All posts by z3u9t.icu

A number of West Brom supporters have been reacting positively to the news that the Baggies have signed defender Kean Bryan.

Valerien Ismael’s side have made an excellent start to the Championship season, winning four and drawing one of their opening five matches.

It means West Brom sit second in the table and they look like strong contenders to return to the Premier League for the 2022/23 campaign.

On Monday, The Telegraph‘s John Percy took to Twitter to claim that the Baggies are on the verge of signing Bryan, who is a free agent after leaving Sheffield United in the summer. The move has now been confirmed by The Athletic‘s Steve Madeley.

He is seen as someone who will add defensive cover, especially as the Baggies are currently without Dara O’Shea and Matt Clarke.

West Brom fans react to Bryan signing

These West Brom fans provided their positive thoughts in response to Percy’s tweet, as Ismael makes another addition to his squad.

“Sensible given the current situation. Not a signing that blows your socks off but adequate cover nevertheless”

Credit: @AllAlbion

“Just give us the trophy now”

Credit: @BradSmith_24

“We sign who we want, we sign who we wantttt”

Credit: @NatGWx

“All for this, can play in a few different positions apparently”

Credit: @jackdavies167

“Shrewd bit of business. All over this”

Credit: @danielbowenn

“Good decision from the club”

Credit: @liamjackjones

In other news, one team are reportedly interested in signing a West Brom player next summer. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United have suffered an injury blow to Robin Koch ahead of their Premier League encounter with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

What’s the story?

The Germany international played the full 90 minutes in the Whites’ opening day clash against Manchester United, but has not been seen since due to injury.

Ahead of today’s game against Jurgen Klopp’s side, it has been confirmed by Marcelo Bielsa that the versatile centre-back has once again been ruled out of action.

A pelvic issue sidelined him out of the games against Everton and Burnley, and that appears to be the case once more.

Bielsa will now be worried

While the Whites can call upon options from the likes of Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper, this latest news on Koch is sure to have left Bielsa worried.

The German had a injury-hit debut campaign at Elland Road last season, playing just 17 times in the Premier League and missing a number of games with a knee problem between December and March.

It was quite telling that, in April, reports emerged that Bielsa thought the 25-year-old was too soft to be an elite Premier League player and felt that the likes of Llorente, Cooper and Pascal Struijk had all overtaken him in the pecking order.

That’s a far cry from what Vincenzo Grifo, Koch’s former teammate at Freiburg, told The Athletic, saying: “He’s very vocal at the back and he loves to have the game in front of him. He’s an outstanding organiser. His improvement is incredibly rapid, including in the national team, and he’s on a path to become a world-class player, a monster centre-back.”

Former Whites defender Tony Dorigo dubbed him a “rock” in Leeds’ central defence last year, but his injury history is now beginning to take a real toll on his chances of establishing himself in this side anytime soon.

The £8.5m-rated ace’s latest absence is sure to be a cause of concern now for Bielsa.

Meanwhile, Adam Pope has dropped a Leeds United transfer update…

Ramon Vega’s representatives have contacted Celtic over a possible return to Parkhead, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: McKay’s exit

Dominic McKay left his role as CEO earlier this month after just 72 days in the role.

Celtic cited personal reasons for his departure, however, it has since emerged that he could have jumped before he was pushed in regards to his position at the club.

Michael Nicholson is in temporary charge, however, Vega was tipped as one of five candidates to replace McKay, and it seems as if the former Hoops defender has taken the first steps over a possible return.

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The Latest: Contact made

The Scottish Sun shared a story late on Friday evening regarding Vega.

They claimed that the 50-year-old’s representatives have been in touch about the vacancy at Celtic Park following McKay’s exit.

Vega wants to become the club’s new chief executive and has thrown his hat in the ring.

The Verdict: A shrewd move?

With Vega reportedly keen on making a Celtic return, it could make sense for Parkhead chiefs to explore his credentials to potentially replace McKay in the long run.

Since retiring as a player, Vega has been in business and has also worked as an adviser to a number of clubs.

He’s set up his own management company and even attempted to land a senior role within FIFA two years ago, so talking to the ex-defender could be a smart move.

In other news: ‘Absolute madness’ – Many Celtic fans fume as ‘ridiculous’ news is confirmed. 

A number of West Brom supporters have been praising Adam Reach’s performance in the 2-1 win over QPR, claiming he has proved them wrong.

The Baggies were in Championship action on Friday night, looking to put an end to three successive draws in the competition.

A disastrous start saw QPR take the lead through Andre Gray with just 43 seconds on the clock, but Valerien Ismael’s side produced a spirited comeback.

Karlan Grant equalised with the help of some poor goalkeeping by Seny Dieng in the second half, before the striker clinched all three points with a late strike.

Someone who played well for West Brom was Reach, who beforehand had failed to get going in a Baggies shirt and received some criticism from fans, having joined from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer.

West Brom fans react to Reach display

These West Brom fans took to Twitter to heap praise on the 28-year-old, following his improved showing.

“Reach was class today”

Credit: @Hayden_K_R

“Yeah 100%. Reach ain’t as bad as I first thought”

Credit: @WBADyl

“Reach is a handy player to have, good business by us. I don’t think he’s brilliant or even above average. But he does what’s required”

Credit: @LiamCooper_20

“I rate Adam Reach. Liked him at Sheffield Wednesday he can put a good ball in the box”

Credit: @JamesDu42894776

“I think Reach has done well overall. Poor at Preston but he wasn’t alone in that, but decent against Derby and again yesterday. Yes, Townsend probably regains the spot when the centre-backs are fit but Reach has done a handy job”

Credit: @SteveMadeley78

“Really smart play from Reach here. Pulls his marker inside, frees Townsend and gives him time to receive. Also giving Grant and Townsend a 2v1. Drifts into pocket of space between the lines. Good layoff first time. Acts as a blocker to give Grant more time to shoot”

Credit: @AnalyticsWba

In other news, one pundit has highlighted a key ‘problem’ that West Brom face currently. Read more here.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has provided an injury update on Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong… 

What’s the latest?

The Saints manager has confirmed that the 29-year-old will not be available to face Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Scotland international is yet to make an appearance for the Saints this season and Hasenhuttl has not given a timeline on his return.

The Austrian told the Daily Echo: “Theo Walcott was back in training today for first time in a long time, and the rest yeah so far fit, Stuey (Armstrong) still unavailable and that’s it.

“Stuey has not been training with the group, and yes Theo was this week starting with the team sessions so it will take time until he’s on the level but it’s good to have him back, and important to give him training sessions with the team.”

Frustration

Southampton fans will surely be frustrated by Hasenhuttl’s update on Armstrong. He has not explained how long the midfielder is set to be sidelined, which could also cause concern amongst supporters who are keen to see him back in action.

The 29-year-old has proven to be a reliable performer for Southampton on the wing in recent campaigns and his continued absence will frustrate fans who want to see him on the pitch. Hasenhuttl has not been able to give them a date for his potential return, with the only information being that he will be out against Wolves.

Last year, the Saints manager lauded the former Celtic man as hard-working and praised his ability to play his role in the 4-2-2-2 formation. 

The 54-year-old said: “In a 4-2-2-2 with two No10 positions, that chance was a bigger one. When we changed the shape, he was there at the right moment and showed up.

“From that moment on, he showed me he can be a No10 that is disciplined and is hard-working against the ball which is what I expect from him.

“It’s a very demanding position and you must be smart and disciplined for this position.”

This shows how highly Hasenhuttl rates the £48k-per-week beast and illustrates why his absence is such a blow for the Saints. Last season, Armstrong provided four goals and five assists in 32 Premier League starts, averaging a SofaScore rating of 6.76.

His ability to remain consistent whilst also chipping in with goals and assists, along with working hard in the number ten role, is why he is a big miss in the team at the moment. Southampton fans will surely be hoping that he is back in action sooner rather than later.

AND in other news, Hasenhuttl eyeing Southampton swoop for 20 y/o “special talent”, fans will be buzzing…

Out-of-favour Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks has handed Nuno Santo a fresh selection headache ahead of this weekend’s return to Premier League action.

The north London outfit eased past Slovenian outfit NS Mura in the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday night, defeating them 5-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Englishman excelled upon his return to the side.

Winks has struggled for game time over the past year or so, having started only nine league games last season and just once under the Portuguese so far this campaign.

There was talk during the summer transfer window that the 25-year-old was up for sale, with the likes of Everton and Aston Villa interested in his signature.

He was handed just his fourth start of the 2021/22 campaign on Thursday night and he clearly played with a point to prove.

The ten-time England international is neither an anchorman nor a playmaker, he’s the sort of no.8 who will sit in the hole and look to dictate play from the engine room. Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino once described him as the “perfect” midfielder and compared him to Spain greats Andres Iniesta and Xavi.

But in recent times, his career in N17 has been called into question. The Times’ Gary Jacob suggested only last month that Winks’ career was at a crossroads and his performances had been ‘stale’.

Handed a rare appearance against Mura, Winks not only did his job to great effect, but he also displayed characteristics we’ve not seen in a very long time.

“[He] made Lo Celso’s goal with fine forward pass and had plenty of possession as Spurs tried to build attacks through the midfield, rather than bypassing it,” claimed the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick in his post-match ratings column, where he graded the Englishman a seven out of ten.

SofaScore rated him a little higher at 7.7, which was the fourth-best of the 16 Spurs players to feature on Thursday night.

Winks recorded the most touches (104) of anyone on the pitch in north London, meaning he was certainly a key cog in Nuno’s setup and a lot of their play ran through him.

As a result, he provided a whopping three key passes from his 92 successful distributions (96% accuracy rate). Of course, the opposition are no great shakes, but considering his career average is 0.5 per game, it’s a rather astonishing return.

He did his defensive duties, too, as he registered two tackles, one clearance and one interception, whilst he also won seven of his nine battles in the heart of midfield (77.7%), via SofaScore.

The £18m-rated midfielder, who is thought to be earning around £75k-per-week, will now surely be on Nuno’s mind heading into the weekend when they return to Premier League action.

Spurs have suffered three straight heavy top-flight defeats and face Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. One of the Portuguese’s biggest problems has been finding the right balance in midfield and now Winks’ surprisingly creative display poses a fresh and pretty big dilemma over team selection.

Does Nuno stick or twist with the Hotspur Way dud? Only time will tell, but what is certain is that the Englishman has thrown his name into the hat ahead of kick-off.

AND in other news, Forget Kane: £18m-rated Spurs beast who won 75% duels ran the show for Nuno vs NS Mura…

According to The Sunday Mirror (10/10; page 71), via The Boot Room, Nuno Espirito Santo’s spell at Tottenham is already in heavy danger, with Daniel Levy prepared to pay the £15m compensation package needed to hire Graham Potter.

The Lowdown: Nuno under pressure

Nuno was hired to replace Jose Mourinho as the next permanent Spurs manager in the summer, but things have not gone too well for him so far.

After winning each of his first three Premier League games 1-0, Spurs have won just two of their seven matches since then, including a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in the north London derby (Sky Sports).

The Latest: Levy eyes Potter

As per this latest report, Levy already has a replacement lined up for Nuno if the two go their separate ways.

The Spurs chairman will move to try and take Potter to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and is prepared to pay £15m in compensation to prise him away from Brighton, who are concerned that an approach from the north Londoners is inevitable.

The Verdict: Right target

Given the job Potter is doing on the south coast, it is not hard to see why Levy is interested in the 46-year-old. So far this season, Brighton have won six of their nine matches, which works out a win percentage of 67%, and have lost just once. The Seagulls duly sit in a very respectable sixth place in the Premier League.

£15m is a large fee, of course, but having the right manager is just as important, if not more so, than the players in his charge. Potter has earned the right to move to a club with larger chances of success and bigger budgets, although it is not sure whether he would be eager to make the move.

In other news, Jose Mourinho’s stance on this Spurs player has been praised

Crystal Palace have made a promising start to life under new manager Patrick Vieira, with several exciting and entertaining performances breathing fresh hope into the capital club.

Draws against the likes of West Ham United and Leicester City have been backed up by a memorable win over Tottenham Hotspur, but that victory remains the only time that the Eagles have secured all three points this season.

That disappointing record is in part down to Palace’s underperforming attack. Their total of eight goals from their opening seven Premier League games is worse than 19th-placed Newcastle United’s, highlighting the issues Vieira’s charges have faced in the final third.

Although there have been signs of improvement in recent weeks, the south London outfit have still only found the back of the net from open play twice in their last three fixtures.

However, the solution could be a rather simple one for Vieira and co. Struggling forward Jordan Ayew has started six league games this season but has so far been unable to end his lengthy goal drought dating back to 7 November 2020.

The 30-year-old forward has begun to look bereft of confidence in front of goal of late, hampering Palace’s attacks, and the time for a change has arguably come.

Teenage winger Michael Olise arrived from Championship outfit Reading for just £8m in July and is yet to feature from the off for the Selhurst Park outfit due to an injury.

However, the former France U18’s international made up for lost time last time out, bagging his first goal for his new club with a stunning volley against the Foxes, scoring only eight minutes after coming off the substitutes bench.

And while Ayew is currently low on self-belief, confidence is a quality that Olise has never lacked. Former Royals teammate Sam Baldock outlined the youngster’s assertiveness following an outstanding showing against Nottingham Forest last term.

“Michael is a real talent, he’ll get on the ball in any situation. He’s fearless, if you ask him today, I’ll guarantee that he had no nerves,” the striker revealed.

With an Arsenal side yet to fully gel coming up next for Palace, Vieira must unleash his £13.5m-rated wing wizard against a potentially vulnerable Gunners side.

Olise could have a huge impact at the Emirates Stadium if he’s trusted to make his first start of the campaign, his manager just needs to be brave enough to give the teenager a platform to perform on the biggest of stages.

And, in other news…Palace receive big injury boost ahead of Arsenal, Vieira will be buzzing

Tottenham Hotspur slumped to defeat in a London derby against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Nuno Santo’s first-choice starting XI followed up from the second string’s 1-0 defeat in midweek with a narrow loss of their own as the Lilywhites badly struggled to create much at all.

The second half saw Spurs fail to register a single attempt on goal, a worrying sign considering they were chasing the game after 72 minutes and another sign that their old problems had been masked by recent results.

Irons talisman Michail Antonio tapped home from close range after Aaron Cresswell’s pinpoint corner but the north Londoners could not find a way back into the match, let alone ever get going.

As a result of their impotence in the final third, plenty of the visiting Spurs faithful were quick to blast the performance of Harry Kane, their leading and solitary striker.

“Completely passive,” “I actively hate him,” and “the worst player on the pitch all game” were just three phrases used to describe the England international in response to Press Association journalist Jonathan Veal.

But truth be told, he had very little to feed off and that boils down to Nuno’s creative options.

Heung-min Son leads the squad for this aspect, averaging two key passes per league game, but on the day, he was uninspiring, weak and rather lacklustre – perhaps for the first time this season.

As per SofaScore, the South Korean sensation recorded the lowest rating (6.4) of any Spurs star and that’s because he managed only one shot all game, which is 1.6 attempts below his season average, further suggesting he was under-par.

Elsewhere, he missed one big chance, which clearly proved costly in the end as his side were defeated. He was also the only player to not win a single duel, despite five attempts.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick rated him as poorly as Kane (5/10) and claimed: Had a hesitant afternoon by his standards and could not make the most of two good openings in the first half.’

Son also lost possession 13 times from 54 touches, effectively once every four touches or once every 6.9 minutes, as per SofaScore. Furthermore, none of his six crossing attempts found someone in a white shirt, so no it’s no wonder the Spurs striker struggled overall.

So forget Kane, the £45m-rated star badly let Nuno down at the London Stadium but given his record in recent times, he will undoubtedly bounce back, with Burnley in the Carabao Cup and then Manchester United next weekend.

AND in other news, Nuno must offload “average” £18m-rated Spurs passenger, he “looks a shadow of himself”…

The dust has barely settled on Monday night’s dramatic draw and Arsenal are already back in Premier League action as they welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates Stadium tonight.

Mikel Arteta’s side made it five league games unbeaten after Alexandre Lacazette poked home a last-gasp equaliser against Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace here just days ago.

It was far from the ideal performance overall, though, and that was the second game in a row in which the Gunners have looked uninspiring, so it will be interesting to see what sort of team the Spaniard opts for today.

Here’s what we are predicting…

Arteta hinted at potential injury troubles before the match but did not name the players in question, though Bukayo Saka was one player withdrawn early on Monday night. He may not be involved here, so there could be two changes to the starting XI from the Palace game.

In the England international’s place, we could see Monday’s hero Lacazette make a return to the line-up. That would mean the side needs to reshuffle slightly, so Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is deployed on the left flank, with Nicolas Pepe keeping his place on the right.

Through the middle, Emile Smith Rowe gets the nod once again, but there may be no place for Martin Odegaard after the £36m-rated maestro disappointed in another outing.

Once dubbed a “phenomenon” by journalist Lars Sivertsen to The Athletic, the Norwegian’s returns have not been good enough since signing on a permanent basis, with only one goal and one assist across all competitions.

Instead, Arteta may opt for the more defensively-minded Albert Sambi Lokonga (21) to partner Thomas Partey at the base of the engine room.

The Gunners’ back four and goalkeeper will likely remain unchanged once again, so Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu will be at full-back, with Gabriel and Benjamin White through the middle. They’ll be in front of another summer signing in Aaron Ramsdale.

AND in other news, Edu could secure Alexis Sanchez 2.0 in Arsenal swoop for £18m-rated “fox in the box”…