All posts by n8rngtd.top

Antonio Valencia’s time is surely up at Manchester United.

After falling out of favour from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s progressive system, he must see himself staring at an exit from Old Trafford after a decade of service, over the course of which the Ecuadorian has performed a number of roles. Originally a winger, he even took up the legendary No.7 shirt at the Theatre of Dreams, though was pushed back into a full-back role not long after and now looks done at this level.

He was even linked with a late exit over the course of the January transfer window (as per the Sun) during which he reportedly snubbed moves to Newcastle United and Fulham.

The United captain’s hardly appeared under Solskjaer, with injuries and inconsistency plaguing his season and it’s time the Red Devils move on. We’ve seen just how important full-backs are to top-level teams these days and it’s time decision makers in Manchester splashed the cash to truly move on.

Valencia’s mistake-prone manner and drop in performance-level mean he’s not needed at United anymore, it’s simple.

So, with that in mind, we’ll look at THREE suitable replacements the club must consider.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

A breakthrough star for Crystal Palace, Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s performances have attracted a lot of attention. He’s been a commendable part of their defence while showing promise going forward.

Wan-Bissaka only has one assist this season, yet his movement on the right-flank and ability to create chances is impressive. He’s helped Palace keep almost nine clean-sheets and possesses all the tools to succeed at Manchester United. Indeed, he’s got quite the future ahead of him.

Thomas Meunier

Meunier’s been a solid right-back for Paris-Saint German and shown fantastic capability going forward, while also maintaining his defensive duties well.

He’s scored three goals and assisted three in 16 appearances while helping them keep 8 clean-sheets. Meunier’s an asset for any attack-minded side and having voiced his liking for United, the Red Devils shouldn’t hesitate to sign him up.

Djibril Sidibe

Why not replace an experienced candidate with another one?

The World-Cup winning defender’s had a season to forget with Monaco, who are somehow struggling to survive relegation.

However, he wouldn’t hesitate if United came calling. Sidibe’s solid defensive knowledge along with his ability to go forward could help him fit in at United and help bring experience to their young defensive line.

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According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Southampton are reportedly one of two Premier League clubs interested in signing exciting young Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg, and Saints fans have been quick to react to the rumour on Twitter.

The now 21-year-old enjoyed a brilliant 2016/17 breakthrough campaign for the Eredivisie giants where he scored 23 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions, and while he wasn’t quite as impressive last term he has looked back to his best this term.

Despite having to compete with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for a spot in the starting XI, he has netted 10 times in 27 outings in total for the Amsterdam outfit, as he appears to be getting back to his best form.

The Denmark international is of course playing alongside former Saints Dusan Tadic this term following the Serbian’s summer move to the Netherlands from St Mary’s.

Southampton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said “I’m sure Tadic put in a negative word for us”, another said “we couldn’t even get Che Adams”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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

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Loads of Leeds fans have been reacting to a rather special moment in their win over Bolton, as the Whites won their first first-half penalty kick since September 2017.

Leeds got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over struggling Bolton at Elland Road on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Patrick Bamford and Gjanni Alioski.

The Whites were on top for most of the match, racking up 69 per cent of the possession, 21 shots and eight shots on target, per BBC.

This meant lots of pressure in and around the visitors’ penalty box, and Marcelo Bielsa’s side were awarded a penalty 15 minutes in – their first penalty kick before half-time in 80, yes eighty, games in all competitions, per lufcstats. It was also just their second spot kick of the season.

Bamford stepped up to tuck the spot kick home, and Alioski’s somewhat fortunate winner earned Bielsa’s side all three points after Mark Beever had equalised.

While the focus for Bielsa and his squad is of course the next game and kicking on to try and catch league leaders Norwich, fans are all too busy reacting hilariously to the penalty.

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay tweeted out about the spot kick, and the fans in the replies went absolutely wild.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Tottenham suffered their seventh league defeat of the season on Saturday, and Mauricio Pochettino needs to ditch two players who are massively struggling when the Lilywhites visit Chelsea on Wednesday.

On the chalkboard

Spurs missed a golden opportunity to gain ground on Manchester City and Liverpool on Saturday, falling to a 2-1 defeat at Burnley.

The Clarets have not lost in the league since Boxing Day, and they showed exactly why in the first half, stopping their guests from getting anything going with a stern defensive display.

Chris Wood then nodded the hosts in front with a second half header, though Harry Kane was able to equalise from a tight angle.

Ashley Barnes ultimately decided the match with one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score, and Mauricio Pochettino must now be ruthless with his players after perhaps their worst performance of the season.

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

Stopping Hazard

Unfortunately, the first player that needs to miss out when Spurs visit Chelsea on Wednesday is Juan Foyth.

The 21 year-old has shown real character to bounce back from his shocking display in the 3-2 win at Wolves, but his lack of experience and maturity was on full display at Turf Moor.

Davinson Sanchez may be a bit rash at times, but the beastly Colombian international will have a far better chance of stopping the irresistible Eden Hazard than Foyth, who looks like an accident waiting to happen at the moment.

Extra protection

The next man that needs a rest is surely Moussa Sissoko, who had a run of fantastic form earlier this season, finally proving why the club shelled out £30m for him back in 2016.

The 29 year-old’s performances have dipped a little bit in recent weeks though, and he was back to his old self against Burnley – flying all over the pitch with plenty of effort but offering nothing of any quality or substance.

With Chelsea sure to be absolutely desperate for three points, Victor Wanyama might be the best choice to replace the Frenchman, offering that extra bit of defensive security in front of the three centre backs.

The Kenyan international has been in the squad for the last three Premier League games and played for ten minutes against Leicester, so if he is not ready now then he never will be.

So, Spurs fans, do you think Foyth and Sissoko should lose out? What other changes would you make for the trip to Chelsea? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

[ad_pod ]Ezgjan Alioksi joined Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa for the club’s press conference on Thursday.The 28-year-old left-back has been in fine form in recent week. Just like everyone else at Elland Road, he has been reinvigorated and improved by the guidance of Bielsa, and the Macedonian heaped credit to the Argentine coach during the press conference.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…

What he said

As quoted by the Whites’ official Twitter account, when asked about the impact Bielsa has had at the Yorkshire club, Alioski said: “This year, with this coach, we’re enjoying the season. It’s like a surprise, like a gift, so as players we make sure we’re working hard.â€

A full recording of the press conference has also been provided by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Massive impact

When considering the transformative effect Bielsa has had on Leeds, and how quickly he has been able to imprint his ideals and philosophy on the squad, then a ‘gift’ to the club is perhaps the best way to describe him and his influence.

Last season, Leeds finished 13th in the Championship. This time around, with largely the same squad, they’re in the thick of the title race and playing scintillating football.

On top of that, Bielsa has also committed himself to bringing through talented academy prospects, with the likes of Jack Clarke, Leif Davis and Aapo Halme, amongst others, all getting first team minutes this season.

Sheffield Wednesday have been on a terrific run of form ever since Steve Bruce arrived and that is something they hope long continues. 

It remains a complete long-shot but with the form they’re showing currently, the play-offs aren’t even that far away and the Championship is known for its ever-changing scenario.

Steve Bruce is a quality manager and given full backing over the summer, Sheffield Wednesday could have themselves a very capable squad.

One player who would certainly be an improvement on current options is Leicester’s Matty James, a midfielder who has plenty of experience and knowledge of the game.

James, (who is valued at £1.3 million on Transfermarkt) has again this season been battling against injury, something that has stopped him being involved with the Leicester first-team.

Since, he has made one FA Cup appearance but that is it, something that could prove to be the end of his Leicester stay.

If the Foxes are unable to rely upon Matty James anymore because he’s constantly pushed back by injuries, Sheffield Wednesday should be the side to take a punt on him instead.

Having joined Leicester in 2012, James has a wealth of experience that could come in handy for Steve Bruce and his side.

Although their current midfield options are strong, one team can never have too many players and Matty James would bring something different.

At the age of 27, Matty James would be hoping of playing week in, week out but simply put, that hasn’t happened for him. If he can put injuries behind him and focus on performing to the best of his ability whilst staying fit, Sheffield Wednesday would have bagged themselves a very shrewd signing.

Do you agree… Let us know!

Well, Arsenal might just have been played.

Not in the field, but outside it, as acclaimed sporting director Monchi seemingly (as per the Daily Mail) left AS Roma to join them, only to make a U-turn back to former club Sevilla in the last moment.

Indeed, another embarrassing ordeal for the Gunners, who continue their search for Sven Mislintat’s successor. Things are never simple at Arsenal, are they?

Obviously, Monchi ticked all the boxes to please not only Unai Emery – whom he had worked with before – but power-hungry Stan Kroenke as well.

Now, the Gunners need to look for someone similar who will help them make a profit and also acquire top-level talents at cut-price. Not too hard a job then.

So, here we’ll look at two alternatives for Arsenal’s next Director of Football.

Marc Overmars

The former Gooner himself, Marc Overmars fantastic work at Ajax must’ve gotten Arsenal’s attention by now.

He’s responsible for discovering and bringing together such a bright young squad, being responsible for signing the likes of Hakim Ziyech, David Neres, Daley Blind and Dusan Tadic at cheap prices.

Overmars also adjourned the Frenkie De Jong sale, making Ajax a huge amount of profit with a ridiculously expensive sale. He can bring many blooming young talents and price away some Ajax players with him, and work along Emery to make Arsenal great again.

Paul Mitchell

Despite having worked with rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Mitchell’s impressive CV surely suits Arsenal’s desire.

He did a great job in recruiting some core Spurs players, getting in Kieran Trippier, Dele Alli and Toby Alderwiereld for dirt-cheap prices.

He’s also done well in recruiting blooming young talents for RB Leipzig, signing young sensation Jean Kevin Augustin and midfielder Kevin Kampl. Mitchell’s scouting knowledge and ability to spot talents makes him a prime candidate, with his work in Naby Keita’s sale, where he made the German side twice the profit from what they signed him with serving as an example.

Arsenal fans, who do you want to be your next Director of Football? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

Despite two loses on the bounce, the current dip in form surely won’t detract from how good Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been since taking over and the permanent job should really still be given to the legendary United forward, fans believe.

Indeed, the fact of the matter is, any manager is bound to endure some defeats during his time in the hot seat and Solskjaer is no different.

His time in charge at Old Trafford has been nothing short of brilliant so far, having ensured Manchester United are challenging for a place in the top four and they’re still in the Champions League, something that looked impossible whilst Jose Mourinho was manager.

Clearly, confidence is flowing through the team with players re-finding not only their love for the game but also their greatest capabilities.

United fans have really enjoyed watching their team flourish and they truly believe with a few top signings in the summer, they will be established title contenders once again.

To start with, a centre-back as good as Benfica’s Ruben Dias would do wonders for United’s backline and could make all the difference to their silverware hopes for next season. Dias, (who is valued at £25.2 million on Transfermarkt) is on the road to enjoying a fabulous career in football and a move to Manchester United would be a step in the right direction.

With far more exposure coming at a club like United, Ruben Dias could make a big impression alongside Victor Lindelof for example.

He’s played 25 times in the league this season, helping by providing two goals, an assist and eleven clean-sheets.

The 21-year-old is equipped with modern-day skills for a defender, not afraid to pass the ball around and has pace to be adaptable across the backline.

Manchester United fans, would you back such a move? You’ve been linked with Dias before in the Sun and he’d certainly be an exciting prospect! Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Tottenham Hotspur’s first test fixture at the new stadium dominated the headlines over the weekend, so fans could be forgiven for missing a handful of intriguing transfer rumours which have emerged since Friday.

But fear not, FFC are here to provide you with a roundup of some of the best stories from the weekend…

Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Max Aarons being targeted

According to a report published by The Sun, Spurs are willing to offload Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier. The former has already generated interest from Everton but no club has been credited with interest in the latter.

But Spurs are not planning on blindly selling key senior players without landing replacements – as they did with Mousa Dembele in January. The club are extremely interested in two rising talents, namely Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Norwich City’s Max Aarons, two players who appear tailor-made for Pochettino given their enormous scope for progression.

No price tags are cited to suggest how much Levy would have to part with to sign either player, but the report suggests Trippier and Aurier could be available for £20 million and £11.5 million respectively.

Here’s a more extended take on the report.

Pair of deals eyed for Diogo Jota and Jack Grealish

Diogo Jota’s outstanding performance in Wolves’ FA Cup triumph over Manchester United hasn’t gone unnoticed according to the Daily Express.

The report claims that Levy is willing to release funds and Pochettino has identified the combative 22-year-old as the man who can take some pressure off Harry Kane’s shoulders.

And the same report claims the Argentine may take another look at former target Jack Grealish to bolster his options in midfield.

Wolves and Villa beware.

Marc Overmars makes intriguing revelation about Spurs pair

According to Fox Sports (via Metro), former Arsenal player and Ajax’s current Director of Football, Marc Overmars, enquired about the possibility of bringing Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld back to the Amsterdam Arena in the summer.

Both players believed it was too early to make a return to the club despite the Dutch Giant’s success in the Champions League this season.

Overmars reportedly claimed: ‘We have to be patient and see what the future holds.’

Could a former Gunner eventually come back to haunt Levy and Pochettino?

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Chris Sutton has had his say on Celtic’s managerial situation ahead of the Old Firm, and he’s got it absolutely spot on.

The Bhoys welcome Rangers to Parkhead on Sunday, leaving the word “welcome” open to interpretation of course, in a match that should put the nail in the coffin of the Gers’ season.

Lennon has guided Celtic ten points clear of their arch-rivals, and Sutton has said what the gaffer must do to turn his interim post into a permanent one.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he often received racist abuse after North London Derbies – Check out the video below…

What did he say?

“Is it his first big challenge? No, I think he has been challenged,” Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live (27/03/19, 20:30). “I think that the early fixtures under him, Hibs and Hearts away, were extremely difficult fixtures and Aberdeen who pushed them.

“I think it’s his most important challenge. I think it’s just as big for Steven Gerrard – I think in terms of Neil Lennon getting the job, he needs to beat Rangers and beat them in style.”

Spot on

Plenty have reckoned that a win in the derby would hand Lennon the job for next season, but Sutton has raised the bar for the boss, and he’s absolutely right.

With all due respect to the Gers, Celtic have been dominating this rivalry for quite some time, and they don’t need a manager who can scrape wins against their old foes.

What the Bhoys want is a manager who will not only dominate domestically but also make some noise in Europe, and the Old Firm is the only game in Scotland that can match the pressure and intensity of a Champions League night under the lights.

Coming out and Sunday and ripping the Gers to shreds would show that Lennon is still hungry and looking to improve, rather than just steadying the ship until someone better comes along.