All posts by n8rngtd.top

In a recent interview with The Times Jack Ross defended his record with Sunderland, stating he didn’t fail at the club and didn’t operate negatively.

Many have been critical of his tenure in the north-east due to perceived negativity from his side, but the fact the Black Cats drew 19 league games last year indicates there may be a bit of truth in those claims.

Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, the Scot has labelled it “fake news”, adding that the only time he played for a draw was in an away match at Barnsley, and believes his team’s strong record in coming from behind shows the willingness they had to win games.

It is natural for a manager to defend his actions, but many supporters reject his comments, with several especially highlighting the number of 1-1 draws they had to sit through last term.

Sunderland did score 80 League One goals in 2018/19, though, and since Ross’ departure the team has only nine goals from eight games, which suggests he wasn’t holding them back.

Regardless, fans still believe the right decision was made in letting him go, as these reactions show.

Kristoffer Ajer’s name has been the topic of conversation for a number of weeks now.

The 6 foot 5 powerhouse has been touted with a move away from Celtic this summer, and according to Italian publication Calcio Mercato, Serie A giants Milan are the latest team to be considering a potential swoop for the centre-back.

Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The defender has been a key part of Neil Lennon’s side this season, with the 21-year-old making 49 appearances across all competitions, and scoring four goals and providing a further two assists.

After hearing about Milan’s interest in the Norway international, Celtic fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

Some fans suggested that he simply isn’t reliable enough to be a part of the team for the long-term, and urged Lennon to cash in on him this summer.

One fan in particular however said that they should stick by the defender, and that he could go on to enjoy a great career at the club.

Whatever Celtic fans feel about Ajer, Lennon has made it perfectly clear that he is someone who he rates very highly, even going so far as to calling him the “model of consistency”.

If the Hoops do sell him, then there will be a massive void in the centre of defence for them to fill ahead of next season.

Meanwhile, Celtic fans blast this tweet from Alex Rae.

A lot of Crystal Palace fans are loving the latest news from journalist Matthew Law, who has tweeted that the Eagles will face rivals Charlton in a friendly match to prepare for the return of the Premier League.

There is a big history between the two sides, stemming from the fact that they are local rivals, and moments like Ian Dowie leaving Palace to manage Charlton are one of many which heat up the London rivalry between the two sides.

It is the Eagles who currently boast bragging rights, as they are now an established Premier League side whilst Charlton fight for survival in the Championship. The Selhurst Park side also have a good record against their upcoming opponents as they have won 34, drawn 15 and lost only 19 against the Addicks, via 11vs11.

This could be the ideal type of friendly to get the Palace squad match fit for the Premier League, which is finally due to return in June after three months of postponement.

Here is what these Crystal Palace fans said following the tweet from Law:

Palace fans, are you excited for the friendly against Charlton? Comment below with your views!

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…

Have they done enough?

That will be the question that will be answered when Brendan Rodgers names his side to face Crystal Palace on Sunday, because after their display against Burton Albion on Tuesday, there will be a couple of names banging on the manager’s door that wouldn’t usually be.

What’s been said?

Speaking on Quest’s Carabao Cup highlight’s show on Wednesday night, former Premier League striker Bent was asked by host Colin Murray to name his star players from the side’s performance.

In response, he picked out Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans and also took the opportunity to praise Demarai Gray, which may come as a bit of a shock to the fans, especially when you consider the amount of stick he got after his display.

Host Murray then briefly talked about Kelechi Iheanacho and his performance on the night, describing him as “the forgotten manâ€.

Watch Leicester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Going to be a team effort

It’s interesting that those players should be the ones that get the majority of the praise from Murray and Bent, because two of them can easily be described as ‘fringe’ players in the squad setup.

Gray has only managed 147 minutes of league action so far this season with Iheanacho failing to get an appearance in the league (both from Transfermarkt).

This is something that we touched on with Iheanacho earlier this week, in that there are a number of players, with the Nigerian the best example, that clearly have a lot to offer the Foxes, but as the statistics show they just aren’t being utilised incredibly well.

If Leicester City are going to keep performing the way that people like Bent think they can, it is going to take an effort from the rest of the team, and displays like that on Tuesday night should really give players a platform to make a push for league places.

After all, Iheanacho rose from the shadows to score what is now a rare goal for the forward. Who knows what he could achieve with more chances?

Leicester have some good players, but what really tests a team through a season is strength in depth. If they are just being made to sit on the bench with the odd cup game here and there, their fitness levels if and when they get called upon might not be up to scratch.

A lack of match action will only decrease their performances levels too.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has teased Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a backhanded compliment after the forward hit the Reds’ winning goal against KRC Genk on Tuesday night.Robertson was benched for the Champions League tie as Jurgen Klopp seemingly kept one eye on Sunday’s Premier League showdown with title-rival Manchester City, but started Oxlade-Chamberlain as his de facto striker.According to those matches where his position has been recorded by Transfermarkt, Oxlade-Chamberlain had never played as the designated striker or as a false nine before in his senior career, yet was able to live up to the task by striking the match-winner on the turn when he drilled the ball home in the 53rd-minute.It was the Portsmouth-born winger’s fourth goal of the season across all competitions, after he fired home from range the Reds’ third of the night against his former side Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last week.His brace against Genk when Liverpool travelled to Belgium towards the end of October also featured a wonder-strike from the 26-year-old, when he scored with the outside of his boot.Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal against Genk on Tuesday night was relatively subdued compared to his effort last month, while also being the 33-cap England international’s first from inside the box this season.Robertson clearly noticed that, as well, as the Scotland left-back took to Twitter after the win to tease Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday looking to stretch their advantage over the reigning Premier League title holders, as Klopp’s men can open a nine-point margin should they triumph at the weekend.

Thursday marked 100 years since the formation of Leeds United.The Yorkshire club have accomplished a lot in that 100 year period, with the Whites winning multiple league titles, FA Cups and reaching a European Cup final.Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

While they may no longer be mixing it up with the biggest teams in the world on the European stage, their current crop of players are no less passionate than those who came before them, and Liam Cooper’s tweet on the special day for the club perfectly encapsulates what Leeds United are all about.

Cooper knows that it’s not all been plain sailing for United throughout their history, but he’s well aware of the values that make Leeds one of the country’s most passionately supported clubs.

The Scotland international states that there have been ups and downs, but he says that everyone is always together throughout the good and the bad.

With the Elland Road faithful being one of the most intense fanbases in the country, you have to agree with Cooper’s sentiment here, and throughout the rollercoaster ride that has been the 100 years of Leeds United one thing that hasn’t changed is the support from the stands.

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…

Alan Shearer has praised Ilkay Gundogan after his performance against Aston Villa and has chosen the German in his Premier League Team of the Week.

What did he say?

Gundogan has found it hard to nail down a permanent starting spot in Manchester City’s team this year because of Rodri and Fernandinho. The former Borussia Dortmund man has started seven times out of the 10 games in the Premier League so far.

However, because of the injury to Rodri and Fernandinho stepping in at centre-back, we could see the 29-year-old become one of Pep Guardiola’s main men.

Shearer included him in his Team of the Week, saying: “Scored his first Premier League goal of the season while playing his part in a clean sheet in front of the defence.”

Getting the recognition he deserves

Gundogan signed for City in 2016 for just £2om and his performances at the club have since gone under the radar. When he initially signed for the Citizens, he did slightly struggle in the absence of Fernandinho at times.

However, his performances over the past 18 months have established himself as an important player within Pep Guardiola’s side, adapting to a deeper-lying role to seamlessly fill the void Fernandinho leaves behind in his absence.

The manager himself, although no stranger to a gushing endorsement, labelled Gundogan as “one of the best signings this club has done in history,” at the beginning of October, per M.E.N.

A common habit that seems to have become second-nature to Gundogan is his ability to intercept the ball in the nick of time, and his progress in that aspect of the game has been fundamental to City’s play.

It’s perhaps no surprise then that at Dortmund in 2011-12 and 2012-13, he was averaging 2.3 and 2.7 tackles per game respectively. Now at City, he seems to be going from strength to strength and even pitching in with some goals – the German has two this season already.

In truth, for £20m, it’s one of the bargains of the last few years and he deserves the recognition from Shearer after another stellar showing against Villa.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

This weekend, leagues across Europe will start up again after the two-week international break.

Amongst them is the Bundesliga. This year’s edition of the German top flight is turning out to be a captivating one. Borussia Monchengladbach lead the way by four points, but after that, second and 10th are separated by the same gap.

Schalke are in that group chasing Die Fohle. Die Konigsblauen currently have 19 points, and are just two away from RB Leipzig in second. On Saturday, they will face Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion as they look to continue their good start to the campaign.

Other than the fact it has the potential to be a thrilling game, it is the perfect chance for Liverpool fans to see one of their transfer targets in action. Morocco international Amine Harit has been linked with a move to Anfield, and against Die Werderaner, he should have the possibility to show off his offensive ability.

It has been a magnificent start to the campaign for the 22-year-old. Much like the rest of the team, the former Nantes man has benefited from David Wagner’s influence. So far this season, he has scored five goals and provided two assists in the German top tier. That leaves him with seven goal contributions overall, which is his highest return in any league campaign of his to date.

Watch Liverpool Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Even in just a few months since the former Huddersfield boss arrived, Harit has seen considerable improvements to his game. Via WhoScored, he has 1.4 shots per game compared to 0.7 last term, 1.8 key passes compared with 1.2, as well as 2.2 dribbles compared to two. Not only that, he has won more fouls – 3.5 per outing to 2.8.

Under Wagner, Schalke have increased their average possession by just under 5% from 46.9% last term, and they will be hoping to take advantage of a Bremen team that is currently struggling. Florian Kohlfeldt’s team have not won in seven league games, and have conceded 24 goals. Only two teams have shipped more in the Bundesliga.

That is partly down to an unsettled backline. Omer Toprak, Niklas Moisander, Milos Veljkovic, Christian Groß, Theodore Gebre Selassie, Sebastian Langkamp and Marco Friedl have all lined up at some point at the heart of the defence. This uncertainty will encourage Schalke, and Harit will look to be at the centre of their attacking play.

With a market value of £14.4m, he could end up being something of a steal. Against Bremen on Saturday, Liverpool fans should tune in to see the youngster show just what all the fuss is about.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

As the saying goes, it’s a marathon not a sprint. And for Manchester City, that’s exactly the mantra that should be running through their heads day-in and day-out. Liverpool’s flawless start to the current Premier League campaign has been nothing short of outstanding, considering they have played Arsenal and Chelsea already in their first eight games.

Pep Guardiola’s side meanwhile, appearing to be doing their best impression of Jekyll and Hyde. Able to smash Watford 8-0, and then fall 2-0 to a struggling Wolves. Chalk and cheese really. It all means the Citizens already find themselves eight points adrift of Liverpool in the race for the title, and after seeing how neck-and-neck things were last year, it doesn’t bode too well for a comeback.

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

But whilst the signs appear to be against them, City do have one thing the Reds do not. Experience. The know-how of grinding your way for the full 38 games, and digging out victories in the most difficult of times. Whilst Jurgen Klopp ended his own personal trophy hoodoo at Anfield by clinching the Champions League last season, their best efforts at winning their first league title in more than a couple of decades has fallen short.

Despite the departure of Vincent Kompany, City boast a squall full of talent who have played major roles in their back-to-back Premier League triumphs. Whether it’s players in the first-team like Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero, or less high-profile players like Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, the Etihad side are brimming with title-winning experience.

Watch Manchester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It’s an intangible aspect of football that cannot be understated or overlooked. They have been around the proverbial block, and seen everything there is to see. Make no mistake about it, the pressure is truly on Liverpool, not City. Klopp’s men will have to contend with the idea of knowing this is their best shot at ending their Premier League drought, and that could prove to be a major burden on their shoulders.

Football is just as much about the mental aspect of the game, as it is to do with the feet. And City’s recent experiences gives them the upper hand over their rivals. In that age-old fable between the hare and the tortoise, it was the latter that came out on top. Slow and steady wins the race, and Guardiola’s side know that better than anyone else.

[ad_pod ]

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

For Stuart Dallas this week has been huge for him.

After admitting his love for Yorkshire and his desire to stay in the county at the beginning of the week, he was handed a new contract alongside Liam Cooper.

The Northern Irishman has been one of the Whites’ best players in 2019/20 and averages a match rating of 7.09 via WhoScored.

He has stepped in brilliantly for Luke Ayling at right-back, showing his dynamic versatility after appearing at left-back last season too.

However, after putting pen to paper on renewed terms at Elland Road, he now needs to focus on the battle he could face on Sunday.

On the chalkboard

The 28-year-old is set to come up against Mamadou Thiam on the left-hand side against Barnsley this weekend.

The Reds have struggled for goals and have only found the net four times. Thiam is yet to contribute to a goal and has started on three occasions but looked in good form against Wigan prior to the international break.

He managed two dribbles in Barnsley’s 0-0 draw with the Latics, winning two aerial duels and two tackles in the process as well, according to WhoScored.

There is a clear physical nature about him and that could prove the difference unless Dallas is at the top of his game.

The Northern Ireland international came up against Julian Brandt last Monday when his country played Germany and he nullified him well as the winger failed to produce an accurate cross. Thiam will present an altogether different test though.

Both players make a high number of tackles per match with a gap of just 0.6 between the pair according to WhoScored.

Thiam only manages 0.3 dribbles per outing which is a plus point for Dallas who is dribbled past on a regular basis at 1.5 each game.

In terms of creativity, the Leeds man appears better, particularly this season but that doesn’t mean this won’t be a contest.

Dallas likes to get forward, emphasised by his goal against Stoke but considering Thiam is adept defensively, he could have a big say by doubling up on him with the full-back when he does burst into the final third.

The right-back averages 2.5 long balls per game but if he has two men on him, including the aforementioned Barnsley man, it might cut out that supply significantly.

[ad_pod ]