All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sheffield Wednesday are still looking for their fifth permanent manager in three years following the sacking of Tony Pulis nearly a month ago.

The 63-year-old was given his marching orders by Owls owner Dejphon Chansiri after a run of games which saw the Yorkshiremen win just once in ten outings.

Pulis was soon thrown under the bus by the Thai businessman for a variety of reasons, but what stuck out most was how unhappy he was with the style of football on offer.

Chansiri told reporters in a virtual press conference, via talkSPORT: “I was not convinced about his style of play so it was not the right choice,” before adding: “I told him I don’t like the old English style but he told me he wouldn’t play like that, his tactics would depend on the opponents.”

This is something he’ll have to get right with his next appointment and he ought to look no further than Slavisa Jokanovic, who has been linked with the vacant managerial role in the past week.

The 52-year-old has twice won promotion from the Championship, taking both Watford and then Fulham up to the Premier League, which ultimately will be the Owls’ long-term goal should they stave off relegation this campaign.

It’s been over 20 years since top-flight football was played at Hillsborough Stadium.

Aside from his obvious ability to improve teams drastically, Jokanovic has always been lauded for his exciting and attacking brand of football. Indeed, his Cottagers were once dubbed the ‘Man City of the Championship’ by the Guardian’s Paul MacInnes.

In addition to that, the Premier League’s official website wrote this about that very side: “They play attractive football based on movement and domination of the ball.”

Former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe once lauded the Serbian as an “outstanding coach” to Sky Sports, and added: “The style of play is one that draws a lot of praise, a lot of plaudits last year for the way they did it.”

While Jordi Cruyff, who appointed him at Maccabi Tel Aviv, also praised his coaching ability, he said: “He played various systems. He does like to play from behind but he also likes to adapt himself to moments that he might not have control of. I think his reading of the game was very good.”

The Owls have endured many a playing style over the years, but this type of football is most comparable to that of the Ron Atkinson era, the very man to guide Wednesday to League Cup glory in 1991.

ExaminerLive described his side as “attractive” and “entertaining,” claiming that they had a “swashbuckling style of play,” so it’s easy to see why so many would be keen to see Jokanovic appointed.

Time is running out this January for any new hire, so Chansiri ought to act sooner rather than later and there isn’t a better candidate than the two-time promotion winner out there right now.

He could bring shades of Atkinson back to south Yorkshire.

AND in other news, Forget Murphy: Owls must secure future for £20k-p/w ace who Pulis dubbed a “top player”…

After impressing from the bench in Charlton Athletic’s recent fixtures, Nigel Adkins must include Chuks Aneke in his starting XI this Sunday.

Having joined Charlton on a free transfer back in 2019, Aneke is yet to cement a regular place in the Addicks’ first team, with the £5,400-per-week forward starting just 11 times in League One this season, while making a further 26 appearances from the bench.

However, despite only featuring for an average of 41 minutes per game, the 27-year-old has impressed for the Addicks, bagging 15 goals and registering two assists in the league.

Aneke once again put in a show-stopping performance from the bench against Lincoln City last time out, scoring a goal and providing an assist in the 3-1 win – with his SofaScore match rating of 8.4 ranking him as the best player from either side on the day, despite only being on the pitch for 44 minutes.

Not only is he Charlton’s top league goalscorer, the timing of his strikes have often been game-changing – as was seen with his last-minute equaliser against Accrington Stanley, a result which kept Charlton’s play-off hopes alive.

As such, considering that Adkins’ side must get a win against Hull City today if they are to have any hope of securing a place in the play-offs, it would seem most advisable to allow Aneke as much time on the pitch as possible, considering just how influential he has been for the club this season.

With Ian Maatsen having been struggling for form of late, it would seem the logical move to replace the 19-year-old with Aneke for Sunday’s clash, as the player Lee Bowyer dubbed “immense” has proven so many times this season that he is the man for the big occasion.

In other news: Lost possession 15x: Charlton passenger who committed six fouls let Adkins down against Lincoln – opinion

It was a hugely frustrating evening for Leicester on Friday night as they could only draw 1-1 with Southampton despite the Saints being down to ten men for the majority of the clash.

Defender Jannik Vestergaard was sent off early on but the Foxes failed to seize the initiative, even going behind to James Ward-Prowse’s spot-kick before Jonny Evans’ equaliser.

There were certainly a few poor performances throughout Brendan Rodgers’ team during the match, with a surprise name being included on that list in left-back Luke Thomas.

Deployed at wing-back, the 19-year-old’s main responsibility was to provide width and thrust down the Foxes’ left-hand side – an assignment which he failed.

According to WhoScored, the £25,000-per-week defender did not produce a single dribble or key pass. As a matter of fact, he was only one of three outfield players for Leicester not to produce a telling pass for his teammates – the other two being centre-backs Evans and Wesley Fofana.

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Having also not completed a single cross throughout the game, his real lack of attacking threat was clear to see.

Meanwhile, Thomas was also hugely wasteful on the ball. He could only accumulate a 75.6% passing accuracy throughout the game, which was superior only to Kelechi Iheanacho among the Foxes’ starting XI.

Whilst his attacking statistics were underwhelming to say the least, Thomas’ defensive numbers were not all too inspiring either, contributing just two tackles and two clearances, although that was somewhat more understandable considering that the majority of the game was played in Southampton’s half of the pitch.

The Leicester left-back’s evening was eventually brought to an end in the 67th minute as he was replaced by Marc Albrighton.

Brendan Rodgers will certainly be expecting better from the youngster as the Foxes set their sights on Newcastle United next weekend.

AND in more news, find out which midfield star could be the next to sparkle in the Leicester first team…

Many Aston Villa fans have flocked to the latest post from Ashley Preece on social media platform Twitter.

The journalist recently tweeted about the Aston Villa ownership, confirming that the club’s owners have now put in another £10m to help cover costs. Preece added that the Villa owners have pumped a total of £97m into the club since the season started. They invested £30m in September and added a further £57m later in 2020.

Preece wrote an article for the Birmingham Mail regarding the latest cash injection, providing more details about Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens helping the club financially. The article stated that both owners have been lauded by many the club’s supporters for keeping Aston Villa debt-free despite the financial impact of the pandemic.

The full financial accounts of Companies House have stated that Sawiris and Edens have put in £126.4m to Aston Villa between May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020. In the current season, the club have spent £91.22m on transfers, following on from £143.55m in 2019/20..

It shows that the club’s owners have certainly contributed a lot to Villa financially and Preece’s tweet drew the attention of many Villa fans who were full of praise for the owners.

What did Villa fans make of Preece’s tweet?

“We should be naming one of our stands after Nassef and Wes. They have been absolutely incredible from day one. Just good people.”

Credit: @tonywright25

“Absolute legends at the moment.”
Credit: @Longclaw9
“Where’s the statue.”
Credit: @RaiGurshaan
“We are so lucky, we really are.”
Credit: @TomeRa1der
“Give them a knighthood.”
Credit: @AVFCharvey04
“Rename the North stand the NSWE stand when the rebuild it.”
Credit: @_ElliotAV
In other news, ‘Smith needs replacing’, ‘Not good’ – Many AVFC fans erupt as update on ‘selfish’ ace emerges

Celtic’s search for a new manager has taken on a number of twists and turns since Neil Lennon left but we are still no closer to discovering his Parkhead successor.

The Bhoys have targeted a number of coaches but they may well be stuck with the man currently in interim charge.

What’s the word?

Eddie Howe has long been the favourite to succeed Lennon in Glasgow but Roy Keane is now back on Celtic’s radar as the former stalls over a move.

However, John Kennedy is reportedly still in the frame to become the new boss.

GIVEMESPORT reported last week that a positive result in the Old Firm derby on Sunday would raise his hopes but their defeat doesn’t seem to have mattered.

Speaking to Football Insider this week, former Scotland manager Alex McLeish revealed that one of Kennedy’s close friends thinks he stands a chance of getting the gig on a permanent basis.

McLeish began: “John has got a good reputation. A friend of mine up in Glasgow is very pally with him and he thinks that John could definitely step up. John’s got to be believing that as well.”

He added: “I think that Celtic will be looking for more experience in a coach than John has at this moment. Although, he has been in and around the first team for donkey’s years. I believe that the Celtic fans will be looking for the announcement of a big name.”

Not ideal news

As McLeish states, the supporters at Paradise will be looking for a bigger name from within the football world to take them forward.

As a result, news that Kennedy and his close friends see him as the next permanent manager is not ideal for fans of the club.

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You only need to assess his recent record to understand why hiring him would be a mistake.

Kennedy has never managed a first-team before and to throw him in at the deep end with so much at stake would be a huge gamble.

What’s required at Celtic this summer is a mass clear out, the overseeing of a new backroom structure and the entrance of new players to bolster their title ambitions.

All of that cannot be done with an inexperienced head at the helm. His record while the interim manager has hardly been groundbreaking either.

The Hoops may have defeated Livingston 6-0 but that remains the only outstanding result from Kennedy’s tenure.

They officially lost the title under his watch while they drew 0-0 with Dundee United and were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the hands of Rangers last weekend.

He’s not been able to improve Celtic’s shoddy defence either; such were the performances of Diego Laxalt and Jonjoe Kenny last Sunday.

Odsonne Edouard still looks sluggish too. He missed a succession of chances, including a golden opportunity from the spot just a matter of days ago.

In many senses, Kennedy still has the lingering vibe of Lennon imprinted on his methods. Dermot Desmond has to look elsewhere if Celtic are to be successful again.

AND in other news, Director of Football makes big Celtic manager claim, Desmond won’t be happy…

According to transfer reports, Leeds remain interested in signing Sampdoria defender Omar Colley this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the 1.91m-tall (6 foot 3) defender is of interest to Marcelo Bielsa’s side ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window, and it now appears that a deal is very much there to be done.

According to ClubDoria46 (via Sport Witness), Sampdoria’s owner Massimo Ferrero is looking for a price between €10m and €15m (£8.6m-£12.9m) in order to sell him.

The report added that, along with Leeds, fellow Premier League sides Fulham and West Ham are also interested in signing the centre-back.

Bielsa will be relieved

Amid an impressive return to the Premier League this season, one of the big problems Bielsa has faced at Elland Road has been Leeds’ difficulty in dealing with set pieces – their tally of 15 conceded is the highest by far of any team in the division.

In signing Colley, Victor Orta would go a long way to addressing that problem, giving the Whites a centre-back who is an absolute monster in the air. This season has seen him win 2.9 aerial duels per game, which would rank him second among Bielsa’s current squad, with only club captain Liam Cooper averaging more with 3.9 per match.

In addition, as per Whoscored, his average of 2.6 interceptions per game would rank him first among all of Leeds’ players, while his 4.2 clearances per match also sees him comfortably above any of Bielsa’s current squad.

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Colley appears to have that ‘safety-first’ mentality which might just give the Leeds manager a completely different option to what he currently has at his disposal.

Rather than having his strengths being able to play out from the back, Colley excels more so within the width of his own penalty area. Just having a player like the Sampdoria ace who relishes the ‘dirty’ side of the game might just help Leeds shore things up more firmly.

Meanwhile, Leeds are facing a transfer battle to sign this midfielder…

The Athletic’s Crystal Palace journalist Matt Woosnam has recently provided some details about Jean-Philippe Mateta’s situation at the club.

Mateta had joined Palace on a loan deal in the January transfer window and his term at the club ends after 18 months, when the Eagles have the option to sign him. However, the striker has not featured regularly for Roy Hodgson’s men in recent weeks.

Woosnam provides Mateta update

The Athletic recently opened up a Q&A session for Palace fans ahead of their game against Everton. One fan asked Woosnam about Mateta and his lack of involvement in the Palace first-team under Hodgson.

The 23-year-old didn’t start against the Toffees on Monday either, but Woosnam revealed that the striker is a long-term signing for Palace even though Mateta was aware of a plan to use him this season. The journalist compared him to Michy Batshuayi, saying that his hold-up play isn’t great and he doesn’t fit into Hodgson’s plan and tactics at the moment.

Here’s what the journalist said in full: “He is on an 18-month loan, he was aware that the plan was to use him here and there in this season and then see how he does going forward. It’s a longer-term signing who can contribute now but is there for the future. Based on his performances to date and also what can be gleaned from the data and observations from previous clubs, he is someone who needs service and the ball to come to him, he doesn’t hold it up well. To some extent there are similarities with Batshuayi.

“But he doesn’t particularly suit Hodgson’s system or style at the moment.”

Despite limited game-time, Mateta has already scored once for Palace, finding the back of the net against Brighton back in February (Transfermarkt).

Mateta signing could work out in the long-term

Before arriving at Palace, the £13.5m-rated Mateta had impressed for Mainz this season. He played 15 Bundesliga games for them, scoring seven times and getting one assist for the club. He also got three goals in two DFB Pokal games for Die Nullfünfer (as per Transfermarkt).

It shows that he is certainly an able goalscorer and, while he might not fit Hodgson’s system, the manager’s contract at Palace runs out in the summer. Palace could well have a new man in charge from next season onwards, and perhaps that could help Mateta to flourish at Selhurst Park.

In other news, many Palace fans have been reacting to a news about Eddie Howe – read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela is a wanted man this summer, and Daniel Levy ought to finally offload him as there may never be a better opportunity to do so…

What’s the word?

According to Evening Standard journalist Jack Rosser, Serie A outfit Bologna are eyeing up a transfer swoop for the 29-year-old, who will soon enter the final year of his current contract.

I Rossoblu sporting director Walter Sabatini confirmed their interest in the Spurs star, he said: “Lamela is one of the names we are looking into. We are trying to understand if there are possibilities to get there and there is no guarantee.”

It’s thought that the Italian side could lose six-goal Riccardo Orsolini to their league rivals, AC Milan, and the Argentine is someone who could replace him at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

“Of course, should Orsolini leave, there would be no better substitute. We will see,” added Sabatini.

Time’s up

Lamela is one of Spurs’ longest-serving players, he alongside Hugo Lloris are the only two to remain from the Andre Villas-Boas era but between the pair, there is a massive difference.

As club captain, the French goalkeeper has been a frequent part of the squad for many years, racking up 363 appearances – and counting. Whereas, Lamela’s time in north London has been blighted by persistent injury problems and inconsistencies.

The £14.4m-rated enigma has racked up 251 matches for the club, but that comes at an average of just 31 appearances per season. When you consider the vast number of competitions Spurs have been competing in – often a European spell alongside two domestic trophies and, of course, the Premier League, that isn’t much at all.

Nor has he ever particularly delivered in terms of goal contributions, managing only 37 goals and 47 assists – that’s one goal contribution every three matches.

His current challengers for a starting spot are doing vastly better – summer loan arrival Gareth Bale is managing a goal or assist every 98 minutes (one every 1.9 games), whilst Lucas Moura is delivering a goal every 136 minutes (one contribution every 2.6 games).

As per Transfermarkt, Lamela has missed 133 games through an array of injuries, ranging from calf and hamstring strains to back problems.

Considering Levy paid €30m (£26m) for his services, he just hasn’t got much bang for his buck and given he is entering the final 12 months of his contract, there will not be a better time to cash in.

This much has been backed up by Football Insider pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, who claimed that Lamela has “not really lived up to expectations” and claimed that “If Jose Mourinho is given a bit of money he will definitely get rid of Lamela” in the summer.

The Spurs boss lauded Lamela as “amazing” and “fantastic” earlier in the season whilst Mauricio Pochettino once dubbed him a “big talent,” so it’s easy to see why he’s been in N17 for so long, though there shouldn’t be any place for sentiment.

Earlier in the season, he was dubbed “pathetic” by Sky Sports’ Graeme Souness (via football.london) in reaction to him getting Anthony Martial sent off in their 6-1 whitewash of Manchester United, and more recently, we saw a similar situation as the winger went from the sensational – scoring a rabona against Arsenal – before receiving his marching orders for a second silly yellow card.

Lamela has been given plenty of time at Spurs, but time is now up for him to make much of an impact on their future, and on the above evidence, he must be sold this summer should a suitable offer come in.

AND in other news, Spurs eye “special” manager to replace Mourinho – it would be a disaster…

Fans of Sunderland have been reacting to a post on Twitter, in which the club confirmed that the Black Cats winger, Jack Diamond, has signed a new deal with the club. One supporter called the news ‘huge’.

So far this season, Diamond has been in decent form over his 18 League One appearances for Lee Johnson’s side, with the 21-year-old scoring one goal and registering two assists, as well as averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.75.

With the winger’s current contract expiring at the end of the season, the Black Cats confirmed in a statement on their club website on Wednesday that Diamond has penned a new deal that will keep the academy product at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2024.

And, after the club relayed this news on Twitter, fans of Sunderland flocked to have their say on the matter, with many appearing delighted at the prospect of Diamond remaining at their club for the foreseeable future.

So, what exactly did these Sunderland fans have to say in reaction to the news regarding Jack Diamond?

“More good news.”

@SAFCGeorge6

“Love to see that. Great work.”

@Jamestweddell

“At last!!!”

@itsmarcroberts

“Brilliant news.”

@Noodle86stu

“Huge.”

@JamieSAFC_

“It just gets better.”

@Jensonnn17

“Mint move.”

@AlanBsafc

“YESSSSS.”

@leon88752755

In other news: loads of Sunderland fans were ecstatic after the club confirmed this ‘absolutely magnificent’ news – find out more here!

Writing for the Telegraph, journalist Chris Bascombe has lifted the lid on why Fenway Sports Group won’t be changing their approach to Liverpool despite being set to receive a $750 million (£539 million) investment from RedBird Capital Partners – which has prompted Reds to erupt on social media.

It has been reported over the last two days that, alongside LeBron James becoming an FSG partner, Liverpool are set to receive a significant cash injection after approving the £539m investment by RedBird.

However, Bascombe has warned Liverpool supporters to not get too overly excited in regards to how this effects issues like transfer policy – saying the approach from FSG will be no different and this news should not signal the start of a new era.

As a result, many Reds erupted on social media in response to the insight – find all of their verdicts down below, look away now John W. Henry…

Liverpool fans erupt over FSG claim

“Lol we are finished had fun for 3 years it’s over now teams have gotten way better dead owners no investment”

Credit: @NabyDazzler

“FSG out”

Credit: @Is_Alive101

“Disgraceful owners”

Credit: @DJ08_

“Sell to buy merchants living off Klopps genius”

Credit: @Corballyred

“FSG out asap”

Credit: @DavidVaughan5

“We’re done for. SELL UP!”

Credit: @_jms98

“Absolute joke”

Credit: @Tjtrxcxy10

“Why am I not surprised? Absolute parasites”

Credit: @Hendoshuffle1

In other news: Liverpool fans also want this player signed, find out more here.