All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool fans may believe that this could be their year in the Champions League after being drawn against FC Porto recently. The Reds managed to get the better of the Portuguese club in last year’s competition, so they’ll feel confident heading into this year’s clash. 

It’s safe to say that Jurgen Klopp already faces a busy summer with a number of loan players returning and a few first-team members possibly taking their careers elsewhere.

One player who may be coming to the end of his time at Anfield is James Milner.

The Englishman hasn’t been able to secure regular minutes in the current campaign, other than when there’s an injury. He’s filled in at right-back, left-back and in central midfield at times but he just hasn’t looked comfortable in possession and he turns 34 next year with his contract set to run out in the summer.

Luckily, Jurgen Klopp has already found the perfect replacement for Milner in the form of Marko Grujic. The 22-year-old has spent the current campaign on loan at German side Hertha Berlin, scoring three and assisting one.

Grujic has earned rave reviews in the current campaign as one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga. His temporary manager Pal Dardai described him as top shelf and intimated (as per Index, via Empire of the Kop) that he is the most talented footballer he’s ever worked with.

His performances in the middle of midfield have been sensational, with his passing, tackling and eagle eye for goal making him a very well-rounded midfielder.

The Serbian has done more than enough to warrant a first-team place at Anfield in the summer. He offers so much more than Milner and could provide a different dynamic, with his attacking qualities benefiting Klopp’s style.

Liverpool fans, do you think Grujic is ready to make the step up? Surely his performances have been too good to ignore this season…

[ad_pod ]

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has admitted that the return of Axel Tuanzebe from injury will give him a dilemma due to the amount of loan players in the squad.

Tuanzebe – on loan at Villa from Manchester United – has declared himself fit to return after overcoming the foot injury which has sidelined him since December.

Only five loan players are permitted in each matchday squad, though, and Tom Carroll, Kortney Hause, Tyrone Mings, Tammy Abraham and Anwar El Ghazi are also all on loan with the Championship side this season.

It seems likely that Tuanzebe will return to the starting XI against Blackburn Rovers after the international break, with Carroll the likeliest to miss out.

Smith, however, has conceded that he now has a big decision to make.

Smith told Villa’s official website:

“Axel gives me not only a selection headache, but a loan headache. You’re only allowed five in the matchday 18.

“One will have to miss out – I have Axel, Tom Carroll, Hause, Mings, Tammy Abraham and Anwar El Ghazi. That’s a decision I’ve got to make.”

Villa have won each of their last four in the Championship to move into sixth position in the division.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Smith’s side are next in action at home to Blackburn on March 30, before travelling to Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United at the start of next month.

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United’s U23 side secured the Professional Development League North title following a 2-0 win against Colchester United on Monday, and Clarke Oduor was one of their impressive performers on the night.

The 19-year-old has been with the Yorkshire outfit for many years having progressed through the club’s academy, and he is beginning to make a real impact.

The teenager made his first-team debut as a late substitute against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup in January, but that is still the only occasion he has been involved in the 18-man squad under Marcelo Bielsa.

Still, he has obviously made an impression having signed a new one-and-a-half year contract last month, with Leeds having the option to extend it by a further 12 months.

Usually a winger the Kenyan started at left-back in Essex, and while he was only on the pitch for the opening 45 minutes he still made a big impression.

Oduor got forward well, didn’t stop running and produced some threatening crosses, and in many ways he is replicating Elland Road favourite Ezgjan Alioski in terms of style.

The Macedonia international has become a real hero among the Leeds faithful after seamlessly making the switch to left-back in recent months despite primarily being a winger, and his African teammate showed that he could follow a similar path on Monday.

With the endurance he has and the end product he showed at times, he could be another versatile option for Bielsa and the Yorkshire outfit for many years to come.

When Newcastle broke their long-standing transfer record in January, there was always going to be a weight upon the shoulders of Miguel Almiron, especially as some people saw it as a risky move with the player having never played in Europe.

But since he arrived, he has brought something different to a Newcastle side that would have been fairly described as resolute, but predictable.

His effervescence on the pitch is noticeable, and the only frustration that fans have had regarding his performances, is that he makes incredible runs out wide, only for Matt Ritchie to cut inside, and not give him the ball enough.

He could have scored in each of his first two home appearances, and that he didn’t was more down to bad fortune than poor finishing.

Yes, a goal would do him a world of good, but no one is concerned that he hasn’t found the net — Rondon and Perez are the two players doing so, largely thanks to his play.

It is surprising, therefore, that Rafa Benitez is having to publicly voice his support for the player.

According to the Daily Star, Rafa has said he has no worries regarding the player’s form or goal-scoring — and nor should he.

He said: “Perhaps if I asked him the specific question, he would say yes he needs a goal but I don’t think it is so important.

“You can see in the way he is playing that Miguel is happy. He is doing OK.

“And I certainly don’t see any anxiety just because he is not scoring.”

The Spaniard, still in negotiations about extending his stay at St James’ Park, was also asked about the red card Almiron received while playing for Paraguay last week.

Benitez seemed to have no doubt about him having a positive reaction to the incident — which was largely condemned, both in the press and on social media.

Rafa noted: “I saw him in the gym and he was fine and then he was enjoying himself in training.

“He is not the sort of player who would make a bad tackle on purpose. It was the situation. His team were losing and he has this energy.

“But mentally, he will be ready for Arsenal.”

That is good news for Newcastle fans, as they understand the contribution the South American has made.

They also see the lift his arrival and displays have given the team as a whole, and as long as that continues, his zero in the goal-scoring column will be of little concern.

He will break his duck, and when he does, the questions will stop. But the fact that they are being asked at all shows a lack of understanding of his contribution in a black and white shirt to date.

What do you think of Almiron, Newcastle fans? Have his performances been up to scratch for you? Let us know below…

[ad_pod ]

Ruben Neves has been near untouchable when it’s come to criticism after joining Wolves. The club raised eyebrows when they were able to prize the midfielder away from Porto in 2017 and he’s more than lived up to expectations.

He was regularly among the goals for the Midlands club last season and set the Championship alight as Wolves romped to the league title.

Although still effective this term too, he’s been far quieter than his debut campaign in English football, scoring three goals and claiming two assists across 29 Premier League matches so far.

But his performance against Watford in arguably the biggest game since he’s joined the club was questionable. This time it will have been raising eyebrows for the wrong reasons as the club were dumped out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals after their opposition sparked a remarkable comeback.

In recent matches, the Portuguese midfielder has arguably been worse than his midfield partners in Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker. It suggests the club shouldn’t be as concerned as losing him as they may have been in the past when he attracted the interest of Juventus and Manchester City last year.

RUBEN NEVES (Watford vs Wolves)

39 touches

69% pass success

0 key passes

2 shots off target

0 dribbles

Stats courtesy of WhoScored

However, Watford demonstrated the perfect way of nullifying the 22-year-old. Javi Gracia played a midfield diamond which allowed the Hornets to essentially man mark Neves. This is exemplified in the fact that during the 86 minutes he was on the pitch, he only touched the ball 39 times.

When he did get on the ball he was hugely ineffective, possessing a poor pass completion rate, which is a rarity for someone usually so composed on the ball.

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

Going forward he had no effect on the game, failing to make any key passes whilst the fact he failed to find the target with either of his two attempts on goal sums up his performance.

Neves may have come a long way since arriving in the Midlands, but this was one of his most disappointing displays in Nuno Santo’s team. If those huge clubs come calling once more with big sums of cash, it will be very hard to turn down if Neves doesn’t recover his previous form.

[ad_pod ]

Southampton fans on Twitter have been praising Maya Yoshida after he revealed he turned down a big money move to Saudi Arabia.

Yoshida showed loyalty to Southampton by turning down a move to an unnamed Saudi Arabian club and the paycheque that comes with it.

Yoshida said: “In the last window (last summer), there was interest in me from Saudi Arabia, but I don’t work for the money.”

The Japan international has been at St Mary’s for seven years now and he doesn’t think that he will leave the south coast club before his career is over.

“I have a good contract with Southampton. If I had an offer from another Premier League club on the same level for an extra one million (pounds), I would choose to stay at Southampton and finish a beautiful career with good friends.”

Southampton fans appreciated the loyalty from the 30-year-old as they have seen their star players leave the club every year since they were promoted to the Premier League.

The defender has made 14 appearances in the league for the Saints this season.

Here’s what Southampton fans have been saying on Twitter…

[ad_pod ]

Ruben Neves was sublime in Wolves’ Championship-winning campaign. His signing was a huge coup for a club of that level, moving from an established Champions League side where he was captain, to joining a team whose quality didn’t even come close to those he was leaving behind.

However, his move has been warranted, helping to lead the club into the top half of the Premier League and to an FA Cup semi-final.

But, with Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker arguably outperforming the Portuguese sensation in recent months, is Nuno Santo getting the best out of him?

Neves has still had an impressive season but his numbers in 2018/19 would suggest he and the club could benefit from a slight change of position.

Ruben Neves (Wolves 2018/19 – Premier League)

3 goals

2.2 tackles PG*

2.2 shots PG

0.8 key passes PG

80.6% pass success

(Stats courtesy of WhoScored. *= Per game)

Given Neves came to the club as a more defensive midfielder, he’s been outshone in that capacity by both Dendoncker and Moutinho this season. Although his reading of the game is superb, the amount of tackles he makes per game is less than both of his midfield partners.

Surprisingly, his pass success percentage is also lower than Dendoncker’s. Considering how accomplished he is with the ball at his feet it may be a slight concern that he’s continuing to be outperformed in that area too.

Wolves can solve that issue by moving him further forward. The 22-year-old has a keen eye for goal and this is something Nuno should look to exploit more in the future.

The Midlands club tried operating with him as a number ten against Watford but their compact midfield were able to mark him out of the game.

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

However, the fact he boasts the second-most shots-per-game out of anyone at the club demonstrates the impact he can have in the final third, and shows why Wolves could find themselves scoring a lot more if they were to move him closer to Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota in attack.

Wolves don’t have too much left to play for this season so it’s definitely worth seeing what he can do in an advanced role.

[ad_pod ]

Sheffield United fans have been praising David McGoldrick and Chris Wilder after the striker netted a brace against Hull City, taking his tally to 15 for the season in the Championship after joining on a free transfer.

The Republic of Ireland international cost the Blades absolutely nothing and has proven to be a key man in their race for promotion.

United may also have eyes on the league title after their victory, with Norwich dropping points for the third game in a row to leave the gap between the Canaries and the Blades at just three points.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

The Yorkshire club’s 3-0 win over Hull on Easter Monday means that they remain second in the Championship with just two games of the season to go.

Wilder and his staff have received plaudits on Twitter for signing McGoldrick in a time where many clubs were unwilling to give him a chance after he was released from Ipswich.

Wilder’s gamble has clearly paid off as 15 goals later the Blades are within touching distance of the Premier League.

Here’s what Sheffield United fans have been saying on Twitter…

It has been a tough week to be a Leeds United supporter, hasn’t it?

Having squandered a three-point lead over automatic promotion challengers Sheffield United over the Easter weekend, Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s hopes of securing a top-two finish in the Championship are now hanging by a thread.

Last Monday’s 2-0 defeat against Brentford saw several under-par performances from the Whites’ players with Jack Clarke, in particular, struggling to make an impact.

When the winger was introduced as a substitute by his Argentine manager with 25 minutes to go at Griffin Park, it was hoped that he would provide the spark needed to rescue his side. Unfortunately, he caused more harm than good for Leeds as a failure to keep possession when given the ball hampered his team’s efforts.

Clearly struggling for form since returning from a medical issue suffered in February, Clarke has hardly been pulling up any trees for the club’s under-23 side either and so the news that he has been linked with a £10m move to AFC Bournemouth in the summer (according to Football Insider) could force owner Andrea Radrizzani into making a decision on his future.

Whereas the 18-year-old has shown a great deal of promise in victories over Aston Villa and Derby County earlier this season, the pressure to deliver as an academy graduate in such a pivotal time of the year may be too much for someone who has hardly any experience of first-team football.

Despite Clarke being a fan-favourite at Elland Road, Leeds may benefit from cashing in on him whilst his reputation is still so high as they could use the money to re-invest in other areas of the squad ahead of next season, regardless of whether they are in the Championship or the Premier League.

For the winger, a move to Bournemouth could turn out to be a positive on a personal note as there are not many managers in English football who can match the track-record that Eddie Howe has of nurturing the talents of young prospects. In recent years, the likes of Lewis Cook, Callum Wilson and David Brooks have all developed as players under the guidance of the 41-year-old as so it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Clarke becomes the latest success story at the Vitality Stadium.

What do you think Leeds fans? Should the club cash-in on Clarke? Or is it important that the club keep the 18-year-old at the club for the foreseeable future? Let us know below.

[ad_pod ]

Reported Manchester United target Kieran Trippier produced a disappointing display for Tottenham Hotspur in their 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat against Ajax on Tuesday, and Red Devils fans were quick to have their say on his display on Twitter.

The Express say that both United and Napoli are chasing the signature of the England international, with trusted Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio believing that the 28-year-old prefers a move to Old Trafford.

Should the former Burnley man sign for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men he would be competing against the likes of Ashley Young and Diogo Dalot for the right-back spot, but on this latest performance he would face a big struggle to get in the starting XI.

Find out which stadiums fans have nominated for the worst atmosphere in football in the video below…

According to Squawka he lost possession on 28 occasions – more than anyone else on the pitch – against the Eredivisie giants, while he once again struggled to make much of an impact at both ends of the field as Spurs failed to score or keep a clean sheet.

United supporters certainly weren’t impressed with what they saw from Trippier if their reaction on social media is anything to go by, with one even saying “Trippier is literally worse than Young”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…