All posts by h716a5.icu

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham fans have taken to Twitter after the first goal was scored at the new stadium by 17-year-old J’Neil Bennett.

The Spurs Under-18 forward netted a fine curling effort into the bottom right corner from outside the box, marking a historic moment in the club’s history as he put his name in the record books with the strike against Southampton.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

Tottenham were allowing their Under-18’s to play at the £1bn arena as part of a test event, in order to secure a safety certificate from the local council which will allow them to officially open the stadium for the Premier League match against Crystal Palace on April 3rd.

30,000 fans made their way to the new stadium, which is also eligible to host NFL fixtures, after having to watch their team at Wembley for almost two full seasons.

The second test event, which will need to have an attendance of 45,000, is set to go ahead next weekend when a Spurs legends side face an Inter Milan legends team of their own.

Let’s see how the Spurs fans on Twitter reacted to the new stadium’s first goal…

[ad_pod ]

Harvey Barnes may have been recalled from his loan spell with West Brom back in January, but a damning stat has been revealed that he’s still been the club’s most creative player three months on.

In a graph displaying the players who have created the highest proportion of high-quality shots for certain teams in the Championship this season, Barnes led the way for the Baggies on 16.451.

This stat has provoked a fair amount of response from the Hawthorns faithful who not only bemoaned the loss of the 21-year-old but picked up on the fact that other stars who have since been injured have also left a hole.

Matty Phillips’ and Kieran Gibbs’ presence was focused on by some fans, who said the former had a strong influence over the team.

Another supporter also claimed that once Barnes left, the formation should have been changed in order to counter his absence.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

However, one individual thought that West Brom supporters had exaggerated his role, claiming the club were still consistent without him.

In 26 league games for the club, Barnes scored nine and assisted six goals.

Here’s the reaction from Twitter.

[ad_pod ]

According to Liverpool’s official website, Joe Gomez has returned to first-team training after spending more than three months on the sideline.

Naturally, the news has been greeted with delight amongst the Reds faithful and it’s a priceless boost for Jurgen Klopp at a crucial stage in the season, but it could be bad news for Joe Matip despite his excellent form of late.

On the chalkboard

Gomez’s lengthy injury setback paved the way for Matip to cement his place in the starting XI and that’s exactly what he’s done with aplomb.

A player once slandered as the footballing embodiment of Bambi on ice, the Cameroon international has been a revelation alongside Virgil Van Dijk, silencing his critics with a series of consistent displays.

That Liverpool have conceded just five goals from the last eight Premier League fixtures with Matip in the starting lineup speaks volumes about the scale of his improvement this season, and right now it seems unthinkable to suggest he should be dropped.

The returning 21-year-old, however, will shift the dynamic and give Klopp a selection headache in the coming weeks.

Matip to miss out

Gomez’s presence could see Matip cruelly miss out in season-defining encounters both domestically and in Europe, such was the excellence of the former’s performances prior to his lengthy lay-off.

Klopp is also blessed with the option of deploying Gomez at full-back when he requires added protection out wide and that could be a game-changer during the run in, but it’s fair to say that Liverpool are at their most formidable when Van Dijk and Gomez are partnered between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.

Matip has unquestionably been a revelation this season and his improvement deserves glowing recognition, but the return of one of England’s most exciting prospects could force him back onto the substitutes bench.

[ad_pod ]

It’s not often you hear about an up and coming Irish footballer. That’s not to disrespect the football that hails from that part of the world but it seems increasingly rare.

However, in Conor Grant, the Republic of Ireland and Sheffield Wednesday have a rising star on their hands that we may start to hear a lot more about very soon.

Grant signed for the club back in 2017, arriving from Shamrock Rovers as a largely unknown prodigy. He’s still not really known to many but his performances for Wednesday’s U23’s this season suggest he’ll be ready to make an impact at a higher level in the near future.

The creative midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough season, signing a professional deal with the club in December before being handed a squad number ahead of the Owls’ game with Bolton earlier this year. He didn’t make the squad on that occasion, but it shows he’s very much in Steve Bruce’s thoughts.

It’s clear to see why too. Grant is one of those players teams strive to have, he’s got quick feet and his ability to pick a pass is a key feature of his game. He’s also got goals in him, finding the net often in 2018/19.

Two of his best displays came against city rivals Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in the Development League. He claimed a goal and an assist in both matches, with his willingness to drive at the defence in evidence, particularly against the Blades.

Speaking to The Sheffield Star, the club’s development manager Neil Thompson spoke highly of the 17-year-old: “Conor is a good, level-headed lad. He loves his football. He is a good player and he has good awareness and we just have to keep working with him.”

His awareness of the play around him is one of the things that stood out when Wednesday’s U23’s beat their rivals 2-0, putting the ball on a plate for Rolando Aarons to score. It’s something that should excite Owls supporters in the years to come.

Grant may find a first senior team appearance difficult to come by considering the club finds itself in a promotion race, but while he may not be ready for that just yet he’s certainly a player they must continue to invest plenty of time in.

[ad_pod ]

Everton fans on Twitter have been busy lauding Dominic Calvert-Lewin for his tireless performance against Arsenal, as the Toffees managed to grab an impressive 1-0 win, with some even comparing him to Goodison Park icons Graeme Sharp and Duncan Ferguson.

The academy graduate did not stop running all game, and gave Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis a torrid time at the back throughout the entire match.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Calvert-Lewin – who Transfermarkt value at £13.5million – got the assist for Phil Jagielka’s early goal, and didn’t give the Gunners backline a moment to settle as Everton looked to stretch their defence by using the 22-year-old’s pace and athleticism to full effect.

The England Under-21 star is gradually getting better and better with every passing week, and is proving to be an excellent option for Marco Silva up top due to all the hard work he puts in – his tally of six league goals could be improved upon, however.

It seems unlikely that the Merseysiders would’ve recorded their third straight win without Calvert-Lewin playing as well as he did, so let’s see what the Toffees fanbase on Twitter have been saying about the youngster…

Another must-win game for Arsenal, another day where Aaron Ramsey turned up for the club.

The Welsh international scored the Gunners’ opening goal against Napoli in a 2-0 win that has put the north London side one foot into the Europa League semi-finals, and it again added to the debate of ‘why are Arsenal letting Ramsey go?’

As well as Ramsey being one of the best players on the pitch for Arsenal, again, it was yet another quiet night for Mesut Ozil, who was substituted off 67 minutes, an all too familiar sight for Gunners fans, and the fact that the German is set to remain at the club for another season whilst the Welsh international walks is one of the worst player dealings the club have ever done.

Sure, Ozil fanboys will tell you that Arsenal are a much worse team without the former Real Madrid playmaker in the team, but when you sit down and watch the Gunners, you can see that the Gunners are normally better off as a team without the former German international in the starting XI.

Without Ramsey, though, Arsenal are not the fluid, stylish team we have seen countless times this season. Whenever the 28-year-old midfielder is absent from the side, the Gunners don’t look like the complete team, and his introduction more than often brings Unai Emery’s team to life.

With Ozil, Arsenal remains unspectacular. The German’s inconsistent performances have made him a divided figure in the community, and the reality is that the club are better off without the 30-year-old playmaker in the squad and off the wage bill.

Ramsey could have become an all-time great at Arsenal, but allowing him the walk on a free to Juventus is up there with one of the worst decisions the club have made that is only made worse by the fact Ozil will remain with the Gunners and live to fight another day.

Arsenal fans, should the club sell Ozil this summer? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]

Manchester City’s most pressing transfer objective appears to revolve around their endeavour to sign a new defensive midfielder to succeed Fernandinho at the base of their midfield.

But every time Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain identify a dream target they are usurped by a fellow European giant. First Chelsea swooped in to steal Jorginho from under their noses, and Barcelona have become the latest nemesis to frustrate the champions by agreeing a deal for Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong.

The Catalan giants have waved goodbye to Xavi and Iniesta in recent years and Sergio Busquets’ future departure out of the Nou Camp will seal the end of an iconic era in Catalonia. Their decision to add De Jong was clearly designed to smooth the transition process – one which has already been aided by the signing of Arthur – and, barring Ajax, of course, City were the biggest losers from the deal.

Looming on the horizon is another transfer conundrum for City’s bigwigs to dissect: finding a worthy replacement for Sergio Aguero. On the surface that is about as unenviable a task one could be entrusted with, but the rise of Luka Jovic has revealed a talent who has showcased the level of potential you would expect from the Argentine’s heir.

And, while Barcelona had been threatening to haunt City in the transfer market for the second time with a deal for the Eintracht Frankfurt sensation, Mundo Deportivo journalist Francesc Aguilar has claimed that they have cooled their interest due to the enormity of his potential price-tag and the fact they are unwilling to replace Luis Suarez.

According to a report from the Daily Mail published in February, City are keeping tabs on the 21-year-old attacker. Now that Barcelona have cooled their interest, though, it’s the perfect time for City to revive their long-standing desire to bring Jovic to the club.

The Serbia international only turned 21 shortly before the turn of the year, yet his goal scoring record points towards a level of experience which extends well beyond the formative stage he finds himself in. A return of 24 goals from just 38 appearances underlines his prolific ability in the final-third, while the fact he is yet to score from outside the penalty area this season reveals where his dead-eyed expertise predominantly lie.

There is a suggestion that perhaps Jovic is too similar to Gabriel Jesus in that respect but, with the right level of exposure to Guardiola’s methods at an early age, he could blossom into a complete forward on Aguero’s level. The stylistic transformation of Raheem Sterling from conventional winger to goal-hungry attacker attests to Guardiola’s ability to fine-tune the weaker aspects of a budding talent’s repertoire.

Red Star Belgrade’s general director Zvezdan Terzic once claimed “Jovic will become the best striker in Europe”, and his glowing spell in the Bundesliga has added a weight of legitimacy to that sensational verdict.

With Barcelona reportedly out of the running for one of the most coveted signatures in Europe, City have a dream opportunity to bring Aguero’s heir to Manchester.

[ad_pod ]

It looked like the beginning of a long night for Watford after the usually dependable Ben Foster gifted an unwitting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the opener in their Monday clash with Arsenal before Troy Deeney was dismissed for violent conduct.

However, the Hornets were not deflated and, despite being down to 10 men, gave a fantastic account of themselves and were, in the end, unlucky not to come away with a result.

Adam Masina and Craig Cathcart hit bar and post, respectively, while the Gunners defence were repeatedly put under pressure by the pace of Andre Gray. It clearly wasn’t meant to be though, with Unai Emery’s men taking all three points as Foster’s error proved decisive.

Regardless of how frustrating the outcome must have been for Javi Gracia, the Watford boss showed his class as he heaped praise on his squad and deflected any blame away from Foster in his post-match comments:

“All my players make mistakes. Me as well. It’s something natural. We have to live with our mistakes. All the players make mistakes, all the coaches make mistakes. I prefer to give value to all the good things. When we win and one player scores, all the players and team are happy.

“We are a team and we enjoy together and suffer together. It’s about the team and we are not pointing at one player. This is the moment to be together. With ten players, in the circumstances we had, we competed really well.”

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

The Spaniard’s Watford reign, to an outsider, has appeared near faultless, with the Vicarage Road outfit pushing for seventh place and having also booked their place in the FA Cup final recently.

However, the former Rubin Kazan boss has confessed that even he makes mistakes after Foster’s gaffe – words which will surely go a long way in helping the veteran custodian sleep this week. Gracia is looking like an outside bet for Manager of the Year and these classy comments have only strengthened that case.

[ad_pod ]

According to The Express, Manchester United have joined Liverpool in the race to sign Lille forward Nicolas Pepe, who has been in sensational form this season.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Ivorian striker has scored 20 goals and recorded 11 assists in Ligue 1 this season as Lille currently sit second behind Paris Saint-Germain, with Pepe spearheading what has been an impressive campaign.

Only Kylian Mbappe has scored more goals in France’s top-flight than the 23-year-old, which has attracted the attention of clubs such as Chelsea, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, PSG and now United.

Who would win out of Man Utd’s treble winners and Man City today? Fans discuss in the video below…

The aforementioned report from The Express reveals that the Red Devils are planning for life without Romelu Lukaku, and have identified Pepe as a potential candidate to replace the Belgian.

If they want to have any chance of landing the Lille hotshot, however, United may have to splash the cash on the man rated at £60m.

Ole needs Pepe over Jadon Sancho

United have also been linked with a big-money move for Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jadon Sancho, a player who has recorded more assists than any other player in Europe this season with 17 to his name.

Whilst that would be a fantastic move for a player who is already looking comfortable amongst the elite at just 19 years of age, a move for Pepe would be smarter for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at this moment in time.

The Norwegian has just two wins from his last ten games, a run of form which a club of United’s stature really aren’t used to, and won’t want to get used to.

If the former Cardiff boss carries this form into the next campaign, the pressure on him will be intense and his job could well be on the line.

As a result of Solskjaer needing a fast start next season, a move for Pepe, a man four years older than Sancho and a player who looks far more prolific and accomplished in front of goal, would make more sense.

As good a player as he is, Solskjaer can’t wait for Sancho to fulfil his huge potential amid this tough time at Old Trafford. He needs dangerous, ready-made forwards who can start firing them in from the first whistle of the season, and Pepe is more that man than the Dortmund winger is.

Manchester United must be trying to get rid of all the dead wood, but they have to stop their best players from leaving too. Sounds easy, right? Well, the club do like to make things pretty difficult. With that in mind, bringing in Youri Tielemans would give Paul Pogba the assurance it’d be worth sticking around at Old Trafford for years to come.

The 21-year-old has attracted attention during his loan at Leicester since January, and it’s easy to see why. The central midfielder has scored three and assisted five in 11 Premier League games. Indeed, at the start of last month, Het Laatste Nieuws, via the Mail Online, claimed there was interest in him from Old Trafford.

They also believe Leicester are hoping to sign him permanently for £40m, but United would surely be his favoured option. If he signs, it’d prove to Pogba that things are starting to change at United. Nemanja Matic out and Tielemans in is quite a jump.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to buy younger players to build his own squad over the next few years and signing Tielemans would be a great start. The Belgian international looks capable of going right to the top and that’s where United want to be once again.

Pogba is still United’s best player by a mile, and he’ll want assurances that things are going to change or he won’t stick around past summer. It’s not about the money, it’s ambition and these young, attack-minded signings could be the only way he’s persuaded to stay.

United are here to attack, attack, attack, after all…

Signing Tielemans would signal a culture change in United’s transfer strategy. It’d prove they’re building a team for the future and one that is moulded around Pogba.

If they get their man, it might just secure the services of their best player too.

United fans, who do you think your club should sign to play in midfield with Paul Pogba? Join the discussion by commenting below.