All posts by h79snht.top

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a narrow defeat to Juventus in their tie in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side dominated for large periods of both legs of the match but were ultimately edged out by the experience of the Italian giants.

One man who was missing at the back for Spurs was Toby Alderweireld. His nous and speed of thought might just have snuffed out the double-whammy that did for his team-mates and we’ve taken a look at when Pochettino might expect him back, as per PremierInjuries.

[ad_pod ]

When was he injured?: He hasn’t played a Premier League match since October. He was sidelined with a hamstring injury but has made a comeback in the FA Cup ties with Newport County and Rochdale. His stuttering return to first team action may worry some Spurs fans. He also has a contract wrangle hanging over him and the delay in returning from injury must be a further concern that everybody concerned could do without.

Potential return date: 11/03/18

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Has he been missed?: Davinson Sanchez has enjoyed a hugely impressive breakthrough season and has deputised well. However, as mentioned above, his experience wouldn’t have gone amiss against Juve. Spurs conceded four goals against a side who are notoriously stingy at the back. You can’t really afford to do that. Also, a swift return would allow Pochettino more flexibility to play a three man defence more often, which would be a welcome boost.

According to reports in The Mirror, Manchester United are lining up a summer move for Real Madrid’s £50m-rated centre-back Raphael Varane as Jose Mourinho looks to strengthen his side’s defensive options.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that Mourinho will bolster his central defence at the end of the season in order to try and help them become contenders to win both the Premier League title and the Champions League next season, and Varane is on his shortlist of targets.

The Mirror says that while Real are willing to sell the 24-year-old and are looking for £50m for the France international, the Red Devils’ Portuguese boss in only willing to pay £40m for a player he tried to sign when he was in charge of Chelsea in 2014.

The report adds that United centre-backs Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof are all facing uncertain futures at Old Trafford, with the club potentially looking to sign two new centre-backs this summer.

How has Varane done this season?

The Frenchman has been a regular for Real in both La Liga and the Champions League when he hasn’t been on the sidelines because of injury this term, making 33 appearances in all competitions.

Playing alongside captain Sergio Ramos, the 24-year-old has shown his defensive qualities, and according to WhoScored.com his main strengths are his passing, concentration and his ability to win aerial duels.

The centre-back has a passing accuracy of 91.2% across 27 outings in the Spanish top flight and in Europe, while he has won 43 of the 64 aerial duels he has faced, as well as making 118 clearances.

Would he be a good signing for United?

He certainly would be.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The 24-year-old has plenty of experience of playing at the top level for Real and for his country, while he is good on the ball – something that Mourinho is likely to demand from his centre-backs.

£50m for a central defender with his quality and experience and who still has plenty of time to improve could prove to be something of a bargain, and he could be better value for money in the long run than Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld – another reported target for the Red Devils.

Arsenal left it late against Stoke City on Sunday but eventually ran out 3-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a double in the final 15 minutes to ensure victory before Alexandre Lacazette scored an 89th minute penalty to make sure the scoreline flattered Arsene Wenger’s outfit.

The Gunners main priority in the closing stages of this season is the UEFA Europa League, but with an outside shot at fifth position, fans would love to finish above Chelsea in the table.

In that regard it was a pleasing afternoon for fans, with the three points especially valuable after the Blues lost at home to Spurs later in the day.

However, the performance did upset some sections of the Emirates support, booing the team at half-time with the scores still level at 0-0.

[ad_pod ]

One of the players that received much of the criticism was captain for the day Jack Wilshere, who failed to really get to grips with the game before being substituted in the 76th minute.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fans are hoping he can show the kind of form that would make him worth a new contract at the club but more performances like Sunday’s would continue to turn opinion against him.

Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his display…

Leeds United broke their four-game winless run with a 2-1 home win over relegation-battlers Bolton Wanderers on Good Friday, thanks to goals from Caleb Ekuban and Pablo Hernandez.

Two goals to the good after fifty minutes, it looked as if it would be a comfortable afternoon’s work for Paul Heckingbottom’s side but Adam Le Fondre netted within three minutes of Hernandez’s strike to set up a nervous final 35 minutes.

That precarious one-goal advantage was not exactly ideal for the confidence of either the fans or the players but the Whites held out to get the victory they needed.

Nervous as it was, the triumph was certainly the best way for Leeds fans to start their long Easter weekend and should give them confidence ahead of the televised trip to high-flying Fulham on Tuesday night.

The Leeds faithful were overjoyed to have broken the run of games without a victory before it got out of hand – as it did at the turn of the year – and we’ve taken a closer look at the best of the reaction.

[ad_pod ]

The transfer rumours surrounding Tottenham Hotspur of late have largely been about potential player departures rather than new additions.

However, there is one man that the fans certainly feel that the club should be looking to bring into Mauricio Pochettino’s team.

In a poll, we asked the supporters if the North London outfit should swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Isco this summer, and an overwhelming number were all for it.

The 25-year-old joined Los Blancos from Malaga in 2013, but in recent seasons has struggled to hold down a regular spot in Zinedine Zidane’s team.

In total, the Spaniard has started 27 games in all competitions this season, and only 18 of those have been in La Liga.

In that time, Isco, who can play centrally either in the middle or further forward as well as on the left, has netted six goals and created seven assists.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Earlier this month, Don Balon reported that Chelsea, Manchester City and Juventus are all keeping a close eye on the attack-minded player, who is believes to be considering his Madrid future.

[ad_pod ]

As reported by The Daily Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Sporting winger Gelson Martins this summer.

What’s the story?

Having failed to consistently challenge for the English Premier League title this season, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to sign quality in the summer transfer window that can help them bridge the gap between themselves and Manchester City.

One player on their radar is Sporting attacker Gelson Martins, who has had a superb season for the Portuguese club.

That’s according to The Mirror, who reckon the player is one of a number of targets for Pochettino when the transfer window opens.

Rated at £27m by Transfermarkt, is he a player that Spurs should be looking at ahead of next season?

Is he Premier League quality?

With 13 goals and 12 assists for his club this season, it’s clear that Gelson Martin has a cutting edge to his game that demonstrates he could be a hit at Tottenham Hotspur. That tally follows on from last term when he scored seven and created another 13 assists.

It’s the kind of contribution that could have a major impact on Tottenham’s attacking prowess, taking the pressure off the likes of the ever reliable Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Still just 22 years of age, Martins has the potential to improve even further and could become an elite right winger upon making the move to a side like Spurs and surrounding himself with even better players.

On his way to the World Cup with Portugal, he’s certainly a player to keep an eye on this summer.

Coming in between the two legs of their Champions League semi-final, Liverpool’s Premier League match against Stoke always had the look of a sticky afternoon’s work where Jurgen Klopp’s priority would be resting players.

That’s exactly as it panned out; with the Potters content to absorb pressure despite draws not really being satisfactory for them at present, the emphasis was on a rotated Liverpool to take the initiative.

Unlike against Roma just five days previously, the Reds were unable to do so and it was hotshot Mo Salah who missed an early opportunity to smash the game wide open. From then on, Liverpool never really got going.

The 57-cap attacker endured a rare afternoon where nothing went in as none of his seven shots found the target, in sharp contrast to the red-hot form that has taken him to within Ian Rush’s all-time Anfield record for goals in a season.

He struggled to get into the game in open play, with only one trademark dribble and just the 40 touches throughout, as Paul Lambert continued his impressive Anfield record – he has never lost there to date.

Salah was also dispossessed twice by Stoke’s battling rearguard but he was surely just saving himself for the bigger test to come in midweek.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

It has not quite been the season that West Ham United would have hoped for, but the Hammers ended the 2017-18 campaign on a positive note with a 3-1 victory over Everton at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

There are still a number of problems for the club’s board to address this summer, but the West Ham fans were left feeling pretty good about their team’s performance against the Toffees.

Marko Arnautovic was again on the scoresheet for the London club, but it was Manuel Lanzini that made the biggest impression with two goals during a fine showing in the English capital.

Lanzini has not been without his problems this season, with injuries to his knee and hamstring making it difficult for the Argentine to find full flow.

There is no question that the 25-year-old is a wonderful talent, however, and he made Everton dance to his tune at the London Stadium at the weekend.

His two goals grabbed the attention, but it was the attacker’s overall work that impressed the most. Indeed, a pass success rate of 91% shows just how well he used the ball, whilst four dribbles demonstrate that the Argentina international was not afraid to carry possession.

The fact that Lanzini, who is valued at £16.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, scored from two of his three shots, meanwhile, indicates just how clinical he was in the final third of the field.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Everton just could not live with the former River Plate youngster on the afternoon, and it is absolutely vital that West Ham build their team around him next season.

Liverpool are said to be huge admirers, but if the Hammers have hopes of pushing for a Europa League position over the next season or two then they simply have to keep their star players, and Lanzini certainly falls into that category.

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt is only 18 years old, but he is swiftly becoming one of the regular names in the transfer gossip pages.

Manchester City are believed to be keen to add the youngster to Pep Guardiola’s Premier League-winning squad for the 2018-19 campaign.

According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain is working behind the scenes on striking a deal for De Ligt.

The report claims that Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are also keeping tabs on the young talent.

This season, the centre-back has started 33 Eredivisie matches, as well as two in the Champions League and two in the Europa League.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

City romped to the league title this season, but Guardiola will want to bring in some new additions this summer in order to boost his squad.

The defence is an area that could do with some extra bodies to cope with the demands of each competition, and the majority of fans believe that De Ligt would be a positive signing.

According to reports in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United are interested in signing Hull City striker Abel Hernandez on a free transfer this summer, and Premier League side Newcastle United should look to hijack any potential deal.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Yorkshire Evening Post says that the Uruguay international is set to leave the KCOM Stadium after four years with the Tigers when his contract expires this month, and the Whites have made him their top centre-forward target this summer.

The Yorkshire Evening Post report that the Yorkshire outfit have already drawn up an offer, which Leeds Live describe as “attractive”, to try and convince the 27-year-old to move to Elland Road, with Hull seeming to have failed in trying to convince the striker to stay.

Meanwhile, Newcastle may well be in the market for a new attacker themselves this summer with Aleksandar Mitrovic likely to be on his way and Joselu struggling to impress, and Hernandez could be the answer.

How has Hernandez done this season?

It was a tough campaign for the 27-year-old, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in August which saw sidelined for more than six months.

The Uruguayan still made 10 Championship appearances in total this term, and he showed the quality that he has by scoring eight goals in those outings, as well as providing a further two assists.

If any potential suitors would have been worried about how he would perform after the injury, they needn’t have worried as Hernandez netted five goals in seven games between March and the end of the season.

Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?

He certainly could be, yes.

The Magpies may well need someone who is strong in the air next season if Mitrovic leaves and Joselu fails to improve, with Dwight Gayle being their only other option.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

While Hernandez is currently playing for a Championship club, his record of 39 goals in 110 matches prove the quality that he has in his locker to effectively replace Mitrovic, even if Toon fans on Twitter prefer the Serbian to Islam Slimani.

11 goals in 29 caps for Uruguay only further go to emphasise that fact, and if Newcastle have the opportunity to snap the 27-year-old on a free this summer, they can’t afford to waste it.

[ad_pod ]