All posts by z3u9t.icu

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The effective utilisation of young talent has been a hallmark of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s thus far short but impressive tenure at Southampton, with James Ward-Prowse, Jan Bednarek and Yan Valery just a few examples of players who have flourished under the Austrian’s management.

Not everyone has come on leaps and bounds since the former RB Leipzig boss took the wheel, though – Mohamed Elyounoussi is still rotting away at St Mary’s Stadium, but at least he knows why that’s the case.

What did he say?

Well, Norwegian outlet Adresseavisen have accumulated comments made by the former Basel man and he has hinted at what the problem is:

“They [Southampton] see that I have skills and am important player for the club. But I need more time to develop and take the physical level required in the Premier League.”

The winger may feel that he is regarded as a key member of the squad, although 700 Premier League minutes over the course of the season suggests he might not be.

Hit the gym, Mo

While the 24-year-old’s comments regarding the physicality of the English top flight are spot on, he has had since July to adapt but hasn’t – otherwise, his skill-set should suit Saints. It looks more likely at this point that, rather than being restored as the dynamic winger Southampton saw in Switzerland, he will just be their next Sofiane Boufal.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Similar questions were raised regarding the Celta Viga loanee’s suitability in the Premier League and, despite flashes of brilliance, he looks unlikely to live up to his price tag. Will Elyounoussi follow the same path?

The aforementioned Ward-Prowse has spoken this week about the grit and determination he has brought into his game – the England international was previously seen as a bit of a nice guy – so the question begs as to why Elyounoussi cannot do the same. Perhaps, for the Norwegian it is a case of poor application rather than adaptation.

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On Monday the four teams to play in the Premier League’s Asia Trophy in China during pre-season were announced with Wolves, West Ham, Manchester City and Newcastle all set to be involved.

The competition will take place in July but reacting to the news on Twitter, Wolves fans have been sharing mixed views.

Some individuals were looking forward to the prospect of a long distance away trip but there were more serious concerns for other fans, questioning where the club’s priorities lie.

One fan claimed it was unnecessary and could affect them going into the next season, with the potential of playing in Europe still a real possibility.

Wolves currently sit in seventh place in the Premier League so qualifying for the Europa League may be on the cards, through that channel, or via the FA Cup.

Others meanwhile sarcastically made reference to the ticketing system that had annoyed many fans when applying for FA Cup semi-final tickets.

The 2019 Asia Trophy will be its ninth instalment. Having been founded in 2003, it’s a competition that’s played every two years. The previous winners in 2017 were Liverpool.

Here’s the best of the reaction from the Molineux faithful.

Almost every Newcastle fan is hoping that Rafa Benitez will pledge his future to the club soon, but much will depend on money — but not the amount they are willing to pay the Spaniard, but how much he will be able to spend.

In a saga that seems to have gone on as long as the Brexit negotiations, fans are still largely in the dark about the outcome.

In fact, it would be hard to say what will happen first — A Brexit deal, or a Rafa one!

Benitez has always insisted that wages are not his priority or motivation, and it is, and has always been, about being given the chance to take his Newcastle United vision forward, and having the backing to do so.

A report in the Daily Mirror claims that Benitez will be offered a new three-year deal worth £5 million a year, but that figure is largely irrelevant in his musings over a new deal.

As is always the case with Benitez, it is about football. His one concern is that the club are not prepared to turn the page on annual relegation battles, and start to look ahead with a little more ambition.

He is the one person in a management or boardroom role that actually gets it. He understands supporters’ frustrations. He knows what they want. He also, crucially, know how to deliver it.

Most owners of football clubs, whether actively trying to sell their business or maintain it, would want to share that ambition, and see their investment appreciate in value as they improve.

Why Mike Ashley never seems to see that, is a question only he can answer, but unfortunately, he rarely does interviews, and when he does, they are carefully stage-managed affairs with his preferred media partner.

While salary will always be considered, the club could offer Benitez £20m a year, and without the assurances of a competitive budget to improve the squad, he still would not sign — and good for him.

It was suggested, by a certain radio pundit with an axe to grind over Rafa — who we shall not give unwarranted exposure to by naming him — that he has enough money that he should spend some of his own cash to buy players (I know… ludicrous, right?).

Well, if Ashley offers him a contract of £105m a year, then he might well be able to do that!

Newcastle should never have let it get to this stage, that much we already know, but they have, and it is now time to stop bluffing, and go all-in with Rafa.

Give the man the money to bring success to Tyneside — and by success, we don’t mean winning trophies left, right and centre, we just mean giving the Geordie fans a team to be proud to support.

Once they can go to games to watch and actually enjoy them, instead of every week, wondering if it is going to be another defeat, and potentially, another nail hammered into their Premier League coffin.

What do you think of the Rafa Benitez contract situation? Will he get the tools he needs to take the club onto the next rung of the ladder? Let us know your thoughts…

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According to Sky Sports, Lee Bowyer would consider trading Charlton for QPR, who recently sacked their manager, Steve McClaren, and the Addicks hierarchy are already looking at a replacement for the man who has guided them into the play-off places despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future.

Bowyer, who was appointed as permanent boss back in September, has yet to be offered a new deal at The Valley despite the excellent job he has done and the club could soon pay the price for their procrastination, with Championship outfit QPR circling.

While the prospect of letting Bowyer go, be it before the end of the season or after, is unthinkable from an Addicks fan’s point of view, Roland Duchatelet and co already seem to have accepted that the 42-year-old could depart and have subsequently set their sights on former Newcastle manager Lee Clarke, according to The Sun.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

The 46-year-old has been out of work since a brief stint with Bury two years ago but is ready to make a return to management – could that be with Charlton? What do you think, Addicks fans, would you be happy if Bowyer was replaced by Clark in the coming weeks or months? Let us know in the comments below…

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Watford and Wolves meet at Wembley Stadium this weekend, where one’s dreams of an FA Cup final will be realised and the other’s dashed in heartbreaking fashion. Both sides got huge wins – over Fulham and Manchester United, respectively – under their belts in the midweek fixtures and will be heading into this weekend on a high.

The Hornets’ emphatic 4-1 win over the Cottagers has given Javi Gracia a big decision to make, though, with luxury in depth likely to mean one player undeservedly misses out.

What did Gracia say?

Well, speaking ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, the Spaniard said:

“All the time I have to take difficult decision. If you ask me about Andre Gray, it was the same after he scored important goals at home. He has always played well and I know he is a very important player for us. He is helping the team and I think he’s only focused on the way to help the team.

“For the next game, we’ll see what happens. I have to take difficult decisions. After his performance [on Tuesday], I have to think about that. I always try to choose the best option for the next game.

“When I choose the XI, I am always thinking what is the best for the team. But not only the 11 – it is difficult to put some out of the list when they deserve to stay. It is not easy but it is my job.”

Harsh either way

Indeed, former Burnley man Gray was excellent off the bench in the second half at Vicarage Road last time out, teeing up both Troy Deeney and Kiko Femenia – his sixth and seventh goal contributions of the campaign.

The 27-year-old looked a man possessed having entered the fray and was clearly keen to show Gracia that he should get the nod in the upcoming cup game – the speedster’s display has given the Hornets boss every football manager’s favourite dilemma.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

Deeney surely cannot give way for such a big game so, if Gray is to start, then he must replace Gerard Deulofeu, who has been equally impressive up front; another option is that the former Barcelona man is shifted back out wide, although this would seem a waste considering he has netted seven goals and registered five assists playing mainly as a striker.

Whatever Gracia chooses to do in the end, he will be unable to avoid being extremely harsh on one of the two.

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Tottenham are in the midst of a battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League as we approach the end of the Premier League campaign.

With Harry Kane out injured the logical replacement would be Heung-Min Son but it would be foolish of Mauricio Pochettino to start his most dependable source of goals in this game.

Son will be key in the next few weeks

Kane limped off against Manchester City in Spurs’ 1-0 win in the Champions League on Tuesday and his manager said it would be difficult for him to return before the end of the season.

This means that Son has to step up his game in order to lead the line for the final few weeks, something he is more than capable of doing.

The South Korean has been in this position before as the England captain missed a month of action earlier this year due to an ankle injury.

During the England striker’s absence, Son scored four goals in four games whilst the striker recovered.

Pochettino will once again look towards the 26-year-old to provide the goals whilst Spurs’ talisman is out of action but that shouldn’t start until after the Huddersfield game this weekend.

Avoiding injuries and gaining confidence

Pochettino needs to preserve his key players after Kane and Dele Alli both suffered injuries in midweek.

The game against Huddersfield this weekend should be a routine win and Son shouldn’t be risked for that match as Tottenham should be able to get by without him.

With crucial games coming up against Man City in both the Premier League and Europe, Son has to be 100 per cent fit if Spurs want a season to remember.

If the attacker picks up an injury in the next few weeks it could be curtains for the London club in terms of the top four and the Champions League.

This match can also act as a platform for Fernando Llorente to regain some form. The Spaniard has only scored one league goal this term and his confidence has looked shot in recent appearances.

A couple of goals against the weakest team in the division can go a long way towards helping the towering striker regain the form which saw him net 15 goals in a single Premier League season for Swansea just two years ago.

If their shambolic defensive record hasn’t already pointed out enough, Manchester United are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements in the summer. However, if reports from the Daily Mail late last month were to be believed, Ed Woodward isn’t really keen on spending big on a defender as compared to a midfielder or forward.

Indeed, the Manchester United schemer has reportedly given a limited budget when it comes to signing defenders. Unlike Liverpool, who got their money’s worth in Virgil Van Dijk, Woodward is seemingly unwilling to spend big on centre-backs.

However, now that United are thought to be targeting (as per La Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Nicolo Schira on Twitter) Kostas Manolas, perhaps the club could pick up a great option fairly cheaply.

The AS Roma defender’s allegedly available for only €36 million – roughly equating to £31.4m – which is relatively low when you think about. A resolute stopper, the Greek can also be a prized asset to reinforce United’s frail defence line, as he’s strong, determined and isn’t shy of playing rough.

If the Red Devils need a defensive general, Manolas definitely fits the bill.

The 27-year-old is at the height of his powers and has held his own in a problematic season for Roma. He’s helped them keep 5 clean-sheets in 27 appearances while averaging 4.1 clearances, 2 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game (stats via WhoScored). Out in the Italian capital, Manolas is assertive, dominant and knows exactly when to put in challenges to win battles against strikers.

Alongside Victor Lindelof, he could save Man Utd millions. Yes, the likes of Raphael Varane and Kalidou Coulibaly would be nice, but Manolas is by no means just a cheap option. Someone to do the dirty work alongside the classy Lindelof, the duo could finally give United a solid platform on which to build through to midfield.

As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs a powerful figure to add muscle to his defence, Manolas can work really well. Available for cheap, the 27-year-old can work wonders with Victor Lindelof and help bring more reliability to the Red Devil’s defence next season.

United fans, would you be pleased with Manolas’ potential arrival? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Aston Villa fans must be loving life at this moment in time as their side continue to dominate proceedings in the Championship, with a play-off spot now secured. 

The Villans’ rise in form can be put down to a number of players, including the likes of Tammy Abraham, John McGinn, Jack Grealish and Tyrone Mings. All of the players listed above should arguably be playing in the Premier League and still could next season, so securing promotion will be vital.

Steve Bruce may not be adored by fans at Aston Villa but one thing they can’t ignore is the fact he secured the services of John McGinn for just £2.59 million (as per Transfermarkt).

It’s safe to say that signing the Scotsman has proved to be a genius decision as he’s already left his mark on proceedings in the Championship in what is his first season at the club. He’s produced six goals and 10 assists in the current campaign, which is quite astonishing when you consider the fact he operates in the middle of midfield.

McGinn has already repaid the Villans’ for the fee they paid back in the summer transfer window and he could still go on to attract a big fee if the Midlands club were to ever sell him in the future.

But, right now, he’s absolutely priceless at Villa Park. His passing ability in the middle of midfield has worked wonders up until this point, as well as his forward runs to help support Tammy Abraham. Also, he’s a great player to have in the defensive third as he adopts a dogged approach and always gives his all when tracking back.

He’s the kind of player who could fit into any side and do a quality job, so Aston Villa will forever be thankful for Bruce’s decision to bring him to Villa Park back in the summer.

Aston Villa fans, surely McGinn has to be one of the signings of the summer? Join in with the discussion by commenting down below!

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Sheffield Wednesday fans on Twitter have been reacting to Michael Hector’s post on Twitter after he was awarded the club’s Player of the Year award.

The Chelsea loanee has been a star at Hillsborough this season with the centre-back making 36 appearances for the Owls in the league.

The Yorkshire club have enjoyed a half decent campaign following a huge upturn in form after the appointment of Steve Bruce as manager.

Wednesday have narrowly missed out on the playoffs but they are in a strong position to make a real push for promotion this time next year.

If they are to aim for the top two in 2019/20, then one of their priorities this summer must be to sign the Jamaican.

Hector clearly has a soft spot for the club and the fanbase as he tweeted: “Thank you for the amazing support this season.”

His post sparked responses from many Wednesdayites, with the majority of fans congratulating him whilst others were asking him to stay at the club beyond his initial loan spell.

Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!

Here’s what Wednesday fans have been saying on Twitter…

Make sure your back here next season. Oreyt. ?

— Dave Major (@DaveDavemajor00) May 1, 2019

Thank goodness: Andrea Radrizzani apparently reveals future of Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United and its great news for fans.

On top of contending with the hurt and anxiety of possibly missing out on their best chance for promotion in years, Leeds fans have been desperately worried about the long-term future of their Argentine messiah. However, recent revelations may ease their pain.

Andrea Radrizzani is apparently confident that Marcelo Bielsa will remain as manager of Leeds United next season regardless of whether they get promotion, as per Football Insider.

The Argentine signed a two-year contract when he joined in the summer of 2018 and, though the second year is only activated if the club take up their option to do so, we have zero doubts that they will opt to stay with El Loco.

A second term is triggered automatically if Leeds are promoted this season, the chances of which remain dubious as the club prepare for the end of the season play-offs after missing out on a top-two finish due to poor end of season form.

A source close to Leeds has revealed to Football Insider that Radrizzani has told friends he expects Bielsa to stay at the club even if it means leading them through another long-haul Championship campaign for a 16th consecutive season outside of the Premiership. And this can only be good news for fans, who experienced one of their brightest runs in recent history under a coach who genuinely seems to know what he is doing.

Confidence may not be high at the moment, but a single point against already relegated Ipswich Town will guarantee third place and play-off semi-final against the team finishing sixth, either Bristol City, Derby or Middlesbrough.

This would avoid a two-legged matchup against either West Brom and Aston Villa, both of whom are very capable of derailing Leeds’ promotion hopes.

Leeds fans, do you really see Bielsa staying? What changes would he need to make to get the club up next year? Join the discussion by commenting below…