All posts by h716a5.icu

Saturday seemingly spelt the end of any chance of Fulham cracking the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.

An embarrassing 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Leeds United on the back of last week’s 2-0 loss to Brentford has left the London club seven points adrift of West Bromwich Albion, and with just 21 points left to play for, it will take a minor miracle for the Whites to make up the gap, especially when you consider that both Nottingham Forest and Brentford are now above them in the table.

The sad thing for Fulham fans is that they’ve gotten so much right this season.

Tony Khan may divide opinion amongst the fanbase, but there’s no denying that he did a grand job of making sure his team were amongst the strongest sides in the Championship after their relegation from the Premier League.

Not only did he manage to keep hold of £18m-rated Aleksandar Mitrovic and former Championship Player of the Year nominee Tom Cairney, but he also added an abundance of talent to an already stacked squad as former Championship POTY Anthony Knockaert joined on loan, while Ivan Cavaleiro and Bobby Decordova-Reid scored 28 goals between them last time they played in the second tier.

Fulham were set up to be promoted, and while they still might be via the playoffs, on paper, they should have run away with it.

Unfortunately, Khan made one grave error, and that was gifting this talented side to a rookie manager.

Scott Parker had no managerial experience at all before he was handed the job at Craven Cottage, and he’s not been able to get the best out of his squad.

Look at the aforementioned players’ records compared to the last time they played in the Championship, Cavaleiro has eight fewer goal contributions than he did in 2017/18, Decordova-Reid has scored 14 fewer than he did in his last Championship season, while Knockaert has 16 fewer goal contributions than he did during Brighton’s promotion season.

Given the right coaching, these players should terrorise defences at this level, but it just hasn’t happened this season, and perhaps that’s down to Parker not being able to get the best out of them.

Look at the man who was opposite Parker on Saturday, and you’ll see where having a top manager can get you.

Six of the players Marcelo Bielsa used on Saturday were a part of the squad that finished 13th the year before the Argentine arrived at Elland Road, but he’s moulded them into the best team in the division in just two years.

Rather than spending big on players, perhaps the higher-ups at Fulham should have splashed out on a top manager to get their side back to the promised land of the Premier League.

Glasgow Rangers may now be looking forward to the new season as they look to win their first Scottish Premiership title since 2011, but they did all they could to keep the previous season alive.

The Gers were adamant that the 2019/20 campaign could have been finished on the pitch, but it was voted that it would be ended early – however, that was only after Dundee’s vote was first not registered and then changed. After that, there were accusations of corruption from the Ibrox outfit, and they even pushed for an independent investigation into the SPFL.

Now, the term is behind us – but it is Hearts and Partick Thistle who are now taking on the governing body as they attempt to overturn their relegations. Dundee United are also involved, but only as they want to see their own promotion stand.

They released a statement in which they attacked the two clubs’ court case, which Ewan Murray retweeted – he took the opportunity to direct his anger at the SPFL themselves. This has attracted the attention of the Gers supporters, and they have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts. You can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

Let us know what you think!

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho could be eyeing up an audacious swoop to bolster his midfield armoury this summer, according to emerging reports.

What’s the word?

La Repubblica, via Sport Witness, claim that the Portuguese chief wants AS Roma playmaker Nicolo Zaniolo at the club next season.

It’s also suggested that the 21-year-old’s relationship with his manager, Paulo Fonseca, is strained and that there’s an uphill battle faced in terms of reconciliation.

Whilst the Serie A outfit are seemingly unwilling to sell their midfield maestro, they have slapped a whopping €70-80m (£65-72m) price tag on Zaniolo’s back with league rivals Inter Milan and Juventus also keen on signing him.

Mourinho’s midfield talisman

The Italian international is one of the most exciting advanced midfielders in the game right now having provided seven goals and three assists whilst averaging 2.3 dribbles, 1.7 shots and 1.1 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

His performances for Roma have drawn high praise indeed.

Club legend Francesco Totti claimed that Zaniolo “has explosive strength and technique, and everything it takes to become a truly great player” whilst his former coach at Inter, Stefano Vecchi, likened him to Steven Gerrard and Mourinho’s ex-talisman Frank Lampard.

“He will go places. He has the characteristics to become a modern mezzala. He’s a [Steven] Gerrard, [Frank] Lampard-type player.”

Spurs hardly need any more attacking options, but a chance to sign his next Lampard should surely be too tempting to refuse.

Christian Eriksen’s void is still felt in north London with Giovani Lo Celso only managing to muster up one assist all season in the Premier League.

Zaniolo may come at a premium, but that’s somewhat the going-rate for a player who’s undoubtedly a generational talent.

And in other news, Paul Merson’s Spurs comments were instantly proven to be a mockery at the weekend…

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to rival Liverpool in the race to sign Watford star Ismaila Sarr this summer.

The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market, amid interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, among others.

That’s according to the Daily Mirror, as relayed by Ricky Sacks, who claimed that Tottenham are one of several clubs who want to give him the chance to stay in the Premier League after Watford were relegated to the Championship following the conclusion of the season.

The £22m-valued winger was one of Watford’s best players last term. Despite their woes, he scored five times and supplied four assists in the Premier League, taking 1.6 shots per game and averaging 1.7 dribbles per game (via WhoScored).

The 22-cap Senegal international, who has scored three goals for his country so far, starred as the Hornets ran riot over Liverpool at Vicarage Road back in February, which ended the Reds’ hopes of emulating Arsenal’s 2004 Invincibles.

After arriving from Rennes for a club record fee last year, Watford will be loathe to let him go, but they may have no other choice.

It is hard to see how the Hornets will keep hold of the Senegalese attacker in the summer after their five-season stay in the Premier League came to an abrupt end. However, Jose Mourinho is hardly short of wide options, and whether or not there is concrete interest remains to be seen.

Recent reports revealed that Spurs are also interested in signing Troy Deeney on a season-long loan. While Daniel Levy may be tempted to make an approach for the right winger, finding a backup striker for Harry Kane remains the club’s top priority in the summer, and the chairman may choose to look elsewhere instead to avoid a transfer battle.

Tottenham fans, do you think should Levy sign Sarr this summer? Join the discussion in the comments below!

West Brom are back in the big time despite a less than impressive title run-in and they may well have to compete without one of last season’s popular stars, but Luke Dowling can soften that blow with one new addition…

What’s the word?

According to Aksam (via Sport Witness), the Baggies continue to be linked with a move for Besiktas attacker Adem Ljajic this summer.

It’s claimed that the Serbian international could leave the Super Lig outfit as they want him off the wage bill – Andreas Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe are also interested.

Albion boss Slaven Bilic has previously managed in the Turkish league with the Black Eagles and has been linked to both Domagoj Vida and Vedat Muriqi too.

Soften the blow

The Hawthorns faithful may have seen the last of loan star Grady Diangana after he delivered eight goals and six assists on their way to the runner-up spot.

It is thought that David Moyes wants the 22-year-old to play a key part in east London next season, which would seemingly close the door on a fairytale return to the west Midlands.

But in Ljajic, Dowling and Bilic can soften that blow.

The 28-year-old is capable of playing anywhere behind the striker, so that’s one tick in the Croatian’s one-up-top system and despite Besiktas struggling for third place, Ljajic was more than impressive.

Per WhoScored, the playmaker provided seven goals and six assists, averaging 2 shots, 2 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game whilst a passing accuracy rate of nearly 90% for his position is pretty outstanding.

It’s no wonder Serie A powerhouse and ex-Rome teammate Radja Nainggolan described Ljajic as “different class” back in 2014.

As per Fanatik, he could cost the Baggies just £6m, which is quite the bargain considering he’s valued above that by Transfermarkt and has racked up 45 caps on the international stage.

AND in other news, Bilic eyeing potential transfer for 25-year-old forward…

According to ESPN, Tottenham are facing increasing competition for Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie.

What’s the word?

Despite having already signed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this summer, it appears Jose Mourinho hasn’t finished rebuilding the Spurs midfield ahead of the start of the new Premier League campaign next month.

ESPN claim that the Lilywhites’ reported target, McKennie, is now being pursued by other Premier League clubs, but that it’s Southampton who are currently “leading the race” for the signing of the USA international.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…



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The report adds that a deal for the 21-year-old could reach up to £20m.

Imagine him and Hojbjerg

Whilst Spurs may feel they already have the ‘defensive midfield’ aspect of their squad sorted following the arrival of Hojbjerg, just imagine the kind of unbreakable wall Jose Mourinho could help build if he paired the Denmark international with McKennie.

The Schalke ace is another ball-winning ace whose energy and relentless running is a perfect match for the modern game. His manager at the Bundesliga side, David Wagner, said: “He’s an outstanding talent. In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well.”

His teammate at international, Reggie Cannon, further backed that up, revealing: “If you lose the ball, you know he’s going to be the first one running (to get) the ball. He’s a leader and that’s something I can learn from – everyone can learn from to up their game.”

Whilst playing two workman like midfielders in the same line-up seems counter-productive or even defensive, Mourinho could help bring back that solidity that was sorely lacking from Spurs last season – only Chelsea and Burnley conceded more than their 47 Premier League goals out of the top ten.

The teams that Mourinho has been successful with, particularly at the likes of Chelsea and Inter, have had a formidable spine to them – think back to players like Claude Makelele, Michael Essien and Esteban Cambiasso to name but a few. Playing Hojbjerg and McKennie together would offer greater protection to the Spurs back-line and help strike fear into the rest of the Premier League.

Nobody would feel comfortable playing against a duo that hunt down every possession, and get the ball moving up the pitch as quickly as possible. It has all the hallmarks of being a potentially great midfield partnership.

With the transfer window remaining open for another month, one saga is set to rumble on at Rangers Football Club, although the solution is firmly in Steven Gerrard’s hands already…

What’s the word?

Gers forward Alfredo Morelos has been linked with an exit for several months now; interest ranging from Lille to Bayer Leverkusen in Europe whilst West Brom have reportedly entered the race this week.

It’s claimed that the Scottish giants have paved the way for his exit by signing two strikers themselves this window but it remains to be seen if the Baggies will offer the mooted £17m that the Ligue 1 outfit were supposedly willing to pay.

With the Colombian seemingly set on leaving Ibrox, perhaps it’s time for Steven Gerrard to sell up.

Time to cash-in?

The Rangers boss appears to have also been preparing for life without Morelos with the 24-year-old being dropped in the last two SPFL outings – he hasn’t even featured for a single minute either.

That’s quite the bold call considering the prolific talisman bagged 29 goals and provided ten assists in 47 appearances last season, per Transfermarkt.

But some smart pieces of business this summer could allow the club to cash-in and move on from this troublesome saga at long last.

Ex-Leeds forward Kemar Roofe joined in a €5m (£4.5m) deal from Anderlecht earlier this summer and after he gets fully up to speed with match fitness, he seems the ideal candidate to fill the void left behind.

The 27-year-old scored in his first start for the club against Kilmarnock and in his 231 minutes of action, he’s averaged 1.8 shots per game via WhoScored, so he could have had a couple more to his name on a different day.

His former teammate Barry Douglas thinks he’ll be a hit at Ibrox, claiming that “he knows where the back of the net is” which is backed up by Chris Maguire who believes Roofe has “real potential” to score hatfuls for Gerrard’s side.

This could all prove to be a masterstroke from Ross Wilson. It’s time to end the Morelos saga and put full faith into Roofe as well as fellow arrival Cedric Itten.

AND in other news, Gers could land their own Gerrard with £7.2m-rated “real menace”…

Everton must secure a positive outcome from crunch talks with rumoured Real Valladolid target Sandro Ramirez as the Toffees seek to mutually terminate the Spaniard’s contract.

What’s the word?

According to Fourth Official, Toffees chiefs are hoping the Merseyside outfit are able to reach an amicable solution with Sandro to terminate his £65,000-per-week contract having thus far failed to offload the 25-year-old this summer.

Sandro has spent most of the past three seasons away from Goodison Park on various loan deals after a string of managers decided the former Under 21 international was not up to the standards required to compete for minutes in Royal Blue.

The forward spent the 2019/20 campaign back in his native Spain with Real Valladolid, for whom he struck home four goals in 26 outings across all competitions. Nevertheless, the Jose Zorilla Stadium natives are understood to be keen on re-signing Sandro providing he arrives as a free agent.

Elche CF, SD Huesca and “especially” SD Eibar are also thought to be interested in the £2.88m-rated forward’s availability, although their hopes are likewise dependent on Everton agreeing to terminate Sandro’s contract.

A move now seems entirely dependent on Sandro accepting Everton’s offer of becoming a free agent, likely alongside a lucrative pay-off to end what has been a horror move for a deal once considered “ideal”.

Sandro’s “ideal” English adventure

Sandro lauded his move to Everton as the “ideal” destination in 2017 after the Blues agreed to trigger the £5.25m release clause in his Malaga contract, but the move has been nothing but a horror show since.

“I’m very happy, this is a big step in my career,” Sandro said, via quotes by AS. “I know I’m signing for a massive club in England.

“Everton is the ideal place for me, I’ve got the ideal manager who is going to keep giving me the confidence to improve my game.”

In three years, Sandro has managed to record just 16 appearances for the Toffees, with the last of which coming during an EFL Cup tie in August 2018 after returning from the first of what became many loan spells.

Everton fans have also only bore witness to a single goal from the Spaniard’s boots when he struck a consolation effort during a 5-1 defeat at home to Atalanta in the 2017/18 Europa League Group Stage.

Failing to score elsewhere – with his four goals for Real Valladolid his only achieved whilst out on loan in two-and-a-half-years – has ensured no suitors are willing to pay Everton for Sandro’s services, and the Blues must now strike an agreement to end the striker’s association with Goodison Park this summer.

AND in other news, Everton are warming to the idea of sending a rarely-seen man away from Goodison Park.

Glasgow Rangers ace Bongani Zungu has arrived at the Ibrox outfit with the burden of expectations on his shoulders. Steven Gerrard recently described him as a “dominant” midfielder. And the Rangers boss told the club’s website “Bongani fits the profile of player that adds further strength and depth to our midfield.”

He added “we wanted a dominant midfielder with the right profile who can enhance the team and compliment other players we have.”

Gerrard is hardly short of midfield options at the moment, as Scott Arfield, Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara have all impressed in recent weeks. But he must unleash Zungu when his side travel to Parkhead to face Celtic on Saturday.

Whilst some may argue that it is far too early for him to make his first-team debut in the Old Firm derby, do not allow yourself to be fooled so easily. In fact, far from it, as Amiens official John Williams insisted “his skill level is very high. He is a hard worker and technically good. He can do everything.”

Similarly, former Rangers man Dean Furman has backed Zungu to succeed in Scotland. The South African believes his countryman can cope with the rigorous demands of life as a professional footballer at the Ibrox outfit. He told The Daily Record “I don’t know how Bongani is fitness-wise but it would be really amazing if he was ready and thrown into the Old Firm game.”

Per SofaScore, the 27-year-old made 21 appearances in Ligue 1 for Amiens last season, whilst he averaged 1.3 tackles, at least 1 clearance and 1 big chance created per game, which implies that he is a wrecking ball in all parts of the pitch.

And a look at his heatmaps last term reveals that he is both confident on the ball and comfortable under pressure, which is exactly the type of character who can adapt to a game that is notorious for its physical demands. He is used to dealing with public scrutiny after playing for Mamelodi Sundowns, who are one of the biggest teams in South Africa, so he should be able to handle a baptism of fire.

Gerrard can catch Celtic by surprise if Zungu is given the opportunity to prove himself as the attacking box-to-box midfielder could exploit gaps at the back.

He has already admitted he can’t wait to get started with the Gers. And the South Africa international will want to make a good impression if and when the chance arises.

AND in other news, Steven Gerrard should start Rangers ace Ianis Hagi in Old Firm derby…

Leeds United were mightily impressive against Aston Villa on Friday night.

The Whites’ demolished the Villans in brilliant fashion, putting three second-half goals past them on their way to taking all the points back to Elland Road.

It would be easy to make the argument that the team that started the second-half against Villa should start against Leicester, but the side we saw against Villa wasn’t your archetypal Bielsa outfit.

Indeed, Pascal Struijk’s early substitution led to something of a reshuffle in the middle of the park as Mateusz Klich was asked to play a deeper role while Jamie Shackleton fulfilled his duties as more of a number eight.

This worked against Villa, but you can’t help but feel that it goes against Bielsa’s favoured system that has seen Klich start in his preferred role in almost every league game the Argentine has managed since joining the club, and as we all know, having an anchorman as the lynchpin in his 4-1-4-1 is key to any success the team has, hence why Kalvin Phillips is so important.

Unfortunately, Bielsa’s best bet may be to drop Shackleton back to the bench, move Klich back into his preferred role and then swap Robin Koch and Struijk to get the more experienced German into the role that Struijk was clearly uncomfortable with.

It’ll be a shame to see it really, Darren Bent labelled Shackleton’s showing as ‘superb’ on Friday, but Bielsa is so set in how he likes to set his team up, it’s hard to see him playing both the 21-year-old and the Polish international at the same time unless it’s an emergency measure.

The youngster shouldn’t be disheartened by this, he clearly has a great future at the club, having been identified as a ‘fantastic player’ by Noel Whelan over the summer, and his performance against Villa showed exactly what he can do, but for now, he may have to be patient and bide his time.