All posts by z3u9t.icu

Les Reed told Football FanCast that Daniel Levy would not be scared to appoint Scott Parker as the next Tottenham manager.

The Spurs chairman is reportedly a fan of the Fulham boss, and has been watching his progress at Craven Cottage over recent months.

Parker might have two relegations on his CV but has produced some impressive work in west London despite his failure to guide the Cottagers to Premier League safety this season.

At one stage, his Fulham side looked good to avoid the drop, but two points from their previous 10 matches saw them made an immediate return to the Championship.

Those two points came at Old Trafford and the Emirates, whilst Fulham’s last league victory came at Anfield, proof that Parker can rub it with the best.

High-profile names like Mauricio Pochettino and Antonio Conte appear ahead of Parker in the pecking order to replace Jose Mourinho, but Reed exclusively told Football FanCast that Fulham’s struggle this season won’t put off Levy:

“I could see Daniel putting faith in Scott Parker.

“Daniel is brave, so I could see him not worrying about Fulham, but looking at how did Fulham play? They got off to a bad start, what changes did he make? He changed the entire back four. I think he would look at that and say ‘he’s not afraid of making decisions’.

“All of those things will be really positive because he was a popular player, popular coach and did really well, which is why Daniel was comfortable with Ryan Mason holding the reins.”

Leeds United transfer target Boubakary Soumare would represent a major upgrade for Marcelo Bielsa amid reports linking him with a move to Elland Road this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports earlier this year suggested that the Whites were interested in signing the Lille midfielder and it now appears that the club face significant competition in the race to land him.

According to The Daily Mail, it’s fellow Premier League side Leicester who currently find themselves in pole position to sign the French starlet, and the Foxes have opened talks over a potential £21m deal for the 22-year-old.

The report adds that Everton and Leeds both had scouts watching Lille’s game against Lens on Friday, while Newcastle have also held a long interest in him.

Big upgrade for Bielsa

When you’ve got a number of Premier League sides after you, and have even been compared to Manchester United star Paul Pogba, you know you’re a very highly-rated talent.

It’s no surprise then that Lille president Gerard Lopez has previously waxed lyrical about the 22-year-old, saying: “He’s one of the very best at his job. He’s technical, with incredible physical power and wins a great deal of possession. He’s a modern No.6 or 8. We’ll see him in the France team very soon. He’s a clear vision of where he wants to go and he’s working very hard to get there.”

And, his teammate at Lille, former Swansea ace Renato Sanches, said: “He’s a great player. He’s so young and a great talent – a happy and humble guy. I don’t know when he’s going. It’s not my business. But he will be a good player in the future. Even better than now. He’s athletic. He’s fast. He’s strong. He has technique. He’s prepared for the Premier League.”

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When you look at his stats, you can see exactly why Bielsa is keen on signing him this summer.

As per Whoscored, his averages of 1.4 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in Ligue 1 this season is significantly better than what Mateusz Klich has produced, with the Polish ace’s interception numbers actually a quarter of what Soumare manages (0.3).

The young Frenchman also appears to be more accomplished with the ball at his feet too, boasting more passes per game and at a much higher accuracy, while he also averages more than double the amount of dribbles Klich makes per game too.

With Klich also soon to turn 31 next month, landing the 22-year-old Soumare just seems like a no-brainer for Bielsa and Leeds, both for the present and for the future.

Meanwhile, Radrizzani must avoid making an unforgivable mistake at Leeds United this summer…

Hugo Lloris is set to remain at Spurs next season, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Football Insider claim the 34-year-old captain is planning to extend his time at the club into a potential tenth year following talks with chairman Daniel Levy

The 123-time French international was facing an uncertain future in North London, where he has been since 2012. He has registered 371 appearances in the past nine years but will enter the final season of his current £100k-per-week contract this summer.

Lloris had been linked with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, where former manager Mauricio Pochettino is now in charge.

Time to go?

Levy must consider a U-turn on this decision as it is time for a new era at Tottenham.

Jose Mourinho was sacked a month ago and whilst the quest for a new manager rumbles on, one thing remains clear – the Lilywhites need a clear out.

Perhaps it is a little unfair to suggest but the same players who cost Pochettino his job, are the same ones that have ultimately seen the Portuguese out the door.

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This squad needs an overhaul, top to bottom, and there isn’t a better place to start than the longest-serving player and captain.

The 2014 World Cup winner has endured a slow and steady decline and has been at fault for several goals over the past 18 months or so. Defensive mistakes have been a recurring theme in Spurs’ season and that must be resolved under the new manager.

Last year, no other player had made more errors leading to a goal than Lloris since his arrival at Spurs, according to Sky Sports, whilst in 2018 he was dubbed a “liability” – and that hasn’t changed this term.

Lloris was described as “lettuce wrists,” “embarrassing” and as a “weak link” in this squad as recently as February following a goal-fest defeat to Everton in the FA Cup, with talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy urging him to move on this summer.

Spurs have been linked to many viable replacements, too, including relegated West Brom shot-stopper Sam Johnstone and England no.1 Nick Pope, so it’s not as if he’d be completely irreplaceable.

Levy must trackback over his stance on the £8m-rated star before he tarnishes his reputation with the Tottenham faithful even more.

AND in other news, Levy could secure Spurs their own Ramos by signing “formidable” £31.5m-rated “leader”…

Davinson Sanchez’s time at Tottenham Hotspur could be coming to an end this summer, if emerging reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the 24-year-old centre-back is ‘likely to leave’ amid claims linking the north London outfit with a move for impressive Fulham loanee Joachim Andersen.

Further reports have since emerged suggesting that Sanchez’s former club, Ajax, are keen to bring him back to the Eredivisie as they look for defensive reinforcements.

The 28-time Colombian international cost Spurs around £42m back in the summer of 2017 and is now thought to be worth just €30m (£26m), as per CIES Football Observatory.

Time’s up

That drastic drop-off in value is hugely concerning but only goes to show how poorly he has performed in north London. If anything, when factoring in his age, that fee should only be rising as he heads towards the peak years of his career.

Sanchez was in and out of the side under Jose Mourinho and is yet to be selected by interim boss Ryan Mason. In total, he has only made 17 appearances in the Premier League this season.

A calamitous showing against West Ham in October saw him axed for their next nine games as he was majorly at fault for Spurs throwing away a three-goal lead, and in his absence, the north Londoners rose to the top of the table.

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That outcome was again repeated in his latest appearance for the club.

His blunder allowed Newcastle to pocket a late equaliser, leading to former ROI international Kenny Cunningham slamming him as a “real liability” and ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara calling him “an absolute disgrace” – it isn’t the first time an ex-pro has lambasted the defender, either.

Writing on Twitter, Curtis Woodhouse, who used to play for Sheffield United, claimed the Mauricio Pochettino signing was “just not a very good defender” and that he “probably costs you 20 goals a season.”

Most of these players still remain from the Argentine’s tenure and given that Spurs’ Achilles heel has been defensive mistakes, it would make sense for a change at the back going into the summer.

The last thing the new manager needs is a player who has shockingly let down the two before him, so with everything considered, it’s time for Levy to be bold and ruthless and make what he can from selling Sanchez.

AND in other news, Levy can finally axe £23m Spurs “liability” with swoop for “special” £18m-rated dynamo…

Celtic haven’t exactly had much luck on the injury front this season.

Of course, it would be hard to put the blame for the Hoops’ disastrous campaign on that alone. After all, their on-field displays at Parkhead have been rather pathetic.

That being said, make any team have to deal with an injury to a player as important as James Forrest and they’d struggle.

The Scot missed a period of 157 days and 35 matches with an ankle problem from September to February and has only just returned from another injury to the same part of his body.

It will be a welcome boost to have the winger in full flow again but one player they’ll definitely be without this week is Scott Bain.

The goalkeeper has been ever-present since John Kennedy was named interim manager but he will miss the clash with St Johnstone on Wednesday due to a finger issue.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Kennedy commented: “Scott Bain picked up a finger injury in the previous game against Rangers. We’re not taking any risks with that. There’s one or two others, again, who we won’t risk. But nothing major, we’re pretty much working with the same squad give or take one or two.”

Bain may not have been the most comfortable between the sticks this term but it still represents a huge blow to have him absent.

The stopper was at fault during Celtic’s battering in Prague during their dreary Europa League run while he could have done a lot better in the recent Old Firm derby.

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As Alfredo Morelos bullied Scott Brown to one side and sent a rasping effort towards goal, Bain was beaten all ends up. It was a powerful effort but it still crashed straight through him.

Unfortunately, his absence means that Vasilis Barkas will come into the XI. The Greek has deserved a second opportunity for a while now but he’s hardly been a consistent figure either.

Barkas has also been a calamity in goal and was another to pick up a slice of the blame in Europe.

When Celtic suffered defeat to AC Milan at the San Siro, the ‘keeper somehow let a Hakan Calhonoglu free-kick fly into the side of the goal that he was standing in.

Barkas has lacked authority and thus, the Bhoys defence shouldn’t be overly confident with him behind them either. This will his first start since January so expect him to be a little rusty too.

Kennedy will likely be gutted to lose someone he’s placed so much faith in since being handed the reins.

AND in other news, McKay must wield the axe on 5ft9 Celtic dud, Sutton dubbed him the “new Ryan Christie”…

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry has told Football FanCast that West Ham have done excellent business in the January transfer window but fears for the club if Michail Antonio is injured.

The Hammers are currently fifth in the Premier League table and are continuing to push for qualification to the Champions League.

With nine games of the season remaining, David Moyes’ side are just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and seven behind Leicester City.

The Irons have a reasonable run-in too, as they only play two teams who are above them in the league: the Blues and the Foxes.

Moyes’ side have won just one of their last four games, however, which included games against Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal, and Fry thinks the club may be left in trouble if Antonio suffers an injury.

The striker has scored seven goals and laid on five assists in 20 games this season in the Premier League and is the club’s only out-and-out forward as they failed to sign a new centre-forward in the January transfer window.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, Fry hailed the signing of Jesse Lingard, who has eased the goalscoring burden on Antonio with five goals in seven games since his loan move from United, but sounded a note of caution.

He said: “In Lingard, I think that was a magnificent signing and the icing on the cake.

“I’m a little bit worried if anything happened to Antonio, they’re a bit short in that department.”

Fry revealed in a separate interview that he told West Ham to sign Ivan Toney from Peterborough United before he moved to Brentford.

Glasgow Rangers fans are delighted after the club confirmed Leon Balogun has signed a contract extension to keep him at Ibrox until the end of next season.

Balogun made the move to Glasgow last summer from Brighton and has proven to be an astute signing from Steven Gerrard and co. Despite a couple of injuries, he has still managed 28 appearances in all competitions, and the Gers have shipped just 20 goals during that time (Transfermarkt).

Now, he has signed a new contract to keep him in Glasgow for another 12 months. Clearly, Gerrard still sees him as a part of the club’s future and trusts him to continue to perform even as the 55-time Scottish champions aim to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

The news was shared on Twitter by the Gers’ official account, and it attracted plenty of attention from the supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts, with one fan hailing it as ‘fantastic news’.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Balogun news below

“Tremendous scenes”

Credit: @afgavinstan

“Fantastic news!”

Credit: @thisisibrox

“Outstanding news Don’t let a shaky performance at right back against Slavia cloud your judgement of what has been a ridiculously good season from an absolutely cracking free transfer.”

Credit: @Rangers_View

“Great business once again by Rangers”

Credit: @the_bluenose1

“That’s just won us the league, so it has.”

Credit: @deecee1872

“Might be unpopular but delighted with this. Never seen anything but fight from the boy.”

Credit: @paddyjaque

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this journalist’s comments.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Newcastle United Hall of Famer Rob Lee says he hates the formation and system the Magpies are persisting with, and feels sorry for the likes of Dwight Gayle having to play as a winger.

Since Graeme Jones joined Newcastle they have adopted a split striker system which sees the two strikers play wider and allows midfielders to arrive into the box unmarked, however Lee doesn’t believe the Magpies have the players to play this way.

Lee would like to see players deployed in their natural positions for the remainder of the season, stating that Gayle is a goalscorer and if he’s on the wing, he won’t be able to get the goals Newcastle desperately need.

Speaking on the split striker system which has become the norm on Tyneside and why he feels for Gayle at the minute, Lee told FFC exclusively:

“I don’t like the formation they play. I don’t think we’ve got the players to play it and I know it’s Graeme Jones’ preferred way of playing, he likes his two strikers to split, but personally, I hate it.

“I feel sorry for the likes of Gayle because they barely touch the ball and you have to realise what Dwight Gayle is. He is a guy that can score goals and he’s brilliant at doing that.

“He’s very quick and plays on the last defender but he has to be around the box not wide because he’s not going to give you anything there.

“They seem to be persevering with this system and it’s not for me to say, but from looking inside and from what I’ve seen we haven’t got the players to play that way.”

Dwight Gayle was signed to help get Newcastle out of the Championship in 2016 and over his career, he’s proved his ability in the box having scored 165 goals in 248 games.

The Magpies lost their potential six-pointer against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening, and have to bounce back when they host Tottenham Hotspur on April 4.

Numerous fans of West Ham United have been reacting to a post on Twitter in which the Hammers shared an image of Declan Rice in action for England with the caption of “classy” and two hand-clap emojis.

So far this season, Rice has highly impressed over his 29 Premier League appearances for David Moyes’ side, with the defensive midfielder scoring one goal and providing one assist, as well as making an average of two interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 1.2 clearances per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 7.09. That ranks him as the Hammers’ fourth-best performer in the top flight.

The 22-year-old has also impressed while on international duty with England, most recently during the 2-0 win over Albania in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, a game in which Rice made five interceptions, two tackles and three clearances, earning a SofaScore match rating of 7.8.

After West Ham shared an image of Rice in action for England on Twitter, many fans of the Hammers flocked to have their say on the matter, with plenty heaping a considerable amount of praise on the midfielder. One Irons fan even dubbed the 22-year-old a “Rolls Royce of a footballer”.

So, what exactly did these West Ham United fans have to say in reaction to the image of Declan Rice?

“England’s best player plays for West Ham. What a world.”

@AndrewKane221

“My captain.”

@notorious1324

“Always is and always will be.”

@bazza123whu

“England’s best DM, no debate.”

@mattw00druf

“Rolls Royce of a footballer.”

@joehalford1990

“We are so lucky man.”

@_ghzst

“I don’t want him to leave West Ham but if I’m Man City, I’m getting him in as a long term replacement for Fernandinho. He is outstanding. Such a class act.”

@Jayoconnor8

In other news: This West Ham summer target dropped a big hint on his future – find out more here!

Nottingham Forest suffered a costly defeat on Tuesday evening, falling to a slender loss to Luton Town at the City Ground.

The loss is particularly worrying considering that Chris Hughton’s men are now just 11 points clear of the relegation zone, with sides below them having as many three matches in hand.

However, there were signs throughout the clash that could give the club reason to be optimistic in avoiding relegation to League One.

Manager Hughton was impressed with how his side managed to create opportunities. Following the game, he said that Forest were “very good”, having some presentable chances to open the scoring before the break.

The statistics agree with that sentiment, with the hosts having had 19 shots throughout the game, forcing Luton stopper Simon Sluga into four saves.

The fact that Forest were creating opportunities is a positive sign. It is, in fact, something that they have managed throughout the majority of the campaign.

At their current rate, the East Midlands side are taking 11.6 shots per game according to WhoScored, which is in fact the sixth-highest in the Championship.

Of course, that does not mean all too much if the team are just attempting pot shots from distance, which to an extent is true. Approximately 40% of Forest’s shots this season have come from outside of the penalty area – only Reading, Barnsley and Huddersfield Town have a higher percentage.

However, judging by the expected goals model (xG), Hughton’s men are actually creating very presentable chances.

They currently possess an xG count of 40.07 which is dramatically higher than their number of actual goals scored, 28.

That disparity in these numbers can come down to one of two aspects: poor fortune i.e. excellent stops from opposition goalkeepers or indeed, poor finishing.

Whilst that poor finishing could potentially hamper Forest for the rest of the season, there will hopefully come a point where the chances indeed start finding the back of the net with more regularity, swiftly moving the club away from the drop zone. After all, they are certainly more creative than any of their relegation rivals.

Hughton’s men just need to keep generating chances at the rate they currently are and their luck in front of goal will hopefully turn.

AND in more news, we analyse Glenn Murray’s awful performance in the defeat against Luton…