All posts by n8rngtd.top

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On-loan Aston Villa forward Tammy Abraham has revealed that he is desperate to become part of the Chelsea first team for the 2019-2020 campaign.

What’s the word, then?

Abraham told Sky Sports:

“That’s the aim going into next season. As a young kid, I’ve always believed I will play for Chelsea. I always believe that. I think I have the ability to. I just have to, when I get the opportunity, grab it with two hands.”

The 21-year-old joined Villa in last summer’s transfer window and he has been in excellent form for the Championship outfit this season.

Indeed, the two-time senior England international has scored 21 times in 31 Championship matches thus far.

Only Norwich City’s Teemu Pukki and Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp have found the back of the net on more occasions in the second tier than Abraham this term.

The striker has revealed that he is desperate to become a first-team player at Chelsea next season, though, and his words are a blow to Villa.

Have Villa got a chance of keeping him?

If they remain in the Championship then it is an obvious no.

Abraham will feel that he has now had enough football in the second tier, having also starred at Bristol City during the 2016-17 season.

It is worth remembering that the striker spent last season in the Premier League with Swansea City, but dropped back to the Championship last summer.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Villa are currently in the playoff positions following an excellent run of form and will be looking to Abraham for more goals before the end of the campaign.

Even if Dean Smith’s side are promoted, though, it seems extremely unlikely that they will be able to re-sign the attacker for the 2019-2020 season.

Chelsea are short of strike options and with a two-window transfer ban looming, it looks as though they’ll be forced to finally maximise the potential of their vast loan army – in which Abraham is a part of.

Rangers have dodged a bullet with this one! The Northern Echo are reporting Stewart Downing would prefer a move to Sunderland over the Gers, but that’s certainly not a bad thing.

The ex-Liverpool man never fulfilled his potential and he’s not faring too well in the Championship either. He’s played 30 games this season but has only made one assist and scored two goals. Rangers fans certainly wouldn’t have been licking their lips at that if he signed.

He’s basically another Eros Grezda, with the Algerian having scored and assisted the same overwhelmingly poor number. Perhaps Downing’s even worse because he’s made 17 more appearances than Grezda this season.

Downing’s 34-years-old now and he’s way past his best, so his connection with ex-teammate Steven Gerrard has made it look like it was going to be more of a ‘jobs for the boys’ signing. He’s clearly not good enough to take Rangers to the title next season, which is certainly their aim.

They need to build a long-term future for the club at the top of Scottish football, so signing a man a couple of years off retirement, if he’s lucky, would just make a mockery of their plans. It’d also send a poor message to the young lads at Rangers who would have had less of a chance to break through with a dinosaur in front of them.

It’s a blessing in disguise that Downing looks like he’ll reject a move to Ibrox that didn’t really make sense in the first place. Gerrard needs to sign fitter, younger players he can mould to create an era of success.

Rangers fans, who do you think Gerrard should sign instead of Stewart Downing? Join the discussion by commenting below.

As an outsider looking in, being a backup player for any team looks like a lonely job.

Minutes are hard to come by, weeks and months could be spent just sitting on the substitute bench, and it seems no matter how hard they try the only way to start games is either in cup competitions or an injury to other players.

For Carl Jenkinson, though, being a backup has been the story for most of his career, but being second fiddle to Hector Bellerin is something the fans aren’t fazed about one bit.

Dubbed “the professional Arsenal fan” by the supporters, Jenkinson has won a special place in the hearts of fans for being the player that gives it 100% no matter how long he hasn’t played for and for being a well-documented follower of the club.

Since joining the club from Charlton as a 19-year-old in the summer of 2011, Jenkinson has only managed 69 appearances for the club in the eight years the right-back has spent at Arsenal, and although many thought his time would be over when Unai Emery came to the club the 27-year-old defender has been of some use for the Spaniard this season.

Jenkinson has started three Europa League games this season, all of them in the group stage, and in February the England-born defender started his first Premier League game in nearly two years for the Gunners, and his first start in the league at the Emirates Stadium since 2013.

Although Ainsley Maitland-Niles has established himself as the replacement for Hector Bellerin as the Spaniard recovers from an ACL injury, Jenkinson is surely likely to remain at the club next season as a backup yet again.

But not just backup in the right-back, but as reinforcement in every position of the defence. Emery has done some tinkering to Jenkinson’s game this season, transforming him from a right-sided defender and nothing more to a player who can play across the back four.

Jenkinson has played and impressed in every area of defence this season, and with the fullback entering the prime years of his career it won’t be a surprise to see more of the English defender next season as Arsenal’s surprise backup defender.

Arsenal fans, what is your favourite Jenkinson memory?

It takes little reminding that Arsenal’s defence needs a proper overhaul in the summer. Indeed, the Gunners’ shocking defending has often held them back this season and, frankly, Unai Emery needs to address this concern if he aims to challenge for bigger things in his second season.

However, it seems he’s already started drawing the blueprint for potential signings. According to reports from Argentinian reporter Martin Liberman (via Football London), the Spaniard wants to sign Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico to slot into his side’s defence next season. Interestingly, the Argentine’s being dubbed as the new Javier Zanetti thanks to his versatility in defence and ability going forward as well, impressing in the Dutch capital.

Tagliafico’s been a crucial part of Ajax’s stunning season and was rock solid in their amazing UEFA Champions League success at the Santiago Bernabeu, keeping some world-class attackers quiet in one of the most excitingly fluid sides on the continent this term. Furthermore, he’s been extremely consistent in the left-back slot for the Dutch giants, being rock-solid defensively and ambitious going forward as well.

The Argentine left back’s having a stellar individual season, helping Ajax keep 13 clean sheets in the league, along with a few in Europe. He’s averaging 2.3 tackle per game, 2.1 interceptions, 1.7 clearances per game (stats via WhoScored) while making a few key passes every other game as well.  In terms of the stats every football fan will love, he’s scored one, assisted four in Eredivisie, with his impressive passing and crossing ability elevating Ajax’s game.

Simply put, he’d be a wonderful signing for the Gunners and one who can slot seamlessly into Emery’s system at the Emirates stadium. Tactically versatile and strong enough to get up and down the pitch, you Arsenal fans can bet your bottom dollar you’d have a new cult-hero on your hands.

It’ll be very difficult to pry him away from Ajax with other big clubs surely keen. However, Emery could get the perfect blend of Nacho Monreal’s defensive knowledge and Sead Kolasinac’s attacking flair in the reliable Tagliafico, whose intelligence and grit will make them rock-solid defensively.

Arsenal fans, would you be pleased with Tagliafico’s potential arrival in the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Discussion over who could potentially replace Samu Saiz at Leeds United has been a hot topic at Elland Road ever since the Spanish playmaker suddenly left for Getafe.

Tyler Roberts has been a revelation in a number ten role since the turn of the year, but a glaring lack of depth in attacking midfield has left Marcelo Bielsa short of options beyond the 20-year-old.

However, according to a recent report from Football Insider, Leeds have identified Wigan Athletic’s Nick Powell, whose contract is due to expire in the summer, as a potential replacement for Saiz, although a number of Championship and top-flight clubs are also interested in luring him away from the DW Stadium.

With this report in mind, Football FanCast writers have been debating whether Leeds should sign Powell in the summer, and not everybody at FFC towers is completely convinced by Wigan’s gem…

Ben Goodwin

“No. Quite simply Powell is not the calibre of playing Leeds should be pursuing if they want any hope of staying in the Premier League, assuming they get there that is. He has never scored more than 7 goals in a Championship season and has completed a woeful 64.9% of his passes this season, the complete opposite of what Marcelo Bielsa expects from his players. Aim higher.”

Billy Myers

“Nick Powell is a very good player, but is yet to show that he can do it in the Premier League. If Leeds end up failing in their push for promotion, Powell would be a brilliant signing for Bielsa and a capable replacement for Samu Saiz. However, if they do end up jumping into the top-flight Bielsa may need to target a player of better quality than Powell.”

James Beavis

“Only if they stay in the Championship. Powell has proven that he can be effective at this level and he could be a big part of the Leeds team that would once again be aiming for promotion next season. However, should the Yorkshire outfit secure promotion, Bielsa must aim higher because the Whites will be able to attract a much higher calibre of player to Elland Road with the Premier League wages they will be able to offer.”

Harry Sherlock

“No. Regardless of whether Leeds win promotion or not, we’ve seen Powell struggle at numerous clubs and it is doubtful he’d take to Bielsa and his high intensity style. Let him stay where he is and aim higher this summer.”

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Liverpool fans on Twitter have been busy discussing a hypothetical move for Wilfried Zaha, after the question over whether or not the winger would be a good signing was tipped to the fanbase.

The Ivory Coast international has excelled for Crystal Palace over the last few seasons, particularly standing out with his dribbling skills and ability to draw fouls from the opposition.

Mo Salah has been brutally mocked for his recent diving antics in a new video by 442oons. Check it out below…

Zaha, 26, has eight goals and three assists to his name this term, but would be hard to prise away from the Eagles having only recently signed a contract extension.

Liverpool are in need of some depth to their attack, as Divock Origi is the only attacker on the bench who can provide any kind of impact when replacing either Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane.

As a result of this dilemma, the Reds fanbase have been discussing whether or not Zaha would be a good addition.

And plenty of fans touted the merits of a potential deal, labelling him a perfect player and suggesting that he’s exactly what Jurgen Klopp is missing in attack.

Here’s what the Liverpool fans have had to say about Zaha…

Have always been a fan of him and he would be a great addition to our forward line

— #LFC-Ghana ?? (@FrankYeboahk) April 11, 2019

Liverpool are still well within reach of landing the Premier League title after a 2-0 win at Cardiff City this weekend.

The Reds are hoping to beat Man City to top spot in what is an exciting battle to the finish in the English top flight, and manager Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to land the title.

However, Liverpool are going to want to keep up the pressure for years to come at the top, and to do so, they will need to ensure they keep adding new faces to the ranks to make sure the squad keeps improving and challenging.

This weekend has seen the Reds linked with Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, who has been in fine form for the French side this season.

Pepe has been a vital cog for the French side, scoring some 19 goals across the course of the campaign and pushing PSG to some extent in the race for the Ligue 1 title.

The winger though is bound to attract attention due to his performances, and if he was to sign for Liverpool he could prove to be the ideal sort of signing for Klopp and his team.

A pacey forward who can also play in the wide positons, he’d suit the quick attacking style of Liverpool and take some of the pressure off the likes of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in wide areas.

Pepe is definitely going to get his move sooner or later, and Liverpool need to ensure they dont’ miss the boat with this one and get their big money bid in as soon as they can.

Steven Gerrard has invested big at Rangers already and he does not look like stopping anytime soon, with two new signings reportedly in the offing.

As per Football Insider, Rangers are closing in on the signatures of Motherwell attacker Jack Hastie and Birmingham City playmaker Greg Stewart.

Hastie has been the subject of interest from a number of English clubs, but it looks like the Glasgow behemoths are going to pip them all this summer with terms apparently on a long-term contract already agreed between the club and player (as per Footballer Insider).

A Rangers source has also revealed that Rangers are in advanced negotiations to ready to welcome Stewart to Ibrox on a pre-contract and beat Derby County and Aberdeen to his signature.

Both Hastie and Stewart will be available on free when their contracts run out at the end of the campaign and this has alerted Gerrard, Rangers and their director of football Mark Allen to the potential of replicating the immense success they had with Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor this time last year, whose deals also expired at Burnley and Hull City, respectively.

The power and influence the league leaders have previously enjoyed allowing them to bring in the likes of Timothy Weah and Oliver Burke has given them a major advantage, but with Rangers seemingly on the mend and on their way up, there is no reason why they cannot flex their influence in the market and return Ibrox to its former glory. Starting with Hastie and Stewart.

It is time now for Steven Gerrard to lay down the gauntlet and prepare his players for a test of their resolve. No excuses for anyone.

Rangers fans, how much pressure is Steven Gerrard under to get things right next season? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Moussa Sissoko and Jan Vertonghen have both returned to Tottenham Hotspur training ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg tie against Ajax, per the London Evening Standard.

Vertonghen was absent from the weekend’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United while Sissoko sustained a groin injury in the first leg of the quarter-final encounter with Manchester City.

Plan A

Plan A, quite obviously, sees both Sissoko and Vertonghen restored to the XI.

Sissoko offers the engine required to take the ball from his defenders and push the play forward on the transition, and he can be trusted to play in a two-man midfield, potentially alongside Eric Dier, a player who thrives on winning the ball back and recycling it simply.

Vertonghen will surely start if he is fit and that would allow manager Mauricio Pochettino to deploy a three-man backline, with Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez alongside him.

All three players used to play for Ajax, and utilising such a defence could nullify the Dutch club’s nippy wingers and creative midfielders.

Of course, Fernando Llorente is likely to play up front in the absence of the injured Harry Kane and the suspended Son Heung-Min, but there is nothing Spurs can particularly do about that.

Plan B

Pochettino may be forced into plan B if Vertonghen and Sissoko fail to prove their fitness in time for kick-off tomorrow evening.

This is far less ideal. Alderweireld and Sanchez do have an excellent partnership but the latter has been prone to lapses in recent months and could prove something of an Achilles heel for Spurs, particularly without the protection of Vertonghen. Juan Foyth is unlikely to be trusted in such a momentous game.

Dele Alli has been out of form in recent months and turned in a truly woeful performance at the weekend as West Ham United became the first away team to win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Nevertheless, the only alternative to him in midfield is the 18-year-old Oliver Skipp and, like Foyth, it is difficult to foresee him being trusted by Pochettino in a game of this magnitude.

Thus, with Alli out of form, Pochettino could instead rely on brawn instead of brains and pick both Dier and Victor Wanyama to shield a two-man central defensive partnership and potentially free up Alli, valued at £90 million by Transfermarkt, to roam forward.

He has not made any impact in that area of the pitch in recent outings, however, and he would need to turn in a season-defining performance for Spurs to have any hope of securing a first-leg lead in what is perhaps the club’s biggest game in their recent history.

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Kieran Trippier has suggested that Son Heung-Min holds the key to beating Ajax in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, per Sky Sports.

What’s the word?

Spurs lost 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday, with Donny van de Beek scoring the only goal of the game.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men, of course, were limited by a number of notable absences, including striker Harry Kane, midfielder Harry Winks and the suspended Son.

The South Korea international will be back for the second leg in Amsterdam, however, with Spurs aware that they need to win to have any chance of reaching the final in Madrid.

And Trippier believes that victory is possible for a team that have so far knocked out Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City, though he was sure to namecheck one star who could, ultimately, prove vital.

He told Sky Sports: “It was a difficult first 20, 25 minutes. We just couldn’t close them down as we like to, the pressing that we do week in, week out.

“I thought we gradually got into the game and kept on pushing. We gave everything to try and equalise in the second half.

“Obviously it is only 1-0 – we go to their place next week and hopefully we can get a performance.

“Sonny is back for the next leg and we will give everything we have got. We all believe, we have the belief in the squad.

“Next Wednesday, we have nothing to lose. We will try to score as many goals as we can, like we did at Man City – and anything can happen.”

A repeat of City

Son, valued at £58.5 million by Transfermarkt, was brilliant across both legs against City.

He scored the only goal of the game in the home leg as Spurs won 1-0 and then netted a brace in the helter-skelter second leg, with his side coming out victorious on away goals after a 4-3 defeat.

Trippier, then, is spot on to pinpoint the threat offered by the 26-year-old, who has scored 20 goals and laid on 10 assists in all competitions this season.

Son offers a very different threat to the lumbering, immobile Fernando Llorente and, with him in the team, Spurs have a chance of once again coming back from the dead in Europe.

Having been written off in the group stages after taking one point from their opening three games and been massive underdogs against City, it would be foolish to underestimate them again.