All posts by h79snht.top

Birmingham City manager Garry Monk spoke in 2015 about his strong relationship with current Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, and the 39-year-old should take advantage of their relationship this summer.

The Blues chief, who has surely added these three 2018 World Cup stars to his summer transfer wish-list, will be desperate to strengthen his squad in the coming weeks in order to ensure they don’t find themselves in another Championship relegation battle next term, with one of his priorities being to bolster his attacking options seeing as the Midlands club only scored a measly 38 goals in their 46 league games in 2017/18.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has also been busy in the transfer market following the additions of Diogo Dalot and Fred, and with more expected to follow the duo to Old Trafford it could mean that opportunities are limited for some of the Red Devils youngsters that would have been hoping to get regular minutes on the pitch in the upcoming season.

If those highly-rated players aren’t going to get that then they may well be loaned out, and St Andrew’s could be the perfect home for some of them.

Here are three Man United youngsters that would shine under Monk in 2018/19…

With the futures of both David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak seemingly in doubt, one of Monk’s main priorities in the next few days and weeks will surely be to bring a new goalkeeper to the club, and United stopper Joel Pereira could be the perfect option.

The 21-year-old is highly-rated by Mourinho but he only played 12 minutes of first-team football last term having found himself behind David De Gea and Sergio Romero in the pecking order, and he will surely be keen to get out and feature regularly in the 2018/19 campaign.

The stopper would have the opportunity to do that and pick up some much-needed experience at St Andrew’s with the Blues, and would potentially be their new number one.

He may only be 17 years of age, but Gomes is already well on the cusp of United’s first-team squad following some outstanding performances for the youth sides, and he featured for two minutes of Jose Mourinho’s men’s 4-0 FA Cup win against Yeovil in January.

The exciting attacking midfielder, who can play on the left as well as his preferred position in the centre, is quick, skilful and has an eye for goals and assists, and if the Portuguese manager is willing to let him leave on loan then Birmingham must pouce as he is the type of forward they desperately need following a disappointing campaign previously.

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Like Gomes, the Netherlands U19 international is another exciting teenager that is on the edge of the first-team squad, and could even be a major part of their upcoming USA pre-season tour.

The tall attacker, who usually plays on the right wing but can also play on the left or as a central attacking midfielder, scored seven goals in 17 matches for the various young Red Devils sides last term and he would certainly be an exciting addition to the Birmingham frontline.

Regular football in such a competitive league could aid the 18-year-old’s development for the future.

What do you think, Man United and Birmingham fans? Let us know below.

Newcastle United are preparing to lose Mikel Merino, with the Spanish midfielder heading for Real Sociedad – as recently covered by Chronicle Live.

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Merino moved to Newcastle from Borussia Dortmund in last summer’s transfer window, with the Magpies securing the loan services of the 22-year-old.

The deal was then made permanent in October, and Merino actually made 24 Premier League appearances during his first season in English football.

The midfielder struggled for action in the second half of the campaign, however, with Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez preferring other players as the club battled against the drop.

Merino, who is valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, is believed to be closing on a move to Sociedad, who have seemingly beaten the likes of Real Betis and Sevilla to the former Osasuna midfielder.

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The Newcastle fans have been reacting to the reports on social media, and they are still finding it hard to understand why their club are happy to lose Merino this summer.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Newcastle supporters can be seen below:

Everton and Newcastle United are set to miss out on Sporting Lisbon striker Bas Dost, who will sign for Fenerbahce according to Turkish news outlet Bein Sports.

What’s the story?

Dutch striker Bas Dost has been hot property this summer, with Everton and Newcastle among a number of teams interested in the prolific front-man.

Since signing for the Portuguese club in 2016, Bas Dost has scored an incredible 61 goals in 61 games in the Primeira Liga but following their failure to qualify for the Champions League this season, Sporting fans attacked players at their training ground which left the striker needing medical attention.

Who do you think will win the World Cup? Let us know here and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

According to Bein Sports, Fenerbahce have won the race to sign the 6ft5 colossus and an agreement has been made between the two clubs.

Bad news for Everton and Newcastle

Nothing can hide the fact that this is a massive loss for Everton, Newcastle and the Premier League.

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Bas Dost is a quality striker who has scored wherever he has been and he would be available on the cheap this summer following the mass exodus from the Portuguese club.

There are few strikers around with the goal-scoring ability of Bas Dost and if there’s still any chance of signing the 29-year-old, the Premier League clubs should do all they can to thwart his move to Turkey.

An impressive performance in beating Southampton 2-0 away from home on Saturday propelled Mauricio Pochettino’s men into the Premier League top four – somewhere that the club will hope to stay for the season’s remainder.

Although a more plucky rearguard effort has been a key reason for Spurs’ progressive campaign to date, the Argentine trainer has revolutionised the North London outfit in the final third also.

Harry Kane remains the White Hart Lane outfit’s chief attacking protagonist and is backed up by an able supporting cast that has Tottenham as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in English football currently.

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However, one of the facets of the Spurs attack that Pochettino has installed over the last 18 months adds to the team’s menace in the final third.

Given the fluidity of modern-day formations, the versatility of players operating in a number of different positions is now a key element to success – and this is something that Tottenham do arguably better than anyone in the Premier League.

Pochettino has largely stuck with the same personnel in his four attacking positions this season, with Kane, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Mousa Dembele, and Dele Alli sharing the quartet of roles along the forward line.

However, all five of these stars have played in a host of different positions and been instructed to operate in different roles depending on Pochettino’s thoughts and the opposition.

The former Southampton boss has alternated English sensation Alli between a central midfield role and the position behind Kane, while Dembele has also fluttering between these two roles as requested.

However, with the first 20 minutes not going Spurs’ way at St Mary’s on Saturday, Pochettino shuffled his pack. He moved Alli to play from the left, switched Dembele into a deeper role and shifted Eriksen into the number ten role.

The outcome? Alli scored the decisive second goal, Dembele was man of the match and Eriksen was a constant threat to the Saints.

WANT MORE? >> Tottenham transfer news | Latest transfer news

Looking at the other attacking players at Pochettino’s disposal, all have the ability to operate in different roles. Kane is most frequently played as the furthest man forward but can operate as a second striker also if needed.

Summer signing Son Heung-min has already played on the right, in the number ten role and as a striker in his short time at the club.

This also goes for Nacer Chadli and Clinton N’jie, who can and have been asked to switch roles as the situation dictates. Versatility has clearly been a feature in the club’s attacking recruitment policy, but the reason why it works is down to the all-encompassing footballing ideology that Pochettino adopts.

He urges his attacking players to be the first line of defence and close down the opposition high up the pitch, while he stresses the importance of keeping the ball when Spurs have it.

All the offensive players have taken these footballing ideals to heart and play to these instructions, regardless of the role they are selected in.

As a result, trying to shackle a young Tottenham side with enthusiasm, fitness and technical acumen is made all the more difficult, as Pochettino’s impress team march on.

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The new 2015/16 campaign has certainly started on a positive note for Garry Monk and his determined Swansea City outfit.

Last weekend’s entertaining triumph over the Magpies highlighted just how deadly the Swans could prove this term, especially after their impressive performance against Chelsea the week before.

One man who has so far played a defining role within the team’s success however, arrives in the form of ex-England U21 international, Jonjo Shelvey. The former Reds midfielder has definitely improved on his overall game whilst operating at the Liberty Stadium, which will nonetheless come as music to the ears of all the Swansea City fans out there currently enjoying the 23-year-old’s contribution to their team.

Having said that though, perhaps Brendan Rodgers and the loyal Anfield faithful ultimately won’t feel the same about Jonjo Shelvey’s recent success in the Premier League. If things had played out differently for the young Englishman a few seasons back, the creative midfielder could still be doing the business in a Liverpool shirt as opposed to his current Swansea colours.

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With the Reds distinctly failing to capitalise on their prior domestic success throughout the course of last term, a player such as Shelvey may have potentially been able to improve Rodgers’ squad, albeit rather subtly, had he still been available for selection at Anfield.

So then, should Liverpool distinctly regret selling the former Charlton academy graduate to Swansea in the summer of 2013, or is Jonjo Shelvey still simply not good enough for the Reds in the cold light of day?

Well, considering the fact that Liverpool are ultimately operating a cut above Swansea in regards to achieving European qualification and maintaining a higher place in the league table, Shelvey’s recent successes at the Liberty arguably couldn’t be transferred to the situation at Anfield as readily as many have suggested.

The pressure at a club such as Liverpool far exceeds the atmosphere in and around the Welsh side with all things considered. The Reds need players to hit the ground running and not hold the rest of their side back when it matters out on the pitch. Although Brendan Rodgers must obviously still grant time to his youngsters looking to make their way through the ranks at Anfield, sometimes up and coming talents simply need nipping in the bud if their progress is not satisfactory.

And whilst his recent spell with the Swans seems to be offering up a great deal of positivity to say the very least, Jonjo Shelvey’s experience at Liverpool was far from profitable. He ultimately looked nowhere near the level required for Brendan Rodgers whenever he pulled on the Reds shirt, which fails to discredit the Merseysiders from eventually parting ways with the 23-year-old in the summer of 2013.

He just never seemed like a Liverpool player in all honesty. It’s one things being able to look good for Swansea against the lesser sides the Premier League has to offer, but successfully doing the business at Anfield on a regular basis is another matter altogether.

However, even though the Swans obviously don’t fall in the same category as Liverpool in terms of success, history and prestige, maybe Brendan Rodgers could have issued a little bit more time to Shelvey before pulling the trigger. Yes, he never quite looked like a Liverpool player in the cold light of day – but can the same be said of the likes of Joe Allen, Danny Ings and Lucas amongst others – the answer could well be, no.

If Liverpool want to continuously sign fairly average players who wouldn’t have got anywhere near their starting XI in seasons past, then that’s their prerogative. The Reds have certainly been weakened since Rafa Benitez left Merseyside in 2010, which just goes to show that not every side in the Premier League can enjoy their moment in the sun at once.

The external wealth on offer behind the scenes at the Etihad and Stamford Bridge has merely served to oust clubs like Liverpool away from the Premier League’s top spots in the modern era. Whilst it may make difficult reading for all the loyal Reds fans out there, this is the direction football seems to be heading in nowadays.

Of course Jonjo Shelvey simply isn’t a top-four player with all things considered – even in light of his recent form and potential to improve later on in his career. However, because Liverpool arguably don’t actually represent a top-four side anymore, perhaps Brendan Rodgers should have held onto the current Swansea favourite a little while longer after all.

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Riyad Mahrez is the stand out player of the season so far. With five goals in six games he has a better strike rate than Lionel Messi, who has only managed to find the net five times in eight games for Barcelona so far this season.

Mahrez and Leicester City finished last year very strongly, and it seems both club and player have carried their form into the new season. However, no one could have predicted the brilliance of Mahrez’s performances so far. Despite the setback of a 2-2 draw away to Stoke, Leicester are still very much in the title race.

If you haven’t already, then get him in your fantasy football teams! Mahrez is still a bargain at 6.4m, which is a 0.9 increase on his original value at the start of the season. This rise in notoriety hasn’t escaped the real life teams of the Premier League as well. Arsenal are the front-runners in the race for his signature in January, but I believe Mahrez can do better than the underachieving Gunners.

Given the comparison in stats between Mahrez and Messi, surely there is a case that Mahrez is performing better on current form. With an inferior squad, Mahrez has guided Leicester City to second place this season, which is the position FC Barcelona currently occupy in La Liga.

To say that Mahrez is better than Messi is nonsensical, the Algerian has been dazzling for a mere six weeks, whereas Messi has been the world’s best player for six years.

Although it is not irrational to say that Mahrez is too good to play for Arsenal. The Gunners have failed to prove they can challenge for the title so far this season, and as it stands the Foxes have an equal chance of winning the FA Cup. So unless the real big guns come calling, I suggest that Mahrez stays put.

I will not be surprised to see Barcelona come in with a big money offer at the end of the season, if Mahrez continues this sort of form. When you consider the value of Raheem Sterling or Kevin De Bruyne, then surely Mahrez is worth investing in.

As for the Algerian’s legacy at Leicester City, the little magician has to be one of the club’s greatest ever players. Having guided them to promotion, ensuring survival and now leading their chase for European football. It is amazing to think that Mahrez only cost Leicester £350k, but then again Messi was signed for nothing.

In the near future I hope to see Mahrez graduate from Leicester and join Barcelona, as City favourite Gary Lineker once did. Only then will we see the two greatest bargains in modern day football combine for the first time – M & M, Messi and Mahrez.

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Representing your county is the ultimate honour in any sport. Being asked to do so should be the culmination of hard work or in very rare cases, an undeniable natural talent. Nowadays little of either is required for a call up to the England football team. The latest squad begs the question: Is it too easy to get a call up?

Before this is answered an obvious trap needs to be stepped over. Previous generations cannot be compared to the current crop. There is a widely accepted opinion that the pool of talent at Roy Hodgson’s disposal is smaller than years gone by. At the current rate of decline the talent pool will soon become a puddle.

It’s down to this negative trend we have the Home Grown players rule which is constantly under review and the quota could be further increased.

So while it can be agreed the national team has less options than in previous years, the squads from Italia ’90 and France ’98 seeming so far away now, it doesn’t mean collecting a cap should be any easier. Roy Hodgson shouldn’t be taking lucky dips away with him for England games and young professionals shouldn’t be expecting a cap along with their first couple of senior games in the Premier League.

If a young Rooney bursts onto the scene, or another Gascoigne, then they obviously will be hard to overlook but right now England have no players of that ilk. Regardless, new caps are being given away based on nothing more than Premier League starts.

Some of the early appearances within the current squad make sense. Harry Kane performed strongly last season and no one will argue against his four appearances for England, his three goals backing up the case. John Stones is already being touted as a £40m player so his presence in the squad was good for his personal development.

The idea of having former U21s in or around the team is nothing new. But it should be to give them glimpses not a permanent seat on the coach. They should then return to the U21s to continue their growth. It wouldn’t have done Saido Berahino any harm to receive his call up and not play. Hopefully this is the plan for Tottenham’s Dele Alli because after just seven games in the Premier League and only two at U21 level he hasn’t demonstrated anything to suggest he warrants a full cap.

If catching Roy’s eye with the promise of being the future right now isn’t an option then joining a perceived big club is a good path to take. Ideally doing both is best, then you are guaranteed a haul of caps until you leave said big club. The club doesn’t even need to be in the top four.

Liverpool, for example, still guarantees an England call up. Just ask Danny Ings who has been given one or Jonjo Shelvey who after leaving Anfield has had to work twice as hard to get noticed again.

The exception to both of these rules is Jamie Vardy. He is 28 and plays for Leicester City. His form this season shows he deserves his place. His call up came off the back of a strong debut Premier League season. It’s not fair to criticise England for missing out on a player until he’s 28; he had been playing for Fleetwood Town until 2012 so was unproven at a higher level.

Picking form players is the only case that goes against the argument a proven track record should be the only way to get a call up. But if you look at the recent names to get the nod from Hodgson you can hardly fight their case to be in a Premier League XI, the Spurs duo of Ryan Mason and Danny Rose spring to mind.

It’s with little wonder Jack Grealish decided to represent England at senior level. In the past those with dual citizenship had a tough choice, they went for England with a better chance of qualifying for major tournaments at the risk of being passed over for selection, or someone like Ireland safe in the knowledge they’d get plenty of international game time. Grealish played for the Irish national youth teams from the age of 14 to U21 level.

Since making that decision he must have realised the chances of getting an England call up are no smaller than an Irish one.

With only nine English players involved in the last round of Champions League fixtures it’s clear there aren’t many rivals for a cap, if you’re half-decent you’ll play for England.

Roy Hodgson may have lower number to choose from but he shouldn’t make his search for talent remove the prestige associated with an England cap.

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Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool side down to East London in the lunchtime kick-off this afternoon on the back of two wins over Sunderland and Leicester as the German looks to get things back on track.

The Reds lead today’s opponents in the league standings by a single point as both teams have suffered inconsistent spells thus far. Klopp had been suffering a rather disappointing spell until the festive period brought him two wins on the trot.

While the Hammers famously recorded a 3-0 win at Anfield earlier this season, a series of injuries have seen options limited for manager Slaven Bilic.

Both teams will be looking to kick off the New Year with a win after coming through their final games of 2015 with victories. The final game at Upton Park played between the two promises to be anything but a drab affair, as the last five games between the two at the venue have wielded 21 goals.

For statistical gems such as that and SO much more, have a read of our SEVEN facts you need to know about West Ham vs Liverpool.

HOME RUNNERS

West Ham are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home games, winning three and drawing four. In fact, they haven’t suffered disappointment at home since the loss to Bournemouth on August 22nd.

Some imperial form in the last ever season at the Boleyn Ground before the move to the Olympic Stadium.

OLD BOY BACK TO HAUNT?

Hammers striker Andy Carroll spent under two years with Liverpool following his £35m move from Newcastle, though he could never truly convince in the famous Red shirt. Lining up against his former charges today, the 26-year old England international will be looking to break his duck.

The towering Geordie will be aiming to score in consecutive games for the first time in almost a year, following his goal over Southampton.

FINE MARGINS

Though Klopp’s arrival brought an initial wave of excitement across Merseyside, the ‘heavy metal’ style of football imposed by the former Borussia Dortmund coach has not really found its feet just yet, despite the win over Man City.

In fact, the Reds have won five matches by a 1-0 scoreline so far this term, a margin only recorded more by West Bromwich Albion.

HOLDING THEIR NERVE

The home side have conceded the lowest percentage of second half goals in the entirety of the Premier League this season at just 39%.

Slaven Bilic has obviously installed an air of determination and increased concentration to go along with the obvious attacking flair shown at times this term.

TURNING TIDES

While today’s visitors traditionally had the advantage over West Ham, such a hold seems to be breaking. The Hammers have won as many Premier League games over Liverpool during their last three meetings (2) as they had done in the previous 22.

The gap is surely being closed.

LANDMARK LAD

The aforementioned Andy Carroll will be aiming to make his 150th Premier League appearances against Liverpool today, having played 44 of them during a relatively unhappy spell as a Reds player.

If he can shake off hi injuries, he can look forward to many more at just 26-years of age.

BIG MISSERS

Liverpool will be hoping to improve their miserable attacking record shown in the home loss to today’s opponents.

In that game back in early September, they were only able to muster a single shot on target.

An unprecedented first half of the season for Leicester has been remarkable, but you’ll need to be a bit more sensible with your ambitions on FM16.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are highly rated, but its not quite going to be possible to replicate the same run to the top of the table, despite a decent sized budget.

Whilst the attacking options are excellent, the Leicester squad is short in other areas and you will need a similar level of fortune and skill in avoiding injuries.

What you start with…

A budget of nearly £10million just for avoiding relegations seems very generous and should be enough to build a talented squad that can charge for the top half, thanks to the improved ratings of several players.

What’s expected…

Premier League – After the struggles of last season, the board will be happy to just see the club survive the drop again, but it could be worth promising a mid table finish to get that extra cash.

FA Cup – A run to the fifth round would be enough for the board and promising any more in the cup is foolish considering your chances of getting an unplayable draw.

Capital One Cup – Make your league season a success and the Capital One Cup will be an irrelevance to the fans and board.

Three to buy…

Jon Flanagan – The Scouse Cafu still has quality potential on FM, but it should be possible to add him to your squad for a reasonable fee – once his injury clears up. The weakness of the right-backs in the squad should mean that Flanagan walks in ahead of De Laet and Simpson, whilst the additions of Clyne and Moreno at Liverpool mean he will be keen on a move.

Riechedly Bazoer – Bazoer might not be up to starting for Leicester at the start of your save, but the defensive midfield man will be an ideal replacement for Gokhan Inler in the longer term. Bazoer can be developed into a top class centre-back or defensive midfield player and this will perfectly address the biggest weaknesses in the Leicester squad. It might take a significant chunk of your budget, but, if you ever sell the Dutchman on, you will more than make that back.

Andros Townsend – Townsend, as in the real world, finds himself surplus to requirements at Spurs. However, the England international has a game that would suit Leicester’s direct style. His crossing ability, matched with a tendency to shoot from distance and electric pace will fit right in with Mahrez, Vardy and their fellow counter-attacking machines.

Three to sell…

Dean Hammond – Hammond is not much more than a Championship player on FM and he must be moved on pretty quickly as you look to improve in central midfield. Options like Drinkwater and Inler should be your first choice, but any scenario where Hammond was required on a longer-term basis would be a concern.

Andy King – Similarly to Hammond, King doesn’t really have the attributes to play for a side like Leicester in the top flight. The revenue from his sale could get you a far better player to cover in central midfield if you are aiming for the top half.

Danny Simpson – A new right-back is worth targeting with Simpson and De Laet both very much bottom-half quality in the Premiership. Simpson still has the pace to make him a decent option for a lot of sides, but the improvements in Leicester’s squad make him a significant weakness.

Youngsters…

Jeffrey Schlupp – With an ageing squad, Schlupp is one of a few young players who can really push on to make their name in the first team. After excelling towards the end of last season, Schlupp is a useful option in the squad and can operate anywhere down the left. Schlupp’s pace will make him extremely useful in Leicester’s rapid breaking style.

Ben Chilwell – Despite a weak academy, Leicester’s Chilwell can become a high quality first team defender if he is trained and played properly. A loan might be the best move for Chilwell initially, but he can easily step up into the XI within a couple of seasons.

Liam Moore – Moore is on loan at the start of your save, but the young defender is another who will easily be up to first-team standard within a season or two. Ideally, Moore and Chilwell should be making up your defence by the team you reach the end of the 2010s. Moore was crucial in Leicester’s promotion winning campaign and his potential is still high enough to make it worth nurturing this starlet, considering he is only 22.

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As a club, Newcastle United is never far from controversy. Their last game was no different, with owner Mike Ashley offering free jackets from Sports Direct if Newcastle beat West Ham (which they did, 2-1, congrats to the new jacket owners).

However, for a team plagued by inconsistency, are they suddenly on a new Geordie Renaissance? Has Steve McClaren finally got the team performing his way?

This season Newcastle have looked like a side that don’t really know where they stand in the Premier League. For the past few seasons they have been up and down the table, and many fans want the glory days back; the days where managers like Robson and Pardew took them to Europe.

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But after looking dead and buried before December, with only three wins, they have come into January looking a better side.

McClaren has bought in Jonjo Shelvey to boss his midfield and to provide support to Wijnaldum. Wijnaldum looks to be a really great signing for Newcastle, scoring a lot of goals and carrying the team singlehandedly for many periods of this season.

Mitrovic, the striker who bought in to solve the lack of goals at the beginning of the season, ended up getting booked or sent off in his first couple of games. However, more recently he has matured and started to get amongst the goals, as well as starting to be a regular in the first team.

The defence has been performing a lot better, and they have ground out results against some of the tough teams like Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, as well as only just losing to Arsenal. Does that highlight that this team is on the up?

When you look at the table, Newcastle have pulled themselves out of the bottom three, now only four points off Chelsea. Should results continue to be positive, there is no reason why Newcastle can’t pull themselves up the table and further away from the relegation zone.

WANT MORE? >> Newcastle United transfer news | Latest transfer news

If Newcastle truly want to stay up this season, they need to beat Watford in their next game, as well as get points off West Brom, Everton and Chelsea, which is not going to be easy. They will have to buy wisely, which they have already done with Shelvey, and then get as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.

If they don’t then the drop will be staring them in the face and the task of safety will be a lot harder for Newcastle. It is becoming one of the most intense relegation battles we have had in seasons, with all teams from 10th onwards at risk of slipping up and dropping down to the Championship.

Whether Newcastle will be there come May is another matter. They have proved that they can get results, its whether they can be consistent and steer themselves away from trouble.

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