All posts by n8rngtd.top

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Daily Mail, Tottenham rejected the chance to swap want-away midfielder Christian Eriksen for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the north Londoners were in negotiations with the Italian champions over a deal for the 25-year-old striker this summer, but the move fell through after Juventus decided that they no longer wanted to sell the Argentina international.

The Daily Mail reports that, during negotiations, Spurs were offered the chance to swap Eriksen – who is of interest to Juventus – for Dybala as Mauricio Pochettino hoped that the Denmark international would put pen to paper on fresh terms.

The former Ajax man is yet to do so however, and has rejected a number of contract offers from Spurs – Eriksen is said to be unwilling to accept any new proposals from the club.

A truly baffling decision 

The cold, hard facts are as follows.

Eriksen has already confirmed that he would like to leave the club. He isn’t signing a new contract. Dybala is a world-class forward who would be a welcome addition to the club – his goal record of 103 in 288 games speaks for itself.

Pochettino could’ve killed two birds with one stone by accepting this swap deal. The former Southampton boss would’ve been able to offload a player who doesn’t want to be at the club and simultaneously bring in a brilliant forward who would add real quality and depth to Tottenham’s strike force – which is somewhat lacking beyond Harry Kane after Fernando Llorente’s exit.

How Pochettino thought he would be able to change Eriksen’s mind is a mystery to us, and in taking such a big gamble on his own persuasion techniques he appears to have missed the chance to snap up a player worth an estimated £76.5m, whilst also increasing the chances of losing a player currently valued at around £90m for nothing.

Tottenham’s rejection of this reported transfer proposal is, quite simply, baffling.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]It’s done: Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings has realised his international dream.What a turn of events for the lad. Not too long ago, he was struggling to break into Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth side following a spate of serious injuries, and now he’s set to appear on one of the grandest stages of them all in a bid to earn himself a spot in England’s Euro 2020 squad. Honestly, you love to see it.Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Like the majority of us, Mings was probably soaking up the sun in a beer garden as he watched his friends battle it out in Russia in a bid to bring home the trophy that has eluded the nation since 1966.

We wonder if he thought there was any chance he’d be in with a chance of carrying the hopes and dreams of the country in another major competition just two years later.

We reckon it was one of those pinch-me moments getting the nod from Gareth Southgate to play alongside some of the most talented players the country has to offer, and it certainly seems like Mings wasn’t prepared for it…

[ad_pod ]

[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…

Rafa Benitez has made a humble admission in comparing the current Liverpool side to his 2005 Champions League winning team.

What did he say?

There are similarities between the Liverpool sides managed by Jurgen Klopp and Benitez.

Like in 2005, there is a great team spirit in the current camp and a connection to the fans which makes the team seem unbeatable, particularly on European nights, and both have produced similar results.

Both sides were crowned European champions and did so by performing some of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed in the Champions League – the final in 2005 and Liverpool’s semi-final tie against Barcelona in the last campaign.

It is arguable that Liverpool winning the Champions League in 2005 was the more surprising achievement of the two, so when asked which Liverpool edition was better – 2005 or 2019 – Benitez could be forgiven for favouring his own side.

However, in a Q&A for The Athletic, he answered: “I’m really proud of what we achieved in 2005, but I have to say that the 2019 team is stronger already.

“What we had at that time was great team effort and a lot of character, as well as commitment on the pitch. This team have the intensity and the quality that can make the difference in games.”

Check out fan reaction to Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal in the video below…

The statistics would support his response, too. Liverpool scored 89 goals on their way to gathering 97 Premier League points last season, whereas in 2005 Benitez had to settle for fifth-place, some 37 points off Chelsea in first, which shows they couldn’t compete on multiple fronts like Liverpool did last season.

What’s the difference?

The English game has moved on remarkably in the past fourteen years, and it is now quicker and more intense than ever before.

Liverpool in many ways encapsulate what the Premier League is about now, and that is why they are so effective. Their hugely successful high-pressing style is a far cry from the more balanced football Benitez deployed and the fact they finished second-highest in terms of shots on target last season shows their attacking quality.

What the 2005 Liverpool team lacked in ability they made up for in spirit and determination, but the current Liverpool team possesses both.

In Sadio Mane and Mo Salah they have two of the best attacking players in Europe, whilst Virgil van Dijk is considered to have a genuine chance of winning the Ballon d’Or.

By contrast, Steven Gerrard was named the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year for his exploits that season, but no other player in the squad was shortlisted for an award.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho thinks Tottenham will finish ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League this season.

What did he say?

The Gunners and Spurs played out an intense and thrilling affair on Sunday in the first north London derby of the campaign. Mauricio Pochettino’s side move into a 2-0 lead, but Unai Emery and co were able to claw their way back to a 2-2 draw.

Following the match, Mourinho shared his thoughts on the two sides, and said he believes Tottenham will end the season in a higher position than their great rivals. He said on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday (via The Daily Express):

“I still think Tottenham.

“I still think what we laughed about when we were at Old Trafford, when I gave my four candidates to win the title, definitely City and Liverpool and then Tottenham is still the third-best team.

“But I like many things on the Arsenal squad.”

“It feels like a loss” – that was the view of a Spurs fan after this weekend’s North London Derby in the video below…

Arsenal to fall short despite positive attributes

There were plenty of positives for Arsenal to take from the game against Spurs. The fight they displayed to earn a draw when the game looked dead at 2-0 will set them in good stead this term. Also, the presence of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe moving forward will make them a dangerous proposition for any side.

However, when looking at Spurs’ squad, the talent is evenly spread out, where as Arsenal’s looks a little attack and midfield-heavy. There is a reason this Tottenham side made it to the Champions League final last term. Throughout the team, there are fantastic players such as Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane, whilst the signings of Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso should only strengthen the side. Emery, meanwhile, appears to have too many players who he does not fancy, such as Mohamed Elneny and Shkodran Mustafi. There is still some top quality there, such as the aforementioned attacking trio and others such as Dani Ceballos, but there appears to be less than what Pochettino can choose from.

Arsenal may have displayed grit and character, but it is talent that wins you points. As such, Tottenham should just edge the Gunners in the table.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

England fans struggled to see exactly what Declan Rice offered to the team as they beat Bulgaria 4-0 in Saturday’s Euro 2020 qualifier.

The West Ham United midfielder was picked to start the game in a midfield trio alongside Jordan Henderson and Ross Barkley.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

There is a lack of creativity there, one would admit, but fans were left puzzled as to the reason behind Rice’s inclusion in the team.

Indeed, per the BBC Sport match report, England had 68% possession at Wembley.

Rice, per WhoScored, touched the ball 111 times throughout the game and maintained a pass completion rate of 97% from 98 passes.

The stats are impressive but only one pass was registered as “key”, suggesting that he merely looked to play the ball either sideways or backwards.

And fans were disappointed with his display despite the crushing win for the Three Lions.

Take a look at the best of the reaction on Twitter below!

[ad_pod ]

The Pole captioned his post saying ‘It could be 12 yards as well’, nodding towards the fact that his trademark strikes usually come from the edge of the area or just outside the box.

Klich isn’t usually the designated penalty taker for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but the Argentine called upon him to net from the spot against Barnsley and he duly obliged.

One player who was seemingly very impressed by Klich’s penalty was Kalvin Phillips. The midfielder commented on his teammate’s post complimenting him on his goal, along with three snowflake emojis – hinting that Klich was cool under pressure.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

By the time April had come around last season, Leeds had suffered 31 various injury and fitness issues to their playing staff.

Their problems in that regard was one of the biggest worries they were facing heading into the new campaign but so far this term, Marcelo Bielsa has found a way to adapt and work his way around the small squad he possesses.

Leeds have used just 17 players in the Championship this season, the fewest of any side in the division. It’s a number that doesn’t even make up a full matchday squad.

It isn’t a damning statistic but as things caught up on the Whites towards the back end of 2018/19, winning just one of their last six games, their lack of depth could catch them cold once again.

Bielsa’s side had a wonderful opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table last weekend.

They were cruising at one point versus Derby and should have been out of sight. They had over 60% of the play, hit the post and missed a penalty. How they didn’t win is difficult to work out.

Chris Martin managed to steal in as the game reached its final stages, leaving Leeds to stare at a record which sees them with one win from their five home matches in 2019/20.

There are various reasons for why that’s the case but a lack of depth and game-changing options on the bench hurt them against the Rams.

At 1-0 up, Pablo Hernandez was withdrawn in place of Barry Douglas. Customary substitutes Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah were used but with the Spaniard heading off the pitch, there was a sudden lack of quality and ability to push for a second.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Tyler Roberts was ignored, which was possibly understandable considering he’s only just coming back from injury, but with Jack Clarke not in the squad and Mateusz Bogusz missing, they lacked viable options.

Squad depth was a common issue when injuries wreaked havoc with Leeds last term but they somehow found a way to negotiate themselves through choppy waters.

It would be a big ask to do the same this season and their inability to deal with minimal options on Saturday cost them.

Rather strangely, Bielsa had Gaetano Berardi, Robbie Gotts and Douglas at his disposal.

Three defenders on the bench is particularly strange and when they needed to go in for the kill late in the game, their lack of another fit attacker cost them.

[ad_pod ]

Rangers’ hectic fixture list means the Gers will be back in action on Wednesday night, as they take on Livingston in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals.

The Gers will be pleased with the start to their season as, Old Firm derby defeat aside, they’ve looked the real deal under Steven Gerrard – winning all of their remaining five top flight games – and silverware will therefore be wanted come the end of the campaign.

What trophy the Gers pick up, if any, remains to be seen, but it is most likely the league crown that they want most of all and with an attacking pair in the shape of Jermain Defoe and Alfredo Morelos leading the line, who’s to say that they cannot stop Celtic from winning nine-in-a-row this season. The two strikers have netted nine times in the Scottish top flight already this term.

You might think, then, that with two forwards vying for one starting berth under Gerrard there would be friction but, judging by this GIF of Alfredo Morelos after Defoe’s brace at the weekend, there’s a happy relationship between the two:

Morelos has certainly looks fully focused on scoring goals this season and nothing else – something his veteran striking rival has based his career upon. Keeping both sweet will be a big task for Gerrard, but Morelos’ reaction to Defoe’s brace suggests they are prepared to work together rather than try and fire Rangers to glory single-handed.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Sun, Manchester United will “spark an auction” for Dean Henderson once the current season is over.

What’s the word?

The England U21 international spent the entirety of last year on loan at Sheffield United, helping them to promotion to the Premier League by conceding just 41 goals – the joint-fewest in the Championship.

Having signed a new contract with the Red Devils earlier this summer, Henderson re-joined Chris Wilder’s men for this season, but made a huge howler in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at the weekend.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Now, The Sun claim the new deal that was offered to number one shot-stopper, David de Gea, has increased the likelihood of United potentially selling Henderson next year. The report adds Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s will hope to get a fee in the region of £20m for the 22-year-old.

Foolishness

Sending Henderson back on loan to Sheffield United is one thing, but actively looking to sell him? Simply put, the Red Devils would be foolish to make such a decision.

Whilst De Gea is the club’s undisputed number one, he has hardly covered himself in glory over the past 12-18 months. The Spain international made four errors directly leading to goals in the Premier League last season, and surely a bit of genuine competition would help push him back to his old self?

Now gaining invaluable experience in the top-flight with the Blades, Henderson is getting incredible exposure to the pressures of playing at the highest level. It will undoubtedly stand him in good stead for when he returns to Old Trafford next year after his loan spell ends. If, as The Sun claim, United will look to get around £20m for the academy product, then that’s barely any money in the modern market, and not worth losing a man who could potentially replace De Gea in the long-term.

The Red Devils would simply be better off giving him an honest chance of trying to make it at the club.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Jordan Pickford and Everton travel to Turf Moor on Saturday where the current first-choice England keeper will meet his foe Nick Pope, as the Burnley man continues to push him for the number one spot.

Pickford has been involved with England ever since Gareth Southgate sought to replace Joe Hart in 2017, with the 25-year-old taking the number one shirt as the Three Lions approached the World Cup in 2018. In the process, the former Sunderland keeper edged past Pope, Tom Heaton and Jack Butland for the main jersey, but things are looking much different nowadays.

The tide is seemingly changing with the Burnley keeper having a significantly better start to the season than the Toffees man. Pickford was arguably lucky to sneak into the England side based on form as the Sky Sports’ power rankings omitted him from the 23-man squad, based on his statistical numbers.

He also fluffed his lines against Manchester City last weekend, drawing stern criticism from Everton fans for firstly failing to save Riyad Mahrez’s free kick and then almost gifting a goal with an irresponsible failed Cruyff turn in his own third, so it certainly feels as though the pressure is on Pickford to prove he can still be trusted.

Pope, on the other hand, comes with a reputation of steadiness between the sticks, even if he’s a more understated presence than Pickford. The Burnley man has the one cap to his name and was on the bench during each match at the World Cup. However, a shoulder injury kept him out of the squad for many months, which subsequently lost him his place in the Burnley goal, as Heaton returned by the time he was injury-free.

However, having secured the number one spot after Heaton’s move to Aston Villa, now is the time for the 27-year-old to make his mark on the Three Lions setup, and recent form suggests he’s ready to become Pickford’s England nemesis by capitalising on the Everton man’s sloppy start to the season with more assured performances.

Pope currently boasts 3.3 saves per Premier League fixture, whilst winning 0.7 aerial battles each game, and at the same time has conceded three goals less than the 25-year-old’s 12 at Everton so far. On the other hand, Pickford has averaged just 2.4 saves per game in the league, whilst averaging just o.1 aerial battles won per match.

The Burnley shot-stopper has made 24 saves this season, whilst making five high claims and seven sweeper clearances. In contrast, England’s current number one has stopped just 17 shots, made two high claims and two sweeper clearances.

Not only are the statistics significantly in favour of Pope reclaiming the jersey, but his overall performance on a consistent basis proves his worth as well – averaging a 6.86 rating on Whoscored compared to Pickford’s 6.32.

There is no doubt Southgate will be watching closely as Burnley host Everton to determine who takes the spot between the sticks against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Right now, it may just come down to whoever makes an error or pulls off a more important save, as the England boss certainly has a tough call to make.

But while it seems Pope can only really go up in Southgate’s estimations as the current second or third choice, Pickford needs to impress to ensure he doesn’t slide down the pecking order. After such ropey beginnings to the new campaign, another disappointing performance could prove incredibly costly. Nothing shows a player up more than failing to deliver in front of a direct rival, or in this case, a potential nemesis.