[ad_pod ]

Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has told the Roker Rapport podcast that captain George Honeyman is on course to trigger a one-year extension clause in his contract, and Black Cats fans should be delighted.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 24-year-old midfielder has become a really key player for the Wearside outfit this term as they look to make an instant return to the Championship – so much so that he was handed the armband by manager Jack Ross.

He has repaid the faith shown in him by the Scot with two goals – including one in the 3-0 success against Southend United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday – and two assists in 14 League One appearances from the middle of the park to help the club to third in the standings.

Despite his success his current deal actually runs out at the end of the current campaign, but Donald has confirmed that he is on course to trigger a one-year extension to ensure that he will be with them whichever division they find themselves in next season.

Speaking to the Roker Rapport podcast, Donald said: “George Honeyman, if he plays an X amount of games gets an extra year, so I think George is here for next year anyway.”

Will Sunderland fans be happy?

They certainly will be.

While he struggled to make an impact for them as a youngster when the club was in the Premier League, he has become an influential figure on and off the pitch and a real fans’ favourite over the course of the past 12 months or so.

To take the armband off of the experienced Lee Cattermole is certainly no mean feat, but it shows the trust that Ross has in him and supporters won’t want to lose a player that clearly cares about the club anytime soon given their recent history.

If he and the team continue to play as well as they have in the first few months of this season for the remainder of the campaign, he will likely lead the Black Cats back to the Championship in 2019 anyway.

Declan Rice has been one of the most talked about individuals in the Premier League this season due to a lack of clarity regarding his future at both club and international level. 

The West Ham youth product’s refusal to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Hammers is giving the supporters plenty of cause for concern about where his future lies, but speculation regarding his international future has become the most intriguing sub-plot in his fledgling career.

And a recent report from the Daily Star suggests that a decision is looming on the horizon, with Rice set to pledge his international future to the England national team.

It’s a decision which Gareth Southgate and the rest of the established England setup will be delighted with after witnessing Rice’s hugely encouraging development in the past twelve months, and it’s fair to say they have high hopes for him if the report is anything to go by.

The report claims that Rice was invited to St George’s Park earlier this month where he ‘was presented with a wide range of statistical data showing him how he could fit into the England set-up.’

Considering how well Rice has been operating in a holding midfield role so far this season, it’s more than likely that Southgate is planning on utilising his quality in place of Eric Dier when the Tottenham man is absent through injury or suspension.

The report also details Southgate’s enthusiasm to have Rice on board and his vision for the Three Lions’ future as further motivating factors behind his decision.

There is nothing concrete or official to substantiate these claims at this moment in time, but the emergence of a feel good factor around the English national side and the extra touches from Southgate suggest that it’s only a matter of time before Rice confirms the suspicions of the British media.

If that does indeed prove to be the case, it will represent another fine piece of management from Southgate as he continues to transform the landscape of English international football.

West Ham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Manchester City thumped Southampton 6-1 at the Etihad Stadium to move back to the summit of the Premier League table.

City were handed the lead after just six minutes when Wesley Hoedt turned the ball into his own net before Sergio Aguero, and David Silva made it three before the 20-minute mark. Danny Ings converted a penalty after being fouled by Ederson, but City’s dominance continued after the interval. A brace from Raheem Sterling along with an injury time goal from Leroy Sane ensured City leapfrogged Liverpool in the standings.

The Citizens look dominant once again under Guardiola, and the win against the Saints was the 12th time under the Spaniard’s leadership that City have scored five or more goals. The former Barcelona manager has also managed to bring the best out of Sterling who is starting to look like a world-class winger under his guidance. Despite their form, reports suggest Guardiola still wants to sign a long-term replacement for Fernandinho in midfield.

One man he could target is Celta Vigo dynamo – Stanislav Lobotka. Valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old has developed into a crucial player for the club since joining from Nordsjaelland last summer for just £4.5m. Lobotka made 38 appearances in La Liga last season as Celta proved to be the surprise package in Spain.

The Slovakian has made ten appearances so far this season, and his impressive performances have continued. He excels in a box-to-box role making him perfect for Guardiola’s system on Eastlands and would have no trouble fitting into his passing system; Lobotka has completed 89% of his passes so far this season. His tenaciousness and grit would add real steel to the City engine room and add another rotation option should Fernandinho be sidelined.

The Slovakia international remains a raw talent but could develop into a top midfielder under Guardiola’s guidance.

Manchester City fans, thoughts?

[ad_pod ]

Italian outlet Sport Mediaset recently reported that Manchester United are amongst the clubs that could sign unsettled Juventus defender Medhi Benatia in January.

The 31-year-old is apparently frustrated with his current lack of game time in Turin and may well opt to force an exit from the Allianz Stadium during the upcoming winter window.

Check out Playmaker FC’s Tom Skinner’s unfiltered take on Wayne Rooney’s England legacy in the video above…

Despite his lack of regular football for the Old Lady, the 55-cap Morocco international remains a top class player with bags of elite level experience, which includes winning titles in Italy with his current club and in Germany with Bayern Munich.

However, whilst Jose Mourinho certainly needs to improve the Red Devils’ defensive contingent, 6ft 2in colossus Benatia is not the ideal target to bring to Old Trafford.

United need a long-term solution to their defensive woes, whereas Benatia would merely represent a stop-gap, and on his own may not be enough to improve the Premier League club’s fortunes at the back.

Plenty of United fans agree that signing the 6’2” centre-back in January is not the way to go, with 58% of those who voted in our poll opposed to a pursuit of Benatia. See the full results below.

Arsenal should abolish their interest in out of sorts Barcelona player Denis Suarez and rather shift their focus to a more compatible and experienced midfielder to take over from Aaron Ramsey next season.

The Gunners are actively searching for a replacement for the Welshman who is set to leave the Emirates after a decade, following a stall in negotiations between him and the club, which means he will exit on a free transfer in May.

But it also appears as if the North London club are determined to find a replacement in January already to ease into Unai Emery’s structure’s before Ramsey officially leaves.

According to El Mundo Deportivo, as cited by Talk Sport, are Barcelona keen on getting rid of Suarez who has fallen down the midfield pecking order. With only one appearance to his name so far this season, and that in the Copa Del Rey first league, they will certainly be open to letting him go in the upcoming transfer market.

Arsenal however, should be wary of this idea and consider the fact that he has barely any game-time under his belt, while they are looking for someone who can be an important squad player in the latter part of the season.

The significance of using the 24-year-old Suarez in possible FA Cup matches or maybe the odd Europa League game could become a risk as the club might be under a lot of pressure at that stage of the season to progress to a next round or get positive results.

If Arsenal were to make a smaller midfield signing in January, then they should at least go for someone who has had a lot of game-time under his belt this season and hasn’t fallen out of favour with a manager.

According to a recent report from The Liverpool Echo, Ben Woodburn could be set for a move away come the New Year. The 19-year-old has been playing his football at Championship side Sheffield United in the first half of the season on loan from parent club Liverpool, yet a lack of regular football under Chris Wilder has opened up the possibility that the Welshman could be recalled in January.

And with reports suggesting that the Reds may do just that and thus look for a better destination for the £4.5 million-rated sensation (as per Transfermarkt) in the New Year, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers must seek to register his interest in a bid to strengthen his team’s chances of winning an eighth straight Scottish Premiership title.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, Rodgers’ men have completely dominated Scottish football in the last few years in winning each of the last six domestic trophies, and they’ll go for number seven when they face Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup final this weekend.

However, they haven’t had it all their own way so far this term given they are just two points clear of second place Rangers, and as such it’s clear that the Bhoys face a battle to record an eighth title in a row.

And having scored five goals fewer than Steven Gerrard’s Gers, it’s arguable that further reinforcements are needed in the attacking third of the pitch to fend off their Old Firm rivals, with Liverpool’s Woodburn one man who should be on Rodgers’ January wishlist.

The 19-year-old has shot to prominence in recent years but has seriously struggled for regular football under Blades boss Wilder this term, appearing just seven times in the Championship for Sheffield United, of which only one has been a start.

And in failing to make seven of their last nine matchday squads, his loan spell at Bramall Lane is not doing him any good at all – and that is why a recall in January is without doubt in the 19-year-old’s best interests.

Yet one mustn’t forget the level of talent and potential Woodburn has shown so far in his career, be it netting for Liverpool on only his second senior appearance against Leeds United back in 2016, or indeed firing home an unstoppable strike on his senior Wales debut to help them to a 1-0 win over Austria back in September 2017.

Thus, there is clearly a very adept forward in Woodburn just waiting to produce the goods, and under ex-Liverpool chief Rodgers, who is renowned for giving young players a chance in the first team, the Wales star could seriously flourish north of the border.

And with attacking reinforcements possibly the order of the day come January, adding the supremely talented youngster would certainly help Celtic’s pursuit of an eighth straight league crown.

Celtic fans… what do you think? Let us know!

[ad_pod ]

Arthur Masuaku was the target of plenty of criticism during West Ham United’s defeat to Manchester City.

The 25-year-old started the match at the London Stadium, but was withdrawn at half-time and replaced with Aaron Cresswell.

It was a horror first half for the left-back as the team conceded three goals in the first 34 minutes, but it did not get much better as Leroy Sane nabbed City’s fourth before the full-time whistle blew.

After the clash, Manuel Pellegrini’s players were understandably frustrated, but Masuaku let his emotions boil over on Instagram.

A West Ham fan posted a screenshot of an exchange on the social media site between the Frenchman and a disgruntled fan.

Masuaku responded with anger after a fellow Instagram user described him as a “useless left-back”.

Check out the video below to see Playmaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…

The footballer suggested that playing in that position is not favourable to him, and that he is better placed elsewhere on the pitch, presumably as a winger.

Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor from r/Hammers

Unsurprisingly, some West Ham fans had a few things to say about Masuaku’s comment.

Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.Comment from discussion Safe to say Arthur knows he’s been poor.

[ad_pod ]

Marcus Browne is certainly making a positive impression on loan at Oxford United this season.

The 20-year-old has scored six times in 19 appearances for the League One outfit, including a brace against Rochdale earlier this week.

Browne belongs to West Ham United, coming through the youth system with the Hammers before making his first-team debut in August 2016.

The attacker has not been seen in a West Ham shirt since, but seems to be getting some valuable first-team action at Oxford.

Former Hammers defender Rio Ferdinand recently drew attention to Browne’s form.

And now the West Ham fans have been on social media commenting on the youngster.

The Hammers do not exactly have loads of options in the final third at the moment, and a number of the club’s supporters have called on head coach Manuel Pellegrini to bring Browne back to the London Stadium.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Playmaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

Burnley moved out of the Premier League relegation zone following a hard-fought victory against Brighton at the weekend.

The Clarets sat in the drop zone without a win in eight games prior to their meeting with the Seagulls. In an uneventful encounter, the deadlock was eventually broken by James Tarkowski who deflected home Jack Cork’s cross with his chest. Some resolute defending allowed Burnley to hold on for a valuable three points at Turf Moor.

Burnley were much improved against Chris Houghton’s men, controlling possession but failed to find their edge in the final third. Goals have been hard to come by for the Lancashire side this season, and Sean Dyche should be targeting a playmaker in the upcoming January transfer window to improve their form in front of goal.

One man who should be on his shortlist is Dijon star – Naim Sliti. Valued at £6.3m by Transfermarkt, the playmaker joined the club last summer on loan from Lille and was hugely impressive in his debut campaign. Sliti ended the season with seven goals and six assists in Ligue 1, and his showings prompted Dijon to make a move permanent for just under £2m.

The 26-year-old’s form has continued into the new campaign, registering three assists for his team-mates already. Sliti has also impressed on the international stage for Tunisia, scoring three goals in just four appearances in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers. His creativity and eye for goal could help Burnley steer away from danger in the New Year.

Sliti operates just behind the striker but is also comfortable on either wing, making him a useful option for Dyche to have at his disposal. The Tunisian has the vision to carve open Premier League defences, averaging 2.6 key passes per game this season. The playmaker also loves to beat a man himself using his expert dribbling skills – completing 2.5 successful dribbles this season (WhoScored).

Luring the former Paris FC man to Turf Moor could prove to be an astute piece of business.

Burnley fans, thoughts?

[ad_pod ]

Rolando Aarons is heading back to Newcastle United following a loan spell at Czech side Slovan Liberec.

Aarons joined Slovan Liberec on loan from Newcastle in September, and has made 13 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The 23-year-old has played the final game of his loan spell, however, with the winter break in the Czech Republic now kicking in.

The winger has only played five times for Newcastle since the end of the 2016-17 season, but will be hoping to feature for the Magpies in the second half of this term.

There is no question that the former England Under-20 international has a lot of talent, but it remains to be seen whether he is in the plans of Magpies boss Rafael Benitez in the second half of the 2018-19 campaign.

We recently asked the Newcastle fans whether they wanted to see Aarons handed a chance to impress with the Magpies upon his return to the club.

And 60% of those polled revealed that they wanted to see Aarons given the opportunity to feature.

The results of the poll can be seen below: