All posts by z3u9t.icu

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Kevin Phillips, who made 149 appearances for Sunderland, spoke of how much Jordan Jones has impressed him when called upon since signing on-loan from Rangers in January.

After starting just one in his first six games for Sunderland, Jones has settled into Lee Johnson’s side. The Northern Ireland international had started the last three league matches scoring once and registering two assists, before he served a suspension against Accrington.

Jones arrived at Sunderland after being suspended for seven games by the Scottish Football Association for breaching Covid-19 rules, as well as having to self-isolate for 14 days but has settled into life on Wearside well.

Speaking on Jones’ settling in period and believes the Rangers striker has shown he has something about him, Phillips told FFC exclusively:

“He’s taken time to settle in but now we’re seeing it pay off. He scored an unbelievable goal against Crewe and then scored a lovely delicate chip the other night and he’s playing with confidence.

“It’s great to have players like that and you don’t play for Rangers unless you’ve got something about you.

“In League One, if you’ve got something about you, then you’ll perform. So, the good thing about these players is that they’re performing at the right time.”

Jones has two goals and three assists in his nine appearances for Sunderland and seems to be complementing Charlie Wyke and Aiden McGeady well.

Sunderland find themselves just two points adrift of Peterborough in second place, so they will be targeting automatic promotion.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has expressed his disappointment over Louie Barry’s lack of appearances at Villa Park this season.

Barry, who joined Villa last year after spending time in the youth ranks of Barcelona and West Brom, made his senior debut for the Villans against Liverpool in the Third Round of the FA Cup and did not disappoint.

The 17-year-old, part of a very young Villa team on the day, scored a well-taken goal as he kept his composure when through on goal. It ensured that the Midlands club went into half-time level after going 1-0 down to Jurgen Klopp’s side, and was a moment that showed Barry’s incredible potential.

Since then, however, the attacker has not been given any more opportunities, something that has left Hendrie feeling frustrated. The ex-Villa player told FFC:

“I’m really disappointed that he hasn’t featured, not even really on the bench since that Liverpool game with the fabulous goal that he scored. He reminds me of a young Michael Owen in the fact that he’s very slight, small, but he’s very quick, and I’m surprised that he hasn’t been given a bit more of a chance since that game.”

Elaborating further on that Michael Owen comparison, Hendrie added:

“Michael Owen wasn’t very big and he wasn’t very strong, but because of his pace, you know, he was hard to deal with and I feel that’s similar with Louie Barry. I just feel that he should now be getting into the first-team squad, being on the bench and getting thrown on for the last 20 minutes, relieving a bit of pressure, just because he’s got that pace that he can burn off.”

If his display against Liverpool was anything to go by, then Barry definitely looks like he could offer something to this Villa side, especially in this moment of time.

Dean Smith’s team have had to play without captain Jack Grealish recently, something they have not managed to cope with well. They have won just one of their last five games in the absence of the England international, suggesting that perhaps some fresh impetus could have been helpful.

Mike Ashley remains optimistic that a sale of Newcastle United to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will be revived if given clearance by the Premier League.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, there is optimism that the PIF will revive plans to purchase the Magpies following the resolution of a private arbitration hearing.

Ashley is awaiting the results of the hearing, which is yet to start, as part of a continued fight against the Premier League’s decision to block a £300m takeover.

The Sports Direct Tycoon is determined to hear the reasons why a deal was denied, with a source close to Ashley quoted as stating: “In Mike’s eyes, the club is sold.”

Premier League chiefs put a halt to the PIF – in a consortium with the Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley – purchasing Newcastle over concerns relating to alleged state-backed broadcast piracy in the country.

Ashley had agreed to sell Newcastle to the consortium exactly a year ago, and the deal struck is believed to remain in place in hopes of receiving the green light to conclude contracts.

It was expected on June 21st last year that a decision giving the potential takeover the go-ahead was close, although the announcement was never made leading to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to intervene.

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Bin Salman is believed to have insisted within a week of the expected announcement that Anglo-Saudi relations would be damaged if Johnson did not get the Premier League to ‘correct its wrong conclusion’.

A huge boost for Newcastle fans and Ashley

The Daily Mail’s report that optimism remains over a deal being agreed will come as a huge boost for Ashley and Newcastle fans. Given how long the process has taken up to this point, it would have been understandable for doubts to have crept in, but this latest report indicates that the deal is by no mean off at this point.

The current Newcastle owner said to be focused on selling to the consortium once given the green light and he would otherwise be wasting his time exploring a legal challenge to the Premier League’s decision if he felt the deal was dead in the water after the consortium withdrew its bid to buy the St. James’ Park natives last July.

Time that could be used to broker a sale with American tycoon James Pallotta, who recently namechecked Newcastle as a potential Premier League side to invest in, but barely caused any clamour with Ashley due to his focus being on the Saudi-led offer.

It will also come as a huge boost for Toon supporters, who are noted to blame the Premier League for denying them a change in ownership last year, and may finally see progress made toward a more positive future once the arbitration hearing commences.

A takeover cannot happen soon enough for Newcastle supporters, with some even striving to purchase a stake in the club in hopes of inspiring real change.

It just remains to be seen what comes of the arbitration hearing and when an outcome is likely, but the Daily Mail has offered both Ashley and fans reason to be hopeful.

AND in other news, Newcastle join race to sign £12m-rated colossus single-handily responsible for 20 points this season…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who played for Newcastle United for 11 years, believes Steve Bruce did nothing wrong after his public criticism of a number of Newcastle players after their draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.

Bruce came out and picked fault with a number of players including Martin Dubravka in what was the latter’s first Premier League game for a number of months.

However, Howey believes Bruce did nothing wrong and was just telling the truth of what happened to the media. The former defender does believe players are sensitive these days, however, so it could have been kept behind closed doors.

It was straight after a game in which Newcastle had played well for the majority, but still came away from the game holding onto a point after Dubravka saved from Fabio Silva in added time.

Howey explained exclusively to FFC how Bruce did nothing wrong and actually just talked through what happened during the game.

“What did the manager actually say wrong? He gave Ritchie instructions to pass on and did he do it? No.

“Was he criticising the goalkeeper? Would the goalkeeper look at that goal and think he could have done better? Yeah.

“Was he having a go at Lascelles for general defending on certain things? Yeah. Joelinton, can he give you more? Yeah. Is he wrong? No, I don’t think so.

“Players are very sensitive, shall we say? They will at times, well all the time, like that to be kept behind closed doors.”

Bruce may have hoped for a positive reaction off the back of that. He did get a reaction but it was a negative one with his team going to West Bromwich Albion and having to settle with a 0-0 draw.

The players will need a lot of fight if they are to avoid relegation and Bruce will be hoping his squad will want to prove his public criticism wrong.

West Ham United are closing in on the signing of Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United.

According to Sky Sports, the 28-year-old attacker rejected advances from other Premier League teams and is set to complete a move to the London Stadium shortly.

With only four days to go until the deadline, David Gold, David Sullivan, and Karen Brady must top off their January window by fulfilling one of David Moyes’ biggest needs.

A new striker.

The Hammers have been linked with an array of names over the past three-and-a-half weeks, but one name sticks out the best option.

Earlier this week, the Daily Mail claimed Frankfurt talisman Andre Silva was among the options on Moyes’ transfer shortlist, and it’s easy to see why given his form this campaign.

The 25-year-old Portugal international has delivered 15 goals from 19 appearances in all competitions, via Transfermarkt, averaging a goal every 109 minutes.

West Ham may find themselves in a European spot right now, but defensive midfielder Tomas Soucek is their top-goalscorer with seven for the season. His imposing presence has been a big threat from set-pieces.

Michail Antonio isn’t too far behind with five goals in 12 appearances.

However, recent injuries have put the spotlight on the need for a new frontline addition as Moyes let mega-money flop Sebastian Haller depart for Ajax in a £20m deal at the start of the month.

Some in east London may reserve judgement on Silva, after all, the last signing from the very same Bundesliga outfit hardly set the ground alight, but hold fire as the prolific 6 foot 1 marksman is vastly different.

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It’s not often a player receives substantial praise from one of the game’s greatest-ever players, but Silva has.

During his time at Porto, he caught international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo’s attention, who claimed the Portuguese striker was “doing a phenomenal job.”

Whilst Silva has also been likened to Robert Lewandowski in recent weeks.

His current boss Adi Hutter said: “Andre Silva is the solo forward up top, but he does it really well. His composure on penalties reminds me of Robert Lewandowski, who always turns ice cold.”

Indeed, Moyes deploys a similar system at the Irons – a solitary man upfront – and as evident by those comments and his record this term, the 37-cap beast can fulfil that role immensely, and that makes him vastly different to Haller.

As Portuguese football expert and journalist Tom Kundert told ESPN FC in 2016, Silva is a “goal machine” – he’s found the net wherever he’s been, only dipping below a ten-goal total for a season once in his career, unlike the one-season wonder exploits of the departed Hammers flop.

West Ham could create a dream January duo by securing Silva after Lingard’s arrival. Having the England wizard sat behind him in the no.10 role or on the right-flank could pay serious dividends.

Last term, Lingard, who has been likened to Andres Iniesta, averaged 1.9 key passes per 90, proving his creative exploits. That is a number that isn’t matched by any of Moyes’ current attacking midfield options.

GSB must secure this late double-swoop before Monday’s deadline. Moyes would have a dream partnership if he can get the duo on the same wavelength.

Just imagine Silva and Lingard with a supporting cast of Declan Rice, Soucek, Said Benrahma and Antonio.

AND in other news, Irons could find their next Defoe…

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are one of the sides eyeing a summer move for Norwich City starlet Max Aarons.

What’s the word?

It’s claimed that the Red Devils remain interested in the right-back, although no agreement has been reached with either the player himself or his representatives.

European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Premier League rivals Everton have also been mooted with interest in the 21-year-old defender.

Aarons has been directly involved in four goal contributions (one goal and three assists) in 34 matches across all competitions for the Canaries so far this season, per Transfermarkt.

After breaking into the first team from the academy at the start of the 2018-19 season, Romano has now revealed that Norwich are holding out for at least €35m (£30m) for their highly-rated right-back.

Better than Diogo Dalot?

It’s no secret Solskjaer wants to strengthen his defensive reinforcements to shore up his leaky back-line as they have shipped 32 goals in the Premier League this season amid links to a number of high-profile centre-backs including Jules Kounde and Sergio Ramos.

Solskjaer’s side have leaked more goals than the likes of Arsenal (26) and Chelsea (25), who sacked Frank Lampard after a poor run of form.

Aarons could be considered a contender to fill the back-up berth recently vacated by the freshly-departed Diogo Dalot, who has spent the entirety of this campaign on loan at AC Milan until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements by Solskjaer and left Old Trafford for the San Siro in search of regular game time.

It’s fair to say that Aarons, who has played at least 14 more games than the Portuguese this season, would be a major upgrade and should be signed at all costs this summer.

The England U21 international, who is currently rated at £18m via Transfermarkt, has been in sublime form for the Championship league leaders – indeed, according to WhoScored, a match rating of 6.86 sees him ranked ninth out of the entire Norwich squad.

By comparison, Dalot has only averaged a mere 6.61 match rating in the Serie A this season, as he has struggled to impress for the Rossoneri.

By the numbers, Aarons is clearly levels above his Portuguese counterpart in terms of his attacking output, as he is currently averaging more dribbles (1.2) and key passes (1.3) per 90 in the Championship.

The English full-back has also shown a fine sense of positional awareness as he boasts an impressive average of 1.8 clearances per game, via WhoScored, which in turn is better than that of Dalot, who has only managed 1.7 clearances per game.

Solskjaer desperately needs to sign a new right-back to provide competition and cover for first-choice starter Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the Norwich starlet should, therefore, be at the top of his list of transfer targets in the summer.

AND in other news, Man Utd must perform transfer U-turn by snapping up Sevilla star Jules Kounde…

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Marlon Harewood believes Moise Kean’s form at Paris Saint-Germain this season means he will get to decide where his future lies.

Kean is currently on loan at the 2020 Champions League finalists from Everton, joining last October in a move that has helped to resurrect his career.

The 21-year-old struggled to make much of an impact at Goodison Park following his transfer from Juventus back in 2019. He scored just two league goals in 29 games and was infamously substituted despite being brought on as a substitute by Duncan Ferguson in a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

Kean’s fortunes, however, have changed drastically. The Italian forward has struck 11 times in Ligue 1 during the current campaign and has also found the back of the net three times in the Champions League, including against Barcelona.

As a result, Harewood thinks £53,000-a-week man Kean will have the choice of staying at Everton or joining PSG permanently, with both clubs likely to want to keep the in-form man after his exploits.

“Football’s crazy, that’s why I love football. From him being at a top club like Everton, to moving to PSG – you’re talking about elite levels,” the former Premier League striker said to FFC.

“He’s gone there and done really well. It’s good because sometimes when players go on loan, you go out on loan to try and better yourself and try and carry on your future at another club because you’re not getting it at the club that you’re at, he’s literally done that. He’s gone to another club and just excelled.”

“So it’s all on him really if he wants to stay or if he wants to come back to Everton, because he seems very at home where he is and is playing so well.”

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is currently Everton’s first-choice No.9 and understandably so given the season that he is having. However, with Carlo Ancelotti sometimes deploying a two-striker system, there could be room yet for Kean at Goodison Park.

Leeds have had a rather topsy-turvy festive period but they will get the opportunity to correct their 3-0 defeat to Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

It’s a test they should pass with flying colours too, especially when you consider they face Crawley.

On the chalkboard

No disrespect to their opposition but this is a tie which Leeds should comfortably win. The Whites have been playing swashbuckling football against some of England’s elite teams and will likely continue to do so this weekend.

That being said, they come into the game with a plethora of injury problems. Liam Cooper, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente are all out injured and thus, some weary legs at the heart of Leeds’ backline could get another run out.

However, further forward in attack they can afford to rest a few players. One of the prime candidates should be summer signing Raphinha. The Brazilian has been a lively player since signing and has four goal contributions.

Yet, against Spurs, he cut a “disconsolate” figure according to Leeds Live journalist Beren Cross and was anything but the energetic figure we’ve come to expect.

During their 3-0 defeat, Raphinha lost possession of the ball on 24 occasions, failing with four of the seven dribbles he attempted. On top of that, the tricky winger lost 12 duels.

This was not a good game for the 24-year-old.

The solution

This would be an ideal time to drop Raphinha to the bench and give Ian Poveda a very rare start on the right-hand side of the pitch.

The former Manchester City attacker signed last January but has only started once for Marcelo Bielsa’s side. That came in a penalty shoot-out defeat in the Carabao Cup against Hull earlier this term.

Poveda has been restricted to nine substitute appearances in the Premier League and has had very little time to show the manager what he’s capable of.

However, against League Two opposition not only should he start, but he should also thrive and stake his claim for a regular berth in the top-flight.

This has been a busy festive schedule for everyone at Leeds and although they’ve had a week to prepare for this clash, Raphinha needs to drop out and an opportunity has to be given to somebody else.

Poveda is that man.

AND in other news, Forget De Paul: Orta must seal Leeds swoop for “revelation” who lost possession 28x…

Glasgow Rangers face Falkirk fresh off the back of their draw with Benfica in the Europa League, which means Steven Gerrard’s side remain unbeaten in all competitions so far this season, although they will want to get back to winning ways when they take on the Bairns in the Betfred Cup.

The reliable Ryan Kent has been an ever-present starter for Gerrard’s side, having played in every single game in all competitions so far this season.

In terms of the £7m transfer fee they paid for him last year, it’s fair to say that the winger has been worth every single penny, as he has helped set the club up for potential silverware this season.

However, as much as Kent has been one of the club’s best players, the Ibrox boss ought to be wary of him burning out. The 24-year-old has been in electric form since the international break, as he started and scored as Rangers romped to a 4-0 victory over Aberdeen, but Gerrard is expected to rotate his squad for the Scottish League Cup clash.

After the weekend the Gers will face Standard Liege in the Europa League, Ross County and Lech Poznan before they travel to Dundee United on December 13.

Gerrard needs to use the upcoming fixture against Falkirk in particular to give Kent a break before the game against Standard Liege and the busy festive period, as Brandon Barker has shown that he is capable of stepping in and doing a job against the Scottish League One leaders.

In nine games this season, Barker has bagged two times so far, despite the fact that he has made the majority of his appearances as an impact substitute from the bench.

Per WhoScored, the 24-year-old versatile midfielder, who can be deployed on both flanks, has scored two goals in eight games in the Scottish Premiership this season, whilst he is averaging 1.5 shots per game.

WhoScored states that one of the former Manchester City academy player’s main strengths is his ball-playing ability, so he could cause the Bairns several problems at the back by running at the defence and playing through balls.

The Ibrox boss has spoken admirably about Barker in the past, as he singled the “dangerous” player out for praise after his performance in the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at the Govan stadium at the start of the season.

He said: “We hadn’t played at our maximum level in the first 45 minutes but we tweaked the formation, putting Brandon Barker out wide and we got our reward.

“That’s Brandon’s first full game in a long, long time with the injury problems he’s had and not settling in places. He’s earned his chance today.

“He’s trained really well. We played a bounce game against Plymouth and he was really dangerous. He’s showed me that he was ready for an opportunity.”

Speaking to the Open Goal podcast, former Rangers player Andy Halliday was full of praise for the winger, saying: “He’s one of the best trainers. He’s got days where he just beats the full team and scores and I think, supposedly, they played a friendly against Plymouth [Argyle] during the week and he was unbelievable.

“That’s one thing I’d say, wingers tend to be confidence players and he’s never had a run in the team. I don’t think he’s ever played any more than two games in a row.”

Gerrard will be hoping Barker can produce a similar performance on Sunday afternoon, where his key passing could well prove to be the difference in unlocking a well-disciplined Falkirk defence, who have yet to concede in their past three fixtures in all competitions.

AND in other news, Zungu and Hagi start, no room for Cedric Itten: Glasgow Rangers Predicted XI vs Falkirk…

Jacob Murphy was Steve Bruce’s only positive against Leeds on Wednesday night with the Newcastle United midfielder offering a solid display in a makeshift defensive role.

The Toon were tormented in West Yorkshire with goals from Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo, Stuart Dallas, Ezgjan Alioski and Jack Harrison sealing Marcelo Bielsa’s men only their second win at home since returning to the Premier League this summer.

Bruce was fuming at the performance seen from his players after the game, more so than the scoreline itself, feeling the Magpies’ defending was akin to the level of defending “you see on a park on a Sunday”.

Newcastle were dominated throughout the affair yet found themselves level at 2-2 and within reach of stealing a win, yet were blasted on the break by three quickfire goals as Leeds set about picking the Toon off on the counter.

The Magpies had no answer for the pace at which Leeds broke in the closing stages, with Harrison’s 25-yeard screamer only rubbing salt in the wounds of a sorry Newcastle side.

“Leeds are always going to ask you questions the way they play, they do it very well, but we’ve gifted them the two or three goals at the end. Unfortunately, they’re something which you see on a park on a Sunday,” Bruce said after the game, via quotes by BBC Sport.

“We can’t make those mistakes we’ve made here. At the wrong time we’ve given away poor goals, not defended well enough and got punished. It’s unacceptable.”

Murphy is by no means a natural defender yet was called on to go man-to-man with Harrison on Wednesday night after stepping onto the stage and delivering a sublime inch-perfect cross for Dwight Gayle to score the winner over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The 25-year-old, who Bruce believes has “improved enormously”, had started just four of Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixtures before visiting Elland Road, where he was given the first minutes of his senior career as a right-back.

Harrison had his way with Murphy as a result of his inexperience, yet there were many positives Bruce could take from his overall display.

Murphy was able to register two key balls at Elland Road, just one fewer than the Toon’s most creative players Ryan Fraser and Callum Wilson, despite only completing five of his 15 passes, per SofaScore.

He further connected with a Magpies teammate with two of his four crosses, created a big chance to score, registered a shot on Illan Meslier’s goal, completed six of his eight dribbles and came out on top in eight of his 12 ground duels.

The £3.15m-rated winger did his best to help defensively with one successful tackle and three interceptions – the second-most by a Newcastle player to Isaac Hayden (4) – and Bruce should see reason to take positives away from Murphy’s display in what was rather a baptism of fire for an attack-minded player to be asked to turn defender against Leeds.

AND in other news, a Newcastle lightweight with a “wonderful future” badly let Steve Bruce down against Leeds.