Category Uncategorized

[ad_pod ]

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

Southampton travel to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth on Tuesday in what promises to be a highly-charged derby meeting.

With the Saints a Premier League team and their opponents currently play in League One, it could be assumed that there would be a gulf in quality.

However, anything can happen in football, especially under the lights in what will be the first meeting between these bitter south coast rivals since 2012.

And there are two players in particular who could be the architects of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side’s downfall.

Let’s take a look at two players the Saints must keep an eye on in the Carabao Cup tie…

Marcus Harness

The 23-year-old forward has been in decent form so far this season, with two goals and an assist to his name in League One – Harness has also netted in the Carabao Cup.

Pompey’s No.19 takes 1.4 shots per game and makes 1.2 key passes per 90 in the third tier, while he also records an impressive two dribbles per game.

You can tell Harness causes opposition defenders some problems seeing as he gets fouled 1.6 times on average per game as well.

A tricky customer, the Saints will have to be wary of his threat.

Ronan Curtis

The Republic of Ireland international, like Harness, also has two League One goals to his name so far this term, and the similarities with his teammate continue as Curtis is also fouled 1.6 times on average per game.

What is most eye-catching about the 23-year-old’s season so far, however, is the sheer amount of shots he takes.

Curtis records a whopping 4.1 shots per game in League One, suggesting that he isn’t afraid to pull the trigger and test the goalkeeper.

As only two of his strikes have gone in, he arguably hasn’t made the most of his opportunities, but you can’t win the raffle without buying a ticket – and any pressure on the Southampton goal will give a huge boost to Pompey.

A daring attacking player, Curtis could prove a thorn in the Saints’ side on Tuesday.

[ad_pod ]

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

Trent Alexander-Arnold may only have six international caps but he could be decisive for England in their upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo.

On the chalkboard

Gareth Southgate faces a selection headache in regard to which player he should pick at right-back in the next two games and although Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s withdrawal has made his choice easier, he will still have to decide between two top-class players in Kieran Trippier and Alexander-Arnold.

The latter has continued this term where he left off last season, and already has two assists to his name. At 20 and already a top-level player it is likely he could become a permanent fixture at right-back for years to come, so the sooner he builds his experience, the better.

In qualifying for major tournaments England often play against weaker opposition who put all their players behind the ball in an attempt not to concede, and that is where the width that the Liverpool man can provide will be useful.

The Champions League winner has made more successful crosses than any player in the Premier League this term, with Trippier on seven from three games in La Liga, and therefore the former is most likely to provide the key to unlock the Bulgarian and Kosovan defences.

Jordan Henderson is likely to feature in midfield, and so too could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Such familiarity will enable the Liverpudlian to play his natural game, and England should be rewarded as a result.

Ideal for strikers

Alexander-Arnold’s crossing ability is clear for all to see. Last year he had a success rate of 34%, much higher than the average of 22% in 2017/18, and has maintained that rate this season with an impressive average of six successful crosses per match.

Added to that, he is also a very intelligent player. He knows the positions to take up and what type of cross is needed, as evidenced by his assists for Liverpool.

His corner for Divock Origi’s second goal against Barcelona is also an example of how he can think on his feet, and England may require such inspiration to break down a Bulgaria side who could be stubborn in defence.

Harry Kane scores a lot with his head and he is one target who would love playing with Alexander-Arnold, but Rashford’s ability to run in behind the defence provides an alternative for the right-back, so he offers Southgate variety in attack.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

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

According to Football Insider, Borussia Dortmund have made an approach to sign Liverpool winger Harry Wilson with just days left of the summer window to go.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Bundesliga side are reportedly keen to test the Reds’ resolve regarding the Wales international, and have registered their interest in landing Wilson permanently.

It would have to be a permanent deal, as Jurgen Klopp recently said that it is too late in the window for the 22-year-old or his fellow teammate Ryan Kent to depart on loan once again.

Wilson has emerged as a real talent after an excellent season on loan with Derby last term, in which he netted 16 goals in the Championship.

The Champions League winners value the young forward at over £20m, whilst Newcastle and Aston Villa are also said to be keen.

Liverpool can’t afford to lose Wilson, but they should sell on one condition 

With just 11 days to go until the season starts again, the Reds have only just got Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Alisson Becker back after their international commitments, whilst Sadio Mane still hasn’t returned.

They are also yet to sign a first-team addition, with only teenage duo Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott coming through the door alongside 35-year-old Andy Lonergan – the squad is fairly thin and the likes of Divock Origi and Wilson will presumably be heavily relied on in the early matches.

As a result, Liverpool can’t afford to further weaken themselves.

However, Dortmund have something that the Reds want – Jadon Sancho.

Obviously, a swap deal or a player-plus-cash deal is unlikely to happen given his huge valuation, but what could happen is that the German side give Liverpool a first refusal option on the England international if they ever do feel like his time at the Signal Iduna Park is up.

Given the fact that Real Madrid and Manchester United are also admirers of Sancho, this would hand the Reds a huge advantage in the race for one of Europe’s best young players.

Losing Wilson would hurt Liverpool until Salah, Mane and Firmino are back firing, but it would be worth it if Dortmund allow them to have the option on Sancho.

[ad_pod ]

Arsenal’s small budget for this transfer window is no secret and, as such, Unai Emery appears to be having difficulty signing players this summer – so far, only Gabriel Martinelli has joined the Gunners. However, there is still time for the Emirates outfit to bring in some fresh faces before the new season kicks off, although they may need to be creative. Here, we look at five players they are looking to sign before August 8th…

Arsenal’s defence has been a problem position for years, and with the rumoured departure of the experienced Laurent Koscielny, it will only get worse. A centre-back is much-needed for Emery. Fortunately, he appears to be close to getting his hands on Saint-Etienne’s William Saliba. The 18-year-old has reportedly decided to join Arsenal despite late interest from Tottenham, with €30m (£27m) being the fee they will apparently play for the Frenchman.

Along with a central defender, a left-back wouldn’t go amiss. Nacho Monreal is not getting any younger, whilst Sead Kolasinac has struggled to hold down a first team spot consistently. The Gunners’ interest in Celtic’s Kieran Tierney does not come as much of a surprise, therefore. The Bhoys, however, are not willing to let the 22-year-old go without a fight. The Scottish Premier League champions have turned down two offers for the full-back, it is understood, the second of which was £25m.

Wilfried Zaha has been one of Crystal Palace’s star players in recent seasons. Whilst it didn’t work out for him at Manchester United, there is a general feeling that he is ready for a return to a top club. Arsenal agree, it appears, as they have been persistently linked to the Ivory Coast international this summer. They initially made a bid of £40m, then offered the same sum plus three players (Callum Chambers, Mohaned Elneny and Carl Jenkinson). £55m plus Reiss Nelson appears to be the latest attempt, but that has also been met by a refusal from Crystal Palace. Time is running out for the Gunners.

When you are signed by Real Madrid, it is a vindication of your talent, and Dani Ceballos is clearly a very good footballer. However, the amount of quality in Los Merengues’ midfield has made it hard for him to nail down a starting spot. As such, the Spain U21 international may need to make a move this summer to further his career. Arsenal, it appears, are confident they can sign the 22-year-old on a one-year loan deal. Capturing the midfielder would be a coup, with Tottenham previously having been in talks with the La Liga club.

Sometimes, strong performances at an international tournament can make a former unknown a household name, and that appears to have been the case with Gremio’s Everton, who was this year’s top goalscorer at the Copa America. Arsenal have been linked with the forward, with the Brazilian outfit reportedly looking for €40m (£36m) for the 23-year-old, and are even said to have sent a club doctor to South America to assess the player’s condition ahead of a move.

[ad_pod ]

Crystal Palace fans on Twitter are split after Premier League rivals Aston Villa look set to continue their big summer spending spree with moves for Bjorn Engels and Douglas Luiz.

While the Eagles’ transfer window has been anything but lively with goalkeeper Stephen Henderson the only arrival to date – and on a free – newly-promoted Villa have been going to town with the additions of Matt Targett, Jota, Ezri Konsa, Wesley, Kortney Hause, Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings, with the latter three joining on permanent deals following loan spells last term.

Now it appears as though Reims centre-back Engels and Manchester City midfielder Luiz are set to join them at Villa Park, with the duo set to cost £22m.

Given Palace have lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Manchester United and Michy Batshuayi back to Chelsea following his temporary spell at Selhurst Park in 2019, you may have expected the south London outfit to be a little more active in terms of incomings.

Some Eagles supporters have been quick to show some envy to the Midlands outfit with one saying “I’m so jealous”, but another approached the situation with a little more caution and said “I think they’re overdoing it, like Fulham”.

In the video below, find out which Chelsea academy prospect is reportedly being lined up to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Crystal Palace…

That individual may well have a point, seeing as the Cottagers spent more than £100m last summer but still ended up being relegated from the top flight.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

[ad_pod ]Leeds United fans are gutted after Phil Hay announced that he was leaving the Yorkshire Evening Post.The Scottish journalist had become somewhat of an icon for Leeds on social media due to his reputation for providing reliable news about the club and breaking some of the biggest stories about United.It is unknown what the writer’s next job will be but he has confirmed that he will continue to write about the Yorkshire club.Hay has for years been the go-to man for any transfer news or any rumours surrounding the team, and his live match updates often get more attention on social media than the club’s official Twitter.The Yorkshire Evening Post is a staple of the city of Leeds, and they are losing their most notable writer in Hay.Although he is a Hearts fan having been born in Edinburgh, he certainly has a soft spot for the club he has been covering for 13 years.

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

[ad_pod ]

In what is already proving to be one of the biggest sagas of the summer transfer window, the Paul Pogba rumours are seemingly never-ending.

The France World Cup winner has endured a difficult time to say the least at Manchester United and reports in recent weeks had suggested he could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer.

Now, an update from the The Independent has revealed European giants Paris Saint-Germain raised the possibility of swapping their own superstar, Neymar, for United’s Frenchman.

The report claims that a potential deal was rejected by United and that news saw fans of the Manchester side flood to Twitter to voice their opinion on the matter.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Many expressed their relief that Neymar wouldn’t be joining the club this summer and insisted that his “prima donna” nature was exactly the sort of characteristic they didn’t need moving forward.

Indeed, with the report’s suggestion of United having to match the Brazilian’s £900k-a-week deal, some admitted that they were glad that they weren’t choosing to sign another star on extortionate wages.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans on Twitter below:

[ad_pod ]

Jack Grealish has dominated the limelight at Aston Villa this season. Boyhood Villa fan turned captain and a creative English midfielder coveted by a variety of Premier League clubs, the narratives have been quite simply too tempting to resist.

But that has allowed the other standout midfield talent in this Villa team to seep under the radar. John McGinn arrived at Villa Park last summer and has been as crucial as Grealish in their push for promotion – it just so happens he plays directly alongside a young player who everybody, for one reason or another, appears to have a vested interest in.

McGinn was the Man of the Match at Wembley on Monday as Villa secured promotion with a 2-1 victory over Derby County through a performance that defined much of his first season with the Birmingham-based outfit. By no means his best display of the campaign, the Scotland international still created the most chances and made the joint-most tackles of any Villa player, while scoring what proved to be the winner.

“Fair play nonsense!” – Watch one fan’s astonishing defence of Leeds’ controversial goal against Villa on Sunday in the video below…

Again, McGinn has netted more illustrious strikes this season – seven in the Championship alongside nine assists – but this goal was all about grit and determination, rushing into the box and rising to a loose, looping ball just in time to beat Kelle Roos to it. For a club with as much potential as Villa, it was a massive goal.

McGinn’s performance will no doubt gain some more attention than his expert displays have received for much of the season, but the good news for Villa is that he’s still very much their secret weapon. Top flight clubs will focus on Grealish next season as this team’s beating heart and talismanic influence, yet McGinn has proved he’s just as capable of being Villa’s driving force.

Premier League be warned; there are two quality midfielders at Aston Villa – ignore either at your peril.

[ad_pod ]Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has revealed that he isn’t adverse to staying at the club even if they don’t get promoted to the Premier League.

These comments put smiles on the faces of fans but perhaps they should have caused alarm bells to ring in their heads instead.

What’s been said then?

The Whites manager provided what seemed like a massive boost to all Leeds fans with his comments in Friday’s presser.

The Argentine somewhat quashed rumours that he would depart the club if they failed to gain promotion to the Premier League this season.

The 63-year-old has gained a reputation for not sticking with teams for an extended period, his lengthiest spell at a club was with Athletic Bilbao where he lasted just two years, managing 112 games during that time.

HeÂadmitted that he isn’t opposed to spending another year in the Championship, which will surely delight the supporters.

How could his words be interpreted?

Although this update may seem like a positive one on the surface, it is actually swarmed with negativity.

Bielsa shouldn’t be talking about spending next season in the Championship just a week before his team embarks on a playoff run that could see them promoted to the Premier League.

For the first time all season the Leeds boss is showing signs that he doesn’t have faith in his squad to get the job done. It’s no surprise as he has watched from the sideline as his team have picked up just one point from their last three league games – a run which ruined their chances of automatic promotion.

Keeping the former Marseille boss next season was always going to be a priority for the club, and this update provides a massive boost on that front.

Although, it does go to show the mood around the club at this moment is drab as even Bielsa isn’t hopeful of his team’s chances anymore.

[ad_pod ]

Aston Villa are in danger of not re-signing Axel Tuanzebe next season in what will be a bitter blow to Dean Smith.

Back in March, The Sun claimed that Manchester United could be willing to let the defender have a third loan spell with the club. However, The Mirror has since reported a u-turn from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who wants to give him a chance next term.

Tuanzebe has been hugely impressive in recent times, establishing a fine partnership alongside Tyrone Mings. However, his period at the club has been filled with time on the sidelines after sustaining a significant metatarsal injury in December and also missing games when he initially signed back in January 2018.

Despite that, the 6 ft 1 centre back has been a hit at Villa Park and could be a huge loss if he wasn’t to rejoin the Villans ahead of next season. With that in mind, Football FanCast writers have given their verdicts on the situation.

Jack Saville:

“Dean Smith will be gutted if he cannot secure Tuanzebe for another season. The 21-year-old has been brilliant for Villa this season and clearly has the potential to thrive in the Premier League. If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does indeed decide to keep hold of the promising central defender next season, the onus will be on Villa to land Tyrone Mings otherwise they could find themselves in a major crisis in defence.”

Luke Glanville:

“Whilst the fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is planning to include Axel Tuanzebe in his first-team plans for next season is great for the player, it’s a disaster for Aston Villa. The defensive utility man has been a key member of Dean Smith’s squad this season and if they get promoted, they will have a lot to thank him for. Another year’s loan at Villa Park for the 21-year-old would hopefully help the club survive in the Premier League or get promoted at the fourth attempt. His loss and the loss of Jack Grealish for next campaign could be something the Midlanders struggle to come back from.”

Harry Sherlock:

“The fact that Tuanzebe could return to United and be a part of their first-team plans speaks volumes to his quality. When he was out with a metatarsal injury, Villa won just six of the 16 games he was absent for. Since his return, they haven’t lost. It would be catastrophic for him to return to Old Trafford; Villa need him far more than United do, after all.”