This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Former Everton man Bryan Oviedo has stated that he believes Andre Gomes can come back stronger with the medical staff on hand at Finch Farm.
The Costa Rica international believes the fans will also play a huge part in his recovering, as they did with his.
What did he say?
Oviedo sustained a double leg fracture back in January 2014. Now at FC Copenhagen, the 29-year-old believes Gomes can come back stronger, just as he did with the Toffees.
Oviedo told evertonfc.com: “I was playing regularly and really enjoying my football, so the injury was very difficult.
“After two or three months [rehabilitating] it can start to feel a long time. You need help to stay positive.
“The medical staff are so important. I was with them every day, they were always positive and smiling and clear about my progress.
“The fans will help Andre a lot,” said Oviedo.
“They were always supporting me, sending me letters and presents and saying they were looking forward to me being back. Their positive words meant a lot.
“Your teammates are important, too. You feel alone sometimes, you go to training and think, ‘Why did this happen to me’.
“Then someone comes to you and says, ‘Don’t worry, stay strong’.
“It is a process and at the end you will be fine. I had a few periods during my recovery when I did not feel good but after a while I was back to normal.
“You can be even better after a serious injury, if your mindset is right and you are determined.”
In the right hands
Oviedo’s own story is proof that Gomes can come back better than ever.
The left-back missed 21 games after his leg fracture but would go onto play 14 times in the Premier League two seasons later. Although 14 appearances is not a huge amount, it was Oviedo’s second-highest amount of appearances in one league season at Everton.
As the former Toffees man alluded to, the medical staff, teammates and fans will all be vital in making sure the 26-year-old stays mentally strong.
So far it seems that has all been the case for the former Barcelona man in his early rehabilitation.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Tim Sherwood has blamed Tottenham Hotspur’s players for their recent struggles, not Mauricio Pochettino, per talkSPORT.
What’s he said?
Pochettino was sacked by Spurs on Tuesday evening.
Spurs are currently 14th in the Premier League, 11 points off the top four, ahead of this weekend’s clash with West Ham United.
And Sherwood believes that the players need to take some responsibility for the funk they find themselves in.
Prior to Pochettino’s sacking, he said: “I don’t blame the manager, I blame the players.
“They have to look at themselves and have that bravery when things are not going well to get on the ball in dangerous areas and really take the game to the opposition.
“Because, at the moment, a few of them look like they’re hiding.
“When you have a bad run of form you always look for excuses why, and everyone is pointing to the obvious one, which is the uncertainty amongst the squad.
“Three or four players are out of contract and others are coming quite close to running their contracts down next year. That’s not what Pochettino wants, he wants players who are going to be there for the long-term.
“But you still need to get the best out of what you’ve got.”
Spot on
It is rare for Sherwood to get these sorts of things right but he has experience here.
He managed the club in the 2013/14 season, taking over in December, and took them to a sixth-placed finish, though he oversaw some dismal results.
He famously called out the players for their lack of “guts” after a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Chelsea in March that season, and he also saw his side beaten 4-0 by Liverpool.
It is fair to say that he was let down by some of his players, just as Pochettino has been.
He took the club to last season’s Champions League final with the majority of the squad he was working with prior to his dismissal.
Questions, then, have to be asked over their performances and the reasons behind them.
Sherwood is right to suggest they are currently inhibited and it remains to be seen how Spurs will recover from this slump.
But his old words still ring true: They need to show some more “guts”.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Leeds United beat Reading 1-0 on Tuesday evening, and while it wasn’t the most convincing performance of the Whites’ season so far, one man put in one of his best performances of the campaign up until this point.
Indeed, Liam Cooper won his first WhoScored Man of the Match award of the campaign, and the stats tell you exactly why he was United’s best player on Tuesday.
Leeds were tested at the Madejski Stadium, and in previous weeks the Whites may not have kept a clean sheet and won this game, but Cooper’s return from injury allowed the Yorkshire outfit to put on such a strong defensive performance.
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The Scotland international has struggled with injuries in recent weeks, but the defender seemingly hasn’t missed a trick during his time on the sidelines.
Bielsa’s one and only change on Tuesday was to bring in his captain in place of Gaetano Berardi, and it quite clearly paid off.
He won more aerial duels than any other United player, while also bossing the tackling, interception and clearance statistics.
All in all, it was a ridiculously good performance from the centre-back as he didn’t just perform brilliantly in one aspect of defending, but he was superb in almost every way you could want a defender to be.
The centre-back is hugely missed by the team when he’s out of the squad, and this performance showed that Cooper has to be one of the first names on the teamsheet whenever he’s available.
Meanwhile, one Sky pundit has delivered a verdict that may mean news for many Leeds fans.
The boredom at home and no football is clearly getting to Southampton captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, following his brilliant Twitter post on Monday afternoon.
The Dane’s post showed the tune of club anthem ‘Oh When The Saints Go Marching In’ being played on a mobile phone keypad by typing in different numbers, with the caption: “Think I’m missing football…”.
Choosing that song in particular will likely be taken well by supporters of the south coast outfit, who have had to deal with uncertainty over their skipper’s future in recent weeks.
Indeed, Football Insider reported last month that the 24-year-old has rejected an offer from the club to extend his contract which is due to expire next summer, although BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore has since denied that the former Bayern Munich has actually received one on Twitter.
That said, Hojbjerg did appoint super-agent Pini Zahavi as his new representative earlier in 2020, which suggests he either wants a lucrative new deal at St Mary’s, or to secure a high-profile move away from the south coast outfit.
The single toughest football logo quiz of all time…
In the meantime though depending on if and when the Premier League season is going to resume, he still has plenty of work to do on the pitch for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men.
In other Southampton news, ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino has admitted in an honest interview that he “made mistakes” during his reign at St Mary’s…
John Terry is fondly remembered by Chelsea fans as ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’, and rightly so.
With 15 major honours to his name, JT is the most decorated footballer ever to don the Blues’ shirt and his memory will live long in the memory of Chelsea supporters far and wide. These days, Terry is plying his trade as an assistant manager at Aston Villa, where his experience of winning at the highest level will undoubtedly have a profound effect on the dressing room at Villa Park.
Unfortunately, given the current climate, his inspiring words will have to wait until another time, as Terry is focusing his attention to another battle in-hand, where not only his competitive streak will look to be reignited once more, but he will also be joining a fantastic campaign that aims to raise millions for NHS Charities.
A group of celebrities, including former-sports stars, comedians and actors, have signed up to compete in the NHS Charities Together Cup, which aims to raise £100m in support of the current Covid-19 crisis.
The FIFA 20 competition will involve eight all-celebrity teams, with three celebrities per team, going head-to-head in 12-minute long FIFA 20 matches. Fans will be given the chance to vote for who they want to see compete from every team in each round.
The competition’s organisers, Celebrity e-Sport, hope to raise a huge £100m for NHS charities together during these desperate times for all the care workers on the frontline, who are putting their own lives at risk to help save ours.
John Terry is a part of Team Ares that also includes Paddy McGuinness and Jonny Brownlees
Team Zeus v Team Ares
Ben Stokes v John Terry
Stuart Broad v Paddy McGuinness
Jos Buttler v Jonny Brownlee
Team Apollo v Team Nemesis
Dillian Whyte v Lando Norris
Tony Bellew v SV2
Tim Cahill v Tekkers Kid
Team Hercules v Team Iris
Justin Rose v Kem Cetinay
Joe Root v Chris Hughes
Ulisses v Shaugna Phillips
Team Artemis v Team Poseidon
Leah Williamson v Shaun Wright-Phillips
Erin Cuthbert v Joleon Lescott
Viv Miedema v Fabrice Muamba
For more information on the event and how you can donate, click here.
It isn’t certain just how much the football market will be affected by current events and the ongoing hiatus clubs are subject to.
Whether seasons resume or not, managers will be trying to devise new strategies to still get their hands on the big-money signings they’re eyeing up this summer.
However, the reality may be that clubs are unable to spend big – or even at all – in the upcoming window and might need to utilise the options they have in their youth ranks.
Here’s a list of five young up-and-coming players that Everton should call upon if they can’t bring in new personnel…
Ellis Simms
One area Everton have been looking to strengthen in the summer is their attack. With an overhaul of forwards planned and links to the likes of Andrea Belotti (per Tuttosport via Sport Witness), Carlo Ancelotti has clearly been looking for some fresh personnel across his front three.
The only recognised wide players in the senior team are Bernard, Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott. Aside from the Brazilian, they have disappointed this season with just four league goal contributions between them. But the club don’t have to spend big in order to ensure Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have support. Ellis Simms has impressed with his composure in front of goal, tallying eight goals for the U23s this term.
A fresh injection of pace from someone eager to make their mark on their club could be what the Blues need during tough games in which the opposition are swarming the attack.
If the season resumes and Everton finish inside the top six, Simms could provide vital support for the Blues as they return to Europe for the first time in five seasons.
Anthony Gordon
Another attacker the Toffees could utilise in the upcoming season. Anthony Gordon has not only accumulated seven goals and three assists this season but being a Merseyside local will make the winger even hungrier to represent his boyhood team.
The 19-year-old has even featured in the Premier League this season, coming on as a substitute against West Ham and Chelsea. On five other occasions, Gordon has been included in the squad on the bench, which means he has already experienced the high level of training with the first team.
Tom Davies broke his way into the senior squad in a similar manner but hasn’t really impressed on the big stages. Gordon will likely see this as a wake up call and grab any chance he is given with both hands so he can become a team sheet regular.
Alex Denny
Alex Denny is a young, versatile option that Ancelotti could really look to integrate into the senior squad next season. As well as struggling to find goals outside of Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, Everton must sharpen up at the back. The Blues have conceded 46 goals this season and have a current goal difference of -9.
The 20-year-old primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but can also drop back and play as a centre-back. His ability to adapt could prove an important asset to any game – bringing him on as an extra body in defence or allowing him to drop forward and contribute to the attack.
Denny currently has one goal and two assists to his name, which are good numbers from deep in the midfield. Plus, he is proving more efficient than the likes of Davies and Morgan Schneiderlin, who operate in similar roles and have just one goal contribution between them this season.
Dennis Adeniran
Although his scoring ratio isn’t the highest this campaign, with two goals and two assists, Dennis Adeniran is extremely versatile and will help bolster Everton’s struggling engine room. Not only could the 21-year-old inject life into the midfield, but he could prove good cover in attack as well.
Across this season, Adeniran has played in seven different positions – occupying all three attacking roles as well as covering almost the entire midfield. It seems playing as a midfielder is his preferred role – scoring and assisting from the middle of the park. But he has also scored a goal from the right-wing position as well as bagging an assist in the No.9 role.
Although he hasn’t been in and around the first team, by training with the senior players Adeniran could take his career to the next level and focus on a role he can dominate on the pitch.
Lewis Dobbin
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Everton have a lot of young, promising talent waiting in the wings to be called upon, only Lewis Dobbin actually is waiting in the wings. The 17-year-old attacker is a centre-forward by nature but has done incredibly well in the wide positions this season. Dobbin has scored 11 goals in the Toffees’ U18 side, assisting a further three for his teammates.
Across this campaign, the Stoke-born youngster has played across the entire front three as well as in an attacking midfield role. His versatility is something that could really give Everton a boost in future matches if they are looking to switch up play or kill the game off.
Dobbin has scored at least twice from each position he has played in this term, including a hat-trick from right-wing against Sunderland in February. His clinical nature and effortless ability to adapt is something Ancelotti should be monitoring very closely.
Jermain Defoe believes Rangers have everything in place to win their first SPL title since 2011.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with FootballFanCast.com, the former Tottenham, West Ham and England striker hailed the club’s chances of winning a 55th league title within the next couple of years.
The Ibrox club have finished in the top three in each of the last three years but under Steven Gerrard have shown glimpses of finally taking the title back from Celtic’s grasp, who have won eight titles in a row and could win a ninth if the season in Scotland is restarted.
The 37-year-old, who recently agreed to a one-year contract at Ibrox once his loan spell from Bournemouth expires this summer, said: “I said it when I signed, I believe it’s only a matter of time before it happens. Celtic fans give me a bit of banter about it on social media but I do genuinely believe it’s only a matter of time.
“When I look at the coaching staff, the manager and his presence, and the whole team, the club has everything it needs to be successful. Everything, even down to the food we’re eating at the training ground.”
Soccer Football – Premiership – Rangers v Celtic – Ibrox, Glasgow, Britain – May 12, 2019 Rangers’ Jermain Defoe with manager Steven Gerrard after being substituted REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Steven Gerrard’s side are currently 13 points adrift of leaders Celtic and suffered with injuries in the weeks leading up to football being postponed. However, Defoe believes the squad at Rangers is so strong and the players constantly being made to work hard for their place.
“The squad is so strong,” Defoe said.
“We do 11v11 in training and we all wonder afterward what team the manager is going to pick at the weekend because he can literally pick two different teams. Having that keeps everyone on their toes, which is good.
“If we win the league again that’s 55 titles. It’ll be a special one and to be a part of something like that would be mad.”
You can read the full interview with Jermain Defoe, in conjunction with On The Ball Global, here.
A recent squad update from Sky Sports’ Alan Myers has got loads of Everton fans talking this week.
The former Toffees media man took to Twitter to provide fresh news on the futures of outcasted trio Maarten Stekelenburg, Cuco Martina and Oumar Niasse.
He claims that the three players are yet to be offered a new contract at the club and “remain likely” to leave this summer.
It’s led to many supporters buzzing as they may finally see three relatively high-earners depart the club after barely featuring in recent seasons. Some made their points clear by calling for the club to get rid right now…
Other members of the Goodison Park faithful singled out each player and provided reasons to why they should be let go.
Stekelenburg, now 37, has been at the club for four years but has only managed to make a total of 26 appearances whilst Niasse has been forced out on loan twice and has played just 199 minutes all season.
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Martina has also remained in Merseyside this campaign and hasn’t made a single senior appearance. His last match for Everton was in March 2018. He, too, has been out on loan to both Feyenoord and Stoke City.
According to Spotrac, the trio are raking in £120k-per-week between them, which is enough for one high-earning star at the club.
It’s also led to a number of fans suggesting that Carlo Ancelotti promote players from within, especially as they are unlikely to be able to flaunt much wealth in the transfer market this summer with the pandemic seriously affecting finances.
With their contracts set to expire later this month, it seems rather unlikely that any of the three will be a Toffees player past the summer.
AND in other news, Everton fans tear into current STAR on key occasion…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful Angel Gomes will snub Chelsea and stay at Manchester United.
According to ESPN, Gomes has returned to Carrington to resume training with the first team, but he could leave the club when his deal expires at the end of the month.
The 19-year-old, who was inspired by Ronaldinho as a boy, has been linked with a move to the Blues, yet Solskjaer is confident he will remain at Old Trafford.
Speaking via a virtual news conference on Thursday, the club legend insisted “We’ve offered him a deal. Hopefully he’ll take that, but if not, I’ll wish him all the best. From what I understand, it’s not too far away. If not, we’ll wish him all the best.”
As it stands, the transfer saga has dragged on for a number of months now, as Gomes has received plenty of attention from European giants like Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.
The Manchester Evening News revealed the teenager rejected Man United’s initial offer, but Ed Woodward has approached his representatives with improved terms.
Although Barca were genuinely interested in the wonderkid, the La Liga leaders did not intend to give him first team football, which has disappointed the youngster.
Gomes has only made six appearances under Solskjaer so far and will become a free agent when his contract runs out in June.
Even if he stays or goes is largely immaterial, as the Norwegian has a dearth of attacking options at his disposal, including Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Odion Ighalo.
Moreover, Solskjaer most likely won’t lose any sleep over losing someone who has struggled to usurp Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira.
While United could end up questioning why they sanctioned a move in the first place, as ended up happening with Gerard Pique, the board should not cave into his demands, as Gomes is still largely unproven.
United fans, should the board let Angel Gomes leave? Let us know down below!
Danny Ings was the man of the hour after netting a brace in Southampton’s 3-1 win over Watford on Sunday.
The former Liverpool man seems to have really found his calling on the south coast as he now boasts 18 goals in this Premier League season. Ings is just one goal behind leading scorer Jamie Vardy of Leicester as the race for the Golden Boot becomes even more heated (via BBC Sport).
From an Anfield tragedy to Southampton’s driving force, Ings has made arguably the most impressive transformation over the last couple of seasons. The 27-year-old missed a total of 85 Liverpool games after ongoing knee injuries impacted his time on the pitch (via Transfermarkt).
He made the switch to Southampton colours last summer for a fee of £20m and has made a colossal impact to a side who just managed to stay up last season. Not only is Ings only one goal behind Vardy, he is one ahead of former Anfield teammate Mohamed Salah, who has 17 league goals to his name this term.
The Foxes got their 2019/20 season off to a flying start but have gradually slipped away from the top of the table as Liverpool and Manchester City excelled. However, they could still clinch Champions League football if they can maintain third place and stay ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Wolves and Manchester United.
However, winning the Golden Boot will be a huge boost for both Vardy and Leicester and, if he wants to ensure that happens, he must not underestimate Ings. The Winchester-born striker may have come into this season as an underdog but he is a force to be reckoned with and certainly threatens any mainstream Golden Boot race.
Do you think Jamie Vardy can hang onto his lead and win the Golden Boot this season? Have your say in the comments below!