All posts by h716a5.icu

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On Thursday, Crystal Palace legend Julian Speroni announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season after an illustrious 15 years at Selhurst Park and with plenty of club records to his name.

The 39-year-old custodian has made a record number of appearances as a goalkeeper (405), has kept 112 clean sheets and has also won Palace’s player of the year award four times. Wilfried Zaha comes in second with three gongs and Speroni is hoping that the Ivorian’s trophy cabinet will outshine his own in the coming years.

What did he say?

Well, having announced his exit this summer, Speroni had this to say in an interview with Palace journalists:

“If someone is going to break (my record of four player of the year awards) it will be Wilfried and I will be so pleased for him. If someone is going to break it I hope it’s him because he deserves it, he’s done fantastically for us. Records are there to be broken so it will be broken sometime, and I hope it’s him, but who knows? We’ll see.”

Agent Speroni

With the electric number 11 surely earning admirers all of Europe, Palace could be set to lose not just club legend Speroni but a legend-in-the-making in Zaha, who has blossomed into one of the best players outside the top-six.

With 10 goals and six assists to his name this campaign, the former Manchester United winger would normally be a shoe-in for the player of the year award which went to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, although the 21-year-old Englishman is certainly a deserving winner.

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

If both stars remain at SE25 next season, Zaha will have to pull off something truly special to swing the end of season vote in his favour, with Wan-Bissaka having established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in Europe.

Regardless, Speroni’s prediction that Zaha can beat his record indicates that the veteran shot-stopper is also hopeful that the 26-year-old speedster doesn’t follow him out the door this summer.

It’s doubtful that Palace fans could manage two doses of heartbreak in one transfer window, so hopefully Speroni can have some influence on Zaha’s decision whether to remain at or depart Selhurst Park in the coming months.

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At the time, it seemed harmless.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jurgen Klopp’s first choice right-back, was fit and in-form, causing havoc with that wicked delivery of his and racking up the assists, all whilst Nathaniel Clyne watched on from the bench.

As a result, Liverpool saw no harm in loaning the England international out to Bournemouth.

However, just days after the Crystal Palace academy graduate joined the Cherries, Alexander-Arnold suffered a knee injury, ruling him out of action for a month.

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

With no recognised right-back available to cover, Klopp was forced to turn to his versatile utility man, James Milner.

The former Leeds man filled in at left-back for the entire 2016/17 season admirably, but his impact over on the other side of defence was not quite the same.

Milner played in the role in consecutive 1-1 draws against Leicester and West Ham, results which, at the time, looked insignificant with plenty of time remaining in the title race.

The 33-year-old failed to replicate Alexander-Arnold’s impact in the position, offering nowhere near as much going forward as the 20-year-old, whilst also being uncharacteristically caught out from a defensive aspect – he was sent off for picking up two yellows against Crystal Palace whilst playing right-back too.

Were Michael Edwards and Klopp in agreement that loaning the peripheral figure of Clyne out – presumably in order to put him in the shop window before the summer – was the right idea? It’s highly plausible.

That seems like the only logical explanation for their decision.

Why else would you loan out the only other natural right-back in the mid-season window whilst competing for the title against a side with the extensive depth Manchester City have?

The possible decision to ramp up his transfer fee has also backfired. Clyne has made 12 starts for Eddie Howe’s side, but hasn’t really set the world alight and it remains to be seen whether or not the South Coast side will make the deal permanent.

With just a single game to go in the title race, as well, it appears that the two draws against the Foxes and the Hammers will cost Liverpool a first ever Premier League success – they are a point behind City, and need to hope Pep Guardiola’s men slip up against Brighton whilst the Reds must also beat Wolves to stand any chance.

Would those two results have been different if Klopp had a natural right-back in Clyne, who is very good at overlapping and supporting the attack whilst also dependable in defence? We’ll never know.

But most probably, yes.

Klopp and Edwards’ decision may have seemed irrelevant at the time but, with the wonderful benefit of hindsight, it was clearly a major blunder from the decision-makers at Anfield.

Alfredo Morelos is one of those players who is followed by controversy everywhere he goes. The Colombian is one of the Ibrox fan favourites, but that won’t be for long if these reports are true. According to The Scottish Sun, Marseille are set to make a ‘big money bid’ for El Buffalo that could see the Gers sell their star for £16 million.

If that’s the case the  Steven Gerrard will have to act very quickly and get the deal done. The young forward is far more trouble than he’s worth and with five red cards this season that kind of money is simply too good to refuse. Those that don’t want him sold will need to open their eyes to what can be done with £16 million, as a bigger, better striker could easily be brought in as a Morelos replacement.

The goal return of the young aggressive forward is incredible and there is no doubting that what he’s done for the Ibrox club is impressive, but he has proven this season that discipline is a massive problem. All too often he’s let the opposition get into his head and cost his side by rashly lashing out. Three times against Aberdeen, once in Europe and then in March’s Old Firm he’s let his side down now.

Morelos has been back on the bench and back playing football since he completed his ban after his most recent red card against Celtic in late March, but he is yet to start for Steven Gerrard and it looks like the England and Liverpool captain is done with the 22-year-old, at least for this season. Should Marseille’s reported bid prove to come in and be true, Gerrard will almost certainly have his head turned.

Scottish football doesn’t often throw up players like Alfredo Morelos, and even when it does there are very rarely clubs lining up with multi-million bids well past the £10 million mark like this. Selling Morelos could fund the Bluenoses’ entire summer transfer plans, and with Gerrard no doubt eyeing up another summer of spending it will be nye on impossible to turn down this money.

Rangers fans, would you be happy to sell Morelos? Let us know!

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West Ham United are interested in signing striker Florian Aye from Ligue 2 side Clermont this summer, per Haberturk.

What’s the word?

Aye has enjoyed a hugely impressive season in the second-tier of French football this season, scoring 17 goals in 35 games.

The 22-year-old moved to Clermont from Auxerre last summer and his performances this season have reportedly attracted interest from across Europe.

The Hammers, along with Southampton and Leeds United are listed as potential suitors, with Aye’s current contract set to expire in 2021.

A France youth international, the forward has been capped at Under-16, Under-18 and Under-19 level and has scored for each one.

However, he struggled for goals at Auxerre, where he netted just six times in 55 appearances.

Hammers getting desperate

West Ham appear to want every striker in Europe.

Football FanCast understands that the Irons are exploring the possibility of signing Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham this summer, while they have also been linked with West Bromwich Albion forward Salomon Rondon and Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez.

Aye is now being listed as a possible signing despite his genuinely horrific record at Auxerre.

He has only ever played at Ligue 2 level and has never been able to test himself in the French top-flight; there is nothing suggesting that he is ready to make such a step up to the Hammers.

Instead, Aye looks to simply be enjoying a purple patch in a career that has so far been characterised by missed chances.

Bringing him in would suggest an impatience at the club’s pursuit of a first-choice striker this summer and, at worst, it actually smacks of desperation.

[ad_pod ]Sunderland threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 to Charlton Athletic in the League One Playoff Final.TalkSPORT host Jim White posted a photo of Stewart Donald after the full time whistle, and it’s fair to say it summed up the mood of a thoroughly deflated club.

The Sunderland owner looked like the loneliest man in football, pondering over his thoughts and reflecting on a season of nearly moments.

Sunderland gambled and ran the highest wage budget in League One and also spent the most on transfers – including the purchase of Will Grigg from Wigan Athletic for £4m.

All of these were calculated risks based on the fact the new Sunderland owners clearly believed Jack Ross could take Sunderland back into the Championship.

After five minutes of Sunday’s final it looked like Sunderland were going to get promoted, as a calamitous own goal by Naby Sarr handed them the lead and early momentum, but they failed to capitalise and paid the ultimate price.

Stewart Donald’s gamble has failed and a change in strategy may have to be considered next season to ensure the Black Cats return to the Championship at the second time of asking.

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Ben Davies appears ready to play through the pain barrier for Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final after confirming that he will have surgery after this weekend’s clash with Liverpool, per BBC Sport.

What’s the word?

The left-back is set to miss Wales’ Euro 2020 qualifiers against Croatia and Hungary due to a hernia operation.

The report claims that Davies has struggled with “pain” all season and that surgery is the only course of action to correct the issue.

It appears that he is prepared to play through the problem on Saturday, however, as Spurs attempt to win the European competition for the first time in their history.

Davies has made a total of 40 appearances in all competitions for Mauricio Pochettino’s men but it remains to be seen if he will be utilised in the final, with Danny Rose seeming to have made the left-back spot his own.

Rose started both legs against Ajax and Manchester City in the last-four and the last-eight respectively; Davies played a combined 27 minutes across the four games.

Impressive loyalty

This is impressive from Davies, who is valued at £22.5 million by Transfermarkt, especially given that he is perhaps unlikely to actually start the game.

Rose, on form, is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League but Davies has been a diligent back-up and is often trusted by his manager in major outings.

And it appears that team unity comes first and Davies’ participation in training and his presence on the bench will be vital to the club’s preparation.

This is Spurs’ biggest game in their history and they need all hands on deck, whether they will play 90 minutes or 30 seconds.

Davies understands that and has put Spurs first; that can only be admired.

[ad_pod ]West Ham United fans have been left split over purported leaked kits being shared on social media by Twitter user West Ham Central.

With the Premier League season having drawn to a close and the Irons finishing 10th under manager Manuel Pellegrini, we have entered the season of kit launches.

And it appears that the Irons will be trialling a relatively new style of shirt in 2019-20.

If the leak is true, the Hammers will, of course, wear claret and blue at home, with the top half of the shirt being entirely blue, with claret shorts. This season, the club wore white shorts.

And the away kit will allegedly be an all-white number, with a claret and blue collar.

Supporters, naturally, have been left torn on the designs; some are in love with the away shirt, while others believe that the home kit needs some work.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to the Nations League performance of Donny van de Beek, who has been tipped to sign for the Reds.

According to Dutch media outlet Voetbal Primeur, van de Beek could become a target for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool this summer.

The report is based around claims from analyst René van der Gijp, who says the Dutch international is the “perfect” midfield player for Klopp.

And reports from Le Parisien reckon the midfielder could be available for around €55m (£49m) this summer, so a switch to Anfield would certainly not be out of the question.

“The worst we’ve played all season” but “our most straightforward final since 2003” – a Liverpool fan reflects on the UCL final in the video below…

Fans like what they’ve seen of the 22 year-old too, as after scoring in Ajax’s 1-0 win against Tottenham in the Champions League he then bossed England in the Nations League on Thursday evening.

Despite playing just over 50 minutes including the extra-time, the youngster’s composure on the ball and ability to pop up in dangerous spaces created havoc for England’s defence, changing the game when he came off the bench.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are now even more convinced than they were before that Klopp should take a gamble on the Dutch starlet…

[ad_pod ]Watford agreed a deal to sign Joao Pedro from Fluminense in October 2018 with the youngster enjoying some wonderful performances in the top flight of Brazilian football.

Who is he?

Pedro’s full name is Joao Pedro Junqueira de Jesus. He was born in Ribeirao Preto in Brazil on September 26, 2001 and has only ever played his football with Fluminense.

He’s just 17 years of age, but that’s not stopped him making his mark in the Brazilian league. In fact he’s been so impressive that Premier League scouts touted the youngster before he agreed his move to Hertfordshire.

Similarly to Richarlison, Pedro will join Watford as a rising young Brazilian star hoping the Premier League club will provide the perfect opportunity to get game-time at one of the toughest leagues in the world.

“I’m very happy all these things are happening to me. It has been bringing a lot of happiness to me, my family and friends that have been helping me since I’m a kid, when I was in Ribeirao Preto,” Pedro told Fox Sports Brasil (via Sky Sports News).

“I think every kid of my age wants big things, to play for big clubs in Europe, in the Champions League, become world champions with Brazilian side, win the Ballon d’Or. Keep working to see if I can reach all my goals.â€

How does he play?

It’s not always fair to continuously draw comparisons between two young players, just because they happen to share similar positions and nationality, but in this case there are serious parallels between Richarlison and Joao Pedro to point out – especially when understanding what type of player the young Brazilian is.

Pedro plays as a forward with the ability to play out wide as well, making him incredibly versatile and able to fit into any formation Javi Gracia will want to adopt going forward.

He’s skilful and direct – not a ditherer on the ball – he’s all about running towards goal, taking players on and fashioning chances for himself and his teammates. He naturally pulls out wide to receive the ball making him very difficult to mark for centre-backs, and this trait will really suit Watford captain Troy Deeney whose movement tends to be more central, using his physique to keep the ball for his side.

Pedro will be able to use his movement to play off the Watford forward and provide width when players like Will Hughes and Roberto Pereyra drive inside.

2018-19 in numbers

Joao Pedro’s numbers are based off few appearances, but they’re incredibly impressive nonetheless.

The youngster made himself known for his incredible goal contribution from the minute he was handed his first-team debut, so it’s no surprise scouts from England came to watch one of the next big things in Brazil.

According to WhoScored, the Vicarage Road-bound forward has played 10 games this season, scoring eight times in that run. The youngster boasts a 77.3% pass completion rate as well, which won’t be surprising considering the nature of his style of play.

Are Watford the most likely club to break the top 7 next season? The fans in the video below certainly agree the ‘W’ part in the statement is correct…

Anyone else enjoyed a similar path?

Kenedy. The Brazilian moved from Fluminense to Chelsea in 2015 and despite originally struggling in English football he’s gone on to impress at Newcastle United during two loan spells, making 28 appearances in all competitions last term. He enjoyed time on loan at Watford himself as well, the club where Pedro will soon end up.

When will we see him?

Pedro won’t join Watford until January 2020 when the Brazilian Serie A season ends, similar to Gabriel Jesus’ agreed move to Manchester City. He’ll be 18 when he arrives, so it will be interesting to see whether he’ll be exposed to first-team action immediately upon his arrival, or whether he’ll be bedded into the club in the months before the Premier League recommences once again in August 2020.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has told Giovani Lo Celso that the club cannot afford to make a big bid for him until Christian Eriksen leaves, per El Confidencial.

What’s the word?

Conflicting reports have disagreed over how much Spurs bid for the attacking midfielder.

The BBC claim that an offer of £53m was tabled, while the aforementioned El Confidencial report says that the offer was closer to €40m (£35.7m).

Lo Celso has a €100m (£89.2m) release clause in his contract and the report claims that Betis are not likely to sell him for under €80m (£71.5m).

However, Pochettino is said to have told the Argentina international personally that Spurs do not have the budget to pay that until they sell Eriksen.

Eriksen has expressed his desire to leave but a move to Real Madrid now appears a non-starter, with Marca reporting that Zinedine Zidane is instead prioritising a move for Manchester United’s Paul Pogba.

Unsurprising but alarming

Most Spurs fans will be unsurprised by this update but it is still likely to feel incredibly disappointing.

The club need to invest this summer but tabling low-ball bids for players who would obviously improve them is not the way to go about doing it.

If they knew that Eriksen was likely to be central to boosting their coffers, perhaps just an enquiry should have been made for Lo Celso instead of a formal bid.

Indeed, one has to point out that many reports disagree over the size of the offer but one thing is for certain: Betis don’t think it’s enough, regardless.

Lo Celso scored 16 goals last season, while he registered six assists. He would be a marquee signing for the club but, of course, they appear to be in a holding pattern as they wait to see what happens with Eriksen.

If he stays, as now seems likely, they might have to kiss their chances of securing the Betis star goodbye.

It remains to be seen if that will actually be a good move.