All posts by h716a5.icu

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As two more technical director candidates slip through the buttery fingers of Arsenal, The Times have reported that former Tottenham Hotspur Head of Recruitment Paul Mitchell was being considered for the role.

What’s the word, then?

In their desperate search to make an appointment in the role, the Gunners were understood to be mainly looking at two options, former player and Ajax Director of Football Marc Overmars and Monchi (Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo).

The former has now signed a contract extension with the Dutch giants and the latter has made the move to become sporting director for Sevilla in La Liga.

If they are to bring someone in soon, Unai Emery’s side are rather short of options, although the internal appointment of Head of Youth Scouting Steve Morrow has also been discussed.

Mitchell is currently working in Germany with RB Leipzig, but rose to fame in England with a post-playing career more notable than his time as a player.

First, he helped Southampton climb the divisions to achieve Premier League status with the signings of players such as Sadio Mane and Toby Alderweireld, before moving to White Hart Lane where he would serve in the aforementioned role between November 2014 and March 2017, overseeing the signings of many great talents that have helped Spurs become a consistent top four team in the Premier League.

Arsenal, he’s your man

With most other rational options off the table for now, Arsenal’s man should undoubtedly be Mitchell, given his pedigree in the English top-flight.

For the Gunners’ fierce North London rivals, the 37-year-old spotted and brought in such talents as Dele Alli from MK Dons, Ben Davies from Swansea City, Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon, Heung-Min Son from Bayer Leverkusen, Kieran Trippier from Burnley, Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid and Victor Wanyama from Southampton, to name a few.

Imagine how much better Arsenal could have been in the last few years if they possessed players of this quality in great numbers in their squad.

And the award for most enthusiastic celebration of a goal scored in the last week goes to the fan in the video below…

A young creative midfielder such as Alli, as well as a solid centre-back and a defensive midfield powerhouse such as Alderweireld and Wanyama, perhaps would have been enough to push them over the line for their first title since 2004 in 2015/16.

This clear eye for spotting talent is what Mitchell would bring to the table at the Emirates Stadium and with the post-career Premier League experience that is maybe lacking in Overmars and Monchi, he could even be a better option than the original preferred targets.

While it’s unclear why they went off the idea of him in the first place, perhaps he rejected their initial interest, the Gunners hierarchy must now re-focus their attention on Mitchell and do everything in their power to persuade him to move back to the English capital.

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Manchester City fans have pleaded with the club to sign Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, who reportedly has his heart set on signing for the reigning Premier League champions.

However, it is believed that the Citizens value the Frenchman at £60m, whereas the Ligue 1 side want closer to £80m for Ndombele’s signature.

442oons have charted the entire career of Man City’s main man Sergio Aguero through song in the hilarious video below…

The 22-year-old defensive midfielder has enjoyed a quietly brilliant season over in France, scoring two goals and recording six assists as he has attracted the interest of Europe’s top clubs.

City are seemingly desperate to replace the ageing Fernandinho, but have failed in their last three attempts to sign an heir to the 33-year-old Brazilian’s throne – moves for Jorginho, Fred and Frenkie de Jong saw Pep Guardiola lose out to Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona respectively.

Understandably, City fans are desperate to see a new defensive midfielder signed, a sentiment echoed by their reactions on Twitter after Ndombele revealed his heart’s desire…

Marcelo Bielsa will be expected to make changes at Leeds United in the summer, regardless of whether they are playing their football in the Premier League or Championship next season.

Obviously, being in England’s top-flight will allow for the club to be able to attract some high-profile names and should they win promotion, one of their target’s agents may have given them a boost in their pursuit to sign him.

What’s the News?

According to a report by Tuttomercatoweb, Nahitan Nandez’s agent, Pablo Bentancur, has confirmed that the player wants to leave Boca Juniors in the summer, with a move to England or Italy being desired.

“I’m talking to so many teams,” Bentancur said. “Nahitan has further experience behind it. He wants to leave Boca, it’s time to play in Italy or England.”

Leeds have been rumoured with trying to bring the Uruguay international to England, with Calciomercato suggesting that the Whites were interested in him.

The Verdict:

Bielsa will need to add to his midfield in the summer and bringing in a player like Nandez would be something of a statement signing for Leeds.

And, Bentancur’s comments about his client’s desire to leave Boca will have boosted their chances of landing him, although Premier League football will likely need to be on offer for him to be convinced to join them.

The Uruguay international has been turning heads with his performances for the Argentine outfit this season and his country, especially during the World Cup where he helped his national team to a place in the quarter-finals.

The 23-year-old is extremely talented and could be the type of player that would thrive under the guidance of Bielsa. A box-to-box midfielder, he has plenty of tenacity to offer, whilst he is not scared about going forward and providing options for his team-mates.

Nandez has an excellent ability of winning the ball back quickly as well with his pressing technique, something that the Argentine boss likes to get out of his current crop of players at Elland Road.

However, Bentancur’s comments will also put any other interested parties on alert and could spark a transfer war in the summer – and one Leeds should look to do all they can to win.

Leeds fans, do you think the club can convince Nandez to join them at Elland Road this summer? Join in with the discussion below by sharing your thoughts with us.

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Swansea City fans have been reacting to the club’s financial losses after their annual accounts were published.

Swansea managed to make a loss of £3.2million despite being in the Premier League for the previous financial year and bringing in all the TV revenue that comes with the top flight.

Graham Potter’s side have underperformed in the second tier this season, currently sitting 14th in the table when they were expected to be challenging for promotion.

Swansea’s financial losses have caused concern amongst some members of the fanbase with their losses  likely to be even worse when the next reports come out as the club no longer have the income that accompanies Premier League teams.

The Swans have a huge wage budget due to players such as Andre Ayew and Wilfried Bony still being on the books and some fans are expecting further losses in future reports.

Fans on Twitter have become frustrated with their ownership after the most recent financial accounts were published. Here’s what Swansea fans have been saying on Twitter…

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Southampton host Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Mary’s on Saturday knowing that three points will take them a massive step closer to Premier League survival.

Going into the weekend’s fixtures Saints have a five-point cushion ahead of 18th-placed Cardiff City with only one relegation spot still up for grabs, but with the Bluebirds facing fellow strugglers Burnley and Brighton and Hove Albion in their next two matches it seems like a crucial period.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men were unfortunate in the end not to take anything against Liverpool following a positive display, and they may be facing Wolves at just the right time following their FA Cup semi-final collapse last weekend.

That defeat against Watford could go one of two ways; affect Nuno Santo’s men mentally for the rest of the campaign, or act as a catalyst to bounce back and secure a seventh-place finish in the top flight.

Hasenhuttl will have confidence in his team to deliver, but the appointment of Jon Moss as referee for the clash is hardly ideal.

Find out why “Liverpool won’t win the league” in the video below…

The one positive is that only one official who has taken charge of more than 20 Premier League matches this term has a higher home win percentage than his (65.2%), as per WhoScored.

Aside from that they are hard to come by, and back in August Southampton captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was dismissed by Moss as the south coast outfit were beaten 2-1 by Leicester City at St Mary’s.

In fact, Saints are without a win in their previous eight Premier League fixtures when the 48-year-old has been the man in the middle, with their last success coming away at West Ham United in September 2016.

A change of fortune in that regard is certainly required this weekend, because if they fail to pick up three points and Cardiff do the fight for survival will be very much alive and kicking again.

Aston Villa recorded their eighth consecutive league victory over the weekend and increased the possibility of them playing in the Championship play-offs at the end of the season and maybe even the Premier League next term.

Obviously, Dean Smith has done a magnificent job to finally get this group players performing on the level expected of them but if there’s one player, who has maybe performed a bit under the radar then it is Conor Hourihane.

The 29-year-old has been as important as any other player in the Villa team this season and his beautiful finish on Saturday to give Villa their second goal in their victory over Bristol City, was proof of just what a gifted and talented player he is.

Hourihane – who only joined the club for around £3.15m according to Transfermarkt – has been a consistent starter in Smith’s team this season and he hardly never gets substituted due to the brilliant work ethic he has of giving 100% for the full 90 minutes. His partnership in the midfield with Glenn Whelan has been critical to Villa’s success and has operated as a foundation for the rest of the team to work from.

The commitment him and Whelan bring to the team was what got Villa’s campaign back on track during a time when they couldn’t even break into the top ten of the league.

Hourihane’s experience has been highly beneficial to the rest of the players in the squad and he has definitely acted as a role model for the youngsters in the setup.

His determination and willingness to succeed on the pitch could be the aspects that steer Villa to the Premier League next season, which would be a phenomenal achievement, given the incredible turnaround they’ve made.

And if Villa were to play in the top flight again next season then Hourihane’s mentality is exactly what they will need to compete on the level of the top clubs in the league.

Aston Villa fans, how impressed have you been by the former Barnsley ace? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

When Leeds United were defeated 1-0 by Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on April 6th, serious questions were asked about whether their squad had what it takes to bounce back in such a pivotal time of the season.

Capitulation at the same stage of the campaign last year saw the Whites fall away from play-off contention yet under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, they have avoided repeating this particular feat.

After securing an impressive 2-0 victory away at Preston North End, Leeds backed it up with another win on Saturday as a Jack Harrison goal saw off a Sheffield Wednesday side who were aiming to stay in contention for a top-six finish in the Championship. As a result of these two triumphs, the Whites edged further clear of Sheffield United in the race for automatic promotion as Chris Wilder’s side’s disappointing draw against Millwall saw them fall three points behind their rivals.

Although it is fair to say that Bielsa will be focusing entirely on finishing in the top-two in May, they still have an outside chance of pipping Norwich City to the league title. Two consecutive draws for the Canaries against Reading and Wigan Athletic has seen their lead at the top cut from seven points to four due to Leeds’ recent resurgence.

With clashes to come over the next three weeks against Wednesday and Aston Villa, Daniel Farke knows that his side will have to be on top form to remain on course to finish top in the second tier. However, if Norwich do indeed slip-up, Leeds know that if they can secure maximum points from their final four games, they could secure an unlikely triumph at the end of the season.

Winning the league would be a fitting end to what has been a fantastic campaign for Bielsa’s side who have produced a spell-binding brand of football which has lit up the Championship on numerous occasions this year.

What do you think Leeds fans? Can your side still pip Norwich to title in May? Or is four points too big of a gap to overcome between now and the end of the year? Let us know below.

What a night Wednesday was for Tottenham! Indeed, it proved they really can compete with the best and showed why Christian Eriksen should stay at least one more season to try and make history for the club who made him what he is today.

Despite spending absolutely nothing during or since the summer, the Lilywhites held their own against big spenders City and are now playing the games that Eriksen will have thought he’d have to leave in order to play. The tie meant much more than just progression.

The Danish wizard – who the Daily Mail report the club could be under pressure to sell – has been key to landing his club where they are today, despite him not having the best of seasons by his incredibly high standards. He’d be mad to leave this summer, just when Spurs are on the cusp of making that finally push for the title.

Yes, he’s 27-years-old and there are certainly higher profile clubs that he could play for, but what’s one more year in a career that possibly has another five at the very top level. If Spurs win the Premier League next year, then he’s a hero. If they don’t, their fans can’t blame him for leaving.

Indeed, the loss to City on Saturday proved there’s still work to do on that front and, at in their new stadium, what better place to do it?

To go this summer just feels like it’d be an unfinished job. It felt that way at the start of this season, but now it’s clear there’s a real possibility that the club are able to finish that job in the next campaign or so, if they sign the right players and keep their top stars.

Eriksen should take whatever Daniel Levy offers and give it one more season to become a club legend. History is within his grasp, and he shouldn’t jump ship just as it nears its final destination.

Spurs fans, how close do you think Spurs can get to winning the title next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

[ad_pod ]West Ham United fans on Twitter have been naming their 2018/2019 Hammer of the Year and to say that they’re split on who should collect the award is a major understatement.

This came after the club posted on the social media platform to announce that voting was now open for the yearly accolade, the winner of which is chosen by the Claret & Blue Army at the end of each term.

And after a first season under Manuel Pellegrini that has included many highs and looks set to see the team finish comfortably in mid-table in the Premier League, there is clearly no lack of different contenders to take the award off last year’s winner Marko Arnautovic and become the 2018/2019 Hammer of the Year.

Supporters in the comments of the East Londoners’ post threw up a remarkable six different names, from Lukasz Fabianski in goal to club-record signing Felipe Anderson in attack.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals what Lasagne-Gate was really like for Tottenham’s food-poisoned stars – Check out the video below…

And you can check all of them out, below…

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Between them Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal lost a handful of games this April, prompting scoffed jokes that no team actually wants to secure a top four spot and all of the Champions League riches that come with it.

It does not simply come down to financial considerations though. These days, such is the gravitas of the tournament that missing out can be as devastating as it is rewarding to qualify for it and, of the three most in danger of finishing adrift (with Spurs surely now all but there), it is Manchester United who will suffer most should they fall short.

Football FanCast consider three potential consequences of United missing out on a top four finish…

An overhaul compromised

“I am going to be successful here and there are players who won’t be part of that successful team”. So said a clearly wounded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the aftermath of United’s recent 4-0 hammering at the hands of Everton.

Contained within his squad are several players bought in desperation by the three failed managers who preceded him in the club’s post-Ferguson era. Replacing them with genuine quality will be an extortionately expensive rebuild.

Can this be done without the lure of Champions League football? Well, yes and no but neither are favourable outcomes. Primary targets such as Jadon Sancho will surely head elsewhere – if move at all – while United’s three previous summers minus Champions League have all demonstrated that elite players can still be bought but at vastly inflated prices.

In 2015, Angel Di Maria arrived for £59.7m. Two years later came Pogba for a world record fee. After that Lukaku was prised from Everton’s grasp for close to £75m.

This presents one hell of a conundrum. Do United really want players who are content to do without continental football for an extra £25,000-per-week over another interested party? Isn’t that partly how they got into this mess to begin with?

The loss of De Gea

According to The Guardian there is little to no chance of the thirteen times Premier League winners retaining their brilliant stopper should they finish fifth or sixth next month and, given that David De Gea has won the club’s Player of the Year award an astonishing four times and has saved United’s hide on countless occasions, they simply cannot afford to lose his services.

Even considering his recent dip in form De Gea is fundamental to Solskjaer’s plans and seeking an alternative will only bring in someone inferior who will weaken an already suspect defence.

A lessening of stature

A broader reason but pertinent all the same. Manchester United derives so much of their revenue and position of power from their global appeal that it will certainly hurt to once again be relegated to the Europa shadows.

Put bluntly, the self-proclaimed biggest and most marketable club in the world needs to be in the biggest competition.