Leicester City defender Harry Maguire impressed and scored his side’s last-gasp equaliser in their 2-2 draw against Manchester United at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, and Liverpool fans have urged their club to buy the centre-back, potentially instead of long-term target Virgil van Dijk.The Foxes signed the 24-year-old in a £17m deal from relegated Hull City in June, and he has quickly established himself as a key player in their team, and is currently one of the standout centre-halves in the Premier League.His side-footed finish in injury-time was certainly impressive, but he has also shown on many occasions that he is able to bring the ball out from the back and create attacks for his side, as well as being solid defensively.Liverpool players were quick to have their say on his latest display via social media, and while one said “need to sign Harry Maguire”, another said ‘we should leave Van Dijk, sign Maguire and save £40m’.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
It’s an annual pastime for football fans around the world to pick holes in UEFA’s Team of the Year but I don’t think there has ever been such a glaring omission in what is known as Europe’s best XI players – where on earth was Harry Kane?
Kane ended 2017 as Europe’s highest scoring player with 56 goals, but his name was nowhere to be seen as UEFA continued to champion Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the continent’s best attackers.
What UEFA are ignoring in Tottenham’s Harry Kane isn’t just his outstanding ability to do his job, but the fact that he is one of the last remaining footballers out there who can genuinely help change the sport for the better.
As football clubs benefit from mega TV deals and lucrative multi-year sponsorship contracts, the elite have been able to spend hundreds of millions on new players without even thinking twice. That means, as the biggest clubs in Europe go in search of world domination, youth are being ignored and their potential is being stunted.
It’s narrow-minded and unfair to ignore the future of a very talented teenager eager for his chance to impress and instead spend over £100m on someone else’s youngster. Where’s the value in that? Where’s the pride?
Harry Kane’s rise from unknown striker with a number of underwhelming loan spells at Millwall and Norwich to Europe’s top marksman has been a breath of fresh air and sets a precedent for other clubs to follow.
He’s proof that if you’re willing to hand young players opportunities and stick by them as they learn from their mistakes and continue to develop, there is much more value to be had than just going out and spending your way to success.
Of course, not every young striker in the world will go on to achieve what Kane has by the time he’s 24 years old, but there’s a real chance we’d be hailing many more of his ilk if clubs took a step back and turned to those closer to home. If that happens then the game would return to a more level playing field as football’s elite clubs think twice before trying to buy their way to glory.
Kane’s brace against Everton at the weekend took him to the top of Spurs’ all-time Premier League scoring charts and he’s now just two goals from joining the 100 club – another reminder that he’s still only 24. If he continues at the rate he is, he’ll be breaking Alan Shearer’s in just 6.1 seasons.
You don’t need me to tell you that Harry Kane is a world class striker, we all know that, but what if I told you he was up there as one of the most lethal in the history of the game? Too early? Perhaps, but if you consider the fact that his 98 Premier League goals have come from just 61 games in which he’s actually found the net, then it’s no wonder people are claiming him to be the best striker we’ve seen in a generation.
What’s more, he isn’t a mercenary. He’s clearly not in this for the money – he’s in it for the personal accolades and club honours. He’s a rare breed and one that should be celebrated.
The breakdown of Kane’s Premier League goal tally is breathtaking, so keep an eye out for a video we’ve got prepped for when he does finally hit his 100th Premier League goal – we’ll have everything you need to know about his outstanding goal record.
Why are we letting Alexis Sanchez off lightly?
The Arsenal attacker is expected to leave for Man United or Chelsea before January is up after refusing to sign a new contract and essentially forcing the Gunners in to selling him now.
This is not a unique situation, particularly where Arsenal are concerned (that’s another argument for another column) but at what point do we start questioning Sanchez’s morals here?
Everyone keeps pointing to the fact Arsenal should never have allowed it to get this far in the first place and that’s a fair point to make, but doesn’t Sanchez at least owe it to the club to stick around until the summer and help them achieve their ambitions of a top four finish?
He is the epitome of a the modern day footballer – clearly only in it for the money and not for the badge on the front of the shirt. Arsenal fans should be pleased to see the back of him.
If the game had more players like Harry Kane, football would be saved from the likes of Sanchez.
Have Stoke appointed a saviour?
Probably not, but I urge Stoke fans to reserve judgement on Paul Lambert for now. I’m a West Ham fan and was absolutely livid when David Moyes was named Slaven Bilic’s replacement – I was convinced we’d be relegated.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Fast forward a couple of months and I’m warming to the idea of him being handed an extended deal when his current six month contract expires in the summer. Moyes has revitalised the Hammers and a number of players who didn’t look interested before he arrived, and I see no reason why Lambert can’t do the same.
After all, like Moyes, the former Norwich boss has a lot to prove following disappointing spells at Aston Villa, Blackburn and Wolves.
Contrary to popular belief, Peter Coates isn’t waving a white flag with Lambert’s face on it just yet, and the new manager certainly deserves the chance to prove he is the man to keep Stoke in the Premier League.
According to report in The Mirror, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is keen to sign goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is currently on £120,000-a-week, this month after he lost his place in the team during a loan spell with West Ham United.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Mirror says that Benitez was keen to bring Hart in on loan from Manchester City during the summer as he looked for a new stopper, but he was beaten to the England international’s signature by West Ham.
However, The Mirror says that now the 30-year-old has lost his place to Adrian following some disappointing performances, the Magpies have made discreet enquiries to see if it will be possible to bring him to St James’ Park this month.
The report adds that it would take the Irons, Man City and the keeper to come to an agreement to bring an end to his temporary spell at the London Stadium, although his £120,000-a-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block.
How has Hart done this season?
He certainly hasn’t been at his best.
While some will feel a little sorry for him given he was playing in a struggling side when Slaven Bilic was manager, the 4-0 defeat at Everton under David Moyes proved to be the final straw for the Scot.
Hart’s poor clearance fell to Wayne Rooney, who scored from his own half in that clash, and the 30-year-old conceded 30 goals in his 14 Premier League appearances for the Irons before he was dropped.
There were certainly some of those that he will feel that he should have done better with, with Jose Izquierdo’s goal for Brighton earlier in the season one that sticks in the memory.
Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?
If he can recapture the form he showed for City earlier in his career then he certainly would, but it doesn’t seem likely right now.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Hart hasn’t impressed for club or country in the last couple of seasons, and while Benitez will feel that the 30-year-old would be an upgrade on Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow, it would still have to be seen as something of a risky move given the England international’s recent form and his potential wages.
That said, Hart will know that if he did move to St James’ Park that he would have to be at his best in the second-half of the campaign if the wants to start for his country at the World Cup, and that motivation could bring the best out of him and help Newcastle stay up.
According to the respected Paul O’Keefe via his Twitter account, Tottenham Hotspur are considering making a move for West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon if they sell Fernando Llorente to Chelsea before the January transfer window slams shut on Wednesday, and Spurs fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.
The Telegraph journalist Matt Law tweeted on Tuesday that the north London outfit would be willing to sell the 32-year-old to their rivals from the capital before the end of the month as Antonio Conte looks to bring the 32-year-old to Stamford Bridge, but only for a £25m fee.
Meanwhile, Rondon’s future with the Baggies has been brought into further doubt after they signed Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge on loan until the end of the season, meaning he has fallen down the pecking order.
Tottenham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the rumour, and while one said “I’d take Rondon over Llorente in a heartbeat”, another said “just no!”
Newcastle United had a fantastic Sunday, defeating Manchester United 1-0 at St James’ Park in the English Premier League.
Matt Ritchie was the goal hero on the afternoon, burying a loose ball in the box in the second half, sending the Magpies supporters into raptures and securing his side a vital three points.
The win eases their fears of relegation and sees them move up into 13th position, albeit just two points above the drop.
Newcastle fans were overjoyed with the performance and had particular praise for Jonjo Shelvey, who produced a dominating midfield display that put more illustrious names like Paul Pogba to shame.
The 25-year-old has been criticised by supporters this season for inconsistent performances but if he can string together more displays like that then the Magpies will have no concerns about relegation come the end of the season.
Fans took to Twitter to enthuse about his display against the Red Devils…
Leeds United have not been a Premier League team for 14 years, and former midfielder Gary McAllister believes that the club has been missed.
The Whites are one of the pillars in English football, but they have been adrift from the top flight for so long.
Throughout the last decade or so, Leeds have gone through many off-the-pitch dramas, including troubles over recent ownership.
Massimo Cellino’s tax issues eventually led to the Italian’s departure, and now Andrea Radrizzani is at the helm of Elland Road.
Currently, the club sit 11th in the Championship, eight points adrift of the playoff places after 32 games in the second tier.
Leeds are outsiders in terms of the promotion race, but McAllister thinks that under new head coach Paul Heckingbottom, the Premier League is on the horizon.
The Yorkshire club made a change in the coaching department earlier this month by sacking Thomas Christiansen following a six-game winless run.
Heckingbottom has been in charge for two matches and is yet to taste victory, but at the weekend he witnessed his side come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 will Bristol City at home.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
From McAllister’s point of view, Leeds are ready to be competing against England’s elite.
The Daily Star quotes the Scotsman as saying:
“I think the Premier League wants Leeds United as much as Leeds United wants the Premier League. It’s a huge club, steeped in history. A one-club city which has huge potential. Everything is there in terms of infrastructure – the stadium, the fanbase. I really do think that Leeds have been missed in the top flight. I would never disrespect any teams in the Premier League but in terms of size of club it’s a real shame that Leeds aren’t in there.”
In our poll on Wednesday, we asked West Ham fans who they would prefer anchoring their right-back position: injury-hit but promising 24-year old Sam Byram or Fulham fullback and potential purchase Ryan Fredericks.
Hammers fans were almost unanimous in backing the exciting Fulham prospect, with 86% preferring him to Byram.
It’s easy to see why the London Stadium faithful are all-in on Fredericks. He has earned eight assists, and his attacking style of play has been pivotal to the Whites’ rise up the Championship table in the latter half of the season.
The London-born Fredericks is a tad older than Byram at 25-year-old but his £3.6m valuation, according to Transfrmarket, makes him an affordable purchase for the Hammers.
Currently operating with the aging Pablo Zabaleta flanking a three-man defence, West Ham will be looking for a player with some youth and speed on him to work the wing in the summer transfer window – and Fredericks could be their man.
Here are the full results of our poll…
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
West Ham United centre-back James Collins has said that ‘morale in the camp is good’ as the Hammers prepare to travel to Swansea City in the Premier League this weekend.
David Moyes’ side have only won one of their last five in the Premier League, with that run of form leaving them in 13th position in the table.
Just three points separates West Ham from 18th-placed Swansea ahead of their clash at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Swansea will enter the match having won their last three on home soil, but West Ham recorded a 4-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last term.
Despite suffering a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, Collins has insisted that the Hammers will enter this weekend’s clash full of confidence.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Collins told West Ham’s official website:
“Morale in the camp is good. We had a good result against Watford and then a couple of weeks of good training, so spirits are high.
“We’ve got some great characters in that dressing room and we need to focus on Swansea, go there and get a good result.”
West Ham have only won two of their 15 away Premier League matches this season – suffering eight defeats in the process.
Everton struggled for creativity under Ronald Koeman and, despite the fact that they are now unlikely to get relegated, they are still struggling for creativity under Sam Allardyce.
Results may have improved under Big Sam but the style of play hasn’t. Everton are still no closer to finding an identity or a system that gets the most out of the host of new arrivals they brought in over the summer.
That is one of the reasons why the Goodison Park faithful are unconvinced – to say the least – that the former England manager is the right man to lead them into a new era.
[ad_pod ]
Most observers who watch Everton can tell that their attack is spluttering but we wanted to run the numbers to see just how few chances were being created and whether any Toffees players are vastly outperforming their team-mates.
Read on to see who came out on top in the rankings…
Martina has been forced to deputise, out of position, at left-back for much of the season. He is not an adventurous, marauding full-back, just a steady, versatile defender.
The fact that he is among Everton’s top five chance creators this season tells you everything you need to know about their lack of spark and invention.
Martina – valued at £1.8m on Transfermarkt – has outperformed all of his club’s out and out central midfielders and widemen. That is not good enough.
Baines has missed much of the season with injury – that’s why Martina has seen so much gametime – but still takes up his place on this list.
We all know about his wand of a left foot and the ability he has to deliver from wide areas and that looks perfectly suited to Big Sam’s preferred style of play.
He will hope to add to that tally between now and the end of the season, but the biggest barrier to that might be Everton’s lack of a prolific centre-forward.
Calvert-Lewin has put more experienced team-mates in the shade this season and this numbers bare that out.
The Under-20 World Cup winner is the best striker at the club right now – even despite Cenk Tosun’s recent upturn in form – and can clearly tee up others as well.
It has been a hugely impressive season as far as the Finch Farm graduate – valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt – is concerned.
Rooney’s powers are on the wane, no doubt about it. Brought in to instil a winning mentality at Goodison, his aging legs have prevented him from halting the collective slide.
Despite that, he has clearly been laying on chances for team-mates. Playing in the more withdrawn role that has always felt like where he will end his career, Rooney has more licence to get on the ball and spray it around.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
You wouldn’t describe his return to Goodison as an unqualified success, but he is at least trying to make things happen.
Everton were prepared to be patient to get Sigurdsson last summer, sticking to their guns and eventually prizing him away from the Liberty Stadium and it is a good job they managed to.
Even though the Icelandic international has struggled to find a natural role in the side and fielding him alongside Rooney means Everton lack midfield legs, he is by far their most creative force.
Capable of making chances from dead balls or in open play, Sigurdsson has all the tools needed to be a top Premier League playmaker. Allardyce has to put him at the fulcrum of his plans.
It would be one of the understatements of the century to claim that Leeds United fans are not happy with their football team at the moment.
The Whites are without a win in their last four Championship matches, and currently sit down in 14th position in the second tier after falling away in their early battle for a playoff spot.
A change of manager has not led to a change in form, and a number of Leeds fans are said to be considering boycotting Elland Road next season if things do not change.
[ad_pod ]
Leeds captain Liam Cooper recently attempted to rally the troops with a special tribute to the club’s supporters, but the defender’s words have not been well received.
Indeed, it has actually had the opposite impact, with a number of the club’s supporters taking to social media to reveal their views on the 26-year-old, who has had a number of difficult moments in a Leeds shirt during the 2017-18 campaign.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be found below: