All posts by n8rngtd.top

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According to The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur fear that manager Mauricio Pochettino will quit the north London club this summer in favour of the Real Madrid job.

What’s the story?

According to the aforementioned report, the concerns have arisen since the recent defeat to Chelsea effectively ended Spurs’ title hopes for this season. The Argentine coach is said to be desperate to win titles and may feel he stands a greater chance of landing silverware at the Bernabeu.

Who have been the biggest title race bottlers? Liverpool? Spurs? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…

He recently warned that it could take Tottenham up to a decade to win the Premier League. He is unlikely to be willing to wait that long. It could be that he is ready to move on at the end of the current campaign, leaving Daniel Levy with the big job of finding a top class new head coach.

Ready to step up

Pochettino’s stock is certainly high right now. Since taking over at White Hart Lane in 2014, the 46-year-old has transformed them from also-rans into Champions League mainstays. However, he has failed to win a trophy during his tenure.

The Real Madrid job could certainly be up for grabs this summer. The La Liga giants have endured a torrid domestic campaign so far, and are currently nine points behind leaders Barcelona. It would certainly be a huge job for the former Southampton boss to take, and a big step up in his career, but he probably thinks he is now ready for it.

His departure would mark a huge loss for Spurs who owe their current high standing and stellar reputation, in large part, to the work done by Pochettino.

Manchester United currently find themselves sitting in fourth position after picking up all three points against Southampton in their last Premier League outing. 

The Red Devils have been hugely impressive since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge at Old Trafford, with a top four spot looking likely if they continue to ensure consistency from here on in.

It appears as if the Manchester club have their eye on two attacking midfielders, as United are reportedly (as per Tuttosport, via Daily Mail) considering a swoop for Isco and they’re also believed (as per A Bola, via Calciomercato) to be taking an interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes.

So, let’s compare the two players…

ISCO

Isco has established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in world football in recent years but this season hasn’t been too enjoyable as he’s struggled to enjoy regular minutes, with four goals and one assist to his name.

However, he has the ability to single-handedly change a game and can unlock almost any defence, so his passing and creativity could work wonders for Manchester United. And, he knows how to find the back of the net.

TT GRADE: A-

BRUNO FERNANDES

Bruno Fernandes has been simply sensational in the current campaign as he continues to make all the headlines over in Portugal, with a whopping 23 goals and 13 assists to his name at this moment in time.

He’s enjoying a rich vein of form and he’s only 24 years of age, so he still has his best years ahead of him.

Of course, his ability to produce an outrageous amount of goals and assists makes him a very dangerous asset, and he could definitely take United’s attack to the next level.

TT GRADE: A

TT VERDICT:

When comparing these two, it’s safe to say that Bruno Fernandes is enjoying the rub of the green at this moment in time as he continues to impress in Portugal, while Isco just hasn’t been able to find his feet.

Paul Pogba has been fantastic for Man United this season with an impressive 14 goals to his name, but that’s nothing compared to Fernandes as he’s been more prolific than most attackers in Europe, let alone Pogba. Of course, Isco is extremely talented and he could definitely do a solid job at Old Trafford, but Fernandes’ stats are too good to ignore.

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Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish rightly received the plaudits for his conduct and indeed his winning goal against Birmingham City on Sunday afternoon.

Indeed, the midfielder showed incredible restraint not to react to the pitch invader who struck him on the back of the head in the first half of the derby.

Grealish went on to score the only goal of the match, but Villa needed a strong performance from their back four to collect what was a huge three points.

Villa’s injury problems at the back meant that Kortney Hause had to switch from his left-back role to central defence, with Neil Taylor coming into the XI.

Hause – on loan at Villa from Wolverhampton Wanderers – won 12 aerials and had a pass success rate of 71% against Birmingham, according to WhoScored.

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video below…

The Villa supporters have really taken to the 23-year-old in recent weeks.

And a huge number have been on social media urging the 6ft 2in ace to move to Villa Park on a permanent deal at the end of the season:

Sheffield Wednesday have yet to taste defeat in the Championship since Steve Bruce took charge at Hillsborough, a run that has stretched back to January and includes 11 games.

During that run Wednesday have kept a superb seven clean sheets, thanks in no small part, to goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, who has played in every game since Bruce’s arrival.

The keeper, who has had spells at Manchester City and Sunderland on his CV, is “delighted” at his form and says there has been a “great turnaround” at the club in 2019.

He told the Sheffield Star: It has been a great turnaround and that is credit to everybody at the club,

“I think I have kept nine [clean sheets] from 14 games. I’m delighted. If you were a striker and you scored nine goals in 14 games, you would be absolutely buzzing.”

The Owls’ win at a blustery Bolton on Tuesday means that they now sit just four points off a play-off spot, but still have a number of clubs to overhaul in the remaining weeks of a season in a race that is sure to go down to the wire.

But Westwood’s focus is on the next game — Blackburn Rovers are the visitors to Hillsborough on Saturday — and stressed that all games between now and the end of the season are “massive”.

He said: “We have to keep plugging away. We have another big game on Saturday.

“Every game we have now is massive. If we can manage to get a win at the weekend going into the international break, that would be big.”

“Let’s just get to this international break and see where we are at.”

Certainly, along with fellow play-off chasers Preston, Wednesday are the form team in the Championship, but it is a run that needs to continue if promotion is to be a realistic target.

It would be a fantastic achievement from where the club sat prior to Bruce’s arrival. It cannot be understated the influence the former Manchester United player has had on the squad, and the players are clearly responding.

Whether the Owls can see it all the way through to May is another question, but regardless if they do or not, Bruce has breathed life back into a sleeping giant that was simply treading water beforehand.

What are your thoughts on the impressive run that Wednesday have been on? Are they realistic contenders for a play-off spot now? Let us know your thoughts…

Unrest at Roma could spell the worst possible news for Leeds United fans as Bielsa emerges as one of the favourites to move to the Italian capital next season.

As per Italian outlets La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Messaggero (via Football Italia), Marcelo Bielsa and Leonardo Jardim have joined Gian Piero Gasperini, Marco Giampaolo and Maurizio Sarri on the list of possible permanent replacements for boss Claudio Ranieri, who replaced Eusebio Di Francesco as caretaker boss until the end of the term.

The move seems unlikely from our perspective given Bielsa had signed a contract with rivals Lazio just two years ago.

However, with reports as recent as February indicating that there is a good chance that Bielsa will leave if the club if they fail to secure Premier League promotion (Daily Mail), Leeds United fans will surely be a little concerned to hear that their beloved manager is already being linked with major European vacancies.

To say that losing Bielsa would be a disaster for their future prospects would be an understatement.

The Argentine has worked wonders for the club since succeeding a long list of managerial failures at the beginning of the season, instilling a bit of much-needed life and spirit back into the dormant giants of West Yorkshire, and to lose his influence now, at such an integral part of their transformation, would be a critical blow.

Indeed, we dare say that there are few out there that can command such a high level of intensity and style akin to that of Marcelo Bielsa; and even fewer that have been declared the ‘best coach in the world’ by Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino (Talk Sport).

Leeds United fans, could you see Marcelo Bielsa leaving the project prematurely – and, if so, how significant of a blow would this be? Let us know in the comments below…

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Loads of Celtic fans have been reacting to a post from the club’s official Twitter account, and they’re bemused by the lack of playing time for Timothy Weah.

Celtic have restored order since Neil Lennon’s arrival, pulling even further away from Rangers at the top of the league and reaching the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

Despite their imperious form though, there are still question marks over the manager’s decisions, especially after he opted to start Mikey Johnston over both Oliver Burke and Weah last week at Dundee.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

Johnston’s performance was crucified by fans, and the latest post from the club has once again raised questions over the lack of opportunities for Weah in particular.

“Congrats to Timo Weah who was listed in the top 20 of the world’s best teenagers in GOAL.com’s NxGn 2019 awards,” read a post on the club’s Twitter account.

The club was of course confirming what we already knew, that Weah has been selected in GOAL.com’s NxGn wonderkid list, making the cut at no. 17.

Of course, this was met with tons of fans asking why you would celebrate a player’s abilities only to leave him rotting on the bench.

Weah has scored three times and added one assist in 12 appearances for the Bhoys, and the Twitter reactions down below are all saying the same thing…

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To buy or not to buy is the question on everyone’s lips at Goodison Park.

From Marcel Brands right through to the supporters, the question of whether Andre Gomes is worth the 40 million euro (£34.1m) fee Barcelona could receive, per Marca, for the popular midfielder is a conundrum which splits the mind in two.

And the international break has added a fresh dynamic to consider in the equation in the shape of Sheffield United loanee Kieran Dowell.

On the chalkboard

The 21-year-old midfielder festered in Everton’s reserves for the first half of the season before he was sent to Bramall Lane in January.

An attacking midfielder by trade, Dowell has made a steady impact in 10 appearances for Chris Wilder’s promotion-chasing side, but his call-up to the England Under-21 side provided a fresh challenge for the budding Premier League talent.

Aidy Boothroyd opted to start Dowell at the base of his midfield against Poland and Tuesday night’s defeat against Germany saw him lying deep once again alongside Tom Davies.

Defensively he was a tad suspect in unfamiliar territory, but that was to be expected given his lack of experience.

In possession, however, Everton’s academy product was technically accomplished and showcased glimpses of his potential to operate in a deeper-lying role at club level.

Take a gamble

Dowell is not ready to immediately step into the side to replace Gomes, but the fact the Toffees faithful are not unanimously convinced by the Portugal international’s credentials suggests it’s a gamble not worth taking.

Rather than spending the best part of £34 million on the Barcelona playmaker, Silva should mould Dowell into a number 8 or number 6 to fill the creative void in midfield.

It’s a huge gamble which is unlikely to garner impressive short-term results as Dowell hasn’t made a single Premier League appearance since 2016.

But glimpses from his performances with both the Blades and the Three Lions suggest there is an untapped talent in waiting if Silva utilises him properly, one who could save the club tens of millions in the transfer market.

The next big thing to emerge at Goodison could be right under Brands’ nose.

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Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to the week’s big Premier League news, as Fulham’s relegation was confirmed.

There is just one relegation spot left up for grabs after this week’s Premier League action, as Fulham will now join Huddersfield in the second tier next season.

Scott Parker’s side were well beaten by Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday after losing to Manchester City at the weekend.

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….

The Cottagers went full Football Manager mode last summer, spending huge sums of money on players no one had ever heard of, such as the £30m they splashed on Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who has started just 11 league games.

The Magpies meanwhile were forced to watch on while the likes of Wolves and Fulham went shopping all summer, with Mike Ashley being his usual self on Tyneside.

And yet, it is the Craven Cottage outfit that are going down, and Newcastle fans are rubbing it in their faces after they unearthed a tweet from 2016, in which the official Fulham account mocked the Magpies’ presence in the second tier.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where it appears the Toon Army do believe in karma…

Celtic’s transfer negligence will surely cost them dearly in the summer market.

Dedryck Boyata has been primed and ready to leave Parkhead for some time now and Celtic fans may feel slightly aggrieved with the news that their wantaway defender could have been sold for £4.5 million before the start of the season (as per The Scottish Sun) – a sum which could’ve gone some way towards recruiting a long-term replacement. Instead, he will likely leave on a free.

Hertha Berlin are said to be the front-runners for the former Manchester City man’s signature and could offer as much as £2 million a year – which would be a huge increase on the deal he currently commands at Celtic.

Since their £4.5 million interest was rejected last summer, Hertha Berlin are said to have been keeping tabs on Boyata’s situation and, having bided their time, they can now offer personal terms, with no fee required.

The Belgium defender is set to become one of Die Alte Dame’s highest earners, alongside former Premier League and Chelsea star Salomon Kalou.

Though Neil Lennon is reportedly keen on keeping the player under his rule next season, we can surely pretty much guarantee that the allure of Bundesliga football and higher wages will far outweigh what he has to offer.

The fact that Celtic sacrificed a sizeable transfer fee to needlessly prolong his career in Scotland will surely frustrate supporters and Neil Lennon, who, undoubtedly, would’ve preferred to have blooded a fresh and willing talent committed to serving the club for years to come – not one with two eyes set on leaving.

Celtic fans, do you agree with the decision to keep Boyata on? Let us know in the comments below…

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Providing his opinion for Sky Sports, Keith Andrews gave his verdict on who he thought would claim the Championship’s automatic promotion spots.

What’s he said?

Speaking to the Sky Sports website, Andrews predicted who he thought would finish in the top two of the Championship and therefore gain promotion to the Premier League.

The former player firstly tipped Norwich who are the runaway leaders in the division before deciding that Sheffield United would claim second place ahead of Leeds.

The Blades bounced back from defeat against Bristol City to beat Preston last weekend and Andrews thinks that has had a major say in proceedings. He also explained why he thought Chris Wilder’s men would nab the final spot.

Here’s what he had to say:

“Sheffield United had a big swing at the weekend. It’s very difficult to call who’s going to come second in that division. When you look at the run-in I slightly favour Sheffield United, only slightly.”

Tough to predict

The race between Sheffield United and Leeds for that final place is absolutely fascinating at the moment and the way it continues to ebb and flow makes it one of the most intriguing battles in recent memory.

Having lost to the Blades before the international break, Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s chances took a hit. However, the next week it was his side leapfrogging their promotion rivals after defeat for Wilder’s men.

It then swung again last weekend when Birmingham defeated Leeds.

It’s therefore incredibly difficult to predict but based on Andrews’ reasoning with the run-ins, he’s just about right to call it in the way he has.

Fans of Norwich, Sheffield United and Ipswich name their club’s worst ever manager in the video below…

The team from Elland Road still have to play Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa this term, whereas Sheffield United face Ipswich, Millwall and Birmingham, who are all down near the bottom of the table.

But with the Championship being so competitive and so much riding on results, points could be dropped anywhere. It really is anyone’s to win or lose.