All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United continue their hectic run of festive fixtures with a meeting at home to Bournemouth this evening, with the Old Trafford outfit heading into the match off the back of three successive Premier League victories.

The Red Devils’ latest triumph came away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in what was a hard-fought contest at Molineux, with the visitors eventually running out 1-0 winners courtesy of Marcus Rashford’s second-half strike.

The England international had been dropped to the bench as punishment for missing a team meeting, although the 25-year-old quickly got himself back into Erik ten Hag’s good books after firing the away side into the lead after entering the fray at the interval.

The in-form menace – who was later denied a second of the day after being penalised for inadvertently handling the ball – now boasts an impressive haul of 11 goals in just 22 games across all fronts this term, with three goal involvements to his name in his last two top-flight outings.

That hot streak has been in stark contrast to the form of summer signing, Antony, with the £86m addition having endured a mixed start to life in English football with just three goals and zero assists from his 14 appearances for United to date.

Those strikes had come in the Brazilian’s first three league games for his new club, with the former Ajax starlet having since failed to maintain that early momentum after enduring a barren run in front of goal.

The 22-year-old was particularly underwhelming in the latest clash with Julen Lopetegui’s side, having squandered two gilt-edged chances to put his side ahead in the first half, after first heading an effort straight at opposition goalkeeper, Jose Sa.

The fleet-footed gem then missed another headed chance just before the break as he produced a tame attempt at the back post that again fell kindly to Sa, with that coming after teammate Anthony Martial had failed to make adequate contact on the initial ball into the box.

It was not just those missed chances alone that saw Antony underwhelm, however, with the 15-cap speedster having been particularly wasteful in possession after losing the ball on 21 occasions in his 89-minute outing, while also winning just three of his seven ground duels.

That slack showing saw the £200k-per-week man criticised by the National’s Andy Mitten for having been ‘too extravagant’ on the ball, with the one-time Sao Paolo asset having also previously been dubbed a “clown” by club legend Paul Scholes for showboating.

While there may be nothing wrong with the 5 foot 9 ace expressing himself when in possession, the forward is simply struggling to offer an end product alongside that flair, having perhaps been somewhat fortunate not to be withdrawn sooner at the weekend.

With the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Elanga offering competition on the flanks – and with Jadon Sancho having also been pictured making his return to Carrington – it could well be time for Antony to be ditched from the side against the Cherries.

Wolves have been linked with a move for Stoke City defender Harry Souttar recently and the centre-back could be the man to finally replace Conor Coady at Molineux.

According to reports last week from TEAMtalk, both Wolves and West Ham are keen on signing the 24-year-old in this month’s transfer window, after the 6 foot 6 defender caught the eye with the Socceroos at the World Cup in Qatar.

The Stoke City man had only just recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury when he earned the call-up to Graham Arnold’s side but he was instrumental in their progression to the round of 16 before their defeat against eventual champions Argentina.

Souttar would average a hugely impressive 6.94 rating from WhoScored for his performances at the World Cup this winter, helping the Socceroos to impressive wins and clean sheets over Tunisia and Denmark, so it was no surprise that he was ranked as their top performer.

Middlesbrough star Riley McGree was full of praise for his Australia teammate after his sensational performances so soon after a career-threatening injury.

He said: “It’s inspirational, honestly. I’m really close with Harry off the pitch, but on the pitch he’s a warrior, he’s got quality and he can move for the size he is.

“He is only going to have a bright future going forward, definitely.”

The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell was also full of praise for the defender, dubbing him an “absolute monster,” which suggests that he could be a huge player for Julen Lopetegui to have in the second half of the campaign.

Having possessed one of the best defences outside of the top four last season, Wolves have struggled immensely at the back so far this campaign, shipping 27 goals in the top flight, some of which must be put down to the summer exit of captain Conor Coady.

Bruno Lage inexplicably loaned the England international to relegation rivals Everton and failed to secure an adequate replacement, which has left the Old Gold seriously low on centre-back options so far this campaign, with Ruben Neves forced to fill in there earlier in the season after a Nathan Collins red card.

Depth is clearly needed in defence and given Souttar’s impressive displays in Qatar and his obvious leadership skills for his country, he could be the ideal man to fill the void left by Coady since his loan exit in the summer.

Did you know that football is the most popular sport in Hungary? Hungarians love playing and talking about football. And do you know what else they enjoy? – Placing wagers on their favourite teams. Luckily, they can access bookies like 20bet, who provide competitive odds on Hungarian and international matches. So, they never miss a chance to place wagers on deserving teams.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look at some of the most impressive achievements in Hungarian football:

The Hungarian National Team

Professional football in Hungary dates back to 1901, even though the first football match was in the 1860s. The team, which falls under Magyar Labdarúgó Szövetség (The Hungarian Football Federation), participates in a range of tournaments, including:

Champions League, Europa League, Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FIFA World Cup (National Team), European Championship (National Team), and UEFA Nations League (National Team).

We look at how it has performed since its inception and the marks it has made in the football world.

Olympic Titles

The Olympic Football Tournament takes place every four years, having started back in 1900. There have been different formats since its inception. But now, the teams comprise the national U23 team with three overage players. Hungary ranks as the most successful team in this football competition, having garnered three titles. Great Britain also has a similar standing.

So, when did Hungary win the Olympic titles?

1952, 1964, and 1968

It also managed to rank in second place in 1972 and third place in 1960, making it a highly successful football team by Olympic standards. And since no other team has managed to clinch more than three wins, it maintains its top ranking.

World Cup Titles

The FIFA World Cup has occurred every four years since its inception in 1930. However, it did not occur in 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War. The games resumed in 1950 once things had quieted down and people could rebuild their lives.

Brazil is currently the most successful national team, with five titles to date. But Hungary has also made quite a mark in the rankings, having ranked second in the 1938 and 1954 games.

1938: Hungary came close to winning the 1938 title, having made it to the final. It was a challenging game as Italy, the reigning champion was keen to ensure it did not lose its title. The game ended 4-2, 1954: The 1954 World Cup took place at a time when teams were rebuilding their legacies. Thus, it witnessed a high competition rate with new records, such as the highest number of goals per game. Hungary easily made it through the qualifiers and lost in the finals to West Germany with a 3-2 score. Once again, the team had come close to clinching a World Cup title.

Hungary is yet to win a World Cup title, but hope is not lost.

UEFA European Championship Title

After the World Cup, this is the most-watched league, featuring the most formidable teams battling for the ultimate title. Since its inception in 1958, it has occurred every four years. It faced a minor setback in 2020 at the height of COVID-19 but is now back on track. Germany and Spain are the most successful teams, with three titles each. But Hungary came close to gaining a tag in the leaders list in 1964.

The tournament had 29 teams battling for the title. Hungary made it to the semi-finals, where it lost to Spain with a 2-1 final score, thus coming in third in the championship. It was quite a fete for the team.

You might be wondering what happened to the Hungarian national team after the 1960s when its shine seems to have dimmed. This change mainly owes to the revolution in the 1950s, which saw many footballers leave the country. However, there is hope that this team, which currently ranks 34th in the FIFA World Rankings, will soon make a comeback.

Photo by Unsplash

Celtic have emerged as one of the clubs who are showing an interest in the Polish striker Szymon Wlodarczyk amid this January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

The reliable transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, has been speaking on a Polish YouTube channel providing the latest from the world of transfers and has suggested there are three clubs showing an interest in their 20-year-old as well as an Italian side looking ahead of the summer.

Those clubs are said to be Anderlecht, Freiburg and Celtic with the Bhoys potentially on the lookout for a new striker this month if Georgios Giakoumakis is to depart.

It is believed Celtic’s Greek striker could be set to depart Parkhead this month with the Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds said to be in talks over an £8m deal.

And with the Greek potentially on his way out of Paradise, it seems as if Ange Postecolgou is already eyeing a potential option to provide some extra firepower up top:

(25:00) “And then I have something else on my phone here about Szymon Wlodarczyk this young striker playing for Gornik Zabrze is a very talented boy.

“I’m told that there in Poland you consider him as a potential young Lewandowski already with seven goals and it could be double at the end of the season. So very good talent. I’m told that some clubs are exploring a move for him including Anderlecht, Celtic and also Freiburg. But some Serie A club also moving for the summer. So let’s see what happens. Between January and the summer but he’s one to watch for sure.”

Another Postecoglou masterclass?

Since arriving in Glasgow, Postecoglou has unearthed some hidden gems from the J League with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate impressing enormously.

However, could this be another example of the Australian being able to get ahead of the curve and bring in another young star to Parkhead?

Playing for the Polish outfit, Gornik Zabrze, Wlodarczyk has made an impressive start to the 2022/23 campaign having already netted seven goals in his 15 league appearances (via Transfermarkt).

And it is apparent this is a 20-year-old who there is a lot of optimism around with Romano even claiming he is being dubbed as the “young [Robert] Lewandowski”.

Despite the majority of his appearances coming from the bench this season, Giakoumakis has still been able to provide a return of six goals in 19 league games – leaving big boots to fill if the Pole is to arrive in Glasgow this month.

There have also been links to the South Korean striker Cho Gue-Sung, with Romano recently suggesting the Korean now has three proposals on the table to choose from.

Regardless of whether Celtic look to progress their interest in Cho or Wlodarczyk, it seems they will have to beat off competition for their target.

But in Wlodarczyk, Celtic could have a potential gem for the long-term with Jacek Kulig hailing him previously as “one of the most talented young players in Poland”.

Arsenal are interested in a deal to bring Dusan Vlahovic to the Premier League in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato.it, who claim that, after being heavily linked with the centre-forward prior to his move to Juventus back in January of 2022, Mikel Arteta is once again interested in the Serbia international, with the Spaniard believed to be keen to bring the 22-year-old to The Emirates at the end of the current campaign.

However, the report goes on to suggest that Arsenal are not alone in their pursuit of the striker, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain also believed to be keeping a close eye on the situation of the forward – who the Bianconeri are thought to value at a figure in the region of €115m (£102m) to €120m (£106m).

Edu must move

Considering just how impressive Vlahovic has been in Italy in recent campaigns, the argument that the 22-year-old would be an unreal signing for the Islington outfit is an easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 36 Serie A appearances last season, the £80m-rated hitman was in breathtaking form, scoring an astonishing 24 goals, registering three assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 3.3 shots – 1.5 of which hit the target – making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the former Fiorentina attacker average a rather remarkable Sofascore match rating of 7.23, not only ranking him as Juve’s third-best performer in the league but also as the 17th-best player in the top flight of Italian football as a whole.

It has been a similar story over his ten league outings in the current campaign, with the £222k-per-week talent having already bagged six goals and provided one assist, as well as taking an average of 3.1 shots – 1.2 of which have been on target – making 1.1 key passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per match.

These metrics have seen the Serb who journalist Raj Chohan dubbed “unreal” and Carlo Garganese labelled a “monster” average a simply sensational Sofascore match rating of 7.15, not only ranking him as his club’s joint seventh-best performer in the division but also as the 31st-best player in Serie A as a whole.

As such, with Vlahovic undeniably being a centre-forward who knows how to hit the back of the net on an incredibly regular basis, should Arteta wish to maintain Arsenal’s position towards the top of the Premier League table in the seasons ahead, it would indeed appear wise for Edu to do everything he can to beat the likes of United, Chelsea and PSG to Vlahovic next summer.

Indeed, the devastating forward could just be an unreal addition to their ranks as the Londoners go in search of their first title triumph since 2004.

Manchester United are eyeing up an audacious move for Tottenham Hotspur superstar Harry Kane this summer, according to a recent transfer report.

The Lowdown: Kane a Premier League great

The 29-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best strikers to have ever played in the Premier League, having racked up 198 goals in the division.

Only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) can better that tally in the league’s 30-year history, and Kane will surely be eyeing up the former’s record before his career is over.

United were linked with a move for the England captain earlier this week, with a more recent report building upon that.

The Latest: Man United eyeing up Kane

According to The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel and Chris Wheeler on Friday evening, United are lining up a big-money move for Kane once this season reaches its conclusion.

The striker’s current deal at Tottenham expires in the summer of 2024 and he is yet to commit his future to the north London club. The report adds that ‘sources have indicated that Kane is open to joining United’, which could come as significant encouragement for those at Old Trafford.

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The Verdict: Could be game-changing

Kane really could be a sensational signing for United this summer, turning them from likely top-four finishers to strong title challengers, judging by his remarkable goal record.

His manager Antonio Conte has rightly dubbed him ‘world class’, and he is one of the most consistent and influential players in the country, hitting double digits for Premier League goals for nine consecutive seasons.

Although he turns 30 later this year, the likes of Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski have shown that top-quality strikers can be at their peak well into their 30s these days. The 35-year-old Frenchman netted a staggering 44 goals last season, and even that was surpassed by the Polish predator’s 50 prior to him turning 34 last August.

Kane would not only bring guaranteed goals to United’s attack but he would also be an all-round focal point, dropping deep and allowing space in behind for the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony.

A tally of 62 assists in a Spurs shirt in addition to scoring 265 times is proof that the legendary striker’s game is about far more than just goals, and he may feel that this is his last chance to earn a big move and win silverware for the first time in his career.

Arsenal sporting director Edu could well be set to raid Brighton and Hove Albion once again for the signing of Moises Caicedo, having only recently plucked Leandro Trossard from the Amex.

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Sam Dean, who revealed that the Gunners could turn to the Ecuador international this month in order to strengthen their midfield options, albeit with the league leaders set to face competition from Premier League rivals, Chelsea.

Writing on Twitter about that interest, the transfer insider stated: “Arsenal are exploring a possible move for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo as they consider their midfield options this month”.

In his attached piece for the Telegraph, Dean revealed the north London outfit are ‘showing interest’ in the 21-year-old, alongside the Blues, albeit with any deal this month set cost in the region of around £75m.

Repeat Trossard masterclass

As noted above, the aforementioned Edu has already acted effectively and efficiently in the current window to prise Trossard from the south coast side, with the Belgian forward joining for a fee of around £21m last week.

The 28-year-old dynamo – who scored 25 goals and racked up 14 assists in 121 games in all competitions during his time with the Seagulls – has already made a positive impression in his new surroundings, after playing his part in the recent, dramatic victory over Manchester United.

The one-time Genk ace was lauded as a “real bargain” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp following that brief cameo, having teed up Oleksandr Zinchenko in the build-up to Eddie Nketiah’s 90th-minute winner.

While it is still early days, that impact has sparked belief that the 5 foot 7 sensation can play a vital role in the club’s title charge in the second half of the campaign, with the hope being that the signing of Caicedo could prove just as fruitful.

The latter man has warranted such hefty interest as a result of his eye-catching displays under Roberto De Zerbi so far this season, notably averaging 2.9 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game from his 18 league starts to illustrate his defensive prowess.

Not just a mere solid figure in front of the back four, however, the youngster is also seemingly able to offer a creative threat in possession having created two big chances this season, while also averaging 1.1 key passes per game.

Lauded as the “crown jewel” of his homeland by historian Enrico Castro-Montes, the 5 foot 10 maestro is seemingly a player who can develop even further in the years to come, with Mikel Arteta likely to relish the chance to work with a figure of such exciting potential.

While those at Brighton may be sick of the sight of Edu and co by now – with the Gunners having also signed versatile defender Ben White 18 months ago – it would seemingly be yet another transfer masterclass if the Brazilian can get a deal wrapped up before deadline day.

Arsenal could make a late move for Sander Berge…

What’s the word?

According to ChronicleLive, who report that the Gunners are one of several Premier League teams rivalling Newcastle United to the signature of the Sheffield United midfielder, who is also attracting interest from Liverpool and Fulham.

The Blades will need to sell some of their biggest stars before tonight’s deadline if they are to avoid a transfer embargo due to financial difficulties.

It remains to be seen how much the Norwegian star would command after the Bramall Lane hierarchy were looking for around £25m during the summer, around £10m lower than his reported release clause (£35m), per The Star.

Bargain midfield option

As the north London outfit are facing a losing battle in their attempts to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion before 11pm this evening, it would make sense for sporting director Edu Gaspar to look elsewhere to fulfil Mikel Arteta’s midfield request.

The Seagulls want a whopping £80m to let their dynamic gem leave, whilst any move for Declan Rice appears to be out of the question until the summer.

Arsenal have also been linked with interest in Chelsea veteran Jorginho, 31, but Berge could be a far better alternative to Caicedo given his age and price.

Still only 24, the 6 foot 5 titan has perhaps only remained in the Championship due to United’s unwillingness to sell such a key player but now, with their hand forced, it could be the perfect time to bring him back to the top-flight.

29 of his 87 appearances for the Blades have come in the Premier League, where he has provided four goal contributions, via Transfermarkt. His form has elevated in the second tier, having delivered four goals and seven assists in 18 starts so far this term.

During his time in the north, Berge has been lauded as a “Rolls-Royce” of a player by teammate Rhian Brewster, as well as a “complete midfielder” by his former manager Chris Wilder.

Indeed, it’s hard to disagree as the 32-time Norway sensation is capable of influencing a game at either end of the pitch, whilst dominating the centre too. An average of 1.2 tackles, 1.2 key passes, 1.4 shots and 1.5 dribbles per game, via WhoScored, would certainly allude to this being the case.

As such, perhaps it would be better for Edu and co to look to Berge as their short-term stop-gap in midfield, with Rice a top target for next season. Both could form the depth in the engine room that Arteta desperately needs, alongside Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.

The Blades colossus would surely be a worthwhile bargain, given their financial woes right now.

AND in other news, Arsenal “had conversations” over signing £13m “special talent”, he could be Saliba 2.0…

Everton ended the January transfer window as the only club in the Premier League not to provide their manager with any new additions.

What’s the latest?

So far, the 2022/23 campaign has been one Everton fans will want to put in the past already and their hopes of surviving the drop were not handed any boosts over the January window.

Indeed, Everton have seemingly only gotten weaker in the fight for safety with all of the clubs surrounding them strengthening their sides to various extents.

in addition, Sean Dyche has joined the Toffees following the departure of their promising youngster, Anthony Gordon, who made the move to Tyneside over the weekend.

And speaking on TalkSport, transfer guru Alex Crook has shed some light on the chaotic end to the window behind the scenes at Goodison Park:

“I reached out to somebody close to Everton probably about three hours ago and said ‘it’s definitely quiet, what’s going on?’ And I got back, ‘they’re scrambling around’. Should an institution like Everton Football Club be ‘scrambling around’ on transfer deadline day? Where’s the plan?”

Issues on Merseyside

There have been very few signs to provide the Everton faithful with some optimism ahead f their remaining games of the Premier League campaign.

Only Southampton find themselves below the Toffees – on goal difference – and Nathan Jones’ side have had some results recently which may provide their fans with some belief they could avoid the drop.

However, it does feel as if the mood on Merseyside is not filled with optimism and their season was pretty much summed up on Tuesday’s transfer deadline day with a disappointing end to the market.

To be in the position Everton are in the Premier League table and not bring in a single player over the month feels as if Dyche is only being set up to fail.

Having seen one of their brightest players depart in January and no replacement come through the door can only frustrate the fans.

And to rub salt into the wound, Everton missed out on players such as Kamaldeen Sulemana to their relegation rivals, Southampton.

It is issues like this which has seemingly seen the Everton board scrambling in the final hours to find some potential players who could come in for Dyche.

However, at that stage in the window, you do have to wonder what quality of player they would have been able to bring in and if they would have even provided Dyche’s squad with an upgrade.

Now it seems as if Everton will be forced to pick from the free agents market.

Newcastle United failed to overcome a resolute West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday evening, drawing 1-1 in a frustrating contest following the visitors’ tenacious approach.

The match had a rip-roaring start, with Joe Willock scoring in the opening minute before seeing the goal chalked off by VAR. The St James’ Park faithful didn’t need to wait long for 1-0 on the scoreboard, though, with Callum Wilson latching onto Sean Longstaff’s ball just a couple of minutes later to fire Newcastle into the lead.

That emphatic opening simmered out, however, and West Ham’s new-found fluidity caused problems for Eddie Howe’s side, prohibiting the Magpies from adding to their early flurry of offensive activity, with Lucas Paqueta restoring parity later in the first half.

The Brazilian’s drilled equaliser after the half-hour mark was the first time that Newcastle have conceded in the Premier League since November 6th, with the resilient and cohesive backline forming the nucleus of Howe’s high-flying team.

While the result ensures a fourth draw out of the last five in the league for the Tynesiders, there has still been a remarkable sense of progress in such a short space of time following the Saudi-led takeover last season, the appointment of Howe as manager and the shrewd signings made over the course of the past 13 months.

The first player signed under PIF’s ownership was Kieran Trippier, with the 32-year-old signing for £12m from Atletico Madrid in January 2022 and since cementing his position as undisputed first-choice right-back at Newcastle.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of full-backs in Europe’s main five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for rate of goals and the top 10% for progressive passes, elements to his game which were very much on show against the Irons.

BBC journalist Emlyn Begley praised the 32-year-old for another “high-quality” performance, and indeed no player on the pitch for either team could match Trippier’s 7.6 rating from Sofascore, with his tireless performance and spark with the ball yet again leaving him as Newcastle’s most creative outlet.

The Magpies captain was very much in the thick of the action, enjoying 100 touches, completing 80% of his passes and making three key passes. He was also fouled three times and won six of his ten duels, indeed encompassing the dynamic role for which modern full-backs should strive.

While the in-form Tynesiders suffered another setback in the top flight, they still hold a four-point advantage over fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur overnight and have tasted defeat in the league just once all season, away to Liverpool back in August.

With Trippier combining leadership and experience with his consistently superlative performances, they seem well-placed to maintain their position inside the Champions League berths for another while yet.