All posts by z3u9t.icu

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It would be fair to say that a number of Newcastle United fans were not pleased with the performance of skipper Jamaal Lascelles in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Liverpool.

Newcastle actually played very well for long stages of the clash with Jurgen Klopp’s side, but Divock Origi’s 86th-minute header secured all three points for the Reds.

Lascelles was certainly guilty of missing a few headers during the 90 minutes, and it was a tough night for the Magpies captain against the free-scoring title hopefuls.

It is generally thought that Lascelles is a player capable of excellence, but simply makes too many mistakes to be considered as a potential starter for England.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez must be seeing something positive from the 25-year-old on a daily basis to continue playing him.

But a number of the club’s fans hated what they saw from the central defender at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, and for the majority of the season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Speaking on talkSPORT (May 14), former England manager Sam Allardyce has handed out a piece of free advice to Leeds United on what they should do if they are promoted to the Premier League.

Big Sam believes that the club must learn from the mistakes made by newly promoted sides in recent years by spending their windfall wisely.

What’s been said then?

The experienced manager believes that Leeds should spend their transfer budget this summer on a small number of quality players rather than splashing out on a brand new squad.

“I think you look at the spend of Fulham and Huddersfield. Huddersfield managed to stay for one season and then failed miserably. Fulham went past £100m and failed,” Allardyce said (Via HITC).

“You have the fans and then you have the owners, and then the owner and manager. If you’re looking at relegation are the owners going to stick by the manager to bring them back?

“You’ve got to try and put together a team and buying 10 players who don’t know each other won’t work. If I had £120m I would spend the money on four or five players that were quality, not 10.”

Absolutely right

If only more promoted clubs would listen to Allardyce. The 64-year-old is a master of keeping teams in the Premier League for a reason, and Leeds must heed this advice.

The Whites can’t follow in Fulham’s example by splurging their cash on a long list of inexperienced players.

Bielsa has already transformed this group of players from mid-table level talent to genuine promotion contenders, and there’s no reason he can’t push a lot of them further.

The Argentine must stick with his core players while finding great replacements in the areas that need improving if his side are promoted to the Premier League.

The likes of Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Kemar Roofe look ready-made for a shot at the big time, whilst other areas of the squad certainly need improving.

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Crystal Palace rounded off their season on a high note with a 5-3 victory over Bournemouth at Selhurst Park – the most goals Palace fans have seen at SE25 from their side all campaign.

As he has done many times this season, Wilfried Zaha took centre stage on the final day, having a hand in all five Eagles goals and also getting some unwanted, or perhaps wanted, attention from the Bournemouth fans who were intent on making him the villain of the afternoon.

The Ivorian was involved in an altercation with Jefferson Lerma and looked certain to be sent off after questioning Roger East’s decision to book him, although just seconds later the speedy number 11 had bounced through two cynical attempts to bring a halt to his furious run and teed up Andros Townsend.

The focus on the match-winner didn’t end there, though, with Eddie Howe reserving some special praise for him after all was said and done.

What did he say?

Zaha is unplayable on his day and this was certainly a game that belonged to the former Manchester United wide man, as Cherries boss Eddie Howe suggested in his post-match comments:

“We didn’t deal very well with (Zaha) at all. We’ve maybe not had a better individual opponent this season. He was very difficult to contain.

“But we have to be critical of our defending; that’s something to focus on next season. We’ve conceded too many goals and it’s hampered our ability to win more.”

A U-turn from Howe

As the 41-year-old says, the Cherries defence could hardly get near Zaha, who had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon down the left flank and was denied an 11th goal of the season by Mark Travers in the first half, only for Jack Simpson to inadvertently knock the rebound home.

Back in 2017, Howe appeared to question Zaha’s integrity by accusing him of diving, strongly insinuating he had gone down easily in a 2-2 draw. But the Vitality Stadium chief seems to have changed his tune since and, by labelling him as Bournemouth’s best ‘individual opponent’ this season, reserved praise of the highest order for the scourge of his side.

Watch the Pl>ymaker FC painfully relive their clubs’ most gutting moments of the last 10 years in the video below…

Indeed, Zaha has established himself as one of the best outside the top-six and Howe’s comments are reinforced by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s statement that he is the ‘hardest’ player he has come up against.

Completing 3.4 dribbles per game this season, the 10-goal star is a nightmare to play against and, like many of the defenders who resort to illegal methods when it comes to stopping him, Howe seems to have finally accepted that, as Palace fans will tell you, he’s just too good.

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Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter to react after a Manchester City fan was recorded bursting into the press section at Wembley on Saturday to explicitly rant about his team’s lack of coverage in the media, whilst namedropping Mohamed Salah.

The clearly disgruntled fan was holding his plastic City flag when he lambasted the lack of coverage his team have been getting after their hugely successful season, and told the onlooking journalists that they’ll probably have Salah on the back pages after the 6-0 FA Cup final win.

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

Extremely odd behaviour. Imagine your team becoming the first English side ever to win the domestic treble, and all that’s on your mind is Liverpool and the media’s coverage of them. Enjoy the occasion!

This is a sentiment that a number of Reds supporters on Twitter have echoed. Some have called the Citizens a small club, several have rightfully declared the moment as embarrassing and others have commented on how obsessed they are.

Let’s take a look at what the Liverpool fans on Twitter have been saying about the bizarre outburst…

The life of a second-choice goalkeeper is often regarded as one of the loneliest jobs in football.

On the rare occasion do you play more than 10 games a season and barring an injury to the first-choice keeper, your season consists of keeping a seat on the bench warm and making an effort in the pre-match warm-up, which is why it’s not surprising to Adrian of West Ham searching for a look away.

The Spanish ‘keeper was once one of the best shot-stoppers in the league outside the top-six, but age and the introduction of Lukasz Fabianski has seen Adrian secure his spot on the bench for West Ham, and with his current deal running out, a move away seems likely, and a big team are keeping an eye on his situation.

According to Goal, Liverpool see Adrian as a possible backup to Alisson next season, with Simon Mignolet likely to make the move away from Anfield this summer after a campaign of sitting in the Brazilian’s shadow, and although the West Ham keeper might prefer a move for first-team football, moving up to Merseyside might not be a bad career choice.

The Spanish stopper, who is valued on Transfermarkt at £3.6 million, will be guaranteed some games next season, and with Liverpool fans gasping for some kind of silverware, there is a good chance the Reds will finally give competitions like the League Cup and FA Cup some attention, meaning Adrian could be an unlikely hero if the Merseyside club make a cup run.

At 32, Adrian is reaching the golden years of his footballing career, and at a club like Liverpool, the Spaniard could have one last swansong to cap off an interesting time in England.

Liverpool fans, would Adrian be a good backup for Alisson? Let us know!

It has been a fantastic year for Kalvin Phillips at Leeds United, hasn’t it?

Under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, the 23-year-old produced a number of outstanding displays for the Whites during the 2018/19 campaign as he helped the club secure a third-place finish in the Championship.

Although Phillips ended up being powerless to stop Leeds’ capitulation in their play-off semi-final second leg earlier this month, he clearly has all the ingredients needed to become a modern-day hero at Elland Road.

However, with the Whites now facing yet another season in the second tier, it is not guaranteed that the midfielder will still be at the club in August.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa and Derby County are both interested in signing Phillips who has two years remaining on his existing deal at Leeds.

Whereas a move to the Rams would be seen by many as a sideways move for the £6.3m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt), the Lions could be more of an attractive proposition following their play-off final victory yesterday.

Having demonstrated a superb level of consistency in the second tier over the past 10 months, there is no reason why Phillips cannot thrive in the Premier League next year and so Leeds may find themselves having to make an extremely tough decision this summer.

Although replacing the midfielder would be hard for the Whites, it could be argued that by cashing in on him, they may just have a better chance of achieving promotion to the top-flight.

Given his undoubted qualities, Phillips would attract a hefty fee if he is made available for transfer by Leeds which could be re-invested into the squad by Bielsa.

However, any possible sale may be dependent on whether chairman Andrea Radrizzani decides to sell his controlling share in the Whites to Qatari businessman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

What do you think Leeds fans? Can your club keep hold of Phillips this summer? Or would it be more beneficial in the long term to sell the midfielder when the transfer window opens in July? Get in touch below.

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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.

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Goalkeeper Liam Kelly has triggered a transfer release clause in his contract at Livingston, with Celtic said to be admirers of the player, as reported by The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

Kelly has had a stand-out season in the Scottish Premiership and The Scottish Sun report the West Lothian side were keen to hold onto him for another year.

However, the shot-stopper has other ambitions and will now be leaving the club this summer.

C’mon the Hoops throwback to one of the greatest Celtic goalkeepers of all time in the video below…

The paper reckon that Celtic, as well as a number of English Championship sides, are interested in signing him so it seems he’ll have plenty of options ahead of the new season.

Would Celtic be a good move for him?

Chances of regular first-team action at Celtic seem slim right now for any goalkeeper that isn’t Scott Bain but Kelly would have a realistic shot of becoming the number two goalkeeper at Celtic Park.

Dorus De Vries’ contract is up this summer, while Craig Gordon has been struggling with injury problems over the last few months and at 36 years old is getting on a bit, even for a ‘keeper.

The Hoops arguably need a young, hungry player in the position to truly test Bain and Kelly could be that man.

He helped Livingston keep an impressive 17 clean sheets last season as the club surprised everyone and comfortably avoided relegation to the Championship.

As a long-term replacement for Gordon, the Hoops could do a lot worse and should move quickly for the player if they are interested, with the player unlikely to be available for long.

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Although Manchester City have created a reputation for throwing money at any problem that comes their way, there are few Premier League players in their squad that have stood the test of time quite like David Silva.

The creative midfielder was one of the biggest names to join City in the first few years following the club’s financial takeover, joining the club in 2010 from Valencia with a World Cup winners medal around his neck following Spain’s first triumph on the biggest international stage of all, and since then Silva has become synonymous with the blue half of Manchester.

But who has been the Spaniard’s most prolific partners at the club, and which players has the former Valencia playmaker managed to get the best out of with his creative ability? Below, we take a look at the City stars who Silva has been involved in the most goals with – whether striking himself or assisting – throughout his Etihad career…

Sergio Aguero – 41 goal contributions

It’s no surprise that Sergio Aguero is Silva’s most prolific partner, but what a partnership the duo have had in their eight years together in Manchester.

In their first game together the two players that would one day become legends of the club immediately clicked as Aguero assisted Silva in a 4-0 win over newly promoted Swansea City. 257 games together later, and the pair are still doing it as the midfielder teed-up the City number 10 in a 4-1 win against Brighton to seal their fourth Premier League title.

Edin Dzeko – 21 goal contributions

One of the more underrated heroes from City’s early years of dominance in the Premier League was Edin Dzeko, and it was Silva who would assist the Bosnian’s most important goal of all when the Spaniard’s corner found the head of the striker, who made it 2-2 against QPR in the game that would see the Citizens lift their first league title in nearly half a century.

Dzeko is a beloved figure in Manchester but without the contributions of Silva, it is hard to see where the former Wolfsburg man fits in the history of City.

Check out a fan’s outrageous call for England to take a leaf of out cricket and rugby’s book after a limp Nations League performance in the video below…

Raheem Sterling – 14 goal contributions

With Raheem Sterling firmly establishing himself as City’s top attacker this season, it’s surprising to see the number between him and Silva so low despite four full seasons together.

The duo have been two of City’s most important players over the past few seasons, yet when it comes to working on the pitch together they are surprisingly uncooperative, combining just twice this campaign alone.

Yaya Toure – 12 goal contributions

Fans often forget just how good Yaya Toure was for Man City during the Manuel Pellegrini years of the club as the Ivorian international bossed the midfield in every sense of the word, and it was made all the easier with Silva alongside him.

10 assists to the former Barcelona man allowed Toure to form a good relationship with Silva that saw the Spaniard play out on the left with the City number 42 playing in the centre of the park, and boy did it cause some damage over the years.

Carlos Tevez – 9 goal contributions

Although Carlos Tevez’s time on Manchester ended poorly, the Argentine striker made the most out his minutes with Silva.

The duo only played 91 games with each other, a small number compared to others in this list, with their most notable performance coming against Barnsley in the FA Cup fifth round in the 2012/13 season when Silva assisted Tevez twice and the striker returned the favour with one of his own to the Spaniard in a 5-0 win.

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After three years away from the big time, Aston Villa are back amongst England’s elite in the Premier League, and there is already much excitement about their return.

One of the original members of the English top-flight during its reformation, Villa are a side many a neutral have a soft spot for, but heading back into the Premier League in a division where money now does all the talking, Dean Smith will have his work cut out next season if he is to keep his side up.

So what are the key fixtures for Villa looking ahead to next season, and what games will decide whether they can clinch survival?

October 5th – Norwich City (A)

If Villa are to stay up in the Premier League in their comeback year they need to ensure that they can get results over those who will also be fighting for survival, and Norwich City fall into that category. Picking up a win away at Carrow Road will be huge for the Birmingham-based club, besting last season’s Championship champions.

December 7th – Leicester City (H)

A win at home to Leicester City might seem like a tall task, but if Smith can orchestrate a win against the Foxes in a month where Villa play Sheffield United, Southampton and Norwich again, it could be the catalyst that leads to a run of wins that will be vital for the club’s Premier League safety.

February 29th – Sheffield United (H)

Speaking of Sheffield United, doing the double over Chris Wilder’s side would be a vital six points for Villa if they are to achieve Premier League status for the foreseeable future. Not only will it be important points gained for Smith and co, it will be points lost for the Blades.

April 4th – Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

Rivalries are one of the defining elements of football that make the sport what it is, and a return to the Premier League for Villa means that their rivalry with Wolverhampton Wanderers can kick start yet again in a new era. Smith’s side will have to be on their A-game not just to bask in regional glory, but to get three important points that can help the Villans to safety. Based on last season’s form it’s a big ask, but Wolves often struggled against the teams near the bottom and they now have Europa League football to contend with as well.

May 9th – Arsenal (H)

Getting a result over a top-six side might seem like a tall order for Villa, but if there’s one side team you can always count on to bottle it away from home towards the end of the season, it’s Arsenal. If the pressure is on for the Gunners as we approach the home stretch it could be an end of season party for the Villans at Villa Park.