All posts by z3u9t.icu

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

Out of the three summer signings Manchester United made, former Swansea man Daniel James perhaps was the most least-heralded arrival. Joining from the Championship side in a £15m deal, the Wales international’s move was overshadowed by the big-money signings of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire.

But, the 21-year-old has well and truly hit the ground running at Old Trafford, netting three goals in eight Premier League games. He has been a rare silver lining in a difficult start to the campaign for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, and on Sunday afternoon, he will have to ensure he wins his one-on-one to give United the best possible chance of securing victory.

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

A flawless Liverpool team await, and the battle between James and Reds full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold down United’s left flank looks to be a game-defining contest. And, judging by how their respective seasons have gone, the duo are operating near the top of their games at the moment.

Whilst the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino understandably steal the majority of the limelight, Liverpool’s two full-backs, Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, play a huge role in the way the Reds play. The former in particular has become a real source of attacking inspiration, so much so that he averages 1.1 shots per game – despite playing as a defender.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

And on Sunday, James’ ability to drive the 21-year-old back towards his own goal, will be a key part of whether United can pull off a huge result. The Welshman has to pose a threat going in behind the right-back, and ensure that Alexander-Arnold is more worried and preoccupied about having to defend, rather than supporting Salah further forward.

The Liverpool academy product averages more than triple the number of average passes per game James manages, and so, if the latter can stop him from getting as involved in the play, that will undoubtedly help the Red Devils get a foot-hold in the match.

It promises to be a massive encounter for Solskjaer’s men, and whether they can claim a season-defining result is dependent on whether United’s summer signing can put in a real shift defensively and simply sacrifice his natural attacking instincts.

[ad_pod ]Remember that time Leeds United thought they were going to be bought out by multi-billionaires?If you can’t, perhaps you should work on your memory as it was only this summer, as the Whites were anticipating a takeover from Qatari Sports Investments.Of course, these rumours sparked incredible transfer speculation amongst the fanbase, and one of the most popular tongue-in-cheek rumours was Kylian Mbappe to Leeds United.Andrea Radrizzani posted an image on Twitter on Monday evening that would have sent Leeds fans into overdrive if they saw it during the summer.

Imagine if you could go back in time and show a United fan this picture at the height of the QSI rumours.

They wouldn’t believe their eyes as Radrizzani stands next to one of the most talented young players in the world.

Of course, the reality is that the pair met up at FIFA’s awards ceremony as Radrizzani was there to oversee Marcelo Bielsa winning the Fair Play Award on Monday evening, but it’s hilarious to imagine what fans would have thought if they saw this picture amidst the talks of a takeover.

Jurgen Klopp may have a selection dilemma ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Manchester United, and that is who should partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back if Joel Matip remains unavailable.

With Matip out injured the German has experimented with both Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren in Liverpool’s past two matches, and fans have been discussing who they think should get the nod.

Watch Liverpool Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Both defenders have found game time hard to come by so far, but after impressing against Leicester with a WhoScored rating of 7.6 the Croatian international may feel that he is in with a chance of starting.

Gomez, though, provides pace at the back which could be key to combating the threat of Marcus Rashford and Dan James, and could be valuable in supporting Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Klopp must therefore choose between pace and experience, and it is vital he gets the decision right, as although the Red Devils are out of form with nine points from eight league games, Liverpool have only won at Old Trafford once in 13 games since the start of the decade, and a draw there last year contributed to them missing out on the title.

Here is some of the reaction from Liverpool fans discussing who should play between Gomez and Lovren.

Whether you’re a Barcelona fan or simply just a football fan in general, you know who Lionel Messi is.

The little Argentine has been around for a long time and even now he’s making strides into his 30s, he is still regarded among the very best players on the planet – if not the best.

But what’s probably the most impressive thing about Messi is his incredible consistency. Ever since he was young, that undying talent was there for everyone to see.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

And that’s exactly what many Barcelona fans were drooling over when they saw some brilliant throwback footage of young Messi in action.

Many of them quickly took to Twitter and social media to express their admiration and general opinions about the wonderkid who eventually became a world-beater.

You can see some of their reactions in the collection of tweets and replies down below.

Here’s what they had to say…

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Southampton embark on their fifth Premier League game of the season this Saturday when they make the trip to Bramall Lane, where they’ll take on a Sheffield United side who have enjoyed an excellent return to the top-flight.

Chris Wilder’s men will pose a tough challenge to Ralph Hasenhuttl this weekend, having already taken three points from fourth-place Crystal Palace, while also fighting back from 2-0 down to grab a late point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

We recently detailed how the former RB Leipzig boss should stick with his 4-2-2-2 system to combat the Blades’ 3-5-2 formation, so let’s take a look at the eleven players who Hasenhuttl should select…

After earning a point against Manchester United last time out, you could forgive Hasenhuttl for sticking with the same lineup for the match against the Blades – however, changes are a must.

We think that the Austrian boss should drop two men from the XI that started against the Red Devils.

James Ward-Prowse, who has been quiet so far this season with no goals and no assists despite starting all four games, should drop out for Stuart Armstrong.

The former Celtic man offers a bit more dynamism with his long-range shooting ability and engine – we saw how dangerous he can be from range against Fulham last season, and Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe stated at the time that it is a quality the Saints must look to utilise more.

We have also already outlined how Ward-Prowse could become a casualty of Hasenhuttl playing a 4-2-2-2 system, so it makes sense for Armstrong to be given a chance.

Having said that, we would have chosen either Nathan Redmond or Moussa Djenepo to play in his place given the fact they’ve both already scored this term, but the former is still out with an injury whereas Hasenhuttl said that the chances of the latter playing at the weekend “are not that big”.

Away from the attack, Ryan Bertrand should return to the XI at left-back after a period of absence through injury, although the boss said that he would’ve dropped the 30-year-old for the trip to Brighton regardless of his ankle injury – so perhaps not all is well between the two.

Summer signing Kevin Danso had been playing in his place, but the 20-year-old is suspended after picking up two yellow cards against United.

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According to The Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur have added James Maddison to their list of targets as they look to find a replacement for Christian Eriksen amid growing concerns that the Dane could be out the door in the summer.

Eriksen’s contract with the north London club expires in summer 2020 and there may well be a number of clubs queuing up for the former Ajax man’s signature, including Real Madrid, as per The Mirror, should he fail to agree new terms at White Hart Lane.

Meanwhile, Maddison has been impressing in his first season in the Premier League and Spurs see him as a potential solution to their lack of homegrown players and the void to be left by Eriksen’s potential departure.

Watch the best fails from the world of indoor football in the video below…

Maddison has been playing as an orthodox No.10 for the Foxes or as a left-winger, where he can cut inside, as he creates chances for Jamie Vardy or drives at the defence himself.

Having chalked up five goals and four assists this season, the 22-year-old has been brilliant at times for Claude Puel’s side this term. Eriksen, meanwhile, has double the Englishman’s assist tally with eight – Maddison clearly has some way to go if he is to fill the Dane’s shoes but this is only his first season in the top flight having completed the £20m switch to the King Power Stadium in the summer.

There are similarities to be drawn between the two though; WhoScored lists Maddison’s key passing, long-shots and set pieces as ‘very strong’, all three of which he shares with Eriksen. It’s unlikely the former would replicate the latter’s output straight off the bat, but anything is possible with a manager like Mauricio Pochettino in charge, who is renowned for his management of young talent.

Here’s how Spurs fans reacted to the reports, with many saying they should have made the move months ago…

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

Other than goalkeeper Adrian, Lloyd Kelly was Liverpool’s only senior transfer target this summer, according to the Echo’s Paul Gorst.

What’s the story?

Kelly did enough at Bristol City last season to eventually sign for Bournemouth in May.

Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool were reportedly interested but the Cherries’ £13m offer deterred the Reds from making a bid of their own, which explains why he made the switch to the south coast.

In Andy Robertson Liverpool have a dependable figure at left-back already, so it was thought that Kelly – who is yet to make an appearance above Championship level – would arrive looking to improve his current level of ability.

Liverpool allowed Alberto Moreno to leave on a free this summer and perhaps surprisingly did not replace him, but if targeting Kelly is anything to go by then Klopp seems interested in players with future potential.

According to Paul Gorst, Klopp was satisfied with his current squad and wasn’t desperate to make further additions, which explains the Reds’ lack of transfer activity this summer.

Missed opportunity

Kelly is an exciting young talent, with two senior goals and almost 50 senior appearances under his belt at just 20 years of age. The recent rises of Dele Alli and Harry Maguire show too that EFL prospects can reach the upper echelons of the Premier League if they move at the right time.

Given their interest then, it’s surprising that Liverpool did not push Bournemouth further and instead withdrew their interest rather than competing with a £13m bid.

He will likely be worth a considerable amount more in future and learning from the likes of Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold would have benefited him a great deal, so he would have almost definitely improved even if his time on the pitch was limited.

More concerning for Liverpool is their lack of depth in the full-back positions, with Robertson their only recognised left-back – although Joe Gomez did cameo there in the European Super Cup.

The Scotland captain will be relied upon to play pretty much every game until a new left-back is brought in, making the decision to end their interest in Kelly a questionable one.

With Everton once again on the hunt for another permanent manager after the Merseyside club sacked Rafa Benitez as a result of a poor run of form in the Premier League that capitulated with a 2-1 defeat against relegation struggler Norwich City at the weekend, numerous names have been thrown around as potential candidates to take the reins at Goodison Park.

One name that has been mentioned with the position is one that will be very familiar to not just Premier League followers, but specifically Everton fans.

What’s the latest?

Speaking on a recent live Sky Sports programme, journalist Kaveh Solhekol revealed that if Everton were to offer the manager’s role to current Derby County boss Wayne Rooney, the former Toffees star would find it difficult to turn down.

He said: “The information we have that is although Wayne Rooney is focused and working hard at Derby County, if he was offered the opportunity to return to Everton, he would find it very very difficult to say no.

“If he was to return to Everton, you are talking about somebody that is footballing royalty.

“Other players, current players respect him so much.”

He’d raise the roof

In his playing days, Rooney made a total of 117 appearances for the Toffees across all competitions, scoring 28 goals and providing four assists along the way.

As a manager, the 36-year-old has taken charge of 64 games for Derby as their caretaker and permanent manager, winning 19 games, drawing 19 and losing 26 in the process.

Given the financial situation the Midlands club have found themselves in that have led to points deductions as well as transfer and contract issues with players, the former striker has been able to show his mettle in the dugout at Pride Park this season by guiding his team to eight wins and 11 draws.

With Rooney’s connections at Goodison and his knowledge of the Premier League having played 491 games in the top division, he has the ability to raise not only the mood at Everton but the standards as well, especially if he’d be able to get a positive run of results under his belt and get a big reaction from the fans as well; something he’s already achieved at Derby.

With Rooney previously sharing his intent on staying at Derby regardless of how their current campaign ends whether it be in the Championship or as a League One side next season, it seems that even if the Toffees do approach their former striker with a job offer to replace Benitez, he wouldn’t want to leave halfway through what could be a great achievement for him and the club in keeping them in the second tier.

With that in mind, it could be worth Everton targeting a manager that isn’t currently employed that would be able to make a quick move to Goodison Park and get to work on getting their season back on track.

In other news: “As things stand”: Fabrizio Romano drops fresh EFC manager claim, fans surely relieved – opinion

A big Newcastle United transfer update has emerged, regarding their efforts to sign Jesse Lingard in the January transfer window…

What’s the talk?

According to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, the Magpies are set to ‘throw everything’ at Manchester United to land the midfielder this month.

The reporter claims that sources have told him that the confidence over a deal being done has been growing over the weekend, with the window slamming shut in less than ten days.

Elation

This will surely leave Newcastle fans elated for several reasons. Firstly, they will be delighted to read that PIF are willing to make a huge effort to sign Lingard and that they will do whatever it takes to bring him to St. James’ Park.

It shows that they are willing to go the extra mile to land a key target and supporters will be happy with the club’s attempts to strengthen the attacking midfield position, albeit there may be frustration at the lack of progress in the centre-back department.

The fans will also be buzzing with this news simply because of the prospect of Lingard playing in black and white in the second half of the campaign.

He is a proven top-flight player and he could add some much-needed goals and assists to the side.

No Newcastle central midfielder has managed more than two combined goals and assists, after all, with Jonjo Shelvey, Sean Longstaff and Joelinton all on two.

Meanwhile, Lingard has two goals in 89 minutes of football in the Premier League this season and produced nine goals and four assists in the division on loan to West Ham last term.

Former Manchester United coach Michael Carrick once lauded the midfielder, saying: “I think his movement is excellent. It’s something that sounds quite simple, but it’s difficult to defend against.

“He senses where the space is and how to use it. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a dribbler with skills and tricks but he’s dynamic. How he plays, he is unique in some ways. You don’t see so much of that now as everyone wants to get on the ball. Off the ball, he’s very effective.”

This suggests that the England international could come in and score the goals that Howe has been lacking in the midfield areas.

Therefore, he could be a fantastic addition to the side and one that will leave fans feeling elated, due to his proven quality at this level.

AND in other news, Player keen: NUFC can find their new Demba Ba in £34m powerhouse who’s “like a train”…

Aston Villa will be going into the transfer window with the view to strengthen their side after a slow start to their season with Steven Gerrard replacing Dean Smith in November in a bid to change the direction steering them into a relegation battle.

Now 12th in the Premier League, Gerrard has put the club in a much stronger position going into the second half of the season, but with the transfer window opening in the next 72 hours, the new manager could be about to lose his first player from the squad.

What’s the word?

According to reports from Tuttomercatoweb, Napoli will make a decision on a move in the next 48 hours for Axel Tuanzebe, who is currently on a season long loan with Aston Villa from Manchester United.

The reports suggest that the deal is close, but the only part missing is an agreement on how much the 24 year old will cost Napoli, which is expected to be negotiated in the next few days.

Fabrizio Romano has also added fuel to the fire, tweeting this morning to confirm further information about a potential move for the Villa loanee;

“Napoli are in contact with Manchester United through intermediaries to discuss potential loan fee and buy option for Axel Tuanzebe. The centre back is appreciated but price tag will be key to proceed in negotiations. Blue circle #MUFC #Napoli”

“Aston Villa are waiting – nothing agreed yet.”

Last season, Tuanzebe made a glittering performance against PSG in the Champions League that lead Manchester United team mate, David De Gea, to hail the young defender “unbelievable”

In the post match MUTV interview De Gea said;

“He has been unbelievable today.”

“He played against two of the best players in the world in Neymar and Mbappe so he did really, really well.”

Tuanzebe has made nine appearances out of a possible 18 for Aston Villa this season in the Premier League, but has only played eight minutes of football in the last seven games since the former Liverpool midfielder has taken over management of the side.

Gerrard will be fuming

Despite a lack of game time since Dean Smith departed almost two months ago, the £48K-a-week earning gem’s arrival in the summer was always a risky choice when a dynamic and blossoming centre back partnership was already forming in Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings.

The risk didn’t pay off after Gerrard’s arrival, where he mostly uses a formation of 4-3-2-1, in which he favours the experienced partnership of Konsa and Mings.

However with the Villa captain picking up a suspension after receiving his fifth booking of the season, Tuanzebe would be the likely replacement for the game against Brentford on Sunday.

Gerrard will be fuming that the young defender could go into the important game distracted by the thought of a potential move away to Napoli, with the clash away from home their first opportunity to pick up points after a home defeat to title challengers, Chelsea, on Boxing Day.

They then had a postponement of their game against Leeds United due to virus outbreaks, that has now set the side back in their pursuit in challenging for a spot in the top half of the table.

The Villa boss will be hoping to take all three points on Sunday and if selected, Tuanzebe could use the opportunity to showcase his ability to Napoli, if a deal hasn’t already been agreed by then.

This is a distraction that Gerrard really could have done without.

In other news: Steven Gerrard must axe Trezeguet