All posts by z3u9t.icu

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DeAndre Yedlin is set to be deployed on the right-wing for his international side this week, so could this boost his stock at Newcastle United?

What’s the story?

Newcastle have put together a string of incredible home performances since the turn of the year, steering themselves away from relegation trouble in a manner very similar to last season.

The Magpies have won five home games on the bounce, and Yedlin has started in four of those five.

The speedy full back has been deployed at both right-back and wing-back under Rafael Benitez, and is now set for an even more advanced role for USA.

According to reports, the 25 year-old is expected to feature on the wing during USA’s friendlies against Ecuador and Chile.

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….

On the chalkboard

No one is for a moment suggesting that Benitez is suddenly going to utilise Yedlin as a regular winger, but his exploits for the national team could boost his Magpies career.

The American is perfect for that wing-back role in Benitez’s three-at-the-back system, but the speed and engine which allows him to bomb up and down the wing so effortlessly is often ruined by his lack of end product.

Playing on the wing for his country, even just for a few weeks, could give him the boost of confidence he needs to start arriving in the box at the right time to provide goals and assists, just as he did in the 2-1 defeat at the Etihad back in September.

With Benitez often known to switch between different systems, even changing to a back four during the recent win over Everton, having a player who can occupy three different positions down that right flank will be a huge boost.

In fact, when it comes to summer investment, it could save Benitez a lot of money. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Mike Ashley is not going to follow the Miguel Almiron signing with some mass spending spree, and Yedlin’s versatility will save money that can be better spent improving other parts of the squad.

Full-back is often pointed to on Tyneside as the position most in need of improvement, but could Yedlin step up to the plate with a bit of development in the final third? Newcastle fans, let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Some good news is finally emerging for Manuel Pellegrini, who has been able to unleash the full might of his West Ham United squad since joining the club in the summer due to a spate of injuries over the course of his maiden campaign.

Indeed, injuries have plagued his work in improving his side, but the Chilean will certainly be pleased with the boost of getting Jack Wilshere’s services back. As every Hammer reading this will know, the England man can be a game-changer on his day and the notion of him slotting into what is already an exciting attacking side should be hugely exciting.

The determined midfield enforcer has finally recovered from a bad ankle injury that’s kept him out for more than four months and seriously undermined the opening stages of his career in East London. Obviously, the former Arsenal man only made five appearances for West Ham this season, but that could grow with Pellegrini needing his energetic presence to lighten up his team.

Despite their good work, neither Declan Rice nor Mark Noble have been able to be that driving figure to bully their way past opposition midfielders. Both have been forced to look after their defence and keep distributing possession to their creative outlets, only displaying their attacking sides in set-pieces. However, Wilshere is very different to them and a persistent pressure figure in midfield.

Alongside the aforementioned pair, the former Manchester City manager might be able to field West Ham’s best engine room in years.

While the Irons manager would be wise to introduce him into the team slowly, his tenacious and talent nature could spell success at this point of the season. At a time when many oppositions players are facing fatigue, Wilshere’s wily nature could work in the Hammers favour to help them win more battles in midfield.

The former Arsenal enforcer’s not been able to properly assert himself in years. However, knowing his never-say-die spirit and inspired ability to keep fighting against the odds, Wilshere’s influential ability can be that X-Factor to drive Manuel Pellegrini’s side forward towards consolidating a top-half finish.

Hammers fans, are you excited to see Wilshere’s potential return this week? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

It has been a frustrating fourteen months for Gary Hooper at Sheffield Wednesday.

The forward has missed the last 60 league games for the Owls after suffering a serious knee injury last season against Nottingham Forest, an absence which incredibly saw him fail to make a single appearance during Jos Luhakey’s reign at the club.

After a lengthy period of rehabilitation, Hooper is expected to return to the squad for the Yorkshire-based outfit’s clash at Stoke City (according to quotes on the club’s Facebook channel via HITC) which could be great news for Steve Bruce who has experienced an outstanding start to his Hillsborough career since taking charge of his first game in February.

The Owls are currently on a ten game unbeaten run in the Championship and are just two points behind Aston Villa who currently occupy the final play-off position. A resurgence in form has allowed supporters to dream of a trip to Wembley Stadium in May but in order to achieve this, they will need to overcome tough fixtures against the likes of Leeds United and Norwich City in the coming weeks. Although it will be an almighty task to beat two of the best sides in the second tier this season, if Bruce can get Hooper firing again, there is no reason why they cannot cause a major shake-up in the automatic promotion race.

Before his injury, the 31-year-old forward was on course to record his best ever total of goals for the club since his £3m switch from Norwich in 2015 (via the 72), having scored on 10 occasions in 24 league games. If he can reach similar levels of performance upon his return for Wednesday, he may end up providing the boost needed for the club to reach the play-offs.

However, when you consider the length of his absence, there is no guarantee that Hooper will be able to replicate his previous performances and so Bruce will have to be patient with the former Celtic ace.

What do you think Owls fans? How big of a boost is it to have Hooper back from injury? Could he fire you to play-off glory? Get in touch below.

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Celtic are expected to make quite a few changes to the squad this summer, but there’s one man who will be going absolutely nowhere.

While things have certainly become more secure since the turn of the year, Celtic’s defensive woes looked sure to be the weakness that may eventually allow Rangers to creep back into the title race earlier on in the season.

Dedryck Boyata can be wonderful one week and invisible the next (quite literally in Athens), Jozo Simunovic clearly has ability but is yet to put it all together on the pitch, while Jack Hendry may just be a lost cause.

Kristoffer Ajer however, has gotten better and better as the season has gone on, and John Hartson is delighted by his progress.

What did he say?

Writing in his column for The Evening Times, Hartson said: “I was always a fan of Kristoffer Ajer who had his best game for Celtic on Sunday.

“He took a really sore one in the face in the first-half and, take it from a man who knows, getting a boot right there is not nice.

“Ajer got up, shrugged off the pain and went on to play a massive role in the win.

“I like the way he plays out from the back. He reads the game a lot better and has improved in the air.

“It was good to see him taking on more responsibility when Celtic went down to ten after Dedryck Boyata went off.”

Ready for more responsibility?

Hartson has got it spot on. Ajer has always showed glimpses of his tremendous ability and composure on the ball, but it is the physical and mental side of the game he often struggled with.

On Sunday, in arguably football’s most intense derby, the young Norwegian looked like he had been there and done it all before a thousand times over, constantly mopping up with relative ease.

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Pl>ymaker FC…

As Hartson notes, the pressure on him was even greater once Boyata went off injured, and the 20 year-old took it all in stride.

If Ajer can add the type of physically imposing presence and commanding leadership that he showed on Sunday to the already-impressive ball skills he possesses, then the Bhoys are going to have one hell of a player on their hands.

In fact, fans have often worried about the lack of leadership in defence if Boyata goes, but Ajer may even be ready to step into that leadership role immediately on Sunday’s evidence, especially if he keeps getting votes of confidence like the one from Hartson.

It’s been a hot second since Arsenal were in action, but Thursday night might just be one of the most important days this season for the club.

The Europa League has drifted away from the minds fans of Arsenal following a lengthy international break and a damming loss away to Everton on the weekend, but with top four now looking like a challenge in the league, Europa League glory could be the Gunners ideal opportunity for Champions League qualification.

That is, of course, if they can get past Italian side Napoli, who are one of the favourites for the competition and arguably the hardest team Arsenal could draw in this stage of the Europa League.

The Gunners have the advantage with the first leg taking place at home at the Emirates Stadium, and if Unai Emery can lead his side to a memorable win without conceding a goal against Carlo Ancelotti’s team, something Arsenal have done in the past, the north London side will be in a healthy position going into the dreaded away leg at the Sao Paulo.

Arsenal’s form away from home has been well documented this season, and their woes on the road have bled into the European games as well with the Gunners losing both their away legs in the knockout stage of the Europa League this season.

If the Gunners are to return to the Champions League this season, it will be ideal for Emery to focus on both the league and Europa League with the same importance.

Arsenal’s away form has made them unpredictable this season, and a big home win against Napoli is what will be needed should the club aim to succeed in every competition if it means qualification to Europe’s elite competition.

Arsenal fans, can the Gunners go all the way in the Europa League? Let us know!

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Manchester United meet with old foes Barcelona for the first time since the 2011 UEFA Champions League final on Wednesday night, at the quarter-final stage of this year’s competition.

What was the key to defeat on that night?

United won’t want to remember that May evening at Wembley but the reason they were defeated eight years ago holds the key to how they can avoid lightning striking twice this time around.

On that night a much younger Lionel Messi absolutely ripped apart Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, like he had done in the same final two years earlier.

The Argentine may have only come away from the huge match with one goal to show for his efforts in a 3-1 win, but everyone knew he had pulled the strings of the whole Barca team throughout.

Nearly a decade later and not much has changed in the Catalan capital as the man considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time is still doing it week-in-week-out at the Camp Nou.

So, similar to how he had been in 2011, Messi is the one the Red Devils have to stop and if they can they will severely cripple their opponent’s capabilities. Though there’s one obstacle, how that’s much easier said than done.

Learning and stopping Ernesto Valverde’s men

Man United may not have been able to stop Messi’s Barca freight train eight years ago, but they can now if they learn lessons from Ferguson’s failure and taking another step towards lifting the famous trophy for the fourth time.

In the 2011 final, the Manchester side failed to recognise the importance of going back to the basics of man-marking to drown “The Magician” out from the defence, lining up with a back four.

The United of today have it in their power to switch to a formation of three centre-backs within a back-five without disturbing any defensive harmony.

Who is your club’s worst ever January signing? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked theirs in the video below and they didn’t disappoint…

If United single out Messi, of course Barca do have other key players, they can keep a lid on him with a trio of centre-backs and worry about the others after.

He creates as well as scoring goals with most of Valverde’s men’s play often flowing through the Argentina legend, so if Solskjaer fields Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones in defence together he can severely weaken Barcelona’s supply line.

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Ajax have been given a major boost before their Champions League semi-final clash with Tottenham Hotspur, according to The Sun.

The Eredivisie have postponed an entire round of fixtures to allow the club time to prepare to take on Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

What’s the word?

Ajax, of course, have been one of the great underdog stories of the competition this season.

They have beaten Real Madrid and Juventus back-to-back and now come up against a Tottenham side that dumped Manchester City out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

The Sun report that Ajax were scheduled to play two days prior to them travelling to London, in an Eredivisie encounter with De Graafschap.

But the league’s powerbrokers have postponed every single fixture that weekend to give Ajax the time they need to get ready for one of the biggest matches in their modern history.

KNVB president Eric Gudde said: “We have looked at all kinds of ways to move games with Ajax progressing so far in the Champions League.

“We have presented our plans to all of the clubs. It is not ideal for everyone, I appreciate that, but this is not just helping Ajax.

“It is being done to help Dutch football as a whole because it means so much to be successful in Europe.”

Tottenham, as it stands, play West Ham United three days before the first leg, and face AFC Bournemouth just two days before the decisive second leg.

A damning indictment on the Premier League

The Premier League ought to follow the Eredivisie’s lead.

They do nothing to ensure that their clubs are well prepared in Europe and, as it stands, it would not be a surprise to see Mauricio Pochettino’s squad stretched to breaking point by the current fixture list.

One has to think that the Bournemouth game will be changed but, if it isn’t, Ajax have a major advantage.

It is not their fault, of course, that their league are exercising common sense.

Spurs, surely, will be bitterly disappointed that there is precious little chance of the Premier League following suit.

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Marcus Rashford remains one of few current Premier League footballers to have broken through the academy traps, earning himself a place as a Manchester United regular and building on the fast start to his career that his potential suggested he could achieve.

But if he remains at Old Trafford for another 18 months, at which point he’ll turn 23, the England striker will belong to an exceptionally rare breed. 

Indeed, while Rashford remains an inspiration for all, it’s becoming harder and harder for young footballers to break through and have a career as a footballer, especially at Premier League clubs.

The nature of society is so that possessing the talent isn’t enough. Social media, agents, contracts, sponsors and a greater public-watch than ever before are all factors that negatively impact the opportunities available to young footballers to grow their career.

Even those who deal with all these factors immaculately, such as Harry Kane, may have to deal with life on loan and the prospect of foreign talent arriving to take your place. Having a career as footballer is one of the hardest journeys you could possibly pursue.

You need a manager who’s brave enough to trust youngsters like Rashford and give them the opportunity to shine, rather than field an out-of-position option just because they have more first-team experience. A good example of this now is Chelsea starting Eden Hazard up front when Tammy Abraham is on loan at Aston Villa and scoring goal after goal.

To highlight this issue and quite the severity of it, two Sheffield Hallam University researchers found that only around 5% of players signed to Premier League sides at the age of 18 were still with their club by 23.

Dr Chris Platts and Melissa Jacobi, of the university’s Academy of Sport and Physical Activity department, followed the progression 142 18-year-olds in 21 different academies and centres of excellence in the four top divisions. 55 of these players were signed to Premier League clubs. By the end of the study, only three of them remained in the top flight, with ten of them in the Championship.

Who would win out of Man Utd’s treble winners and Man City today? Fans discuss in the video below…

The statistics from this research is damning on football clubs, especially those in the Premier League. At the age of 18, a footballer is beginning to truly blossom and all the talent and attributes that one needs to scout a player should be fairly easy to evaluate. The idea that players arrive at the age of 18, and by 23 have slumped down the pyramid is a great problem for scouts of these mega-rich clubs who should be able to determine more crucially and ruthlessly whether a player is cut-out for the top level or not.

Whether young footballers always make the right societal decisions come the age of 19 and 20 is a debate in itself. Dr Platts said: “Contemporary debate about professional footballers’ working lives is dominated by supposed high wages, excessive endorsements and the celebrity lifestyle.

“One consequence of this romanticised view of professional football is that the everyday realities of working in such a precarious career remain largely ignored. The research paints a picture of the complex, precarious, unequal and relatively short careers of the majority of footballers, particularly those signed to Premier League clubs.”

The responsibility is on football clubs to encourage the promotion of young footballing talent and to ensure their scouting teams are far more efficient with signing young players. Along with that, managers must be hired who are willing to trust young players and blend them into a squad of experienced professionals who can pave the way for the youth to break through.

This is all easier said than done, as the financial reward for football clubs’ success these days is so vast that short-term results will always take precedence over long-term gain. Ultimately, the road for youngsters is getting harder, and we’ll see fewer and fewer Marcus Rashfords in England despite the undoubted potential for so many more. 

There are just two games left of the season, and it is still all to play for at the top and bottom of the table as we enter an enthralling finale to the campaign.

Liverpool are still relying on a slip up from the reigning champions Manchester City as they hope to win their first ever Premier League title, whilst the race for the top four is still in the balance with Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all battling for a place in Europe’s finest club competition.

Down the bottom, Cardiff still have faint hopes of survival, but will realistically need to beat Crystal Palace and Manchester United and hope Brighton lose both of their games.

Let’s take a look at the Premier League nominees for the PFA Bristol Street Motors Fans’ Player of the Month award for April…

Mohamed Salah

After a eight-game goal drought, Mohamed Salah found his goalscoring boots once again in April.

Four goals in four games from the Egyptian, including wonder strikes against Southampton and Chelsea, saw him leap to the top of the league’s scoring ranks on 21 goals, whilst he also grabbed an assist in the 5-0 rout of Huddersfield to round off an excellent month.

Bernardo Silva

The diminutive Portuguese international came up trumps for Manchester City in April.

The former Monaco midfielder netted a crucial opening goal in the Manchester derby, whilst also being named as the Man of the Match in that fixture.

Bernardo Silva was also named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Jamie Vardy

The former England international is on fire for Leicester under Brendan Rodger’s guidance.

Jamie Vardy found the back of the net five times in just four games throughout April, including a match-winning double against Arsenal.

Sergio Rico

The Fulham goalkeeper hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons, but he did have a fantastic April personally.

Sergio Rico kept three cleans sheets in four appearances as the Cottagers won three of their four games under the guidance of Scott Parker.

Ayoze Perez

The Spaniard enjoyed an eye-catching April as Newcastle managed to secure their Premier League survival.

Ayoze Perez scored five goals in five games, including a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Southampton.

Lucas Digne

The Everton left-back kept three clean sheets out of a possible four throughout April.

The French international also managed to find the back of the net in the 4-0 rout over Manchester United with a long-range strike to cap off an excellent month for himself personally.

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According to The Stoke Sentinel, Wolves are one of the clubs interested in Barnsley goalkeeper Adam Davies. With that in mind, John Ruddy could be at risk of losing his number two spot.

What’s the word?

Davies has had a tremendous season with Barnsley in League One. With the Tykes, he helped them achieve promotion back to the Championship, whilst he was also recognised as the best stopper in the league by earning a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year.

The 26-year-old has been extremely solid, making 42 outings in the league across the 2018/19 season.

He’s been a key figure for the Reds for a number of years now but a bigger move could be on the horizon, per The Stoke Sentinel.

The report claims that Stoke are one of the sides interested in his services, whilst Birmingham, Bristol City, Hull and Brentford are also weighing up a move.

Wolves are the only Premier League club thought to be looking at the player. Davies is out of contract so unless he signs a new deal, will be available for free.

Ruddy moving on?

John Ruddy was absolutely vital to Wolves’ promotion-winning campaign in 2017/18 and quickly became a fan favourite, remaining ever-present right the way through the season.

But, with Rui Patricio arriving last summer, he’s been demoted to cup ‘keeper and, as a result, has hinted at signs of frustration. In quotes, per The Express & Star in March, he thought he deserved more of a chance at the beginning of the season.

Last August, the former Norwich man claimed that he’d hope a solution could be found after Patricio came in. But with Davies being eyed up it could now mean Ruddy leaves completely.

It would be a huge hole to fill but, considering the step up from League One to the Premier League, it’s extremely likely that Davies would be far happier than Ruddy to appear as the club’s goalkeeper in cup competitions.

By bringing in the Barnsley man they should have no worries about his professionalism – an undoubted quality of Ruddy. Davies is the current captain of the Yorkshire club and would be a tremendous squad player.

With the possibility of Europe looming next term, it will be incredibly difficult for a host of players to turn down a move to Molineux. That includes Davies, whose game time will ultimately take a huge hit if he signs for Nuno’s outfit.