Category Uncategorized

With less than a week to go until the World Cup in Russia, blind optimism is once again surrounding England after two solid performances in warm-up friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica. But in sharp contrast to previous tournaments, there’s genuine reason to be optimistic this time around – after failing to escape the group stages at the last World Cup and being dumped out of Euro 2016 by Iceland, things can only really get better for the Three Lions at major tournaments.

At the same time though, it’s clear Gareth Southgate has selected a squad with future tournaments in mind – this World Cup is essentially a testing ground and learning curve for developing talents like Tottenham’s Dele Alli and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. So, what does World Cup success really look like for England? Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts below…

James Beavis

“Given the group England have and the fact that their potential last 16 opponents look beatable on paper, you would have to think that reaching the quarter-finals is a realistic aim for Southgate’s men. Fans would certainly be overjoyed if they do get that far, and it would have to be seen as a successful campaign if they were knocked out in the last eight considering the general youthfulnesss of the squad and some of the clear weaknesses they have in their team.”

Sam Preston

“This is a young, likeable team that is easy to get behind so success really means showing what they can do on the big stage and not choking like they did at Euro 2016. Reaching the quarter finals – and even winning Group G – is not an unrealistic expectation given the nature of our draw and at that stage, this squad would be one game from etching their name into Three Lions history by emulating Italia 90…”

Danielle Joynson

“Given how recent tournaments have panned out for England, not many would be surprised if they stumbled at the early hurdle. But on paper, Southgate has good enough players to reach the quarter-finals. I’m sure the ‘young team’ excuse will be at the ready if they fail, but there are Premier League champions and top-four finishers in that squad, so anything less than qualifying for the final eight (given the likely opposition) would be a disappointment.”

Jack Newman

“In theory, England should have a relatively straightforward route to the quarter finals, but the Three Lions never like to make things easy. Considering how poor England have been in the past few tournaments, if Southgate manages to play free-flowing attacking football with players not feeling the weight of the shirt, then it could be considered a success regardless of how far we progress in the tournament.”

Chris McMullan

“For the team ranked 12th in the world, you’d probably say a last eight place. But the thing about basing success around results is the tiny margin for error: it’s one bad break and you’re gone. More likely, England will be judged on performances in the long run. A team keeping a dream alive and giving their nation hope will be remembered – like the Italia 90 side. A team drudging their way through a tournament will not – like almost every other Three Lions squad.”

Ben Goodwin

“Looking at the groups, England have probably got one of the easiest paths to the quarter-finals in the competition, so getting to the last eight should be the absolute bare minimum. With Germany or Brazil likely to be the opponents at that stage though, anything beyond that should be considered a success. A lot will depend on performances as well. Southgate has to give young talents like Alli, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford as much freedom as they have been given in the friendlies.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

Liverpool were in rampant form in the English Premier League on Tuesday night, destroying Huddersfield Town 3-0 away from home.

The result means that the Reds move five points clear of fifth placed Tottenham Hotspur, who have a desperately difficult match at home to Manchester United this evening.

Central to the win was midfielder Emre Can who not only scored the opening goal but won the penalty that Mohamed Salah converted in the second half. He added a midfield drive to Liverpool’s performance that was critical to picking up the three points.

The Germany international’s contract runs out at the end of the season and his performance on Tuesday night was a big reminder for supporters that sorting out a new deal for him would be a big bit of business.

He’s been linked with a move to Juventus recently but fans are hoping that Jurgen Klopp and the decision makers at Anfield can convince him his future lies in Liverpoool.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his situation after his star performance…

[ad_pod ]

David Ginola has offered his services to Tim Sherwood in a bid to help Tottenham qualify for the Champions League, reports the Express.

The Frenchman is set to complete his UEFA A coaching license in the summer, and is already considering where he may want to offer his help.

With former teammates Sherwood and Les Ferdinand running things at White Hart Lane, Ginola believes his experience with the likes of PSG, Newcastle, Tottenham and Aston Villa could give Tottenham the edge as they look to make the top four.

“I would love to help out,” Ginola said.

“It would be a great job to make my first steps into the business. It would be great to see how I worked with the players and whether I could add something positive to the team – especially Spurs.

“Obviously I would have some ideas and some good stuff.

“I would love to be involved with the club and bring on some new ideas about the way Tottenham should play.”

Ginola also revealed he believes he can unlock the full potential of winger Andros Townsend.

“He can really bring something to the team and when the ball reaches his feet, you can see that he has the capability of creating something completely different.

“However, when he is running at players, dribbling and doing his stuff, the final decision he makes is not really appropriate. He goes on to shoot when he should have passed or tried a one-two.

“I would love to work with him on getting all the end product. His start is always good – getting the ball from the line and running inside or outside.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“Andros should have had more goals and more assists. Too often people are disappointed with the final result. I would love to work with him to find out why he takes the decisions he does.”

Click below for great Mercedes offers!

The world of football is intrinsically linked with the antics that occur in a school playground on a daily basis. In amongst the constant barrage of screaming and shouting, there’s arrogance, ignorance, people falling to the floor every 13 seconds and individuals with whistles, who possess very little authority over the events unfolding around them.

When a game of football breaks out there’s always a boy who refuses to pass the ball or those known simply as ‘goal-hangers’, while everyone else tries to avoid being told to go in goal. These traits are understandable given the endearing naivety of children but when did professional footballers suddenly rediscover these petty preferences and specify which position they should play on a football pitch?

The latest example of petulance concerns Arsenal ‘forward’ Theo Walcott, who insists he will not put pen to paper on a new deal until he is given assurances of his future role as a striker. The England international has also stated he wants to emulate club legend Thierry Henry, a player who enjoyed a similar transition from the wing, which has evoked a sense of confusion and hysteria from the national press. Despite measuring just 5 foot 9 inches, it would appear that Walcott has his head constantly buried in the clouds.

The most infuriating aspect about this ongoing saga revolves around Walcott’s potential to be one of the best wingers ever to grace the sport. His pace, agility and formidable dribbling skills allow him to glide past most full-backs with relative ease. He doesn’t possess the physique or ‘strikers intellect’ to flourish in the aggressive battlefield at the heart of the pitch, which leads me to believe he is simply trying to fulfil a selfish desire to grab more of the headlines.

It’s worth pointing out that Walcott isn’t the only player guilty of this crime, in fact many use ‘the manager’s playing me out of position’ as the default response to a poor performance. Diego Forlan recently deployed this exact excuse to justify his failure to make an impact in Serie A with Inter Milan.

“I was playing in a position where I had never played before. I accepted it because I had no other choice. I’m here now [at Internacional], though, and I hope to play in my natural position as striker again,” (Goal.com)

In the Premier League, the familiar names of Demba Ba, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Daniel Sturridge have all voiced similar concerns about the role at their respective clubs. But the truth is, players should be able to adapt and ‘do a job for the team’ even if they feel they would have a greater influence elsewhere. James Milner continues to work tirelessly for club and country despite the fact he’s a right-footed player, playing on the left wing when it was clear at Aston Villa that he performs best in the centre of midfield. He has attracted an unwarranted level of criticism but have you ever heard him complain? The game has not evolved to the extent where players have a greater tactical knowledge than their infinitely more experienced manager.

Barcelona, arguably the greatest club side in the world, are testament to the fact that versatility within a squad breeds success. Every Catalan player has the ability to thrive in a number of different positions, which allows Tito Vilanova to effectively rotate his team in order to avoid fatigue. Arsenal fans criticised Alex Song when he moved to the Spanish giants, but his flexibility allows him to play across the spine of the team and should see him play a considerable number of games.

Perhaps players, motivated by a fear of losing their starting place, try to fashion a new and less competitive role from themselves in the team. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has certainly lured the spotlight away from Walcott with a series of inspired performances, which should help soften the blow should contract negotiations continue to stall. Nevertheless the void left behind by Robin van Persie is still yet to be filled so maybe Walcott fancies his chances up against the misfiring Olivier Giroud and the inconsistent Lukas Podolski.

Away from the pitch, the beautiful game is fast becoming an unsavoury concoction of arrogance and gluttony. It is too much to ask that players leave these traits on the sidelines once a week? Just how many current players would realistically play in any position just to ensure they secured their spot in the starting XI? It’s easy to champion this sentimental theory when talking about the likes of Wayne Rooney, who ‘love playing the game’, but I think the reality would offer up only a handful of candidates.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It strikes me that this is yet another example of a potential shift of power that seeks to give players a greater sense of control. My only hope is that clubs can remain unresponsive to the constant stream of unrealistic demands and the likes of Theo Walcott are the ones who buckle under the pressure. Otherwise these players can look forward to a new role on the bench, as an unused substitute, which is no different from the rest of us really, is it?

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I hope this song is blasted out at the Emirates for the next few weeks.

Kenedy’s name may not carry much weight in global football just yet, but he is a player that Arsenal could potentially benefit from.

The Brazilian has been on the books at Chelsea since 2015 when he signed from Fluminense.

However, since then, the 22-year-old has had loan spells at Watford and Newcastle United.

The young player particularly impressed at St James’ Park when he signed for the Magpies in January.

[ad_pod ]

During that spell, Kenedy featured 18 times in all competitions, scored three goals and created four assists.

The Brazilian was positioned on the left side of midfield by Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez, but he can also play as a wing-back or left-back.

Chelsea youngsters regularly struggle to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge, so Kenedy may feel that now is the best time to permanently cut ties with the West London outfit.

Under Arsene Wenger, full-backs were at times required to play as wing-backs, which would suit the Brazilian.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It remains to be seen, though, whether new manager Unai Emery plans to do the same.

If so, would Kenedy be a good option for the Gunners?

Let us know by voting below…

Manchester United are reportedly making positive steps in trying to bring a new winger to the club.

According to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, the Red Devils have agreed personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Moura.

It was widely reported in the summer that manager Jose Mourinho was keen to add a winger to his squad.

Inter Milan star Ivan Perisic was touted as a target, but in the end, the Portuguese coach did not strengthen that area.

Now, it appears that Mourinho has chosen Moura to fill that role, but Gazzetta dello Sport add that the two clubs are yet to agree on a deal.

The publication states that PSG have quoted a figure of £35m, but United are interested in striking an initial loan arrangement that will run for the rest of the season.

It seems that there is still a way off before an agreement is made, but according to members of the media, a deal is in motion.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

United fans have given mixed responses to the idea of the club signing Moura, who has made five Ligue 1 appearances but none of them starts.

Jack Marriott has been scoring goals for fun at reserve level over a long period of time, but the 19 year old still has only made on appearance for Ipswich.

Many have been questioning how well the young striker has been managed with most believing he would do more for the first team than the likes of Frank Nouble or Alan Lee. Additionally now that Marriott has been loaned out to non-league side Woking who play in the Skrill Premier league, critics believe his development would be better served if he stayed at Ipswich.

I was surprised myself that a team in either League One or League Two had not noticed that Marriott was consistently scoring more than a goal per game against some good reserve team defenders.

Of course it is hard to tell how the non-competitive games match up to lower league fixtures with the reserve teams being mostly composed of youth team members, fringe players and players returning from injury. However, it is safe to assume that although they are not competitive, the reserve games would be just as good as the Skrill Premier League.

It seems highly likely that Mick McCarthy places a lot of importance on the competitive side of football matches. In pre-season the former Wolves boss revealed how he strongly dislikes non-competitive fixtures and he clearly believes that unless there is something at stake you can’t have a proper game of football.

This would explain why he was willing to send his young star to a non-league side instead of leaving him in the reserves, but why did a League One or League Two not make an offer for him?

It seems that a lot of lower league sides were unwilling to give game time to a young striker without actual first team experience and a lot of managers must have an opinion similar to that of Mick McCarthy in that they don’t think much of non-competitive football.

The fact that Marriott’s loan to Woking is only one month long says a lot about the purpose of the move though. He has already scored three goals in his first two appearances and will no doubt have an impressive competitive goal scoring record to add to his CV when his loan finishes.

Once the youngster has that all important first team experience under his belt he can then either make his way into the Ipswich set up with confidence or go back out on loan at a higher level.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It seems that the main purpose of Marriott’s loan is to improve his reputation and test how well he copes outside the comfort zone of the low pressure reserve games.

The Ipswich boss is obviously still very interested in seeing what his hottest prospect can do as he attended the last Woking game to see Marriott score twice.

It wouldn’t surprise me if a number of League Two sides make loan offers for Marriott in January, then McCarthy will have a very difficult decision to make as he may well want to use the in-form striker to boost his play-off chances.

The beauty of cup competitions is their unpredictable nature. As well as shock victories you tend to see unlikely heroes who grab the headlines, whether it is scoring the winning goal; saving a decisive penalty, or simply a moment of individual brilliance. As we fast approach the 3rd Round of the Capital One Cup we decided to look back at those unlikely heroes who simply made their name in one magic moment during this prestigious Cup Competition and find out what has happened to them since.

Whatever happened to Steve Morrow…

Anybody who’s ever written an article regarding calamitous sporting celebrations will have come across the name Steve Morrow. The versatile Northern Ireland international pulled on the Gunners shirt on 62 occasions in the Premier League, but his name is still notorious amongst fans of the North London club for what happened in the 1993 League Cup Final.

Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday were locked at 1-1 after Paul Merson cancelled out a John Harkes opener before Merson then turned provider for Steve Morrow who bagged the winner with what was coincidently his first goal for the club. However, in the aftermath of the game, Tony Adams attempted to lift Morrow up to parade the match winner round the pitch, only for Adams to slip, dropping Morrow, who promptly broke his arm, causing him to miss the rest of the campaign including the FA Cup Final against the same opponents.

Morrow hadn’t long broken into the Arsenal side, having only made his debut in 1992, coming on as a substitute against Norwich City. He proved equally adept at covering positions in either midfield or the defence and this helped him become a key member of the squad during that cup double winning campaign. Despite this, Morrow found himself more marginalised the following season, making just 13 league appearances in 1993/94, but he played the game of his life in helping Arsenal to victory in the 1994 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final as the Gunners beat Parma 1-0. He also featured in the Cup Winners’ Cup Final the year after in the defeat to Real Zaragoza that is remembered most fondly in one half of North London more than the other thanks to Nayim’s outrageous lob.

Once Bruce Rioch took charge at Highbury, the writing was on the wall for Morrow and he played just five times in the whole of the 1995/96 season. The arrival of Arsene Wenger saw Morrow deemed surplus to requirements and the hero of the 1993 League Cup Final was shipped out to QPR, initially on loan before he made the deal permanent. Although the player was a regular during his time at Loftus Road, making 91 league appearances, he couldn’t stop the side being relegated from the First Division. A loan spell at Peterborough didn’t work out so Morrow headed over the pond in 2002 where he joined Dallas Burn. He made 41 appearances for the MLS outfit, and became their assistant manager after retiring due to a persistent neck injury.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

After a few spells in and out of the job, he became the permanent manager of the club in 2006 but lasted just two years in the role after struggling to help FC Dallas make any sort of impression on the division. Morrow came back to England and took up a role with Arsenal again as their International Partnerships Performance Supervisor – a role that involves scouting players in various countries and also working with a network of elite academies across the globe in grassroots football. Given Arsenal’s reputation for finding and cultivating overseas talent in their own academy, Morrow is charged with a pretty important role to find the next big thing waiting to be snapped up.

Although Morrow never produced anything as spectacular as his League Cup Final winner during the rest of his Arsenal career, he will always be remembered for his versatility and hard work at the club. He put in a decent shift in the Northern Ireland jersey as well, playing on 39 occasions and scoring just the one goal. Fortunately, his teammates were sensible enough not to pick him up and parade him round the pitch afterwards…

Aston Villa booked their spot in the Championship playoff final with a goalless draw at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.

Indeed, Villa’s 1-0 victory at the Riverside Stadium in the first leg of their semi-final proved enough to send Steve Bruce’s side into the final.

The clash at Villa Park was not exactly fantastically entertaining, but Villa were so resolute as they edged their way to Wembley.

Conor Hourihane played 85 minutes of the goalless draw before leaving the field for Glenn Whelan.

[ad_pod ]

The 27-year-old was unable to add to the 11 Championship goals that he managed during the regular season, but the midfielder’s overall performance made a big impression on the club’s supporters, and not for the first time this term.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Indeed, the Villa fans were absolutely delighted with what they saw from the Irishman, and are hoping for a similar display in the final against Fulham later this month.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

As per talkSPORT, West Ham United have been told that they need to cough up £22million to sign Atalanta’s Bryan Cristante.

During his time in Italy, the midfielder has produced numerous impressive performances, and he’s beginning to attract the interest of Europe’s most recognisable clubs.

What’s the story?

The midfielder is currently on loan at the Serie A club from Portuguese champions, Benfica, however, it is believed that the Italian club are prepared to exercise their option to sign the 22-year-old permanently before selling him for an instant profit.

It is reported that Atalanta could buy Cristante for £4.5m, before insisting upon a fee of £22m from interested parties. The Italian has allegedly aroused interest from the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan, and West Ham.

Is he worth it?

Atalanta’s number four is predominantly regarded for his attacking qualities, and he’s been especially productive for the Italian team this season. In 23 appearances for the Serie A club this season, Cristante has been directly involved in 12 goals, scoring nine and providing three assists.  Thus, he currently averages a goal or an assist every two games – a remarkable statistic for a 22-year-old.

The Italian is recognised for his proficient finishing ability, in addition to his capacity to complete intelligent through balls. Without a doubt, his presence would enhance West Ham’s attacking output.

Cristante netted three goals over two games against Everton in the Europa League group stages earlier this season, which will have caught the attention of West Ham and other clubs across the continent.

Would he fit in?

West Ham United deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation in their previous match in the Premier League, and if David Moyes is keen to establish the three at the back as the Hammers’ permanent strategy, one can envisage how Cristante would fit in their team.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Considering the wealth of attacking qualities that the Italian flaunts, he would be best utilised operating in a somewhat central position behind the striker. That said, he made 17 appearances as a central midfielder this term which is illustrative of his adaptability.