All posts by h716a5.icu

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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…

After a rollercoaster of a season ended with the club finishing in sixth in the Premier League, Manchester United were in dire need of an uplifting summer transfer window. Instead, the early excitement generated by the arrivals of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka quickly disappeared, and Harry Maguire became the club’s third and final signing.

Much of the fans’ ire has been directed towards the club’s infamous owners and Ed Woodward, but there is an argument to be made that some of that anger and frustration should be towards Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. According to BBC Sport earlier this summer, the Norwegian has been the driving force behind United’s desire to build a squad around “younger, motivated players” and he would choose his targets “in conjunction with the recruitment department”.

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So the accountability behind what United have wanted this summer is there to see. But the Red Devils’ failure to land a marquee player when they were linked with stars like Paulo Dybala, Bruno Fernandes and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, amongst others, is concerning. The logic to build a side around academy products is certainly refreshing, but for a team that finished in sixth, and had a number of embarrassing performances and results, surely significant and proven upgrades were needed.

Instead, Solskjaer’s stubborness in focusing on players who fit a specific profile has left United with gaping holes and great questions about strength in depth. Injuries to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial would leave the club with just a woefully out-of-form Alexis Sanchez, and a 17-year-0ld prospect in Mason Greenwood, as their remaining options up front.

So whilst it’s all the rage for Woodward to bear the brunt of the blame, it’s high-time Solskjaer accepts some responsibility for the way in which United’s transfer window panned out this summer.

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Lots of Rangers fans are reacting on Twitter after their former loanee Ovie Ejaria netted a stunning strike for Reading on Wednesday night.

Ejaria opened the scoring in the Championship tie with West Brom. His wonder goal wasn’t enough to give the Royals all three points though, as Kenneth Zohore converted a late penalty to secure a 1-1 draw.

His goal did catch the eye of his former side’s supporters however, with the Gers fans providing a warning to the Reading fans.

Ejaria quit Steven Gerrard’s side in December last year after growing unsettled in Glasgow. Despite arriving on a season-long loan from Liverpool, the winger departed Ibrox after just six largely frustrating months and 28 games.

The goal itself has got Reading supporters purring, yet the Rangers fans believe they’ve seen it all before. The wide-man hasn’t left much of a positive impression on the Gers faithful, who have warned the Royals supporters not to expect this level of consistency from Ejaria.

Here’s how the Rangers supporters reacted to Ejaria’s goal on Twitter:

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Kalvin Phillips appears to have outlined his demands to sign a new deal at Leeds United, according to a report by Football Insider.

It is claimed the midfielder wants a five-year package that will see him earn around £40,000-a-week and allegedly puts him on the same stomping ground as the likes of Kiko Casilla and Patrick Bamford, as the Whites prepare to reopen talks.

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Leeds have been trying to get the 23-year-old to agree to a contract for some time, however it is understood Phillips rejected the last one that was put on the table.

It is hardly a surprise that Leeds are preparing to reopen contract talks with Phillips imminently as he has been key for the club over the last two seasons and there will be an argument that he is worth paying the £40,000-a-week to keep him at Elland Road.

According to data collected by WhoScored over the last couple of years, it has become rather clear and obvious just how important he is to Marcelo Bielsa’s side and their chances of obtaining promotion to the Premier League.

Last season, the 23-year-old had an impressive average of 2.6 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 2.6 clearances, 0.6 key passes and a passing success rate of 82.1% which goes to show how well he plays that defensive midfield role for the Argentine’s side.

Indeed, he has continued that stellar year once again in the current campaign as he has made 3.8 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, two clearances, 0.8 key passes with a 86% passing success rate in his five Championship appearances so far.

Managing director Angus Kinnear has revealed in the past that Phillips is key to their plans, not only in England’s second tier, but also in the Premier League once they obtain promotion and admitted in July how clear their plans were for him.

Speaking to Leeds Live, he said: “We are talking with him about a new contract and we are very clear we want him to play football in the Premier League and we want him to play football in the Premier League with Leeds United.”

There is no doubt that Phillips is one of the best players at Leeds at the moment and that the Whites should look to do all they can to try and tie him down to a new long-term contract.

The sooner the Whites can get an agreement sorted, the better as would not be a surprise to see Premier League clubs try and swoop in for him in January if a deal was not done by then – Aston Villa were heavily linked with a move for the 23-year-old in the summer, to which the defensive midfielder was believed ready to force through (The Sun).

Leeds fans, do you think the club will give into Phillips’ demands and pay him what he wants? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them in the comments section below!

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There has been a lot of negativity surrounding Real Madrid this summer. Crisis here, crisis there, Zinedine Zidane this and Zidane that. Suffice it to say, they were doomed even before they could set foot on the pitches of the new 2019/20 La Liga season.

And now that it’s finally here, the narrative hasn’t changed all that much. At the moment, we’re four games in and Los Blancos have a record of two win and two draws, giving them a tally of eight points – a total good enough for third place in the table.

It’s not terrible, and it’s far too early to draw any real conclusions, but it’s still most likely not what their fans all over the world expect, want and need of their club. That is the burden they’ve put on their own shoulders by being a dominant force in the world of football and it’s the burden only the best can carry.

And despite this very much still being the early days and despite Zidane’s troops showing some signs of life in those four initial league games, the verdict seems to already be out: Real Madrid are bad, they are troubled with the same issues of old and there’s no coming back. The future is out there for everyone to see and no Eden Hazards, no Gareth Bales and no Luka Modrićs will stop it from being as dark as they come.

And it’s true. Well, at least some of it. The future will definitely not be on the shoulders of the likes of Modrić, Sergio Ramos or even Bale or any of the other “older” players – and there are plenty of those in the squad as it currently stands.

But the future does look bright, at least from an objective point of view. Of course, for many Real Madrid fans it may be difficult to go a season or two without any trophies, even if it meant more glory at the end of that long road.

2018/19 was in many ways a taste of that. The only trophy Los Blancos got was the Club World Cup crown, and even that one didn’t really seem like much since it hardly compares to the other riches on offer. And the early signs of 2019/20 just might suggest they’ve headed down a fairly similar road now once again.

The problems this team faces are familiar but also difficult to be solved under Zidane for precisely those reasons: they were present before when he first took over the team, and they are still here now too.

But there’s still plenty to be excited for when looking forward and Real Madrid fans will have to trust this long process of revival and rejuvenation. Regardless of the fact that it might seem like the Galacticos have not really been true to their name, especially in recent years with fewer flashy names joining the squad, there’s still a catch at the end of the day.

Even though the players who have joined the team are maybe not Galacticos now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future. For once, Real Madrid are actually not building the squad for the here and now, but rather for tomorrow and the days that follow.

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Nowadays, with the state of the modern market and the current footballing stage, it’s getting increasingly difficult to be at a top club and afford banking for the future. Rarely anyone wants a coach at a club who won’t bring in the results immediately. Those who don’t deliver immediate success are fired rather quickly – you only have to look at Julen Lopetegui’s ill-fated spell at the Bernabeu to see that.

And whether it was intentional or just happened that way, Zidane might be paving the way for someone else to take over. Currently, Real Madrid’s most-used players are very much their old guard who have been here since forever.

As they slowly move past their peak and towards the twilight stages of their careers, their performances are understandably starting to dip significantly. Hence the results of 2018/19. But they are also doing their best in order for the transition of the younger crop of players to be as smooth as possible, which is definitely an important aspect in modern football.

Too often we see players thrown into the pits when they are far too young and inexperienced to be there. Not to mention the toll that all that pressure can have on a young player’s mind.

But with Real Madrid, whether it’s voluntary or not, we’re seeing a step by step transition from the older guard to the new generation. The likes of Luka Jović, Vinicius Junior and Ferland Mendy are already being planted in place and ready to take over the mantle in due course.

And they’re not the only ones either. Finally, Los Blancos have a pretty secure squad in place for the years to come, whilst they still have the likes of Hazard, Bale and Benzema in the team to push the younger players with their experience and already well-established skills.

On paper, this team looks well covered on most of their fronts. Granted, not everything can be solved with sheer footballing ability – that much was visible in the original Galacticos squad back in the early 2000s.

For that reason, they will need someone courageous enough at the helm who can lead them back to glory with innovative ideas and renewed ambition.

As it stands, there’s no telling if Zidane is the right man for the job or not. The foundations for the future however are set, and only time will tell how this story ends up unravelling.

The fans will just have to trust the process and be patient.

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While Henderson did enjoy some time off, as he posted on Instagram that he went to Paris for a few days, it’s clear that he’s been looking forward to the international break ending just as much as the rest of us.

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The stopper has always shown incredible passion for the game both on and off the pitch, and his post says that he can’t wait to get back to Bramall Lane specifically.

It’s not surprising that Henderson wants to get back in front of his home fans as he’s one of the most beloved figures amongst the Blades supporters.

His heroics between the sticks last season along with his antics on Twitter made him an instant fan favourite, and this latest post will make fans fall in love with him even more.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

After seeing the early momentum gained from a 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea quickly evaporate, Manchester United return to Premier League action on Saturday with a point to prove. The Red Devils are winless in their last three league games, and already find themselves seven points behind arch-rivals Liverpool at the top of the table.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side hoped for an ‘easy’ fixture to play after the end of the international break, then that certainly will not be the case. Leicester make the trip to Old Trafford after making an unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign, and find themselves in third place.

Having already drawn away at Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers’ team will definitely fancy their chances of getting another big result.

On the chalkboard

If either side are intent on claiming all three points at the weekend, then the midfield battle between Paul Pogba and James Maddison could very well decide the outcome. And judging by the numbers, both have had decent campaigns so far.

For all the criticism thrown at Pogba this season, particularly in the aftermath of the penalty fiasco at Wolves, the France World Cup winner has been one of United’s stand-out players. The 26-year-old may infuriate some with his penchant for fancy flicks and tricks, but he never shirks the responsibility of trying to create something for his team.

Maddison similarly runs the show for Leicester in the final third, and his performances both this season and last have seen his name linked with a possible move to Old Trafford in the future.

The 22-year-old has proven his quality in making chances for others with his 2.3 key passes per game, and also for trying to get on the score-sheet himself with 3.3 shots per game.

On Saturday, Pogba may have to be slightly more wary of matching his averages of 1.5 dribbles and 1.8 shots per game. Leicester’s renowned counter-attacking style means the Frenchman should think twice about marauding forward, and perhaps keep a much-closer eye on the spaces Maddison occupies. If the latter gets on the ball with time and space to pick out a pass for someone like Jamie Vardy, rest assured he will find it.

It promises to be a fascinating encounter between United’s present and potentially their future. If Pogba can get on the ball and dominate the play like his numbers suggest, then the Red Devils stand a great chance of registering just their second win of the season. But if he fails to keep Maddison in check, then Leicester could run riot at Old Trafford.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the match as Manchester United recorded a 1-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

However, it is difficult to say that it was a particularly impressive performance from the Red Devils, who struggled for creativity once again.

On the Chalkboard

Jesse Lingard’s absence meant that Juan Mata was given his second successive start of the campaign, but the Spain international struggled to make his mark.

Indeed, before being replaced in the 70th minute by Tahith Chong, Mata had a pass success rate of just 75%, whilst he only made one key pass.

The 31-year-old also only managed one successful dribble, meaning that the likes of Rashford and Daniel James were having to make space in the final third.

Mata has now played 156 minutes of Premier League football this season without contributing a goal or an assist.

There is no doubting that the attacker is a fine technician, but his contribution on the field is limited at the moment, and it does not appear that the former Chelsea ace is the answer in the number 10 position.

How does Solskjaer solve the issue?

Lingard missed the Leicester game through illness, but the England international played United’s first four Premier League fixtures of the season without registering a goal or an assist.

In fact, Lingard has not scored for the Red Devils since the end of December, whilst he is without an assist since the end of January against Burnley.

Rashford saved the day with a penalty against Leicester, and it would also be right to pick out United’s back four for some praise.

There is just nothing happening in a central position further forward, though, and failing to sign either Bruno Fernandes or Paulo Dybala during the summer transfer window could well come back to haunt the club in their top-four challenge.

Whether Paul Pogba could be pushed forward to the 10 position remains to be seen, but the France international is perhaps the only midfielder in the squad capable of making things happen in the final third of the field.

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One of England’s heroes of the World Cup campaign back in Russia in 2018, Jordan Pickford hasn’t exactly enjoyed the greatest of times since.

In the Premier League last season, the 25-year-old made four errors directly leading to a goal – almost half the total he has made in his entire time in the top-flight (9).

One of those mistakes, of course, was the last-minute howler at Anfield, which gifted Merseyside rivals Liverpool all three points in a dramatic derby clash.

Whilst not as harrowing as the Liverpool gaffe, Pickford was at it again in the game against Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon.

After seeing his side trail to a Yerry Mina own goal, the England international got nutmegged by Lys Mousset with ten minutes to go, before seeing the Blades forward finish home from a tight angle.

Having seen Pickford’s latest mistake, Everton fans took to Twitter to slam their side’s number one goalkeeper.

Many supporters of the Merseyside club questioned the 25-year-old’s decision-making, with one fan, in particular, labelling him as “petrified” for the game’s second goal.

Check out some of the reaction of Everton fans below:

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Southampton fans were left mightily disappointed by their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Spurs took a 1-0 lead at the weekend through midfielder Tanguy Ndombele only for defender Serge Aurier to collect two yellow cards, leading to his sending off.

Danny Ings then capitalised on a horrendous error from Hugo Lloris to level proceedings, suggesting that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men could claim a scalp in north London.

However, Harry Kane scored the winning goal prior to half-time, with Southampton unable to find a way through the Spurs defence in the second half.

Indeed, Hasenhuttl’s side dominated possession, chalking up 58.8%, per WhoScored, but they were unable to breach Lloris again to take a point from the encounter.

And fans afterwards were quick to berate their Austrian manager.

Indeed, they have now lost two league games in a row, having fallen 3-1 to AFC Bournemouth last weekend.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

Some damning statistics have been doing the rounds at Leeds this season.

Jack Harrison has had a torrid spell in terms of creativity, mustering one accurate cross from a possible 31 heading into last weekend’s meeting with Charlton.

After that clash, the Whites had conjured up 73 shots in their last four matches, taking maximum points from just one of them and scoring three goals.

For all the worries over their defence in pre-season, it now seems to be the attack that is causing the most distress, even if a 1-0 win over West Brom did slightly raise the spirits.

Calls have been made for Eddie Nketiah and Helder Costa to start but not even they could dig Marcelo Bielsa’s men out of a hole last weekend.

Costa did indeed play from the off but he was rather anonymous and lost possession of the ball 17 times. Nketiah, on the other hand, missed a golden opportunity at the near post after being introduced from the bench.

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It might be too early to suggest it could play a significant role in promotion, but this is a team that scored the second-fewest goals of anyone in the top six last season – it’s not just something that’s been a problem recently.

That fact may have been different had Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford stayed fit for an entire campaign, but in 2019/20 we’re seeing that the latter might not have influenced things anyway.

He missed a total of 22 games through injury last term and netted nine times in 16 starts.

It wasn’t a bad return from the ex-Middlesbrough man but this season he’s only shown glimpses of what he’s capable of.

Bamford started off productively and had four goals in his opening five outings but in his next fives matches he failed to hit the back of the net.

It’s something that’s caused unrest amongst the supporters as they grow disillusioned with the fact he’s playing upfront.

There are also a lack of goals from other areas, though.

Pablo Hernandez has scored twice so far but Mateusz Klich has just one in the league. The pair both reached double figures in 2018/19, and while there is still time for them to reach that figure, they’ll need to hit form quickly.

However, as Leeds bemoan their woes in front of goal, should we really be surprised? Given the way they play the ball around yes, but this is a side who sold their top goal scorer in the summer.

Kemar Roofe was linked with Aston Villa but it was a different shade of purple that he chose, moving across the Channel to Anderlecht in Belgium.

It was an interesting move and so far it’s proving to be one they might regret sanctioning.

It’s important to note that a host of departures were out of Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta’s hands this summer. Profit and sustainability issues have been well documented by Paul Bell and Angus Kinnear – the very fact they sold Pontus Jansson was predominantly down to this.

In a sense, Leeds were forced into selling some of their main assets during the transfer window. If you consider Bamford only arrived last summer and Roofe was heading into the final year of his deal, looking for a suitor elsewhere seemed right.

Nketiah may still come good and he could be the solution for the rest of the season after already scoring four times, but he is still vastly inexperienced in the Championship. Their former striker was just finding his feet.

He found the back of the net 15 times in 28 starts and five substitute appearances last season. If he’d been fit and firing for an entire season, their Premier League dream might have already become a reality.

Even if selling Roofe was somewhat of a forced decision, Leeds were quite happy to turn away offers for other players.

Understandably, Kalvin Phillips attracted interest but he went on to sign a new deal while offers were also turned down for Pablo Hernandez. Kinnear again is someone that’s documented that. He told the BBC earlier this year:

“Not going up means your players are sought after by other clubs, we had Kalvin and that was very publicised. There were a number of other players that we received offers for from both the Premier League and the Championship.”

So with that in mind, could more have been done to keep Roofe? It was reported in May that he wanted to be on the same wages as Bamford – £40k a week. That’s completely reasonable judging by their goals but it wasn’t deemed appropriate.

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The 26-year-old is the same age as his former strike partner and was more clinical last term than Bamford has been this.

Roofe only needed 3.1 shots per game but Leeds’ current number 9 is having 3.8 on average in 2019/20 without much success.

His lack of a clinical nature could really hold Leeds back in their quest to reach the promised land.

The Whites will surely be left wondering how they were able to get themselves in that sort of situation.

After all, he was their top goal scorer and they let him leave with relative ease.

As the season goes on, they might well regret not doing more to hold onto him.