Nottingham Forest are interested in making an £8m move for West Ham starlet Reece Oxford, as reported by the The Mirror.
What’s the word, then?
The Championship play-off hopefuls have been tracking the 20-year-old’s progress with the Hammers, and Oxford could be allowed to leave the club this month.
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…
Oxford is keen to get first-team football under his belt having been denied such a privilege at the London Stadium by boss Manuel Pellegrini, especially after the summer arrivals of central defenders Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena.
Could they get Oxford?
There is definitely a good chance of Forest securing the promising young Englishman. Oxford has enjoyed two loan spells with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, but is yet to truly make his mark at first-team level for the Hammers.
According to the aforementioned report from The Mirror, Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal have all held an interest in Oxford at some point. However, his first team opportunities there would probably be as limited as they are in east London.
The final decision in Forest making a late move now rests with former Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill, but it would be short-sighted of him to pass up the opportunity to sign a young player who has featured prominently for England across the youth levels.
Another defeat for Aston Villa leaves Dean Smith and co in a precarious situation near the bottom of the Premier League table.
Their 16th loss of the campaign – the joint-most along with Norwich City, who are rock bottom – means they are still just one point above the drop zone. And with relegation rivals Watford and West Ham facing Manchester United and Liverpool respectively this match-day, the 2-0 loss against Southampton was a missed opportunity to put some space between themselves and those sides.
Did he really play for us?! No Villa fan has managed to name all of these obscure Villans….
They were dealt a blow just 28 minutes into their match with the Saints, as Anwar El Ghazi was forced off the field with an injury. With four goals and four assists in the Premier League this term, the Netherlands international has been an important attacking player for the Midlands outfit. However, his misfortune gifted Mohamed Trezeguet the chance to shine, as he was the man who came on for the 24-year-old.
Unfortunately for the £9m-valued Egypt international – as per Transfermarkt – it was one he failed to take. During his time on the pitch, he didn’t make any real impact – he was unable to land a single cross, whilst he completed just one dribble. His one key pass and one shot on target does not equate to a terrible return, but Smith will still have been hoping for a lot more from his substitute.
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This was the third game in a row that Trezeguet has come off the bench, with El Ghazi having been chosen ahead of him in all of those matches. This, therefore, was a chance for him to show his boss just what he has been missing, but in the end he may have in fact boosted the former Lille man’s claim for holding onto the starting spot – providing his injury isn’t too serious, of course.
Trezeguet should be kicking himself for failing to take advantage of this golden opportunity.
In other news, Villa fans slam this man’s “shocking” display against Southampton.
Phil Hay has summarised the decisions facing Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the clash with Middlesbrough this weekend in the Yorkshire Evening Post, and the journalist, who covers the Whites, has hinted that there could, and should, be some big changes to the line-up next time out.
What did he say?
Well, for much of the season, Bielsa’s biggest concern has been whether he can field a proper defence due to the injuries that have plagued his side for six months but, with everyone but Gaetano Berardi now fit, the Argentine can turn his attention to other areas of the team.
Hay wrote: “Starting (Kalvin) Phillips at Middlesbrough need not mean relegation to the bench for (Adam) Forshaw, who is returning to the club that sold him to Leeds last January. Forshaw was employed in pre-season in a more advanced area and was, in Bielsa’s estimation, the “best player in the team” before he broke his foot late in the summer. Mateusz Klich became the beneficiary of that injury, taking Forshaw’s starting place, but the Pole’s two goals away at Rotherham United 10 days ago were a fillip in an extended period of flat, personal form.
“Bielsa’s other big decision concerns Patrick Bamford, who played for the first time against Norwich after his latest knee injury and scored in injury-time. A planned Under-23s outing for the striker was unexpectedly bypassed, leading Bamford to be named amongst the substitutes, and his match fitness might be the only thing standing between him and a start against his former side. Leeds are finding it increasingly difficult to play to the strengths and the feet of Kemar Roofe.”
What could that mean?
Well, if Phillips is to be thrust back into his favoured defensive-midfield role and Foresaw is unlikely to be dropped, then one assumes that the latter will be deployed further upfield and thus bench Klich, who, as Hay says, has been unremarkable in recent weeks.
Bamford’s imminent return to match fitness, meanwhile, gives Bielsa the dilemma of whether he should drop their top scorer in Roofe, who, like Klich, is going through a poor patch of form, in favour of the former Boro striker.
The 26-year-old has bagged 14 goals for the Elland Road outfit this season in the Championship but has found the net just once in his last five appearances, as the Argentine manager’s side have slipped to second in the standings.
By the sounds of it, Bielsa may reshuffle the pack next time out – this may include being ruthless with Roofe by dropping the striker in favour of a forward who may suit the team better and cutting out Klich so as to provide defensive cover through Phillips, both of which are big calls to make.
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…
Tottenham Hotspur have established themselves as one of the top-six elite clubs in the Premier League in recent years and, if it wasn’t for a financially crippling move into the new stadium, they may well be competing for the Premier League title this season.
That is not to say that Spurs are incapable of challenging for the top prize in English football this season, but their failure to bring in a single new player during the summer window is likely to leave them short of the resources they need to usurp the imperious Manchester City at the top of the table.
But Tottenham have not always been a side associated with the Champions League places and their rise to this position has taken years of meticulous development both on and off the field.
Pochettino has turned dreams into reality by cementing Tottenham’s status as a side who begin the season with genuine ambitions of competing for silverware, but the foundations for success were laid long before the Argentine arrived at the club, according to Chris Hughton.
Indeed, the Brighton boss recently opened up about the key figureheads who influenced his career in management, and he cited Martin Jol as the man who set him up for his managerial career, as per Sky Sports.
Jol joined an elite club of Tottenham legends in Ossie Ardiles and Glenn Hoddle who were also cited by Hughton as huge inspirations, and the Brighton boss took the opportunity to emphasise how influential the Dutch manager was in north London.
‘If you look at Tottenham going from a good cup team in the 1980s to one with an inconsistent league position and their turnaround into a team who now achieve consistent good finishes in the league, Martin was probably the catalyst for that.
‘He had two fifth-place finishes in his time there but I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for what he did at Tottenham. Unfortunately, I think that’s the game – when time passes, it’s generally about the present as opposed to the past.’
Hughton, presents an incredibly sound argument concerning Jol’s success. In his first full season in charge of Spurs he managed to take the club to their highest ever Premier League finish and points tally with 65, as they narrowly fell short of a place in the top-four with Arsenal occupying 4th place with 67 points.
In the twelve seasons which have followed Jol’s unprecedented achievement, Spurs have only failed to finish inside the top-five in just three separate campaigns whilst, in the twelve seasons which preceded the 2005/06 campaign, they finished inside the top-ten just four times.
What these statistics point towards is a clear watershed season in which Tottenham’s ambitions and status in English football underwent a major shift, so Jol deserves great credit for an achievement which has slipped under the radar.
Manchester United will be keen to improve on their last result as they edged out Leicester City in a tight encounter at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils managed to get the better of an impressive Leicester City side in front of their home fans last time out as they secured a 2-1 victory over the Foxes. But, they did find themselves under the cosh at times, so improvements are definitely needed later on today.
Indeed, United will travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton and Hove Albion in what will be their first away game of the new campaign. The Seagulls were beaten convincingly by Watford last time out, but they will be sure to put on a show in front of their home fans.
So, having taken Jose Mourinho’s selection from the last game and the fitness of World Cup players into consideration, we’ve come up with a team that we think the Portuguese boss could line up with against Brighton.
Look below to the graphic to see the entire potential team in FULL…
MAN UNITED’S POTENTIAL TEAM VS BRIGHTON
We’ve gone with a 4-3-3 formation, as that is the formation that Mourinho used to good effect in their victory against the Foxes last time out. This allows the full-backs to get forward into attacking positions and provides the Red Devils with a stable midfield line, while two wingers support the striker in attack.
David De Gea never fails to please supporters as he always delivers consistently good performances in-between the sticks for the Red Devils, so he will be given the nod once again today.
In defence, United should field Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof as the defensive pair managed to enjoy some success on the opening day, despite conceding a goal. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw has been like a new signing since returning from injury and he managed to find the back of the net last week, with Ashley Young coming back into the side after a rather busy World Cup.
Marouane Fellaini will come in for Andreas Perreira against Brighton and Hove Albion as the Belgian has now regained his fitness after the World Cup. And, summer signing Fred has been worth the money so far as he was the standout performer in the last game, with Paul Pogba also turning on the style by opening his goalscoring account.
Lastly, Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford will form United’s front three. The Belgian is ready to be inserted into the starting XI after a busy World Cup, with Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Rashford keeping their places after a couple of impressive displays last time out.
As reported by The Sun, Everton are interested in signing Deportivo La Coruna striker Florin Andone as a potential replacement for departed star Romelu Lukaku.
What’s the story?
The Toffees have been slightly off the boil in the forward areas since selling the Belgian international to Manchester United and will likely be busy in the upcoming transfer windows in an effort to replace his goalscoring exploits.
One man they’re looking at is Romanian international Florin Andone, currently at La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna.
That’s according to The Sun, who say that the club have even asked the Spanish side about his potential availability.
Tough boots to fill
No matter who Everton sign as a heralded ‘Lukaku replacement’, they’re going to have a hard time replacing the contribution the Belgian managed to bring to Goodison over the years.
However, Andone might find it tougher than most, given his lack of experience at the top level. Having spent just two full seasons in La Liga for Cordoba and Deportivo La Coruna, he would perhaps not be the finished article Everton fans are looking for.
His scoring record is decent, but not amazing, with 17 top-flight goals in 57 La Liga matches. He was more prolific in the division below however, netting 21 times in a single season in 2015/16. For Romania, he has netted just once in 17 matches, another sign he might not be quite ready for elite football.
Nonetheless, he could be a decent option for a team like Everton who have to develop hidden gems, rather than being able to go out and bring the best Europe has to offer to Merseyside.
As if Manchester United haven’t spent enough money in recent seasons, a move for £85million transfer target Antoine Griezmann seems inevitable. Whether as an addition to Zlatan Ibrahimovic or a replacement for the magnificent Swede, Griezmann is clearly a target that Manchester United cannot keep their eyes off of.
Converted from an impressive, but inconsistent, winger at Real Sociedad to a central attacking player with a fear inducing goal scoring rate at Atletico Madrid, Griezmann is one of the world’s most desirable, available players. Even in the glittering La Liga with stars scattered across the top teams, Griezmann has shone.
He’s some player, there’s no doubting that. Few come close to the Frenchman in world football and very few in the Premier League are even in the same stratosphere. Manchester United, though, should not be too hasty in their investment for Griezmann.
Here are a handful of reasons why it might not be a match made in transfer column heaven…
Change of build-up
Having played with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line in this season, Antoine Griezmann would require a severe change in the team’s build-up.
While he offers the skills and pace that Ibrahimovic does not, the Frenchman is a completely different mould of centre forward. He would not be able to play the back-to-goal role that Mourinho has always demanded from his strikers and, quite frankly, does not fit the way that United have played this season.
Of course he may play on the wing, but that would see two of Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata miss out. Signing Griezmann to play on the flank would be a bizarre, unjustifiable call.
Buying High Again?
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After the flop of Angel di Maria, disappointment of Luke Shaw and early fluctuations in form of Paul Pogba, Manchester United spending enormous money on a player seems a risk. It might not be, of course, but there are targets that would be less costly and, as a result, arrive at the club without the pressure that Griezmann will be under.
If they are going to spend big this summer, though, Griezmann could be the best of the lot. The question is – for a squad with so many areas that Jose Mourinho will want to add to, is it really worth it?
Adaptation time
Football Soccer – Eibar v Atletico Madrid – Spanish Liga Santander – Ipurua, Eibar, Spain – 07/01/2017 Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann reacts after scoring. REUTERS/Vincent West
The vast majority of players take time to settle at a new club. Even if they initially hit the ground running, a lot of players will experience a dip during their first campaign. Antoine Griezmann, as good as he is, would be no different.
He could follow the footsteps of Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard by flying through his first season, though. Griezmann might be perfect for English football, but it is an unknown that Manchester United would be relying on again. More than anything, Mourinho would once again have to adapt to a new star name in his squad.
Make no mistake about it, new Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has been extremely quick in prioritising his tasks ahead of his sides’ season opener in August.
We’ve seen a very Jose-esque press conference but behind all the comoradory is a man that is hellbent on bringing success back to Manchester. And it’s fair to say that a lot of this will be dependent on who comes through the door this summer.
One player United have been extremely hotly linked with in recent weeks is Juventus star Paul Pogba who they released from the club for nothing a handful of years ago.
Business models aside, everything has been going swimmingly for the Frenchman and he’s quickly established himself as one of the games’ best.
Along with a potential £100million price tag, Pogba would bring bags of qualities with him to United’s midfield, should he make the move.
So with that in mind, here’s FIVE things Paul Pogba would bring to Man United this summer…
Sheer Power
Whether it’s for France or Juve, the power that this man brings to the midfield is unfathomable.
Standing at 6ft 3″ tall, Pogba has the physicality to play in almost any league in the world and his ability to simply shrug fellow professionals off has been one of the founding features of his game.
Pace
During his early days in Italy, Pogba earned the nickname Polpo Paul, essentially meaning Paul the octopus due to his gangly frame. But make no mistake about it, when Pogba hits his stride he’s as quick as anyone in the game right now.
That ability to burst through midfield and link up with the strikers has been so important in his game, and we’ve seen him do it both for Juve and the French national side.
Tough Tackling
He’s been likened to Patrick Vieira at all stages of his career and it’s easy to see why.
Often found marshalling the defence, Pogba’s true strengths lie in his ability to protect his back four and quickly turn possession into a potential attack on goal.
No nonsense attitude
He’s not quite in the Mario Balotelli club of football divas, but Paul Pogba is instead a passionate young man who isn’t afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve.
As he’s matured, his game has eliminated any remaining childish characteristics that may have otherwise held him back later on in life on the pitch.
His no-nonsense attitude on the pitch has won him plenty of admirers both in Turin and around the world, and he really is a player to be respected.
Goal Scoring
If you haven’t seen “that” Paul Pogba free-kick against Torino, where have you been? It only goes shows his striking qualities and we’ve seen it plenty of times from open-play too.
To have a player who can dispatch so well from midfield will be an absolute asset for Jose and I’m sure this is one aspect of Pogba’s game in particular that United fans might looking forward to seeing.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has denied the suggestion Gary Neville's criticism of his team helped inspire them to an FA Cup win against Leeds.
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Neville slammed Pochettino's team
Chelsea bounced back with win vs Leeds
Coach denies criticism inspired team
WHAT HAPPENED?
Chelsea were labelled "billion pound bottle jobs" by ex-Manchester United star Neville after they lost 1-0 to Liverpool in extra time of the Carabao Cup final last weekend. The Blues bounced back days later when they beat Leeds in the fifth round of the FA Cup, but it was no easy feat given they went 1-0 down early on and required a 90th minute winner from substitute Conor Gallagher to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
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WHAT POCHETTINO SAID
Asked if Neville's comments may have had a positive impact heading into the midweek match at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino told reporters: "No, no good thing. To be professional, they want to win. We didn't win Wednesday because of the comment of Gary. The players follow my vision and the way that I behave. They only pay attention because here in England when important people like Gary is talking this way, of course you pay attention but then you move on."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Pochettino defended his team from Neville's criticism before the win against the Championship team, saying: "It’s not fair to talk in this way". The Sky Sports pundit has since admitted that he is "not proud" of his comments about the London club, and admitted that he was "too harsh".
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
Chelsea are currently 11th in the Premier League and will hope to start climbing into the top half of the table by picking up a win against Brentford on Saturday. After that, they will meet Newcastle in the league on March 11.
Tim Weah only wanted to join Juventus in the summer transfer window, claims his representative, with interest from “many clubs” being shunned.
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U.S. star bid farewell to French footballWas wanted by sides in Spain and GermanyEnded up packing his bags for ItalyWHAT HAPPENED?
The United States international made his way to Turin in an €11 million (£10m/$12m) deal after taking the decision to sever ties with Ligue 1 outfit Lille. That switch allowed Weah to link up with fellow USMNT star Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium.
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Juve were always the top priority for Weah, as he follows in the footsteps of his legendary father George by turning out in Serie A, with approaches from Spain and Germany being knocked back. Weah’s lawyer, Badou Sambague, has told : “Many clubs like Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen were interested in Timothy, but his priority has always been going to Juventus, because he knew the club and was following their progress. Nothing could’ve changed his mind. What convinced him was the history of the club, he wanted to work with the Bianconeri staff who believed in him from the start. Weah’s word is very important when he has given it and the directors were also very determined to sign him.”
WHAT THEY SAID
Weah has quickly earned the trust of Bianconeri boss Massimiliano Allegri, with Sambague adding on that working relationship: “The rapport with Allegri is very interesting, his coaches have generally been able to get the best out of his potential. The experience at a club like Juve will really help Timothy and he is already learning so much. I feel Italian football is starting to contribute in a strong way to his personal and professional development.”
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Weah has admitted that he feels more at home filling a role on the left wing – where he often lines up for his country – but he is putting his versatility to good use in Italy by often occupying berths on the right of defence and midfield.