This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Alexandre Lacazette spoke about a lack of confidence at Arsenal following the club’s 2-0 loss against Leicester City, as quoted by The Mirror.
What did he say?
Arsenal were outclassed by the Foxes, who had 11 more shots, higher possession, a better pass success rate, won 5 more aerial duels, as well as coming out on top in tackles and corners.
Lacazette himself was far from his best, as only 1 of his 4 attempted shots went on target, he didn’t make any key passes and completed just 1 of his 3 attempted dribbles.
Following the game, the Frenchman was quoted by The Mirror as saying: “We miss confidence and we need the international break. I hope we are going to come back well. We need to work more than we do now to find confidence.”
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Mental fragility
This can, perhaps, be seen as a sign of mental fragility among Arsenal players at the moment, especially as Lacazette stated he hopes the team will come back well, rather than insisting that they will.
If there is a mental problem within the squad, it likely won’t have been helped by everything that has been going on with Granit Xhaka since the Crystal Palace match.
It can also be suggested that there is a chance the choice of captain may have contributed to this further, with some unhappy with the choice of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, partly due to his interaction with AFTV, as reported by The Athletic.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the Gunners lost against Sheffield United, having already called Arsenal “babies”, Patrice Evra said: “I just don’t see any leadership. I don’t see any character or any personality. They look weak mentally.
“They have big players in David Luiz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, but there has been something missing for a few years now.”
With Arsenal now eight points behind fourth, they will need to sort out any mental fragility if they are to get Champions League football back to the Emirates.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Speaking to Football Insider, Darren Bent has shared his thoughts on Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard being linked with Crystal Palace.
The France U21 forward is reportedly on the Eagles’ radar and has been in exquisite form for the Bhoys so far this term, scoring 12 goals and recording 12 assists for the Scottish giants as Edouard showcases his finishing ability as well as his creativity.
Bent – who has scored 212 goals across his playing career – commented on whether or not Celtic would be interested in doing a deal for Edouard, and his words highlight the good negotiating position Palace find themselves in when it comes to Scottish football.
What did he say?
When asked if he thought Celtic would be interested in negotiating, Bent told Football Insider: “Celtic potentially will be interested (if £20m bid tabled) as they’d think oooo, as with Celtic and Rangers, they know if they sell a player for £20m they can then look around Scottish football, cherry-pick the centre-forward who is better than the rest, whatever team that may be, and know full well they could go in with £10m and get that centre-forward.
“So it’s like a conveyor belt as there’s no problem replacing them.”
Highlights Palace’s good negotiating position
When it comes to Scottish football, even the biggest clubs such as Celtic and Rangers can find it hard to convince their best players not to leave.
We’ve seen the likes of Virgil van Dijk depart Celtic Park in the past, as well as Victor Wanyama, Kieran Tierney and Fraser Forster, while the Gers have sold Nikica Jelavic to the Premier League previously.
Bent is spot on – if a Premier League side does come knocking with £20m in their pocket, it is extremely hard for a Scottish side to reject such a huge cash injection.
So, in mentioning that specific point, Bent is highlighting the advantageous position that the south Londoners and owner Steve Parish may find themselves in if they do end up taking to the negotiating table with the Bhoys.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Phil Hay has revealed that Leeds would be interested in Dwight Gayle but has addressed problems with trying to sign him and Matej Vydra in January.
The journalist was responding to a fan while answering questions for The Athletic after the Whites beat Luton 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
What’s he said?
Leeds had to work hard for all three points as they were pegged back by the Hatters at Kenilworth Road this weekend.
With the game deadlocked at 0-0 at half-time, it took a cool finish from Patrick Bamford to open the scoring.
The home side then hit back but Bamford was on hand to win the game for Marcelo Bielsa’s men in the 90th minute, getting ahead of his man to prod home.
Before scoring against Blackburn last time out, the 26-year-old had gone ten games without finding the back of the net. However, he’s now scored three in two matches.
Bamford’s lack of goals has been well documented and with Eddie Nketiah failing to get much game time, the chances of adding another forward to their ranks in January has grown in possibility.
Last week they were linked with Burnley’s Vydra (The Mirror, 22/11, pg. 74) but Hay has suggested there could be a problem trying to sign both him and the £13.5m-rated Gayle. He said:
“They’d be interested in Gayle but he’s highly likely to go to Forest and his wage is seriously expensive. The problem with Vydra is the history there. The hierarchy at Leeds were not impressed with him when they tried to sign him last (Vydra basically admitted that he’d rather go to the Premier League). But if Nketiah was to go back, they would need someone else.”
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Trouble for Leeds?
Gayle has barely played for Newcastle this season, amassing just four minutes in the Premier League despite a stellar Championship campaign in 2018/19 where he notched 24 goals.
As for Vydra, he only has 58 minutes under his belt in England’s top-flight this season. The fact both of them could be seeking moves elsewhere would make plenty of sense on that basis.
However, it now appears as though trying to sign any of them could be problematic. West Brom struggled to bring Gayle back last summer because of his wages and that looks as though it could be an issue for Leeds who were bound to restrictions from profit and sustainability at a similar time.
Missing out on the Newcastle striker is a little more understandable if finances come in the way but Victor Orta and co can’t afford to let history get in the way of landing Vydra.
The Czech has scored 65 times in the Championship and would add some much-needed firepower to a Leeds frontline that hasn’t been consistent in 2019/20.
He may have wanted to remain in the Premier League in the summer but having struggled for minutes, circumstances do change. Leeds would be foolish to pass up the chance to bring in a player with that number of goals at this level.
During the break in football, our Total Duds feature looks at transfer investments made across the two windows to have taken place this season that are yet to work out.
Last summer, Tottenham Hotspur smashed their transfer record as Tanguy Ndombele made his way to north London. It was a move that seemed to shock fans of rivals club especially as the player was linked with Manchester United.
However, Spurs may be wishing they didn’t fork out €60m (roughly £55m) especially with the Frenchman’s lacklustre performances so far this season. Following the draw away to Burnley, Jose Mourinho publically lambasted his own central midfielder, claiming he needed to do more due to his ability.
The record signing had no shots on goal, played no key passes and was dispossessed twice in the offensive side of his game. He wasn’t much better when attempted to shield the Lilywhites’ back-four, making just one solitary clearance during his 45 minutes on the pitch, as per WhoScored.
Tottenham currently sit in eighth-place in the Premier League, a place which would make them just under £25m in merit payments, according to last season’s figures. However, more importantly, they would be missing out on next season’s Champions League campaign, which would see them earn a guaranteed £13.2m just for competing in the group stages. And having been knocked out early in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, prize money from there may not be forthcoming. In total, should the season finish as it stands, the north London outfit would make just over £25m, factoring in all competitions.
Whilst Ndombele hasn’t been the sole reason why the club have flopped this season, he is one player, who highlights just how bad they’ve been. His performances this season have shown that he is nowhere near worth €60m that was paid for him and has so far been a shocking addition.
Spurs fans, do you think the former Lyon man has flopped? Let us know your thoughts!
Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to some comments from Tony Fitzpatrick, as the St Mirren CEO said the last words any Ibrox supporter wants to hear.
A report from The Daily Record on Thursday evening revealed that an SPFL summit could soon crown Celtic as champions. According to Keith Jackson, ‘null and void’ is simply not on the table and league chiefs will hold conference calls next week to discuss whether the season should be ended, in which case results would stand.
And Fitzpatrick, a legend at St Mirren and now the Saints CEO, believes the campaign should end so that the focus can shift to improving the future Scottish football.
Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?
Via The Glasgow Times, he said: “This season is done. People don’t like it, but it’s done, so why not make the decision?
“There’s been 30 games played, so I’m not in favour of making the season null and void, that would be criminal. But I think this is maybe an opportunity to try out something different.
“I’d like to see a 16-team Premiership, but even if it was just Dundee United and Inverness who came up, we do away with relegation and give Celtic the title, that would work for me.”
Of course, this solution would conveniently absolve St Mirren of any relegation threat, as the Simple Digital Arena outfit are currently in the bottom six, just two wins clear of last place in the division.
And while Rangers are 13 points behind in the title race, they do have a game in hand and two Old Firms left to play, so it is certainly not ridiculous to suggest the league is not finished.
Take a look at some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where the Light Blues were less than impressed by Fitzpatrick’s verdict…
Rangers fans were stunned by some recent footage of Steven Gerrard…
Leeds are well on their way to topping the Championship table and clinching promotion into the Premier League with a very talented and in-form squad.
We can appreciate the clinical nature of the likes of Patrick Bamford, but what about those that may have slipped under the radar slightly amid all the excitement?
Stuart Dallas
Scoring goals at one end isn’t the only ingredient to a title-winning recipe, a team needs to ensure they aren’t letting them in at the other end. Leeds’ defence has been equally as solid as their attack this season, and Stuart Dallas has gone criminally overlooked.
The Irishman has started every game for the Whites this campaign and has kept 16 clean sheets whilst also contributing to four goals – scoring three of them himself and creating 10 big chances. Leeds also have the lowest amount of goals (30) scored against them, which Dallas has assisted with going off his 2.2 average tackles and one interception per game.
The 28-year-old hasn’t made any errors this season which have to a goal or indeed, a shot, whereas teammates Liam Cooper has made one error that led to a shot and Gaetano Berardi has given away a penalty.
Dallas’ calm and collected nature, as well as his ability to get forward down the flank, should be appreciated and rewarded when Leeds inevitably find their way back to the Premier League.
Isolation Busters: The only quiz you need to cure your boredem
When you’re up against the club’s top scorer for the season, it’s hard to break through and grab a slice of the limelight, which is why Tyler Roberts is in this list. The Welshman has only started four games this season but has taken part in 14 overall, bagging himself three goals.
Roberts also has better attacking stats than that of Premier League-tested Steve Mounie. The 21-year-old averages a much better accurate pass percentage (71.5%) to Mounie’s 60.6% along with his 0.3 dribbles on average per match compared to the Huddersfield man’s 0.1.
Granted, Roberts has only played an average of 35 minutes per appearance, but he has contributed to shaping Leeds’ season and has kept airtight discipline, picking up no bookings at all. The Welsh forward is a young talent certainly worth keeping an eye on.
Mario Balotelli just didn’t seem to have what it takes to succeed at Liverpool.
The Italy international joined the Reds on the back of a spell at AC Milan in 2014, where he had managed 30 goals in 54 matches. It wasn’t his first spell in the Premier League, with him previously having spent time with Manchester City, and his performances back in his homeland indicated he may be ready to prove exactly why there was so much hype about him as a youngster.
However, it wasn’t to be at Anfield. He managed just four goals in 28 matches for the club, and he was out of the door on loan in August 2015, returning to Milan. By the time he rocked up again in Merseyside, Jurgen Klopp was the manager, and according to The Athletic, the 29-year-old was desperate to impress the new boss. However, the decision had already been made for him to depart permanently, and he joined Nice.
Twitter page Anfield Edition picked up on this latest report, and it is fair to say fans are unhappy with Klopp for moving him on without giving him a chance, one even said it was “very sad.”
Many took to the social media platform to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments below.
Since its inception in 1992 it is fair to say that the Premier League has transformed the landscape within English football.
While Manchester United dominated in the early years, the arrival of wealthy owners has seen a number of new teams come to the fore and the popularity has soared worldwide.
Even though the transfer fees have risen and the profile has grown, what happens on the pitch remains the most important part and over the years there have been many incredible players and incredible goals to match.
From Eric Cantona in the early years, to Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo plenty of players with a penchant for the miraculous have made their mark on the division, while there have also been some less heralded players who have written their name into history with moments of brilliance.
Nearly 28 years on from the first match, we look back at the 20 best goals of the Premier League era…
20. Emre Can v Watford – May 2017
Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool vs West Ham United – Anfield, Liverpool, Britain – February 24, 2018 Liverpool’s Emre Can celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account re
A player who only really showed his true form in bursts at Liverpool, Can is perhaps best remembered for this bicycle kick that won him the 2016/17 goal of the season award.
19. Steven Gerrard v Middlesbrough – April 2005
Football – Birmingham City v Liverpool Barclays Premier League – St Andrews – 09/10 – 4/4/10 Steven Gerrard celebrates with Fernando Torres (R) after scoring Liverpool’s first goal Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Scott Heavey Livepic NO ONLINE/INTERNET USE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE +44 (0) 207 864 9000.
While perhaps his most famous goal for Liverpool came in the Champions League versus Olympiacos, Gerrard has scored a number of brilliant long-rangers during his career and this goal from 40 yards against Boro was one of his best.
18. Maynor Figueroa v Stoke City – December 2009
A solid if unheralded defender for Wigan Athletic, Figueroa had one moment in the sun when he scored from inside his own half when he spotted Thomas Sorensen off his line.
17. Olivier Giroud v Crystal Palace – January 2017
Not always the most reliable finisher, this was one of the occasions when Giroud got it right. With a cross into the box slightly behind him, the Frenchman performed an incredible ‘scorpion’ flick to shock the travelling Palace fans.
16. Michael Essien v Arsenal – December 2006
An excellent player whose career was impacted by injury, this was perhaps his best goal with the Ghanaian leathering the ball first time, only for it to swerve around the defenders and into the net.
15. Jack Wilshere v Norwich City – October 2013
Perhaps the best team goal we have seen in the Premier League era, Wilshere applied the finishing touch to a brilliant move that was made all the more special with a delicate Giroud flicked assist.
14. Vincent Kompany v Leicester City – May 2019
The last hurrah for a brilliant servant to the club, Kompany’s thunderous strike was crucial in earning Manchester City the league title in 2018/19.
13. David Beckham v Wimbledon – August 1996
A brilliant striker of a dead ball, this is the goal Beckham is perhaps best remembered for in a Manchester United shirt. The midfielder not only had the vision to see the goalkeeper of his line, but also the skill to place the ball perfectly from halfway.
12. Thierry Henry v Tottenham Hotspur – November 2002
The first entry from the Frenchman on this list, Henry ghosted past a number of Spurs defenders has he ran from inside his own half to score with a trademark side foot finish.
11. Tony Yeboah v Wimbledon – September 1995
Another player with more than one entry, this goal from Yeboah involved brilliant control on the chest and then the knee, before a rocket shot that flew in off the bar.
10. Eric Cantona v Sunderland – December 1996
1/10/95 Manchester United v Liverpool, Carling Premiership Photo:Darren Walsh/Action Images Eric Cantona celebrates his goal infront of Manchester United fans Manchester United
An iconic goal from an iconic player, this delicate chip from outside the box said all it needed to about the vision and technique Cantona possessed.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo v Portsmouth – January 2008
A goal that almost confirmed Ronaldo’s ascent to the top of the world game, this was perhaps one of the best and truest free-kicks ever taken.
8. Matt Le Tissier v Newcastle United – October 1993
Southampton v Liverpool 14/2/94 F.A Premier League Pic : Action Images Matthew Le Tissier celebrates scoring the 1st goal from the penalty spot
A player with a real knack for the remarkable, Le Tissier scored his best goal after flicking the ball over two defenders with pinpoint control, before calmly slotting the ball home.
7. Wayne Rooney v Newcastle United – April 2005
Champions League Group D match at Old Trafford.Manchester United 6 v Fenerbahce 2.Ruud Van Nistelrooy celebrates after scoring the fifth goal joined by teammate Wayne Rooney.28th September 2004.
Despite being embroiled a heated discussion with the referee, Rooney quickly latched onto a looping ball and smashed it in on the volley from 30 yards out.
6. Robin van Persie v Aston Villa – April 2013
A player with outstanding technique on the volley, Van Persie sealed the title for United with this strike, judging the ball as it came over his shoulder perfectly.
5. Thierry Henry v Manchester United – October 2000
A goal that came before Henry’s full abilities were quite appreciated, this really put him on the map. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, his flicked it up, swivelled and lobbed the ball over Fabien Barthez on the volley from the edge of the box.
4. Tony Yeboah v Liverpool – August 1995
The second goal from Yeboah on this list, this was the archetypal volley, with the Leeds man striking the ball with immense power from 30 yards into the net off the bar.
3. Wayne Rooney v Manchester City – February 2011
Another legendary goal, Rooney’s incredible overhead kick sealed the win in a Manchester derby and went a long way to securing the title for the Old Trafford club.
2. Paolo Di Canio v Wimbledon – March 2000
26 Mar 2000: Paolo Di Canio of West Ham United scores the first goal during the FA Carling Premiership match against Wimbledon at Upton Park in London. West Ham United won the match 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster/Allsport
Di Canio was a divisive character during his time in English football, but this air-borne volley was a real example of his incredible technique and skill.
1. Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle United – March 2002
Arsenal’s Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp celebrates scoring againstBlackburn Rovers in the English premier league match at Ewood Park,Blackburn, January 30, 2002. NO INTERNET/ONLINE USAGE WITHOUT FAPLLICENCE. FOR DETAILS SEE FAPLWEB.COM REUTERS/Ian HodgsonIH/ASA
The Dutchman had outstanding technique and displayed that best with this goal against Newcastle, where he turned his defender inside out with a ridiculous piece of control, before calmly finishing along the floor.
Former Spurs star Paul Robinson believes Tottenham have a “real opportunity” to qualify for the Champions League when football resumes in June.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Robinson insists the lack of home advantage could play into Jose Mourinho’s hands as it will make for some “strange results” in the remaining fixtures.
Last week, Harry Kane told the club’s official website that the Lilywhites may need to win eight games from a possible nine to clinch a top-four spot.
Jose Mourinho’s side are currently eighth in the Premier League, seven points away from Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, with Manchester United, Wolves and Sheffield United all in the mix.
However, the pundit feels the fact that games will be played behind closed doors can work to the club’s benefit.
He told football writer Dylan Childs: “They are relying on other teams dropping points but we are in unprecedented times where the home advantage has disappeared. I think we will see some strange results and some results that we were not expecting.
“I am very glad that the league will be played out but I am glad I am not a gambler between now and the end of the season because results will be very hard to predict!
“Tottenham are seven points off Chelsea but there is a real opportunity to close that gap.”
It is hard to argue with Robinson here, as the recent Bundesliga results suggest home advantage has been wiped out without fans being at games.
Indeed, Danny Higginbotham revealed that there were 14 home wins out of 36 games before football was suspended in Germany, whereas there have only been 8 home victories out of 35 games after the nationwide lockdown was lifted (The Sun).
Moreover, Kane, Son Heung-min, Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Sissoko have all recovered from injury and are ready to return. Mourinho has been plagued by injury throughout the season so far and there is no doubt this update will give the Portuguese a major boost.
Stadiums across the country are usually full to the brim with fans but social distancing guidelines mean it won’t be happening anytime soon. Mourinho’s side will likely have to play in neutral venues which will create a level playing field.
Tottenham fans, are you looking forward to seeing Spurs back on the pitch? Let us know down below!
The final decision on the proposed takeover of Newcastle United by the Premier League may be sped up by the news that Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly rejected the chance to manage at SL Benfica, according to Record (via Inside Futbol).
As per the outlet, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss would prefer to manage in one of Europe’s top five leagues: the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A or Ligue 1.
Pochettino apparently wants the opportunity to win some of the biggest trophies in the beautiful game, and is keeping an eye on the current situation at Real Madrid, as Benfica are allegedly looking at former Arsenal coach Unai Emery and ex-manager of Everton Marco Silva as potential alternatives to him.
The 48-year old has been strongly linked with the potential job opening at the Tyneside club if Steve Bruce is deemed surplus to requirements by the would-be owners, and the fact that he has rejected the job in Portugal because he wants to potentially manage again in the Premier League could speed up the decision to approve of the proposed takeover.
Pochettino may also buy into the project of the buying side who will surely be looking to win some silverware for the Magpies, given that they will likely have a lot of money to spend on possibly big transfer deals in upcoming summer windows.
If the Saudi Arabian-led group are ambitious, then they may want to swoop in for the Argentine sooner rather than later before other teams come in for him. They may therefore ask the Premier League more questions as to when they will be able to take control, which could speed up the takeover process.
Geordies, would you like Poch to be your next manager? Comment below!