All posts by n8rngtd.top

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Leeds United sensation Ryan Edmondson took his tally for the club’s U23 side this season to 14 with a brace in the 2-0 win against Colchester United on Monday that ensured the team won the Professional Development League North title.

The 17-year-old has clearly been in outstanding form despite his tender years, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed seeing as he made his first-team debut as a substitute against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2017/18 campaign.

That was followed up with another cameo from the bench against Birmingham City back in September, but in truth the confident marksman should have featured more than that.

His latest performance was a clear sign of why as he showed the work rate and clinical finishing needed to be a success in a Marcelo Bielsa side.

The 6 ft 1 youngster was last named in the 18-man squad in the league by the Argentine in the October, and he is long overdue further involvement.

It has been especially puzzling in recent weeks in the absence of the injured Kemar Roofe that he has been nowhere to be seen, despite the fact that another youngster in Jack Clarke is consistently in and around the squad.

Edmondson’s comments following the huge triumph on Monday only go to further that argument, as he believes that the U23s are enjoying their success having followed Bielsa’s blueprint when it comes to style of play, with their opponents clearly unable to cope.

Patrick Bamford’s hit-and-miss in form in front of goal has shown that the former Middlesbrough man needs more support, and his 17-year-old Leeds teammate is ready to provide it despite his inexperience – along with Kemar Roofe when he returns.

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Loads of Celtic fans have been reflecting on the Old Firm, and they’re not too happy with Neil Lennon’s in-game decisions.

The dust has settled on the third and final Old Firm derby of the campaign, but the talking points are still raging on.

Scott Brown is of course the subject of most of the controversy having played a part in both of Rangers’ red cards, and fans are loving what the skipper said after the match.

Obviously though, there was a game of football that took place, and all the talk surrounding Brown, Alfredo Morelos and whatever madness occurred near the benches at full time seems to have distracted from that.

Some Bhoys fans are keeping their eyes fixed firmly on what matters though, and they’re highlighting a number of poor decisions Lennon made as his side surrendered more and more of the game to their arch-rivals in the second half.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

The boss brought off Jonny Hayes at half time, who was playing extremely well, and used all three of his subs before the 74th minute, in which Dedryck Boyata picked up an injury.

The Hoops then had to play on with ten men due to Lennon’s early moves, and the Twitter reactions down below do not make pretty reading…

Everyone who follows English football loves the FA Cup, and even more so people love an underdog story.

From Lincoln City knocking out Burnley to Hereford United forcing a replay and winning the second game against Newcastle, the magic of the Cup is something all football fans can get behind and believe in, and for Leyton Orient fans, it’s something they have experienced.

A moment in time – Leyton Orient, 1978

For most of the 1970s, Orient were an unremarkable side. Mid-table in the Second Division and not looking like a team that could go up or go down, it was all rather dull for the east London side, until the 1977/78 edition of the FA Cup began.

Prior to 1978, the furthest Orient had gone in the historic competition was the quarter-finals in the 1953/54 and 1971/72 seasons, and after the east London side were forced into replay in the third round against Norwich City, it was looking like the cup run was going to be another underwhelming endeavour.

However, a 1-0 win at Carrow Road put Orient into the next round, where they won comfortably against Blackburn Rovers 3-1. Drawn against Chelsea in the fifth round, it looked like the end of the road was coming, but yet again the east London side defied the odds.

Another replay saw Orient win 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and send the Division Two team into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1972. Yet another round that went into a replay, this time against Middlesbrough, and yet again the east London side coming out as winners set the club up for the first ever semi-final in the competition, where they would face Division One giant’s Arsenal.

Held at Stamford Bridge, the venue for Orient’s giant-killing already that season, Jimmy Bloomfield’s side were yet again heading into this game the underdogs, the story of their FA Cup run. However 20 minutes into the match, it became quickly apparent that the O’s had gone as far as they could.

A four-minute brace from strike Malcolm Macdonald put Orient 2-0 down going into halftime before Graham Rix rounded off the result for the Gunners.

It was a heart-breaking end to one of the most surprising cup runs that decade, and it still remains the furthest Orient have gone in the FA Cup.

Orient fans, will the club ever get as far as the semi-finals of the FA Cup again? Let us know!

Benjamin Mendy used to be quite a likeable character, but he has since degenerated into one of the most frustrating players for fans and critics alike.

The proliferation of YouTube, social media, the internet and technology means players are more connected with the outside world than ever. And that is a great thing. In the modern era, we need players like Benjamin Mendy; individuals who can bridge the gap between the dressing room and fans. Those fun, bouncy characters who are as useful off the pitch as they are on. But that is where the problem lies. The Frenchman is too focused on one thing and not the other.

Manchester fans more than anyone have a right to be frustrated with their record signing left-back. Their match-up against Brighton in the FA Cup on 6 April marked the first time Mendy appeared in anything other than social media in nine games. Before that, the club’s resident prankster had spent two separate periods on the side-line totalling a period of 24 games, and even before then he had missed 45 games last term through “injury”.

This means Benjamin Mendy, the man who cost Pep Guardiola £52million in 2017, has spent a ridiculous 366 out of the team for one reason or another. But what has he been doing in that time, you might ask? Well, his Twitter gives a pretty comprehensive account.

From forcing the “shark team” hashtag down our throats like an overzealous parent with a spoonful of carrot mush to a barrage of emojis akin to that of a WhatsApp group chat full of excitable teenagers, Mendy has crowned himself as the ultimate social media footballer. But City did not fork out multi-millions for the world’s most expensive Twitter manager. They wanted a player and is not what they have got.

Guardiola once claimed that he wanted to kill Benjamin Mendy ‘at times’, and though he probably did not mean literally, we imagine he is not far off now (as per The Times).  His most recent controversy, which involved leaving a club at 3:30am the night before training, may not be that bad under normal circumstances – footballers need a life outside the game, after all – but Mendy should have been working on his comeback (story via Telegraph).

We are at a point now where Manchester City need to make a decision: do they keep Mendy or send him packing? A new left-back is at the forefront of Pep Guardiola’s shopping list apparently, with Ben Chilwell a rumoured prospect, so that may give fans some hint towards which way the club are leaning (as per Telegraph).

Manchester City fans, is it time to wave goodbye to Mendy? Let us know in the comments below…

It was a result not many Arsenal fans expected, and it was certainly a performance nobody saw coming.

At a stadium known for its hostility and where only Juventus have won at this season, not many would have guessed Unai Emery’s Arsenal, who have been infamously poor on the road this campaign for both losing and conceding goals, to go to the San Paolo and not only win, but win as the clearly dominant team.

Not even three days after Arsenal escaped Vicarage Road with three points and a clean sheet against Watford, who dominated the Gunners with 10 men for most of the match, going from a London rival to Napoli is a leap many teams would not be able to cope with, and yet somehow the Gunners managed to do it.

Aside from Aaron Ramsey coming off injured with a suspected hamstring injury, it was a perfect performance from Arsenal. Emery got the tactics spot on in a match where the Gunners were threatening in attack and surprisingly solid in defence, with Alexandre Lacazette and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, in particular, impressing on the night.

The whole performance was everything Arsenal fans dreamed what would happen, and with arguably their hardest game of the season over and done with, it’s important Emery uses the tactics and lessons he learnt in Naples to make his team as good on the road as they are at home.

The win against Napoli could be seen as the game that buried Arsenal’s away form demons if the club can continue such level of quality on the road in upcoming games against Wolves and Leicester City, and if they can, the Gunners have set themselves up for an interesting 2019/20 season.

Arsenal fans, can the club continue this good run of form? Let us know!

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According to The Sun, Brendan Rodgers is plotting a move for Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge. The striker has rarely been afforded game time in recent seasons, predominantly because of injury and the form of the Reds’ magnificent front three.

As a result, the club look as though they’re willing to let the striker’s contract run down, with his current deal ending in the summer. That means that any potential suitor would not have to pay a single penny for his services.

Leicester have emerged as one of the parties interested in the 5 ft 10 attacker as their new manager aims to reunite himself with a player who almost helped win him the league at Liverpool. But given the player’s injury record, should the Foxes be looking to sign him? Football FanCast writers give their verdict..

Harry Sherlock

“Leicester should stay as far away from Daniel Sturridge as humanly possible. He can’t stay fit and he no longer possesses the ferocious pace that so made him a star. The fact of the matter is that Leicester need to bring in younger players with the hunger and ability to take the Foxes up a level. Fans remember them winning the Premier League, of course, and playing in the Champions League. Signing Sturridge does nothing to return Leicester to that level. In fact, it does the exact opposite – it sends the wrong message to fans and players alike, and smacks of hunting for a bargain instead of doing proper scouting.”

James Beavis

“In my opinion Leicester need two strikers this summer with Jamie Vardy ageing and Kelechi Iheanacho simply not good enough. If one of those is Daniel Sturridge on a free then I personally think it’s a no-brainer. Brendan Rodgers knows his strengths and bringing him to the King Power Stadium for nothing means he then would be able to spend big on another striker. Sturridge needs consistent starts to find some form and he would get that with the Foxes – in fact, he and Maddison together would be mouth-watering.”

Harry Elnaugh

“Jamie Vardy was neutralised by Newcastle at the weekend and it was clear that Leicester need someone who can bring a different dimension to the attack. Iheanacho doesn’t cut the mustard so the Foxes may have to dig into their pockets this summer to rejuvenate their strike-force. However, if they can poach Sturridge for free then it changes everything. Of course, the Liverpool man cannot be relied upon to lead the line for a whole season due to his recurring injury issues, but he’s lethal in front of goal and can work in tight spaces. A reunion with Rodgers makes perfect sense.”

Matt Dawson

“On a free transfer, a potential move for Daniel Sturridge would be fantastic business by Brendan Rodgers. His best season for goals came under the Scot and a potential link up between the pair could be absolute dynamite for Leicester. Jamie Vardy has been tasked with scoring the brunt of the club’s goals in recent seasons and a move for a high class striker is definitely needed to lift some of the burden. Sturridge may have struggled for game time and goals under Jurgen Klopp but under Rodgers, we could witness a career revival for someone who was once one of the deadliest finishers in the league.” 

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Granit Xhaka has come on leaps and bounds since the arrival of Unai Emery, who opted to make the Swiss international one of his five captains going into the new season.

However, things are forgotten very quickly in football as Xhaka’s form has dipped dramatically along with Arsenal’s, who look on course to finish outside the top four for the third season in a row.

Interestingly enough, the north London outfit haven’t finished in the top four since Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi signed for the club.

Arsenal have suffered three defeats in a row, starting with Crystal Palace at the Emirates and away losses at Wolves and Leicester City quickly following.

Despite the rut, the Gunners amazingly could still finish in the top four, if results go their way. However, this isn’t comfort enough for Arsenal fans, who took issue with the latest quotes coming from the midfielder in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat…

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Aston Villa have been doing superbly well under Dean Smith this season, with the 48-year-old having completely turned their fortunes around after the departure of Steve Bruce.

And he and the club have now received a rousing message from none other than Smith’s mum, Hilary. The mother of the Villa manager was interviewed by Birmingham TV, with the subsequent video being posted on Twitter.

In the footage, she wishes the team good luck for the play-offs, hoping they get promoted.

Having watched the interview, Villa fans responded in their dozens. One supporter claimed they were nearly in tears whilst another called it beautiful.

Another fan responded by claiming it was brilliant that both the manager and the club captain were Villa fans.

Smith has been an instant hit at Villa Park, guiding his team to fourth in the Championship. As such, the team have a fantastic chance of gaining promotion back to the Premier League.

The club are currently 12 games unbeaten, having previously won ten on the bounce before drawing 1-1 with Leeds last weekend.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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Speaking on his Sports Breakfast show on talkSPORT, Alan Brazil has predicted the worst possible scenario for Leeds United.

After narrowly missing out on an automatic promotion spot the Whites have had to regroup to prepare for the playoffs, but the radio presenter has tipped the club to fall at the final hurdle again.

What’s been said then?

The Scot pointed towards Leeds’ recent poor results as the reason why he doesn’t think they will be triumphant in the playoffs.

Fans of the Yorkshire club may take solace in the fact that he expects Marcelo Bielsa’s side to be victorious in their semi-final, but he thinks they will ultimately fall short.

“I think whoever wins between West Brom and Aston Villa will win it. Leeds fans, I just feel it’s not Leeds’ last few weeks. I don’t know what to make of the Portman Road defeat, that was Ipswich relaxed, relegated, nothing to play for except pride,” Brazil said on talkSPORT.

“Leeds worry me a wee bit. I think Leeds will beat Derby if I’m being honest and I think it will either be West Brom or Aston Villa in the final.”

Fellow presenter Ally McCoist agreed saying: “I think the momentum switch has gone from Leeds.”

Hard to disagree

It’s tough to argue against the former Manchester United striker’s view as it perfectly mirrors what happened to Leeds throughout the season.

The Whites hit the ground running in the Championship, before subsequently running out of steam and slipping out of the top two.

Brazil expects a similar pattern in the playoffs as he expects them to overcome the Rams in their first challenge, yet falter when it really matters.

Perhaps they are doomed to stay within touching distance of the Premier League but with the promised land just out of reach, and if the talkSPORT host’s premonition comes true it will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Signing Jonas Lossl would be an excellent piece of business for Everton to conduct this summer.

According to a report by Foot Mercato, the Huddersfield Town goalkeeper was understood to be having a medical at Finch Farm on Friday and could be days away from signing a two-year contract.

The 30-year-old would be available on a free transfer as he has decided to leave the Terriers following their relegation to the Championship, although that was not entirely down to the shot-stopper.

And, what is their loss will be Everton’s gain.

Obviously, Jordan Pickford is the number one choice at Goodison Park and it is highly unlikely that Lossl would replace the England international in between the sticks. If he were, then something must have gone seriously wrong somewhere.

However, the young ‘keeper has got complacent at times and, in truth, has not had much competition to make him doubt himself and prove that he deserves to be the Toffees’ number one.

Let’s face it; Maarten Stekelenburg is not the same goalkeeper he was a number of years ago and is far too old to be providing the likes of Pickford any quality competition for his place in the first-team.

Joao Virginia is highly-rated, however, he is not quite ready to be challenging for the place in Marco Silva’s side and could benefit from playing football elsewhere temporarily to get him up to scratch.

This is where the addition of Lossl becomes an excellent piece of business. The Dane already knows the Premier League and what it demands from an individual.

He is still at a relatively young age for a goalkeeper, making him a more attractive option to Stekelenburg and Virginia at this moment in time, whilst he also has traits that are better than Pickford.

For example, Lossl shows a better command of his area than the England international, whilst his distribution can be better than the current Everton man (Royal Blue Mersey).

And, the fact that he is available for nothing makes it a relatively low-risk deal that has the potential to produce rather huge rewards.

Everton fans, what do you think of the imminent Lossl deal? Let us know below!