All posts by h716a5.icu

Under Ralph Hasenhuttl, not only are Southampton getting results, but they are getting them against some very big teams with some very big performances.

Even after his side’s victory against Tottenham, though, the Austrian will still have some concerns with his current centre-forward options being just one of them.

Danny Ings, for example, continues to struggle with injuries, which was likely one factor behind Southampton’s reported interest in RB Leipzig’s Jean-Kevin Augustin back in January (Sky Sports).

How, though, do the two No.9s match up?

Jean-Kevin Augustin

Having worked with Augustin during his time as Leipzig manager, it comes to no surprise that Hasenhuttl would be interested in a reunion with the 21-year-old at St. Mary’s.

Hasenhuttl is obviously aware of Augustin’s strengths, suggesting his former player is perfect for his “high-pressing methods” (Sky Sports).

The France U21 international is quick, explosive and a good finisher. As well as that, he has a great touch, which enables him to turn so well before accelerating and taking the ball past his opponent.

Considering all of that, Augustin might just be the signing in the summer to take Hasenhuttl’s St. Mary’s revolution to the next stage.

An expensive transfer in all likelihood, but one worth pursuing for Southampton who need a more reliable centre-forward.

TT Grade: B+ Danny Ings

On the subject of reliable centre-forwards, as harsh as it may sound, that is something Ings is struggling to prove he is.

When fit and on his day, the 26-year-old is certainly a capable front man. He can be deadly in the box, generally taking his chances well when they fall to him.

However, that is just it. Ings is struggling to stay fit, which has given Hasenhuttl some real selection headaches since he has been at the club.

As a result, at times, the Southampton boss has used Nathan Redmond, who has found some form in recent weeks, up front as a short-term fix.

Going forward, though, Hasenhuttl needs a more permanent solution be it Ings or a new striker like Augustin.

TT Grade: C+ TT Verdict:

After a fairly strong start to the season, Ings looked like he would be the man to solve Southampton’s centre-forward crisis.

Unfortunately, due to injuries, that no longer appears to be the case, leaving the Saints needing the addition of a new No.9 when the summer transfer window opens.

And for Hasenhuttl, there are probably few better options out there than Augustin.

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According to reports from Marca, Barcelona could receive €40million (£34.4m) this summer for Andre Gomes, the midfielder who has shown glimpses of brilliance during a loan season at Everton.

Indeed, the Portugal international certainly stands out against Everton’s other options in deep-lying midfield, most of whom are far more industrious than crafty. But the Barcelona loanee hasn’t exactly set Merseyside alight either; 23 Premier League outings have produced just one goal and one assist, as well as an average of just 0.2 key passes per match.

So, should Everton pay £34.4m to make the 6 foot 2 midfielder’s move permanent? Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts below…

Jack Saville

“I’m a huge fan of Gomes but £34.4m is a big figure. It all depends on his wage demands at that price, but I don’t imagine they’ll be modest considering his pedigree. Marcel Brands will be torn over the Portuguese playmaker if Barcelona are expecting an offer at that mark.”

James Beavis

“For me, no. If you are spending that amount on a player he needs to add something special to a club like Everton, and I just don’t think the Barcelona loanee does enough. Yes, he’s composed on the ball and can tackle, but Tom Davies can do the same having cost nothing in the long run if coached well. Gomes isn’t a difference-maker for the Merseyside club, and if £34.4m is the required price then Marco Silva should turn his attentions elsewhere to get better value for money.”

Billy Meyers

“Everton have shown that they have the money to spend on deals such as this. Figures upwards of £25m have been spent on players such as Michael Keane, Yerry Mina, Jordan Pickford and Morgan Schneiderlin, so if there is still money in the bank to do a £34.4m deal for Gomes, they should certainly do it – the Portuguese is a different pedigree to the aforementioned names. The on-loan Barcelona man has added class and composure to the midfield, and, at 25 years of age, represents a good long-term investment for the Toffees.”

Christy Malyan

“Overrated if you ask me. Gomes is an incredibly tidy footballer, but he’s painfully passive at times too and it just feels like another Everton signing that would be based on reputation rather than actual form. Sure, he’s shown quality in patches this season but he’s hardly revolutionised this Everton side. While £34.4m isn’t a ridiculous amount these days, Everton’s money can surely be better spent elsewhere. I’d suggest turning attentions to Abdoulaye Doucoure.” 

[ad_pod ]Crystal Palace announced on March 23 that defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka had withdrawn from the England U21 squad through injury, and his potential absence against Huddersfield Town this weekend gives Roy Hodgson the ideal opportunity to finally allow Max Meyer to flourish.

On the chalkboard

Well, Wan-Bissaka has been one of the Eagles’ top performers this season at right-back, but if he isn’t fit to face the Terriers at Selhurst Park on Saturday then Hodgson will need to consider his options.

The 71-year-old has preferred a 4-3-3 system this term, and with players like Luka Milivojevic, James McArthur, Cheikhou Kouyate and Jeffrey Schlupp impressing consistently, there often hasn’t been much of a look in for Meyer in the starting XI.

In fact, when he made the team-sheet against Burnley earlier this month it was the first time he had done so in the Premier League since Boxing Day, as he appears to still be acclimatising to life in English football.

Hodgson must take chance to act

If Wan-Bissaka does miss out, then the former England boss should roll out a 3-4-1-2 system against a side that look destined for the Championship next season.

Fans of Spurs, Chelsea and Newcastle name thier club’s worst ever manager in the video below…

Patrick van Aanholt and Andros Townsend are capable of filling the wing-back slots despite playing as a full-back and winger respectively for much of the campaign, while playing three centre-backs would also allow Martin Kelly, James Tomkins and Scott Dann to all be on the pitch at the same time.

With Wilfried Zaha alongside Michy Batshuayi up top that would leave space for a creative player in behind them who would have his usual defensive duties taken away – step forward, Mr Meyer.

There will be few better opportunities than Huddersfield at home for Hodgson to give the German some attacking freedom, and for the player to grasp the chance and thrive as a result.

Sometimes you can just sense that a player could go all the way and become a top manager, and Mark Noble is one of those players.

The 31-year-old West Ham midfielder has all the hallmarks to make it as a manager once his playing days are over, and fans are not the only ones to acknowledge this.

Speaking to the Daily Star, former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp said how ‘Mr West Ham’ could one day go on to manage the West Ham side. Redknapp said: “Mark Noble’s the type of lad the club should move Heaven and Earth to keep him at the club. For me, there’s a future manager of West Ham sitting on their books right there.”

With the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes all moving into management after their playing careers, it’s likely we will see more Premier League players head into this area of the game after they have hung up their boots, and Noble is more than capable of being next in line for this new generation of English managers.

Noble is one of the most intelligent players at West Ham and knows the game of football better than most players in the Premier League, and having come through the Hammers as a kid and remaining with the club ever since, it’s not crazy to suggest the 31-year-old could move into coaching at the east London side post-retirement.

Gerrard spent some time with Liverpool’s U-18 side before making the jump to manage Rangers, and Lampard quickly went into obtaining his coaching badges shortly after his retirement.

Noble has the football intelligence to succeed as a coach, and if he decides to learn his trade at West Ham he will be learning in an environment where he is considered a legend of the club, which will only motivate the youngsters and youth players who come through to perform and impress someone they admired growing up.

West Ham fans, would Noble make a good manager in the future? Let us know!

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Jos Luhukay may be a distant memory to Sheffield Wednesday but despite his failings at the club earlier in the campaign, one key decision he made last summer could determine whether the Owls gain promotion.

The club are sitting outside the play-offs at the moment so four monumental games to come against Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Norwich are make or break.

With that in mind, one man will be vital; Michael Hector.

Luhukay’s decision to bring him to the club on loan from Chelsea was one of the best he made during his tenure at the club and he is now proving vital under his successor, Steve Bruce.

The club have witnessed a remarkable turn in fortunes under new management with the Yorkshire side embarking on a run of 11 games without defeat, meaning Bruce is unbeaten since he took charge.

Hector has been vital in that and with the club about to play a succession of crucial games he can’t afford to take his foot off the gas.

At Wednesday, it finally looks as though the versatile 26-year-old has found a home. It’s his 15th loan spell away from his two permanent clubs in Reading and Chelsea, but with the appraisal he’s earned in Yorkshire he may finally find a settled place to play his football.

Hector has a no-nonsense nature, summed up by the number of clearances he makes and considering the period Wednesday face, they’ll need someone like him to be at his best.

On Saturday afternoon he’ll come up against another Chelsea loanee in Tammy Abraham. Their battle will be the difference between who comes away the happier of the two teams. The Villa striker has won 2.9% aerial duels per game this season. Hector in comparison has won more but it’s an area that will be intriguing to watch when they come up against each other.

The Jamaican international is also a good reader of the game and against a formidable midfield containing the creative outlets of Jack Grealish, John McGinn and Conor Hourihane, he will be key.

Wednesday are currently four points off the play-offs and under Luhukay, finishing in that part of the table wouldn’t have felt possible. However, one decision he’s made will prove vital to whether their turnaround under Bruce can be completed.

Mauricio Pochettino has transformed Tottenham into the team we see today since his arrival in 2013, but he needs to learn from his mistakes in previous cup exits. 

Tottenham tomorrow face Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final, a fixture they come in as significant underdogs.

While Pochettino has indeed changed the fortunes of the North London side entirely since his appointment, he is yet to obtain any silverware, something he regularly received criticism for. Importantly, he must learn from the painful cup defeats his team have suffered in recent years.

A pertinent example to look at would be Tottenham’s FA Cup semi-final 4-2 defeat to Chelsea in which Pochettino opted to start Heung-min Son at left wing back. It was a tactical roll of the dice which went wrong.

More recently Tottenham were knocked out by Juventus in the last 16 of last season’s Champions League. It was a tie in which Tottenham thoroughly deserved to win, but ultimately it was again inexperience that cost them. Tottenham have vastly improved since that defeat gained an abundance of experience simultaneously.

In Monday’s pre-match press conference, on the upcoming Champions League fixture, Pochettino said: ‘We want to start tomorrow being very aggressive and try to dominate.’

This is perhaps not the best approach to take to a team who are so quick and dangerous on the break. City’s game plan will be to dominate and control the game themselves, countering anything Tottenham do throw forward. From experience, they know the Tottenham defence are liable to a mistake or two and will look to pounce on anything they see.

Arguably Tottenham’s best performances of the season have come against Borussia Dortmund, in which Tottenham shut up shop and looked to counter. Particularly in the return leg, they put in a defensive performance they simply would not have been capable of just a few years ago. It really seemed as if they had indeed learned from their defeat to Juventus, but they will have to show it once more against City.

Pochettino should look to replicate this kind of performance if Tottenham are to progress. He must realise that it is naive to believe Tottenham can go toe to toe with any team in the world. They must adapt their tactics to suit the match, or it could get ugly. An early City goal would be a disaster – one which may have drastic implications on the rest of the tie.

Tottenham fans – do you think Pochettino has learned from previous cup exits? Is attacking from the off the right approach? Comment below …

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Bristol City are planning to make Scott Hogan a transfer target in the summer, according to Bristol Live, as they look to bring the Aston Villa man to Ashton Gate. However, despite a torrid spell in the Midlands, the club should hold on to him.

What’s the word?

Bristol Live are claiming that the Robins have plans to reshuffle their playing squad next season regardless of promotion, and as a result are targetting Villa’s Hogan.

Bristol City tried to bring in a striker during the January transfer window, according to the same source, but the clubs they were talking to wouldn’t sell.

The striker has struggled throughout his career with injury and having scored just seven league goals for the Villans after arriving in 2017, was shipped out on loan to Sheffield United in January.

He has shown a few signs in Yorkshire of why Villa paid what could rise to £12m for him two years ago, but given their settled side hasn’t had too many chances to make an impact.

Proven goalscorer

Hogan’s reputation at Villa may not be the best, but considering Tammy Abraham may leave after his loan spell and with the likes of Jonathan Kodjia having his own struggles, he has to be kept hold of.

That’s regardless of whether Villa get promoted too. If he was to go alongside Abraham you would have to wonder where the goals are going to come from.

Hogan is a proven goalscorer. He bagged 14 in 25 in the 2016/17 season for Brentford before making his big money move and that shows the devastating impact he can have in the Championship.

On paper, the 26-year-old should be one of Villa’s best strikers. Although time may be running out for the forward and a change of scenery could do him some good, he’s a player the club have to continue to place faith in.

This is especially the case if Dean Smith’s men fail to get promoted. Hogan has worked under him before of course, and it’s now time for the Villa manager to put faith in a player who has played so well under him in the past.

It has been a frustrating couple of months for Leeds United’s Kemar Roofe, hasn’t it?

After suffering a serious knee injury during the Whites’ 2-1 victory against Swansea City at the start of February, the forward had to watch on from the sidelines as his team-mates continued the club’s fight for automatic promotion from the Championship without him.

Although there were initial concerns that Roofe may miss the rest of the season for Leeds, a successful period of rehabilitation allowed him to return as a substitute in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City earlier this month.

With his presence on the bench putting pressure on fellow striker Patrick Bamford to deliver, the 25-year-old has stepped up his performances in the last two weeks. A brace for the former Chelsea ace against Preston North End was followed by a promising outing in last week’s 1-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

Potentially in for a start once again on Good Friday against Wigan Athletic, Bamford’s form could force Roofe to have to settle for sporadic appearances between now and May.

Although the former Oxford United striker is still on course to be the club’s top-scorer this season having already fired in 14 goals, he was fairly magnanimous when asked about the prospect of being overtaken by his team-mate. Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Roofe admitted that: “Honestly, it wouldn’t mean anything.

“As long as my performances are good and the team wins and we get promoted, that’s the main thing.

“Whoever scores, it is what it is. I would rather play 10 out of 10 and someone else scores than play two out of 10 and score a goal. I would rather put the performance in.

“But if the team keeps winning I am not going to play so I am not going to score any!”

By revealing his selflessness, the 26-year-old has shown just why Marcelo Bielsa’s squad have managed to get into the position to secure a top-two finish in May this season. Whereas other years have seen Leeds crack under the pressure of expectation, the togetherness on show throughout the 2018/19 campaign can only be positive news for the club’s supporters.

With Roofe willing to sacrifice his own playing time for the sake of the team, it is clear that the Whites have the sufficient level of mental strength needed to prevail in their next four fixtures and thus overcome their rivals Sheffield United in the second tier.

What do you think Leeds? Do Roofe’s comments indicate the togetherness of Bielsa’s squad this season? Are you confident that the Whites can secure automatic promotion? Let us know below.

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Tottenham Hotspur fans have been left gutted by the news that Vincent Janssen is ineligible for the club’s Champions League semi-final against Ajax.

Janssen, of course, enjoyed an excellent scoring record when in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar, prior to his move to White Hart Lane.

He scored 32 goals in 49 outings for the club prior to a £17million transfer to Spurs, which has not quite gone as he would have hoped.

Prior to two substitute appearances, against Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United, Janssen last played for the club in 2017, when he made a minute-long cameo in a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

But fans have been disappointed by the news that he will not be able to play against the Eredivisie giants this week, such is his experience of playing against such sides.

Fernando Llorente is instead poised to lead the line, with Harry Kane injured and Son Heung-Min suspended for the first leg.

Take a look at the best of the reaction to the 24-year-old’s absence below!

Whilst the Hammers have struggled with inconsistency all season, getting one over their London rivals Tottenham puts all their problems to one side. How nice is it to be the first ever team to win at their overrated new home? Wonderful, wonderful stuff. 

Still, it hasn’t been the greatest season for Manuel Pellegrini and his players but it is one that has shown real glimpses of potential. Indeed, despite the huge spending over the summer, West Ham will be hoping to make a number of changes this window too, in a bid to get themselves where they want to be.

The need for changes is a great one, with the right additions sure to hoist the Hammers further up the Premier League and improving their chances of reaching a seventh place in the future. Who knows? Maybe they could go higher.

One player they have been linked with is AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu (via Fanatik late last month) and he is certainly the calibre of player that would allow West Ham to get far better as a team. Calhanoglu, (who is valued at £19.8 million on Transfermarkt) would undoubtedly be a huge lure for West Ham and one who would add significant quality to their midfield.

The 25-year-old has been strutting his stuff for the Italian side, being their reliable, creative source from the heart of midfield. Perhaps he could be everything Jack Wilshere was supposed to be.

With a stunning 13 assists across the season, Calhanoglu is understandably a player West Ham would be keen to acquire, given his natural talent on the pitch. His reputation, especially from dead-ball situations, is second-to-none and the Hammers haven’t had a capable player from those chances since Dimitri Payet left in 2017.

With Hakan Calhanoglu able to play both central-midfield and on the wing, West Ham may finally have their missing link and the player to help assist their growth to the next level.

Do you agree Hakan Calhanoglu would be a brilliant signing for the Hammers? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below…