All posts by h79snht.top

Adnan Januzaj was arguably one of the few bright sparks of the miserable David Moyes administration at Manchester United.

In a season where his team struggled, the then 18-year-old took responsibility and along with David de Gea was one of the only players to come out of that nightmare campaign with a better reputation than when it started.

He was managed well by the Scot, used sparingly but still often enough to have a genuine breakthrough season. In his 27 appearances he scored four goals and created countless more; it seemed that United had found their new talisman and he was destined to truly take his place at the top of European football.

12 months later and the Belgian’s career has stalled. From being the new Ronaldo he is now a man on the peripheries under Louis van Gaal. Rather than trusted as a winger he has been shunted around the team, a square peg in an ever growing number of different round holes;  right back, left back, central midfield, number ten and a striker, to name a few.

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The signing of Angel Di Maria always meant it would be difficult for the 20-year-old to command the same sort of consistent role he had enjoyed in the season previous. However, as United’s ever growing injury list continued to extend, he still finds himself no closer to being part of Van Gaal’s plans.

Whether the Dutchman simply doesn’t rate Januzaj or whether he feels other players suit his team more; Van Gaal is clearly not sold on the Belgian. Never was this made clearer than in their home defeat to West Brom; with United chasing the game and needing to break down a resolute Albion, the manager decided that his enigmatic winger was better off sitting on the bench than influencing the game.

It is now four months since his first start and he is now beginning to struggle to get any playing time at all, even finding himself behind the much maligned Ashley Young in the wide man pecking order.

With the signing of Memphis Depay it seems that Januzaj could find his time even more limited at Old Trafford in the coming season, from a man who Gary Neville predicted could be “one of the best players in the world”, it has been a chastening season.

Even in his limited opportunities, he seems a shell of a player that sparkled last term, whether his attacking instincts are being curbed by his pragmatic manager is unknown, but something is certainly awry.

With rumours circulating United were interested in using him as part of the Depay deal, he is clearly not high on their list of priorities. After being given the famous number 11 jersey of Ryan Giggs last summer it seemed for all the world that the stage was set for a new star to take centre stage but he is still stood in the rafters, waiting to make his real entrance.

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If 2014 was a year of hype and excitement surrounding Januzaj, 2015 is one of frustration and missed opportunities. Unless things change 2016 could prove to be his last in a United shirt.

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Manchester City’s summer spending spree has been confined to three players. Three English players. For a combined fee of around £65m.

Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts have arrived at the club this summer, though perhaps only Sterling improves their first choice eleven straight away.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been linked with a move to the Manchester side, a switch that would improve the lacklustre midfield we bore witness to last year.

City’s quest for everything home grown certainly fits the Wilshere link. Though Juventus star Paul Pogba is THE centre midfielder to go out and get, Barcelona’s interest in the Frenchman is widely reported.

Should he leave the Old Lady, the Spanish giants are likely to be his next destination. For all City’s riches, they still trail behind the Blaugrana in terms of attracting players of that ilk. England star Wilshere may not be in the same class at ex-United man Pogba, but should a deal for him come to fruition, City would be getting a top class player.

Much has been made about his off the field antics, along with his injury record, but it is hard to doubt the Gunner’s class. He is an outrageously naturally gifted player, with an effortless control not often seen in English players.

His range of passing would inject a sense of guile into a midfield often found wanting. David Silva cannot do everything himself, and the marauding Yaya Toure looked less assured than even his cult-icon-like brother Kolo last year. His ability to produce long range passes to start a counter attack would suit new boy Raheem Sterling very well. Very well indeed.

Employed recently as a deep-lying playmaker for the national side, Wilshere has a wide set of abilities. Though his long passing is an undoubted strength, he possess the dribbling skills to surge further forward. The neat touches and flicks in his locker fly out of his feet when he is ghosting past oncoming defenders and creating space for team mates.

His recent Three Lions display against Slovakia showed what he can do further up the field. Sergio Aguero can look isolated at times, but the Arsenal man certainly has the quality to provide him with some top-class company.

Yaya Toure has been fantastic for the side since his arrival, but fallings out with the top bosses and a loss of form have dampened the aura surrounding the Ivory Coast international.

It seems likely he will stay another season, but should he not perform – Wilshere is the perfect replacement. He may not be as physically imposing as Toure, but offers a similar drive and energy.

Placed next to any one of Fernando, Fernandinhio or Fabian Delph, the Arsenal number 10 can excel. His defensive aptitude may be nothing to write home about at this stage in his career, but it is important to remember he is not yet 23-years-old.

That awareness will come, especially if he continues lining up at the base of a diamond for England, but only if he keeps the focus on football. Besides, you don’t pay a rumoured £40m for someone with the vision of Wilshere and keep him contained infront of the back four.

He often seems to be one-step ahead of the game, and combined with other quality players, can create moments of magic like the stunning team goal against Norwich two seasons ago.

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The silky midfielder brings with him a tenacity you may not expect from such a gifted footballer. The all action approach is perfect for this aging City side.

Like him or not, Wilshere is a top class player. Any deal to bring him to Manchester is of course a gamble, but one with a huge pay off. Injury problems are difficult to plan for, but the man’s class is unquestionable.

The fact he is a home grown talent only makes him more appealing. Should he focus on football, he may one day be considered in the highest of regards.

Swansea City boss Paul Clement became the sixth Premier League manager to receive his marching orders already this season on Wednesday, and it has left many wondering whether Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez could – and perhaps should – be next out the door.

Interestingly enough, the Welsh outfit decided to sack the 45-year-old as they currently lie bottom of the English top flight, while Crystal Palace relieved Frank de Boer of his duties when they were 19th, and Leicester City, Everton and West Ham United axed Craig Shakespeare, Ronald Koeman and Slaven Bilic respectively when they were all in 18th.

West Bromwich Albion are the only club to have fired their manager – Tony Pulis – when they weren’t in the relegation zone, although they were only one place above it and without a win in 10 Premier League games.

While things haven’t worked out for the Baggies under the leadership of Alan Pardew yet – they currently lie in 19th position – the others clubs that decided to act have paid the dividends as none of them find themselves in the bottom five, while Leicester and Everton have moved into the top-half of the table.

That was where Newcastle found themselves following a 1-0 win against Palace at St James’ Park two months ago, but after taking just one point from the last 27 available since then have fallen from sixth down to 18th in the standings, and they are now one point from safety.

The majority of Magpies fans are understandably delighted and honoured that they have a manager of Benitez’s experience at the helm – especially after he stayed loyal to them when they dropped into the Championship and led them back at the first attempt – and he has given them a feeling of pride and optimism that his predecessors perhaps failed to.

However, his side’s recent run of form simply hasn’t been good enough and is a real cause for concern, and you have to wonder when question marks over his future will start to emerge at a time when it is vitally important that the club stays in the top flight.

Yes, the Tyneside outfit don’t have the one of the best teams or squads in the Premier League and the Spaniard was disappointed with his summer business, but with Burnley – whose squad and budget isn’t much better or bigger than Newcastle’s – in sixth position and fellow newly-promoted clubs Huddersfield Town and Brighton and Hove Albion both above the Toon, you do have to wonder whether Benitez is working to the best of his ability and getting the best out of his players.

While their poor run of form has included expected away defeats against Manchester United, Chelsea and then Arsenal last weekend, the home losses against Watford, Bournemouth and Leicester City were extremely disappointing, and while he may not be solely to blame not many supporters would argue against the fact that there is plenty of room for improvement from the former Liverpool and Real Madrid chief.

The reality of the situation is that if the Magpies lose heavily against West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday, Swansea pick up a win at home to Crystal Palace and West Brom draw at Stoke – none of which could be deemed as inconceivable right now – Newcastle could find themselves bottom of the table at Christmas.

The fans will blame the disinterested owner Mike Ashley and the distraction of the takeover talk for their current predicament – and they may be largely correct with those thoughts – but Benitez is a highly experienced manager who should be able to get himself and his players focused in spite of anything that may be happening off of the pitch.

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The 57-year-old hasn’t done that though and he perhaps should be getting more stick from the passionate supporters than he is right now, because his team are in real danger of suffering relegation as things stand.

Considering how trigger-happy Newcastle have been in the past few years with their managers no one is asking for – or wants to see Benitez – get the chop, but you do have to wonder when an improvement is coming and at what point the tide will start to turn among the passionate St James’ Park faithful.

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Aston Villa will be hoping to secure their place back in the big time this season after a disappointing return to England’s second-tier last term.

Steve Bruce is beginning to improve the club’s fortunes, though, as they currently occupy a place in the top six and look likely to give themselves a chance of promotion come May.

On Football Manager 2018, Villa are a good project to take on. They have money, history and the players to make you one of the favourites from the very beginning. They also have a number of good young players coming through the youth setup if you’re the kind of manager who likes to develop youngsters in to world beaters.

There are four at Villa Park who deserve particular attention when managing Villa on the game, so read on to learn more about the four Aston Villa wonderkids on FM18…

Jake Doyle-Hayes

Age: 18

Position(s): M (C)

Nation: Ireland

Value: £160k

Asking Price: £11.25m

Keinan Davis

Age: 19

Position(s): ST(C)

Nation: England

Value: £2.8m

Asking Price: £24m

Andre Green

Age: 18

Position(s): AM(RL), M (L)

Nation: England

Value: £1.8m

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Asking Price: £16m

Josh Onomah

Age: 20

Position(s): M/AM (C)

Nation: England

Value: £8.5m

Asking Price: £87m

It’s no secret that Liverpool need a goalkeeper.

Not only does Jurgen Klopp have two keepers of reasonably similar levels of ability and, indeed, of calamity, but he switches them around frequently. Loris Karius appears to be the current long-term choice, but that seems to change from month to month.

It could well be a case of fiddling while Rome burns. Karius was considered to have been at fault for Leroy Sane’s equaliser when the game was tied up at 1-1 against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. But for the moment, it looks like the German will keep the gloves. You have to wonder what that changes for the Reds.

With the January transfer in full flow, it looks unlikely that Liverpool will go for a replacement this month. And you’d think that it would be unlikely that they’d go for a keeper if Karius did relatively well from now until the end of the season. But that only serves to highlight the fact that Jurgen Klopp should be pushing for a goalkeeper sooner rather than later.

This winter, the transfer of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao to Real Madrid has been one of the sagas of the window. The Basque keeper can leave the club on a free at the end of the season, but the Champions League winners are supposed to be interested in acquiring his services in January, paying the £20m release clause.

What’s interesting, though, is that ZInedine Zidane has been reticent against signing a new goalkeeper for quite some time, placing his faith in Keylor Navas, so it seems as though there’s some form of power struggle going on at the Bernabeu with regard to whether or not the club should sign a new stopper.

Liverpool should use that uncertainty to swoop in.

The £20m figure quoted in the Daily Mail at the end of December would be nothing for a club who have just had the Philippe Coutinho windfall, and an upgrade on their goalkeepers should certainly be a priority which allows them to pay a little bit over the odds to bring Kepa in now instead of in the summer on a free – when he’ll probably move to Madrid anyway.

In terms of goalkeeping ability, it’s clear that the 23-year-old is in a league above those already at Anfield. He has been reliable at a good top flight club since his breakthrough last season. This time around, despite the fact that Bilbao find themselves in 12th whilst Liverpool are third, the Basques have conceded just 20 goals compared with the 28 that Klopp’s side have shipped.

That’s certainly not all down to the goalkeeper, and indeed the mere fact that Burnley have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool is hardly a reason to out and buy Nick Pope, who’s deputised in the absence of the injured Tom Heaton.

This season, Kepa has claimed more crosses than either of Liverpool’s two keepers, and his ability will only get better, as at a relatively young age, he can still improve a great deal.

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Perhaps, though, the same can be said for Karius. At only 24 years of age, the German has time to improve. From his early Liverpool career, though, that doesn’t look like an overly promising possibility.

It is likely that the Reds will buy a goalkeeper this summer, but if they have an eye on Kepa, waiting that long might not be an option. Instead, a quick swoop to steal him from under the noses of Real Madrid who seem to be dithering might be the best option.

As reported by The Daily Mail, Newcastle United are looking to take Everton attacker Sandro Ramirez on loan for the rest of the 2017/18 season.

What’s the story?

The Magpies have struggled for goals in the English Premier League this season, netting just 22 times in 24 matches so far.

If they are to push on in the second half of the season and stay clear of the relegation zone then they need to show more potency in the final third and adding an attacker or two could really freshen things up in Rafa Benitez’s first team.

One man they’re said to be interested in is Everton star Sandro Ramirez.

The Daily Mail reckon they’ve made contact with the Toffees to take him on loan this January with Benitez ready to sanction a move that will cost them a £2m loan fee and £100,000-a-week in wages.

Newcastle do have competition though, with the paper reporting that La Liga sides Sevilla and Real Betis are both interested in the player, who joined Everton in the summer for £5.2m.

Can he make an impact?

While it’s true Ramirez has struggled to impress for Everton this season, it’s worth remembering his stellar form that won him a move to Goodison Park in the first place.

He scored 16 goals and provided five assists for Malaga in the Spanish top flight in 2016/17, the kind of attacking firepower that would go down a treat at Newcastle right now.

The former Spanish U21 international has scored just once for the Toffees but has found opportunities limited at Goodison Park, making just eight Premier League appearances.

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If Rafa Benitez can inspire him to find his La Liga form and he gets a run of regular games in the Spaniard’s system, he could be a real hit in the north east, even if the reported figures seem quite expensive for a short-term loan move.

It’s a risk that could pay off massively for Newcastle.

To say there’s a mistake in him is something of an understatement.

Eliaquim Mangala has been Manchester City’s weak link in the back line pretty much ever since he arrived in England.

Alongside any of City’s current centre-backs, Mangala looks out of place, and a big-money January move for Aymeric Laporte pretty much shows that despite the Blues’ current comfortable position in the league table, there was a clear need for an upgrade.

That move has allowed the French defender to talk to other clubs and find a transfer of his own, even if it’s just a temporary deal. And Sky Sports News are reporting that Everton are the team ‘confident’ of landing him on loan until the end of the season.

You can see, though, why Evertonians would have reservations about the defender. He is, after all, seen not just as a weak link in the City side, but also as a flop of epic proportions, having been signed for over £30m back when that was a significant outlay even for the Etihad Stadium side.

But there’s a reason why Mangala has looked so shaky, and it’s not because he’s a bad defender.

Indeed, the fact he’s big, powerful and good in the air means he’ll usually have something about him when it comes to keeping the ball away from the goal, but some of his underappreciated qualities include his bravery, his ability to get a block in and his reading of the game, which is better than his ability to sort out his feet suggest.

And yet, the reason all of that wasn’t enough at City is quite simply down to the style of play.

He wasn’t great under Manuel Pellegrini, but the gung-ho style under the former boss coupled with the on-again-off-again fitness of Vincent Kompany meant that anyone would have struggled. Since the arrival of Guardiola, he’s been sidelined mostly because of his lack of ability with the ball at his feet.

Mangala has always been seen as something of a rough diamond, but one which certainly can’t be cut into the John Stones or Gerard Pique mould. Instead, he is a hulking stopper more at home in a team playing with a deep line than one looking to take control of the game, passing and pressing their way to victory. City this season have played with a high line and the Frenchman is clearly uncomfortable with that scenario. But under Sam Allardyce at Everton this season, he might find that this is a new system which suits him quite well.

With no space behind him to worry about, defending on the turn will be less of a problem, and when you take that away and put him into a defence which is well-drilled and competent, like you’d hope Everton’s will be under Allardyce by the end of the season, you might see a very different looking player – one who isn’t forced to do the uncomfortable things, and one who now looks like a commanding presence, not one scared of his own four shadows in the floodlights.

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To sweeten the deal, too, Mangala is a left-sided centre back, of which there aren’t too many around. And with left-back proving a problem position for Allardyce, it’s possible that the City defender could provide an unlikely versatility, potentially even filling in for Leighton Baines at certain times, too.

At the moment, there’s always a mistake in Mangala, but put him in a different context and he might well surprise you. Everton under Allardyce looks as good a place as any. And despite the doom and gloom around Goodison Park this season, there is still hope on the horizon, especially with a clever signing like this one.

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Southampton will unexpectedly face Wigan Athletic in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the DW Stadium after the Latics recorded a brilliant 1-0 win over Manchester City on Monday night, and Saints fans were quick to have their say on the news.

When the south coast outfit were drawn against either Wigan or City on Saturday the St Mary’s faithful would have expected that they would come up against the runaway Premier League leaders at the Etihad Stadium, but instead their 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion will see them come up against League One opposition.

It won’t be an easy task against Paul Cook’s side though, who are flying high in England’s third tier and have already knocked out top flight clubs Bournemouth, West Ham United and now City on their way to the last eight.

That is something acknowledged by Southampton supporters who have had their say on the surprising result via social media, and while one said it’s “gonna be embarrassing when we get knocked out by Wigan”, another said ‘they’ll humiliate us’.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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As reported by The Daily Mail, Brendan Rodgers has warned Celtic fans that in the current football climate they can’t expect the club to relive glory days of the past.

What’s the story?

The Hoops face tough UEFA Europa League opposition this evening at Celtic Park, hosting Russian Premier League side FC Zenit in the Round of 32.

Despite the long trip for the Russians and the fact they haven’t played a competitive match for months due to their winter break, Roberto Mancini’s side are seen as favourites.

It’s a far cry from the days when the Hoops could string together extended runs in the competition, most famously all the way to the final back in 2003.

However, Rodgers has warned the current situation facing the Bhoys is different and is taking a realistic view of tonight’s match.

As quoted by The Daily Mail, the Celtic boss said:

The financial climate is totally different now to what it was back then for Celtic. There will be always be expectation here. We always want to fight and, like our predecessors, try to do the very best that we can. But when you compare it to that, football and Celtic have changed a lot.

I always think that we are Celtic…. but I have always been realistic. I think that I have always been a realist and when you look at their (Zenit’s) investment and the level of players they have they will expect to go through. We have to find a way and we will see if we can get a result.

Can Celtic tap into an underdog spirit and shock the Russians ahead of the return leg in St Petersburg next week?

Great expectations

Whenever a European night arrives at Celtic Park, there is always expectation from the home support that they are about to witness something special.

The Hoops have seen more illustrious outfits than FC Zenit come and go without a result in the East end of Glasgow, even when Celtic aren’t spending big money on transfers.

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Brendan Rodgers’ side must show they can raise their game to match the threat of their visitors and the manager himself must show he has the tactical nous to change the way Celtic play to fit the occasion.

Last time out against Anderlect, the Bhoys were far too passive and were punished with a 1-0 scoreline as a result.

A repeat of that performance will end in disaster tonight and they really need to bring a win to Russia if they’re to have any hope of making it to the last 16.

Leeds United will look to further boost their Championship promotion hopes when they face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Friday night.

The Yorkshire outfit were still just within touching distance of the play-off positions prior to their clash against Brentford at Elland Road on Saturday, despite no victories since Boxing Day seemingly leaving their hopes in tatters.

However, Paul Heckingbottom picked up his first three points since he succeeded Thomas Christiansen against the Bees, with Liam Cooper’s first-half goal moving them to within five points of sixth-place Bristol City, and just three points adrift of their opponents on Teesside on Friday.

The former Barnsley boss will be well aware that his side need to keep picking up points to keep the pressure on the sides above them, and he will know that the clash against Tony Pulis’ side is the ideal opportunity to move level on points with Boro and throw themselves right into the promotion mix.

Heckingbottom made five changes – with some of them enforced – to his team against Brentford, and he will perhaps be thinking about making some more in the north-east to give his side the best possible chance of taking all three points back to Elland Road.

Here is how Leeds must line up against Middlesbrough on Friday, ahead of Felix Wiedwald in goal…

Defence

Heckingbottom omitted left-back Laurens De Bock from the squad against Brentford on Saturday following his horror show against Derby last week, although he said afterwards it was due to the home-grown rule with Adam Forshaw missing because his wife was in labour.

It meant that Vurnon Anita came into team on the left-hand side of the back four, and he will hope to keep his place in the side ahead of De Bock after helping the team keep a clean sheet against the Bees.

However, Heckingbottom should choose to have the more naturally left-footed De Bock back in the side, especially with Adama Traore available after his dismissal against Sunderland at the weekend was overturned.

The rest of the back four picks itself right now with Gaetano Berardi at right-back and Pontus Jansson and captain Liam Cooper, who scored the winner on Saturday, likely to start in defence.

Midfield

Heckingbottom selected a midfield duo of Adam Forshaw and Ronaldo Vieira in the 2-2 draw against Derby last week, but it was all change against Brentford with Eunan O’Kane and Kalvin Phillips starting in the middle.

With Forshaw likely to return against his former club he should come back into the starting XI, and Phillips certainly did more than O’Kane did against Brentford and it is the latter that should drop to the substitutes’ bench against Tony Pulis’ men.

Attack

Lasogga must be the first pick in the centre-forward spot right now because of his impressive goal record for Leeds this season, but Heckingbottom has some big decisions to make in the three attacking spots behind the big German.

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Stuart Dallas, Samu Saiz and Ezgjan Alioski started in the win against Brentford with neither Pablo Hernandez nor Kemar Roofe in the 18 due to injury concerns, but the duo will be hoping to be involved at the Riverside Stadium.

Alioski produced the assist for Cooper’s goal against Brentford and Saiz impressed against the Bees, but Heckingbottom should consider bringing in Hernandez for Dallas against Boro to ensure his team have the attacking threat to get a much-needed three points.

Do you agree, Leeds fans? Let us know below.