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Kevin Phillips has exclusively told Football FanCast that Portsmouth would be “crazy” to get rid of Kenny Jackett, but isn’t surprised by the pressure from the Fratton Park faithful.

Pompey topped the League One standings at Christmas following victory at Hull, but their league form has taken a dramatic turn for the worse in recent weeks, which has led to a number of supporters calling for Jackett to be sacked.

Having suffered another damaging defeat to Phillip’s former side Sunderland on Wednesday, the South Coast outfit have slipped 10 points behind the automatic promotion places, and are just about clinging onto their top-six place with the likes of Ipswich and Charlton breathing down their neck.

But Portsmouth will be given a welcome break from League One action on Saturday when they take on Salford City in their rearranged 2020 Papa John’s Trophy final.

Phillips told Football FanCast:

“I’ve been around football a long time. Am I surprised? No, not really. Football supporters are what they are. And a club the size of Portsmouth, a bit like Sunderland, having been in that league now for a while, they feel that they shouldn’t be there.

“Getting into the position they have done a few weeks ago to have tailed off in the last three four weeks, they will be disappointed. 

“So I’m not surprised. But I am little bit because he’s an experienced guy, they’re in the playoffs, they still have a great opportunity to get a good result this weekend to really kick on and find some form again.” 

But does the ex-Sunderland frontman believe that Jackett should be given time despite Pompey’s recent struggles.

He added:

“Definitely. Kenny’s an experienced guy. Who are they going to bring in that’s got as much experience as Kenny? He’ll turn it around, I’m sure he’ll keep them in the play-offs. I think it’d be crazy to get rid of him. Just go with it, and hopefully they’ll turn it around.”

Kevin Phillips will be a studio guest for Quest’s highlights of the Papa John’s Trophy Final on Sunday. Stream on discovery+

Man Utd could sign their next Marouane Fellaini in West Ham star Tomas Soucek.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are reported to be watching the 25-year-old midfielder ahead of a possible summer move as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeks to bolster his midfield.

Several Premier League clubs, as well as clubs across Europe, are also keen on landing the towering 6 ft 2 in Czech colossus.

And the report adds that while Solskjaer’s top priority is finding a new centre-back in the summer , the club legend is desperately searching for depth to his midfield, hence the reported interest in Soucek.

Shades of Marouane Fellaini

The 30-cap Czech Republic international has been in impressive form for West Ham so far this season, scoring eight goals in 26 appearances across all competitions, including a goal against Solskjaer’s side at the London Stadium last year.

Primarily a defensive-minded midfielder, Soucek has played a key part in the transformation that has taken West Ham to sixth in the Premier League this season, a point behind bitter rivals Chelsea.

Working in tandem with Declan Rice, the pair have formed a formidable partnership in the midfield, which has given the Czechian the license to roam further afield.

A return of eight goals ranks him joint-12th in the Premier League this season together with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, and those kind of numbers is something United fans became accustomed to when Marouane Fellaini was at his peak at Old Trafford.

Like Soucek, the big Belgian had a penchant for finding the back of the net from the deep-lying midfield. During the 2014/15 season, he scored seven goals in 31 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt – he memorably scored in the fifth round of the FA Cup against Preston.

And in the Hammers star, United could well find themselves their next Fellaini. Not only is he an indirect set-piece threat, but he also possesses some very similar physical attributes to the former Belgium international.

Described as “brilliant” by David Moyes when speaking to reporters after West Ham’s 1-0 win at Sheffield United, Soucek is very much in the mould of an old-school box-to-box midfielder. The hulking Czech behemoth offers his side a lot of defensive protection, much like Fellaini in his prime, as he averages more than 2 tackles per 90 and completes a remarkable 2.9 clearances on average in the Premier League.

If Ed Woodward is looking to add some much-needed size and strength to the engine room, it seems like Soucek – who is currently valued at £27m via Transfermarkt – has all the tools and tricks of the trade to do just the job.

AND in other news, Sevilla star Jules Kounde is perfect for Manchester United…

After securing yet another clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the Premier League at the weekend, it’s fair to say Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has been one of the signings of the season.

Speaking after his arrival, Dean Smith declared: “We know how highly Arsenal rated him and we watched his outstanding performances last season in a trophy-winning top side.

“We moved for Emi when we saw the opportunity, as it is rare to be able to buy a top-class goalkeeper who hasn’t yet reached their peak age and who can therefore be a key player for our club for the long term.”

And it’s fair to say that Martinez has been more than just a good signing. The Argentine has been the cornerstone of Villa’s impressive defensive record this season, keeping 13 clean sheets in just 24 Premier League games – only Ederson of runaway leaders Manchester City has kept more with 15.

Valued at £13m by CIES, the 6 foot 4 shot-stopper has arguably been Villa’s talisman this season, not Jack Grealish. Martinez has cut an imposing figure in between the sticks, and has already racked up a highlight reel of incredible stops and flying saves with the tips of his gloves – you’ve only got to look at his one-man show against Brighton to see just how good he is.

It’s no surprise that more people seem to have caught onto Martinez’s ability, with Argentinian World Cup winner Daniel Bertoni, saying: “Any Italian team looking for a goalkeeper should watch Emiliano Martinez, who Arsenal relinquished last summer.

“Now he plays for Aston Villa and is a phenomenon: he guarantees 10 points per season.”

The shut-out against Leeds at Elland Road was the eighth time Villa have kept the opposition out in their 13 away games thus far this season, which already equals their club record from the 2009/2010 campaign.

A lot of that comes down to having a goalkeeper who can bring a bit of composure to the defence, not making any silly mistakes and doing the simple things well – he’s committed just one error leading to a goal in the Premier League, while he’s also much more of a throwback in terms of his style of goalkeeping.

He’s made just the one punch in 24 league games, instead being a much more relieving sight for his defenders by choosing to go up for the ball and hold it when the ball is in the air – he’s made 30 high claims.

Having that kind of number one behind you, is surely hugely welcomed by the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, who know that their goalkeeper is there to take the pressure off their shoulders rather than add to it.

It’s exactly why Johan Lange struck a dream deal for Villa when he signed Martinez from Arsenal last summer.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has refused to back Glasgow Rangers manager Steven Gerrard’s comments on whether a break would ease the current coronavirus problem in football.

Lampard doesn’t agree

Ahead of the Ibrox outfit’s match with Celtic at Ibrox on Saturday, Gerrard said that football gives people a distraction, and that the data does not suggest a two-week break would eradicate the problem within the game.

Lampard did not agree with his comments. Speaking of his side’s own clash against Manchester City, he explained:

“I’m not sure on that one. I understand it. If you do love football you love watching the amount of games you get to watch at home. But safety has to be paramount.

“There are lots of people working at Chelsea within our bubble who have babies, parents, friends, sisters, brothers, grandparents…they come here and go to work.

“Then they go home and are in the environment where there’s another surge of the virus, which seems to be more contagious, so safety and security are paramount rather than trying to keep the nation’s spirits up.

“I know that might not be a nice thing to say, but these are tough times for everybody. We enjoy watching our football but safety and health have to come first.”

Good point

You can understand where Gerrard is coming from. Of course, football does provide a distraction to fans around the world, and obviously a break does not guarantee that no-one will test positive for the coronavirus. However, at the end of the day, safety is the most important thing.

As we have seen with the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamal Lascelles at Newcastle, the virus can have long-term effects on footballers seemingly in their prime. Hopefully, it does not come a point where another suspension is needed.

In other news, Rangers fans hammered this man against Celtic.

Celtic continue to have their hat thrown into the ring as talks of new recruits swirl around the January transfer market. One of their latest links sees them in the running for Preston North End midfielder Ben Pearson as Neil Lennon hopes to bolster his options in the middle of the park.

The Hoops have severely lacked creativity this half of the season and as a result, have been knocked off their perch atop of the Premiership table. Runaway leaders Rangers now dominate the stats and have forced a mammoth 20-point gap between them and the reigning champions.

Additionally, with the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi only on loan from Southampton and Odsonne Edouard linked to a move away, now is the time for Nick Hammond to prioritise new creative signings.

Would Ben Pearson fit in at Celtic?

Although Pearson isn’t always directly involved in the goals Preston score, he has shown promising statistics in the engine room. According to Sofascore, the 26-year-old’s main strength is his positioning, which will help keep Celtic tight and compact in the heart of the squad.

Pearson also averaged an 88% passing accuracy in his last three appearances, more than Scott Brown’s more disappointing 72%. Indeed, the PNE man has actually been tipped as a candidate to succeed the Hoops captain, who is nearing the end of his current Celtic tenure.

Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan admitted that he could be the right person to replace the ageing skipper.

“Watch this space because he [Pearson] has been linked with Celtic,” the pundit said. “If there is an imminent move on the cards it is going to happen this week or next, that is for sure.”

Pearson is currently valued at £1.4million, which wouldn’t require Peter Lawwell to break the bank in order to sign him. Neil Lennon could work his magic on the midfielder and turn him into real Celtic talisman. He has already shown he can develop players like David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro, so Pearson could be an exciting new asset for this struggling Glaswegian side.

In other news, Celtic must avoid making any further moves to sign Tom Ince…

Leeds United were linked with every man and his dog during the summer transfer window, well, at least that’s what it felt like as even the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani were rumoured to be on their way to Elland Road.

But there is one realistic name that the Yorkshire giants must reconsider going into January as the door has seemingly opened for them to strike this time around.

According to West London Sport, Queens Park Rangers’ contract talks with attacking midfielder Bright Osayi-Samuel continue to stall, and now their manager Mark Warburton has warned that he isn’t afraid to offer an ultimatum if he does not sign an extension soon.

The 22-year-old saw a £5m move to Belgian outfit Club Brugge fall through early in the summer and as a result, he remained at Loftus Road, where he has continued to display his impressive exploits.

Osayi-Samuel has contributed to four goals in 13 starts in the Championship so far this term while also averaging 3,4 dribbles, 1.5 shots and 1.3 key passes per game when playing anywhere in behind the striker, via WhoScored.

It means he’s well on track to surpass last season’s tally of five goals and eight assists, and his averages for all three facets have improved from 2019/20 too.

You’d have to imagine that Warburton’s ultimatum is said through gritted teeth as the former Brentford manager knows all too well just how good the Nigerian-born Englishman is.

He has previously lauded Osayi-Samuel as a “real handful” who has “sheer pace that terrifies defenders,” which is why Leeds should be all over him again after AllNigeriaSoccer linked the Yorkshiremen with interest back in May this year.

Given that Pablo Hernandez is out of the side right now having not featured in any of their last three Premier League outings, while he has only started two of ten matches, per Transfermarkt.

“He’s going to be a real star of the future. He’s not just got speed, he’s got that end product. He can cross, get assists and can score,” once said Steve McLaren too.

The Rs sensation is out of contract in the summer, so with some forward planning, he won’t even cost Andrea Radrizzani a penny. Not bad when you’re looking for someone suitable to take the reigns from the Spanish veteran.

AND in other news, Leeds must steer well clear of £60k-p/w “monster” in January…

The dream is now surely done and dusted for Celtic. On Saturday, they came into their clash with Rangers in the Old Firm simply having to win.

However, after a moment of madness from Nir Bitton and then an own goal from Callum McGregor, their game plan was undone.

Neil Lennon’s team ultimately lost and as a result, they are 19 points off the Gers. With that, they can surely wave farewell to any hopes of winning a tenth successive SPFL crown.

It was a performance that was completely out of character with the mood Lennon had set in recent weeks. After a horrific run of form where they won just twice in 12 outings, they had won six on the bounce.

Unfortunately, frailties returned on Saturday and they lost the most meaningful game of their season to date. A big reason behind Celtic’s rejuvenation over the last month has been David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro.

It spoke volumes, therefore, that when Soro wasn’t at his best, the Hoops were defeated.

Described as a player with “explosive power”, he showed signs of that in the first half. Though, in the second period, he was given the run around and consequently tired late on. He wasn’t given much help though considering he was the only central midfielder at the base of the XI.

Soro won just three of 17 ground duels he contested and to compile his misery, he was dribbled past on a mighty seven occasions.

The Ivorian was still secure with the ball at his feet – completing 83% of his passes – but he lacked the bite that a certain Scott Brown may have added to the party.

Soro didn’t necessarily have an awful game but this type of performance will have alarm bells ringing for Lennon. If this continues, it will become a problem.

The Bhoys will have to hope that he rediscovers his form and doesn’t become an inconsistent figure. After all, they have seen enough of that from Brown this season.

This cannot afford to be another issue that escalates for Lennon.

AND in other news, Celtic must sign £39k-p/w gem in January, Rodgers thinks he’s “a David Silva type”…

Celtic may have been given a big boost in their pursuit of Fraser Forster after Southampton have shown interest in a new goalkeeper.

Accrington Stanley shot-stopper Toby Savin has caught the eye of the Saints, who could be looking to bolster their options between the sticks. Alex McCarthy is currently doing a grand job as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first choice and bringing in the youngster could mean an exit for either Angus Gunn or Forster.

The Hoops will be hoping it’s the latter after enjoying having the England international back at Celtic Park on loan last season. Glasgow Live have reported that the club are keen to bring Forster back to the club.

Could Celtic sign Forster permanently?

At the moment, Neil Lennon is having a bit of a defensive nightmare. Vasilis Barkas has been dropped in favour of the elusive Scott Bain after some questionable performances. Celtic haven’t won a game since St Johnstone in the Premiership – their loss to Rangers has put the Hoops into a tough spot.

Speaking on the A Celtic State of Mind podcast, Paul John Dykes has discussed the 6’6″ powerhouse and the idea of him joining the club permanently.

“When you look at the impact that Forster had last year in particular in the League Cup final, he makes such a difference to the defence, he makes such a difference to the Celtic side under Neil Lennon,” he said.

Dykes went on to highlight the addition of Barkas, who joined the Hoops this summer for a fee of £2.9million. However, his disappointing start to life in Scotland has resulted in him being axed from the squad.

Last season, Celtic enjoyed yet another Premiership title and conceded just 19 goals with Forster in the net. They have shipped ten already this time round, despite having only played 11 games of the campaign.

With less than two years left on his current contract and valued at £4million, Nick Hammond could strike a very good deal to bring Forster back to Celtic Park for good. They will undoubtedly be keeping a close on Southampton’s business as they near the January transfer window.

In other news, Diego Laxalt stood out for Celtic against Lille with impressive defensive display…

After sealing a era-defining 1-0 victory at Manchester United last Sunday, Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend as they take on Aston Villa at the Emirates.

On the face of it, picking up three points against a United side stuck in the bottom half of the table doesn’t seem like something serious to shout about, but the fact the Gunners ended their away-day hoodoo at a top-six club in the top-flight will surely have gone a long way in ensuring players and fans begin to believe in manager Mikel Arteta that little bit more.

But, as is always the case in the Premier League, anyone can beat anyone on any given day. And a win against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side last time out, will mean absolutely nothing if the Gunners slip-up against Aston Villa at the Emirates – the same team of course that beat them in the penultimate game of last season to take a pivotal step in avoiding relegation back to the Championship.

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And whilst Jack Grealish will be one of the players Arsenal look out for given his talismanic status for Villa, the Gunners simply cannot look past the Midlands club’s summer signing, Ollie Watkins.

The former Brentford striker, who arrived in a £33m deal, has started the campaign like a house on fire, bagging six goals in nine games across all competitions, including a brilliant hat-trick against reigning champions Liverpool.

His blend of pace and strength has made him a tricky customer to handle for opposition defences this season, and his that physicality is something Brentford’s programme editor, Chris Deacon, has raved about. He said: “Ollie transformed himself into a physical specimen. We’d call him a machine because it looked like he would set himself into third gear and then cruise along at the front while everyone else was blowing.”

By the middle of last month, only Newcastle’s Andy Carroll had a better win-to-lose ratio in headed duels among strikers known for their aerial dominance. He is a real menace to centre-backs, making 1.3 tackles per game (impressive for a centre-forward), and winning 8.2 total duels per match as well.

Arsenal’s own summer signing, Gabriel, has enjoyed a fine start to life in north London himself. On Sunday however, he will face one of his most unique tests yet – a more typical and more old-school Premier League striker, capable of going in behind and winning 50/50s. If he’s not ready, then he could face a difficult day.

West Ham United have less than a month to complete their summer transfer business, something they are yet to do, but it appears that David Moyes is keen on a new full-back or two…

What’s the word?

According to the ever-reliable David Ornstein at The Athletic, the Irons are keen on signing Arsenal left-back Sead Kolasinac, though it remains to be seen whether that is permanently or on loan.

He claims that Moyes has a primary focus on bolstering his defence, which is perhaps hardly a surprise after they were played off the park by Newcastle United on Saturday night, losing 2-0.

The Scotsman also wants a central defender and to keep hold of in-demand defensive midfielder Declan Rice. The window slams shut in just over three weeks time.

Worse than Cresswell?

Whilst Moyes is certainly looking to add players in the right areas, a move for Kolasinac very much would flatter to deceive many at the London Stadium.

Based on performances from the 2019/20 campaign, the 31-time Bosnian international appears to actually be a worse option than Aaron Cresswell, which some of the Hammers faithful may find hard to believe after his shocker versus the Magpies.

The 30-year-old regular was ahead for clearances (1.9), tackles (1.4), crosses (0.8), key passes (0.8) and even shots (0.5). Cresswell even bagged himself three goals, per WhoScored.

Despite being the more physically imposing monster, Kolasinac even won fewer aerial duels (1.1) per game than the Irons left-back.

The Gunners misfit is valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt and is on a whopping £100k-per-week reportedly, so it’s one hell of an expensive gamble to make.

BBC pundit Garth Crooks claims that the 27-year-old is “built like one of those North London brick toilets that withstood bombing raids during the Second World War” whilst former teammate Theo Walcott once described him as an “absolute tank” and an “absolute animal”.

However, it’s clear to see his footballing abilities in the Premier League aren’t very good, and thus, Moyes should steer well clear of this potential financial nightmare.

AND in other news, West Ham colossus was a rare positive against Newcastle…