All posts by h716a5.icu

West Ham United have been dealt a huge injury blow, made even worse by the fact he was meant to be the answer to their safety prayers…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to ExWHUEmployee, who issued an update on the fitness of new signing Danny Ings.

Having just moved from Aston Villa in a £15m deal, David Moyes handed his new man just under 20 minutes in their 2-0 win over Everton at the weekend.

However, it has since been reported that the 30-year-old is set for a spell on the sidelines, as was noted on the West Ham Way Patreon:

“In true West Ham form it appears the injury is true and it is a knee injury.

“This is a crushing blow but one that always seems to happen to West Ham and Ings has suffered knee injuries in the past including a serious one at Liverpool.”

Could cost Moyes his job

It is no secret that Ings was seen as the man to turn around their abysmal season and attacking fortunes, which before the aforementioned win had them joint-bottom of the Premier League table.

Having seen off his former employers, Moyes would have been hoping to kick on with his brand new marksman at the helm.

After all, he had scored five goals in his last four starts for the Villans, which was the bulk of his six-goal season thus far. It seems like quite the coup to acquire someone in such blistering form, which makes his injury even more frustrating.

Whilst it is not expected to be too serious, his history with that same issue will worry both the staff and supporters. 

Had Ings – who was once lauded as a “goal machine” by journalist Jon Dunham – enjoyed an injury-free career, he would likely have scored far more than his 115 senior goals across various clubs in England.

For Southampton, who seemingly always battled to avoid the drop, the lethal marksman scored 46 times in just 100 appearances as he enjoyed a true run of fitness.

There was hope he might achieve similar feats at the London Stadium, but with this instant injury, it already feels like a deal destined to go wrong.

Should the Hammers not build upon their win over Everton, continuing their toothless nature in front of goal, they can trace it back to Ings’ untimely injury should he not make a speedy recovery.

Whilst he represented a risk worth taking, it may well just cost Moyes his job.

Celtic breezed into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup following what was a ruthless, 5-0 demolition of second-tier outfit Morton on Saturday afternoon, with Ange Postecoglou’s side continuing to look rather imperious on all three domestic fronts.

A vital figure in that latest triumph – and in the Old Firm outfit’s rampant form in general – was summer signing, Aaron Mooy, with the experienced Aussie having again made his mark in the centre of the park.

The classy midfielder bagged a brace in that brutal thumping at Parkhead, with journalist John McGinley stating that the 32-year-old was simply “enjoying himself” as the creative hub in the side.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man has good reason to be ‘enjoying himself’ at present having secured a regular role in the side since the World Cup, having previously been “unbelievable” for his country in Qatar, as per pundit Mark Schwarzer.

The 57-cap maestro now has four goals and five assists in 29 games in all competitions this season, notably providing four goal involvements in his last five Scottish Premiership outings.

Now a “key contributor” to the team – according to his manager – it does appear that Mooy will be a mainstay of the side moving forward, having been truly “outstanding” of late, as per Postecoglou.

The title-winning coach could potentially be able to form a commanding midfield partnership if he is to pair the one-time Huddersfield Town man with reported target, Aissa Laidouni, with the Tunisian international having been linked with a move to Glasgow prior to the start of the window.

The towering 26-year-old – who could reportedly cost in the region of €4m (£3.5m) – is facing an uncertain future at current side Ferencvaros, with just six months remaining on his existing deal with the Hungarian outfit.

That could well allow the Hoops the chance to pounce this month, with the France-born menace having proven his credentials after also enjoying a “tremendous” World Cup, as per journalist Sam Tighe.

Although Tunisia were not able to make it out of the group stage, the African nation did still pick up four points from their three outings, with Laidouni averaging one tackle and 1.3 interceptions per game, while also winning a solid 75% of his aerial duels.

The 6-foot machine particularly impressed as a result of his energetic and relentless presence at the base of the midfield, having covered “every blade of grass” for his nation in Qatar, according to journalist Lorenzo Kohler.

Also praised for being “absolutely everywhere” by Tighe, Laidouni could seemingly be the perfect foil for the more measured Mooy in Postecoglou’s side, with the current Bhoys ace a figure who “controls the tempo” of the team – in the words of club legend Stiliyan Petrov – rather than being somewhere who steams into tackles and intimidates the opposition.

With the Ferencvaros ace able to take on that later role at Celtic Park, it could well allow Mooy the freedom to continue to make an impact creatively for the Scottish champions, as such leading to the formation of a simply tremendous partnership in midfield.

Aston Villa will not submit to defeat in their January marathon chase for Olympique Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, with deadline day now looming…

What’s the word?

Villa boss Unai Emery has been a revelation following the maiden phase of his tenure, and after initial promise on the pitch, focus has been shifted to the ongoing transfer window, with several exciting deals already tied up.

The midfield is an area yet untouched by the Spaniard manager, with Guendouzi indeed being eyed for a reunion with his former Arsenal head coach, according to initial reports from L’Equipe.

Rumours of a forthcoming bid have yet to subside, and now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has stoked the fire and revealed that the French Ligue 1 outfit await further action from Emery’s contingent amid the speculation.

He said: “At the moment, from Marseille, they are still waiting for the official bid. They know about the interest; the player is aware of the interest of Unai Emery but still no official bid.”

Gundogan 2.0

Having won five of the first seven league matches at the wheel after his initial victory over Manchester United, Emery will be satisfied with the progress made, but in order to strike where he desires, the four-time Europa League winner is indeed bolstering the outfit across several departments.

The “incredible” Guendouzi – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has made 82 appearances for Marseille, scoring nine goals and providing 18 assists; comparatively, over 81 outings for Arsenal, he found the back of the net just once and provided five assists.

There is a clear hike in performance, and his development is smoothly progressing, and with Sofascore recording his average rating last season at 7.00 and 6.93 this term, he is evidently emerging as a composed and smooth figure, completing 88% of his passes this year, averaging 1.0 shots per match and 1.2 tackles.

According to FBref, the 23-year-old ranks well across a spread of metrics, sitting in the top 13% of positional peers for touches in the opposition box and progressive passes received, the top 21% for assists and the top 23% for progressive passes – illustrating a dynamic and varied approach to his play that would only enhance the Villa ranks.

Among his comparable players, Guendouzi – who the aforementioned Kulig also once hailed a “monster” – is likened to Manchester City sensation Ilkay Gundogan, and could emulate the gem’s success at the Etihad Stadium with a transfer.

Since arriving in the Premier League for £21m from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, the German Gundogan has made 281 appearances and scored 51 goals, also providing 35 assists.

Cityzen manager Pep Guardiola once remarked Gundogan is “one of the most intelligent players” he had ever seen, with the 66-cap star indeed an integral component for his outfit, winning four Premier League titles, the FA Cup and four League Cups.

And as per WhoScored, the 32-year-old’s career average 88.6% pass success rate and 1.5 shots per game indicate a semblance to Guendouzi that the Frenchman must harness and mould under Emery’s tutelage.

Time is ticking, and if the Villan hierarchy truly wish to match Emery’s ambitious aspirations then a signing of Guendouzi’s ilk to thread the centre together and provide the bedrock from which a multitude of dimensions could stem then the budding French phenom must be signed, he could be the catalyst for impactful change in the Midlands.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice remains a summer target for Chelsea and a host of top Premier League clubs, according to a new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Chelsea eyeing midfielders

The England international’s future has been a major talking point of late, with a summer exit from the Hammers looking almost certain after he rejected a long-term deal.

Chelsea have long been seen as one of the contenders to snap up Rice at the end of the season, as Graham Potter looks to make huge changes to his midfield, currently pursuing a deal for Enzo Fernandez.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that the Blues are locked in negotiations with Benfica over a deal for the Argentine World Cup winner, but it looks like they are still keeping a few eggs in the Rice basket as well.

The Latest: Blues battling PL rivals

According to Football Insider, the Blues are still ‘keeping close tabs’ on Rice, with the Englishman rejecting a number of new contract offers from West Ham.

Fellow Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are all mentioned in the same breath, though, so it will be a fierce battle to sign him.

The Verdict: An Enzo alternative?

Rice is exactly what Chelsea could do with this summer, with the Hammers favourite a huge influence both on and off the ball, averaging a 94.3% pass completion rate and 2.2 interceptions per match at the 2022 World Cup.

The fact that he was a boyhood Blues supporter could certainly work in the club’s favour, should nostalgia take over, as well as reuniting with great friend Mason Mount.

The £60,000-a-week-earning Rice has been described as ‘magnificent’ by Gary Lineker and he is someone who could be a dominant mainstay of Chelsea’s midfield for around a decade, so he is certainly a viable target for the summer if the Fernandez deal falls through.

Manchester United host Crystal Palace on Saturday just two weeks after Michael Olise’s dramatic late equaliser nicked a point for the Eagles at Selhurst Park.

The Lowdown: United drop points in London

The Red Devils played Saturday’s opponents last month and had a night to forget, dropping crucial points in the Premier League’s top four race while also seeing Casemiro pick up a yellow card which forced him to miss the defeat to Arsenal.

The Brazilian rashly dived into a challenge with Wilfried Zaha after Bruno Fernandes had given Erik ten Hag’s side the lead, only for Olise to pop up with an incredible last-minute free-kick to split the points.

Now, with Tottenham only three points behind after they put an end to their slump with a win over Fulham last time out, United cannot afford to slip up against Patrick Vieira’s side a second time.

The Latest: Olise the danger man

It wasn’t just his stunning late goal that earned Olise Palace’s highest match rating in the previous encounter (Whoscored).

The 21 year-old, playing down United’s left flank up against Luke Shaw, registered more touches of the ball than any of his teammates and created four chances, the joint-highest number of anyone on the pitch along with Fernandes.

Olise’s season totals now sit at 30 chances created, 22 successful dribbles and 23 shots at goal (Whoscored), and there’s no doubt Ten Hag will be having sleepless nights conjuring up how to stop him, with fellow Palace key man Wilfried Zaha missing out through injury.

The Verdict: Shaw must step up

In truth, the manager may have no choice but to simply trust his full-back to get the job done this time around. Injuries to Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen mean there are few options to inject some extra cover into midfield, while the last thing the boss will want to do is pull Marcus Rashford deeper on the left flank, considering how dangerous the red-hot Englishman currently is going forward.

Shaw has been in inspired form for most of this season, but it’s fair to say the 27 year-old has dipped a little recently, recording some of his worst displays of the campaign in the last three league matches against Arsenal, Palace and Manchester City (Whoscored).

While the probable inclusion of Fred alongside compatriot Casemiro may offer a slightly improved defensive shield in the centre of the park, the onus is going to be on Shaw give his manager something to smile about this time around.

Arsenal are in a pretty healthy position heading into the final half of the Premier League season as they remain five points clear of defending champions Manchester City, with a game in hand too.

If Mikel Arteta leads his side to what would’ve been unthinkable during the summer, then he’ll have ended a near decade-long wait for the league title at the Emirates Stadium.

There are sure to be plenty of twists and turns until May, though. As we saw at the weekend, Everton’s new era under Sean Dyche got off to the perfect start by handing the Gunners their second league defeat of the season – just a few days after they crashed out of the FA Cup.

Arsene Wenger’s invincibles bailed out of all cup and European competitions early, so it’s nothing to fear just yet but it would help if Arteta had an ace up his sleeve and perhaps he does.

The addition of Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Hove Albion certainly gives him a new threat in the attack but you cannot forget about the versatile and exciting attributes of Emile Smith Rowe.

The ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ as he’s affectionately known has been absent for much of the season through injury, having returned with cameos against Oxford United and more recently, against Tottenham Hotspur.

Those were his first competitive appearances since early September, so he’s clearly on his way back from his issues.

Still only 22, the £23.5m-rated dynamo was one of Arteta’s most influential players as only Bukayo Saka (11) scored more goals (ten). His returns were more than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette combined (eight) and double the number of Gabriel Jesus this campaign (five).

It’s perhaps why former Gunners star Mesut Ozil dubbed him a “difference-maker” and that sort of talent is going to be needed when things aren’t going Arsenal’s way in the back end of the season.

Also capable of finding “space in a telephone box” – as once explained by his former Huddersfield Town boss Danny Cowley – Smith Rowe could prove to be Arteta’s secret weapon over the coming months – if not weeks.

It’s been a while since other teams have seen what the £40k-per-week Englishman is capable of, so he may well be an unpredictable threat once he’s fully fit and available.

AND in other news, Reyes 2.0: Edu could have unearthed Arsenal’s next unsung hero in £27m “game-changer”…

A big update has emerged on Sunderland and their squad ahead of their clash with Reading in the Championship this afternoon…

What’s the latest on Isaac Lihadji?

Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray has confirmed that the French winger is set to be in the squad for the first time since arriving from French giants Lille last month.

The Chronicle’s James Hunter tweeted:

“Mowbray: Lihadji is available for the first time this weekend. Doesn’t yet speak any English. Thinks he’s likely to be used as an impact sub in the short-term. #safc.”

He is yet to make his debut for Sunderland after being ineligible to play against Fulham in the FA Cup in midweek due to not being registered for the initial fixture against the Premier League side.

It’s an exciting boost for Mowbray

The French winger’s availability for today’s clash with the Royals is an exciting boost for the Sunderland boss as the young gem has the potential to be a superb player for the club.

Whilst the gem is unlikely to be in a position to start in the immediate future, due to the language barrier, the 20-year-old could be an excellent option off the bench and someone who could come on as a game-changer for the Black Cats.

Lihadji, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once dubbed “explosive”, showcased his quality in Ligue 1 for Lille last season as he produced one goal and four assists in 13 appearances – starting two of those matches.

The dynamo played 227 minutes of action, which works out at roughly two-and-a-half full games, and was directly involved in five goals, whilst creating 13 chances for his teammates – roughly five per 90 minutes.

These statistics, albeit from a small sample size, show that the youngster is capable of providing quality as a substitute and does not need to start games in order to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch.

No Sunderland player has provided more than 1.9 key passes per match in the Championship this season and this suggests that Lihadji has the potential to be an upgrade on Mowbray’s current creative outlets in midfield and out wide.

Therefore, having the Frenchman available for selection as a substitute is an exciting boost for the Black Cats head coach as the gem could improve the side whilst also being an option who has proven his ability to be a match-winner, or difference-maker, off the bench at a higher level.

Alan Brazil has slammed Vitaliy Mykolenko for his role in Everton’s Merseyside derby defeat last night on TalkSport.

The Lowdown: Everton brought back down to earth

After a stunning start to life as Everton manager, Sean Dyche’s Toffees side were brought crashing back down to earth on Monday evening as they were easily swept aside by their local rivals.

Everton did manage to pick up three points from two games against Arsenal and Liverpool, which many may have taken prior to the victory against the Gunners, but last night showed why they are near the bottom of the table.

The Toffees failed to take the game to Liverpool at any stage, managing just three shots on target which equated to an expected goals ratio of just 0.3 (as per FBref). Meanwhile, their defending from the likes of Mykolenko, Conor Coady and also goalkeeper Jordan Pickford left a lot to be desired.

The Lates: Mykolenko poor in latest defeat

Indeed, Brazil picked out Mykolenko for his lack of defensive awareness in Everton’s defeat as he left a lot of the pitch open for Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo to drift into for the first goal.

He said: “Mykolenko, what was he doing? He came right across trying to cover, and he was like the right-hand side centre-back. He didn’t have to go that far over, he just left the middle wide open. Surely he had to be another 10-12 yards back, central, and then the cross into the box would’ve been harder.”

The Verdict: Problems arise for Dyche

While getting beaten by Liverpool is not something unusual for Everton over the years, the fact that both of the goals they conceded had included errors meant the Toffees didn’t make their rivals work very hard, which will be frustrating for fans.

Dyche will be furious that experienced players such as Coady and Pickford made high-profile errors that allowed Liverpool to score as he will have been looking to players like them to lead Everton away from the drop zone, as they remain engulfed in a relegation dogfight.

In fairness to Mykolenko, while he did indeed vacate a lot of space behind him for the first goal, he clearly felt as though he had to go over and close down Darwin Nunez in a split-second decision, such was the devastating speed of the Uruguayan’s counter-attack.

But Brazil wasn’t alone in slating the defender’s display, as reporter Jeorge Bird also felt he had ‘difficult moments’ all game.

Chelsea have held internal negotiations regarding a potential permanent deal for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix, according to reports.

The Lowdown: £85m required?

The Portuguese international arrived at Stamford Bridge in January on loan for the remainder of the season but there is no option or obligation to buy included in his move to the Premier League.

The forward was sent off on his debut under Graham Potter but has since shown what he’s capable of, and reports have suggested that the club are willing to offer Mason Mount to the La Liga giants in a swap deal for the 23-year-old.

Reporters have claimed that a fee of £85m could be enough for Todd Boehly to complete the switch at the end of the term, and it sounds like he’s keen to get it wrapped up.

The Latest: Chelsea hold negotiations

According to 90min, Chelsea are ‘looking’ to make Felix’s stay in SW6 permanent with the hierarchy having been hugely ‘impressed’ by what they have seen on offer so far.

The Blues have already held ‘negotiations’ with Atletico regarding signing him for good, with the player even having hinted that he would be open to staying.

The Verdict: Take the opportunity

Felix may have only made three appearances across all competitions but his talent is clear to see so Chelsea should grab the opportunity to secure his permanent services with both hands.

The Adidas-sponsored ace already has an assist and man-of-the-match award to his name and is currently averaging over 4 shots per top-flight 90 minutes (WhoScored).

The Viseu native would also provide the boss with plenty of versatility where he’s operated in four different positions over the course of this season.

Finally, Felix has been dubbed a ‘nightmare for defenders’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig which he’s already proven with the level of his performances in the capital.

Sunderland have endured their fair share of transfer gaffes over the years as they have learned the hard way that not every new arrival ends up being a roaring success.

One manager who suffered a disaster with the Black Cats in the market was Dutch head coach Dick Advocaat as the manager brought in Adam Matthews during his first window in charge on Wearside.

The club snapped the full-back up for a fee in the region of £2m from Scottish giants Celtic in the summer of 2015 with Advocaat hailing the signing at the time, saying:

“Adam is a welcome addition to our squad. We know that we need quality players to improve competition for places in the side.”

What happened to Adam Matthews?

He endured the worst possible start to his time at the Stadium of Light, though, as the defender suffered an ankle injury in August and was ruled out until October – missing nine competitive matches.

This led to the Welshman heading out on loan to Championship side Bristol City for the second half of the campaign, where he played nine times in the second tier, before heading back there for another loan spell in 2016/17.

Matthews featured in 12 matches for the Robins in the league that season, as Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League, and was then given an opportunity to feature for the Black Cats in 2017/18.

The right-back, who reporter Ross Gregory dubbed a “flop”, ended up playing 34 times in the Championship as the team dropped down to League One. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 – placing him 13th in the squad – with that an indication the dud failed to be a standout player for the club in the second tier.

In 2018/19, Matthews played 23 matches in the third tier of English football – featuring in half of their games – and was then released by the club at the end of that campaign.

Then-Championship side Charlton picked him up on a free transfer that summer with the Wales international going on to play 89 times for the London club – who were relegated in his first season.

His spell with the Addicks ended in the summer of 2022 as the defender was snapped up by Cypriot outfit Omonia Nikosia, who the full-back has played 27 times for to date – including five appearances in the group stage of the Europa League.

On that evidence, it’s clear to see Advocaat endured somewhat of a disaster with the signing of Matthews in 2015. The flop went on to struggle in the Championship and League One, despite being signed as a Premier League player, and was released for nothing after being bought for £2m.

At the age of 31, the defender is now plying his trade in Cyprus instead of competing at the top level in England and it is fair to say that his move to the Stadium of Light did not allow him to kick his career on.