All posts by z3u9t.icu

On-loan Glasgow Rangers ace Glenn Middleton scored for St Johnstone on Saturday to secure them a top six Premiership finish.

Middleton shines

Middleton moved to the Saints on loan in January after failing to break into Steven Gerrard’s first team. On Saturday, he was in action for the fifth time for his new side as they played Ross County (Transfermarkt).

The 21-year-old only came on from the bench, but that still gave him enough time to be a hero as he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory. The win means St Johnstone will end the campaign in the top six (BBC).

Big statement

Despite not starting the match, Middleton has emerged as a hero at McDiarmid Park. St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson called his attitude “brilliant” (via sportsmole.co.uk), and this goal may just convince the boss to give the winger a starting berth in the next match against Dundee in the Scottish Cup third round.

Gerrard will no doubt be pleased that Middleton has been able to have an impact on loan. With five goals and five assists for the Gers so far, the former Norwich City youngster has displayed quality when given the chance; and he still has plenty of time ahead of him to break into the 55-time Scottish champions’ side on a regular basis.

A few more moments like the one on Saturday may give him a stronger chance of making the grade at Ibrox as he sends a clear message to his manager back at his parent club.

In other news, many Rangers fans are livid at this pundit’s comments.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has criticised Dejphon Chansiri for causing friction in his relationship with ex-Owls manager Tony Pulis.

Pulis was sacked as Wednesday manager at the end of last December after just 10 games in charge.

In a statement on the club’s official website (via BBC), Chansiri stated that the Welshman was removed from the Hillsborough dugout because of poor results and “other issues” going on behind the scenes.

Palmer, however, is refusing to accept the notion that Pulis was the main culprit, suggesting that Chansiri had made promises to the 63-year-old that he did not keep.

The retired England international told FFC:

“Tony Pulis is a seasoned manager. If anybody could have turned their fortunes around, it would have been Tony and he didn’t last two minutes, and I think that’s because the chairman, reading between the lines, promised him money to spend in the transfer window and there were no funds available.”

Chansiri has since turned to Darren Moore, who has a mammoth task in trying to keep Wednesday in the Championship. While the Owls do have a game in hand, they still find themselves in a deep hole, currently 23rd in the table with 32 points on the board.

Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips believes there are two areas of the pitch in which Leeds United must improve next season.

The summer transfer window could be a busy one at Elland Road as Marcelo Bielsa aims to fine-tune his squad. Leeds are currently in mid-table in the Premier League, and while that may suggest not too many reinforcements are needed, the hope is that next season sees a push for European football.

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Phillips discusses Leeds’ summer business

Speaking to Football Insider, Phillips claimed a left-back and a striker need to come in at the end of the season, pinpointing them as the key areas to improve upon:

“They need a left back and another striker before anything else.

“They’re your two main priorities when you look at the Leeds squad, a recognised left back and another striker because they’ve relied heavily on Bamford this season.

“It’s always difficult in your second season so they’re the priorities. They could also look to get a utility player in the midfield area that can do two or three different jobs.

“Those players should be the priority.”

Transfer Tavern take

It is hard to disagree with Phillips’ thoughts on Leeds’ summer business, with the rest of the squad well covered in terms of quality and depth.

The seemingly imminent exit of Ezgjan Alioski will leave a void at left-back and Bielsa can’t be depending on youngster Leif Davis at this point given his lack of experience, with just 31 minutes of league action coming his way this season.

Equally, Leeds have relied on the goals of Patrick Bamford too much this term – his league tally of 14 is twice as much as anyone else – so they need another option to add more firepower in the final third.

In other news, one pundit has been explaining a key moment that happened after Liam Cooper’s red card against Manchester City. Read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur legend Gary Mabbutt has told Football FanCast that Luka Modric will go down as one of the best ever signings in the club’s history.

Spurs face Dynamo Zagreb in the last-16 of the Europa League on Thursday, a meeting with the team from whom they signed the Croatia international.

Spurs paid £16.5m to acquire Modric’s signature back in 2008.

Sky Sports reported at the time that Spurs had beaten off competition from the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal to secure Modric and he went on to become one of the most indispensable players of that era.

He made 160 appearances for the club, becoming a focal point of Harry Redknapp’s Spurs team and helping the club qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the Premier League era.

A metronomic passer, capable of splitting defences apart, and a tireless worker too, he played in the same Spurs team as Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, as Spurs reclaimed the tag of being one of the most entertaining teams in the Premier League.

He did not win a trophy before his move to Real Madrid but he has gone on to become one of the very best players in the world.

Modric has won the Champions League four times, again linking up with Bale in Spain, along with La Liga twice.

He even broke the Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly as he won the Ballon d’Or after helping Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018.

Speaking to FFC ahead of this week’s clash with Zagreb, Mabbutt was asked where Modric ranks among the best Spurs signings of all time.

He was effusive in his praise and said: “I’ve been talking to a lot of Spurs fans who are over the age of 70 in this last year, and you talk about our greatest ever signings, and they’re talking about the Jimmy Greaves’ of this world. Then you’re coming up, the Paul Gascoignes of this world, the Jurgen Klinsmanns, the David Ginolas.

“But yeah, for me, I loved Luka, as a player, I got on very well with him. I did a few club tours with Luka and he’s a fantastic guy. Fantastic player. And he’s gone to Real Madrid, I think he’s showed Real Madrid what a great player that he is.

“So yes, he will be regarded as one of our best signings because, certainly for myself, I enjoyed Luka, both as a character and as a player.

“And he has gone on and he’s shown not only the Premier League, but obviously Real Madrid, what a great player that he is.”

Modric, 35, is out of contract in the summer so it remains to be seen whether he will be at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.

Perhaps one last link-up with Bale can’t be ruled out.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho could be without at least one of his regular options this evening as his side head to Championship outfit Wycombe Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, the Spurs boss told reporters, via the official website:

“Matt Doherty was not involved at Sheffield United and I’m not sure if he will recover. Dele hasn’t trained for the last couple of days with a small problem in the tendon and Serge Aurier, not really well.”

Dele Alli seems likely to be out but that doesn’t come as a major negative to the Portuguese manager as he’s barely utilised the 24-year-old this term, indeed he’s played only 472 minutes in all competitions, of which six were starts, in all competitions per Transfermarkt.

However, the potential of having both his right-back options in Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty would be a killer blow to their fortunes, especially the Ivorian, who has emerged as Mourinho’s first-choice option over the course of the season.

The 28-year-old has started ten of their 18 league outings this campaign as well as half of their cup outings too. His turnaround in form has led to the club planning to offer him a longer-term contract as he’s entered the final 18 months of his £120k-per-week deal, per Football Insider.

So clearly, he’s a big part of Mourinho’s plans right now.

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What makes this news even worse is the possibility of not having his back-up, Doherty, either. The Irishman, who joined for £15m in the summer, has played 17 times in all competitions, primarily in the Europa League and this very tournament, so you’d imagine he’d be in line to feature once again if fit.

That said, the 29-year-old has struggled to replicate the sort of form that caught the eye at Molineux. His last league appearance against Leeds was a disaster as he badly let the Spurs boss down with a shocking display – as we further outlined in this Performance In Numbers article.

It leaves Mourinho with a tricky selection headache going into tonight’s clash as without either of the duo, he will either have to turn to Japhet Tanganga, who has played the bulk of his appearances at centre-back, Moussa Sissoko, a midfielder-by-trade who has been somewhat a utility player down that right flank or even a vastly-inexperienced academy player.

Tanganga, who has been dubbed “hungry to play” by Ledley King, seems the most viable option should both of the regular first-team options be absent at Adams Park, though it certainly makes Spurs a weaker prospect as they hold the second-best defensive record in the Premier League so far this term with either Aurier or Doherty starting at right-back.

AND in other news, Levy struck dream deal over £45m-rated “born leader” who’s been a Spurs “steal”…

According to a report by Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy have set their sights on signing two new goalkeepers this summer amid speculation surrounding a potential exit for Hugo Lloris.

Indeed, as per the outlet, Levy and co are ‘in the market’ for a possible heir to Lloris as well as a quality back-up option – with the club planning for a possible exit as he is soon to enter the final 12 months of his contract.

Daniel Levy sets sights on two Tottenham additions

As well as the Tottenham first choice, both Paulo Gazzaniga and Joe Hart will be in the final year of their contracts this summer, prompting the club to weigh up options for the goalkeeping department next window.

Lloris has been linked with a Spurs exit lately, as Football Insider recently reported that he is in ‘regular contact’ with Paris-Saint Germain coach and former Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino who would apparently love to sign him.

After this claim, Football Insider has dropped an update sharing that Spurs officials have set their sights on two new goalkeepers this summer as they plan for Lloris’ potential departure.

Transfer Tavern take

Whether or not this comes to fruition remains to be seen, but it could be an interesting development after Pochettino was also heavily linked with Dele Alli in January.

It appears Levy may have plenty of contact with the man he sacked when the transfer window opens this summer, and a departure for Lloris would certainly force his hand in the goalkeeper market.

In other news: Tottenham are reportedly set for exit talks, find out more here.

Fans of Southampton have been reacting to a post on Twitter, which relayed a report that claims Saints are interested in a summer swoop for Fernando Pacheco.

According to a recent report by Spanish outlet Gol Digital, both Southampton and Leeds United are keeping tabs on the Deportivo Alaves goalkeeper ahead of a potential summer move, with the La Liga side reported to be asking for a fee of around €10 million (£8.6 million) for the shot-stopper.

The report continues by stating that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side “would be willing to pay” the asking price of Alaves, however, that it is Leeds who are more in need of an addition to their goalkeeping department, as Marcelo Bielsa is looking to replace Kiko Casilla.

And, after Southampton Page relayed the report on Twitter, fans of Saints flocked to have their say on the matter, with some appearing delighted at the prospect of their club making a move for the 28-year-old, while others seemed to think the club have other priorities this summer.

So, what exactly did these Southampton fans have to say in reaction to the report regarding their interest in Fernando Pacheco?

“This would be sick.”

@sfcmaxx

“Would be a very good signing… but another club will definitely get him.”

@Danny1ngs

“Ayo yes.”

@sfcrxbbo_

“£8.5m, won’t happen. £8.50 is our budget.”

@stevebr27075195

“It’s about the only position we do have a bit of depth in.”

@fennzza

“I feel like we should be concentrating on other positions rather than spending £8.5m on a position that we have well covered.”

@shikarifan

“I know we should be focusing on other positions but for £8.5 million that’s an absolute steal IMO.”

@_majesticmaya

In other news: Southampton have enquired about this Premier League striker – find out more here!

David Moyes can form an unbeatable midfield unit at West Ham United with the January signing of AS Roma enforcer Amadou Diawara.

What’s the word?

According to Corriere dello Sport, Diawara sits atop Giallorossi CEO Tiago Pinto’s list of players deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Paulo Fonseca.

Pinto is tasked with securing mid-season moves for those no longer wanted at the Stadio Olimpico, where Fonseca’s side currently trail Serie A leaders AC Milan by seven points and have played an additional game compared to SSC Napoli and Juventus in the race for Champions League football.

Diawara has struggled to re-establish himself in the Roma line-up since testing positive for coronavirus, and is now seen as a player who can be sold this month in order to raise funds for the arrival of a new holding midfielder.

West Ham and Leicester City have previously been said to be monitoring Diawara’s situation with a view to signing the €62,500-per-week (£57k-p/w) brute in January, with both sides willing to meet Roma’s €20m (£18m) valuation.

Diawara has played just 19 minutes of Italian top-flight football since recovering from coronavirus in November, while serving as an unused substitute on five occasions after starting the first game of the season as Fonseca’s favoured deep-lying talent.

Ideal partner for Rice

West Ham stepping forward in the January window with an offer to sign Diawara could see the east London outfit acquire an ideal partner for Declan Rice, who is one of only three players to have featured for all 1,530 minutes of Premier League football under Moyes this term.

Diawara was a frequent fixture of Roma’s plans last season with starting roles in 19 of his 22 Serie A appearances, and proved a real defensive force with 1.8 successful tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 0.6 clearances and success in 3.4 duels, per SofaScore.

The 23-year-old has not been given the same chance to improve on those numbers under Fonseca this season, so will be desperate to prove himself to Roma if given the opportunity to make the grade somewhere else in the mid-season market.

West Ham having the option of pairing Rice with Diawara would also free Moyes to move Tomas Soucek into a more attack-focused role, with the Czech Republic international proving to be a true force at the London Stadium.

Moyes has struggled to settle on a central attacking midfielder this season with Said Benrahma, Mark Noble, Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals all fielded at some stage, yet Soucek ranks second among the Hammers squad for total shots (31), per WhoScored.

The 25-year-old has also won more aerial duels (98) than any of his teammates, any Moyes can use that expertise to improve West Ham’s long-range play while freeing his wide options.

AND in other news, David Moyes has dodged a huge bullet as West Ham dealt blow in bid to sign an 11-goal target…

It’s growing increasingly apparent that Glasgow Rangers may struggle to stop Joe Aribo from heading for the Ibrox exit, but Steven Gerrard simply can’t afford to lose one of his key men, if recent reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider, Rangers face a fight to keep the midfielder as he has attracted attention from all over Europe.

Aribo is enjoying a prolific spell in the Premiership so far this season, having fired in four goals in seven games in the Scottish top flight.

It’s claimed that other European clubs have begun to take notice of the 4-cap Nigeria international a lot more, with the outlet suggesting that several sides south of the border have registered their interest as well.

The report adds that the Ibrox outfit believe they are confident of keeping him for the foreseeable future as his contract will run out in 2023, but they are aware that a potential title-winning season could cause some problems.

Gerrard’s nightmare

Whilst Ryan Kent has been linked with a move away from Rangers in recent months, with reports suggesting Leeds United are still interested in signing him despite missing out on his signature in the summer, Aribo’s potential departure would be another devastating blow.

Despite missing a large chunk of the start of the season due to injury, he is still a large reason why Gerrard’s side are nine points clear of their arch rivals Celtic at the top of the table – he has scored three goals in the past three games in the league, having bagged a brace against Hamilton Academical before the international break.

The Gers signed the 24-year-old for a mere fee of £300,000 from Charlton Athletic on a four-year deal. Since then, he has become an integral part of Gerrard’s side, and has played a key role in their success in recent weeks.

It’s perhaps no surprise that Gerrard has swooned over the Nigerian midfielder, as he has taken an unconventional route to his career, with the Liverpool legend even saying he is a “fantastic” beast, which is precisely why Wilson can’t afford to lose him.

Not only is he an important player on the pitch, he is exactly the sort of calibre the Gers need to bridge the gap to Celtic to stop Neil Lennon’s side from winning ten in a row. Aribo, who predominantly plays as an attacking midfielder, can also operate as a centre midfielder and is a vital cog in the middle of the park. He even replaced Ianis Hagi on the right wing in recent weeks.

To coin a phrase from Oscar Wilde, to lose one player may be regarded; to lose both looks like carelessness. Wilson will have his work cut out keeping a hold of both, that’s for sure.

AND in other news, Exclusive: Marlon Harewood makes claim about Jermain Defoe’s Rangers future at Glasgow Rangers…

A Kemar Roofe double and Cedric Itten’s goal rescued Glasgow Rangers from the jaws of defeat as Steven Gerrard’s side came from behind to beat Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday to move six points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for Gerrard after the visitors took the lead through Callum Lang inside six minutes in the first half.

However, Rangers grit their teeth and clawed their way back into the game when Roofe levelled the score before Itten scored his fourth goal of the season so far.

But this doesn’t excuse the fact the defence were caught napping when Lang struck the early opener, arguably none more so than Filip Helander, who has looked out-of-sorts since he returned from a spell on the sidelines after testing positive for coronavirus.

With Leon Balogun ruled out due to injury, the stage was set for Helander to remove any element of lingering doubt about his future at Ibrox.

However, he failed to grasp the opportunity with both hands, as he did little to justify his selection in the first place.

SofaScore graded the 27-year-old as one of the worst Rangers players on the pitch with a lowly 6.6 rating – second only to Allan McGregor – he lost possession 13 times, failed to register a single tackle, record an interception or block a single shot in the entire game.

Glasgow Live gave Helander, who earns £9,300-a-week, a 6/10 and claimed he was ‘careless on the ball at times early doors and could have anticipated Lang’s opener’, while Rangers News were equally scathing in their assessment, although they insisted he ‘took time to settle after a month and a half out of action.’

Not only did he look uncharacteristically lethargic, but the Rangers lightweight was also largely anonymous with his teammates Jermain Defoe and Cedric Itten managing more tackles together.

We can’t quite work out why Helander played the full 90′ minutes, save for a lack of options on the bench, but he ought to be nervously looking over his shoulder once Balogun is fully fit and firing on all cylinders after recovering from a head knock he suffered at St Mirren on Wednesday night.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers could have the perfect Glen Kamara partner in Sheffield United star John Lundstram…