Category Uncategorized

After suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat in his first game in charge of Sheffield Wednesday against Rotherham, Darren Moore saw his side swept away 3-0 by Reading in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Owls did themselves no favours when Julian Borner was sent off for a challenge as the last man, with Michael Olise stepping up to score the resulting spot kick.

Goals from Lucas Joao and Andy Yiadom in the second half compounded Wednesday’s misery, with the Yorkshire side now having lost six Championship games in a row.

However, while Borner will undoubtedly be the man to criticise after the game as the scores were level at 0-0 before his red card, Kadeem Harris produced a woeful display and badly let his manager down.

After being dropped to the bench for Moore’s first game in charge of the side against Rotherham, Harris was restored to the starting line-up for the clash at the Madejski Stadium.

The right-winger just couldn’t justify his manager’s faith in him, though,struggling to really pick out the right passes when in promising positions and getting muscled off it far too easily – as per Sofascore, he lost four out of his five duels on the day.

Harris attempted no shots on goal and failed to complete any of his three attempted dribbles, and that rather summed up his efforts in an attacking sense – even centre-back Tom Lees managed two efforts on goal, as per Sofascore.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, Dom Howson gave Harris a four, noting: “Moore restored the wide man to the starting XI but Harris was not at the races. Lost possession on multiple occasions and too often his decision making let him down in the final third.”

While Borner’s red card will take the headlines, Harris’ ineffective performance really cost his manager on Saturday against the Royals after being given the nod to start.

Manchester City are reportedly taking an interest in Brighton right-back Tariq Lamptey and if signed, he could prove to be the ideal long-term replacement for Kyle Walker in Pep Guardiola’s side.

The young defender signed a new long-term contract with the Seagulls last week, which sees him contracted there until 2025, but a report from The Athletic suggests that Manchester City, Arsenal and Everton are unlikely to be deterred by this, in their hopes of signing the 20-year-old.

Since signing from Chelsea in January 2020, Lamptey has been something of a revelation in Graham Potter’s side, first establishing himself in the first-team following project restart last season and he has now made 19 appearances, contributing one goal and four assists in that time.

The youngster has quickly become renowned for his incredible speed, which naturally makes him a potential replacement for Kyle Walker, who has consistently been one of the quickest players in the Premier League in his time with Spurs and City.

However, the England international will turn 31 this year and his pace won’t last forever, so perhaps the Citizens should be starting to look for a long-term replacement for the right-back.

So far this season, Walker has averaged a 6.81 rating for his performances in the Premier League, contributing one goal and one assist in 13 top-flight appearances.

Lamptey, meanwhile, has averaged a 6.73 rating, also contributing one goal and one assist but in two fewer appearances.

The City man has averaged 1.2 tackles and 0.8 interceptions in each game, whereas Lamptey has averaged 1.5 tackles and 1.7 interceptions, which suggests that the 20-year-old is arguably already outperforming Walker from a defensive perspective.

The Brighton man also averages more key passes and the same amount of dribbles per game when compared with Walker, despite playing in a team that is likely to be doing less attacking than Manchester City, which emphasises his attacking potential.

During his time with Chelsea, manager Frank Lampard dubbed the youngster as “fearless” and you feel that if it wasn’t for the emerging Reece James at Stamford Bridge, Lamptey would have been afforded more first-team opportunities.

However, with the Brighton man now valued at €20 million (£18 million) by the CIES football observatory, it looks as if Chelsea made a mistake in letting him go to Brighton.

Therefore, considering the similarity in style of play, and the fact that Lamptey is only 20 and already impressing in the top-flight, Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain must try and sign the defender in the future.

AND, in other news, Forget Stones: MCFC beast who played 3 key passes was Pep’s hero vs CPFC…

MatériaMais Notícias

Estar entre os primeiros colocados da Série B ao fim da décima nona rodada é certamente o desejo de todas as equipes que são candidatas ao acesso para a Série A em 2016. Com o Náutico, do técnico Lisca, não é diferente. A partida contra o Bragantino neste sábado na Arena Pernambuco valerá a princípio, em caso de vitória, os mesmos três pontos que qualquer outra do campeonato. Porém segundo o treinador, as edições anteriores da competição nacional mostram que os clubes que terminam o primeiro turno no G4 têm enormes chances de obter o objetivo de ascender à primeira divisão no fim do ano.

– Queremos terminar a primeira metade do campeonato senão dentro no G4, bem próximo dele. As estatísticas mostram que das equipes que iniciam o segundo turno nas quatro primeiras colocações, duas ou três geralmente mantém o bom desempenho no restante do campeonato e sobem para a Série A no fim da competição. Vencer o Bragantino e encerrar o turno no topo terá influência no aspecto matemático, logicamente, mas também no emocional, que importa muito para os atletas – disse o comandante alvirrubro.

Sobre o confronto do Timbu com o time do interior de São Paulo, que venceu três dos quatro últimos jogos na Série B, Lisca destaca a importância de voltar a conquistar um resultado positivo atuando em casa, após o empate contra o Macaé na décima sexta rodada.

– Nossa campanha aqui dentro é muito boa, mas viemos de um empate contra o Macaé e queremos muito voltar a vencer nos nossos domínios. Temos desfalques importantes, mas não vamos lamentar, vamos buscar valorizar os substitutos porque são eles que vão nos ajudar amanhã – encerrou.

Sunderland will be ‘lucky’ to collect over £10-12m in total income this season. 

That’s according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, who recently spoke to ChronicleLive, where he shared his projection on Sunderland’s income for the current financial year. 

A big drop-off for Sunderland

This highlights the extent of how badly the ongoing global pandemic has harmed the North East club’s finances. 

As explained by Maguire, the Black Cats collected £59m in total income back in the 2018/19 campaign – the last season that Sunderland managed to enjoy without being impacted by the pandemic, with the 2019/20 League One season concluding prematurely. 

Now, with fans unable to attend games, it seems like they are set to take in up to £49m less than that, per Maguire, which represents an almost 80% decrease in revenue. 

Transfer Tavern take

This is a mightily significant drop-off in Sunderland’s revenue as a result of the pandemic. So, perhaps it would be fair to say that this sheds some light on the importance of the North East club receiving a financial injection in the form of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus’ takeover, to boost their hopes of returning to the heights of England’s top-flight. 

Per ChronicleLive, Maguire certainly believes that this is the case and so, perhaps that gives Black Cats fans even more reason to count down the days to this impending takeover, which just has the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test to pass at this stage.

In other news, some Sunderland fans were fuming over Elliot Embleton’s performance versus AFC Wimbledon.

Many Wolverhampton Wanderers fans have been reacting in anger to the changes that have been made to their side’s fixtures.

The Premier League announced the changes on Thursday afternoon to accommodate television listings, while some games will continue to play behind closed doors after the Government’s announcement.

The Athletic’s Tim Spiers highlighted that the schedule for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side replicates what happened last year.

He revealed that Wolves had just under two days to prepare for a home tie against Manchester City and a trip to Anfield with 66 hours of recovery in 2019. While this year, the West Midlands outfit only have five extra hours in between their home tie against Tottenham and their trip to Manchester United.

As a result, supporters were not impressed with the decision made by the Premier League and broadcasters, with some claiming there is a bias towards the big clubs.

Fans fume at fixture pile-up

And in other news, Agent of Wolves loanee claims his client has ‘gone into oblivion’ after slow start.

Erling Haaland sent a one-word message to Takumi Minamino on Instagram after the Liverpool ace scored the opening goal in the 7-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League away at Selhurst Park yesterday lunchtime.

As shared on Twitter by a fan of the Anfield faithful, the Borussia Dortmund star sent ‘Takuuuuumi’ followed by an emoji of praying hands after the Japan international scored very early on to put Jurgen Klopp’s team 1-0 up in the clash and thus put them on course for a very handsome victory, one which in turn elevated them to first spot in the top flight table leading up to Christmas.

Of course, both Haaland and Minamino were teammates together at RB Salzburg and although they have since gone in different paths in the beautiful game, they seem to still have a nice friendship going.

Haaland has been linked to Liverpool

Haaland has previously been linked with a move to the Merseyside club, and it is not difficult to see as to why he has been dubbed as such a ‘huge talent’.

The Norway international has netted no fewer than 17 times in just 14 games in all competitions so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt), and at just 20 years of age, will surely only get better from this point in his footballing career.

The striker is currently valued at £90m, and if the Reds were to make a move for him either in the January transfer window or in the summer, he would surely be worth every penny.

In other news, find out what a journalist has revealed amid exit rumours concerning Mo Salah here!

MatériaMais Notícias

O tradicional Jogo das Estrelas, comandado por Zico, maior ídolo da história do Flamengo, já é conhecido por encerrar a temporada do futebol carioca, com a presença não só de rubro-negros, mas das torcidas do Vasco, Fluminense, Botafogo e quem mais goste de futebol. Neste domingo, a partir das 18h, com transmissão em tempo real pelo site do LANCE!, acontece no Maracanã a 12ª edição do evento. O Galinho de Quintino comentou sobre a importância da festa contar com a presença de pessoas de todas as idades, em uma marcante confraternização beneficente de fim de ano.

– Nesses anos todos do evento, o que sempre mais me sensibilizou foi ver tantos pais com seus filhos no estádio, numa confraternização que poderia imperar em todos os jogos Brasil afora. Nada de brigas e violência, só amor pelo futebol e reverência aos ídolos. Gostaria de ver o Maracanã cheio novamente. E quero aproveitar para agradecer a cada um dos convidados que aceitaram fazer parte dessa festa – afirmou Zico, por meio da assessoria de imprensa da organização do Jogo das Estrelas.

Os ingressos inteiros custam R$ 20 e toda a renda será revertida para instituições de caridade. Antes do jogo principal, acontecerá, a partir das 15h30, uma partida preliminar entre artistas. E nesta edição do Jogo das Estrelas, foi confirmada pela organização a presença de duas estrelas internacionais: o goleiro português Vitor Baía, que defendeu Porto e Barcelona, além de ter vestido a camisa da seleção por mais de uma década, e o atacante belga Luc Nilis, considerado por Ronaldo Fenômeno o melhor parceiro em toda sua carreira.

Outros jogadores, ainda em atividade no futebol pelo mundo, também foram confirmados no Jogo das Estrelas. E muitos destes são velhos conhecidos dos torcedores do Rio de Janeiro, com alguns inclusive sendo reforços para seus times em 2016. São eles: Renato Augusto (Corinthians), Elias (Corinthians), Alex Teixeira (Shakhtar Donetsk-UCR), Juan (Flamengo), Lucas Lima (Santos), Zé Roberto (Palmeiras), Willian Arão (Flamengo), Jorge (Flamengo), Wilson (Coritiba), André Bahia (Shonan Bellmare-JAP) e André Santos (FC Wil-SUI).

RelacionadasFlamengoScarlet Breu, doente pelo Flamengo: ‘Não vacile desta vez, Alan Patrick!’Flamengo25/12/2015FlamengoFlamengo segue com otimismo para renovar com Márcio AraújoFlamengo25/12/2015Flamengo‘Campo de observação para Muricy Ramalho’, diz Bandeira sobre CariocaFlamengo25/12/2015

After being linked with a summer move, Leicester City are now the odds-on favourites to sign Burnley attacker Dwight McNeil according to some bookmakers, via Leicestershire Live, with manager Brendan Rodgers looking to snap up a creative outlet ahead of a busy 2020/21 Premier League campaign. 

This also comes after Demarai Gray’s future has at the King Power Stadium has become more doubtful, especially after a report from The Telegraph linking him with a move to Newcastle United, and now the Foxes are ‘favourites’ to sign McNeil as a potential replacement.

Left-back Ben Chilwell has already departed the East Midlands in a £45m move to Chelsea, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal, and McNeil could be high on the list of candidates to come in and strengthen Rodgers’ squad.

Defender Timothy Castagne is reportedly set to join Leicester as Chilwell’s direct heir, but the Burnley youngster has been strongly tipped to follow him.

Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, the left-sided midfielder started all 38 Premier League games for the Clarets last season, marking himself out as a key figure under Sean Dyche by scoring two goals and providing six assists from the flanks (WhoScored).

Out of Burnley’s entire squad, only Ashley Westwood managed to provide more key passes per game, perhaps attracting Rodgers and his staff at Leicester to a player deemed to have vast potential.

Speaking to Sky Sports via Lancs Live, pundit Jamie Redknapp has also waxed lyrical over McNeil’s ‘real quality’ and correctly predicted that top six sides would be after him in this window, now that Leicester could be in the chase.

Given the quick run of games over 2020/21, strength in depth may well be key, and the Englishman could provide a new dimension for the Foxes going forward.

Foxes, would you be happy to sign McNeil? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Pep Guardiola has done an excellent job building an incredible Manchester City side for the last couple of years. And of course, the Citizens would also reap the rewards when they claimed the Premier League title two times in a row but now, once again, the Catalan coach will need to spice things up a bit.

And as ever, it’s the defensive line that will need some tweaking as Guardiola is looking to add to his team’s solidity. One of the names that have been continuously linked with Man City is none other than Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly. Of course, the big defender is largely regarded as one of the best in the world and as such, it will be quite difficult to get him in the first place.

But according to the Manchester Evening News, City will need a big favour from their eternal rivals, Manchester United, if they are to get this deal over the line. Actually, it won’t be as much about what the Red Devils can do for them but rather about them not doing anything at all.

If we go back a couple of years, we’ll remember that it were United who snatched Harry Maguire in front of City and now, they are once again linked with Koulibaly as well.

MEN state an approach from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is unlikely but as long as they are mentioned as interested or don’t categorically rule it out by signing someone else, Napoli will have all the negotiating power to slam a huge asking price for their defender.

So this time, Man City need United to stay out of the race. If history has taught us anything, however, it’s that the Red Devils have a knack of buying the Citizens’ targets.

Verdict

Needless to say, this is an enormous favour to ask, especially considering we’re talking about city rivals here. But Man City need defensive reinforcements and it will be interesting to see how they approach this situation.

Knowing how rivalries work, it wouldn’t be surprising to see United do everything they can to make Pep’s life that much more miserable in the transfer window.

With promotion to the Premier League secured, Leeds can look forward to an exciting post-season of being linked to players across Europe.

And one man who they will surely be excited at being touted with, is Brentford winger Said Benrahma.

The Algerian of course will be familiar to Marcelo Bielsa’s side having scored against them in a Championship fixture this season, and according to the latest reports, is now being eyed up by the Whites this summer.

The report claims that Bielsa wants the 24-year-old at Elland Road at all costs, and has made him his priority in terms of summer transfer targets. It’s further added that the Whites are readying an offer in the region of €26m (£23.6m) to lure him away from London.

Is it Haaland Snr or David Hopkins? Your Leeds knowledge will be put to the test with this quiz…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

And when you look at the kind of season he had, it’s easy to see why Benrahma is a man in demand. With 17 goals and nine assists, the attacker has been one of the main reasons behind Brentford’s charge for an automatic promotion place – they narrowly missed out on the final day.

As per Whoscored, he has averaged a very impressive 3.9 shots, 2.1 key passes and 3.1 dribbles per game in the Championship, and that level of creativity and goal threat is something that could really elevate Leeds’ attack.

His ability to take players on is second-to-none, and it’s no surprise that several people who have worked closely with him have raved about his technique and skills – including Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

He said: “For me he’s a quality player with top skills but also finishing skills. We actually worked very hard with him to arrive in the box at the right situations. In there when he’s turning and running at people – oof, I don’t want to defend against him!”.

His teammate Henrik Dalsgaard further underlined just how much of a difficult customer he can be for the opposition, saying: “He’s such a tricky player, you think you’ve got him locked in the corner and then, all of a sudden, he’s out”.

And if you needed to sum it all up, then look no further than Sam Saunders, Brentford B’s assistant coach, who claimed Benrahma “could nutmeg a mermaid”.

Benrahma may be plying his trade in the Championship, but all signs point to him being a Premier League quality player in the future. Victor Orta and co would be foolish not to snap him up ahead of the competition.