All posts by z3u9t.icu

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Eddie Nketiah scored on his Leeds United debut as Marcelo Bielsa’s side recorded a 3-0 win over Salford City in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

Much of the pre-match talk had been about Salford but Leeds proved far too strong on the evening – scoring three unanswered goals to book their spot in the next round.

Nketiah completed a loan move to the Whites last Thursday and is due to spend the 2019-20 campaign at Elland Road.

The 20-year-old was not involved in the team’s Championship clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which finished 1-1.

However, the Arsenal attacker was thrown into the fold against Salford.

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He scored in the latter stages of the first half against the League Two club, before Gaetano Berardi and Mateusz Klich struck to make it 3-0.

As expected, the Leeds fans were delighted with Nketiah’s contribution and many took to social media to lavish praise on the new arrival, as seen below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Lucas Moura believes the north London derby has come at a perfect time for Tottenham Hotspur, per the London Evening Standard.

What’s he said?

Spurs take on Arsenal at The Emirates on Sunday, fresh from a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United last weekend.

The Gunners also lost at the weekend, going down 3-1 to Liverpool at Anfield, and Lucas insists that he and his team-mates will get back to winning ways against their bitter rivals.

He said:  “Is this the perfect game for us to have after the Newcastle defeat? Yes. We need to look forward now. There are a lot of hard games to come.

“We lost against Newcastle but I am sure we have the quality to go to Arsenal and come back with three points. That’s what we must try to do.

“Each game is different. This is a new season and we have new players. I think we are stronger now (than in previous years). I am sure we can go anywhere and win games.

“For sure it was a very bad result against Newcastle. We tried but it was very difficult to play against them, especially as they kept everyone behind the ball after they scored.

“It was difficult to find the space in the air and the ground because everyone was in the box. I missed a very clear opportunity and I am upset about this. We need to get back to work this week and win the next game against Arsenal.”

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Derby atmosphere

Form goes out of the window in a derby game, or so the saying goes.

That is good news for both Spurs and Arsenal after their execrable performances at the weekend.

With the season still in its infancy, it is difficult to draw too many conclusions but Lucas is right that Spurs cannot afford to lose two games on the bounce.

They have not won at the Emirates since 2010, but they will surely be champing at the bit to set things right.

The derby may well have come at the perfect time.

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John Marquis was the second-highest goalscorer in League One while at Doncaster Rovers last season, as per Transfermarkt, so when he signed for Portsmouth this summer, the main thing expected of him was goals.

‘My goalscoring record has been good over the past three-and-a-half to four seasons”, he said upon his return to Hampshire after spending part of the 2013/14 campaign on loan there. 

‘I know playing in this team there will continue to be chances like there was at Doncaster.

‘I know if I’m in the right areas I back myself to take them. That’s what I’m here to do.

Last season’s lethal third-top scorer in League One may have got off to a quiet start at Fratton Park in front of goal, but he has begun to show the finishing prowess that persuaded Pompey to bring him to the club in the first place.

His first three games in a Pompey shirt totalled 225 minutes, but he only managed one shot on target during that time, as per SofaScored – highlighting that he was struggling to get into situations where he could get himself on the scoresheet.

The draw against Coventry City, who finished the game with nine men, may have been disappointing, but one positive that was taken away from that game was that Marquis scored his first goal for the club in his fourth game.

He got it by bundling the ball into the net at the back post, as shown in the highlights video on Portsmouth’s YouTube channel.

The 27-year-old then went and got his second goal in as many games in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win against Queens Park Rangers, when he won and converted a penalty.

What highlights how clinical he was in those games is that he scored the two goals from just three shots on target.

This is encouraging and highlights that if Pompey are able to get Marquis in good situations in front of goal with greater regularity, he will continue to get the goals. With a first South Coast derby in seven years on the horizon, this can be considered good news.

Manager Kenny Jackett has said that Pompey have nothing to lose against their bitter rivals ahead of their cup meeting this month, so if they take that attitude and attack the Saints when they visit Fratton Park, they do seem to have someone who can convert chances.

Just how good a signing has he been? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are open to making signings in the January transfer window, but only if the right players are on the market.

What’s the word?

The Red Devils failed to undergo the major summer overhaul many may have predicted, with just three permanent signings in total.

Now, The Manchester Evening News suggest Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side “remain open” to doing business in the winter window “on the proviso the right players are available”.

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The report adds United’s transfer stance has not changed despite their failure to sign a forward and a central midfielder in the summer.

Brave

Make no mistake about it, if United end the January transfer window with no new faces, it will be an incredibly brave decision. The Red Devils are short of options up front, and are relying on relatively inexperienced players to lead the line for one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Solskjaer’s intent on blooding the youngsters and implementing a new style of play means there will be teething problems in this transition period. If the Manchester side have key targets in mind and are adamant they will not settle for second or third-choice targets on their shortlist, then it will be a sign they are learning from their mistakes.

Reports in recent weeks and months have suggested Jadon Sancho is a leading option for next summer, and it is difficult to see the England international leaving Borussia Dortmund in January.

Waiting for the supremely talented winger to come on to the market would be the kind of wise long-term planning United desperately need. What they shouldn’t do is panic, and have another Alexis Sanchez situation on their hands.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Christian Eriksen has made no secret of his desire for a new challenge away from Tottenham, with ESPN reporting that he is only interested in a move to either Real Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus.

The interest in joining one of those trio of European giants suggests the Denmark international believes he can play at the very highest level, but he would need to start doing one thing if/when an exit from Spurs does materialise.

Of course, it’s hard to argue with the 27-year-old’s record of 67 goals and 86 assists in 281 appearances in all competitions for the north London outfit – or 29 goals in 90 caps for Denmark for that matter – but it is the fact he can sometimes go missing in matches that is most worrying.

A prime example was for Denmark on Sunday, as they looked to pick up three points in a scrappy encounter away in Georgia.

Eriksen simply failed to step up to the mark with his display, and was destroyed by Danish fans on Twitter for his performance.

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Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne stepped up to the plate with one goal and three assists in a 4-0 win against Scotland the following evening.

When fully fit, it’s hard to argue against the fact that the Belgium international bosses matches and dictates the play consistently.

Eriksen has done this too because of the quality he has on the ball and his vision, but he simply hasn’t done it enough to be considered a key player at a club like Real, Barca or Juve.

To be a top, top player you expect to go away to a club like Man City and stand out, yet the 27-year-old didn’t really do that at the Etihad last month.

One moment in particular stood out, and that was when the playmaker took too long to play Harry Kane in late on in the match, eventually being robbed of possession.

On the other hand, De Bruyne captained City and assisted both of their goals – the gulf in class between the duo seems clear, and Eriksen really needs to become more authoritative and influential if he really wants to be as good as he perhaps thinks he already is.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Kenny Miller has told BBC Sport that he believes Billy Gilmour should be fast-tracked into the Scotland senior side.

What did he say?

Gilmour joined Chelsea from Rangers in 2017, and has impressed for the club’s youth sides. So much so, he was even given his first taste of professional action against Sheffield United in the last Premier League game before the international break.

With a big future ahead of him, 39-year-old Miller clearly believes that the midfielder should already be a part of Steve Clarke’s plans, saying: “In days gone by, people said you had to go through the proper steps before becoming a full international. But look at England and what they have done in the last few years.”

“I think we could be getting Billy Gilmour in now and there’s probably a few others. I know he’s been away with a few camps training and it is a huge step – and especially without first-team football – but we need to get these guys in to progress.”

Should Tammy Abraham look to emulate the Arsenal legend in the video below rather than his idol Didier Drogba?…

Boost for sorry Scots

When Scotland won their Nations League group last year, there was hope that they could finally haul themselves out of the doldrums on the international stage. However, that optimism has been all but extinguished in their attempts to qualify for Euro 2020.

In their first six qualifiers, they have lost four, including an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against minnows Kazakhstan. More recently, they were thumped by Belgium 4-0 on Monday, which means their quest to qualify automatically for next summer’s tournament is all but over.

Something needs to change for Scotland, and introducing promising talents such as Gilmour into the first team could be a way to do it. Miller alluded to England’s policy in recent years, and the most relevant comparison to make would be with Callum Hudson-Odoi. The 18-year-old had yet to make his first Premier League start for Chelsea when he was first selected in England’s starting XI, but his display against Montenegro proved it was the right decision.

Wales, too, have followed a similar path. Ben Woodburn made his first appearance for Wales as a 17-year-old and made his first league start for Liverpool seven months later, while Harry Wilson did not make his first professional club appearance until two years after his international bow.

With so little for the Tartan Army to be happy about at the moment, showcasing the youth talent they have at their disposal will give their supporters something to hold on to.

Gilmour’s introduction to the side would point to a brighter future for the national team, which is exactly what is needed during this poor run of form.

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Liverpool began their defence of the Champions League in the worst possible way on Tuesday, and their 2-0 defeat against Napoli means they are the first defending champions to lose their opening game since Milan in 1994.

It was a frustrating evening for the Reds. It may have been an improved showing on their previous performance at the San Paolo last year – in which they failed to register a single shot on target. Jurgen Klopp’s struggled to break down a stubborn Napoli defence and lapses in concentration at the back ended up costing them late on once again.

James Milner earned a recall to the side for his first start since Southampton, but the 33-year-old struggled to influence the game and his zero interceptions suggest he was off the pace, leading to criticism of his performance from some fans.

He wasn’t the only one to falter, however, with Andy Robertson giving away a penalty and Virgil van Dijk uncharacteristically costing his side the second goal with a backpass that played in Fernando Llorente to slot home.

In attack Liverpool lacked their usual flair and panache, with just four shots on target to show for their efforts. So all in all it was a frustrating night in Naples.

Dries Mertens fired in a penalty with under ten minutes remaining. Some felt it was harsh with accusations from notable names including James Pearce saying Jose Callejon dived, but the Italian side could have been in front earlier if not for a magnificent save from Adrian to keep out the Belgian.

The players may wish to forget about the match quickly but it is one they should learn a great deal from. Their away record in the Champions League since the beginning of 2018/19 now stands at five defeats from seven [excluding the final], and Klopp will be keen to ensure the trend doesn’t continue.

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Rangers have Livingston up next on the agenda with them looking to make it through to the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.

The Gers are the main threat to Celtic’s domestic dominance and the sooner they end the Bhoys’ stranglehold on football north of the border, the better – from their perspective anyway.

Indeed, it’s what Steven Gerrard and his men have been tasked to do on a short-term basis but from there the plan will be for the club to re-establish itself as the main force in the country as the battle between the two Glasgow giants rages on.

That’s where the academies at both clubs come in, then, and it seems Rangers’ is in good health at the moment. The U18 side proved successful in their latest clash earlier this week as they beat St Mirren rather convincingly with a 4-1 win.

It’s left several Rangers fans in a good mood, too, as it’s always nice to see your young players excelling no matter what level they are playing at. Let’s take a look at some of the reaction to that on Twitter:

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Birmingham City succumbed to a second straight defeat in the Championship as Derby County rounded off a controversial week with a victory at Pride Park.

The home side were missing three key regulars in Mason Bennett, Tom Lawrence and captain Richard Keogh following a drink driving incident in midweek, but that didn’t stop them from taking the lead inside the first two minutes.

Chris Martin, who was making his first Rams start in nearly two years, coolly slotted home for the only goal in the first 45 minutes.

Phillip Cocu’s men doubled their lead five minutes into the second period with Martyn Waghorn’s excellent finish, but the Blues fought back and should have even gone ahead themselves.

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Gary Gardner first headed home before Ivan Sunjic smashed a stunning effort past Kelle Roos to level the match within the hour mark, but the Rams shot-stopper became the hero by saving Lukas Jutkiewicz’s penalty.

And Derby made them pay as Jamie Paterson finished off a rapid counter-attack to hand them their second league win of the season.

Several Birmingham fans took to Twitter following the defeat to vent their anger, with the bulk of it being aimed at manager Pep Clotet.

One supporter wanted the manager sacked, claiming his post-match comments were the ‘same old predictable nonsense’, which was backed up by another who claimed he needs to be replaced.

A further member of the Blues faithful labelled Clotet as the ‘biggest issue’ with one more believing they were in a relegation battle under the Spaniard.

You can read more of the reaction below:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Over the course of the summer transfer window, Manchester United’s pursuit of Sean Longstaff hit the headlines. The Newcastle prospect had just enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, making nine appearances in the Premier League, and had earned huge comparisons with Michael Carrick.

But after reportedly being quoted £50m for his signature, the Red Devils walked away from a potential swoop, and failed to sign another central midfielder in the end. The man to benefit the most from that decision? Scott McTominay. The Scotland international has been an ever-present in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side this season, featuring in all seven Premier League games this season.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

On Sunday, the duo are likely to line up in the middle of midfield for their respective sides. And for McTominay in particular, it is a chance to really under-line why the Red Devils made the right choice not to replace him this summer.

Both Longstaff and McTominay make up one half of the midfield two for their respective sides, and there is an all-action element to their games.

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While their key passes and tackles per game are quite similar, it is in the other main categories outlined in the graphic however, that the United midfielder really has the edge.

The 22-year-old makes more than double the amount of interceptions as his Magpies counterpart, whilst he also registers 18 more passes per game too. The passing numbers are perhaps always likely to be skewed in the Red Devils’ favour however, due to their superior possession (they average 54.5% compared to Newcastle’s measly 37.6%).

If McTominay can use his 6 foot 4 frame to dominate the centre of midfield, then Longstaff will struggle considerably in getting a foothold in the game for the Magpies. The former displayed his attacking credentials with a fine strike against Arsenal on Monday night, and will surely be heading into the contest with a bounce in his step.

At St James’ Park this weekend, the Scot has the perfect opportunity to really hammer home that it was a blessing in disguise that United opted against a move for Longstaff. And if his start to the season is anything to go by, then he will do exactly that.