All posts by z3u9t.icu

[ad_pod ]

Manchester United fans have dared to cross the intense municipal divide to not only support but wildly celebrate Manchester City’s crucial win against Leicester City as Pep Guardiola’s men went within touching distance of the Premier League title.

In a challenging season at Old Trafford, United supporters have been forced to pick the better of two evils with City battling Liverpool for the title, and the vast majority seem to be in the Sky Blues’ camp.

A tense affair against Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester side saw Vincent Kompany power home a tremendous 30-yard strike to seal the slender 1-0 victory and propel City to within one win of retaining their title.

The image of Kompany sprinting off into the corner, arms pumping and mouth ajar in screams of delight whilst his joyous teammates follow behind will not be new to United supporters. The Belgian etched himself into Manchester derby folklore when his headed effort put City within six points of their first ever Premier League title in 2012.

Now, however, with United a distant afterthought in their neighbours’ minds, Red Devils supporters took to Twitter to express their delight and celebrate Kompany’s epic winner.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

[ad_pod ]

With a defence most teams outside the top-six would die for, a penalty master and a winger who has got the big clubs swooning, Palace have plenty of assets in their side that make them one of the most exciting sides to watch in the Premier League, but they are not without their weaknesses.

Until his standout performance versus Arsenal last month, Christian Benteke’s career at Selhurst Park had been lurching from disaster to disaster, while Jordan Ayew, Alexander Sorloth and Connor Wickham don’t cut the mustard and Michy Batshuayi has been distinctly average since signing in January. It’s clear that the Eagles must invest heavily in a striker this summer or at least be shrewd with who they bring in to lead the line next term.

Fortunately, and permitting that they hold onto the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, this is the only glaring issue facing Roy Hodgson and co ahead of their seventh consecutive season in the top flight. The longstanding problem that was Wayne Hennessey between the sticks is a distant memory now, with Vicente Guaita proving a very, very astute signing.

The Spaniard has won plaudits galore with some impressive reflex stops, of which his jaw-dropping save from Cenk Tosun at Selhurst Park two weeks ago is the latest, and has arguably been crucial to his side’s sustained success despite the absence of central-defensive pairing James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho through injury.

While the aforementioned duo work their way back to fitness, Scott Dann and Martin Kelly have filled in and, aside from the latter’s blunder at Cardiff last time out, they have deputised brilliantly. Both deserve credit for the job they’ve done in recent weeks but the confidence inspired by having Guaita’s calm, assured presence behind them cannot be understated.

Sure, the Spaniard has made the rare mistake since ousting Hennessey from the starting lineup on a permanent basis, but it’s undeniable that he’s a huge upgrade on the towering Welshman – and Palace got him for free.

The SE25 outfit have taken some notable steps in the transfer market to maximise the success that this prolonged spell in the top flight can yield, including the big money additions of the aforementioned Sakho and Benteke, although Guaita might just be their best bit of business in terms of value since they re-signed Zaha in 2015.

Should Crystal Palace keep hold of Max Meyer this summer? Harvey Jones discusses in the video below…

Captain Luka Milivojevic is a close second but the fact that Palace have been able to solve a problem that has plagued them since they achieved promotion to the top flight in 2013 without spending a penny is phenomenal.

At 32-years-old, Guaita has time left at the top of his game and, in terms of the impact he’s made to the team and the efforts he’s gone to since crossing the channel, there is no better value for money Palace addition in the past few years.

[ad_pod ]

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has made contact with Derby County boss Frank Lampard about a potential transfer move for defender Max Lowe, according to The Daily Record.

What’s the story?

Lowe is familiar to football fans in Scotland having impressed for Aberdeen in the top-flight on loan from the English Championship this season.

Rangers have made it a transfer policy of theirs over the last few windows to sign the best available talent in the division, both weakening the opposition and strengthening Gerrard’s squad.

The Record report that the club are now looking to ruin the Dons’ intentions of securing another loan deal for Lowe this summer by making a bid for the 22-year-old themselves.

Derby are not keen on letting him leave permanently but the paper reckon Lampard is open to the player continuing elsewhere for another season on a loan basis.

What would he add to Rangers?

With 41 appearances for Aberdeen this season in all competitions, including a Scottish League Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final, Lowe has proven he can play consistently at the required level.

The mostly unused Lee Wallace’s contract is expiring and there will be a lack of natural cover at left-back next season. The addition of the Derby man would at the very least provide necessary back-up to Borna Barisic.

Jon Flanagan has filled in this season but the majority of his career games have come on the other flank and the current situation isn’t ideal, with Barisic having no real direct competition for his position beyond the right-footed former Liverpool man.

His very presence would also surely help the Croatian unlock his potential at Ibrox after a difficult debut campaign.

Barisic boon

Barisic arrived as one of last summer’s big summer signings, with fans initially being impressed by his performances for NK Osijek in UEFA Europa League qualifying against the Gers.

Gerrard wasted little time in signing him and his initial form was pretty exciting, appearing to have the drive and final product that would make him a strong presence on the left flank.

Injuries and fitness issues took their toll though and the 26-year-old has increasingly found himself on the fringes of the first-team, falling out of favour with Steven Gerrard.

As reported by The Herald, Barisic insists his relationship with the manager remains strong and fans should be hopeful he can make an impact next season. You don’t make competitive appearances for Croatia without having a bit of quality about you.

But the arrival of Lowe, as a fairly low risk loan signing, could create the competitive atmosphere he needs to take his Rangers career to the next level and start reproducing the form that marked his early few months at Ibrox.

[ad_pod ]

Celtic are just days away from their mammoth cup final against Hearts at Hampden.

It’s not just any final either, it’s an opportunity for Neil Lennon and his side to make history again and secure a treble of trophies for the third successive season.

Before Brendan Rodgers walked through the doors at Celtic Park in 2016 trebles were rare in Scottish football, but a clean sweep of trophies since then has Celtic fans celebrating unprecedented success.

Supporters though don’t just want to see the Hoops win, they want to win with style and what better way to do that than by unleashing one of the club’s top young talents on Craig Levein’s team?

On the chalkboard

The idea of playing a 16 year old in a national final may seem bizarre to some, but Karamoko Dembele’s cameo on Sunday had Celtic fans on their feet and even booing their own players when the diminutive attacking midfielder did not get the opportunity to take a free kick.

He’s caught the imagination of fans and it would be an incredible story for the player to make his name at Hampden Park on Saturday.

Starting the match is perhaps out of the question, but if things are going well then there’ll be an expectancy for him to be brought onto the pitch if he makes the bench.

His awareness, vision and skill is already a level above most players in the country, why not give him the opportunity to show what he can do in a momentous final?

What are his teammates saying?

Talents such as Callum McGregor certainly aren’t ruling out him getting an appearance.

The Hoops midfielder couldn’t offer enough praise for the teenager when speaking this week, impressed by the manner with which he took to the game on Sunday.

As quoted by The Scottish Sun, McGregor said of Dembele: “At such a young age, to come on and play with the maturity he did was great. You can see his football brain working before the ball even comes to him. It’s a massive talent to have at such a young age. If he was to get on at the weekend in the Scottish Cup Final it would be an amazing achievement. It certainly seems like nothing fazes him. As soon as he came into first team training, he looked comfortable. He isn’t overawed.”

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

That’s an endorsement and a half and if McGregor reckons the young man can cope with the pressure of playing against Hearts this weekend then who are we to argue?

Go on Neil Lennon, give your fans something extra special to cheer about.

The Gateshead born-striker will no doubt look back at his time thinking what might have been if not for injuries, but unfortunately the former Anfield man suffered setback after setback and each time he returned a worse footballer.

He does, however, leave Hammers fans with some fond memories, like his astonishing overhead kick against Crystal Palace and a hat-trick against Arsenal.

And as you can see in the post above, West Ham were quick to show their appreciation for the towering striker on Instagram with a simple message of “Thank you and good luck” alongside a picture of him celebrating.

[ad_pod ]

Manchester United fans on Twitter have celebrated the news that the club will not pursue a deal for Newcastle youngster Sean Longstaff.

The 21-year old midfielder was rumoured to be a top priority for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this summer, but Craig Hope from the Daily Mail has now suggested that United do not intend to bid for the Englishman.

Longstaff enjoyed a breakthrough campaign this season, becoming a regular under Rafa Benitez until a knee injury curtailed his promising season in March.

Despite making a total of just nine Premier League appearances thus far in his young career, Longstaff is already being touted as a future England regular and has been compared to Michael Carrick for his ability to control the game from a deep-lying playmaker position.

With Ander Herrera’s departure to PSG, Manchester United are in need of midfield depth and have been linked with the England U21 international.

However, if recent claims are to believed then the Red Devils are still searching for their next centre-midfielder and United fans are overjoyed that Longstaff is not the primary target.

Check out the best of the reaction below!

[ad_pod ]

According to The Mirror, Leicester are eyeing a move for Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend this summer.

What’s the word?

Townsend’s 2018/19 campaign was very understated. It was his best scoring season to date and he even found the net with one of the goals of the season.

Back in December, the wide man let fly from range with a rasping volley which beat Manchester City’s Ederson from outside the penalty area.

If fans of the Foxes need a reminder of the player they might be getting then all they need to do is rewatch that strike.

The winger has been a reliable performer for the Eagles of late and it’s that consistency which may now see him move to pastures new.

The Mirror claim that Brendan Rodgers is set to test Palace’s resolve for Townsend in a deal which could cost around £14m.

Creative spark

At times he has a habit of being a frustrating player, but there are reasons to suggest he could be the man to finally solve Leicester’s problems from the flanks.

Over the season that’s just played out, the former England international found the back of the net on nine occasions in all competitions. He also helped himself to four assists.

Given the Eagles’ lack of attacking nous, this is a fine return for a player who is now entering his prime years.

In recent weeks, Leicester have shown interest in Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Kevin Augustin but whether they’d cut it in the Premier League is open for debate.

Townsend, however, has already shown he’s capable of performing in the division. It would be a safe signing, but considering the lack of risk, it’s a no brainer.

Demarai Gray and Rachid Ghezzal lacked much end product under Claude Puel and Rodgers, meaning Townsend’s potential arrival would be particularly beneficial.

Check out what the Pl>ymaker FC squad got up to at the Football Blogging Awards in the video below…

Over recent terms, the 27-year-old had problems with consistency himself but that was put to bed in 2018/19, finding himself involved in 13 goals.

It’s that productivity in the final third that can end Leicester’s troubles when attacking down the flanks.

Considering some of the fees the Midlands club have paid over previous transfer windows, £14m would be a snip to bring Townsend to the King Power.

[ad_pod ]

Crystal Palace fans on Twitter have been reacting to a rumour connecting their club to West Bromwich Albion striker Jay Rodriguez.

A fan account posted speculation that came from a report from The Burnley Express stating that the Eagles had been put on alert by the availability of the former England international.

If the deal is done before the middle of July, the 29-year-old can be signed for just £5m plus £5m adds-ons according to a clause inserted in his contract when the Baggies were relegated to the Championship in 2017/2018.

Are Crystal Palace right to slap a £100m valuation on Wilfried Zaha’s head? Check out the video below to see why they are…

Rodriguez lit up the second tier last season with 22 goals and six assists, however his highly commendable efforts were not enough to earn the club promotion.

Despite his heroics in 2018/2019 and Premier League pedigree, Palace supporters were split on the idea of the centre-forward arriving at Selhurst Park.

Check out the best of their reactive Tweets, below…

[ad_pod ]

Getting (back) into the Premier League might be tough, but imagine how difficult it must be for smaller teams to survive the whole season and live to tell the tale. Norwich City will once again experience that rush this year, and here are five key dates that just might decide if they can finish above the relegation zone or not.

9 August, Liverpool (A)

A true baptism by fire, as Norwich will immediately face the runners-up for the title at Anfield. It’s one of the two worst-case scenarios for the opening day, but it will be a good judge to see just what the newcomers are all about.

31 August, West Ham (A)

Facing a middle of the pack team sandwiched between Chelsea (H) and Manchester City (H), followed by Burnley (A) is a nice mixture of different kinds of opposition to face. This could tell us how they stand in comparison with both the top and bottom dogs of the PL, and if they have what it takes to survive.

5 October, Aston Villa (H)

Beating Aston Villa, their fellow promoted side, is going to be essential. Just like the Canaries, Villa will be hoping to survive, and getting points from someone you already know you can beat is key. Not to mention, this game is sandwiched between other fixtures in which they’ll definitely be looking to pick up a couple of Ws.

26 October, Manchester United (H)

Shortly after that, Daniel Farke’s side will welcome Manchester United to Carrow Road, and if they are going to take any top-tier scalps, the Red Devils just might be their best bet. Taking down a Goliath or two throughout the season is what “smaller” teams are best at, and it often turns out to be the deciding factor in the race against relegation.

14 March, Southampton (H)

Southampton are one of those lower-tier teams Norwich will absolutely have to bury into the dirt if they want to survive. The Saints will have similar goals going into the 2019/20 season, and the two might become big rivals in that respect. Picking up points in the final stretches of the marathon should be high on the priority list.

[ad_pod ]

According to Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson has urged the club to appoint Steve Walsh in a “consultancy role to help with structural changes” at the club.

What’s the word?

The report claims despite Ferguson’s recommendation, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward looks set to ignore the former United boss’ advice and still favours bringing in a former player of the club for the role.

The Old Trafford side have been on the lookout for a sporting director according to reports in recent months but if Woodward gets his way, then it appears the experienced option of Walsh might not be the man to get the job.

Sir Alex has got this one wrong

Walsh was the head of recruitment at Leicester when they performed the miracle to end all miracles and clinched the Premier League title in the 2015/2016 campaign. He was credited with the signings of both N’golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez, who were later sold for substantial profits.

Could Harry Maguire be on his way to Old Trafford? Check out the video below to see why it would make so much sense…

But since that incredible season there has been some major question marks over Walsh’s effectiveness at the job. His move to Everton in 2017 saw the Toffees spend around £150m on new players, only to find themselves in the relegation zone by October.

Signings like Davy Klaassen for £23.6m were the absolute symbol of the scattergun approach Everton seemed to have in the transfer market. After Romelu Lukaku left, the Merseyside club needed a striker. They failed to really address that glaring issue and looked totally inept up front all season because of it.

United are in dire need of someone to reconnect the club’s fanbase. For that reason, Woodward is right in wanting a former player who knows the club well instead of Walsh.

The Old Trafford fans would give a former hero some patience even if things get off to a rocky start – just look at how they’ve taken to Solskjaer despite the side’s difficult end to last season.

The likes of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho were brought to Old Trafford despite claims they may have been past their best and neither really worked out.

Walsh may have been great at Leicester a few seasons ago, but there’s a feeling that his time at Goodison Park may have been the end of the road; United just simply can’t afford to look at the past once more when they desperately need to dream about the future.