All posts by n8rngtd.top

[ad_pod ]

Leeds came away with a 2-0 victory from Oakwell on Sunday as Eddie Nketiah and Mateusz Klich were on the scoresheet against Barnsley.

However, before the match even kicked off there was a rather comical moment in the tunnel surrounding the regular joker of the pack, Ezgjan Alioski.

In a video posted on Twitter, the North Macedonian can be seen teasing a former Leeds man in Aapo Halme.

Halme left Elland Road over the summer and was making his first appearance against his ex-employers but couldn’t get the best of his old teammates.

Alioski’s words in the tunnel provoked quite the reaction from Leeds fans on Twitter who were all quick to throw love his way.

One said that was the reason they got him on the back of their shirt while a further individual suggested he was an absolute nutter.

Another fan went as far as saying they wanted to name their child after him.

The left-sided player has played six times in the Championship this term, scoring once in the process and has since cemented his place over Barry Douglas.

[ad_pod ]

West Ham United will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions when they face Oxford United in the third round of the Carabao Cup at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Irons come into the clash against the League One outfit on the back of four successive clean sheets, including a 2-0 success against Manchester United at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Their opponents aren’t in bad form themselves though, and they recorded a massive 6-0 victory on the road against Lincoln City at the weekend.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini picked a relatively strong XI full of senior players in the previous round against Newport County, and we expect him to do the same here.

Here is our prediction for the team the Chilean will select on Wednesday…

Roberto replwaces Lukasz Fabianski between the sticks having kept guard against Newport in the second round last month, and we expect Pellegrini to make a couple of changes in his backline as well.

While we think Aaron Cresswell and Issa Diop will keep their places, the former Manchester City boss will hand chances to Fabian Balbuena and Pablo Zabaleta with Ryan Fredericks and Angelo Ogbonna rested.

Ahead of them, Carlos Sanchez gets some vital minutes as a defensive midfielder alongside Jack Wilshere, who will be determined to take his opportunity given the competition he faces from the likes of Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Pablo Fornals for a starting spot in the Premier League.

Fornals and Robert Snodgrass should take two of the attacking positions with the former still adapting to life in English football, but we suspect Pellegrini may spring a bit of a surprise and hand Nathan Holland his full debut – and just his second appearance in a claret and blue shirt after he made his bow against Bolton last term – on the left, so as to avoid using Felipe Anderson from the start.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The exciting 21-year-old was the subject of glowing praise from U23s coach Dmitri Halajko following his display against Middlesbrough on Friday, with the winger scoring once and assisting twice more before being described as “quite possibly the best left midfielder in the league.”

That leaves the centre-forward position, which Albian Ajeti fills as the Switzerland international looks to score his first goal for the club.

In today’s Newcastle United roundup, we take a look at what news has been doing the rounds for the Magpies. James Maddison is a doubt for Leicester City ahead of this weekend’s fixture between the two, Miguel Almiron is set to be axed after poor displays so far, and Kevin Nolan is excited to see Andy Carroll and Joelinton play together.

Maddison a doubt

Report: As reported by the Leicester Mercury, Foxes star Maddison could miss the game against the Magpies this weekend. The Englishman picked up a knock during the League Cup tie against Luton Town in midweek, and as a result, Brendan Rogers may be forced to rest him.

Assistant manager Craig Davies said: “Madders, he got a knock on his ankle. He looks a doubt for the weekend. We’ll see how he goes and how he recovers next week.”

Verdict: It will be music to the ears of Newcastle fans to hear that Maddison may miss the clash. The 22-year-old has been one of the league’s standout talents so far, scoring a beautiful winner against Tottenham Hotspur last week and averaging a performance rating of 7.42 so far.

Not just has the ex-Norwich City man been in such fantastic form so far, but Newcastle have also struggled defensively. Steve Bruce’s side sit just outside of the drop zone by a point and have conceded eight goals in the six games in the league.

Considering the current defensive woes and Maddison’s great form, fans of the black and white army will surely be buzzing to hear this news.

Almiron faces the axe

Report: According to the Daily Star, Almiron is set to dropped, as Bruce looks set to ring the changes against Leicester. It will be the first time the 25-year-old has been left out of the side since signing in January.

Verdict: Currently, this is yet another transfer for Newcastle that has just not worked out. Almiron signed for the club at a then-record fee of £20m but has struggled throughout his time at St. James’ Park.

The Paraguayan has played 16 games so far for the Magpies and has not yet registered a single goal or assist, averaging a key pass rate of just 0.3 this season (as per WhoScored). It is slightly worrying to see Almiron in such poor form, considering he came from Atlanta United fresh from playing a major role in helping the club win the MLS Cup, by scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists in 37 games.

Furthermore, with Matt Richie and Allan Saint-Maximin currently out injured, dropping the former Atlanta man on the right may not come at a good time, with Javier Manquillo the only alternative and he is more of suited for the right-back slot.

‘They’ll be a nightmare for any defence’, says Nolan

Report: Former Newcastle striker Nolan suggests that once Carroll is fit, he and Joelinton could cause major problems for Premier League defences.

He told the Sky Sports Football Centre (as cited by TBR football): “I think the more and more this lad (Carroll) gets fit and the more he is able to start games, I think you might see him and Joelinton working together as a front two because it will certainly help him and it will certainly help Joelinton out too. And believe me, they’ll be a nightmare for any defence.”

Verdict: Andy Carroll played his first game as a Newcastle player last week, seeing eight minutes in the goalless draw against Brighton & Hove Albion, and although it may be a while before he starts (as the Telegraph reports), when he does, it could be a powerful combination for the club up top with Joelinton alongside him.

Bruce’s men have struggled for goals so far bagging just four times in six games in the Premier League – the joint lowest in the competition. And, each of Newcastle’s top scorers are on just one goal, with nobody having stamped their authority on the side as of yet.

However, as Carrol proved before he left for Liverpool, he can score in the black and white. The Englishman netted 33 goals in 91 appearances for his boyhood club, and if he can find that form he had eight years ago, maybe he and Joelinton can lift Newcastle away from the drop zone.

Tottenham have not enjoyed the best of starts to the season and things look to be getting worse before they get better, with fears surrounding Harry Kane’s future.

The Times report that Spurs’ star striker is disillusioned with the state of the club’s current position and there are concerns he could seek a move away, possibly making him another player whose affiliation with the club is uncertain, alongside Christain Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Naturally, fans are worried by this development, with many desperate for him to stay.

However, others are showing great understanding, suggesting that a player with his quality deserves better whilst admitting that the club lacks ambition.

Despite that, some hold out hope that the situation can be resolved, and have subsequently called on Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino to sit down with the England captain and work out a plan which suits both the player and club.

Here is some of the mixed reaction that has met the story of Kane being unsettled.

Manchester United prodigy Angel Gomes has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer something to think about after scoring twice during England U20s 2-2 draw against Italy in Parma.The 19-year-old is one of the many youngsters that have been inducted into the Norwegian’s side this season after a summer transfer period that saw two attackers and a midfielder leave without being sufficiently replaced.United signed Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James but their lack of depth has been exposed by a number of injuries to key players including Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

As it stands, Solskjaer has relied on Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata to fill the creative void this term. So far, the pair have accumulated more yellow cards (3) than they have goals and assists combined – needless to say, something needs to improve.

The 5 ft 5 creative whizz has 26 goals and 15 assists in 61 appearances for United at U18 and U23 level, and while he’s yet to directly contribute in the senior squad, the current situation is that dire, we’re already getting to the stage where Solskjaer may need to rely on youthful exuberance to pull his side out of a rut that has since them score twice in five games.

Miguel Almiron has come under criticism for his performances at the start of the season, leading some Newcastle supporters to back him up by praising his contribution.

The Paraguay national team arrived at St James’ Park for a then club-record fee in January, but is still yet to register a goal or assist for the Magpies.

Watch Newcastle United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Ordinarily, that would likely lead to a negative view from fans, but instead several have pointed to his hard work and the contribution he offers to the team outside the final third, and for that reason argue he isn’t as bad as the stats suggest.

The reaction from Magpies comes after the president of Almiron’s former club Atlanta United, Darren Eales, suggested he also had a slow start when he first moved to the MLS.

Eales also spoke of the confidence issue that the winger is likely suffering from, leading one fan to suggest that once he gets off the mark for the club he could become a new player.

Here is some of the reaction from Toon fans showing support for their number 24.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Portuguese football journalist and creator of the website PortuGOAL, Tom Kundert, has talked up Matheus Pereira after his latest transfer update.

What’s he said?

Last week, BirminghamLive revealed that the Brazilian midfielder had already agreed on personal terms ahead of a potential permanent move to the Hawthorns at the end of the season.

Albion can purchase the 23-year-old for £9m if the club gain promotion from the Championship this term or if Pereira makes a certain number of appearances – that figure also involves the loan fee they paid for him.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The winger has been an influential member of Slaven Bilic’s squad so far this season after scoring two goals and providing four assists, per WhoScored.

In light of the news, Express & Star spoke to Kundert to find out more about Sporting Lisbon’s man, he said:

“He has frequently shown he has exceptional talent and having come to the club as a 12-year-old he does feel an affinity to it so it is mystifying why he has been constantly discarded.

“The upshot is most Sporting supporters and much of the press look at the departure of Matheus as evidence of the incompetence of the board, and not because of any shortfall on the part of the player

“An absolute steal for WBA and a senseless decision by SCP.”

Premier League pedigree

Given the impact Pereira has already had in the west Midlands, these latest developments will surely please pretty much everyone at the club.

Whether they gain promotion or not, it’s clear to see he wants to be at the Baggies permanently, which will only help their cause in trying to meet Luke Dowling’s aim of reaching the promised land within the next two years.

The 5 foot 9 man has played in multiple top-flight leagues in his short career to date, meaning he could well be a good fit for the Premier League should the Baggies managed to get there.

Last season, Pereira spent time in the Bundesliga with FC Nurnberg while he has also featured in the Primeira Liga for both parent club Sporting and Chaves.

His spell in the Championship this campaign will only do him the world of good as he adjusts to life in England too.

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…

If a midfield player hits seven goals in one season, you could say that they had a fairly successful campaign.

And if those goals come from a young player you may expect them to develop even further and become pivotal for their side in the following campaign, but that is not true of Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse.

The academy graduate scored seven goals in 26 appearances in the 2018/19 campaign, where he looked a good bet to kick on and carry his impressive form into the 2019/20 season.

However, the 24-year-old has struggled in the early parts of the season, especially in his new right attacking-midfield role in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s 4-2-2-2 system.

The midfielder lacks pace, so he is unable to burn down the flank on the outside of defenders, whereas his chance creation and goalscoring instincts have recently been non-existent.

He didn’t have a single shot or dribble in the games against Brighton and Manchester United – as we previously outlined when tipping him to be a causality of the 4-2-2-2 formation – while his only goal contribution so far this season has been from the penalty spot against Bournemouth.

Additionally, a lot of Southampton fans on Twitter took aim at him for his performance in the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea at St Mary’s recently.

In the 1-1 draw against Wolves last time out however, the England U21 international showed signs of promise.

Having previously struggled on the right, Ward-Prowse lined up in the same role, albeit this time in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

In this instance, the 5 foot 8 man was effective. He had two shots at goal, both of which were on target, whilst Ward-Prowse also made three key passes against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

Having previously recorded a grand total of zero contributions in both of those departments against the Seagulls and the Red Devils – as aforesaid – his performance in the Midlands served to suggest that Ward-Prowse is slowly adapting to the role and can be an influential figure there.

Hasenhuttl has stuck by him, and he may be about to get his reward for doing so – if Ward-Prowse’s showing at Molineux was anything to go by, that is.

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

Manchester City have been dealt another potentially disastrous blow as Rodri came off injured in the club’s win over Atalanta on Tuesday.

On the chalkboard

The Liverpool Echo have reported that Rodri’s injury could force the Spaniard out of the clash against fellow title rivals Liverpool, which is due to take place at Anfield on November 10.

Rodri was seen clutching his leg against Atalanta and his absence is only going to add further defensive concerns to the Pep Guardiola, with Aymeric Laporte’s injury already leaving him short of his most integral defensive asset.

Laporte will miss the rest of 2019 with a knee problem and his absence has already been felt with City losing to Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers without him in the side.

These results have put Guardiola’s side in second behind Liverpool, and a win in the Goliath clash next month could put significant daylight between the two title contenders after just 13 games.

Indeed, Rodri put in a magnificent display in a makeshift defence for City against Crystal Palace and could be missed in the team.

Gundogan in holding role; Fernandinho at centre back

Ilkay Gundogan has not been an ever-present in City’s starting XI this season, starting six times out of the nine so far in the league.

However, the German has looked increasingly comfortable in a holding midfield role, impressing in the absence of Fernandinho towards the end of last season. He also bagged six goals and three assists in the 2018/19 campaign, averaging a 7.14 rating, per Whoscored.

As a result, Gundogan’s place in the midfield anchor role could be cemented in light of Rodri’s injury setback, with Fernandinho continuing to deputise at centre-back alongside John Stones.

Perhaps the natural option would be to start Nicolas Otamendi, who cost the club £32m, alongside John Stones, who cost a whopping £47.5m in 2016, in central defence, but that particular pairing are far from trusted by Guardiola.

In the time between Aymeric Laporte joining the club and September 12th 2019, Man City played 56 Premier League games. Pertinently, Stones and Otamendi started in a back four together in just three of those fixtures, per BBC Sport. If ever there was a statistic that laid bare the lack of confidence Guardiola has in this particular combination of central defenders then this was it.

With this acute acknowledgement in mind, it’s fair to assume that the internationally revered manager will continue to seek alternative options, forcing Fernandinho to continue in a central defensive role that he is becoming increasingly accustomed to.

Gundogan, for now at least, looks set to continue in the role that Fernandinho made his own in the Premier League in recent years, while the Brazilian may have to continue to adapt to his new surroundings in central defence.

Everton booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup with a 2-0 win over Watford at Goodison Park on Tuesday night.

However, a number of the Merseyside club’s supporters were disappointed with what they saw from Andre Gomes during the contest.

According to WhoScored, the central midfielder only had one shot and one successful dribble during his 90 minutes on the field, whilst his pass success rate was down at 75%.

In the end, the home side managed to secure a place in the last eight of the competition courtesy of goals from Mason Holgate and Richarlison in the latter stages.

However, the performance of Gomes in a central position was not well received one bit.

Watch Everton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Portuguese lined up alongside fellow summer arrival Fabian Delph in the middle of the park, and he struggled to have a positive influence on the EFL Cup fixture.

A selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below: