All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester City blew their chance of officially regaining the Premier League title against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon as Pep Guardiola’s side were beaten 2-1 at the Etihad.

Although the Citizens can still win the title this weekend should Manchester United fail to win against Aston Villa on Sunday, it was a wasted opportunity for City against Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Guardiola opted to make nine changes for the game and his side once again looked disjointed before finding the breakthrough shortly before half time, with Raheem Sterling tapping in after Sergio Aguero looked to have fluffed an open goal.

The Argentine striker was then involved in another of the game’s key moments shortly afterwards, as City were awarded a penalty which had he scored, could have put them in a comfortable position, but instead, he opted to try a Panenka penalty, which was easily saved by Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea fought back in the second half and deservedly equalised through Hakim Ziyech, before Marcos Alonso stole the three points at the death to consign City to defeat.

Although Aguero will understandably take a lot of the blame for the defeat, there were plenty of poor performances on show from City’s players, with Benjamin Mendy, in particular, disappointing with his display.

As per SofaScore, the French defender, who cost City £52m in 2017, would earn a 6.8 match rating for his display, with Aguero rated a 6.7/10 for his performance.

Although the former AS Monaco man was solid from an attacking point of view, managing two key passes and a 90% pass accuracy, his defending, or lack of, was one of the key reasons why the game turned in Chelsea’s favour.

The second half regularly saw Chelsea get in behind City’s defence down Mendy’s side, with Reece James causing him all sorts of problems when running at him, which highlighted just how much the left-back struggled from a defensive perspective.

He was also out-fought on a number of occasions, winning just two of his nine total duels in the game, resulting in a less than impressive 22% success rate.

The World Cup winner was dribbled past on two occasions, whilst he managed just one tackle and one interception, which was the fewest of any Manchester City defender.

Mendy was eventually axed by Guardiola with 10 minutes remaining after Tuchel brought on Callum Hudson-Odoi to help expose City’s weakness down the left-hand side, which highlights that he was clearly the weak link on Saturday, and arguably cost Guardiola with his inability to defend.

And, in other news… Txiki should seal Man City swoop for “world-class” beast who left Pep speechless

Steven Gerrard has teased transfers at Glasgow Rangers this summer in the aftermath of their unbeaten Premiership campaign.

The Lowdown: Preparations begin

After their 4-0 win over Aberdeen on Saturday, the Gers completed an unbeaten league season (BBC). The players and staff celebrated at Ibrox, while many supporters took to the streets across Glasgow.

Now that the season is over, those in charge at Rangers must prepare for next season and beyond. Fashion Sakala and Nnamdi Ofoborh will join the club ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, and there are likely to be more incomings to follow.

The Latest: Gerrard teases transfers

Speaking during the celebrations on trophy day, Gerrard discussed the future. He told Sky Sports (via rangersnews.co.uk):

“This is a club where you can’t stand still – it’s about the future. This has to be a launchpad. We have to fix the roof now. The sun’s shining and everyone’s happy, but it’s my job to now to find the tweaks, find the little malfunctions within the group that we need to iron out.

“The recruitment is key now. You can see in the last few games that we’re short in certain areas. I’ve had some really interesting meetings with the board and they’re with me. They’ll back me and we’ll go again and we’ll try to build on this success.”

The Verdict: Don’t stand still

It shows the mentality of Gerrard that, even in the immediate aftermath of such a success, he is already thinking ahead to next season, and he is exactly right to do so. What Rangers have achieved this term has been fantastic, but they still have so much more to do – for example, they will embark on a Champions League run next term and have the chance of qualifying for the group stages for the first time in 11 years.

If the 55-time Scottish champions want to progress further, they will have to bring in new faces to introduce fresh impetus in the squad. Sakala and Ofoborh are a good start – expect more to follow.

In other news, Rangers are interested in this English Championship midfielder.

This season has been a wretched one for Nuno Santo’s small squad at Wolves.

They have been dealt countless injury blows which means we won’t see the likes of Jonny, Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto or Raul Jimenez until next season.

That being said, a return is edging ever closer for their Mexican sensation.

Jimenez has been missing since November after a horrifying clash of heads with Arsenal defender David Luiz.

The forward fell to the floor in agony as he was then stretchered from the field. The prognosis was that Jimenez had fractured his skull, an injury that would keep him out for an extended period of time.

He’s been able to progress from basic fitness work into full competitive training from March but has been unable to fully involve himself in powered heading and aerial duels.

Wolves announced on Wednesday evening that he wouldn’t play again this season but they did provide an exciting update on when he may back in action.

In a club statement, they revealed that Jimenez is expected to be fit and ready in time for the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Club doctor Matt Perry said: “His skull fracture has now healed well; he will wear a protective headguard to cover the area of bony injury for the remainder of his career, but it is adjudged strong enough for him to return to play with this protection.

Perry continued: “A brain injury such as concussion can take weeks and months to recover fully and TBI will sometimes leave lasting deficits. It is wonderful to be able to say that Raul has made a remarkable and excellent recovery to date.

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“Further match-based rehabilitation will start in July and will be tightly controlled initially. This respects the fact that although his recovery appears to be total there is a big step from training to competition.”

This is simply wonderful news, and it’s likely to leave the manager absolutely buzzing.

Without Jimenez this season, Wolves have struggled significantly in the final third.

Their top scorers are Ruben Neves and Neto on just five goals while Fabio Silva and Willian Jose have only netted a handful of times between them as well.

Silva has started to progress nicely in the back end of the campaign but Jose’s arrival from Real Sociedad has not gone according to plan.

He hasn’t suited the club’s style of play and has one goal to show for his efforts at Molineux.

Jimenez is a natural born goal scorer so to have him back next season will be a massive boost to their chances of finishing in the top half.

Last term, the 30-year-old bagged 27 strikes and also racked up ten assists. To have that sort of volume missing from your attack will trouble any team.

Nuno will be dancing for joy that his main man is making a full recovery.

AND in other news, Tim Spiers delivers exciting transfer update, Wolves fans should be buzzing…

In their first game back in front of fans in the Premier League, Aston Villa turned up to Spurs on Wednesday night and spoiled the party, winning 2-1.

Dean Smith’s side fell behind to a fine strike from Steven Bergwijn, but managed to turns things around later in the first-half thanks to an own goal from Sergio Reguilon and a coolly taken finish from Ollie Watkins.

And while Villa managed to seal all three points and make the trip back up to the Midlands a good one, one man who was arguably the biggest disappointment for the side, was Anwar El Ghazi.

The Dutchman once again started on the left despite the return of Jack Grealish, with the club captain being deployed in the number ten role instead.

That was a major show of faith in the winger, but he failed to capitalise, and he was the big let-down for Smith even in an impressive victory away from home at one of the Premier League’s big six.

As per Sofascore, he finished with a 6.5 match rating, which was the lowest of any Villa player, and when you look at his underlying numbers it’s no surprise to see why.

He lost a whopping 13 duels on the night, which was by far the most of any player, and lost possession 16 times too, again the most – El Ghazi was just too easily outmuscled by the Spurs back-line or just pressured into making mistakes whenever Japhet Tanganga in particular looked to step in front of him and be proactive in his defending.

He also failed to complete any dribbles, and committed three fouls too as his frustrations got the better of him.

And, writing in his post-match player ratings for The Birmingham Mail, Ashley Preece gave him a 6.5, saying: “Started on his favoured left with Grealish inside and El Ghazi, Targett and Villa’s captain worked well together. El Ghazi should have notched his 10th of the season but, somehow, he got his feet in a muddle as he miss-hit Grealish’s ball into him.

“El Ghazi should have done better when he latched onto McGinn’s ball over the top but took too much time which allowed Alderweireld to clear. A bit quiet but he kept Tottenham thinking.”

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The Dutchman just didn’t cover himself in glory, and Smith would not have been happy with his display at all.

Meanwhile, this Villa man stole the show for Dean Smith…

Newcastle United could transform their defence by signing Celtic powerhouse Kristoffer Ajer this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Magpies are very much interested in signing the Norway international, and there has now been a major update on their pursuit of the centre-back.

The Northern Echo claim that Steve Bruce is keen to kick off his side’s summer business with a move for the 6 foot 6 giant, and that “with Newcastle having sent a series of scouting delegations to watch the Norwegian this season, the Magpies’ interest is currently understood to be at a much more advanced stage.”

The report adds that Ajer is set to leave Celtic in a mass exodus from the club, and the Hoops currently value him at around the £8m mark.

Imagine him and Lascelles

Speaking earlier this season, former Scotland boss Alex McLeish said: “I go back to that St Johnstone game, you see sometimes when it’s not going for Celtic and the game’s in its dying embers, and then all of a sudden you see Ajer striding up the pitch trying to inspire like Roy of the Rovers.

“Running from defence, augment the attack and then it leads to a goal – these are inspirational moments and he is an inspirational, influential player for Celtic. Like Virgil van Dijk, he came to Celtic and we all know what happened next.”

Ajer’s teammate and fellow centre-back partner Christopher Jullien hailed him as a “unique talent”, and it’s no surprise given his combination of size and elegance on the ball when he brings it out from the back.

That kind of ball-playing ability, combined with someone like Jamaal Lascelles could form the basis of a really strong spine at St James’ Park.

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The duo’s different strengths could compliment each other, with Lascelles’ no-nonsense approach to defending – he made the fourth-most clearances and third-most blocks for Newcastle – fitting in well with Ajer’s more measured style.

With Ajer also standing at an imposing 6 foot 6, the Magpies would have a couple of towering units at the back, that will leave opposition strikers thinking twice about trying to bully either of them.

Meanwhile, Newcastle must land this Championship star…

Tottenham have been dealt a blow in the pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino as it was revealed by French journalist Julien Froment that the Argentine’s contract has been extended at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Lowdown: Spurs want Pochettino back

Spurs sacked Pochettino towards the end of 2019 just months after they had reached the Champions League final. His replacement Jose Mourinho then lost his job at the club six weeks ago.

As Daniel Levy and co look for a successor, they are interested in bringing Pochettino back to N17 (football.london). However, their pursuit has hit a major obstacle.

The Latest: Contract extended

Froment was reporting comments from PSG sporting director Leonardo in regards to Pochettino. The Brazilian said that the former Espanyol man has two years left on his contract.

As such, Froment revealed that means the Parisians have activated a one-year extension option in Pochettino’s contract, which now runs until 2023.

The Verdict: Disappointing

This will no doubt be a disappointment for all involved at Spurs. Pochettino, who earns €525,000 per month at PSG (£451,000 monthly or £5.4m a year, via gentside.co.uk), may have been unable to win a trophy with Spurs, but he turned them into a regular Champions League outfit and even took them to the tournament’s showpiece two years ago.

At PSG, things have not gone too well – they failed to win Ligue 1 for just the second time in nine years. The club from the French capital have still extended his contract, but that does not strictly mean he will stay until 2023. It could just be the case that Spurs will need to pay a bigger compensation fee to prise him away from the Parc des Princes.

In other news, Spurs want this Bundesliga midfielder.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer has questioned why Danny Ings would want to leave his old side for Manchester United or Tottenham this summer.

Ings is one striker Manchester United are said to be looking at as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to bolster his options up front.

As for Tottenham, Ings has been a reported target for the north London club for a while now.

Palmer, though, is not too convinced the 28-year-old will get regular game time at either side.

On Ings’ future and talk of a potential move to Manchester United or Tottenham, the ex-Southampton player said:

“Why would you want to go somewhere and not be a first-team regular? He’s at that stage of his career now [where he should be wanting to play].

“For sure, he’s going to move because there’s a reason why he’s not signed his contract – something’s sorted.

“The only reason why you go to those places now is because it’s a bumper payday.”

At Manchester United, perhaps Ings may fancy his chances against an ageing Edinson Cavani, who still managed to impress in the recently concluded season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.

Regarding Tottenham, though, should Harry Kane remain at the club, it is hard to imagine the England international getting much minutes on the pitch there.

Leicester City should revisit their interest in Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai this summer as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his first-team squad.

What’s the story?

The 23-year-old only moved to the Turkish giants in January but emerged as a potential target for the Foxes back in April, according to Hungarian outlet Blikk.

Szalai made 22 appearances for Fener last season, catching the eye of several sides thanks to his dominant displays.

Imagine him and Fofana

Brendan Rodgers is reportedly in the market for a new centre-back after the experienced duo of Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs departed the King Power Stadium.

The former Liverpool and Celtic boss switched between a back four and a back five in 2020/21 depending on the opposition last season, with Wesley Fofana, Caglar Soyuncu and Jonny Evans the first-choice picks at centre-half.

However, all three picked up lengthy injurie at various points throughout the campaign, forcing Rodgers to play the likes of Daniel Amartey, Timothy Castagne and James Justin out of position to plug the gaps.

A new man is, therefore, required by the current FA Cup holders ahead of the new season if they’re going to stand any chance of fighting on multiple fronts.

Qualifying for the Europa League brings large amounts of opportunities and issues for a club like Leicester, where a lack of squad depth can cruelly undermine efforts.

In Szalai, director of football Jon Rudkin could solve a multitude of Leicester’s defensive issues in a single signing.

The Hungary international is a versatile talent, often playing in a back three or back four at previous club Apollon Limasso in Cyprus, meaning adapting to Rodgers’ changing styles should pose few problems.

Another attractive attribute of the youngster is his size. At 6 ft 4, Szalai should be able to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League with ease, and his 21 Super League outings last season produced three goals, highlighting his aerial threat from set-pieces.

Left-footed centre-backs are a rare commodity and at Leicester, none of their options are naturally comfortable away from their preferred right-hand side.

Evans is comfortable using both feet, but Szalai makes good use of his stronger left foot, often playing passes out from the back or dribbling his way upfield in search of a teammate.

His size and skillset, therefore, make him the perfect partner for the highly-rated Fofana. The right-footed, slim-built Frenchman would benefit from a more powerful companion, and that duo could form the base of Leicester’s defence for years to come if the Foxes can bring Szalai into the club.

And, in other news…Rudkin spends £66m, Tielemans stays: How Leicester City could line-up next season 

According to Kevin Campbell, Bright Osayi-Samuel would do brilliantly at Glasgow Rangers were he to make the move to Ibrox.

The Lowdown: Osayi-Samuel to leave Fenerbahce

Osayi-Samuel made the move to Fenerbahce in Turkey from QPR in January, but it appears he may already be leaving the club.

Fener are looking to make £15m from player sales, and they are hoping to get £3m for Osayi-Samuel. He has been linked with a switch to Ibrox.

The Latest: Campbell urges Gers to sign winger

Speaking to Football Insider, Campbell has urged the Gers to sign the 23-year-old. He said:

“I think he would be a good signing at £3million.

“He is a player who has been long-linked with Rangers. They have clearly been coveting him for a while.

“A player of that quality for £3million is cheap money. Even though the transfer market in Scotland is different, that is cheap. I think that is about right for a player with a lot still to come.

“He has got bags of pace, he is direct and he is a threat. I think he would do brilliantly in Scotland.”

The Verdict: Worth a punt

Since making the move to Turkey, things have not gone fantastically well for Osayi-Samuel. He has managed just one goal and one assist for the club in 19 appearances (Transfermarkt) and, given Fenerbahce are already considering moving him on, he clearly hasn’t made too big an impact.

However, as he showed with five goals and nine assists in the Championship during the 2019/20 campaign he has plenty of ability and can be a danger down the flank.

At 23 years of age, he has 19 goals throughout his senior career and has plenty of time to improve as well. For Steven Gerrard and co, he may just be worth a punt at a measly £3m.

In other news, Rangers have also been urged to sign this young Dutchman.

Everton’s search for a new manager has lasted just shy of two weeks but they could be on the verge of an appointment.

The Toffees have a lengthy list of 40 coaches to consider but they have rapidly whittled that down.

What’s the word?

The Merseyside outfit have reportedly held talks with the agent of Christophe Galtier but with the Frenchman able to speak minimal English, they focused their efforts elsewhere.

Bill Kenwright’s first choice, David Moyes, has signed a new deal at West Ham, leading to Nuno Santo gleefully licking his lips.

According to Duncan Castles, the former Wolves manager met with the Everton hierarchy last week and thrived in an interview.

It would appear that he left senior figures impressed with The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe now reporting that Nuno has become the leading candidate.

Silva 2.0

Nuno has achieved some wonderful things in English football.

He revived the fortunes of Wolves as he took them from a middling Championship side to one that now harbours European ambitions.

The Old Gold were promoted to the Premier League and within two years, they were an established top-flight team, ending successive campaigns in seventh place.

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However, Everton seem to have a funny habit of appointing managers who have done well with smaller clubs in the Premier League.

Think Roberto Martinez who had been with Swansea and Wigan or Ronald Koeman and his tenure at Southampton.

Of course, there was also Marco Silva, a fellow Portuguese who had thrived with Watford.

Unfortunately, those three head coaches all have something disastrous in common; they were relieved from their duties at Goodison Park. The arrival of Nuno, therefore, should not be taken well.

The 47-year-old is tactically inflexible and he may well divide the supporters too. It’s an appointment that won’t offer too much excitement, especially when you consider those who have been linked with the vacancy.

Galtier has just beaten PSG to the Ligue 1 title with Lille while Rafa Benitez and Manuel Pellegrini have won multiple honours throughout their managerial careers.

What Everton need now is a proven winner, someone in the mould of a Carlo Ancelotti who can finally lift them to an elusive Champions League spot.

Nuno couldn’t get Wolves into the top six but even with more resources in Merseyside, it’s hard to see him beating the Premier League’s elite.

Fans should be rather angry that the hierarchy have sought his services rather than looking for a more luxurious candidate.

AND in other news, Moshiri can make the biggest statement of his Everton tenure by hiring 51 y/o “genius”…