All posts by h716a5.icu

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DeAndre Yedlin is set to be deployed on the right-wing for his international side this week, so could this boost his stock at Newcastle United?

What’s the story?

Newcastle have put together a string of incredible home performances since the turn of the year, steering themselves away from relegation trouble in a manner very similar to last season.

The Magpies have won five home games on the bounce, and Yedlin has started in four of those five.

The speedy full back has been deployed at both right-back and wing-back under Rafael Benitez, and is now set for an even more advanced role for USA.

According to reports, the 25 year-old is expected to feature on the wing during USA’s friendlies against Ecuador and Chile.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

On the chalkboard

No one is for a moment suggesting that Benitez is suddenly going to utilise Yedlin as a regular winger, but his exploits for the national team could boost his Magpies career.

The American is perfect for that wing-back role in Benitez’s three-at-the-back system, but the speed and engine which allows him to bomb up and down the wing so effortlessly is often ruined by his lack of end product.

Playing on the wing for his country, even just for a few weeks, could give him the boost of confidence he needs to start arriving in the box at the right time to provide goals and assists, just as he did in the 2-1 defeat at the Etihad back in September.

With Benitez often known to switch between different systems, even changing to a back four during the recent win over Everton, having a player who can occupy three different positions down that right flank will be a huge boost.

In fact, when it comes to summer investment, it could save Benitez a lot of money. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Mike Ashley is not going to follow the Miguel Almiron signing with some mass spending spree, and Yedlin’s versatility will save money that can be better spent improving other parts of the squad.

Full-back is often pointed to on Tyneside as the position most in need of improvement, but could Yedlin step up to the plate with a bit of development in the final third? Newcastle fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

The outcome of Manuel Pellegrini’s contract talks with Pablo Zabaleta could prove to be a firm indication of his pulling power at the club, and a decisive factor in his future transfer involvement.

Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini was undoubtedly brought in at the beginning of the season to boost West Ham’s profile in the market, and to an extent it has worked.

The Chilean has managed to bring in the likes of Fabian Balbuena, Issa Diop and record signing Felipe Anderson – a feat barely thought possible under David Moyes, a man who scarcely does not have the same sort of influence attached to his name.

Pablo Zabaleta, as old as he is now, is his next port of call according to the Evening Standard.

The Argentine is set to run out of contract at the London Stadium this summer and The Sun are reporting that both Manchester City and the player, who spent nine successful years at the club, are interested in reuniting with the latter joining Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.

This news arrived in the wake of rumours linking outbound Manchester United man Antonio Valencia with a move to the Hammers in the Sun.

As much as fans are secretly hoping that Pellegrini is frustrated in his pursuit of the veteran right-back, for his departure would represent a huge symbolic move away from the “graveyard club” status, we cannot help but think the failure to sign even him is a grim foreshadowing vision into a possibly desolate summer transfer window.

West Ham fans, do you think Manuel Pellegrini carries the pulling power you anticipated? Let us know in the comments below…

West Ham are braced for a massive summer ahead, and one area of the pitch that will be under construction is the attack.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are in need of striker this off-season, and plenty of names have been thrown about already. Serie A strikers Andrea Belotti and Duvan Zapata are two names that have been churned out by the Italian media, as well as Celta Vigo striker Maxi Gomez who the Star report West Ham will potentially be able to acquire for just half of his £43 million release clause.

The Uruguayan striker has been a name long-touted with a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool and Chelsea reportedly interested in the 22-year-old striker according to the Sun, however the Hammers have been the side closest to signing the promising forward with Sky Sports reporting that the east London team were close to agreeing a deal with Celta in January, but the move never materialised.

Gomez, who is valued at £31.5 million (by Transfermarkt), has all the qualities to be a striker that can go all the way. Being Uruguayan has naturally seen the forward be compared to former Liverpool star Luis Suarez, but despite these flattering comparisons and decent track record in La Liga, West Ham should be looking elsewhere for a starting striker next season.

At 22, Gomez is still a player who is learning his trade in football. Although he’s shown the ability to play top-flight football, scoring 27 goals in 65 games in La Liga, West Ham are in need of a striker that has been consistent for some time and is the finished product.

Gomez has the potential to one day be the striker West Ham need, though. The Hammers have always enjoyed their best football with a physical striker up top who is intelligent enough to beat defenders with brains as well as strength, but Pellegrini needs the player who can do that now, not someone who could potentially be that in two or three years time.

David Gold and David Sullivan might be able to acquire the Uruguayan striker for £21 million should Celta be relegated this season, but it would be in the best interest of the club to look elsewhere for that striker who can plug the hole that has needed attention in east London for some time.

West Ham fans, what striker should the club bring in this summer?

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It’s fair to say West Ham United attacker Marko Arnautovic isn’t the most popular man at the club now given his recent performances, and supporters on the Knees Up Mother Brown forum have been debating the controversial character.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Austria international somewhat ruined his fan favourite status with the London Stadium faithful following the shenanigans about a move to China during the January transfer window, and he has seemingly failed to recover from it even if the club did hand him a new deal the same month.

The 29-year-old has no goals and just the one assist in his previous eight Premier League outings, and he was booed off by some sections of the crowd following his latest display in the 2-0 defeat against Everton, with many members of KUMB clearly also having run out of patience with him.

What have they been saying about Arnautovic?

As you can imagine, he isn’t in some people’s good books.

Perhaps the strongest recent comment on him came from one individual who labelled him as “disruptive and lazy”, adding “£20m get rid”, while another said “hopefully he has played his last game for West Ham.”

Not everyone agrees though, and some others on this particular thread believe that he has been unfairly given the scapegoat status for what was a poor display by most of the players on the pitch in claret and blue.

One said: “He tried, he wasn’t the worst player on the pitch in an awful performance. No surprise he’s getting the publicity though.”

It’s probably a fair comment for those picking out Arnautovic based on this display alone, but there is no doubt that he is nowhere near the level he has been at times for the east London outfit.

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Tottenham Hotspur fans on Twitter have been split over links with Ryan Sessegnon after the club were quoted a £50million price tag for the youngster last year.

The Fulham youngster has been underwhelming in the Premier League this term, scoring only twice all season after netting 16 goals in the Championship.

Fulham’s relegation was confirmed on Tuesday night after losing 4-1 to Watford and reports linking Sessegnon to Tottenham as a consequence have already been circulating, courtesy of The Mirror.

Reports state that Tottenham would have to pay less than the £50million they were quoted last year but some fans are still being put off the deal unless it is at the right price.

Overall though, the fanbase is pretty much split down the middle when it comes to the Fulham teenager, with some still heralding his ability and further potential and others claiming he’s struggled to show his worth this season.

Here’s a look at what Tottenham fans have had to say on Twitter.

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Loads of Celtic fans have been running the rule over Sunday’s action, as the Bhoys cruised into the Scottish Cup final.

Celtic are still on course for a historic treble treble, having waltzed past Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The Hoops were given an early boost when Dominic Ball foolishly got himself sent off for a woeful challenge on Ryan Christie, just 36 minutes into the match.

James Forrest then opened the scoring before half time with a screamer, and second half strikes from Odsonne Edouard and Tom Rogic sealed the 3-0 victory, while Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson also saw red in the second half.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he often received racist abuse after North London Derbies – Check out the video below…

The win over nine-man Dons was about as straightforward as it comes, but things haven’t always been straightforward for Jozo Simunovic.

The 24 year-old has struggled for fitness and form since joining the Hoops for a fee thought to be in the region of £6m.

He had perhaps his best performance in a green and white shirt on Sunday though, appearing to form the partnership of the future with Kris Ajer.

Fans are now heaping praise on the Bosnian who they once crucified, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below as the Parkhead faithful eat their words…

After 15 years away, Leeds United are now within touching distance of a return to the Premier League.

Last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday saw the Whites move three points clear of their automatic promotion rivals Sheffield United after Chris Wilder’s side could only achieve a draw at Bramall Lane against Millwall.

With just four games left to play between now and the end of the season, Marcelo Bielsa knows that three wins and a draw will be good enough to secure a top-two finish in the Championship. However, despite beating the Owls at the weekend, the Argentine may be concerned about his side’s failure to convert a number of fantastic chances at Elland Road.

Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts both missed great opportunities to calm the nerves amongst the club’s supporters before Jack Harrison finally opened the scoring in the 65th minute in a game that was dominated by Leeds. Although the overall performance was an impressive showing by the Whites, if they do not improve their composure in-front of goal in their last four games of the year, they may risk coming unstuck.

Indeed, it is very unlikely that any of the remaining goalkeepers that Bielsa’s side will play will be able to produce the same level of performance as Keiren Westwood did for the Owls yet they may not need to if they offer the same threat going forward. With Leeds having to face Brentford and Aston Villa over the next two weeks, they know that if they do not sharpen up they could face the real possibility of being leapfrogged by the Blades in May.

To counter this, Bielsa may decide to bring Keemar Roofe back into the starting eleven. The former Oxford United forward has been limited to substitute appearances since returning from injury earlier this month. Top-scorer with 14 goals this season, Roofe could provide the impetus needed to help his side overcome the final hurdle in what has been a brilliant year for the Whites.

What do you think Leeds fans? Are you concerned by the number of chances that your players have been missing in recent games? Could bringing Roofe back into your team see you overcome these issues? Let us know below.

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Florian Lejeune will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign after suffering a knee injury during Newcastle United’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on April 6.

It was rotten luck for the centre-back – a 2017 arrival from Eibar – when considering he had already missed the first few months of the season with an injury to the knee on his opposite leg.

Both issues required surgery, but the defender has already made incredible progress in his recovery from the latest operation.

Indeed, Lejeune only had the procedure done last week, but is already walking unaided as the operation itself was not too complex – relatively speaking.

The Frenchman will, of course, still be absent for some time as he builds back to full strength and fitness, but the Newcastle fans are absolutely delighted to see the 27-year-old back on his feet at this stage.

The fans will certainly be hoping he can re-establish himself as a key first team player next season.

A selection of the best Twitter reaction to Lejeune’s injury update can be seen below:

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According to The Telegraph, Stoke City will demand a fee in the region of £30m for star goalkeeper Jack Butland this summer with interest in the custodian’s services growing as we edge ever closer the transfer window’s opening.

The England international is a target for Crystal Palace, who are surely keen to nail down a man between the sticks for the next decade, although they would be foolish to shell out such an extraordinary sum of money for him.

What’s the word?

Well, The Telegraph reports that the Potters see Butland as being in the same bracket as Jordan Pickford, whom Everton paid then-Championship side Sunderland an initial £25m in summer 2017.

They understand that the prospect of a return to the Premier League will make it incredibly difficult for them to keep the 26-year-old beyond the summer, although they’ll be damned if they don’t try their best and slapping an eye-watering price tag on his head will make a switch to the aforementioned clubs highly unlikely.

Having spent frugally in the past three windows, Palace fans can likely expect a summer of minimal recruitment once again unless Zaha is given his dream move – an exit which would land the Eagles with a huge sum to reinvest into the squad. They must do so wisely, though.

Bigger fish to fry

The electric Ivorian is valued at £75m-£80m by Palace, who will surely be adversed to losing him for anything less considering how important he is to them. However, if a top six club matches that massive asking price then the Eagles will have the opportunity to make some big improvements to the team.

What they mustn’t do is waste the Zaha millions – with Michy Batshuayi returning to Chelsea at the end of the season and Christian Benteke’s future still uncertain, it’s clear that, if the Selhurst Park outfit are to spend big on one player, then it should be a striker.

There’s some exciting changes happening at Crystal Palace next summer. Find out what in the video below…

It’s glaringly obvious that, regardless of the big Belgian’s performance away at Arsenal on Sunday, a replacement or at least quality competition is needed for Benteke and Palace will have clearly learned nothing this season if they don’t spend the big bucks in that department come the summer.

A top goalkeeper is certainly important, but Palace have bigger fish to fry and should avoid paying anywhere near the asking price for Butland.

It’s rare that a world-record signing of any kind can result in being a bargain for a club, but Liverpool, that is proving to be the case.

When the Reds signed Virgil van Dijk for £75 million from Southampton at the end of 2017, the highest fee in world football for a defender, not many expected the Dutch international to be as good a signing as he has turned out to be.

There were sceptics when the signing was announced that Liverpool had overspent for van Dijk, with the deal costing £25 million than the previous most expensive centre-back signing of all time when David Luiz made the move from Chelsea to PSG in 2014, but these critics were more than silenced a few months into the defender’s tenure at Liverpool.

To say van Dijk has revolutionised Liverpool since his arrival would be an understatement. The former Saints defender has turned the fortunes of the club around in a big way, turning the Reds from a team that couldn’t buy a clean sheet to a side that found it easy to keep opponents out, with the Dutch centre-back the marshal at the back.

The subsequent signing of Alisson in last summer’s transfer window has only made Liverpool better and improved van Dijk’s game, as the defender can now focus on defending what’s in front of him rather than having to sprint back if a player gets past him.

Van Dijk has been influential in Liverpool’s charge for the Premier League title this season and has been one of the main factors as to why the club have gone closer than every to the trophy that has eluded them for so many years.

His recent PFA Player of the Year win is a testament as to how impressive van Dijk has been for Liverpool this season as the Dutch defender has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in world football, and for £75 million, the former Southampton man is continuing to look and more and more like a bargain with each passing game.

Liverpool fans, is van Dijk one of the best Reds signings ever? Let us know!