After a Merseyside Derby performance that left many questioning Everton’s ability to challenge any top six side long-term, Manchester United away seemed badly timed just a matter of days later. Alas, had it not been for some injury time drama that resulted in a Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty-kick, which the Swede netted, the Toffees would have emphatically silenced the doubters with a win at Old Trafford.
Phil Jagielka’s flicked effort in the first-half looked like it would be enough for a three-point haul in a game that they controlled for vast periods, especially before the interval. While the three-man midfield of Idrissa Gueye, Tom Davies and Gareth Barry were instrumental in this, Everton did well to restrict Man United down the flanks, with Mason Holgate performing especially well.
The 20-year-old is back in the team after Seamus Coleman’s horrific leg break on international duty, and while he was given the runaround at Anfield on Saturday, he kept a lid on the very different threats offered up by Daley Blind, Ashley Young and Marcus Rashford across the 90 minutes…
As the numbers show, Holgate put on a quietly impressive display, with his four interceptions the most of any player on the pitch. The former Barnsley youngster also made three tackles, four clearances and committed just two fouls, while a pass success rate of 77% was a good return given his age and the importance of the game.
With Coleman set to miss the rest of the season, Ronald Koeman will be thrilled to have seen Holgate perform so well.
West Ham United loanee Jonathan Calleri played 50 minutes of the Irons’ 1-0 win against Swansea City last weekend after coming on as a first-half substitute for the injured Michail Antonio, and he impressed some fans.
It was just the 23-year-old’s 14th appearance in all competitions for the Hammers following his season-long loan move from Deportivo Maldonado last summer, in what has been a frustrating campaign for the Argentine forward.
It was the most minutes he had been on the pitch since the 70 minutes he played in a 1-0 win against Accrington Stanley in the EFL Cup at the London Stadium in September, and his first outing for more than a couple of minutes as a substitute since February.
West Ham supporters have been having their say on Calleri via social media, with many wanting to see him given more of a chance in the final six Premier League fixtures of the season.
The Daily Mirror reports that Arsenal are making their plans in regards to the upcoming summer transfer window with Arsene Wenger staying on as the club’s manager in mind.
What’s the word?
Much has been made about Le Prof’s future in north London after yet another poor season, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the campaign. Still, the report suggests top brass are ready to hand the under-fire Frenchman is expected to sign a new two-year deal at the Emirates.
With that in mind, the Gunners are also thought to be ready to offer midfielder Jack Wilshere a new deal. Out of contract at the end of next season, the England international has struggled on loan at Bournemouth and was recently ruled out for the rest of the season with a fracture in his lower left leg.
For his part, the 24-year-old is not thought to be convinced he figures in Arsenal’s long-term plans, such is the stalling nature of his career right now.
A wise move on Wilshere?
Absolutely. Whether or not the midfielder stays with the club in the long-term is almost irrelevant now, though it makes sound financial planning to protect an asset.
Recent links with Manchester City (prior to the injury, granted) suggest there is always likely to be interest in a player of such quality, despite his recent struggles. Furthermore, considering the premium English players come at in the transfer market, Arsenal could be in line for a big fee for a man not in their first-team squad.
How do you improve upon an almost perfect season? That’s what this campaign has been for Brendan Rodgers and his Bhoys. Celtic are on the verge of an unbeaten domestic season and a rare domestic treble of trophies. It would be unprecedented in the history of the game in Scotland.
They’ve triumphed against all challengers in all situations. They’ve blitzed teams, they’ve narrowly won hard fought encounters, they’ve survived scare draws and they’ve come from behind to win matches too.
Celtic fans had high expectations of Rodgers’ reign in Glasgow but few could have predicted just quite amazing it’s turned out to be.
Still now though, the ceiling is high, he’s not taken them as far as they can go, he’s not made supporters as happy as they can be.
These are the four things Rodgers could improve upon next season to take supporters higher and higher…
Win at home in Europe
One of the key aims next season will be improvement in Europe and it all needs to start with much better performances at home in the UEFA Champions League. Assuming they make it past the summer qualifiers again, supporters will be hoping the team can be more competitive in front of sell-out crowds at Celtic Park.
Outclassed by both Barcelona and Borussia Monchengladbach, it was only against Manchester City they truly shone and they still did not do enough to secure a win.
Three points at home is probably the minimum supporters will expect next term as Brendan Rodgers aims to build a team not just capable of dominating domestically but also going up against the best sides Europe has to offer.
If the Hoops start to put the pieces together in Europe as well as at home, supporters will be as happy as they’ve ever been, certainly in decades.
A Rangers whitewash
Celtic have enjoyed significant derby dominance over Rangers this season. There were two 5-1 wins, two cup semi-final wins and two wins at Ibrox. It’s a quite sensational record in a derby that has regularly been competitive.
The is one small tiny thorn in that record though and it’s the 1-1 draw at Celtic Park in March. It’s a game Celtic should have won, Rangers were without a permanent manager after all.
For whatever reason the Hoops just couldn’t put together performance required to get over the line in that one and despite a joyous season, it leaves a key aim left next term.
Whitewashing Rangers and winning every match would be humiliating for supporters of the Ibrox side and give the Hoops bragging rights for years and years to come.
What better way to follow up an exceptional season against them than to go one better next time around?
Europe after Christmas
Britain Football Soccer – Manchester City v Celtic – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group C – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England – 6/12/16 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Leigh Griffiths after the game Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
If Celtic do manage to have an upswing in their home European form, the ambition must be to ensure they see European football after Christmas. Whether that is in the UEFA Champions League by finishing second in the groups or in the UEFA Europa League by finishing third probably doesn’t matter too much.
In fact the Europa League might be a happy hunting ground for Brendan Rodgers’ men. We’ve seen this year that teams like Ajax can go deep into the competition, a team that last season didn’t look too far ahead of the Hoops themselves.
If they can ensure knockout football after Christmas then this side have the spirit, belief and the backing of 60,000 fans that make them a formidable foe for most sides in Europe.
Can Brendan Rodgers emulate the success of Martin O’Neill and deliver some famous European nights into 2018?
Young blood
What’s better than being incredibly successful in football? Being incredibly successful with homegrown talent. There’s nothing Celtic supporters enjoy seeing more than players of their own, from their own communities reaching the pinnacle of Scottish and European football.
Just look at how popular players like Kieran Tierney are.
The Hoops have some decent talent almost ready to make their first team bow. Jack Aitchison, Michael Johnston, Anthony Ralston and Calvin Miller are all knocking on the door. Bringing in this new wave of youth could be a significant story at Celtic Park this season.
If Brendan Rodgers manages to not only oversee a brilliant Celtic team, but one with genuine homegrown talent, his popularity will sky rocket even further.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic spoke about the future of young defender Reece Oxford prior to his side’s final match of the Premier League season against Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday, and hinted he could be sent out on loan again next term.
The 18-year-old burst onto the scene at the beginning of the 2015/16 campaign after being named in the starting line-up for the opening day win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, but first team opportunities became less and less frequent as the season went on.
After making just two appearances in all competitions for the Irons this term, Bilic decided to send the centre-back out on loan in January to Reading until the end of the season, but he has made just five appearances for the Royals after failing to impress Jaap Stam.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on Bilic’s comments via social media, and they would prefer him to be given a chance rather than sent out by the club again.
Everton ended their first season under the guise of manager Ronald Koeman in somewhat of a mini-league for one, well clear of 8th placed Southampton but still a way of Manchester United in 6th, wrapping a decent start to the Dutchman’s reign.
However, one main concern for the former Barcelona man this summer will be up top with the future of striker Romelu Lukaku uncertain, it seems Koeman will need to plot replacements should the worst happen.
One man who has seemingly become available in recent weeks is Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho who, despite being rated at over £20m by the Sky Blues, looks to have a bright future in the Premier League and is reportedly a target for the Toffees.
Another exciting talent been linked with a move to Goodison Park is 25-year-old Burnley star Andre Gray, who bagged nine League goals as Burnley managed to survive the drop for the first time in the Premier League.
With a number of options out there, we asked Everton fans who they would prefer to see on Merseyside next season, Gray or Iheanacho, and it seems the support is well with the Manchester City man, who took home 83% of the vote.
Manchester United will be hoping last night’s Europa League title will improve their ability to attract star-studded talents to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window.
It looks set to be a big one for the Red Devils, one that will be used by Jose Mourinho to bring the squad closer towards his own philosophy.
And the press seem to think attacking midfielders will be on the Portuguese’s agenda this summer.
Whereas Sky Sports believe he’s already been offered Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez in a potential £50million transfer deal, Mirror Football claimed earlier this week that United have an interest in signing Everton’s Ross Barkley.
Rodriguez’s troubled Bernabeu spell appears set to come to an end this summer, whilst the England international’s reluctance to sign a contract beyond 2018 has set the stage for a departure from Goodison Park.
But it seems unlikely United will sign both attacking midfielders this summer, so who would you swoop for Red Devils fans? Let us know by voting below…
According to reports in The Mirror, Everton are interested in signing West Ham United midfielder Pedro Obiang this summer.
In what was a disappointing season for the Irons in their debut campaign at the London Stadium, the 25-year-old was one of their standout players and he impressed with a string of fine performances in the middle of the park.
Those showings have attracted the interest of Toffees manager Ronald Koeman, and the story suggests that he will need to spend more than £15m to have any chance of bringing the Spaniard to Goodison Park as he still has more than two years on his contract with the Hammers.
Having signed him for just £4.3m in 2015, the east London outfit stand to make a big profit on the midfielder if they decide to sell him, and they could already be targeting potential players they could sign if he does go.
Here are five Pedro Obiang replacements for West Ham…
Leander Dendoncker
With Anderlecht not keen to sell the 22-year-old this summer having already seen Youri Tielemans move to Monaco, a move for the Belgium international could be easier said than done.
The defensive midfielder has quickly established himself as one of the best young players in Europe – he scores six goals in 57 matches in all competitions this season – and if he decides he wants to leave the Belgian First Division A champions and they decide to let him go, there could be a huge fight for his services.
The Irons will know that they will need a big name to replace fans’ favourite Obiang if the Spaniard does leave, and attempting to bring Dendoncker to the club would certainly be a real statement of intent.
Marten de Roon
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Despite the fact that Middlesbrough were relegated to the Premier League with a bit of a whimper, it was more to do with their failure to score goals rather than keeping the ball out of their own net.
The Dutchman quickly became a key man in the middle of the park for Boro and after winning 62 aerial duels, making 67 clearances and 48 interceptions, while he also finished the Premier League season as the club’s second top goalscorer having netted four times.
Sam Clucas
Like De Roon, Clucas was one of the standout players for Hull City this season but he couldn’t prevent the Tigers suffering an immediate return to the Championship.
The 26-year-old showed a lot of quality and commitment throughout a tough Premier League campaign though and having made a total of 73 clearances and 52 interceptions, as well as completing more passes (1249) than any of his teammates with an accuracy of 83%, he will surely secure a move back to the top flight this summer.
Fernando
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Having made just 27 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City under Peo Guardiola this season – and with Yaya Toure signing a new one-year deal with the club in recent days – the 29-year-old Brazilian looks set to leave the Etihad this summer.
Having already snapped up Pablo Zabaleta on a free transfer as well as eyeing a £20m move for City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, West Ham should certainly be taking a closer look at Fernando if Obiang is allowed to leave the club in the coming weeks.
In just 15 Premier League outings this term, Fernando made 33 interceptions and 15 clearances as well as having an impressive pass accuracy of 88%, and he would certainly strengthen the Irons midfield.
Valentin Rongier
The signing of Dimitri Payet in 2015 shows that West Ham obviously keep a close eye on the French market and if Obiang does leave the London Stadium this summer, then the Irons will certainly be aware of Nantes star Rongier.
The 22-year-old ranked as the best midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues this season when it came to number of tackles and tackle success rate, recording 5.4 per game with a percentage success of 73%.
Those numbers rank him ahead of the likes of Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, and that ability to win the ball in the middle of the park could make him a target for a number of clubs in the coming weeks.
According to The Independent, Manchester United are still interested in signing AS Monaco’s Fabinho this summer, despite closing on a deal for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.
What’s the story?
Man United are said to be closing on the £40m capture of Matic, with the Serbian expected to join the Red Devils on a long-term deal before the end of the week.
It had been thought that the impending arrival of Matic would end the club’s reported interest in Fabinho, but according to The Independent, the Brazilian is still a target for Mourinho.
Despite being considered as mainly a defensive player, Fabinho scored nine times for Monaco during their title-winning 2016-17 Ligue 1 campaign, while he also netted once and provided three assists in the club’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Swedish international Victor Lindelof has already arrived from Benfica to boost Mourinho’s defensive options, and following the arrival of Matic, it had been thought that the Man United boss would switch his attention to a new winger and centre-forward.
Fabinho, however, appears to be still on the club’s list of targets ahead of the new season.
Where would Fabinho play?
Fabinho, who is rated at £21m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has previously played a lot of football at right-back, but he hardly featured in that position for Monaco during the 2016-17 season.
In fact, 37 of his appearances last term came in central midfield, and a return of 10 goals from 37 matches is an indication of what he would bring to the 20-time English champions.
Antonio Valencia was one of Man United’s best performers last season, however, suggesting that right-back would not be the position for Fabinho, should he arrive.
Valencia had to be rested on a number of occasions in the latter stages of the 2016-17 campaign, however, and according to The Independent, Mourinho sees Fabinho as a player that could operate in a number of positions across the field.
At 23, Fabinho certainly has his best years ahead of him, and adding a player with such natural athleticism, and the frame to play in the Premier League, appears to be a no-brainer for Mourinho as he builds a squad capable of reclaiming the English championship.
Celtic may be in the middle of a two legged tie against Linfield, but the club already know who they can face in the next round should they overcome the Northern Ireland champions. They’ll play either Norwegian champions Rosenborg or Irish champions Dundalk.
In many ways some would consider it a kind draw for the Hoops. There’s no travelling to Eastern Europe, there’s no energy sapping trip to somewhere hot. Whichever team Celtic face it’s very much in their own backyard. That in itself is a massive positive with the quality of teams just one of the determining factors for how tough a team like Celtic will find it in these qualifiers.
Both teams are names familiar to Hoops fans but what else do we know about their potential opponents and what is the must-know info about both outfits?
Here are FOUR things we reckon supporters should be aware of after Friday’s draw…
Rosenborg aren’t the European force they once were
Rosenborg were once regulars in the UEFA Champions League group stages and became a famous name across Europe as a result. In fact they’ve qualified for the group stages on 11 occasions in the past.
However, they aren’t the force they once were and have failed to reach that illustrious stage of the competition for ten years now, making it in 2007.
Since then they’ve struggled in qualifiers with only Europa League groups in 2012 and 2015 getting close to replicating their consistency of the past.
Last season they were put out at the final qualifying round by APOEL of Cyprus and then out of Europa League qualifying by Austria Vienna.
It’s not exactly the kind of recent form that should worry Celtic in the competition and the Hoops usually do well in Scandinavia, meaning this is a kinder draw that it might have appeared at a first glance.
Both teams are deep into their current league season
Football Soccer – Maccabi Tel Aviv v Dundalk – UEFA Europa League Group Stage – Group D – Netanya stadium, Netanya, Israel – 08/12/16. Dundalk’s Sean Gannon reacts. REUTERS/Nir Elias
One of the trickiest aspects of facing either side will be going up against a team well into their league season. Summer football is played in both Ireland and Norway, meaning the Hoops will face a match-fit team ready to exploit any lack of fitness in the Celtic camp.
Rosenborg look to be repeating their league success of 2016, currently five points ahead at the top of Tippaligaen with 16 games played.
It’s not going as well for Dundalk, who are struggling to repeat their antics of last season, currently 12 points behind Cork City having played two more matches, 22 games deep into the campaign.
Should Celtic make it through against Linfield they will only have played two competitive matches before facing either side and that can be a factor, especially if it’s Rosenborg, a team clearly in good form and having a decent season.
Dundalk are no pushovers, they’re a surprise package
When you think of teams from Ireland, you don’t immediately pair them with European success but Dundalk have been a massive surprise package over the last twelve months. They’re enjoying their football and enjoying being the underdogs.
Last season they shocked everyone with a run to the UEFA Europa League group stages, disposing of BATE Borisov on the way. In the groups they competed well, running Russian side Zenit St Petersburg very, very close in two matches and even picking up a win against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
You’d be silly to write them off against Rosenborg and perhaps even against Celtic. The Hoops are no stranger to shocking cup upsets and while Brendan Rodgers have conquered everyone in their path in recent months, they’ll need to be at their best to see of the spirited Irish outfit.
Their tie is evenly poised at 1-1
The two sides have already played the first leg of their 2nd qualifying round against each other and the match is evenly poised at 1-1, with Rosenborg taking the slight advantage of an away goal back to Trondheim in Norway.
The Irish side opened the scoring, showing they have no fear when it comes to coming up against so-called bigger sides. However the Norwegians, whose most high profile player is probably Nicklas Bendtner, rallied to make it 1-1 and put themselves in a decent position to progress.
As mentioned though, Dundalk have performed miracles in Europe recently and for us it’s probably a toss-up between the sides in terms of who progresses to face Celtic, should the Bhoys do the job as expected against Linfield.