All posts by h716a5.icu

Well, that wasn’t as easy as it seemed, was it?

In their first game after the Darren Moore era, West Bromwich Albion pulled off the nerviest 3-0 victories in recent memory against a resurgent Swansea City, with Sam Johnstone’s brilliance in goal and Chris Brunt’s set-piece prowess bailing them out. That sounds strange, considering the result, but the scoreline certainly flattered the Baggies.

Jimmy Shan saw his side being overwhelmed, but lady luck allowed them to take their chances and get the win. The senior stars returned to form, but Shan’s been unable to solve their defensive issues with the clean-sheet shadowing what really went on. Had Johnstone not been there, it could’ve been a humiliation.

Despite taking a big step forward in the playoffs race, struggling against a 15th-placed Swansea side proved a need for a more experienced figure. In order to hold their composure during the playoffs, they need someone experienced. Slavisa Jokanovic is one of the favourites (as per Sky Sports) to succeed Moore as permanent manager, but there are some issues delaying his appointment.

Be it relating to his salary or some other problems, the Baggies need to bring him in soon. There’s just no way they can’t. Too much is at risk considering the riches on offer when it comes to returning to the English top tier.

Jokanovic needs some time to understand the squad and its strengths, and only after attaining a proper understanding could he relay them towards succeeding in the business end of the season. It’s a process, yes, but one that needs to begin soon.

West Brom definitely have a talent-packed squad which will give many options to the Serbian, so there shouldn’t be a delay. Indeed, he needs to be brought in soon for him to get them playing attractive, attacking football and etching a winning mentality which takes them all the way.

Jokanovic’s brand of football isn’t perfect but it can be hugely effective, as he’s proved at both Fulham and Watford. Time is of the essence here, we’ve seen what a long, drawn-out process when it comes to bringing in a manager over at Chelsea and the Baggies risk similar issues unless they give the man what he wants.

West Brom fans, do you feel Jokanovic needs to be brought in immediately? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

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Celtic are yet to make a decision on who will replace Brendan Rodgers on a permanent basis, and ex-Bhoys defender Mark Wilson thinks Neil Lennon will get the job, on one condition.

Celtic are ten points clear at the top of the league after last weekend’s results, with Rangers now forced to sit and watch as their arch-rivals cruise to their eighth consecutive league title.

The Bhoys of course won’t take their foot off the gas from here, as there is still the small matter of the Old Firm after the international break.

And Wilson, who racked up 98 appearances in the league for Celtic, thinks Lennon should be handed the permanent manager’s position if he can overcome the Gers on March 31st.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

What has he said?

“It’s done and dusted. The big thing is how far can Celtic stretch the lead – and that will be on Steven Gerrard’s mind,” Wilson said, as reported by The Daily Record.

“They are 10 points clear and I think they will make it 13 when the two sides meet at the end of next week.

Continuing on about the gap that has developed between the two rivals since the turn of the year, he said: “If Neil had let the gap slip then maybe questions would be asked but he’s got it to 10 and if he gets it to 13 or more then he has to get the job.

“If he wins the Scottish Cup too then there won’t even be a discussion.”

Is he right?

Celtic have failed to win just once domestically since their defeat at Ibrox at the end of 2018, and it’s fair to say the new year has been good to the Bhoys, despite the departure of Brendan Rodgers.

However, Lennon should not be given the job on the spot for a few good results, especially considering that the “gap” that Wilson repeatedly refers to is down to the sorry efforts of Rangers as much as it is Celtic’s brilliance.

The 0-0 draw against Aberdeen and 1-0 win over Dundee were stark reminders of how dull Lennon’s football often is, and if not for Steven Gerrard’s side failing to win a single game in the month of March then the Old Firm could be an awful lot more important than it now seems.

Lennon has done a great job steadying the ship, but the club should ignore Wilson’s advice and look for someone with greater European pedigree.

Arnaud Djoum has bounced back from last year’s nightmare season, with a string of consistent performances for Hearts this season, that has seen him catch the eye of Ligue 1 side, Toulouse.

Having arrived at Hearts as a free agent in the summer of 2015, he was a mainstay in the team, before last season’s horror, which saw the player suffer no less than three ligament injuries.

After recovering from a medial ligament injury shortly into the season — only to suffer an Achilles one a month later — his season was ended with an Achilles rupture which kept him out of action from February until September last year.

But he showed true fighting spirit during his rehabilitation, and after winning his fitness battle, he has gone on to cement his place back in the Hearts midfield.

But the Cameroon international is out of contract at the end of the season, and with no new offer on the table from the Tynecastle club, he is currently able to speak to interested parties ahead of a summer move.

According to the Daily Star via The Scottish Sun, the French club are looking to rebuild their squad next season, hoping to improve on this year’s mid-table performance, and they see Djoum as the perfect man to fill one of their midfield slots.

Even taking into account the 29-year-old’s injuries last year, Hearts fans will still think they got everything they hoped for from the player, and that he arrived at Tynecastle for free, then fans will surely wish him well, when he leaves.

We think it would suit all parties for him to move on in the summer, but it will be essential that a suitable replacement is brought in, as Hearts should be looking to rebuild their own squad, in a bid to close the gap on Rangers and Celtic, and start looking to battle for a Europa League spot next season.

What are your thoughts on Djoum, Hearts fans? Would you offer him another contract? Or is it in everyone’s best interests for him to move on? Let us know…

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Crystal Palace reached the 36-point threshold, which is expected to be enough for survival, with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield at the weekend, although the result had very different consequences for the Terriers, who were relegated.

Jan Siewert’s side were not for the want of trying, though, with Chris Lowe testing Vicente Guaita twice in quick succession – the Spaniard was equal to the task, though, flying to stop the German’s header and then tipping a second effort around the post.

The Eagles ‘keeper bounced back from a shaky performance at Watford in their FA Cup quarter-final clash – the former Getafe man’s decision making was questionable on that day, but his shot-stopping abilities saved Palace from being one or two down at the end of the first-half.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

Fortunately for the 6 ft 3 ace, the players in front of him were far better after the restart and could have run away with it. Another sparkling performance from Wilfried Zaha stood out – the Ivorian could have had a brace at least – but Guaita’s first-45 heroics were enough to see the custodian voted man of the match by the Selhurst Park faithful.

Here’s what they had to say on Twitter…

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Liverpool fans on Twitter have been reacting to the latest Champions League performance of club captain Jordan Henderson.

The 28-year-old has never been the most talented footballer, but the 6 ft central midfielder started and impressed hugely in Tuesday night’s quarter-final first-leg win over Porto at Anfield.

Henderson was far from the player the critics sometimes say he is as Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita goals gave Jurgen Klopp’s men a 2-0 victory and one foot into the semi-finals of the competitions for a second consecutive campaign.

The England star’s swashbuckling display caused supporters to drool and they showed that when replying to a tweet from their team’s official account featuring a picture of Henderson and the words, “The skipper.”

One commented “Jordan Tremenderson” as a comical play on his surname, another claimed that he should have won the man of the match instead of fellow midfielder Keita and one even gave the superb showing a rating of 10/10.

Below is a list of the best reactive Tweets from Reds fans to the stunning performance…

Are the media letting Jurgen Klopp off lightly for his lack of silverware? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Arsenal are searching for bargains once again this summer, and Leicester ace Youri Tielemans would fit the bill perfectly, if they can fight off reported interest from Manchester United.

Indeed, the former Anderlecht ace was thought to have been a target for the Gunners over the course of the January transfer window, with El Gol Digital (via Sport Witness’ Naveen Ullal) claiming Unai Emery has requested the midfielder, though HLN recently reported of United’s interest.

The 21-year-old Monaco midfielder is on loan at The King Power Stadium, and – clearly – he’s has been a revelation since Brendan Rodgers took over. He’s notched two goals and three assists since the start of February and his long-range strike against Huddersfield certainly raised eyebrows.

Rodgers has made it clear in press conferences he wants to make the move permanent, but the Telegraph believe it would cost them a club record £40m. That may well be out of Leicester’s reach, but it could be a great long-term buy for Arsenal despite the initial cost.

He’s certainly not a bargain when you look at that figure, but he’s so young that he has the potential to play for the club for the next 10 years. In that case, he looks a bargain, so the Arsenal board need to get a move on.

It’ll be hard to find the cash unless the club let some players go, but they need to decide on who they’re selling quickly so they can start talks with potential summer signings like Tielemans. His high work rate is just what Unai Emery needs in his midfield for his style to work.

With Aaron Ramsey soon departing and Denis Suarez doing a whole lot of nothing since his arrival at the Emirates, moving for the man touted with a move back in January makes total sense.

Of course, Ramsey has impressed throughout his time at the Emirates but Tielemans offers that something special that fans have witnessed on too many occasions in North London.

It’s clear to see the direction this Arsenal team is moving in, and the Belgian would be a perfect fit and a bargain when you take into account the long-term investment. The Arsenal board need to work out a way to finance this move and claim his signature before their rivals do.

Arsenal fans, how much do you think Unai Emery will be able to spend this summer? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Loads of West Ham fans have been running the rule over their defeat at Manchester United, and they’re all blaming one man for the result.

After a woeful performance against Everton and a fairly underwhelming visit to Chelsea, the Hammers owed their fans a good performance on Saturday evening.

And they arrived at Old Trafford intent on going for three points not just one, dominating periods of the match thanks to great performances from the likes of Declan Rice, Arthur Masuaku and Felipe Anderson.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Anderson thought he had put his side in front too, volleying home from inside the box before being flagged for offside. While it did appear to be the correct call at first, replays showed Diogo Dalot playing the Brazlian onside.

Paul Pogba then put the hosts in front from the spot after a rather dubious decision to award the penalty. Robert Snodgrass fouled Juan Mata, but the Spaniard didn’t even appear to be inside the box when the contact happened.

Pogba got his second of the day late in the second half with another spot kick, and needless to say Hammers fans are not happy with referee Graham Scott.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Wow, this is really tense! The up-and-down battle for automatic promotion continues to have twists and turns and Leeds fans everywhere are just desperate for the season to end with them in the top flight.

For how much better Leeds have been as a whole this season, it shows how deserving they are of making a comeback into the top flight. Indeed, Marcelo Bielsa has revitalised the players and fans alike, with everyone supporting each other to ensure their main aim and full potential is realised.

The Championship has typically been a long and hard season but with the finish line in sight, all their efforts must be put into helping the club achieve just that.

Then the summer period will be the Peacocks most important in years, as they need to buy the right players that can help them adjust to the Premier League.

Reading’s John Swift (linked with a move by Football Insider) is a midfielder that offers his team a great deal of creativity that could benefit Leeds massively next season.

Swift, (who is valued at £2.2 million on Transfermarkt) has been one of few impressive players for Reading this season and consequently a move away this summer seems likely for him.

Having scored five goals himself as well as setting up three, Swift has been a creative outlet in the heart of midfield and that sort of player would be a very attractive option for Leeds over the summer.

Of course, Samu Saiz’s future is something that’s been on the minds of Leeds supporters in recent times, but it’s safe to say that Elland Road would be far better off with Swift as he’s made the Spaniard look like a schoolboy in the current campaign. He’s produced four more goals than the Leeds man and Saiz is yet to score or provide an assist since moving out on loan, so he really is the superior option. The main thing is he knows how to ensure consistency, which is something that has been a big problem for the 28-year-old this season.

Whether they gain promotion or not, John Swift could be an asset in either league and one that could grow into a far better player under Marcelo Bielsa.

Do you agree that John Swift would make a good signing for Leeds… Join the discussion and let us know!

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While the standings tell you that Southampton are among the Premier League’s strugglers, the Saints have been showing that they are anything but and perhaps contenders for a top-eight spot next campaign.

Since Ralph Hasenhuttl took the helm in December, the south coast outfit have gone from strength to strength and have recently been getting the results that their stellar performances have deserved, with wins over Spurs, Brighton and Wolves propelling them away from the drop zone, though they remain three points shy of the safe haven of 40-points.

The Austrian manager has introduced a refreshing style of football and instilled an elite attitude in each and every one of his players, evident in their tireless efforts week in, week out.

Watford and Fulham have proved this season in very different ways that it’s not all about spending big money and Southampton already look like having most of the ingredients to become Europa League challengers once again.

Hasenhuttl has inspired a revolution without having any say in transfer dealings yet, but it won’t hurt to make a few smart additions in the summer.

What, then, do the Saints need in the upcoming transfer window to give themselves their best chance of qualification for Europe?

Centre-back

While Jan Bednarek, who signed for just £5 million in 2017, has been nothing short of excellent since being brought in from the cold by Hasenhuttl, and Jannik Vestergaard has also looked solid, Southampton should look to strengthen their central defence in the summer.

Jack Stephens might be good at bringing the ball out from the back but he has far too many an error in him and, with Hasenhuttl preferring a five/three-man defence, having another option to call upon is a must if one of his first choices is sidelined. It certainly wouldn’t be too difficult to find an upgrade on Maya Yoshida if Hasenhuttl feels his first three need improvement, either.

Another Bednarek-type – a young diamond in the rough who Southampton can sign for relatively little – would be the perfect kind of player for Hasenhuttl to work with and mould into a first team star.

Striker

Danny Ings is one of the most natural finishers outside the top six but Hasenhuttl can’t rely on the injury-prone hitman to lead the line for an entire season; bringing in a player who can either deputise for or partner the Liverpool loanee up front is essential, with Charlie Austin and Shane Long not consistent enough.

Someone with pace and an engine would be the perfect fit – Hasenhuttl demands that his team defends from the front and having a striker who can chase down the opposition for 75-90 minutes would both make a massive difference to the front three and be a huge hit with the fans.

Why should Southampton be more like Dortmund? Find out in the video below…

Left-back

While Ryan Bertrand has been a faithful servant to the club since switching from Chelsea in 2015, the former Saints captain has been poor for much of the season and is currently a glaring weak point in the starting XI. Yan Valery has only come through the academy this season and is putting his left-sided counterpart to shame most weeks.

While it would be ruthless for Hasenhuttl to replace the 29-year-old after just one poor season, it may have to be done if the Saints are to realise their top-eight aspirations – they certainly have the manager and the playing style to do it, but left-back is one area in particular that needs some improvement.

When a player leaves Celtic, there is usually someone to fill in the void immediately.

As is the case with their centre-defensive shape, where Dedryck Boyata’s set to leave a hole in. Thankfully for Neil Lennon, another defensive hero is right there to take up the mantle.

Towering centre-back Jozo Simunovic is finally repaying the trust Celtic put in him when they signed him up for roughly £6.75m four years ago.

Donning the jersey of Billy McNeil, the 6’3’ defender has displayed shades of the Celtic legends with his rock-solid nature. Since the Old Firm derby, Simunovic’s started six successive games in all competitions. The Hoops have kept 6 consecutive clean-sheets thanks to his heroics, where he’s neutralized attacking threat with his strong defender.

A powerful figure who is brilliant aerially and organized against mobile threats, he’s helped keeps things tidy at the back. Moreover, Simunovic’s proved his complete skills by scoring two goals in consecutive games. Boyata might’ve been a vital cog in their defence, yet Simunovic is already making fans forget about him.

Just when it seemed like the Hoops would have to shell out finances to sign Boyata’s potential replacement, Simunovic’s emphatic performances saved them millions. The big Croatian is there to stay at Parkhead, having already created an unbreakable bond with Kristoffer Ajer to help protect the Hoops from sharks vying to sink them underneath.

Celtic fans, do you think Simunovic can be better than Boyata? Join the discussion by commenting below…