eye for goal, Lukaku struggles with close control and can stray to the periphery of matches too often.

However, it would be a grave mistake for United to focus on his weaknesses and not give the former Anderlecht prodigy more time.

Lukaku’s strengths are what make him a special player and one that can explode into life at any point. Capable of scoring all kinds of goals, the powerful front-man can also create his own goals, a truly rare quality and the mark of a special striker.

His second effort against Chelsea in the 2016 FA Cup semi-final and his brace against Southampton this season showed this trait, while the 25 Premier League goals scored for Everton in 2015/2016 provides ample evidence of his ability to score to a high quantity.

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…

Even if United decide that Lukaku is not good enough, this deal makes little sense from a financial and personnel perspective. Selling a potential superstar for less than what was paid is financially dubious at best, while the dearth of available strikers makes finding a replacement tricky business.

Mauro Icardi could be on the move, but United would be best to avoid due to attitude issues. Luka Jovic could be another option, but his future seems set for the Bernabeu.

With Lukaku’s unique skill set and past track record, a sale could have huge negative ramifications. A deal is downright nonsensical with the costs being discussed and the lack of viable replacements.

Blackburn Rovers have been through the wringer over the past couple of decades!

Once a very successful club in the Premier League when it was first established, the Ewood Park outfit have had a number of disappointing campaigns and have certainly had their fair share of trials and tribulations.

The relegation to League One was especially hard on fans to witness as they saw their once-great club fall upon dire times, although a decent first season back in the Championship this year was promising.

Blackburn had the likes of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton leading the line, whilst a certain Tim Sherwood was playing a key role in the middle of the park for the blue-and-white outfit, however, the latter of the trio stopped potentially one of football’s greatest ever players to grace the turf at Ewood Park back in the 90s.

The One that Got Away – Zinedine Zidane and Blackburn Rovers

Yes, ‘Zizou’ or ‘ZZ’ was thought to have been a wanted man by then-manager Kenny Daglish as he looked to strengthen his side and continue to compete near the top of the Premier League table.

Just 23-years-old at the time, the Bordeaux man did not appear to do enough to convince owner Jack Walker that he was worth pursuing; not whilst good old Tim Sherwood was at the club.

According to quotes that were circulated (via The Sun), Walker asked Daglish: “Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?” As they say, the rest was history.

Well, the owner was truly made to eat his words just a few years later.
He signed for Juventus just a few seasons later and immediately made his name as one of the greatest to have ever played football. By the time he was 26, Zizou was a World Cup winner and had a Ballon d’Or to his name, whereas a certain Sherwood had only been capped by England a couple of times.
That was not the end of his list of honours though as he won a number of accolades and titles with the Serie A outfit, Real Madrid and the national side in a career that was full of silverware.
How much difference would Zidane have made to Blackburn Rovers’ history had he be signed we’ll never know but you would have thought that he would have surely made an impact at Ewood Park.
Nonetheless, what is not debatable is the fact that he would have to go down in the club’s history books as one of the biggest transfers that they missed out on and allowed to get away!
Blackburn fans, how disappointed were you to miss out on Zidane? Let us know your thoughts below!

[ad_pod ]

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Aston Villa are in the market for a new number one goalkeeper as the club prepare for life back in the Premier League.

What’s the word?

After achieving promotion it’s estimated that the Villans are in the hunt for as many as ten new players. That came just before the club released eight members of their playing staff over the weekend.

Outfielders Neal Maupay, Joe Lolley and Gary Cahill have all been subject of reports linking them with moves to Villa Park but there also seems to be interest in strengthening their goalkeeping department.

At the top of their priorities seems to be bringing in a new number one stopper.

That’s per Nixon who has made claims that Lovre Kalinic could be loaned out in the process.

Big mistake

The fact of the matter is that Aston Villa don’t need a new goalkeeper. The amount of turnover in that position has been incredible, particularly in the last year.

In 2018/19 the club signed three goalkeepers, bringing in Kalinic in January after the arrivals of Orjan Nyland and Andre Moreira last summer.

So the fact that Jed Steer was able to nail down a spot ahead of them in the final months of the season just goes to show it’s an area they don’t need to focus on.

Steer came into the season with a mistake in him, making an absolute howler against Dynamo Dresden in a pre-season friendly.

However, after being loaned to Charlton, he returned to the Midlands in January like a man possessed.

His performances were influential in Villa’s promotion charge and without the penalty heroics against West Brom, they may well have been faced with another season in the Championship.

The 26-year-old more than deserves a chance to see if he can nail down a place in the Premier League next campaign.

Villa would be wasting precious resources by signing another keeper and as a result, it would be a monumental mistake if they brought in someone to replace him.

Steer has been exceptional and it would be foolish to consider demoting him.

[ad_pod ]

And now it’s finally official: Daniel James made up his mind and is finally donning the Manchester red. A signing that was long on the cards has finally gone through and this electric youngster has arrived at Old Trafford and is ready to make a big impact in the foreseeable future.

This 21-year-old winger could very well be the breath of fresh air United needed and because of that, here are two main reasons he will be a huge hit at Old Trafford…

The numbers don’t lie

It’s quite easy to get carried away with emerging new talents as we are so often seduced by their flashy styles and quick development. But James’ contribution to Swansea City cannot really be disputed, especially after glancing at the pure numbers behind it. Four goals and a total of nine assists in his last Championship campaign for the Swans really do speak for themselves. Even when he’s compared to current Manchester United players, the 21-year-old is not far behind – albeit playing in a division of lesser quality.

And, of course, James has his age as one of his biggest advantages over most of his rivals at the club.

Dissecting the figures even further, we find out that he ranked third in the Championship for fast breaks per 90 minutes last season, and fifth among the players with the most shots in the league. Additionally, only four players recorded more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes than James in his latest campaign. If that doesn’t excite you, barely anything will.

The sky is the limit

At 21 years of age, James has the whole world ahead of him. His journey in English football has barely begun! With proper management, which will surely play a major role in his development, he could become an important player for the Red Devils.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems pretty convinced Manchester United is the right place for James to continue his career and he is excited to have him on his team. Honestly, we couldn’t agree more, and it’s now down to Ole to lead the youngster properly.

Ultimately, in a market where talented young players can be difficult to sign for a modest fee, Manchester United have done fairly well to acquire one for £15m.

With only a reported £45 million to spend this summer according to football.london, it is likely to be an interesting transfer window for Arsenal.

After missing out on Champions League football for a third season in a row, this summer could see plenty of Arsenal first-teamers who have been with the squad for some time to be sold in order to bring new blood into the club, and one position that is likely to see developments is central-defence.

Shkodran Mustafi infuriated supports to no end with a slew of comedic defensive errors that cost Arsenal important points whereas Laurent Koscielny’s Achilles heel injury showed it’s extent as the now 33-year-old defender looked his age for most of the campaign, which is why it’s no surprise defenders have been linked with a move to north London, and a new name has come up.

According to Le 10 Sport, Unai Emery is a big fan of PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe, who could be shown the exit door this summer if the French super club splash the cash on Dutch wonderkid Matthijs de Ligt, who the Guardian report has had an offer from the Ligue 1 champions.

A reunion between Emery and Kimpembe, on paper at least, sounds like a positive and ambitious signing for the Gunners, but when you look into the numbers from WhoScored, it paints a picture that maybe the World Cup winner isn’t exactly what Arsenal need.

Compared to Sokratis and Mustafi last season, Kimpembe only outranks the duo in tackles won per 90 with 2.3 and the least amount of fouls conceded per game at 1.2, and that is with the French defender playing fewer games that both defenders.

The Gunners should be looking for a centre-back who is by far and away an improvement on what they currently have given the fact they conceded the second most amount of goals out of sides in the top-six, and for what PSG will likely be expecting for Kimpembe, the 23-year-old is simply a risk not worth taking for Arsenal.

Arsenal fans, what centre-back should the club sign this summer? Let us know!

With Matt Clarke to Brighton now a done deal, Portsmouth’s attention now turns to signing his successor.

The 22-year-old defender leaves a gaping hole in the Pompey defence that will need to be filled this summer, and with a reported £3.5 million received for Clarke via the Argus, Kenny Jackett won’t be short of cash to spend on a suitable replacement, and an interesting name has already popped up.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Portsmouth are keen on Blackpool defender Curtis Tilt but face a financial barrier for the centre-back’s signature in terms of sorting out a transfer fee with the Seasiders as well as finalising personal demands for the 27-year-old, but these obstacles could be worth knocking down for Pompey.

Tilt was a standout performer for Terry McPhillips’ side last season, playing in 42 games for Blackpool and notching up a decent four goals and three assists for the League One club, and given his impressive form with the former Premier League side last campaign, the centre-back could be a solid replacement for Clarke.

As well as being an experienced pro and five years older than Clarke, Tilt’s physicality and imposing presence in defence — with sports writer Tim Nash describing him as a centre-back with sheer size and strength (via North Wales Live) — is something the now Brighton defender missed greatly in his game.

Standing three inches taller than Clarke, Tilt’s height and impressive goalscoring record will add another layer to Portsmouth’s defence, and with £3.5 million to spend on finding a replacement, Pompey can’t get much better than the Blackpool man.

Portsmouth fans, would Tilt be a good replacement for Clarke? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]

West Ham United want to sign both West Brom striker Salomon Rondon and Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez this summer, a source at the club has confirmed to Football FanCast.

The Hammers made a £10m bid for Rondon earlier this week and included two players within the offer: right-back Sam Byram and striker Jordan Hugill. West Ham remain open to offers for both players.

The idea within the club was that a bid could capitalise on the uncertainty at Newcastle United, with whom Rondon spent last season on loan. The Magpies have allowed Rafael Benitez to leave, throwing their transfer policy into doubt.

Rondon scored 12 goals during his spell at St James’ Park.

That bid was quickly rejected but, now, there is an expectation that the Irons will table another offer before the end of the transfer window.

Rondon is deemed as the perfect back-up to both Marko Arnautovic and, potentially, Gomez, if he is acquired from Celta.

The Baggies forward has a £16.5m release clause in his contract but the Hammers would like to do business at a lower price. It remains to be seen if an improved offer would be accepted or if West Brom would insist on receiving the full cost of his release clause.

Gomez also has a clause within his contract, that stands at €50m (£44.7m), and Director of Football Mario Husillos is involved in protracted negotiations with the Liga club over a transfer.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It remains to be seen if a compromise can be reached after an initial £25m bid was rejected.

Celta are in no rush to sell and would prefer to see the clause met but the Hammers are hopeful of striking an agreement.

Manuel Pellegrini has specifically requested the signing of Gomez, sources have confirmed, and he is also keen to work alongside Rondon again, having managed him at Malaga.

The Hammers have already allowed both Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll to leave the club, while Javier Hernandez is also deemed expendable, so it’s feasible to think they could replace the departed duo with the south American pair, whose asking prices combined come to £61.2m.

If the Mexico international departs the club as well, they will be left with Arnautovic as their only senior out-and-out striker until signings are made.

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Everton confirmed the loan departure of flop of the century Sandro Ramirez this week, and fans will surely not believe what Brazilian legend Ronaldo thinks about the striker.

What’s the word?

Sandro will join La Liga outfit Real Valladolid on a season-long loan, reports the BBC.

The 23 year-old made the switch to the Toffees in the summer of 2017 for a fee of £5.2m, but he featured just 16 times for the senior side, scoring once.

Ronaldo though, who owns 51% of Valladolid, could not contain his excitement at the signing.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

According to El Gol Digital, translated by Sport Witness, the two-time World Cup winner “trusts the ability” of his club’s new arrival.

It goes on to say he believes the Spaniard will be a “very interesting piece capable of adapting to several positions, defining a set piece and with an experience that will come very well to Real Valladolid.”

Is this a joke?

While you wouldn’t expect the majority shareholder of a club to talk down about a new signing, one has to suspect Ronaldo hasn’t actually watched Sandro play since he joined Everton.

After departing Goodison on loan to Sevilla, he failed to score in 18 games for the club, and then didn’t muster a single strike in 26 showings on loan with Real Sociedad.

Yes, you read that right – Sandro has not scored in 44 games out on loan, meaning the last time he bagged a professional goal at any level was November 2017, when he struck Everton’s lone goal in a 5-1 mauling by Atalanta.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

So, the 23 year-old has scored one goal in 60 appearances since swapping Malaga for Merseyside, and given how Toffees fans feel about his quality, one has to wonder if they will even believe this is the same Ronaldo who slammed in 291 club goals in his career on top of 62 for his country.