All posts by h716a5.icu

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Southampton fans have taken to Twitter to show how happy they are about the rumours they may finally be acquiring Che Adams.

According to The Telegraph, Saints are expected to pay around £14million for the Birmingham City striker who is coming off the back of an exceptional season for the struggling Championship side, who also parted company with manager Garry Monk on Tuesday.

The youngster scored 22 goals for the Midlands club in the 2018/19 campaign despite the team finishing a lowly 17th – albeit after a points deduction later in the campaign.

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The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to St Mary’s for some time now after a £10m bid was reportedly rejected back in January.

And The Telegraph revealed there had been another bid rejected in May for the player, but now Saints seem to be getting somewhere after a long wait to secure the English forward.

Negotiations appear to have re-opened and fans of the south coast side could not be more pleased.

Here is just some of the reaction…

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The majority of Premier Leauge stars are still enjoying the sun and the sea away from the stressful days at the office, and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is no different.

The young starlet has posted a snap on

/BzEOHlxHjAk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram letting his fans know that he is still very much in holiday mode. And as is usually the case, his teammates rushed to the comment sections to reply to the 21-year-old.

Anthony Martial was the first one on the scene as he told Rashford to enjoy his time, and his simple but uplifting two-word response got loads of replies from fans.

Demetri Mitchell, Manchester United’s young loanee currently playing his football for Heart of Midlothian, also commented and just left a reply saying “righteous”, which was a compliment on Rashford’s stance and looks.

Even though the 21-year-old is still enjoying his holiday, there’s still a lot of work to be done back in Manchester. His future at the club is pretty unclear with the youngster seemingly demanding extraordinarily huge wages to stay and lead the Red Devils into a new era under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

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Southampton confirmed the signing of Birmingham City striker Che Adams on a five-year deal on Monday, and fans of Premier League rivals Crystal Palace were quick to react on Twitter.

The Sun reported last month that the Eagles were one of the clubs interested in the 22-year-old, who scored 22 goals in 46 Championship appearances for the Midlands outfit last season, but he has now gone to St Mary’s instead.

The south London side are certainly in need of a new centre-forward themselves given Christian Benteke is the only striker on their books right now to find the net for them last season – and it was just the once – with Connor Wickham spending the majority of the campaign out injured and Alexander Sorloth scoring six in 38 outings on loan at Gent.

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Given his goalscoring record in 2018/19, his pace and his strength, it would have been interesting to potentially see Adams alongside the likes of Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha next term, and at £15m he looked to within reach financially, too.

The majority of Palace supporters on social media are certainly disappointed their club didn’t go for him with one saying “gutted we didn’t get him”, but another disagreed saying they were “not convinced”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

You could have argued that Liverpool needed to spend big this summer anyway in order to keep challenging for the top honours.

Yes, Jurgen Klopp’s men did win the Champions League and came within a point of eventual champions Manchester City, but you simply can’t stand still at that level of the game and expect to get the same results.

The Reds were fortunate with injuries last term. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane missed just one game each, whilst Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk were ever present – if any one of them had missed a substantial chunk of the season however, it could’ve had a serious impact on how their campaign panned out after the duo finished joint-first in the Premier League Golden Boot race.

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

In stark contrast, City were without Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy for the most part of the season and had to limit the 34-year-old Fernandinho’s game time in order to manage him, but had enough strength in depth to defend their title.

That was the case then, and things have only got harder for Liverpool following City’s club-record signing of Rodri from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £62.8m – a significant moment in the market for the champions and for football in general.

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BBC Sport revealed in May that the Merseysiders are content with their squad and the feeling is that they would have to spend ‘astronomical’ amounts to improve their side – Bleacher Report have followed up by claiming Klopp has little interest in spending big this summer.

But if they aren’t prepared to spend big whilst City don’t hesitate in doing so, despite their already superior squad depth, Klopp’s men are more likely to fall further behind their title rivals next season rather than overtake them.

Even infamously frugal Tottenham have obliterated their transfer record to bring France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele to the club.

At the top of the footballing ladder, you simply can’t get complacent. Liverpool need to change their transfer stance or they’ll get caught resting on their laurels.

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Some Everton fans have taken to Twitter to discuss a report linking them with a move for Lille ace Nicolas Pepe.

The 6 foot 1 forward has emerged as one of the hottest properties on the market after a scintillating 2018/19 campaign, in which he bagged 22 Ligue 1 goals to help Lille secure a Champions League spot for next season.

Thogden challenged himself to DM 100 footballers on Instagram. Find out who replied in the video below…

Only the brilliant Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe bettered the Ivory Coast international’s 22-goal haul, and Pepe’s form has led to interest from European giants such as PSG, Inter Milan and Everton’s Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

Given the fact that clubs of that calibre have been linked with the £58.5m-rated 24-year-old, it would be a huge coup for the Toffees if they landed Pepe – arguably the biggest transfer swoop of the summer.

The report also states that they are interested in signing Ajax star David Neres, Lyon forward Bertrand Traore and Barcelona winger Malcom, but it is their interest in Pepe that is most eye-catching and is also the subject of the discussion below.

Let’s take a look at what the Everton fans on Twitter have been saying about the interest in Pepe…

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Tottenham Hotspur signed Jan Vertonghen on the 12th of July 2012.

The Belgium international moved from Ajax and, while the fee was not disclosed at the time, BBC Sport reported that the Dutch club had demanded £12m.

Let that sink in for a second.

Vertonghen cost Spurs less than £15m. This was a prime example of Spurs snapping up an undervalued defender and turning him, essentially, into a star.

He has been an impeccable servant to the club and has made a total of 286 appearances in north London. He has scored 12 goals and registered six assists.

At no point has he ever been anything short of genuinely exceptional.

Signed in a disappointing era for the club – Andre Villas-Boas was manager when he arrived – he was a beacon of consistency under the Portuguese, survived the poisonous toxicity of Tim Sherwood’s era and is now perhaps Mauricio Pochettino’s most important defender.

That he plays alongside Toby Alderweireld and remains the club’s best central defender is a testament to his performances.

In the 2018/19 season, he made a total of 22 Premier League appearances – his game time is carefully managed, particularly with Davinson Sanchez now an excellent option – and his statistics are superb.

Per WhoScored, he averages 1.8 tackles per game, 1.5 interceptions and a mere 0.5 fouls. He makes 3.3 clearances and averages a pass completion rate of 87.5%.

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Alderweireld averages fewer tackles (1.1 to 1.8) and fewer interceptions (0.7 to 1.5). Sanchez also makes fewer tackles, interceptions and more fouls. Both Alderweireld and Sanchez average more clearances but Vertonghen is the frontline defender, the player who steps out to mop up.

His current contract expires at the end of next season and Spurs have to do everything they can to ensure he sticks around.

The club have not signed such a consistent player at any other point in this decade and Vertonghen remains one of the first names on the teamsheet in the big games – they simply must protect his future.

If Spurs are to lose him, they won’t be able to replace him and, while he turns 33 next year, he has to remain a cornerstone of Pochettino’s project in north London.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Arsenal have used pre-season as a way of embedding the younger members of their squad into the team.

Freddie Ljungberg’s promotion means it’s no surprise to see this happen, especially after leading the U23 side last season, but a number of them are already proving to be key.

Eddie Nketiah has three goals in pre-season, scoring twice against Fiorentina whilst also bagging the winner against Bayern Munich.

Joe Willock was another to score against the Italians but it’s Bukayo Saka who could now have Unai Emery ruing judgement calls he made last season.

On the chalkboard

Saka has become one of the most talented young players rising through the Gunners’ ranks after scoring 14 times and picking up 12 assists in all competitions at youth level last term.

It was a breakthrough season for the youngster who made first-team appearances in the Europa League whilst also appearing as a substitute in the Premier League.

The 17-year-old, who doesn’t turn 18 until September, has shown tremendous strides and even scored against Colorado Rapids in their opening pre-season encounter.

He was a threat down the left and proved the same against Fiorentina, picking up a match rating of 8/10, the same as two-goal Nketiah, from Football London.

Arsenal’s promising starlet was exceptional but he’s proven in the space of a few games why it was a mistake to not play him more regularly at senior level last term.

The fact is that he’s shown the ability and willingness to beat a man that was all too rare for the north London side throughout 2018/19.

They lacked many wide options with Alex Iwobi being the only direct winger in the squad. For a club like the Gunners, his numbers were particularly average, scoring just three times and claiming six assists.

As a result, Emery was forced into utilising wing-backs to provide the width.

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However, Saka is a player who could have provided this in a more attacking sense and despite his tender age, it was a considerable mistake from the Spaniard not to play him.

His fresh energy, direct nature and ability to score would have made him a threat for most full-backs in the Premier League.

If the Islington outfit continue to be unsuccessful in their pursuit of Wilfried Zaha, there would be far worse options than starting Saka on the opening day of the new term.

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On Friday afternoon, Phil Hay – formerly of The Yorkshire Evening Post – tweeted that Leeds United defender Luke Ayling had undergone ankle surgery.

Hay went on to write that there was ‘no exact timescale’ for his return.

BBC Sport have said that the 27-year-old will definitely miss the start of the 2019-20 campaign, although it is unclear when he will be able to return to the field.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The defender did not travel with the squad for their two friendly matches against Manchester United and Western Sydney Warriors in Australia.

Ayling has now joined Kemar Roofe on the sidelines, as the striker is also set to miss the start of the campaign with an ankle injury that he suffered whilst on tour.

It is hardly an ideal situation for a team that will be looking to make a strong start to the season following the disappointment of last term.

Check out what happened when Thogden mixed with some of Montenegro’s craziest ultras in the video below…

A number of Leeds fans have been on social media offering their views on the situation and a selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov believes that manager Mauricio Pochettino is disappointed by the club’s summer business, per The London Evening Standard.

What’s he said?

Spurs have thus far only made two senior signings, acquiring Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for a club-record fee and Jack Clarke from Leeds United.

However, the latter has been loaned back to the Championship club and deals for Ryan Sessegnon, Giovani Lo Celso and Bruno Fernandes, having all been mooted, have yet to be completed.

With Thursday’s transfer deadline looming large, Berbatov has suggested that the Argentine will be unhappy with the way the club have operated this summer.

He said: “A manager needs to be responsible for the players that are coming in because if you are a manager you want the player to be approved by you.

“If that’s not the case and you are not familiar with who is coming and you don’t have any say in that it’s a bit strange.”

Pochettino, of course, recently suggested that the club should change his title from manager to head coach due to his lack of information regarding transfers, per BBC Sport.

And Berbatov believes the quotes were an indication of the Spurs boss’ frustrations.

He added: “There is something going on – what is it? I don’t know. We can speculate here what it is but they need to find a solution for this problem.

“You can hear the way he’s speaking about it that he’s a bit disappointed that something is not going the way he wants it to go.”

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Probably right

Berbatov may have hit the nail on the head here.

Spurs have, thus far, only added one senior player to their squad ahead of the 2019/20 season, despite Pochettino calling for a rebuilding job at the end of the previous campaign.

That simply hasn’t happened, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Spurs could potentially pull a rabbit out of a hat; it has happened before.

But it is perhaps more likely that Pochettino will head into the season opener against Aston Villa with largely the same squad that began 2018/19.

That’s the opposite of a rebuild.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Having watched Tanguy Ndombele’s Tottenham debut against Aston Villa, you would be brave to argue against the fact that Spurs have signed a very talented footballer.

Admittedly, he looked a little bit rusty early on. Whether that was down to nerves, or merely the Frenchman trying to acclimatise to the pace of the Premier League, it must be said that he grew into the game as it went on.

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The £55m man slowly started to find his rhythm, winning the ball and driving up the pitch and proving to be a real tempo setter for his new side.

In a moment that he will probably have dreamt about on Friday night, the 22-year-old also managed to find the back of the net with a wonderful curled effort to equalise with just 17 minutes remaining – his excellent goal set the wheels in motion for a 3-1 comeback.

Following Ndombele’s promising debut, Mauricio Pochettino delivered his verdict on the former Lyon midfielder’s performance – the Argentine’s comments should probably have the rest of the league quite worried.

“It was a fantastic performance. But to be honest there is a lot to improve, he only showed 30 or 40 percent of his potential. He has amazing potential to improve.”

Only 30% or 40 percent?

A man who scored a great goal, made one key pass, completed 85.5% of his passes and also made one interception and three tackles to showcase his industrial side was performing at under half the level he’s capable of?

How good is Ndombele going to be when he starts to settle down and truly get going? That is a scary prospect that I don’t even want to think about for the sake of every other team in the league.

We witnessed a real quality performance from an evidently talented player against Villa, and the signs suggest that he is only going to become more of a force in Spurs’ midfield in the future.

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