Danny Kelly slams key figures for Spurs ‘mess’

Tottenham Hotspur’s season has hit crisis point in March and talkSPORT’s Danny Kelly has hit the nail on the head with his remarks this weekend.

What’s he said?

Jose Mourinho’s side were beaten in a five-goal thriller by Wolves on Sunday, making it three successive defeats – but the wider picture is that they are now five points from the top four and have it all to do in Germany as RB Leipzig carry an away goal in their Champions League tie.

Speaking on Simon Jordan’s Final Word after the match, Kelly slammed several key figures ranging from chairman Daniel Levy, former boss Mauricio Pochettino and their current Portuguese chief.

He said:

“The barometer – and there’s no other word for it now – the mess that Spurs have got themselves into and I include Daniel Levy in that, Pochettino to some extent for his ridiculous comments before the Champions League final that he might quit if they won it and subsequently the panic to get Jose Mourinho in there.

“Spurs were in the Champions League final nine months ago. Think about Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid – the kind of teams that make the Champions League final. Today [Sunday 1st March], they started with two players who started in Madrid – Harry Winks and Dele Alli.

“So the team has through injury, departures, and strange selections been absolutely blown up. Whether by circumstance or by choice of management – you have a situation where Wolves’ front two, [Diogo] Jota and [Raul] Jimenez are as good as anybody away from Liverpool’s as of right now and he [Jose Mourinho] chooses to leave out his most experienced defenders, sling Eric Dier whose form since his illness just makes him look like he isn’t a professional footballer anymore, against [Japhet] Tanganga who’s trying to make his way. I don’t know what he’s thinking of here.

“I tell you what he’s thinking of actually – I’m gonna say it and he can sue me if he wants – he’s thinking I’ll keep all these fresh for Norwich during the week because I need to win a trophy here and the FA Cup is my best route to it.”

Amounting issues

Spurs’ troubles just don’t seem to be ending anytime soon, which is surprising considering they had been unbeaten in seven matches until their European first-leg last month.

Kelly is right to blame Levy – his lack of investment has contributed to their downfall substantially, and potentially most of all. Yes, he sanctioned moves for Gedson Fernandes and Steven Bergwijn, but it wasn’t enough – they needed that backup striker.

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Heung-min Son joining Harry Kane on the treatment table has shown just how poor a decision that has been.

Pochettino’s comments before the UCL final were simply baffling too as if that was going to motivate players in any form – “here guys, win this and I’m leaving” is not a good look at all.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has hardly helped himself with his chopping and changing of team selection and tactics, and he could probably be braver in selecting teenager Troy Parrott as at least he’s an out-and-out striker and not a midfielder or winger playing as a makeshift centre-forward.

Money talks: How much did Levy pay for each of these Spurs stars?

And in other news, Spurs witness what they have been desperate to see for first time in 85 days…

Odion Ighalo quickly becoming a Woodward masterclass

Growing up in Edo, Nigeria, Odion Ighalo had a dream. It was a simple one too – to play football for Manchester United.

Remarkably, he has achieved that ambition. Coming via Norway, Italy, Spain, China and Watford, it’s not your usual career path but Ighalo is now very much part of the furniture at Carrington.

He has settled into life at Old Trafford with aplomb, even if at first glance it looked like a peculiar signing.

United are renowned for making hefty expensive acquisitions. The very fact they broke the record paid for a defender to land Harry Maguire is fine evidence of that. The £89m addition of Paul Pogba is another example.

Yet, here was Ighalo, arriving for a loan fee of just £3m after plying his trade in the Chinese Super League. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men needed attacking cover for Marcus Rashford but this was certainly an unorthodox way of going about it from Ed Woodward.

However, despite bucking a trend, it’s already beginning to become somewhat of a masterclass from United’s executive vice-chairman.

That’s if you compare it to one of the biggest earners still on the books of Manchester United – Alexis Sanchez.

The Chilean is a classy player on his day, registering 24 Premier League goals for Arsenal in one season but his move from the Gunners which essentially cost £35m (the price United valued Henrikh Mkhitaryan at) has been nothing short of a disaster. On £350k a week, he’s scored just five times in 45 outings and is now out on loan at Inter Milan. Once again, he’s flopped.

Sanchez has scored just once in Italy all season and is now due back in England in the summer. However, would United not benefit from a permanent deal for Ighalo more? It’s hard to tell, but the answer should be yes.

Although they possess no option to sign the Nigerian at the end of his loan, the financial power and the lure of United would surely be enough to bring him back.

If you compare the two, there are some stark differences. For a start, Ighalo is on £250k less than Alexis and has already started producing at a better rate.

Only on temporary terms, the 35-capped striker has found the back of the net on just two fewer occasions despite only being there for a matter of weeks. The fact he’s scored a goal every 77 minutes is damning compared to Sanchez.

The Chile international has been extremely poor in front of goal, taking 556 minutes at a time to beat the goalkeeper. Considering his wage and price tag, it’s seriously concerning.

Ighalo’s signing, however, has proven to Woodward that sometimes you don’t need to spend a considerable sum to find a good player. His wage is still colossal but the decision to bring him in has proven to be a piece of genius compared to previous failings in Manchester.

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Whether this causes a major policy shift at United remains to be seen, but it’s surely worth evaluating by the club’s chief operators.

Meanwhile, United’s pursuit of a £34m-rated star is a THROWBACK to the SAF era…

West Brom fans fear over conducting deal for Matheus Pereira

West Brom fans are now full of fear after the EFL took the decision to postpone all league matches until the beginning of April.They are rightly concerned that those games may not take place at all, as that would rule out the prospect of promotion while also having another long-term implication.The deal to sign Matheus Pereira on a permanent basis has been thrust into doubt. The Baggies have a deal in place to sign the on-loan Sporting player if he passed 30 appearances of 45 minutes or more, and he currently sits on 30.That means the midfielder only needs to complete another half of football to secure a permanent move to the Hawthorns, but with that now in potential doubt fans have voiced their frustration.

It would be a remarkable sequence of events if the Baggies were denied the chance to sign him, and although they could still bid for the 23-year-old there is a risk that other clubs might register interest in the Brazilian.

After all, he has proved to be the most creative player in the Championship with 12 assists this term, while his six goals also underline the varying dangers he possesses.

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Some fans think this unexpected twist is typical of the club, though if they miss out on promotion due to latest events then supporter uproar would likely be a whole lot louder than it is currently.

Who the heck is that?! Can you name all of these obscure West Brom players…

In other news, Charlie Austin has made a public call to the EFL over recent events…

Everton fans react to interest in Gianluigi Donnarumma

Carlo Ancelotti could look to make several changes to his Everton squad in the summer, and according to Gazzetta Dello Sport the Toffees are interested in signing Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper is very highly-rated and could reportedly turn down a contract at Milan, meaning he’d have only a year left on his contract by the summer.

That would likely increase interest in him from clubs around Europe, though the factor of his compatriot Ancelotti being at the club could make him more likely to join Everton, particularly given the Everton boss’ status at Milan.

Jordan Pickford would be affected by such a decision but after making mistakes against Manchester United and Newcastle since Ancelotti took over it would be understandable if the Italian boss was keen to upgrade that area.

Everton certainly have the finances to pull off a deal and could be able to lure Donnarumma to Merseyside if they offer him an enticing contract, though other clubs could look to hijack any possible deal.

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Chelsea and Liverpool are also believed to be interested in the shot-stopper, and given Frank Lamaprd has recently dropped first-choice Kepa Arrizabalaga there could be movement from them.

As a result, a number of Toffees’ supporters believe this transfer is not realistic for the club currently, though they would be pleasantly surprised if Marcel Brands and co. somehow managed to pull it off.

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Even if the Goodison Park outfit fail to bring in the keeper it should be treated as a positive that they are identifying targets who could take the club to the next level.

Elsewhere, Duncan Ferguson has sent an encouraging message to Everton fans over recent days…

Tottenham fans react as Levy & Mourinho disagree about Ndombele

Loads of Tottenham Hotspur fans have been reacting on Twitter after a report by Foot Mercato, via Sport Witness, suggested that Spurs manager Jose Mourinho and chairman Daniel Levy disagree over the future of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele.

The report by the French media outlet says that the 23-year-old’s future at the north London outfit may be in doubt because of Mourinho, who of course publicly criticised the Frenchman following the draw against Burnley at Turf Moor at the beginning of March.

Paris Saint-Germain are said to be keen on the former Lyon player according to Foot Mercato, but they may face a battle with not only another club keen in Barcelona, but also with Levy.

The report says that the chairman believes Ndombele can still have a big future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite what has been a tough debut campaign, having cost £53.8m less than 12 months ago.

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While there are a couple of Spurs supporters who have taken the side of Levy – something that probably doesn’t happen too often – the majority understandably are backing their experienced manager instead.

Here is a selection of the reaction…

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Pearce tips Liverpool to make £40m from Grujic & Wilson

Liverpool could receive £40m for two loanees this summer, according to The Athletic’s Reds correspondent James Pearce.

What’s the word?

Both Marko Grujic and Harry Wilson are currently plying their trades away from the club, at Hertha Berlin and AFC Bournemouth respectively.

Both players are set to return to Anfield at the end of the season, but Pearce expects that they will be sold, and has tipped the club to bank a significant amount of cash from their departures.

Speaking in a Q&A, he said: “It’s difficult to see where Wilson would fit in. As for Grujic, I’ve always liked him as a player. He’s strong, he’s powerful and he’s dynamic. He’s also a very popular figure at Melwood.

“However, like Wilson, he wants to be somewhere where he’s going to play regularly. He’s not a kid anymore, he’s nearly 24.

“If LFC get a decent offer I can see them selling Grujic this summer. LFC could generate £40m, I reckon, from selling Wilson and Grujic.”

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Take the money

Both Wilson and Grujic could well have had futures at Liverpool when one considers that they have made significant impacts while out on loan.

Wilson, for a start, has played 27 times for Bournemouth, scoring six goals and registering two assists, while his Serbian counterpart has played 45 times for Hertha.

This summer, though, their stocks will be as high as they have ever been.

Receiving £20m each would be good business, and add to the transfer pot that will be available for sporting director Michael Edwards.

Of course, the club have been heavily linked with a move for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, with a £51m fee floated.

Moving Wilson and Grujic on would mean that £40m can be put towards the potential signing of the Germany international.

For that reason alone, selling the pair should become a priority.

Meanwhile, what does the future hold for Sadio Mane?

Liverpool should cut their losses on Pedro Chirivella

Having joined Liverpool’s youth set-up back in 2013, Pedro Chirivella has been a familiar name to fans of the Anfield side for a number of years now.

The Spaniard made his first-team debut under Brendan Rodgers when he came on as a first-half substitute for Kolo Toure in a Europa League group stage clash against Bordeaux.

But since then, Chirivella has struggled massively to really make a big impression on the Liverpool first-team, spending a number of seasons out on loan at sides like Go Ahead Eagles and Willem II in the Netherlands.

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The biggest news surrounding the now 22-year-old was his inclusion in an EFL Cup tie against MK Dons when it was later revealed that he was actually ineligible to play.

Despite the lack of real opportunities at Anfield – he has played just 11 times for the senior side in his entire career – Liverpool’s former U23s manager Neil Critchley waxed lyrical about Chirivella back in February.

He said: “For such a young player and a young person, he has unbelievable intelligence and experience of playing the game and he passes that on to everyone around him. He is first on the training ground every day, he plays like a real leader and the boys love him for that.”

But the fact is, at 22, Chirivella is hardly a “young player” anymore. With his contract coming to an end this summer, Jurgen Klopp must be ruthless with the Spaniard and simply let him walk away on a free transfer.

Having him in the squad simply eats up a first-team spot that could quite easily go to an academy graduate trying to make their name at Anfield.

Chirivella hasn’t shown anything to suggest that he could be someone who the Reds can build their midfield around, and it’s exactly why they should part ways with him this summer.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans react to links with this Ligue 1 ace.

Everton: Fans reveal the one player they regret leaving Goodison Park

Many Everton fans have revealed the one player that they regret leaving Goodison Park, with various names being thrown into the hat.

Italian boss Carlo Ancelotti will embark on his first summer transfer window in charge of the Toffees, and it is expected that the former AC Milan and Real Madrid man will look to allow numerous player exits in order to bring his own faces.

With the potential of a busy transfer window at the Merseyside club, many fans have looked back on players who have departed in previous seasons and in doing so, an abundance of household names have emerged.

Former striker Romelu Lukaku is one that pops up more often than not when Toffees fans think of players they wanted to stay, having seen the Belgian international spend a fruitful time at the club.

Wayne Rooney is another player who has gone on to play at the highest level after playing at Everton. The former England international is now turning out for Championship side Derby County, but his career saw him gain multiple successes at Manchester United.

Rooney did return to Everton prior to a stint in Major League Soccer with DC United, but many have been left asking ‘what if’ when looking back on his time at the club.

Other names that were thrown up in the debate were players such as Gary Speed, Steven Naismith, and Gary Lineker.

Reacting to the question on Twitter by fan account @thetoffees_com, fans gave a varied response, and below are some of those…

Everton fans, which player do you wish never left? Let us know in the comments below…

Aston Villa must unleash Tommi O’Reilly

Aston Villa have seen numerous players work their way through the youth system at the Midlands club and become Premier League stars.

Figures such as Gareth Barry, Gary Cahill, Steven Davis and Marc Albrighton have all gone on to make a significant number of appearances in the Premier League after coming through Villa’s youth ranks.

One player that is currently in the Villa senior squad that was in the youth system not too long ago is midfielder Jacob Ramsey, who has now racked up a total of 58 first-team appearances for the Midlands club.

Looking ahead to the future, current Villa boss Steven Gerrard has the chance to unearth yet another youth prospect at the club that could go on to become a regular senior figure in his side.

18-year-old midfielder Tommi O’Reilly has racked up a total of 37 appearances across Villa’s U18 and U23 sides.

In those appearances, the teenager has scored eight goals and provided three assists along the way.

Labelled as a “little Phil Foden” by staff in the academy, O’Reilly has yet to make his senior debut for the Villans but has been involved in three matchday squads, showing how close he is to making his first appearance for the first team.

Back in March, the youngster signed his professional contract with the club, which shows just how much they value the player.

Described as a “lovely little footballer” by Villa journalist Ashley Preece, O’Reilly could well be the next youngster in line to follow in the footsteps of so many players that have made a name for themselves in England as a product of Villa’s impeccable youth system.

With just a handful of league games left to play before the end of the season, Gerrard could have the ideal period of time ahead of him now to give the teenage starlet his first taste of Premier League action.

Taking into account how Foden has managed to deliver a combined total of 107 goals and assists in 204 youth and senior appearances for the Manchester club, if O’Reilly can end up living up to his nickname in comparison with the City star, this would be a mouth-watering prospect for everyone at Villa.

In other news: Lange must seal £10m AVFC deal for “unplayable” £45k-p/w talent, Gerrard will love him

Liverpool fans react as Manuel Neuer returns for Bayern

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Manuel Neuer was back between the sticks for Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash with Augsburg on Friday night, suggesting that he will be fit to face Liverpool in the Champions League next week.

Neuer had missed Bayern’s three matches in the lead-up to the Augsburg clash with a finger injury, and it had been claimed that he could be absent for his team’s last-16 Champions League first leg at Anfield.

However, the 32-year-old was back between the sticks on Friday night.

The Liverpool fans caught wind of the team news on social media, which led to a number commenting on Neuer, in addition to Bayern in general, ahead of what is promising to be a fascinating match next week.

Neuer’s powers are perhaps not what they once were, while Bayern have also had their issues this season, which has handed the Liverpool fans confidence.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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