Tag Futebol

[ad_pod ]

Earlier this month West Ham confirmed the club-record signing of Sebastien Haller, a striker whose stellar form in 2018/19 clearly caught the eye of Manuel Pellegrini and co.

The Hammers paid £45m for the Frenchman’s services, having sold star frontman Mark Arnautovic to Shanghai SIPG for £22.4m.

The 25-year-old chalked up an astonishing 20 goals – equal to the league tallies of Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez combined – and 12 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions in the last campaign.

At the same time, he established a lethal partnership up front with Real Madrid new boy, Luka Jovic, who scored 17 league goals himself.

With the departures of Andy Carroll and Perez preceding Arnautovic’s bitter exit, the Hammers were in desperate need of reinforcements up front, but there is little doubt that Haller can be more than just a replacement for the aforementioned names; the former FC Utrecht man can be an upgrade.

Having failed in their attempts to bring Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette to the club back in 2016, the Hammers may finally be getting the big-name striker they’ve been looking for.

But what can Haller bring to the London Stadium besides goals?

Aerial duels

Having finally lost their patience with the former Newcastle striker, West Ham might have rid themselves of a sick-note striker by releasing 30-year-old Carroll this summer.

However, the towering hitman at least had his uses when the Hammers were forced to find ugly ways to score.

The big number 9 won 3.8 aerial duels per game last term – the most of any West Ham player – and this dominance needed to be replaced.

Fortunately, Haller has strength and power in abundance, as proven by his incredible 6.8 aerial duels won per game in 2018/19, putting Carroll’s output to shame.

Unlike Carroll, the former France youth international isn’t just a bully, though – his 1 dribble per game shows that he has the technical ability to beat a man, while Carroll’s sole glimpse of ingenuity in a West Ham shirt was that overhead kick he executed against Crystal Palace.

Key passes

Arnautovic’s 6 foot 4 frame enables him to bounce through challenges before using a potent blend of strength and vision to create opportunities for both himself and his teammates, as evidenced by his 1.3 key passes per game last term.

Despite being a goalscorer first and foremost the Austrian also provided four assists, proving crucial in both the creation and execution of chances.

Haller’s influence in the final third was similar. He completed 1.3 key passes per game, a return bettered by only Hoffenheim’s Joelinton and Werder Bremen’s Max Kruse in 2018/19 when ranking forwards who made more than 15 appearances.

The behemoth hitman’s ability to pick out a pass for a teammate will surely see Felipe Anderson match or surpass his ten strikes last term, while he is bound to pick up a few assists throughout the season.

Tackles

Premier League strikers such as Danny Ings and Roberto Firmino, who play in high-pressing systems and are known for their ability to close down and dispossess defenders, are a huge asset to their sides.

And Haller could bring a similar intensity to those sorts of names at the London Stadium.

The Ris-Orangis-born star completed 0.8 tackles per game last term – the fourth-highest of Bundesliga forwards who made more than 15 appearances – while also making 1.4 fouls.

In comparison, Arnautovic, who is renowned for his bullish approach to centre-forward play, made 0.3 tackles and 1.1 fouls.

It would seem that the Hammers are getting a player who offers their former number 7’s physical and creative abilities and some.

Even better, he arrives without the baggage.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

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…

A stunning start to the 2018/19 campaign saw Joe Gomez emerge as a standout player for Liverpool and England.

The former Charlton man was starting week in, week out alongside Virgil van Dijk and had iconic centre-backs such as Rio Ferdinand championing him to become one of England’s best.

Ferdinand said: “This kid for me, he’s on the march to be the best defender we’ve got in England. I rate him so highly. He’s calm, he’s cool and you need that when you’re under pressure.”

“It reminds me of a bus seat!” – Watch a damning verdict on Chelsea’s new kit in the video below…

Sadly for the 22-year-old however, he suffered a lower leg fracture in a 3-1 away win against Burnley before the turn of the year and only managed to make three more appearances for the rest of the season – those showings amounted to just 12 minutes of action.

Gomez lost his place to Joel Matip, who in fairness didn’t put a foot wrong after he came in – the Liverpool supporters loved his display in the Champions League final.

However, two key moments from the 6 foot 2 defender in pre-season so far have shown that he is desperate to impress Jurgen Klopp and get back in the team alongside van Dijk.

The Charlton academy graduate was allowed to have an extended holiday after appearing in the UEFA Nations League with England, and was due to be back at Melwood later this month.

Gomez instead made an early return on Saturday, and went one better by wowing his teammates and the staff by running James Milner all the way in the annual lactate test – a running drill designed to assess the player’s fitness levels after their time off.

“Everyone knows how fit Millie is, he’s a machine, but I tried to do as much as I could in the off-season to come back as fit as possible. It’s nice to be up there competing with him, to get to that stage, but Millie speaks for himself,” said Gomez, and it’s clear to see that he has been working hard on his fitness in the off-season.

Reporting back early for pre-season training, and then running the fittest player at the club all the way in the endurance test shows that Gomez is serious about preparing for the 2019/20 campaign properly.

He certainly looks determined to get his place back from Matip and impress Klopp.

[ad_pod ]

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

Tottenham Hotspur value Ryan Sessegnon at £25m as they attempt to complete a deal this summer, per the Daily Mail.

What’s the word?

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Fulham left-back, who can also play as a winger, has long been touted as a target for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

The club have thus far been unable to match the Cottagers’ asking price of £45m.

Sessegnon, of course, stayed at the club following their promotion to the Premier League but was unable to prevent their subsequent relegation, though he made a total of 38 appearances in all competitions in 2018/19, scoring twice and registering six assists.

Spurs, the report claims, are confident a deal can be done this summer as they attempt to bring in a flurry of new arrivals.

The same report claims that the club have reached an agreement with Leeds United to sign winger Jack Clarke, while Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele is also set to complete a £55m move to north London.

Classic Levy

Sessegnon would be an excellent addition for Spurs this summer.

He is a young player with heaps of potential who can potentially upgrade two positions for the club; Ben Davies is not a particularly brilliant back-up to Danny Rose at full-back, while there is precious little depth beyond Son Heung-Min on the left flank.

Doing a deal at less than half the club’s asking price would be astonishing work from chairman Daniel Levy and his driving a hard bargain will surely help Spurs in the long-run.

Sessegnon, after all, is out of contract next summer and the Mail claim he is not set to sign an extension, as he is aware of the interest in his services.

A coveted youngster with a remarkably high ceiling, bringing him in for £25m would be a bargain befitting Levy’s reputation as an exceptional negotiator.

It has been a roller-coaster of a year to be a Sheffield Wednesday supporter, hasn’t it?

After witnessing their side suffer an appalling start to the 2018/19 campaign under Jos Luhukay, the Hillsborough faithful would have been very concerned about the prospect of being dragged into a relegation battle.

Yet with the club dropping like a stone in the Championship standings, chairman Dejphon Chansiri made the crucial call to sack the Portuguese boss in December with Steve Bruce being brought in to steady the ship.

Having done just that by securing a 12th place finish earlier this month, the 58-year-old will be looking to launch a sustained push for promotion next season.

Yet in order to achieve this, Bruce simply must get his recruitment spot on this summer.

Although it is fair to say that the Owls need to make improvements in several positions in the transfer market, their number one priority must be to sign a winger who has the potential to set the Championship alight.

With both George Boyd and Marco Matias scheduled to leave the club next month when their contracts expire, Bruce should turn his attention to securing the services of one of Swiss football’s most exciting players.

According to Football Insider, the Owls are reportedly interested in signing Benjamin Kololli from FC Zurich after being impressed by the nature of the 27-year-old’s performances.

A fantastic technician, the £2.48m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) has arguably been Stadtclub’s most important player this season as, without him, they could have easily suffered an embarrassing relegation to the Challenge League.

Yet with Kololli managing to fire in a spectacular total of 14 goals in all competitions whilst also providing six assists, Zurich managed to secure their stay in Switzerland’s top division.

Clearly a special player, the 27-year-old would arguably be an upgrade on Adam Reach who despite being brilliant on his day, does tend to drift in and out of games for the Owls.

Therefore, if the Kololli is indeed available this summer, Wednesday must do everything they possibly can to convince him to make the switch to West Yorkshire as he could prove to be the missing piece in Bruce’s jigsaw.

What do you think Owls fans? Should Bruce go all-out to try and sign Kololli this summer? How important is it that the former Aston Villa boss recruits the right players in the transfer window? Get in touch below.

[ad_pod ]Matt Jarvis was one of several players released by Norwich City ahead of their return to the Premier League.

This post prompted a response on Twitter from BT Sports presenter and massive Norwich City fan Jake Humphrey.

The 33-year-old spent three-and-a-half-years at Norwich but only made 21 appearances because of a 31-month period of time out injured.

Jarvis joined Norwich from West Ham United – initially on loan – in September 2015 but in the following January the Canaries made the move permanent for £2.5m.

This brought an end to Jarvis’s rather unsuccessful spell in East London with the Hammers, where he made 90 appearances and only scored six goals as well as providing eight assists.

Jarvis had joined West Ham for £10m in August 2012 from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Middlesbrough born man made his name at Wolves during a five-year-stint in the Black Country.

He was known for his direct running and ability to whip in an excellent cros.

Jarvis put in three solid seasons with Wolves in the Premier League from 2009-12. In that time he made 108 appearances, scoring 13 times and registering 19 assists.

He leaves Norwich knowing that his only chance of regular first-team football will probably be with a side in League One.

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur have been told to pay £20million if they want to sign Leeds United youngster Jack Clarke, per the Daily Mirror.

What’s the word?

The teenager has emerged as a target for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who are keen to refresh their squad after a season that has seen them finish in the Premier League top-four and reach the Champions League final.

The Mirror claim that Spurs are keen to secure young English talent and have also been linked with Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish.

Clarke made his first-team debut for Leeds in October and made a total of 25 appearances in all competitions on the right wing, scoring twice and laying on two assists.

Crystal Palace are also credited with an interest in the teenager but the Championship club, who failed to win promotion via the play-offs, want £20m for their hot prospect.

Spurs, the report claims, could also loan Clarke back to Elland Road as Marcelo Bielsa’s men look to finally seal promotion to the Premier League.

Move on

This is yet another deal that will not truly impact Spurs’ starting XI.

It is understandable that the club want to scoop up the best young players in the country but, as it stands, Spurs need first-team stars, not youth prospects who could be loaned back to the selling club.

It remains to be seen how much money the club actually have to spend but a figure of £20m for an untested 18-year-old is simply too high of a fee.

Chairman Daniel Levy may be able to negotiate that down, of course, but as it is, this feels like a major punt.

Spurs should move on and attempt to secure a genuine first-team star.

[ad_pod ]

Aston Villa are in the market for James Tavernier according to Football Insider, who understand the Rangers man is subject of interest from the Midlands club.

The right-back has been in exceptional form for Steven Gerrard’s side this season and despite playing in defence has incredible numbers for goals and assists, hitting double figures for both in 2018/19.

With the likes of Alan Hutton and Ahmed Elmohamady both in their 30s then, it is thought Dean Smith is looking for a younger player in that position.

Villa’s summer plans could hinge on whether they get promoted but it’s likely the club are to do plenty of business given the number of loan deals ending at the end of the season.

Tavernier is currently captain at Rangers and has been a key man under Steven Gerrard. However, it now looks as though he could be on his way back to England.

With a possible move on the cards, Football FanCast writers have given their verdicts on whether the 27-year-old is the type of player the Villans should be looking at if they get promoted. Here’s what they said:

Luke Glanville:

“For me, James Tavernier is most definitely not the type of player Aston Villa need to be targeting if they manage to secure a return to the Premier League. Especially in defence, Dean Smith’s men will require players with plenty of experience in the English top flight. And the right-back Tavernier has a little, but not nearly enough. Plus, the Rangers man has been playing in the far inferior Scottish leagues for the last four years and would undoubtedly hugely struggle with the step back up to the Premier League. There’s a reason why Newcastle United let him go in the first place.”

Billy Meyers:

“Aston Villa should definitely take a look at signing James Tavernier if they go up. We’ve seen that Ahmed Elmohamady is a prolific relegation specialist in the past, and at 31 years of age, the Villans should definitely be searching for his replacement. As a result, what better man to target than the technically brilliant Tavernier, who has an astonishing number of goals and assists to his name across all competitions. Plenty of gems, such as Victor Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk, have come out of the Scottish top-flight, and Villa could get their hands on another star in Tavernier.”

James Beavis:

“Most definitely. The club often got their recruitment all wrong in their final few years in the Premier League, but signing Tavernier would prove Villa have learnt their lesson. The 27-year-old is a decent enough defender and especially effective in the final third, and Kodjia or a new striker would be in dreamland with the service the former Wigan man is capable of providing. This move makes all the sense in the world, and now Dean Smith just has to ensure they make it to the Premier League.”

عاد نادي ريال مدريد سريعًا إلى التدريبات الجماعية في المدينة الرياضية بعد ساعات من الفوز على حساب هويسكا بنتيجة 4-1 في الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وواصل ريال مدريد التحليق في صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 16 نقطة من 7 جولات حتى الآن، ولكن عينه الآن على بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتعاني كتيبة المدرب، زين الدين زيدان، من سوء النتائج في دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث خسر الفريق الجولة الأولى أمام شاختار دونتسك وتعادل في الثانية أمام بوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ريال مدريد في ورطة بعد إصابة فاسكيز قبل مواجهة إنتر ميلان

وبدأ ريال مدريد الاستعداد منذ الصباح للمواجهة الثالثة أمام إنتر ميلان في ملعب “ألفريدو دي ستيفانو”، والتي ستقام يوم الثلاثاء القادم في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة”.

وغاب عن التدريبات جناح ريال مدريد، لوكاس فاسكيز، بعد إصابته في مباراة هويسكا بالأمس ببداية الشوط الثاني ومغادرة اللقاء في الدقيقة 52.

وسيخضع فاسكيز غدًا، الإثنين، إلى الفحوصات الطبية الشاملة من أجل معرفة وتحديد طبيعة إصابته بالرنين المغناطيسي.

بينما ظهر الرباعي ناتشو، داني كارفاخال، مارتن أوديجارد وألفارو أودريوزولا على العشب الأخضر كجزء من برنامجهم العلاجي بجانب صالة الجيم، ولكن لن يشاركوا في مباراة إنتر ميلان لعدم الجاهزية.

Craig Levein and Hearts have a massive ten days ahead of them, with the Edinburgh derby on Saturday sandwiched between a huge game at Rangers tomorrow and a Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness the following week.

To be fighting for cup glory and a top three finish is fantastic for the Tynecastle club, but the what they cannot afford, are more injuries.

With on loan striker, Steven Naismith, recovering from knee surgery, the last thing they wanted was to lose their other goal threat, Uche Ikpeazu.

Having scored what turned out to be the winning goal against Aberdeen on Saturday, he suffered a head injury, which forced him off.

With concussion being in the spotlight following the Fabian Shcar incident for Switzerland, it is refreshing to know that the Scottish Professional Football League has strict guidelines for clubs to adhere to, although it is bad news for Hearts fans.

As a result of the injury, Ikpeazu will not be permitted to play against Rangers on Wednesday.

It is a huge blow for Levein and Hearts, but the health and safety of the player must come first.

Levein told BBC Sport: “He’s passed all the tests so far and he feels good.

“Providing everything goes well for the rest of the week, he should be okay for the Hibs match.”

“He won’t make the Rangers game, but I’m pretty confident he will be okay for Saturday,” Levein said.

“The guidelines are very strict, but he was fine on Sunday morning when I spoke to him.”

With third placed Kilmarnock visiting Hibs — who are just two points behind Hearts — on the same night, with Aberdeen playing Motherwell too, Levein would have hoped to have his striker fit, in what could prove to be a pivotal night.

It seemed like a good time to be facing Rangers, a side who are reeling from an Old Firm defeat, and have striker Alfredo Morelos suspended, but the situation has now changed somewhat.

It is a strong likelihood that 21-year-old Craig Wighton will be used as a lone striker in the game now, and Hearts will be looking to play much of the game without the ball, but counter attacking when they have it.

The hope now will be that Ikpeazu will be available for the derby on Saturday, and depending on results on Wednesday, that may become a must-win game for Levein’s side.

What are your thoughts on the striker options available for the Rangers game, Hearts fans? Let us know below…

It’s safe to say the out of the crop of players Unai Emery brought in during the summer transfer window Stephan Lichtsteiner was the most underwhelming of the bunch.

The Swiss international is way past his prime and hasn’t been at the top of his game for years, and it’s evident in some of his performances for Arsenal this season, some of which have been comical.

Lichtsteiner hasn’t exactly done a lot to win over the hearts of Arsenal fans, which is why in a recent interview with Swiss paper Neue Zurcher Zeitung (via Sky Sports) that the 35-year-old defender was open to leaving the club after his deal with the club expires in the summer for more first-team football.

Of course, some Arsenal fans might be excited about this news. But what these people fail to realise is, that in the background Lichtsteiner has improved the club this season, just not in the way you expected it.

The main reason why the experienced right-back was brought in at Arsenal is because of that exact reason, Lichtsteiner is a defender who has done everything you can do for a club and has learnt all there is to learn about the art of being a full-back.

His experience of being Juventus’ starting right-back for seven years and winning almost everything there is to win with the Italian giants makes him the perfect mentor for Hector Bellerin, the player many Gunners fans expect to be at the club for many years to come.

As well as cover for if Bellerin gets injured, which has happened this season, Lichtsteiner behind the scenes has been helping the Spaniard improve this game, and this has been evident on the pitch.

Before his season-ending ACL injury, Bellerin was without question the best right-back in the Premier League this campaign. The 23-year-old led in assists from a defender with five, and his overall game massively improved, especially in defence.

With Bellerin for the foreseeable, Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set to take over the right-back position, though the Swiss in question shouldn’t be allowed to leave so easily, if at all.

But his time at Arsenal should not be remembered for the few performances where he was beaten for pace or played in a wrong pass, it should be remembered for helping Bellerin play the best football he has played in years and for passing down the knowledge that will make the Spaniard one of the best fullbacks in world football.

Arsenal fans, was Lichtsteiner a good summer signing?