All posts by z3u9t.icu

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VAR. It just wants to be at the centre of attention doesn’t it?

The introduction of the technology for this season in the Premier League has already seen its fair share of debate, but perhaps nothing matches the pure drama at the end of Tottenham’s clash against Manchester City on Saturday.

As the game seemed destined to play out to a 2-2 draw, Gabriel Jesus thought he had nicked a dramatic winner for Pep Guardiola’s side. However, just like in the Champions League quarter-finals last season, Spurs were rescued by VAR as it was deemed Aymeric Laporte had committed a handball.

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After seeing their side cling onto an impressive point at the home of the Premier League champions, Spurs fans took to Twitter to reveal their thoughts on the matter.

Many supporters of the north London side were understandably in dreamland, and revealed the last minute drama brought back great memories from their clash at the Etihad back in April.

Some Spurs fans suggested VAR should be handed a full-time contract with the club, whilst one joked about giving it a squad number.

Check out some of the reaction of Spurs fans below:

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Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has said that he thinks the Gunners are “a million miles away” from winning the Premier League.

What did he say?

Arsenal made some big signings during the recent transfer window, such as Nicolas Pepe, David Luiz and Dani Ceballos, and they have started the season in positive fashion by winning their first two games.

This has led to talkSPORT host Adrian Durham saying that the Emirates Stadium outfit are the only side who can challenge Liverpool and Manchester City this season.

Parlour, though, disagrees with the 50-year-old and believes that Unai Emery and co are nowhere near the title at the moment.

He said on Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast on Wednesday morning:

“I heard a few shows yesterday saying we can challenge for the league, but they’re a million miles away from Man City and Liverpool at the moment, if I‘m honest.

“How many Arsenal players would get into the Liverpool team?

“The most important think is getting back into the Champions League. Maybe they could push a bit higher, but if they get fourth place this season I’d be delighted.”

Could Gabriel Martinelli become Arsenal’s star striker in the not too distant future? Deluded Gooner thinks so in the video below…

Arsenal not ready for title assault

It is true that the Gunners have made some good signings this summer. Pepe brings goals from the wing, Kieran Tierney has merited a chance at a higher level after impressing in Scotland, whilst David Luiz and Dani Ceballos have gathered experience by playing for some of the best teams in the world in Chelsea and Real Madrid.

However, they will need time to gel before they can really think about winning the league. The fact of the matter is that Man City and Liverpool are just too far ahead at the moment and the cores of their squads have been working together for a long time.

The Gunners finished 28 and 27 points behind the two respectively last campaign – that is just too big a gap to bridge in the space of a few months and single transfer window. Both Liverpool and City have also started the season well, and there is no real indication that they will not be fighting it out at the top once again this term.

Arsenal have done some good business and do look to be in a healthy position moving forward, but expectations should be realistic. As Parlour says, a top-four finish would be a good outcome.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Liverpool have maintained the consistency they showed last season with three consecutive Premier League wins and much of that is due to their dominant midfield, which has improved considerably over the last 18 months.

On the chalkboard

With players such as Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk in defence and a notorious front three supplying the goals, it is Liverpool’s midfield which has often been seen as a weak link.

Despite that, the likes of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and Georginio Wijnaldum have all made solid starts to the season, featuring in all three Premier League fixtures thus far and producing a minimum pass accuracy of 81.8%.

Naturally, Liverpool’s front three receive many of the plaudits for their work going forward, but without the energy and combative nature of Wijnaldum in midfield the Reds would struggle to dominate the middle of the pitch as much as they do.

His reactions and turn of pace make him a key figure in the transition from defence to attack for Liverpool, enabling him to get from box-to-box with impressive speed. This clip from his display against Arsenal proved how much of a menace he can be winning the ball back before distributing wisely.

Unsung hero

Wijnaldum has gone about his work in a more quiet fashion at times, but his presence on the pitch is becoming more significant.

According to Wyscout, in his three league games for far he has won 15 duels per game, and his battling spirit is matched by his ability on the ball, with an average of 2.4 successful dribbles per match and 12 forward passes per game – which highlights how he supports the Liverpool attack.

Those passing and tackling stats are better than what his midfield teammates have produced so far and make the 28-year-old integral to Klopp’s system, causing turnovers in possession and then helping get the ball to Liverpool’s match-winners.

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Watford fans have reacted on Twitter to an interview in which new signing Craig Dawson reveals that he was once a keen cricketer.

The central defender said that he had trials for Lancashire when he was a youngster, and played for Rochdale Cricket club every Saturday and Sunday.

He told the club website: “I had trials with Lancashire and I played Saturdays and Sundays during the summer with Rochdale Cricket Club. I was a batsman but I tried a bit of everything. I was a wicketkeeper too but bowling was probably my weakest area.

“I just loved playing summer sport and cricket was always a lot of fun. It was a nice thing to do when the football season was finished and I did okay, but if I’m honest football was always my number one.”

Craig Dawson, 29, made his professional debut as a Rochdale player, before moving to West Brom in 2009/10.

According to Transfermarkt, Watford paid a sum of around £5.4m for the central defender during the summer transfer window.

So far this season, it hasn’t been the greatest start for Watford nor Craig Dawson. They have both played four games and they only have the one point from them and are sitting bottom of the league.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Watford fans that responded on Twitter weren’t the most receptive to Craig Dawson’s quotes, with many lambasting his defending ability and saying that he should’ve stuck to cricket. Alternatively, there were a few people backing up Dawson, saying that the other replies were grimly predictable.

Here are some of the responses below…

While Henderson did enjoy some time off, as he posted on Instagram that he went to Paris for a few days, it’s clear that he’s been looking forward to the international break ending just as much as the rest of us.

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The stopper has always shown incredible passion for the game both on and off the pitch, and his post says that he can’t wait to get back to Bramall Lane specifically.

It’s not surprising that Henderson wants to get back in front of his home fans as he’s one of the most beloved figures amongst the Blades supporters.

His heroics between the sticks last season along with his antics on Twitter made him an instant fan favourite, and this latest post will make fans fall in love with him even more.

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Joe Willock is clearly a part of Unai Emery’s plans for this term and beyond.

The 20-year-old has started three of the first four games this campaign, and there has now been another exciting development in regards to his future.

Arsenal have confirmed that the midfielder has signed a new contract with the club.

Whilst the exact length of the deal has not been revealed, it is said to be long-term in nature.

Gunners fans, as a result, should be seeing a lot more of Willock, who has been with the team since the age of four, in the coming months.

How do football vloggers afford to watch their team week in, week out? Find out in the video below…

There has been plenty of reaction from Arsenal fans, and they seem to be delighted by the north London outfit’s move to tie Willock down.

Loads of supporters have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

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This article forms part of our Profit Players feature, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has turned out since being signed/sold and using statistical figures and statements from key figures to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

Following their relegation from the Premier League in 2017, Middlesbrough prepared for the subsequent Championship campaign by signing goalkeeper Darren Randolph from West Ham for £5m, as reported by BBC.

It was a modest transfer deal when compared with the club record £15m that ‘Boro spent on Britt Assombalonga [as per ITV] in 2017, with Martin Braithwaite also joining that summer for around £10.19m, according to TransferMarkt.co.uk.

Randolph had made 22 Premier League appearances for West Ham in the season prior to joining Middlesbrough and he quickly became a regular at the Riverside Stadium, ever-present in the Championship in his first campaign on Teesside as ‘Boro reached the play-offs. [via TransferMarkt.co.uk]

The Republic of Ireland international also played every single minute in the league for Middlesbrough last season and has continued that record into the current campaign. [via TransferMarkt.co.uk]

Victor Valdes was ‘Boro’s most used goalkeeper in the year before Randolph came, conceding 36 goals in 28 appearances (1.29 goals per game) and managing just eight clean sheets (28.57% of games) in the Premier League.

Randolph let in 47 goals in 50 appearances in 2017/18 (0.94 goals per game) and kept 18 clean sheets (36% of games), while last season he conceded 44 goals in 50 games (0.88 goals per game) and recorded 19 shutouts (38% of games), albeit at a lower level than Valdes. [via TransferMarkt.co.uk]

His figures for this season so far are less impressive, with eight goals conceded in seven games (1.14 goals per game) following Saturday’s 1-0 win over Reading, which was just his second clean sheet of the campaign.

He has still averaged 2.6 saves per game so far in 2019/20 and made seven in the narrow win over the Royals at the weekend.

His importance to Middlesbrough is reflected in his appearance in the Championship Team of the Season last term and the remarks of others at the club.

Teesside Live reported highly complimentary quotes from ‘Boro defender Ryan Shotton about the goalkeeper, saying: “You can talk about us as defenders digging in and doing our job or talk about the attackers working hard to help out as the first line of defence but your goalkeeper is going to be needed eventually, and whenever he’s called upon, Darren comes up with the goods.”

Also in Teesside Live, Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate described the 32-year-old as “the best keeper in this league”, adding: “It is not just his saves; he is a calming influence within the squad as one of the elder statesmen; that is why he is a top keeper and why he is Ireland’s No.1.”

Randolph recently started his 100th consecutive league match for the club in a 2-2 draw at Bristol City, an extraordinarily consistent run which has seen him concede less than a goal per game and achieve a clean sheet record of almost 40% – fantastic figures for a player who cost the club only £5m two years ago.

Middlesbrough fans, how much of a bargain do you think Randolph has been for just £5m? Give us your views in the comments section below!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

While Bernd Leno is currently Arsenal’s number one, it is fair to say he has not been too convincing so far this season.

The Germany international has conceded 10 goals in his first six Premier League matches of the campaign, and he has been at fault for one of them already this term.

It follows on from a disappointing season last time out, where he made the joint-most errors that led to goals.

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Perhaps with this in mind, it has been said that Arsenal are continuing to target Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman, who is currently on loan at Swansea City in the Championship – Arsenal fans should keep their eye on the Swans’ match against Reading this weekend to see him action.

The 22-year-old has had a fantastic season so far. He has started all eight of Steve Cooper’s side’s matches, and has conceded just five goals. With the Welsh side second in the table, only Leeds have shipped in less in the second tier.

In terms of clean sheets, he tops the Championship list with four alongside Kiko Casilla and Christian Walton. And Woodman can certainly claim to have had a big role in that. His 77.3% save accuracy has been beaten by just two shot-stoppers, Casilla and Brice Samba, in the Championship.

Leno, meanwhile, has an accuracy of 74.4%, meaning he is slightly edged out by the former England U21 international – albeit playing at a higher level.

With his feet, too, Woodman is slightly better than the former Bayer Leverkusen man. He has a passing accuracy of 76.1% compared to Leno’s 75.9%. There is not much in it, true, but it is still a difference all the same.

So far this season, Reading have averaged 14.5 shots per game, with only three teams managing more.

Therefore, it is likely that Swansea’s number one will be busy between the sticks. It will be the perfect opportunity for Arsenal fans to see him action.

He is young, homegrown and is performing well. If he can continue like this, then the north London outfit may well formalise their interest.

Tottenham were on the receiving end of a 7-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich on Tuesday, leading some West Ham fans to consider the future of Mauricio Pochettino.

Many Hammers fans will be thrilled to see the decline of their rivals, and it has been some fall from grace for Spurs.

A matter of months ago they were Champions League finalists but they have started the season with only three wins in ten games, and the latest humiliation, as well as player dissatisfaction, could create pressure on the Argentine.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Some fans are doubtful that Pochettino will be in north London for the long-term, with one fan even suggesting he may be manager of Manchester United by Christmas, whilst others are enjoying his and Tottenham’s downfall.

Despite that, many reject the proposal that he will be sacked, instead believing the former Southampton boss is more likely to leave of his own volition, which may not be surprising given the current state of affairs.

Here is some of the reaction from West Ham fans to the future of Pochettino.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…Â

It’s not often that Marcelo Bielsa takes a gamble. His squad is thin and he prefers familiarity, making few changes to his side this term.

He’s used a league-low 17 players in the Championship and he’s predominantly only made changes because of injury.

It took a blow to Barry Douglas for Gjanni Alioski to earn his place while the same can be said for Jamie Shackleton who stepped into the shoes of Adam Forshaw.

Helder Costa has since replaced Pablo Hernandez on the right-hand side as well.

Injuries again will force the manager’s hand this weekend as the aforementioned Shackleton and Liam Cooper are set for a spell on the sidelines.

On the chalkboard

Bielsa hasn’t been shy in revealing his team news ahead of fixtures and before a clash with Wigan, he essentially disclosed his full XI.

He was also far from secretive on Thursday as he detailed the switches to his side he might make when they travel to Millwall today.

Speaking in his press conference, the following was noted:

It will be interesting to see just how the 64-year-old lines up but taking the decision to move Dallas would be a strange one.

The Northern Irishman has arguably been one of Leeds’ best players this season and has started in all ten league outings so far.

He ranks four-highest for average match ratings according to WhoScored and even popped up with a goal against Stoke. He’s been effective on the right and manages 1.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions on average each outing.

Why are Leeds fans the best in the country? Find out in the video below…

The 28-year-old was brilliant at left-back in the dying weeks of last term and scored twice against Derby in the playoffs.

A winger by trade, he’s been moved into both full-back positions and taken on the roles with great professionalism.

There is no doubting he’d do the same in a central role but he’s played the majority of his football in wider spaces, suggesting he might struggle if moved inside.

After all, he’s only played through the middle three times in his entire career. Even if Bielsa thinks he has the qualities, it’s a risk, particularly when the midfield has struggled at times in 2019/20.

They’ve only been involved in two goals between them in the Championship and those are both courtesy of Mateusz Klich.

Dallas’ strong work ethic and ability to get up and down as he does in a full-back role should lend itself to the box-to-box style he’ll have to bring on Saturday but it’s still hugely unfamiliar.

Having made 1.1 key passes he has an eye for a pass but Leeds’ midfield was overrun when Shackleton went off last Tuesday.

They’ll have to ensure the same doesn’t happen with Dallas occupying his role as he did in the final quarter. Perhaps someone more familiar in the middle would be a better option.