All posts by n8rngtd.top

Things are looking a lot rosier for Wolves all of a sudden.

Of course, they aren’t completely out of the woods yet, but a win over Arsenal and then a draw with Leicester demonstrated they still have what it takes to mix it with the top half of the Premier League.

Though, could their squad for the back half of the campaign been bolstered more?

What’s the word?

January wasn’t a particularly busy month for Wolves but they did welcome a new striker to the club in the shape of Willian Jose.

However, it’s been revealed that Jeff Shi and the club’s recruitment team had another forward on their radar last month.

According to Transfermarkt (via Sport Witness), Wolves approached Frankfurt in a bid to sign Portuguese striker Andre Silva.

Atletico Madrid were also pursuing Silva but had a bid rejected for his services. This link certainly makes sense given he’s a client of super-agent Jorge Mendes.

The intermediary currently has a number of Wolves’ players on his books.

Forget Jose

This would have been a seriously eye-catching move for Nuno Santo and Shi to make. They were linked with a swoop for the 25-year-old in 2019 when he was still at Milan but he has come on leaps and bound since.

In fact, he’s far more prolific than Real Sociedad loanee, Jose. So far this season Silva has found the net on 18 occasions in just 21 outings compared to Jose’s meagre haul of four strikes. It’s been a near impeccable campaign for the striker who has earned comparisons to a certain Bayern Munich forward.

After scoring against Mainz last month, Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter commented: “Andre Silva is the solo forward up top, but he does it really well. He wasn’t rewarded against Leverkusen, today he was. His composure on penalties reminds me of Robert Lewandowski, who always turns ice cold.”

Silva has gone from an erratic striker to one that shows remarkable composure in front of goal. Though, that’s not the sole reason Wolves should have signed him over Jose.

He’s confident in the penalty area, but most importantly has similarities to Raul Jimenez. Silva revealed what he brings to the Frankfurt attack last year: “My job at the moment, like a striker, is to score goals, to gain the ball in the air and to protect the ball in the front, so my teammates come more forward. So, I think it’s my job. But the most important in the final is the three points or the winning.”

Jimenez does a wonderful job of protecting the ball and you only need to look at Silva’s stats this term to realise what he could have offered to the Old Gold.

He has won 2.4 aerial duels per game which outmuscles Jimenez by 0.9. It’s a tally that also betters Jose’s in 2020/21 who has only prevailed in one aerial duel a match.

Hailed an “entertainer” for his performances this term, Molineux would surely have been a better place with Silva leading the line.

Depending on the cost, this would have been the perfect striker for Wolves in January. Let’s hope they don’t live to regret their decision.

AND in other news, Forget Aaron Ramsey: Nuno could unleash “special” rarely-seen Wolves gem instead…

According to The Mirror, Arsenal are considering a surprise move for Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt in the January transfer window.

What’s the word?

Van Aanholt, 30, is out-of-contract at Selhurst Park at the end of this season as talks over a new deal have reportedly broken down between the club and his representatives, meaning the Dutchman will be free to leave south London for nothing in the summer when his current deal expires.

It’s claimed Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a new left-back to provide competition and cover for regular starter Kieran Tierney.

However, despite his somewhat questionable form, Steve Parish simply cannot afford to let the £7m-rated ace leave right now due to a lack of options on the left-hand side of the defence.

Parish must avoid at all costs

Should the Palace chairman choose to sell him, Roy Hodgson’s first port of call would be Tyrick Mitchell, who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Selhurst Park this season. However, at 21, he is still relatively inexperienced at this level and as such, cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of responsibility alone.

In terms of statistics, there isn’t too much to choose from between the two, with Mitchell averaging a slightly higher WhoScored match rating of 6.58 to Van Aanholt’s 6.52 this season.

In fact, the veteran is currently averaging more interceptions (1.4) than the academy graduate, which suggests that he boasts a greater understanding of positional awareness.

Van Aanholt, who began his career at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, has made 202 Premier League appearances but Parish may opt to sell him right now rather than lose him for free in the summer.

However, Parish’s relative inactivity in the last transfer market has left him with little choice. Perhaps he should have considered finding a backup for Mitchell beforehand and not have focused so heavily on signing the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Nathan Ferguson instead.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace can’t afford to lose Christian Benteke amid West Brom interest…

After being called into the starting line up against Everton just minutes before kick-off, after usual number one choice Lukasz Fabianski had suffered an injury in the warm-up, stand-in shot-stopper Darren Randolph has opened up over his first Premier League appearance of the season (West Ham United). 

Randolph, who put in a solid display as West Ham snatched a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park, with Tomas Soucek clinching a late winner for the Irons, was inserted at the very last second as David Moyes called upon the barely-seen ace when Fabianski was injured warming up.

Despite his lack of match action, Randolph looked assured with little sign of rustiness – explaining to the club’s official website that he was ready to answer when he was surprisingly called upon.

Brought in as a reinforcement last season from Middlesbrough, re-signing for the Hammers in a £4 million deal, many supporters have hailed the ‘very smart signing’ after his showing against Everton.

Flocking to his message, here’s what Irons had to say.

West Ham fans praise Randolph

“Fantastic keeper. If we’d have never let him go, last season would have gone very very differently.”

Credit: @LocksmithDuude

“Very smart signing”

Credit: @StephenTJourno

“You did a great job mate”

Credit: @SESmotorsport

“Loved seeing him in goal again.”

Credit: @JOSHLOVESAYS

“Love this guy. A reliable back up who never complains”

Credit: @mattggibbons

“Darren Randolph is a more than abled understudy to Fabianski- would be number one choice at majority of other teams in the league. Seems to be the model professional – never complains about game time and when called upon very rarely lets West Ham down. Solid clean sheet yesterday.”

Credit: @WestHamJoshV

In other news: West Ham fans want GSB to swoop for this ‘class signing’, find out more here.

Sunderland return to League One action this afternoon as new boss Lee Johnson searches to pick up his first points in charge of the north-east giants.

The Black Cats head south to face Lincoln City at Sincil Bank for the 3 pm kickoff.

Last time out, Johnson’s side picked up a 2-1 victory in the EFL Trophy but in his first match in charge, Sunderland were defeated 1-0 by Wigan Athletic at the Stadium of Light.

They need to get back on track if they are to stand a chance of finally gaining promotion from the third tier with the former Premier League club sitting ten points off the league leaders.

Here’s how the XI could look later today…

There could be as many as three changes from Tuesday night.

Starting in goal should be first-choice veteran Lee Burge after young academy goalkeeper Anthony Patterson took the reins at Oldham.

Wolves loanee Dion Sanderson was supposed to also start that match but was pulled from the line-up early after Johnson was informed that he was cup-tied, so we may get a look at the 20-year-old gem this time around, especially after Conor McLaughlin’s disappointing display.

He’ll join Bailey Wright, Tom Flanagan and Callum McFadzean in a back four.

A midfield trio containing Grant Leadbitter, Josh Scowen and Max Power is likely to continue as Johnson’s go-to engine room.

Likewise out wide, we expect to see Aiden McGeady return to the starting XI with in-form goalscorer Chris Maguire on the other flank.

However, Black Cats striker Will Grigg may be dropped having failed to impress in the past week, so the returning Charlie Wyke is given a start at last.

The impressive Jack Diamond could feature from the bench, as could Elliott Embleton, though this match could come too early for Lynden Gooch and Jordan Willis, as per reports from the Chronicle.

AND in other news, Sunderland must offer 21 y/o “standout” new deal or risk Maja 2.0…

Arsenal could find their next Santi Cazorla in Barcelona starlet Riqui Puig.

What’s the story?

The Gunners have endured a difficult start to the new Premier League season, sitting in the bottom-half of the table and struggling to score goals. And it now appears Mikel Arteta’s side are keen on making some reinforcements in the January transfer window.

The Athletic revealed: “Given the difficulty of buying in January, it may be that Arsenal need to scour the market for opportunities. There is one such potential case in Barcelona. Before the dismantling of their international scouting network, Arsenal had watched Barcelona’s young attacking midfielder Riqui Puig on several occasions.

“Puig’s recent fallout with head coach Ronald Koeman means he is likely to be available for transfer next month, with talk of interest from Leeds United. Technically, the Spaniard fits the profile of midfielder Arsenal require.”

Imagine him and Thomas Partey

Ever since Cazorla left the club, Arsenal have struggled to find someone even near to the little Spanish magician. But in Puig, the Gunners could find exactly that.

The £18m-rated ace has already earned rave reviews for his performances, with former Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso even going so far as to describing him as “spectacular” after his side played Barcelona.

And in a profile done by The Athletic back in December 2018, it said: “Puig plays on that weird tightrope like Iniesta, even as we should shun any and all comparisons. When he has the ball, he moves, makes the ball move as though they both have somewhere to go: Forward. Puig rarely plays a pass that isn’t forward.

“People talk about Arthur, a wonderful addition to the first team who, more than any other transfer, has shown up equipped to play Barça football. But he doesn’t have what Puig has, even as he is older and more accomplished. Few players do and you can’t teach it, even as you can teach proper play.”

In a midfield partnership of Puig and Partey, Arsenal could find the perfect blend of power and guile, and really set them up for the future.

Celtic’s pursuit of ten Scottish Premiership titles in a row is going disastrously.

They got to nine with a canter, fighting off the competition in unrelenting fashion as they made a mockery of their rivals Rangers.

However, in 2020/21, it is the Gers who are doing the mocking.

At the time of writing, Celtic sit a colossal 11 points behind their old nemesis and are in danger of losing their grip on the league crown for the first time in a decade.

It’s refreshing to witness a changing of the guard but how on earth do the Hoops get themselves out of this mess?

Well, the man with the keys to success or failure is Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s CEO.

It’s thought that after the Bhoys’ 2-2 draw with Hibernian that Neil Lennon’s job is still safe at Parkhead but if results continue as they are, it surely won’t be long before Lawwell pulls the trigger and moves for a new manager.

One figure who could replace Lennon is a certain Eddie Howe. Previously touted as a coach to go on and take charge of England, he is now without a job after quitting Bournemouth following their relegation from the Premier League.

A perfectly reasonable option for the Hoops, he could help banish Celtic’s current nightmares on the training ground.

Earlier this week, a shocking revelation came to light from pundit Simon Fry: “I know they still do Brendan Rodgers training, which worries me. If you’re the manager you can’t be doing someone else’s thing you need to do what you want to do.”

Now, we know that Lennon is more of a man-manager than he is a coach, but this is why Howe would be absolutely perfect for Celtic. He is a hard-working trainer and puts in considerable hours on the training ground.

He is the definition of a tracksuit manager, leading his own sessions and staying behind after hours.

Former Bournemouth man Brett Pitman previously said: “It wouldn’t just be ‘do you want to do a session’ and a coach would be there. He [Howe] would be the one taking it, with all his staff – that is special. People might think that is a norm in football but it really isn’t. It is what makes him different.”

Already we can see the stark differences between Howe and Lennon – it really is night and day.

Simon Francis, another of Howe’s ex-players once noted: “He is meticulous. He does not leave any stone unturned. And he instils that work ethic into the players. Because you know that he is buying into it. Not turning up late, not strolling out onto the training pitch late, he is always the first. You can never question anything he does.”

Despite the numerous titles Lennon has brought to Celtic since Brendan Rodgers departed, it’s clear that everything is not quite right at Lennoxtown. This season proves that they’re still living off the Leicester boss’ past glories and methods – that really isn’t good enough for a manager as experienced as the one Celtic currently have.

Perhaps with fresh ideas and a different approach their fortunes will improve. Lawwell must pursue Howe.

Meanwhile, here’s how Celtic can FINALLY replace Scott Sinclair… 

Liverpool will be looking to build on their win over Ajax in the Champions League by restoring their form against Sheffield United. The Reds will play host to Chris Wilder’s side who are desperate to claw their way out of the relegation zone. Jurgen Klopp will be equally eager to get three points on the board, so a tense affair could be on the cards.

After Aston Villa’s loss to Leeds, Everton look clear at the top of the Premier League table, something that will be a dismal sight for Liverpool fans. Catching up to their rivals will be a big target for the Reds right now.

Football FanCast has predicted how Klopp might set up to vie for a win over the Blades…

Whilst the news of Virgil van Dijk’s injury will have many fearing the worst, Klopp has potentially dropped a huge boost regarding first choice goalkeeper Alisson. Speaking to the club’s website, the manager refused to rule out any players who were attending training, which could suggest the Brazilian is ready to make his long-awaited comeback.

After an impressive performance against Ajax, Fabinho has shown he is confident in defence. Sheffield will have hoped van Dijk’s absence would mean an easy result but this could be Liverpool’s match to get themselves back into winning ways, thanks to a makeshift yet strong defence.

After making a cameo appearance, it could be time to see Jordan Henderson return to the action for his side. The Reds have missed the captain’s influence and he could be crucial against a side like Wilder’s. Without the leadership of van Dijk, Liverpool will need Henderson giving directions and keeping everything running smoothly from the middle of the park.

The only other predicted change that could be on Klopp’s mind is to bring Takumi Minamino in. His new found central position could bring a whole new dynamic to Liverpool’s attack and he could be a danger when slotting in just behind Roberto Firmino. It could finally be time for the £9m-rated signing to show what he’s really made of.

In other news, Liverpool may have identified a cut-price replacement for Virgil van Dijk…

According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, West Ham have had a look at Swansea’s Joe Rodon as they look to sign a new central defender in this transfer window.

What’s the word?

Reports in recent weeks have linked the Hammers with a big-money move for Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski, but so far, the offers for the England international have failed to be accepted, with Sean Dyche’s side holding out for an estimated £50m.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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Now, Steinberg has revealed potential transfer alternatives for West Ham, with the 6 foot 4 Rodon mentioned as a possible signing.

Steinberg suggests that the defender has been looked at by the Hammers, but that he too would also be very expensive for them.

Shades of Rio Ferdinand

Ever since Rio Ferdinand came through as a youngster at West Ham, the Hammers haven’t really seen too many strong, ball-playing centre-backs in their team.

In Rodon, who’s just 22, Moyes could get someone who can marshal the back-line for the next decade or so, if things go well. Journalist Dominic Booth, who used to cover Swansea for the South Wales Evening Post, declared: “He brings the ball out from the back, he’s comfortable with it at his feet. Rodon was part of the Swansea U23 side who won the Premier League cup in 2017, alongside the likes of Oli McBurnie and Dan James – it’s been a good crop from the club’s academy to break through.

“Rodon is a leader given his age, a bit of an old head on young shoulders. He’s good in the air despite not being a huge presence, and looks destined for bigger things.”

For a 22-year-old to be described as a “leader” says everything about the nature of the Wales international’s character, and it’s that kind of personality the Hammers could do with in these testing times, both on and off the pitch.

Whilst Tarkowski may have been the man in their sights for the previous few weeks, West Ham could find a gem in someone much younger and with more room to grow. In a time where Moyes needs players to stand up and be counted, Rodon looks like he has the perfect mentality to do just that.

Liverpool have done a U-turn on their decision to offload Xherdan Shaqiri this transfer window, according to David Lynch.

The report claims that unless a surprise bid is tabled for the Swiss international’s services, he will remain with the club for this season. A very wise decision for Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp, given they will likely still be reeling from their 7-2 mauling on Sunday.

A deadline day change of heart

Despite making just 11 appearances across all competitions last season, Shaqiri proved he is capable of delivering the goods when called upon. He got himself on the scoresheet in Liverpool’s thrilling 5-2 win over Everton back in December and popped up with a goal in the Carabao Cup this campaign as though he’d never been away (via Transfermarkt). Pep Lijnders lauded his performance and said he was “superb” during a cup post-match conference.

The Reds have already been ruthless with their outgoings by cashing in on could-have-been heir to Roberto Firmino, Rhian Brewster. Harry Wilson is also linked to a move away from Anfield after failing to break into the senior team full-time.

With Sadio Mane out due to illness, selling Shaqiri would have left Liverpool with a skeleton crew up front. One major injury to either of their star wingers, and the reigning league champions would be in serious trouble. Luckily for the the Swiss man, Klopp realised how much the Reds missed Mane during their Aston Villa defeat and can’t risk shredding his options up front. To be in with a chance of securing back-to-back titles, depth is absolutely key for the current holders.

In other news, Liverpool must move to sign Paulo Gazzaniga to end Adrian woes…

We all love football kits. There’s something about seeing a certain jersey from a time forgot, and the instant nostalgia it brings along with it – resurfacing memories of the beautiful game that had been pushed to the recesses of your memory to one day be unearthed once more.

During the 1990s, the Italian league was regarded as the best in the world, showcasing the best teams with the best players, and a style of football unknown to the people of England. Channel 4’s broadcasting of Football Italia brought a newfound fandom for Italian clubs from the people of the United Kingdom, seeing the Catenaccio system full flow and in all of its beauty – along with some of the most iconic and eye-catching kits known to man.

When looking back at the Italian kits of this era, you can see the inspiration that they provide even now, and it can be hard to choose your favourites from that time, with so many incredible examples to choose from.

With that being said, here we are going to have a look at some of the best kits from the ’90s in the Serie A, in no particular order of course – given that would be an impossible task to perform. So, without further ado, here are some of the best Serie A kits of the 1990s…

Parma A.C. Home, 1995-97

This was a great one from Parma back in 1995, the club wore this kit until the end of the 1996/97 season. The first campaign with it the club managed their highest ever finish in the Serie A, coming second place and just one point behind Champions Juventus. It was also Carlo Ancelotti’s first season managing the club, and what a great kit it was to do it in.

The manufacturer’s Puma really went for it with this one, and the patterning on the sleeves along with a great sponsor is what sells this one for me – whenever someone says Parma you instantly think of the Parmalat sponsor, as well as the iconic white, yellow, and blue colour pallet. All in all, this was a lovely kit, it’s just a shame Stoichkov couldn’t score more goals in it.

Inter Milan Home, 1992-94

A stand out of the 90s era for kits, not just in Italy but worldwide. The Inter Milan home kit that debuted in 1992, is an absolute masterpiece – the standout feature being the iridescent INTER that you can see faintly across the iconic blue and black stripes.

The gold badge and logo are also a standout feature, as well as a fantastic sponsor in Fiorucci – the collar and button are another nice touches, along with the gold INTER also stitched alongside the button on the said collar. This season saw the club win the UEFA Cup against Casino Salzburg, beating the Austrian club 2-0 on aggregate.

SSC Napoli Home, 1989-90

This iconic Napoli kit was made famous for the man wearing it, Diego Maradona. The 1989-90 season saw the club win their second-ever league title – thanks to the attacking talent of Maradona and Gianfranco Zola, finishing the season on 51 points, two above second-place Milan.

This season saw the Argentinian forward score 16 goals in the league for Napoli, captaining the team to a historic title win. The best thing about this kit is the simplicity – the all-over blue with a fantastic ‘Mars” sponsor, but the collar is one of the standouts, it is simple yet effective, and another key aspect was the choice by the manufacturer Ennerre to swap their logo and the club badge around.

Usually, the club badge is placed on the left side of the kit and the manufacturer logo on the right – another aspect that made this kit unique and different despite the simplicity.

AS Roma Home, 1990-91

Another simple yet effective kit from the Italian manufacturer Ennerre – the AS Roma home kit of 1990-91 was an absolute stunner. Roma home strips have always been recognisable thanks to the deep and rich carmine red along with the subtle golden yellow that is iconic to the club, and this kit was no different.

The club won the Coppa Italia that season with a 4-1 victory over Sampdoria – with most notably Rudi Völler upfront for I Giallorossi, with this fantastic kit showcased along with it. The Barilla sponsor is a classic for Roma and something that many associates with the club – the short sleeve take on the kit is my personal favourite, and the golden yellow pop up collar is something that makes this kit a real classic.

Fiorentina A.C.F. Home, 1998-99

The infamous Batigoal in action for Fiorentina, sporting quite possibly one of the best kits the club has ever had the pleasure of wearing. Fiorentina has a great history with their iconic purple home kit – and the 1998-99 strip followed suit.

The fantastic Nintendo sponsor stands out the most, along with the glistening purple and the white panel detail on the top of the sleeves. The club finished third in the Serie A that season, with Batistuta finishing the campaign on 22 goals and was named the Argentine Player of the Year in the league, as well as finishing 3rd for the World Player of the Year award. An iconic shirt, worn by an iconic player.

Juventus Home, 1992-94

It wouldn’t be an article on the 90s Serie A kits without the inclusion of the Old Lady. This simple yet classic strip was used for the 1992-94 season and is sportingly shown off here by Del Boy in 1993 after joining from Calcio Padova.

The classic black and white stripe are synonymous with the club, but the use of just the two gold stars for the club badge is what made this one a classic, along with the simple green Kappa logo rather than the classic Kappa sleeves that you often see on the manufacturer’s kits over time.

The Danone sponsor is another aspect that sticks to mind as it fits along with the aesthetic of the kit. The club finished 4th in the Serie A during their first season in this kit but saved their season by winning the now Europa League, beating German club Borussia Dortmund 6-1 on aggregate. Roberto Baggio finished the season as the top goalscorer for the club, with 21 goals, despite being played as a trequartista.

U.C. Sampdoria Home, 1990-91

The classic kit was worn by the club during their first and only title-winning season guided by Serbian manager Vujadin Boškov – along with Gianluca Vialli becoming the club’s top goalscorer that season in the league with 19 goals.

The kit was not much different from the season before, with Asics taking over as manufacturer, and placing the iconic ERG sponsor big and bold above the club badge and the iconic white, red, and black stripes that ran around the kit – along with the Italy badge on the top left shoulder.

The kit features a wide v neck collar, a very Italian stylistic approach, along with the lovely shiny bright blue base colour of the kit – overall a timeless classic that Sampdoria has become remembered for. The kit was worn by the iconic Vialli, Mancini, Lombardo, Pagliuca, and Vierchowod during the season that went down in Samp history.

A.C. Milan Home, 1991-92

The 1991-92 season was Fabio Capello’s first in charge of Milan, and the club finished 1st in the Serie A after an incredible unbeaten season that saw start striker Marco van Basten avoid injury to finish the season as the club’s top goalscorer with 25 goals in the league and 29 in all competitions.

The form of the team was no surprise, with defenders such as Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Alessandro Costacurta and midfielder such as Carlo Ancelotti, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard – all of which ran the Serie A that season in this iconic Milan kit.

The classic red and black stripe is simple enough, but along with the classic Adidas badge and great sponsor – as well as the gold star badge and Champions League trophy underneath for European competitions, the kit has became an instant classic, and one of the clubs best in history.