All posts by n8rngtd.top

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Loads of Manchester United fans are fuming at some comments from Marcos Rojo, which seem to suggest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to keep the defender at the club.

It was a truly horrific end to the season for the Red Devils, and while their inability to create chances from open play was well documented, there’s no question the defence was the biggest weakness.

Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young and David De Gea all endured some extremely poor form to end the campaign, while Rojo returned from injury to play a small role in the catastrophic climax to the season.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

And yet, it appears the injury-prone, mistake-laden jack-of-all-trades but master of none will be kept at Old Trafford for at least another season.

“For now, I continue at United,” he told El Dia, as translated by Sport Witness.

“I spoke to the manager before the holidays and about what he planned to do with me. He told me that he had me in mind, that I was an important player, that he was going to take me into account.”

The 29 year-old started just two Premier League games this season, and United fans can’t quite believe the gaffer is intent on keeping him.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Pundit Charlie Nicholas thinks Celtic should not have chosen Neil Lennon to lead the club forward next season, speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday.

What’s he said?

Lennon’s appointment at the Hoops has yet to be confirmed, but the club announced he had been offered the job in the wake of last Saturday’s Scottish Cup win and the passionate Celtic man is unlikely to say no.

The debate surrounding the decision to try and appoint Lennon has rumbled on all week, with most media voices feeling that the treble winner is the right man to take charge of the Hoops.

Nicholas though feels that the club should have went in a different direction, even though Lennon did a fantastic job of filling in for Brendan Rodgers.

As quoted by Sky Sports, the former Celtic striker said:

I didn’t think it was the right decision. I would’ve went for something a little bit different. I was looking at somebody like [Slaven] Bilic or someone that might have a different creative [approach] but Neil did a fabulous sit-in for Brendan Rodgers.

He’s earned the right to take the position. He’s not agreed it yet, I know that, but I think Neil will be looking forward to it.

C’mon the Hoops throwback to one of the greatest Celtic goalkeepers of all time in the video below…

Should Lennon have been given the job?

Celtic fans may have preferred a big name to take charge. Brendan Rodgers’ arrival undoubtedly raised standards at the club and there are serious question marks about whether Lennon can maintain that.

The evidence is there though that Lennon can and will be a successful Hoops manager.

With a 70% winning record in over 200 matches and multiple trophy wins, his credentials are strong and he’s far less of a risk than appointing someone like Slaven Bilic, as Nicholas suggests.

Winning over the doubters

There’s only one way Lennon is going to get his doubters on board and that’s confidently winning matches during this summer’s European qualifiers.

If he can get Celtic motoring early and perhaps add a few first-team quality players to the squad in the transfer window, Celtic fans will soon forget their concerns and be much more comfortable heading into the domestic season.

Lennon has a lot to prove despite his enormous past success at Celtic, but anyone hoping for a Hoops meltdown should probably look elsewhere.

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Lots of Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter to discuss Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to drop Lucas Moura for the Champions League final, with the majority feeling that he should’ve started.

It was the Brazilian’s incredible 45-minute hat-trick against Ajax that got the north Londoners into the final in the first place, so it was extremely harsh of Pochettino to place him on the bench against Liverpool.

Should Spurs sell Kieran Trippier? Check out the for and against in the video below…

Admittedly, when a world class striker such as Harry Kane – the side’s talisman – declares himself fit for the biggest game in the club’s history, it makes it very, very tough for Pochettino to leave the No.10 out as well.

However, given the fact that the England international hadn’t played for almost two months before the game in Madrid, Lucas really should’ve started for a number of reasons.

Kane ultimately put in a terrible performance and did next to nothing on what was an easy night for Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, and a number of Spurs fans on Twitter think Lucas deserved to start…

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Leeds United fans on Twitter have been reacting as Daniel James’ move to Manchester United edges closer to completion.

The winger almost joined Leeds on deadline day back in January in one of the most exciting transfer sagas of the winter window.

James had even completed a medical at Elland Road ahead of the proposed loan move, which would have become permanent had Leeds been promoted to the Premier League.

The 21-year-old really kicked on after January to end the season with four goals and seven assists in the Championship, which has prompted one of the biggest clubs in Europe to go after him.

The Welshman is now undergoing a medical with the Red Devils and it seems to be just a matter of time before he is announced as a United player.

That news hasn’t gone down well with Leeds fans. Some have blamed the club for trying to pinch pennies in January, whereas others have claimed they’d likely be in the Premier League right now had James’ January saga panned out differently.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

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It would be an understatement to say that Arsenal’s summer is one of the biggest in recent memory for the club.

After missing out on Champions League football for a third successive season, Unai Emery has the task of rebuilding an Arsenal squad that is in a deep depression and in need of fresh faces and solid recruitment in vital positions, one of which being the wings.

In Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi, the Gunners only had two natural wingers last season to call upon, resulting in the likes of Sead Kolasinac and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang filling in as make-shift wide-men for much of the campaign, but it could have been a different story.

BBC Sport reported in January that the Gunners had a bid rejected for former Atletico Madrid man Yannick Carrasco, and rumours of a move have kick-started again with the winger recently admitting that he is ready for a return to Europe and that he would prefer a move to the Premier League.

Carrasco is a player Arsenal fans want, but how does the Belgian international compare to Iwobi in their last full league seasons according to the stats via WhoScored?

Right off the back is clear to see that although Iwobi had his best season in an Arsenal shirt, Carrasco has the advantage in the majority of categories – albeit in a league of far lesser quality.

The Dalian Yifang star has managed more goal contributions than Iwobi in 10 fewer games by a clear margin, and although the Nigerian winger has earned a decent reputation as a playmaking wide-man, the Hale End product still pales in comparison to Carrasco’s output.

As well as contributing more to the score sheet, Carrasco’s ability to win fouls will prove to be an underrated but important addition to the Arsenal team. The Gunners only won five penalties last season, two less than Liverpool and seven fewer than Manchester United (stats via Transfermarkt). With the Belgian winger, though, that number will likely increase.

From 6-0 FA Cup final maulings to Mkhitaryan missing the the Europa League final, is football broken? Fans discuss in the video below…

As well as winning more fouls, the majority of Arsenal’s goals this season have come from strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang, and Carrasco would ease the burden on the two forwards’ need to be the main source of firepower.

It sounds like gloom and doom for Iwobi, but it wouldn’t spell the end for him in north London. The 23-year-old has found plenty of use this season due to his ability to play in advanced positions on the pitch, from his favoured left-wing to attacking midfield as a number 10, and this versatility will not only allow Carrasco to take Iwobi’s place in the team but give the Nigerian the opportunity to serve more as a squad player.

Carrasco will add plenty to the Arsenal side if the Gunners manage to sign the Dalian Yifang winger, and compared to Iwobi, he is simply miles ahead when it comes to attacking the final third.

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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Leicester City attacking midfielder James Maddison this summer, per Football.London.

What’s the word?

Spurs are attempting to sign their first player since January 2018 this summer.

They have been linked with a number of midfield players and the aforementioned report claims that both Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele, of Real Betis and Lyon respectively, are targets.

However, they also state that Spurs hold a “big interest” in Maddison, who enjoyed an exceptional season at the Foxes in 2018/19.

He scored seven goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League but the report claims Spurs do not believe that he would be affordable in this transfer window.

A major mistake

Spurs were linked with a swoop for Maddison last summer, when a number of clubs circled the Norwich City star.

A Daily Mirror report claimed at the time that the Canaries had slapped a £25m asking price on their prized asset.

He ultimately moved to Leicester for a fee of around £20m, as Spurs kept their powder dry.

Now, he may well be worth treble that after a season in which he took to the Premier League like a duck to water, with the report from Football.London claiming his displays may have put him out of range for the Lilywhites.

He has been called up to the England squad, though he is yet to play, and has dazzled those at the King Power Stadium with his dribbling and his eye for goal.

Indeed, Maddison’s WhoScored stats show that he averages 2.8 key passes per game along with 1.4 dribbles and 2.3 shots.

Christian Eriksen, by comparison, averages 2.1 key passes, 0.5 dribbles and 2.4 shots.

He may have been regarded as something of a punt last summer but Leicester are now reaping the rewards; Spurs, meanwhile, are being punished for their inactivity.

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Lots of Southampton fans have come out in support of Sofiane Boufal in a bid to ensure he remains at the club next season.

The attacker came on as a substitute in Morocco’s 1-0 win over Namibia on Sunday and impressed, managing an impressive three shots, six dribbles and 51 touches in just 33 minutes on the pitch.

The 25-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo, looked to have had his future called into question following the acquisition of Moussa Djenepo, as well as reported interest in Francois Kamano.

Watch Southampton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It was a dismal season for the 5 ft 9 star as he scored just three goals in 25 La Liga appearances for the Spanish side, and he returns to the south coast with no more pedigree than when he left.

Before joining Celta Vigo, Boufal fell out with former Saints boss Mark Hughes after he reportedly refused to warm-up when he was left on the bench in a game against Chelsea.

Southampton’s new man Moussa Djenepo divides opinion amongst fans in the video below…

And now, after a poor campaign last time out, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl may be left wondering whether he is worth the hassle given he does have multiple attacking options to choose from.

But fans of the club are behind Boufal and believe he is capable of performing for them.

Here is just some of the reaction:

So, here we are, Arsenal fans. After a slow start to the transfer window for the majority of clubs, it’s now becoming a little bit worrying that the Gunners are yet to sign a central defender. You’re not the only ones worried, though, as Charlie Nicholas has voiced his concern.

The former Arsenal man, whilst speaking on The Transfer Talk podcast, transcribed by The Express, has come out with a bold call, stating that his ex-club need ‘immediately two centre-backs’ and that ‘they need a bit of pace, they’ve never really had the pace.’ when talking about the current defence.

It really is hard to disagree with Nicholas too, even if he isn’t your favourite Sky Sports Soccer Saturday pundit. His claims are only backed up by stats too, for those who will try and disagree. Unai Emery’s side shipped 51 goals this season, 12 more than Spurs, who pipped them to fourth by a single point, and also more than all of Newcastle, Everton, Leicester and Wolves.

Arsenal may be in a tough spot because of the options they have, though. Shkodran Mustafi may just be one of the first men the fans want out of the club as some supporters called for his head back in March (as per Daily Star), and Laurent Koscielny is now 33-years-old and has seen his injuries catch up with him, making the pair the prime candidates to be shipped out. It just so happens that Nicholas singled the two out himself in his comments.

‘The guy who had pace was Koscielny but he kind of lost his pace two, three seasons ago under Arsene Wenger.

‘It was through the injuries, it wasn’t the lad’s fault, but it was the reality of the injuries has caught up with him.

‘Then after that we had to go round about the houses to accept that Mustafi didn’t fit in.’

From this, it’s made clear who Nicholas wants to get rid of, yet with youngsters Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding, things aren’t all bad. There’s also the big Greek monster Sokratis Papastathopoulous to factor in, but that doesn’t mean Arsenal shouldn’t open the chequebook.

It does look like Emery might be close to bolstering the Gunners’ defence, though, as Arsenal are reportedly (as per ESPN) set to win the race to sign William Saliba.

Arsenal fans, do you agree with Charlie Nicholas? Comment below and let us know!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to ESPN, Liverpool do not intend to sell Simon Mignolet to Crystal Palace for £8m this summer.

What’s the word?

Liverpool signed Mignolet for £9m from Sunderland in 2013 but in recent years he’s found himself subjected to the substitutes’ bench.

First it was Loris Karius who took away his spot in the team, before the hugely expensive Alisson bumped him further down the pecking order.

However, the Belgian keeper is now attracting interest from another Premier League club.

The Evening Standard reported that Crystal Palace were eyeing an £8m bid for the stopper but ESPN have since quashed those reports by suggesting that Liverpool will not do a deal.

The report claims that the Reds expect him to stay at Anfield ahead of next season.

Stance must be changed

After being restricted to just two first-team opportunities last season it’s safe to say that Mignolet is somewhat of an outcast on Merseyside.

The 31-year-old made a solitary appearance in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup but he wasn’t afforded any game time beyond those chances.

With that in mind, should Liverpool not cash in on the player? Certainly if a club are willing to offer £8m for his services then they should consider selling.

It’s clear that he isn’t required and by forcing him out the door, they could give invaluable experience to a rising goalkeeper.

Irishman Caoimhin Kelleher is highly rated by Jurgen Klopp and surely there is now no better time to give him a greater role in the first team.

Kelleher played a part during Liverpool’s pre-season in 2018 and his performance against Napoli last summer earned him huge praise from his manager.

He said: “He is an outstanding talent. Outstanding. Very cool with the ball, you saw that in pre-season when he played in front of 100,000 people, that he wasn’t bothered about that which is a very important skill to have.”

It was quite the statement from the German but the 20-year-old goalkeeper hasn’t really been seen too much since.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

Therefore, selling Mignolet seems like a sensible thing to do.

It doesn’t appear as though Kelleher is overawed by the occasion and that could prove pivotal in the odd cup game Alisson is rested for.

With the Irish youth international waiting in the wings, Liverpool should definitely be looking to change their stance.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

As reported by Sky Sports, Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has been put up for sale by the South Coast side along with another stopper in their ranks, Fraser Forster.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Liverpool had previously been linked with a move for the England international as they seek a replacement for Simon Mignolet, who is expected to leave this summer.

The Belgium international has lost his place to Brazil No.1 Alisson Becker, and made just one appearance last term as Liverpool went on to win the Champions League.

“It reminds me of a bus seat!” – Watch a damning verdict on Chelsea’s new kit in the video below…

The Reds have slapped a £15m price tag on their No.2 glovesman, who they signed from Sunderland for £9m back in 2013.

29-year-old McCarthy has already said that he would be open to a move to Anfield having lost his No.1 shirt at St Mary’s to Angus Gunn.

Liverpool’s life made easier if Mignolet price tag is met

Crystal Palace and Brighton have expressed an interest in signing Mignolet, and if his £15m price tag is met this summer, that could potentially force Liverpool into the market for another goalkeeper.

If that does end up happening, then the Merseysiders’ life has been made immeasurably easier by Southampton publicly putting McCarthy up for sale this summer.

The player himself is open to the move, Southampton now don’t have a leg to stand on in the market having deemed him surplus to requirements, and as a result, the deal should be a simple one to complete for someone who has been on Liverpool’s radar since the Brendan Rodgers days.

The Liverpool Echo have stated that McCarthy isn’t on Liverpool’s wishlist however, but one would assume that could change if Mignolet leaves given the fresh news on the former Crystal Palace man not being needed by Ralph Hasenhuttl anymore.

It all seems to be falling into place for Liverpool if they need to find a Mignolet replacement.