All posts by z3u9t.icu

That’s certainly some turnaround.

A recent story from Birmingham Live pointed out that Pep Clotet was one of the better performing head coaches in the history of the club, with the third-highest winning percentage.

Possibly off the back of that, the question was posed on Twitter of whether supporters thought Clotet had done a good enough job in his first couple of months in charge of the team.

Taking over Garry Monk, the Spaniard has so far guided the Blues to 11th in the table, albeit through some largely inconsistent form.

Watch Birmingham City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Following a run of two matches without defeat, it seems as if he’s getting mostly positive reviews from the St Andrew’s faithful.

Many of them stated that now he’s got some time to get his ideas across to the players, their starting to see some better performances and results come through. It certainly makes a difference from earlier in the month when it was hard to find anyone who backed him.

Here’s what they’ve been saying on Twitter.

It is fair to say that Son Heung-Min had a distressing afternoon on Sunday.It had started well for the South Korea international, with him providing the assist for Dele Alli’s opener against Everton at Goodison Park. However, it soon took a turn for the worse towards the end of the second half.With less than 20 minutes left on the clock, the former Bayer Leverkusen man went in to tackle the Toffees’ Andre Gomes. The challenge looked innocuous enough, and he originally picked up a yellow card. However, it soon become apparent that the former Barcelona man had been very seriously injured, and Martin Atkinson changed the decision to a red.Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The forward was distraught with the consequences of his tackle. The Spurs fans, though, were adamant that he shouldn’t have been sent off even if it was a horrific and unfortunate injury.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some comments from the social media platform below.

As a club, Arsenal haven’t always had the best of records when it comes to the transfer market.

The North Londoners have spent their fair share of money on players who were never worth their initial price tags, like Nicolas Pepe, simply not good enough, like Shkrodan Mustafi, and while he was a loan signing, they also brought in a player with a broken back in Kim Kallstrom.

However, in the last few years, under the leadership of Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar, the Gunners have become shrewd operators in the market and, as a whole, have seen their signings work out.

For example, one of their additions last season, who received plenty of criticism early on, has since become one of the most essential starters in the team.

David Raya's first season

Yes, the player in question is Spanish goalkeeper David Raya, who was a surprise loan signing last summer, and we say surprise as going into that window, there was minimal discussion about Arsenal needing a new number one to replace fan favourite Aaron Ramsdale between the sticks.

In fact, many in the fanbase and media believed it was an utterly unnecessary addition to the team at the time, so both Arteta and the former Brentford ace came in for plenty of criticism and scrutiny.For example, former Manchester City and Newcastle United keeper Shay Given claimed that it looked like the manager was “signing a problem” at the time.

It was a mixed start to life in the team for the Barcelona-born shot-stopper as well, as even though he made a stunning save against Spurs in just his third appearance, he didn’t look entirely comfortable early on in the season and made some relatively high-profile and costly errors in the games away to Chelsea and Newcastle United.

In fact, despite finding his feet in the second half of the campaign, former professional and pundit Gary Neville found another way to criticise the 29-year-old, as he described his kicking in the 0-0 draw away to City as “terrible”, which, given the final result, felt quite nitpicky.

However, despite the outside noise and the occasional errors, Arteta could see what Raya brought to the team and stood by him, and after the start of this season, it just looks like another thing he’s got right.

Raya this season

Unsurprisingly, Raya has started all four of Arsenal’s games this season, and to say he’s been sensational would be downplaying it.

For example, he made a fantastic reaction save to keep the Gunners in the lead against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the club’s opening match.

The 29-year-old then took things a step further and kept this team in the game against Aston Villa by pulling off the save of the month to deny Ollie Watkins what looked to be a guaranteed goal.

He made five saves and won 100% of his duels against the Seagulls. Then, against Spurs on Sunday, he remained alert to the danger throughout the 95 minutes of action, and when he was called upon, he made several brilliant stops, and as fans have now become accustomed to, was a monster in the air.

Overall, the “outstanding” international, as data analyst Ben Mattinson has dubbed him, has firmly established himself as one of the most important players in the Arsenal squad and has become utterly undroppable.

Appearances

45

Clean Sheets

23

Goals Conceded

32

Goals Conceded per Game

0.71

Points per Game

2.20

Ultimately, the questions surrounding Raya’s signing last summer weren’t crazy at the time, but in the year since, they have been made to look so, and once again, Arteta has been proven right.

As good as Gabriel: 8/10 Arsenal star who won 100% duels was “astonishing”

The sensational talent was a rock for the Gunners.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 15, 2024

Arsenal have a whole host of stars away on international duty this week as fans watch from behind the sofa in the hopes their squad returns to north London free of injuries, and one fan favourite will be coming away from national team duty with a spring in his step.

Arsenal players away on international duty

Mikel Arteta is already without Mikel Merino and Declan Rice in midfield for the north London derby against Tottenham, so will be praying his midfielders in particular return to London Colney in one piece.

On that note, Bukayo Saka featured for England as the Three Lions cruised past the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in Dublin on Saturday, and the winger was on the recieiving end of a couple of nasty tackles from Robbie Brady, but came away unscathed.

Martin Odegaard’s Norway meanwhile face off against Kazakstan and Austria, the former of which resulted in a disappointing 0-0 draw in which the skipper played the full 90 minutes.

Thomas Partey’s Ghana are in 2025 AFCON qualifiying action, as the 31 year-old played the full game in a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Angola last Thursday, with a chance to redeem themselves on Monday against Niger.

The standout result from this international break from a Gunners perspective is undoubtedly what Kai Havertz and Germany produced this weekend, crushing Dominik Szoboszlai's Hungary 5-0 in a Nations League group match, as Arsenal's 25 year-old found himself in a new role and shone.

German media praise Havertz in new number ten role

While his finishing left a little to be desired – the former Chelsea star missed two "big chances" and hit the woodwork twice – he did get on the scoresheet from the penalty spot, and it was his general play as a number ten that earned him praise from the press in his homeland.

As shared by TBR Football, Frankfurter Rundschau said Havertz's general performance was "world class" outside of his inability to finish his chances, while Sky Germany praised his "good movement" and "good ideas".

Pass accuracy

92 per cent

Shots total

Four

Big chances missed

Two

Penalties won

One

Duels won

Seven

Fouls drawn

Five

Havertz, of course, has been forced to make the striker role his own in north London after they neglected to sign an out and out centre-forward, and has also shone for Arteta in a left centre-mid role, but featured here as a true number playmaker, sitting just behind West Ham target man Niclas Füllkrug.

Arsenal dealt injury blow with potential fourth star set to miss Tottenham

The Gunners could be without a quartet of senior players for their trip across north London.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 3, 2024

Whether Arteta ever chooses to adopt a slightly different system than his usual 4-3-3 in order to fit Havertz into this playmaker role remains to be seen, but having a player so full of confidence thriving in a variety of positions can only be a good thing for the manager ahead of such a huge clash against rivals Spurs.

Aston Villa have won the race and are closing in on a deal for a £35 million international defender, according to a new report.

Villa’s success in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign saw them qualify for the Champions League, and as a result, the Midlands side have been busy this summer as Unai Emery and Monchi put together a very competitive squad.

Aston Villa "really looking" at signing £30m+ versatile defender this week

Aston Villa could be busy before the close of the transfer window.

1 ByBrett Worthington Aug 27, 2024 Aston Villa’s transfer plans

It has been a mixed start for the club in this new season, as Saturday saw Villa lose their first home game of the season against Arsenal. However, Emery will be keen to ensure it doesn’t affect their overall season, with him hoping his new signings come good the more games they play together.

Despite already adding eight players to the squad over these past few months, Villa’s transfer business doesn’t appear to be coming to an end anytime soon, as the club have their eye on a few players before Friday’s 11pm deadline.

Amadou Onana

Everton

Ian Maatsen

Chelsea

Cameron Archer (now sold)

Sheffield United

Jaden Philogene

Hull City

Samuel Iling-Junior (now loaned)

Juventus

Lewis Dobbin (now loaned)

Everton

Enzo Barrenechea

Juventus

Ross Barkley

Luton Town

It appears that Villa are in the market for a new defender, with the club only adding Ian Maatsen in that area of the pitch. One player that the Premier League side seems keen on is Liverpool versatile defender Joe Gomez. Gomez is said to be down the pecking order at Anfield, and Liverpool will not step in his way should a suitable offer arrive. Villa are said to be looking at signing the 27-year-old, with the Merseyside club said to be wanting around £30 million for his services.

As well as looking at a deal for Gomez, Aston Villa were also looking into signing Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, with the club said to have held talks with the winger over a potential move. Sterling is said to be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, with him training alone, and while there may have been interest, it is said that Villa are now not interested in signing the England international in this transfer window. However, a new player may not be far away from arriving at Villa Park, as a deal is said to have been agreed.

Aston Villa agree a £35 million deal for Lutsharel Geertruida

According to HITC, Aston Villa have agreed a deal in principle worth £35 million to sign Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida. The report states that Villa have struck an agreement with the Dutch side that will see them sign a defender, who can operate as a right-back and a centre-back.

The deal agreed is said to be worth £35 million, and as well as agreeing a transfer fee, the Midlands side are also said to have agreed personal terms with the player. The defender is now set to fly into the UK and complete his move, with Villa keen for him to undergo his medical on Wednesday.

Geertruida has gained a very good reputation playing for Feyenoord, as he’s shown great versatility, operating in different positions in defence as well as in defensive midfield. The Dutchman has been described as a “leader” by football analyst Ben Mattinson on X in the past, with him adding that he is also “technically secure” and “aerially strong”.

Manchester United officials have held a meeting with the agent of Inter Millan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Onana?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag appear to be making concrete moves in the transfer market, with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount looking like he could be the first high-profile signing of the summer.

After two rejected bids, those at Old Trafford are now reportedly closing in on a £60m deal for the England international, with a five-year deal already agreed between Mount and United.

It doesn’t look as if the club will stop there, though, and with David de Gea’s future up in the air, with his contract set to expire at the end of the month, Onana, who worked under Ten Hag at Ajax, has emerged as a real target.

Reports previously suggested that Man United were in pole position to sign the goalkeeper, who Mark Goldbridge described as “box office to watch when he's got the ball under pressure”, and a further update has been shared.

According to Romano in the last 48 hours, Man United have held a meeting with Onana’s agent, Albert Botines, with the Cameroon international expected to cost around €50m (£42.9m).

“Andre Onana’s agent Albert Botines had direct meeting with Manchester United today.

“Man Utd are approaching goalkeepers to explore options in case de Gea leaves — still waiting for final decision on that one. Inter won’t sell Onana for less than €50m with add ons.”

Is David de Gea leaving Man United?

Ten Hag could be left with a real shortage of goalkeeping options ahead of the new campaign. As mentioned, De Gea is out of contract at the end of the month and David Ornstein has claimed a departure looks a possibility.

Alongside the Spaniard, Dean Henderson has been linked with a permanent move to Nottingham Forest following his loan spell last season, and should the pair seal exits, United would have just 37-year-old Tom Heaton as their only option.

Therefore, pursuing someone like Onana, who has just come off the back of a solid first season with Inter Milan, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 games and coming in of praise from Pep Guardiola after the Champions League final, appears to be a smart decision. It looks as if a move will be one to monitor, and it’ll be interesting to see if United make a formal offer over the coming weeks.

Newcastle United are creeping closer towards a breakthrough in negotiations for Leicester City's James Maddison, but still face a battle to reach an agreement for the England international.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

According to CBS Sports' Ben Jacobs, Newcastle "will move" for the 26-year-old after sustaining a vested interest in his services since failing with a £50m bid last summer.

The sticking point at present lies in the fact that the Foxes feel their prized midfielder is worth £55m, whereas Newcastle's sporting director Dan Ashworth is unwilling to pay more than £40m for a player relegated from the Premier League this term and with just one year left on his current deal.

Having qualified for the Champions League this year after two decades away, the Magpies are looking to make first-rate moves to bolster Eddie Howe's squad and an attacking midfielder has been highlighted as an area for investment.

Should Newcastle sign James Maddison?

The £110k-per-week star endured a torrid season with Leicester succumbing to the drop after years of impressive work under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers, notably winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield.

However, Maddison can hold his head high after producing prolific and robust performances with regularity despite his outfit's woes, scoring ten goals and supplying nine assists from 28 starts in the Premier League, subsequently mentioned among the "world-class" crop of talent England boast at present by Dean Saunders.

The three-cap gem could catalyse Newcastle's midfield in a manner not too dissimilar to that of Martin Odegaard, with the Norwegian maestro thriving at the heart of Arsenal's centre over the past several seasons following his £30m permanent transfer to the club after an initial loan deal.

The Gunners captain is listed as the most comparable midfield player to Maddison via FBref's 'Similar Players" model, and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 14% for rate of assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive passes, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 18% for successful take-ons per 90.

This illustrates the sensational calibre and impact the "wizard" – as dubbed by footballer Babayele Sodade – has had on this resurgent Arsenal team, now fighting at the forefront of the Premier League pack after years mired in obscurity.

Maddison could emulate this at St. James's Park, ranking among the top 1% of peers for rate of non-penalty goals, rate of assists and shot-creating actions, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90 – praised as a "monster" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Indeed, both players evidently possess that intricate ability to carry the ball forward and unlock a defence with relative ease.

Given the sheer brilliance of Odegaard's trade and his orchestrating prowess, it's clear to see that Newcastle would only flourish by procuring a signature worthy of matching the prominent player in both merit and effectiveness, and Maddison is the man for the job.

Manchester United are reportedly ready to revive their interest in Brighton and Hove Albion star, Moises Caicedo, with the Red Devils having previously snubbed the chance to sign the midfield maestro.

What's the latest on Caicedo to Man United?

According to journalist Sam Dean, the Old Trafford outfit are said to be among a host of Premier League clubs who are keen on signing the 21-year-old this summer, albeit with any deal set to cost beyond £70m.

Writing on Twitter, the respected source stated: "Brighton will demand significantly more than £70m for Moises Caicedo this summer. Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all shown interest — and Liverpool could yet become involved, depending on the eventual cost."

In his attached piece for The Telegraph, Dean reveals that the Seagulls are 'willing' to let the Ecuadorian starlet leave the Amex ahead of next season, despite the youngster only signing a new long-term deal earlier this year.

Should Man United sign Caicedo?

It would certainly be a long time coming if United were to sign the 5 foot 10 sensation this summer, with the club having pulled out of a move to sign the then-teenager from Independiente de Valle back in 2021 after the deal became too 'messy' – as per Manchester Evening News – prior to the exciting prospect joining Brighton for just £4.5m.

That decision not to pursue a deal for Caicedo now appears a notable error as far as the Red Devils are concerned, with the midfield "jewel" – as hailed by historian Enrico Castro-Montes – having blossomed into a leading presence on the south coast of late.

As manager Roberto De Zerbi noted, the one-time Beerschot loanee could "become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and in Europe" such is his outstanding talent, with the dynamic gem looking like a player who has "no limit".

Not only would Caicedo be a player that Erik ten Hag could build his side around over the next decade or so, due to his relative youth, yet the 30-cap gem could also prove to be the Dutchman's answer to Declan Rice, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

The West Ham United skipper has been mooted as a possible target for Ten Hag this summer, although a reported valuation of around £100m is likely to prove something of a stumbling block, while rivals Arsenal are also believed to be "leading the race" for his signature at present, as per Fabrizio Romano.

As such, finding an alternative to the 24-year-old in the form of Caicedo could represent a real coup, with the pair both alike due to their creative, front-foot quality from the centre of the park, showcased by the fact that the Englishman racked up 240 progressive passes in 2022/23 in the league, while the Seagulls ace recorded 219 for that same metric.

Equally, the dominant duo have also proven themselves to be particularly effective at winning back possession for their respective clubs, with Caicedo ranking in the top 11% among his European peers for interceptions, while Rice ranks in the top 5% in that regard.

That similarity is also illustrated by the fact that while the latter man averaged 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game combined in the top flight this season, his younger counterpart was only just ahead after averaging 4.2 per game for those same metrics under De Zerbi.

That would suggest that even if Rice – who has been lauded as the "best central midfielder in the country" by ex-United man Paul Parker – does prove unattainable this summer, turning to Caicedo could allow Ten Hag to find his own version of the West Ham machine.

Chelsea remain very much "in the race" to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Caicedo leaving Brighton this summer?

The Blues have a vital period ahead of them in the transfer market, as they look to forget all about a horrible 2022/23 season and kick on into the future. In order for that to happen, the right players need to come in, with incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino no doubt already eyeing up potential deals.

One player who looks set to be on the move on in the coming weeks and months is Caicedo, who enjoyed a superb campaign for Brighton, proving to be one of their most influential figures. The 21-year-old featured in 37 of his side's 38 Premier League matches – 34 of them were starts – and flourished alongside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Pascal Gross in the middle of the park.

A bigger challenge now lies ahead for him, however, and Chelsea are one of numerous top clubs who have been linked with a move for him, as well as the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, in what looks set to be a fierce battle.

Are Chelsea in the mix to sign Caicedo?

Writing on Twitter, Romano said that Chelsea are right in the mix to sign Caicedo this summer, alongside Sporting CP midfield Manuel Ugarte:

"Chelsea remain absolutely INTO the race for Moises Caicedo. Nothing has changed. He’s in the list, 100% — no matter what happens with Ugarte deal, still ongoing."

Caicedo could be a fantastic signing by Chelsea if they manage to snap him up before the start of next season – Graham Potter has called him "fantastic" in the recent past – adding the legs and quality that their midfield badly needs.

The 30-time capped Ecuador international is already such an impressive player, despite his tenders years, with an average of 2.7 tackles per game coming his way in the Premier League in 2022/23, as well as an 88.8% pass completion rate. That shows what an effective all-round midfielder he is, so the difference he could make to the Blues could be immeasurable.

He is still so young, so he should only go up another gear in the next few years, and if Chelsea managed to sign both him and Ugarte, they could be the bedrock of a hugely exciting new-look midfield that also contains Enzo Fernandez, with Mateo Kovacic potentially leaving and N'Golo Kante now in his 30s.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur player Ivan Perisic will "probably" leave this summer.

Who will Spurs sell this summer?

It's going to be a pretty busy next few months for the club, even if they no longer have to worry about any actual football matches.

Indeed, the Premier League season came to an end on the weekend – with Spurs finishing eighth – and now Daniel Levy will have to intensify efforts to find a new manager and a new sporting director.

Until those appointments are made, there can be no certainty about any of the club's intentions in the summer transfer window but Gold seems to think one man will likely be leaving regardless.

When talking on his YouTube channel, the journalist said that alongside goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Perisic will be heading for the exit door.

He said (1:33): “Some of them may be heading off, you know, I would say among those players, I've just said you would imagine [Rodrigo] Bentancur, [Cristian] Romero would be a big part of the future going forward.

"Lloris and Perisic, probably, you think, will go this summer.”

Why would Spurs sell Perisic?

It's already expected that Lloris will be leaving as this has been reported for some time now with Spurs on the hunt for a new goalkeeper.

However, it might be more of a shock to learn that Perisic could be off as well. After all, he only arrived from Inter last year and his £180k-p/w contract doesn't expire until the summer of 2024.

And when he joined the north London outfit, big things were expected. Pundit Paul Merson wrote for Sportskeeda: "I'm a huge fan of Ivan Perisic, he's a top player who works as hard as anybody else on the pitch.

"For every young kid who wants to be a professional footballer – watch this player and see how he makes things happen on the pitch. He sets the tone with his work ethic and professionalism and will turn out to be a great signing for Tottenham."

However, it's safe to say he's not really impressed with a report in the Daily Star noting how the Spurs "flop" had been slammed by some supporters as the "worst signing ever".

With that in mind, maybe it's not quite surprising that he could be set to leave in the summer. Although, as mentioned before, this likely won't be confirmed until Levy appoints a new manager or director.