All posts by h79snht.top

According to the Sunderland Echo, GACP Sports have been presented with an opportunity to take over Sunderland after Stewart Donald put the club up for sale last week.

What’s the word?

The group, led by Joseph DaGrosa, previously had a stake in French club Bordeaux but sold those shares, with a belief that the group was interested in investing in an English club.

Newcastle had been touted as one possible club they could get involved with alongside Peter Kenyon and it’s thought they’re still keen on a deal for the Magpies. Sunderland, however, appears to be out of the question for GACP after being approached.

Kenyon does remain an interested party in Sunderland, however, and there is potential for a deal to be struck with Donald – as long as he can find the right backing to do so, which GACP Sports are unwilling to provide.

Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Need to act quickly

While results have picked up of late, going six unbeaten, there is still a clear feeling that Donald is no longer welcome at Sunderland.

That was the chairman’s reason for listing the club for sale and until he does depart it is possible he will hold the club back on and off the field.

How much do you remember about football in 2019? Our quiz will test your knowledge…

Donald’s ability to finance a promotion push is questionable, with a recent reliance on loan signings and free agents evidence that he doesn’t have the financial power expected of a Sunderland owner.

The investment of £9m from an American consortium in October also hints at that problem, and that means there is a real need for something to be done before the end of the transfer window.

Phil Parkinson has already strengthened the squad through the arrival of Kyle Lafferty but they will need more than that in order to push for the automatic promotion places, even if they do only lie six points behind second-place Wycombe now.

New owners would likely bring increased investment and at least rid Black Cats’ fans of an individual they have grown to dislike, with multiple fan groups petitioning for Donald to leave over the last few weeks.

In other news, Sunderland fans were in raptures at the weekend and took a lot of joy in mocking a certain player.

According to Tim Spiers at The Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers are huge admirers of Hull City star Jarrod Bowen as he appears to be one name on their shortlist for this month.

What’s the word?

It is believed that the 23-year-old would be available for £20m even though his contract is due to expire later this summer.

Bowen has been frequently linked with an array of teams in the past including Newcastle United, West Brom and even Tottenham Hotspur.

And having scored 16 goals and provided five assists in 27 appearances this campaign, per Transfermarkt, it’s no surprise to see.

Wolves let him slip through their fingers before he joined the Tigers in the summer of 2014, they’d be wise to not let it happen again.

“Tony watched him a couple of times and was very keen. Jarrod had offers from West Brom and Wolves but him and his Dad chose Hull in the end.”

– Peter Beadle, Bowen’s former manager at Hereford United

System fit

The west Midlanders need attacking reinforcements this month after letting Patrick Cutrone return to Italy in a loan move that will turn permanent in 18 months time.

It leaves Nuno Santo short of options, and let’s face it, he was lacking before this deal anyway.

Cutrone just couldn’t find a way to break into the side after the Portuguese switched up his system back to a 3-4-3, meaning there was only one space for a striker and that was always going to Raul Jimenez.

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

Bowen is primarily a right-winger who can play central in the number ten role or as a centre-forward, he’s played all three positions this campaign according to Transfermarkt’s recorded matches.

Therefore, his versatile abilities can prove vital for Wolves as he can back up Adama Traore on the right, Jimenez through the middle and even someone like Joao Moutinho, who sometimes operates an attacking midfield role.

Bowen was once likened to Arjen Robben as he “gets the ball on the channel on the right and looks to cut inside onto his left foot and find the far corner.”

While Total Football Analysis laud his close control, excellent capability to defend and a killer eye for assists as goals – which is evident enough in his return this campaign.

Traore has played at right wing-back this season, so it’s a big bonus that Bowen has averaged at least 1.2 tackles per game over the past three seasons at the KCOM Stadium.

A combination of everything mentioned above makes the young hotshot an ideal prospect under Nuno, one that could ultimately thrive if given an opportunity.

Meanwhile, plenty of Wolves fans have been hammering this “clown” key figure after recent developments…

Aston Villa are currently on the hunt for strikers, as indicated by The Athletic linking them with Islam Slimani and Christian Benteke.

However, they have had little luck in their search so far, which will be especially frustrating considering Keinan Davis and Wesley are injured, while Jonathan Kodjia’s exit still hasn’t been ruled out.

This saw Dean Smith playing a starting XI against Manchester City that didn’t feature a recognised striker, with 18-year-old Indiana Vassilev the only one on the bench.

While they are scrambling around for a striker to bring in, Villa may afford themselves a couple of seconds to reminisce about the summer, when they could have signed Neal Maupay.

In October, Dean Smith spoke about missing out on that deal, as reported by The Birmingham Mail: “Neal was a lad I brought into Brentford, I think it was for £2million. He spent a couple of seasons with us.

“He’s a good lad who I get on really well with, a good player but, again, the market value of the players was growing and growing. I felt we had to walk [away] as a football club at the stage it got to. He ended up going to Brighton and good luck to him.”

How much do you remember about football in 2019? Our quiz will test your knowledge…

While Wesley struggled, enduring a 12-game goal drought before eventually getting injured, Maupay has thrived since moving to the Premier League.

So far, from 18 Premier League starts and four substitute appearances, he has scored seven goals in total, adding one assist.

That tally includes an impressive three-game run, in which he scored against Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, before finishing it off with another strike against rivals Crystal Palace.

Considering the difference in fortunes, anyone at Villa could be forgiven for feeling jealous of Brighton about their acquisition of the 23-year-old, while they continue to endure their issues up front.

Meanwhile, Alan Hutton spoke honestly about one of Villa’s youngsters.

Sunderland have brought in two players so far this month but Phil Parkinson remains keen on completing another piece of transfer business, according to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie.

What’s the word?

Matters have turned around for the Black Cats on and off the pitch in recent weeks, with the team now in the play-off places, but one thing that hasn’t changed is Parkinson’s view of Aiden McGeady.

The Irishman was banished to the youth team and transfer-listed last month and the Sunderland manager remains hopeful that a club will come in for him before the transfer window closes.

McGeady had been linked with a move to clubs abroad earlier this month, but there has been no significant progress regarding a possible departure just yet.

Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Bad influence

The winger had been in decent form for Sunderland prior to his exclusion, contributing six goals and two assists which had made him the club’s top scorer at the time.

However, since he was banished the team have been able to turnaround their form by going seven matches unbeaten, and Lynden Gooch is excelling on the left-flank – the position McGeady had occupied.

The American has three goals and one assist in his past five games, and alongside Charlie Wyke and Chris Maguire there finally appears to be an understanding between the front-three that is serving the north-east outfit well, as the team’s recent form evidences.

As a result, it is understandable that Parkinson is continuing his stance towards the 33-year-old, and if he manages to remove his salary from the wage bill then he could have a great opportunity to bring in reinforcements.

It’s the dawn of a new decade in the Premier League, but how much do you know about the last 10 years?

Putting money towards a midfielder like Will Vaulks or Ollie Norburn – who have both been linked – could provide Sunderland with another important player to advance their promotion hopes, and that would more than justify a decision to let McGeady leave.

Building a strong team spirit can often prove vital to teams chasing promotion and that may be why Parkinson is still hopeful that McGeady departs.

Meanwhile, there is another thing Parkinson should be looking to do in the remaining days of the transfer window.

Phil Parkinson may be tempted to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation which was so devastating in the 5-0 victory against Tranmere in the last encounter between the two teams.

The lack of goals against Doncaster should also be playing on his mind as he needs to find a solution to that problem, though that doesn’t mean he should throw out his tried and tested 3-4-3 style.

Since Sunderland moved to that formation against Blackpool Parkinson’s side have really turned their form around, going eight matches unbeaten and conceding just four goals in that period.

Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Furthermore, Manchester United showed at the weekend that Tranmere’s defence can easily be got at, and given Rovers will be playing their third match in under a week when the Black Cats come to town, fatigue could also play a part.

Fitness could also be a concern for Parkinson, though his players have now had four complete days of rest, and given he has three new signings waiting in the wings he has the back-up of a strong bench to call upon.

One of those new recruits, Josh Scowen, could be in line to start, however, and if he does it is possible the visitors could line up like this at Prenton Park.

A place in the starting line-up for Scowen naturally means a midfielder has to drop out, and considering George Dobson has performed better than his partner Max Power this season, particularly off the ball, it should be a straight forward choice for the manager.

Dobson has achieved 2.6 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per league game and his battling nature in midfield can be vital to Sunderland having more possession and perhaps more importantly, preventing counter-attacks.

Life after football: Do you know what all of these former players did next?

That was vital against Doncaster last time out and could be once again in Birkenhead, as the difference in league position indicates that it is likely the visitors will dominate the ball.

Power, who has come under fire at times this term despite playing in every match but one under Parkinson, has one tackle and 0.9 interceptions per game, thus highlighting the difference between the pair, and shows why Scowen should come in, as the former QPR player has 1.6 tackles per game to his name this season.

In other news, Parkinson has issued a transfer update regarding one high-profile player at the club.

Leeds United’s current goalscoring woes are about more than just Patrick Bamford.

Yes, the striker has been poor in front of goal, missing 20 big chances and firing 53 attempts off target throughout the season, but the midfield hasn’t helped.

Indeed, Mateusz Klich, Stuart Dallas and Pablo Hernandez have just 10 goals between them, and perhaps that’s down to their unwillingness to shoot from range this term.

What’s been said then?

Graham Smyth and Joe Urquhart discussed the decline in the number of shots Leeds have taken outside the box this term on the latest edition of the Inside Elland Road Podcast.

Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

“Last season they were averaging 7.15 shots from outside the box per game, and this season it’s 5.7, so they’re shooting from outside the box less this season,” Smyth said.

“I didn’t know that, but from the naked eye it kind of seems like that,” Urquhart replied.

“You go back to when Wenger was at Arsenal, and they coined trying to score the perfect goal, and it’s just like that isn’t it?

“It’s just frustrating because you just think in the last 10/15 minutes and you need a goal, just take a shot when the chance materialises, and there were so many times where Dallas, Klich, Harrison, Roberts – some of them got blocked, but most of the time it was just a sideways pass.”

Needs fixing

Goals from the midfield need to be more common at Leeds if they are to improve their form.

Klich and Hernandez both hit double figures last term, but this season they’ve only hit seven between them, and we’re way past the halfway point of the campaign.

In 2018/19, Leeds fans chanted about Klich’s tendency to hit the net from long-range, but we’ve rarely seen that this term from him, or indeed any other United midfielder.

It’s an issue that needs fixing, Leeds need to start firing more often, and more accurately.

In other news, Leeds fans should think again when criticising Marcelo Bielsa for one thing.

Journalist Graham Smyth has disagreed with Danny Mills’ take on Leeds United’s 1-0 home defeat to Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon.An own goal from Pablo Hernandez saw Wigan leave Elland Road with all three points.Leeds have now only won one of their last five in the Championship and are just three points above third-placed Fulham in the table.

The Yorkshire Evening Post has quoted Mills as telling Sky Sports News that Marcelo Bielsa’s side “looked a bit tired and jaded towards the end” of the league affair.

However, Smyth has disagreed with the take of the 42-year-old, who turned out for Leeds on 131 occasions during his professional career.

A true test for any Leeds fan: Can you match these iconic images with the right results?

Indeed, the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist has claimed that the Whites “still looked full of running” against Wigan but were just unable to find the final pass.

Next up for Leeds is a huge game away to Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Smyth’s post on social media can be seen below:

Meanwhile, one player could be in danger of losing his spot in the first XI against Forest having struggled against Wigan last time out.

Garry Monk now has several years of Championship management experience but he is still yet to finish in the play-offs with either Leeds, Middlesbrough or Birmingham.

He now looks like he will replicate that lack of achievement with Sheffield Wednesday, despite sitting third in the table at Christmas just a few weeks ago. Since then, the Owls have tumbled down the league and it seems there is little the manager can do to stop it, much to the disappointment of many fans.

It is fair to say that many are disillusioned with how the season has panned out so far and Monk’s recent comments have tipped quite a few fans over the edge as they expressed their anger and frustration. The Owls boss said that the club’s league position was never the biggest priority this term, stating “you can see how much work needs to be done, I’ve said that from the start.”

However, Monk hasn’t always held that view at all. At the beginning of September he told talkSPORT that his side “have as much chance as anyone” at promotion, so it seems he has turned his back on his own words. It is little surprise that fans are unhappy with his comments, therefore, with some pointing out that a lack of ambition is holding the club back.

What is your view of Garry Monks and his comments, are they a negative indication or a more realistic assessment of the team’s current predicament? Let us know your opinion!

Daily Mail columnist Martin Samuel is tipping Leeds United to do some good in the Premier League if they can finally win promotion back to English football’s top flight.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men are currently in the automatic promotion spots, three points above Fulham in third following their 1-0 win over Bristol City, and Samuel sees them as the sort of team who belong in the Premier League and are capable of making an impact.

Speaking about the Championship and Leeds on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement, Samuel said: “That’s what makes it [the Championship] fascinating [the lack of order]. You look at Leeds, you look at Sheffield Wednesday, and you’ve got these huge clubs that could do something, that could come up.”

Under a coach like Bielsa, perhaps Leeds could have some success in the Premier League. The Argentine has experience in top divisions across Europe, including France and Spain, while the Whites already went toe to toe with Arsenal in an FA Cup clash that they were unlucky to lose.

They have a long way to go, especially with competition at the top of the Championship so fierce. However, the likes of Wolves and Sheffield United have shown that, once they get there, newly-promoted teams can succeed in the Premier League.

Leeds fans, do you agree with Martin Samuel? Let us know in the comments section below!

According to The Sun, Wolves, Sheffield United and Burnley are interested in signing Leeds star Kalvin Phillips.

The Englishman has enjoyed a superb campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, scoring a goal and grabbing two assists in 30 Championship starts to help the Yorkshire-based outfit to second-place in the Championship.

The report states that Sheffield United will attempt to lure Phillips to Bramall Lane if they qualify for Europe – the Blades are currently just four points off the Champions League positions with 40 points to their name.

However, if the 24-year-old ends up at Molineux instead, he would be an ideal successor for one Wolves hero.

Joao Moutinho.

The 121-cap Portugal international has made 25 Premier League starts for Nuno Espirito Santo’s this term, notching one goal – an excellent freekick against Bournemouth – while also grabbing an impressive six assists.

Significantly, despite his age, the 33-year-old still manages to get about the park a fair bit, registering 2.7 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per 90 minutes in the Premier League – the former Porto man also record 2.2 key passes per game.

Interestingly, Phillips records similar numbers in the Championship while playing in the same position as Moutinho.

The Leeds No.23 records 2.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, while also making 1.9 key passes per 90 minutes.

It goes without saying that the Premier League is the more challenging division as it is of higher quality, although Phillips’ efforts shouldn’t be in vain up against Moutinho – if anything, their similarities in sitting ahead of the defence and spraying passes around the park are eerily comparable.

It must also be noted that the Leeds playmaker is nine years younger than the experienced European Championship winner, so he could well play heir to Moutinho’s throne at Molineux should he eventually move to the Midlands.

Whose Line Is It Anyway: Michael Owen, Garth Crooks or Mark Lawrenson?

In other news, these Wolves fans have been raving over this man who is “one of the most electric players in the world”…