All posts by z3u9t.icu

[ad_pod ]

A much-changed Southampton side were put to the sword by West Ham at the weekend – a result that, admittedly, means very little to the Saints, whose Premier League survival was secured with a point at St Mary’s Stadium in the previous game, although one player’s performance stood out for all the wrong reasons.

Shane Long has been in great form for the south coast outfit in recent weeks but he was back to his old ways, or perhaps worse, against the Hammers on Saturday. With his future at the club uncertain, will a horror display like this one come back to haunt him when push comes to shove in the summer?

On the chalkboard

The 32-year-old scored some crucial goals for Southampton in April, netting four times in five appearances and impressing with his drive and work-rate – two things that Ralph Hasenhuttl holds highly.

For a long time, the Irishman’s sole purpose was to put pressure on defenders, with the sacrifice in terms of potency in front of goal made in favour of the energy he offers. However, in finding his shooting boots again, the number 7 seemed the perfect fit for Hasenhuttl’s high octane approach and has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

Unfortunately, he was unable to keep up his solid run of form and instead took a big, big step backwards at the London Stadium, with his contributions to the team as minimal as it gets.

Why should Southampton be more like Dortmund? Find out in the video below…

A Long afternoon

The former Hull City man attempted zero shots on goal and completed zero dribbles, while his defensive contribution – something  he prides himself on, surely – was also non-existent, as he completed zero tackles and zero interceptions.

Completing a team-low (for players who played more than 45 minutes) 23 passes, the hitman struggled to link up with his teammates, too; it’s certainly difficult to make a case for him to remain at St Mary’s Stadium based on his latest showing. If he has another stinker against Huddersfield next time out, his future will surely be in major doubt.

[ad_pod ]

Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola would be replacing Manuel Pellegrini way back in February 2016, and it was a moment which proved that the Citizens meant business.

The Spaniard has blown away Spain, Germany and now England with his all conquering style of football.

Guardiola’s death-by-possession ethos and the way in which he can get his sides to slice opposition defences apart has seen him win titles everywhere he’s been; he won La Liga on three occasions, the Bundesliga three times also, and has just overseen his Manchester City side’s second successive Premier League victory.

Relive all the drama of Man City v Spurs through the eyes Spurs’ fans in the video below…

There’s this stereotype about the English game, that it is mostly all rough-and-tumble, you have to be physical, you have to do this and that to succeed.

Stan Collymore’s comments after Guardiola’s City side lost 4-2 to Leicester – just six months into his time in England, mind – were akin to the aforementioned claims, and now look extremely foolish seeing as Guardiola has revolutionised the quality of English football.

Collymore said, per Daily Mirror: “If he thinks he’s going to turn up and outplay everybody in the Premier League, and that teams like Watford, Leicester, Bournemouth, Southampton and Crystal Palace are going to let his Manchester City side have the ball for 90 per cent of the time and pass pretty patterns around them so they can get a result, then he is absolutely deluded.

“In fact, he is beyond deluded. And if he thinks he doesn’t need to teach tackling or one-on-one combat in training then he’ll be going back to Spain with his tail between his legs.”

That last part was in reference to Guardiola saying that he doesn’t train his City players to tackle, which is fine; I would rather trust the ethos of football’s current greatest manager than I would Stan Collymore.

The Citizens have recorded 198 points over the course of their last two league campaigns under Guardiola, becoming centurions in 2017/18 and, despite Collymore thinking otherwise, have swept aside the likes of Watford, Leicester, Bournemouth, Southampton and Crystal Palace.

Look at this graph to further reduce Collymore’s footballing opinion into mere nothingness. (Keep an eye on the tackling stats!)

Does anything more need to be said?

[ad_pod ]

Newcastle United are set to rebuff any advances from Manchester United for Sean Longstaff this summer, as reported by The Evening Chronicle.

Are Man United interested?

Sky Sports claimed on Friday that the Old Trafford side were showing interest in 21-year-old as they look to build a squad of young, home-grown talent that can develop into trophy winners in Manchester.

The Chronicle though cite St James’ Park sources that insist the central midfielder is not for sale this summer, with the player said to be happy with his situation in the north east and the club ready to reward his form this season with a new contract.

There’s plenty of behind the scenes work to do before reaching that negotiation point though, with the club still working on retaining the services of manager Rafa Benitez.

Why is Longstaff so important?

After loan spells at Kilmarnock and Blackpool in previous years, the young talent finally made his senior debut for the Magpies this season, impressing Benitez enough to start a string of matches in the English Premier League between December and March.

Loose cannon or vital cog in the Newcastle’s machine? The Magpie Channel think it would be a mistake to sell the player in the video below…

Sadly a knee injury cut his season short, but not before being earmarked by Newcastle fans as a talent to build a team around going forward.

His manager tipped him for England honours back in February and there’s real hope he can fulfil his potential at St James’ Park.

Newcastle haven’t exactly been known for their transfer investment in recent years, but if they won’t pursue big deals then it’s even more important they can retain their exciting young players.

It’s a viable squad strategy and although fans will be hoping to see quality arrive in the upcoming transfer window, they’ll equally be keen to nurture Longstaff’s talent and ensure he gets plenty of first-team opportunities next season.

[ad_pod ]

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is concerned he could end up losing club captain James Tavernier in the upcoming transfer window, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

The Ibrox boss will know as well as anyone that the next few months will likely end up defining the coming season for Rangers.

Recruitment is absolutely key both in terms of incoming talent and retaining the core of their squad. If the decision makers at the club don’t get it right then they have no chance of catching Celtic in the Scottish Premiership again.

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

For Gerrard, one of the big concerns is the club’s ability to retain the services of right-back and captain Tavernier, admitting that every player has his price if buying teams want him badly enough.

He opened up on the issue this weekend, telling The Scottish Sun:

Whenever a transfer window opens, there’s interest in Tav. He has been so consistent and, for me as a manager, he’s been there for every game and every training session. It’s been me who’s pulled him away from it at times. If I didn’t he’d have played in every game.

He’s got the body and capacity for any league out there. In saying all of that, I want him in this league and in my team.

There have been calls about Tav with clubs interested. I am sure there still is. We’ve got a fantastic captain/manager relationship. We know his agent very well and, as with any player, I’m open to these chats at any time.

The reality is, and I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but every player has his price.

Every manager up and down the UK has the same issues. But I can’t be any clearer, I want my best players to stay at Rangers and Tav certainly comes into that bracket.

Clearly Gerrard is expecting more interest in the player ahead of the 2019/20 season, but Rangers must resist the temptation to sell him for at least one more season because losing him could mean kissing goodbye to major honours again next term.

Is anyone ready to replace him?

Tavernier only has Jon Flanagan and Matt Polster as back-up currently, neither of whom are viable reliable replacements for what Tavernier offers his team. Flanagan’s form has been inconsistent since joining last summer and Polster is entirely untested.

With 17 goals and 20 assists throughout 2018/19, the attacking efforts of Tavernier from right-back are unparalleled in Scottish football and losing that direct contribution would clearly impact on the amount of points Rangers win in the league next term.

Even if he is sold for decent money, finding a quality replacement in the position would be exceptionally difficult when entering the transfer market. It’s a notoriously difficult area of the park to recruit in, as evidenced by Celtic’s recent problems.

The only option Rangers have is to keep him, with this upcoming season crucially important for the Gerrard project. If a trophy or two is won then it could be time to cash in and usher in a new era, but this is a team still on the up and losing their captain would be a major setback.

[ad_pod ]

According to the Evening Standard, Everton are in pole position to land Danny Welbeck on a free transfer once his contract with Arsenal comes to an end.

The England international is being let go by the Gunners after a campaign in which he barely featured, netting just five goals before he was ruled out for the season with a broken ankle in early November.

Even if he had managed to stay fit all year, it is questionable as to why Everton even want the 28-year-old in the first place.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Welbeck has hit just 70 goals in his entire career as a footballer, roughly the same amount as Mohamed Salah has scored in just two seasons as a Liverpool player.

Those strikes have come in a whopping 311 appearances, meaning that the former Manchester United man averages a goal every 4.4 games – that isn’t all too good for a striker who is reportedly set to be offered a contract in excess of £100,000-a-week.

Another striker that the Toffees have been linked with is Fulham marksman Aleksandar Mitrovic, a man much more familiar with the net than Welbeck.

The Serbian international is four years younger than the Arsenal forward, but has already managed to score almost 40 more goals than him across his career.

Mitrovic has managed to bag 109 goals in just 289 games, which works out at a goal every 2.7 games; a much more respectable figure.

The former Anderlecht man cost Fulham £22m when they signed him from Newcastle, so they will presumably hope to get their money back at least.

However, that fee will be offset by the fact that Mitrovic currently earns £60,000-a-week compared to Welbeck’s £125,000-a-week earnings in north London – the transfer fee shouldn’t really be an issue when you take into account that huge difference in wages.

All things considered, Mitrovic would be a much better option for Everton than Welbeck.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur fans continue to sweat over the fitness of Harry Kane.

The England striker has reportedly confirmed that he is fit to play in the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday in Madrid.

There remains genuine intrigue over manager Mauricio Pochettino’s selection, however, with Lucas Moura having scored a hat-trick against Ajax in the semi-final; will he be dropped?

The fact of the matter, though, is this: It is Winks who is the most important Harry for Spurs this weekend, not Kane.

Winks is an exceptional midfield player and he too is a fitness doubt. He hasn’t played for the club since April, missing the second leg against Manchester City in the quarter-finals and both legs of the encounter with Ajax, and has recently undergone groin surgery.

Without him, Spurs have lacked control in midfield. Victor Wanyama started all of the three games that Winks missed and has, quite frankly, looked out of his depth.

That is perhaps not his fault but Ajax ran rings around him in the semi-finals and, in Amsterdam, he was substituted and replaced by Fernando Llorente at half-time.

Having the England international in the centre of the pitch, though, has a two-pronged effect on the club’s midfield. Firstly, Spurs have a greater opportunity to dominate possession and dictate proceedings. And secondly, Moussa Sissoko is freed up and allowed to drive forward, influencing the game in the final third.

Per WhoScored, across nine Champions League games, Winks averages one key pass per game, along with a 90.7% pass completion rate.

He makes 1.8 tackles per game, 0.8 interceptions and plays 2.6 long balls. This is a player who does really well whenever he’s on the pitch and while he doesn’t have one particularly standout skill, he is remarkably efficient at pretty much everything.

Wanyama, by comparison, is slow and ponderous on the turn, while Eric Dier is essentially worse than the Kenyan in every single area, bar free-kicks.

Winks’ return to fitness, then, could be the key to Spurs winning the midfield battle, dominating possession and creating chances.

If Kane is out, it is expected that one of Lucas, Son Heung-Min, Christian Eriksen or Dele Alli will step up. Without Winks, Spurs’ hopes rest on Wanyama and Dier.

He is quite clearly the most important returnee this weekend.

[ad_pod ]

Celtic are interested in signing Bolton Wanderers midfielder Luca Connell this summer, according to The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

Connell’s contract at the English side expires this summer and with his team having suffered relegation to League One last season amid financial difficulties it looks like he could be set for bigger things.

The paper say Sheffield United, Norwich City and Wolves, all now Premier League outfits, are keen on signing the 18-year-old after impressing on his breakthrough to the Bolton team.

Celtic meanwhile are also interested, states the report, with cross border rules meaning they’d have to pay much less compensation than any English club vying for his signature.

Keith from C’mon the Hoops fondly remembers a true Celtic cult hero in the video below…

How talented is he?

Connell was recently called up to the Republic of Ireland squad after 12 senior appearances for Bolton in the tail-end of last season, impressing with an all-round box-to-box game that exhibited a long-range passing ability and a desire to carry the ball forward into attacking areas.

Clearly he is a talent to keep an eye on in the future and to have multiple, ambitious top-flight teams interested means scouts must see a strong potential in the player.

Where would he fit in at Celtic?

Unfortunately for Connell the Celtic midfield is absolutely jam packed right now, with regulars such as Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie and Scott Brown unlikely to be dropped anytime soon.

When you consider other options like Olivier Ntcham, Tom Rogic and even academy talent Ewan Henderson, there is little scope for Connell’s inclusion in more than a few games across a season.

The Bolton youngster will need plenty of games to progress and further his potential, meaning a Celtic move doesn’t make much sense for the club or the player right now.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to react after it was reported by The Sun that Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake may be of interest in a £40m swoop.

The Dutch international has been billed as a potential replacement for Toby Alderweireld, the report states, as the Belgian’s £25m release clause comes into effect for this summer’s transfer window.

Watch the best UCL final reactions from Liverpool and Spurs fans (and their enemies) in the video below…

Ake has become a fan favourite at the Vitality Stadium after signing from Chelsea, where he has developed into one of the best defenders outside the top six under Eddie Howe.

The Champions League finalists would be getting an outstanding player if they signed 24-year-old Ake, although the reported £40m price tag wouldn’t be ideal.

A number of Spurs fans also feel the same way about the Dutchman – would a replacement for Alderweireld even be needed with Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez waiting in reserve?

Let’s take a look at what the Spurs supporters have been saying about Ake on Twitter…

[ad_pod ]

Celtic fans are not enjoying reports that Leicester City and other clubs are interested in signing Callum McGregor this summer.

The Scotsman reported on Friday that three English Premier League sides were interested in bringing the player down south ahead of the new season, with his valuation said to be around £10m.

McGregor is arguably Celtic’s most important player at the moment, a constant ball carrier who has the pace and creativity to cause opposition defences problems.

How can Celtic improve next season? A Hoops fan tells us how in the video below…

Selling him would be a bitter blow to Celtic’s trophy ambitions next season given he is so integral to how the team play and a massive amount of money would have to be spent to replace his contributions.

He is the beating heart of the Hoops’ ‘treble treble’ success and supporters are understandably upset at the thought of him leaving, especially to former manager Brendan Rodgers.

These fans have taken to Twitter over the last 24 hours to share their thoughts on it all…

[ad_pod ]

After battling the threat of relegation and eventually fighting back to finish in 16th in the Premier League last season, this summer transfer window was always going to be a big one for Southampton.

Despite the end of the season being barely a month in the rear-view mirror, the Saints announced their first signing with Mali winger Moussa Djenepo joining from Standard Liege.

After confirmation of his move, the 20-year-old took to

/ByqNM86ISdP/” data-lasso->Instagram to share a snap of him wearing his new Southampton kit and expressed his delight to be joining the Premier League side.

Djenepo scored 11 times across all competitions last season to help his former team to a very respectable third in the Belgian top-flight and is a part of the Mali squad that will take part in the Africa Cup of Nations starting next week.

Having signed the winger, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said via BBC Sport: “He is an exciting player, with tremendous pace and good finishing. We have been impressed with how he has adapted to football in Europe and the impact he has had in many games, and we had an interest in him as recently as January, so I am pleased we are able to bring him into the club.”