All posts by h79snht.top

According to reports in the Chronicle Live, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is targeting a summer move for Red Bull Salzburg attacking midfielder Valon Berisha, rated at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, as he prioritises bringing a new No 10 to St James’ Park.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Chronicle Live says that Benitez is targeting the Kosovo international even though his own long-term future is far from clear, and with the Magpies still in danger of being relegated back to the Championship – although they can move on to 35 points if they beat fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The Chronicle Live says that while Ayoze Perez and Mo Diame have often played in the No 10 role this season, the Spanish manager wants a more creative player in that position that can unlock opposition defences seeing as he has seen his side score just 30 times in 30 top flight matches this term, with the fans suggesting Mikel Merino should play there.

The report adds that the Tyneside outfit have traced Berisha for 18 months and could finally be ready to make a move for him this summer.

How has Berisha done this season?

He has impressed.

While Benitez may want to bring him to Newcastle to play in a central attacking midfield role, more often than not during the current campaign the 25-year-old has played from the left for Salzburg.

[ad_pod ]

The Swedish-born player has certainly impressed with 11 goals and nine assists in 38 appearances in all competitions, and according to WhoScored.com he has made 20 key passes in nine Europa League outings this term to help his club reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?

He probably would be, yes.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Kosovo international has shown with 43 goals and 63 assists in 226 appearances in total for Salzburg that he would bring some much-needed creativity and goal threat to the Magpies side, while he has also shown his leadership skills by captaining the side on occasions.

The 25-year-old certainly looks as though he would be a major upgrade on Perez, who has struggled to make an impression in a number of Premier League matches throughout the current campaign.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Aston Villa are interested in signing Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones this summer.

What’s the story?

Whether the Villans gain promotion to the English Premier League this season or not, Steve Bruce’s task this summer will be building a team capable of competing at that level.

No doubt plans are already being made and targets identified ahead of the transfer window opening.

One player that could make the move to Villa Park is Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones.

That’s according to The Daily Mail, who say that Aston Villa had scouts to watch the player in action on international duty recently, with his performance against South Korea said to be impressive enough for the club to put him on their summer shortlist, rivalling Brighton & Hove Albion.

Rated at £450,000 by Transfermarkt and with just a year left on his contract, he’s well within reach of Steve Bruce, but is he the right kind of signing to either boost their Premier League squad or help them gain promotion next season?

Good enough?

There’s no doubt that Jones has shown impressive form in the Scottish Premiership this season under Steve Clarke at Kilmarnock, good enough to be rewarded with international caps for Northern Ireland.

With four goals and seven assists, he’s been a stand-out in the division on the left flank.

However, is that a goal contribution good enough to match where Villa want to be next season? Whether in the top-flight or pushing for promotion, they need to think about bringing elite players to the club and the jury is out on whether Jones is that or not.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

At 23 years of age he is still fairly early in his career and has failed to make an impact at Middlesbrough previously.

Steve Bruce may see potential in him, but Villa need to find the finished product.

New Southampton manager Mark Hughes will look to pick up his first Premier League win in his first top flight match in charge of the south coast outfit when they face fellow strugglers West Ham United in a potentially season-defining clash at the London Stadium on Saturday.

A 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United at St James’ Park in their previous top flight clash saw Mauricio Pellegrino relieved of his duties and has left Saints in 18th position and two points from safety with eight matches of the season remaining.

Hughes did triumph on his bow as he guided his side through to an FA Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea as they beat League One high-flyers Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium prior to the international break, and the Welshman will hope that result will have brought some much-needed confidence to the squad.

The 54-year-old will know the tough challenge that lies ahead of him considering his team still have to come up against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City during the run-in, and he will know that realistically the encounter against the Irons is must-win.

Saints may fancy their chances against the club that lie one place and two points above them in the table too, considering David Moyes’ men have lost three successive Premier League matches by a three-goal margin, while they suffered crowd trouble in the 3-0 defeat to Burnley at the London Stadium last time out.

Hughes went with a 4-4-2 system instead of the commonly-used 4-2-3-1 formation against the Latics and made two changes with Sofiane Boufal and Manolo Gabbiadini coming into the starting XI in place of Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse, and he may be considering making further alterations to his XI on Saturday.

Here is how Southampton must line up when they face West Ham, ahead of Alex McCarthy in goal…

Southampton have started with the same settled back four for much of 2018, and if the quartet are all fit then they should be in the XI at the London Stadium.

While Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens remained at Staplewood during the international break, Cedric Soares flew off for international duty with Portugal, and while he featured against Egypt on Friday he didn’t play a single minute of his country’s 3-0 friendly defeat against the Netherlands on Monday, and should have returned unscathed.

There could be some doubt over Ryan Bertrand’s participation at the London Stadium however given that he pulled out of the England squad with a minor back problem, with Sam McQueen the 28-year-old’s likely replacement if he doesn’t make it.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mario Lemina have got the nod in the middle of the park ahead of Oriol Romeu in Southampton’s previous two matches, and Mark Hughes has another big decision to make in what is such a huge clash against West Ham.

While Lemina is probably a certain starter because of how good he is on the ball and his ability to bring it forward, the 54-year-old manager could be tempted to bring the more defensively aware Romeu in alongside the Gabon international at the London Stadium.

That would be harsh on Hojbjerg, who received great praise from the fans for his Wigan display, after he really stepped up against Wigan last time and scored his first goal for the club however, and Hughes should stick with the duo in centre, once again flanked by two of the club’s main creators in Sofiane Boufal and Dusan Tadic out wide.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Hughes went with club-record signing Guido Carrillo and Manolo Gabbiadini up top against Wigan, but he should look to take both out of the starting XI for the trip to face David Moyes’ men.

The former failed to make much of an impact at all at the DW Stadium and is without a goal in his opening nine games for the club, while the latter looks shot of confidence after missing a decent one-on-one chance and then seeing his penalty well saved by Christian Walton in the Latics goal.

Southampton fans will hope that top goalscorer Charlie Austin is fit enough to start after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Hughes should start Shane Long next to him with the Republic of Ireland international able to press and put pressure on a West Ham defence that has conceded 11 goals in their last three Premier League matches.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.

As reported by The Scottish Sun, former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has back Leigh Griffiths to shine in this weekend’s massive derby against Rangers, if he’s selected by Brendan Rodgers.

What’s the story?

Returning to goalscoring form against Hamilton at the weekend, Leigh Griffiths again looks fit, healthy and ready to shine on the big stage after a frustrating couple of months out with a calf injury.

He could be in line for a start in this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final and former Hoops manager Gordon Strachan, who also managed Leigh Griffiths when in charge of Scotland, believes he can get the job done.

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Strachan said of Griffiths potentially being selected:

Of course there’s a case for Griff. He’s never let them down when he’s played. You can say in terms of defending and attacking set-plays you lose a bit of height, but actually in free play, when the ball goes in the box, he’s good in the air.

He’s become far better in the air over the last three or four years. You need to be brave to do that.

He’s come on brilliantly in that regard. Big games, they might go for power but Griff gives you something else.

When you play him, I think you are guaranteed four shots a game, unless you’re playing someone exceptional like a Barcelona.

With a similar scoring record to Moussa Dembele this season, is he the man Rodgers should turn to on derby day?

[ad_pod ]

Dembele’s Day

Closing in on 100 career goals for the Hoops, Griffiths is on the verge of becoming the first striker to reach that milestone since John Hartson and like Strachan says, has rarely let down his team.

Despite his obvious attributes and contribution over the years, Moussa Dembele is still the prime choice if only one of them start the game and the Frenchman may be better served with creative talent like Patrick Roberts and Tom Rogic around him.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Dembele’s all round game is still superior and unluckily for Griffiths both Dembele and the Scotland international seem to have been injured and fit at the same times this season.

Off the bench Griffiths could pose a threat on Sunday, just like last season at Hampden when he set-up a winner for Dembele in the semi-final of the League Cup against the Light Blues.

Everton fans are pleading with their club to sign Jamaal Lascelles, after the Newcastle captain said he was impressed by the Toffees.

Theo Walcott’s second half goal grabbed all three points for the Toffees on Monday night, as Allardyce’s side edged out Newcastle without ever stepping out of first gear.

The match was a scrappy, turgid affair, rescued only by Walcott’s moment of composure, but Jamaal Lascelles seems to have been impressed by the Blues’ performance.

“Sometimes you’ve just got to hold your hands up and say fair play to Everton, because we gave our all,” the Newcastle defender said after his side’s 1-0 defeat at Goodison.

[ad_pod ]

“They started the game really well and made it hard for us. We struggled to get out of our own half at times.”

Lascelles’ comments have certainly got the attention of Everton fans, who are now pleading with their club to make a move for the 24 year-old.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The former Nottingham Forest man has developed not just into a fine defender but a fine leader under Rafael Benitez, and he would certainly make a brilliant partnership with the ever-improving Michael Keane.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

According to The Washington Post, Everton forward Wayne Rooney is in serious discussions with DC United over a move to North America.

What’s the story?

Rooney was linked with a move to the MLS when it became clear that he was leaving Manchester United last summer, but the former England captain ultimately completed an emotional return to Everton.

The 32-year-old has scored 10 Premier League goals for the Toffees this season, but has not always seen eye-to-eye with head coach Sam Allardyce, and the forward’s future at Goodison Park is believed to be in doubt.

According to The Washington Post, talks between Rooney’s representatives and the MLS team have gathered pace in recent weeks, and the North American outfit believe that they have a 50% chance of signing him during the MLS transfer window.

Rooney still has a year left to run on his contract with Everton, but Allardyce recently refused to rule out a summer exit for the Englishman when questioned on his future.

Should Everton sell him?

Statistics rarely paint a false picture in football, and the fact that Rooney has managed 10 goals and two assists in 31 Premier League appearances this season is impressive.

The numbers do not tell the whole story, however, and there is no question that the attacker has had his struggles at Goodison Park this term.

Rooney, who is without a league goal since December, has mainly operated in a deeper position for the Toffees, and he has often struggled to make an impression, which has led to discontent amongst the club’s supporters.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

There can be no doubting that Rooney has been a wonderful servant to Everton and indeed English football, but it is the right time for him to seek pastures new.

DC United would represent a new and exciting opportunity for Man United’s record goalscorer, and Everton should certainly not stand in his way at the end of this season.

As reported by The Daily Record, Rangers are interested in signing Hibernian midfielder John McGinn this summer.

What’s the story?

McGinn has been linked with a move away from Hibs all season long after impressive performances in the Scottish Premiership but it seems that Rangers are ready to throw their hat into the ring.

The Record report that Director of Football Mark Allen has been tracking the Scotland international all season and has made his availability known to incoming manager Steven Gerrard.

The paper say that the Liverpool legend subsequently sent a scout to watch the player in this week’s Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle and is now weighing up whether to make his move.

The report also states that Hibs boss Neil Lennon could be looking for as much as £5m for the midfielder as interest in his signature grows north and south of the border.

Would he be a good signing?

Signing John McGinn would make a statement that Rangers are ready to do serious business in the transfer window this summer, especially since the player is reported to be a long-time target of rivals Celtic.

Impressing with both St Mirren and Hibs in the Scottish top-flight for years now, he’s a determined and capable midfielder who would go a long way to bringing back a battling spirit to the engine room at Rangers.

The Gers have looked lightweight in that area all season and McGinn loves to get stuck in, win the ball and have an effect on the game in the final third.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The reported £5m may be a little steep for Rangers this summer, but if they can negotiate that kind of fee down, he could prove to be an excellent bit of business and develop even more under new manager Steven Gerrard.

[ad_pod ]

FootballFanCast.com’s World Cup coverage is brought to you by 5p0rtz.com – try 5p0rtz.com’s World Cup Pool Predictor for free and you could win £1million! Click here to play.

Chris Smalling has been jettisoned from England’s 23-man squad for the forthcoming World Cup in Russia this summer, amid concerns that have lingered since November that he is not good enough on the ball to fit into Gareth Southgate’s flowing Three Lions side.

The former Fulham man, valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, has endured a season where he has still looked shaky at times for Manchester United, but also one in which he has chipped in with away goals at vital times.

[ffc_insert title=”Try 5p0rtz’s World Cup pool predictor for FREE and you could win £1MILLION!” name=”Win £1MILLION with 5p0rtz” image_ link=”https://po.st/5p0rtz” link_text=”Click here to play” ]

His United team-mate Phil Jones will be on the plane to Russia but he had a torrid afternoon in Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat against Chelsea, in which Eden Hazard – whom Jones could well face in England’s final Group G match, against Belgium – tore him apart, most notably winning the penalty for the only goal of the game.

By contrast, Smalling largely stifled Olivier Giroud and looked the more assured of the pair so we’re asking you; did Southgate make an error by not taking him to the World Cup?

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Let us know by voting in the poll below and keep your eyes peeled for the results as the excitement builds between the completion of the club season and the build-up to the tournament next month…

Following the final fixtures of the domestic season last weekend, we’re now on the home stretch for the 2018 World Cup. But before Gareth Southgate’s side square up with the likes of Panama and Belgium in the Group Stages, England must ready themselves for two warm-up friendlies that could have a decisive impact on how they perform in Russia. Use them effectively to learn more about this young team and the Three Lions could defy their pre-World Cup critics; waste the opportunity and England will enter the tournament under-prepared.

Nigeria are first up, facing England at Wembley on Saturday, so here’s three crucial questions Southgate needs the Three Lions’ clash with the Super Eagles to answer…

Can England’s formation work against lesser opposition?

Southgate seems intent on making his three-at-the-back formation, a cross between 3-4-3 and 3-5-2, England’s primary World Cup formation. But having only really used it thus far against traditionally strong teams – namely Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Brazil – there’s not a mountain of evidence to suggest it works against lesser opposition. In fact, the only time Southgate’s fielded his side with a three-man defence against such opponents was in the scrappy and unconvincing 1-0 win over Lithuania in qualifying, which required a penalty from Harry Kane.

The significance of that shouldn’t be downplayed; the earliest England will play a high-quality team is in their last Group Stage game against Belgium on the 28th of June, but if they fail to take at least two points from their opening two clashes with Tunisia and Panama because the formation doesn’t work, the Three Lions’ World Cup bid will be over by the time they meet the Red Devils. Nigeria, ranked 43rd in the world by FIFA, represent a significant and suitable test.

Is Ruben Loftus-Cheek ready to start?

Ruben Loftus-Cheek clearly has a fan in Southgate and with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ruled out of the World Cup through injury, there is an opening in England’s midfield. The problem, though, is that there’s already some strong competition to fill it – while Jesse Lingard excelled in an advanced midfield role during the last batch of friendlies, it seems inevitable that Dele Alli will be brought back into the side after sitting out the win over the Netherlands and the draw with Italy.

But there’s no doubting Loftus-Cheek’s natural ability and he seems perfectly suited for not only that role but also the energetic, athletic philosophy of this England team; he’s got the dynamism to stretch teams on the counter-attack, as he did for Crystal Palace all of last season, and the quality to create goals. The question though, is whether he’s ready to start for England over two players who have far greater experience and more proven track records at both club and international level. Perhaps a runout against Nigeria will give Southgate a clearer idea of whether a 22-year-old who missed a big chunk of last term through injury has what it takes to make the step up.

Can Vardy and Kane play up front together?

On paper, Kane and Jamie Vardy make something close to the perfect partnership. While the Tottenham man can drop deep, hold up the ball and create chances, the Leicester icon’s strengths lay in clinical finishing and stretching the opposition defence by making relentless, surging runs behind it. That should make them a feared strikeforce for pretty much any opposition in the world, but there haven’t been too many games in which England have used both in the same starting XI.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

And while Southgate seems pretty set on having Raheem Sterling as a support striker to Kane, Vardy represents the kind of Plan B that could make all the difference at the World Cup, especially in the latter stages of games. So perhaps Saturday’s friendly can be a testing ground for the best way to get both into the side; whether that’s making a shock switch to a 4-4-2, using Vardy from out wide or modifying the dimensions of Southgate’s three-at-the-back setup.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham have moved into pole position to sign Jack Grealish this summer, but fans are completely split on a move for the feisty youngster.

According to the Telegraph, Mauricio Pochettino has made Aston Villa’s Grealish his “prime target” as he looks to strengthen his midfield this summer.

Grealish showed potential as a winger when he first broke into the Villa senior side, but was fantastic as a central midfielder for Steve Bruce last season.

The 22 year-old excels at driving forward from midfield with the ball at his feet, and could replace some of the ball carrying ability lost if Mousa Dembele leaves the club.

Grealish missed most of the first half of last season, but still managed three Championship goals and six assists, and went from strength to strength towards the end of the season.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]

Aston Villa will likely be forced to sell their most valuable assets this summer to fight off their financial troubles, and insist they will not sell for under £40million.

Daniel Levy will of course hope to use the Villans’ precarious financial situation to his advantage and bring that price down a bit, but fans aren’t all that convinced.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Some fans are ready to get behind the young Englishman, who has a reputation for losing his cool, while others want to see more ambition from the club.

Either way, you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…