All posts by z3u9t.icu

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla will miss the Championship clash with Millwall at Elland Road at the end of the month after picking up a one-match ban for the red card he received against Sheffield United on Saturday, and it gives Bailey Peacock-Farrell an unexpected chance.

On the chalkboard

Despite being Marcelo Bielsa’s first-choice between the sticks in the first half of the season, the 22-year-old was cast aside almost immediately to accommodate former Real Madrid man Casilla following his arrival during the January transfer window.

The experienced 32-year-old had played every minute of league action since January 26 – until he saw red late on against the Blades at the weekend that is.

Peacock-Farrell looked as though he would be spending the run-in sat on the substitutes’ bench, but he now has a massive opportunity and he will know he needs to take it.

What could he do?

Despite what happened with the 6ft 4in stopper at the beginning of 2019, Bielsa has shown previously that he is willing to stick with a player in the starting XI if they are performing well.

Should the Northern Ireland international get the nod against the Lions – as expected – and puts in a stellar performance and gets a clean sheet for example, there is no reason why he may not keep his place the following weekend.

If that happens and continues to happen in the remaining fixtures of the campaign, he could well be the Yorkshire outfit’s unexpected hero as they look to secure a top-two finish and a return to the Premier League.

The goalkeeper’s role in the team is vital, and if Peacock-Farrell can pull off saves and keep the ball out of the net, he could be the hero in May – that’s something he wouldn’t have thought was possible prior to last weekend.

Jonathan Spector is in line to make his debut for Hibs in Friday night’s televised match at Livingston, with a win seeing them jump ahead of Edinburgh rivals, Hearts, in the table.

Paul Heckingbottom brought the American defender in as a free agent earlier this month, following his departure from Major League Soccer’s Orlando City in January, and played in last night’s reserve game against Ross County.

His withdrawal after 67 minutes of the second string win was an indication that he will be considered for Friday, with his appearance being a chance for him to regain match sharpness and fitness.

The former Manchester United player told Hibs TV he is hopeful of being involved against Livingston, but is realistic in his expectations, with him not assuming he would “start automatically”.

Speaking about a likely debut after last night’s 5-0 demolition, Spector said: “I am here and I am hoping to help the team in anyway that I can. I wouldn’t expect to go in and start automatically.

“The team have been doing pretty well and have been on a great run of form. The lads have been playing really well.

“I want to get some games, every footballer wants to play, so that is ideally the target. I want to do whatever I can to help the team.”

The player feels he is ready to play, and insisted it felt “good to be back out playing” and that he felt in good physical and mental shape.

“It felt really good to be back out playing. It’s been a while since my last match, so it was good to be back out on the pitch with the group.

“Physically I felt pretty good and then mentally as well I felt really good. For me, it was about getting some fitness and getting back into the swing of things; I think I did that.

“I felt pretty comfortable out there and I felt confident too.”

Bringing Spector to Easter Road on a short term deal until the end of the season could prove to be a shrewd bit of business for Hibs.

His experience could be crucial to the side in their bid to be Edinburgh’s top-dogs this season, and their slim chances of claiming a Europa League spot.

The short run between now and the end of the season also gives the 33-year-old the perfect opportunity to show the manager that he deserves a contract for next season too.

It looks like a no lose situation for both the club and the player.

What are your thoughts about bringing Spector to the club, Hibs fans? Would you slot him straight in on Friday? Join in the debate below…

[ad_pod ]

Newcastle were comfortably swept aside by Arsenal on Monday night, but Andy Cole has heaped praise on Magpies skipper Jamaal Lascelles.

Given that the Gunners have not lost at home in the league since Manchester City beat them 2-0 back in August, and Newcastle haven’t won away in the league since a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in December, Monday night’s affair was perhaps a little predictable.

The hosts never looked threatened by Rafael Benitez’s side if truth be told, and goals from Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette were enough to secure their side all three points.

Cole though, who was in the Sky Sports studio alongside Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher and has 187 Premier League goals to his name, is a huge fan of Lascelles.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

What has he said?

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show, as reported by Chronicle Live (02/04/19, 12:24), Cole said: “He’s a young, promising centre-half who could play a highest level if given the opportunity.

“He’s a great size, has good pace and seems very composed on the ball. If you’re the captain of a club like Newcastle at such a young age, that’s some going.”

Spot on

Quite simply, Cole is absolutely right and it is quite bizarre how quickly the hype around Lascelles has faded away after he received so much credit last year.

The skipper was phenomenal last season, and as Cole states, his combination of physical attributes and composure on the ball is matched by very few.

He has also shown great character to lead a struggling team away from two relegation scraps at such a young age, even if he hasn’t been quite at his best this campaign.

Maybe it is the form of Florian Lejeune and Fabian Schar or maybe it is fans always wanting greener grass than what they have, but Lascelles has suddenly gone from the fans’ hero to perhaps the most under-appreciated player in the squad.

And yet, without the skipper’s commanding presence at the back, one has to wonder how much closer to that bottom three the Magpies may be.

As Cole rightly put it, you must be doing something right to captain such a colossal club at such an early age.

This title race is really going down to the wire, isn’t it? Surely, you Liverpool fans cannot cope with the stress and knowing that Manchester City are lurking in the shadows waiting to steal top spot away from them. Still, as it stands, no one from Merseyside is giving up. 

Obviously, for the remaining Premier League games, it is set to be an almighty battle between the two sides and it’s still a challenge Liverpool can come out on top of. Indeed, with the Champions League also still being a winnable trophy elsewhere, those Liverpool players can either stand up and be counted or prepare to flop under pressure.

Fans, of course, will be hoping it won’t be the latter and that finally, silverware will again be back at Anfield.

Over the years but, particularly this season, Jurgen Klopp has definitely brought the feel-good factor back to the club and use of youngsters sooner rather than later will make him even more popular around Anfield – Rhian Brewster being a prime example.

Although no such risk playing youngsters should be taken in their current predicament, pre-season is the perfect opportunity to assess such players.

Rhian Brewster looks to be an extremely talented youngster that could enjoy a very successful future in Liverpool colours. Having been injured for a large chunk of the season, any chance of a first-team call-up was subsequently ruled out but that shouldn’t dampen the excitement.

Though with the summer to re-assess things at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp would do no wrong taking a look at the Englishman. Indeed, alongside the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, the wonderkid finisher can thrive and put teams away, something they’ve struggled to do at their worst this season.

After all, with 14 goals and 12 assists at youth level this season, he’s shown he has ability, now it’s just about embedding him within the first-team. Outside of Firmino, the club lack a natural centre-forward of note and reliability, so trusting Brewster to come good in a way ex-Red Dominic Solanke was supposed to could end up saving the club millions in potential future transfer fees.

Do you believe that Liverpool should give Rhian Brewster a chance to shine in the first team? Join in the discussion and let us know below!

[ad_pod ]

Everton’s hopes of finishing the season in seventh were handed a huge boost as they recorded their third successive Premier League win – and clean sheet – when they beat Arsenal 1-0 at Goodison Park on Sunday.

The Toffees followed up victories against two other London clubs in Chelsea and West Ham United with another assured display against Unai Emery’s visitors, which leaves the Merseyside outfit just one point adrift of Leicester City in a position that could still yield Europa League football this term.

Following yet another impressive performance, there are certainly a couple of players that will have gone up in manager Marco Silva’s estimations.

Phil Jagielka

The veteran centre-back was only named in the XI against Arsenal after Michael Keane was forced to pull out late on, and he certainly made the most of his opportunity.

It was only the 36-year-old’s third Premier League start of the season with Silva obviously deciding previously that the club captain is no longer good enough to start at this level on a regular basis, but the Portuguese boss may have to reconsider on this display.

It is never easy finding out you are suddenly playing so close to kick-off, but Jagielka dealt with it brilliantly and showed his experience and quality throughout the 90 minutes.

Helping the team to another clean sheet and scoring the winning goal, he has proved a point and may well be getting more minutes between now and the end of the campaign.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

At the start of this season Silva probably wouldn’t have envisaged that by April the England U21 international would be his first-choice striker option, but that is exactly what has happened.

The 22-year-old has been brilliant in recent weeks and his work-rate and general all-round centre-forward play means he is the most effective option for Everton in this particular system.

The Sheffield-born player caused the likes of Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi all sorts of issues at the weekend, and his record of winning 17 aerial duels during the 90 minutes is absolutely remarkable.

Simply put he just keeps getting better and better, and his manager will find it hard to leave him out for the remainder of the current campaign and potentially into the following one as well.

A game of football can be won both on and off of the pitch.

Throughout history, managers have tried to gain a mental advantage over their opposition with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho mastering this particular art. However, when a club’s player tries to get involved it usually doesn’t have anywhere near the same effect.

Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips’ outburst yesterday is the latest case of this. Speaking in a press conference (as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post) ahead of the Whites’ clash against Preston North End last night, the midfielder remarked that: “There’s six more big games to go but hopefully after tomorrow night, we can have a little chill, relax and watch Sheffield United get beat!” Even though the comments were apparently a light-hearted attempt of humour by Phillips, it is not the message that manager Marcelo Bielsa will be wanting his players to be sending to their promotion rivals.

The Blades do not need any more encouragement this season yet upon hearing this revelation, Chris Wilder may use it as motivation to do what Leeds could not do at the weekend; beat Birmingham City. If they can clinch victory at St Andrew’s, United will remain in pole position to secure a top-two finish alongside runaway leaders Norwich City.

Up until this point in the season, the promotion race in the Championship had been played in good spirit yet with the tension cranking up a notch over the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see whether it will be Bielsa or his English counterpart who keeps their cool.

What do you think Leeds supporters? Are Phillips’ comments wise at this stage of the campaign? Does Bielsa need to control what his players say to the media between now and May? Let us know below.

[ad_pod ]

West Ham United completed the signing of Lukasz Fabianski from Swansea City ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

The Hammers are believed to have paid £7m for the goalkeeper, who left the Swans following their relegation to the Championship.

The now 34-year-old was one of a number of new players to arrive at the London Stadium during a busy summer transfer window.

But it would be fair to say that the majority of the club’s fans feel that Fabianski was the best of the lot.

The Poland international has actually only kept five clean sheets in 34 Premier League appearances this season, but has put in a string of impressive performances.

It was Fabianski’s birthday on Thursday and as expected, West Ham’s official Twitter page was on hand with a special message.

That led to a number of the club’s supporters lavishing praise on the stopper, who has once again proved his class at this level.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

[ad_pod ]ExWHUemployee has denied a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport saying Roma striker Edin Dzeko has turned down the chance to join West Ham United is true, and Irons fans have been quick to react.

The Italian media outlet claimed in a story on April 18 that the experienced centre-forward wasn’t interested in a move to the London Stadium, with his contract with the Italian giants due to expire next summer.

However, reliable club insider Ex has said on his Twitter account that no offer existed in the first place to be rejected, with the Hammers seemingly ready to look elsewhere if they want to boost their options in the final third during the summer transfer window.

The majority of those Irons supporters who reacted are certainly pleased about the news, with many suggesting they would prefer a younger striker rather than one who turned 33 last month.

While the Bosnia and Herzegovina international has scored 86 goals in 174 appearances in all competitions for Roma since joining them from Manchester City, the fact he has only netted eight times in 28 Serie A outings this term suggests he is potentially in decline.

That is not what West Ham need, with the likes of Javier Hernandez and Marko Arnautovic struggling for form themselves as the current campaign nears its ending.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

[ad_pod ]

Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s breakout season at Crystal Palace has been a joy to behold but his outstanding form has not earned him a place on the PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist, much to the frustration of Guardian journalist Ben Fisher.

What’s the word, then?

The emerging star affectionately nicknamed the spider has been a revelation for the Eagles this season, impressing with his ability to stretch out one of his eight legs to dispossess some of the Premier League’s most dazzling wingers.

But he has been omitted from the six-man shortlist for the PFA award and his performance against the Gunners on Sunday added an extra weight of legitimacy to the claims of those who believe his exclusion is grossly unjust.

That sentiment is one which was echoed by Fisher in his post-match talking points, per Guardian.

‘To be eligible for the award, players must be 23 or under at the beginning of the season, at which point Aaron Wan-Bissaka was 20.

‘His name, however, is missing from the six-man shortlist. Assured, athletic and colossal in the challenge, the manner in which the Crystal Palace full-back tormented – and nullified – Sead Kolasinac during an impressive win at Arsenal has been a familiar sight in the Premier League.’

Fisher concluded by stating: ‘Wan-Bissaka should at least be in the conversation.’

Fisher is absolutely spot on – he deserves his place on shortlist

That Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva have both manged to sneak onto the list by virtue of a dubious technicality has worked against Palace’s full-back.

Both of Man City’s phenomenally gifted players have been shortlisted for both the senior and young player awards and that brings two particularly contentious issue into light.

The first concerns whether a 23-year-old player – particularly the likes of Silva and Sterling who were already well established professionals with a multitude of rich experience at both club and international level when the season started – should be eligible for the award.

And there is also an argument to be made against players being shortlisted for both awards; if they are in the running for the Player of the Year award – the most coveted individual accolade – then surely they should be discounted from the Young Player of the Year award.

Justly or unjustly the rules have conspired against affording Wan-Bissaka a place on the shortlist and Fisher is absolutely right to suggest that he should be in with a shout.

Even discounting the controversy over Silva and Sterling’s inclusion, it seems harsh that both David Brooks and Marcus Rashford beat him onto the list.

It’s symptomatic of the essence of the game that attacking-minded players generally stand a greater chance of scooping an individual award, and the aforementioned pairing certainly deserve rich acclaim.

However, unlike Wan-Bissaka, this is not the first full season in senior football for either player and the manner in which the Palace man has rapidly made the transition into the starting XI is seldom seen at this level.

The shortlist will leave a bitter taste in the mouth for the growing Wan-Bissaka fan club and Fisher is absolutely right to allude to the injustice surrounding his omission.

After being forced to hobble off with a knee injury in last week’s clash against Aston Villa, Stuart Dallas must have been fearing the worst.

The Leeds United midfielder had been covering at full-back in the absence of Ezgjan Alioski and Barry Douglas who both suffered season-ending injuries in April and so the possibility of him facing a spell on the sidelines must have been hugely concerning for Marcelo Bielsa.

However, after undergoing tests on Monday, it was revealed that Dallas had escaped any serious damage and should be on course to return for the play-offs later this month (via the Yorkshire Evening Post).

If the 26-year-old had suffered the same fate as Alioski and Douglas, the potential consequences for his side may have been disastrous.

Without anyone available to play at left-back, the Whites’ hopes of securing promotion to the Premier League would have taken a serious dent as their opponents would have undoubtedly targeted this specific area of defence in the club’s upcoming clashes.

Yet with Dallas expected to fill the position, Bielsa can now plan for the defining period in Leeds’ season which will undoubtedly benefit from the Northern Ireland international’s availability. A seasoned-professional, the former Brentford ace has featured in over 160 games in the Championship during his career and will add some much-needed experience for the Whites heading into the play-offs.

Although it is fair to say that he is more suited to an attacking role, Dallas has already demonstrated that he is more than capable of thriving in defence this season and so it would not be surprising if he makes the all-important difference for Leeds over the coming weeks.

What do you think Whites fans? How big of a boost is it for your side’s promotion aspirations that Dallas has avoided serious injury? Are you confident that Bielsa can lead you to play-off glory? Let us know below.