All posts by h716a5.icu

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Everton are stuck in a bit of a rut right now, with boss Marco Silva overseeing a dismal run of form that has yielded just three wins from their last 12 fixtures in all competitions – something must be done to amend the situation, and some key players at the club need to step up.

What’s the word, then?

In the Merseysiders’ last outing, an FA Cup fourth round defeat against Millwall on Saturday, there were certainly a lot of negatives to take from yet another disappointing defeat, and one that signalled the end of any silverware hopes for the Toffees.

However, one feature from the game at The Den showed that there are a couple of players who could be key to an immediate response against bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield Town in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accesory. Check out the video below to see for yourself…

Ademola Lookman’s performance against the Lions on the right of midfield, ahead of Seamus Coleman at right-back, provided a slight glimmer of hope from an otherwise abject showing in south London, but Silva should definitely focus on the pair’s link up and see how he can utilise that against the Terriers.

Why should they start against Huddersfield?

Lookman and Coleman both made one key pass against Millwall, as per WhoScored, and their partnership down the right was arguably the only positive for Silva on the day.

Many Everton fans have criticised Coleman at right-back this season, and feel that he is perhaps past his best with young Jonjoe Kenny taking his place at times throughout the current campaign.

In Lookman’s case, the 21-year-old has made just three Premier League starts this season, according to WhoScored, as he has struggled to dislodge the underperforming Theo Walcott from the right of midfield, but he is now getting a chance and grabbing it with both hands.

His dribbling skills and ability to attract a number of defenders make him an attractive option to play ahead of the Irish defender, who frequently overlaps down the right flank – by playing the pair together, there will be some excellent opportunities to get in behind a sturdy Huddersfield backline, who may see Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson as Everton’s main two danger men.

[ad_pod ]West Ham fell to a third consecutive defeat in all competitions as they were dismantled by Wolves on Tuesday night, but it could get a lot worse on Monday with the visit of league leaders Liverpool – particularly if Manuel Pellegrini elects to start Arthur Masuaku again.

On the chalkboard

The Hammers shelled out just shy of £100m in the summer as Pellegrini took the reins, with the Chilean spending big to reinforce a lacklustre defence – Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena have both been impressive, but the latter’s absence through injury has left one side of the back four weak.

Angelo Ogbonna cut a shaky figure once again on Tuesday but Masuaku’s lack of defensive ability cost his side – the Congolese is a fine dribbler and a threat on the front foot but is far more suited to the wing-back role than full-back.

He struggled against Matt Doherty but his real challenge is set to come next week, when the Irons host the Reds at the London Stadium – Pellegrini must drop him to avoid a certainly ill-fated match up with Mohamed Salah, even if it means deploying one of his players out of position.

A trial for Fredericks

With Masuaka a liability and Aaron Cresswell not yet confirmed fit for the clash after missing the Wolves game, Pellegrini is short of options at left-back and should consider giving summer signing Ryan Fredericks a run out there instead.

Naturally a right-back, the former Fulham man has got bags of pace and, while he has been criticised for a lack of positional awareness previously, he offers far more of a challenge to Salah than Masuaku.

Additionally, Salah’s tendency to cut inside onto his lethal left-foot means the right-sided Fredericks may be able to deal with him more comfortably.

The 26-year-old has recently returned from a shin injury that kept him out for two months and, if he is given the nod next time out, will be making his first start since November – talk about a baptism of fire.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video above for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

[ad_pod ]Newcastle United have identified two potential replacements for Rafael Benitez, per The Times.The Magpies are, per the aforementioned report, aware that Benitez could leave the club at the end of the season, when his contract expires.Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been placed on a shortlist to replace the Spaniard if he does choose to depart, along with former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner.Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…Wagner left the club last month as the Terriers languished in the relegation zone, while Rodgers has a contract with the Scottish giants until 2021 and is chasing yet another domestic treble.Newcastle, meanwhile, have spent this season fighting off relegation. The Magpies face Wolves on Monday evening as they look to pull away from the drop zone.And fans are not happy with the links to Rodgers and Wagner, insisting that the club should do everything they can to ensure that Benitez stays at St. James’ Park for the foreseeable future.

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Leeds United pair Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas stepped up their respective comebacks from injury by appearing for the club’s Under-23 side on Friday night.

Berardi did appear for the Under-23s last month as he looked to bounce back from a long-term hamstring injury, but suffered a recurrence of the issue.

Berardi came through the first 30 minutes of the clash against Notts County, though, before being replaced in what was a planned substitution.

Dallas, meanwhile, has also been absent for over two months after fracturing his foot against Sheffield United in December before suffering an ankle injury.

The midfielder also appeared for 30 minutes on Friday night before leaving the field in what proved to be a 2-1 win for the Whites.

Izzy Brown also featured as he stepped up his recovery from a long-term knee problem, while Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Tyler Roberts received 90 minutes.

It was an extremely strong Under-23 outfit, and the Leeds fans reacted to the team on social media ahead of kickoff:

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There were plenty of outstanding individual performances in Tottenham’s win over Borussia Dortmund, including that of Juan Foyth.

What’s the word?

Foyth was quite simply brilliant against Dortmund. It became abundantly clear that the magnitude of his first ever start in the Champions League didn’t phase him when he turned out of trouble with ice-cold composure in the early openings of the game and, aside from a first-half blunder which almost gave Dortmund the lead, he was solid all evening long.

It was a brave performance from the inexperienced 21-year-old and he received plenty of plaudits for his display.

However, it’s unlikely that the compliments he received would have been as profound as those offered by Tottenham legend and compatriot Ossie Ardiles.

Indeed, according to football.london, Ardiles was in the mixed zone in the aftermath of proceedings and he shook Foyth’s hand before offering him congratulations for an excellent display.

Another Argentine legend in the making?

Ardiles spent ten years with Spurs between 1978 and 1988 and enjoys something of a legendary status in north London, and the fact the former midfielder went to congratulate Foyth would certainly have filled the youngster with immense pride.

The 1-cap Argentina international has showcased a huge level of promise this season which points towards a huge future at the club, and the early signs are there to suggest he is a tailor-made replacement for Toby Alderweireld.

It would be extremely premature to tip Foyth to develop into a legend at the club, but under Pochettino’s leadership there’s no question he could establish himself as a first-team regular within the next couple of seasons – and who knows how far he can go from there.

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In an exclusive interview with Football League World, EFL on Quest pundit and once-capped former England striker Dean Ashton has given his verdict on Sheffield United frontman Gary Madine.

What he said

Madine joined the high-flying Blades on loan from Premier League outfit Cardiff City in the recent January transfer window, as reported by the BBC.

Chris Wilder’s side are currently in the thick of the Championship title hunt, along with Leeds United and Norwich City. The arrival of the powerful 28-year-old forward could give everyone at Bramall Lane an all-important boost ahead of the final few months of the campaign.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Madine opened his account for Sheffield United with a well-taken brace against Reading last time out. With those strikes under his belt, he should now be feeling a lot more comfortable and confident in the Steel City. 

Ashton certainly believes he has plenty more to give, saying “he gives them way more physicality for when they clear the ball as he can hold it up and win the headers…He’s the sort of player that Chris Wilder likes to work with too where they’re not having a great time, he feels if he can bring him in, build their confidence and utilise him for what he’s got then that’s why he’s been signed.”

A masterstroke?

Ashton is right to note that Madine is arriving at Bramall Lane off the back of a difficult period in south Wales. The striker barely featured for the Bluebirds in the first half of the season, which must have knocked his confidence. 

However, he has the qualities to be an asset for United, as well as a very welcome rotation option to the likes of Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick, who have both been in fine form this season but are now 33 and 31, respectively, and could be about to show signs of fatigue.

If Madine can give Wilder’s side the boost they need to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League, then his capture will have to be considered a masterstroke on the manager’s part.

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Loads of Leeds fans have been reacting to Tuesday night’s setback at Loftus Road, and they’re absolutely furious with the performance of Jack Harrison.

It was the same old story for Marcelo Bielsa’s side on Tuesday night, as they dominated possession but failed to create enough clear-cut chances to win the match.

Patrick Bamford looked a step off the pace in every department, Tyler Roberts was hugely disappointing and Izzy Brown touched the ball just once in his ten-minute cameo.

Perhaps worst of all though was Harrison, who completed just 62 per cent of his passes in the 1-0 defeat, the lowest such number of any Leeds player on the evening.

The 22 year-old has scored three times and added one assist since joining on loan from Manchester City last summer, and his lack of end product is surely now a huge concern for Bielsa.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans want the youngster axed from the starting XI for Friday’s clash against West Brom…

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Now six points above the drop line, it feels as though Newcastle have done just enough to ensure survival for another season – and with time to spare – so it’s time for some early reflection on what has been another turbulent campaign on Tyneside.

With that in mind, our writers debate who has been Newcastle’s most improved player this season below…

James Beavis – Isaac Hayden

“Given he has openly admitted that he would like to leave Newcastle, the fact that he is currently so important and one of the first names on the team-sheet is unbelievable. The 23-year-old had struggled to get a spot in the starting XI since the Magpies’ return to the Premier League in 2017, and he has been helped by injury issues for Jonjo Shelvey, Ki Sung-Yueng and Mo Diame this term. However, alongside Sean Longstaff he has created a formidable partnership in the centre that is unbreakable, but whether that will be enough to convince him to stay is another matter.” 

Jack Saville – Sean Longstaff

“It’s difficult to see past Longstaff. The 21-year-old midfielder has made the step up from League One to Premier League football in some style. He is has already established himself as a vital cog in Rafa Benitez’s machine and the fact Newcastle have won 4 from their last 7 games with him in midfield is absolutely no coincidence. This could be the start of something special.”

Christy Malyan – Matt Ritchie

“He’s by no means been a burden in previous campaigns, and the stats suggest this will be far from a special season for the former Bournemouth man. But perhaps because he’s willingly taken the role of wing-back at times, perhaps because Jamaal Lascelles has been in and out of the team, it certainly feels as though Matt Ritchie has taken on more responsibility this season and become a real leader amongst Benitez’s ranks.” 

Billy Meyers – Sean Longstaff

“Newcastle had a slow start to the season, but have picked up of late to surge up the table and into 14th – six points clear of the drop zone. It has been a team effort, but the introduction of Longstaff, who impressed out on loan at Blackpool last season, has been instrumental. The 21-year-old has slotted seamlessly into the Magpies lineup, and looks like he won’t be dropping out of the team for some time.”

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Arsenal bolstered their chances of qualifying for the Champions League this season with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium, with Mesut Ozil’s return to the starting eleven providing a timely boost.

On the chalkboard

Prior to the weekend victory over United, Ozil had not started against one of the established top-six sides since Arsenal drew 1-1 with Liverpool at the beginning of November 2018.

Emery’s selection policy has sparked huge debate about the former Real Madrid man’s long-term role at the club, and his lack of involvement has hinted at a potential fallout between player and manager.

It would have been fair to assume that Ozil was set to start on the substitutes bench after starting in midweek against Rennes, but Emery surprised plenty of fans and pundits by including him alongside Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey in midfield.

The elusive playmaker’s inclusion provided the Gunners with a creative outlet in the final-third and his ability to collect the ball in pockets of space caused United all kinds of problems.

Ozil’s return of four key passes was the highest recorded by any player on the pitch in a fixture which saw him rediscover his mojo at a perfect time for the club.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

Arsenal reap rewards from Emery’s decision

The decision to start Ozil on Sunday proved to be a masterstroke from the Arsenal manager. His injection of guile added a dynamic to the attack which allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to thrive in a front-two.

With the race for the top-four likely to be decided by the finest of margins, Emery’s tactically astute call to bring Ozil into the starting eleven to expose the frailties of United’s midfield partnership could be season-defining both in the context of the game and the battle for European qualification.

The former Germany international proved he can still have a huge impact on Arsenal’s season and Emery deserves credit for a selection decision which added a substantial weight of credibility to their top-four ambitions.

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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is nothing if not phenomenally thorough. The Argentine coach is well-known for his near-obsessive levels of analysis and attention to detail.

His side are incredibly well drilled, their complex movements and patterns of play choreographed and practiced relentlessly. As far as is possible in football, the Whites boss leaves nothing to chance.

However, in Jack Harrison, the manager persists with a player who brings a great deal of unpredictability to the table.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

The 22-year-old Manchester City loanee has often flown somewhat under the radar this season as others have hogged the headlines, and he has only chipped in with three goals and three assists in the league, as per Transfermarkt’s stats. Yet, he has made 28 Championship appearances, 23 of which have come as a member of the starting XI.

At times he has lacked consistency, or looked to be short on confidence. He has regularly failed to produce end product. However, Bielsa has persevered with Harrison because of his work rate, commitment, and ability to bring the best out of others. The former England under-21 international is an intelligent runner. His movements make space for others. On top of that, he always looks to make progressive passes, and he never fails to track back and perform his defensive duties.

What he offers on the pitch isn’t always obvious, and there are certainly flaws in his game. However, as he demonstrated last time out against Reading, he picks up the slack for others in many areas. He also brings a bit of chaos to Bielsa’s order, which makes Leeds even harder to face.

Against the Royals, Harrison got forward well. As per WhoScored’s stats, he produced one key pass, had one shot on target, and successfully completed two dribbles. He also worked tirelessly to make space for the likes of Pablo Hernandez and Patrick Bamford.

The No.22 also did his defensive duties, making three tackles and producing one interception.

However, his ball retention left plenty to be desired. He committed three unsuccessful touches and could only muster a pass accuracy rating of 64% – the worst of any Leeds player. His erratic distribution will frustrate Bielsa, and it is an area in which the attacker must improve, but in some ways it is also a symptom of the high-risk-high-reward approach the player takes which makes him such a wildcard in this Leeds team.