All posts by h716a5.icu

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BBC Football pundit Mark Lawrenson has delivered his last set of Premier League score predictions for the season ahead of the final day on Sunday, and he has made an interesting claim about Newcastle United.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Magpies travel to already-relegated Fulham this weekend in what is a largely meaningless match for both sides, with only the visitors able to finish higher – by a single place – in the top-flight standings.

It is no surprise then that Lawrenson was keen to focus on what the uncertain future of Toon manager Rafa Benitez instead, talking about what the future holds for the Spaniard under owner Mike Ashley.

The former Liverpool boss’ contract runs out this summer, as of yet there has been no suggestion as to whether he is going to stay or not – the fans have certainly made it clear what they want.

Lawrenson certainly seems to sympathise with Ashley when it comes to investing his own money though, telling BBC Football:

“The big questions, as ever, for the Magpies are will manager Rafa Benitez stay, and will he get the money that he wants to spend?

“I think the answers are ‘yes’ and ‘no’… but he will get some of it, and enough to make some more improvements to his squad.

“We already know Magpies owner Mike Ashley is never going to splash the cash, because he could give Benitez £100m and he is realistically only going to finish seventh, at best.”

Fair comments?

They probably are, yes.

Even if Benitez was given a war-chest to spend by the controversial business tycoon, he would undeniably find it difficult to finish any higher than seventh.

The likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United have been so inconsistent this season, yet seventh-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers are still nine points adrift of the latter.

It will therefore be difficult for Newcastle to make a dent in the top six, but Lawrenson has also missed the point slightly.

What’s the point for the Tyneside outfit and their supporters if they can’t show the ambition to go and try and do exactly that?

Who is your club’s Lionel Messi? Fans of Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle and more answer in the video below…

Otherwise they will just keep petering along and finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League year after year, with no hope of doing anything more.

Showing that willingness to at least want to push on is important, and in Benitez the Magpies already have the man capable of taking them a lot closer to where they dream of being.

Having achieved the unthinkable with his boyhood club by taking them from the abyss of the third tier to the Premier League in just three years, Chris Wilder has already guaranteed his place in Sheffield United folklore alongside the likes of Neil Warnock and Dave Bassett.

Yet despite this success, the 51-year-old will know that in order to give the Blades the best chance of competing amongst the best club sides in England, he will have to get his recruitment spot on in the summer.

Whereas bringing in players who already have experience of top-flight football could allow the club to thrive in their new surroundings, by taking a risk on unproven stars, United may struggle to survive next season.

According to the Northern Echo, the Blades are reportedly targeting a move for Middlesbrough forward Britt Assombalonga who may be convinced to move to Bramall Lane following the Smoggies’ failure to secure promotion during the 2018/19 campaign.

Although the 26-year-old managed to fire in 16 goals for Tony Pulis’ side in all competitions this year, the fact that he has never played above the second-tier should act as a warning to Wilder if he is indeed interested in signing the marksman.

By spending a considerable amount on Assombalonga, the Blades could be making a huge error as he despite being undeniably talented, he may not be ready for the challenges that the Premier League has to offer.

If he is brought in and ultimately fails to deliver, it would not be at all surprising if United end up being back in the second tier come 2020.

What do you think Blades fans? Would Assombalonga be a good signing to make this summer? Or is it too much of a risk to splash the cash on a striker who has yet to prove himself at the top level? Let us know below.

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Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with a move for Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, per the Daily Mail.

Spurs are keen to pay £25million for the left-back, who can also play as a left-winger, though the Cottagers want closer to £40m.

On the chalkboard

Sessegnon has endured a difficult season in the Premier League, with Fulham relegated to the Championship.

The 18-year-old nevertheless made 35 appearances, scoring two goals and laying on six assists.

It remains to be seen, however, where he would fit in at Spurs.

Per Transfermarkt, Sessegnon has been deployed in six positions this season.

He has played on the left wing five times, in an advanced role, and on the right wing seven times.

The teenager has been played as a left-back six times and right-back once while playing on the left of midfield 14 times, and the right once.

It appears that his managers – Slavisa Jokanovic, Claudio Ranieri and, now, Scott Parker – have been confused about Sessegnon’s best position and have subsequently moved him around the pitch in a bid to unlock his potential.

Instead, it has limited him and has surely played a part in Fulham’s relegation.

Pochettino can’t make a similar mistake

This will prove a puzzle for Mauricio Pochettino if Sessegnon does move to Spurs.

He will have to ensure that he knows exactly where the England youth international is to be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It seems obvious but, judging by his season at Fulham, it isn’t.

He could perhaps replace Ben Davies, the left-back who is clearly second-choice behind Danny Rose; or he could provide depth on the left flank further forward, perhaps providing some competition to Son Heung-Min, the club’s Player of the Season.

One thing, however, is clear: Spurs cannot make the same mistake that Fulham have as they look to bring out the best in the teenager and receive value for their money.

This post led to Bournemouth striker Joshua King commenting.

The two spent their early careers in Manchester, Boyata with City from 2009-15 and King with United from 2009-13.

Both were young players at the time, at big clubs, in a fantastic city and with newly found wealth, so it is no wonder that, despite playing for rival clubs, they became close with one another.

In their time at both City and United they made 13 league appearances between them, and they were all Boyata’s.

Several loan-moves for both happened before King made the move to Blackburn in 2013 and then Bournemouth in 2015.

King, now 27-years-old, has had a superb time at Bournemouth, scoring 44 goals in 143 games.

He has finally converted his natural talent into goals for The Cherries and has now cemented himself as a solid Premier League striker.

Boyata, on the other hand, joined The Bhoys in 2015 for £1.5m and has gone on to make 135 appearances and contributed with a handy 15 goals.

During his time in Glasgow he has won nine trophies and established himself as one of the best defenders in the SPFL.

Contract negotiations, however, fell through last season and the 28-year-old has decided to move to Berlin.

Boyata, though, picked up one last SPFL Title and, on Saturday, he has the chance of picking up the Scottish Cup once again.

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Sunderland face Charlton at Wembley on Sunday, and Jack Ross should select a starting XI that has not started once together this season.

Ross has one of the biggest and best squads in League One, but combined with a spree of poorly timed injuries, this has led to never having one settled first choice XI.

The Black Cats usually rely on Lee Cattermole and Grant Leadbitter in midfield while Jon McLaughlin has started a whopping 54 games in goal, but almost every other position is seemingly up for grabs.

Now, with everything on the line, Ross simply must unleash this XI brimming with energy, flair and enthusiasm.

Ozturk’s physicality is needed at the back, with the error-prone Jack Baldwin dropping to the bench, while the energy of Luke O’Nien and Bryan Oviedo will dominate the flanks.

The tried and tested duo in midfield keeps the balance and defensive stability of the side, while the three behind the striker will cause absolute mayhem due to their versatility.

In truth, it doesn’t really matter where each of Morgan, McGeady and Maguire line up, as the creative trio can all interchange and play in any of the three roles behind the striker. George Honeyman is a notable absentee, but he simply doesn’t have the goal threat to warrant a place in an attacking role.

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….

Up front it simply must be Charlie Wyke who gets the nod, Will Grigg has not lived up to expectations and the former’s physicality will occupy defenders and leave space for the three M’s to operate in.

This XI has not started a single fixture together this season, could they make their collective debut on Sunday? Sunderland fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

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Arsenal fans on Twitter have surprisingly welcomed the news that manager Unai Emery could depart the Emirates this summer.

Despite only arriving in north London one year ago, Emery could already be on his way out with Mundo Deportivo suggesting him as a potential replacement for Ernesto Valverde as Barcelona boss.

The Barcelona newspaper has placed Emery on a shortlist of four prospective managers should the Catalan club decide to part ways with Valverde.

Emery’s first season at Arsenal has yielded mixed results as a dramatic capitulation in the final weeks of the Premier League season saw the Gunners miss out on a top-four finish, although the club still has a chance at redemption with the Europa League final against Chelsea on May 29.

A victory in Baku would see the former PSG manager win Arsenal’s first European trophy since the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup and qualify for next season’s Champions League, but some Gunners fans on Twitter are still hoping that Barcelona bring Emery to the Nou Camp.

Check out the best of the reaction below…

Do Southampton really need another goalkeeper in their squad?

With Angus Gunn playing rather well and keeping Alex McCarthy out of the side (who is also an excellent shot-stopper in his own right), bringing Bartlomiej Dragowski to the St. Mary’s Stadium does not really seem to make a lot of sense – don’t worry, we’re not forgetting about the virtually unsellable Fraser Forster either.

According to Alfredo Pedulla, the Saints have already tabled an offer worth over €10million (£8.8m) to try and acquire the Poland under-21 international from Fiorentina but south coast rivals Bournemouth are also thought to be interested in signing him.

There is no doubt that the youngster has plenty of potential to go far in the game and has already shown glimpses of the quality he has in performances he has produced whilst on loan with Empoli, however, surely Ralph Hasenhuttl has bigger priorities to address this summer.

It would not be unreasonable to suggest that the £8.8m fee they are believed to be prepared to part with for the ‘keeper would be a large chunk of their transfer budget for the summer.

Maybe the Saints believe Dragowski can be the future of the club and they are already looking to secure his signature before anybody else? That would certainly have to be considered some smart business, however, they are not yet in a position to spend a large chunk of money on that idea.

Hasnehuttl must do everything in their power to try and sign players that are going to help make a difference immediately and help pull the team away from the depths of relegation.

With Gunn and McCarthy already on the books and no real suggestion that either of them could be sold this summer, the money would be better off spent elsewhere.

Southampton fans, what do you think the club should do? Would you still sign Dragowski or would you look to improve other areas of the squad first? Let us know your thoughts below!

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According to the Daily Star, Liverpool are amongst a number of top Premier League clubs interested in signing Leicester City star James Maddison, who enjoyed a wonderful debut campaign in the top-flight.

The report states that Manchester United, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool have all enquired about the Englishman’s availability this summer, but with the Foxes under no pressure to sell, Maddison’s valuation stands at £60m.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

That figure is three times what Leicester paid for the 22-year-old last summer when they parted with £20m to sign the attacking midfielder from Norwich, and it looks to have been a shrewd investment.

Maddison scored seven goals and recorded seven assists last season, whilst he also created the most chances in the Premier League to truly announce himself at the top level of English football – his form led to a call-up to the England team.

So, would the former Coventry academy graduate be a good fit at Anfield? Football FanCast’s writers have their say…

Luke Glanville

“I think the thing that many people forget is that Maddison has only been a Premier League player for one season. Yes, he looks to be a real talent, but we need to see if he can produce consistently over two to three seasons in the top flight first. Maddison is not yet the finished article and in my opinion, wouldn’t fit in at any top-six club at the moment, let alone Liverpool.”

Harry Sherlock

“James Maddison would be a great fit at any top-six club. He’s just got the kind of talent that makes him attractive to any potential suitor. He’d fit right in at Liverpool as he’d be able to supplement the ferocious talents of the front three, while adding some dynamism to the club’s midfield. That is perhaps their one weak spot, with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita not the most dynamic, creative trio. Adding Maddison in would be like adding cream to strawberries; it makes all the sense in the world.”

Charles Jones

“Maddison is undoubtedly an incredible player, but Liverpool may be the only club in the top six where he doesn’t quite fit in. Klopp has just won the Champions League and finished the Premier League season with 97 points using a midfield made up of three less creative players. Maddison is at his best when playing as a number 10 and at the moment there isn’t room for a player in his mould in the Liverpool XI.”

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According to The Mirror, Aston Villa are one of a number of teams interested in Liverpool’s Harry Wilson.

What’s the word?

After achieving promotion from the Championship, Dean Smith has already been busy in the transfer market, signing Anwar El Ghazi permanently whilst also adding Jota to his ranks.

The Villans will clearly need to strengthen ahead of a return to the Premier League but spending big could be a cause for concern after seeing Fulham spend over £100m, only to be relegated.

One player who could make a move for an expensive fee though is Liverpool’s Wilson.

The Mirror claim that the Merseyside club have an interest in the winger who could leave for £21m, per the report.

However, there is plenty of interest in the player so convincing him to join may not be straightforward. Valencia and Getafe are also interested whilst Leicester and Rangers are also possible destinations according to The Mirror.

Mirroring El Ghazi

One of Villa’s main problems this season has been in a wide area. El Ghazi was their most productive winger, scoring six and also claiming the same number of assists.

Boasting the ability to cut inside, he was a constant threat on the left flank, causing numerous problems to opposition defenders.

His form in the final stages of the season was impressive, even scoring in the play-off final.

But it’s on the right where Villa’s wide men have struggled and as a result, the signing of Wilson could be an instant fix.

On loan at Derby last term, he found the net 16 times. In comparison, Andre Green and Albert Adomah only netted three between them.

A left footed player, the Liverpool man could mirror El Ghazi’s threat but from the opposite wing.

The 22-year-old played in a number of positions but it was on the right where he was arguably most impressive – leading to eight of his Championship goals.

He’d regularly cut inside, just as Villa’s most recent signing has done on a regular basis, either carving out opportunities for his teammates or finding the net himself.

Should he join, Wilson’s direct nature will significantly improve Villa’s attack and create impressive symmetry with El Ghazi on the opposite flank.

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According to The Sun, Manchester United may be forced to pay £350k-a-week to Marcus Rashford in order to keep him at the club and away from the clutches of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the England international reportedly wants to stay put at Old Trafford and play for United – where he spent years in the academy – but would not find it a hardship to go and play for one of the big boys in Spain.

Alexis Sanchez’s £505k-a-week earnings have skewered the wage structure at United, and Rashford knows that all too well – he is asking for £350k-a-week due to his importance in being Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s main striker.

Could United be in the hunt for an £85m blockbuster signing this summer? Check out the video below…

Madrid reportedly invited Rashford’s brothers – who are his advisers – to a game, whilst Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde is a big fan of the 21-year-old.

He should be made an example out of

21 years of age. 13 goals last season. And on current earnings of £45k-a-week.

Rashford is still a baby in the footballing world and a club of United’s stature should not stand for being held to ransom by a footballing child.

Some of the club’s supporters have already grown tired of Rashford’s ineffective performances out on the pitch – he ended the campaign in miserable form with no goals in his final eight games.

Other than Sanchez’s huge earnings, there is no valid argument for Rashford to earn that much – it would place him on £150k more per week than Mohamed Salah earns in comparison.

£150k-a-week, coincidentally, is just £30k less than what PFA Player of the Year Virgil van Dijk earns. How on earth can Rashford justify asking for so much?

With just 12 months left on his deal, United shouldn’t pander to the youngster’s demands and should make an example out of him by allowing him to leave the club.

He could easily be replaced, and is simply pushing his luck in asking for so much money. He may be a local lad, but United can’t be pushed around by sentiment either.